Underoerth

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Greyhawk Realm
Underoerth
Government: City-states, each with different government (autocracy, magocracy, matriarchy, monarchy, theocracy, and so on)
Capital: None
Resources: Exports: Armor, exotic goods, magic, weapons
Population: Unknown
Races: aboleth, cloaker, drow, duergar, illithid, quaggoth, svirfneblin
Alignments: Typically nuetral or evil
Religions: Varies, usually racial pantheon

The Underoerth (also seen as UnderOerth or Under-Oerth) or the DeepOerth[1] is a literal underworld to the surface of the Oerth. It is a vast subterranean network of interconnected caverns and tunnels stretching beneath entire continents. In some other realms, it is known as the underdark.

The Underoerth is a strange alien landscape populated by bizarre creatures and ancient races, nearly all of whom are hostile to surface-dwelling life. The Underoerth is featured prominently in the World of Greyhawk (where it was first introduced).

Ecology[edit]

There is no light except for occasional patches of fluorescent fungus; most Underoerth inhabitants either have highly developed senses other than sight or have developed infravision (before the third edition of the game rules).

Food can be extremely difficult to find, and much of the natural vegetation is poisonous.

The Underoerth is permeated by a magical energy or radiation which is used as a source of energy by the native plant life but which interferes with scrying and teleportation spells. It is known to be caused by the decay of Tumkeoite into Lacofcite. In the Forgotten Realms setting (the "underdark") the drow call this radiation faerzress.[2]

In the Vault of the Drow (Erelhei-Cinlu), natural radiation is given off by rock formations in the ceiling — small pockets of unique minerals and a huge mass of tumkeoite, a heavy and unstable magnetic metal that slowly decays with exposure to air. The formations transform into lacofcite, a dense, crumbling ore that absorbs certain wavelengths of light energy and gives off a lurid glow. The result is an effect almost like a moon and starry sky in the rocky upper reaches of the Vault, and it interferes with teleportation. Drow who live in the Vault prize the fact that surface raiders cannot teleport directly into their cities and out again (without incredibly high risk of horrible accidents). Furthermore, all sources of illumination exposed to the emanations give off only a muted pale glow that is much preferred by the sensitive eyes of the drow. [2]

Inhabitants[edit]

The Underoerth is extremely dangerous, especially to those not native to it. There are the usual dangers associated with caverns: claustrophobia, occasional poor air circulation, and getting lost.

In addition to those dangers, the Underoerth is also home to many predators and a wide array of races, most of which are hostile to other races. These races include:

Personalities[edit]

Features and settlements[edit]

Crystalmist Mountains[edit]

Hellfurnaces[edit]

Central Flanaess[edit]

Old Aerdy[edit]

Empire of Iuz[edit]

Western Oerik[edit]

Densac Gulf[edit]

Specific prestige classes[edit]

External links[edit]

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]

Notes[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. "Kingdom of the Ghouls". Dungeon #70 (Sep/Oct 1998), p.49
  2. a b Marmell, Ari, Anthony Pryor, Robert J. Schwalb, Greg A. Vaughan. Drow of the Underdark. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007, p.154

Bibliography[edit]

  • Baur, Wolfgang. "The Dragon's Bestiary: Monsters of the Underdark." Dragon #227. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
———. "Kingdom of the Ghouls." Dungeon #70. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
———. Vault of the Drow. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1978.
———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
———. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, unpublished. Available online: [2]
———. Iuz the Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
———. Monster Mythology. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
———. Night Below: An Underdark Campaign. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.

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

Black Lake (Underoerth) Geographical feature Lake, Dungeon magazine #070 52, 63
Cloaker Rift (Underoerth) Place Dungeon magazine #070 49, 61, 62, 67, 68
Cloaker Rift (Underoerth) Place Dungeon magazine #072 84
Cynidicea (Underoerth) Settlement Settlement, Return to the Keep on the Borderland 18
Deepearth {Deepoerth} Place The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 52
Deepearth {Deepoerth} Place Dungeon magazine #070 49, 51
FOR02 Drow of the Underdark Adventure DMGR4 - Monster Mythology 60
Fungus Lake {Fungal} (Underoerth) Geographical feature Lake, Dungeon magazine #085 47, 48, 49, 50
Ghostwood (Underoerth) Geographical feature Woodland, Dungeon magazine #070 58, 59
Grand Cascade (Underoerth) Geographical feature Waterway, Dungeon magazine #070 63
Grand Cascade (Underoerth) Geographical feature Waterway, Dungeon magazine #072 84
Kilenor (Underoerth) Settlement Settlement, Dungeon magazine #070 49, 51, 59, 64, 67, 68, 78
Kilenor (Underoerth) Settlement Settlement, Dungeon magazine #072 84
Laetan River (Underoerth) Geographical feature River, Dungeon magazine #070 55, 58, 63, 67
Laetan River (Underoerth) Geographical feature River, Dungeon magazine #072 84
Nerull, Shrine of (Underoerth) Building Shrine, Dungeon magazine #070 65
Pitchy Flow (Underoerth) Geographical feature Waterway, D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth 17
Pitchy Flow (Underoerth) Geographical feature Waterway, D3 Vault of the Drow (adventure) 8, 15, 18, 22
Pitchy Flow (Underoerth) Geographical feature Waterway, Dragon magazine #298 73, 74
Pitchy Flow (Underoerth) Geographical feature Waterway, GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders 65, 73, 81, 84, 88, 125
River of the Dead (Underoerth) Geographical feature Waterway, Dungeon magazine #085 49, 58
Scarlet Lake (Underoerth) Geographical feature Lake, Dungeon magazine #085 40
Sunless Sea (Underoerth) Geographical feature Sea, D1 Descent into the Depths of the Earth IBC
Sunless Sea (Underoerth) Geographical feature Sea, D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth 14
Sunless Sea (Underoerth) Geographical feature Sea, D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa IBC
Sunless Sea (Underoerth) Geographical feature Sea, D3 Vault of the Drow (adventure) IBC, 22
Sunless Sea (Underoerth) Geographical feature Sea, Dragon magazine #209 13
Sunless Sea (Underoerth) Geographical feature Sea, Dragon magazine #285 66
Sunless Sea (Underoerth) Geographical feature Sea, Dungeon magazine #070 51, 52, 62, 65, 66, 72
Sunless Sea (Underoerth) Geographical feature Sea, GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders 88
Svartjet River (Underoerth) Geographical feature River, D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth 14, 17
Svartjet River (Underoerth) Geographical feature River, D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa 6
Svartjet River (Underoerth) Geographical feature River, D3 Vault of the Drow (adventure) 22
Svartjet River (Underoerth) Geographical feature River, Dragon magazine #298 71
Svartjet River (Underoerth) Geographical feature River, Dungeon magazine #070 62
Svartjet River (Underoerth) Geographical feature River, GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders 62, 64, 88, 125
Tharizdun, Temple of (Underoerth) Building Temple, Dungeon magazine #085 43, 44
Underdark Region Reference SEE Underoerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm}
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #11 14,16,21,22,62,69
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #12 9
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #14 37,38,45
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #19 42
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #22 12,46,56
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #23 35
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #26 13
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #27 24
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #30 5
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #31 7
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #32 11,47
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Player's Guide to Greyhawk 7, 39
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Return of the Eight 60
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, D&D 3.0e 41, 50, 96
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Return to White Plume Mountain 48, 49
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book Two 10
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Spelljammer Boxed Set: Lorebook of the Void 90
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Slavers, AD&D 2e 27, 121, 123
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Sea of Death 256
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region The Adventure Begins 38
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region LT3 The Doomgrinder 2, 14, 33
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region The Scarlet Brotherhood 25, 54
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region LT1 The Star Cairns 29
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region WGA3 Flames of the Falcon 47, 59, 60
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region WGA4 Vecna Lives! 39
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region WGR1 Greyhawk Ruins 14
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region WGR3 Rary the Traitor 17, 25, 29, 34, 35, 40, 42, 45
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region WGR5 Iuz the Evil 50, 91
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff 2, 23, 42
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Bastion of Faith 10
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards 3
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 52
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 27, 30
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region LT2 Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad 46
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #208 54
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #241 39, 43
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #276 84
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #285 72
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #293 90
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #294 96
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #298 71, 73, 85
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #351 43, 45
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #AN3 100
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dragon magazine #AN4 70
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dungeon magazine #070 48, 50, 51, 52, 54, 58, 59, 61, 62, 67, 76, 78
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dungeon magazine #085 35, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 52
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Dungeon magazine #089 47
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 7
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region From the Ashes: Campaign Book 25, 27
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e 14, 207, 216
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region IQ3 Warriors of the Gray Queen 5
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Ivid the Undying 73, 100, 139
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region TSR Jam 1999 27
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e 40, 102
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 18, 143, 170
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Living Greyhawk Journal #2 24
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #02 2
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #04 5
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #05 14
UnderOerth {Underdark, Sunless Realm, Under-Oerth} Region Oerth Journal #06 11