Directing Oligarchy
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The Directing Oligarchy of the Free City of Greyhawk, sometimes called the Directorship[1], Directorate[2], or simply the Oligarchy[3] is the chief governing body of Greyhawk City. The Directing Oligarchy is also responsible for governing the Domain of Greyhawk, though its authority and reach is somewhat more limited in that respect. Members of the Directing Oligarchy are called "Directors," or sometimes, "Oligarchs".
History[edit]
The Directing Oligarchy traces its roots back to the early third century CY, when Greyhawk was still subject to the Great Kingdom. In 209 CY, Greyhawk's garrison commander, Ponjes the Bull, was appointed Landgraf of the Selintan by Overking Jiranen, after the assassination of Landgraf Lucien Nial. Attempting to avoid Nial's fate, Ponjes restructured the local government, dubbing himself Greyhawk's first Lord Mayor, and creating an executive council to share power, composed of military, civic, and religious leaders—the Directing Oligarchy.
The Free City was without a Lord Mayor and full Oligarchy for at least four months in 598 CY, when six members of the Oligarchy die and/or are murdered. However, at the time, Director Dernan Nathane (Guildmaster of the Merchants' and Traders' Union) planned to sway popular opinion and use the Public Council of Greyhawk to "ratify his appointment of a new Oligarch to restore a quorum"[4] after which he would attempt to have the other Oligarchs make his role as unofficial acting Lord Mayor [4] made permanent. His plan focuses on needing 11 of 16 Oligarchs for a quorum vote, and with only ten remaining after the disastrous events following Greyhawk’s Centennial Celebrations, the narrative was that the Directorate was unable to vote or act, at all. However, quorum is counted from the official number of sitting Directors, and there were enough Directors for a vote to appoint new members of the Directing Oligarchy, and Nathane seems to have been attempting to not follow that. The outcome afterward isn't known, so it is possible the normal procedure for appointing new Directors (a quorum vote, instead of appointment by the Public Council) followed later in the year (after Goodmonth).
Members[edit]
The Directing Oligarchy usually numbers twelve to eighteen individuals,[5][6][7] representing the city's major professional guilds and the military. Certain positions on the Directorate are set. Among these are "Captain-General of the Watch, the Constable, the Guildmaster of Thieves, and the Guildmaster of Assassins." Other seats on the council are filled variously by "representatives of the Society of Magi, the Merchants and Traders Union, Artisans League, and Clerical leaders."[5]
A Director's term is indefinite, though a director may leave office through retirement, being removed from office, or death.[6] A Director may also resign from office.[8][4] The Lord Mayor's term is also indefinite, unless they die, retire, or "fail a no-confidence vote consisting of a two-thirds majority of the Directing Oligarchy."[7] Current sitting council members elect new Directors when a vacancy is to be filled,[7][4] though they are "not always obliged to replace an Oligarch."[6] and "replacement of an Oligarch who dies or retires is not required."[7] To replace a mayor or Director, they must have a quorum (two-thirds of members must be present)[4]—though quorum changes depending on the number of sitting Directors on the Oligarchy at any given time.
Directors elect one of their number to serve as Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor serves for life, acting as head of state for the City and Domain of Greyhawk, while also heading both the Directing Oligarchy and the Council of Mayors and Manorial Lords. The Lord Mayor also officially acts as commander-in-chief of Greyhawk's military, though actual command is most often left to the Captain General of the Watch.
Recent Directors[edit]
In Planting 598 CY, the Directing Oligarchy numbered sixteen. It was reduced to ten with the deaths and murders of five Oligarchs during the Centennial Celebrations in Goodmonth, and the absconding of Turin Deathstalker.
The Oligarchy consists of the following members:[8]
- Nerof Gasgal††—Lord Mayor of Greyhawk (male human rogue 10/expert 5, LN). Lord Mayor since 570 CY, it is assumed Gasgal was an Oligarch prior to assuming his current office.
- Carmen Halmaster—high-ranking member of the Merchants’ and Traders’ Union (male human rogue 8, N).
- Dernan Nathane—acting Lord Mayor in 598 CY after the assassination of Nerof Gasgal.[4] Guildmaster of the Merchants' and Traders' Union (male human swashbuckler 2/rogue 10, N). Second only to Nerof Gasgal among the Directors.
- Glodreddi Bakkanin††—Inspector of Taxes for the Greyhawk Revenue Service (male dwarf rogue 12, LE).
- Kieren Jalucian—Guildmaster of the Guild of Wizardry and Principal of the University of Magical Arts (male human wizard 13/archmage 5, NG). Originally declined membership on the Directorate as President of the Society of Magi in 585 CY, he later accepted in his role as Guildmaster and Principal[9] after his term as President ended.
- Org Nenshen—Master of the Guild of Thieves (male human rogue 18, LN).
- Ravel Dasinder—Patriarch of Boccob (male human cleric 10/divine oracle 10, N).
- Stakaster Villaine—Patriarch of Zilchus (male human cleric 20, LN).
- Vesper Lafanel—Guildmaster of Assassins (male grey elf rogue 3/wizard 5/arcane trickster 7/assassin 3, NE). Chosen to replace Turin Deathstalker in 582 CY.
- Cariel Mansharn††—member of the Merchants’ and Traders’ Union (male human duskblade 8, LE). Chosen to replace Ren o’ the Star in 583 CY.
- Tigran Gellner—Captain-General of the Watch (male fighter 12, LN). Chosen in 583 CY to replace Sental Nurev as both Director and Captain-General of the Watch.
- Torrentz Hebvard††—President of the Society of Magi (male human wizard 12, LN). Chosen to replace Otiluke some time after the latter's death in 584 CY.
- Gerda Hollardel††—Guildmaster of the Jewelers’ and Gemcutters’ Guild (human female expert 5/rogue 1 CN). Chosen to replace her father, Bodmi Hollardel, in 588 CY.
- Stimtrin Cannasay††—officer of the Merchants’ and Traders’ Union (male dwarf expert 6, LN). Chosen to replace Laup Cobrun in 589 CY.
- Sir Gavin Ambus—Chief Constable of Greyhawk (male human fighter 13, LG). Chosen to replace Etin Derecs in 596 CY.
- Silas Steamgem—Master of the Guild of Moneylenders and Pawnbrokers (male gnome). Chosen to replace Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel in Planting of 598 CY.
Former Directors[edit]
The following Directors are listed in the order in which they left the Directing Oligarchy:
- Ponjes the Bull†—former Landgraf of the Selintan. Founded the Directing Oligarchy circa 209 CY, serving as Lord Mayor until his death.
- Zagig Yragerne—now demigod (male human wizard, CN). Joined the Directing Oligarchy 310 CY, and shortly thereafter became Lord Mayor, serving until 421 CY.
- Turin Deathstalker—military governor of Safeton (male human, LE). Former Guildmaster of Assassins. Resigned as Guildmaster and Director in 582 CY, and replaced by Vesper Lafanel in both capacities.
- Ren o’ the Star†—former Guildmaster of the Merchants' and Traders' Union (male half-elf). Murdered in 583 CY.[10] Replaced as Director by Cariel Mansharn, and as Guildmaster by Dernan Nathane.
- Sental Nurev†—former Captain-General of the Watch (male human fighter). Committed suicide in 583 CY and replaced in both offices by Tigran Gellner.
- Bodmi Hollardel—Guildmaster of the Jewelers’ and Gemcutters’ Guild. Succeeded by his daughter, Gerda Hollardel, in 588 CY.
- Derider Fanshen—priestess of Pelor (female human cleric 7/radiant servant 7, NG). Former Chief Constable of Greyhawk, retired in late 591 CY. Replaced in both offices by Etin Derecs.
- Etin Derecs—retired Chief Constable (male human fighter 13, LE). Replaced Derider Fanshen in 591 CY, serving until 596, when he was forced to "retire" for health reasons. Replaced as Director and Chief Constable by Sir Gavin Ambus.
- Jerome Kasinkaia—priest of Rao (male human cleric 20, LG). Former Patriarch of Rao in Greyhawk. Retired to Mitrik in 596 CY.
- Sir Anton Palmirian†—former Chief Judge of Greyhawk and Guildmaster of the Lawyers’, Scribes’, and Accountants’ Guild (male human expert 12, LE). Sir Anton died in 597 CY.[8] Was not replaced on the Directorate after his death.
- Eritai Kaan-Ipzirel—Matriarch of Saint Cuthbert (female cleric 14, LN). Served as an Oligarch from 584 CY until her resignation in Planting of 598 CY. Replaced on the Directing Oligarchy by Silas Steamgem.
Later members[edit]
In Night Watch, Robin Wayne Bailey names the current Lord Mayor and other Directors. Though no specific date is given, the book is set in a potential "future" of Greyhawk where "no one... had heard from the Circle of Eight in over fifty years, and Mordenkainen himself had not been seen for more than that."[11] It is assumed from other material published at the time (in which Mordenkainen is present) this would place Night Watch at least in 630 CY or later if it is considered part of the same timeline.
The City of Greyhawk in the novel has different members of the Directorate, but Nerof Gasgal only died months before[12] and "no one had been too upset when Nerof died suddenly under questionable circumstances."[13] This would mean (if part of the same timeline) Nerof Gasgal lives to be near 110 years old and Lord Mayor for 80 years before being murdered. He is also murdered in 598 CY in other officially published material.[4]
There are eighteen Directing Oligarchs in Night Watch.[14] Among them are:
- Ellon Thigpen—Lord Mayor of Greyhawk who followed Nerof Gasgal. Previously, he had been one of the Directors for years.[13] Thigpen was acting Lord Mayor for two months[13] and "carried the title and duties of the office for months since the death of his predecessor".[12] Later, the rest of the Oligrachs confirmed his position with a "formal investiture in a small, quiet ceremony".[15]
- Korbian Arthuran—Captain General of the Watch[16][14]
- Elmon Kohl—headmaster of the Guild of Lawyers and Scribes[17]
- Prestelan Sun—guildmaster of the Wizards' Guild, Lord High Wizard, one of the most powerful Directors.[14]
- Sorvesh Kharn—head of the Thieves’ Guild—previously expected to be the next Lord Mayor, instead of Thigpen[14]
- Dak Kasinskaia—the youthful patriarch of the Temple of Rao[14]
- Axen Kilgaren—the silent, brooding master of the Assassins’ Guild[14]
- Rankin Fasterace—Inspector of Taxes. Plump and bejeweled, the general citizenry called him "Fester-face"[14]
- Acton Kathenor—high priest of Boccob[14]
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
† — denotes a character deceased by 598 CY.
††—denotes a character who died (or was assassinated) during the Centennial Celebrations in 598 CY.[4]
Citations[edit]
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.32, Folk, Feuds, and Factions.
- ↑ Night Watch (1990).
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.9, Folk, Feuds, and Factions.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Greyhawk Grumbler #3, Goodmonth 598 (2008), p.1.
- ↑ a b World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.25, Guide.
- ↑ a b c The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.6, Folks, Feuds, and Factions.
- ↑ a b c d The Adventure Begins (1998), p.62.
- ↑ a b c The Directing Oligarchs of Greyhawk. (April 2008)
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.63.
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.8, Campaign Book.
- ↑ Night Watch (1990), p.170.
- ↑ a b Night Watch (1990), p.270.
- ↑ a b c Night Watch (1990), p.229.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Night Watch (1990), p.103.
- ↑ Night Watch (1990), p.307.
- ↑ Night Watch (1990), p.12.
- ↑ Night Watch (1990), p.92.
Bibliography[edit]
- Brown, Anne. Player's Guide. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Bulmahn, Jason, James Jacobs, and Erik Mona. Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
- Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." Wars. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Available Online: [1]
- Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983. Item code TSR1015.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Menge, Eric. The Greyhawk Gumbler #1. Wizards.com. WotC, 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved on 20 January 2023.
- -----. The Greyhawk Gumbler #2. Wizards.com. WotC, 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved on 20 January 2023.
- -----. The Greyhawk Gumbler #3. Wizards.com. WotC, 23 May 2008. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved on 20 January 2023.
- Mona, Erik. "Gem of the Flanaess: City of Greyhawk - Clerkburg." Living Greyhawk Journal #4. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- Moore, Roger E. Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Niles, Douglas, and Carl Sargent. The City of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
- Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- Tetreault, Denis, and Erik Mona. "Gem of the Flanaess: City of Greyhawk - Clerkburg." Living Greyhawk Journal #4. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- ———. "Gem of the Flanaess: City of Greyhawk - Clerkburg, part 2." Living Greyhawk Journal #5. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- ———. "Gem of the Flanaess: The Artisans' Quarter." Living Greyhawk Journal #2. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Ward, James M. Greyhawk Adventures. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.
- Weiss, Sam. The Directing Oligarchs of Greyhawk. Wizards.com. WotC, 18 April 2008. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved on 20 January 2023.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 5, 22 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 4, 6-16, 19, 25, 27-42, 54, 61, 65, 66, 75, 77, 78 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 22, 32, 56, 58, 83 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | City of Hawks | 38, 39, 133, 213, 394 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #009 | 6 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #262 | 39 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #268 | 70 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #301 | 88, 90 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #344 | 48, 50, 51, 55 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #359 | 76 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #AN3 | 104 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Dungeon magazine #041 | 48 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 4-12, 25, 33, 62-66, 71, 82, 85 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Greyhawk Adventures | 36, 37, 40 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 41, 51, 52 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 6 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 26, 27 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 7, 8, 9, 10, 29 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 27 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #4 | 29, 30 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #5 | 4, 5, 9 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Night Arrant | 276, 277, 301, 346, 351, 356, 384, 387-392, 396 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Oerth Journal #03 | 7 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Oerth Journal #04 | 4 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Oerth Journal #06 | 20 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Oerth Journal #07 | 17 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Oerth Journal #10 | 22,75,76 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Oerth Journal #17 | 16 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Oerth Journal #28 | 7 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Oerth Journal #31 | 28 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 23, 29 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Restless Nights, D&D 3.5e Web Article | Web |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 6, 32, 109 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Saga of Old City | 45, 65 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | The Adventure Begins | 7, 33, 40-43, 45, 47, 54, 58-60, 62-67, 70-72, 74, 76, 78, 83-88, 91, 92, 94-97, 101, 102, 110-112, 114-119, 121, 123, 124, 126 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | LT3 The Doomgrinder | 22, 23, 27 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 21, 86 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | 11 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | WGR4 The Marklands | 9 |
| Directing Oligarchy (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 25 |
| Directing Oligarchy {Directorate} (City of Greyhawk) | People Group | Council, | Night Watch (1990) | 11, 24, 31, |