Very Best of Greyhawkery

Welcome again Greyhawk lords and ladies! Today I'd like to point out some of my best posts from the past. I have a whole subpage dedicated to the Best of Greyhawkery though. So this post will be my picks for ten of the Very Best of Greyhawkery. Let's get this started, in no particular order. Enjoy!

Virtuosos of Villainy: Eli Tomorast is my love letter to this vile wizard of the Maure Castle fame. Few villains in my home games have been as hated as Tomorast. His distinctive demon claws kind of make him stand out as well. The art for Tomorast by Kalman Andrasofszky, James Ryman and Wayne Reynolds is the best. I also recently learned that Paizo publisher Erik Mona himself owns the original cover painting of Eli from Dungeon #112. Jealous! I wish I had done more Villainy articles like this, but really few ever stand the test of time as well as Eli.

New Greyhawk Map: South Seas is to date, my masterpiece in cartography. This map as far as I can tell is the most downloaded and talked about on my blog. No wonder why, there are few like it. I made the South Seas map for my long-running pirate-themed Sea Princes campaign, but the whole effort was mostly research over actual map making skill. I took what we knew of the inset map from the 1983 Glossography, and combined it with the extended Hepmonaland from the Scarlet Brotherhood sourcebook. Then I really tied it into current Greyhawk by adding all the new locations from the Savage Tide AP such as Sasserine, Scuttlecove, and yes, thanks to Gary Holian the Isle of Dread to the far southwest. Could have I done more with this map? Of course! Artistically its just a line drawing with some clever clip art and layers to give it an old nautical chart look. I encourage anyone to modify, improve, or expand upon this map.

Sword of Kas Through Editions is a short, but effective article that I researched back in 2015. Little was I to know it would end up being one of my top ten most viewed posts. The Sword of Kas is one of those iconic items from D&D so I'm sure people often come across this post in their searches. Magic swords is a popular subject anyways on this blog, but this one beat them all.

Greyhawk Wizards: The Pentad is a short, but inspired post that I did on a hypothetical all-female wizard group ala the Circle of Eight. Greyhawk is full of wizards (or lich-wizards), and besides Iggwilv, it's a male dominated world. I had fun piecing this team together, especially as an attempt to bring Ed Greenwood's creation from the Wizards Three articles, Rautheene, back into the setting since she bears no mention anywhere else.

5 Reasons to Visit the Bandit Kingdoms is the first in a series that I hit upon in 2015 as a way to introduce adventure ideas in the major areas of the Flanaess to new DMs who might otherwise have no idea what to use or where to find it. I'm happy to see this similar effort done to all the nations of the game setting through Canonfire's Touring the Flanaess postcard community project.

Rulers of Ull: Ulzhak the Golden and Kuchakar the Dragon Slayer is two of my favorite home-spun creations for Ull, but I'm counting this as one item. I had intended to do a story on all the rulers of Ull, but that is a tiring exercise I'll save for another day. Instead I did the two that to me, were the most action packed and heroic. These historical rulers were invented as a way to show even lowly Ull can develop some heroes, and that there is epic quests to be had there as well.

Pirate Fleets of Greyhawk is one of my best articles for Greyhawkery, and this has made an appearance in Oerth Journal as well. In my opinion, my Sea Princes material is significantly better than my Ull series, because I've actually ran my friends through this in multiple linked campaigns. The pirate fleets above most of my pirate articles informs best what the factions and political climate of the South Seas is like. Check it out!

Ring of Five Questions: Creighton Broadhurst is the first of an amazing run of interviews that I did from 2011-2012. Creighton is one of my favorite LG authors back in the day (he made Rary the Traitor cool again) and he was an occasional visitor to our nightly Greyhawk chats. He was kind enough to be my first "industry" person involved in the blog. I would go on to pose my custom set of 5 Greyhawk questions to other authors and artists. More recently I resurrected the Ring of Five for all Greyhawk fandom to share their favorite answers regarding our shared hobby.

Furyondy-Iuz War Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 is part of my epic 2E "Greyhawk Wars" campaign that spanned 24 in-game years. Back in the 90's I kept quite good notes and wrote battle reports on our campaign and such. It all culminated in the final war against Iuz which was probably inspired by Tolkien's the War of the Rings. Check out these battle reports, perhaps they will inspire other DMs to wage war on the Flanaess like good old Gygax probably intended!

Greyhawk A-Z: Spells is not the even close to the first in my A-Z series, but its the most impressive in my opinion. Anyone who is well read on published Greyhawk could easily put together an A-Z list of names, places, or items, but Greyhawk specific spells? That was such an undertaking that I spent hours researching books and magazines to fill the list, and I still had to cheat a few times. Then I did a second A-Z list cause I had so much left over. 

That's all folks! Be sure to check out the Best of Greyhawkery page link at the top where I will hopefully someday have everything categorized for your convenience. Until the Star Break!

Cultists Cultists and More Cultists!

Welcome Greyhawkers! It's a good day because I have new comics! Everyone's favorite characters from my old Greyhawk comic strips is the Cultists of Tharizdun. Man those two have had some wacky adventures. Well, one of my idle projects has been producing more Cultist comic strips, but the caveat is that these comics are what I term "Dinosaur Comics". No not because the subject is old, because they pay homage to the long running webcomic of the same name that uses recycled art each episode and instead changes the text. Lazy yes, but it's genius as well. Below is some of my new Cultist strips, you'll quickly notice they are numbered. Someday I'll have a full-run of them, but for now the rest you'll have to discover in the pages of Oerth Journal each issue, starting with the first two strips featured in OJ #34. Until then, enjoy the comics!

Old Greyhawk Ads in Dragon

Greetings all and welcome back to Greyhawkery! As I write this post, we are going through another Virtual Gary Con 2021, and the gaming and streaming for the World of Greyhawk has never been more successful. While the community games into the future, I've been nostalgically looking back to the past to muse on how far this setting has come. My favorite source is the pages of Dragon where one can see the evolution and even launch of the products we all now take for granted. Sit back and read some clipped advertisements I found from this hallowed magazine. Enjoy!

I think it's safe to say Saga of Old City is Gygax's best and first novel set in Greyhawk. The Gord series held a lot of promise as it came out around the time D&D novels was red hot, especially the Dragonlance series. Because of this, Saga got a big push back in winter 1984/1985. This full page, color ad was evocative enough to grab readers.

In winter of 1986, Gygax put out his second novel in the Gord series with Artifact of Evil. It's too bad that he would have to finish the series post-TSR. Look at that retail price!

Here's an old school ad from Dragon #37. Again, Gary went all out with a full color ad in his usually all black & white magazine. To give us a taste of the Greyhawk Folio cover would've been a treatment back in 1980.

In contrast, this ad in Dragon #80 for the updated 1983 World of Greyhawk boxed set is disappointingly small, black and white and just has a nice blurb to hook you into buying it. I scoured the back issues for a full page color ad of this boxed set and couldn't find it. If anyone knows, let me know. I assume if one already had the Folio, this small ad would be enough to remind you. I had neither Dragon #80 nor the Folio. It is merely fate that I'm here today as a lifelong Greyhawk gamer.

This ad from Dragon #94 in 1985 is fun one. G1-2-3 Against the Giants is one of the first modules I ever owned, but damn if I had saw this ad, well I could've had that mod and even more if I just bought a hardback D&D book. I highly doubt a sale like this will happen again. 

This blurb is from the coming soon section of Dragon #112. What is shocking to me about this ad, is that the Queen of the Spiders was supposedly linked to the Temple of Elemental Evil and Slave Lords series?!? That's an adventure path on steroids. I cannot imagine running one PC group through 15 modules. I know there will some Greyhawk grognards who eschew this proposed storyline. Perhaps the ad department of TSR just wanted to push sales of the modules by tying them all together. D&D players are collectors and would have to get an entire story. Maybe they were right, because as we saw in 2E going forward, storylines were not as closely tied together so some inevitably ended up more popular than others. 

Speaking of the Temple of Elemental Evil, this last ad here is from Dragon#100 (coincidentally the issue that debuted Gord) and is for the compiled T1-4 TOEE super-module that is referenced above. Again, the ad is black & white, but it is well made and much more evocative. It takes hints of the gargoyles on Keith Parkinson's amazing cover and throws in some hype text to catch your attention. This would entice me to get the Temple since I never owned the original mods. I am curious that the blurb says this is the "conclusion" to the T-series. Does this Frank Mentzer supermod have story info Gygax's books doesn't? You'll have to get them all to find out I guess!

Mike's Greyhawk Pronunciations

Howdy Greyhawkers! Okay folks, this is a dumb, silly post, but I don't care. So I've been reading old Dragon mags and came across Frank Mentzer's old pronunciation guide article from Dragon #93. After amusing myself with this often joked about and debated topic I reasoned that I have never covered pronunciation on the blog, so why not? 36 years after the fact, let's compare how I pronounce Greyhawk proper names versus the learned Pluffet Smedger. Oh by the way, for those who have never seen the article, it's written as if Mentzer got his info directly from the meta-story author of the Greyhawk Guide, Pluffet Smedger of Rel Mord University. So if Ed Greenwood has Elminster, Frank has Smedger evidently. Check it out:

The learned Dr. Smedger popped in yesterday. And I do mean popped. The sound of teleportation is quite audible at close range - such as just behind one's chair. 

"Pluffie, you twit, I asked you not to do that!," I greeted him politely. "I even rearranged the furniture so you couldn't."

He returned my salutations with his usual grace. "You call that furniture? Besides, you can't confuse me; this place is 'very familiar.' Got a copy of Leadbeater's Astral Plane?" 

"Probably. Check the files."

... 

 A few minutes later, Pluffie returned; apparently his mind was still on Leadbeater. "Just as I thought!" he grumbled, but in the tongue of the Flanaess. "He confuses them utterly." He gestured violently with his wand. I responded in the same language, out of courtesy. "What do you expect? That was written in London, in 1895. You've seen more devas than he has. Please put that wand away." 

He looked startled, and switched to Cammon. "More what? Devas? Your accent is terrible." He was right; I'm not very good with the Flan language. 

"Now that you mention it, could you check a few pronunciations for me?" 

"Gee, I think I might might have to rush off. . ." he said, standing idly and pretending to read my diplomas (rather obvious, even for him; cash is his weak spot). I named a price a bit more generous than is my wont, but then, he still had his wand out. After making several unnecessary remarks about my habits and my heritage, he finally agreed, and dictated the following list to my Scroll of Transcription.

Okay let's get it the pronunciations. I'm only focusing on the Greyhawk specific names (no drow business). First listing in bold is Smedger, anything in parentheses is comments on how I say the word. The notation is all Mentzer, so if you need help to decipher this check out Dragon #93 if you want the full experience. Enjoy!

Aerdi     AYR-dee     (ditto this)

Almor    @L-m0r     (same I'm fairly certain)

Beetu     bee-TOO     (ditto again, and please why is this town even on the list?)

Belissica     be-LISS-i-ka    (I probably do say it that way or BEL-iss-i-ka)    

Blashikmund     BL@SH-ik-mund, or bl@sh-IK-mund    (can't say I've ever tried this one, I'll go #1)

Boccob     BAK-ab    (I've said BO-kob. my whole life, now typing this, that seems absurd *shrug*)

Burneal     BURN-ee-ul    (yup!)

Corusk     K0R-usk    (I'm certain I say it that way, or kor-OOSK when I'm being fancy)

Dimre     DIM-ray (duh)

Erac     E-r@k (no way Pluffet, this is just a clever respelling of Eric/Erik)

Erythnul     e-RITH-nul    (sounds about right)

Fharlanghn     far-LANG-n     (sounds correct, I love saying this name)

Flanaess     fla-NES     (for years I said fla-NAY-ess, but I've gradually warmed to Smedger's way)

Grugach     GROO-gatch     (i think I do say it this way, however not sure why it isn't GROO-gak)

Heironeous     hayr-O-nee-us    (this one changes alot. I think I've mainly said hay-RON-ee-us)

Incabulos    in-K@B-yoo-lus    (this works for me!)    

Iuz    yooz, or EE-uz    (#1, nope, #2, nope.... I am Team EYE-ooz)

Johydee    jo-HY-dee, or johee-DEE    (not sure, I think I say jo-HEE-dee)

Kelanen    KEL-a-nen    (spot on!)

Keoghtom     KEE-o-tum    (this works, but I have said KEE-o-tom most often)

Kyuss     kee-OOS    (nope, I say KY-oos)

Leomund    LEE-o-mund    (Lakofka approved)

Lolth     lalth, or lolth    (#2 for me, definitely not "loth" too)

Mordenkainen     M0R-den-kay-nen    (sounds right I suppose!)

Murlynd     MUR-lind    (ehhh...I think I say it MURL-ind)

Nystul     NY-stul, or NIS-tul    (#2 for me, though I think I like #1 better)

Obad-hai     o-bad-HY    (on the mark)

Oerid     O-rid    (yup)

Oerik    O-rik    (definitely)

Oerth    OYth    (NO! How do you go from O-rid, O-rik, to OYth? It's O-urth. Fight me!)

Otiluke     O-ti-look    (I'm fine with this)

Phaulkon     FAL-kun    (eh, I say fall-KON)

Pholtus     FOL-tus    (yes, this is okay)

Quaal     kwal, or kwayl    (#1 here, but #2 intrigues me, given the feather token association)

Quag     kw@g    (I think I say it this way, unsure)

Tenser    TEN-ser    (right on)

Tharizdun     thar-IZ-dun    (This sounds right, but I might say thar-iz-DOON when being spooky)

Vecna     VEK-na    (kinda hard to mess up)

Zuggtmoy     ZUG-tmoy (weird one, I think me and my friends say ZUG-it-muah, no idea)

Alrighty, that was fun, wish there was more on this list. Here is some bonus ones of my own in case you're curious:

Ull    UHL    (not OOL)

Nyr Dyv    near div    (yeah, yeah)

Furyondy    fur-ee-ON-dee  

Geoff    jeff    (though for years I said GEE-off)

Zeif    ZIEF    (though recently I'm won over to ZEEF)

Verbobonc    vair-BO-bon (silent 'c')

Adri    AY-dree    (though I don't discourage AH-dree)

Suel    SOO-ul    (sorry Rich haha)

Rao    roww    (said RAY-o for a long time)

Wastri    WASTE-ree    (i mean WAST-ree is good, but the word waste makes him seem awful)

Baklunish    bak-LOON-ish    (decent?)

Iggwilv    EEG-wilve    (yup, that's it for me)

Ethereal GaryCon 2021

Howdy Greyhawk faithful! Just a quick post to remind that next week is Gary Con 2021. Unfortunately it's virtual yet again due to the pandemic, but the Ethereal version goes on! Registration has already begun, so if you haven't got your tickets for these virtual games, hurry up before they are all taken. Mind you if your favorite games are all taken, many Greyhawk games will still be streamed live on the conventions dedicated Greyhawk channel. Look for the schedule of events on the Con website. Way to represent! Check out the streams here:

GaryCon Greyhawk

I had intended to go to the physical version of Gary Con this year, and so by converting my badge to the virtual con, I got some nice swag out of the deal. Look here.

The dice are oversized and printed bold for old eyes like mine. There is no d20 though, the 20-sider is actually a double d10. Weird, but okay! The Gary Con tin has a nice set of d6's. You can never have too many of those. The book Cyclopean Deeps was the bonus item. Every swag box has a different book from what I've seen. This one is Cthulhuian, so good to have. The best part is the Dungeoneers Survival Quill. It does it all, writes, stylus, measures, has a built in level, and more I'm sure. Okay that's for all. Have fun at Ethereal Gary Con, and I'll chat with you all then!

Greyhawk Deity Weapons

Hail Greyhawk Lords and Ladies! A while back I did a post where I made 3.5e stats for the demigod Earth Dragon that was first seen in Slavers. My source for 3rd edition deity stat blocks, divine ranks and powers was Deities and Demigods (2002). I had to come back to this book, because I noticed the "core" deities in this book, which are Greyhawk gods, were each given uniquely named magic weapons, many that I believe have never been mentioned in any other sources, including Sean Reynolds Core Beliefs articles in Dragon during that same edition. That said, here is a listing of these named relics in case a crafty DM might be tempted to drop one of these items in a treasure (and see how long the PCs can keep it). The ones that are already well-known I'll list for comparison to their AD&D versions. Enjoy!

The Staff of Boccob: This staff combines the features of a staff of the magi, a staff of power, and a +5 defending quarterstaff. 

    In 1e/2e, it's called the Staff of the Archmage. It is still a staff of the magi, and instead of a staff of power, it has the powers of a wand of conjuration. Of course for Boccob, a staff is just for flair. His best mode of attack is casting the disc of concordant opposition which blasts foes into nothingness.

Jenevier: The favorite bow of Ehlonna, goddess of the woodlands. Jenevier is a +5 mighty, holy composite longbow (+9 STR bonus) made of pale white wood. 

    Jenevier is cool and all, but in AD&D Ehlonna has no named bow, but her bow doesn't matter because she never misses with one. Known for her magic quivers, Ehlonna carries +3 arrows, arrows of slaying, a +4  dagger, and a +6 defending longword. Damn, she is ready for battle!

Agony: This is the weapon of Erythnul, god of slaughter. Agony is a +5 chaotic, unholy, morningstar, whose head has a demon's face on one side and a boar on the other. It also has the unique "frightful" power. It makes an unearthly wailing noise whenever the wielder attacks. This is a sonic, mind-affecting fear effect.

    Strangely in AD&D, Erythnul's stone-headed mace is not a magic item, but it does have a fear inducing wail. Brutal enough I guess.

Traveler's Friend: This is the walking stick of Fharlanghn. It serves as a +5 defending, speed quarterstaff.

    In AD&D Fharlanghn has an iron-shod staff of no particular name or note, except that he never misses with it. His main mode of combat however should be the Oerth Disk, which has so many functions I could do a whole post on it alone.

Justicebringer: This is the longsword (3e era, shrug) of Heironeous, god of valor. Justicebringer is a +5 defending, holy, ghost touch longsword.

    Heresy! As we all know, in AD&D the invincible one uses a battle axe. His +4 battleaxe has no name though, and interestingly it can shrink to 1/20th size at command, so he can hide it on him while in disguise.

Executioner: This is Hextor, the god of war's "favorite" weapon. Executioner is a +5 lawful, unholy, ghost touch light flail.

    Executioner is cute, but come on, a light flail is his favorite? In the original AD&D source, Hextor (who has 6 arms by the way) carries two spiked bucklers, a +2 fork, a +3 scimitar, a +3 morning star, and yes, a +2 flail. None of them have names, so I guess he breaks out Executioner on special occasions.

Kelmar: This is the famous sword of Kord, god of strength. Kelmar is a +5 dragon bane greatsword. The sword is intelligent, and chaotic good. It's special purpose is to slay lawful dragons.

    In AD&D, Kelmar is an "electrified" +5 intelligent sword that among many powers, does indeed slay dragons, with a vorpal quality. Snicker-snack!

Lifecutter: The only weapon carried by Nerull, god of death. Lifecutter is a +5 brilliant energy, keen, speed scythe. It resembles a gnarled staff of ebony with a curved blade of energy. 

    Okay Lifecutter is pretty spot on here, but the AD&D version is obviously nastier. It's just a +5 scythe, but it causes instant death on a failed save, among other side effects. Don't mess with the reaper.

Stormstouch: This is the staff of Obad-hai, god of nature. Stormstouch is a +5 defending, shock burst, speed, icy burst quarterstaff.

    More heresy. Obad-hai's nickname is the Shalm. In AD&D he carries the Shalmstaff. This staff may not be as offensive minded as Stormstouch, but its a +3 quarterstaff that he can summon to his hand instantly, allow him to walk tirelessly without food or water, plus animals will not harm Obad-hai, and plants move out of his way. Shalmstaff wins.

Swiftstrike: The main weapon of Olidammara, god of rogues and music. Switftstrike is a +5 chaotic, keen, speed rapier.

    In AD&D Olidammara isn't really interested in fighting it seems. His main item is a stringed instrument, the Kanteel of the Oldest and he has a bunch of defensive items. No mention of a rapier, much less any specific weapon.

Sunscepter: The weapon of Pelor, god of sun and strength. Sunscepter is a +5 flaming, disruption heavy mace. 

    Pelor is never really detailed in previous sources, so Sunscepter is a delicious addition to lore. Pelor isn't messing around either (unlike Hextor) by carrying a heavy mace. I'm surprised his mace doesn't have a light power though.

The Mace of St. Cuthbert: This famous weapon is a major artifact. It acts as a +5 disruption, holy, lawful heavy mace. It can cast searing light.

    The Mace is a classic item, its been adapted in all editions. In AD&D, at its base, its a +5 mace of disruption that does 1 INT damage on a crit. Ouch! By the way, Cuthbert also totes a regular bronzewood cudgel that is +3 and does morningstar damage. Thwack!

Afterthought: This is side-weapon of the arch-lich Vecna, god of secrets. Afterthought is a +5 ghost touch, wounding, unholy dagger. 

    Vecna is best known for his Eye and Hand of course. He is an archmage that can cast virtually any spell in the PHB, so why does he need a weapon? I guess to toy with mortals? Afterthought is just that, and for that, I like it!

Discretion: This weapon is carried by Wee Jas, goddess of magic and death. Discretion is a +5 lawful. ghost touch, keen dagger.

    (correction) Lastly, Wee Jas was given stats in Dragon #88, in the Gods of the Suel Pantheon series by Len Lakofka, but beyond listed weapon damage for what we can assume is a dagger, she does not possess a special dagger, named or otherwise (thank you Armitage). Much like Vecna, Wee Jas can throw any spell imaginable so a weapon seems pointless except for show. Discretion is aptly named and very stabby. I approve! 

2E Greyhawk Campaign: The High Ring

Welcome again Greyhawkers! For those who have been following the blog for a long time, you will know I've been digging through my old DM notes and posting material from my long-lasting "silver age" 2nd edition Greyhawk campaign. So far there has been maps, barbarians, magic swords, and many, many wars, all for a campaign that ran in game-time from 576 CY to 638 CY. It was sometime after 629 CY, when Iuz was finally defeated by the forces of good, that I needed a new antagonist for my players. In this post-war phase of my 2E campaign I introduced an idea so radical that it ended up more reviled than the Slave Lords, Vecna, or even Iuz. This brand new power group was called the High Ring, and it would end up backfiring against me spectacularly. Let me explain:

"MAGOCRACY - Government of professional magic-users only."

-Gary Gygax, AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide

The High Ring (a play on the "Circle" of Eight) was an organization of mainly high level wizards, but also consisting of spellcasters including clerics, bards, sages, hedge mages, etc. The idea was that Greyhawk's archmagi tended to drive a lot of events from the shadows, and now that the Flanaess had warred itself to pieces, only their enlightened rule would be able to bring peace. It was essentially an idea that formed out of why Rary would turn traitor during the Greyhawk Wars peace signing. Did he think he could do things better than the world's monarchs? Of course, Rary's a super-genius after all! I'm not exactly sure what the Circle of Eight was up to during this period. They may have been disbanded or dead (usually), but needless to say Mordenkainen, Tenser and the rest aren't involved in this plot, so Rary would need some co-conspirators...

The Triumvirate of the High Ring:

Rary, Archmage of the Bright Lands (W23)

Prince Lakaster of House Garasteth, Winetha (W19)

Kieren Jalucian, Guildmaster of Wizards, City of Greyhawk (W18)

Lakaster and his wizardly council had kept Winetha from being decimated during my many wars in the Great Kingdom. Naturally he would be power hungry enough to join Rary. Jalucian was already in a prominent position of power over mages as well. He never seemed to have aspirations outside Greyhawk though, so I believe Jalucian was influenced by an alignment changing curse. Using their power and influence, the High Ring began a campaign of cultural change, starting in cities of higher learning, then quickly spreading out from there to every nation that wasn't inhabited by barbarians or nomads. By the end of the decade the High Ring was effectively in charge of half the Flanaess, without ever starting a war. This ticked off my players and their characters. They helped defeat Iuz, Ivid, and so forth, then these bookworms came in and stole their thunder. Oh, but it got worse for the PCs. What was the High Ring's platform?

The High Ring stands for:
· Higher learning for those with the potential.
· Those of superior intellect should govern, not just advise. The arts of magic can bring greatest prosperity to warring fiefdoms.
· The pursuit of one’s field of choice to its fullest, under the direction of the High Ring as so to protect their interests.
· Control of the over-abundance of magic items, and spells in the hands of uneducated and reckless people.
· Control of the crafting, trade, and discovery of magic items, and spells.
· Tolerance of priesthoods that are productive, or promote education, and healing. Opposed to warlike, destructive, or evil natured religions.
· Establishment of a social class system, where the common populace will never go hungry, be unemployed, or need to resort to thievery. (those in the upper echelon of the High Ring replace the nobility, who become part of the lower upper class)

The key part here is that my long-running 2E campaign had a TON of magic items and spells (Monty Haul perhaps) thanks in no small part to Greyhawk Ruins, and the City of Greyhawk magic item trade, so now that the PCs were of a level to make their own magic items and custom spells, the DM had lost control. Enter the High Ring. Nothing offends players more than taking away their hard earned magic items. The High Ring instantly became a thorn in their side, and like any good illuminati, they were everywhere.

Membership to the High Ring: The Triumvirate grew successive layers of associated circles by aggressively recruiting every named NPC I could find. Naturally the PCs abstained from this organization sensing something amiss, so the HR claimed the right to censor “freelance” mages as well. It was a wizards guild on steroids. Initially the High Ring opened a few new magic colleges (of my own creation):

· High College, Lopolla
· Scarlet School, Ilshar City (Hesuel Ilshar)
· Brass Hills Tutorium, Bright Lands

Soon, other long-established wizard colleges joined the High Ring (I'm sure I invented half of these colleges by the way):

· Grey League, Dyvers
· University of Magical Arts, Greyhawk
· Collegium of Winetha
· Sagacious Society, Rel Mord
· Blue Tower of Sorcery, Radigast City
· Academy of the Magi, Ekbir
· Institute of Wizardry, Niole Dra

Members received special benefits from any college in the High Ring network. Their influence would extend into any sort of establishment of learning, libraries, sage guilds, bard schools, etc. I can only assume fringe groups like the Seekers or the Silent Ones were absorbed as well. With a continental monopoly over knowledge, the High Ring began to use leverage on local rulers who desperately need their services. Yes, even lowly potion makers suddenly were in high demand. At first the HR mages were the usual tutors, or advisers, then became mayors, council members, and even commanders in armies. Eventually, in an overt play for power, the Triumvirate would force every monarchy to abdicate power to the High Ring, in return for concessions like keeping their gold and palaces. The dominoes began falling fast, because the High Ring had all the magic and were smarter than every one else. Those with magic that were untrustworthy (ahem, the PCs) were harassed and hunted.

The High Ring of course was taken down once the PCs started meddling in the Triumvirate's secret affairs (another story entirely). Sadly, this was at the end of our 2E campaign, and we would soon reboot our campaign with the advent of 3E. The point of this post however, is that my friends hated the High Ring SO MUCH, they got revenge on me years later... 

Fast forward, our 3rd edition campaign is highly successful and has been going on for years without slowing down. I'm running multiple groups on different nights, because we have more players, and there is an insatiable desire to keep playing and get to higher levels. This would culminate into our Epic Greyhawk campaign. Since most of the principle player characters were now above 20th level, they could do whatever they pleased. One goal they all agreed on was that Iuz had to go. I hadn't ran a good war since 2E, so I was on board with this idea. We ran an all day event, of mass combats, daring raids, double-crosses, and an all-out epic battle against the Old One himself. Once the PCs triumphed over the greatest evil in the Flanaess, they sprung their revenge on me...

Yes! My players presented to me a seven page manifesto outlining the organization THEY were starting, the HIGH RING. It wasn't a coincidence, it was the same themed power group I created years prior, but in even more detail and it was now under their control. This time their characters were the highest level on Oerth, so who could stop them? Not the Circle of Eight, not Rary, or any of those guys. At any rate, my favorite part was the official signatures of their characters at the end of the document:

Yes indeed, they beat me to the punch. However, it never occurred to me to bring the High Ring back a second time, that would've been too cruel, but there we go. The Flanaess was brought under peaceful High Ring rule once again, freeing the epic PCs to seek greater power, and even higher levels in the outer planes. That's when they got REAL greedy and it led to their undoing. But that's a tale for another day.