St. Cuthbert was a real Saint? (Col Pladoh)

[rounser]

He was especially well known for his ability to get on with animals, and birds. As well as being a very forgiving and gental man.

St. Cuthbert (to bird in tree): Wee crither, straighten up and fly right, that's the way of law!

Bird in tree: Chirp! (splotch)

St. Cuthbert: Ach! Ye've gone mussed me armour that I polished all the morning! Now ye'll get what's comin to ye!

(-THWACK-) Chirp! (-THUMP-) (-SWAT-) Squawk! (-BASH-)


It's nice to know so little is lost in translation to D&D, eh?

 

[Drew]

I don't thinks its a coincidence at all. Given Cuthbert's (the D&D version) vague background (who was he a saint of?) I'd say that Gygax didn't come up with the name at random. I mean, sure there are a great number of saints, but I think any game designer of Colonel Pladoh's ability could have come up with a name that didn't correlate with a real world figure.

I think that it was either subconsious (he heard the name somewhere and thought it was cool) or deliberate. In my opinion, its most likely the latter. There are a number of anagrams hidden throughout Greyhawk. Tenser, Vecna (my favorite), Yrag, Drawmij, etc.

Hopefully, the good Colonel will find his way to this thread sooner or later. Perhaps I should edit the title in order to draw his attention.
***
Title changed.

 

[Tace]

It's been awhile and I can't remember where I read this but I think St. Cuthbert was originally Cuthbert Trowbane, a priest of Pholtus. He was ascended to a demi-god status for defeating a great evil (Iuz?)at the cost of his own life. Because St. Cuthbert was killed by Iuz, there has been a long running war between the two, with St. Cuthbert being instrumental in the near destruction of Iuz when he was released by Robilar.

Later on he broke with Pholtus (I think Pholtus was jealous of St. Cuthbert's popularity) and founded his own church. As a result, the church of St. Cuthbert and the church of Pholtus do NOT get along at all.

If anyone knows where I read this please let me know.

Tace

 

[Hypersmurf]

There are a number of anagrams hidden throughout Greyhawk. Tenser...

Okay, the rest were no problem. Where did Tenser come from?

-Hyp.

 

[rounser]

Tenser = Ernest

 

[Hypersmurf]

Tenser = Ernest

Gah. No wonder I couldn't make "Ernie" fit

-Hyp.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Just a mopment!

St. Cuthbert OF THE CUDGEL is in no way related to any real world saint

Of course the former may have been inspired by the latter, but that's neither here nor there now, is it?

Most of the anagrams mentioned are those used by the players in my campaign--Tenser and Serten, for example, were PCs created and played by Ernie Gygax. My first PC was a fighter named Yrag--sorry, but I was in a hurry to get started of course.

Also, many of the place names of Oerik are after people--relatives, friends, gamers, whatever. After all, coming up with all those names wasn't easy, so...

Cheerio,
Gary

 

[Rook]

Actually, if I might bend your ear for a moment, could you tell us if St. Cuthbert was a mortal cleric in Greyhawk? And, if so, which god (if any) did he worship? It's something that's bugged me for ages about Greyhawk theology.

 

[Talaysen]

What's Vecna an anagram of? I can't figure that one out...

 

[kenjib]

What's Vecna an anagram of? I can't figure that one out...

Clue: One of the big influences that determined how D&D turned out.