County of Urnst
| County of Urnst | |
|---|---|
 The arms of the County of Urnst, as depicted in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000). | |
| General information | |
| Alt. Spelling: | Ernst |
| Region: | Old Aerdy West |
| Government | |
| Ruler: | Her Noble Brilliancy, the Countess Belissica (CG female human Wiz14) |
| Government: | Feudal monarchy |
| Alignments: | LG, NG*, N |
| Demographics | |
| Capital: | Radigast City |
| Major towns: | Brotton, Caporna, Didieln, Stone Battle, Trigol |
| Provinces: | 6 archbaronies, 9 lord baronies, 11 field baronies |
| Population: | 246,000+ (576 CY) 682,200 (591 CY) |
| Races: | Human 79% (SOr), Halfling 9% (lightfoot), Elf 5%, Dwarf 3%, Gnome 2%, Half-elf 1%, Half-orc 1% |
| Languages: | Common, Halfling, Rhopan, Elven |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Heironeous, St. Cuthbert, Pelor, Phyton, Lydia, Velaeri, Xerbo, Zilchus, halfling pantheon, Norebo, Pholtus, Boccob |
| Allies: | Duchy of Urnst, Greyhawk, Nyrond, Flinty Hills, Furyondy, Tenh (exiled noble family and refugees) |
| Enemies: | Empire of Iuz (particularly the Bandit Kingdoms in 591 CY), Bone March, the Pale (distrusted) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Resources: | Foodstuffs, cloth, gold |
| Coinage: | [Modified Nyrond] sterling (pp), noble (gp), bright (ep), castle (sp), common (cp) |
The County of Urnst is a political state in Old Nyrond (or Old Aerdi West). The county is famed less for its fertile plains and agricultural output than for its remarkably advanced road system, much of which originates from the old Aerdy occupation—a fact that sits awkwardly with the Urnstmen’s distrust of eastern nations.
History
[edit | edit source]What is now the County of Urnst was part of the Great Kingdom until 356 CY, When the Kingdom of Nyrond declared independence, then annexed the County of Urnst and other nearby countries over the next few years. The County of Urnst gained independence from Nyrond after the Great Council of Rel Mord in 450 CY.
Geography
[edit | edit source]It is on the east coast of the Nyr Dyv, and bordered by the Duchy of Urnst to the southwest, The Kingdom of Nyrond to the south and east, and the Bandit Kingdoms to the north.[1]
Though there are some forests and woodlands distributed across the county, the majority of the county is fertile plains.[2] This is where the majority of the foodsuffs exported from Urnst come from—there is farmland that can be found throughout the realm. Many of them are "free farmsteads" after the Greyhawk Wars held by independent landowners, because of the influx of refugees who flee the Great Kingdom after the Fall of Rauxes.[2]
Administrative Divisions
[edit | edit source]The county is made up of 26 provinces—baronies and archbaronies.[3]
Infrastructure
[edit | edit source]The roads of the County of Urnst date back to a time when the western reaches of the Great Kingdom went as far as the Nyr Dyv. The dirawaen were constructed by the ancient Aerdi long ago,[4] and have remained through modernity.
People
[edit | edit source]Population
[edit | edit source]The population of the County of Urnst totaled 682,200 persons in 591 CY, the vast majority (almost 79%) being humans of mixed Suel, Flan, and Oeridian decent as well as halflings, elves, dwarves, gnomes, half-elves, and half-orcs make up the remainder of the population.
Religion
[edit | edit source]The most popular deities among the couty's citizens are:Heironeous, St. Cuthbert, Pelor, Phyton, Lydia, Velaeri, Xerbo, Zilchus, halfling pantheon like Yondalla, Norebo, Pholtus, and Boccob.
Languages
[edit | edit source]The most widely spoken languages in the County of Urnst are Common, Halfling, Rhopan, and Elven.
Government
[edit | edit source]The title given to the ruler of the County of Urnst is "Her (or His) Noble Brilliancy".[3]
The county is a feudal monarchy owing fealty to the Duchy of Urnst. Hereditary rulership from the noble family of House Gellor who have strong adventuring and military service.[5] The county, however, is neither subservient to nor a vassal of the duchy.
Countess Belissica, is extremely popular and actively works to build friendly relations with neighboring realms. Despite her success, she still faces internal problems: the rebellious lord of Brotton refuses to pay taxes and hints at revolt, and the shipyards at Bampton suffer from a rare wood-rot outbreak. Even beloved leaders face challenges.[5]
The Nation's capital is Radigast City.
Heraldry
[edit | edit source]The state's coat of arms is blazoned thus: Vert, a swan argent passant.
- Origin of the coat of arms
In a discussion about the heraldry of Fax in a Q&A on ENWorld.com, Gary Gygax described the "Gygax Family arms". According to Gygax, there were augmentations of honor later added to the crest, but the base Gygax coat of arms is "a white goose passant on a green field."[6] Passant means "passing", and in heraldry this is facing left with one foot raised as if walking (passing) across the shield. This seems to be an exact match for the heraldry of the County of Urnst—which seems especially fitting since "Urnst" is simply a homonym or variant spelling of "Ernst" which is the German, Dutch, and Scandinavian form of "Ernest," Gygax's first name.
Economy
[edit | edit source]Resources
[edit | edit source]The county is noted for producing foodstuffs, cloth, and gold.[5][7]
Currency
[edit | edit source]As a former tributary to the Kingdom of Nyrond, the county uses a modified Nyrond currency of sterling (pp), noble (gp), bright (ep), castle (sp), and common (cp).
Military
[edit | edit source]The county boasts a standing army of both cavalry and infantry of 2,000, and is able to call up tens times as much in time of need.[7]
The county does not maintain a large navy, but is still a capable one.[7] It is largely homeported in High Mardreth.[3]
In Legends of Greyhawk
[edit | edit source] | This section contains content from the "Legends of Greyhawk" organized-play campaign. It is officially published by WotC's licensee and is based on the DMG (2024), so may differ from earlier publications. |
In the organized play campaign, Legends of Greyhawk, the County of Urnst is administered by Game Conclave, led by Thomas Valley[8] with David Sklenicka as Lead Designer and author.[9]
The nation is a separate region for events, and has been announced to premiere at GaryCon XVIII (2026) in Lake Geneva, WI on March 19th-22nd, 2026.
Adventures set in the Duchy of Urnst take place along the southwestern border of the Abbor-Alz badlands, and involve fighting against the ogres and bugbears there.[9]
In Living Greyhawk
[edit | edit source] | This section contains content from the Living Greyhawk organized-play campaign. |
To learn more about County of Urnst in the Living Greyhawk campaign (2000-2008), see also: LG:County of Urnst.
External links
[edit | edit source]Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.
- County of Urnst Living Greyhawk site site is defunct but can be looked up on archive.org -->
References
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ D&D Basic Set (1981), poster map.
- ↑ a b LGG123.
- ↑ a b c Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.123.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.73.
- ↑ a b c D&D Gazetteer (2000), p.19.
- ↑ Gygax, Gary; (@Col_Pladoh) (2004 10 24). EN World Q&A with Gary Gygax (Forum). EN World. p.215. Retrieved on 16 October 2025. "The armorial bearings displayed on the fighter's shield shown on [the cover of] the original DMG book are those of a Gygax who fought in French service sometime in the 15th century. As I devised all of the armorial bearings for the states of the World of Greyhawk, it is likely that when I did that for Fax I unconsciously borrowed from memory... BTW, the actual Gygax Family arms are a white goose passant on a green field with a gold star (mullet) in the dexter canton and a bison horn in base, IIRR.... The star was supposedly awarded for the bravery of some ancestor, and the bison horn likewise, for calling attention to some enemy threat."
- ↑ a b c World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.40, Guide.
- ↑ Thomas Valley (@mwinsoncsin5301). Baldman Games Discord. 19 June 2025. "I'm also the PO for Urnst (Duchy and County)."Discord
- ↑ a b Legends of Greyhawk Organized Play Campaign. gameconclave.com. Game Conclave. Retrieved on 17 November 2025.
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean Reynolds and Frederick Weining. Dungeons & Dragons Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000. Item code 11742.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Artifact of Evil | 163, 213 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Come Endless Darkness | 38 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 11 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 3, 4, 22, 25, 27, 36, 74 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 4, 16, 17, 19, 78 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | City of Hawks | 142 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Into White Plume (RPGA) (Low Level Version), D&D 3.5e | 13 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #052 | 18, 19, 20 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #055 | 18 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #056 | 21 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #057 | 13 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #065 | 12 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #191 | 65 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #195 | 94 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #241 | 78 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #253 | 44, 47 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #256 | 50 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #263 | 46, 47, 48 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #264 | 49 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #265 | 60 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #268 | 71 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #271 | 74, 76 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #294 | 95 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #306 | 95, 100 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #315 | 54 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 19, 23 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dragon magazine #AN4 | 18 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Dungeon magazine #085 | 75 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 4, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 37, 39, 40, 42, 45, 49, 63, 75, 77, 78 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 4, 6-8, 10, 22, 24, 25, 27, 30, 35, 60, 63, 64, 82, 84, 87 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | From the Ashes: Honest Bandits | All |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | From the Ashes: References Card | #1 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | From the Ashes: References Card | #10 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | From the Ashes: References Card | #2 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Greyhawk Adventures | 9, 75, 79, 88 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 8, 14, 17, 30 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Ivid the Undying | 3, 17, 20, 21, 57, 122, 153 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 12, 47, 52 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 10, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 37, 51, 58, 75, 77, 78, 79, 88, 96, 102, 109, 112, 113, 114, 123, 124, 125, 126, 143, 149, 151, 156, IBC |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 4, 31, 32 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 6, 31 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 15 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 31 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Night Arrant | 94 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 4, 6, 7, 9, 16, 23 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Polyhedron magazine #129 | 38 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Return of the Eight | 58, 59 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 14, 18 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | Saga of Old City | 6, 114, 124, 145, 152, 224, 236, 254, 294, 301, 349 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil | 122 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | The Adventure Begins | 5, 17, 18, 23, 30, 31, 36, 37, 41, 45, 56, 58, 60, 69, 86 , 100, 115 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps | 1 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | LT3 The Doomgrinder | 15, 23, 24, 26 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | The Scarlet Brotherhood | 23, 24 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | WG12 Vale of the Mage | 52 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | WG8 Fate of Istus | 14 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | IC, 2, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 18, 25 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | WGR4 The Marklands | 6, 8, 10, 11, 32, 34, 35, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 71, 75, 76, 81, 92, 95 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 42, 43, 45, 46, 48, 53, 54, 67, 69, 71, 72, 73, 76, 88 |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | WGS1 Five Shall Be One | IBC |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 9, 12, 14, 21, 29, 34, 40, 54, 66, IBC |
| Urnst, County of {Ernst} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 200000), (591 pop: 682200), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 8, 17, 31, 32 |