Primer
This content is originally from the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide.
Important Names
A handful of important names are defined below:
Oerth (pronounced orth or oyth) is the world of Greyhawk. It has four continents, four oceans, and a plethora of islands and seas.
Oerik (pronounced or-ick or oy-rick) is one of Oerth’s continents.
Eastern Oerik, the vast region explored in this chapter, is home to many powerful nations and some of the D&D game’s most famous dungeons and adventurers.
The Flanaess (pronounced flah-nay-ess or flay-nayz) is another name for Eastern Oerik and means “land of the Flan.” The region’s first human settlers and their descendants are known as the Flan.
Greyhawk is an independent city in Eastern Oerik that attracts large numbers of adventurers. Greyhawk doubles as the name of the campaign setting.
Greyhawk’s Premise
The year is 576 CY (Common Year). Evil is ascendant across the lands of Eastern Oerik. If something isn’t done to curtail the growing threat, Eastern Oerik will fall to tyrants, evil dragons, and monstrous hordes. Heroes are needed to bring hope to the people of the Flanaess. Even if the heroes die trying, the legends of their exploits will live on!
Adventuring parties from the Free City of Greyhawk and other settlements trek across the vast wilderness of Eastern Oerik, slaying monsters and exploring dungeons to find magic items the adventurers can use to defend their homeland and take the fight to their enemies.
Greyhawk Conflicts
The three major conflicts and the goals of the villainous groups are described below.
Chromatic Dragons
Evil chromatic dragons dwell in the wilds of Eastern Oerik. For years, adventurers have kept these evil dragons at bay, sometimes with the help of benevolent metallic dragons. Lately, the chromatic dragons have grown restless, their dreams invaded by the whispers of Tiamat, who is trapped in the Nine Hells. The five-headed queen of dragons believes her escape is nigh, and from the depths of her prison, she commands her kin to go forth and claim the world of Oerth for themselves. Only the greatest among them will live to become her consorts.
Elemental Evil
“Elemental Evil” is the name given to a host of destructive, extraplanar entities—demon lords, evil elemental princes, and elder gods—who ravaged the world of Oerth long ago. Many of these entities are now trapped in dungeons, with cults and monsters seeking to free and serve them. Adventurers are the only ones equipped to keep these malign entities from escaping their subterranean prisons.
Iuz the Evil
North of the Free City of Greyhawk, a demigod named Iuz has reclaimed the vast tract of land he lost after being imprisoned under Castle Greyhawk by the archmage Zagig Yragerne. The newly freed Iuz aims to lay waste to the kingdoms, steadings, temples, and outposts of his rivals. To that end, Iuz’s spies are searching for powerful Artifacts they can use to ensure victory, while evil creatures spawn in Iuz’s homeland and threaten neighboring realms. Adventurers can thwart Iuz by keeping evil Artifacts out of his hands and defeating the vile creatures that serve him.
The Greyhawk Setting
The planet Oerth is at the very center of a Wildspace system called Greyspace. Oerth has two moons: Luna (a great white moon, also called the Mistress) and Celene (a smaller blue moon, also called the Handmaiden). Greyspace’s sun orbits Oerth, rather than the other way around.
The sun takes 360 days to travel once around Oerth. Luna waxes and wanes in fixed cycles of 28 days each, upon which the months are based, while Celene follows a path that has full moons only four times each year, coinciding with four lunar festivals.
Months and Festivals
The standard year is 360 days long and consists of twelve twenty-eight-day months (each month divided into four seven-day weeks) and four six-day lunar festivals (Needfest, Growfest, Richfest, and Brewfest). The midwinter festival of Needfest is considered the start of the year. The diagram here shows the months and festivals that make up a year.
Factions and Organizations
In addition to the many political entities that dot the lands of the Flanaess and the temples of its many gods, several organizations operate across national borders in pursuit of their goals. Some of these organizations could serve as patrons or allies of adventurers in a Greyhawk campaign, while others might appear as villains. Some might even accept adventurers as members.
Circle of Eight
Some of the greatest spellcasters of the world of Greyhawk form the Circle of Eight, a group dedicated to preserving balance in the world. The group’s general aim is to prevent any single country, faction, or other organized group from becoming too powerful and overwhelming others. The membership of the Circle of Eight is secret but includes Mordenkainen (the strategist behind the group), Bigby, Jallarzi Sallavarian, Otiluke, and Otto.
Knights of the Watch
The order of the Knights of the Watch originated as a military force protecting the lands of Bissel, Gran March, Geoff, and Keoland from hostile neighbors to the north and west (particularly Ket and the Ulakandar). Though Watchers maintain strongholds along the border with Ket, most of their energy is spent defending against giants and dragons in the western mountains. The Watchers are sworn to an ascetic and disciplined code, and they train rigorously to the exclusion of personal property or other attachments.
Order of the Hart
The knights of the Order of the Hart were organized to preserve the freedom of the states of Furyondy, Veluna, and Highfolk against the threats of bandits and hostile neighbors. These nations have little centralized authority or military power, so the knights have historically served as a first line of defense against these varied threats. In recent years, they have mobilized against the rising threats of Iuz and Elemental Evil, forcing them to broaden the scope of their operations into neighboring realms where these evils are active.
Scarlet Order
The Scarlet Order is a monastic order of Suloise militarists whose spies and assassins have infiltrated many courts and castles throughout the Flanaess, ready to strike. The leader of the order is a seemingly immortal being known as the Father of Obedience, Korenth Zan. He is rumored to be a Suloise monk who walked the lands of Oerik long before the Rain of Colorless Fire destroyed the Suloise Empire. Others claim Korenth is a red dragon—a former consort of Tiamat who became trapped in human form. Whatever the true story, the Father of Obedience is revered by all who pledge their lives to the Scarlet Order. His goals—and, by extension, the order’s goals—are shrouded in mystery and could one day tilt the balance of power across the whole of Eastern Oerik.
Magic in Greyhawk
In the world of Greyhawk, as in most D&D worlds, magic is widespread but still wondrous and sometimes frightening. People everywhere know about magic, and most people see evidence of it at some point in their lives. Magic permeates the cosmos and moves through the ancient possessions of legendary heroes, the mysterious ruins of fallen empires, those touched by the gods, creatures born with supernatural power, and individuals who study the secrets of the multiverse. Histories and fireside tales are filled with the exploits of those who wield magic.
What normal folk know of magic depends on where they live and whether they know people who practice magic. Citizens of an isolated hamlet might not have seen true magic used for generations except the strange powers of the old hermit living in the nearby woods, which they regard with suspicion and mention only in whispers.
By contrast, magic is common enough in the Free City of Greyhawk that the Guild of Wizardry teaches magic and sells spellcasting services. Extensive codes of law govern the use and abuse of magic. The law treats magical coercion as a major crime, and punishes the public use of magic in situations that could harm people or property.
Mysteries of Greyhawk
Eastern Oerik is a realm of many mysteries, several of which are described below.
Bat-Folk of Hepmonaland. Separated from Eastern Oerik by the Tilva Strait, Hepmonaland is a relatively small continent that few people of the Flanaess known much about. Those who have explored the north spur of Hepmonaland report dense rainforests, severe tropical storms, steamy wetlands, and a fetid swamp (called the Pelisso Swamp). Adventurers are sometimes lured into Hepmonaland’s rainforests by ancient ruins, including tombs and shrines left behind by an ancient civilization of bat-like humanoids whose history is largely forgotten.
Devastating Magic. Almost a thousand years ago, the war between the Baklunish and Suloise empires came to a horrific end. The Baklunish people who lived in what is now the Dry Steppes called down a rain of colorless fire that burned all living things, ignited the landscape, and reduced the Suloise lands to ashes, creating the Sea of Dust. In retaliation, Suloise survivors invoked their own magic to devastate the Baklunish lands. What magic was responsible for the Rain of Colorless Fire and the Invoked Devastation? What would happen if such magic fell into the wrong hands today?
A central portion of the Dry Steppes, where the seat of the Baklunish empire stood, is said to remain pleasant and rich, roamed by Baklunish nomads. The former Suloise capital, by contrast, in the heart of the Sea of Dust, is beset by howling winds, terrible dust storms, and rains of volcanic ash and cinders from the nearby Hellfurnaces.
Land of Black Ice. Those who have ventured far north of the Burneal Forest tell of a strange phenomenon. Instead of normal stark-white snow and translucent blue-white ice, there is an endless landscape of deep-blue ice partially covered in snow. Strange arctic monsters prowl these fields of dark ice. Stranger still, a verdant land is rumored to exist beyond the ice, where the sun never sets.
Riches of the Bright Desert. The Bright Desert, walled off from the rest of the Flanaess by the monster-infested hills of the Abbor-Alz and the aptly named Gnatmarsh, is supposedly filled with copper, silver, gold, and precious stones. The harsh climate, wildly varying temperatures, and hostile inhabitants discourage exploration. Expeditions have attempted to penetrate the Bright Desert and extract its riches, but none have ever returned.
Riftcanyon. Between the Bandit Kingdoms and the Shield Lands stretches a deep canyon, ten miles wide at the ends, thirty miles wide at its midsection, and 180 miles long. The Riftcanyon, which is more than a mile deep, is home to at least one blue dragon and has tunnels near its base that lead to the Underdark.
White Plume Mountain. Situated just south of the Riftcanyon, the ever-smoking White Plume Mountain has always been a subject of superstitious awe to the neighboring villagers. People still travel many miles to gaze upon this natural wonder, though few dare to approach it closely, as it is reputed to be the haunt of demons and devils. The occasional disappearance of those who stray too close to the Plume reinforces this belief.
Gods of Greyhawk
The Gods of Greyhawk table shows many of the most popular deities worshiped in the Flanaess. Greater gods and demigods are marked as such; the others are lesser gods. Many other deities and demigods are also worshiped in the Flanaess, beyond those shown on the table. Some deities of Greyhawk have also transcended their origin on this world to impact the broader multiverse.
The greater gods of Greyhawk rarely get directly involved with happenings on Oerth. Lesser gods are more likely to manifest in some form on the Material Plane and interact with their worshipers. Cuthbert, for example, is well known for appearing in mortal guise, appearing as a dirt-covered farmer, a wanderer robed in brown and green, or an elderly tinker. And of the many quasi-deities that appear on Oerth, most prominent among them is Iuz, a demigod who rules his own nation in the Flanaess.
Gods of Greyhawk
| Name and Epithet | Home Plane | Typical Worshipers | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beory, Heart of Oerth* | Material Plane | Farmers, herders | Green disk |
| Berei of the Hearth | Bytopia | Families, farmers | Sheaf of wheat stalks |
| Boccob the Uncaring, Archmage of the Gods* | Outlands | Sages, spellcasters, seers | Eye within a pentagram |
| Celestian, the Far Wanderer | Astral Plane | Wanderers, astronomers | Arc of seven stars inside a circle |
| Cuthbert of the Cudgel | Arcadia | Practical, honest folk | Circle at the center of a starburst of lines |
| Ehlonna of the Forests | Beastlands | Hunters, foragers | Unicorn horn |
| Erythnul, the Many | Pandemonium | Raiders, bandits, berserkers | Blood drop |
| Fharlanghn, the Dweller on the Horizon | Outlands | Travelers | Circle crossed by a curved horizon line |
| Heironeous the Invincible | Mount Celestia | Knights, soldiers | Lightning bolt |
| Hextor, Scourge of Battle | Acheron | Soldiers, tyrants | Six down-pointing arrows in a fan |
| Incabulos, the Black Rider* | Hades | Necromancers, those who seek to ward off illness | Reptilian eye within a horizontal diamond |
| Istus, Weaver of Our Fate* | Mechanus | Seers, advisers | Spindle with three strands |
| Iuz the Evil† | Material Plane | His subjects and allies | Grinning human skull |
| Kord, the Brawler | Ysgard | Athletes, berserkers | Spears and maces radiating from a point |
| Nerull, the Reaper* | Carceri | Murderers, necromancers | Skull with a scythe |
| Obad-Hai, the Shalm | Outlands | Hunters, gatherers, hermits | Oak leaf and acorn |
| Olidammara, the Laughing Rogue | Ysgard | Revelers, gamblers, pranksters | Laughing mask |
| Pelor, the Radiant Sun* | Elysium | Healers, the compassionate | Sun |
| Pholtus of the Blinding Light | Arcadia | Judges, lawyers, arbiters | Silver sun partially eclipsed by a crescent moon |
| Ralishaz, the Unlooked For | Limbo | Gamblers | Three bone fate-casting sticks |
| Rao, the Mediator* | Mount Celestia | Mediators, sages, scientists | White heart |
| Syrul Oathbreaker | Gehenna | Liars, charlatans, traitors | Forked tongue |
| Tharizdun, the Eater of Worlds | Imprisoned in a demiplane | Nihilistic cultists | Spiral rune |
| Trithereon, the Summoner | Arborea | Rebels, individualists | Triskelion |
| Ulaa, the Bejeweled | Arcadia | Miners, jewelers, quarriers | Ruby-hearted mountain |
| Vecna, the Whispered One | Unknown | Necromancers, undead, those who keep or unearth secrets | An eye in the palm of a left hand |
| Wee Jas, the Witch | Acheron | Spellcasters, advisers | Red skull in front of fireball |
| *Greater god | |||
| †Demigod |
Free City of Greyhawk
Would-be heroes are drawn to the Free City of Greyhawk by promises of adventure. The city is rife with opportunities for peril and plunder.
The city stands on the eastern banks of the Selintan River. The river flows south from the Nyr Dyv (the Lake of Unknown Depths) down to Woolly Bay and remains easily navigable for its entire length.
Once a frontier hub of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy, Greyhawk proclaimed itself free and independent seventy-eight years ago, claiming the Selintan basin as its territory. Adventurers drawn to the nearby ruins of Castle Greyhawk have provided a steady influx of cash to the city in the years since.
Nearby Attractions
North of the city are the Cairn Hills, which are known to have tombs and dungeons hidden among them. Nearby are a forest, a swamp, and a desert. The monsters that haunt these areas tend to be weak—perfect for testing the mettle of low-level adventurers.
Port in the Storm
The city provides a place to rest, heal, acquire information, and procure magic items. Adventurers looking to visit distant lands can book passage on ships docked at the wharf.
Trade Hub
Adventurers can buy gear and sell their hard-won loot in the city’s shops and markets.
City Government
The Free City of Greyhawk is ruled by a council called the Directing Oligarchy, made up of sixteen coequal rulers. This council elects its chief officer, the lord mayor—a position currently held by a human Spy Master (Lawful Neutral) named [[Nerof Gasgol]]. The other directors include the captain-general and constable of the City Watch, several guild masters, priests of Boccob and Rao, the inspector of taxes, and a few influential magic-users with ties to politically active secret societies. Several of these directors represent criminal or unsavory interests, including Nerof Gasgol himself, who achieved his position and wealth as the owner of a notorious gambling den.
City Watch
The City Watch is a standing garrison of some eight hundred Guards and Veteran Warriors. Bolstering these defenders are Mages from the city’s Guild of Wizardry, as well as Priests from local temples.
The captain-general and constable of the City Watch are stationed at the Grand Citadel.
City Walls
A 30-foot-high stone wall winds like a snake around the city. Two other walls, identical in height to the outer wall, separate the city into its three great sections. Access to the wall tops can be gained via lifts in each gatehouse. In addition, along the inside base of the outer wall are secret compartments at 300-foot intervals, each one containing a 30-foot-tall wooden ladder. All members of the City Watch know the locations of these secret ladders, which, in an emergency, can be pulled out and used by city defenders to quickly reach the parapets.
The walls are patrolled regularly. During daytime, the typical patrol is one sentry (a Guard) placed every 300 feet along the top of the wall. At night, the guard patrol is quadrupled, with two sentries posted together every 150 feet along the wall. Also at night, torches light the wall top at 150-foot intervals between the guards so each sentry station is 75 feet from a torch in each direction.
City Gates
Each city gate consists of a pair of iron-reinforced wooden doors that can be barred from the inside. These heavy doors are backed by a massive portcullis of iron bars. A very small child might be able to squeeze between the bars, but not a youth or even an adult halfling. The city’s portcullises are usually left open even when the gates are closed.
Each gate is contained within a small gatehouse flanked by a pair of towers. The tower tops and connecting blockhouse are equipped with arrow slits and holes for pouring boiling oil straight down onto invaders. Each gatehouse tower connects to the city through a door in its base and to the wall top by a door in its side. The towers contain three platforms, beginning at the top of the wall and extending upward. Each of these can shelter and provide a firing platform for up to forty archers.
Three of the city’s gates typically remain open throughout the day and night: the Highway Gate (the grand entrance to the city), the Cargo Gate (used primarily by traders and merchants), and the Garden Gate (one of the city’s two inner gates). The remaining gates are closed from dusk until dawn, and a visitor must produce a written message from the lord mayor of Greyhawk, the captain-general of the City Watch, or a head of state to be allowed through. In the latter case, the guards ensure the traveler is harmless before opening the gates.
Those passing through open gates aren’t asked to explain their business, nor are they detained or turned back unless they are recognized as known fugitives. Wagons and carts might get searched if they trigger the guards’ suspicions, but most vehicles are waved through without inspection. The guards keep a daily roster of who and what pass through their gates.
Crime
The Free City of Greyhawk is home to many thieves, vandals, charlatans, and hooligans. Crimes are divided into three categories.
Petty Crime. Public unarmed brawling, pickpocketing, vandalism, and other crimes that cause up to 50 GP in property damage are petty crimes. The perpetrator pays a fine of 2d10 GP or works to provide restitution.
Minor Crime. The category of minor crimes includes armed assault (defined as any nonfatal attack made with a weapon or damaging spell) and property crimes that cause between 50 and 250 GP in damages. The perpetrator must pay a fine of at least 100 GP and is sentenced to 1d6 years in prison.
Major Crime. Crimes more severe than those described above—including murder, bribery or impersonation of a city official, and magical coercion—are major crimes. The criminal faces 2d10 years of imprisonment, the death penalty, or permanent exile. A city magistrate decides which punishment is appropriate.
Religion
The city has temples and shrines dedicated to various gods. Religious practices that are certifiably evil aren’t tolerated, however. When an evil sect is discovered in the city, its wealth is confiscated, its leaders are put to death, and all other members are banished from the city for life.
See the “Gods of Greyhawk” table for many deities worshiped by the inhabitants of the Free City.
City Neighborhoods
The Free City of Greyhawk is split into three main sections by two internal walls running west to east. The northern section is home to the High Quarter and the Garden Quarter, where the wealthiest folk of the city reside. The central section is home to the River Quarter, Clerkburg, the Artisans’ Quarter, and the Foreign Quarter. The southern portion, known as the Old City, includes the poorer and rowdier neighborhoods of the Slum Quarter and the Thieves’ Quarter.
Brief descriptions of the city’s neighborhoods are presented below:
Artisans’ Quarter. The Artisans’ Quarter is built around a large marketplace. The finest artisans live and work here, and the city’s trade guilds are headquartered here.
Clerkburg. Clerkburg is the university district of Greyhawk, with dozens of schools and colleges and the businesses that support them. Temples line the appropriately named Street of Temples in the southeast corner of the district.
Foreign Quarter. The Foreign Quarter is among the most multicultural districts of the city, and it boasts fine apartments and restaurants.
Garden Quarter. The Garden Quarter is an extravagant neighborhood similar to the High Quarter, but the mansions aren’t quite as ornate, the estates aren’t as large, and it’s not as gaudy.
High Quarter. Palaces, temples, mansions, and gardens fill the posh High Quarter. Extravagant architecture and wide-open spaces define this quarter.
River Quarter. The River Quarter encompasses taverns and entertainment venues, as well as the wharves along the Selintan River outside the city wall. Because it’s a hub of trade, it’s the most diverse, multicultural part of the city.
Slum Quarter. The Slum Quarter is the poorest, most desperate region within Greyhawk’s walls, full of crime-ridden apartments.
Thieves’ Quarter. The buildings of the Thieves’ Quarter are slightly less run down than their Slum Quarter equivalents, and its people are marginally better off.
City Locations
The locations detailed here can serve as a good starting point for your campaign. Use them as examples when fleshing out new locations for your game.
Black Dragon Inn
This three-story, slightly run-down inn is situated in the heart of the city. A sign carved to resemble the grinning visage of a black dragon hangs over the front door. A stable is located behind the inn.
The Black Dragon Inn in Clerkburg has good food and affordable rooms. The inn’s stable can hold up to a dozen steeds.
The inn’s proprietor is Miklos Dare, a human Veteran Warrior (Chaotic Good) who loves to recount his heroic exploits in the Battle of Emridy Meadows seven years ago, when warriors from across the Central Flanaess united to drive the forces of wickedness from the Temple of Elemental Evil (see “Central Flanaess” in this chapter). A red-bearded bear of a man with a prosthetic leg, Miklos is affable and proud. His friendly rivalry with Olaf and Sivan, the proprietors of the Silver Dragon Inn just up the street, is the talk of the city. Olaf and Sivan recently hired a mage to make Miklos’s black dragon sign drool acid, much to the chagrin of visitors entering and leaving the Black Dragon. Miklos is itching to pull a similar prank of his own.
Character Backgrounds. An adventurer with the Soldier background might have a tie to Miklos, perhaps having fought alongside him at the Battle of Emridy Meadows. A character with the Wayfarer background might know Miklos as a generous man who gives away food and sometimes even lodging to people in need.
Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might visit the Black Dragon Inn for one of the following reasons:
Eavesdropper’s Paradise. Many clandestine meetings occur at the Black Dragon. Adventurers eavesdropping on private conversations might overhear tantalizing rumors or uncover valuable information.
Information Source. If the adventurers let Miklos tell stories of his past exploits or agree to help him play a prank on his rivals, he can steer them toward new adventure opportunities. He’s also quite familiar with the nature of Elemental Evil.
Place to Stay. The Black Dragon is close to the city’s central marketplace. A traveler can sleep in a common room for 2 SP per night or secure a private room for 5 SP per night. A luxury suite costs 2 GP per night.
Grand Citadel
A many-towered fortress looms above all quarters of the city from its position atop a low rise. Its outer walls, darkened by soot and smoke, could use a good scrubbing.
The grand edifice at the northern end of the High Quarter, simply called “the Citadel” by the city’s inhabitants, contains barracks for the City Watch, the offices of the captain-general, the city’s treasury, and a large store of armaments for the emergency citizen militia. The Citadel also contains a prison where the city’s most hardened criminals are incarcerated.
The captain-general of the City Watch is Sental Nurev, a tall, human Veteran Warrior (Neutral Good) with thinning blond hair and a mustache. Sental is usually incorruptible, but he is under great stress. The rulers of Stoink, a fortified town in the Bandit Kingdoms, have captured Sental’s brother Sarek and are forcing the captain-general to provide information about Greyhawk’s defenses and local politicians. Sental gives this information to a human Spy (Chaotic Evil) who stays at the Black Dragon Inn under the false name Skanda Drond. Sental is unaware that the bandit lords of Stoink are pawns of Iuz, whose dreams of conquest extend to the Free City of Greyhawk and far beyond.
The city’s constable—who serves as second-in-command to the captain-general, manager to the members of the watch, and a member of the Directing Oligarchy—is a compassionate Priest of Pelor named Derider Fanshen (Neutral Good). Her kindness and talent for healing make her well loved among the watch, and as a former adventurer, she is sympathetic to adventurers’ needs. She’s unaware of Sental’s compromised position.
Character Backgrounds. Adventurers with the Criminal or Guard background might have a connection to the Grand Citadel involving a past run-in with the law or past service on the watch.
Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might be drawn to the Grand Citadel for one of the following reasons:
Appointment. The adventurers have an appointment to speak with Sental Nurev, perhaps because they need help freeing a companion who was arrested for a crime or because they wish to report a threat to the city.
Break-In or Breakout. The adventurers are hired to break into the Citadel’s treasury vault or break someone out of the Citadel’s prison.
Imprisonment. The adventurers are imprisoned in the Citadel for some heinous crime.
Great Library
The front of this building is a grand sweep of granite walls and tall columns. A wide ramp leads to a pair of massive doors flanked by stone-carved dragons. Inside, it’s cool and musty.
Weapons and armor aren’t permitted in the Great Library. If anyone wearing armor or carrying a visible weapon tries to enter the library, or if a thief is spotted trying to leave the library with one or more stolen books, the stone-carved bronze dragons flanking the entrance animate and attack. These statues are Stone Golems.
Abra Saghast, a crusty and irascible dragonborn sage, serves as the head librarian. Abra, an Archmage (Chaotic Good), has bright-green eyes, and her bronze scales are tinged with aquamarine blue. She typically wears a patchwork robe.
Abra sits behind a high desk in the main hall. Six open archways lead from the main hall to wings where the bulk of the library’s books are shelved, free for visitors to peruse (but not remove from the library). The library has several sages and scribes under contract to write books, mostly detailing current affairs in the city.
An iron door leads to a hallway behind the head librarian’s desk. Three scribes (Mages) labor here and act as sentries, for next to their desks are three locked, iron doors to the library’s vaults. Arcane Lock spells seal these doors, beyond which are repositories for the library’s most valuable or scandalous works. Next to each scribe’s desk is a pull cord hanging through a hole in the ceiling. A tug on any one of these cords releases a homing pigeon from a loft above the library. It takes the bird 1 minute to find and alert an Archmage, who teleports to the main hall of the library to investigate.
Character Backgrounds. Adventurers with the Sage or Scribe background might have a connection to the Great Library and its proprietor.
Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might visit the Great Library for one of the following reasons:
Research. Adventurers searching for a specific book or more information about a specific topic might find what they’re looking for in the library.
Spellbooks. The adventurers might need to purloin one of the many spellbooks kept in the library, necessitating a carefully planned heist.
Spell Scrolls. Adventurers can commission the scribes to create a Spell Scroll that bears a Wizard spell of level 5 or lower. See the Player’s Handbook for the time required to craft a scroll; the scribes charge double the cost shown there.
High Tower Inn
Conveniently located near the Selintan River, this inviting inn is distinguished by its tall tower, which is pointed at the top like the hat of an eccentric wizard. The clientele is notably wealthy, but the inn itself isn’t at all ostentatious.
The High Tower Inn’s human proprietor, Erlynn Goodfellow, is a soft-spoken, middle-aged, pot-bellied Mage (Lawful Good) with gray hair, bright-blue eyes, and platinum-rimmed spectacles. She dabbled in adventuring before realizing she had little taste for danger and her life’s calling might involve more sedentary pursuits. Few guests know of Erlynn’s magical abilities, as she rarely casts spells in front of strangers.
The High Tower, located in the Garden Quarter, is a favorite haunt for some of the city’s most famous wizards, including Otto and Jallarzi.
Character Backgrounds. Adventurers with the Merchant or Noble background might have a connection to the High Tower Inn, which caters to people of means.
Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might visit the High Tower for one of the following reasons:
Information Source. Erlynn knows all the local rumors. If she trusts the adventurers, Erlynn can direct them to an NPC who needs their services.
Place to Stay. The adventurers need a place to stay, and the High Tower boasts comfortable quarters, ample supplies of wine and ale, and spicy food. The establishment has six private sleeping chambers, each of which rents for 3 GP per night. Three of these guest rooms are in the tower, each one on its own floor.
Spellcaster. The adventurers might have business with a powerful spellcaster staying at the inn.
Silver Dragon Inn
The Silver Dragon Inn is a lively hub of activity in Greyhawk’s Foreign Quarter
This grandiose, multistory inn sports a wooden sign bearing the words “Silver Dragon Inn” in fancy silver script, the S shaped like a silver dragon. A more modest sign next to the front door reads, “No metal armor. Shields and weapons must be checked at the door.”
The grand Silver Dragon Inn, located in the Foreign Quarter, is often the first place sought by new arrivals to the city. The prices are average, but the food servings are huge. The inn’s menu includes spicy bean dishes, seafood delicacies of the Wild Coast, and rice and vegetable entrées.
Weapons larger than daggers must be checked at the door, together with shields. Customers wearing metal armor aren’t admitted. Two bouncers (Neutral Tough Bosses) stand at the door, politely enforcing the rule.
The inn’s married human proprietors, Olaf Al-Azul (Chaotic Good Veteran Warrior) and Sivan Al-Azul (Chaotic Neutral Assassin), speak multiple languages and use humor to raise spirits and diffuse tensions. Olaf can almost always break up a fight before it starts, generally with a round of drinks for the instigators. Sivan is quiet and introspective, but he always keeps a hilarious joke or cutting remark at the ready.
Character Backgrounds. Adventurers with the Artisan or Entertainer background might do business with the Silver Dragon Inn.
Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might visit the Silver Dragon for one of the following reasons:
Meeting with Foreign Dignitaries. Foreign dignitaries come here to enjoy the Silver Dragon’s food and accommodations. Characters who plan to visit distant lands might connect with these esteemed visitors.
Place to Stay. The Silver Dragon is centrally located in the city and has twenty-four guest rooms on the upper floors. A traveler can sleep in a common room for 1 SP per night, a private room for 3 SP per night, or a luxury suite for 1 GP per night.
Security. The Silver Dragon Inn prides itself on being a safe stop for visitors. Its proprietors and bouncers are trained to deal with trouble without the support of the City Watch.
Temple of the Far Horizon
Hidden among the city’s grander temples is a quiet, modest house of worship with clay-tiled rooftops, a corner bell tower, and well-tended vegetable gardens. Sick and hungry folk gather in short lines outside as they wait for priests to attend to their needs.
Situated in the Garden Quarter, this temple is dedicated to Fharlanghn, a god favored by travelers and mercenaries. The Priests who staff the temple offer nourishment, rest, and healing to those in need, day and night. Several small rooms are maintained for guests, and simple, hot meals are free to all visitors.
Character Backgrounds. Adventurers with the Guide or Sailor background might have a connection to the temple, which offers help to travelers.
Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might visit the temple for one of the following reasons:
Adventurers Wanted. The priests keep tabs on threats in the region around the city. They’re paying close attention to rumors of dragon activity in the nearby Cairn Hills, and they’re looking to hire adventurers to investigate these rumors.
Healing. Adventurers can purchase Potions of Healing for 50 GP each, and the temple’s priests have 1d4 such potions in stock on any given day. The priests also have Cure Wounds and Lesser Restoration spells prepared and customarily cast them for free. For more powerful magic, such as Greater Restoration and Raise Dead spells, the priests direct the adventurers to the Temple of the Radiant Sun.
Safe Travels. By making a small donation to the temple, adventurers increase the likelihood of safe travel to their next destination.
Teleportation Circle. Though it isn’t the only permanent teleportation circle in the city, the circle within the Temple of the Far Horizon is the easiest to access. The priests allow free access to the teleportation circle in either direction. For 2,000 GP, the chief priest will cast the Teleportation Circle spell to open a connection to another permanent circle on the Material Plane.
Temple of the Radiant Sun
This copper-roofed temple has a gold-inlaid symbol of the sun above its double-door entrance. During the day, sunlight shines through high windows to illuminate the temple’s interior, which is adorned with golden draperies.
This temple, dedicated to serving the god Pelor in the heart of the Garden Quarter, opens at dawn and closes at dusk. In a sanctuary in the heart of the temple, Priests conduct daily morning rites, as well as all-day observances every Godsday.
Sarana, the temple’s Archpriest (Neutral Good), is a middle-aged, human woman wearing a sun-shaped headdress and yellow-and-gold robes. She is never seen in public without her Staff of Healing. Sarana has straw-colored hair, green eyes, and a forgiving nature.
Character Backgrounds. Adventurers with the Acolyte background might have served in the Temple of the Radiant Sun, while those with the Farmer background might seek it out as a place for blessing.
Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might visit the temple for one of the following reasons:
Healing. The temple sells Spell Scrolls of Greater Restoration for 3,200 GP apiece and Spell Scrolls of Remove Curse for 300 GP apiece, and the priests have 1d3 copies of each scroll in stock on any given day. The priests also have Cure Wounds and Lesser Restoration spells prepared, which they customarily cast for free.
Raise Dead. Archpriest Sarana is one of a handful of people in the Free City of Greyhawk who can cast the Raise Dead spell, but she needs the requisite 500 GP diamond to do so. Sarana can recommend a jeweler who sells diamonds of sufficient value. Before agreeing to cast the spell, Sarana casts Zone of Truth and asks questions about the deceased individual to make sure she’s not returning to life someone who should stay dead.
Service to the Greater Good. The temple might call upon the adventurers to perform good acts in the city or abroad. Sarana is particularly vigilant about the threat of Elemental Evil, since she was involved in the battle at the Temple of Elemental Evil seven years ago. In exchange for their service, the characters and their companions are entitled to a 50 percent discount on goods purchased at the temple.
Unearthed Arcana
This quaint, two-story shop has a sign depicting a white-bearded human wizard holding a staff that has a copper ball affixed to its tip. Displayed in the store’s window box are various potions, scrolls, wands, and wondrous oddities.
Magic items are bought and sold in Unearthed Arcana, a quaint shop in Clerkburg. Magical wards render the store’s windows and doors shatterproof, and no one can use magic to enter or leave the shop without the consent of its proprietor, Morley, whose quarters take up the second floor.
Morley is an Adult Copper Dragon (Chaotic Good) who spends his days shape-shifted into a talkative, alert, white-bearded human mage wearing a pointed hat, frayed robes, and pointed slippers. Only a few people in the city—including the esteemed local members of the Circle of Eight, Jallarzi Sallavarian and Otto—know Morley’s true form.
Morley is one of the city’s secret weapons, ready to repel invaders or break a siege should the need arise. The dragon has a soft spot for adventurers who risk their lives for good causes. He occasionally loans magic items free of charge to valorous heroes who can’t afford them, on the condition that the items be returned to him as soon as they’re no longer needed.
Character Backgrounds. Adventurers with the Charlatan or Hermit background might have a connection to Unearthed Arcana, as Morley has a variety of unusual interests.
Reasons to Visit. Adventurers might visit Unearthed Arcana for one of the following reasons:
Buying and Selling Magic Items. Morley buys and sells magic items at standard prices (see chapter 7). Although he keeps a few magic items in the shop to catch the eye, most of his inventory is stored in extradimensional vaults only he can access. The shop sells many Common, Uncommon, and Rare magic items—mainly potions, rings, rods, staffs, wands, and wondrous items. Morley has access to a few Very Rare and Legendary magic items as well.
Free Loan. A benefactor arranges for Morley to loan the characters a magic item to help them complete a quest. Before giving them the item, Morley asks they return it in pristine condition.
Magic Item Identification. Morley can cast the Identify spell at will. He charges 50 GP for each casting of the spell.
Beyond the City Walls
City of Greyhawk and Environs
The City of Greyhawk and Environs map shows the lands around the Free City of Greyhawk. Locations on the map are presented below as places where adventures can happen:
Blackfair Manor. Typical of several manor houses and keeps scattered across the Plain of Greyhawk, Blackfair Manor was founded by a distinguished cavalry commander. Its stable is the most famous source of fast, durable warhorses across the breadth of the Flanaess, drawing shrewd shoppers from Greyhawk and beyond. The manor house is surrounded by farms, extensive pastureland, and a small village with a mill, taverns, a smithy, and a saddlery.
Blackstone. See “Mining Towns” below.
Blackwall Keep. One of two new keeps built to keep an eye on the Mistmarsh, Blackwall Keep is a strong, stone tower with a horse corral surrounded by a wooden stockade. Soldiers from Greyhawk garrison the keep and venture out from it to patrol the northern edge of the swamp.
Cairn Hills. Hidden among the hills north and east of the city are ancient tombs and half-buried ruins that attract adventurers, bandits, cultists of Elemental Evil, and monsters.
Castle Greyhawk. Travelers who follow the Selintan River westward from the city come to a stone bridge. From there, they must travel several miles northeast to reach the ruins of Castle Greyhawk. Built by the archmage Zagig Yragerne and abandoned with his demise, the ruins (and the many-leveled dungeon below) are a powerful draw to adventurers who seek wealth, glory, and magical might. All manner of marvels are said to fill the ruins, including numerous portals to other planes.
Diamond Lake. See “Mining Towns” below.
Elmshire. This sleepy town with a sizable halfling population lies on the shore of the Nyr Dyv. Fishing boats crowd the wharves. The townsfolk welcome peaceful visitors—particularly adventurers who can help fend off monsters, bandits, and cults of Elemental Evil lurking in Cairn Hills.
Ery Villages. The villages of High Ery and Erybend are populated largely by farmers who send most of their produce for sale in Greyhawk. The two villages are both dominated by two prominent families, the Fairheights and the Witherwinns. The families have a complicated history including abundant instances of feuding and intermarriage, as well as a catalog of lesser slights and favors.
Ford Keep. A ferry crossing allows traffic from Greyhawk and regions to the south to cross the Selintan River at its first major bend. The lord mayor of Greyhawk built Ford Keep here to protect the crossing from bandits.
Gorge of the Selintan. Soaring cliffs flank the Selintan River for nearly ten miles. Spanning this gorge, 800 feet above the river, is a stone arch bridge sculpted to look like an extension of the natural bedrock. The bridge allows easy travel between Greyhawk and Grossettgrottell. As a defensive measure, the bridge’s gnome architects hid an iron pin somewhere in the bridge; if this pin is removed, the entire structure collapses.
Grossettgrottell. An industrious community of gnome miners and foragers lives in this network of hewn tunnels and natural caverns. The gnomes trade gemstones and rare fungi in exchange for help repelling monsters from the Underdark.
Marsh Keep. Like Blackwall Keep, Marsh Keep is newly built and watches over the Mistmarsh. The Dwarfwalk road leads east from the tower to Greysmere, a quarrying town with a large population of dwarves.
Mining Towns. Blackstone, Diamond Lake, and Steaming Springs are small mining towns governed and protected by the Free City of Greyhawk. The city frequently dispatches adventurers to quell threats to the towns’ miners and mining operations, which of late includes agents of Iuz intent on destabilizing the city’s economy.
Mistmarsh. This vast swamp holds the half-sunken ruins of an ancient city that is now shrouded by fog and guarded by a family of black dragons. Will-o’-wisps lure prey to the ruins, where doom awaits.
Peculiar Manor. Like other manors in the Plain of Greyhawk, Peculiar Manor was established by a now-forgotten hero of an ancient war. However, a few years ago it was purchased by retired adventurers from Ekbir, Sanjarah and Chetna Mohsin. The Mohsins brew an extraordinary ale they call Old Peculiar, which lends its name to the manor.
Steaming Springs. See “Mining Towns” above.
Stone Bridge. A small garrison in the fort of Stone Bridge keeps careful watch over river traffic approaching Greyhawk.
Stonefort. A garrison of soldiers from Greyhawk watches over the southern Nyr Dyv from the high battlements of Stonefort. The fort also guards a gravel quarry.
Tokhel Castle. This blasted ruin stands on a rocky promontory above the Nyr Dyv. A dead magic zone (see “Environmental Effects” in chapter 3) encompasses most of the ruin, and monsters guard whatever secrets the ancient castle and its dungeons might hold.
Two Ford. The small village of Two Ford relies on river trade to supply its inns, smithies, and merchants. Ore from the mining towns is also traded here, as it is easier to transport it by river than overland.
Greyhawk Gazetteer
The poster map in this book shows the entire region of the Flanaess, with the Free City of Greyhawk near the center. As characters venture beyond the confines of the city and its surrounding lands, you can use the map and the information on these pages to inspire your own adventures and world details.
The Big Picture
To understand the Greyhawk of today (the year 576 in the Common Year), it is helpful to picture the Flanaess about 200 years ago. At that time, the Great Kingdom of Aerdy stretched from the Vast Swamp to the Rakers, and from the Solnor Ocean to the Yatil and Lortmil Mountains. Between the Lortmil Mountains and the Crystalmists was the Kingdom of Keoland, mimicking the Great Kingdom in its imperialist approach. To the west of the mountains, the Baklunish nations—survivors of the Invoked Devastation—stood much as they do now. And to the north, nomadic peoples (the Chakyik, the Wegwiur, the rovers of the Hunting Lands) and the North Kingdoms were, as now, independent of the politics of the south.
The contraction of the two southern realms over the last two centuries is the primary force that has shaped the modern Flanaess. First, the provinces of Perrenland, Veluna, and Furyondy—far from the overking’s throne in Rauxes—declared their independence from the Great Kingdom. When Nyrond joined them (in 356 CY), the stage was set for the slow disintegration of the Great Kingdom and the ongoing rebellion that dominates the eastern part of the Flanaess to this day.
The beginning of Aerdy’s decline marked the high-water mark of Keoland’s expansionist policies, as it held sway from the Pomarj to the borders of Ket. Aided by Celene, rebels in the Ulek region strove to curb the kingdom’s warlike ways, and the accession of King Tavish IV in 453 CY marked a dramatic shift in royal policy. The Yeomanry and the Ulek states were granted autonomy, the Gran March and Sterich became semi-independent while remaining loyal to the crown, and the diverse peoples of this region coexist in relative peace once again.
With this big picture in mind, you can think of the Flanaess beyond the Free City of Greyhawk as five major regions, each with its own store of adventure possibilities waiting to be explored:
Central Flanaess. Diverse peoples clash against Iuz and the forces of Elemental Evil.
Eastern Flanaess. The remnants of the Great Kingdom struggle to determine the fate of the lands in the overking’s wicked clutches.
Northern Flanaess. In vast wilderness expanses populated by indigenous folk, one’s mettle is tested by the environment and roving dragons.
Old Keoland. The former provinces of Keoland contend against evil monsters from the western mountains, including dragons and giants.
Western Flanaess. The Baklunish peoples and nations navigate complex political relationships.
Living History
Greyhawk has a long history of ancient empires and more recent wars, but the only relevant details of this history are those that feature in your adventures. Highlight significant in-world details by revealing them in the course of your adventures. Use the following techniques to share lore with your players:
Echoes of the Past. Features like a crater in the side of a mountain, a defaced statue in the town square, or a holiday celebrating a local hero provide concrete touchstones to past events. The characters might learn that a ruin they’re exploring was destroyed in a catastrophic battle or natural disaster.
Historical Records. Written historical details might appear anywhere in an adventure: glyphs on ancient dungeon walls, books in a library, files in a royal vault, or tapestries depicting key events. Use such set dressing to share important details. Summarize what lengthy works say, and focus on the most plot-worthy parts.
Scholarly Expertise. Characters who have proficiency in the Arcana, History, or Religion skill can be fonts of useful information. When it would be helpful for a group to know something about the setting, ask such characters to make an Intelligence check using the relevant skill, then share plot-relevant details if their roll warrants it.
Magical Footnotes. Spells such as Contact Other Plane, Legend Lore, and Speak with Dead allow characters to learn information while leaving you control of the particulars.
Primary Sources. Personify the past through a tragic ghost, an otherworldly guardian, an artificial intelligence, an ancient sage, or another long-lived individual. Such NPCs give you a way to share relevant information and respond to questions from the party. If the characters miss an important detail, this NPC can reinforce details in a way books and recollected facts can’t.
Any one of these methods is useful for revealing a few details. You can combine them to share nuanced histories and help players feel like they’re digging into a rich and realistic history.
Central Flanaess
The Holy Days of Rao are occasions for joyful processions and festivals in Veluna
The rich soil and pleasant climate of the region between the Nyr Dyv and the Yatil Mountains—combined with healthy trade relations between these realms and their neighbors to the east, south, and west—make this a strong and prosperous region.
Central Flanaess Locations
| Location | Ruler | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Celene | Queen Yolande (elf) | Elven monarchy with large gnome and halfling populations |
| Dyvers (Free City) | Magister Thymantia Gortoz (aasimar) | Important port and trading center with a powerful navy |
| Furyondy, the Kingdom of | King Belvor IV (human) | Former province of the Great Kingdom, among the first to claim independence |
| Highfolk (Free City) | Mayor Talisyr (appears as an elf) | Fortified city with large population of elves; the mayor is a disguised adult silver dragon |
| Horned Society, the | Nine hierarchs (mostly humans and hobgoblins) | Theocracy ruled by devil worshipers allied with Iuz, supported by mercenaries enforcing their tyrannical rule |
| Iuz | Iuz (cambion demigod) | The monster-infested domain of the demonic dictator, steeped in wickedness |
| Nyr Dyv | — | The Lake of Unknown Depths; home to barge dwellers |
| Perrenland | Voorzitter Yrenda Schwartzen (human) | Fiercely independent confederation of canons |
| Pomarj, the | — | Lawless peninsula; home to bandits and marauders |
| Shield Lands, the | Various allied nobles | Independent alliance of nobles protected by the Knights of Holy Shielding, led by Knight Commander Aleshh Kaarth (dragonborn) and fortified by Furyondy and Urnst |
| Veluna, the Archclericy of | Canon Hazen (human) | Theocracy ruled by priests of Rao, a divine beacon of justice and hope |
| Verbobonc (Free City and Viscounty) | Viscountess Wilfrick Rejjin (human) | Vassal state of Veluna; site of the Temple of Elemental Evil |
| Wild Coast, the | Various burgomasters, lord mayors, and others | Free territory with self-governing settlements; haven for outcasts and dissidents |
Battle of Emridy Meadows
Seven years ago, knights and soldiers from Furyondy, the Archclericy of Veluna, the Viscounty of Verbobonc, and the elven kingdom of Celene formed an alliance to repel an evil horde that had gathered in the grassy fields south of the Velverdyva River. This clash of armies—arguably the greatest seen in Eastern Oerik—was called the Battle of Emridy Meadows. The forces of evil were smashed, and their remnants were driven back into the dungeons under their stronghold, the Temple of Elemental Evil. The forces of good, under the command of Prince Thrommel IV of Furyondy, besieged the temple, which fell in a fortnight. Only a few of the temple’s wicked leaders escaped, and it is suspected that these individuals were responsible for the subsequent kidnapping of the prince.
Prince Thrommel was engaged to marry Lady Jolene, a priest from a prominent noble family of Veluna. Their marriage would have united Furyondy and Veluna as a single entity, with the canon of Veluna ruling in matters spiritual and the king of Furyondy ruling in matters temporal. This combined state, with its powerful elf allies in Celene, could wage a steady war against the evil plaguing Eastern Oerik. The prince’s disappearance has stalled these plans.
The Rise of Iuz
Iuz is the offspring of the demon lord Graz’zt and a human archmage named Iggwilv. For ages, he ruled the lands from the Howling Hills to Lake Whyestil, naming his domain after himself. These lands are so despoiled and dangerous that the otherwise fierce nomads of the Hunting Lands and Wegwiur pass through the Cold Marshes rather than enter the merest edge of Iuz’s realm.
Iuz’s evil reign was interrupted by a sixty-five-year imprisonment in the dungeon under Castle Greyhawk. During his absence, the Kingdom of Furyondy and its allies prospered, while the land of Iuz was overrun with evil bandits and monsters. Iuz’s absence turned him into a legend and attracted a host of new followers, whose misplaced faith invested him with the power of a demigod.
Upon winning his freedom, Iuz had no trouble reclaiming his homeland. He forged tenuous alliances with the leaders of the Bandit Kingdoms and the Horned Society, whom he controls through terror. With their aid, he aims to destroy his neighbors and lay waste to the Free City of Greyhawk.
Since the resurgence of Iuz, the northern quarter of the Vesve Forest and the eastern part of the Howling Hills have become filled with marauders and monsters. While the Wegwiur battle Iuz’s forces in the Howling Hills, scouts and troops from Furyondy join forces with Highfolk’s defenders to drive out the Vesve Forest’s evil inhabitants.
Central Flanaess Culture
The culture of the Central Flanaess is a result of the long imposition of the Great Kingdom’s rule over a variety of peoples living in close proximity. These peoples, by and large, share the Great Kingdom’s practical, hardworking values, and they rely on the family and local community, rather than the might of nations and armies. They have a strong egalitarian streak unlike the Great Kingdom’s strict social hierarchy, and (beyond the domains of Iuz and the Horned Society) they have little tolerance for would-be tyrants or aloof nobility. Amid a large number of free cities and confederations, the monarchies of Furyondy and Celene are far more democratic in practice than those in other regions.
Typical dress in the Central Flanaess includes a tunic of varying length, sometimes worn with close-fitting trousers. A cape or cloak, usually featuring patterns of ovals or diamonds, completes the ensemble. The cuisine of the Central Flanaess uses rice and potatoes alongside cheese and meat that is typically boiled or roasted.
Central Flanaess Adventures
The dual threats of Iuz and Elemental Evil present abundant opportunities for adventure in the Central Flanaess. This region is also home to many of the most famous dungeons and ruins of Greyhawk, including those described in the sections that follow.
Ghost Tower of Inverness. Ages ago, an archmage raised the mighty fortress of Inverness from the very rock of the Abbor-Alz. In the great inner tower of the keep, he hid his most prized possession: the Soul-Gem. Legend says this great white diamond fell from the sky and glowed with the brilliance of the sun, and its magic could drag mortal souls screaming from their bodies and trap them. The fortress was ruined long ago, but on foggy nights the great central tower still appears.
Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth. The archmage Iggwilv is said to have acquired much of her prowess from the hidden magic she discovered within the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (pronounced SAWJ-kahn). In these caverns she conducted experiments and rituals to increase her powers. One of these rituals led to her downfall, though, when she accidentally freed the demon lord Graz’zt from the prison where she had bound him. Though Graz’zt fled to the Abyss, Iggwilv was weakened and forced to abandon the caverns, but a secret cache of her treasure is said to remain. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth are detailed in Quests from the Infinite Staircase.
Maure Castle. Maure Castle is a forlorn and foreboding place surrounded by boggy ground and scraggly trees. Rumors suggest that a tome holding eldritch lore of unimaginable evil is held within, guarded by a powerful demon.
Temple of Elemental Evil. The Temple of Elemental Evil, built long ago, spawned hordes of bloodthirsty monsters that ravaged the lands between Celene and Veluna. As far as anyone in the area knows, the temple is currently abandoned and has not posed a threat since the Battle of Emridy Meadows in 569 CY, but the forces of good in the region keep vigilant against any sign that the temple and its cults might arise once more.
Eastern Flanaess
Once a powerful force for order and good, the Great Kingdom of Aerdy has declined over the last century to a state of utter decadence. The reigning overking—Ivid V, patriarch of the House of Naelax—is rumored to have fiendish advisers as well as a noble court infested with evil. Ruling from the Malachite Throne in Rauxes, Ivid commands an unmatched army currently embroiled in two wars at once: one against the Kingdom of Nyrond and the Prelacy of Almor, and the other against the Iron League (consisting of Idee, Irongate, the Lordship of the Isles, Onnwal, and Sunndi). To pay for these costly wars, the overking has imposed heavy taxes on his subjects, further diminishing his popularity.
Aerdiaak, Ahlissa, Medegia, and Rel Astra are provinces and fiefs of the Great Kingdom. The Sea Baronies are vassal states that provide most of the kingdom’s navy.
Eastern Flanaess Locations
| Location | Ruler | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aerdiaak | Herzog Varz Grenell (human) | North province of the Great Kingdom, ruled by a cousin of the overking; its court is rife with debauchery and intrigue |
| Ahlissa | Herzogin Seprenna Calyn (human) | South province of the Great Kingdom, ruled by a cousin of the overking; embroiled in war with the Iron League |
| Almor, the Prelacy of | Prelate Xanther Klimstyn (human) | Theocracy ruled by a priest of Pelor who declared independence when the Great Kingdom descended into evil |
| Bone March, the | — | Fallen territory of the Great Kingdom, now held by armies from Almor and Nyrond |
| Celadon Forest | — | Ancient forest protected by druidic circles and fey |
| Flinty Hills and Gamboge Forest | — | Home to several independent communities with no great love for Nyrond or the Pale |
| Great Kingdom, the | Overking Ivid V (human) | Unspeakably evil monarchy |
| Idee | Count Vasiliek Donsten (human) | Independent fiefdom; member of the Iron League |
| Irongate (Free City) | Mayor Unthera Selvich (appears as a dwarf) | Thriving metropolis; member of the Iron League; the mayor is a disguised adult bronze dragon |
| Lordship of the Isles, the | Princess Ronthal III (human) | Independent principality; member of the Iron League |
| Medegia, the See of | Holy Censor Starvik Jerel (human) | Theocratic fiefdom ruled by a priest whose power is rumored to come from pacts with archdevils |
| Nyrond, the Kingdom of | King Dunstan I (human) | Center of resistance to the Great Kingdom |
| Onnwal | The Raven of Onnwal, Zyl Grayshadow (dwarf) | Independent state; member of the Iron League |
| Pale, the Theocracy of the | Supreme Prelate Ogon Tillit (human) | Theocracy ruled by a priest of Pholtus |
| Rel Astra, City of | Constable Mayor Drax (orc) | Independent fief plotting in secret against the Great Kingdom, hoping to ally with Medegia or the Sea Baronies |
| Sea Baronies, the | Four sea barons, including High Admiral Kalashe Asperdi (human) | Independent island fiefdoms that serve as the Great Kingdom’s navy |
| Shar, the Hidden Empire of | Father of Obedience Korenth Zan (human?) | Isolated order of Suloise militants whose spies operate across the Flanaess |
| Spindrift Isles, the | The Council of Five (on the northern islands) and the Council of Seven (on the southern island) | Independent islands that keep watchful eyes on aggressive island neighbors |
| Sunndi | Steward Valenta (elf) | Independent fiefdom; member of the Iron League |
| Tenh, the Duchy of | Duchess Ehliyah Raynar III (human) | Independent fiefdom allied with Nyrond for defense against Iuz |
| Urnst, the County of | Countess Belissica Gellor (human) | Independent fiefdom |
| Urnst, the Duchy of | Duke Jalken Lorinar (human) | Independent fiefdom |
| Vast Swamp, the | — | Morass separating the Tilvanot Peninsula and Shar from the rest of the East |
Shar
Fanatical Suloise militarists called the Scarlet Order founded the Hidden Empire of Shar, which is closed to outsiders. The order controls the peninsula west of the Tilva Strait, as far north as the Vast Swamp. See “Factions and Organizations” in this chapter for more about the Scarlet Order.
Eastern Flanaess Culture
The culture of the Eastern Flanaess is largely that of the ancient Aerdi tribe of humans that conquered the region and established the Great Kingdom almost 800 years ago. The Aerdi valued common sense, hard work, and knowing one’s place in a strict social order. Having claimed their position of power through conquest, they put great emphasis on military power and martial skill. These values persist throughout the region, reinforced in the Great Kingdom by strict laws and even stricter social mores.
These same values persist in many of the lands resisting the overking’s reign. Nyrond and Almor, in particular, share the stratified social structure of the Great Kingdom, with their king and prelate remaining distant from the common people they rule. The independent states of the Iron League are more egalitarian, sharing that trait with the peoples of the Central Flanaess.
Typical clothing in the Eastern Flanaess is a tunic of varying length, often worn with trousers, with a cape or cloak. The fabrics of the east are often patterned with checks or plaids, with different patterns often relating to the wearer’s lineage. Eastern cuisine pairs rice and potatoes with a variety of meats, especially seafood.
Eastern Flanaess and Its Neighbors
The Duchy and County of Urnst bridge the regions of the Central and Eastern Flanaess. Once part of the Great Kingdom’s province of Nyrond, they declared their independence from the Great Kingdom and the new Kingdom of Nyrond at the same time, achieving their separation from Nyrond with minimal bloodshed. While the people of Urnst distrust the king of Nyrond, they don’t hate him like they do the overking.
The proximity of the Nyr Dyv, the Cairn Hills, and the Shield Lands means the Urnst lands can’t ignore the rising threat of Iuz or the politics of the Free City of Greyhawk. At the same time, Nyrond stands as a buffer between Urnst and the Great Kingdom, but the overking’s threat still looms. The duke and countess of Urnst believe that a united Urnst will stand more strongly against pressures from east and west, which they hope to achieve through the marriage of Countess Belissica Gellor to Byron Lorinar, eldest son of Duke Jalken Lorinar.
Eastern Flanaess Adventures
The story of the Eastern Flanaess is a tale of scrappy rebels—Nyrond, Almor, and the Iron League—defying the overwhelming power of a corrupt and decadent empire. This story lends itself to campaigns exploring themes of supernatural horror (in the fiend-haunted courts of the overking), swashbuckling (in the cities across the region as well as the eastern seas), and war (see “Flavors of Fantasy” in this chapter).
Havens of Unrest. Those who despise and challenge the Great Kingdom’s oppression—outlaws both good and bad—find refuge in borderlands just beyond the reach of the overking’s soldiers. These include the woods and swamp near Rel Astra (the eastern reaches of the Grandwood Forest and the Lone Heath) and the Hestmark Highlands east of Sunndi. The outlaws in the Grandwood include significant numbers of elves and halflings as well as humans, while those in the Hestmark Highlands include dwarves and gnomes.
Tomb of Horrors. Deep within the Vast Swamp is the sinister Tomb of Horrors—a labyrinthine crypt filled with terrible traps, strange and ferocious monsters, and rich and magical treasures. Somewhere within rests the demilich Acererak, who ruled much of the region long ago. The demilich is said to take perverse pleasure in devouring adventurers’ souls.
The Tomb of Horrors is detailed in Tales from the Yawning Portal.
Troll Fens. The chilly mists of the Troll Fens, located against the shoulders of the Griff Mountains and the Rakers at the head of the Yol River, cloak a place of unnameable horrors. As the name implies, the fens are infested with particularly large and vicious trolls. The Pale carefully hedges the place with watchtowers and keeps, and strong patrols ride the verges of the southern end of the Troll Fens to watch for unwelcome visits from the monsters dwelling within.
Northern Flanaess
The northern region of the Flanaess includes three distinct areas populated by different peoples: the Baklunish horse riders of the Chakyik and the Wegwiur, the Suloise people of the North Kingdoms, and the Flan nomads of the Hunting Lands.
Northern Flanaess Locations
| Location | Ruler | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Arn, the Archbarony of | Archbaron of Arn (identity unknown) | Remote and little-known region located near a ruined castle with monster-filled dungeons |
| Bandit Kingdoms, the | Four to six bandit lords | Feuding kingdoms ruled by greedy bandit lords with private armies |
| Barren Wastes, the | — | Harsh, despoiled land where dragons roam and sometimes go to die |
| Chakyik | Lord Agul Krusef (human) | Land of the Tiger Nomads—horse riders with scattered trading outposts |
| Hunting Lands, the | Overlord-Protector Yhareen Sakarr (tiefling) | Home to Flan nomads, known to their neighbors as the Rovers of the Barrens |
| North Kingdom of the Cruski, the | Queen Tharla of the Cruski (human) | Fierce, seafaring berserkers of the North Kingdoms |
| North Kingdom of the Fruzti, the | King Hundgred of the Fruzti (human) | Weakest of the three North Kingdoms, having suffered great losses battling in the Bone March |
| North Kingdom of the Schnai, the | Queen Ingrid of the Schnai (human) | Strongest and most populated of the North Kingdoms |
| Ratik, the Barony of | Baron Lexnol Haarkof (human) | Former province of the Great Kingdom trying to ally with the North Kingdoms |
| Stonefist, The Hold of | King Sevvord Redbeard of the Hold (human) | Monarchy founded by a bandit leader who attracted malcontents from many nations |
| Wegwiur | Wolf-Mother Bargra Yefkos (human) | Land of the Wolf Nomads—horse riders engaged in war against Iuz |
Baklunish Nomads
The Chakyik and Wegwiur—called Tiger Nomads and Wolf Nomads, respectively, by their neighbors—are horse riders of Baklunish descent who dwell on the steppes north of the Yatil Mountains and Lake Quag. The climate in the steppes and pine forests ranges from cool to frigid. Both peoples maintain scattered trading outposts that welcome visitors from neighboring and distant lands.
The steppe nomads have a rich storytelling tradition that reinforces a strong sense of clan identity and family line within the clan. Their tales include stories not only of heroes within their clans, but also of heroic horses, and the nomads trace equine lineages as carefully as their own. These nomads maintain the traditions of their people, many of which can be traced back to the ancient Baklunish empire.
The Baklunish nomads favor bright pastel colors in gowns and robes. When traveling or at war, though, they prefer more rugged gear of leather and hide.
The North Kingdoms
Three kingdoms of related peoples occupy the Thillonrian Peninsula in the northeast of the Flanaess—a beautiful subarctic landscape of high mountains, coniferous forests, and deep fjords. The kingdoms are named for the three distinct tribal lines that inhabit them: the Cruski (whose name means “ice”), the Fruzti (“frost”), and the Schnai (“snow”).
The Schnai are strong and numerous. When Queen Ingrid of the Schnai has a mind to raid the isles of the Sea Baronies or the coasts of Aerdiaak and the Great Kingdom, she calls upon the king of the Fruzti and the queen of the Cruski to join her army. King Hundgred of the Fruzti has no choice but to honor his oath to the Schnai, while Queen Tharla of the Cruski rarely turns down a chance to attack her enemies. At other times, the Cruski raid the Fruzti, the Schnai, or the Hold of Stonefist.
As their distinct kingdoms suggest, the people of the North Kingdoms value their connection to their clan lineage. They preserve a love of learning from their distant ancestors of the Suel Imperium, and they value knowledge of the natural world as highly as they do the skills of hunting, sailing, and warfare. Their clothing includes shirts and pants made of wool, augmented with furs, capes, mittens, and warm boots. They often wear large pins, brooches, or emblems in their cloaks as a sign of wealth or accomplishment.
The Hunting Lands
The People of the Hunting Lands (called Rovers of the Barrens by their neighbors) have a history of raiding the outskirts of Furyondy, the Bandit Kingdoms, Tenh, and Wegwiur, which hasn’t won them many allies. The nomads’ legendary dominance of the north has faded, as the forces of Iuz and the Horned Society wage steady war against them while raiders from the Hold of Stonefist prey on the Hunting Lands farther east. Many of the Rovers’ mightiest warriors—the Wardogs—have perished in battles against all these relentless foes.
The people of the Hunting Lands value a close connection to the natural world. They view nature as an entity to be respected, not controlled, and their myths and legends teach the value of accepting nature’s bounty as a gift that evokes gratitude. They wear clothes made entirely of animal skins, including belts, capes, robes, and slippers, and decorate their skin with paints and tattoos.
Northern Flanaess and Its Neighbors
The regions of the north exist on the fringes of other regions of the Flanaess. Three realms are the primary points of intersection between the Northern Flanaess and neighboring areas.
Bandit Kingdoms. The Bandit Kingdoms is a lawless frontier between the Hunting Lands in the north, the Horned Society and the Shield Lands in the Central Flanaess, and the Duchy of Tenh in the east. No single bandit lord is powerful enough to conquer the whole territory, and the combined strength of all is often required to defend against retaliation by neighboring states for the bandit lords’ aggression. At least one of the bandit lords, Renfus the Mottled (ruler of Stoink), is wholly in the service of Iuz.
Ratik. As a former province of the Great Kingdom, Ratik rides the boundary between the northern and eastern regions of the Flanaess. Without the protection of the Great Kingdom, Ratik has been forced to defend itself against frequent raids from the North Kingdoms and the Sea Baronies, as well as attacks from mountain-dwelling monsters. Baron Lexnol Haarkof’s emissaries hope to forge an alliance with the North Kingdoms and redirect the berserkers’ aggressions toward the Hold of Stonefist.
Wegwiur. Wolf-Mother Bargra Yefkos of the Wegwiur Hordes is preoccupied with the threat of Iuz, and she meets frequently with clan leaders and Perrenlander mercenaries to strategize. The Wegwiur consider their territory to extend to the Dulsi River, so they fiercely defend the western Howling Hills from the incursion of the hideous monsters that serve Iuz. Several large battles between Wegwiur and the forces of Iuz have taken place in that area.
Northern Flanaess Adventures
The cold north is an ideal location for a campaign featuring themes of sword-and-sorcery fantasy (see “Flavors of Fantasy” in this chapter). The peoples of the Northern Flanaess battle giants, dragons, and other horrific monsters in equally dangerous environments, while remaining suspicious of the decadence of the cities and nations of the south.
Old Keoland
United by their shared history as part of the ancient Kingdom of Keoland, the marches and fiefdoms between the Lortmil Mountains and the higher mountains to the west gather diverse populations of many different species in relative peace with each other. Even the long-standing feud between Keoland and the Hold of the Sea Princes might be drawing to an end under the leadership of Keoland’s current ruler, King Kimbertos Skotti. The region enjoys a warm, mild climate but faces many threats from monstrous foes.
Old Keoland Locations
| Location | Ruler | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bissel, the March of | Margrave Imran Rendulkar (human) | Bone of contention between Keoland, Veluna, and Ket |
| Geoff, the Grand Duchy of | Grand Duchess Owena Blackthorn (human) | Isolated fiefdom with a long history of battling giants in the nearby mountains |
| Gran March, the | Commandant Magnus Onyxbeard (dwarf) | Nominal vassal of Keoland and ally with Bissel; the commandant is elected from among the March’s noble houses |
| Hold of the Sea Princes, the | Prince Zygmund III of Monmurg (human) | Independent oligarchy of sea traders founded by buccaneers; now a powerful naval force |
| Keoland, the Kingdom of | King Kimbertos Skotti (human) | Heart of the Old Keoland region, surrounded by friendly neighbors that swear fealty to Keoland’s monarch |
| Lortmil Mountains, the | — | Natural border between the Old Keoland region and the Central Flanaess |
| Sterich, the March of | Marquise Quercha Emondav (human) | Nominal vassal state of Keoland, but its ruler is more like a sister than a vassal to the king of Keoland |
| Ulek, the County of | Countess Lewenn Richfield (human) | Former vassal of Keoland |
| Ulek, the Duchy of | Duke Grenowin (elf) | Former vassal of Keoland with a large population of elves |
| Ulek, the Principality of | Princess Olynn Corond (dwarf) | Fiefdom with a significant navy; its princess commands the respect of many dwarves beyond Ulek |
| Valley of the Mage, the | The Mage of the Valley (identity unknown) | Secluded refuge of an ancient archmage; current inhabitants unknown |
| Yeomanry, the | Freeholder Vyndi Skyspear (goliath) | Independent republic governed by an elected freeholder |
Old Keoland Culture
Old Keoland is a diverse region of the Flanaess where different cultures have mingled for many centuries. Keolish folk often garden, maintain close family ties, have a down-to-earth nature, and love storytelling.
The clothes worn in Old Keoland tend toward loose-fitting shirts and wide-legged pants, voluminous cloaks for cold or wet weather, and sturdy boots. This region’s cuisine represents a fusion of Central Flan dishes of rice, potato, and meat with some spices and seasonings brought from the west, creating unique flavors.
Old Keoland and Its Neighbors
The long chain of the Lortmil Mountains forms a natural barrier between Old Keoland and the region of the Central Flanaess. The mountains contain some of the richest gem and precious metal deposits in Eastern Oerik. The humans, dragonborn, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, goblinoids, goliaths, and orcs that live in these mountains and their foothills are subjects of the realms that surround the mountain range, but they often band together to deal with greater threats on both sides of the mountains.
Old Keoland Adventures
One reason for the amicable relations among the nations of Old Keoland is the danger posed by dragons, giants, and other monsters found throughout the region. That makes this region particularly well suited to a heroic fantasy campaign (see “Flavors of Fantasy” in this chapter). The most dangerous places include those described below.
Barrier Peaks. These forbidding highlands are home to strange monsters. “Expedition to the Barrier Peaks,” an adventure in Quests from the Infinite Staircase, explores the origin of these monsters.
Crystalmist Mountains. Giants, white dragons, and other monsters frequently descend from the Crystalmist Mountains into Geoff and Sterich, searching for food and plunder. An ancient tunnel stretches from the western end of the Yeomanry into the Sea of Dust, attracting many adventurers to explore its lengths.
Dim Forest. Though elves inhabit the western part of the Dim Forest, the eastern part is wild and prowled by monsters, including green dragons.
Hellfurnaces. The Hellfurnaces are a volcanically active extension of the Crystalmist Mountains populated with threats including fire giants and red dragons. Beneath the mountains are labyrinths that connect to the Underdark, wherein lie hidden cities, strongholds, and temples harboring terrible evil.
Jotens. Hill giants, manticores, and wyverns from the Jotens regularly threaten the tranquility of both Sterich and the Yeomanry.
Rushmoors. Hungry black dragons, otyughs, and other monsters haunt the Rushmoors.
Western Flanaess
Survivors of the Invoked Devastation that destroyed the ancient Baklunish empire settled the temperate prairies, forests, and coastal lands of the Western Flanaess about a thousand years ago. Largely separated from the rest of the Flanaess by the Yatils, the Barrier Peaks, and the Crystalmist Mountains, these realms are a stronghold of Baklunish cultures.
The nations of Ekbir, Tusmit, and Zeif represent the heart of the region, and two rivers—the Blashikmund and the Tuflik—form natural borders between them. Although the nations currently enjoy peaceful relations, Tusmit profits by playing its political neighbors against each other—Ekbir against Zeif, Zeif against the Ulakandar nomads, the Ulakandar nomads against Ket, and so forth. Pasha Qharlan Sylba of Tusmit is careful to keep his name well clear of these schemes so he can avoid embroiling Tusmit in open warfare. But Tusmit’s spies are currently causing discord by spreading rumors that Zeif is planning to invade Ekbir. Ekbir’s sultan believes the rumors are true and is readying his army.
Sultan Naxas Murad of Zeif is a reclusive man, a great philosopher, and a stern father figure to the rulers of Ekbir and Tusmit. Over the years, advisers and family members have urged Naxas to expand Zeif’s borders through military conquest, but he refuses to do so, citing failed land grabs by kingdoms through history as proof that imperial expansion across the Flanaess rarely ends well.
Western Flanaess Locations
| Location | Ruler | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Steppes, the | — | Desert where the Baklunish empire once stood |
| Ekbir, the Sultanate of | Sultan Xargun II (aasimar) | Monarchy in an uneasy peace with its neighbors, bracing for a rumored invasion from Zeif |
| Ket | Beygraf Zoltana Lhaz (human) | Crossroads region |
| Plains of the Ulakandar, the | Various Ulakandar clan leaders | Land of the Ulakandar nomads, who roam between the Dry Steppes and the border of Zeif |
| Sea of Dust, the | — | Wasteland where the Suel Imperium once stood |
| Tusmit, the Pashalik of | Pasha Qharlan Sylba (human) | Monarchy profiting by playing its neighbors against each other |
| Ull | Orakhan Drasika Borinok (human) | Independent fiefdom founded by Ulakandar nomads who settled the land |
| Zeif, the Sultanate of | Sultan Naxas Murad (human) | Monarchy ruled by a reclusive philosopher who resists his advisers’ call to imperial expansion |
Western Flanaess Culture
The culture of the Western Flanaess preserves many of the ways and traditions of the ancient Baklunish empire. Enormous value is placed on the virtues of hospitality and generosity, particularly almsgiving and pious donations to temples and clergy. Since the fall of their ancient empire, the people of the Western Flanaess have demonstrated more interest in trade—as a way of amassing power and wealth, but also as a means of connecting and coexisting with neighbors—than in imperial expansion or military domination.
The clothing favored by the people of the Western Flanaess features bright patterns in vibrant colors, worn in flowing gowns, robes, and long coats worn with breeches. Their cuisine is renowned for its rich flavors and spiciness.
Western Flanaess and Its Neighbors
Ket is the crossroads between the Western Flanaess and the rest of the continent, nestled between the Yatil Mountains and Barrier Peaks. Though it was founded by Baklunish settlers, Ket’s proximity to both Bissel (and the lands of Old Keoland) and Veluna (and the Central Flanaess) makes it a vibrant, multicultural land rich from extensive trade. Its culture reflects the breadth of its trade, including sizable populations of dragonborn and tieflings and displaying a fusion of Baklunish and Oeridian influence. This mixture is visible in the title of its ruler, which is a combination of a Baklunish title (bey) and an Oeridian one (graf). The beygraf is a noble chosen by the lords of Lopolla’s wealthiest, most influential families. Many of these lords also serve as generals in the Kettish military. The current beygraf, Zoltana Lhaz, is a skilled diplomat who so far has balanced the interests of different forces both inside her nation and among her neighbors.
Western Flanaess Adventures
The political and mercantile intrigue among Ekbir, Tusmit, and Zeif provides abundant adventure opportunities for characters in the Western Flanaess.
Of course, the Western Flanaess has its fair share of monsters, dungeons, and ruins as well. The ruins of the Baklunish Empire in the Dry Steppes, and those of the Suel Imperium in the Sea of Dust, attract plenty of adventurers as well as villains hoping to claim the magical knowledge that caused the terrible catastrophes leading to the fall of those empires. Ket and Ull, too, suffer from the depredations of the monsters in the Barrier Peaks and the Yatil Mountains, just as their eastern neighbors do.