I recently located an old page where I stored “news and rumours” inspired by my Greyhawk campaigns. The date attached to the file was December 2003, so there has been a *lot* of subsequent adventuring. Players in my games may remember some of the events; others were invented from whole cloth to flesh out the chronicle.
The current date in our Greyhawk campaign is about Spring of 599 C.Y.
Spring, 581 C.Y.
The Great Dragon R’yalaptorous, who has been quiet these past few years in his lair in the Barrier Peaks, has recently raided a village in the Duchy of Geoff. Duke Owen is said to be greatly troubled, and detractors say the Duke is unsure of how to proceed since the kidnapping of his younger son.
* * *
Most the activitiy around Greyhawk of the feuding Hextor and Iuz followers has now ceased, due largely in part to the efforts of one Gerald of Trithereon, who has led several daring raids to undermine the forces of evil. Whilst some of the clerics of Hextor have travelled north-east, and are reported to be in the vicinity of the small village of Bright Springs, the Iuz orcs have definitely marched back homewards but have diverted to lay siege to a castle in the Shield Lands.
* * *
Summer, 581 C.Y
The forces of Hextor and Iuz in the area of the City of Greyhawk have finally dispersed. Iuz orcs are currently assaulting the fortresses of the Knights of the Holy Shielding, and harrying the northernmost reaches of the Kingdom of Furyondy. The gnolls of Hextor have been wiped out by the combined efforts of the churches of Trithereon, Xan-Yae, Zuokan and Heironeous, and the priests of Hextor who survived the purge have been tracked down to the village of Bright Springs, a week’s travel north-east of the City of Greyhawk.
* * *
The paladin, Gillian the White, of the order of Heironeous has been freed from the clutches of the Slavers of the Wild Coast. The church of Heironeous is seeking heroes to escort her to her homeland of the County of Ulek from where she currently is, in the town of Fax on the Wild Coast.
* * *
There is some worriment in the City of Greyhawk as magical divinations as to the city’s future have inexplicably failed. The Circle of Eight are said to be investigating.
* * *
There is a major rebellion underway in the southern provinces of the Great Kingdom of the Aerdy. An extremely charismatic rebel leader has proclaimed himself as the son of St Cuthbert, and many have flocked to his banner.
* * *
It seems as if not all of the priests of Iuz left the Greyhawk area – some had actually infiltrated the city and started a cult to the Old One there. Their activities have been discovered by the Church of St Cuthbert, and adventurers are sought to head a raid into their stronghold.
* * *
A major setback for the forces of good in the Vesve Forest, as Iuz orcs, ogres and ettercaps have overrun several elvish villages in the border territory. Many elves are now fleeing south towards Highfolk, or leaving the area entirely and moving towards Celene.
* * *
Autumn, 581 C.Y.
A young priestess of Xan-Yae, believed killed during the purge two years ago, has been found wandering the streets of Greyhawk in a state of some disarray. She moaned constantly of visions of the “Dark One Coming”, and that she could see Greyhawk burning. The High Priest of Xan-Yae has given her shelter, but is revealing nothing more about her appearance or visions.
* * *
Early Winter snow is blocking most of the major passes of the mountains, and trading between countries is currently at a stand-still.
* * *
Very few merchants have recently been seen from the lands of the Great Kingdom, and those travelling to its outposts have been turned back by its border guards. It is unknown as to why this ban is in place.
* * *
A few dead bodies of adventurers were found floating down the Velverdyva river recently. It is said that they tried to penetrate the Vale of the Mage, and met their fate there.
* * *
Winter, 581 C.Y.
The artificer, Kiril of Greyhawk, a mage of some power who enchants magical weapons and devices for adventurers with enough gold has recently been attacked in his favourite tavern. A group of cultists were driven off by a band of adventurers who were dealing with Kiril at the time, but not before several of the adventurers were severely hurt. Kiril was rendered unconscious during the fight, but revived later. Amongst the adventurers aiding Kiril were the warrior-priest Gerald of Trithereon, and Meliander the Mage, the latter recently come to the city after his adventures with the Slavers of the Wild Coast.
* * *
The coming of winter has been greeted by some joy by the defenders of the Vesve forest and the various lands to the south of the kingdom of Iuz. It is hoped that the snows will hamper any further expansion of the orcs, and that armies can be raised from further south to boost the flagging defenses.
* * *
The paladin Sir Rupert of Heironeous has recently completed an arduous quest in which he acquired a Pegasus as a mount. The folk of the County of Urnst are most proud of their defender, and the Count is thinking of building a statue in honour of the paladin.
* * *
Strange lights in the Vast Swamp have not lured any villagers to their deaths – they have learned from past, painful experience to ignore any such events. A local lord has offered a reward of 5,000 gold pieces to whatever group can penetrate the swamp and return with intelligence about the source of the lights, but so far there have been no takers.
* * *
The failure of divinations in the City of Greyhawk has begun to spread to nearby countries such as Urnst and Furyondy. The western nations believe it is a ploy by Iuz, but the savant Yrgillis believes that it is because the Gods have tired of the world, and are now leaving it to their own devices.
* * *
Late Winter, 581 C.Y.
A Rhennee barge has been discovered floating abandoned in the Nyr Dyv near the entrance to the Selintan River. Those who discovered it described the decks being awash with blood, but there was no sign of any other remains of the crew. The barge was declared cursed, and burnt.
* * *
It is a particularly harsh winter this year. Most of the war campaigns that had begun the previous spring have now ended, with troops separated from each other by large blizzards and snow drifts.
* * *
The Church of Xan-Yae in Greyhawk seems to be gathering a fair number of new priests and priestesses.
* * *
Midwinter in the City of Greyhawk has been a portentous affair. The Selintan River has frozen over, something it hasn’t done in living memory, and the dead walked its icy surface. Within the walls of Greyhawk, the ghosts of past Oligarchs invaded the Council Chambers, and stopped all business therein. The Ruling Council of Greyhawk attempted to contact the churches of Pelor and St Cuthbert to exorcise the council chambers, but the patriarchs of both churches were at a special meeting of all churches in Greyhawk – including those of Iuz and Nerull!
* * *
A community of gnomes just south of Verbobonc has been attacked and nearly destroyed by a single man, with great magical powers. The people of Verbobonc are sending aid.
* * *
Great revelry in the Great Kingdom was disrupted when the planned Fiendish Revels were cancelled due to a strange event – the lack of fiends! The priests involved in opening the portals to Hell have been executed, but sources report that even the High Priests themselves have been unable to open portals to the Outer Planes!
* * *
Supplies are growing short in various areas around the Flanaess, as supply wagons have been stopped by the harsh snows. Traders are few, as goblins and worgs are particularly prevalent.
* * *
The Theocracy of the Pale has stepped up its crusade against unbelievers. Those not following the Blinding Light (Pholtus) are being blinded, as the more strict of the faith interpret their holy scriptures.
* * *
Spring, 582 C.Y.
The dark days of winter are passing. There has been great confusion in the Empire of Iuz with that evil cambion’s recent disappearance. Reports are gradually trickling out that the Old One was in a planning session with his generals for the spring offensive, when suddenly he became aware of something and teleported out. It has now been over a month since then, and he has not returned.
* * *
The Paynim horde was recently gathered around Tovag Baragu for some ceremony, but they have dispersed in great confusion.
* * *
Reports have begun to filter into the City of Greyhawk that the second son of the Duke of Geoff, Tyrian, who was captured by slavers and sold into slavery in the Great Kingdom has been killed. It is not known if the Duke knows at this point.
* * *
The commanders of the armies of Furyondy and the Shield Lands have met in Chendyl with a representive of Highfolk to discuss measures to take about the recent losses to Iuz in the Vesve Forest.
* * *
The Hierarchs of the Horned Society, who had been fighting a losing battle against Iuz, have declared that a new god supports their struggle, and they will have victory over the cambion by the end of the year. No details as the identity of the new god are yet forthcoming, nor whether their claims can be fulfilled or not.
* * *
Yahlos of Xan-Yae, High Priest of the Lady, has abandoned the City of Greyhawk, travelling towards the west with most of the members of his church. No reasons for their departure have been forthcoming.
* * *
Meliander the Mage has wed a noblewoman of the City of Greyhawk in a lavish ceremony, and then departed with his new bride for his home in the County of Ulek. Meliander is best known for his efforts in destroying the Slaver Ring of the Wild Coast, where he was accompanied by his companion Brunak the Mighty, a barbarian warrior of the Fruzti tribe.
* * *
There is a mountain in the western Flanaess near the Plains of the Paynims upon which wanders an attractive young woman, pleading for help, but vanishes whenever anyone approaches too closely. Towards the mountain’s peak are set two brass gates which lead into an underground complex – or so it is presumed, for no-one has been able to enter the gates, as they are protected by ancient magicks.
* * *
Late Spring, 582 C.Y.
The Horned Society has adopted Vecna as their new god, it has been discovered. With Iuz gone, his armies are failing beneath the pressure of the Horned Society’s advance, and Dorakaa may fall before the end of the year.
* * *
Winter has not faded along the Crystalmist mountains. The sages of the border lands say that some magic is involved, but action is now needed as several snow monsters have begun coming from the mountains and attacking the nearby Grand Duchy of Geoff.
* * *
Mordenkainen’s keep has fallen to an attack by unknown forces! The arch-mage has fled, but to where is not known.
* * *
The gnomish gem-fair is approaching! The highlight of the socialites life, the fair only occurs once every twenty-five years, and is when the greatest works of the gnomish craftsmen are put on display. Security is said to be very tight, and only magical passes will reveal the location to the lucky attendees.
* * *
Summer, 582 C.Y.
The forces of Iuz are utterly demoralised, and the forces of the Horned Society have won several telling victories, and the armies of the good kingdoms to the south are now mobilising.
* * *
In Greyhawk, Kyril the Artificer is hiring adventurers to find him the spines of a manticore’s tail for a new item he’s creating.
* * *
Autumn, 582 C.Y.
War has erupted in the Flanaess!
In the north-east, the Great God of the North has returned, and united the barbarian tribes under the leadership of King Brunak the Mighty. The barbarian horde is pressing south towards the Great Kingdom, whose troops have been out of position due to recent activity near Nyrond.
* * *
The war between the loyalists of Iuz and the Horned Society has ended with the Horned Society victorious. Iuz is now despised and his church is broken! Under the auspices of Vecna, the humanoid hordes have attacked the Vesve Forest, Furyondy and the Shield Lands. Furyondy, under the banner of Prince Thrommel is holding well, but the Vesve and Shield Lands are crumbling.
* * *
The Horde of Elemental Evil, thought destroyed when Prince Thrommel was rescued two years ago, has reformed and is marching on the tri-nations of Ulek. Various towns in the Wild Coast have been raised, and reinforcements from the Pomarj have swelled the army to great heights. With Meliander the Mage missing from his tower in the Silver Wood, the Druids debating their tactics against the Horde.
* * *
The Duke of Geoff, in shock after the loss of his younger son Tyrian, has had the shock redoubled with his his heir also vanishing after a surprise Giant raid. The western-most villages in the Duchy are now lost, and reports are coming in of a strange golem with powers far greater than ever seen before, able to obliterate entire armies with ease.
* * *
The Mage of the Vale has rebuffed several attempts to contact him, leaving in one instance the offending wizard feebleminded. No sanctuary for refugees exists in the Vale!
* * *
The Crystal Tower of Yaglosh the Unseen has reappeared on it’s isle in the Nyr Dyv; it is said that he who can penetrate to the wizard’s sanctum will receive a wish for whatever he or she might desire – but few supplicants return from the Tower.
* * *
Spring, 583 C.Y.
The artificer Roywyn Ningel has disappeared with some of her friends after taking a commission from the merchant Master Kyle to rescue his daughter from kidnappers. It has been over a week since they left on the mission, and there has been no word of their whereabouts. Master Guevera, the patron of Roywyn Ningel, is organising an expedition to find where his missing illusionist-artificer has gone to.
* * *
The Frost Barbarians have unified the Ice and Snow Barbarians under their banner, and King Brunak the Mighty now marches under the auspices of Vatun, Great God of the North. The Hold of Stonefist and the lands of Ratik are now desperately seeking mercenaries to slow the barbarian horde’s advance.
* * *
The Horned Society are consolidating their hold over the forsaken lands of Iuz. Prince Thrommel of Furyondy is leading expeditions along Iuz’s southern border, and retaking some of the land lost in the previous season’s skirmishes.
* * *
Giant activity in the Barrier Peaks has increased, along with more reports of a metal golem devastating the smaller holds in the Duchy of Geoff.
* * *
Sailers south of the Bright Desert have reported seeing a mysterious tower somewhere along the shore in the twilight, but it is gone when full sun or moon illuminates it.
* * *
Summer, 583 C.Y.
A party led by Cirrem, the Dreamer-Minstrel have managed to defeat the eldritch golem that was laying waste to the Duchy of Geoff. The golem was made of strange alloys never seen before in the land. Unfortunately, giant raids into the Duchy in addition to the golem’s attacks have forced the populace of the Duchy to flee, and no recovery of the golem’s wreckage was possible.
Mages from as far away as the City of Greyhawk have espressed an interest in studying this strange golem, and have offered a large reward (of many thousands of gold pieces and magic items besides!) to whoever can recover the golem for them.
* * *
An old abandoned temple of Pelor in the eastern region of the County of Ulek has recently become home to bandits. Both Count Lewenn and the local priest of Pelor are seeking adventurers to defeat the bandits and recover the temple.
* * *
Starlin Farr has been seen heading west towards the Plains of the Paynims with a band of well-equipped adventurers. It is said the the leader of the Order of the Bow is seeking the advice of the long-lost Oracle of Istus, said to be in the western Crystalmist mountains. The Oracle was lost during the Twin Cataclysms, over one thousand years ago. It is said that by making a sacrifice of an item worth at least 5,000 gold pieces, a petitioner may gain the true answer to one question of the future, present or past.
* * *
Meliander Corthan, the court wizard in the County of Ulek has gone missing. His wife, the Lady Caitlin of Greyhawk, has taken over his position until he returns. It is said that Meliander had received word of some plot of either Iuz or Vecna to seize the Codex of the Planes and went in search of it, but little more is known. He has certainly not returned for some months.
* * *
A civil war has broken out in the lands of the Frost Barbarians, between Brunak the Mighty, who was recently made King of All Barbarians, and his sponsor, the God Vatun! Details are sketchy, but it seems that Brunak no longer believes in the godhood of Vatun, and instead believes he is an imposter of some sort. In any case, the Barbarian raids southwards have now stopped, and agents are wanted by the Great Kingdom to see that the civil strife continues for as long as poosible!
* * *
Late Summer, 583 C.Y.
Heavy fighting continues through the Shield Lands and the Northern Reaches of Furyondy against the humanoids of Vecna. The Vesve Forest has been overwhelmed, and refugees are streaming into Highfolk and southwards.
* * *
Word of an orcish general in the Pomarj has reached the ears of the leaders of the Ulekian states. The Principality and County have sent scouts to determine how much of a threat this so-called general could be; with most of the Ulekian forces currently battling Vecna far to the north, the tri-states are fairly undefended at the moment.
* * *
A great light was recently seen from the Vale of the Mage, but none know its source or are brave enough to discover its source.
* * *
It is said that the Overking of the Great Kingdom has beheaded his court mage because the court mage could not provide him with halibut for breakfast.
* * *
A cleric of Nerull performed a “death dance” in the Free City of Greyhawk in the last month, slaying many innocent bystanders until the Watch aided by several other people managed to kill him themselves. There have also been reports of other “death dances” being perfomed in Dyvers and Hardby; no-one knows why.
* * *
Autumn, 583 C.Y.
The armies of Vecna are streaming southwards through the broken Shield Lands. Fiends of all persuasions are in the van of the arch-lich’s armies, and only the personal bravery of Prince Thrommel keeps them at bay.
* * *
It is said that the demi-god servant of Xan-Yae has been located, trapped in a prison in the Plane of Shadow. Servants of the goddess are seeking it even now.
* * *
The son of Knight-Marshal Lachlan of Ulek has been slain in combat with goblins. With Ulek now under heavy attack from the Pomarj, the Knight Marshal has gone into a frenzy of recalling forces from the battlegrounds to the north to protect his land from the east.
* * *
Winter, 583 C.Y.
A large number of dead bodies have been turning up on the streets of Greyhawk, covered in multiple stab wounds. No-one knows their origin, however, nor whom any of the victims are.
* * *
Knight-Marshal Lachlan’s son Elmo, who was mistakenly reported killed, has now disappeared whilst investigating the Caves of Chaos near the Ulekian Borderlands. A reward is offered to whoever will brave the caves and the advancing army of Turmosh Mak to discover the whereabouts of this personage.
* * *
The dead have risen from their graves in the lands of Furyondy and Veluna, and flocked to the banner of Vecna the Mighty as he makes war upon those bastions of weal.
* * *
A magical lake in the Vesve forest leads to a city of gems, reports a band of adventurers in Highfolk!
* * *
Cirrem, the Dreamer-Minstrel has returned from an expedition to the Barrier Peaks mountains with reports of much activity among giants and creatures of much fouler sort there.
* * *
Armed with the sword, Blackrazor, Brunak the Mighty has challenged the God of the North for dominance over the Barbarian Nations.
* * *
Spring, 584 C.Y
A great earthquake has reft the earth near the City of Greyhawk, revealing a great chasm leading downwards.
Sages have reported that the earthquake has revealed the fabled Codex of the Planes, which will be the prize of whomever first braves the depths of the earth to claim it.
Parties from the Empire of Vecna and the Scarlet Brotherhood are rumoured to have begun the descent, along with a party from the Temple of Xan-Yae.
Some are praying none find it – for it was the Codex that was responsible for the sinking of the Isles of Woe beneath the waters of the Nyr Dyv, so many years ago.
* * *
The diplomat from the Elvish Nation of Celene to the Free City of Greyhawk has been assassinated! Together with all the other provocations the Queen of the Elves says they have suffered, this has caused the borders of Celene to be sealed, and no further aid against the armies of Vecna will be forthcoming.
The elves look after their own.
* * *
Xaene, Court Mage to the Overking of the Aerdy, has ordered the execution of seven noble lords who are accused of plotting against the Overking. None of them have actually committed any criminal acts, but the Court Seer has declared them traitors, and Xaene has ordered their heads forfeit.
* * *
A dark cloud has gathered over the Empire of Vecna allowing no light to penetrate it; the cloud has begun to creep over the lands to the south as well, and his armies of orcs and goblins now march even during the daytime.
* * *
A warrior has arisen in the Land of the Sea Princes, and proclaimed himself as the Invincible One. To any who defeat him in combat, he will give a chest of gold, but otherwise their life and possessions are forfeit!
* * *
Summer, 584 C.Y
Vecna is defeated! A ritual performed in the City of Greyhawk by the Church of Xan-Yae sent the lich spiralling into the Abyss; his co-opted empire has collapsed into civil war.
* * *
Autumn, 584 C.Y.
Several members of the City of Greyhawk’s Oligarchy have been acting oddly in recent days; investigations have found each was wearing a magical ring that was influencing their actions, but the source of these rings is not known.
* * *
Spring, 585 C.Y. It is said that the Elves of the Silver Unicorn clan have begun a quest for an ancient elvish relic – if found, it could spell the doom for the Overking of the Great Kingdom of the Aerdy…
* * *
Summer, 585 C.Y.
The Fhoi Myore, the spirits that perverted the Firbolg into the terrible Fomorian Giants, are returning.
Priests of their cult (known as the Priests of Chaos), have excavated their lost city, and discovered the Ring of Stone that was used to imprison them on the Julaini Plane. They seek now to find the method to destroy the Ring of Stone.
The Method is recorded in the Book of the Dreamer-Minstrel, lost these many ages, but now recovered and in the possession of Caitlin Ralthaeya Corthan, Court Mage of the County of Ulek.
* * *
Queen Catherine, wife of the Overking of the Great Kingdom has fallen ill, and is very poorly. She is attended by clerics of the churches of Hextor and Zilchus, and the Court Mage, Xaene. Her husband is distraught, and the land waits for news of her health.
* * *
A POX ON DEMI-HUMANS! is the cry coming from the Barony of Seaward in the Great Kingdom. Despite the Overking’s decree that the persecution of demi-humans should cease, the Baron Seaward is considering seceding from the Great Kingdom.
* * *
Autumn, 585 C.Y.
In the Great Kingdom, several parties have set out from the Mage’s Guild in Rauxes, looking for champions to fight the Devourer of Kingdoms, a semi-mythical being that is said to arrive every 1,000 years or so and destroy the most powerful kingdoms in the world. Although the Devourer of Kingdoms has generally been considered a story to frighten children, it seems that the Mage’s Guild know something that the rest of the populace don’t.
As a result, there is great unrest amongst the Overking’s subjects, and several harsh edicts of control have been made from the palace.
* * *
In the County of Ulek, the grape harvest has been disrupted by a plague of locusts… an insect not native to the region. A party of Count’s men has been sent to discover the source of the infestation, and the druids of the Old Faith are working to protect the remaining crop.
* * *
The construction of the Fortress of Trithereon continues apace to the south of the City of Greyhawk in the southern Cairn Hills. The chief priest of Trithereon, Gerald the Liberator, is funding the work from his own pocket, and is also offering money to adventurers looking to clear out some of the monster-infested hills and cairns in the area.
* * *
The Thieves’ Guild of Dyvers has a new master – Guevera, an elven bladethief. The previous master disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and various officials of the city seem to be under Guevera’s control and acting in ways most unlike their personalities.
* * *
Cirrem, the Dreamer-Minstrel has made an appearance in the ruined Duchy of Geoff, leading a party of adventurers west into the mountains. It is said that he is seeking the source of the Adamantine Golem that caused great havoc in the Duchy over the past two years.
* * *
Winter, 585 C.Y.
Tales have recently come to Jurnre of two women adventurers, Caitlin and Fiona, accompanied by a tiger, who are defending their village against goblin and orc raiders. A bard from the College of Jurnre has been sent to investigate.
* * *
There have been strange manifestations in the Bandit Kingdoms of slimy creatures coming from underground in the area of the Rift Canyon. Adventures are sought after to investigate!
* * *
One of the silver mines in the eastern reaches of the County of Ulek has been closed down. A report from Lochiel the Wanderer indicates that Diabolists serving the exiled leaders of the Horned Society are responsible, and are using the mine as a staging ground to summon devils.
* * *
Starlin Farr and his henchwoman, Angelina of the Draku are currently reported to be in the City of Greyhawk meeting with an emissary from Gerald of Trithereon. It seems Gerald is concerned for the welfare of Guevera the Rogue.
* * *
One of the lords of the Bandit Kingdoms has been overthrown by a frightening half-dragon monstrosity, which has seized control of the province. The draconic being stands at least 10 feet high, is humanoid in appearance, and wields a huge spear. The deposed Bandit Prince escaped with some of his treasure hoard to the City of Greyhawk, and is seeking adventures to liberate his fortress.
* * *
Early Spring, 586 C.Y.
The silver mine of Manceldell has been freed from the diabolists that infested it, but a deeper evil has been unearthed.
The Talon of Nephste, a dark artefact of necromatic power, long sealed away, has been recovered from an ancient Ur-Flan burial chamber beneath the mine. Lochiel the Wanderer and his companions took it lest it fall into the hands of the diabolists that sought it.
The Talon now rests in the hands of Lady Caitlin, Court Mage of Ulek, along with the Book of the Dreamer-Minstrel. The guardianship is weighty upon her young shoulders, but there is none other who can perform it.
Again, messengers have gone out seeking word of Meliander of Ulek, but no word of his whereabouts has yet been found.