Campaign Summary in Video form

Inspired by the folks over at "Pursuit of Destiny" I cobbled this together.

 

9-11

8:46 AM on the 11th still brings on chills.

If this blog were a film

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

• bastard (1x). 

That is actually from the weapons table, not me commenting on someones parentage.

Timeline of the Flanaess

THE COMMON YEARS (CY)

-217 CY Founding of the Kingdom of Aerdy. (428 OR)

-113 CY "The Great Disembarkment"; the Aqua-Oeridians sail eastward. (522 OR)

-110 CY Battle of a Fortnight's length. (535 OR)

1 CY Crowning Nasron, of the House of Cramden, as the Overking of Aerdy. (645 OR)

75 CY Tenmeris and his Queen, Yalranda rule Aerdy. (720 OR)

100 CY Foundation of Viceroyalty of Furyondy. (745 OR)

107 CY The Overking of Aerdy constructs Castle Millennium at Seawolf Point. (752 OR)

113 CY Alisedran's report of The Hanging Glacier. (758 OR)

155 CY Attir Aedorich's discovery of the Sinking Isle. (800 OR)

198 CY The appearance of the Ball of Fire over the South of the Great Kingdom. (843 OR)

200 CY City of Leukish began as a trading post. (845 OR)

213 CY Age of Great Sorrow. (858 OR)

254 CY Kingdom of Furyondy declared with crowning of Thrommel I. Veluna and Tenh follow in declaring independence. (899 OR)

272 CY Padin the Vain uses the Hand of Vecna to start the Insurrection of the Yaheetes, a Flanae enclave in the North Province. The Malachite Throne destroys them to a person. (917 OR)

283 CY Thrommel III begins construction of Chendl. (916 CY)

290 CY "Vecna II" builds rises in the Bone March Area and builds Tyrus. He rules for 100 years with the aid of the Eye of Vecna. (935 OR)

310 CY Beginning of the Formation of the Shield Lands. (955 OR)

320 CY Nomads Appear in the North, outer dependencies of Aerdy gain sovereignty. (965 OR)

350 CY The formation of the Bandit Kingdoms complete. (995 OR)

356 CY Kingdom of Nyrond established, Kingdom of Keoland reaches peak; Keoland's "Small War" with Furyondy. Urnst become independent. Theocracy of the Pale founded by religious refugees of Pholtus from the Great Kingdom. (1001 OR)

360 CY Battle of Molvar and Battle of Lopolla end Keolandish expansion to the North. (1005 OR)

371 CY Founder of Bandit Kingdom City of Rookroost assassinated. Starts precedent for ascension to leadership of that enclave. (1016 OR)

375 CY Zagig Yragerne begins construction of Greyhawk Castle. (1020 OR)

390 CY The Malachite Throne overthrows Vecna II. (1025 OR)

393 CY Zagig Yragerne founds the Guild of Wizardry in Greyhawk. (1028 OR)

394 CY The publishing of Pontus Hardiggin's, halfling traveler extraordinaire, journals and his description of Esmerin, "the land of giants and halflings in the Lortmils." (1029 OR)

400 CY Voorman Perren unites cantons of Perrenland. (1035 OR)

416 CY The paladin, Myro, conquers one of the bandit kingdoms and declares himself "king." (1041 OR)

430 CY Vlek Col Vlekzed establishes the Hold of Stonefist. (1065 OR)

435 CY An unnamed agent of an evil deity bestows the Hand of Vecna, on Myro. He is corrupted by it. (1070 OR)

437 CY Turmoil Between the Crowns. House Naelax replaces House Rax on Malachite Throne. (1072 OR)

440 CY Warrior-Priests of Wintershiven found the Church Militant (of Pholtus). (1075 OR)

446 CY Founding of Iron League; Bandit Kings sack Trigol; Assassination of the entire house of Rax in the Great Kingdom. (1081 OR)

449 CY Second Civil War in Rauxes. University of Rauxes sacked. (1084 OR)

450 CY Myro is destroyed by a joint force from Nyrond, Furyondy and the Shield Lands. (1085 CY)

453 CY King Tavish III of Keoland dies, Tavish IV ascends to throne; end of Keoish Emperialism. The ill-fated expedition of Sormod of Perrenland to find Eru-Tovar, north of Blackmoor. (1088 OR)

455 CY Sunndi rebels against the Great Kingdom, joins the Iron League. (1090 OR)

461 CY Demi-human realm of Ulek affected, demi-human realm of Celene revealed (although it is also "affected" in the eyes of the Great Kingdom, this hidden Elven realm actually just decides to open communications with the human kingdoms at this time). (1096 OR)

465 CY Volte, a blue dragon terrorizing Geoff and Sterich, is defeated by a group of adventurers aided by Schemley, a Greyhawk dragon. (2000 OR)

468 CY The Witch-Queen Iggwilv's power grows in the Yatils. She conquers Perrenland. (2003 OR)

478 CY Iggwilv is overthrown and imprisoned. Perrenland is liberated. (2013 OR)

479 CY Might of Iuz grows, humanoid invasions become common. (2014 OR)

480 CY City of Elredd founded by a Wolf Nomad warrior on the site of earlier camp settlements. (2015 OR)

494 CY Ivid I dies, Ivid II ascends the Malachite Throne. (2029 OR)

497 CY Ivid II is assassinated and replaced by his son, Ivid III. (2032 OR)

498 CY County of Urnst becomes Palatinate under Duchy of Urnst; Greyhawk becomes free city. (2033 OR)

505 CY Imprisonment of Iuz in beneath the Castle Greyhawk. (2040 OR)

506 CY Jurnre falls at the height of The Hateful Wars. (2041 OR)

510 CY Last of the Euroz and Jebli driven from the Lortmil Mountains. Lord Sandor the Headstrong of Polvar (in Ket) pursues the goblin horde of Urgush. Both forces are lost to the poisons of Csipros Erd, the Geysers of Death located somewhere in the maze of valleys and hills north of the Barriear Peak region. This ended the Hateful Wars. (2045 OR)

511 CY The Battle of Dour Pentress. (2046 OR)

513 CY Rise of Horned Society; humanoids take Pomarj. (2048 OR)

516 CY First Sighting of the Velunese Lights. (2051 OR)

519 CY Founding of Azak-Zil ("Pureheart") by the dwarven clan Highgate. (2054 OR)

520 CY Hradji Beartooth's discovery of Skrellingshald. (2054 OR)

522 CY King Belvor II is crowned in Furyondy. (2056 OR)

523 CY Storrich of the Hold of Stonefist supposedly enter the Burning Cliffs region. (2057 OR)

524 CY Loss of Azak-Zil. (2058 OR)

526 CY Dyvers becomes a Free City. (2060 OR)

537 CY King Belvor III of Furyondy dies in his sleep. (2071 OR)

550 CY The Valley of the Mage is established. (2084 OR)

555 CY The Frutzii are conquered by the Schnai. (2089 OR)

556 CY The discovery the unusual halfling casket in the River near Courwood. Ivid IV is assassinated by his son, Ivid V. (2090 OR)

(The following years from 557-583 CY are called "The Times of Struggle" by historians.)

557 CY Rise of the Slaver Lords in Drachensgrabs. (2091 OR)

560 CY Formation of the Circle of Eight. (2094 OR)

561 CY The Wizard Murq captures and kills many of the children of the nobility of Greyhawk. (2095 OR)

563 CY Bone March taken by humanoids. (2097 OR)

566 CY Alliance of Drow with Giants in the West of the Flanaess. (3000 OR)

567 CY The "Beggar's War" in Greyhawk Beggar's Union defeated by Thieves' Guild. (3001 OR)

569 CY Battle of Emridy Meadows -- Horde of Elemental Evil Scattered. Herzog of the South Province leads forces to a minor victory over the Golden League (Nyrond, Almor and the Iron League). (3003 OR)

570 CY Iuz freed from captivity and returns north. (3004 OR)

571 CY Irongate joins the Golden League and drives Ivid's forces under the Herzog back to the South Province. (3005 OR)

572 CY The Dawnbreaker Clan of Rauxes fails to overthrow Ivid. Sea Barons defeat Duxchaners in The Battle of Medegia. (3006 OR)

573 CY Scarlet Brotherhood first reported; Prince of Furyondy and Provost of Veluna kidnapped; The Cult of the Reptile God Rises in Orlane. (3007 OR)

575 CY Appointment of the People's Constables in Greyhawk City. Duke Eyeh II of Tenh begins an aggressive campaign to clear the Troll Fens. (3009 OR)

576 CY "Guide to the World of Greyhawk" completed by Pluffet Smedger the Elder. (3010 OR)


The Oeridian Record (abbreviated OR, and called Oerid Reckoning) is a method of counting the years among the Oeridian people. It is commonly used for dates prior to Year 1 in the Common Year calendar, and by many Oeridian-settled nations that were never part of the Great Kingdom.

Year 1 in the Common Year (CY) calendar is equivalent to 645 in the Oeridian Record. -1 CY is equivalent to 644 OR.

In ancient times the Oeridians were nomads who wandered the central plains of Oerik west of the Tyurzi Mountains. In the year 1 of the Oeridian Record, while the Baklunish-Suloise Wars were threatening to overwhelm the Oeridian homelands, these nomads united their tribes in a single confederation to resist imperial Baklunish incursions from the Ulsprue Mountains and by Baklunish nomads to the north.

(This calendar is based on several TSR publications including: The World of Greyhawk, The City of Greyhawk, The Temple of Elemental Evil (T1-4), Rary the Traitor (WGR3), The Marklands (WGR4), Vale of the Mage (WG12), Vecna Lives (WGA4), Dungeon Master's Guide 1st ed., Greyhawk Adventures (TSR) and others by TSR based on the work of Gary Gygax).

NOTE : All dates include a cross reference to other calendars. This was done to establish the historical relationship to the cultures most connected to the calendar in question and the common year (CY).

All calendars are based on the World of Greyhawk campaign setting (TSR).

Path of History

The commonly understood history of the Flanaess begins just over one thousand years ago, when the great conflict between the ancient Suloise and Baklunish empires forced massive migrations eastward across, around, and even under the western mountain ranges. This resulted in the mixture of races and cultures that defines the modern Flanaess.

Tales of the era before the migrations are fragmentary and poorly understood. Did monstrous creatures rule Oerik before the advent of humanity? Did the great races of humans, elves, dwarves, and the like arise by fiat of the gods or journey here from elsewhere? Did the elves raise humanity to civilization, or did humans achieve this on their own? Did the Flan once have their own empires and civilizations? Who built the oldest tombs in the Cairn Hills, the half-buried ruins in the Bright Desert, or the deserted stone cities in the Griff Mountains? Where were the fabled realms ruled by Johydee, the Wind Dukes of Aaqa, Vecna the Whispered One, the High Kings of the dwarves, or the elven King of Summer Stars? What became of the mysterious Isles of Woe, and who dwelled there? No one knows with any certainty.
Even histories of the early years of the migrations are unclear on many points. The Oeridian tribal realm of Thalland was so thoroughly absorbed by the kingdom of Aerdy that it survives only in name as the Thelly River. The ancient kingdom of Ahlissa, ruled by the Flan and easily conquered by Aerdy, is known today only for its founding wizard-queen, Ehlissa the Enchantress, and a magical nightingale she made. (The Flan here have almost vanished through intermarriage.) So it goes for much of recorded time.

What is presented here is a history of the land accepted by most learned authorities and understood by almost anyone with a rudimentary education.The current time is the Common Year (CY) 575, which is also 1219 OR (Oeridian Record), 6090 SD (Suloise Dating), 5037 OC (Olven Calendar), 3234 BH (Baklunish Hegira) and 2725 FT (Flan Tracking).

DISASTER AND MIGRATION

The root cause of the animosity between the Suel Imperium and the Baklunish Empire is lost in time, but the end result of their final war haunts even the modern day. After decades of conflict, the Suloise Mages of Power called down the Invoked Devastation upon the Baklunish, resulting in an apocalypse so complete that its true form remains unknown. Entire cities and countless people were purged from Oerth, leaving few signs of the great civilization that thrived from the Sulhaut Mountains to the Dramidj Ocean.

In retaliation, a cadre of Baklunish wizard-clerics, gathered in the great protective stone circles known as Tovag Baragu, brought the Rain of Colorless Fire upon their hated enemies. The skies above the Suel Imperium opened, and all beings and things beneath this shining rift in the heavens were burned into ash. So terribly did these attacks plague the world that they have come to be called the Twin Cataclysms, a term understood by nearly every resident of the Flanaess. The Dry Steppes and Sea of Dust are geographical reminders of this unbridled magical power, now lost to all people—perhaps for the better.

Thousands survived the early years of the Suel-Baklunish conflict by fleeing east over the Crystalmists. The Oeridians, a confederation of barbaric tribes in close proximity to the warring empires, took the wars (and attendant raids from orc and goblin mercenaries in the employ of both sides) as a sign to migrate eastward in search of their ultimate destiny. They were the first large group to enter the lands of the Flan, which they termed the Flanaess.

Suloise refugees soon followed, sometimes working with the Oeridians to pacify the land, but more often warring with them over which race would dominate it. For over two centuries, Suel and Oeridian fought for control of the region from the Crystalmists to the Solnor Coast. Many Suloise were debased and wicked, and they lost most of these battles and were pushed to the periphery of the Flanaess.


Though some Baklunish folk migrated eastward, many more fled north toward the Yatil Mountains, or to the shores of the Dramidj Ocean, where their ancient cultures flourish to this day. The very nonhuman mercenaries the Oeridians had sought to avoid found themselves swept up by these migrations. Many of the foul creatures that now plague the Flanaess arrived following the Oeridians and Suel. These renegade mercenaries trailed after human migrants in search of plunder, food, and slaves.

KEOLAND AND AERDY

The most successful union of Suel and Oeridian came in the Sheldomar Valley, where Keoland was founded eighty years after the Twin Cataclysms. The Suel Houses of Rhola and Neheli joined with Oeridian tribes on the banks of the Sheldomar and pledged themselves to mutual protection and dominion of the western Flanaess, an agreement that set the course of history for the region for the next nine centuries. Of all the new realms formed during those tumultuous days, only Keoland remains.


Farther east, the most powerful of all Oeridian tribes, the Aerdi, reached the Flanmi River. From there they spread outward again, conquering indigenous peoples and fellow migrants alike. In time, the kingdom of Aerdy ruled the whole of the eastern Flanaess and moved its borders westward. One hundred and ten years after the defeat of the last meaningful threat to Aerdi sovereignty, at the Battle of a Fortnight’s Length, the leader of Aerdy was crowned as overking of the Great Kingdom. Overking Nasran also marked the birth of a new calendar, and with the Declaration of Universal Peace, the sun arose in the east on the first day of the first Common Year. The writ of imperial Aerdy eventually encompassed holdings as far west as the Yatils, controlling the southern Nyr Dyv with a small garrison at an insignificant trading post known as Greyhawk.

From 213 CY on, the Aerdi overkings grew lax, caring more for local prestige and wealth than for the affairs of their vassals in distant lands. This period was called the Age of Great Sorrow. As each sovereign passed, he was replaced with a more dimwitted and less competent successor, until the outer dependencies of Aerdy declared their independence. The viceroyalty of Ferrond led the way, becoming the kingdom of Furyondy. Other regions also broke away from the ineffectual government of the overking over time, creating their own governments after achieving success in their wars of rebellion.

By 356 CY, the ruling dynasty of Aerdy, the Celestial House of Rax, had grown especially decadent. In response, the western province of Nyrond declared itself free of the Great Kingdom and elected one of its nobles as king of an independent domain. Armies gathered from all loyal provinces of Aerdy to suppress this brazen act. At this time, however, barbarians from the Thillonrian Peninsula raided the Great Kingdom’s North Province, forcing the overking to divert troops from the western front. Nyrond easily survived and thrived.

The Kingdom of Keoland awoke from a long slumber in the third century, expanding to dominate its neighbors. This short-lived Keoish empire lasted almost two centuries before far-flung wars and internal strife laid it low. The outer dependencies declared their autonomy, and Keoland resumed its peaceful isolation

THE IVIDS AND IUZ

The darkest chapter in the history of Aerdy began in 437 CY. In this year, the upstart House Naelax murdered the Rax overking, inaugurating a series of gruesome civil wars called the Turmoil Between Crowns. Within a decade, Ivid I of Naelax was recognized as the undisputed overking of all Aerdy. As Ivid was rumored to be in league with powerful evil Outsiders, the Malachite Throne of the Great Kingdom became known as the Fiend-Seeing Throne, and the once mighty and upright empire became a bastion of evil and cruelty.The lands of the Flanaess soon became acquainted with an altogether less subtle form of evil with the rise of Iuz, in the Northern Reaches loosely aligned with Furyondy. In 479 CY, a minor despot in the Howling Hills left his domain to his “son,” a being known as Iuz. Within a handful of years, Iuz had conquered his neighbors, setting up a small realm for himself. Tales told by refugees entering Furyondy spoke of unmitigated evil: Iuz was building a road of human skulls from the Howling Hills to his capital, Dorakaa. Worse, divinations and rumors marked Iuz as the offspring of an unholy union between necromancer and demon; he was seen to be a half-fiend towering 7 feet in height, driven by a thirst for blood, destruction, and conquest.

Political struggles within Furyondy prevented the king from acting decisively in this period, when the evil of Iuz might have been permanently checked. Instead, the cambion lord flourished until 505 CY, when he appeared to vanish from Oerth. In truth, Iuz was imprisoned beneath Castle Greyhawk by the Mad Archmage Zagig Yragerne, former lord mayor of Greyhawk. In Iuz’s absence, orc tribes and disloyal former subjects squabbled for control of his lands, allowing the forces of weal to rest for a time.

Three developments kept Furyondy and its allies from complacency. First, part of Iuz’s leaderless realm soon broke away to be ruled by a nearly equal evil, the Horned Society.

Second, the notorious Horde of Elemental Evil arose, a collection of cultists and villains headquartered at a temple south of the town of Verbobonc. The Horde was the puppet of Zuggtmoy, Iuz’s abyssal consort, who instructed it in bizarre teachings at the behest of her absent lover. The Horde’s banditry was finally vanquished in 569 CY at the Battle of Emridy Meadows, where Prince Thrommel of Furyondy led forces from Furyondy, Veluna, Verbobonc, and other realms in victory and the destruction of the temple.

Third, faithful orc and human servants of Iuz became zealots dedicated to their absent lord. In time, the leaders of these cults devoted to Iuz displayed magical power, igniting Furyondy’s worst fears. In 570 CY, a meddlesome warrior-adventurer named Lord Robilar freed Iuz from his imprisonment. Iuz returned to his lands more powerful and wicked than ever before, with an unholy priesthood leading his forces in his unholy name.

Organizations and Societies

Rangers of the Gnarley Forest

This "little" group consists of more than two hundred rangers. They come from all over to protect the vast expanse of the Gnarley Forest. There is no set order of command except for several Ranger Knights that gather every two to three months to exchange information. Young rangers are taken in under one of these Knights and trained although rangers of any level may join by finding one one of these Ranger Knights, be interviewed and pass several woodland tests.

The rangers are a close group and will come to one another's aid as soon as possible. Even the animals of the Gnarley Forest seem to cooperate with them by dragging wounded rangers to safety or alerting to possible dangers. Their main goal is to control lumbering in the wood, flush out bandits and protect the people of the Gnarley Forest.

They also must stay close the the forest. Any extended leave of over six months must be approved by a Ranger Knight and long journeys away without good cause will usually result in the ranger being asked to turn in his/her insignia of oak leaves.

Knights of Holy Shielding

These knights are the backbone of the army of the Shield Lands. The Knights of Holy Shielding are paladins and young men hoping to join their ranks usually start as squires. A paladin must be of at least seventh level and be capable of proclaiming some heroic deed. They are well respected in their homeland but have become hated and despised by Iuz and his following with whom they battle.

Knights of the Watch

These were the best of the best from the armies of Bissel, Gran March, Geoff and Keoland. They were there to protect from Baklunish threats from the west. Once their number was 6,500 but now due to the giant invasion of Geoff and the attack from Ket into Bissel their number is now only 2,500. They use traditional warfare techniques that cost them dearly when dealing with the humanoids, giants, and groups from Ket.

The Knights of the Watch are divided into two groups. The first is referred to as the Watchers. They stand on their traditions and see no reason for changing them. The second is called the Dispatchers. They tend to split into scouting parties and ambush humanoids in Geoff that shouldn't be there.

They both fight to protect Gran March and Keoland, but while the Knights of the Watch wait for enemies to come, the Knights of Dispatch actively go out and attack them.

Knights of the Order of the Hart

This group of knights was designed to make sure that Furyondy, Veluna and High Folk kept their freedom. The nobles and lords of these areas kept their own men-at-arms and guards but to gather them together took time and this problem was solved with the Knights of the Order of the Hart who vow to always be battle ready. They are divided into three branches.

The Knights of Furyondy that hold 170 men to their 200 before the war. These guys aren't really trusted by Dyvers and Verbobonc even though the Knights are trying to protect their trade. They feel that the knights would be happy to see them become a part of Furyondy.

The Knights of Veluna number at 120 and used to house nothing but seasoned veterans of seventh level or higher, but have begun accepting war clerics, human paladins of at least fifth level and human and half-elven priests of at least sixth level.

The Knights of the High Forest consists completely of elves and has only 45 members. They fight in the Vesve forest and also trade, although they aren't merchants they need the money.

The Knights of the Order of the Hart spend their time drilling, protecting the strongholds and are well respected by the people of their nations. They do have a bit of a rivalry going on between themselves and the Knights of Shielding.

The Scarlet Brotherhood

This group makes it's home on the Tilvanot Peninsula. Their one driving goal since it's founding a thousand years ago is to have the Suel recognized as the master race throughout the Flanaess. Apparently there was a premonition of doom right before the Rain of Colorless Fire descended upon the Suel Empire. One man named Kevelli Mauk that had founded the Brotherhood three years prior had enough time to gather ten of his students along with their slaves, the Tome of the Scarlet Sign (the Brotherhood's manifesto) and use a now lost artifact called Lendor's Matrix to teleport them all to the western side of Hellfurnaces just before the fall of the Rain of Colorless Fire.

They, over time, eventually made there way down into the Tilvanot Peninsula where they reside. They believe that by their physical perfection, the early birth of their empire and their mastery of magic that they are the superior race. They are a people where assassins and thieves are as common place as farmers and merchants on the main land.

Horned Society

No one knows the true age of the Horned Society. Most scholars perceive them as opportunists who emerged earlier this century to fill the void left by the retreat of the luz from the city of Molag, and then were swept away after his return. Some think of them as pretentious bandits with delusions of grandeur. More ominous speculation gives the organization ancient roots. In fact, some druids speak of the dreaded "Horned Ones," cultists who stalked the night in ancient times. It is not certain whether the modern Horned Society is a descendant of these predators. Conflicting reports place the Horned Society as worshipers of the god Nerull, or of devils. Both seem likely, since the organization is made of many factions. Their thirteen leaders are drawn from many classes, including powerful fighters, clerics, and wizards. The philosophy of the Horned Society is to rule through fear and might. Overtones of human supremacy also factor in.

World's Hardest Gary Gygax quiz

About taking the Hardest Gary Gygax Quiz in the World and getting 90%!

"You are a Gary Gygax Lord. Wow, you know a lot about Gary Gygax! My guess is that you are one of those Old School Renaissance guys, or else your last name is Gygax. Seriously, I didn't think anyone would do this well on this quiz. "

That's what the quiz quoted me as you can see to the right margin. I was actually surprised I did so well and by the same token didn't consider it that hard. I must confess that it was just my luck that I had recently read the the first Gord the Rogue novel "The Saga of Old City" so the bonus questions were fresh in my mind, otherwise my score would have been closer to the 70% mark.