Greysmere
| Greysmere | |
|---|---|
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing The heraldry of Greysmere, created by Anna Meyer, 2015. | |
| General information | |
| Realm: | Domain of Greyhawk |
| Size: | Small fortress |
| Government | |
| Authority: | Fionor the Rude |
| Government: | Elected benevolent autocracy; single clan |
| Alignment: | Lawful good |
| Demographics | |
| Population: | 400+ |
| Races: | Dwarves |
| Languages: | Dwur |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Ulaa |
| Organizations: | Greysmere Convenant |
| Allies: | Free City of Greyhawk (untaxed, distant affiliation) |
Greysmere is an underground dwarven hold in the southern Cairn Hills with various mining concerns, which imports and exports ore from other mines in the area.
Description
Greysmere is a community of dwarves located near the domain of Greyhawk, south of the Mistmarsh. The fortification is built into the side of the mountain and mostly consists of underground caverns.
"Greysmere also includes underground fisheries and fungus farms, and passages leading to the underoerth over which the dwarves maintain strict watches. Greysmere pays neither tribute nor tax to Greyhawk, but it has signed a pact offering military aid in time of war. In return, information collected by the Mountaineer Militia concerning events in the area is supplied to Greysmere’s rulers (rather belatedly most of the time)."[1]
History
"Only dwarves kept written records of this ancient time [of the builders of the Star Cairns], but these accounts have been sealed and hidden, their location and contents guarded by the clergy. The demihuman settlements of Grosscttgrottell and Greysmere are centuries old but do not date back more than 900 years, their ancestral citizens having come from undisclosed clan holds in the area."[2]
Geography
The underground fortress of Greysmere itself shares its name with the surface lake it is near, Greysmere Lake, which is known for its clarity and being frigidly cold.[3][4][5]
The Dwarfwalk is a path covering the distance from Greysmere to Marsh Keep.[3] The Dwarfwalk "lies along Greysmere Lake’s shores, leading up by switchbacks to the wall-encircled Stonegate entrance. All points along the Dwarfwalk near the Stonegate arc fully exposed to potential missile fire from Stonegate's surrounding walls."[6]
"South of the immense Mistmarsh, the Cairn Hills jut up to become the Abbor-Alz Mountains, and in a tight valley stands the imposing dwarven fortress of Greysmere, its impressive stone-carved façade reflecting in the still waters of a placid mountain lake. Tall mountains completely surround the valley, making the citadel one of the most easily defended locales in the region."[5]
Marshes and swamps are uncommon in the area.[4]
Travel
When in the Free City of Greyhawk on merchasnt business, dwarves from Greysmere often stay in Burrow Heights (F14)[7] and frequent the Gold Digger Tavern (T8).[8]
People
Dwarves of Greysmere tend to have a particular phenotype, giving them a particular physical appearance—they most often have "light brown skin; red cheeks; brown or green eves; black, brown or gray hair/beard."[6]
Dwarven culture at Greysmere often fulfills many of the stereotypes others associate with dwarves in general—they are "independent, insular, militant, proud, reclusive, self-sufficient; sometimes crude, ill-mannered, or surly."[6]
Although they favour an isolationist lifestyle, the dwarves here do occasionally trade with merchants from the City of Greyhawk.
"Clan distinctions are weak within each large community (at Greysmere and Karakast); since the total population is small, the dwarves band together and minimize clan distinctions.
Cairn Hills dwarves are notoriously insular. They have little regard for Greyhawk or Urnst, feeling themselves fully capable of self-defense, and refusing point-blank to pay any taxes or tribute."[9]
Population
Greysmere makes up a sizable portion of the population of dwarves in the Cairn Hills. The population of Greysmere is over 400, making it about 30% of the total region's population of about 1,200 dwarves.[9] Added with Karakast's 600 dwarves, the two citadels make up more than eighty percent of the dwarves in the area.
Demographics
Greysmere is home to a single clan of dwarves. This does not preclude any other people from visiting here and "unusually for the dwarves, Greysmere stands open to all visitors, who are welcome in the enclave’s upper markets,"[5] though "few adventurers make their way here",[10] but the residents are all dwarven relatives from a single clan.
Notable individuals
- Brack Snagtooth (NG male dwarf fighter 12)—owner of Snagtooth Shipbuiliding and the Barge Inn is originally from Greysmere.[11]
Religion
It should be noted that unlike most dwarven strongholds, the worship of Ulaa predominates in Greysmere,[6] although the Morndinsamman has several followers as well.
Languages
All dwarves of Greysmere speak both dwarvish and Common.[12]
Government
The headman is Fionor the Rude, a retired adventurer whose title is well deserved. Travelers are personally invited to dine with him in the stronghold's limestone halls. Despite his boorishness, Fionor respects those who command respect, and is a trustworthy friend of many.
Within the Domain of Greyhawk the upper class of citizens and nobles is stratified, and the mayor of Greysmere (as well as Dumadan and Karakast) are given more respect than those of smaller communities, but not so much as the "rulers of Narwell, Safeton, and Hardby."[13]
Heraldry
Economy
Resources
"Though the mining is poor here, the quarrying is superb."[14]
" [...] below the living level runs a series of mine tunnels excavating a rich vein of iron ore. A complete underground smelting operation purifies the metal, so that the dwarven smiths can craft their weapons, tools, and armor."[15]
"The lower reaches of Greysmere encompass several vast fungus-farm caverns and a large fish-breeding pool in which blind trout are raised by the thousands, adding an important supplement to the dwarven diet."[15]
Trade
Dwarvencraft steel weapons, tools, and armor[15][6] are the "primary commodity of Greysmere, on those rare instances when the dwarves trade with the outside world."[15]
Greysmere Covenant
A representative for Greysmere, Dulok Blitzhame (LN male dwarf expert 5), lives in Diamond Lake and works to organize and facilitator for the export of local iron ore to Greysmere. Along with Galuth Grobadore (LG male dwarf expert 3) and Bitris Ruthek (LN female dwarf expert 4), they are referred to as the "Greysmere Convenant", and they represent the interests of Greysmere with settlements in the area.[16] They are largely interested in the iron ore unearthed in the various mining towns around Diamond Lake because it "bears a color prized by the most skilled artisans and metalworkers of the dwarven clans."[16]
Though these dwarves (a few others) live in Diamond Lake, none of them "call it home".[17]
Rumors and legends
"[...] rumors persist among the dwarves, telling of a vast, underground ocean and whole cities of races that never see the sun.""[15]
See also
External links
References
Citations
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.25, Campaign Book.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.54-55.
- ↑ a b The Adventure Begins (1998), p.2, Adventure Maps.
- ↑ a b The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.17, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ a b c Age of Worms Overload (2005), p.23.
- ↑ a b c d e Player's Guide (1998), p.62.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.104.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.119.
- ↑ a b From the Ashes (1992), p.22, Campaign Book.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.2.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.82, Gem of the Flaneass.
- ↑ Player's Guide (1998), p.63.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.71.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.16, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ a b c d e The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.27, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ a b Dungeon #124 (Jul 2005), p.61
- ↑ Dungeon #124 (Jul 2005), p.64
Bibliography
- Brown, Anne. Player's Guide. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. Item code TSR9578.
- Mona, Erik. "Backdrop: Diamond Lake". Dungeon #124. Bellvue, WA: Paizo Publishing, Jul 2005.
- Moore, Roger E.. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. Item code TSR9577.
- Niles, Douglas, Rik Rose, and Carl Sargent. The City of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989. Item code TSR1043.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 16, 17, 26, 27, 82 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | Dragon magazine #195 | 95, 96 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | Dragon magazine #225 | 54 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 7, 22, 25-27, 76 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 10 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | Oerth Journal #07 | 22 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | Oerth Journal #11 | 69 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 33, 62-64 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | Return of the Eight | 3 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | The Adventure Begins | 47, 55, 71, 79, 89, 99, 104, 109, 115, 119 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps | 2, 3, 5 |
| Greysmere | Settlement | Defensive Structure, | LT1 The Star Cairns | IC, 3, 4 |
| Greysmere Lake | Geographical feature | Lake, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 62 |
| Greysmere Lake | Geographical feature | Lake, | The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps | 2, 8 |
| Stonegate (Greysmere) | Infrastructure | Gate, | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 26 |
| Stonegate (Greysmere) | Infrastructure | Gate, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 62 |
| Stonegate (Greysmere) | Infrastructure | Gate, | The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps | 8 |