Acknowledgements

Firstly, of course, I must express my heartfelt thanks to all of the creators and publishers of Dungeons and Dragons over the years,  and in particular Wizards of the Coast, whose work I hope has been showcased here.

The main idea upon which Orn is based was suggested by the late and much-missed Ken Brown around 1978-9. For the purposes of this campaign, I have substantially modified his original notion. 

Ken also developed an early idea of specialisation for magic users (now Wizards), which is encountered here and there through the campaign.

The idea of the symbiotic relationship between the Bullywugs and the Giant Water Lilies on the Long Lake is taken from the short story 'Grandpa', by James H. Schmitz (First published in Astounding Science Fiction, 1955).

Crest Cats were introduced by myself into a campaign in 1977. They are based on creatures from the Telzey Amberdon series of stories  - also by James H Schmitz - and most fully described in the story ‘Novice’ (Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact, June 1962).  They were also described in an entry I wrote for the White Dwarf ‘Fiend Factory’, edited by the late Albie Fiore (White Dwarf #37, January 1983).  

Fiore also compiled crosswords for The Guardian under the name ‘Taupi’ – hence the appearance of the giant Mole creature in Orn.  Another Guardian compiler commemorated on Orn is the late Rev. John Graham – who published wonderful crosswords as ‘Araucaria’.

The Cateagle is stolen wholesale from E.E. Smith’s Lensman series. "For the oglon, or Radeligian cateagle, is one of the fiercest, most intractable beasts of prey in existence; it assays more concentrated villainy and more sheerly vicious ferocity to the gram than any other creature known to science. It is not a bird, but a winged mammal; and is armed not only with the gripping, tearing talons of the eagle, but also with the heavy, cruel, needle-sharp fangs of the wildcat. And its mental attitude toward all other forms of life is anti-social to the nth degree." (Gray Lensman, Ch.7).

The Koboldi Liberation Front, or KLF, were created by Andy Crook in the late 1970s (at the time,  I think, called the Koboldi Democratische Republic).  I have expanded somewhat on the notion here to align with D&D 5e, and to provide a better fit for Orn.

Squirrl the were-squirrel, who appears in the Eccles Incursion, is an homage to the Marvel superhero character Squirrel Girl (Murray and Ditko, first appearance Marvel Super Heroes vol 2,#8, Winter 1991).

The Triffids found on Orn and in the grounds of Eccles are, of course, taken from John Wyndham's novel The Day of the Triffids (1951).

The appearance of Bolsano Maglump - although not his behaviour - is intended to echo that of Poul Anderson's character Nicholas van Rijn, from his Technic History stories. See eg Trader to the Stars (1964).

Albeit I have used many of these ideas in the creation of Orn, and in the wider campaign, all errors, mistakes, offences against common sense and poorly worked-out gameplay remain my own responsibility, for which I wholeheartedly apologise.

Further acknowledgements will appear here as the World of Orn unfolds...