576 CY

Events

In this year

The Legends of Greyhawk organized play campaign begins in this year.

• The plague known as the Red Death sweeps across the Flanaess. (Dungeon #124 p.36
• Guide to the World of Greyhawk completed. The Savant-Sage completes his famous work, consisting of at least two other volumes which are eventually lost. (Glossography p.9)
• Leomund retires from the Circle of Eight. (TAB p.60)
• Otiluke joins the Circle of Eight, replacing Leomund. (TAB p.60; LGJ #0 p.6)
• Theodain Eriason enters the the Passage of Slerotin during his explorations of the Hellfurnaces. (Return of the Eight p.60)
  • This appears to contradict Dragon #241 which dates the rediscovery to 577 CY. However, Return of the Eight does note that Theodain was one of the first to enter the tunnel; perhaps the discovery was not formally recognized until the following year.
• Warnes Starcoat appointed Chief Sorcerous Councilor to Duke Karll of Urnst, replacing The Seer after his disappearance. (LGJ #0 p.11)
• Shadows attack the sage Warfel VI and steal the Pyronomicon of Keraptis. (Dragon #241 p.78)
• 1,000 year anniversary of the founding of the Scarlet Brotherhood. Their millennialist faction, following the prophecies of the martyred heretic Huro, believe a miracle will occur which purifies and strengthens the Brotherhood. It fails to occur, resulting in the decline of the millennialist faction. (Fate of Istus p.110; The Scarlet Brotherhood p.17)
• Monsters from the Hanging Glacier of Alisedran attack the Schnai barbarians, part of a regular 20 year cycle. (Rumors and Whispers of the Flanaess)
• Slave Lords begin to terrorize the Pomarj coast. (Slavers p.120)

Around this year

• Keoish coastal town of Saltmarsh threatened by sahuagin. (See events of U1-U3 and Ghosts of Saltmarsh)

Publications

The following publications are set in this year:

• The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (1980)
• World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983)
• Dungeon Master's Guide (2024)

The revised fifth edition Dungeon Master's Guide (2024) has a chapter with material about Greyhawk (Ch.5: Creating Campaigns—"Greyhawk", pp.143-171). It includes a poster map of both the City of Greyhawk (the Schley City of Greyhawk map) and the Domain (the Schley Domain of Greyhawk map). It is set specifically in 576 CY.

Notes

The year 576 CY is particularly notable as the campaign starting date of the original World of Greyhawk sourcebooks, including the original Darlene maps of the Flanaess. Nearly all D&D adventures set in the World of Greyhawk are assumed to take place in 576 CY or later.