- World of Greyhawk timeline
This is a fictional timeline of the "
World of Greyhawk "campaign setting for the "Dungeons & Dragons "role-playing game . All dates use the Common Year (CY) reckoning established by theGreat Kingdom of Aerdy Fact|date=October 2007.Historical Ages
The following terms are sometimes used to describe eras in the history of eastern
Oerik Who|date=October 2007:
*TheEpoch of Magic (presumably including all of known history prior to 576 CY but definitely ending some time before 998 CY).
*TheAge of Glory (Suel dominance).
*TheAge of Great Sorrow (decline of theGreat Kingdom ofAerdy .
*TheAge of Worms (the Waiting Age, a time of death, decay and writhing doom that lurks in the shadows of every tomorrow).The Roll of Years
A summary of historical events follows.
c -1900
*The Kingdom of Sulm comes to prominence.
c -1400
*The Kingdom of Sulm begins to decline.
c -700
*The Kingdom of Sulm is destroyed by its last king,
Shattados , using theScorpion Crown in an attempt to gain perpetual dominion over his subjects. The crown turns Shattados into a gigantic scorpion, and his people intomanscorpions anddune stalkers . The land itself is transformed into theBright Desert .c -594
*
Lyzandred born in a small town in the ancient Baklunish lands, probably relatively close to the Suel borderlands. ("Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad " 2)-555
*Lyzandred discovers a portal to a demiplane closely aligned to
Oerth and transforms it into a storehouse of magical objects best kept from evil hands. ("Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad " 2)-535
*Lyzandred, trapped in his private demiplane, finally succumbs to death and becomes a lich. ("
Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad " 2)-484
*Beginning of the
Baklunish-Suloise Wars . ("Guide" 9)-465
*First employment of humanoid mercenaries. ("Guide" 9)
-457
*
Oerid migrations east of peak point. ("Guide" 9)-446
*
Suloise migrations begin.-422
*Suloise
Mages of Power call down theInvoked Devastation upon theBaklunish . In retaliation, Baklunish spellcasters bring down theRain of Colorless Fire upon the Suloise Imperium, transforming the empire in theSea of Dust . ("Guide" 9)
*Surviving Baklunish migrate north to the shores of theDrawmidj Ocean . ("Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 9)-216
*Foundation of the Kingdom of
Aerdy . ("Guide" 9)-110
*
Battle of a Fortnight's Length . The Kingdom of Aerdy defeats Nyrondal cavalry squadrons to become the regional superpower. Aerdy thereafter becomes known as theGreat Kingdom . ("Guide" 9)1
*The Common Year is established as the system of reckoning by Grand Prince
Nasran I of theGreat Kingdom of Aerdy in 645 OR (1 CY), when he declares universal peace throughout his the land, and takes the title ofOverking . At this stage the borders of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy extend all the way to the City of Greyhawk. ("Guide" 9)141
*
Kargoth ofMansbridge born.198
*The lich
Lyzandred uses a potent spell to pull a giant meteor intoOerth 's atmosphere. The resulting fireball streaks across theOljatt Sea , where it is noted by the astronomerSelvor the Younger (among others), who interprets it as an omen presaging "wealth, strife and a living death." The resulting impact in the easternAbbor-Alz sends shockwaves far and wide, interrupting an experiment by a cadre of Suel wizards at theStar Cairns , in theCairn Hills . ("Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad " 2)203
*The Order of the
Knight Protectors of the Great Kingdom is shaken by SirKargoth ’s pact with Demogorgon, when he unleashes a demonic terror upon the Great Kingdom. The abomination is destroyed, but Kargoth sways thirteen other Knight Protectors to follow him. They become the first of thedeath knights .209
*The death knight Sir
Farian ofLirtham is destroyed.213
*
Age of Great Sorrow commences. ("Guide" 9)247
*Sir
Kargoth 's castle,Fharlanst , destroyed by theKnight Protectors of the Great Kingdom .254
*The Viceroyalty of
Ferrond declares independence from theGreat Kingdom .305
*
Zagig and his adventuring band delve theCrypt of Lyzandred the Mad . Zagig remains for a short time to learn at the lich's feet and gains inspiration that will aid him well in the later construction of his masterpiece,Castle Greyhawk . ("Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad " 2)318
*
Zagig Yragerne ,Murlynd ,Keoghtom , and the rest of theCompany of Seven explore the Flan ruins ofVeralos . ("Dragon" #293.90)c. 320
*
Zagig Yragerne elected Mayor of theFree City of Greyhawk . "(Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk )"320
*Mixed
Oerid -Baklunish nomads gradually move into and claim the steppeland east of theYatil Mountains , pushing eastward as far as the Griffs. ("Guide" 9)*Outer dependencies of
Aerdy gain sovereignty. Perranders, Velunians, Furyondians, andTenh as each establish independence in a series of minor but bloody wars. ("Guide" 9)*
Zagig Yragerne begins construction of Castle Greyhawk. "(Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk )"c. 355
*Keolandish armies press into
Ket andVeluna , but are later forced out. ("Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 10)356
*Kingdom of
Nyrond established when junior branch of Aerdy HouseRax-Nyrond declares itself independent ofGreat Kingdom rule. ("Guide" 9, 10)
*Invasion of northern barbarians intoNorth Province prevents the Great Kingdom from retributive action against Nyrond.
*Theocracy of the Pale andUrnst also secede from Great Kingdom.*Kingdom of
Keoland at peak. ("Guide" 9)375
The Free City of Greyhawk achieves its first period of greatness under the rulership of
Zagig Yragerne . ("Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 10)420-455
*
Halmadar the Cruel, aShield Lands warlord, gains the Hand andEye of Vecna , conquers the region nearDelcombon , and lays siege toCritwall . Ultimately he is drugged by his followers and interred alive in theKron Hills .437
*
Turmoil Between Crowns . Scions of the Celestial House ofNaelax destroy the House ofRax to assume theMalachite Throne and rulership of theGreat Kingdom . ("Guide" 9, "Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 10)438
*Keoland and Furyondy go to war, resulting in the secession of the Keolandish regions of
Gran March , Bissel and the Yeomanry.446
*Excessive taxation and repression leads to a general rebellion in the southern
Great Kingdom . This event leads to the foundation of theIron League . ("Guide" 9, "Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 10)*Bandit Kings sack
Trigol . ("Guide" 9)*Rise of the
Sea Princes . ("Guide" 9)*Assassination of nearly all of the House of Rax, with the exception of
Ivid I who accedes to Malachite Throne.450
The
County of Urnst gains independence fromNyrond at theCouncil of Rel Mord . ("Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 6)455
*
Sunndi joins theIron League . ("Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 10)461
*Creation of Ulek and Celene. ("Guide" 9)
479
*Might of
Iuz grows. Humanoid invasions become common. ("Guide" 9)c 495
*The
Cairn Hills town of Diamond Lake hosts an order of monks, preoccupied with astronomy, at the Diamond Lake Observatory. ("Dungeon" #124.40, 63)*The
City of Greyhawk nationalizes the Cairn Hills smelting trade. ("Dungeon" #124.62)c 496
*First known outbreak of the Red Death plague in the
Flanaess . (WG8)498
*
County of Urnst becomes palatinate under theDuchy of Urnst . Greyhawk becomes afree city . ("Guide" 9)505
*
Iuz imprisoned byZagig Yragerne .513
*Rise of the
Horned Society . ("Guide" 9)
*Humanoids take thePomarj . ("Guide" 9)546
*The mountain dwarf
Obmi is enslaved by the fire giant kingSnurre Ironbelly of theHellfurnaces .551
*
Obmi is granted his freedom by kingSnurre Ironbelly , and continues to serve as an advisor to the fire giant king.560
*Savage humanoids invade the
Bone March . ("Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 5)563
*
Bone March falls to humanoids. ("Guide" 9)566
*Evil forces construct a small chapel outside the village of
Nulb , in the Viscounty ofVerbobonc . The chapel grows to become theTemple of Elemental Evil .569
*
Battle of Emridy Meadows . Defeat of theHorde of Elemental Evil .Temple of Elemental Evil sacked.570s
*Keoish coastal town of Saltmarsh threatened by
sahuagin . ("See events of U1-U3)"570
* Iuz is inadvertently freed from imprisonment below
Castle Greyhawk byRobilar andRiggby .573
*
Scarlet Brotherhood first reported on theTilvanot Peninsula. ("Guide" 9, "Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 10)
*Prince ofFuryondy /Provost ofVeluna kidnapped. ("Guide" 9)576
*King
Snurre Ironbelly 's hall raided by adventurers. "(See events of G3)"*The
Savant-Sage completes the "Guide to the World of Greyhawk ". "(Guide 9)"
*The plague known as the Red Death sweeps across the Flanaess.581
*
Halmadar the Cruel escapes his prison; slays majority ofCircle of Eight . "See events of "Vecna Lives! "."*
Vecna 's ploy to become a greater god fails.Diraq Malcinex , Heart of Vecna, slain. "See events of "Vecna Lives! "."582
* A series of regional conflicts erupts into the continent-wide battle that eventually becomes the
Greyhawk Wars .*The war is sparked when
Iuz , masquerading as a god namedVatun , incites the Northern Barbarians into war againstStonefist , conquering it quickly. The leader of the Fists,Sevvord Redbeard , soon allies himself with Iuz. ("From the Ashes" 6)*The Duchy of
Tenh is conquered by the Fists/Northern Barbarian armies. ("From the Ashes" 6)*Before a planned assault on
Ratik , the Northern Barbariansmutiny , refusing to fight any further for a "god" they have lost faith in. ("From the Ashes" 6)*Other armies of Iuz conquer the
Horned Society , creating a mass slaughter in the capital ofMolag . ("From the Ashes" 6)*The
Shield Lands refuse an offer of alliance withFuryondy , and are soon overrun by Iuz's forces. TheBandit Kingdoms fall to Iuz in the same offensive. LordHolmer , leader of theKnights of Holy Shielding is captured and taken toDorakaa . ("From the Ashes" 6)*Queen Yolande of Celene declares neutrality of her realm, and imposes a strict
isolationism .583
*The
Scarlet Brotherhood invades the Hold of theSea Princes . ("Player's Guide to Greyhawk " 5)*
Battle of Critwall Bridge results in victory forFuryondy , securing the eastern borders of the realm againstIuz . Soon after, Furyondy's northern border collapses under an assault from Iuz-allied humanoids attacking from theVesve Forest .Crockport falls, andChendl , Furyondy's capital, is placed under siege. ("From the Ashes" 6)*
Nyrond moves against theHold of Stonefist , striking first in thePhostwood , but staying close to the borders of the kingdom. ("From the Ashes" 7)*At the same time, the
Great Kingdom attacks on a broad front against theTheocracy of the Pale ,Almor andNyrond . Almor is conquered in short order. ("From the Ashes" 6)584
*The
Iron League enters into alliance negotiations withNyrond , even weathering the defection of the Lordship of the Isles to theScarlet Brotherhood . ("From the Ashes" 7)*
Keoland ,Gran March , theUlek States and the Yeomanry enter into the Treaty ofNiole Dra , a mutual-defense pact and military alliance. ("From the Ashes" 7)*Ket allies with
Iuz , and promptly attacks Bissel. ("From the Ashes" 7)*
Turrosh Mak of thePomarj attacks the Wild Coast and Ulek. His forces are stopped at theBattle of the Pass of Celene by a coalition of humanoid warriors. ("From the Ashes" 7)*Renewed giant and evil humanoid raids hit the
Grand Duchy of Geoff ,Sterich , and the Yeomanry. Geoff and Sterich are conquered by the invaders. ("From the Ashes" 7)*
The Battle of Innspa marks the peak of theAerdy invasion ofNyrond . The battle results in a decisive defeat of theGreat Kingdom 's armies. Mass executions follow, ordered by Ivid V. "(unbeknownst to much of theFlanaess , Ivid murders loyal generals and turns them into undead servants. Ivid is subsequently assassinated by remaining generals, and risen as an undead animus by priests of Hextor.)" Mass killings of the Aerdy populace instigated by Ivid. ("From the Ashes"' 8)*The North Province secedes from the Great Kingdom. ("
From the Ashes " 8)*The
Scarlet Brotherhood begins campaign of assassinations inIron League states with an aim to destabilize their governments.Cobb Darg of the Free City ofIrongate orders the execution of every known Scarlet Brotherhood agent within the city. ("From the Ashes" 9)*The Wars end with a Brotherhood-inspired general peace treaty, the
Pact of Greyhawk in the month of Harvester. ("From the Ashes" 9)
**On the same day,Rary instigates a massive magical battle within the Great Hall and attempts to assassinate the other members of theCircle of Eight , killing onlyOtiluke andTenser before fleeing into theBright Desert to form his own kingdom. ("From the Ashes" 9)585
*Prince
Sewarndt attempts to seize the throne ofNyrond from his father, KingArchibold III . The plot is foiled by Sewarndt's brother,Lynwerd .586
*The
Great Kingdom comes to an effective end, as it splinters into two major states (The United Kingdom of Ahlissa and the North Kingdom of Aerdy) and numerous minor states.Ivid V , the Overking, rulesRauxes as essentially a no-man's land.
**The priesthood of Hextor officially deposes Ivid V as Overking.*
Archibold III ofNyrond abdicates, leaving the throne to his sonLynwerd .*Canon Hazen of
Veluna causes the "Flight of Fiends " through use of theCrook of Rao . Most (but not all) evil-aligned outsiders are banished from theFlanaess .596
*
Hand of Vecna resurfaces in the centralFlanaess , in the possession of aVecna n priest namedDarl Quethos . "(Dungeon #132)"597
*
Riggby the Patriarch dies inVerbobonc . His body is returned to theFree City of Greyhawk for his funeral. "(Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk )"
*Iuz attempts to invade the Free City, via the dungeons ofCastle Greyhawk . "(Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk )"
* Although unbeknownst to most, LordRobilar is returned to Oerth after an absence of 15 years. "(Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk )"
** "For the purposes of theLiving Greyhawk campaign, 597 corresponds to 2007 in the Gregorian calendar."c 963
*
Pluffet Smedger the Elder examines a centuries-old copy of volume 3 of "Catalogue of the Land Flanaess, being the Eastern Part of the Continent of Oerik, of Oerth," by theSavant-Sage of Greyhawk. This volume, entitled "A Guide to the World of Greyhawk," is discovered in the library of the Royal University ofRel Mord . Smedger is impressed by the "Guide's" freshness and thoroughness. ("Glossography" 2)*In this era, magic is not a lost art, but apparently a fading one. ("Glossography" 2)
998
*
Pluffet Smedger the Elder publishes his "Glossography for the Guide to the World of Greyhawk" at the Royal University ofRel Mord . ("Glossography" cover)ee also
Age of Worms Timeline References
*
Brown, Anne . "Player's Guide to Greyhawk " (TSR,1998 ).*Gygax, Gary. "
World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting " (TSR,1983 ).*Holian, Gary,
Erik Mona ,Sean K Reynolds , andFrederick Weining . "Living Greyhawk Gazetteer " (Wizards of the Coast ,2000 ).*Logue, Nicholas. "The Library of Last Resort." "Dungeon" #132 (
Paizo Publishing ,2006 ).*Sargent, Carl. "From the Ashes" (TSR,
1992 ).*Wilson, Steve. "Greychrondex." Available online: [http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/ghchrondex.php]
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