591 CY

Events

In this year

• On Needfest 1, Nyrond's new provincial layout comes into effect. (LGG p.75)
• In Coldeven, the first new Windmarch trade caravan begins. (LGG p.24)
• Early this year, Kusnir becomes a rallying point for freed Olman and Touv slaves, who follow the Touv leader Utavo the Wise. (The Duchy of Berghof)
• Early this year, a frigate flying the colors of the Prince of Naerie is spotted docked at Gradsul in Keoland. It is thought to serve as a deterrent to the Scarlet Brotherhood. (LGG p.72)
• In Growfest, Scarlet Brotherhood forces led by Krevaradan recapture Kusnir. Utavo and some of his forces flee into the mountains and return a month later to recapture Kusnir in a ferocious massacre, tearing Krevaradan limb from limb. (The Duchy of Berghof)
• The "yellow-sails" of the revived Slavers begin to terrorize the waters of the central Flanaess. (Slavers p.120)
• A third treasure-hunting boom occurs around the Free City of Greyhawk following discoveries made by soldiers stationed in the Cairn Hills during the Greyhawk Wars. (The Adventure Begins p.8)
• The Directing Oligarchy of Greyhawk reaches its maximum size of eighteen members. (The Adventure Begins p.62-64)
• Tyrem appointed the Father of Faith by the Scarlet Brotherhood. (The Scarlet Brotherhood p.18)
• Vecna escapes his imprisonment in the Demiplane of Dread and plots the destruction of the other gods. (LGG p.186; Die Vecna Die! p.2; Player's Guide p.18,21)
  • Note: The Greyhawk Player's Guide, set in 591 CY, lists Vecna as still imprisoned, while the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, also set in 591 CY, lists him as recently escaped. For this to be accurate, Vecna must have escaped in exactly 591 CY.
• The xvart slave Xiq-Xiq is murdered by adventurers in the Blue Dragon Inn in Greyhawk. No arrests are made. (LGJ #4 p.29)
• In spring, a mysterious magical helix appears over the ruins of Molag. (LGJ #0 p.12)
• In spring, adventurers report capturing a tiger-striped basilisk. The party leader, Sir Ignatius Nobnose, attempts to sell it to the Tiger Nomads. (LGJ #0 p.12)
• In spring, Onnwal rebels invade the manor of Count Cadwale, taking advantage of a storm to mask their approach. (LGJ #0 p.12)
• In spring, Touv rebel slave leader Utavo the Wise is found to have taken control of the southern Duchy of Berghof. (LGJ #0 p.12)
• In spring, Jacob Hangerstand produces a masterwork treasure chest depicting the elven deity Corellon Larethian. (LGJ #0 p.12)
• In spring, small golden dragon statuettes appear on the market in Innspa, likely looted from ruined temples to a forgotten dragon-worship cult. (LGJ #3 p.26)
• In spring, bandits in the Midlands loot a well-defended silver caravan headed for Dorakaa. (LGJ #3 p.26)
• In spring, Bissel appoints the Knights of the Watch to enforce collection of a new and unpopular tax on international trade. Bissel begins a new program of homesteading to redevelop the northern baronies, but Baklunish citizens accuse the government of discriminatory practices, with some Baklunish farmers driven from their land by the homesteaders. (LGJ #3 p.26; LGJ #4 p.28)
• In spring, several ships are attacked by sea monsters when sailing near the Bright Desert. Rary the Traitor and his powerful druid ally are suspected to be responsible. (LGJ #3 p.26)
• In spring, a council is convened in Furyondy to seek a solution to the plague in the March, Littleberg, and Gold County. Orcs and bandits attack grain shipments on the Royal Highway. The plague slows by late spring. (LGJ #3 p.27; LGJ #4 p.28)
• In spring, Grand Duke Owen is invited to retake his ancestral seat on Keoland's Court of the Land, but he appears to decline. He announces his intent to return to Hochoch in Geoff and retake the kingdom, but is plagued by fever since he was poisoned during the Fall of Gorna. He is found to be in contact with the fey Queen Lhiannon. Field Marshal Helanasdotter of Gran March amasses troops and supplies for the liberation of Geoff. (LGJ #3 p.27; LGJ #4 p.29)
• In spring, the Directing Oligarchy of Greyhawk discovers a mysterious nepheline stone monolith near Shack Town. The druid Thurgis Falden declares it a profane relic of the Ur-Flan necromancers. (LGJ #3 p.27)
• The Lordship of the Isles capture the warship Moon's Vigil, taking twelve elves captive. The ship had sunk three Lordship vessels the previous year. (LGJ #3 p.28)
• The siege at Rinloru continues. The undead army grows, now including at least a dozen acidic skeleton golems. (LGJ #3 p.28)
• Tensions grow in North Kingdom when Patriarch Halldrem of Hextor speaks some ill-chosen words regarding the realm's orcish armies. A band of orcs attempts to murder him, but he defends himself with a blade barrier spell, resulting in the deaths of four dozen market patrons. (LGJ #3 p.28)
• Nyrond offers a reward of 1,000 gp for the capture of the bandit Crippled Max. (LGJ #3 p.28)
• The Bishop of Hatherleigh falls to his death from a balcony, the third mysterious death in the Theocracy of the Pale this year. Attempts to raise them from the dead failed. (LGJ #3 p.29)
• Concern grows in Ratik as the Suloise barbarian tribes begin skirmishing with each other, threatening the recently negotiated peace. Timber supply plummets, and Archbaroness Evaleigh is criticized for failing to take action. (LGJ #3 p.29; LGJ #4 p.30)
• On Coldeven 15th, Yeomanry holds public elections. (LGJ #3 p.31)
• On Growfest 1, Herdsman Krevaradan's clerics summon six gelugons to fight the slave uprising in the Hold of the Sea Princes after being denied reinforcements from his ally Herdsmistress Maleshev on Coldeven 4th. Utavo's forces flee and hundreds of slaves are recaptured. (LGJ #3 p.30)
• In spring, humanoids attack the Shield Lands, raising concerns of a concerted attack by Iuz. In Critwall, there are rumours of treason amnong the nobles. Food shortages lead to rising food prices. Thre is talk of the Shield Lands going on the offensive against Iuz. (LGJ #3 p.30; LGJ #4 p.30)
• Lindus Mallaman, cleric of Heironeous in Sterich, is found dead and his body hanged from statue of the Valorous Knight in Istivin. The statue bleeds from its wrists for three days. (LGJ #3 p.30)
• A prophet of Erythnul leads mobs who kills dozens in Vleekstaad. Rhelt Sevvord ends the three-day killing spree by personally killing the prophet with a waraxe. (LGJ #3 p.30)
• Emissaries go missing in the County of Ulek en route for Celene. The priceless elven Starlight Loom goes missing. (LGJ #3 p.30)
• Thieves raid the vault of Rudd Rockcutter in the Principality of Ulek. Orcish graverobbers are suspected. The orcs are also believed to have enslaved a large number of humans. (LGJ #3 p.31; LGJ #4 p.31)
• Agents of Iuz capture Molosh Khan, fifth son of Tarkhan Bargru of the Wolf Nomads, demanding a large ransom. Bargru sends the payment along with the severed head of Iuz's emissary. Iuz returns Bargru's son as an armless reanimated corpse. (LGJ #3 p.31)
• A major battle takes place in the Adri Forest. (LGJ #4 p.28)
• Piracy and smuggling boom on the Fals River. (LGJ #4 p.28)
• Attacks by humanoids increase in the Gnarley Forest, now joined by undead. (LGJ #4 p.28)
• A rumor holds that the Cup and Talisman of Ak'Akbar are spotted in Glendaloch's Moors, resulting in a sudden wave of pilgrimages to the area. (LGJ #4 p.28)
• In Growfest, King Lynwerd I of Nyrond hosts a Grand Celebration at Rel Mord celebrating the the fifth year of his reign. (LGJ #0 p.12; LGJ #3 p.28)
• Two fiends appear inthe Temple District of Highfolk. (LGJ #4 p.29)
• King Skotti of Keoland controversially offers amnesty for former agents of the Scarlet Brotherhood. (LGJ #4 p.29)
• Celebrations in Ket are held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the defeat of Iggwilv. (LGJ #4 p.29)
• Celebrations are held in Nyrond to commemorate the founding of Adrean's Landing. (LGJ #4 p.29)
• The caravel Sapphire Stare runs the Scarlet Brotherhood blockade of the Sea of Gearnat and returns from the City of Greyhawk. (LGJ #4 p.30)
• Trade caravans have difficulty reaching villages in the Pale due to raids by orcs and trolls. (LGJ #4 p.30)
• On Planting 6th, a military report reveals that conflict is brewing on the southern border of the Yeomanry. Crops are failing, refugees are increasing, and undermanned Yeomanry Border Guard has difficulty tracking down a well-equipped group of mysterious raiders. (LGJ #4 p.31)
• In early Planting, Elder Sister Edevedrin of the Scarlet Brotherhood arrives to congratulate Herdsman Krevaradan for his capture of the town of Kusnir. The next night, 55 Olman prisoners disembowel themselves in a grim ritual which conjures nagaul demons. Utavo the Wise, wielding an ancient jeweled gauntlet, commands the demons to eviscerate the Scarlet Brotherhood guards. (LGJ #4 p.30)
• Lord Artin of Brotton is killed by bandits while hunting near Radigast City, and is succeeded by his brother Erthan. Mayor Nimar of Dosselford is rescued by adventurers while exploring the the Crystal Springs in the County of Urnst, and not for the first time. (LGJ #4 p.31)
• Two of the three leaders of the Skeptic movement in the Duchy of Urnst are killed in [[Nellix]. (LGJ #4 p.31)
• In Patchwall, Tobin Potriades, Senior Tutor at the University of Magical Arts in Greyhawk, dies in his sleep. He is succeeded by Abrazaldin Hosk. (LGJ #5 p.6)
• The sword Druniazth resurfaces in Dyvers in the hands of an assassin, Kerrab. Subsequently, a guardsman corrupted by the sword (Nizar Drav'va) absconded with it and it hasn't been seen since. (Dragon #294 p.96)
• The Gran March begins building a road through the Dim Forest.^{[citation needed]}
• The bard Finnadrel of Delaric defrauds investors in his theatrical production. (Places of Mystery I)
• Giants against begin attacking Geoff from the Crystalmists and Barrier Peaks (the events of Against the Giants: The Liberation of Geoff)^{[citation needed]}
• Theocrat Ogon Tillit is not expected to survive past Richfest due to wounds sustained several years ago. (LGG p.82)
• Forces of Rel Astra have captured a quarter of the former See of Medegia. (LGG p.94)
• Ships of the Lordship of the Isles visit Gryrax, capital of the Principality of Ulek, establishing trade. (LGG p.121)
• Late this year, the Crimson Cadre adventuring group from Safeton sells an ursinal guardinal to the Free City Arena. (LGJ #5 p.9)

Around this year

• Jallarzi Sallavarian of the Circle of Eight discovers omens predicting imminent doom for Greyhawk. (The Star Cairns p.2)
• The necromancer Braxem announces his alliance with slaver Stalman Klim. (Slavers p.63)

Publications

The following publications take place in this year:

• Player's Guide
• The Adventure Begins
• Die Vecna Die!
• Dungeon #78 to #89, including the following Greyhawk adventures:
  • Deep Freeze (Dungeon #83)
  • Lord of Scarlet Tide (Dungeon #85)
  • Cradle of Madness (Dungeon #87)
  • Headless (Dungeon #89)
• Slavers
• The Scarlet Brotherhood (6106 SD)
• Against the Giants: The Liberation of Geoff
• Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
• Living Greyhawk Journal #0 - #7
• Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

In Living Greyhawk

The 591 campaign year began on August 1, 2000 and ended on December 31, 2001. Subsequent years would run for one year from Jan 1 to Dec 31.

Notes

591 CY is a significant year for World of Greyhawk products. Following TSR's bankruptcy and acquisition by Wizards of the Coast in 1997, the Dungeons & Dragons brand returned to releasing Greyhawk products for the first time since 1993's WGR6 The City of Skulls. In 1998, Wizards of the Coast released the Player's Guide, which explicitly advanced the timeline by six years from 585 CY (used in 1993's WGR4 The Marklands and recommended in 1998's Return of the Eight) to 591 CY.

This year remained explicitly current in D&D third edition's Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, published in 2000, and in 2001's Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, based on the dating of the Battle of Emridy Meadows (569 CY) as "22 years ago".

As was Wizards of the Coast's policy at the time, the Living Greyhawk campaign continuity advanced the timeline to 591 CY for works released in 2001, continuing on a year-for-year basis for all adventures and Wizards.com web articles up to to 598 CY in 2008. This timeline concurrency rule would also be applied in Dragon, Dungeon, and Polyhedron magazines. The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), set in 591 CY, and Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), set in 597 CY CY, explicitly set dates bookending these years.

In several Paizo forum threads, editor Erik Mona asserted that the rule applies in general to all Greyhawk adventures:

"The default assumption of all Greyhawk adventures in Dungeon ... is that the last digit of the year in which they were published corresponds to the last digit in the Common Year calendar... 59X CY (X= last digit of real world year). So adventures published in 2004, for example, take place in 594 CY."
—Erik Mona (Jul 2007)