Michael Moorcock's Toad God

[Havard]

Stealer of Souls, first published in Science Fantasy #51 (February 1962) is a short story written by Moorcock featuring Elric. There he introduces Quaolnargn, the Toad God:

K’aarna, who sees himself as a man of peace driven to damn himself by his avaricious love for Yishana, summons the demon Quaolnargn to seek out and destroy Elric.

Elric battles Quaolnargn, who has assumed the form of a giant toad, and nearly has his soul sucked from his body before, in his weakened state, being transported to K’aarna's lair within the castle.

Source: http://www.multiverse.org/wiki/index.ph ... 28story%29

I wonder if Quaolnargn had any influence on the Temple of the Frog? Granted, Moorcock himself may have gotten this idea from CA Smith's Tsathoggua, which I always assumed was the inspiration for Arneson's Frog God, Wastri (Greyhawk) and Stodos of the Frozen Wastes (Mystara).

-Havard

[Rafael]

Most likely, but then again, there's the thing:

We have multiple sources that are very similar - in fact, so similar, that a distinction cannot be made.

My personal bet is on Moorcock, rather than on CAS, though.

[Havard]

Most likely, but then again, there's the thing:

We have multiple sources that are very similar - in fact, so similar, that a distinction cannot be made.

The distinction really isnt that interesting. All of these sources are relevant and can be used for inspiration.

However, my good friend at the Piazza, Ripvanwormer, made the following comment:

In The Bane of the Black Sword by Michael Moorcock, Quaolnargn was just a blind reptilian, soul-eating demon summoned by Theleb K'aarna, not the focus of any cult. It's a nearly mindless, endlessly hungry creature who cannot remain on Elric's plane very long without being overwhelmed by pain. If Quaolnargn is a "toad god" in the Wilderlands, I wonder how it differs from Tsathoggus the Frog God, if at all. They might be two names for the same being.

Although made in the context of the Wilderlands, the same likely applies to Blackmoor. Clark Ashton Smith is easily the inspiration for Moorcock and the Blackmoor Frog God, though sharing the same source they may have similarities.

-Havard

[Rafael]

You're wrong.

That's a false dichotomy, actually. :twisted:

We have no effin' clue where Arneson got such generic tropes from;
thus, everything can be right, and everything can be used for reference.

(Inspiration then again, is a totally different matter - don't I tell oh so frequently that I mainly got into my Blackmoor mood
by reading the Osten Ard novels by Tad Williams?!)

As to CAS, I honestly don't think he was any more of an impact than other authors -
his importance again was likely exaggerated by the reception of the infamous Appendix N.

Actually, I think Poul Anderson wrote something about a frog god cult somewhere, but the bloody bastard wrote 120 novels.
I WILL investigate this, though.

[Rafael]

Actually, I don't disagree with you that much, but I was icing my legs and watching the Scrubs episode when I typed this, and, you know... I like the video. Must make ringtone.

[Havard]

Okay, this was my fault for the way I phrased the question. We need to get away from the which book influenced what in Blackmoor topic. My interest in Frog Gods really has more to do with what I can borrow and insert into Blackmoor than what Arneson read or not.

-Havard

[Rafael]

:mrgreen:

(We need moar smilie packs for the forum, BTW.)

Well, then it's a different matter:

Lately, I find that Lovecraft's stuff is inspiring to me, particularly "The Call of Cthulhu" - the novellette he wrote in 1928.

If I was to display the frogling culture, well, you know how I like to draw upon video games:

There are three classic games where Froglings play an important role, Breath of Fire II, Chrono Trigger, and Zelda - Link's Awakening.

I would likely draw on them most, particularly on Chrono Trigger.

(Rock the Frog's images are all from Chrono Trigger.)

[Havard]

Its a valid interpretation, but I prefer modelling the Froglin after the Deep Ones of Lovecraft's Mythos. That makes the Ashton-Smith approach to the Frog Godeven better. Since they are most commonly adversaries, I prefer having them be scary rather than cute for the most part.

BTW they are Froglin, not Froglings.

Another reason why I like the Clark Asthon-Smith connection is because Ashton-Smiths works are also referenced in Mystara, especially in Gaz3: Principalities of Glantri.

-Havard

[Rafael]

Sure, wasn't Averroigne retrofitted there or something?

Got to say, though, I personally try more modern approaches:

Like, the way the realm of Mer-Man (OMG OMG) is portrayed in Masters of the Universe makes a sensible background for the Froglers.

[tarlyn]

Sure, wasn't Averroigne retrofitted there or something?

Got to say, though, I personally try more modern approaches:

Like, the way the realm of Mer-Man (OMG OMG) is portrayed in Masters of the Universe makes a sensible background for the Froglers.

Masters of the Universe as in He-Man? Sorry, but that makes me smile and my wife just told me to stop laughing HAHAHAAH! You had better not have a She-Ra reference cause I'll laugh so hard I'll pee myself.