Bandit Kingdoms

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Greyhawk Realm
Bandit Kingdoms
The arms of the Bandit Kingdoms, as depicted in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000).
Region: Empire of Iuz
Ruler: Iuz (in theory)
Government: Various petty dictatorships theoretically owing fealty to Iuz
Capital: None; Hallorn, Riftcrag, Rookroost, and Stoink function as "regional capitals"
Major towns: Hallorn, Riftcrag, Rookroost, Stoink
Resources: silver (Riftcanyon)
Coinage: No national coinage; some fiefs produce their own coinage
Population: 475,200
Races: Human 79% (OFSb), Halforc 9%, Halfling 5%, Elf 3%, Gnome 2%, Dwarf 1%, Half-elf 1%
Languages: Common, Orcish, Halfling
Religions: Iuz, Olidammara, Erythnul, Norebo, Hextor, orcish pantheon, Nerull, ­Ralishaz, Kurell, Fharlanghn, Pholtus, Trithereon, Rudd, various goblinoid gods.
Allies: None
Enemies: Shield Lands, Furyondy, Stonehold, Rovers of the Barrens, Tenh, County of Urnst, the Pale, Nyrond, Knights of Holy Shielding, Knights of the Hart, hostile factions within Iuz’s command structure (sometimes)

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Bandit Kingdoms is a political state of the Flanaess. It was formerly known as the Combination of Free Lords, and sometimes called the Bandit Lands.

History[edit | edit source]

This area was settled, if not very well, by Oerdians as they pushed eastward and fell under the rule of the Great Kingdom of the Aerdy, though it was never very tightly held. When Furyondy revolted in 254 CY, this area fell under control of local petty nobles. Eventually, they united as the 'Confederation of Free Lords', an alliance to stop outside invasions; it didn't stop them squabbling. By the early 300s, the Shield Lands were created to stop raids from this group.

In 513 CY, the western Confederation was overrun by the Iuz-sponsored Horned Society. In 579 CY, the Shield Lands launched a successful invasion, only to themselves be defeated by the Empire of Iuz in 583 CY, who occupied all of the old Bandit Kingdoms. It remains under Iuz's control, though his power is weaker here than at home. Now, thousands of bandits are looking for a leader to lead them in revolt, as they want their freedom for petty thuggery back!

Geography[edit | edit source]

The Bandit Kingdoms are generally located in the central portion of the Flanaess. They are bordered by the Fellreev Forest to the north, and by a somewhat undefined border with the Shield Lands to the south. To the west, the Ritensa River divides the Kingdoms from the Empire of Iuz proper, while the Artonsamay River forms the eastern border, starting in the Fellreev, and arching through the Phostwood before passing between the Shield Lands and the County of Urnst.

In the heart of the Bandit Kingdoms lies the vast Rift Canyon, more than 180 miles long and up to 30 miles wide. Formed by forces unknown, it is surrounded by a rocky wasteland. Near the southwest end of the canyon rises White Plume Mountain, a volcano whose tunnels until recently housed the evil wizard Keraptis. And to the north of the canyon lie the Tangles, a small, yet dense forest where bandits opposed to Iuz's force reside.

In 591 CY, the most populous towns are Rookroost (pop. 17,500), Stoink (pop. 13,300), Kinemeet (pop. 7,300, though orcs outnumber humans over 2-to-1), Riftcrag (pop. 5,000), and Alhaster (pop. 4,700).

People[edit | edit source]

Population[edit | edit source]

In 591 CY, the population of the Bandit Kingdoms totaled 475,200.[1]

Languages[edit | edit source]

The most widely-spoken languages in the Bandit Kingdoms include Common, Orcish, and Halfling.[1]

Government[edit | edit source]

There is no one central government within the Bandit Kingdoms; most of the territories are petty dictatorships whose alliances can shift as quickly as the wind. In theory, the various warlords all pay homage to Iuz and his forces, since these lands were claimed by Iuz as his own during the Greyhawk Wars. However, for most of the Bandit Kings, this fealty is a charade.

As the Bandit Kingdoms are an occupied land, there is no official national capital. Hallorn, Riftcrag, Rookroost, and Stoink function as "regional capitals".

Administrative divisions[edit | edit source]

  1. Unified bands of the Warfields
  2. Barony of Wormhall
  3. Mighty Freehold
  4. Abbarra
  5. Earldom of the Tangles
  6. Men of the Rift
  7. Great Lands of Reyhu
  8. Principality of Redhand
  9. Duchy of the Artonsamay
  10. Free City-State of Stoink
  11. Grand Theocracy of Dimre
  12. Kingdom of Johrase
  13. Stronghold of the Midlands
  14. Defenders of the Greenkeep
  15. Free City of Rookroost
  16. Fellands
  17. Grand Clans of Groskopf

Heraldry[edit | edit source]

Due to the independent nature of the various groups within the Bandit Kingdoms, no one standard has been adopted as representative of the entire region. However, several of the fiefs have traditionally carried their own devices:

  • Dimre: Azure, a roundel or voided gules between two chevronels of the second
  • Johrase: Per bend argent and or, a morningstar erect sable
  • Reyhu: Argent, a quatrefoil vert voided or, a chief ermines
  • Rookroost: Argent, a rook passant sable within a bordure gules

Economy[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit | edit source]

The Bandit Kingdoms have little in the way of natural resources, though a fair amount of silver is produced from mining operations in the Rift Canyon.

Currency[edit | edit source]

The Bandit Kingdoms as a whole do not maintain any standard coinage of their own, though individual fiefs within the Kingdoms will produce their own currencies (or will use coins looted from nearby nations).

Transportation[edit | edit source]

Military[edit | edit source]

In Living Greyhawk[edit | edit source]

In the Living Greyhawk organized play scenarios, the Bandit Kingdoms region was assigned to players in the real-world US states of Texas and Oklahoma. The Bandit Kingdoms triad produced a large amount of content, producing almost 19 "rounds" (four-hour sessions) of content per year, well in excess of Wizards of the Coast's initial goal of 8 rounds per year, which was not reached by all regions.

Casey Brown wrote a 92-page book, BDKR1 Unofficial LG Bandit Kingdoms Summary (April 2012), to sum up the eight years of adventures in the Living Greyhawk Bandit Kingdoms region.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

Citations[edit | edit source]

  1. a b Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.23.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

———. "Where the Bandits Are." Dragon #63. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
———. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.

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

Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Artifact of Evil 31, 37, 95, 189, 193
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards 11
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 3, 6, 43, 48, 71, 73, 78, 84
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 14, 19
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), City of Hawks 142, 223
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition 157
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dance of Demons 8
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #037 11
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #052 20
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #055 18, 19
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #056 18, 21
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #063 14
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #191 67
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #208 54
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #253 44, 46
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #262 38
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #265 60
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #293 90
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #297 92
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #306 95, 101
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dragon magazine #315 51, 53, 54
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dungeon magazine #032 61, 62, 64, 65, 71
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Dungeon magazine #114 102
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), The Fright At Tristor 16
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 4, 6, 10, 22, 27, 28, 33, 35, 37-39, 55, 59, 75
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), From the Ashes: Campaign Book 4, 19, 31
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), From the Ashes: References Card #1
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), From the Ashes: References Card #2
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), From the Ashes: References Card #9
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Greyhawk Adventures 37, 38, 45, 46, 81
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Greyhawk Wars: Adventures 7, 9, 15, 17
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Living Greyhawk Gazetteer IC, 15, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 35, 47, 58, 59, 62, 63, 82, 94, 102, 103, 104, 109, 112, 113, 123, 124, 144, 152, 159, 182
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Living Greyhawk Journal #0 3, 5, 13
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Living Greyhawk Journal #1 4, 24, 28, 32
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Living Greyhawk Journal #2 28
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Living Greyhawk Journal #3 26
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #01 17
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #03 11
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #04 5,8
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #05 6,9,10
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #06 18,22,35,38
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #07 2
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #08 15
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #09 18,20
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #10 19,49,53
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #11 25,27,30,31,36,76
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #13 9,10,17
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #14 23,44
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #15 17
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #18 19,23,25,26
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #19 19,20
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #21 11
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #23 5,20
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #27 12,13
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #28 3,6,7,32
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #29 7,32,41
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #30 26
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #31 9,13,24
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #32 18,22
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Oerth Journal #33 22,23,24,25,28,29,30,36
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Player's Guide to Greyhawk 6, 10
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Polyhedron magazine #163 111
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Return of the Eight 59
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Return to White Plume Mountain 3
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), S1-4 Realms of Horror, Adventure Booklet 23
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), S2 White Plume Mountain (1st-3rd printing), AD&D 1e 2
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), S2 White Plume Mountain {Expanded} (4th+ printing), AD&D 1e 2
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Sea of Death 14
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), Saga of Old City 6, 138, 151, 236, 242
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), The Adventure Begins 3, 5, 19, 69, 116
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), WG12 Vale of the Mage 5, 48
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), WG8 Fate of Istus 3, 6
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) IC, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), WGM1 Borderwatch 13
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), WGR4 The Marklands 3, 15, 20, 28, 45, 59, 62, 71, 76, 79, 81, 89, 95
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), WGR5 Iuz the Evil 1, 4, 7, 15, 16, 28, 35-38, 40-42, 45-56, 61, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 74, 76, 81, 90, 96
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), WGS1 Five Shall Be One IC, IBC, 4, 11, 24
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), WGS2 Howl From the North 6, 10, 13, 31
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 11, 14, 19, 29, 33, 34, 36, 49, 55, 59, IBC
Bandit Kingdoms Kingdom (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 8, 10, 17, 32
Iron Crown of the Bandit Kingdoms Item Encyclopedia Magica - Volume I 334
Iron Crown of the Bandit Kingdoms Item Greyhawk Adventures 81