tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90344548779668662862024-03-13T20:22:06.280-05:00Greyhawkery<i>News, nostalgia and nonsense concerning all things Dungeons & Dragons <br>
especially the World of Greyhawk Setting.</i>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.comBlogger1067125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-75487888886199361452023-12-22T16:23:00.001-06:002023-12-22T16:23:38.474-06:00Greyhawkery #1067<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVFSYPI3mwTdZLFBS48kXwcL6Wh1T1RMXctjxoeufnFQmOquvy_QlZaYnDdzwDF1F6nHN7fr11B9tUdFCXpA5Kt8jF_ZYVoVoI06LbYo-r9pySa7hSdsmKTa6Fm23k20iqrzB3LHGo_9y7RC4PJ7KRdD2G2vL9DyxcCI4wmZu5z0wl1qWey422lyEFV8t/s352/ghflag1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="352" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVFSYPI3mwTdZLFBS48kXwcL6Wh1T1RMXctjxoeufnFQmOquvy_QlZaYnDdzwDF1F6nHN7fr11B9tUdFCXpA5Kt8jF_ZYVoVoI06LbYo-r9pySa7hSdsmKTa6Fm23k20iqrzB3LHGo_9y7RC4PJ7KRdD2G2vL9DyxcCI4wmZu5z0wl1qWey422lyEFV8t/w400-h336/ghflag1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Needfest! Good luck in 2024 Greyhawkers! I'll see you at <b>Gary Con, </b>on <b><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/lordgosumba" target="_blank">Legends & Lore</a></b> or on <b>Canonfire</b> (mortellan) and <b>Discord </b>(greyhawkmike)</div><br /> <p></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-18048041023176530212023-12-07T19:31:00.005-06:002023-12-07T19:31:45.582-06:00New Greyhawk Fanzine: The Grey Grimoire #1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Wdo-tLBzEtKZeBOHnLWQmCtBxcuzlZ9o64I6UjUnXpcy_bFNZKVSicQ6j3KKx0Sf770XvywUTsM9CDektoUcIRjf9YUKMWjLSPRMUehDYC_iAXZpRBHNnPFGtdB2vvirzAtD2OfnTaviZM2Ngubw_EUkRU4vVrfKbivVLfIyZZWHzB12cs2Os-JIhrKP/s365/Grimoire1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Wdo-tLBzEtKZeBOHnLWQmCtBxcuzlZ9o64I6UjUnXpcy_bFNZKVSicQ6j3KKx0Sf770XvywUTsM9CDektoUcIRjf9YUKMWjLSPRMUehDYC_iAXZpRBHNnPFGtdB2vvirzAtD2OfnTaviZM2Ngubw_EUkRU4vVrfKbivVLfIyZZWHzB12cs2Os-JIhrKP/w170-h200/Grimoire1.JPG" width="170" /></a></div>Hail Greyhawk faithful. Today I'm quickly promoting the fantastic work behind the latest Greyhawk fanzine, <b>The Grey Grimoire</b>! This inaugural issue features a variety of articles for a diverse selection of game systems by many wonderful authors and artists from the Greyhawk community. In particular you will find history of <b>Old Aerdy</b>, some great player character options for <b>Hextor </b>and<b> Dalt</b>, monster and treasures of the seas, and some delicious new Circle of (Nine?) heresy. There is all that and much more, check this new publication out NOW. Enjoy!<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thegreygrimoire1.wordpress.com/2023/12/06/issue-1-is-here/" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD THE GREY GRIMOIRE ISSUE #1</a></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-22443915732807902132023-11-28T17:49:00.004-06:002023-11-28T17:49:52.324-06:00New Map: Where are the Rhennee <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3ZhoEBib-hccuPYWcmbFkv1a8ATKeKaXrm-Bn9HK3Qr8Z5McnjRBTmpGenfR-NjMV92Xm8lnbIYPkUVhvVbCLPI_JSZwNWp8PdJn1LTKRY1fMRdHvil39NdCB5c76qxC1uilFRxjQztdtJzohuAKKHR5VZMT3iSqWlaq5FnmtA7TqF5rreshy1Cc5Gvk/s358/C:%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5COwner%5CMy%20Documents%5CMy%20Pictures%5Cartpictures%5CWoG%5Clinks%5Cfolio1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="358" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3ZhoEBib-hccuPYWcmbFkv1a8ATKeKaXrm-Bn9HK3Qr8Z5McnjRBTmpGenfR-NjMV92Xm8lnbIYPkUVhvVbCLPI_JSZwNWp8PdJn1LTKRY1fMRdHvil39NdCB5c76qxC1uilFRxjQztdtJzohuAKKHR5VZMT3iSqWlaq5FnmtA7TqF5rreshy1Cc5Gvk/w200-h168/C:%5CDocuments%20and%20Settings%5COwner%5CMy%20Documents%5CMy%20Pictures%5Cartpictures%5CWoG%5Clinks%5Cfolio1a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Hello Greyhawk mavens! On the heels of my <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2023/11/new-minimalist-darlene-greyhawk-map.html" target="_blank">Minimalist Darlene Map</a> I have another "useless" Greyhawk map. I say it's useless because this current bit of humor comes from a discussion in the Greyhawk community about people making useful infographic maps, such a population density map which I've seen someone do remarkably well. I love infographics, heck I've done serious ones before, such as my <a href="https://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2022/11/new-greyhawk-regional-product-map.html" target="_blank">Regional Resource Maps</a> from a year ago. This new map, on <b>Rhennee in the Flanaess</b> uses the same stock map originally from the <i>World of Greyhawk Folio</i>. While it may be a joke to long time gamers such as myself, this easy-to-follow map may actually help readers new to the setting on where Rhennee boatmen can be found. Now, if someone wants to come along later and do a map of Rhennee seasonal barge traffic then I will tip my hat to you! Until then, enjoy!<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zPhKb0T44qvKuKxZjD56pbWdb0Q9HzgysjeGjB2WNnO65xGHkEa-4V67qQ17PM0zZS_voXEONM5mi4RekISWf-_eYAvmyybYffUBbP8N5EnegA7k7gu_MX5z9CmiUCNyGcT6xTzGM7zViCivNb7NqXH0lj-301IMdgjG848S9h6O9oGCQLe6jZPzdArP/s782/rhenneemap1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="782" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zPhKb0T44qvKuKxZjD56pbWdb0Q9HzgysjeGjB2WNnO65xGHkEa-4V67qQ17PM0zZS_voXEONM5mi4RekISWf-_eYAvmyybYffUBbP8N5EnegA7k7gu_MX5z9CmiUCNyGcT6xTzGM7zViCivNb7NqXH0lj-301IMdgjG848S9h6O9oGCQLe6jZPzdArP/w640-h502/rhenneemap1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-27603900314354570372023-11-17T16:38:00.000-06:002023-11-17T16:38:16.390-06:00New: Minimalist Darlene Greyhawk Map<p>Greetings Greyhawkers and D&D map enthusiasts in general. Today I present a silly map concept I have been daydreaming about for months, a minimalist <b>Darlene</b> map. If you're like me, you might have a Greyhawk map as your computer wallpaper. And so, I often stare at this map and strange ideas form, this time however I have finally put it to the test. The <i>World of Greyhawk </i>setting map is hex-based, and because of the tendency of Darlene's calligraphic style to conform to this shape, this means a lot of the nations and geographical areas start to fall into these hex patterns on a larger scale. For example. in the <b>Sheldomar Valley</b> side, the tri-<b>Ulek</b> states, <b>Gran March</b> and <b>Bissel</b> fall into a nice row. So does the <b>Sea Princes, Yeomanry, Sterich </b>and <b>Geoff</b>. Some parts were harder to judge than others, but I got the Darlene map down to a minimalist state. It was a fun experiment. One thing though, don't ask what the scale per hex is, I don't know! One more thing, I haven't decided if I can do labels yet have a look for yourself. Enjoy! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2xBcUYfqS2JSzmhY9lesnWDiFydGR0hsSnMgdmk0D60r57QTD5mS4xoTiN75Rpw_HgmTAa35MOykjm0pRDdYBYKY2QspvFLbzr0EdFpyzFa08X5fyPBlLunyd8qj_nPGuhCqO22W5JYY2U9WPe4P8kt8CwL0w_raC5Sb9vZJTLWljpzctzDeH2KGA-zr/s1298/hexflanaess1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="1298" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2xBcUYfqS2JSzmhY9lesnWDiFydGR0hsSnMgdmk0D60r57QTD5mS4xoTiN75Rpw_HgmTAa35MOykjm0pRDdYBYKY2QspvFLbzr0EdFpyzFa08X5fyPBlLunyd8qj_nPGuhCqO22W5JYY2U9WPe4P8kt8CwL0w_raC5Sb9vZJTLWljpzctzDeH2KGA-zr/w640-h478/hexflanaess1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-62773945496220089962023-11-04T17:13:00.008-05:002023-11-04T17:13:55.437-05:00Greyhawk Quiz #6: Letter G<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMU1JcO4unZJynaCZj0RojQs-5KAh9uaiDz_voJEou8bcEpycdqE41aZDbHkwEPt60RiTmageXoPcdCeEUYLd4HqvUUKyIabj78uiyJWXiks3-i3hMPTs8o_-WVyohLWSdmPxxstPdIIXRMZv7EiRy6_l5z5yA5HOD6mkYxaj9ywj6TbbwZP3EFrcSK44/s170/gamertable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMU1JcO4unZJynaCZj0RojQs-5KAh9uaiDz_voJEou8bcEpycdqE41aZDbHkwEPt60RiTmageXoPcdCeEUYLd4HqvUUKyIabj78uiyJWXiks3-i3hMPTs8o_-WVyohLWSdmPxxstPdIIXRMZv7EiRy6_l5z5yA5HOD6mkYxaj9ywj6TbbwZP3EFrcSK44/s16000/gamertable.JPG" /></a></div>Welcome again Greyfolk. Time for another of my Greyhawk quizzes. Check out the <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2023/08/greyhawk-quiz-5-five-letter-chain.html" target="_blank">previous quiz</a> to see more. How well do you know the geography of the <b>Darlene</b> map? Test your luck!<p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1667567/greyhawk-geography-letter-g" target="_blank">GREYHAWK QUIZ LETTER G</a></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-82722456779827009712023-10-22T14:05:00.004-05:002023-10-22T14:05:26.270-05:00Greyhawk City: Champion's Games<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KlwT3MgX3zvQDSw-0lZo1kXQSX_6ByNYfQmzXeqYNcf6CzHCk0Yz0XMRw6STlQ0AfCm0dE29vpWUoLVAmIePuWqcmubQJTmAbHngmbN_nkNj6OOmLCa_cg5SRPXs8O3961i0wpoeJ184xR_5GQVxS2492suhYlOVksyaCOAwgBV2FBSx1xvc6uXr9yKF/s321/raknian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="321" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KlwT3MgX3zvQDSw-0lZo1kXQSX_6ByNYfQmzXeqYNcf6CzHCk0Yz0XMRw6STlQ0AfCm0dE29vpWUoLVAmIePuWqcmubQJTmAbHngmbN_nkNj6OOmLCa_cg5SRPXs8O3961i0wpoeJ184xR_5GQVxS2492suhYlOVksyaCOAwgBV2FBSx1xvc6uXr9yKF/w200-h176/raknian.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Welcome back Greyhawk faithful. On a recent <b>Legends & Lore</b> stream we talked about mercenaries and adventuring parties. One of the things we discussed was the <i>Dungeon #128</i> adventure from <i>Age of Worms</i> titled<i> The Champion's Belt</i> by <b>Tito Leati</b>. In this chapter, as the PCs search for answers involving a retired gladiator named <b>Loris Raknian</b>, they must enter a gladiatorial event hosted by the "Free City" Arena where groups of compete for the coveted Champion's Belt. The meta plot involving a cult of <b>Kyuss</b> aside, I love the idea of an annual Champions Games held in the <b>City of Greyhawk. </b>I highly recommend this issue for anyone running an urban campaign. In <i>the Champion's Belt</i>, there is a huge list of NPC "gladiator" groups (these are not traditional gladiators, they seem more like rival adventuring groups), some detailed as opponents for the PCs, but most are left for DMs to flesh out. The focus of this post is to show the brief descriptive backgrounds I gave these Champion's Belt teams for my own <i>Age of Worms</i> campaign. But first here is some background rules on the Champion's Games. Enjoy!<p></p><div style="text-align: left;">"The Champion's Games is a five-day-long gladiatorial tournament that takes place annually in the Free City Arena. The games themselves consist of a massive four-round elimination event, interspersed with spectacle fights that pit gladiators against exotic monsters and other unique foes. A single team can consist of no more than eight members. Familiars do not count as members, but larger animal companions, mounts, and cohorts do. Finally, each team of gladiators must identify itself with a name and designate a leader."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The tournament is fought in four successive rounds of elimination. The first round consists of six battles of free-for-all combat between four teams (24 teams total). The six winners of the first round of battles are paired off into three team-versus-team battles. The next round, two of the three remaining teams fight each other, while the third team fights a special exotic monster. The final round is a face-to-face battle between the two remaining teams. The winners of each round is awarded a generous prize (trophy plus 2000-10,000 gp). The winner of the Champion's Games wins the right to wear the Champion's Belt (worth 2000 gp) for a year, along with a cash payout of 20,000 gp.</li><li>All battles are potentially lethal, but a gladiator always has the option of surrender. To surrender, a gladiator must drop his weapons, kneel, and hold both hands in the air. A gladiator who attacks a surrendering foe is disqualified (and likely arrested for assault or murder). A gladiator who surrenders and then attacks anothr foe is also disqualified.</li><li>Gladiators that can fly or levitate may do so up to a height of 40 feet. A gladiator that flues any higher is disqualified. Burrowing into the arena's floor is forbidden.</li><li>A match persists until one team is victorious, either through the death or the surrender of all opposing teams.</li><li>Winning gladiators have no right to the spoils of the fallen. A defeated foe keeps his gear, or in the case of death, ownership of gear reverts to his team.</li><li>Any tactic that endangers spectators is grounds for immediate disqualification and possible legal action.</li><li>A disqualified gladiator must cease fighting at once and must move to the edge of the field of battle. Failure to comply results in the disqualification of the entire team. Once a gladiator is disqualified, he may no longer take part in any remaining battles.</li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7i9yrMBflrJ141msrRoZBdZwWbJs0YhW_S0n-bY3yx1u85yFvod8VE2OBIj0U2NoFL9zrcrLwFzvXewLbhM5F5A0wWbjoqg-eJL6ldgwdoES_XLy8WaSWm3NY0KJLxUETu9i4d2sSAr4B89j6u_6aL6C6kSravm9HXR33RF0XTzDn51OZZqkc8LoQJx0E/s575/freecityarena.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="457" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7i9yrMBflrJ141msrRoZBdZwWbJs0YhW_S0n-bY3yx1u85yFvod8VE2OBIj0U2NoFL9zrcrLwFzvXewLbhM5F5A0wWbjoqg-eJL6ldgwdoES_XLy8WaSWm3NY0KJLxUETu9i4d2sSAr4B89j6u_6aL6C6kSravm9HXR33RF0XTzDn51OZZqkc8LoQJx0E/s320/freecityarena.JPG" width="254" /></a></div><b>The Competition:</b></div><div>These teams are given a short description by me, and are open to further development by a DM. The module does give an "Encounter Level" for each NPC team which helps. Teams marked with an asterisk are fully detailed in <i>Dungeon #128</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Arcane Auriga*</b> EL 10 </div><div>4 elven female archers, exiles from <b>Celene</b>. Led by Rennida Auriga (arcane archer), her daughter Krinasa and two cousins, Eelyssa and Anetah.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Auric's Warband*</b> (defending champion) EL 12</div><div>Auric (F10), Khellek (W10) and 3 controlled flesh golems.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Badlands Revenge*</b> EL 9</div><div>3 gnoll warriors led by a human druid/barbarian named Joren and his dire badger companion.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Chuko's Ravens</b> EL 7</div><div>3 kenku rogues led by a druid named Chuko.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Draconic Brood </b>EL 11</div><div>4 half-dragon adventurers (or dragonborn if 5E) including a pseudo-dragon familiar.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Drunken Devilry</b> EL 6</div><div>6 drunken students from the fraternal <b>Gnarly House </b>in Greyhawk City.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Final Phoenix</b> EL 7</div><div>4 mounted lancers from the <b>Bright Lands.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Guttuggers</b> EL 8</div><div>4 half-orc mercenary veterans from Greyhawk City.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Iron (Cairn) Hill Monkeys</b> EL 5</div><div>3 monks from <b>Twilight Monastery</b>. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Night Owls</b> EL 4</div><div>2 rogue knife-fighters from <b>Dyvers</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>One of Us</b> EL 4</div><div>3 human adventurers (triplets) form the <b>Duchy of Urnst</b>. Might be dopplegangers?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Pitch Blade*</b> EL 12</div><div>2 dwarven killers (barb 10) named Drusfan and Pharbol.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rauth's Dragoons</b> EL 6</div><div>4 veteran mercenary cavalry from <b>Perrenland</b> managed by Captain Rauth.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsGzy6lSzUdLP8QgPn-gGzF7IG8z6GttZsXVhqoH_cOm0rkQgQ1IQUPm3jtwZBKt-QalmimIT2AMgFz3elHXIvADkDYImSXB8kWhsoxMJf-nkrkwaJIj1S3xzIxk7qKirjeazvp6DKfuuCPxYLW5AvT64njedumzPq7IVotSsPxCzTdUXwV0aBDunvf0J/s615/championsgames.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="615" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsGzy6lSzUdLP8QgPn-gGzF7IG8z6GttZsXVhqoH_cOm0rkQgQ1IQUPm3jtwZBKt-QalmimIT2AMgFz3elHXIvADkDYImSXB8kWhsoxMJf-nkrkwaJIj1S3xzIxk7qKirjeazvp6DKfuuCPxYLW5AvT64njedumzPq7IVotSsPxCzTdUXwV0aBDunvf0J/s320/championsgames.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sapphire Squad* </b>EL 9</div><div>2 mercenary mounted archers led a jann swashbuckler named Korush.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Snow Leopards</b> EL 9</div><div>A half-elf mage and a half-elf ranger with two leopard animal companions from the<b> Lortmils</b> .</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Teeth of Kord</b> EL 5</div><div>3 clerics led by specialty priest of <b>Kord</b> from <b>Rhizia</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Crazy Eight</b> EL 6</div><div>8 minor gladiators from <b>the Pit </b>in the Foreign Quarter.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Fisthammers</b> EL 8</div><div>4 dwarven warriors from <b>Karakast</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Gravediggers</b> EL 8</div><div>3 of the meanest members of the <b>Gravedigger Union</b> in GHC.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Skull of Murq</b> EL 9</div><div>A mysterious wizard and 4 human bodyguards.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Unhumans</b> EL 7</div><div>A half-orc, an ogre, a lizard man, and a bugbear.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Woodchuckers</b> EL 3</div><div>4 spunky gnomes from <b>Grossetgrottel</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Varmint Patrol</b> EL 5</div><div>8 halfling slingers from <b>Elmshire</b>.</div></div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-48665277080797229682023-10-14T17:23:00.000-05:002023-10-14T17:23:46.399-05:00Dark Greyhawk Forum Letter<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4pHYyW2c_t9M5lxbpPhWOVgae6dX1hyphenhyphenA6oSh8ESxuempY4tzeEEA4zQvLVMFdN10x6fkXAHwW-rD_RrpsvIRBB86SEQ_V2tQVp4a1OVpVKAQ6_BPWao1zmjWGDHtWmwjH1GOIiNq5YtAmSM4iX6zzBCCLTX39S6IvYIt1a1TOutaGVFDIv2wAOe_1z5P/s574/Dragon273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4pHYyW2c_t9M5lxbpPhWOVgae6dX1hyphenhyphenA6oSh8ESxuempY4tzeEEA4zQvLVMFdN10x6fkXAHwW-rD_RrpsvIRBB86SEQ_V2tQVp4a1OVpVKAQ6_BPWao1zmjWGDHtWmwjH1GOIiNq5YtAmSM4iX6zzBCCLTX39S6IvYIt1a1TOutaGVFDIv2wAOe_1z5P/s320/Dragon273.JPG" width="231" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well met Greyhawkers! Today I was reminded that way back in 2000, at the turn of <b>2nd Edition</b> to <b>3rd Edition</b>, before the internet became an everyday means of communication, I wrote a letter to the Forum page that was published in<i> Dragon #273</i>. This was in response to the Question of the Month" in issue #270:<i> “Does your campaign have a particular theme? Is it
swashbuckling, epic, gritty, or wahoo? Tell us all about your campaign style!”</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is my response. Enjoy!</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Dark Greyhawk</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wrote this in response to the "Question of the
Month" and also to add to the discussion in #264 through #270 about evil
characters. The campaign I run is set in the northwest of the <i>Greyhawk</i> campaign
setting and uses heavy <i>Al-Qadim</i> sources. The Arabic feel is very refreshing.
All the characters are foreigners and have had a wonderful time trying to blend
in by learning new customs, dress, and especially language. They have adopted
new names and even acquired their hirelings from this area. New and exotic
locales always liven a static campaign. The land is full of mystery and
intrigue, but the PCs fit in perfectly because they are all schemers and shady
fellows as well. They always parlay or even deal with villains rather than just
outright slay them. Every monster or encounter is assessed for its benefit, not
just used as a stepping stone for the next encounter. Their motto is, dealing
with evil is better than a pat on the back. Then, if necessary, you can always
turn on evil and side with good in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do not rigidly control alignments, except in the
case of priests. All the characters are decidedly shady but not evil. As long
as the PCs can at least trust one another, then it doesn't matter what their alignments are. The lawful evil fighter in my group has shown many instances of
paladinlike behavior toward the common man and even his foes. You don't wear
alignment like a badge; your actions define your character. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fantasy literature, the greatest heroes are what I
term "shady." Elric, Conan, Fafhrd, and the Grey Mouser are all shady
characters. Alignment never stopped any of them from doing the right thing in
the end. The only recent characters from literature I can imagine fitting this
description are Raistlin or Drizzt. Why are the shady ones the favorites? They
have more fun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems to me the only classes purely concerned with
their alignment are the religious ones (cleric, druid, and paladin). They are
the ones who have their beliefs dictated by a higher power. I am not saying you
shouldn't play good guys, but some campaigns could use a change in locale and
attitude.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><p></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-54384842589544561612023-09-27T21:08:00.000-05:002023-09-27T21:08:17.705-05:00Aerial Items of Greyhawk<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupiWw0HfogSOvoi8sewR1RynskDu7aPzSaMZ1dXbdqasa8XrzPz061vsB0WzgYBdvOBNTvjOIZMunBjlpm9biT8LVSaG0E_vtkM30s4Co-c_iYhqlMVS0-Rzz4ubAJ3HP0Fd_J1d2TQrmiHfk3mzftFOpbCKtqkibmlIav1TZxSBPqDqNvfefpKQ1DrZx/s468/mfa1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="468" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupiWw0HfogSOvoi8sewR1RynskDu7aPzSaMZ1dXbdqasa8XrzPz061vsB0WzgYBdvOBNTvjOIZMunBjlpm9biT8LVSaG0E_vtkM30s4Co-c_iYhqlMVS0-Rzz4ubAJ3HP0Fd_J1d2TQrmiHfk3mzftFOpbCKtqkibmlIav1TZxSBPqDqNvfefpKQ1DrZx/w320-h246/mfa1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Welcome again Greyhawk enthusiasts! I recently had a fun discussion on <b>Legends & Lore</b> stream about aerial related things in <b>Greyhawk</b> (or <b>D&D</b> in general). After talking about cloud castles, playable flying races and our rules preferences for flight, I had some left-over material about magic items related to flying. Let's have a look. Enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Wings of Flying<i> </i></b><i>(DMG)</i> The prototypical D&D flying magic item. This cape flies for a couple hours per day and can carry 500 lbs weight!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wings of the Rakers</b> <i>(Greyhawk Adventure)</i> This is one of the first items I think of when it comes to flight thanks to the good ol' <i>Greyhawk Adventures</i> hardback source book. This white cloak was made by a wizard who was friends of the <b>aarakocra</b> of the Rakers. It acts like normal <i>wings of flying</i>, except the wearer appears to have sea gull wings. The Wings also allow the user to speak and understand aarakocra language and to dive attack like a member of that race. Love that flavor!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Winged Boots</b> <i>(Unearthed Arcana) </i>This item was always a player favorite in my campaigns. Little wings sprout from your heel (kind of like Hermes) and they impart the ability to <i>fly</i> for 2 hrs without concentration. They come in four different speed and maneuverability types as well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cloak of the Bat</b><i> (Unearthed Arcana) </i>Another fun piece of apparel. This one <i>w</i>orks in darkness making the wearer virtually invisible and allows you to hang upside down like a bat! In darkness the wearer can <i>fly </i>of course or <i>polymorph</i> into a regular bat! This makes a pretty good villain item and can trick players into thinking they're a vampire!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cloak of the Couatl</b> <i>(The Scarlet Brotherhood)</i> A bat not good enough for you? Okay try this feathered cloak from <b>Hepmonaland</b> and<b> Amedio</b>. Wings spread out from the wearer and allow flight for two hours. The cloak also can make its wearer <i>invisible </i>while flying but it cuts the time in half. Now if this cloak turned its owner into a couatl it'd be amazing, but alas it's not that powerful.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Gargoyle Cloak</b> <i>(Temple of Elemental Evil)</i> I guess while I'm talking about cloaks that give the user flight, I'll mention this one. This time the cloak does<i> polymorph</i> the wearer. As a gargoyle, the wearer has all the abilities of this creature, including flight, but each turn (10 minute) there is a cumulative chance your mind is permanently changed into a gargoyle's. Not cool!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Broom of Flying</b> <i>(DMG)</i> Back in the day, I would have never handed one of these out in my games. However, since the popularity of <b>Harry Potter</b>, I'm rethinking this item's usefulness. It allows unlimited <i>fly</i> power. Carries just 200 lbs though, so yeah not for the armored fighter. Neat part is you can call it to your hand from 300 yds out. That could lead to some fun escape scenarios!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Book of the Griffon</b> <i>(From the Ashes) </i>This magic tome is intentionally left for the DM to tailor for their campaign, but its suggested powers are: summon a group of "magical" griffons once a day. Charm natural griffons, plus spells of flight, elemental air and magical mounts. The book has a price tag of 60,000+ gp so this is a nice diamond in the rough.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ring of the Wind Dukes</b> <i>(Dungeon #129)</i> This ring comes from the<i> Age of Worms </i>adventure <i>A Gathering of Winds. </i>As expected, this ring belonged to one of the <b>Wind Dukes of Aaqa</b> from Greyhawk prehistory. Among its aerial powers are an immunity to strong winds and the ability to c<i>harm monster</i> on Air subtype creatures, so it opens the possibility of riding an aerial mount. Its other offensive powers make this nearly artifact level in rarity. Check out this issue!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ring of Elemental Metamorphosis</b> <i>(Tome of Magic)</i> Hey speaking of wind themed rings, this item (in our case Air type) can <i>polymorph</i> the wearer into an elemental once a day. As you would expect the wearer gets the form and physical abilities and defenses of an air elemental (so flight). It doesn't screw with the wearer's mind luckily!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ring of Elemental Command </b><i>(DMG)</i> Possibly better than the previous rings, the Air subtype here has loads of powers. Among them is communication with elementals, the <i>fly</i> spell, <i>invisibility</i> and <i>control winds</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Flying Carpets</b> <i>(DMG)</i> Probably my favorite aerial themed magic item of all time. I mean who didn't grow up with stories of <b>Aladdin </b>on his flying carpet? In Greyhawk, Mordy and company ride one in <i>Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure</i>. In the DMG, they come in four various sizes and speeds. The smaller the carpet, the faster it is, but it also carries less weight. For a fun idea, I once created a flying carpet that also teleported randomly when fed expensive gems. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ebony Fly</b> <i>(DMG)</i> <i>Figurines of Wondrous Power</i> are classic magic items. The <i>ebony fly</i> however is one I don't think I ever used. It grows to the size of a pony, flies for 12 hours straight and can carry up to 350 lbs. Seeing a hero riding on a giant house fly would be quite a sight! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bronze Griffon</b> <i>(3.0 DMG)</i> This is a new type of figurine found in <b>3rd edition</b>. Naturally it grows into a magical griffon that can be rode for 6 hours at a time, twice a week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Saddle of Flying</b><i> (Tome of Magic)</i> Okay I knew this item had to exist and I finally found it. When secured to a horse, this saddle causes the mount to sprout wings and the ability to <i>fly</i> at its normal movement rate for one hour per day. Not bad if you're a paladin or cavalier who wants to ride a cheap Pegasus into combat!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Coruskian Stone</b> <i>(Greyhawk Adventures) </i>Another hidden gem from GHA. This greenish stone set in a gold necklace gives the wearer the ability to <i>charm</i> griffons into being aerial mounts. The stone however does not impart any special skill in riding griffons, so combat will be dicey. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Headband of the Corusk Mountains</b> <i>(Greyhawk Adventures)</i> Okay one more from GHA, this one is even better. There is something about the <b>Thillonrian Peninsula</b> that screams the need for flying items, I guess. This headband is fun, because it's made from the skull of a white dragon! Its purpose is to <i>charm</i> white dragons into being a mount and yes, the item imparts the ability to ride aerial creatures. What's more, the headband makes the wearer immune to cold attacks. Very cool!</div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-70828029428951778462023-09-23T12:40:00.000-05:002023-09-23T12:40:02.472-05:00Greyhawk Map Definitions<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kTFcuttXKe1iFxd4VFYhyJ2X5ZHxLvc2CaKlr0KiS6EIWQXPP61fuwnENwLhe8gfX3zv42eiHCqhCJLbdHaM-n0VpO_fAzK1hXbPSIsvja0XXVgiUUH1WjFUuwYu1kS4jMX0mE9Oj3QfALeIRAI2jYgfe1MD_yu6wJfJP1GxrjaMruJ8fqJf4u8PFMiu/s640/scrollstudy1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="640" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kTFcuttXKe1iFxd4VFYhyJ2X5ZHxLvc2CaKlr0KiS6EIWQXPP61fuwnENwLhe8gfX3zv42eiHCqhCJLbdHaM-n0VpO_fAzK1hXbPSIsvja0XXVgiUUH1WjFUuwYu1kS4jMX0mE9Oj3QfALeIRAI2jYgfe1MD_yu6wJfJP1GxrjaMruJ8fqJf4u8PFMiu/w200-h116/scrollstudy1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Welcome back Greyhawkers! If you've spent as much time as I have staring at the <b>Darlene</b> map of the <b>Flanaess</b> then you'll understand that you start to question the meaning and origins of every damn label <b>Gygax </b>used for his geography and towns. Sure, we know a ton of them are anagrams or homages of family and friends, or are using French, German or Latin words, but the ones that are left over still sometimes need defined to fully understand them. Gygax after-all was a wordsmith who was fond of using archaic English vocabulary in his Greyhawk works (often for NPC names). Let's explore some words from the map, see which ones you know already, and if you have any clarifications, please put them in the comments. Enjoy! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Plains of the Paynims) </i>p</b><b>aynim: (noun) "heathen; pagan" </b>I always assumed this was a reference to nomads or something Arabic adjacent. What I failed to understand all these years is that paynim is a real-world derogatory name (albeit an archaic term). From the meta-perspective of the <i>World of Greyhawk</i> <i>Guide's </i>author, yes, the men of the plains would be heathens or pagans compared to the Flanaess' cultures. This term of course fits in on a pulpy map that also lists barbarians, nomads, and savages. I can now only assume the peoples of the <b>Baklunish West</b> would have a different name for this region! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2ySpYXEtI9k0v8ELJYXRVYjC5ri5UBsACerZ_fKdURttAZ0w1TcgM7VxqoeQDKb5x62oElk-CWoksWggR9IeQtfQBC5w6NLP95Rp6P9ihl2kYGpiU_5cRXy_fyIL9v1hXXNWjZ40gvI37AFa6Pwthm3UpxHKqEAeTsVCwjUVm2Cvtx6k2QfLJ9H1cVit/s291/quag1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="218" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2ySpYXEtI9k0v8ELJYXRVYjC5ri5UBsACerZ_fKdURttAZ0w1TcgM7VxqoeQDKb5x62oElk-CWoksWggR9IeQtfQBC5w6NLP95Rp6P9ihl2kYGpiU_5cRXy_fyIL9v1hXXNWjZ40gvI37AFa6Pwthm3UpxHKqEAeTsVCwjUVm2Cvtx6k2QfLJ9H1cVit/w150-h200/quag1.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>(Lake Quag, Quag Keep) </i>quag(mire): (noun) "soft miry land that shakes or yields under the foot; a difficult, precarious, or entrapping position."</b> I always knew Quag was a root of quagmire. I think the first time I heard the word was in reference to a war you cannot get out of once started. I wonder if Gygax envisioned Lake Quag as some place that is dangerous then? It doesn't seem especially bad, like it may freeze over but that's far from what you'd expect in a quagmire situation. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(town of Shiboleth) </i>shibboleth: (noun) "a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning; a truism or platitude; a custom or usage regarded as distinguishing one group from others."</b> I got to admit I've never seen this word used in general conversation only in writing, maybe it's one of these antiquated Gygaxian words. What is interesting though, is that the town of Shiboleth (one "b" less) is in <b>Gran March</b>, a (religious) militant state. So that choice of word is on the mark! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Spindrift Isles)</i> spindrift: (noun) "sea spray; fine wind-borne snow or sand"</b> This is a word I didn't know the definition of until I wrote this article and is what started me down this dictionary rabbit hole in the first place! Now I have never spent time on the sea, the desert or in the arctic, so it's new to me, but maybe this is a commonly used term? In any case, kudos to Gygax for naming an island chain with such an appropriately descriptor. It is amusing to me though, that he could have just as easily called the <b>Bright Desert</b> the Spindrift Desert and this entry would be unchanged!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Gamboge Forest)</i> gamboge (noun) "a strong yellow; an orange to brown gum resin from southeast Asian trees of the Saint-John's wort family that is used as a yellow pigment and cathartic."</b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Celadon Forest) </i>celadon (noun) "a grayish-yellow green; a ceramic glaze originated in China that is greenish in color."</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">A two-for-one on this entry. I covered both these words in a previous article on <a href="https://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2019/02/colorful-places-of-greyhawk.html" target="_blank"><i>Colorful Places of Greyhawk</i></a>. Gygax uses A LOT of colors in his naming schemes. These two rare words however eluded my consciousness for many years before I started blogging. Celadon makes sense for a forest descriptor, whereas gamboge perhaps is referring to the forest's changing leaves during the autumn season.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj0oU5O1PjWkVaY0GrmPsOQyVNqPTBaoYl4v0yAEVA_B-oCDrO1Llxjq82iXHlqI4nYOWUtltq7Trp7-BtBY_5GX-Z3Faqu-5A1wc4umr3BZ_g88FAKxIClISBvL-bh-EicJOuTe3ZgNAJRagDStO4CCtQDCsIbIIO5l0pwn1xvV8vGkah7qsLvXpJFaV/s273/sussarea.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="273" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj0oU5O1PjWkVaY0GrmPsOQyVNqPTBaoYl4v0yAEVA_B-oCDrO1Llxjq82iXHlqI4nYOWUtltq7Trp7-BtBY_5GX-Z3Faqu-5A1wc4umr3BZ_g88FAKxIClISBvL-bh-EicJOuTe3ZgNAJRagDStO4CCtQDCsIbIIO5l0pwn1xvV8vGkah7qsLvXpJFaV/w200-h181/sussarea.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><b><i>(Woolly Bay) </i>woolly (adjective) "consisting of wool; like the rough, vigorous atmosphere of the early West in America." </b>This is one of my favorite choices of Gygax's. And I don't think this is about woolly mammoths or wool sweaters. Here we literally have "wild and woolly" labelled side by side on the map. Gary likely envisioned the <b>Wild Coast</b> and Woolly Bay as his medieval fantasy version of the Wild West. He even gave us the gunslinging paladin <b>Murlynd</b> after all (have gun will travel). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(town of Knurl)</i> knurl (noun)</b> <b>"a small protuberance or knob; one of a series of small ridges on a metal surface to aid in gripping."</b> Coincidence or clever Gygaxian naming for this town? I don't know much lore about Knurl, but maybe the town is built on a hill? It is kinda at the tip of the <b>Blemu Hills</b> I think.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Suss Forest) </i>suss (verb) "to inspect or investigate so as to gain more knowledge."</b> This one I knew about, but it's still weird to my ears, like yes, we do need to investigate this evil woodland more. No, what I think is actually happening in this case is Gygax used a root of the word of <b>susurrus "a whispering or rustling sound." </b>Now that sounds like a cooler reason to name an evil forest.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Gnarley Forest)</i> gnarly (adjective) "twisted with or as if with gnarls or knots; distasteful or distressing, gross." </b>Everyone's favorite forest (an added "e" for variation) is an aptly described place that gives you an immediate mental image of being old, dense and twisted. If you grew up in the 80's however the latter definition certainly made this forest into a running joke. Good times.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Welkwood) welk (verb) "to lose freshness or greenness, dry up; to become less." </i></b>This one I'm not totally sure about but again, Gygax is known for using obsolete words in Greyhawk. Welk can be a synonym for fade, wilt or wane. This definition doesn't evoke the image of a lush sylvan forest though, unless it is already in decline from ancient times. Another thought with the benefit of hindsight, I'd speculate that the "Suss and Welk" forest names should be swapped. One other possibility, Gygax was a fan of <b>Lawrence Welk</b>? Shrug!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Nutherwood)</i> nuther (conjunction, pronoun or adjective) "not either; not the one or the other of two or more." </b>This one is a stretch so bear with me. According to the internet, (which is always right) nuther is a dialectal variant of the word neither. So, taken in context of the Flanaess on the opposite side of the river is the ghostly <b>Phostwood</b> and the locals are calling this side "Neitherwood" meaning this is also not a place you should enter. My other suspicion is that "nuther" is a play on "nether" implying this woodland is some kind of otherworldly place of the dead. Now that seems more fitting for a fantasy setting! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fDEPbPyNfJK_lLzlQiXFwccYkQuk2YmOOE2sJv20HJ3C4MJ7Dk0cKxp9WeOBJV9pGZLQSSUMMCsZphFE3Oy7_30xIIn547g7YsAZaQMHk6vKM_RznoGZmHxyvZA8Q7SxDSyvJoju23_RANkYYJNnKaOdL433nBRIo7AD-HqC42XzZQonbSAlXRJmWnh2/s716/4-raft.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="490" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fDEPbPyNfJK_lLzlQiXFwccYkQuk2YmOOE2sJv20HJ3C4MJ7Dk0cKxp9WeOBJV9pGZLQSSUMMCsZphFE3Oy7_30xIIn547g7YsAZaQMHk6vKM_RznoGZmHxyvZA8Q7SxDSyvJoju23_RANkYYJNnKaOdL433nBRIo7AD-HqC42XzZQonbSAlXRJmWnh2/w137-h200/4-raft.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>(Flotsom Isle) </i>flotsam (noun) "floating wreckage or a ship or its cargo; a floating population (emigrants/castaways); miscellaneous or unimportant material." </b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Jetsom Isle)</i> jetsam (noun) "</b><b>the part of a ship, its equipment, or its cargo that is cast overboard to lighten the load in time of distress and that sinks or is washed ashore</b><b>."</b> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I have another two for one entry. You know I gotta mention these two words because they're part of the<b> Hold of the Sea Princes</b>. Not kidding, I went many, many years before I knew the definition of flotsam and jetsam. Jetsam kinda sounds like jettison, which has to share the same root meaning. Also, I guess Gygax used a variation of the spelling, "flotsom and jetsom" cause fantasy world, right? Whatever the spelling or meaning, these islands are perfectly named for their location, a high seas haven for buccaneers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>(Griff Mountains)</i> griff (noun) "a deep narrow glen or ravine; news or reliable information."</b> I'm uncertain about this one as well. I see this word is a dialectal variant, or a slang English word. It's most likely just the shortened version of the mythical creature griffon (griffin) of course. This is D&D after all. Still, calling a mountain range griff because of its numerous glens and ravines doesn't seem all that implausible. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Ezu9XYN-N4--Sqnx9Z9TO52VjCtkoIJoBEmlV0EKkatJHAL54FJ2wGmir8NZVshJHwSN4ToVxQ8EQKI_e3RIHiBKv1LIZ3dnTYlpXkzqAmtgL723cKN8_Ysd6hC7noLFT4A3MGLRQGF9TR9c3u6UbUh9GXvsXHvQm6lLeKCE8nHtotgmjfr_Y84SkWN/s339/howl1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="339" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Ezu9XYN-N4--Sqnx9Z9TO52VjCtkoIJoBEmlV0EKkatJHAL54FJ2wGmir8NZVshJHwSN4ToVxQ8EQKI_e3RIHiBKv1LIZ3dnTYlpXkzqAmtgL723cKN8_Ysd6hC7noLFT4A3MGLRQGF9TR9c3u6UbUh9GXvsXHvQm6lLeKCE8nHtotgmjfr_Y84SkWN/w200-h181/howl1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><b><i>(town of Glot)</i> -glot (adjective combining form) "having knowledge of or using languages." </b>This last word I enjoyed more than I thought I would. Polyglot is a word I've always known, and glottal and glottis refer to vocal cords. So here we have the capital of the <b>Cruskii</b>, did Gygax intend Glot to be monosyllabic because they are barbarians? Maybe it's a clever inference that the<b> Ice Barbarians</b> are multilingual, or good at war cries, I don't know! Or maybe I give Gygax too much credit in naming the Flanaess, and Glot is just four random letters. That's all I got for now! If anyone has a cool obscure map word definition, let me know! </div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-27291747574047390312023-09-15T22:59:00.000-05:002023-09-15T22:59:21.859-05:00Expressions in the Land of Ull<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHplrtpoRwD7V4jKYquARBsLuZhg_gUvx0rjoy9Zoz8CtrujvtzDNssOleFwtJiLnrvdeCkQfr-1WX3Vh40oFUJ97r4qtA5ASy3PGtT-T9C4jOw_ZI4h74L1QWDtp0KaH6hfP28fwwO1If59Q4llRr1D15vYeqPR976Hqm9tDahGFVN6Vi9ufwgvBWpJmH/s272/nomads1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="272" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHplrtpoRwD7V4jKYquARBsLuZhg_gUvx0rjoy9Zoz8CtrujvtzDNssOleFwtJiLnrvdeCkQfr-1WX3Vh40oFUJ97r4qtA5ASy3PGtT-T9C4jOw_ZI4h74L1QWDtp0KaH6hfP28fwwO1If59Q4llRr1D15vYeqPR976Hqm9tDahGFVN6Vi9ufwgvBWpJmH/w200-h163/nomads1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Well met, Greyhawkers! One of my absolute favorite Greyhawk source books is <b>Anne Brown's</b> <i>Players Guide to Greyhawk</i> from the <b>2E</b> era. Among the many useful tidbits of Greyhawk lore and info on how to make a character set in the <b>Flanaess</b>, there is a section on expressions and sayings. This kind of stuff is a delight because it adds spice to your roleplay, further adding to the immersion of the setting. By now most of you have heard gems like <b>"I Spit on the Old One"</b>, <b>"Cold Iron Avail You"</b>, or <b>"May the Axe Grow Great."</b> Well in this post I am going to attempt to add to this cultural exchange with some custom expressions from the frontier land of <b>Ull</b>. Keep in mind Grey-scholars, these sayings are translated from the original <b>Ulagha </b>dialect of <b>Ancient Baklunish</b>, so the actual wording may or may not be accurate. <b>Until the Starbreak!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><i>"Yoll, Yoll, Yoll!" </i></b>This is an ancient battle cry used by Uli warriors, predating their occupation of the <b>Oeridian</b> lands. It was most famously yelled by the united forces of Ull when it turned back the invading <b>Brazen Horde</b> at the <b>Battle of Ulakand</b> in 308 CY. Over time however, this specific expression has fallen out of popular use by the many khanates of Ull who have developed their own local battle cries. Only the small warband called the <b>Wild Men</b> still cling to this expression as they harass travelers passing though <b>Ohkir Khanate</b>. Note: this expression originally comes from <b>Gary Gygax's</b> novel <i>Sea of Death</i>, where for copyright reasons the land of Ull was renamed <b>Yoll</b>.</span></div><p><b><i>"I'd sooner go to Kester."</i></b> The derision felt between the traditional northern nomadic clans of Ull, and their corruptible southern kin is no more evident than in this familiar saying which has now spread across the neighboring plains and steppes. Kester's reputation for danger and depravity lends itself well to this forceful rejection of an obviously perilous request. <i>Example: "You want to go in the Tomb of Horrors? I'd sooner go to Kester!"</i></p><p><b><i>"The arrow has been loosed."</i></b> Variations of this idiom are found throughout <b>Eastern Oerik</b>. In Ull, it is commonly asserted that once an arrow is launched there is no changing its course. To put plainly, it refers to a decision that is made which cannot be taken back. <i>Example: "I told the sheik we will not give in to his demands. The arrow has been loosed!"</i></p><p><b><i>"Ride fast, ride far."</i></b> Many nomadic tribes in the north of Ull will travel vast distances in a shorter time than most riders due to the strength and resiliency of their horse breeds. This expression of parting is quite popular among the khanates and has even found use by their distant kin on the <b>Plains of the Paynims</b>. The saying is also the rallying cry of the annual <b>Najaam Trials</b> (during Richfest), a cross-country horse race that brings honor to a rider's family.</p><p><b><i>"Come down from your saddle."</i></b> This expression is used to imply someone is being stubborn or unreasonable and needs to humble themselves. This usually includes a subtext of violence. For context, it is customary in Ull for negotiations to be conducted on foot, mainly in the event combat breaks out to decide the matter. <i>Example: "Seventy gold pieces for that old bow? Come down from your saddle..."</i></p><p><b><i>"Blood is strength."</i></b> Ull is a land of internal strife with warring raiders and contentious nomad families. When Uli have common foe however, the entire domain will rally together behind a strong leader. The phrase <i>"blood is strength"</i> is thus used by locals as a rousing means of setting aside differences to deal with a foreign problem.</p><p><b><i>Your god did not follow you here."</i></b> While not outright hostile, this expression is often invoked as a way to rebuke clerics and missionaries foolish enough to come to Ull. Uli are distrustful of religions in general believing more in spirituality centered on their ancestors. They do believe the gods exist but only harmful ones like <b>Incabulos</b> or <b>Ralishaz</b> pay any mind to Ull. <i>Example: "Keep your prayers and begone beggar, your god did not follow you here."</i></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-59507766284837305342023-08-30T18:59:00.000-05:002023-08-30T18:59:42.590-05:00Greyhawk A-Z: Named Fiends<p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE_YhVYIUctSUqluDUtPuzpN2unIMa4WJtjNJzKlxrbC139goHLkWrMyLTVOuSctISKe_ONjvJkj9A-gJqsZZ1IP22nGtroIc9Vn03baMQ3-UxFcV81-CRUpCm5nF_ywnaLd9OjEjDknV4HQpvGBhzkfdhEeI5BIfS6xZ0AVolBNinLFO8wNQ1Qs4QlH0/s250/zuggt.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="250" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE_YhVYIUctSUqluDUtPuzpN2unIMa4WJtjNJzKlxrbC139goHLkWrMyLTVOuSctISKe_ONjvJkj9A-gJqsZZ1IP22nGtroIc9Vn03baMQ3-UxFcV81-CRUpCm5nF_ywnaLd9OjEjDknV4HQpvGBhzkfdhEeI5BIfS6xZ0AVolBNinLFO8wNQ1Qs4QlH0/w200-h190/zuggt.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white;">Welcome again Greyfolk! I got another fun A-Z list coming at you! Some of my previous alphabetical lists of </span><a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2014/02/greyhawk-z-people.html" style="background-color: white; color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">people</a><span style="background-color: white;">, </span><a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2014/02/greyhawk-z-places.html" style="background-color: white; color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">places</a>,<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2014/02/greyhawk-z-deities.html" style="background-color: white; color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">deities</a>,<span style="background-color: white;"> and most recently <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2023/08/greyhawk-z-magic-items-2.html" target="_blank">magic items</a>, can be found on the <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/p/best-of-greyhawkery.html" target="_blank">Best of Greyhawkery Page</a>. This time around I will try my hand at discussing <u>named</u> fiends (demons or devils) from the many editions of D&D. Fiends of the lower planes have always been an integral part of Greyhawk lore from the very beginning. I am quite sure there will be no ill side effects by listing all these evil beings, I mean it worked for <b>Iggwilv </b>in her<b> Demonomicon</b> right? Enjoy!</span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Arendagrost" target="_blank">Arendagrost</a>:</b> (Dragon #290) Right off the bat I'm throwing out an obscure fiend. Arendagrost, the Maw of the Abyss, is the three headed, draconic offspring of <b>Demogorgon</b> and <b>Malcanthet</b> the Queen of Succubi. Arendagrost's significance is it was summoned as a byproduct of <b>Lord Kargoth's </b>betrayal of the<b> Knight Protectors</b> and the resulting creation of the death knights. While Arendagrost was sent back to the abyss by the forces of good, it waits to cause more carnage in the future.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Baphomet" target="_blank">Baphomet</a>:</b> (MM2) Now this is more like it, the Prince of Beasts. Good ol' Baphomet rules abyssal layer #600, the Endless Maze. Baphomet is one of those demons extracted from real world mythology though in D&D lore he is the patron of minotaurs as you'd expect. As a bonus tidbit, I wrote the <i><a href="http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=590" target="_blank">Minotaur Mask of the Ulsprues</a></i> with Baphomet in mind.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCIPy5U3Uo8J4eNnTc5CHRGtVE-lnunijxWWin8djAWKKTk5EFvR4LhaM-lhVFNru592b4b94kH0drYPy72Jgcmh1cpNNvR6Jn3jCBlcGrWwg44ptmRWC3mwEcPhEWbJ4i_NHpmER2sqggsLXRS0q41-VDPB8c16F5gbA7N6FG0y2qCDuhJosSFgmwmTW/s555/charon1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCIPy5U3Uo8J4eNnTc5CHRGtVE-lnunijxWWin8djAWKKTk5EFvR4LhaM-lhVFNru592b4b94kH0drYPy72Jgcmh1cpNNvR6Jn3jCBlcGrWwg44ptmRWC3mwEcPhEWbJ4i_NHpmER2sqggsLXRS0q41-VDPB8c16F5gbA7N6FG0y2qCDuhJosSFgmwmTW/w153-h200/charon1.JPG" width="153" /></a></div>Charon:</b> (MM2) Another outlier on this list, Charon is obviously the famous skeletal boatman of the <b>Styx</b> from Greek myth. This doesn't change in D&D except he is a unique daemon (I believe yugoloth in <b>2E</b> parlance) whose duty is to transport beings on the same river Styx that connects all the Lower Planes. What's fun is that Charon has his own look-alike daemon servants called Charonadaemons who also runs skiffs because I suppose the high demand for ferry services in the afterlife?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Dagon" target="_blank">Dagon</a>:</b> (Dragon #349) You thought I might go Demogorgon here, eh? Too easy. The Prince of the Depths. Dagon is a classic baddy who lurks in layer #89 The Shadowsea. I like Dagon because he is an ancient evil (obyrith) from real world myth and is well-known in other fantasy lit (<b>Cthulhu, Conan</b>).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ereshkigal:</b> (MM2) Surprisingly not much going on in the E department so I'll punt. This female demon lord somehow has evaded detail in D&D, but Gygax definitely lifted the name from Sumerian myth. Ereshkigal is one of many gods of the underworld, and in these myths, she is married to another "fiend" on this list (see below).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Fraz-Urb%27luu" target="_blank">Fraz-Urb'luu</a>:</b> (MM2) Fraz, the Prince of Deception comes from abyss layer #176, Hollow's Heart. He is quite familiar in Greyhawk lore, like<b> Zagig Yragerne</b> once trapped Fraz as a trial run for capturing real gods. One you may not know is Fraz-Urb'luu once had a side gig as drummer on the <a href="http://melkot.com/wogcomic/title/wogstrip68a.htm" target="_blank">Graz'zt Show</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa38gWdwWweAXDHtQyLgtwH8arj01D-RH2HCp4UulaT6CMmdQzryvv6CeT4wetQYqsrlrkZ6T2-CiQMZp1X2Hvg9GZf9mZ3-D1bER_VPkuGJ_dC2b4hDDR2rIirQ1kL2YxkCXAAfVGESlo3Qw-57pzeMjjyqpnRq-2dCXEta9c8dFayKWCKA9pbd9x-g7/s362/gargoth1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa38gWdwWweAXDHtQyLgtwH8arj01D-RH2HCp4UulaT6CMmdQzryvv6CeT4wetQYqsrlrkZ6T2-CiQMZp1X2Hvg9GZf9mZ3-D1bER_VPkuGJ_dC2b4hDDR2rIirQ1kL2YxkCXAAfVGESlo3Qw-57pzeMjjyqpnRq-2dCXEta9c8dFayKWCKA9pbd9x-g7/w181-h200/gargoth1.JPG" width="181" /></a></div>Gargoth:</b> (Dragon #91) Nope, not going to do Graz'zt either, too over-exposed in Greyhawk. Let me show you an arch-devil you can use in your campaign! The Lord Who Watches, Gargoth was once only second to <b>Asmodeus</b> in the <b>Nine Hells </b>but now he wanders the <b>Prime Material Plane</b> on his own terms! If you want to read more about what Gargoth is up to and what this devil can do, check out <i>Nine Hells Revisited</i> in <i>Dragon #91</i> by <b>Ed Greenwood</b>. I also hear a rumor "Gargauth" is dabbling in godhood in the Realms...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Hutijin" target="_blank">Hutijin</a>: </b>(MM2) This Duke of Hell is found in the 8th layer of Hell, <b>Caina</b> serving his master <b>Mephistopheles</b>. He looks like a pit fiend which is by design because he personally leads two companies of pit fiends. Though I couldn't find it in writing, the best I could find online is that there are 333 devils in a company. An army of 666 pit fiends sounds pretty epic!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ilsidahur: </b>(Dungeon #10) I had to dig deep for this demon. The Howling King is from the adventure <i>"The Shrine of Ilsidahur"</i>. From layer #99 The Guttering Grove, he is a giant ape with ram horns who is the patron of bar-lguras. This module might be worth looking into!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Juiblex" target="_blank">Juiblex</a>:</b> (MM1) Yes of course I have to mention the Faceless Lord here. This famous ooze demon lord is from layer #222, Shedakalah which he shares with another featured fiend on this list (see below). Little known fact, <a href="http://melkot.com/wogcomic/title/wogstrip242a.htm" target="_blank">Juiblex loves stand-up comedy</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght1lPKxWibbmy85HnDVXRy_0pcWZ8OGqrgiM79U-2lQvmR9121byzb0b29pZ09_Fm5bpdoVz4GTCNXP7uJCgoWZ5t3iEhhgNSo3BIR20IBlzpuiJk9oIVrlZZt2_297CHVzFuy4PFZZ4ZYaQ24nE8fcCg5Yo6ifWzLlJsa8Ubm5div16v_vQylVlJ7hc5/s400/monstrouscompendiumyeti.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="381" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght1lPKxWibbmy85HnDVXRy_0pcWZ8OGqrgiM79U-2lQvmR9121byzb0b29pZ09_Fm5bpdoVz4GTCNXP7uJCgoWZ5t3iEhhgNSo3BIR20IBlzpuiJk9oIVrlZZt2_297CHVzFuy4PFZZ4ZYaQ24nE8fcCg5Yo6ifWzLlJsa8Ubm5div16v_vQylVlJ7hc5/w191-h200/monstrouscompendiumyeti.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Kostchtchie" target="_blank">Kostchtchie</a>:</b> (MM2) I would've gone with <b>Kerzit</b> on this letter, but Kosty will forever be a favorite thanks to the classic cover of <i>Dragon #119</i> (left). The aptly named Prince of Wrath rules layer #23 The Iron Wastes. According to his background, <b>Baba Yaga</b> had a hand in his ascension to demon lord status which is fitting because both are based on Russian folklore.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Lolth" target="_blank">Lolth</a>: </b>(D&DG) Everyone and their cousin knows Lolth, Demon Queen of Spiders who runs abyss layer #66 the Demonweb Pits. No demon lord or duke of hell has probably influenced Greyhawk or D&D for that matter, more than Lolth. I mention her nonhuman entry in <i>Deities & Demigods</i>, but I also first saw her evil glory in <i>Fiend Folio</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Malgoth: </b>(Dungeon #117) You're probably wondering, what, no Mephistopheles? No Malcanthet? Well folks this is a sleeper pick, check out the Dungeon module, <i>Touch of the Abyss</i> by <b>Greg Vaughan</b>. The Malgoth was once an ancient obyrith that was so awful he was destroyed by an alliance of demon princes (sorta like <b>Tharizdun </b>level badness). His evil was so great that his essence continued to linger invisibly over the aeons, until Lolth unsuccessfully tried to take the city of <b>Istivin</b> into the abyss. This brief overlap allowed the Malgoth to enter <b>Oerth</b>, where he can now possess a single creature, becoming his "voice." It's an insidious demon, and one helluva module.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Nergal: </b>(Dragon #75) This "devil" is intriguing. The Bringer of Pestilence and Fever is an exiled Duke of Hell, one of the "Rabble of Devilkin" who roam <b>Avernus</b> looking to regain his status. That's cool and all but I know a more prominent Nergal from the original<i> Deities & Demigods</i> where he is an underworld god of the Babylonian pantheon (and according to myth is married to Ereshkigal). My favorite however is Nergal the pestilent Chaos god from <b>Warhammer</b> fantasy lore. All in all, there is probably a lot of crossover in these Nergals.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Orcus" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Orcus" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2AVojg94R4ivYkIfIrYTPU0IlY3qcDcR38mTJruWxSwCYfyDYG2VOdofRRzR77qBye_ZYeXkmgvW0XtsoJGN9W5fNRb_x2WnDPghbicOJu34gCfnqDCKH9k4GpFCuIjw1rZ5O6REAk1aftYdB9HflXaa2ttJWUl2DWidEScAa_JwNtDklIONh9gFAdL4/s574/orcus1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="538" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2AVojg94R4ivYkIfIrYTPU0IlY3qcDcR38mTJruWxSwCYfyDYG2VOdofRRzR77qBye_ZYeXkmgvW0XtsoJGN9W5fNRb_x2WnDPghbicOJu34gCfnqDCKH9k4GpFCuIjw1rZ5O6REAk1aftYdB9HflXaa2ttJWUl2DWidEScAa_JwNtDklIONh9gFAdL4/w188-h200/orcus1.JPG" width="188" /></a></div>Orcus: </b>(MM1) No brainer on this letter. Orcus, ruler of layer #113 Thanatos, is the classic Prince of the Undead and wielder of the iconic artifact, the <b>Wand of Orcus</b>. Orcus has featured heavily in D&D and Greyhawk lore, though in my opinion he's best known for his efforts to become a true god in the <b>Planescape</b> module <i>Dead Gods</i>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Pazuzu" target="_blank">Pazuzu</a>:</b> (MM2) AKA <b>Pazrael</b> from <i>Iuz the Evil</i>, this demon lord is well known in Greyhawk lore. The Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms is unique in that he rules the skies of all, I repeat ALL the skies in the 666 layers of the Abyss. Pazuzu's main enemy is Graz'zt yet he makes deals on Oerth with the Dark Prince's demigod son<b> Iuz</b>. Like any good demon lord, ol Paz' cannot be trusted!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Queen_of_Chaos" target="_blank">Queen of Chaos</a>:</b> (Rod of Seven Parts) Thank goodness for the Queen on this letter. She is the elder evil ruler of all abyssdom before Demogorgon. She is so old in fact she has no name except "Queen of Chaos." The Queen was the demon lord who was infamously defeated by the lawful <b>Wind Dukes of Aaqa</b> at the <b>Battle of Pesh</b>. The Queen now lurks in defeat on level #14, the Steaming Fens. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Rhyxali" target="_blank">Rhyxali</a>: </b>(Fiendish Codex I) Quick question, would <b>Raxivort</b> count as a fiend since he spent so much time serving Graz'zt before becoming god of xvarts? At any rate speaking of Graz, Rhyxali the Queen of the Shadow Demons is his sister! Allegedly. Rhyx resembles Graz'zt though, six fingers and all that. There isn't much on her, but she rules layer #49 Shaddonon where all shadow demons originate. Cool!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Shami-Amourae" target="_blank">Shami-Amourae</a>:</b> (Dungeon #148) The Lady of Delights. She is a rival of Malcanthet whom was once the consort of Demogorgon. Shami however was imprisoned in abyss layer #73 The Well of Darkness. She appears in the adventure path <i>Savage Tide </i>because she knows intimate information about the Prince of Demons. Oh my!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Titivilus" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Titivilus" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCA5tWHoDS8-iDiL7jPG_8vwRn-wHF2TKxwy979L48tfs-W1mddK0Yl-a2iUwgBsIG5VXI9B084JYkdh_v9MpTIi9VNdoH4cooN-F4WY5BEIA6GNRfK5ny8e6higQKhOKWVbaJT7RKPdZo8KFg9iGont_9GYl_1eyCRRHFhbHmJh2ON5EtmLyPtcb2mrY6/s452/titiv1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCA5tWHoDS8-iDiL7jPG_8vwRn-wHF2TKxwy979L48tfs-W1mddK0Yl-a2iUwgBsIG5VXI9B084JYkdh_v9MpTIi9VNdoH4cooN-F4WY5BEIA6GNRfK5ny8e6higQKhOKWVbaJT7RKPdZo8KFg9iGont_9GYl_1eyCRRHFhbHmJh2ON5EtmLyPtcb2mrY6/w187-h200/titiv1.JPG" width="187" /></a></div>Titivilius:</b> (MM2) I'm picking Titivilus because the wily ambassador/messenger of arch-devil <b>Dispater </b>looks fun to use in a roleplay sense. This goat-legged devil is wicked because he can spew the most corrupted twisted words and causes fear and confusion like no other. Fiends even hate talking to him!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ugudenk: </b>(Dragon #333) The Squirming King is an obyrith demon rules that layer #177 the Writhing Realm. He is best known for having his wormy creatures burrow into Fraz-Urb'luu's realm while he was imprisoned by Zagyg. Let's leave it at that. Nasty.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Verin" target="_blank">Verin</a>: </b>(MM2) Tricky letter. This demon lord is mentioned in <i>Monster Manual 2</i> but is not given any detail. Later on, Verin would be made the "Voice of Graz'zt", the demon who filled in for his demon prince while he was imprisoned by Iggwilv. I believe this role is synonymous with the demon <b>Vuron</b> from Gygax's <b>Gord</b> novel series. Either way, Verin is a cool customer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wejinhastala:</b> (Dragon #357) Okay this is an obscure reference, but W isn't a popular letter with fiends evidently. Wejin is the Tempest, a demon lord from antiquity that allied with several others to take down the Malgoth (see above) before falling into ruin themselves.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Xaxx'aa: </b>(Rary the Traitor) This is a hidden gem. Xaxx is an Ultroloth (the toughest of daemon-kind) who is in the service of<b> Rary the Traitor</b>. Xaxx is in the <b>Bright Desert</b> voluntarily to aid Rary, overseeing the epic teleportation of Rary's tower from <b>Ket</b> to the desert. He has uncertain motivations, perhaps displacing the mage as ruler? Xaxx'aa is not only highly intelligent, but deadly in combat, carrying a sentient sword +3 called Doomcutter whose special purpose is to slay demons and devils. This guy needs to be used more!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOo82LoJrpBRYfs5e6Z5BZyrbj0vVY5I75_RkLf6rDrdNBBqje5XZsOcnkyCMLa0lEvykL6WCqsEqb4D4XvF1GBJ2b7QNhqpMCVtFnM2ZSRAGxeInlDrwvSbgpl531o_JGIp-HpqTDN9qOLzd4VOOnQzOGqLLPhgA5-3U1hhB-pW1LGj4E01Mwq6c9R-P/s437/zuggt2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="437" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOo82LoJrpBRYfs5e6Z5BZyrbj0vVY5I75_RkLf6rDrdNBBqje5XZsOcnkyCMLa0lEvykL6WCqsEqb4D4XvF1GBJ2b7QNhqpMCVtFnM2ZSRAGxeInlDrwvSbgpl531o_JGIp-HpqTDN9qOLzd4VOOnQzOGqLLPhgA5-3U1hhB-pW1LGj4E01Mwq6c9R-P/w200-h178/zuggt2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Yeenoghu" target="_blank">Yeenoghu</a>:</b> (MM1) The Demon Prince of Gnolls is well known from early D&D lore. He lives on layer #422 "Yeenoghu's Realm" a barren plane that once belonged to other demon lords. Yeenoghu has many enemies, including Baphomet (see above) who have been scheming over events in <b>Western Oerik</b>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/Zuggtmoy" target="_blank">Zuggtmoy</a>:</b> (TOEE) Let's finish this list properly. Zuggtmoy has been featured in adventures and novels from the very beginning of Greyhawk. The Lady of Fungi is of course most famous for her um, association with Iuz, and her role in the classic adventure <i>Temple of Elemental Evil</i>. When not imprisoned, Zuggy lives on abyssal layer #222 Shedakalah along with her slimy friend Juiblex. Spoiler: this realm is where Zuggtmoy hides Iuz's soul object. This fiendish show of devotion reminds me of an old <a href="https://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2019/02/great-greyhawk-couples.html" target="_blank">blog post from 2019</a>. Enjoy and until next time!</div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-74190194484217123942023-08-17T10:42:00.007-05:002023-08-17T10:42:48.419-05:00Greyhawk Quiz #5: Five Letter Chain<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRTdlLNcLZigvx4wn_4sIHHaSSdN2G_odzb2RmsW-g35RATTT8_VNExgeULM1FgnDb968OybI9eIGSYU4GNmUALj6_ZoR2hlVJOuUvrEePxz2R-37HL_oJ53Olc8SSVLXHOg_rjt5VMrpHItZIbiBvXRtLCobIqjSFEh6ogKGUFa1tMG961k9Oy3HL5EA/s190/hourglass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="179" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRTdlLNcLZigvx4wn_4sIHHaSSdN2G_odzb2RmsW-g35RATTT8_VNExgeULM1FgnDb968OybI9eIGSYU4GNmUALj6_ZoR2hlVJOuUvrEePxz2R-37HL_oJ53Olc8SSVLXHOg_rjt5VMrpHItZIbiBvXRtLCobIqjSFEh6ogKGUFa1tMG961k9Oy3HL5EA/w188-h200/hourglass.JPG" width="188" /></a></div>Welcome again Greyhawk mavens! <p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's been a fun lazy summer and since I have no <b>GenCon 2024</b> news of any importance, how about a new Greyhawk quiz? If you haven't already, check out my previous four quizzes on <a href="https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1667567/world-of-greyhawk-human-cultures" target="_blank">Human Cultures</a>, <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2022/10/greyhawk-quiz-2-capital-cities.html" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Capital Cities</a>, <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2023/01/greyhawk-quiz-3-module-covers.html" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Module Covers</a> and <a href="https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1667567/dungeons-and-dragons-trivia-vecna" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Vecna</a>. Good luck, this next one requires a bit of typing. Enjoy!</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1667567/5-letter-world-of-greyhawk-chain" target="_blank">GREYHAWK 5-LETTER CHAIN QUIZ</a></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-61511079139587119412023-08-09T18:53:00.000-05:002023-08-09T18:53:54.900-05:00Greyhawk A-Z: Magic Items 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrrC4yPnHdQVxkuHfVVJCJJeOCiLmfgE7I45T-bAV6Gfw9j0lkHSrbStyYEZcn18_hsqMGZCrFGRO70Pono_r1L6dKkgRcgRsG30vIDhmhbU-XxgXobODiTdYsTVOJGcfTFwS8XmDkWPKBIP9k7aAkwDPPMq7ihmTNHam531S-S5X6qZ3dO98ujQts9JH/s513/image018.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="513" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrrC4yPnHdQVxkuHfVVJCJJeOCiLmfgE7I45T-bAV6Gfw9j0lkHSrbStyYEZcn18_hsqMGZCrFGRO70Pono_r1L6dKkgRcgRsG30vIDhmhbU-XxgXobODiTdYsTVOJGcfTFwS8XmDkWPKBIP9k7aAkwDPPMq7ihmTNHam531S-S5X6qZ3dO98ujQts9JH/s320/image018.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Welcome back Greyhawkers! It's time for another fun A-Z list! Some of my previous alphabetical lists of </span><a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2014/02/greyhawk-z-people.html" style="background-color: white; color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">people</a><span style="background-color: white;">, </span><a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2014/02/greyhawk-z-places.html" style="background-color: white; color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">places</a>,<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2014/02/greyhawk-z-deities.html" style="background-color: white; color: #3778cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">deities</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and yes <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2014/03/greyhawk-z-magic-items.html" target="_blank">magic items</a> can be found on the <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/p/best-of-greyhawkery.html" target="_blank">Best of Greyhawkery Page</a>. This time around I will look at some magical items that are not swords or artifacts. Wish me luck! I hope you'll enjoy!</span></span></div><br style="background-color: white;" /><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Apparatus of Kwalish:</strong><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Debatably this is an artifact, but it's always been listed among wondrous items in DMG's. We all know this most famous of aquatic magic items, but for future readers I want to make clear, Kwalish is </span>human,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and he originally worked out of the </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Baklunish West</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Zeif</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bucknard's Everfull Purse: </b>This is an item I rarely gave out in my old campaigns, though every group had a <b>Bag of Holding </b>or <b>Heward Haversack</b>. The purse just seemed game breaking to me at low level and useless at high level. Why did Bucknard, a former member of the <b>Circle of Eight</b>, need to make this item? I guess he always got stuck paying for drinks at the tavern.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Cloak of the Couatl:</b> Here's a rare one from <i>The Scarlet Brotherhood</i>. This feather cloak is only found in <b>Amedio</b> or<b> Hepmonaland</b>. As you'd expect it allows the wearer to fly. It also lets you turn invisible. Wow, talk about game breaking!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Dream Cap of Veluna:</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Greyhawk Adventures</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> really is the best source for GH specific items as you'll see throughout this column. The dream cap gives premonitions in your sleep, usually of bad stuff that will happen. Later </span>on,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> you get a bonus to save when </span>whatever<span style="font-family: inherit;"> happens. I never used this </span>before,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> but it sounds like a good roleplay device for DMs!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Ebon Skull:</b> Possibly a relic (since only three were made), but this major magic item is found in<i> Iuz the Evil</i>. The user can do typical necromancer stuff, animate dead, cloud kill, etc. I believe the book lists which NPCs has the three skulls. I can't recall if I ever used these, I think I'd remember if my players acquired one though...</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Flaming Mirror of Tenh: </b>Yes, another gem from GHA. The Flaming Mirror is a cool plane-travelling device (elemental plane of fire) that I did use in the past but for the Baklunish West<b> </b>instead. Tenh sounds cool, but I don't see the thematic connection except to give this item a place name. Personally, I'd trade this one with the <b>Whip of Zeif </b>to make the Flaming Mirror of Zeif.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Gargoyle Cloak: </b>From the <i>Temple of Elemental Evil</i>, this garment obviously polymorphs the wearer into a gargoyle! (helpful if one plays the module <i>Gargoyle</i>?) Interestingly if the wearer takes 20 hp damage from edged or fire attacks the cloak is ruined and stops working. The worst drawback is each 10 minutes you remain a gargoyle there is a 10% chance (cumulative) that your mind is changed to a gargoyle permanently. One more note, the module says there is other cloaks that turn wearers into other types of creatures. See below!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Hasty Barge of Nyr Dyv:</b> Another from </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Greyhawk Adventures</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, this is a </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Rhennee</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> barge that has magical </span>movement,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and it automatically repels unintelligent sea creatures. This is one of the only items attached to Rhennee culture that I'm aware of, so this makes the hasty barge valuable indeed!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Iron Bands of Bilarro:</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>Well,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> this item is pretty standard across D&D editions (and we know by now what the anagram name is about), but what I just realized on re-reading it is the bands start off as a "ball" of iron that you throw at an opponent. The bands unwind and wrap around the target to </span>catch<span style="font-family: inherit;"> it. Holy crap guys, it's a </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Pokemon</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ball!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Jug of Geshtai:</b> Throwing you all a curve ball here. This item was created by ME way back in 2005! Check it out over on <b><a href="http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=637" target="_blank">Canonfire!</a></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Keolish Plate Mail of the Seas:</b> Interestingly demonym spelling from GHA. Keolish? Misprint or intentional? At any rate this item is great because it has historical relevance. The <b>King of Keoland</b> gave it to his admiral for defeating the <b>Sea Princes</b>. That's the <b>Battle of Jetsom Isle</b> folks! Naturally the armor allows the wearer to not sink in water. Makes you wonder if the<b> Sea Mages of Gradsul </b>made more of these?<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Leomund's Labile Locker: </b>I'm a sucker for alliteration. From TOEE once again, Leomund sure knows how to make extra-dimensional storage space. This small box does it all, it shrinks, grows and can be used as a <i>Leomund's Secret Chest </i>spell. More of this please!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Mantle of Celestian: </b>A unique magic item from <i>Unearthed Arcana</i>. This black cloak allows the wearer to breathe and act normally in space! It also has numerous extra-dimensional pockets to store things like food & water while you um, float around in space?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Necklace of Missiles:</b> Found in the DMG, this fireball inducing item isn't necessarily uniquely Greyhawk. But I will tell you a story from my campaign when the players got a bunch of missile beads from the module <i>Greyhawk Ruins</i>. No joke (spoiler) there is a room with 13 jars holding 300 beads each. A chart in the module says 94% are missile beads of various strength (the remaining 6% are beads of force, no big deal). That means this dungeon yields 3666 fireball missiles. Needless to say, my players invented carpet bombing in Greyhawk.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Oracles of Greyhawk:</b> Oracles in this case are specialized crystal balls (likely created by <b>Zagig Yragerne</b>). There is seven of them and once per day the oracle will answer a sagely question about a specific area such as <b>Greyhawk City, Horned Society </b>or the <b>Wild Coast</b>. I like these items because it can allow a DM to insert meta-knowledge into a game. The added danger to this orb is that the rulers of these areas may not want an oracle that can reveal their secret troop strengths or hidden resources. I need to use this next time!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Purple Robes of Tharizdun:</b> Hilariously, these robes first seen in<i> Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun</i>, are given magic item status in <i>Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil</i>. It just protects against the magical cold of their temples, pretty basic, like their cultists. There I said it.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Quaal's Feather Tokens: </b>A classic from the DMG. These were always easy to dish out because they are one shot items. I think my players liked the Anchor best because they would use it offensively like a Looney Tunes cartoon. Tell me I'm not the only one.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Rary's Ring of Memories:</b> This plain ring is from <i>Slavers</i> surprisingly (not <i>Rary the Traitor</i>). I thought it would be cooler, but all it actually does is cast <i>Rary's Memory Alteration</i>. I guess that could be evil if played right. *activates ring* "No Tenser, I didn't try to kill you and Otiluke! It wasn't me, I swear."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Shoes of Fharlanghn:</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Another very cool item from UA and also </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Land Beyond the Magic Mirror</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. The wearer never fatigues from walking and if they are neutral the boots give extra movement powers. But wait, that's not all! If the wearer is a Fharlanghn </span>worshipper,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> they get even MORE powers. I don't think we ever had someone play a Fharlanghnite, so this item never got used in my campaign. A shame.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Tenser's Girdle of Giant Strength:</b> From<i> Return of the Eight</i>. This module has a bunch of Tenser created items mainly for fighter-types to use, but this one is of particular interest because it's for only for wizards. This is significant because the original DMG says strength girdles do not work for magic-users. A custom magic rope belt that gives a mage hill giant strength is definitely on brand for Tenser.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Universal Solvent: </b>A classic magic item but who has ever used this actually? It's funny to have an item whose main purpose is to negate its opposite, <b>Sovereign Glue</b>. That's the Gygax era though!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Vecnan Wafers: </b>Okay this one is from way out there. Found in the 2E module, <i>Die Vecna Die</i> this unholy magical flat bread is consecrated to Vecna. If one who worships Vecna eats the wafers it will give a variety of buffs/heals, whereas non-Vecnans can expect reallllly bad stuff to occur. Fun!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Wand of a Wonder: </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">You've heard of the <b>Wand of Wonder</b>, yes? </span>Well,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> when that item runs out of charges, try the Wand of <u>A Wonder</u> from the TOEE mega-module. It's similar to the DMG version and has a whole new list of random wild effects. Good times!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Xaren Cloak: </b>This is a nifty cheat for the list. Technically </span>it's<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a variation of the Gargoyle Cloak above, but in the<i> Encyclopedia Magica Vol 1</i>, the listing for this cloak includes a d20 list of other monster cloaks. Xaren was unexpected, why not <b>Xorn</b>? At any rate, there ya go!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Yagrax's Spellbook: </b>Here's another obscure one for the A-Z list compliments of <i>Encyclopedia Magica.</i> In <i>Dragon #82</i> there is a tome subtitled <i>Alterations of Tangibles and Intangibles</i>. This has the spells <i>melt, transmute water to dust, item, material, fabricate</i>, and the always classy <i>crystalbrittle</i>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Zagyg's Flowing Flagon:</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> One more from UA to finish off this column. Zagyg is a whimsical mage who has some eccentric magic item </span>tastes<span style="font-family: inherit;">. This one is a vessel that refills itself up to six times with ever more potent alcohol each time. </span>Somehow,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I have never used this item but I'm putting this one in my next game you can bet!</span></span></div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-91695011581595023552023-07-28T22:24:00.006-05:002023-07-28T22:24:45.171-05:00Greyhawk Quiz #4: Human Cultures<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjSsLwjoPqhAQnUCjICFHCAc4VDfh_TAhDzZiMXh840-ssG3c2mx65pvNgifMjnWlHmidkEkNGJvsqFjAu2l-XyhhCEZoFWBG61cyiDTXHaEJbuHOlBJjrvvdUXTbHhZaOwFulvogrMVQ-OvAGBSS7KPt4mcLfjzX-c2UgpaUGNIxEAdcMQx_OfQ9Ms11/s1200/Otus-greyhawk-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjSsLwjoPqhAQnUCjICFHCAc4VDfh_TAhDzZiMXh840-ssG3c2mx65pvNgifMjnWlHmidkEkNGJvsqFjAu2l-XyhhCEZoFWBG61cyiDTXHaEJbuHOlBJjrvvdUXTbHhZaOwFulvogrMVQ-OvAGBSS7KPt4mcLfjzX-c2UgpaUGNIxEAdcMQx_OfQ9Ms11/w200-h150/Otus-greyhawk-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Welcome back Greyhawk buffs! <p></p><p></p><p>I got nothing new to show off, so how about another quiz? If you haven't already, check out my previous three quizzes on <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2022/10/greyhawk-quiz-2-capital-cities.html" target="_blank">Capital Cities</a>, <a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/2023/01/greyhawk-quiz-3-module-covers.html" target="_blank">Module Covers</a> and <a href="https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1667567/dungeons-and-dragons-trivia-vecna" target="_blank">Vecna</a>. Good luck and enjoy!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1667567/world-of-greyhawk-human-cultures" target="_blank">HUMAN CULTURES QUIZ</a></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-63485261007213280242023-07-08T19:47:00.003-05:002023-07-08T19:47:35.180-05:00Gen Con 2023: I'm Back!<p>Heya Greyhawkers! I'll be at <b>Gen Con</b> in Indianapolis this year, but only for one day on Saturday unfortunately. I haven't been to GenCon for seven years. I have no idea what I'll do there besides the dealer hall. So, if anyone wants to meet up and chat Greyhawk or con stuff for a while, hit me up on the comments or email me at <a href="mailto:mortellan@gmail.com">mortellan@gmail.com</a></p><p>Until then, enjoy!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj_ahdPR7MEziRBymPySHB6dQAoE4FazyofKSyXZ_Z0jCG_hWMfCJSfwGbVEII0KuSctNCh_aKomP9eYMirOIXXqUfqRlfUYAkiJ2LO2lqn-FpLJIIoz8xb0wZXDWlMLdpi-ogugrAeQyR0G2AcibahmjLZSCaoIdaRia9u39sNyh00HiZv24gu0OmHUr/s344/gencon2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="344" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHj_ahdPR7MEziRBymPySHB6dQAoE4FazyofKSyXZ_Z0jCG_hWMfCJSfwGbVEII0KuSctNCh_aKomP9eYMirOIXXqUfqRlfUYAkiJ2LO2lqn-FpLJIIoz8xb0wZXDWlMLdpi-ogugrAeQyR0G2AcibahmjLZSCaoIdaRia9u39sNyh00HiZv24gu0OmHUr/w400-h330/gencon2023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-20042271799968049462023-07-01T19:45:00.001-05:002023-07-01T19:45:38.089-05:00Virtual Greyhawk Con 2023<p>Greetings Greyhawkers! Be sure to keep an eye out for <b><a href="https://tabletop.events/conventions/virtual-greyhawk-con-2023" target="_blank">Virtual Greyhawk Con 4</a></b> this fall. Registration for the event and submissions for games started on June 30. Event registration will begin August 19th. Good luck everyone and have fun!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi617j7tLZ-v4glhjnllSlE0PPmIBceb76xDqtEATrPKPXiFzcUGvPGUbFgf6YIhTa7eTuMtAj430ToMPnrBLOp3PDpcUIXlJV1CbS-CmROcvfRZfzyzYa4ck2K0lu8wvrD78BHbNwwbVcfPxID3j5V8CqDWHlHaW0U9xH2fFTgcrMWpVfAJOVyqYqBruEf/s1553/VGHC4---1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi617j7tLZ-v4glhjnllSlE0PPmIBceb76xDqtEATrPKPXiFzcUGvPGUbFgf6YIhTa7eTuMtAj430ToMPnrBLOp3PDpcUIXlJV1CbS-CmROcvfRZfzyzYa4ck2K0lu8wvrD78BHbNwwbVcfPxID3j5V8CqDWHlHaW0U9xH2fFTgcrMWpVfAJOVyqYqBruEf/w494-h640/VGHC4---1.png" width="494" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-31488788469580070472023-06-22T19:09:00.001-05:002023-06-22T19:09:36.853-05:00Sea Princes Nobles 576 CY - Archbaron Gavin III<p><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdnIvcxUXWlGIxg8_CGDrtHnzKcN6Gr6kSlRlsFGM7IUnInW18IXHD0N7CmdraAUTTiRzoh60Qfk_vb27720z8vywy4SCrp9zPZNPtXZ3xLd39-K3eYPI5o9ZiL0nUocKKeLLWmTg4Sib99_esHS_up4_SVpvTtjT7CHvRZjCUbUArJ08OTn0sE7fuFqS/s833/Sea%20Princes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="833" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdnIvcxUXWlGIxg8_CGDrtHnzKcN6Gr6kSlRlsFGM7IUnInW18IXHD0N7CmdraAUTTiRzoh60Qfk_vb27720z8vywy4SCrp9zPZNPtXZ3xLd39-K3eYPI5o9ZiL0nUocKKeLLWmTg4Sib99_esHS_up4_SVpvTtjT7CHvRZjCUbUArJ08OTn0sE7fuFqS/w200-h200/Sea%20Princes.png" width="200" /></a></div>Greetings Greyhawk courtiers! Today I think I'm going to share another NPC noble from my <b>Sea Princes 576 CY</b> series. Gavin III is the ruler of <b>Galeside</b>, a small but rich town on <b>Flotsam Isle</b> that I hope to develop a bit more when I get around to fleshing out my Sea Princes campaign. Until then enjoy!<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">His Indomitable Nobility, </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gavin III</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, Archbaron of Galeside, Captain </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of the Courser</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. (House Toli, Toli Armada, Rogue 10)</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cf678fc8-7fff-0dcb-e944-1860e4581f3b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The archbaron of the small port Galeside is incredibly wealthy largely owing to his station in House Toli but also his ruthless ambition. Gavin is widely known as a capable sea captain and explorer. His personal ship, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the Courser</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> has notably voyaged beyond the Densac Gulf into the south seas several times, and on each return to port he has brought more wealth to his familys’ coffers. Archbaron Gavin III is married to </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Kerri of Jetsom Isle</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (Rogue 2) a noble lady who lives a comfortable life in a walled manor overlooking the sea. When her husband is away on a long voyage the archbaroness is rumored to go on her own adventures in the Hold. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Politics and Intrigues: The cousin of Prince Varek IV the head of House Toli, Gavin III is constantly plotting with members of his family to further enrich themselves through the exploitation of the Amedio Jungle and its coastal islands. Kerri is the younger sister of Baron Deran Insley, a fellow explorer whose relationship and thirst for maritime knowledge is often exploited by the archbaron to aid Galeside in exploring the south seas for new resources and trade routes.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Archbaron Gavin III is an ideal mid-level NPC patron to use for campaigns that involve a lot of exploration by ship (see the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dungeon</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> adventure path, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Savage Tide</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> for more on this). His home port of Galeside is a low key base for characters who want to avoid the dangers and intrigue of larger cities.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">House of Peers in the Sea Princes</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hold of the Sea Princes comprises thirty domains, divided amongst a dozen noble houses. A few of these houses can trace their lineage back hundreds of years to the first Suel migrations, while most are merely fabricated hereditary titles of pirate captains who settled down a century ago. While the Hold is currently ruled by the Prince of Monmurg, the Prince of Port Toli has led the House of Peers for much of the Holds’ history. In political situations, the twelve houses are evenly divided between naval factions called the Princes’ Fleet and the Toli Armada. Those Sea Princes captains who choose to avoid house politics, nominally defer to a fleet named the Hold Flotilla in times of war.</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-28720224838128255482023-06-07T20:26:00.002-05:002023-08-09T10:36:17.589-05:00Travel Guide to Inns of Greyhawk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DIhjHmVfflQ_K8IRZR4ofaHmGv66CfMkj_aPzIAvJTbguv4gK70dhDnJ-E3_6xVg051K0CVnEWrKtadS67Dz8Rfu-DRPX1gNQ9QVa-mQyoOMAAfEjOGFJ156LIENb1AqjutR_CLZu27JakoFChHM6aoshIvgOJJ-KLUF2Zb2bYFgAJH7Lmmro8ooOA/s800/old-world-tavern.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="800" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DIhjHmVfflQ_K8IRZR4ofaHmGv66CfMkj_aPzIAvJTbguv4gK70dhDnJ-E3_6xVg051K0CVnEWrKtadS67Dz8Rfu-DRPX1gNQ9QVa-mQyoOMAAfEjOGFJ156LIENb1AqjutR_CLZu27JakoFChHM6aoshIvgOJJ-KLUF2Zb2bYFgAJH7Lmmro8ooOA/w200-h168/old-world-tavern.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Greetings fellow Greyhawk travelers! This post is being made in conjunction with the<b> Legends & Lore</b> stream. I'm rather shocked I haven't attempted this topic before, and now that we've broached the subject, I'm eyeballs deep into research on Inns and Taverns of Greyhawk. My obsession with this topic of course is because I'm a 20th-level former innkeeper. This is knowledge you can't unlearn. Any time I've ever ran a scene at an inn for <b>D&D</b> my professional experience has always crept into the game. Well, I'm not going overboard with this post I promise, but what I am doing for fun is highlighting as many published source inns, hotels, and hostels in the Flanaess as I can find (this list is in no way exhaustive). Using my vast insights on inns and hotels I will be using a scale of 💀 to 💀💀💀💀 skulls for my travel guide. One other caveat, I'm only featuring establishments that have a shred of business information about them in a module (no spoilers but will cite the sources). What that means is I won't be using the dozens of taverns and inns marked on various city maps that only have a name to go on. It also means that most of these inns will be from the City of Greyhawk. Oh well! Read on and enjoy your stay!<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Free City of Greyhawk</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Green Dragon Inn. 💀💀 </b>The favorite haunt of adventurers and other rough types in the River Quarter. Offers mundane fare, but in copious quantities. Weapons and armor are allowed here. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins, Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Blue Dragon Inn.</b> 💀💀 This establishment is a poor imitation of the Silver Dragon Inn next door. Everything found at the Silver Dragon including their prices is copied here, but the place is lesser quality. Noticeable lack of customers. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Silver Dragon Inn.</b> 💀💀💀 A grand inn in the Foreign Quarter. Prices are average and servings are huge. Menu items range from all across the Flanaess. Rooms vary from single private rooms to large bunk rooms. Costs are reasonable but not cheap. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Gold Dragon Inn.</b></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">💀💀💀💀 </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">A place of splendor and snobbery and exorbitant prices.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Even nobles may have a two hour wait to get in this place. The food is good but not the best, all prices are at 125% the cost of other upper-class establishments in the city. Rooms are high ceilinged with elaborately carved beams. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Brass Dragon Inn.</b></span> 💀💀 The first building many travelers see entering the city, this grand-looking establishment is a maze of wings, towers, sleeping and dining rooms, quiet lounges and noisy beer halls. Prices are high for the Old City, 1 gp/night for an average room and their food is very bland. <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Black Dragon Inn.</b> 💀💀 The largest inn in Clerkburg. Good food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rooms range from common room straw pallet for 2 sp/night to good private room 5 sp/night, or luxury room 2 gp/night. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Nymph and Satyr.</b> 💀💀💀 Reputedly has the most exotic collection of alcohol in the city. Reasonable costs for food and drink. Rooms are relatively cheap and plain. Place has a bawdy reputation and is avoided by more respectable citizens. <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>High Tower Tavern and Hostelry.</b> 💀💀💀 A favorite of the upper class, unpretentious and not as expensive as neighboring establishments.</span> <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Golden Phoenix. 💀💀💀💀 </b></span>Do not come here unless you have plenty of gold and can afford to put on weight. <span style="font-family: inherit;">This glorious establishment in the Garden Quarter has 30 rooms and two fine dining restaurants, the Velunese Grill and the Celene Feast Hall each with their own unique dishes. Meals cost from 10 to 50 gp. </span>Rooms are exquisitely furnished with 24-hour room service. Prices range from 10 gp/night to 15 gp/night. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Only persons of refinement, good manners and sound dress habits allowed. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Wizard's Hat Inn.</b> 💀💀💀💀 This excellent hostelry is one of the best kept secrets in the city. Rooms are reasonably priced, but weapons must be checked at the door. Superb food (signature roast venison is the best meat in the city), drink and hospitality. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Low Seas Tavern.</b> 💀💀💀 Favorite inn of wealthier Rhennee bargefolk. Good food in small portions served here, as well as expensive, high-quality drink. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The River Rat. 💀 </b>Central gathering place for Rhennee of the city. The inn is a smelly dive. Food, drink and rooms are cheap. Any damages to the inn are often charged in the morning. <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Barge Inn.</b> 💀💀 Favorite location for dwarven visitors. The largest inn in the River Quarter, it is also one of the busiest and rowdiest in the city.</span> <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Whistling Fish. 💀💀 </b>This two-story inn is unusually tall, with oversized windows and doors. The inn is owned by a short, good tempered hill giant. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. <i>(The Adventure Begins, Falcon's Revenge)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Whitehorse Inn.</span> 💀💀 </b>The grand old inn of the Old City. Ideal stop for caravans, has a large stable and corral. Rooms are clean and cheap; food is plain but in large portions. <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Gold Digger Tavern.</b> 💀💀 A raucous establishment that is the primary gathering place for dwarves in the Old City. Only dwarves are allowed weapons here.</span> Cheap drink, rooms and meals. The longest bed in the place is not quite five feet long. <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Madame Zaccaruso's Rooms for Rent.</b> 💀💀 This grand boarding house charges 4 sp/week which includes daily breakfast. Madame Z is rumored to be a witch, but the rooms are clean, and the house is quiet. <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Black Orchid Boarding House.</b> 💀💀 This small house is hard to find. It has no signage, and it only takes customers by referral. The privacy of boarders is kept without question. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Phoenix Boarding House. 💀💀 </b>This new building replaces the Black Orchid in 584 CY. It is three-stories and has a bright yellow roof. Mainly attracts immigrants with a bit of money. <i>(The Adventure Begins)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Hanged Man Inn.</span> 💀 </b>A grand inn that services the low life of the Thieves' Quarter. The outside is kept in repair, but the interior is a run-down dive. The inn is rumored to be Thieves Guild controlled; thus, it is a safe place to visit due to its unwritten rules against thievery and fighting. <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Mama Esther's Bakery and Boarding House.</b> 💀 Shabby little building with a wonderful aroma. There is four single rooms for rent at 1 sp/week. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Left Hand Inn.</b></span> 💀 Non-descript inn with cheap food, drink, and lodgings. The place is usually fairly empty and quiet. Drinks and food are free to anyone who can hit a bullseye target using their left hand. <i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Broken Staff.</b> 💀💀 This Artisan Quarter inn caters to wizards, sages, and academics. The tavern is well-maintained, and service is good though understaffed at times. Entertainment often involves displays of magic.<i> (Living Greyhawk Journal #2)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Dragon Turtle Tavern. 💀 </b>This small Slum Quarter inn is the cheapest tavern in the city. Lice-infested straw beds, warm ale, but delicious food in small portions.<i> </i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(City of Greyhawk Box, The Adventure Begins)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Viscounty of Verbobonc</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Rock Powder Inn.</b> 💀 Small country inn, set near an old quarry outside Verbobonc. Not a dive but has seen better times. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Vecna Lives!)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Kron Hall. 💀💀 </b>Located in the Gnomeburg district of Verbobonc, it is the only establishment that is built to cater to small and big folk. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Vecna Lives!)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Village of Hommlet</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Inn of the Welcome Wench. 💀💀💀💀 </b>The only inn for many miles, higher than normal food and drink costs. Renowned for its good food and collection of ales and wines from all over the Flanaess. Rooms are warm, clean and have a variety of furnishings. Prices range from 1 sp/night to 5 ep/night.<i> (Temple of Elemental Evil)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Village of Nulb</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Waterside Hostel.</b> 💀 A scurvy place. Rich guests have been known to disappear. Prices are low, about half those of the Inn of the Welcome Wench. <i>(Temple of Elemental Evil)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Village of Orlane (Gran March)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Golden Grain Inn. 💀 </b>Large wooden inn with a stable and corral. Food and drink quality is poor and prices are outrageous, from 1 sp to 1 gp per pint. Rooms are poor going from 12 sp to 4 gp/night. Rooms and drinks are sometimes discounted however to attract business. <i>(Against the Cult of the Reptile God)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Inn of the Slumbering Serpent. 💀💀 </b>An old, small inn with sign of a sleeping dragon out front.<b> </b>Prices are reasonable compared to the Golden Grain Inn, plus the food and drink is good. Keoish brandy is on stock here. Rooms are clean and well-furnished from 6 sp to 4 gp/night.<b> </b></span><i>(Against the Cult of the Reptile God)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Town of Elredd (Wild Coast)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Captain's Haven.</b> 💀💀 Caters to visiting merchants and sea captains. Offers breakfast at 3 sp and dinner for 6 sp. The rooms at 1 gp/night are well appointed and decorated with a nautical motif. Hot baths are available for 1 sp.<i> (Slavers)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Lady of the Sea.</b> 💀 Sailor's tavern that has cheap grog and cheaper furniture. The second floor "drunk tank" is a large common room where patrons can sleep on the floor for 3 cp. <i>(Slavers)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Rest in Peace. 💀 </b>An inn that caters to those slightly better off. Common room beds cost 5 cp/night, while private rooms are available for 4 sp/night. Breakfast costs another 1 sp. <i>(Slavers)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>City of Hardby (Greyhawk Domain)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Mistress of the Coach. 💀💀💀💀 </b>Possibly the best inn in Hardby. An expensive place with formal dress code that prohibits armor and weapons.</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> (Slavers)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Berei's Bounty. 💀💀 </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">A sturdy inn decorated with shafts of wheat. Low-priced, run by a former priestess of Berei. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Slavers)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">The Spotted Cow Inn. 💀💀 </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the more famous establishments in the Dock District. Nothing out of the ordinary about this place, just has good word-of-mouth advertising. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Slavers, Polyhedron #92)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Town of Restenford (Lendor Isle)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Falco's Tavern.</b> 💀 This hostelry has four rooms to rent at 11 sp/night. The bar has ale, beer, mead and hard liquors. <i>(Secret of Bone Hill)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Inn of the Dying Minotaur.</b> 💀💀💀 Minotaur head mounted above bar. Good drink and meals ranging from 6 to 15 sp. There are 18 various rooms available at 13 to 24 sp/night. </span><i>(Secret of Bone Hill)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Tavern of the West Wind.</b> 💀💀 Sells beer and liquor only. Has six rooms going for 12 sp/night. </span><i>(Secret of Bone Hill)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><b><u>Village of Garroten (Lendor Isle)</u></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><b>The House of Abraham. 💀💀 </b>Rooms go for 6 to 12 sp/night. Weekly rates give a 20% discount. Meals run from 6-20 sp. Ale, beer, mead and wine is served here.<i> </i></span><i>(Assassin's Knot)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Town of Heldarn (Furyondy)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Heroes' Return.</b> 💀💀 Small hostelry. Has four single-rooms, two doubles, and a common room that holds up to eight. 25% discount on food and drink to those fighting on the front against Iuz. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>(Marklands)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>City of Chendl (Furyondy)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Heroes' Rest Inn. 💀💀 </b>Above average quality service.<b> </b>Visitors are more likely to find rooms available here. During the war with Iuz, prices are triple cost here. </span><i>(Fate of Istus, Marklands)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>King's Arms Tavern. 💀💀 </b>Better than average quality inn. </span>During the war with Iuz, prices are triple cost here.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i>(Fate of Istus, Marklands)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Weatherhaven Inn. 💀💀💀 </b>The best place to meet war veterans and officers. </span>During the war with Iuz, prices are triple cost here.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i>(Fate of Istus, Marklands)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Wyrm. 💀💀💀 </b>The best inn in Chendl. Tastefully appointed bar and dining room. Rooms are quite luxurious. </span>During the war with Iuz, prices are triple cost here.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Fate of Istus, Marklands)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>City of Willip (Furyondy)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Billet. 💀💀 </b>A hostelry and gaming house where many exiled Shield Land nobles drown their sorrows.<i> (Marklands)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>City of Monmurg (Sea Princes)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">The Weary Traveler. 💀💀 </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">A place of constant merriment, it is the best inn in the dock district.</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> (Treasures of Greyhawk)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Jetsom Island (Sea Princes)</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Captain. 💀💀 </b>A respectable inn (at least compared to a dock district tavern called the Warship).<b> </b></span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Treasures of Greyhawk)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Free City of Dyvers</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Diamond Dagger.</b> 💀💀💀 Good quality. Large bed, closet, dresser, desk, large fireplace. Food and lodging 2gp/night. <i>(Puppets)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Come On Inn.</b> 💀💀 Average quality. Bed, closet, small fireplace. Food and lodging 1 gp/night. <i>(Puppets)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The Sleepy Dragon.</b> 💀💀 Average quality. Bed, closet, small fireplace. Food and lodging 8 sp/night. <i>(Puppets)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The King's Arms. </b>💀💀💀💀 Excellent quality. Large bed, closet, dresser, desk, large fireplace, bearskin rug. Food and lodging 5 gp/night. <i>(Puppets)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Town of Tristor (Theocracy of the Pale)</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Sogenford Inn.</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>💀💀 Three story building just inside the town gates. Average food, drink and lodging. Horses can be stabled for 1 cp/night.<i> (The Fright at Tristor)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><b><u>Rookroost (City of)</u></b></span><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.25px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.25px;">The Drunken Dragon.</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25px;"> </span></span></span></span>💀💀 Moderate accommodations. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25px;">Hostelry and tavern. What arms trades are not happening at the Temple of Zilchus may be </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25px;">happening</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25px;"> here between the Bandit Kingdoms and the Frost, Snow, and Ice Barbarians.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><i>(Five Shall Be One)</i></span></span></div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-85016001864935157382023-05-25T17:24:00.005-05:002023-05-25T17:28:05.822-05:00Sea Princes Nobles 576 CY - Commodore Edrin Hollister<p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaKdnsaoSnkfDH0LLCiwp_7XHI83fBYwBkyvRhe889zPsc4tv6Uj6wKZD3WwICi7mUdXvTtY6axht5l6OYc8kiYKUMrrX1ST6D8rDMAKtoqdsKeqwWMKoooIMiVcVimfDzo0RCdnkMcsmuTGdD29EynIq8hlvPb_fQkpCMMDTyhFHzLbZgIoIFy1GrA/s833/Sea%20Princes.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="833" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaKdnsaoSnkfDH0LLCiwp_7XHI83fBYwBkyvRhe889zPsc4tv6Uj6wKZD3WwICi7mUdXvTtY6axht5l6OYc8kiYKUMrrX1ST6D8rDMAKtoqdsKeqwWMKoooIMiVcVimfDzo0RCdnkMcsmuTGdD29EynIq8hlvPb_fQkpCMMDTyhFHzLbZgIoIFy1GrA/w200-h200/Sea%20Princes.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Greeting Greyhawkers! Today I present another installment of my Sea Princes Nobles 576 CY. This time I finish the set of three commodores of the isles with <b style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Edrin Hollister of Fairwind Isle</b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. If you haven't seen my previous noble articles head to my </span><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/p/best-of-greyhawkery.html" target="_blank">Best of Greyhawkery</a></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> section for that and much more! Enjoy!</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His Valiant Lordship, </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Edrin Hollister</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Commodore of Fairwind Isle; Vanguard of the Armada, Captain of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Sea Hammer</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. (House Toli, Toli Armada, Fighter 13)</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The youngest of three commodores in the Hold, Edrin Hollister rose to prominence after winning several notable sea-battles. Edrin is an intense fighter and a tempestuous leader which serves him well in the company of Sea Princes nobility. The commodore is on his second marriage, presently with </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gertrude of Port Toli</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Fighter 1), the sister of Prince Varek IV. Hollister’s walled estate on Fairwind Isle is a busy, well-managed place as the commodore has fourteen children of varying age, many adopted or born out of wedlock. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When not at Fairwind or in council at Monmurg, the commodore is often found aboard the indomitable </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sea Hammer</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the pride of the Toli Armada for being the oldest and strongest vessel since the sinking of the famed </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sea Prince</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle of Jetsom Isle.</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In times of war, Commodore Hollister will command a medium-sized fleet, aided by the fleet of elder Commodore Grayfin of Flotsam Isle. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Politics and Intrigues:</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Edrin Hollister is on good terms with the other commodores, who both have increasingly begun to defer to him in naval matters. Edrin is aware that his senior colleagues are more suited to politics than him, so he does not cause any waves. All is not well for the celebrated </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">commodore,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> however. A growing number of mutinies among the Toli Armada to their enemy the Crimson Fleet has forced Hollister’s fleet to deal with the matter most severely. Meanwhile at home, Edrin’s oldest son Orlando ran off with the governor of Sybar’s daughter causing a minor scandal in the Hold (see the AD&D module </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beyond the Crystal Cave).</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Commodore Hollister makes a good contact for mid-level adventurers who need a base of operations in the Hold of the Sea Princes to launch their own nautical </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">voyages or</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> take on swashbuckling missions. Characters who pledge their own sailing vessel to the Toli Armada will certainly earn the respect of this ranking noble.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">House of Peers in the Sea Princes<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hold of the Sea Princes comprises thirty domains, divided amongst a dozen noble houses. A few of these houses can trace their lineage back hundreds of years to the first Suel migrations, while most are merely fabricated hereditary titles of pirate captains who settled down a century ago. While the Hold is currently ruled by the Prince of Monmurg, the Prince of Port Toli has led the House of Peers for much of the Holds’ history. In political situations, the twelve houses are evenly divided between naval factions called the Princes’ Fleet and the Toli Armada. Those Sea Princes captains who choose to avoid house politics, nominally defer to a fleet named the Hold Flotilla in times of war</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-823bd792-7fff-1be5-f13f-28dafff9217e"><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-44227176249151827372023-05-17T15:34:00.003-05:002023-05-17T15:34:51.251-05:00RIP Russ Nicholson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paying respects to the late <b>Russ Nicholso</b>n, an artist who you may not have known by name, but we've ALL seen his epic illustrations in one publication or the other over the decades (especially <i>Fiend Folio</i>). He was a true master at his craft and his artistic influence will live on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpOPdAmZNnoQWTMqDwHHuiP5PH9sbSOeGKdXZcG7jbseKjCfimjd5JMFry9zVvNyCXjXY8YQPf3-SFrPFwj7HP7U6XR6AffuOpUEox_tszqYfs_uxDdvmdhHdsdSoJm3RTV4Fng2E0VHcCxMv42vCrdkQjMcuQxSe7s7W7Q-sOQqcV7UOVBak8yj5-A/s385/grell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="286" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpOPdAmZNnoQWTMqDwHHuiP5PH9sbSOeGKdXZcG7jbseKjCfimjd5JMFry9zVvNyCXjXY8YQPf3-SFrPFwj7HP7U6XR6AffuOpUEox_tszqYfs_uxDdvmdhHdsdSoJm3RTV4Fng2E0VHcCxMv42vCrdkQjMcuQxSe7s7W7Q-sOQqcV7UOVBak8yj5-A/w476-h640/grell.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-42628717962539802862023-05-07T12:30:00.000-05:002023-05-07T12:30:54.660-05:00Sea Princes Nobles 576 CY - Commodore Adolphus Grayfin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh0k4w4kVAUtGlrEflVYbRCpzSzzPO_6Ts9R_60UDOYsn38AOa01YAPDNQF56_8p5K_A4_GO67RpanHUNWR3kVtqgZsDWsbqESaay4hcJAHyjhPGdJ6wQ26QLVLKvkvOk1W6iMD11kJToD3KDg6auIvKjVHgbUrw6GBsMdcEJp7b30wU9qZF_iIe3xA/s833/Sea%20Princes.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="833" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh0k4w4kVAUtGlrEflVYbRCpzSzzPO_6Ts9R_60UDOYsn38AOa01YAPDNQF56_8p5K_A4_GO67RpanHUNWR3kVtqgZsDWsbqESaay4hcJAHyjhPGdJ6wQ26QLVLKvkvOk1W6iMD11kJToD3KDg6auIvKjVHgbUrw6GBsMdcEJp7b30wU9qZF_iIe3xA/w200-h200/Sea%20Princes.png" width="200" /></a></div>Welcome back Greyhawkers to another installment of my <b>Hold of the Sea Princes</b> 576 CY nobles. To see my previous NPC profiles please visit <b><a href="http://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/p/best-of-greyhawkery.html" target="_blank">Best of Greyhawkery</a></b> page, or for a preview of my entire slate of buccaneer nobles download <i><a href="https://greyhawkonline.com/oerthjournal/" target="_blank">Oerth Journal #32</a></i> for my article, the <i>Unconquered Hold of the Sea Princes</i>. Until then, enjoy!<p></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His Peerless Nobility, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adolphus Grayfin</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Commodore of Flotsam Isle; Terror of the Densac Gulf, Captain of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the Paragon</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. (House Moretto, Toli Armada, Fighter 15)</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adolphus Grayfin has waged many sea-battles over his career. The old commodore is still considered the terror of the high seas, but at home he is a hopeless romantic, currently on his third marriage; this time to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trina of Sasserine </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Cleric of Lydia 5), a noblewoman half his age. Commodore Grayfin has always resided in comfort on an estate a few hours inland from the port of Poniard. This sprawling old ranch has belonged to his family for over a century; its quiet orchards, marble walls, and private cemetery hold many secrets. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Politics and Intrigues: </b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adolphus is one of a trio of commodores that by threat of force and will power, keep order in the squabbling House of Peers. Commodore Grayfin’s vaunted warship </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Paragon</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> has been docked at Poniard more than its been at sea for the last couple </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">years,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> however. Adolphus was once the leader of the entire Toli Armada, but age has forced him to now defer to <b>Commodore Edrin Hollister</b> of Fairwind Isle. Adolphus’ newest wife is suspected of manipulating the commodore to some end by his adult children, all of whom are older than their </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">stepmother</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Trina.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Commodore Grayfin makes a good benefactor for characters seeking swashbuckling adventure on the high seas or those wishing to captain a crew for his large fleet of ships. Grayfin may be old but politically he can open a lot of doors for PCs in the Hold. He also has years’ worth of knowledge concerning the islands and inhabitants of the south seas.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">House of Peers in the Sea Princes<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hold of the Sea Princes comprises thirty domains, divided amongst a dozen noble houses. A few of these houses can trace their lineage back hundreds of years to the first Suel migrations, while most are merely fabricated hereditary titles of pirate captains who settled down a century ago. While the Hold is currently ruled by the Prince of Monmurg, the Prince of Port Toli has led the House of Peers for much of the Holds’ history. In political situations, the twelve houses are evenly divided between naval factions called the Princes’ Fleet and the Toli Armada. Those Sea Princes captains who choose to avoid house politics, nominally defer to a fleet named the Hold Flotilla in times of war.</span></span></div><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8d6aa012-7fff-1120-f12e-9e148ecc5d95"></span></p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-19362775390025264542023-04-23T19:28:00.002-05:002023-04-23T19:28:59.079-05:00Greyhawk Gods Walk on Oerth<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY5aGwezEYrQKGdZlTwNnVdbqAO-LjKWzoQAhb6E1_rDtoawj5IZ5Ar834ssFqgsn_RG08ZN9OEIyHWIC7GRKncdsLyqJHxZ6dPKEimQD0moPGWXYkjV9Wgv7jIOzYGEK-QWjvBCEbfqyxQ60m8eiTNA5-r8XPM5Bl0WCvC523DiUV6u92hlHNf-06A/s229/erythnul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="229" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY5aGwezEYrQKGdZlTwNnVdbqAO-LjKWzoQAhb6E1_rDtoawj5IZ5Ar834ssFqgsn_RG08ZN9OEIyHWIC7GRKncdsLyqJHxZ6dPKEimQD0moPGWXYkjV9Wgv7jIOzYGEK-QWjvBCEbfqyxQ60m8eiTNA5-r8XPM5Bl0WCvC523DiUV6u92hlHNf-06A/s1600/erythnul.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>Greetings Greyhawk faithful! Today I'm going to look into a situation that has always bothered me about Greyhawk setting lore, and that is a contradictory suggestion that deities of Oerth do not directly get involved in mortal affairs. This is one area where I'm for classic Greyhawk over latter day authors. Let me explain in more detail...<p></p><p><i>From the Ashes</i> by <b>Carl Sargent</b> on How Do Powers Look Upon Mortals:</p><p><i>"The Powers of Oerth rarely intercede directly in the affairs of Oerth. They expect their servants to be their right (and left) hands in the world...The Powers have an implicit understanding that if one of them should act too directly, others will act in concert to oppose the meddler, for if all acted in such a manner, Oerth would be destroyed by the Powers.</i></p><p><i>This helps us understand why the demigod Iuz has been able to effect so much evil in the Flanaess. The Prime Material Plane is his home plane, and therefore, he has a direct involvement in its affairs that other Powers do not...One partial exception is St. Cuthbert of the Cudgel. Other Powers allow St. Cuthbert to act in limited ways to oppose Iuz."</i></p><p>Indeed, this Cuthbert-Iuz rivalry is suggested previously in <i>Temple of Elemental </i>by <b>Gary</b> <b>Gygax </b>and <b>Frank Mentzer </b>but it is not explicitly stated the gods overall are barred from Oerth:</p><p><i>"Because of the plots of Iuz and various demons and evil elemental types, St. Cuthbert has become actively aware of events, and has indirect assistance from Beory (who resists elemental destruction). The enmity between Iuz and St. Cuthbert may result in direct confrontation!"</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiPZ2YCu1MdzfjSFO69ncPoUSUenlkNKOWLmfCirkSkDttxrH45jdzG_BI-kFCxoOPYFz_k1KnNRCtBXDkAG6PKHotyA4It8xW42ZomeePk62WU1b5wb1qiah8jS3ab3JQwECrLnawcv0SYBTJk-00irHTWGbh9yg8YeBeWbGKeZSjwnfjOOpIsvKrw/s400/cuthbert1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="400" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiPZ2YCu1MdzfjSFO69ncPoUSUenlkNKOWLmfCirkSkDttxrH45jdzG_BI-kFCxoOPYFz_k1KnNRCtBXDkAG6PKHotyA4It8xW42ZomeePk62WU1b5wb1qiah8jS3ab3JQwECrLnawcv0SYBTJk-00irHTWGbh9yg8YeBeWbGKeZSjwnfjOOpIsvKrw/w200-h151/cuthbert1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>What does Beory giving assistance look like?!? Cuthbert interferes with Iuz, and in turn Iuz has interfered in the affairs of <b>Vecna</b> more than once (<i>Vecna Lives!</i>). The <i>Living Greyhawk Gazetteer </i>meanwhile,<i> </i>follows what I shall now term, Sargent's Law, and further clarifies this limitation to the "Powers" of Oerth:<p></p><p><i>"No god above demigod level may enter the Prime Material Plane of Oerth without the consensus of a majority of the gods of Oerth. A few exceptions to this are Ehlonna, Fharlanghn, Obad-Hai, and Olidammara (who chose the Prime Material Plane as their native realm), Beory (who may actually <u>be</u> the Oerth itself), and St. Cuthbert (who was allowed to come to Oerth to fight Iuz on more than one occasion)."</i></p><p>Older sources paint a slightly different picture than what Carl Sargent initiated in the 2nd Edition era of Greyhawk (if there is an earlier source of this law let know in the comments). <b>Len Lakofka</b> and Gygax seemed to have a more classic mythology flair to the pantheons of Oerth. In addition, <i>Greyhawk Adventures </i>by <b>James Ward</b> states in the first paragraph of the first chapter:</p><p><i>"The gods often visit the Prime Material Plane in avatar form to aid their worshipers or just to enjoy themselves. In one way or another, they influence actions of all creatures on the Plane...For some unknown reason, the city of Greyhawk gets an unusual amount of attention from these deities-at least one of these beings usually has an avatar in the city. Many ballads tell of awe-inspiring confrontations between avatars of opposing alignments on the city's crowded streets."</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm9zoO5-KHxFlfut0hLiDZntOWRoXTD_bttprx3JWFJxCbjHx_HIzvgjtqM-0HdJVBFPMai1w5yvh59Wt0Vr1xkm1X-tu9SjzueAZ-g0nsGW3oScOIdK2blQFTgXpdExTCApujvNAXAMXO8ju18YlW8bLWpfh4P_5UCUJ9UkQoDn0LL87BG-tU9FQtg/s497/syrul1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="497" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm9zoO5-KHxFlfut0hLiDZntOWRoXTD_bttprx3JWFJxCbjHx_HIzvgjtqM-0HdJVBFPMai1w5yvh59Wt0Vr1xkm1X-tu9SjzueAZ-g0nsGW3oScOIdK2blQFTgXpdExTCApujvNAXAMXO8ju18YlW8bLWpfh4P_5UCUJ9UkQoDn0LL87BG-tU9FQtg/w200-h166/syrul1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The gods may not directly appear to mortals in their true form in most cases, but they DEFINITELY walk among mortals frequently. Have a look at more of these instances:<p></p><p><b>Syrul</b> lesser goddess of deceit (<i>Dragon #88</i>)<i> "When a member of the Scarlet Brotherhood who is an assassin, illusionist, thief or monk attains the 9th level of experience, Syrul will personally attend the level-advancement ceremony to wish the character "evil-luck". Such a character is granted a vision spell with no strings attached."</i></p><p>To remind you, the <b>Scarlet Brotherhood</b> is comprised entirely of assassins, thieves and monks. Syrul doesn't just visit her special worshippers then, but ALL those high-level characters in the organization. That's not to say the goddess of deceit does this overtly in front of everyone, but she is there in person for a ceremony! </p><p><b>Wee Jas </b>greater goddess of magic and death (<i>Dragon #88</i>) <i>"She can summon groups of lawful undead or lawful dragons (not Tiamat or Bahamut) to do her bidding...Summoned creatures will come to her in Acheron or on the Prime Material Plane..." </i></p><p>Wee Jas is a vain deity, so why wouldn't she want to meddle in mortal affairs? Now admittedly this example is not as concrete as the one for Syrul, but it does <u>infer</u> that Wee Jas can call down heavy aid if she is on Oerth and needs to fight. That's not subtle at all for a greater deity.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxfBIX0I27aGndQWWSytvYfBR9nbfgFCppro4470NVl0f8KGnzSH2H54aKMGRL5nm7gjDk5Ie6X5wfkWCi-kIrmQ6fOgzVy7TB75AUetBuK-JWpX8X-lqo5FD_KUMF93ZASwyBDverCi15-qH3H5l3O0lPcXzT4_gyDqja8k3vOha1tXnjRA5HFrTNQ/s417/kord1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="417" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxfBIX0I27aGndQWWSytvYfBR9nbfgFCppro4470NVl0f8KGnzSH2H54aKMGRL5nm7gjDk5Ie6X5wfkWCi-kIrmQ6fOgzVy7TB75AUetBuK-JWpX8X-lqo5FD_KUMF93ZASwyBDverCi15-qH3H5l3O0lPcXzT4_gyDqja8k3vOha1tXnjRA5HFrTNQ/w200-h198/kord1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><b>Kord the Brawler </b>greater god (<i>Dragon #87</i>) <i>"Kord is quite the fool for a pretty face.
He favors elven and human women, but
has also consorted with other humanoids
and even giants. The world is full of his
sons and daughters, but few, if any, of them can claim demigod status (less than 1%)."</i><p></p><p>Kord, another greater god, is a classic example of meddling in mortal affairs, in the fashion of Zeus, by having actual affairs with mortals! The article in <i>Dragon</i> goes on to explain how a PC can possibly be a child of Kord and the game bonuses inherited. Later sources like<i> From the Ashes</i> completely omit this behavior by the Brawler in deference to the new "non-interference pact".</p><p><b>Phaulkon</b> greater god of air and avians (<i>Dragon #87</i>) <i>"Phaulkon is a relatively active traveler,
and enjoys the company of men and elves.
He can shape change into any normal or
giant bird at will, as well as into the form of
an elf or sprite."</i></p><p>Even Kord's dad likes to hang out on Oerth, and though it doesn't state he is promiscuous, there is no reason to believe he couldn't sire hero-gods like his son.</p><p><b>Norebo </b>lesser god of luck and gambling (Dragon #86) <i>"Norebo enjoys visiting taverns and gambling houses in the guise of a cheerful,
innocent stranger and setting up dice games
against other patrons...it is impossible for someone to know Norebo's true identity unless the deity wills it."</i></p><p>This roguish deity is discreet about his interactions at least!</p><p><b>Heironeous</b> lesser god of chivalry and justice (<i>Dragon #67</i>) <i>"Heironeous often leaves the Seven Heavens in order to move around the Prime
Material Plane, aiding heroic causes and
championing Lawful Good...he has the power to create an illusion
which makes him appear as a young boy,
a mercenary soldier, or an old man. In
the latter guises he will be garbed appropriately, but he always wears a suit of
fine, magical chainmail."</i></p><p>Yes, even the patron of paladins and knights everywhere in the Flanaess cannot help but get involved. He isn't directly appearing in all his glory, but he is there (perhaps even on the front lines helping <b>Shield Lands</b> and <b>Furyondy </b>vs Iuz!) in contradiction to later canon law. Then there is his brother...</p><p><b>Hextor </b>lesser god of war (<i>Dragon #67</i>) <i>"Hextor dwells on the Planes of Acheron but can wander to those of Hell or even Nirvana. Most frequently, though, Hextor
treads the Prime Material Plane in search
of warfare, aiding lawful evil, opposing
good...Hextor appears as a normal, handsome man when in disguise, for he can
cause four of his arms to meld with his
torso whenever he so desires. His complexion is fair and his hair jet black, as
are his eyes. He is well spoken and
charming, a hale fellow and a man’s man,
yet irresistible to women."</i></p><p>Hextor is MOST FREQUENTLY on Oerth doing his business. Why wouldn't a war god hang out on battlefields with mortals? It's what Ares would do. Speaking of war gods...</p><p><b>Erythnul</b> lesser god of hate and slaughter (<i>Dragon #71</i>) <i>"Erythnul stalks battlefields in order
to strike fear and rout whenever possible...when Erythnul engages in combat, his
visage mutates from segment to segment, flowing in form from human to
gnoll to bugbear to ogre to troll."</i></p><p>Think about this, mean ol' Erythnul could potentially be on the SAME battlefields as Heironeous and Hextor. Erythnul is not as subtle as the brothers though. Oeridian gods don't seem to play by Sargent Law. How about Baklunish gods?</p><p><b>Istus</b> greater goddess of fate (<i>Dragon #69</i>) <i>"Istus does certainly make
appearances on other planes, including
the Prime Material. Sometimes she is an
old crone, other times she appears as a
noble dame, then again as a lovely lady
or even as a shepherd girl."</i></p><p>Istus is another deity that can meddle in disguise as much as she wants, but she is also responsible for the Oerth-spanning retcon during 1E-2E that was <i>Fate of Istus</i>. I suppose she had permission from a majority of gods for that one...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFBNXxRuhd-gLAix5GEMk4gwfa95mvhXcYkb43kvLatEmeZUvv70lSFg-orMSxO9Ym7okcO-gLU1H0S2pfZ1xfUp0oZqRwgD-gjlRWQABOpGbGgPcq5OLMPPnAxrOXLVCSPr2V1RXHhO5Vzq7Bx6TsEp6Efvsh1mBsqfsEf51RvrsYkTBZVuH2hFRkA/s323/nerull1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="323" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFBNXxRuhd-gLAix5GEMk4gwfa95mvhXcYkb43kvLatEmeZUvv70lSFg-orMSxO9Ym7okcO-gLU1H0S2pfZ1xfUp0oZqRwgD-gjlRWQABOpGbGgPcq5OLMPPnAxrOXLVCSPr2V1RXHhO5Vzq7Bx6TsEp6Efvsh1mBsqfsEf51RvrsYkTBZVuH2hFRkA/w200-h183/nerull1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><b>Nerull</b> greater god of death (<i>Dragon #71</i>)<i> "Nerull stalks the many planes-particularly the Prime Material when shrouded by night...However, most of the time he does not venture from Tarterus save to wreak havoc on the Prime Material Plane."</i><p></p><p>The grim reaper likes the hands-on approach, do not accept any lesser imitations.</p><p>There is more exceptions and instances than I can possibly list in this post. So just saying all Powers are flat-out barred from Oerth is just lazy writing in my opinion (which I never accuse Sargent of being any other time) and it robs the deities of much of their flavor and uniqueness. Was it done for game balance? Most likely. But for years we at least had DM agency to have divine intervention if we wanted as authors heaped us with game stats for D&D gods. No one wants a god-killing <b>Time of Troubles </b>situation like in <b>Forgotten Realms </b>of course. Deities shouldn't be superfluous in appearance like the Syrul example above, nor dropping like flies in the street like <i>Greyhawk Adventures</i> suggests. Also using avatars versus actual deities manifesting on Oerth is a semantic argument. Either they influence mortals directly at will or they only allow exceptions like St. Cuthbert. Whatever you decide for your own game, the examples from <i>Dragon Magazine</i> above are all reasonable ways to reward (or punish) PCs for learning mythic lore and having patron deities by showing the players that the gods are real in the <i>World of Greyhawk</i>.</p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-47885605795574662012023-04-08T23:59:00.004-05:002023-04-09T01:30:14.070-05:00Fantastic Metal and Stones of Greyhawk<div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl_EP6zsskpjPKvgWZFSV94CaqrwZWjljnBKOAyhZdbxLrD-Pf8wymgYIkp1TRkg9OHdu7CM68ntfoGZQHfEyI0I113HVNkH0so6SQuSFVZydebr85EnvzCc7JfNVW-FAahGQxnyVBxDjMuP469GdIpbdpW8ytC72egLv6Rd5g-ANIxIomY4f2RbBfw/s448/mithrilshirt.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="448" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl_EP6zsskpjPKvgWZFSV94CaqrwZWjljnBKOAyhZdbxLrD-Pf8wymgYIkp1TRkg9OHdu7CM68ntfoGZQHfEyI0I113HVNkH0so6SQuSFVZydebr85EnvzCc7JfNVW-FAahGQxnyVBxDjMuP469GdIpbdpW8ytC72egLv6Rd5g-ANIxIomY4f2RbBfw/w200-h146/mithrilshirt.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Greetings Greyhawk scholars! Today's topic is one that has been eluding me for several years. I would get a glimmer to write about, then forget, or I'd take some notes and lose them. But it's always been popping up taunting me. The topic is fantastic metal and stones of Greyhawk! Most of these entries are from Greyhawk lore, some are unique or perhaps sentient formations, and others are general <b>D&D</b> tropes. Also, given the research on this topic is insanely time intensive, I am sure I'll overlook some examples, so if you know a rare metal or stone in Greyhawk that I missed, let me know in the comments. Enjoy!</div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><b>ADAMANTITE & MITHRAL</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;">Both these fantasy metals are commonly found in Greyhawk as well as D&D lore, owing to fantasy fiction like <i>Lord of the Rings</i>. Adamantine objects are generally harder, Mithral items are also durable but lighter. </div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"<b style="color: #202122;">Adamantine</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">is an alloy created from a glossy black metal known as</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span><span style="color: #202122;">adamant</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">. Adamant is the pure metal form of a jet-black, ferromagnetic ore known as</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span><span style="color: #202122;">adamantite</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">. In its pure form, adamant is a lustrous, gleaming black color with rainbow edges. It is one of the hardest substances known (save</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span>obdurium<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">), but also brittle. A stylus made from adamant will shatter if dropped.</span></i></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">The alloy</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span><span style="color: #202122;">adamantine</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">is also black, but it has a clear green sheen in candlelight. This sheen turns purple-white under most magical radiances</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">. Adamantine is pliable but very difficult to work with. It must be forged at very high temperatures by master smiths with special oils to slake and temper the hot metal. Adamantine features the strength of adamant without the brittleness.</span></i></span><div><i>Adamantite ore is found only in meteorites and the rarest of veins in magical areas deep beneath the earth beyond where human miners go, sometimes found in spherical pockets in volcanic areas. The drow are rumored to have an abundance of it. A few clans of deep-delving dwarves have also come across it, and most adamantine items found on the surface are of dwarven make. Adamantite has been discovered in the Pits of Azak-Zil."</i><div><div><i><br /></i></div><i>"<b>Mithral</b>, also spelled mithril and known as truemetal among the dwarves, is a precious metal produced from ore found in the underoerth as well as mountain ranges in certain areas of the Flanaess. Mithral ore is an exceedingly rare silver-and-black mineral in its natural form. It becomes a glistening silvery-blue when it is forged."</i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>OBDURIUM</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk</i> by <b>Jason Bulmahn,
James Jacobs </b>and<b> Erik Mona</b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Stronghold Builders Guidebook</i> by <b>Matt Forbeck </b>and<b> David
Noonan</b></span></div><div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div>This fantasy metal is less well known than the previous two materials. It goes to show there is always a stronger substance somewhere out there. Indeed, there is more to come...</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i><span style="background-color: white;">"A fantastically rare metal that is even harder than adamantine.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><b style="background-color: white;">Obdurium</b><span style="background-color: white;"> is a pale violet metal which is harder than </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">adamantine</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">. This incredibly rare metal represents the pinnacle of nonmagical metal strength. It is also nearly prohibitively expensive, building with it costs ten times as much as carving stone walls and sixty times what a normal wooden wall would cost to build.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">The doors leading to the </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">Godtrap</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">Zagig</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">'s Prison beneath </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">Castle Greyhawk</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> are made of obdurium."</span></i></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDsnAcBV_Yp7J3Z668-vu0A8meEUgbUz3UD9CxVLDhB4uMbfpz-j4mlX2t_R9GEyHkr-JVnYs1Lxz5OODXJlTVcIYmuFK1g8A2-t1eH1pA4TKFbMmXGN2b2QZV_qITSNZ_lfHa_xKfai-RHynGjKWdCU5mHukeZV83-MeN8lTVfarBMUo0jfCkpYsJQ/s502/drowarmor1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="363" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDsnAcBV_Yp7J3Z668-vu0A8meEUgbUz3UD9CxVLDhB4uMbfpz-j4mlX2t_R9GEyHkr-JVnYs1Lxz5OODXJlTVcIYmuFK1g8A2-t1eH1pA4TKFbMmXGN2b2QZV_qITSNZ_lfHa_xKfai-RHynGjKWdCU5mHukeZV83-MeN8lTVfarBMUo0jfCkpYsJQ/w144-h200/drowarmor1.JPG" width="144" /></a></div>TUMKEOITE & LACOFSITE</b></div><div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>D3: Vault of the Drow</i> by <b>Gary Gygax</b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Dragon #298 Vault of the Drow: Dark Elf Metropolis</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> by </span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Frederick Weining</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The true splendor of the Vault can be appreciated only by
those with infravision, or by use of the roseate lenses or a gem of seeing. The
Vault is a strange anomaly, a hemispherical cyst in the crust of the earth, an
incredibly huge domed fault over 6 miles long and nearly as broad. The dome
overhead is a hundred feet high at the walls, arching to several thousand feet
height in the center. When properly viewed, the radiation from certain unique
minerals give the visual effect of a starry heaven, while near the zenith of
this black stone bowl is a huge mass of <b>tumkeoite</b> — which in its slow decay and
transformation to </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">lacofcite</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> sheds a lurid gleam, a ghostly plum-colored
light to human eyes, but with ultravision a wholly different sight. The small
"star" nodes glow in radiant hues of mauve, lake, violet, puce,
lilac, and deep blue. The large "moon" of</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">tumkeoite</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> casts
beams of shimmering amethyst which touch the crystalline formations with colors
unknown to any other visual experience."</span></i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">"Deep beneath the mighty Hellfurnace Mountains lies the
Vault of the Drow, an immense hemispherical cyst in Oerth’s crust over six
miles long and nearly as broad. Its mineral-veined ceiling rises more than 1000
fathoms above its crystal-strewn floor; near the zenith of the dome is a huge
mass of tumkeoite, which as it slowly decays and transforms into lacofcite
glows like a ghostly, plum-colored moon in the firmament of the Vault, while
other phosphorescent nodes dimly gleam like stars in the same stony heaven."</i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tumkeoite and Lacofsite </span>(lack of sight)<span style="font-family: inherit;"> is two more of Gygax's usual anagram/pun creations that he name-drops throughout the setting. Taken literally though, Tumkeoite is a very rare radioactive substance that, depending on your ability to see different spectrums, sheds a light that is not harmful to normally light-sensitive <b>Drow</b>. Surely the dark elves picked the Vault because of this substance and the area it covers. One can also assume that give the radioactive nature of Tumkeoite, this is what gives some Drow gear their special properties and causes their decay when away from the <b>Underdark</b>. There is no mention of these unique minerals appearing anywhere else besides the Vault of the Drow, so I would ask, are these natural formations, or is Tumkeoite something that fell to Oerth in </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">prehistory?</span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><b>THE BLUE ELLIPSOID</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking of meteorites, the <b>Pits of Azak-Zil</b> in the <b>Abbor-Alz</b> hills is a famous impact site where everything from gold to adamantite have been dug up, but one odd piece of ore has caused a lot of trouble at the mine... </span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">Greyhawk Adventures</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">James Ward</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"For five years (dwarvish clan) Highforge swelled with wealth...Then abruptly the flow was cut off...a few suppose that the mine was visited by a curse, either by something imported from the heavens or by something wakened by the shooting star or the activities of the miners."</i></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"There will be unusual numbers of undead, especially ghouls and ghasts, many of dwarven origin...The cause of this horrible transformation is an <b>ellipsoid</b> of bluish metal about 2 feet
long and one foot diameter. All who die within five miles of it raise at the next full moon as undead creatures...The stone also causes consuming greed and transformation to a lichlike state in its possessor."</i></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUdnhrCTsNmshQF4NEoQsHn8nYNfqCCKu1ueFs4MkfsyeM0BeBPjo1dqXdkbNJoROcOkF3S2vSUpszvFg7f4tNziUAppvUajEX-W_cIOOkWPzsNm5HJyeYhqBe-UHXaNW5aD_qr2uHhNyKn_FlHyczNNJe-INf2Ng97veVOkjXtD4UN4qsHx-zOXGRg/s923/purplestone1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="923" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUdnhrCTsNmshQF4NEoQsHn8nYNfqCCKu1ueFs4MkfsyeM0BeBPjo1dqXdkbNJoROcOkF3S2vSUpszvFg7f4tNziUAppvUajEX-W_cIOOkWPzsNm5HJyeYhqBe-UHXaNW5aD_qr2uHhNyKn_FlHyczNNJe-INf2Ng97veVOkjXtD4UN4qsHx-zOXGRg/s320/purplestone1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />THE PURPLE STONE</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Think the Blue Ellipsoid was weird? Well, there is a sentient Purple Stone that was actually worshipped by a cult...</span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Mordenkainen’s Fantastic Adventure</i> by <b>Robert J Kuntz</b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">Dungeon #112 Maure Castle</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> Robert J Kuntz and Erik Mona</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Ancient Suel migrants fleeing the Rain of Colorless Fire carried the Purple Stone from its temple and installed it here...The cults came to a tragic end many decades ago when the Purple Stone tried to subvert them all along with the nearby masters of Maure Castle. The Maures responded by sealing the Purple Stone and all the cultists within the dungeon and raising the Unopenable Doors to prevent anyone from coming to their rescue."</i></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"...a single oblong purple stone. The stone is ten feet long, four feet high, and three feet wide, its surface smooth and polished. The stone seems partially </span>translucent and<span style="font-family: inherit;"> pulsates dimply with an inner violet light...The Purple Stone is not wholly disembodied spirit, not wholly magic artifact, but somewhere in between."</span></i></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">THE BLACK OBELISK & OERTH STONE</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Purple Stone wants others' attention, but two even more powerful sentient rocks, the Black Obelisk and the Oerth Stone just want to be left alone. The Obelisk's sole purpose is to hide the more important Oerth Stone, and it would still be hidden itself if not for a certain pesky archmage and his outrageous plan to capture nine deities...</span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdUiSei-XkcBPxk5Pd8QaEuHgOqFMx661b_6dQ_pougXOC1sQy8K5-aWC9biITmKL7SJ1aBmoYfG8VMjlherzHRuKL-DO3JhlUUd-PmKxifZRmvFWixT83M_ETtVG74F93mOeuZAsnDhM0ZY-gaFGAs2150cprxVlcYwZSU7SFIEHu7f88oLrJ9uqGg/s500/ghr1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="389" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdUiSei-XkcBPxk5Pd8QaEuHgOqFMx661b_6dQ_pougXOC1sQy8K5-aWC9biITmKL7SJ1aBmoYfG8VMjlherzHRuKL-DO3JhlUUd-PmKxifZRmvFWixT83M_ETtVG74F93mOeuZAsnDhM0ZY-gaFGAs2150cprxVlcYwZSU7SFIEHu7f88oLrJ9uqGg/w156-h200/ghr1.JPG" width="156" /></a></div>Greyhawk Ruins</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> Blake Mobley and Timothy B Brown</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">"One of the main reasons Zagig chose this area to build his castle on was the great magical obelisk he discovered...Unable to move it, he sought to use it in other ways..."</i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Within lies the obelisk which drew Zagig to this area.
The obelisk is a large 9’ diameter stone which looks as if made from obsidian.
One large shield-sized chip is missing from it as well as four
smaller such chips...The obelisk is actually frozen in space in relation to Oerth. It can
only be moved or scratched by powers equivalent to multiple deities under the
careful guidance of a brilliant mind. Any magic used in this room will strip that item or PC of all magical
powers...Zagig placed several of his original
creations in this room as a tribute to the obelisk. These items have been so
exposed to the obelisk that they have gamed several special properties. They
have been filled with the obelisk’s powers of existence (thus they are as
difficult to break or destroy as an artifact)."</i></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">"The obelisk also blankets everything in a
cloak through which deities (except Boccob) simply will not see. Priests won’t
immediately realize they are being ignored. Thus a priest can cast spells here,
but no new spells will be granted in this area..."</i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In his search for the great obelisk, Zagig
happened upon this chamber. It is filled with intense powers of earth and rock.
Yet, he could never determine the source (he never realized how close he came).
Finally, he assumed it had to be a side effect of the obelisk somewhere below.
Located at the center of the main rock column is a huge chip of brown smoky
quartz...It is actually a fragment of the shattered <b>Earth</b> <b>(Oerth) Stone</b>, which was a relic of immense power used long ago by the creators
to fill the Prime Material Plane with the heavenly bodies of earth and rock.
The creators themselves decided that this relic was too powerful to allow any
one of their numbers to guard, thus it was </span>shattered,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and a single fragment
given to each to hide or guard as they desired. Then, only with their combined
knowledge could the item easily be reformed. This sliver was placed here by one
of the ancients and has gone unnoticed over the eons."</span></i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"This was once the holding cell of the (Oerth) Stone. Its location was hidden from Zagig by the
obelisk until after the Stone escaped this
area. When Zagig summoned the nine deities, the obelisk had to exert a tremendous
amount of energy so that they would not notice
the presence of the Oerth Stone."</i></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">OERTHBLOOD</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we've already seen, the central Flanaess is a hot bed of fantastic materials. Some are extremely hard and dangerous to get, like Oerthblood, found primarily below <b>Tenser's</b> castle and also the rich city of <b>Irongate</b>. This substance has nonetheless seen much use in the creation of famous artifacts.</span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Return of the Eight</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> by </span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Roger Moore</b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Dragon #351 Irongate: City of Stairs</i><span style="background-color: transparent;"> by </span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Gary Holian & Denis Tetreault</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<b>Oerthblood</b> seeps into The Endless Well from deep beneath
the Fortress of Unknown Depths, the dwelling place of the archmage Tenser, His
ancient keep was built by migrating Oeridians to guard and harvest this rich
magical ore. Few know Oerthblood exists—Tenser has been studying the substance
in seclusion for decades- and no one knows exactly what </span>it<span style="font-family: inherit;"> is. Tenser recently reactivated
his keep’s mining operations (which had been shut down after his death during
the Greyhawk Wars), and minor earthquakes and strange grinding vibrations
occasionally rumble into the surrounding area from deep beneath the citadel,
hinting at the immense golems currently at work harvesting the world's magical
essence."</span></i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"The Endless Well can draw up molten, dark red, ferrous
metal there, when cooled, is black, dense, easily enchanted and nearly
impervious to damage. This substance is called oerthblood and from it several
famous artifacts were made, such as Heward’s Mystical Organ and parts for the
infamous Machine of Lum the Mad."</i></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Oerthblood is dangerous to handle, and much of the work
involved in tapping it, pouring it into sheets of molds, working it and
finishing it is done by golems and automatons that can withstand the molten
substance’s unpredictable radiation, as well as the local heat and poisonous
gases."</span></i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Oerthblood w</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">eapons and armor must be made of a specific alloy of
Oerthblood, known mostly to the artificers and smiths of Irongate, to gain the following
benefits. Only primarily metallic objects gain these bonuses."</span></i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Oerthblooded iron, so-called "blood-iron," is
an exceedingly rare and precious material, created from an amalgam of iron and
oerthblood. Discovered as early as the age of Queen Ehlissa, oerthblood is a
highly magical element found only on Oerth and thought by some to be the
residue of creation. Oerthblood is extremely rare even on Oerth, and Irongate
is one of the few locations where it can he found and forged. By reputation, it’s
as strong as adamantine and just as effective. Shimmering black flecks on their
surface distinguishes Oerth-blooded items."</i></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">DWEORNITE & DWEOMERSTONE</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;">Some say the <i>World of Greyhawk</i> is not high magic, but those sages have never researched the depth of magical mysteries on Oerth, from strange weather phenomena to innately magical minerals such as these last two entries...</div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Iuz the Evil </i>by <b>Carl Sargent</b></span></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i>From the Ashes</i> by <b>Carl Sargent</b></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i>"<b>Dweomerstones</b>: A small clan of gnomes have discovered a few score small, utterly smooth, black, pebblelike stones which, if held in the hand of a wizard, can grant extra spellcasting power. Each stone has one use only...The gnomes selling the stones are fearful and eager to sell at reasonable prices."</i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Horned Lands are unique in having very rare deposits
of a unique magical gem: <b>dweornite</b>. Small clusters of dweornite gems,
tear-shaped, semi-opaque, blue-white stones, are found in totally unpredictable
subterranean locations. The gems have diverse magical powers. Those which have
been documented include spell gems, gems which yield magical potions when
crushed and dissolved, gems with empathic effects, gems with teleport,
dimension door or extraplanar travel properties, and gems of a divinatory
nature. These are similar
to the dweomerstones of the Cairn Hills; and some sages suggest a common origin
for both these and the reputed ioun stones Rary seeks in the Bright Desert."</span></i></div><div style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;">In closing, I haven't found any specific lore yet that shows<b> Ioun Stones </b>are naturally produced on Oerth besides the aforementioned hook by Sargent, that<b> Rary</b> seeks them in the <b>Bright Desert</b>. In other D&D lore, Ioun stones are enchanted from specific expensive gems, or in<b> 4E </b>are the creation of a new deity of knowledge, <b>Ioun</b>. Either way, Ioun stones could be rare gems that have innate floating properties, and either come with magical powers or are later imbued with them. To each their own. Lastly, D&D also mentions the material, <b>Cold Iron</b>, but I'm unsure that's regular iron found in a special situation or if its a new metal? Someone fill me in on that lore. Until next time!</div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
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</div></div></div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-86683911522479850942023-03-26T19:39:00.001-05:002023-03-27T15:14:44.768-05:00My GaryCon XV Recap<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYcKLRAvEk78m-2KHYmyzvPFCP68OVQOK-IH0oWMLFYy02MWwTNYttZf_wQGZTjfUHo2lgFfSKerL3I6OhK04OInuWiIGxX_awriQU7Zcm83KObpPb2s1cpluGDO0izjVqGo7CAs42e-2-hl3iVzs_q-I39CH795j4Sf-TJQPgUASRB2BPujTq3yTVQ/s608/GaryCon15.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="608" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYcKLRAvEk78m-2KHYmyzvPFCP68OVQOK-IH0oWMLFYy02MWwTNYttZf_wQGZTjfUHo2lgFfSKerL3I6OhK04OInuWiIGxX_awriQU7Zcm83KObpPb2s1cpluGDO0izjVqGo7CAs42e-2-hl3iVzs_q-I39CH795j4Sf-TJQPgUASRB2BPujTq3yTVQ/w200-h199/GaryCon15.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Greetings Greyhawk friends! I am back and with a quick report of my time at<b> GaryCon XV</b> at Lake Geneva, WI. This is my 5th time going in person, COVID notwithstanding. Last year we were still coming out of the pandemic, masks were a must, but now we've moved on and the con is stronger than ever. Let's get into it...<p></p><p>Me and my best buddies Jayson and Eric (who I've gamed with for nearly 40 years) headed upstate on Wednesday evening. We rolled in too late to hit the con proper and get badges though, so we slept early. Lesson #1 for those going for the first time, the con doesn't officially start until Thursday, but you can pick up badges the day before if you get there early. It saves some time standing in line. The weather was quite nice overall. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDt7j0j4kOR2wEcYRfAKA_SeaQsn1hp34o7sr45oPY8LEp2KuCX52vGCzJKsKGHgjBeIupeMYlNEEA0qMp41Fydf42DJ_ZbvKXAB9BFRP0u_ZN4ttdCe8eCMnEyNliG3FPvNLz6OVEnu1HivLiUtiR8XRk4ytmXCf4J54vERSahdBKqdf1leYOtfgQA/s4032/20230324_132441.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDt7j0j4kOR2wEcYRfAKA_SeaQsn1hp34o7sr45oPY8LEp2KuCX52vGCzJKsKGHgjBeIupeMYlNEEA0qMp41Fydf42DJ_ZbvKXAB9BFRP0u_ZN4ttdCe8eCMnEyNliG3FPvNLz6OVEnu1HivLiUtiR8XRk4ytmXCf4J54vERSahdBKqdf1leYOtfgQA/w150-h200/20230324_132441.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>On Thursday we got to our actual hotel and took the trolley to the <b>Grand Geneva</b>. Lesson #2 for those aspiring to go to Gary Con, pay for the gold badge because you get a week head start to get closer accommodations and sign up for games. Or you can do what a lot of my Greyhawk colleagues like <b>Anna Meyer</b> do, and volunteer to work the con, this will get you there early and better chance of closer hotel rooms. Anyhoo, as I am neither there to work on my vacation, nor worried about getting in exclusive games, I arrive later than normal. Kudos to all my friends who do put in the time to make Gary Con a wonderful time for all us slackers! We ran to the vendor hall for a bit, and first place I like to hit up is <b>Black Blade Publishing</b> and talk to <b>Allan "Grodog" Grohe</b>. I bought some new larger hex paper from him, so expect some wild maps from me in the coming months. (more on that later). I also got to give a shout out to this advertisement at Allan's booth. It is <i>Hounds of Oerth</i> by the inimitable <b>Carlos Lising </b>and various authors for his latest charity effort. Be sure to go to <b>Casl Entertainment</b>, <a href="https://www.caslentertainment.com/product/hounds-of-oerth-pdf-a-fundraiser-for-the-aspca/185?cs=true&cst=custom" target="_blank">download <i>Hounds of Oerth</i></a> and please donate to this worthy cause.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OCTi2aC71cLD4Es8NWglHfX8Z80wsm7KyGrQ6dobKxaKj1nUrkpzHfeiJoYRovaCzAmeTEmXjW3Cn-AJHcZQw80CXfjIxORvMKCoskyZavmXw4eFJaCr3Etos03Qw4sHQ-F_Hz6Qy_tSCSvm6-KUDPau46rKK103AuMRSaUwz3kXI9kOYHlAtBFZFw/s1341/20230319_133837.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1006" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OCTi2aC71cLD4Es8NWglHfX8Z80wsm7KyGrQ6dobKxaKj1nUrkpzHfeiJoYRovaCzAmeTEmXjW3Cn-AJHcZQw80CXfjIxORvMKCoskyZavmXw4eFJaCr3Etos03Qw4sHQ-F_Hz6Qy_tSCSvm6-KUDPau46rKK103AuMRSaUwz3kXI9kOYHlAtBFZFw/w150-h200/20230319_133837.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As a side note, Gary Con had a deal worked out to screen the new <b>D&D Movie <i>Honor Among Thieves</i>, </b>once a day. I did not take part in this exclusive event, because me and the guys already had an early showing of it back home. My short move review is that it is major fun, and worthy of a sequel. I had lowered my expectations after the last movie 20 years ago, but this time they made one with some heart. I can't wait to see it at home so I can try to hunt for movie easter eggs. Good times.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rkQLUd-clmjh5EZcpYPgja5DfX7Ysw0Tey71aGB5_h5WAZ_YHLag0Gx0w0HXLAKbNl-Zp-aKsD5ZePXCl6RHZ9HPY6BSKrLnY7exFMXVuKh6opd5QRkMWo_81Gtlnwx7ypvHhy8GfX1F8VJXfFNNsteHAg7SMgK5qiMpcM8BKOHXu72SoViZhkg0vA/s2612/20230323_113910(0).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2394" data-original-width="2612" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rkQLUd-clmjh5EZcpYPgja5DfX7Ysw0Tey71aGB5_h5WAZ_YHLag0Gx0w0HXLAKbNl-Zp-aKsD5ZePXCl6RHZ9HPY6BSKrLnY7exFMXVuKh6opd5QRkMWo_81Gtlnwx7ypvHhy8GfX1F8VJXfFNNsteHAg7SMgK5qiMpcM8BKOHXu72SoViZhkg0vA/w200-h183/20230323_113910(0).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Another astounding thing about Gary Con XV was the number of celebrities keeps growing each year. This year, I either spoke to or saw<b> Vince Vaughn, Todd Stashwick, Tom Morello, Paul White aka Big Show</b>, and of course <b>Joe Manganiello. </b>Then there is all the author and artist celebs that I geek over, such as <b>Jeff Easley, Larry Elmore, Margaret Weis, Zeb Cook, Darlene, and Erol Otus</b>.<b> </b>I also made sure to get a picture with the legendary <b>Ed Greenwood</b> who has always been fun to interact with in the past and now is incredibly a regular among the Greyhawk community, often featuring on <b>Lord Gosumba</b> streams.<b> </b>I've been to several <b>Gen Cons</b> over the years and never saw this many cool celebs all at once and in such proximity. Gary Con is small and intimate, but not a place where it's overly mobbed with people. I can't wait to see who else shows next year!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2HkmNUTCckw46UsYXt6jRWeZ1qzdwdtxdC86Vq87hGtEKrOozPVHrOO8PxUDKz8s4uk2sWpZC1BeKkMMZqHBhAyi5WIx9ZJitvL1LSSg-DBrWIOoKE_l7yBYpTVvT54PMPvNdrT6PiTdEn4T1pj6kQj9RH7AK_zdzrhtCnh2mlAUdEs5Ni5sUvNJHQ/s417/LnLGC2023.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="417" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2HkmNUTCckw46UsYXt6jRWeZ1qzdwdtxdC86Vq87hGtEKrOozPVHrOO8PxUDKz8s4uk2sWpZC1BeKkMMZqHBhAyi5WIx9ZJitvL1LSSg-DBrWIOoKE_l7yBYpTVvT54PMPvNdrT6PiTdEn4T1pj6kQj9RH7AK_zdzrhtCnh2mlAUdEs5Ni5sUvNJHQ/w200-h114/LnLGC2023.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday afternoon I was fashionably late to the 2nd annual<b> Legends & Lore</b> stream from Gary Con. Anna, Jay Scott and myself showed off a lot of upcoming projects in the Greyhawk community. We took a wild variety of questions from the audience, many who were new to the show, but no less enthusiastic to banter about all things Greyhawk. Special shout out to <b>Eric Menge </b>and <b>Roger Moore</b> for attending and lending their expert commentary as well! At the end of the seminar, I handed out print copies of a new <b>Sea Princes</b> map I created for this con. It's a partially "burned" map that one might find in a chest or on a pirate ship. <a href="https://greyhawkery.blogspot.com/p/burned-map-southern-azure-sea.html" target="_blank">Download this map</a> at this link for the full-size version and put it to good use!</div></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVuYS9RTF4-l8ou0LcNveHhu9FeMPMjPpiy66SvOfcZlpd3JcNkbwhEOwRBxJxr_p2LEKFq5IjlvHE48Blur5_VEJlgb9d0xKJPiJh2-BkozggerZIyBhOcqtuwx-NH2Pi5FeZ9nVp4QoDppg1004Gx9xmAKV7OU2f28z1wEsQPk9GIi_iDH05oAXoQ/s4032/20230323_224122.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVuYS9RTF4-l8ou0LcNveHhu9FeMPMjPpiy66SvOfcZlpd3JcNkbwhEOwRBxJxr_p2LEKFq5IjlvHE48Blur5_VEJlgb9d0xKJPiJh2-BkozggerZIyBhOcqtuwx-NH2Pi5FeZ9nVp4QoDppg1004Gx9xmAKV7OU2f28z1wEsQPk9GIi_iDH05oAXoQ/w150-h200/20230323_224122.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>On Thursday night me and my pals got invited to a pick-up game of<b> 5E Ravenloft</b> ran by the amazing <b>DM Dave</b> from the Twitch stream <b>Guild Superior</b>. This game was incredible in that he hosted over ten of us through his rendition of <i>Curse of Strahd</i>, starting as 0-level Barovian kids, to 5th level seasoned adventurers, and fast forwarding to 9th level heroes. It was quite the concept for a one-shot adventure and those of us who hung in there until 2am fighting Strahd did not leave disappointed (no help from me as I could not roll over a 10 to save my life). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Kudos to Dave for putting on such a good game, and a shout out to my Barovian childhood friends, Anna, Scott, Jayson, Eric, Chris, Rob, Karl, Bob, Josh, and Chad. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNopMsmC2ltp8EefdWD0Dr_DUNYWmfGFB6jPVcPe6-X1fFpDmt6no5cumGvTkZDot0Xuj4an38EszwsvcSTCRxiKtwk-5DE51NjyhaSdTC-m9Fi7g6P1S6CJJXTkiTRPd8Esx8I8HQIJWorFDFdn-ga7a8eDP0-BKHhAdY0l-9nKlhEkumhNiwL73uCQ/s4032/20230323_212254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNopMsmC2ltp8EefdWD0Dr_DUNYWmfGFB6jPVcPe6-X1fFpDmt6no5cumGvTkZDot0Xuj4an38EszwsvcSTCRxiKtwk-5DE51NjyhaSdTC-m9Fi7g6P1S6CJJXTkiTRPd8Esx8I8HQIJWorFDFdn-ga7a8eDP0-BKHhAdY0l-9nKlhEkumhNiwL73uCQ/s320/20230323_212254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Friday morning, I played some <b>Dungeon Crawl Classics</b> and only lost 3 out of my 4 characters! I later caught Anna Meyer and <b>Alysa Faden's</b> mapping seminar. Jay as always was manning the controls so the two could regale us with their mapping projects past and present. I regret however that I didn't catch their party with <b>Troll Lord Games</b> to announce the<b> Free City of Altimira</b> Boxed Set project. There's just so much to do at Gary Con and so little time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXEFTVp6TmInS4oYmsCEc21pKYPs-V2c8r7q5ksVNtt__DK6OIrln4iPTR-9yZr2BSYmhhDCJr_HoVkE0LndFSbPgMzr45Ta3mE3NgkiTPXOwjUh9QS8IhJsalaDmGv87Fv9cRvPz6Sd355-CcPDjHAjafSRR66N_8P6mBF9b4gh8Em07v3vvotlo9Q/s3068/20230324_160645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2105" data-original-width="3068" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXEFTVp6TmInS4oYmsCEc21pKYPs-V2c8r7q5ksVNtt__DK6OIrln4iPTR-9yZr2BSYmhhDCJr_HoVkE0LndFSbPgMzr45Ta3mE3NgkiTPXOwjUh9QS8IhJsalaDmGv87Fv9cRvPz6Sd355-CcPDjHAjafSRR66N_8P6mBF9b4gh8Em07v3vvotlo9Q/s320/20230324_160645.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ48lBvfOX_DdWiNRRSxaUAoxANEOzFs1i58cHalq9kjUquCOwrBHtxeGn-ZMk7ByloDJX3aEO31r3g2dAyHpGkBke_PquBo7Qq9hZ2MlQQzq8ezlkyWyjLCZ8TOOEZE8JAJwD10f3a7h14SSS-6R7_N8-jdODlE4ONU7wsZINBMPofC6rj6ZzKheBhQ/s4032/20230324_182405.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ48lBvfOX_DdWiNRRSxaUAoxANEOzFs1i58cHalq9kjUquCOwrBHtxeGn-ZMk7ByloDJX3aEO31r3g2dAyHpGkBke_PquBo7Qq9hZ2MlQQzq8ezlkyWyjLCZ8TOOEZE8JAJwD10f3a7h14SSS-6R7_N8-jdODlE4ONU7wsZINBMPofC6rj6ZzKheBhQ/w150-h200/20230324_182405.jpg" width="150" /></a>Friday evening me and my crew took part in our second <b>Legends of Roleplaying</b> D&D tourney. Last year we finished top 5 out of over a dozen tables, this year the theme was a return to the <i>Temple of Elemental Evil</i>, and well, we didn't do so hot finishing 9th overall. I was no help in that my elven thief got blown up by explosive runes. Timed games can make you do foolish things. This brings to mind lesson #3, crowded gaming halls are LOUD. So, get there early and sit close to the GM! At any rate, congrats to the winners of this tournament, I heard after the fact there is a trophy that is being passed on each, kinda like the Stanley Cup. I was dismayed after our game, but now I'm back on the horse! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Saturday morning started out iffy for me. Up to this point Wisconsin weather was being pleasant but then BOOM we had six inches of snow overnight! I was up early and was cleaning the car off like I was in a hurry to get to work or something. Luckily my friends didn't panic like me, and we stayed long enough to see it melt down later that afternoon as we finished with a game of <b>Mutant Crawl Classic</b> by <b>Goodman Games</b>. Fun stuff, it reminds me of old school<b> Gamma World</b>. That was all we had scheduled for Gary Con however since we planned to leave afterward. We made one more run through the con, dealer room and halls, then the most important thing before heading back to Illinois, we got Wisconsin cheese! Accept no substitutes. So yes, I missed a good 1.5 days of convention time, but really it was the best con I ever attended. I did everything I set out to do. There were so many people I met from streams and the community, and I got to game with so many people for the first time. If I missed anyone, I will catch you in 2024!</div></div></div></div>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9034454877966866286.post-70425735074634565072023-02-22T18:45:00.002-06:002023-02-22T18:45:34.971-06:00Greyhawkery Pause<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMP1DVYNtUOQCumXMJIYxzrhzU8bOjeB_65iuYknkZarG8UjgwE8Q-wyq74NoXfA3QJCSpg2i-3Y0jNMxpZjjCdSQELQ0Y7MElmAch_PCk7AzM9zUfHchOr0emTEhVBecRjSPQT62PGVKaSk4FuxjZD6LtVxNynqTy0l97FQrddd0u3hSiVgWviVEu7w/s1200/Otus-greyhawk-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMP1DVYNtUOQCumXMJIYxzrhzU8bOjeB_65iuYknkZarG8UjgwE8Q-wyq74NoXfA3QJCSpg2i-3Y0jNMxpZjjCdSQELQ0Y7MElmAch_PCk7AzM9zUfHchOr0emTEhVBecRjSPQT62PGVKaSk4FuxjZD6LtVxNynqTy0l97FQrddd0u3hSiVgWviVEu7w/s320/Otus-greyhawk-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Welcome back Greyfolk, and thank you for continuing to read <b>Greyhawkery</b>. This post is a short announcement that I'm hitting the pause button for March leading into <b>Gary Con 2023</b>. Maybe interacting with some of my favorite people in the community will inspire me to do some new content. I'll still be chatting Greyhawk Wednesdays on <b>Legends & Lore</b> stream and gaming 1d3 times a week. While you are waiting for me to write something clever, please check out some of my friends' Greyhawk blogs:<p></p><p>David Leonard's <a href="https://davidleonard-greyhawkmusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Greyhawk Musings</a></p><p>Joe Bloch's <a href="https://www.greyhawkgrognard.com/" target="_blank">Greyhawk Grognard</a></p><p>Thomas Kelly's <a href="https://greyhawkstories.com/" target="_blank">Greyhawk Stories</a></p><p><a href="https://www.annabmeyer.com/" target="_blank">Fantasy Maps</a> by Anna Meyer</p>Mike Bridgeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17741591268012556455noreply@blogger.com0