Welkwood
| Welkwood | |
|---|---|
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Welkwood and environs, illustrated by Anna Meyer (2022). | |
| General information | |
| Type: | Forest |
| Geopolitical | |
| Region: | Celene, Narwell, Wild Coast, Gnarley Forest, Suss Forest |
| Settlements: | Mastryne |
| Resources: | Ipt trees, lumber |
The Welkwood is a forest located on the eastern border of the elven kingdom of Celene, and is a continuation to the south of the Gnarley Forest. The Welkwood provides a buffer between Celene and the Wild Coast states to the east (now partially conquered since the Greyhawk Wars by the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj). Part of its south western border sits on the Jewel River. To the south, the Welkwood merges into the Suss Forest.
Features
Located within the Welkwood are:
- Canryell's Well, a ruined stone village with a simple stone well that apparently has great healing powers.[1] The well is rumored to provide access to the Court of Rings.
- Oakvein, a mostly inaccessible (to non-elves or without the assistance of an elven power) settlement of elven loremasters.[2]
- Pascorel, a village in the upper Welkwood, inhabited by a mix of humanoids and bandits.[3]
- Varnifane, a former grugach elf settlement, located over an ancient Dwarvish warren. The settlement has been captured by a group of humanoids (bugbears, gnolls, goblins, and orcs) who have also captured the magical treasure formerly owned by the grugach.[4]
History
Celene lays claim to the entire forest but only controls that part west of the Jewel River.[5]
Ecology
Ipt trees (of the Ipp species) grow to heights of 100 feet or more, and mighty roanwood trees even taller. Much of the flora and fauna grows to a larger size than usually, including locusts, elder trees and maples. As a result, the whole forest is an imposing size.[5] The enormous size of the trees here mark the confines of the Welkwood, and some have surmised that this is the result of some powerful natural or druidic magic at work.[6]
Inhabitants
Human inhabitants comprise "hardy" wood-folk, and also refugees from the Wild Coast fleeing the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj.[5]
Inhabitants include:[7]
- Centaurs
- Gnomes
- Sylvan elves
- Treants
- Unicorns
- Woodsmen
A high-priestess of Erevan Ilesere from Zulern often travels to the Welkwood and the Gnarley Forest.[8]
There are priests of Sehanine Moonbow in Oakvein in the Welkwood.[citation needed]
The Cockatrice Riders, a band of brigands, based in Pascorel in the Welkwood.[3]
The Knights of Luna from Celene station border companies in the Welkwood.[9]
In other sources
Gord the Rogue
The Gord the Rogue novel Night Arrant featured a short story, "The Five Dragon Bowl". This novel was after Gary Gygax's departure from TSR, and therefore cannot be regarded as officially published content. However, it does provide some details from Gygax's version of Greyhawk or the Flanaess.
Diggwell is indicated as being a fine, outstanding first name amongst halflings of the Welkwood. Dugwall, Diggerly, Diggdeep and Diggson and similar were indicated to also be common first names. Digwell "Biff" Biffson was a halfling character originally from the Welkwood in the story, a thief who was a friend and protege of Melf.
References
Citations
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.48, "Canryell's Well".
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.46, "Oakvein".
- ↑ a b From the Ashes (1992), p.58, "Pascorel".
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.58, "Varnifane".
- ↑ a b c Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.142.
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.54.
- ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.13, Glossography, Encounter Tables .
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.54, "Zulern".
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.68, "Prince Melf and the Knights of Luna".
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980 (ISBN 0-935696-23-7).
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983 (ISBN 0-88038-344-5).
- ———. Night Arrant. Delevan, WI: New Infinities, 1987.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rod of Welkwood | Item | Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III | 1042 | |
| Rod of Welkwood | Item | Greyhawk Adventures | 74 | |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords | 6, 12 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Artifact of Evil | 7, 106, 113, 128, 158, 230, 231 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 22 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 18 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #052 | 19 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #191 | 68 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #209 | 13 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Dragon magazine #292 | 101 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 24, 54, 64, 66, 79, 86 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 13, 39, 40, 42-44, 46, 48, 49, 53-55, 57-59, 68, 78-80 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | From the Ashes: References Card | #11 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Greyhawk Adventures | 74 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 17, 39, 51, 141, 142 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 27, 29 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Night Arrant | 167 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #02 | 15 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #06 | 19,22,27,33,35,40,42 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #09 | 33,34 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #11 | 76 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #15 | 16,17 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #16 | 38 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #31 | 24,25 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #32 | 46 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Oerth Journal #33 | 27 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 7, 43 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil | 97 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | The Adventure Begins | 46, 55, 70, 90 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps | 2 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | Vortext #08, Spring 1993 #08 | 25 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | WG11 Puppets | IC |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | WGA4 Vecna Lives! | 49 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | 9, 19, 22, 25 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 90 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 31 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 20, 41, 54, 57, 58 |
| Welkwood | Geographical feature | Woodland, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 13, 37, IBC |