Isles of Woe
| Isles of Woe | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Region: | Central Flanaess (Nyr Dyv) |
| Government | |
| Ruler: | High Wizard-Priest |
| Government: | Magocracy-Theocracy |
| Demographics | |
| Capital: | Heraan |
| Groups | |
| Allies: | Veralos |
| Enemies: | Krovis |
The Isles of Woe are a now-lost archipelago in the Lake of Unknown Depths, once ruled by wizard-priests.
History
[edit | edit source]The Isles of Woe are most famed for the doom they suffered when the powers of the Codex of the Infinite Planes caused them to sink beneath the waters of the Nyr Dyv. During the nation's height, the High Wizard-Priest had used the powers of the Codex to conquer the surrounding realms, and even other planes, but the same forces that brought so much power also brought much destruction and woe. It is said that at one point, the danger presented by the dominion of the Isles of Woe became so great that the sleeping hero Krovis emerged from his tomb to do battle.
The citadel of Veralos on the edge of Rift Canyon paid fealty to the Isles of Woe until the archipelago's inundation.
Geography
[edit | edit source]Depending on the tale, the number of islands in this chain varies between three and seven, but is usually said to be three. The capital of this tyrannical domain was known as Heraan.
On a 900-year-old map in the Great Library of Greyhawk, the islands are shown in the eastern region of the great lake, appearing to be extensions of the Cairn Hills. If this map is accurate, the size of the Nyr Dyv was smaller in those days. The island upon which Admundfort now sits was much larger, and two islands that do not now exist stood southeast of Scragholme Island. However, there are reasons to doubt the authenticity of this document.
People
[edit | edit source]Because Veralos was contemporaneous with ancient Flan nations such as Sulm, Itar, Ahlissa, and Nuria, it seems likely that the Isles of Woe were also populated by the Flan people. Furthermore, the Isles must have sank before the Great Migrations, as Veralos itself lasted until that period.
Government
[edit | edit source]The Isles of Woe, during their period of greatest infamy, were ruled by the High Wizard-Priest. There are at least two High Wizard-Priests named, though there may have been others, and the . It is unknown if they were sequential, or if others came between them.
One High Waizard-Priest discovered the Codex of the Infinite Planes. Another name for the Codex is Yagrax's Tome,[1][2][3] named for Yagrax, the "fanatical wizard-priest of the Isles of Woe"[3] Some sources also mention High Wizard-Priest Tzunk[4][5] and how he used the Codex to wield great power, "conquer surrounding realms",[5] and even briefly conquered the City of Brass on the Elemental Plane of Fire.[1][2][5] It is clear High Wizard-Priest Yagrax preceded Tzunk, because the Codex already had his name when Tzunk was its bearer.[1][6]
Tzunk discovered the tome late in life[2] and also used it not too long before his death,[1] which was after the sinking of the Isles. Sources referring to High Wizard-Priest-Tzunk or his use of the Codex after the sinking of the Isles call him "Archmage" and "Wizard" rather than by the title "High Wizard-Priest".[1][7][6]
Transportation
[edit | edit source]As an island civilization, presumably the Isles of Woe made use of boats. The Codex of the Infinite Planes undoubtedly helped them expand their empire to other planes, though it seems unlikely that the Codex was their sole means of transportation.
Rumors and legends
[edit | edit source]A few legends place Vecna's tower on the Isles, but some scholars say the source of this information is fake.[5]
In Living Greyhawk
[edit | edit source] | This section contains content from the Living Greyhawk organized-play campaign. |
A "dungeon delve event" called The Isles of Woe debuted at Origins 2002. A series of "introductory encounters" tied to this event appeared in Dragon #294.
During the course of this event (set in 592 CY), the Isles of Woe resurfaced, emerging not from the depths of the Nyr Dyv but from the Ethereal Plane, where Yagrax's curse had evidently banished them a millennium ago. The Isles' connection to the Material Plane was tenuous, however, leaving them liable to sink back into the Ethereal at any moment.
In one adventure, low-level player characters explored a Temple of Olhydra. Mid-level characters explored the ruins of a town known as the Village of the Ancients. Mid and high-level characters explored a structure in a cliff face in the center of the main island known as the Green Devil's Tower. It is thought to have been the stronghold of a powerful mage or a school of magic.
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.
References
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b c d e ALQ4 Secrets of the Lamp (1993), p.13, Adventure Book.
- ↑ a b c Book of Artifacts (1993), p.27.
- ↑ a b "All Oerth's Artifacts". Dragon #299 (Sep 2002), p.101.
- ↑ WGR5 Iuz the Evil (1993), p.64.
- ↑ a b c d The Adventure Begins (1998), p.5, Adventure Maps.
- ↑ a b Dungeon Masters Guide (1979), p.156.
- ↑ Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry (1976), p.43.
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Baur, Wolfgang. Secrets of the Lamp. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Bloch, Joseph. "See the Pomarj -- and Die!" Dragon #167. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.
- Cook, David. Book of Artifacts. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Grohe Jr., Allan T., and Erik Mona. "All Oerth's Artifacts." Dragon #299. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2002.
- Gygax, Gary. Dungeon Master's Guide. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1979.
- Gygax, Gary, and Brian Blume. Eldritch Wizardry. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1976.
- Henson, Dale, and Doug Stewart, eds. Encyclopedia Magica Vol 2. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
- Holian, Gary. "Places of Mystery." Dragon #293. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- Mona, Erik. "Campaign News." Dragon #294. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- ———. "Campaign News." Dragon #299. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2002.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Sargent, Carl. Iuz the Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tzunk {Tzoonk} (High Wizard Priest of the Isles of Woe) | Non-player character | Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition | 156 | |
| Tzunk {Tzoonk} (High Wizard Priest of the Isles of Woe) | Non-player character | Dragon magazine #082 | 58 | |
| Tzunk {Tzoonk} (High Wizard Priest of the Isles of Woe) | Non-player character | Dragon magazine #297 | 91 | |
| Tzunk {Tzoonk} (High Wizard Priest of the Isles of Woe) | Non-player character | Eldritch Wizardry | 43 | |
| Tzunk {Tzoonk} (High Wizard Priest of the Isles of Woe) | Non-player character | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 19 | |
| Tzunk {Tzoonk} (High Wizard Priest of the Isles of Woe) | Non-player character | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 5 | |
| Tzunk {Tzoonk} (High Wizard Priest of the Isles of Woe) | Non-player character | The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps | 5 | |
| Tzunk {Tzoonk} (High Wizard Priest of the Isles of Woe) | Non-player character | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 64 |