Domain of Greyhawk

From Great Library of Greyhawk
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Greyhawk Realm
Domain of Greyhawk
Greyhawk's coat-of-arms.
Motto: Gem of the Flanaess, City of Hawks, City of Thieves
Region: Central Flanaess
Ruler: Lord Mayor Nerof Gasgal (571-598 CY[1]
Government: Oligarchy
Established: 498 CY
Capital: Free City of Greyhawk
Major towns: Elmshire, Greyhawk, Hardby, Narwell, Safeton
Provinces: One metropolis, 2 small cities, 2 large towns, and several villages and manorial estates owing fealty to the oligarchy
Resources: Silver, electrum, gold, platinum, gems, river and road trade nexus
Coinage: Plate (pp), orb (gp), lucky (ep), noble (sp), common (cp)
Population: 160,000
Races: Humans (OSfbr) 79%, halflings (lightfoot) 9%, gnomes 5%, elves (sylvan) 3%, dwarves 2%, half-elves 1%, half-orcs 1%
Languages: Common, Rhopan, Gnomish, Halfling
Alignments: N*, all others
Religions: Beory, Boccob, Celestian, Corellon Larethian, Ehlonna, Fharlanghn, Garl Glittergold, Heironeous, Istus, Kord, Kurell, Lirr, Moradin, Norebo, Obad-Hai, Olidammara, Osprem, Pelor, Pholtus, Procan, Ralishaz, Rao, Saint Cuthbert, Trithereon, Ulaa, Wee Jas, Xerbo, Yondalla, Zilchus
Allies: Duchy of Urnst, Furyondy, Nyrond, County of Urnst, Veluna, Verbobonc, Dyvers, Shield Lands
Enemies: Pomarj, Empire of Iuz, Bright Lands, Scarlet Brotherhood, Horned Society, various evil cults (Iuz, Vecna, Wastri, Nerull, etc)


This article is about the realm ruled from the Free City of Greyhawk. For the city proper, see Free City of Greyhawk.

The Domain of Greyhawk is the name for those lands controlled from the Free City of Greyhawk. As of 591 CY, This includes the city proper, as well the town of Hardby, the Selintan River valley, most of the Cairn Hills, the northern Wild Coast (including the towns of Narwell and Safeton), and parts of the Gnarley Forest and Abbor-Alz.

History[edit | edit source]

Early history[edit | edit source]

Greyhawk, named for the small grey hawks which populate the region, was originally a trading outpost on the Selintan specializing in local wood and woven garments. In time, the town developed strong textile and meat-packing industries. From the earliest days, Greyhawk was ruled by a warlord who took the title "Landgraf of the Selintan." This first Landgraf's son was then married to the Gynarch of Hardby's daughter. The nuptials formalized a political alliance that served as the basis for rule over the Lanstadt of Selintan, the area that eventually became known as the Domain of Greyhawk.

In 4 CY, a shrewd captain, Maret Nial, crossed the Cairn Hills to Greyhawk and built a fort there, declared himself the ruler and that it was part of the Great Kingdom. This brought the benefit of improved security from the Empire and made the town blossom into a major river trade nexus within about a decade.[2] It remained so while strong Overkings ruled from the Malachite Throne in Rauxes. The Great Kingdom's influence over the city began to wane during the third and especially the fourth centuries as the House of Rax declined and the Overking's hold on distant provinces became increasingly tenuous.

Rise to prominence, decline and recovery[edit | edit source]

In approximately 310 CY, the mage Zagig Yragerne emerged from the Wild Coast and bribed his way into a seat on the Directing Oligarchy. Approximately 320 CY, the Oligarchs elected Zagig Lord Mayor of the city.

Greyhawk subsequently rose in fame and prominence under the leadership of Lord Mayor Zagig. He instituted legal reform, developed a new currency, fortified the walls, founded the city's first university and embarked on a major building program. Most notably, he directed the construction of nearby Castle Greyhawk.

Although Zagig -- later known as Zagyg -- became increasingly erratic over time, his rule is generally considered to be the most effective in the Free City's history and brought widespread prosperity to the region. Much to the annoyance of Dyvers and other rival cities, Zagig proclaimed Greyhawk to be the "Gem of the Flanaess," and did much to ensure this moniker was justified. Unfortunately, the "Mad Archmage" disappeared in 421 CY, leaving no clues regarding his whereabouts, and no heir to inherit the title of Landgraf.

In 498 CY, after decades of Zagig's absence, the Landstadt was therefore abolished, the title of Landgraf permanently retired, and the Free City's Directing Oligarchy assumed political authority. The new Lord Mayor Paerinn officially proclaimed Greyhawk a free city, though it had been effectively independent of the Great Kingdom's rule for over a century.

Soon thereafter, the city lost its claim over Hardby and the Wild Coast, as the leading women of Hardby broke from Greyhawk and established the ruling office of Despotrix. This loss of lands sent the Free City into economic decline, a situation that persisted for several decades. Fortunately, the discovery of treasure in the dungeons beneath Castle Greyhawk and other nearby locales set off a gold rush of sorts, and Greyhawk's economic fortunes recovered substantially in the second half of the sixth century CY.

The Greyhawk Wars and the post-war situation[edit | edit source]

The Free City of Greyhawk actually had less direct involvement in the so-called Greyhawk Wars than many other political entities across the Flanaess, but because the final truce was brokered in Greyhawk in CY 584, the war has come to be named for the city.

The Wars had several important effects on the city, however, particularly in that the unrest drove Hardby and the Wild Coast cities of Safeton and Narwell to re-submit to the rule of the Directing Oligarchs. This situation is unstable, however, as it was largely fear of Turrosh Mak's humanoid raiders from the Pomarj that prompted this move, and the Despotrix and the Wild Coast cities once again agitate for increased independence.

Also as a result of the Wars, the city has seen an influx of new citizens. Some of these are wealthy diplomats, and some are "nobles" who have contributed significantly to Greyhawk's coffers with the purchase of various counterfeit titles and documents. But many newcomers to Greyhawk are destitute refugees, or are merely using the city as a base for hatching political plots and intrigues across the Flanaess. In particular, there are persistent rumors of covert Scarlet Brotherhood operations in the city.

The post-war situation for the Free City is therefore mixed. Greyhawk's finances are in the best shape they have been since Zagig's departure, but the city faces significant challenges arising from political instability and increasing criminal activity.

Geography[edit | edit source]

The Free City of Greyhawk is located centrally in the Flanaess, which is the easternmost part of the continent of Oerik on the world of Oerth. The city controls a large swath of land along the Selintan River from the Nyr Dyv south to Woolly Bay, most of the Cairn Hills, parts of the Gnarley Forest, the northern Wild Coast, and parts of the Abbor-Alz. The entire region is officially known as the Domain of Greyhawk. The Domain is bordered on the east by the Abbor-Alz and its western border lies within the Gnarley Forest. The area south of Greyhawk City along the Selintan is known as the Plain of Greyhawk.

Settlements[edit | edit source]

Many settlements fall within the Domain of Greyhawk:

Metropolis (pop. 25,000+)[edit | edit source]

Large City (pop. 12,000+)[edit | edit source]

Small City (pop. 5,000+)[edit | edit source]

Large Town (pop. 2,000+)[edit | edit source]

Small Town (pop. 900+)[edit | edit source]

Villages and Hamlets (pop. 60+)[edit | edit source]

Thorp (pop. 20+)[edit | edit source]

Notable Locations[edit | edit source]

The following are places of interest within the Domain; not necessarily "settlements" in that some are residences but aren't large enough to qualify entirely as a settlement because they don't have more population surrounding them other than the location or site itself. They are often keeps, manors, castles, or forts lacking a village or thorp having grown around them.

Large Structure[edit | edit source]

Small Structure[edit | edit source]



Fort[edit | edit source]

Camp[edit | edit source]

Small Site[edit | edit source]

Humanoid Lair[edit | edit source]

People[edit | edit source]

Population[edit | edit source]

In 591 CY[3], the city itself boasted a population of 69,500, making it one of the largest cities on Oerth. The population for the entire Greyhawk Domain is roughly 160,000, including the larger towns of Safeton (pop. 6,100), Hardby (pop. 5,100) and Elmshire (pop. 4,000).

Religion[edit | edit source]

The Free City of Greyhawk hosts temples and shrines to many deities, including Beory, Boccob, Celestian, Corellon Larethian, Ehlonna, Fharlanghn, Garl Glittergold, Heironeous, Istus, Kord, Kurell, Lirr, Moradin, Norebo, Obad-Hai, Olidammara, Osprem, Pelor, Pholtus, Procan, Ralishaz, Rao, Saint Cuthbert, Trithereon, Ulaa, Wee Jas, Xerbo, Yondalla, and Zilchus. The worship of evil deities and fiends is forbidden, and such cults, though they may have followers, do not have a public presence. Evil religions that have established a base in the city in recent memory include those of Incabulos, Iuz, Nerull, and Vecna.

Many more deities are worshipped in other settlements of the Domain of Greyhawk.

Languages[edit | edit source]

The most widely spoken language in Greyhawk City and most of the Domain is Common, though other tongues are spoken in settlements with large non-human populations, such as Elmshire, Greysmere, and Grossetgrottel.

Government[edit | edit source]

Administrative divisions[edit | edit source]

The Domain of Greyhawk has no officially named provinces. Some of the region's settlements are under the direct rule of the Free City, while others have varying degrees of autonomy. Notable settlements include:

  • The Free City of Greyhawk.
  • Blackstone, a mining town in the Cairn Hills directly controlled by Greyhawk City.
  • Diamond Lake, a mining town in the Cairn Hills directly controlled by Greyhawk City.
  • Elmshire, a large halfling town on the Nyr Dyv, east of the Selintan.
  • Greysmere, a dwarven stronghold south of the Mistmarsh.
  • Grossettgrottell, a gnome warren located in the northwestern Cairn Hills.
  • Hardby, a small, virtually autonomous port city on Woolly Bay, east of the Selintan.
  • Magepoint, a coastal village east of Elmshire, under the protection of Tenser the archmage.
  • Narwell, a large inland town on the former Wild Coast.
  • Safeton, a small port city on the former Wild Coast, virtually under martial law.
  • Steaming Springs, a mining town in the Cairn Hills directly controlled by Greyhawk City.

Executive branch[edit | edit source]

Greyhawk's Directing Oligarchy elects one of its own as Lord Mayor, who serves as the head of state in addition to his Directorial duties. The current Lord Mayor, Nerof Gasgal, has held office since 571 CY. The Lord Mayor heads both the Directing Oligarchy and the Council of Mayors and Manorial Lords. The chief of state also officially heads the military, though actual command is most often left to the Captain General of the Watch.

Legislative branch[edit | edit source]

The Free City of Greyhawk is ruled by the Directing Oligarchy, an executive council of twelve to eighteen members representing the city's major professional guilds and the military. In some cases, the Oligarchy may include important wizards and/or clerics. New Directors are chosen by current council members when a vacency must be filled.

The Greyhawk Council of Mayors and Manorial Lords is an annual assembleage of leaders from the various baronies and towns in Greyhawk Domain. In theory, this gathering allows citizens of the Domain to have a voice in the governance of the region, but in practice this Council has little real authority.

Judicial branch[edit | edit source]

Major legal matters in the Free City of Greyhawk are adjudicated by a Judge of Greyhawk, one of eight such officials appointed by the Directing Oligarchy. One of these eight is chosen to serve as Chief Judge of Greyhawk. In cases of great import, three Judges of Greyhawk may preside. Appeals of major cases are always heard by a panel of three Judges of Greyhawk, though the Lord Mayor sometimes sits in place of one of the Judges.

Heraldry[edit | edit source]

The Domain's coat of arms is blazoned thus: Sable, a castle triple-towered argent, in chief two chains each of four links chevronwise of the second, in base six bezants.

Economy[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit | edit source]

The Free City of Greyhawk controls most of the Cairn Hills, which provide the domain with great mineral wealth, such as iron, gems, and silver.

Nearby Castle Greyhawk, with its extensive dungeons, draws adventurers and traders to the Domain of Greyhawk from across the Flanaess. As such, the Castle generates significant economic benefits for the City in trade, taxation and treasure.

Currency[edit | edit source]

The Domain of Greyhawk's standard coinage consists of the platinum plate (pp), gold orb (gp), electrum lucky (ep), silver noble (sp), and copper common (cp). All of the coins are round, except for the platinum plate, which is square. The current coinage system replaced the previous system, which included coinage worth less than the copper common known as bronze zees, brass bits, and iron drabs.

Transportation[edit | edit source]

Several roads link the settlements of the Domain of Greyhawk, including the High Road (from Greyhawk City to Elmshire), the Urnst Trail (from the High Road to the Duchy of Urnst), the Western Road (from Ford Keep on the Selintan to Dyvers), and the River Road (south from Greyhawk City along the Selintan).

Much river traffic takes place along the Selintan River, which can accommodate all but the largest sea-going vessels from the Nyr Dyv and Woolly Bay. Smaller vessels ply the Ery and Neen rivers.

Military[edit | edit source]

The Domain of Greyhawk's military forces, though technically under the Lord Mayor's authority, are usually commanded by the Domain's highest-ranking military officer, the Captain General of the Watch, who also sits on the city's Directing Oligarchy. The current Captain General is Tigran Gellner.

Greyhawk's forces consist of several units, including:

Publishing history[edit | edit source]

TSR first published a description of the city in 1980's The World of Greyhawk folio, which was supplanted by the World of Greyhawk boxed set in 1983. The Greyhawk Adventures hardback of 1988 provided additional information regarding the city, along with background information for several small adventures set in the city.

The City of Greyhawk boxed set from 1989 offers the most complete treatment of the Free City. The publication provides information regarding the history and culture of the city, along with maps of the city and its sewers. Descriptions of major political organizations, leaders, villains and a number of adventure setups were also included.

The boxed set was followed in 1990 by a trilogy of adventures set in the city and centered around a mysterious villain called "The Falcon." These included Falcon's Revenge, Falconmaster and Flames of the Falcon. Some of the other modules set in part or entirely within the City of Greyhawk include: Vecna Lives! (1990), Treasures of Greyhawk (1992), and Return of the Eight (1998).

Another boxed set, 1992's From the Ashes, updated the overall Greyhawk setting, included information regarding the City's situation following the Greyhawk Wars, and contained additional adventure cards set in the city. Publications such as Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins (1998), the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), and Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007) also provide information regarding the city in the post-wars period.

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]

  1. ↑ Greyhawk Grumbler #3, Wealsun 598 CY. (2008), p.1, Death Mars Centennial.
  2. ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.57.
  3. ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.51.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

———. Falconmaster. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
———. Flames of the Falcon. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
———. Vecna Lives!. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
———. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
———. "Wormfood - Bazaars of the Bizarre: Buying Magic in the Free City." Dragon #337. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
———. Return of the Eight. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
———. "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.
  • Walker, Jeremy. "Wormfood - A Night on the Town: Entertainment in the Free City." Dragon #336. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
  • Ward, James M. Greyhawk Adventures. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.

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
Retrieved from "https://www.greyhawkonline.com/greyhawkwiki/index.php?title=Domain_of_Greyhawk&oldid=77408"