Submitted by Russ Taylor
Additions and corrections appreciated.
Dragon magazine articles:
Issues 52, 56, 57, and 65, in the regular "Events of the Flanaess" series
that describe the events leading up to the wars.
[ ] 9025 The World of Greyhawk Folio
Basic information on the Duchy of Urnst (population, resources, leader).
Be sure to check the neighboring areas for further information (i.e.
proposed merging with the County Urnst, relations with the Celadon)
[ ] 9038 C2 Ghost Tower of Inverness
Set in the Duchy Urnst, at an earlier time
[ ] 1015 World of Greyhawk Campaign Setting [boxed]
Expanded information on the Duchy. Be sure to check out the encounter
tables for the Duchy and the surrounding regions. Notes on racial
tolerance in the Duchy and the racial composition (nearly pure Suel) are
found under the race section. Notes under the Rhennee in the
glossography reveal that they are also found in Urnst. This set
supersedes the Folio.
[ ] 8240 GHA1 Saga of Old City [novel, Gary Gygax, Gord book 1]
Portions of this Gord the Rogue novel take place in the Duchy of Urnst --
includes a pair of notable NPCs (Hengel and Iquander)
[ ] 2023 Greyhawk Adventures [hardcover]
Karll is detailed in this supplement, althought parts of it conflict with
earlier canon. There's also a selection of magic items that might be
appropriate for Urnst, and at least one new monster (camprats) found in
the area.
[ ] 9253 WG8 Fate of Istus
Leukish (the capital of the Duchy) is one of the many cities included in
this module. It also contains notes on taxation, and the relationship
between the Rhenee and the merchant houses.
[ ] 1043 The City of Greyhawk [boxed]
Several of the NPCs in this supplement are from the Duchy Urnst,
including (obviously) the Duchy's ambassador to Greyhawk. The product
also has a fair amount of detail about the relationship between the two
nation. Check out the origin of the name of the Duke's Gate!
[ ] 1068 Greyhawk Wars [boxed]
Some brief notes on Urnst in the wars are contained in the box set. All
of this material is available at WotC's downloads section, under Greyhawk
[ ] 1064 From the Ashes [boxed]
Updates the Urnst entry. This set does NOT entirely supersede the '83
boxed set, both are still useful. A new city (Selintan) has been added
to the map.
[ ] 9360 WGR2 Treasures of Greyhawk
One of the modules here is set in the Cairn Hills, and involves a Tyrant
who apparently ruled the region before the gnomes settled.
[ ] 9386 WGR3 Rary the Traitor
Describes at least one of the passes through the hills in the Duchy, and
a bandit chief in the area.
[ ] 9398 WGR4 The Marklands
The Duchy is mentioned in several sections, relating to refuges from the
war, financial aid to Furyondy and Nyrond, and the current state of the
Celadon forest.
[ ] 9578 Player's Guide to Greyhawk
The only real tidbit about the Duchy Urnst is that it got independence
during the Council of Rel Mord (which may contradict earlier implications)
[ ] 9577 Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins
This update to the City of Greyhawk continues the careers of several
Duchy-related NPCs, and details an unpleasant occurence befalling Lady
Xenia Sallavarian, a distant cousin of Karll.
Here's my rambling notes on most of these products (not all have been
typed, sorry):
Timeline:
~200 Leukish founded (WG8)
320 Presumed independence of the Duchy and County (first time)
356 Nyrond secedes from the GK (FTA claims Urnst independence)
??? Nyrond captures the County, held off from the Duchy
498 County of Urnst becomes independent under the Duchy (from Nyrond)
578 Bandit raid
582 Greyhawk wars begin
583 Duchy signs treaty of Niole Dra
584 Greyhawk wars end
Greyhawk and Duchy sign treaty for new Cairn Hills border
'83 boxed set:
His Most Lordly Grace Karll, the Duke of Urnst; Warden of the Abbor-Alz
(12th level Ranger)
Capital: Leukish (20,900, 576 CY) (R3-80)
Population: 200,000+ (576 CY)
Demi-humans: Halflings (5,000, 576 CY), Gnomes (3,000, 576 CY), Dwarves
(3,000, 576 CY)
Humanoids: Few (some half-orcs)
Resources: Foodstuff, silver, electrum, gold, platinum, gems (I-IV)
Alignments: LG, NG (allied with good), N (random chart)
Languages: Common
Leukish and Nellix on the big map (Nellix 1500-6500)
Gems include the corundum gems (ruby, sapphire, oriental emerald,
oriental aquamarine)
(I=10, II=50, III=100-500, IV=1000)
The duchy has been desired by Aerdy and Nyrond (in that order)
When Nyrond won their independence, they took the County, and were
crossing the Nesser. They were turned back, and never tried to take the
Duchy again.
The County of Ursnt is under the protection of the Duchy of Urnst. They
originally rebelled from Nyrond under the urgings of the Palatine Duke of
Urnst, forcing Nyrond to agree to the County's separation.
The Duke of Urnst wants to marry his eldest son to the Countess, uniting
the two Realms (576 CY).
The Cairns border with Greyhak is problematic. The Abbor-Alz frontier
has problems with desert nomad raiders and the lakemen of the Nyr Dive.
The Duke has developed an excellent border army to deal with these
threats, and also keeps a centrally located force of cavalry, due to
mistrust of Nyrond. (576 CY).
Nyrond has a pact with the Duchy of Urnst, allowing support in time of
need.
Trading partners include Dyvers
Allies include Nyrond and Greyhawk
Peoples are nearly pure Suel, Rhennee are also found
The people of the Duchy _do_ care about race to some extent (the western
half less so)
The county borders are the Nesser River
Included areas:
Celadon forest
Cairn Hills
Nyr Dyv
Abbor-Alz
Neen River (border with Greyhawk)
Nesser River (border with Nyrond)
Nyr Dyv:
Leukish relies on trade from it (place on coastline)
Abbor-Alz:
The Duchy claims the northern stretches, included the forested portions
near the Celadon. Wild tribesmen claim the central and southern
portions. The Urnst has productive mines in the parts they control.
Rocky hills. There are dervishes rumored to dwell in the hills bordering
the bright desert, of Flan extraction (disliking Suel like the native
tribesmen).
Cairn Hills:
Form the border between Greyhawk and the Duchy
Many gnomes dwell here, dwarves dwell in the mountainous portions
The Cairns in these hills predate even the demihumans
The portions east of the swamp are unsettled until the eastern edge of
the hills. There are mines here.
Nesser River:
very broad and deep -- 3 miles wide on average, seagoing vessels can
pilot it. It is the border between Nyrond and the Duchy.
Neen River: border with greyhawk, broad but shallow
Celadon Forest:
Oak and elm forest. Many wood elves and treants. The Duchy lays claim
to the portions west of the Nesser, but they do not cut timber or
otherwise interfere in the forest, except for hunting. The woodsmen in
the Duchy region are expected to serve the Duchy by guarding the forest
from invasion from the Gnatmarsh or the Abbor-Alz. Waterborne raiders
(on the Nesser, presumably from the Gnartmarsh) are a problem, so the
Duchy patrols the river to aid the warders. During wartime, the Duchy
raises contingents of archers and light infantry from the Celadon.
Gods include:
Saint Cuthbert
Fharlanghn
Ulaa (demihumans)
Crest:
Bear, pawed upraised, on green background
Encounters:
Dwarves, halflings (stout and hairfoot), humanoids, brigands/bandits,
nomads (in the hills), light patrols, pilgrims, Rhennee (near water),
tribesmen (when in hills)
Celadon: wood elves, humanoids, bandits, adventurers, light patrols,
woodsmen, treants
Abbor-alz: hill giants, humanoids, patrol (medium), tribesmen (many),
ogres, trolls
Cairn: dwarves, gnomes, halflings (hairfoot or stout), humanoids,
bandits/brigands, adventurers, Rhennee (near water), patrol, tribesmen
Nesser: Rhennee
Nyr Dyv: pirates, merchants, fishermen, bucaneers, Rhennee
Greyhawk Adventures:
The Abboz-Alz have many camprats
Karll is detailed here! Youngest of six children of the last Duke and
Duchess of Urnst. He trained at the Ranger training school (the only of
its kind) in the Duchy. He favors heavy armor and weapns. He is CG in
alignment.
Ac -5 (full plate +4 and shield +1); MV 6", R 12, hp 71, #AT 3/2; Dmg bw;
prof. with two-handed sword, halberd, long sword, dagger, battle axe,
long bow (specialized); Str 16, Int 14, Wis 14, Dex 14, Con 17, Cha 17
Karll grew up fighting evil and often would adventure alone for months at
a time, returning with many trophies.
Two of Karll's older brothers were killed in a border war with the desert
nomads. His two sisters were assassinated by unknown enemies (a
neighboring lord who had not been allowed to marry them was suspects).
When his father died, his last brother became Duke, but he was suffering
from wounds inflicted in the border war. Karll was recalled from the
rangers to be groomed for the Ducal chair, as the sole heir.
Karll ascended the throne upon his brother's death, and was not happy
about it. He would have declined the throne but for pressure from his
ranger superiors, who ordered him to take the throne. He improved
training and the equiping of the armor, and trained the with rangers. He
takes a personal hand in training, passing along skill in woodcraft and
tracking.
He views the Duchy as both a home and a tool in his war against evil. He
dislikes day-to-day governing, and has attracted many unscrupulous aides
(he believes the best of people, a naive attitude). Currently, justice
in the Duchy goes to the ones who bribe the judges the highest, peasants
are overtaxed, and even daughters are kidnapped. The people blame the
advisors, not hte Duke.
Petitioners who try to advise the Duke of this tend to be plagued by
mysterious bandits, or even get assassinated if they keep it up. If the
Duke were less obsessed with fighting giants and humanoids, he would
notice this and clean things up, but his advisors keep the state of
things hiden from him.
The Duke is tall and handsome, with brown hair and icy green eyes. He has
a +4 long bow and many arrows of slaying evil beings, as well as plate
armor +4 and a shield +1, the family armor (a source of greatpride). He
owns a flame tongue two-handed sword, a cloak of displacement (from an
evil mage), a ring of regeneration, and gauntlets of ogre power.
He values magic items for fighting evil, and would even trade in the
jewels of state (crown, orb, sceptre) for a powerful item against giants
or humanoids. He has a very complete spellbook library, though he does
not make large use of it.
Karll wishes to launch a great crusade against evil, especially humanoids
and giants. He is usually reasonable, but flies into a tirade when these
aimes are questioned or called unfeasable. He even now will vanish for
days at a time to hunt humanoids and giants in the forests of the land.
He fails to distinguish between the qualities of a ruler and the
qualities of a ranger. He believes his role as a ranger supersedes that
of Duke. He is a popular ruler, but the people are aware he woiuld
sacrifice them for the greater good -- which they resent.
[CONFLICT: according to this, he is unmarried, yet he has an older son
and implied more than one]
He is seeking a wife at his ministers inistence, but currently
neighboring countries don't particularly trust him with their daughter's
safety.
He's at least 41, probably a bit older.
Magic items:
Amulet of the Cairn Hills (protects vs. undead special attacks)
Golden Girdle of Urnst (+3 to AC vs. swords, red silk strewen with golden
flakes). Made to protect powerful magic-users (unique)
Hasty Barge of the Nyr Dyv (unique) (possible)
Holy Star of the Bright Desert (Heironeous -- dervishes may worship
him!). 30% immunity to fear, better reations from Dervishes, glows when
within 30' of evil.
Iron Gauntlet of Urnst: created by a wizard. Allows a clenched-fist like
attack (unique)
C2 (Ghost Tower):
A duke is mentioned, Duke Justinian Lorinar
His advistor is a magician known as the Seer
Justinian appears to have been a hard leader -- outlawing some forms of
sorcery, and a revolt from another was crushed. It apparently has at
least one monastery.
The Dukedom is well equipped in magical items
Fate of Istus:
Leukish was founded in 200 CY, as a trading post between Furyondy and
Nyrond
The mining tax is 60% of production
The Rhennee dislike the Duchy's favoritism towards the merchant class
The ruling family lives in a huge fortress at the mouth of the Nesser
Leukish is the capital city, with a soveriegn (noble) mayor/governer
The Duchy is ruled from a seat of military power, the civilian population
is centered in Leukish
2000 soldiers and marines defend Leukish, they also patrol the streets.
1500 are usually on naval patrol duty.
Bribery and theft are more common than violent crime, corruption is a
well-known aspect of the city that is not spoken of. City officials and
judges are often very immoral. The prison is a large castle 15 miles
south of Leukish.
No thieve's guild exists in Leukish, but there are many low- to mid-
level thiefs, especially in crowded areas. Bribes are 10 gp per watchman
in the patrol, 25 for the officer to release a capture pickpocket. A
rich character will typically be pickpocketed by one 1st-6th level thief
per day -- this can be avoiding by leaving valuables at the city treasury.
The north end abuts the Nyr Dyv, the other three sides grassy planes.
Small groves of trees are common.
Karll's escort is 300 soldiers and 50 elite guards (3rd level).
Leukish builds ships, and has naval docking facilities. It usually builds
galleys, merchant ships and barges, and ocassionally warships.
The most common meat is fish, shrimp, and crabs (freshwater).
It has a sailor's guild, a (fairly well of) poor section, a city treasure
with 400 lockboxes (for valuables), and much government wealth. The
charge for storage is 5% of the value of the items, verified by a ring of
truth.
The court sees only trials for the poorer criminals (richer ones buy off
the case). Violent crimes are difficult to bribe out of. Open corruption
may be looked down on.
The Lord-Governor is named Hadric.
A racing arena provides entertainment, up to 5000 spectators. Each
Freeday, 12 8 horse races are held (many pickpockets). Betting on one
horse per race is allowed. Magical cheating is guarded against.
Leukish has a hospital for the poor (it is government funded). Most of
the staff is non-clerical in nature. It also has an alchemist and a
halfling village of 50 inhabitants. They are well-trusted by the nobility
(not wealth hungry!), and do gardenin, carpentry, tailoring, and
leatherworking. Their village is usually unpatrolled, but the halflings
know weapons. Moonday and Earthday are popular days for halflings to go
to their largest restaurant and be festive.
The City Garden is now closed to public use (hornwood, walnut, yew).
Hadric is involved in the theft of gems, using hill giants (who murder
the guards of the gem shipments). He is a specialist illusionist,
presumably now deceased or disgraced.
Karll hunts giants in the Gnarley Forest (outside the Duchy, West)
Hiram is a local merchant of some influence.
Temples: Lydia -- staffed by women, including an elven bard. They give
concerts for a few hundred people at noon each day, to collect donations.
The priests are all skilled sages of the Humanties, with one special
category per three levels (art & music, history, languages, or legends
and folklore). The higest priest is 10th level.
There is a fountain, once dedicated to Norebo, which people used to throw
coins in for luck (the would vanish at midnight of Goddays each week).
Also a shrine of Ehlonna.
Hadric is tried by the Duke acting as judge, and declare guilty -- life
imprisonment in the jail. This causes the Duke to take evil within his
lands more seriously. Karll has access to clerics who can raise dead,
and can dispense free lodging as a reward. He may create a secret police
as a result.
Greyhawk Wars:
The Greyhawk borders expanded to the edge of the Duchy. The Duchy did
sign the pact to contain the aggression of the GK, apparently.
Dragon magazines:
ghwrld52.rtf
ghwrld56.rtf
ghwrld57.rtf
ghwrld65.rtf
Bandit Kingdoms: The usual turmoil of competing states preying upon one
another and any available neighbor outside the territory sums up activity
within the area until CY 578. Bandit groups made forays into Tenh, the
Pale, Nyrond, County Urnst, and even the Shield Lands and portions of
Fu_ryondy. Most groups were mounted, but the usual number of river
raiders and buccaneers from Redhand plied the waters. Prince Zeech's
ships and galleys actually staged a major action against the Duchy of
Urnst, managing to slip in through the easternmost portion of the Cairn
Hills, loot and pillage, and then escape with their gains.
Redhand: Price Zeech (cleric/fighter, 5th/8th level); Cavalry 100,
infantry 300.
Languages of occupants:
Duchy of Urnst: neutral; Flan 01, Oeridian 02-03, Common 04-00,
CY 578: War against the GK
And to insure complete victory in this undertaking, Dunstan has called
upon the aid of both the County and Duchy of Urnst, thus securing a
further allotment of well trained elite footmen - in excess of 10,000 -
who will be at the Relmord/ Woodwych area within three months.
From the Ashes:
Seltarin (new city)
In CY 583, the Duchy signed the Treaty of Niole Dra against the great
kingdom
The Duchy still has the level of law it did pre-Wars. Many skilled
Nyrondese have fled to the duchy (better opportunities, less danger, less
taxes). The Duchy is supporting Nyrond with funds at this time. They
apparently supported the Shield Lands before their fall. Many shield
landers have ended up in the Duchy. The county is effectively
independent. It is now a dominant power, due to wealth. The Duke still
wants to form one land of Urnst, Belissica resists this. He has
initiated a campaign against corruption (still notorious), and is showing
greater wisdom dealing with Greyhawk and Ulek. He is considered to be
wiser with equals than with inferiors. He is attentive to the gnomes and
dwarves who supply so much of Urnst's wealth from the mines west and
south. Leukish has many scholars and artisans now, several bandits
(allegedly reformed) trying to raise armies against Iuz and a strong navy
and group of mages within Leukish castle.
Urnst and Ulek may be forming a diplomatic alliance.
Celadon:
Druids of Ehlonna, voadkyn (small groups)
Keoghtom's Ointment is prepared in these woods
Nesser River:
The lowlands are exceedingly fertile, rich dark soils
Population of Leukish now 24,000, state 250,000. So racial makeup.
3000d/3000g/3000h. Food, all metals, gems+fine, leader is now a Ranger 13
The Rhennee (an evil element of, allied with Adumfort and Iuz) are
raiding on the Nyr Dyv, using a stone that produces a one mile fog cloud
Timeline is in ERROR in from the ashes
Encounters:
patrols now superior
Nyr Dyv:
octopi, gaint selkies, freshwater serpents, vodyanoi
Celadon: Voadkyn, elven patrol (and superior), normal patrols
Cairn (NE):
dwarves, hill giants, gnomes, goblins, griffons, haflings, hobgoblins,
manticores, adventurers, bandits, hillsmen, merchants, militia, ogres,
orcs, gnome patrols, rocs, trolls, wyverns
Abbor-Alz (hills):
brass dragon, copper dragon, dwarves, mountain dwarves (rarer), hill
giants, gnomes, goblins, hobgoblins, lamias (restricted area),
leucrottas, weretigers, manticores, adventurers, bandits, hillsmen,
merchants, militia, ogres, orcs, dwarven patrols, gnome patrols, rocs,
sphinxes (andro, gyno, hieraco, within 4 hexes of bright only), tiger
(mountain), troll, wyverns
Cairn Hills treaty: 20% of take (after expenses, but maybe should be
before) from mineral and gem takes. Almost all are now the Free City.
It may have been an unwise deal for Duke Karll. Count Richard Petrides
is the Duchy ambassador (usually meets in secret now).
The Cairn dwarves never particularly cared for external rule, but they
just ignore it rather than rebell. The hillsmen of the Cairns trade with
the Duchy. The Duchy is urging Greyhawk to support Nyrond.
Jerome Kazinskaia (of Rao) is involved in diplomacy, and hosts dinners
including the urnst diplmats.
Veni Jarrison, priest of Mayaheine (once of the duchy): FTA, p. 85
29 years old, 6' tall, 177 pounds, blonde hair, green eyes. Native of
Leukish. Impatient with the support coming from the Duchy.
Player's Guide
Independence in the Council of Rel Mord, over 200 years ago
The Adventure Begins
Lady Xenia Sallavarian collapsed and lost her spirit in 589 CY. She was
a distant cousin of both Jallarzi and Duke Karll.
The Nyrondese side of the Celadon is refusing addmitance to the Nryondese.
Embassy of the Duchy: once the summer home of Zagig, onion-domed. Count
Reichart Petrides (LN, F7, hp 40, S 18/17, D 15, I 15,). 58 years old,
old wound on left arm from an assassin of Iuz. He is angry with Greyhawk
for not aiding in funding Ducal naval patrols on the Nyr Dyv. He has
been locking horns on issues now, including the defining of the Cairn
Hills border. He is happy to help visitors from the Duchy. He hates
Rhennee and humanoids.
There are low-grade border problems with the Duchy now. The Duchy is NOT
in the alliance against Iuz. However, they are working with Furyondy,
Dyvers, the County to keep the Nyr Dyv free of piracy. Greyhawk is not
participating.
The Duchy is allied with Nyrond, Keoland, and the P. of Ulek and Greyhawk
against the Scarlet Brotherhood.
The Duchy wants the mines back, and the dwarven allies in them.
The Duchy is supportive of aiding rebels in Onnwal against the
brotherhood.
The Duchy ambassador has a monthly meeting with the Directors.
Iquander, from Nellix, is the chief administrator and researcher of the
Great Library of Greyhawk. He took over for Gratius Saghast. LN hm W11
hp 23 I 18 C 15, five ioun stones
Treasures:
Lord Gregor Eichyer and Lady Karyne ruled in Marteen Castle, long before
the gnomes came to the Cairn hills (the castle has been destroyed for
centuries). He was a tyrant.
Rary:
There is a path through the hills called the Knife's Edge Pass, it snakes
along hillsides and canyons to allow entrace to the Bright Desert. Hugo
the Axes bandits prey on traveller through it.
Marklands:
The Duchy provides some aid to Furyondy, and cooperates with their ships
on the Nyr Dyv. The ambassador of the Duchy may be entering into a group
alliance with the County and the Ulek States for this purpose.
The Duchy and County went independent in 356 CY.
The Duchy gives aid to Nyrond (more than the County). Their ambassador is
Viscoun Ferrell Adamas. The Duchy is richer than the County. Adamas is
very unhappy about Archbold's actions in the Celadon. He is sending back
very negative reports, calling Archbold a hopless case. 9 level diviner,
D16, I 18, W 17, AC2 (cloak of displacement, ring of protection +4), hp
25, AL NG, amulet of proof against detection/location, crystal ball.
Usually in Rel mord, but he has a network of agents 5'5', slim, hazel
brown eyes. Lively eyes and knowing smile, pale skin. He gives factual
but negative reports. He avoids social events, and would rather return to
his landholdings west of nellix, now run by his sister. He believes that
Nyrond will be forced to retreat to the east.
Many residents of Beetu have fled taxes to Urnst.
The Celadon elves are talking of allying exclusively with the Duchy,
cancelling their old pact to aid Nyrond (because of logging and punitive
raids).
Many Arnford types left for urnst.
Many Urnst folk live in Hammensend, at the junction of the three stats.
It has ferries to Leukish, and 8800 people.
The Spurned Vale is in the Duchy of Urnst, with 600 Nyrondese refuges.
They have angered the Urnst hillmen and woodsmen (xenophobic), cause
skirmishes and hard raids. They have taken to the worship of evil gods in
desperation and poverty.
Saga of Old City:
Giant otters live in the Nyr Dyv.
Leukish is the largest city of Urnst
Rolling green hills -- Leukish is between hills, the farthest from port
section is on a low plateau, higher than the rest of the valley. They
are an Oerid-Suel mix, and favor plaids and checks (some plain, some
gaudy). The buildings are tall and narrow, with pointy arches and square
towers. Columns and pillars are common, roofs and towers steeply peaked.
The Urnstmen dislike Rhenee. Some battles had been fought in the past
over piracy and raiding, it had just blown over a few years pre-wars.
Theft and seduction are frowned upon.
Hengel sells fine weapons here, including some magical blades (he had 5
magical daggers). He is a large, old dwarf. He bars and curtains the
door during big sales.
Belissica is a cousin of Karll. The bargefolk may spy for her on the
Duchy.
Nellix is west of Woodwych, and home to Iquander the Savant. He was once
a cleric of Fharlanghn, and wears green robes and has a birdlike build.
He is in league with those of Balance. Fharlanghn is more revered in the
Duchy than he is in the County, and has a large church in Nellix. Nellix
also has colleges, including a Society of Sages and Scholars.
Mauve Castle is described as a small town. It has an inn called the
Manticore's Tail, near the Southern Gate.
The Abbor-Alz are really the same range as the Cairn Hills, divided by
the point where the Cairns become mountains. Maure Castle is in the
Duchy of Urnst.
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