Grandwood Forest
The Grandwood Forest is a large woodland in the eastern portion of the United Kingdom of Ahlissa and acts as a buffer between Ahlissa and Rel Astra and the Solnor Compact.
Ecology
The Grandwood was once part of a vast deciduous forest that once stretched from the Flinty Hills to the Lone Heath and included the present Adri Forest. But imperious logging practices have long since turned much of the once great forest into pastures and farmlands for the Aerdi peoples.
Flora and fauna
The Grandwood is noted for its tall hardwoods and and nearly impenetrable undergrowth. In addition changecats, the magical creation of a forgotten Rel Astran wizard, are known to dwell within the forest.
Inhabitants
The most numerous dwellers in the forest are the wood elves, and though they are wary of outsiders, they are now involved in talks with the many human refugees (including, it is said, some remnant Knight Protectors of the Great Kingdom) who fled here to escape the tyranny of the former Great Kingdom of Aerdy. The various inhabitants wish to merge into a single political unit and form an independent government, but the Overking of Ahlissa, Xavener, has decreed the forest to be a marchland of Ahlissa, and vigorously opposes any such move.
Before the fall of Rauxes, the inhabitants of the forest were not particularly well organized. Each small, permeant settlement, which were all comprised mainly of those of Good and Neutral alignment, unlike the rest of the Great Kingdom, each had an elected spokesman, who all met each festival week at Rivenwen to coordinate patrols, discuss matters that effected them all, and share and barter resources. If any meetings were needed outside of this, rangers would spread the word. [1]
The humans here have begun openly trading with the city state of Rel Astra, after many decades of debate about the benefits, drawbacks, and moral implications of such a move [2]. This is due in large part to Lord Drax's change of attitude. But the Grandwood's inhabitants stand ready to infiltrate and mislead any invaders into their domains.
There are roughly 1,000 halflings of various types living in the forest, in small interwoven burrow complexes, which are heavily trapped and well defended. The Halflings dislike being patronized and have very little interest in anything outside of the forest, but will readily ally themselves with those who live in the forest, particularly wood elves, gnomes and rangers, but also peaceable woodsmen. They're extremely good at forging and forestry and are therefore full self-sufficient. [3]
The gnomes of Gaborren's Rift in the Grandwood forest have a unique myth in which Garl Glittergold directly battles the orcish god Gruumsh, doing more than deploying mere tricks and illusions, but attacking him with the desire to kill.
The gold dragon Auruma also dwells within the Grandwood. He is the consort of Fiorena Goldhand, a well-respected ranger and de facto leader of the rangers in the Grandwood. He is quiet and silent, and possesses great strength.[4] The two are close companions. Auruma near-constantly appears polymorphed into human form.[5] Most of those who inhabit the forest are unaware of the dragon's true nature.
Features and settlements
The city state of Rel Astra is the closest city of any consequence to the forest and lays claim to the eastern edges of the forest.
The Lone Heath, a region of scrub and swamplands, immediately borders the forest on the east. The Mikar River flows through the Grandwood, having its headwaters in the Gull Cliffs, which are not any great distance to the northeast of the forest. The ruined See of Medegia borders the southern portion of the Grandwood with the desolated city of Mentrey located not many miles from the forest's southern edge. Rel Astra forms the southeastern border of the forest.
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.109.
- ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.108.
- ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.110.
- ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.111.
- ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.117.
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting/map. Lake Geneva, WI. TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer and map. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #052 | 19 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #063 | 17 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #068 | 42 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #191 | 67, 68 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #208 | 57 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #209 | 13 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #241 | 47 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 53, 61 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 80 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | From the Ashes: References Card | #11 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Greyhawk Adventures | 25 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Ivid the Undying | 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 19, 22, 26, 41, 73, 77, 86, 96, 97, 98, 104, 108-117, 123, 125, 153, 155, 158 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 17, 22, 72, 92, 141, 152, 153, 158 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Living Greyhawk Journal #5 | 30 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Sword and Fist | 46 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | The Adventure Begins | 26, 29 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | 10, 12, 14, 22, 23, 25 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 23, 28, 29, 32, 33, 51, 54, 57, 58 |
| Grandwood Forest | Geographical feature | Woodland, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 12, 13, 32, IBC |
| Grandwood Forest, Marchland of | Province | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 22 |