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Showing posts with label Iuz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iuz. Show all posts
Friday, July 26, 2024
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Friday, February 20, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Re: Greytalk Cooperative Project
Re: [greytalk] Re: Greytalk Cooperative Project
Monday, November 27, 2006 4:13 PM
From: "LASSEK,CHRISTINA/J TEMPLE"
To: "Scott"
I'm still game, just been working on my current campaign.
That sounds good...maybe throw in some Crimson Deaths. :-) Since we're in the neighborhood, we could even involve some elements of Blackmoor...
~Jim
On Mon, 27 Nov 2006 07:47:11 -0800 (PST)
Scott wrote:
> Hi all,
> Public interest in the new cooperative project seems to have died off already, or at least publicly. Still...
> "Aeolius" wrote:
> >In BPAA, I devised the Covyn; three hag coveys, one epic-level covey, and one leader - 13 hags in all.
>
>> As far as other hags go I've been working on a few, starting with
> the squalus. Much as a winter hag is the offspring of a greenhag and ice troll and the dune hag is born of the union between wasteland troll and greenhag, the shoal hag or squalus is parented by a greenhag and scrag.
>
>> I'm also revamping my Blackwater (new domain from Stormwrack)
> hags. Envision the remains of a slain sea hag covey, animated into a single undead creature by Blackwater. I got my inspiration for the three-made-one from this: http://www.designtoscano.com/images/us/ local/products/viewlarger/DB51037_vl.jpg Considering how many hags I am likely to unleash upon Turucambi, I think the Blackwater Hag will be [expletive deleted]-bent upon slaying her living sisters.<
> Perhaps one of these coven of hags has come to Furyondy to kidnap someone important (the Viscount of the March? his wife?) and take him deep into Iuz's territory. Everyone will assume this is Iuz's plot, but Iuz's forces are after the hags too to get their hands on their prisoner. The hags are actually delivering a sacrifice to a blackwater hag in the Cold Marshes. In exchange for the sacrifice, the blackwater hag will stop trying to kill the other hags. Anyone interested in working on that?
> ~Scott "-enkainen" Casper
> Yak-Men are interested in the Viscount of the March's wife too...
Monday, November 27, 2006 4:13 PM
From: "LASSEK,CHRISTINA/J TEMPLE"
To: "Scott"
I'm still game, just been working on my current campaign.
That sounds good...maybe throw in some Crimson Deaths. :-) Since we're in the neighborhood, we could even involve some elements of Blackmoor...
~Jim
On Mon, 27 Nov 2006 07:47:11 -0800 (PST)
Scott
> Hi all,
> Public interest in the new cooperative project seems to have died off already, or at least publicly. Still...
> "Aeolius" wrote:
> >In BPAA, I devised the Covyn; three hag coveys, one epic-level covey, and one leader - 13 hags in all.
>
>> As far as other hags go I've been working on a few, starting with
> the squalus. Much as a winter hag is the offspring of a greenhag and ice troll and the dune hag is born of the union between wasteland troll and greenhag, the shoal hag or squalus is parented by a greenhag and scrag.
>
>> I'm also revamping my Blackwater (new domain from Stormwrack)
> hags. Envision the remains of a slain sea hag covey, animated into a single undead creature by Blackwater. I got my inspiration for the three-made-one from this: http://www.designtoscano.com/images/us/ local/products/viewlarger/DB51037_vl.jpg Considering how many hags I am likely to unleash upon Turucambi, I think the Blackwater Hag will be [expletive deleted]-bent upon slaying her living sisters.<
> Perhaps one of these coven of hags has come to Furyondy to kidnap someone important (the Viscount of the March? his wife?) and take him deep into Iuz's territory. Everyone will assume this is Iuz's plot, but Iuz's forces are after the hags too to get their hands on their prisoner. The hags are actually delivering a sacrifice to a blackwater hag in the Cold Marshes. In exchange for the sacrifice, the blackwater hag will stop trying to kill the other hags. Anyone interested in working on that?
> ~Scott "-enkainen" Casper
> Yak-Men are interested in the Viscount of the March's wife too...
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Future Timelines 3/3. LONG END [incomplete]
Date sent: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 17:09:00 -0400
Send reply to: The GREYtalk Discussion List
From: Jay Simpson
Subject: [GREYTALK] Future Timelines 3/3. LONG END
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
This is the last of them for now. I don't want to bog down the list too much. Lemme know what you guys think.
597 Iuz crosses the Yol River and begins a pitched invasion of the Pale. Wintershiven is quickly surrounded by Iuz s mixed humanoid armies, as well as a stronger contingent of Trolls, reputedly from the Troll Fens.
In Keoland, Generals Hazifax and Bagnell take and secure the Yeomanry. Geoff and Sterich are now securely under Keoland s flag, and now have sizable armies and noble leaders to defend them. Tavish V orders his two favorite generals to begin a plan for reclaiming the lost coast lands.
598 Gruznor s troops take and sack Marner in Ratik. After stripping the Ratik capitol of as much supplies as possible, the rest is burned. Most of Marner s citizenry is captured and taken back to the Bone March to be used for different purposes. The men are enslaved and sent to work in the mines at Bellport and Johnsport, while the women are used for breeding purposes. Each woman is blessed with four sets of half orcan offspring, then killed. All the children of Marner are forced into the wilds of the Timberway Forest, left to the elements.
599 General Bagnell begins entrenching men in the Torcs. The cleansing of this swamp is a hard and well earned campaign. Bagnell will find himself still fighting in the infernal marshlands some three years later. Meanwhile, General Hazifax leads his men south, over a small arm of the Hellfurnaces and secretly skirts around the Jerlea Bay. This is to be a long expedition as well.
600 As Wintershiven in the Theocracy of the Pale sees the end of its third year of siege, aid from the south arrives. A large contingent of troops arrive from Urnst and aid in the liberation of the Pale s capital city. The King of Urnst times the attack so that, even as his troops are helping the much decimated Wintershiven, a second yet stronger force descends on Redspan. Iuz suffers a stifling defeat. In Suns ebb of this year, Urnst frees Rift Crag of the Iuz occupation as well.
601-602 The refugees from Tusmit, and Ekbir, allied with forces from Zeif and cavalry from the Paynims and Ull sweep down on the Kettite army from what appears to be no where. The united armies lay siege to Ket s capital city of Lopolla and crush the Kettite army after an 18 month struggle. The Kettites receive reinforcements from their newly founded Perrenland Vassal state. The final battle is long and hard, and rages for the better part of 3 days. In the end the Allied Forces prove victorious, the Kettite scourge is no more.
601 General Hazifax and his men arrive at the first of many Scarlet Brotherhood strongholds on the edges of the Amedio Jungle. The Brotherhood, not expecting such an attack, had kept the stronghold severely undermanned, compared to the size of troops that Hazifax brought with him. Over the course of the next year, Hazifax and his men are able to seize three additional Brotherhood strongholds with barely a sound made. Hazifax is also able to capture all but one of the ships docked at each stronghold. From his base in the Amedio, Hazifax starts bargaining with the local tribes and launching an all out guerilla warfare on all Scarlet Brotherhood controlled lands in the Amedio, using local [Missing the rest of the pages]
Send reply to: The GREYtalk Discussion List
From: Jay Simpson
Subject: [GREYTALK] Future Timelines 3/3. LONG END
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
This is the last of them for now. I don't want to bog down the list too much. Lemme know what you guys think.
597 Iuz crosses the Yol River and begins a pitched invasion of the Pale. Wintershiven is quickly surrounded by Iuz s mixed humanoid armies, as well as a stronger contingent of Trolls, reputedly from the Troll Fens.
In Keoland, Generals Hazifax and Bagnell take and secure the Yeomanry. Geoff and Sterich are now securely under Keoland s flag, and now have sizable armies and noble leaders to defend them. Tavish V orders his two favorite generals to begin a plan for reclaiming the lost coast lands.
598 Gruznor s troops take and sack Marner in Ratik. After stripping the Ratik capitol of as much supplies as possible, the rest is burned. Most of Marner s citizenry is captured and taken back to the Bone March to be used for different purposes. The men are enslaved and sent to work in the mines at Bellport and Johnsport, while the women are used for breeding purposes. Each woman is blessed with four sets of half orcan offspring, then killed. All the children of Marner are forced into the wilds of the Timberway Forest, left to the elements.
599 General Bagnell begins entrenching men in the Torcs. The cleansing of this swamp is a hard and well earned campaign. Bagnell will find himself still fighting in the infernal marshlands some three years later. Meanwhile, General Hazifax leads his men south, over a small arm of the Hellfurnaces and secretly skirts around the Jerlea Bay. This is to be a long expedition as well.
600 As Wintershiven in the Theocracy of the Pale sees the end of its third year of siege, aid from the south arrives. A large contingent of troops arrive from Urnst and aid in the liberation of the Pale s capital city. The King of Urnst times the attack so that, even as his troops are helping the much decimated Wintershiven, a second yet stronger force descends on Redspan. Iuz suffers a stifling defeat. In Suns ebb of this year, Urnst frees Rift Crag of the Iuz occupation as well.
601-602 The refugees from Tusmit, and Ekbir, allied with forces from Zeif and cavalry from the Paynims and Ull sweep down on the Kettite army from what appears to be no where. The united armies lay siege to Ket s capital city of Lopolla and crush the Kettite army after an 18 month struggle. The Kettites receive reinforcements from their newly founded Perrenland Vassal state. The final battle is long and hard, and rages for the better part of 3 days. In the end the Allied Forces prove victorious, the Kettite scourge is no more.
601 General Hazifax and his men arrive at the first of many Scarlet Brotherhood strongholds on the edges of the Amedio Jungle. The Brotherhood, not expecting such an attack, had kept the stronghold severely undermanned, compared to the size of troops that Hazifax brought with him. Over the course of the next year, Hazifax and his men are able to seize three additional Brotherhood strongholds with barely a sound made. Hazifax is also able to capture all but one of the ships docked at each stronghold. From his base in the Amedio, Hazifax starts bargaining with the local tribes and launching an all out guerilla warfare on all Scarlet Brotherhood controlled lands in the Amedio, using local [Missing the rest of the pages]
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Re: Infamy of Iuz (was 20 most well - known deities.)
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 14:57:45 -0800
From: Marc Tizoc Gonzalez
Subject: Re: Infamy of Iuz (was 20 most well - known deities.)
MM invited:
> I would actually like my argument refuted here. Please reason well
IMC, the peasants of and low-level PCs in northwestern Furyondy referred to the leader of Iuz as the Old One. For the peasants, this being had ruled the lands beyond the Whyestil since before their grandparents' youth. For the PCs, this was the name that they were taught. Iuz was the name of the land that the Old One ruled. After a couple of levels, when a fool-hardy set of the PCs attempted to infiltrate the armies massing across the Veng river (in early 583 CY), then they learned from a particularly vicious man that he was a priest of the _god_, Iuz the Old. The PCs did _not_ know that Iuz was the Old One or a god before they listened to that priest's diatribe. IMO, Such specificity of information represents special knowledge.
Before the Invasion of Iuz, most Furyondians, Rovers of the Barrens, Shield Landers, or Wolf Nomads had heard that something named the Old One had once ruled the land called bounded by Whyestil Lake and the Howling Hills. Yet even by 576 CY, the fact that this Old One was the demonic "god" Iuz was _not_ popular knowledge. (Some folk tales from the beginning of the sixth Common century may have even included both characters in the same story.) It took the efforts of heroes in the service of the Wise to learn this secret, and the knowledge that Iuz was a cambion of Grazz'zt (sp?) and the witch-queen Igwiilv was known by even fewer people, such as the Circle of Eight or the individuals responsible for the sundering of the Old One's
imprisonment. We should remember that Iuz was only freed in 570 CY, so even by the eve of the GH Wars (582 CY), there are only a dozen years for the infamy of Iuz to be spread. The Flanaess lacks the Internet!
Of course, some people in the CoG learned about the power and identity of Iuz just before the war due to the activity of his Spurned Cult, but even in the Gem of the Flanaess, this knowledge is not known by every last beggar, bard, or apprentice.
The post-war situation is drastically different. At every Godsday sermon the churches of Heironeous, Mayaheine, St. Cuthbert, and Trithereon harangue against that powerful demonic despot of the north, Iuz. These declamations are especially intense just before (and during) the Great Northern Crusade. This is partially due to the subtle influence (strategy) of the churches of Rao and Delleb (or the Church of Voll), which decided that the public naming of Iuz (the Old) as a powerful demon was important to limit his power and the hysterical fear that his name could cause.
Similarly, the shamans of the Rovers or Wolf Nomads have named Iuz a powerful demon, one of a long line of bestial gods that dominate the legends of the north (a la Rip Van Wormer's Madlander gods). Of course, if we obey canon, then the remnant of Rovers may well believe that Iuz represents their teleology.
In the Empire of Iuz, the clergy have constantly proselytized the power of their god. Thus by 591 CY even on the eastern periphery of the empire, in the Bandit Kingdoms or occupied Tenha, almost everyone has repeatedly heard that Iuz the Old is a demon-god walking the Flanaess and seated at his throne in Dorakaa and seen demonstrations of the god's brutal power.
His priests have had at least twenty-one years since his freedom to establish their churches and cults. I say "at least" because I wonder whether there were priests devoted to Iuz during his imprisonment, such as High Priests Patch or Althea. When did he become a true demi-god? Was the faith of some cult partially responsible for his apotheosis? Did their sacrifices penetrate the demon-dreams of the Old One's imprisonment?
Marc Tizoc
From: Marc Tizoc Gonzalez
Subject: Re: Infamy of Iuz (was 20 most well - known deities.)
MM invited:
> I would actually like my argument refuted here. Please reason well
IMC, the peasants of and low-level PCs in northwestern Furyondy referred to the leader of Iuz as the Old One. For the peasants, this being had ruled the lands beyond the Whyestil since before their grandparents' youth. For the PCs, this was the name that they were taught. Iuz was the name of the land that the Old One ruled. After a couple of levels, when a fool-hardy set of the PCs attempted to infiltrate the armies massing across the Veng river (in early 583 CY), then they learned from a particularly vicious man that he was a priest of the _god_, Iuz the Old. The PCs did _not_ know that Iuz was the Old One or a god before they listened to that priest's diatribe. IMO, Such specificity of information represents special knowledge.
Before the Invasion of Iuz, most Furyondians, Rovers of the Barrens, Shield Landers, or Wolf Nomads had heard that something named the Old One had once ruled the land called bounded by Whyestil Lake and the Howling Hills. Yet even by 576 CY, the fact that this Old One was the demonic "god" Iuz was _not_ popular knowledge. (Some folk tales from the beginning of the sixth Common century may have even included both characters in the same story.) It took the efforts of heroes in the service of the Wise to learn this secret, and the knowledge that Iuz was a cambion of Grazz'zt (sp?) and the witch-queen Igwiilv was known by even fewer people, such as the Circle of Eight or the individuals responsible for the sundering of the Old One's
imprisonment. We should remember that Iuz was only freed in 570 CY, so even by the eve of the GH Wars (582 CY), there are only a dozen years for the infamy of Iuz to be spread. The Flanaess lacks the Internet!
Of course, some people in the CoG learned about the power and identity of Iuz just before the war due to the activity of his Spurned Cult, but even in the Gem of the Flanaess, this knowledge is not known by every last beggar, bard, or apprentice.
The post-war situation is drastically different. At every Godsday sermon the churches of Heironeous, Mayaheine, St. Cuthbert, and Trithereon harangue against that powerful demonic despot of the north, Iuz. These declamations are especially intense just before (and during) the Great Northern Crusade. This is partially due to the subtle influence (strategy) of the churches of Rao and Delleb (or the Church of Voll), which decided that the public naming of Iuz (the Old) as a powerful demon was important to limit his power and the hysterical fear that his name could cause.
Similarly, the shamans of the Rovers or Wolf Nomads have named Iuz a powerful demon, one of a long line of bestial gods that dominate the legends of the north (a la Rip Van Wormer's Madlander gods). Of course, if we obey canon, then the remnant of Rovers may well believe that Iuz represents their teleology.
In the Empire of Iuz, the clergy have constantly proselytized the power of their god. Thus by 591 CY even on the eastern periphery of the empire, in the Bandit Kingdoms or occupied Tenha, almost everyone has repeatedly heard that Iuz the Old is a demon-god walking the Flanaess and seated at his throne in Dorakaa and seen demonstrations of the god's brutal power.
His priests have had at least twenty-one years since his freedom to establish their churches and cults. I say "at least" because I wonder whether there were priests devoted to Iuz during his imprisonment, such as High Priests Patch or Althea. When did he become a true demi-god? Was the faith of some cult partially responsible for his apotheosis? Did their sacrifices penetrate the demon-dreams of the Old One's imprisonment?
Marc Tizoc
Monday, November 16, 2009
Re: "Of Iuz and the Northern Reaches"
Subject: Re: [GREYTALK] "Of Iuz and the Northern Reaches"
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1999 08:04:40 EDT
From: "Gary L. Holian"
Reply-To: The GREYtalk Discussion List
>On Tue, 22 Jun 1999, Gary R Welsh wrote:
>
>> I tend to agree that a blunder was made with regards to Iuz and the date of his rise....though it was an easy one to make since it didn't appear to contradict any other historical facts. Clearly
>> the year 479 CY was meant to be the date in which he expanded his empire, not the year he came onto the scene in the first place.
>
>Yep. That's what I thought too. And of your scenarios for the dating of Iuz' realm, I think only (1) is possible. According to S4, Iggwilv began her campaign of conquest "nearly a century ago," and subjugated the Marches of Perrenland for a decade (S4, p. 2). That would mean she
>disappeared at 486 at the absolute earliest -- probably later -- in any case after 479. That rules out scenario (2).
Ah, well that depends on numerous assumptions which are not clear cut:
1) The dating of the module S4
2) The dating of the WoG Guide (83)
3) The vagaries of history, and terms such as "nearly a century".
A common misconception about the booklets of the 83 boxed set is that their contents are generally dated to the year 576 CY, the year they were completed by the Savant-Sage in the Free City of Greyhawk. However, its apparent that they are only current to the year 573 CY...and while the sage completed the seven volume set 3 years later, the material is not current to that date, but only to the year of the disappearance of the Prince of Furyondy and the emergence of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
This is not uncommon in histories, where there is a lag between what is current and when it is published.
S4 could have been set anytime in the 570's, realistically speaking, though we know it must have predated the events in Isle of the Ape which are generally dated somewhere between 576-579. Using all of this leeway, its possible to contruct a history whereby Iggwilv's empire fell and Iuz emerged in the north nearly simultaneously. However, I agree that scenario 1) is far more likely since we know that Iggwilv's magic was instrumental in Iuz's rise. It was probably the intention of Iggwilv and Iuz to expand their realm, and with the witch's magic, the cambion emerged from the Howling Hills a force and took Dorakaa. Apparently, they had some falling out and Graz'zt was loosed, forcing Iggwilv into a battle which reduced her powers dramatically, banished the Demon Lord for a century, and ended her
realm.
>> I think it is pretty obvious that his name is due in no small part to his decrepit
>> appearance whilst
Of course, people might call him old because he *looks* old. But I think that he really *is* old -- ancient even. I gave the reasons in an earlier post (i.e. the quotes from the Guide and AoE which clearly establish Iuz as "centuries old").
Well, we don't know how old...but we do know that he looks old, ancient even. I sympathize with your desire to restore Iuz to his original depiction, but I think if we're going to be Monatic* about things, we're stuck with the fact that he didn't rule in the north for centuries, whatever his true age...and quotes from the guide notwithstanding (the puffery of an old sage. ;-) Clearly, it was not known why Iuz pulled back in 505 CY and the fact that the land was ruled in his name by a proto-Bonehart is not distinguishable, his evil festered (indeed his Spurned Cult received power and spread across the Flanaess over the intervening decades.) There only appeared to be an ebb in the expansion of his empire, which resumed anew when the master was back in residence. To assert he only ruled 32 years would be a quibble without teeth, since his status wouldn't have been commonly known...roads were still being paved in skulls apace.
*Monaism asserts the primacy of canon and exhorts its practioners to find the most consistent and ingenious method to satisfy all sources. Not to be coonfused with "Hep Monatics", sufferers of a rare jungle disease involving burrowing insects.
-GLH
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1999 08:04:40 EDT
From: "Gary L. Holian"
Reply-To: The GREYtalk Discussion List
>On Tue, 22 Jun 1999, Gary R Welsh wrote:
>
>> I tend to agree that a blunder was made with regards to Iuz and the date of his rise....though it was an easy one to make since it didn't appear to contradict any other historical facts. Clearly
>> the year 479 CY was meant to be the date in which he expanded his empire, not the year he came onto the scene in the first place.
>
>Yep. That's what I thought too. And of your scenarios for the dating of Iuz' realm, I think only (1) is possible. According to S4, Iggwilv began her campaign of conquest "nearly a century ago," and subjugated the Marches of Perrenland for a decade (S4, p. 2). That would mean she
>disappeared at 486 at the absolute earliest -- probably later -- in any case after 479. That rules out scenario (2).
Ah, well that depends on numerous assumptions which are not clear cut:
1) The dating of the module S4
2) The dating of the WoG Guide (83)
3) The vagaries of history, and terms such as "nearly a century".
A common misconception about the booklets of the 83 boxed set is that their contents are generally dated to the year 576 CY, the year they were completed by the Savant-Sage in the Free City of Greyhawk. However, its apparent that they are only current to the year 573 CY...and while the sage completed the seven volume set 3 years later, the material is not current to that date, but only to the year of the disappearance of the Prince of Furyondy and the emergence of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
This is not uncommon in histories, where there is a lag between what is current and when it is published.
S4 could have been set anytime in the 570's, realistically speaking, though we know it must have predated the events in Isle of the Ape which are generally dated somewhere between 576-579. Using all of this leeway, its possible to contruct a history whereby Iggwilv's empire fell and Iuz emerged in the north nearly simultaneously. However, I agree that scenario 1) is far more likely since we know that Iggwilv's magic was instrumental in Iuz's rise. It was probably the intention of Iggwilv and Iuz to expand their realm, and with the witch's magic, the cambion emerged from the Howling Hills a force and took Dorakaa. Apparently, they had some falling out and Graz'zt was loosed, forcing Iggwilv into a battle which reduced her powers dramatically, banished the Demon Lord for a century, and ended her
realm.
>> I think it is pretty obvious that his name is due in no small part to his decrepit
>> appearance whilst
Of course, people might call him old because he *looks* old. But I think that he really *is* old -- ancient even. I gave the reasons in an earlier post (i.e. the quotes from the Guide and AoE which clearly establish Iuz as "centuries old").
Well, we don't know how old...but we do know that he looks old, ancient even. I sympathize with your desire to restore Iuz to his original depiction, but I think if we're going to be Monatic* about things, we're stuck with the fact that he didn't rule in the north for centuries, whatever his true age...and quotes from the guide notwithstanding (the puffery of an old sage. ;-) Clearly, it was not known why Iuz pulled back in 505 CY and the fact that the land was ruled in his name by a proto-Bonehart is not distinguishable, his evil festered (indeed his Spurned Cult received power and spread across the Flanaess over the intervening decades.) There only appeared to be an ebb in the expansion of his empire, which resumed anew when the master was back in residence. To assert he only ruled 32 years would be a quibble without teeth, since his status wouldn't have been commonly known...roads were still being paved in skulls apace.
*Monaism asserts the primacy of canon and exhorts its practioners to find the most consistent and ingenious method to satisfy all sources. Not to be coonfused with "Hep Monatics", sufferers of a rare jungle disease involving burrowing insects.
-GLH
Re: Of Iuz and [Castle Greyhawk]
Subject: Re: [GREYTALK] Of Iuz and [Castle Greyhawk]
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 12:57:31 -0700
From: Chris Anderson
Reply-To: The GREYtalk Discussion List
Hmmm... I envision them differently. To me, the Soul Husks are a method of drawing off power from a set of individuals that is used to elevate Iuz to Lesser God status. Something like a set of batteries that super-charges him.
I also have thought about the connection between what Zagyg did, and the Soul Husks. It strikes me that Iuz learned, through personal experience in Castle Greyhawk, a method of short-circuiting the usual "gain worshippers and power" method of ascending from demi-god to Lesser God.
I've decided that Zagyg used the demi-gods as "filters" for power that he poured into them from elsewhere, and that without those filters, his mortal body would have been destroyed in his attempt to gain demi-god status. With the filters, he was able to power up safely. Acting as "filters" also powered up many of the 9 demi-gods to lesser god status.
Having said that, I am divided on whether or not Iuz has to replace his batteries periodically (implying a continuous feed of power from the Husks, which has a further implication of gradual decay if they are not replaced regularly), or whether the initial magic which powered him is now embedded within him. I sort of like the idea of him having to guard the Soul Husks because if they were "disturbed" his stolen power would flow back into them. As I've said, I'm torn.
IMC, I've left rumors of powerful individuals disappearing from time to time. Just in case I go that way.
--
Chris Anderson
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott Casper [mailto:scvolstagg@NETSCAPE.NET]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 12:33 PM
> To: GREYTALK@mitvma.mit.edu
> Subject: Re: [GREYTALK] Of Iuz and [Castle Greyhawk]
>
>
> Hi again!
>
> Eric Van wrote:
> >While I already knew this part, have you figured out how this translates to the secret of the Soul Husks Caverns in Iuz the Evil?
>
> Hmm...maybe you should talk to Noel "Worships Sargent" Graham about that. I don't own half of Carl Sargent's material for GREYHAWK, and take the other half with a
> spoonful of salt. I would guess, however, that the Soul Husk is an "anchor" that connects the half-demon Iuz to the Prime Material Plane so Dispel Evil and the like
> won't work on him. I don't think it has to do with his ascension to godhood.
>
> >Also, do you use all the rules for demigods found in Legends and Lore for Iuz?
>
> The '83 boxed set gave demi-gods even more special abilities than Deities & Demigods did. I don't see why Iuz wouldn't get them all.
>
> Scott "Volstagg" Casper
>
> Yak-Men think soul husks taste like chicken...
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 12:57:31 -0700
From: Chris Anderson
Reply-To: The GREYtalk Discussion List
Hmmm... I envision them differently. To me, the Soul Husks are a method of drawing off power from a set of individuals that is used to elevate Iuz to Lesser God status. Something like a set of batteries that super-charges him.
I also have thought about the connection between what Zagyg did, and the Soul Husks. It strikes me that Iuz learned, through personal experience in Castle Greyhawk, a method of short-circuiting the usual "gain worshippers and power" method of ascending from demi-god to Lesser God.
I've decided that Zagyg used the demi-gods as "filters" for power that he poured into them from elsewhere, and that without those filters, his mortal body would have been destroyed in his attempt to gain demi-god status. With the filters, he was able to power up safely. Acting as "filters" also powered up many of the 9 demi-gods to lesser god status.
Having said that, I am divided on whether or not Iuz has to replace his batteries periodically (implying a continuous feed of power from the Husks, which has a further implication of gradual decay if they are not replaced regularly), or whether the initial magic which powered him is now embedded within him. I sort of like the idea of him having to guard the Soul Husks because if they were "disturbed" his stolen power would flow back into them. As I've said, I'm torn.
IMC, I've left rumors of powerful individuals disappearing from time to time. Just in case I go that way.
--
Chris Anderson
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott Casper [mailto:scvolstagg@NETSCAPE.NET]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 12:33 PM
> To: GREYTALK@mitvma.mit.edu
> Subject: Re: [GREYTALK] Of Iuz and [Castle Greyhawk]
>
>
> Hi again!
>
> Eric Van wrote:
> >While I already knew this part, have you figured out how this translates to the secret of the Soul Husks Caverns in Iuz the Evil?
>
> Hmm...maybe you should talk to Noel "Worships Sargent" Graham about that. I don't own half of Carl Sargent's material for GREYHAWK, and take the other half with a
> spoonful of salt. I would guess, however, that the Soul Husk is an "anchor" that connects the half-demon Iuz to the Prime Material Plane so Dispel Evil and the like
> won't work on him. I don't think it has to do with his ascension to godhood.
>
> >Also, do you use all the rules for demigods found in Legends and Lore for Iuz?
>
> The '83 boxed set gave demi-gods even more special abilities than Deities & Demigods did. I don't see why Iuz wouldn't get them all.
>
> Scott "Volstagg" Casper
>
> Yak-Men think soul husks taste like chicken...
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Re: "Of Iuz and the Northern Reaches" (HSNR)
Subject: Re: [GREYTALK] "Of Iuz and the Northern Reaches" (HSNR)
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 12:28:07 -0400
From: Stéphane Tanguay
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Hi all !
-----Message d'origine-----
De : Gary L. Holian
What does (HSNR) stand for ?
>Two notable exceptions, are the portions which later came together as the cantons of Perrenland (in 400 CY), and the Archbarony of Blackmoor (which apparently was so cut-off from the rest of the
>Flanaess that when the revolutions sundered the Great Kingdom, it was largely forgotten.) Fred Weining (Psychlops) has an interesting aside in his Blackmoor piece in the Oerth Journal which comments how
>the land eventually disappeared from imperial maps.
Is it from Psychlops's work that you got the info that put Blackmoor under Dyvers "supervision" at a time or is there a canon source somewhere that I've missed? Others (Gary R. Welsh) have the Archbarony at odds with Iuz.
(snip)
>Remember that what is considered the Horned Society now, was simply a part of the loose collection of largely flannish bandit realms we now refer to as the Bandit Kingdoms, indistinguishable from the
>rest. Iuz swept threw those bandit kingdoms between the Veng and Ritensa (sometime between 479 and 505 CY) taking Molag (where the Heirarchs picked up the pieces during his absence.)
It is the second or third time that I see mentions of this invasion of the HS by Iuz at some point in the past but again, I can't find the canon source for this.
I always tought the Horned Society was a loose collection of largely humanoid territories that was organized by some bandits lords (Hierarchs) only after Iuz disappearance.
>1) Iuz made his move during his mother's reign to the southwest. This could have been part of a plan to strike in two parts of the "Northern Reaches", then unify the realm by decimating
> the Highfolk between them while Furyondy was distracted by events in the south. He would have had direct assisstance from her in pulling off his plan, which fell through when Graz'zt
> was loosed and he was on his own. Apparently, he also had some falling out with Iggwilv.
I would go with this option. It would be consistent with what can be found in Rot8. I kind of like seing Iuz and his mother "help" each other. I now just have to find a reason why Iuz appeared to have been adopted as an infant by a flan chieftain while there is many signs he should be older at that time (479 CY). Just a disguise ? Trying to hide his demonic features ? Was it a way to keep an eye on his lands while being away helping mom ?
For myself, I'd like to have Iuz being born around 213 CY, adventuring here and there for a while (notably in the Thillorian peninsula), acquiring some of his knowledge as a cleric and assassin (thanks to Gary R. Welsh for most of these ideas) then come back around Whyestyl Lake and start to build his own fief (circa 300 CY). For years, he battle against the northern nomads and other minor desposts, both Flans and Oeridians. Not able to accomplish much, he renew contact with his mother and agree to leave his fief for a while (circa 470 CY), to make himself forgotten. He help his mother in her research. In 475 CY, Iggwilv have him disguise his demonic features as an infant and be adopted by his "father". He is able to observe his future opponents while waiting for his mother to acquire sufficient powers to help him. This happens in 479 CY. Iuz's "father" is then put to death and Iuz reveal itself, with a lot of new powers.
Here's a rough timeline, based on many sources amongst which Gary R. Welsh and Paul Stormberg post have played an important role in shaping my ideas. I hae incorporated Drelzna and Graz'zt into it, as they are somewhat indissociable:
213 Iuz is born. Age of Great Sorrows begin.
230 Iuz start his adventuring career
300 Iuz start to build his own fief around the Howling Hills
460 Iggwilv consorts with several Perrenland Flan chieftans
462 Iggwilv found the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
465 Drelnza is born
466 Graz'zt is captured by Iggwilv
467 Iggwilv renew contact with her son and begin concocting a plan to conquer the Northen Reaches
470 Iuz "disappear" from his fief.
475 Iuz, disguised as an infant, is adopted by a Flan chieftain of the Howling Hills
479 Iuz's "father" died. With help from Iggwilv's magic, Iuz's might grow. Perrenland and Furyondy attention's are turned toward Iuz, failing to see Iggwilv preparations.
480 Iggwilv embark on her conquest of Perrenland. Drelnza serves as General of Iggwilv's forces.
481 Perrenland is conquered
491 Graz'zt tricks Drenlza into freeing him. In the ensuing battle, Drelnza is killed, Graz'zt is forced to flee to the Abyss for a century and Iggwilv is stricken. The empire of Iggwilv collapse. With her remaining power she hide her treasures in the Lost caverns. Drenlza is interred with these and Iggwilv, who had both pity and hatred for her, kept her from both death and life.
Also note:
591 Graz'zt is free to leave the Abyss
I really like Gary R. Welsh's suggestion of having Iuz be reared and adventuring in the northen barrens. It does explain how he acquire a lot of his knowledge, how later he was able to put up this Vatun construction, how he acquire his soul husks, etc. It also give us opportunities to have him meet with some others luminaries of Greyhawk. Such a background for Iuz seem quite greyhawkish to me.
>but by his disappearnce in 505 CY, he was already being treated as a god by his followers.
Did he ? I tought he became a demi-god while being kept captive under Greyhawk Castle (although how can this be possibly happening is beyond me).
Regards
Stéphane Tanguay
stanguay@francomm.com
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 12:28:07 -0400
From: Stéphane Tanguay
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Hi all !
-----Message d'origine-----
De : Gary L. Holian
What does (HSNR) stand for ?
>Two notable exceptions, are the portions which later came together as the cantons of Perrenland (in 400 CY), and the Archbarony of Blackmoor (which apparently was so cut-off from the rest of the
>Flanaess that when the revolutions sundered the Great Kingdom, it was largely forgotten.) Fred Weining (Psychlops) has an interesting aside in his Blackmoor piece in the Oerth Journal which comments how
>the land eventually disappeared from imperial maps.
Is it from Psychlops's work that you got the info that put Blackmoor under Dyvers "supervision" at a time or is there a canon source somewhere that I've missed? Others (Gary R. Welsh) have the Archbarony at odds with Iuz.
(snip)
>Remember that what is considered the Horned Society now, was simply a part of the loose collection of largely flannish bandit realms we now refer to as the Bandit Kingdoms, indistinguishable from the
>rest. Iuz swept threw those bandit kingdoms between the Veng and Ritensa (sometime between 479 and 505 CY) taking Molag (where the Heirarchs picked up the pieces during his absence.)
It is the second or third time that I see mentions of this invasion of the HS by Iuz at some point in the past but again, I can't find the canon source for this.
I always tought the Horned Society was a loose collection of largely humanoid territories that was organized by some bandits lords (Hierarchs) only after Iuz disappearance.
>1) Iuz made his move during his mother's reign to the southwest. This could have been part of a plan to strike in two parts of the "Northern Reaches", then unify the realm by decimating
> the Highfolk between them while Furyondy was distracted by events in the south. He would have had direct assisstance from her in pulling off his plan, which fell through when Graz'zt
> was loosed and he was on his own. Apparently, he also had some falling out with Iggwilv.
I would go with this option. It would be consistent with what can be found in Rot8. I kind of like seing Iuz and his mother "help" each other. I now just have to find a reason why Iuz appeared to have been adopted as an infant by a flan chieftain while there is many signs he should be older at that time (479 CY). Just a disguise ? Trying to hide his demonic features ? Was it a way to keep an eye on his lands while being away helping mom ?
For myself, I'd like to have Iuz being born around 213 CY, adventuring here and there for a while (notably in the Thillorian peninsula), acquiring some of his knowledge as a cleric and assassin (thanks to Gary R. Welsh for most of these ideas) then come back around Whyestyl Lake and start to build his own fief (circa 300 CY). For years, he battle against the northern nomads and other minor desposts, both Flans and Oeridians. Not able to accomplish much, he renew contact with his mother and agree to leave his fief for a while (circa 470 CY), to make himself forgotten. He help his mother in her research. In 475 CY, Iggwilv have him disguise his demonic features as an infant and be adopted by his "father". He is able to observe his future opponents while waiting for his mother to acquire sufficient powers to help him. This happens in 479 CY. Iuz's "father" is then put to death and Iuz reveal itself, with a lot of new powers.
Here's a rough timeline, based on many sources amongst which Gary R. Welsh and Paul Stormberg post have played an important role in shaping my ideas. I hae incorporated Drelzna and Graz'zt into it, as they are somewhat indissociable:
213 Iuz is born. Age of Great Sorrows begin.
230 Iuz start his adventuring career
300 Iuz start to build his own fief around the Howling Hills
460 Iggwilv consorts with several Perrenland Flan chieftans
462 Iggwilv found the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
465 Drelnza is born
466 Graz'zt is captured by Iggwilv
467 Iggwilv renew contact with her son and begin concocting a plan to conquer the Northen Reaches
470 Iuz "disappear" from his fief.
475 Iuz, disguised as an infant, is adopted by a Flan chieftain of the Howling Hills
479 Iuz's "father" died. With help from Iggwilv's magic, Iuz's might grow. Perrenland and Furyondy attention's are turned toward Iuz, failing to see Iggwilv preparations.
480 Iggwilv embark on her conquest of Perrenland. Drelnza serves as General of Iggwilv's forces.
481 Perrenland is conquered
491 Graz'zt tricks Drenlza into freeing him. In the ensuing battle, Drelnza is killed, Graz'zt is forced to flee to the Abyss for a century and Iggwilv is stricken. The empire of Iggwilv collapse. With her remaining power she hide her treasures in the Lost caverns. Drenlza is interred with these and Iggwilv, who had both pity and hatred for her, kept her from both death and life.
Also note:
591 Graz'zt is free to leave the Abyss
I really like Gary R. Welsh's suggestion of having Iuz be reared and adventuring in the northen barrens. It does explain how he acquire a lot of his knowledge, how later he was able to put up this Vatun construction, how he acquire his soul husks, etc. It also give us opportunities to have him meet with some others luminaries of Greyhawk. Such a background for Iuz seem quite greyhawkish to me.
>but by his disappearnce in 505 CY, he was already being treated as a god by his followers.
Did he ? I tought he became a demi-god while being kept captive under Greyhawk Castle (although how can this be possibly happening is beyond me).
Regards
Stéphane Tanguay
stanguay@francomm.com
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Various
Date sent: Fri, 7 Nov 1997 23:11:19 -0500
Send reply to: The GREYtalk Discussion List
From: Otto Zequeira 2
Subject: [GREYTALK][GT] Various
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Humanoid origins, Vatun: On Mon, 3 Nov 1997 17:40:12 CST, SCOTT CASPER wrote, “”What if, way back after the Invoked Devastation, the hordelings didn't leave right away. Recent postings have argued about whether summoning has a time limit. What if the hordelings stayed, molested the Oerdians, and the product of these hordeling-human unions gradually produced the orcs, trolls, and kobolds we all know (and love) today?”
The problem with this idea is that the Invoked Devastation reference comes after the description of humanoids as troops. A good idea, though.
“Secondly, this occurred to me at about the same time. What if the Vatun disguise of Iuz's was not Iuz's idea? A lot of gods were probably happy with his incarceration under Castle Greyhawk. What if they schemed to check the demi-god again? Zagyg, Cuthbert, and maybe some other lesser gods or quasi-deities kidnapped Iuz, forced amnesia on him, and told him he was the lost god Vatun? They got the Suel gods to go along with this, and that is why divination never revealed the Vatun deception.
Now we know why Iuz is so bitter. Imagine, a hunk like him getting stuck in the body of 'Ken'.
Greyspace: On Wed, 29 Oct 1997 17:20:33 +1300, rodking wrote, “I have a particular dislike of Spelljamming in the context of Greyhawk although it is an enjoyable game in its own right. The problems are these: 1) Its a huge departure from the sense of Greyhawk being a distinct Plane of existence in its own right. Now its just a bubble in an endless sea.”
I personally like the idea of limiting exit and entry into the sphere to only the most powerful mages, e.g. Zagyg. This maintains the feel of an isolated WoG.
Official artifacts: On Fri, 31 Oct 1997 23:41:31 -0300, Bruno Di Pentima asked,
>For example, doesn't the City of Greyhawk have the proverbial “Sword of
>Damocles” hanging over it with a certain personage of the Outer Planes
>vowing vengeance against the place and it's former master for entrapping it
>and the theft of a potent device dear to it? Could it not be said by some
>that the City was both blessed and ultimately doomed by the legacy of
Zagyg?
I didn't knew that (I am a little inexperienced in Greyhawk) Where did you got that?? From City of Greyhawk boxed set?
The poster was referring to Iuz and his imprisonment under Castle Greyhawk by Zagyg as detailed in several places. I think some of this info. Is in the FAQ.
What's up with Greyhawk98?. On Sun, 2 Nov 1997 11:19:06 -0500, AOL KenNewq asked, “I've been away from the list for a while, so I'm not quite sure where these assorted Greyhawk98 posts are originating. Is Greyhawk98 (I'm assuming this is a proposed product line) actually going to happen, or is it wishful thinking?”
It's the best of wishful thinking...
Druids: On Sun, 2 Nov 1997 17L14L35 -0600, Victor Gonzalez asked, “I feel silly asking this question but last night my DM try to argue that, per the rules, druids do not have to be true neutral, just neutral in some aspect. And when we looked it up in the PH is did say just neutral, not true neutral. Has they're been an official change or is my DM being to picky in looking for the exact wording of true neutral?”
Yes, he's being picky. I personally enjoy the view that druids are just as vicious sons of Iggwilfs as anybody else.
GH Wars: Here's a little something that I put together, in case it's helpful.
Wars Calendar
Year Month Event
582-----------Rise of Stonefist
--------------The Fall of Tenh
583-----------Iuz returns to his homeland
------3-------Blood Moon Festival
--------------Martyrs of the Holy Shielding
--------------Stroke & Counter Stroke
------7-------Furyondy Besieged
--------------Great Kingdom Awakens
--------------Osson's Raid
--------------Lordship of the Isles Coup
583—winter----Aid from the South
----spring----An Empire Where None Had Stood
584---8-------Conquest of Almor
--------------Horsemen of Ket
--------------Giant Troubles
--------------Mad King Takes the Field
--------------Sea Princes Assassinated
--------------Collapse of Ide & Onnwall
--------------Hool Invasion
--------------Blockade of Gradsul
-------9------Aerdy Sundered
--------------Great Council of Greyhawk
585---2-------Day of the Great Signing
--------------Elves reclaim Lendor Isle?
Send reply to: The GREYtalk Discussion List
From: Otto Zequeira 2
Subject: [GREYTALK][GT] Various
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Humanoid origins, Vatun: On Mon, 3 Nov 1997 17:40:12 CST, SCOTT CASPER
The problem with this idea is that the Invoked Devastation reference comes after the description of humanoids as troops. A good idea, though.
“Secondly, this occurred to me at about the same time. What if the Vatun disguise of Iuz's was not Iuz's idea? A lot of gods were probably happy with his incarceration under Castle Greyhawk. What if they schemed to check the demi-god again? Zagyg, Cuthbert, and maybe some other lesser gods or quasi-deities kidnapped Iuz, forced amnesia on him, and told him he was the lost god Vatun? They got the Suel gods to go along with this, and that is why divination never revealed the Vatun deception.
Now we know why Iuz is so bitter. Imagine, a hunk like him getting stuck in the body of 'Ken'.
Greyspace: On Wed, 29 Oct 1997 17:20:33 +1300, rodking
I personally like the idea of limiting exit and entry into the sphere to only the most powerful mages, e.g. Zagyg. This maintains the feel of an isolated WoG.
Official artifacts: On Fri, 31 Oct 1997 23:41:31 -0300, Bruno Di Pentima
>For example, doesn't the City of Greyhawk have the proverbial “Sword of
>Damocles” hanging over it with a certain personage of the Outer Planes
>vowing vengeance against the place and it's former master for entrapping it
>and the theft of a potent device dear to it? Could it not be said by some
>that the City was both blessed and ultimately doomed by the legacy of
Zagyg?
I didn't knew that (I am a little inexperienced in Greyhawk) Where did you got that?? From City of Greyhawk boxed set?
The poster was referring to Iuz and his imprisonment under Castle Greyhawk by Zagyg as detailed in several places. I think some of this info. Is in the FAQ.
What's up with Greyhawk98?. On Sun, 2 Nov 1997 11:19:06 -0500, AOL KenNewq
It's the best of wishful thinking...
Druids: On Sun, 2 Nov 1997 17L14L35 -0600, Victor Gonzalez
Yes, he's being picky. I personally enjoy the view that druids are just as vicious sons of Iggwilfs as anybody else.
GH Wars: Here's a little something that I put together, in case it's helpful.
Wars Calendar
Year Month Event
582-----------Rise of Stonefist
--------------The Fall of Tenh
583-----------Iuz returns to his homeland
------3-------Blood Moon Festival
--------------Martyrs of the Holy Shielding
--------------Stroke & Counter Stroke
------7-------Furyondy Besieged
--------------Great Kingdom Awakens
--------------Osson's Raid
--------------Lordship of the Isles Coup
583—winter----Aid from the South
----spring----An Empire Where None Had Stood
584---8-------Conquest of Almor
--------------Horsemen of Ket
--------------Giant Troubles
--------------Mad King Takes the Field
--------------Sea Princes Assassinated
--------------Collapse of Ide & Onnwall
--------------Hool Invasion
--------------Blockade of Gradsul
-------9------Aerdy Sundered
--------------Great Council of Greyhawk
585---2-------Day of the Great Signing
--------------Elves reclaim Lendor Isle?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
My absense, humanoid origins, Vatun, and cow
Priority: normal
Date sent: Mon, 3 Nov 1997 17:40:12 CST
Send reply to: The GREYtalk Discussion List
From: SCOTT CASPER
Organization: Dominican Univ., River Forest, IL
Subject: [GREYTALK] My absense, humanoid origins, Vatun, and cow
Originally to: greytalk@MIT.EDU
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Yes! I'm finally back! For those of you who didn't notice, I've been gone for a month. For the first week, I was working on mid-terms. The second week I was catching up with the first week. Since then, something was wrong with my e-mail and I wasn't able to send anything no matter what I did. I owe one or two personal e-mails I intend to get to in the next few days. Of course, there are those among you who, for bizarre reasons, found my guns and plumbing threads boring and probably wished I'd stay silent. Well, to that I say – TOUGH!
Since I've been sitting here quietly for the past month unable to comment, I'm way behind on all the current threads. I intend to throw my opinions once more into the cyber-wind soon enough, but for now I thought I'd just share some musings I've had. These ideas are way out there, and I'm not even sure I'll be using them yet. Still, I wanted to share them and see what people thought.
First off, my idea about humanoid origins was this. What if, way back after the Invoked Devastation, the hordelings didn't leave right away. Recent postings have argued about whether summoning has a time limit. What if the hordelings stayed, molested the Oerdians, and the product of these hordeling-human unions gradually produced the orcs, trolls, and kobolds we all know (and love) today?
Secondly, this occurred to me at about the same time. What if the Vatun disguise of Iuz's was not Iuz's idea? A lot of gods were probably happy with his incarceration under Castle Greyhawk. What if they schemed to check the demi-god again? Zagyg, Cuthbert, and maybe some other lesser gods or quasi-deities kidnapped Iuz, forced amnesia on him, and told him he was the lost god Vatun? They got the Suel gods to go along with this, and that is why divination never revealed the Vatun deception.
There is one other thing I could use comments on. I am still working on my Monster Manual revisions (to the exclusion of far too much), and I just recently got to my Cattle entry. Has anyone given any thought to what breeds of cow may be found in the Flanaess? Can someone from Europe give me some names of European breeds of cow?
So far, I have developed three varieties of cow. There is the common (2 HD) Flannish cow. There is the smaller (1 HD) Kettish (or elven) cow which is considered excellent livestock. Then there is the Ideish cow (3 HD) which is strong enough to pull wagons, plows, and can even be rode like a mount (borrowed from the comicbook BONE). Is “Ideish” the word you would use to describe something from Idee?
Scott “Volstagg” Casper
Have fun in Brazil, Erik! Never mind that you've left me with one less Call of Cthulu player!
Date sent: Mon, 3 Nov 1997 17:40:12 CST
Send reply to: The GREYtalk Discussion List
From: SCOTT CASPER
Organization: Dominican Univ., River Forest, IL
Subject: [GREYTALK] My absense, humanoid origins, Vatun, and cow
Originally to: greytalk@MIT.EDU
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Yes! I'm finally back! For those of you who didn't notice, I've been gone for a month. For the first week, I was working on mid-terms. The second week I was catching up with the first week. Since then, something was wrong with my e-mail and I wasn't able to send anything no matter what I did. I owe one or two personal e-mails I intend to get to in the next few days. Of course, there are those among you who, for bizarre reasons, found my guns and plumbing threads boring and probably wished I'd stay silent. Well, to that I say – TOUGH!
Since I've been sitting here quietly for the past month unable to comment, I'm way behind on all the current threads. I intend to throw my opinions once more into the cyber-wind soon enough, but for now I thought I'd just share some musings I've had. These ideas are way out there, and I'm not even sure I'll be using them yet. Still, I wanted to share them and see what people thought.
First off, my idea about humanoid origins was this. What if, way back after the Invoked Devastation, the hordelings didn't leave right away. Recent postings have argued about whether summoning has a time limit. What if the hordelings stayed, molested the Oerdians, and the product of these hordeling-human unions gradually produced the orcs, trolls, and kobolds we all know (and love) today?
Secondly, this occurred to me at about the same time. What if the Vatun disguise of Iuz's was not Iuz's idea? A lot of gods were probably happy with his incarceration under Castle Greyhawk. What if they schemed to check the demi-god again? Zagyg, Cuthbert, and maybe some other lesser gods or quasi-deities kidnapped Iuz, forced amnesia on him, and told him he was the lost god Vatun? They got the Suel gods to go along with this, and that is why divination never revealed the Vatun deception.
There is one other thing I could use comments on. I am still working on my Monster Manual revisions (to the exclusion of far too much), and I just recently got to my Cattle entry. Has anyone given any thought to what breeds of cow may be found in the Flanaess? Can someone from Europe give me some names of European breeds of cow?
So far, I have developed three varieties of cow. There is the common (2 HD) Flannish cow. There is the smaller (1 HD) Kettish (or elven) cow which is considered excellent livestock. Then there is the Ideish cow (3 HD) which is strong enough to pull wagons, plows, and can even be rode like a mount (borrowed from the comicbook BONE). Is “Ideish” the word you would use to describe something from Idee?
Scott “Volstagg” Casper
Have fun in Brazil, Erik! Never mind that you've left me with one less Call of Cthulu player!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Re: Greyhawk Timeline
From glholian@MIT.EDU Tue Oct 24 23:39:18 1995
To: greytalk@MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: Greyhawk Timeline
Content-Length: 4052
X-Lines: 69
Status: RO
>This thing is beginning to attain the status of Old Cheastnut, but is still
>troubling if you are hearing about it/ realizing it for the first time.
>
>Although I don't have it with me now, I beleive what TEE says is that Iuz
>was active in the *construction* of the Temple, not its fall. Thus, his
>involvement would have to have occurred several years earlier, making it a
>more difficult problem to fix than just moving the date of a Battle by one
>year.
>
>I believe TEE was pretty vague on what Iuz's "involvement" was, however,
>other than lending aid and conspiring with Zugg. That is, I do not think he
>was necessarily personally, physically, involved. Thus some (Gary?) have
>resolved that Iuz's support of the Temple did come while he was imprisoned,
>just as he was supporting many things - through his minions, with whom he
>had some kind of contact.
>
>For myself, I have moved the dates of Iuz's appearance, capture, and release
>back by more than a century. I prefer this, as it also gives time for Iuz
>to ascend to godhood. There is not enough time for this, in my style
>campaign, in the official time alloted to Iuz. This solution,
>unfortunately, results in a very Unoffical chronology.
Yup Kirt,
I think it is possible, if not particularly satisfying, to attempt to rationalize the inconsistency. As I think I mentioned to you long ago, I think Iuz worked with Zuggtmoy (and certain Princes of Elemental Evil such as Ogremoch, Cryonax, and Imix) to lay down the foundation for the temple prior to the Lord of Evil's capture by Zagig Yragerne et. al. in CY 505. That, I contend, is his direct assistance as intimated by T.E.E., even though it did not come to fruition for decades. Further, due to the nature of the prison holding the Nine Demigods, I also assume that they were conscious and sensate during their imprisonment (mostly becuase of the many tasks to which Zagig Yragerne directed their combined powers.) Thus Iuz was able to collect devotional power supplied to him by his faithful servants, who went on to found the plague of cults across the Flanaess between CY 510-570. The most prominent was in the City of Greyhawk (led at one point by the infamous Falcon.) Iuz was conscious, able to communicate with and return priestly powers to his followers, and even indirectly influence events in the Flanaess. The one thing he did not
know, the one thing that pained him most, was not knowing where the hell he was. The magical power of the Obelisk beneath Castle Greyhawk, kept this knowledge from both men and gods, so that while Iuz was able to reach out to the world, he did not know where he was reaching out from. Only the nascent demigod Zagyg, his patron Boccob, and those who assisted him knew where the Nine were trapped. In many ways, this explains why Iuz's priest-hood began leaving their holds and fastnesses in the Lands of Iuz to spread across the Flanaess and search for their Master after his untimely
disappearance (which they claimed for propaganda reasons was their Lord's
Assumption into the Abyss to be reborn in the fires of Eternity.) I further contend, that only the leaders of the Spurned Cult of Iuz knew what had truly happened to their master, lest their juniors and adherents lose faith. The High Priest Patch and the Archmage Ormuz, acting as temporal leaders, coordinated the efforts of all the various sects, including lending assitance to their Master's efforts in Verbobonc (T.E.E.). And so, while Iuz embarked upon the plan that resulted in the Temple of
Elemental Evil, the show was really Zuggtmoy's, despite paltry efforts to make her succeed. Of course, who could predict that one of the Spurned Cult's spies would be sitting in the same tavern in the City of Greyhawk when a drunken lord by the name of Robilar, let slip his discovery of a certain chamber beneath the ruins of Castle Greyhawk on a previous journey with his compatriots Riggby and Tenser...thus setting
about a series of events which will be a tale for another time....
-Gary
To: greytalk@MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: Greyhawk Timeline
Content-Length: 4052
X-Lines: 69
Status: RO
>This thing is beginning to attain the status of Old Cheastnut, but is still
>troubling if you are hearing about it/ realizing it for the first time.
>
>Although I don't have it with me now, I beleive what TEE says is that Iuz
>was active in the *construction* of the Temple, not its fall. Thus, his
>involvement would have to have occurred several years earlier, making it a
>more difficult problem to fix than just moving the date of a Battle by one
>year.
>
>I believe TEE was pretty vague on what Iuz's "involvement" was, however,
>other than lending aid and conspiring with Zugg. That is, I do not think he
>was necessarily personally, physically, involved. Thus some (Gary?) have
>resolved that Iuz's support of the Temple did come while he was imprisoned,
>just as he was supporting many things - through his minions, with whom he
>had some kind of contact.
>
>For myself, I have moved the dates of Iuz's appearance, capture, and release
>back by more than a century. I prefer this, as it also gives time for Iuz
>to ascend to godhood. There is not enough time for this, in my style
>campaign, in the official time alloted to Iuz. This solution,
>unfortunately, results in a very Unoffical chronology.
Yup Kirt,
I think it is possible, if not particularly satisfying, to attempt to rationalize the inconsistency. As I think I mentioned to you long ago, I think Iuz worked with Zuggtmoy (and certain Princes of Elemental Evil such as Ogremoch, Cryonax, and Imix) to lay down the foundation for the temple prior to the Lord of Evil's capture by Zagig Yragerne et. al. in CY 505. That, I contend, is his direct assistance as intimated by T.E.E., even though it did not come to fruition for decades. Further, due to the nature of the prison holding the Nine Demigods, I also assume that they were conscious and sensate during their imprisonment (mostly becuase of the many tasks to which Zagig Yragerne directed their combined powers.) Thus Iuz was able to collect devotional power supplied to him by his faithful servants, who went on to found the plague of cults across the Flanaess between CY 510-570. The most prominent was in the City of Greyhawk (led at one point by the infamous Falcon.) Iuz was conscious, able to communicate with and return priestly powers to his followers, and even indirectly influence events in the Flanaess. The one thing he did not
know, the one thing that pained him most, was not knowing where the hell he was. The magical power of the Obelisk beneath Castle Greyhawk, kept this knowledge from both men and gods, so that while Iuz was able to reach out to the world, he did not know where he was reaching out from. Only the nascent demigod Zagyg, his patron Boccob, and those who assisted him knew where the Nine were trapped. In many ways, this explains why Iuz's priest-hood began leaving their holds and fastnesses in the Lands of Iuz to spread across the Flanaess and search for their Master after his untimely
disappearance (which they claimed for propaganda reasons was their Lord's
Assumption into the Abyss to be reborn in the fires of Eternity.) I further contend, that only the leaders of the Spurned Cult of Iuz knew what had truly happened to their master, lest their juniors and adherents lose faith. The High Priest Patch and the Archmage Ormuz, acting as temporal leaders, coordinated the efforts of all the various sects, including lending assitance to their Master's efforts in Verbobonc (T.E.E.). And so, while Iuz embarked upon the plan that resulted in the Temple of
Elemental Evil, the show was really Zuggtmoy's, despite paltry efforts to make her succeed. Of course, who could predict that one of the Spurned Cult's spies would be sitting in the same tavern in the City of Greyhawk when a drunken lord by the name of Robilar, let slip his discovery of a certain chamber beneath the ruins of Castle Greyhawk on a previous journey with his compatriots Riggby and Tenser...thus setting
about a series of events which will be a tale for another time....
-Gary
Re: Greyhawk Timeline
From wackford@biology.utah.edu Tue Oct 24 22:27:24 1995
X-Sender: wackford@biology.utah.edu
X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 1.4.4
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
To: greytalk@MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: Greyhawk Timeline
Content-Length: 2004
X-Lines: 44
Status: RO
>Okay, here's the problem.
>
>Iuz was imprisoned under Castle Greyhawk from 505 - 570.
>
>The Battle of Emridy Meadows and the fall of the Temple was in 569.
>
>Yet _The Temple of Elemental Evil_ states that Iuz was free and
>active during the fall of the temple. So, we have a contradiction.
>
>In _Iuz the Evil_, we find that Iuz only learns of the fall of the
>Temple after his release. This would imply that TOEE is incorrect,
>and that Iuz was still imprisoned when the Temple fell.
>
>So, for the sake of continuity, you either have to remove Iuz's
>involvement in TOEE, or change the the dates around so that Emridy
>Meadows happens after the release of Iuz.
>
>Anyways, I was curious whether anyone has come up with any other
>solutions.
>
>Greg Bernath gbernath@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu
This thing is beginning to attain the status of Old Cheastnut, but is still troubling if you are hearing about it/ realizing it for the first time.
Although I don't have it with me now, I beleive what TEE says is that Iuz was active in the *construction* of the Temple, not its fall. Thus, his involvement would have to have occurred several years earlier, making it a more difficult problem to fix than just moving the date of a Battle by one year.
I believe TEE was pretty vague on what Iuz's "involvement" was, however, other than lending aid and conspiring with Zugg. That is, I do not think he was necessarily personally, physically, involved. Thus some (Gary?) have resolved that Iuz's support of the Temple did come while he was imprisoned, just as he was supporting many things - through his minions, with whom he had some kind of contact.
For myself, I have moved the dates of Iuz's appearance, capture, and release back by more than a century. I prefer this, as it also gives time for Iuz to ascend to godhood. There is not enough time for this, in my style campaign, in the official time alloted to Iuz. This solution, unfortunately, results in a very Unoffical chronology.
Kirt
X-Sender: wackford@biology.utah.edu
X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 1.4.4
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
To: greytalk@MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: Greyhawk Timeline
Content-Length: 2004
X-Lines: 44
Status: RO
>Okay, here's the problem.
>
>Iuz was imprisoned under Castle Greyhawk from 505 - 570.
>
>The Battle of Emridy Meadows and the fall of the Temple was in 569.
>
>Yet _The Temple of Elemental Evil_ states that Iuz was free and
>active during the fall of the temple. So, we have a contradiction.
>
>In _Iuz the Evil_, we find that Iuz only learns of the fall of the
>Temple after his release. This would imply that TOEE is incorrect,
>and that Iuz was still imprisoned when the Temple fell.
>
>So, for the sake of continuity, you either have to remove Iuz's
>involvement in TOEE, or change the the dates around so that Emridy
>Meadows happens after the release of Iuz.
>
>Anyways, I was curious whether anyone has come up with any other
>solutions.
>
>Greg Bernath gbernath@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu
This thing is beginning to attain the status of Old Cheastnut, but is still troubling if you are hearing about it/ realizing it for the first time.
Although I don't have it with me now, I beleive what TEE says is that Iuz was active in the *construction* of the Temple, not its fall. Thus, his involvement would have to have occurred several years earlier, making it a more difficult problem to fix than just moving the date of a Battle by one year.
I believe TEE was pretty vague on what Iuz's "involvement" was, however, other than lending aid and conspiring with Zugg. That is, I do not think he was necessarily personally, physically, involved. Thus some (Gary?) have resolved that Iuz's support of the Temple did come while he was imprisoned, just as he was supporting many things - through his minions, with whom he had some kind of contact.
For myself, I have moved the dates of Iuz's appearance, capture, and release back by more than a century. I prefer this, as it also gives time for Iuz to ascend to godhood. There is not enough time for this, in my style campaign, in the official time alloted to Iuz. This solution, unfortunately, results in a very Unoffical chronology.
Kirt
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Re: Shield Lands & Hierarchs
Date: Thu, 17 July 1997 10:17:11 +-1200
Reply-To: The GREYtalk Discussion List GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
From: Craig Courtis craig@otome.inforyoma.or.jp
Subject: Re: [GREYTALK] Shield Lands & Hierarchs
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
G’day everyone, especially Allan
Allan Wote:Sounds Great!!!!!!
I was just looking for a area to start my new game in.Reading your HS stuff has lit a few flames. I would really like any more info that your willing to send…….
I’m currently reviewing the Shield Lands and Horned Society based upon feed-back received from people on Greytalk- thanks especial. So far I haven’t used the Horned Society in my campaign but the PCs are about to get embroiled in a HS plot in the Tangles. In my s I’ve finished) basically the HS have captured about 5 of the BKs are are trying to take over the rest but Iuz is opposing them, I envision a lot of PC involvement in this area and also intend for the PCs to support the Shadow Claw hobgoblins in the Fellreev full scale war in the forest it may distract the Hierarchs and give the SLs breathing space they need to build up their army – but
Here is some of the stuff I’m working on so you get an idea of what the Hierarchs are up to. The power struggles in the BKs could babbly herald the start of my version of the Greyhawk Wars.
Recent Events in the Bandit Kingdoms
In recent years the Hierarchs of the Horned Society have made inroads into the Bandit Kingdoms. Originally the Hierarchs were cone aid of Warfield, Wormhall, Kor and Freehold in their upcoming campaign against the Rovers of the Barrens. However after Tenhesse aid their brethren. This upset the unnamed Hierarch who ordered a retaliatory strike against the holds of Wormhall and Warfields. The following spring Horned Society troops engaged the gathered might of the bandits, who had united to reclaim the two lost holdsnidit army captured the Hold of Kor. A peace treaty was then signed between the two sides which recognised gains of the Horned Soci About the same time an important event took place in Molag. Hierarch Helvag, Overseer of Espionage and Subservice Activities was the assassin). Artimus quickly decided upon a change of tactics in the Societies dealings with the bandits: instead of takinit holds and have over the past few years swayed several of the rulers to their cause; other rulers who have been outspoken agains more sympathetic rulers chosen to replace the deceased. Today (circa 581-582) the Horned Society, or their puppets, rule six of
The Bandit Kingdoms and other Nations
Most of the Bandit Kings see the nearby states as potential targets and actively engage in raiding and looting against them. Tenhengage in raiding further a field. Both Furyondy and Nyrond have also been struck by the raids of ambitious bandits. None of these editions against the bandits.
In the past the chaotic and independent nature of the Bandit lords was their greatest strength. No one ruler was strong enough toe to conquer the region for the bandits would always united against an outside aggressor. However in recent years there has been a he bandit kingdoms. Today the chaotic nature of the area could prove to be their downfall?
Horned Society
Until recently the bandits enjoyed friendly relations with the Horned Society. Bandits from the western holds frequented the peascted between the rulers of the holds and the Horned Society. This friendship came to an end in 578 CY (see Recent Events above) anthe might of Iuz. In 578 CY the Horned Society and Iuz signed a non-aggression treaty so that each state could pursue their own ihave been actively trying to increase their influence in the Bandit Kingdoms. In recent years several of the western Bandit KingdoY) and Reyhu (581 CY); while four or five others are sympathetic to the Society. Each year the influence of the Society grows in t the growing influence of the Society, and the threat to their freedom that it represents. The Plar of Rookroost and his allies arIuz
The influence of Iuz is also growing in the Bandit Kingdoms. The alliance between Iuz and the Horned Society has stopped the plangdoms Iuz too has been sending agents into the region in an effort to check the expansion of his ally. His spies have found favour or may not be part of a plan on the behalf of Iuz to embroil the Horned Society into a war for domination in the Bandit Kingdoms-or Iuz to strike and get rid of his ally?
Tenh
The Duke of Tenh, Enyeh III has launched several campaigns against the eastern lds and in 578 CY ceded Grosskopf. However the f Artonsamay, was soon lost. The Duke however still has ambitions in the area and seeks to build a buffer state west of the ArtonsaShield Lands
The Shield Lands are often the target for bandit raids. The Shield Landers keep a close eye on their borders with the bandit kingbandits, capturing Redhand in the spring of 579 CY whilst the bandits were busy fighting the Horned Society in Kor. It was this inn their attention to this new threat. The following year the Shield Landers captured the hold of Reyhu forcing Tyrant Celdros to fits.
At present the Bandit Kingdoms are wracked with internal dissent and are facing renewed threats from many quarters: but especiallyand (financially) to their allies to hasten the demise of the Bandit Kingdoms.
Population
The people of the Bandit Kingdoms are of mixed origin. Over the centuries successive waves of invaders in the region have left thme Baklunish blood is also present. Because of the variety in ancestry the peoples of the region have almost any skin or hair col When most people hear the name the Bandit Kingdoms they assume that all the people of the region are bandits. This is far from thlly 40% if the regions population are serfs and slaves forced to work for the various war lords and rulers of the region- many of le business. Other inhabitants of the region work the land when they can and take up banditry to make ends meet ad to provide forLanguage
Common is the most commonly spoken language in the kingdoms but in the eastern regions Flan is almost as popular. Due to the numBaklundish, the Cold Tongue or any one of the many other languages of the Flanaess spoken here.
Demi-Humans
There are few demi-humans native to the Bandit Kingdoms. A few tribes of elves are thought to inhabit both Fellreev Forest and Ph and they also avoid contact with the bandits. There are some demi-human outlaws amongst the bandit armies, and they sometimes ris inhabitants.
Religion
A wide variety of evil deities are worshipped in the Bandit Kingdoms. There are many temples and shrines dedicated to the evil deh the ruler’s of the regions blessing.
Iuz: The worship of Iuz is strongest in Rookroost as it is here that many of his clerics are currently operating. A temple to the Hextor: Hextor has a large following amongst the bandits.
Nerull: Nerull’s influence is also on the rise, especially in areas controlled, or allied to, the Horned Society. Like the clergy Beltar: Another god popular with the bandits.
Erythnul: Erythnul also enjoys popularity in the Bandit Kingdoms.
Trade and commerce
The Bandit Kingdoms conduct little (legitimate) trade. Apart from silver deposits in Rift Canyon the area has few natural resources route, which skirts the ogre infested Bluff Hills and the notoriously dangerous Griff Mountains before ending in Vlekstaad, is l Society and then onwards to Dorakaa, while the other trail heads south to Riftcrag and then to Stoink.
The bandits much prefer raiding and plundering nearby states to conducting legitimate trade so many of the rulers rely on this ratcts with brigands, thieves guilds and desperadoes in most nearby lands. As well as allowing illegal goods to filter into the Bandipunitive raids against the holds.
Armed Forces
Most of the information in this section was taken from Dragon No. 56. Each of the bandit kings maintains a small army. The Horned Society is currently building up it’s forces in the holds they have cavarious rulers
Kingdom Ruler Cavalry Infantry Humanoids
Warfields Horned Society 300 500
Wormhall Horned Society 150 400 100 Gnolls
100 hobgoblins
Freehold Horned Society 350 800 1,000 hobgoblins
Kor Horned Society 400 600 500 hobgoblins
Tangles Horned Society 200 550 500 hobgoblins
Rift Plar Lintoff (T13) 150 350 200 Gnolls
50 Bugbears
10 Ogres
Artonsmay Duke Nebon Gellor (F 9) 250 250
Stoink Boss Dhaelhy (F 8/T 200 650
Dimre Szek Winvid (C 10) 300 500
Johrase King Seinon (F 11) 350 550
Midlands Graf Venholtee (C5/F7) 200 450
Greenkeep Lord Yanboli (he F5/M5/T5) 150 600
Rookroost Plar Teuod Fent (I9) 250 450
Fellands Avaerd, Lord Despot (F10) 300 850 100 Orcs
Grosskopf Baron Skiven (F11) - 300 50 Orcs
Factions within the Bandit Kingdoms
There are several factions operating within the Bandit Kingdoms, some of which will now be briefly touched upon. It must be rememHorned Society and Allies
Tangles, Freehold, Wormhold, Warfields and Kor. These five holds are now firmly under the control of the Horned Society and are coiron fist. It is rumoured that Gudrun is planning a campaign soon that may decide the fate of the Bandit Kingdoms once and for all The holds of Fellands and Johrase are rumoured to be in league, or at least sympathetic with the Horned Society. However both theying to gain their support.
Rookroost and Allies
Rookroost is the strongest supporter for Iuz in the Bandit Kingdoms. Iuz is secretly providing Plar Fent with much money which he lands, Greenkeep, Rookroost, Groskopf (the latter due to Rookroost’s aid in restoring Baron Skiven to his old following the recends will surely follow.
Southern Holds
Rift, Artonsamay, Stoink, Dimre
The rulers of these four holds have united against the threat from the Knights of the Holy Shielding. Traditionally the rulers otrying to recruit both these rulers in his coalition but there is long standing animosity between Fent and Plar Lintoff ruler ohey will send troops to aid Fent in the near future, unless they can be convinced that the Shield Lands plan no invasion in the ne
Knights of the Holy Shielding
In recent years the Knights of the Holy Shielding have invaded the two southern most holds, Kor and Reyhu. The success of both the Rift or Artonsamay (the latter being a combined operation in conjunction with troops from the County of Ursnst). Earl Holmer and t frontier so it is unlikely that such an offensive will be sanctioned in the near future.
Cities, Towns and villages
Rookroost
Rrookroost (population 17,310) is the largest city in the Bandit Kingdoms and is the capital of the hold of the same name. The h trade between Stonefist and the bandits. The taverns, inns, drug dens and brothels of Rookroost, although not quite as decadent oeps a sizeable militia.
Fent despises the Hierarchs of the Horned Society and it is he who is trying to organize an anti- Horned Society coalition amongst even more paranoid that he usually is.
Recently a temple dedicated to Iuz was opened in Rookroost and the Iuzite priests are said to be helping Fents troops in their ines guild known as the Shadow Masks).
Riftcrag
Riftcrag (population 5,600) lies on a spur overlooking the Rift Canyon. This fortified town is said to be virtually impregnable alls of the town fall away several thousand feet to the rift below, and the views offered from the walls of the town are said to be Riftcrag is ruled by Plar Lintoff, a gregarious former adventurer and thief. The hold is independent and although Lintoff opposesng inn Fent’s coliation.
Stoink
The town of Stoink (population 4,200) is the third largest settlement in the Bandit Kingdoms. The town, and hold of the same name, and some legitimate trade is conducted between Stoink and the nearby County of Urnst and Nyrond. Although some of this trade is i
Villages of the Bandit Kingdoms
Most villages have a population of 250-300. Almost all villages are protected by earthen ramparts and palisade. Many of the villagvilagers barely make a living off the land so some turn to banditry to support themselves. Others are peaceful men and women who om throughout the Flanaess who come here to build themselves their own little empire.
Most villagers have basic amenities – a tavern, a blacksmith, a cooper, miller, etc. and perhaps a temple or church (which is usualpoor and barter, or theft, is often the dominant form of trade.
The villagers of the Bandit Kingdoms tend to be clannish and unfriendly towards outsiders.
Places of Interest
Artonsamay River
The Artonsamay is one of the longest rivers in the Flanaess. For much of it’s length the river forms the northern and western borits and the Rovers of the Barrens but with the decline of the Rovers the bandits now claim all the forest. The Artonsamay is a widers of the river.
Bluff Hills
The Bluff Hills form the northern boundary of bandit lands. The hills are claimed by both Groskopf and Fellands but in truth neillgiants. There are also persistent rumours of the dwarven settlement in the heart of the hills but the bandits have never found th
Fellreev Forest
Much of Fellreev Forest is untamed wilderness. The forest is claimed by both the Horned Society and the Bandit Kingdoms but neithen of the wood has tightene and they are using the forest trails to infiltrate the bandit kingdoms. There are several communitieshe forest is claimed, and controlled by the Shadow Claws, an independent hobgoblin tribe. Society patrols seldom penetrate far int elves in living deep in the woods and the avoid all contact with hobgoblins, bandits and woodsmen.
Fields of the Dead (Warfields)
Most of the area claimed as sovereign territory by Warfields are more commonly known as the Fields of the Dead. These fields strette of several major battles. It is said that the bones of the dead lie scattered across the plains and that there are numerous bur keep located deep in the heart of the fields that is ruled by a lich. Several bands of adventurers have searched for this keep bu Although all the area is claimed by Warfields the only settlement in the area lie on the areas northern fringe and all are prote
Phostwood
Most of Phostwood is claimed by Tenh. The bandits however often use secret trails in the forest on their way to raid deep into Tenaiders.
Rift Canyon
Rift Canyon lies in the bandlands between the Shield Lands and the Bandit Kingdoms. The canyon is over 180 miles in length and 30 ms. Attempts by Shield Land troops to clear the canyon have always met with fierce resistance from the inhabitants and the troops h There are rumours of an ancient city, of unknown origin, located somewhere in the Rift. The city is known is by scholars as Ak- klundish stronghold, others say that the inhabitants were of Suel descent, while a others still claim that the inhabitants of the claimed came from an ancient cliff side ruin in a blind canyon near the rift. The adventurers said that they encountered undead in .
Tangles
The Tangles is claimed by the hold of the same name. The Tangles are rugged and dense forest. The underbrush is thick and impenet into the depths of the forest as it is home to a number of owlbears and these creatures most from venturing too far into theA few villages of hardy gnomes live in secluded glades in the southern stretches of the forest. The gnomes are shy and reclusive by humanoid attacks.
Zumker River
The Zumker River is a tributary of the Artonsamay and it forms the boundary between the Bandit Kingdoms and Tenh. There are no brch raids into Tenh.
Reply-To: The GREYtalk Discussion List GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
From: Craig Courtis craig@otome.inforyoma.or.jp
Subject: Re: [GREYTALK] Shield Lands & Hierarchs
To: GREYTALK@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
G’day everyone, especially Allan
Allan Wote:Sounds Great!!!!!!
I was just looking for a area to start my new game in.Reading your HS stuff has lit a few flames. I would really like any more info that your willing to send…….
I’m currently reviewing the Shield Lands and Horned Society based upon feed-back received from people on Greytalk- thanks especial. So far I haven’t used the Horned Society in my campaign but the PCs are about to get embroiled in a HS plot in the Tangles. In my s I’ve finished) basically the HS have captured about 5 of the BKs are are trying to take over the rest but Iuz is opposing them, I envision a lot of PC involvement in this area and also intend for the PCs to support the Shadow Claw hobgoblins in the Fellreev full scale war in the forest it may distract the Hierarchs and give the SLs breathing space they need to build up their army – but
Here is some of the stuff I’m working on so you get an idea of what the Hierarchs are up to. The power struggles in the BKs could babbly herald the start of my version of the Greyhawk Wars.
Recent Events in the Bandit Kingdoms
In recent years the Hierarchs of the Horned Society have made inroads into the Bandit Kingdoms. Originally the Hierarchs were cone aid of Warfield, Wormhall, Kor and Freehold in their upcoming campaign against the Rovers of the Barrens. However after Tenhesse aid their brethren. This upset the unnamed Hierarch who ordered a retaliatory strike against the holds of Wormhall and Warfields. The following spring Horned Society troops engaged the gathered might of the bandits, who had united to reclaim the two lost holdsnidit army captured the Hold of Kor. A peace treaty was then signed between the two sides which recognised gains of the Horned Soci About the same time an important event took place in Molag. Hierarch Helvag, Overseer of Espionage and Subservice Activities was the assassin). Artimus quickly decided upon a change of tactics in the Societies dealings with the bandits: instead of takinit holds and have over the past few years swayed several of the rulers to their cause; other rulers who have been outspoken agains more sympathetic rulers chosen to replace the deceased. Today (circa 581-582) the Horned Society, or their puppets, rule six of
The Bandit Kingdoms and other Nations
Most of the Bandit Kings see the nearby states as potential targets and actively engage in raiding and looting against them. Tenhengage in raiding further a field. Both Furyondy and Nyrond have also been struck by the raids of ambitious bandits. None of these editions against the bandits.
In the past the chaotic and independent nature of the Bandit lords was their greatest strength. No one ruler was strong enough toe to conquer the region for the bandits would always united against an outside aggressor. However in recent years there has been a he bandit kingdoms. Today the chaotic nature of the area could prove to be their downfall?
Horned Society
Until recently the bandits enjoyed friendly relations with the Horned Society. Bandits from the western holds frequented the peascted between the rulers of the holds and the Horned Society. This friendship came to an end in 578 CY (see Recent Events above) anthe might of Iuz. In 578 CY the Horned Society and Iuz signed a non-aggression treaty so that each state could pursue their own ihave been actively trying to increase their influence in the Bandit Kingdoms. In recent years several of the western Bandit KingdoY) and Reyhu (581 CY); while four or five others are sympathetic to the Society. Each year the influence of the Society grows in t the growing influence of the Society, and the threat to their freedom that it represents. The Plar of Rookroost and his allies arIuz
The influence of Iuz is also growing in the Bandit Kingdoms. The alliance between Iuz and the Horned Society has stopped the plangdoms Iuz too has been sending agents into the region in an effort to check the expansion of his ally. His spies have found favour or may not be part of a plan on the behalf of Iuz to embroil the Horned Society into a war for domination in the Bandit Kingdoms-or Iuz to strike and get rid of his ally?
Tenh
The Duke of Tenh, Enyeh III has launched several campaigns against the eastern lds and in 578 CY ceded Grosskopf. However the f Artonsamay, was soon lost. The Duke however still has ambitions in the area and seeks to build a buffer state west of the ArtonsaShield Lands
The Shield Lands are often the target for bandit raids. The Shield Landers keep a close eye on their borders with the bandit kingbandits, capturing Redhand in the spring of 579 CY whilst the bandits were busy fighting the Horned Society in Kor. It was this inn their attention to this new threat. The following year the Shield Landers captured the hold of Reyhu forcing Tyrant Celdros to fits.
At present the Bandit Kingdoms are wracked with internal dissent and are facing renewed threats from many quarters: but especiallyand (financially) to their allies to hasten the demise of the Bandit Kingdoms.
Population
The people of the Bandit Kingdoms are of mixed origin. Over the centuries successive waves of invaders in the region have left thme Baklunish blood is also present. Because of the variety in ancestry the peoples of the region have almost any skin or hair col When most people hear the name the Bandit Kingdoms they assume that all the people of the region are bandits. This is far from thlly 40% if the regions population are serfs and slaves forced to work for the various war lords and rulers of the region- many of le business. Other inhabitants of the region work the land when they can and take up banditry to make ends meet ad to provide forLanguage
Common is the most commonly spoken language in the kingdoms but in the eastern regions Flan is almost as popular. Due to the numBaklundish, the Cold Tongue or any one of the many other languages of the Flanaess spoken here.
Demi-Humans
There are few demi-humans native to the Bandit Kingdoms. A few tribes of elves are thought to inhabit both Fellreev Forest and Ph and they also avoid contact with the bandits. There are some demi-human outlaws amongst the bandit armies, and they sometimes ris inhabitants.
Religion
A wide variety of evil deities are worshipped in the Bandit Kingdoms. There are many temples and shrines dedicated to the evil deh the ruler’s of the regions blessing.
Iuz: The worship of Iuz is strongest in Rookroost as it is here that many of his clerics are currently operating. A temple to the Hextor: Hextor has a large following amongst the bandits.
Nerull: Nerull’s influence is also on the rise, especially in areas controlled, or allied to, the Horned Society. Like the clergy Beltar: Another god popular with the bandits.
Erythnul: Erythnul also enjoys popularity in the Bandit Kingdoms.
Trade and commerce
The Bandit Kingdoms conduct little (legitimate) trade. Apart from silver deposits in Rift Canyon the area has few natural resources route, which skirts the ogre infested Bluff Hills and the notoriously dangerous Griff Mountains before ending in Vlekstaad, is l Society and then onwards to Dorakaa, while the other trail heads south to Riftcrag and then to Stoink.
The bandits much prefer raiding and plundering nearby states to conducting legitimate trade so many of the rulers rely on this ratcts with brigands, thieves guilds and desperadoes in most nearby lands. As well as allowing illegal goods to filter into the Bandipunitive raids against the holds.
Armed Forces
Most of the information in this section was taken from Dragon No. 56. Each of the bandit kings maintains a small army. The Horned Society is currently building up it’s forces in the holds they have cavarious rulers
Kingdom Ruler Cavalry Infantry Humanoids
Warfields Horned Society 300 500
Wormhall Horned Society 150 400 100 Gnolls
100 hobgoblins
Freehold Horned Society 350 800 1,000 hobgoblins
Kor Horned Society 400 600 500 hobgoblins
Tangles Horned Society 200 550 500 hobgoblins
Rift Plar Lintoff (T13) 150 350 200 Gnolls
50 Bugbears
10 Ogres
Artonsmay Duke Nebon Gellor (F 9) 250 250
Stoink Boss Dhaelhy (F 8/T 200 650
Dimre Szek Winvid (C 10) 300 500
Johrase King Seinon (F 11) 350 550
Midlands Graf Venholtee (C5/F7) 200 450
Greenkeep Lord Yanboli (he F5/M5/T5) 150 600
Rookroost Plar Teuod Fent (I9) 250 450
Fellands Avaerd, Lord Despot (F10) 300 850 100 Orcs
Grosskopf Baron Skiven (F11) - 300 50 Orcs
Factions within the Bandit Kingdoms
There are several factions operating within the Bandit Kingdoms, some of which will now be briefly touched upon. It must be rememHorned Society and Allies
Tangles, Freehold, Wormhold, Warfields and Kor. These five holds are now firmly under the control of the Horned Society and are coiron fist. It is rumoured that Gudrun is planning a campaign soon that may decide the fate of the Bandit Kingdoms once and for all The holds of Fellands and Johrase are rumoured to be in league, or at least sympathetic with the Horned Society. However both theying to gain their support.
Rookroost and Allies
Rookroost is the strongest supporter for Iuz in the Bandit Kingdoms. Iuz is secretly providing Plar Fent with much money which he lands, Greenkeep, Rookroost, Groskopf (the latter due to Rookroost’s aid in restoring Baron Skiven to his old following the recends will surely follow.
Southern Holds
Rift, Artonsamay, Stoink, Dimre
The rulers of these four holds have united against the threat from the Knights of the Holy Shielding. Traditionally the rulers otrying to recruit both these rulers in his coalition but there is long standing animosity between Fent and Plar Lintoff ruler ohey will send troops to aid Fent in the near future, unless they can be convinced that the Shield Lands plan no invasion in the ne
Knights of the Holy Shielding
In recent years the Knights of the Holy Shielding have invaded the two southern most holds, Kor and Reyhu. The success of both the Rift or Artonsamay (the latter being a combined operation in conjunction with troops from the County of Ursnst). Earl Holmer and t frontier so it is unlikely that such an offensive will be sanctioned in the near future.
Cities, Towns and villages
Rookroost
Rrookroost (population 17,310) is the largest city in the Bandit Kingdoms and is the capital of the hold of the same name. The h trade between Stonefist and the bandits. The taverns, inns, drug dens and brothels of Rookroost, although not quite as decadent oeps a sizeable militia.
Fent despises the Hierarchs of the Horned Society and it is he who is trying to organize an anti- Horned Society coalition amongst even more paranoid that he usually is.
Recently a temple dedicated to Iuz was opened in Rookroost and the Iuzite priests are said to be helping Fents troops in their ines guild known as the Shadow Masks).
Riftcrag
Riftcrag (population 5,600) lies on a spur overlooking the Rift Canyon. This fortified town is said to be virtually impregnable alls of the town fall away several thousand feet to the rift below, and the views offered from the walls of the town are said to be Riftcrag is ruled by Plar Lintoff, a gregarious former adventurer and thief. The hold is independent and although Lintoff opposesng inn Fent’s coliation.
Stoink
The town of Stoink (population 4,200) is the third largest settlement in the Bandit Kingdoms. The town, and hold of the same name, and some legitimate trade is conducted between Stoink and the nearby County of Urnst and Nyrond. Although some of this trade is i
Villages of the Bandit Kingdoms
Most villages have a population of 250-300. Almost all villages are protected by earthen ramparts and palisade. Many of the villagvilagers barely make a living off the land so some turn to banditry to support themselves. Others are peaceful men and women who om throughout the Flanaess who come here to build themselves their own little empire.
Most villagers have basic amenities – a tavern, a blacksmith, a cooper, miller, etc. and perhaps a temple or church (which is usualpoor and barter, or theft, is often the dominant form of trade.
The villagers of the Bandit Kingdoms tend to be clannish and unfriendly towards outsiders.
Places of Interest
Artonsamay River
The Artonsamay is one of the longest rivers in the Flanaess. For much of it’s length the river forms the northern and western borits and the Rovers of the Barrens but with the decline of the Rovers the bandits now claim all the forest. The Artonsamay is a widers of the river.
Bluff Hills
The Bluff Hills form the northern boundary of bandit lands. The hills are claimed by both Groskopf and Fellands but in truth neillgiants. There are also persistent rumours of the dwarven settlement in the heart of the hills but the bandits have never found th
Fellreev Forest
Much of Fellreev Forest is untamed wilderness. The forest is claimed by both the Horned Society and the Bandit Kingdoms but neithen of the wood has tightene and they are using the forest trails to infiltrate the bandit kingdoms. There are several communitieshe forest is claimed, and controlled by the Shadow Claws, an independent hobgoblin tribe. Society patrols seldom penetrate far int elves in living deep in the woods and the avoid all contact with hobgoblins, bandits and woodsmen.
Fields of the Dead (Warfields)
Most of the area claimed as sovereign territory by Warfields are more commonly known as the Fields of the Dead. These fields strette of several major battles. It is said that the bones of the dead lie scattered across the plains and that there are numerous bur keep located deep in the heart of the fields that is ruled by a lich. Several bands of adventurers have searched for this keep bu Although all the area is claimed by Warfields the only settlement in the area lie on the areas northern fringe and all are prote
Phostwood
Most of Phostwood is claimed by Tenh. The bandits however often use secret trails in the forest on their way to raid deep into Tenaiders.
Rift Canyon
Rift Canyon lies in the bandlands between the Shield Lands and the Bandit Kingdoms. The canyon is over 180 miles in length and 30 ms. Attempts by Shield Land troops to clear the canyon have always met with fierce resistance from the inhabitants and the troops h There are rumours of an ancient city, of unknown origin, located somewhere in the Rift. The city is known is by scholars as Ak- klundish stronghold, others say that the inhabitants were of Suel descent, while a others still claim that the inhabitants of the claimed came from an ancient cliff side ruin in a blind canyon near the rift. The adventurers said that they encountered undead in .
Tangles
The Tangles is claimed by the hold of the same name. The Tangles are rugged and dense forest. The underbrush is thick and impenet into the depths of the forest as it is home to a number of owlbears and these creatures most from venturing too far into theA few villages of hardy gnomes live in secluded glades in the southern stretches of the forest. The gnomes are shy and reclusive by humanoid attacks.
Zumker River
The Zumker River is a tributary of the Artonsamay and it forms the boundary between the Bandit Kingdoms and Tenh. There are no brch raids into Tenh.
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