Record of Lodoss War

Record of Lodoss War (ロードス島戦記) is a franchise of fantasy novels by Ryo Mizuno based on the work he originally created for a world called Forcelia as a rules-free setting for role-playing games (RPGs). There have since been multiple manga, anime and computer game adaptations, several of which have been translated into English. The plots generally follow the conventions and structure of the RPG systems including Dungeons & Dragons and Sword World RPG, in which several characters of distinct types undertake a specific quest.

Origins
Record of Lodoss War was created in 1986 by Group SNE as a Dungeons & Dragons "replay" serialized in the Japanese magazine Comptiq from September 1986 to September 1989 issues, though they also used the setting with other systems such as Tunnels & Trolls and RuneQuest. Replays are not novels, but transcripts of RPG sessions, meant to both hold the interest of readers and convey the events that took place. They have proven to be popular, even to those who do not play role-playing games but are fans of fiction (including fantasy fiction). Similar to light novels, many characters and parties in replays have become popular as characters of anime. An example of such a character is the female elf Deedlit in Record of Lodoss War, who was played by science fiction novelist Hiroshi Yamamoto during the RPG sessions.

The popularity of the Record of Lodoss War replays was such that the Dungeon Master Ryo Mizuno started to adapt the story into some of the earliest Japanese-language domestic high fantasy novels in 1988.

When the replay series went on to become a trilogy, Group SNE had to abandon the Dungeons & Dragons rules and create their own game, dubbed Record of Lodoss War Companion and released in 1989. All three parts of the replay series were eventually published as paperbacks by Kadokawa Shoten from 1989 to 1991:


 * RPG Replay Record of Lodoss War I (ＲＰＧリプレイ ロードス島戦記I) (November 1989) — Parn's party, retake played according to the Record of Lodoss War Companion rules and incorporating elements from the novelization
 * RPG Replay Record of Lodoss War II (ＲＰＧリプレイ ロードス島戦記II) (September 1990) — Orson's party, retake played according to the Record of Lodoss War Companion rules and incorporating elements from the novelization
 * RPG Replay Record of Lodoss War III (ＲＰＧリプレイ ロードス島戦記III) (July 1991) — Spark's party, played according to the Record of Lodoss War Companion rules

Three prequel Legend of Lodoss replay volumes based on a draft by Ryo Mizuno, written by Hiroshi Takayama and Group SNE, with illustrations by Retsu Tateo and Tatsumi Minegishi were published. Before being published as light novels, the RPG replays were serialized in Comptiq under the title TRPG Magazine Live New Record of Lodoss War: Demon Wars (TRPG誌上ライブ 新ロードス島戦記 魔神戦争).


 * RPG Replay Legend of Lodoss 1: Invasion of the Demons (ＲＰＧリプレイ ロードス島伝説１ 魔神襲来) (November 1994)
 * RPG Replay Legend of Lodoss 2: Summoning of the Demons (ＲＰＧリプレイ ロードス島伝説２ 魔神召喚) (October 1995)
 * RPG Replay Legend of Lodoss 3: Subjugation of the Demons (ＲＰＧリプレイ ロードス島伝説３ 魔神討伐) (October 1996)

Two other replay volumes have been published later:
 * RPG Replay Record of Lodoss War: Spark, the Heroic Knight (RPGリプレイ ロードス島戦記 英雄騎士スパーク) (April 1998)
 * Record of Lodoss War RPG Replay: The Wandering Nobleman’s Endless Journey Home (ロードス島戦記RPGリプレイ 放浪貴公子のはてしない家路) (October 2020)

Mizuno's novelizations were published by Kadokawa Shoten between 1988 and 1993, and followed by two collections of short stories in 1995, High Elf Forest: Deedlit's Tale and The Black Knight, all with illustrations done by Yutaka Izubuchi. The Black Knight was re-released in 1998, with illustrations by Masato Natsumoto. The first volume of the novelizations, The Grey Witch, was published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment in 2018.


 * Record of Lodoss War 1: The Grey Witch (ロードス島戦記 灰色の魔女) (April 1988 (Kadokawa Bunko) / August 1994 (Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko))
 * Record of Lodoss War 2: The Fire Demon (ロードス島戦記2 炎の魔神) (February 1989)
 * Record of Lodoss War 3: The Demon Dragon of Fire Dragon Mountain (Part 1) (ロードス島戦記3 火竜山の魔竜(上)) (January 1990)
 * Record of Lodoss War 4: The Demon Dragon of Fire Dragon Mountain (Part 2) (ロードス島戦記4 火竜山の魔竜(下)) (June 1990)
 * Record of Lodoss War 5: The Kings' Holy War (ロードス島戦記5 王たちの聖戦) (February 1991)
 * Record of Lodoss War 6: The Holy Knights of Lodoss (Part 1) (ロードス島戦記6 ロードスの聖騎士(上)) (November 1991)
 * Record of Lodoss War 7: The Holy Knights of Lodoss (Part 2) (ロードス島戦記7 ロードスの聖騎士(下)) (March 1993)
 * High Elf Forest: Deedlit's Tale (ハイエルフの森 ディードリット物語) (February 1995)
 * The Black Knight (黒衣の騎士) (July 1995 / September 1998)

The first volume forms the basis for the first eight episodes of the Record of Lodoss War original video animation (OVA) series, as well as both Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch  manga series (by Yoshihiko Ochi and Tomomasa Takuma, respectively). The second was also adapted in manga form by Ayumi Saito, and as a four-CD audio drama. The final five episodes of the OVA series are loosely based on the story told across the third and fourth novels and, having caught up with the ongoing novelization at that point, feature an original ending. The Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight TV series is a more faithful adaptation of volumes three to four and six to seven, with the manga drawn by Masato Natsumoto also adapting from volumes six and seven. The first of two collections of short stories was adapted into the Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit's Tale manga series by Setsuko Yoneyama.

Mizuno later went on to pen other series of novels: an adaptation of Legend of Lodoss (ロードス島伝説) prequel replays (1994 to 2002, 5 volumes and an extra volume, illustrated by Akihiro Yamada) and sequel novels Crystania: Legend of the Drifters (漂流伝説クリスタニア) (1993 to 1996, 4 volumes, illustrated by Satoshi Urushihara, part of Legend of Crystania setting) and Record of Lodoss War Next Generation (新ロードス島戦記) (1998 to 2006, 6 volumes and a prelude volume, illustrated by Yutaka Izubuchi (first editions of the prelude and the first novel) and Haruhiko Mikimoto); Legend of Lodoss was also adapted into the Record of Lodoss War: The Lady of Pharis manga series by Akihiro Yamada and Legend of Crystania was adapted into a radio drama, a manga by Akira Himekawa, an anime film, and OVA series. In 2019, he began writing a novel sequel series Record of Lodoss War: The Crown of the Covenant (ロードス島戦記 誓約の宝冠). The new series takes place 100 years after the events of the original series, with Deedlit as the lead protagonist. It is illustrated by Hidari and was adapted into a manga by Atsushi Suzumi.

Legend of Lodoss

 * Legend of Lodoss 1: Prince of the Fallen Land (ロードス島伝説 亡国の王子) (August 1994)
 * Legend of Lodoss 2: Knight of the Sky (ロードス島伝説 2 天空の騎士) (July 1996)
 * Legend of Lodoss: Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon (ロードス島伝説 太陽の王子、月の姫) (November 1996) (Two short stories, later included in Eternal Returner)
 * Legend of Lodoss 3: The Glorious Champion (ロードス島戦記3 栄光の勇者) (April 1997)
 * Legend of Lodoss 4: The Legendary Hero (ロードス島戦記4 伝説の英雄) (March 1998)
 * Legend of Lodoss: Eternal Returner (ロードス島伝説 永遠の帰還者) (December 1999) (Four short stories)
 * Legend of Lodoss 5: Saint of the Supreme God (ロードス島戦記5 至高神の聖女) (October 2002)

Record of Lodoss War Next Generation

 * Lord of the Dark Island: Record of Lodoss War Next Generation Prelude (暗黒の島の領主　新ロードス島戦記序章) (May 1998) (Later included in Inheritors of the Flame)
 * Record of Lodoss War Next Generation 1: The Demon Beast of the Forest of Darkness (新ロードス島戦記１ 闇の森の魔獣) (August 1998 / July 2001)
 * Record of Lodoss War Next Generation ～Prelude～: Inheritors of the Flame (新ロードス島戦記～序章～炎を継ぐ者) (May 1999 / June 2002)
 * Record of Lodoss War Next Generation 2: Rebirth of the Evil Empire (新ロードス島戦記２ 新生の魔帝国) (March 2001)
 * Record of Lodoss War Next Generation 3: The Evil Black Dragon (新ロードス島戦記３ 黒翼の邪竜) (November 2001)
 * Record of Lodoss War Next Generation 4: Fated Demonic Ship (新ロードス島戦記４ 運命の魔船) (October 2004)
 * Record of Lodoss War Next Generation 5: Unholy Apocalypse I (新ロードス島戦記５ 終末の邪教（上）) (October 2005)
 * Record of Lodoss War Next Generation 6: Unholy Apocalypse II (新ロードス島戦記６ 終末の邪教（下）) (November 2006)

Plot
Record of Lodoss War recounts the adventures of a youth by the name of Parn, the son of a dishonored knight. Part of his motivation for adventuring is to find out what happened to his father and to restore his family's honor. Despite his inexperience, Parn is considered the leader, who is accompanied by his childhood best friend Etoh, his friend and sometimes advisor Slayn (and later by Slayn's lover Leylia), and his newfound mentor Ghim. They are accompanied by Parn's romantic interest, the high elf Deedlit, who comes from the Forest of No Return seeking an answer to her people's isolationism and an end to what she sees as a slow march to extinction; and a thief named Woodchuck. Throughout the series, Parn comes into contact with friends and foes alike. His allies include King Kashue, King Fahn, Shiris, and Orson; his enemies include Emperor Beld, Ashram, and the evil necromancer Wagnard. Volume two jumps forward by two years and sees Parn and Deedlit participate in a civil war in Flaim on the side of King Kashue. It was adapted into a manga and audio drama with the cast of the OVA.

Volumes three to seven, all but volume five adapted into the anime Chronicles of the Heroic Knight, continue the adventures of Parn for the first eight episodes, but then focus on Spark and his adventures to complete a quest tasked onto him to protect Neese, the daughter of Slayn and Leylia. He is accompanied by his own cast of friends in the form of Leaf, Garrack, Greevus, Aldo, and Ryna. The television series shares similarities with the plot of the OVA, such as Wagnard seeking to kidnap Neese in order to use her as a reagent for the resurrection of Naneel, a priestess and the Avatar of Kardis who was slain by Leylia's mother, the high priestess Neese a short time after the battle with the demonic god. Leylia was the reincarnation of Naneel, but when she lost her virginity she was no longer capable of being the doorway or reagent needed to unseal Naneel. Spark and his fiance Neese remain the protagonists of the Record of Lodoss War Next Generation series and become the rulers of Marmo after Ashram´s group vacates the island.

The Legend of Crystania setting places the former villain Ashram into the seat of a would-be hero who is placed under a spell by an "animal god" of Crystania. One of the prominent characters is Pirotess, his dark elven lover, as she tries to find a way to free him from the clutches of the spell and restore him to his living self.

Anime

 * 1990 Record of Lodoss War (ロードス島戦記) 13 episode OVA produced by Madhouse
 * 1998 Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight (ロードス島戦記 英雄騎士伝) 27 episode TV series produced by AIC
 * 1998 Welcome to Lodoss Island! (ようこそロードス島へ!) 3-part parodic movie produced by AIC
 * 2014 Record of Lodoss War: Is That Delicious? (召しませロードス島戦記 〜それっておいしいの?〜) 13 episode parodic TV series produced by Studio Deen and Studio Hibari

In North America, the original OVA series and the TV series had both been released through Central Park Media on VHS and on DVD. The OVA and TV series were slated for a Blu-ray release through Media Blasters, but they had dropped all plans to re-release the series. On April 14, 2017, Funimation announced their license to both the OVA series and the Chronicles of the Heroic Knight TV series for the United States. Subsequently, they released the OVA on both Blu-ray and DVD and the TV series on DVD in one set on July 18, 2017.

Manga

 * 1991 The Lady of Pharis (ファリスの聖女) 2 volumes, art by Akihiro Yamada, released in English by CPM Manga
 * 1993 The Demon of Flame (炎の魔神) 2 volumes, art by Ayumi Saito
 * 1994 The Grey Witch (灰色の魔女) 3 volumes, art by Yoshihiko Ochi, released in English by CPM Manga
 * 1995 Legend of Crystania: First-time Adventurers (レジェンド・オブ・クリスタニア　はじまりの冒険者たち) 3 volumes, art by Akira Himekawa
 * 1995 Welcome to Lodoss Island! (ようこそロードス島へ!) 3 volumes, four panel parodic manga, art by Hyakuyashiki Rei, first two volumes released in English by CPM Manga
 * 1997 Chronicles of the Heroic Knight (英雄騎士伝) 6 volumes, art by Masato Natsumoto, released in English by CPM Manga
 * 1998 Deedlit's Tale (ディードリット物語) 2 volumes, art by Setsuko Yoneyama, released in English by CPM Manga
 * 2013 The Grey Witch (灰色の魔女) 3 volumes, art by Tomomasa Takuma
 * 2019 The Crown of the Covenant (誓約の宝冠) 3 volumes, art by Atsushi Suzumi, released in English by Udon Entertainment, the first and third volumes of the English edition featured a Barnes & Noble exclusive cover

Related media

 * 'Legend of Crystania' (はじまりの冒険者たち レジェンド・オブ・クリスタニア), a series of RPGs and novels adapted to film, OVAs and manga that focus on Crystania, the land to which Ashram and Pirotess migrated after the Lodoss series.
 * Rune Soldier, a more comedic series from the same creator set in the same world as Record of Lodoss War, but on the Alecrast continent. The third series of Rune Soldier novels crossed over with Record of Lodoss War and features Parn and Deedlit.

Role-playing games

 * 1989 Record of Lodoss War Companion (ロードス島戦記 コンパニオン)
 * 1991 Record of Lodoss War Companion 2 (ロードス島戦記 コンパニオン2)
 * 1994 Record of Lodoss War Companion 3 (ロードス島戦記 コンパニオン3)
 * 1995 Lodoss Island RPG: Basic Rules (ロードス島RPG ベーシックルール)
 * 1996 Lodoss Island RPG: Expert Rules (ロードス島RPG エキスパートルール)
 * 1998 Sword World RPG: Lodoss Island World Guide (ソード・ワールドRPG ロードス島ワールドガイド) - supplemental material for Sword World RPG
 * 2018 Record of Lodoss War RPG (ロードス島戦記RPG) - 30th anniversary revised edition
 * 2019 Record of Lodoss War RPG Supplement: Demon Wars / War of the Destroyer’s Resurrection (ロードス島戦記RPGサプリメント『魔神戦争・邪神戦争編』)

Soundtracks and music

 * Record of Lodoss War: Original Soundtrack 1 (VICL-00051 and SLP-85)
 * Record of Lodoss War: Original Soundtrack 2 (VICL-00114)
 * Record of Lodoss War: Original Soundtrack 3 (VICL-00267)
 * Record of Lodoss War: Minstrels' Memory of Lodoss (VICL-8090)
 * Record of Lodoss War: Arrange Sound (VDR-28071)
 * Symphonic House from Record of Lodoss War II Arrange Sound (VICL-8060)
 * Record of Lodoss War TV: Maaya Sakamoto - Kiseki No Umi single (VIDL-30202)
 * Record of Lodoss War TV: Original Soundtrack 1 (VICL-60243)
 * Record of Lodoss War TV: Original Soundtrack 2 (VICL-60244)
 * Record of Lodoss War TV: Original Soundtrack 3 (VICL-60246)
 * Welcome to Lodoss Island! (KICA-400)

Video games
Role-playing games:
 * Record of Lodoss War - Haiiro no Majo (PC 98, MSX, X68000, PC Engine) 1989
 * Record of Lodoss War 2 - Goshiki no Maryu (PC 98, X68000) 1991
 * Record of Lodoss War (PC Engine) 1992
 * Record of Lodoss War 2 (PC Engine) 1994
 * Crystania: Legend of the Gods’ King (PC 98) 1995
 * Record of Lodoss War - Eiyuu Sensou (Sega Mega-CD) 1994
 * Record of Lodoss War (SNES) 1995, translated by fans in 2014
 * Record of Lodoss War: Advent of Cardice (Dreamcast) 2000, released in English
 * Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (Windows & consoles, 2D Metroidvania) 2021, released in English

Other video games:
 * Record of Lodoss War - Fukujindzuke (PC 98, X68000) 1989
 * Record of Lodoss War - Fukujindzuke 2 (PC 98) 1992
 * Record of Lodoss War - Fukujindzuke 3 (PC 98) 1993
 * Record of Lodoss War - Eiyuu Kishiden (Game Boy Color) 1998

Compilations:
 * Record of Lodoss War - Fukujindzuke & Haiiro no Majo (MSX) 1993
 * Record of Lodoss War Chronicle (Windows, compilation of nine previous computer and SNES games) 2022

Canceled or shut down games:
 * Record of Lodoss War: Successor of the Legend (browser-based trading cards game) closed beta released in 2012
 * Record of Lodoss War Online (computer MMORPG) 2017, released in English, shut down in 2019.

GameOn released an online game for PC, Record of Lodoss War Online in April 2017 and closed it on October 31, 2019. Ryo Mizuno, the novelist and co-creator of the franchise, served as a supervisor on the development of the game. The game was also released outside Japan.

Radio drama

 * The Demons of Wind and Flame (風と炎の魔神), released in 4 CD collections. Based on the plot of the second novel which was once supposed to become a second OVA series, but that project was put on hold.

Books on tape
The first three are original stories.
 * The Bewitched Stone (幻惑の魔石), side story of novel 1
 * The Mage of Destiny (宿命の魔術師), side story of novel 3
 * The Forest of the Magic Beasts (魔獣の森), side story of novel 3, and an episode featuring the mage and magic beast tamer Elena of Alania
 * The Traveler from the Spirit World (妖精界からの旅人), based on Deedlit's Tale
 * The Forest that was Forced Open (...開かれた森), based on Deedlit's Tale
 * The Mist of Vengeance (復讐の霧), based on Deedlit's Tale

Reception
The novel series has sold over 10 million copies in Japan.

Australian magazine Hyper reviewed Chronicles of the Heroic Knight in 1999. They rated it 8.5 out of 10.