Merlynd the Magician

The first players in Gary Gygax's original Greyhawk Castle campaign were his children, Ernie and Elise, Rob Kuntz and his brother Terry, and good friend Don Kaye, who played a magic-user named "Merlin".

Don's PC was very deliberative (like Don was) and studious.  Don was affable and congenial, and liked having a good time.  Great laugh which deteriorated into a cough (he smoked) when too pronounced.  He had what we call a "wandering eye" (his right) which never looked right at you.  Square/chissled features and greying dark hair, stocky and somewhat gruff in tone.

Rob Kuntz, Tapatalk, 2006

Kaye soon changed the name of his character to Merlynd/Murlynd.  Gygax described a memorable episode involving Murlynd, as well as Tenser, Robilar, and Terik in "Barrage Balloon?  The End of Murlynd's Mayhem" in Dragon #317 (March, 2004)

Merlynd's Castle, illustration by Eric Bergeron.

Back in 2006, Kuntz began working on a project called "Merlynd's Castle".  The planned module was never published, although concept notes and maps are included in the El Raja Key Archive.

 Merlynd vs. the Balrog, illustration by Andy Taylor.

In December, 2019, Kuntz released "Merlynd the Magician", a 28-page retrospective of Don Kaye, including 3 full color and sepia prints, as well as a fourth limited edition black and white print, "Merlynd vs. the Balrog".  I've ordered a copy.

An earlier version of this project was to have been included as a high-level reward to backers of the kickstarter for "The Great Kingdom" documentary:

A tribute to Don Kaye.  Merlynd the Magician.  An appreciation for the co-founder of TSR Hobbies, Donald R. Kaye.  Presented as story, adventure accounts, memorable anecdotes and historical recounting, all spanning the years 1969-1975.  Includes photos, three (3) full-color and sepia illustrations of Don’s D&D persona, Merlynd, and his castle lands, as well as a short story that honors his memory.  Signed and numbered by Robert Kuntz.  Limited run of 50 impressions only on 32# paper stock and a full-color cover.  Softbound 8½ x 11 chapbook style, 32 pp, including 3 separate (f/c and sepia) 8½ x 11 illustrations on 100# cover stock.

The Great Kingdom, Kickstarter

Rob's retrospective is of particular interest, since much of what is known about Murlynd involves a reinterpretation of the character, following an article written by Gygax in Dragon #71 (March, 1983) and module EX2 "The Land Beyond the Magic Mirror".