Diamond Lake

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Greyhawk Settlement
Diamond Lake
DiamondLake03.png
Diamond Lake and Environs, illustrated in The Adventure Begins, art by Sam Wood. (1998)
Realm: Domain of Greyhawk
Size: Small town
Government: Governor-Mayor appointed by Greyhawk's Directing Oligarchy
Alignment: N
Population: 1,023 (595CY)
Races: 96% human, 2% halfling, 1% gnome, 1% other races
Languages: Common
Religions: Saint Cuthbert, Heironeous, Wee Jas
Authority: Lanod Neff (Governor-Mayor), Captain Tolliver Trask (Diamond Lake Garrison commander), Sherriff Cubbin
Organizations: Able Carter,


Diamond Lake is both a lake and a mining town in the Cairn Hills. The town is situated on the northeastern shore of the lake. Diamond Lake lies three days ride east of the Free City of Greyhawk.

Description[edit]

Diamond Lake was once an enormously popular vacation spot for Greyhawkers, especially nobles, visiting the lake to go sailing. This hasn't been the case since about 500 CY, due to the smelting runoff pollution.[1]

"The shining waters that once gave Diamond Lake its name are now so polluted as to make fishing impossible."[2] "Regular fish cannot survive in the tainted waters, leaving only dangerous, hardy predators like the ravenous, toothy gar that have become such a problem."[1]

"The oldest buildings are gathered near the lakeshore. Regardless of their social class, the town square is a gathering place for all. The main road is called the Vein and bisects the town. Most of Diamond Lake's business is centered around the Vein and town square." [2]

A street-view of Diamond Lake, by Chad Du Lac and Jim Zubkovich, Dragon #124 (2005).

"Diamond Lake is the smallest and most remote of [Greyhawk's] three [mining] towns. It services the largest number of mines, over a wider territory than the other towns, but these mines tend to be much smaller than those among the lower operations. The town stretches along the shore of a lake whose clarity once must have inspired the community's (and the lake's) name. Now it is as stained and muddy as the water around the other towns, soiled with vast heaps of mine tailings and churned by the busy commerce along its shore." [3]

"Governor-Mayor Lanod Neff doesn't tolerate beggars in Diamond Lake."[4]

Age of Worms[edit]

In the Age of Worms adventure path, Diamond Lake is the starting point for the adventure and the recommended hometown of the main characters whose adventures take them into Greyhawk City and then beyond.

Just outside of the town is a cave known as the Whispering Cairn, a location with important ties to the Wind Dukes of Aaqa.

History[edit]

Diamond Lake was officially founded sometime in the fourth century CY, at the direction of the "mad" archmage Zagig Yragerne, during his stint as Lord Mayor of Greyhawk City.

In the 490s CY, the smelting of ore from the mines was taken over by the Directors of the Free City, a tremendous new fortress-workshop was erected, and production was ramped up significantly, which ruined the crystal waters of the lake.[5]

Geography[edit]

"The town is nestled into the rocky crags of the Cairn Hills on the shore of Diamond Lake." [2]

Travel[edit]

Distances from Diamond Lake[edit]

Travel via Able Carter Coaching Inn[edit]

Travel durations by coach to destinations available from Diamond Lake:[6]

Government[edit]

Diamond Lake is ruled by a governor-mayor appointed by the Directing Oligarchy of Greyhawk. In earlier times, only fighters were appointed governor-mayor, as its founder . The governor-mayor in 595 CY is Lanod Neff, who has held the office since at least 591 CY.

The town's watchmen are notoriously as corrupt and mean-spirited as the Governor-Mayor.[4] They use trumped-up charges (such as begging, loitering, trespassing, handling a merchant's goods, or blocking traffic, non-payment of fines, hindering a watchman in the execution of his duty, or assaulting a watchman)[9] to keep citizens (and visitors) in line. Those arrested for such offenses are then sentenced to working in the mine, this keeping the mines supplied with a steady stream of involuntary workers.[9]

Economy[edit]

Resources[edit]

Trade[edit]

Ore from the mines is shipped on the river, and is commonly sold in Two Ford. It them goes on to markets in Greyhawk and Hardby.[10]

Notable Items[edit]

The following are items or substances found specifically (and sometimes exclusively) in Diamond Lake:

  • Diamond Water Elixir
  • Diamond Water Ale (illicit)
  • Kalamanthis (illicit)
  • Miner's Milk (illicit)

Locations[edit]

Shops[edit]

Business[edit]

Temples and Religious Sites[edit]

Residences[edit]

  • Dourstone Residence
  • Gansworth Residence
  • Moonmeadow Residence
  • Neff Manor
  • Parrin Residence
  • Smenk Residence
  • Tilgast Residence

Taverns and Inns[edit]

Other Notable Sites[edit]

Also nearby:

People[edit]

Most residents in Diamond Lake are either people who have nowhere else to turn or are people who exploit such miserable souls. It's a dark, gritty, and violent town centered on mining and the entertainment of the mine workers.

Once, the miners weren't typically as destitute as they became in later years. While they were once "well-paid", (c.581 CY)[11] the miners eventually became "the chattel of Diamond Lake"[8] and were given "subsistence-level pay".[8]

Population[edit]

Religion[edit]

Languages[edit]

Notable individuals[edit]

Other NPCs[edit]

These miscellaneous NPCs can be found around Diamond Lake, especially in or around the locations listed.[12]

The Emporium

  • Zalamandra—Proprietress, Queen of the Veiled Corridor (CN female human rogue 7)
  • Gaspar — (N male human rogue 2)
  • Bogodor—Beastmaster (N male human ranger 2)
  • Percival —Dogsbody (NG male human commoner 1)
  • Daria Angel —Flirtatious Dragonfire dealer (CG female human commoner 3)
  • Nurelle —No-nonsense Norebonne dealer (CE female half-elf commoner 3)
  • Natalo Bask— Sardonic Rat Game attendant (N male human rogue 2)
  • Moroldo —Grumpy pit boss (NE male human expert 3)
  • Garavelle —Fence/casino cashier (N female human expert 1)
  • Auric —Gregarious former gladiator (N male human fighter 5)
  • Benazel the Alchemist— Talkative potionmonger (NG male half-elf expert 6/wizard 3)
  • Ariello Klint— Magician (CN male halfling sorcerer 3)
  • Shag Solomon— Wild child (N male quaggoth aristocrat 6)
  • Tom Shingle— Contortionist/gurner (CN male boggle rogue 4)
  • Chezabet —Fortuneteller (CG female human bard 4)
  • Grouse —Birdkeeper (CN male human expert 2)
  • Saffron —Dancer (NE female human commoner 3)
  • Sage —Dancer (CG female half-elf rogue 2)
  • Proud Polly— Companion (CN female human rogue 3)
  • Soft Ascobel— Companion (CN female human expert 5)
  • Gabriard —Companion (N male human expert 2)
  • Kurlag —Bouncer (N male half-ogre fighter 4)
  • Gristle —Sanitation (NE female half-orc warrior 3)

Feral Dog

  • Durskin —Retired marine with boat for hire (N male human commoner 1)
  • Gorvic —Bartender (NE male half-elf rogue 2)
  • Kullen —Seething gang leader (NE male half-orc barbarian 3)
  • Rastophan —Swamp-raised freakish goon (N male human ranger 2)
  • Todrik —Corrupt swordsman (NE male human fighter 2)
  • Merovinn Bask —Ill-tempered bald wizard (NE male human wizard 3)
  • Tirra —Playful Free City adventurer (N female elf rogue 5)
  • Pagget —Would-be dagger-throwing champion (N male halfling commoner 4)

Lazare’s House

  • Lazare —Proprietor, dragonchess master (NG male human rogue 4)
  • Dannath —Hostess (NG female human aristocrat 2)
  • Trevant —Guest host (N male gnome commoner 2)
  • Allustan —The smartest man in Diamond Lake (NG male human wizard 8)
  • Golgan Hant— Trade Envoy of the Twilight Monastery (LN male human monk 3)
  • Khellek —Seeker of hidden lore (NE male human wizard 5)
  • Mélinde— Heironean bon vivant (LG female human paladin 3)
  • “Prince” Ellival Moonmeadow— Mine manager, dragonchess prodigy (CN male elf bard 4)
  • Chaum Gansworth— Mine manager (N male human rogue 4)
  • Luzane Parrin— Mine manager (N female human rogue 3)

Spinning Giant

  • Nimiscent —Brassy monologuing barkeep (NG female human expert 2)
  • Deputy Jamis— Corrupt lawman looking for trouble (NE male human fighter 3)
  • Dobrun Trent— Upstanding militia lieutenant (LN male half-elf fighter 6)
  • Mikela Venderin —Able militia lieutenant (N female human fighter 5)
  • Trovost Skunt— Cruel militia lieutenant (LN male human fighter 5)
  • Mélinde —Heironean bon vivant (LG female human paladin 3)
  • Primmith —Flirty server who reports to Balabar Smenk (N female human rogue 2)
  • Galuth Grobadore— High-volume friendly scolder (LG male dwarf expert 3)
  • Tyrol Ebberly— Weaponmonger (N male human fighter 4)
  • Manlin Osgood— Stoic smith (N male human expert 5)
  • Dietrik Cicaeda —Canny cartographer (NG male human expert 4)
  • Merris Sandovar— Garrison scout with Bronzewood ties (NG male human ranger 3)
  • Valkus Dun High priest of Heironeous (LG male human fighter 3/cleric 7)
  • Velias Childramun —Fatherly Heironean healer (LG male human cleric 4)

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ a b The table from which this information is drawn from (Dragon#124, p.61) seems to have a transposition error, saying "east" instead of "west". Blackstone and the Free City of Greyhawk are almost due west of Diamond Lake in officially published material. The Domain of Greyhawk map insert from the Greyhawk Player's Guide (1998), shows the best depiction of this, though they are depicted identically in all other official material, including the adventure the information is drawn from. Since the remainder of the material indicates Diamond Lake is east of the Free City,[7][8] not vice versa, it is presumed an editorial mistake may have been made in the Dragon magazine text, which originally say "east".

Citations[edit]

  1. ↑ a b "Backdrop: Diamond Lake". Dungeon #124 (Jul 2005), p.60
  2. ↑ a b c "Backdrop: Diamond Lake". Dungeon #124 (Jul 2005), p.51
  3. ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.22, Gem of the Flanaess.
  4. ↑ a b The Doomgrinder (1998), p.22.
  5. ↑ "Backdrop: Diamond Lake". Dungeon #124 (Jul 2005), p.62
  6. ↑ "Backdrop: Diamond Lake". Dungeon #124 (Jul 2005), p.61
  7. ↑ "The Whispering Cairn ". Dungeon #124 (Jul 2005), p.16 , "the lively mining town of Diamond Lake, a muddy smudge on the map of the hills east of the fabulous Free City."
  8. ↑ a b c "Backdrop: Diamond Lake". Dungeon #124 (Jul 2005), p.50
  9. ↑ a b The Doomgrinder (1998), p.23.
  10. ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.15, Campaign Book.
  11. ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.22.
  12. ↑ Age of Worms Overload (2005), p.20.

Bibliography[edit]

———. "Backdrop: Diamond Lake." Dungeon #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
———. "The Whispering Cairn." Dungeon #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Index is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, and his work as continued and updated by Eric Johnson, Richard DiIoia, Jason "PupickDad" Jacobson, a French fan group, and numerous other fans over the years. The wiki page for the EGI has a list of sources, full product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 22
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, From the Ashes: Campaign Book 15, 24
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, Player's Guide to Greyhawk 33
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, The Adventure Begins 59
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps 3, 9
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, LT3 The Doomgrinder IBC, 7, 17, 19, 20
Diamond Lake Mines Settlement Mine, The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps 3, 9
Diamond Lake, Village of Settlement Settlement, The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 22, 23
Diamond Lake, Village of Settlement Settlement, From the Ashes: Campaign Book 27
Diamond Lake, Village of Settlement Settlement, The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps 9
Diamond Lake, Village of Settlement Settlement, LT3 The Doomgrinder 15, 21, 22
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