Rogue’s Gallery

Heart and Soul; Thrommel and Jolene

2026-01-31T08:50:24-05:00January 28th, 2026|

GreyhawkOnline brings you a look at the background events leading up to 577 CY, in the aftermath of the Battle of Emridy Meadows. Thrommel IV of Furyondy and Lady Jolene of Veluna's marriage has been put on hold, irrevocably after the disappearance of Thrommel. Here's a look at Greyhawk's star-crossed lovers—a brief explanation of why their union would matter so much. When darkness gathers, so must light. The Temple of Elemental Evil gathered a host of vile forces, and to meet it, the nations of Furyondy, Veluna, Verbobonc, and Celene formed an alliance. A brave heart in the form of Prince Thrommel IV of Furyondy, and Provost of Veluna gathered these forces to meet it head on at the battle of Emridy Meadows. However, if these forces were going to remain together a natural and pure soul such as Lady Jolene of Veluna was needed to meld it. Here is a brief overview of their stories, and attempted union: “And during that glorious fortnight, the Righteous Hosts of Prince Thrommel IV the Paladin-Prince smote the Temple of Elemental Evil at the Battle of Emridy Meadows.”—Minstrel of Thrommel- One of the most significant moments in Oerth’s history is the grand and gory Battle of Emridy Meadows where the combined forces of Veluna, Furyondy, Verbobonc, and Celene battled the gathering evil at the Temple of Elemental Evil. This decisive strike against evil in 569 CY resulted in most of the masterminds of the temple being routed, with some remnants of the cult of Tharizdun fleeing to pursue their nefarious deeds another day. Thrommel IV’s thunderous cavalry charge which trampled all opposition that stood in ... read more!

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The Druids of the Bone March

2022-03-01T15:30:36-05:00August 1st, 2020|

The Druids of the Bone March The Bone March has a much longer history than most realize. The March's highlands were home to dwarves and gnomes before humans first explored the region and home to tribes of Flan dating back over 1,800 years ago. Unlike the Flan further to the south that established the kingdom of Ahlissa, the Flan that settled in what would become the Bone March preferred to pursue a semi-nomadic lifestyle intricately connected to the land. These druids, while venerating gods such as Beory and Obad-hai, believed in the Old Religion, or the Green Way. In the religion of the Green Way, Beory and Obad-hai are as much a part of the cycle of life as are mortals. These druids that came to the Bone March formed a circle, the Circle of the March, and took it upon themselves to watch over the land and its peoples. Within this culture, the druids acted as spiritual leaders and historians of their tribes. They used the potent ley lines that crossed the land, particularly a junction of two lines at a location called the Green Mouth, to weave potent druidic magics to aid their Flan brothers and sisters. The Green Mouth was a depression within the center of the highlands that was extraordinarily lush and overgrown. How and why this is the case in a moorland is unknown, but it is attributed to a connection to the lands of the Fey. The Coming of the Oeridians Around -190 CY, the Bone March saw the arrival of Oeridians settlers. Unlike the south of the Teesar Torrent, the Oeridians settled in the Bone March in ... read more!

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On Otto

2022-03-01T15:38:57-05:00July 30th, 2020|

On Otto “My liege, and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time. Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief.” ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 2, scene 2, lines 93-99 What can be said of Otto? Much, apparently. More than I imagined, at first. That said, much of it was written by James M. Ward, as erudite a sage as Otto, himself. Otto is a member of the Circle of Eight; not an original member—that distinction goes to the Citadel of Eight: Mordenkainen (wizard), Yrag (fighter), Bigby (wizard), Rigby (cleric), Zigby (dwarf), Felnorith (elf), Vram (elf) & Vin (elf), a group of adventurers who sallied forth from the impregnable bastion (the obsidian Citadel) to fight evil—but one of seven archmagi whom Mordenkainen put together later to act as neutral referees between Good and Evil, lest either gain the upper hand on the other for two long. The new Circle of Eight were Bigby, Otiluke, Drawmij, Tenser, Nystul, and Otto. Jallarzi Sallavarian was recruited later, and hence forth they were known as Mordenkainen and the Circle of Eight. I’ll get to each of them in turn; but for now we are here to discuss Otto. So, what can be said about Otto? Otto, Clr3(Boccob)/Wiz15: HP 78. AL N. Str 16. Dex 10. Con 15. Int 17. Wis 15. Cha 17. Otto is 44, 5‘10“tall, 332 lbs., with long curly brown hair and green-hazel eyes. He usually wears voluminous rich robes of purple and gold, and ... read more!

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On the Circle of Eight

2022-03-01T17:03:08-05:00July 2nd, 2020|

On the Circle of Eight “You see, we cannot draw lines and compartments and refuse to budge beyond them. Sometimes you have to use your failures as stepping-stones to success. You have to maintain a fine balance between hope and despair.' He paused, considering what he had just said. 'Yes', he repeated. 'In the end, it's all a question of balance.” ― Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance “To light a candle is to cast a shadow...” ― Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea The Obsidian Citadel The Circle of Eight is somewhat legendary in the annals of Greyhawk canon. But what is it, actually? Canon says that it’s the vanguard of Balance; but what in god’s green acre does that mean? I’ve no idea, really. It’s not like Iuz or the Scarlet Brotherhood ever petitioned Mordenkainen to intervene on their behalf, citing unfair treatment by fair Veluna or benevolent Nyrond. Help us! They are keeping us from greatness! I prefer its initial mandate, when it was a group of adventurers who sallied forth, smiting Evil where it had taken root. So, what changed? And did they ever? I think not; so, I don’t understand the Champions of Balance moniker. One might say that Balance has always meant the suppression of Evil, which always waxes, while the nations of the world remain blind to it as they bicker amongst themselves in deluded self-interest, oblivious to the true danger luring in the north, or the shadows, or the hearts of men. No matter, I’ve gathered a fair bit of what was written on the Circle, and I leave it up to you to make up ... read more!

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Oerth Journal #33 is Released

2025-10-16T19:01:57-04:00June 30th, 2020|

Another issue of the Oerth Journal has now made it to press! It's been a long row to hoe, but not really any more so than usual. *<insert winking emoji of your choice>* This was a pretty big issue, as far as publishing things. There's always a lot going on behind the scenes, but that too, is normal. About the Issue We've got a whole bunch of articles again ... this month, there isn't a "theme", per se, like some of our more current issues have had. There's almost a cornucopia of topics that ought to find a way to please most everyone! There are several articles about Dwur of various regions which tie together nicely. There's an adventure by John Roy, too! It's a sequel to his Unwelcome Guests (a free PDF download) which he published in October of 2019. And it's straightforward enough that which edition it's written for is almost irrelevant. More of Gary Holian's Death Knights are making an appearance, this time alongside an NPC featured in one of the AD&D Greyhawk Trading Cards. There's a surprising number of magical items, too ... which we might have to look at data on that and see if that's something readers want more of. Speaking of which, be sure to tell us in the comment section below what it is you'd like to see!! About the Cover Art We're especially pleased to feature cover art by one of our most well-known community artists, "LadyLoth". You can find her on both Instagram and Twitter. She's a wonderful artist and has a unique style that looks very "painterly". The piece is called Nyrondese Soldiers. One ... read more!

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NPC – Redface – Chieftain Scalded Hand Orcs – Spinecastle

2022-09-20T15:00:39-04:00June 4th, 2020|

NPC - Redface - Chieftain Scalded Hand Orcs - Spinecastle The Scalded Hand orcs refuse to live inside the walls of Spinecastle and instead have a permanent camp on the Parlous Plain. They are perhaps the most dangerous of the humanoid forces on the Plain but camp toward its edge near a large barrow formed from a charnel pit used to bury Fruztii dead from the old Battle of Shamblefield. The orcs have dug into this barrow, which now houses a temple to Gruumsh, and the bones have been used to frame the tent-dwellings of the Scalded Hand. Only around 400 orcs dwell here, but that number changes continually as the Scalded Hand uses Spinecastle as a gathering places for their allied tribes to meet and plan before launching raids and attacks on humans, demi-humans and humanoids alike. They only go into Spinecastle to sell loot or visit the Pit, which is immensely popular and look down their noses at the Bloody Eye orcs who they feel have been tainted by the human city. Redface is an old Orc and participated in the Siege of Spinecastle. He shares the views of the Black Moon gnoll elders and would like to raze the city and finish the slaughter but is not in alliance with the gnolls. Originally published on the Hall of the Mountain King blog.

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NPC – Huntmaster – Leader Howling Night Flinds – Spinecastle

2022-09-20T15:00:41-04:00May 29th, 2020|

NPC - Huntmaster - Leader Howling Night Flinds - Spinecastle Two hundred flinds. Anywhere but Spinecastle that might be a number to strike horror into the hearts of their enemies, but Spinecastle is a nexus of horror, a metropolis of evil, and the heart of a growing kingdom of humanoids not seen since the days of the Suel Imperium. That these flinds should be the driving hand behind a force of over a thousand gnolls should come as no surprise. To most outsiders, human, demi-huuman, or humanoid these flinds are lost among the Black Moon gnolls, though to other gnolls flinds stand out larger, stronger, statelier, with a commanding bearing. Huntmaster is larger and stronger than most flinds, instantly vicious with a consuming rage only his titanic will can keep in check. He is unfortunately not the smartest of flinds, and many of his tribe think he has been among the gnolls too long, or worse, that he is a throwback to their gnollish heritage. While he is not blamed for the gnolls loss of power after the famine of 576cy, that flind was deposed and eaten after the council of chiefs awarded leadership of Spinecastle back to the orcs, Huntmaster is near to losing control of the Howling Night. Under his leadership the gnolls have seen a faction of rebels appear in their ranks, the Young Blood gnolls, and they truly have only a small fraction of the aging warriors of the original Black Moon pack as loyal followers. The grandiose and impractical plans to seize power from Bloody Eye orcs become more untenable every moon while the day approaches when either Huntmaster's fellow flinds ... read more!

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NPC – Oldbone – Chief Weeping Dark Goblins – Spinecastle

2022-09-20T15:00:41-04:00May 26th, 2020|

NPC - Oldbone - Chief Weeping Dark Goblins - Spinecastle The 300 or so goblins of the Weeping Dark are a small fraction of the thousands used as sword-fodder during the taking of the city. Since that time many have left the city and many have been eaten by their larger and stronger monstrous allies. Now they lair in the sewer system of the High Ward and act as servants to the Bloody Eye orcs. Oldbone was a goblin warrior when the city fell and now he is the oldest survivor of the vast clan of goblins who swarmed over the walls during the siege. His resentment of the gnolls and orcs knows no bounds and he is a willing ally of the hobgoblins who ruled the city during the first few years after its fall. He is aware of the many factions within the city, including the Young Blood gnolls but unknown to any he is in touch with several large goblin clans who dwell beneath the Rakers and seeks to raise another vast goblin army to betray all his masters and allies. Originally published on the Hall of the Mountain King blog.

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NPC – Hoghead – Butcher — Spinecastle

2022-09-20T15:00:42-04:00May 23rd, 2020|

NPC - Hoghead - Butcher -- Spinecastle Even more active than The Pit where the gladiatorial games are run is The Slaughterhouse where the food is divided among the humanoid tribes of the city. All of the tribes in Spinecastle except the ogre's Thundering Club maintain groups of hunters who scour the surrounding land for food. After sixteen years these hunters go far afield and the food brought into the city by merchants has become critical. Food and hunger, it is an underlying force within Spinecastle. Almost it has forced an abandonment of the city when the tribes grew greater than could be fed. Certainly it caused much strife and a change of power from the flinds and gnolls whose over population nearly stripped the city bare three winter's past. Now the orcs run the city and through The Slaughterhouse keep a tight leash around the belly of the gnolls and other humanoids (except the ogres who are kept well-fed and happy or they just start eating anyone within reach). An old flind, Quer'enz, manages The Slaughterhouse, but Hoghead is the chief of butchers and handles the actually slaughtering, butchering and dividing of the meat. He is a vicious old orc from an ancient tribe said to have sailed to the Flanaess from some eastern island and plagued the coastal lands. Hoghead has plans to add Quer'enz to the stewpot one day and if approached with an offer to rid him of the old flind he is very amenable. Originally published on the Hall of the Mountain King blog.

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NPC – Vilmos – Viridian Guild – Spinecastle

2022-09-20T15:00:46-04:00May 18th, 2020|

NPC - Vilmos - Viridian Guild - Spinecastle Vilmos was once a Wolf Nomad or the Setjare Fark as they call themselves, but he had to flee for his evil acts upon members of his own tribe. Like many of his ilk in the north he has gravitated to Spinecastle and has found a home. Currently he is a member of the Viridian Guild and acts as an outrider and guard to the merchant wagons and caravans that bring an endless procession of goods, slaves and meat animals (the slaves are too often just another meal to the cities inhabitants) to the city. When not guardian merchants Vilmos will be out with a group of hunters that capture wild and exotic animals for the Pits. Vilmos himself loves the gladiatorial games and has even competed several times showing off his amazing skill with the bow and lasso. Originally published on the Hall of the Mountain King blog.

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NPC – Five Head Ogre Boss of the Thundering Club – Spinecastle

2022-09-20T15:00:47-04:00May 17th, 2020|

NPC - Five Head Ogre Boss of the Thundering Club - Spinecastle The Ogres of Spinecastle keep busy breaking down things and hauling large and ponderous items from one place to another as well as keeping a crew handy to open and close the massive gates to Spinekeep. They keep themselves amused by squashing anything smaller than themselves. Every so often a group will take off for some fun and plunder or an individual or three will hire themselves out to a tribe or group or person of enough power to impress them just enough from eating them. The Ogres know they are on to a good thing in Spinecastle. Thundering Club isnt a typical tribe and Ogres come and go within its ranks. death being the most common form of departure. Still the Ogre ranks have been steadily growing though not enough to worry the Orcs who currently run things in Spinecastle. Five Heads is the most recent leader due to his size, strength and, surprisingly, intelligence, although this last attribute he keeps well hidden.He is massive for an Ogre, the size of a Hill Giant with strength to match. He has had a suit of armor made equivalent to chainmail, and bears an enchanted two-handed sword that he wields with one hand. He keeps a bag of stones at his side which he will throw during combat and they have a punch like a small catapult. Secretly Five Heads has been planning on over throwing the orcs through an alliance with the Young Blood gnolls and the necromancer (who he is secretly afraid of). He can summon a large force of forty-fifty Ogres from ... read more!

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NPC – Old Fang – Cleric of Yeenoghu – Spinecastle

2022-09-20T15:00:51-04:00May 16th, 2020|

NPC - Old Fang - Cleric of Yeenoghu - Spinecastle The Black Moon gnolls packleaders have fallen under the sway of Erythnul but the Young Bloods have returned to the old ways and the secret worship of Yeenoghu. The necromancer, though a worshiper of no gods but power, has encouraged this and shelters Old Fang within his tower. The cult leader assists the necromancer with his experiments with ghouls. The power of Yeenoghu over these undead seems limitless and he has given Old Fang a small retinue of ghouls to serve him without questions. Already several of the Young Bloods are acolytes and bear the markings of the cult. Old Fang desires to see the gnolls return to dominance within the ruined city and establish Yeenoghu as sole deity worshiped by gnolls across the Flanaess. He is dangerously insane, even for a gnoll, and believes he is Yeenoghu's avatar upon Oerth, Unfortunately he is tremendously old for a gnoll having lived past his 50th year already and only his indomitable will keeps him going. Originally published on the Hall of the Mountain King blog.

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NPC – Bloodkiller (Rat Licker) PackLeader Shattered Skull Gnolls – Spinecastle

2022-09-20T15:00:51-04:00May 15th, 2020|

NPC - Bloodkiller (Rat Licker) PackLeader Shattered Skull Gnolls - Spinecastle The Shattered Skull Gnolls took a heavy beating during the assault upon Spinecastle and never recovered. The flinds who were directing the gnoll forces used them up with as little concern as the goblin tribes. They still number over 75 warriors but it is a fragment compared to the nearly thousand strong pack which descended upon Spinecastle more than a decade ago. Most of the Shattered Skull of today were mere younglings when Spinecastle fell and Bloodkiller (named Rat Licker by the packleaders of the Black Moon Gnolls) had just attained maturity at that time. Now he is one of the oldest survivors. The Shattered Skulls have become feral in the intervening years. Maltreatment by their kindred of the Black Moon and general dislike by the other humanoids have turned them in a viscous and wild pack of beasts. They consume anything, even other gnolls and live a precarious life within the city. They have literally been driven underground lairing in the old sewer tunnels beneath the city and only coming out at night to hunt. Foultooth has sought them out and made promises to bring them into the Young Bloods when the time is right and they overthrow the flinds and the packleaders of the Black Moon. Originally published on the Hall of the Mountain King blog.

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NPC – Foultooth Packleader Black Moon Gnolls – Spinecastle

2020-05-14T17:00:50-04:00May 14th, 2020|

NPC - Foultooth Packleader Black Moon Gnolls - Spinecastle Foultooth was only a pup when Spinecastle was taken and he has been raised in the ruins of the city. He is a rising leader as he is overly large and extraordinarily viscous even for a gnoll. The older gnolls hate the stonehouses and streets of the city and hate, fear and obey the Flinds of the Howling Night pack. but Foultooth and most of the gnolls raised and the city do not. Within the Blood Moon pack are the Young Bloods. Foultooth is a leader among them and they wait for the day when they can seize control of the city and kill the flinds or drive them from the walls. Already Foultooth has made alliance with the necromancer Glipkerio and through him the Bugbears, Goblins and Ogres. The Ogres and the necromancer being key allies. Already the necromancer has been aiding in the ambush of Bloody Eye orcs, whose bodies go to the undead army that the necromancer has been building. Originally published on the Hall of the Mountain King blog.

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NPC – Urlik Skarsol – Priest of Nerull – Spinecastle

2020-05-04T19:41:10-04:00May 4th, 2020|

NPC - Urlik Skarsol - Priest of Nerull - Spinecastle There is no Temple of Nerull inside Spinecastle but the priest Urlik Skarsol wanders the land with his following of undead and haunts the devastated city on a regular basis. There is an ancient shrine to Nerull somewhere near but it is hidden, ancient and forgotten. He bears a powerful holy item, The Black Hand of Nerull which can pull the skeleton of human, humanoid or demi-human through its flesh to stand bend before Skarsol and serve him in the name of Nerull. Other robed human-sized figures have been seen to accompany Skarsol, underlings, acolytes, lesser priests, but just as often he appears with only a retinue of undead. Urlik has a strong dislike for the necromancer Glipkerio Kistomercies but so far the two have avoided each other. His real animosity is saved for the clergy of Incabulos and the Cult of Orcus. The Orcus cult especially which is seeking o establish itself in Spinecastle. Originally published on the Hall of the Mountain King blog.

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