Horned Society
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The Horned Society is a secret society of Oerth devoted to evil. The name can also be applied to a former independent nation of the Flanaess, previously part of Iuz's kingdom, which has since been reclaimed by Iuz. As part of the Empire of Iuz, the former Horned Society lands are now known as the Horned Lands.
Structure[edit | edit source]
The leaders of the Horned Society are known as Hierarchs. There were thirteen Hierarchs when the Society ruled its own lands. All but two of the Heirarchs, Andrade Mirrius and Nezmajen, were slain by Iuz's forces during his coup on the night of the Blood Moon Festival. The current exact number of Hierarchs is uncertain.
History[edit | edit source]
Most scholars believe the Hierarchs of the Horned Society were opportunistic bandits who took over Molag and its surrounding territories after the imprisonment of Iuz in 505 CY, only to be driven out in 583 after the Old One had sufficiently rebuilt his strength.
Others, more ominously, speculate that the Horned Society is actually descended from a group that predates the Great Migrations. Certain old druids speak of the "Horned Ones," cultists who stalked the night and preyed upon the ancient Flan. It is possible that the modern Horned Society is a descendant of these ancient Horned Ones, though it is also possible they are simply exploiting old legends to make themselves seem even more frightening than their deeds alone would merit.
The Horned Society in its modern form first came to prominence in 513 CY, a few years after the disappearance of Iuz. They seized the city of Molag, which had once been Iuz's summer capital, and consolidated the territories around them. Hobgoblins, orcs, and other evil humanoids flocked to their banner. The Horned Society dedicated itself to the worship of dark beings from the Lower Planes, paying particular veneration to Nerull, Anthraxus the Decayed, and the Lords of the Nine. (Dungeon #111, page 31)
The Horned Society was made up of thirteen leaders known as the Hierarchs (also known as the Dread and Awful Presences), including powerful fighters, clerics, wizards, and thieves. The philosophy that bound them together was rulership through fear and might, with overtones of human supremacy and the subjugation of "lesser races" to achieve their goals, although one of the Hierarchs in power shortly before the Greyhawk Wars, Blontug, was a half-orc. The Hierarchs ruled in veiled seclusion, hiding their identities from their followers. Rumors had it they were fiends in human form.
The Horned Society quickly came into conflict with the Shield Lands. The Hierarchs swore upon the ashen altars of Molag's Hall of Dread that they would march into Admundfort and line its walls with the intestines of that nation's earl. The period between 550 and 570 saw heavy skirmishing on the banks of the Ritensa River. Great forts such as Torkeep were erected, but these ultimately proved inadequate.
In 579 CY, the Horned Society allied themselves with the Bandit Kingdoms realms Warfields and Wormhall. With their hobgoblin and mercenary armies supported by yugoloths and demodands, this unified host swarmed the Shield Lands, laying waste to villages and farmsteads instead of the strongholds. Though thousands of Shield Landers gathered at Axeport to halt their invasion, their line was broken and their bodies devoured by inhuman beasts. By 581, all of the Shield Lands except for Critwall had fallen, with the bandits of Warfields and Wormhall joined by bandit troops from neighboring realms. The victors carved up the Shield Lands, dividing it into holdings ruled by bandits, goblinoids, and agents of the Horned Society.
In 583 CY, in the month of Coldeven, at the height of the Blood Moon Festival, demonic forces sent by Iuz slew all of the Hierarchs in Molag and quietly took control of the nation in the name of the Old One. In less than a fortnight, the Hierarchs were mere legend and Iuz had absolute control over the nation.
The Horned Society, however, secretly survived. Arkalan Sammal speculated that they must have known that the return of Iuz would spell their doom, and planned for that eventuality. Andrade Mirrius and Nezmajen were not in Molag at the time, and due to his pact with Baalzebul, the one known as the Unnameable Hierarch was reborn as a greater devil. Together, they rebuilt the Society.
Rumors since 586 CY have placed the Horned Society's new headquarters on the coast of the Pomarj, in the Bone March, or even in the Bright Desert or Rift Canyon. While most people no longer fear them, believing Iuz to be the true threat, a few, such as Arkalan Sammal and Mordenkainen, believe the Horned Society may now, with unknown numbers dispersed to an unknown number of nations, be more dangerous than ever.
Members[edit | edit source]
Known members of the Horned Society are as follows:
- Andrade Mirrius - A powerful cleric of Nerull, lives in Greyhawk City.
- Blontug - A half-orc cleric/fighter/assassin. Presumed deceased.
- Christophe Jean Markosian - A sorcerer and disciple of Asmodeus. He is know as the "Devil Behind Thrones."
- Durgoth Shem - A rogue Hierarch who delved into the Tomb of Horrors in search of one of the "keys" that can open Tharizdun's extra-dimensional prison. Presumed deceased.
- Guiliana Mortidus - Priestess of Nerull, lives in Greyhawk City.
- Nezmajen - A cleric of Nerull. He currently resists the forces of Iuz from the Fellreev Forest.
- The Unnameable Hierarch - Head of the Organization. Some believe this individual to be Erac's Cousin.
- Vazirian - A cleric of Asmodeus. A former Shield Lander who turned to evil. Presumed deceased.
- Warduke - A powerful fighter.
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
- Blume, Brian, David Cook, and Jean Wells. The Rogues Gallery. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- Brunner, Frank. "Strike on the Rabid Dawn." Dungeon #111. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004.
- Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." Wars. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Available Online: [1]
- Gygax, Gary. "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: Protection Circles and the Like, Plus News of the North Central Flanaess." Dragon #56. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
- ———. 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.
- 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.
- ———. Iuz the Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Strohm, Keith Francis. The Tomb of Horrors. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
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.
- A Brief Reference on the Horned Society
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Artifact of Evil | 88, 91, 95, 117, 118, 138, 141, 143-145, 150, 177, 181, 188-191, 193, 194, 218, 219, 229, 232-234, 340, 341, 343 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff | 89 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Come Endless Darkness | 38 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 18 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 21, 27, 57, 77, 78 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #056 | 20, 21 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #263 | 51 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Dungeon magazine #032 | 61, 62, 68, 69 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 9, 25 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 30, 61, 62, 102, 104, 140, 156 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 4 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 30 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Sea of Death | 21, 22 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Saga of Old City | 151, 152, 160, 163, 175, 237 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | The Tomb of Horrors—Greyhawk Classics Book 7 | 3 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | 11 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | WGR4 The Marklands | 3, 39 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 4, 6, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 55, 56, 58, 64, 74, 77, 82, 91, 93 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 55 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Artifact of Evil | 7, 91, 95, 138, 141, 145, 194, 232, 234 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Come Endless Darkness | 38 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 18 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 18 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Dragon magazine #055 | 19 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Dungeon magazine #105 | 70, 71 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 6, 22, 27, 29, 37 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: References Card | #01 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: References Card | #02 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: References Card | #09 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: References Card | #11 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Greyhawk Adventures | 39, 42, 49, 50, 77, 81, 82, 97 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 20, 25, 30, 31, 32 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Castles: Hart | 2, 3, 14, 37, 40, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 15, 25, 30, 31, 45, 47, 51, 54, 58, 59, 61, 62, 95, 102, 104, 140, 152, 156, 157, 159, 182, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 4, 6, 12 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 24 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 30 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 6, 10 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Reference | SEE Horned Society |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Sea of Death | 14 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Saga of Old City | 6, 151, 160, 163, 237 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil | 29 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The Adventure Begins | 3, 17, 19, 23, 60-62, 91, 108, 116 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | 1993 TSR Trading Cards - Gold Set | 453 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The Tomb of Horrors—Greyhawk Classics Book 7 | 3 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WG12 Vale of the Mage | 5 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WG8 Fate of Istus | 21, 69, 86, 127 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | IC, 2, 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 21 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WGM1 Borderwatch | 2, 8, 12, 15, 20, 28, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WGR4 The Marklands | 3, 20, 23, 26, 39 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 1, 4, 5, 19, 25, 35-48, 53, 55, 56, 57, 61, 67, 75, 78, 80, 83, 84, 88, 95 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WGR6 City of Skulls | 17, 18 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 9, 12, 22, 26, 33, 34, 48, 55, 59, 80, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 8, 10, 17, 32 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 3, 6, 7, 8, 21, 28, 43, 44, 48, 49, 57-59, 70, 73 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #052 | 20 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #056 | 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #253 | 44 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #256 | 49 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #262 | 38 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #263 | 51 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dungeon magazine #032 | 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 71 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dungeon magazine #053 | 35 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | From the Ashes: References Card | #1 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | From the Ashes: References Card | #11 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | From the Ashes: References Card | #2 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | From the Ashes: References Card | #9 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Greyhawk Adventures | 39, 42, 49, 50, 77, 81, 82, 97 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventures | 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 20, 25, 30, 31, 32 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 15, 25, 30, 31, 45, 47, 51, 54, 58, 59, 61, 62, 95, 102, 104, 140, 152, 156, 157, 159, 182, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 4, 6, 12 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 24 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 30 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 6, 10 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Sea of Death | 14 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Saga of Old City | 6, 151, 160, 163, 237 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil | 29 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | The Adventure Begins | 3, 17, 19, 23, 60-62, 91, 108, 116 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | The Tomb of Horrors—Greyhawk Classics Book 7 | 3 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WG12 Vale of the Mage | 5 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WG8 Fate of Istus | 21, 69, 86, 127 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WGM1 Borderwatch | IBC, 2, 8, 12, 15, 20, 28 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WGR4 The Marklands | 3, 20, 23, 26, 39 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 1, 4, 5, 19, 25, 35-48, 53, 55, 56, 57, 61, 67, 75, 78, 80, 83 , 84, 88, 95 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 17, 18 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 9, 12, 22, 26, 33, 34, 48, 55, 59, 80, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 8, 10, 17, 32 |
| Warduke (Hierach of the Horned Society) | Non-player character | Male, Human, Ftr18, | Dungeon magazine #105 | 70, 71 |
| Warduke (Hierach of the Horned Society) | Non-player character | Male, Human, Ftr18, | A Brief History of Warduke, D&D 3.5e Web Article |