A long while back there was a discussion in our weekly Greyhawk chats about the
Azure Sea and that sparked an esoteric question in my head which I thought better explored in length here:
Why the Gem of the Flanaess?
For those not intimately familiar with the setting, the Gem of the Flanaess is the nickname of the
Free City of Greyhawk, the literal central focus and namesake of the
World of Greyhawk.
The City of Greyhawk Boxed Set addresses this exact question in the opening chapter of its gazetteer. Put another way, why is Greyhawk so important in the world and why should you base your campaigns out of it? I postulate that while the city is nice and centrally located, given the evidence of history post
Greyhawk Wars, if a dungeon master wanted, the setting focus could theoretically shift. The book says:
"A number of key factors have contributed to Greyhawk's key position in the affairs of the Flanaess. Among them are its location, long history, economic versatility, and the vigor and variety of its population.
Greyhawk has long been the beacon for men and women of learning, or great faith, or high magic...
...currently active adventurers are also drawn to the city. The nearness of the great ruin, Castle Greyhawk, has proven to be the most irresistible draw..."
All are important factors. Greyhawk as it goes, started as a minor trading post in a good location. As the Flanaess became more settled during the height of the
Kingdom of Aerdy, it grew somewhat, but didn't quite explode until the time of mayor
Zagig Yragerne his era of learning and construction and then ruin of his wealthy castle within the last 250 years. In fact, the
Free City of Dyvers, (a former capital of
Furyondy) which is also on the
Nyr Dyv water-system a mere 120 miles away, was a much bigger and more important city for a time, that is until Greyhawk sapped away much of its cultural and economic influence. If it can happen to Dyvers, so too can Greyhawk lose it's luster.
Greyhawk is certainly a hot-bed of adventure, but those same dangers could someday keep trade away trade and scare off the variety of people that it is so proud of having. How?
Iuz's empire is just across the lake in the
Shield Lands and to the south-west is the orcish empire of the
Pomarj, then to the south-east is the
Bright Lands. Greyhawk while neutral, is very rich so I highly doubt the city, though strong in its own right would be safe from conflict. Castle Greyhawk (
Greyhawk Ruins version) itself is also a danger to the long term security of the city. Not to mention, if the player characters somehow manage to clear the dungeons of all its wealth, where will adventurers go next?
Maure Castle?
Then there is the trade route quandary. Pirates of the Pomarj and
Wild Coast plague the way south through the
Woolly Bay, the Nyr Dyv is relatively safe (don't trust Rhennee bargemen), but does have its own aquatic dangers, then that leaves the east-west roads. As I mentioned, Dyvers is an economic rival and the
Duchy of Urnst to the east is on good terms yet if you see the map its a bumpy road traversing the dangerous
Cairn Hills and nearing the
Mistmarsh swamp. The Gem of the Flanaess may be centrally located, but it's by no means easy to access.
Now that I've bored you to death, where else would be fitting to move a campaign focus given the socio-political problems surrounding Greyhawk? Here's some possible suggestions:
The World of Irongate: Irongate (detailed in
Dragon #351) is comparable in every way to Greyhawk. Fairly centralized free city, large multi-racial population, natural resources, fortifications and high magic. Situated in the east-center of the Flanaess, it's main political concerns is the outed
Scarlet Brotherhood, pirates and the fractured kingdoms of Aerdy. Unlike Greyhawk which relies on roads and rivers, Irongate has a major seaport to trade and explore leagues beyond its reach. As for adventure, the place is reputedly an extra-dimensional nexus and is in proximity to adventure locales like the
Tomb of Horrors.
The World of Gradsul: Gradsul, to the southwest of Greyhawk is the main port city of the
Kingdom of Keoland. Much like Irongate, it is a largely (49,400) populated center of trade on the Azure Sea. It has a similar reach to exotic resources brought up from the south seas islands and jungles, much too far for Greyhawk to attract. Gradsul isn't a free city, but it is certainly the most prosperous and heavily defended one in Keoland. It's only military concern is the piratical
Sea Princes. Gradsul can make a nice urban locale for political intrigues and from this base adventures be sought in the nearby
Dreadwood Forest, the
Hool Marshes or just a ship's voyage away.
The World of Rel Mord: To the east, this capital of the
Kingdom of Nyrond is another major populated city (46,500) as well as a center for learning like Greyhawk (The University of Rel Mord). Rel Mord is usually at odds with the
Great Kingdom, but as of the
Greyhawk Wars, they aren't as much of a concern. Rel Mord is along a river-way like Greyhawk and is centrally located in the kingdom as to make it the hub of all roads going to the
Urnsts, the
Theocracy of the Pale or even to Aerdy. Adventurers can try their hand at the ruins of
Almor or go west to Maure Castle.
The World of Lopolla: Want to have a
Baklunish/Arabic feel to your game?
Lopolla, the capital of
Ket to the far west of Greyhawk is situated in another hub of trade and travel between the
Yatil Mountains and the
Barrier Peaks. Lopolla is a large (27,300) multicultural center spanning the peoples of the Flanaess proper to the Baklunish west. After the Greyhawk Wars, things settled down for Ket so they're not entirely at odds with their easterly neighbors anymore. Loads of adventurers can be attracted to nearby treasures in the
Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth or the make an
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks. After those, Lopolla can be used as a springboard to further quests Beyond the Flanaess.
The World of Verbobonc: Lastly to the west, there is the humble
Viscounty of Verbobonc. While it is smaller than Greyhawk (12,700) it is just as diverse in population and lays near the same river trade route as Dyvers and the Gem of the Flanaess. This minor city is much more buffered from the threats of Iuz or the Pomarj thanks to Furyondy and
Celene giving it a chance to grow where Greyhawk might languish. It is also still close enough then for adventurers to travel to the same local hot spots that we all know. Verbobonc much like it's bigger neighbor however, has its own local adventure attraction, the
Temple of Elemental Evil.
