Western Oerik

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A map of Western Oerik, as depicted in the Chainmail Core Rulebook (2002).
The Sutherland map of Oerik, depicted in Dragon Annual #1 (1996). Cartography by Dave Sutherland.

Western Oerik is the portion of the continent of Oerik at the opposite extreme to the Flanaess—defined by being up to the west coast. It is a distinct subcontinent separated from the rest of Oerik by the most massive range of mountains on Oerth. It is bordered to the east by the Celestial Sea, the Gulf of Ra, and the Ocean of Storms, to the south by the Sea of Thunder, to the west by the Gulf of Ishtar, the Oceanum Titanicum, and the Mare Mysticum, and to the north by the Jothumheim Sea. It comprises the largest part of the landmass of Oerik.

Western Oerik featured prominently in the Chainmail Miniatures Game in 2001-2002. The term derives from its use in that system/edition.[note 1]

History

The history of Western Oerik is unclear in several places as there are few official sources for it. There are at least two major eras.

The Empire of Lynn predominated the landscape of the region."[1] It is depicted as contemporary to the Baklunish and Suel Empires, which dates it to a millennium or more before the 576 CY+ common era. A massive portion of Western Oerik was claimed by the Empire taking up a swath of Western Oerik from the Oceanum Titanicum all the way to the eastern (unnamed) mountains. It's possible it was once the largest nation on Oerth. Lynn continued[2] and was eventually superseded by other nations, though it is unclear when or how that happened. At the very least, the capitol remained in Robilar's time.[2] Lynn may still be found in what later became the Free States.

In a later era, the Dragon Empire (later called Ravilla) came to power, but it too eventually fell. Once Ravilla collapsed into successor states, it became known as the "Sundered Empire". Its dominance withered long ago when it became less vigilant of external threats. The expanse of Western Oerik was plagued by chaos strife in the Godwar which left disorganized nations or factions in its wake, but those at least were firm and delineated.

According to some sources, Oeridian seafarers from the Flanaess once settled in Western Oerik.

Geography and Nations

Dragon Annual #1

Strange rock formations in Western Oerik, and armies on the march.Chainmail Core Rulebook, art by Sam Wood (2002).

Dragon Annual #1 (1996)[1] brought light to many varied nations west of the Flanaess, illustrated on the then-new Sutherland map. Beyond the Flanaess (Dragon magazine Annual #1, 1996) by Skip Williams is presented in-character as a letter and accompanying map penned from Heward and addressed to Mordenkainen. Heward refers to it being "cobbled the map together from diverse sources—mostly the recollections of some of the 'old guard'." Saying further that he "can't vouchsafe the place names; doubtless the locals have their own names for many of the areas". In at least one case, the Heward specifies he is "unsure of the place's real name." and implies that some may be names he or others have assigned to them for sake of recognizability.

It is speculated the author was alluding to how the article itself was written—the article and particular map weren't a direct development of Gary Gygax—though it was later stated to be based on early sketches by Ggyax at TSR, and it included what TSR staffers at the time (the "old guard") could recall about ("cobble together") what had been included in Gygax's home game.

Note—The Sutherland map found in Beyond the Flanaess is the only officially published map which labels the Baklunish Empire and Suel Imperium as contemporaries with other nations, rather than labelling them as the Dry Steppes and Sea of Dust. It can be presumed, then, that the Sutherland map represents an earlier era in which those nations were still extant.

Nations

  • Baklunish Empire—More properly called the Baklunish Basin these days. A land of steppes populated by nomadic horsemen.
  • Barbarian Seameast -A windswept land covered with primeval forests where fiery but convivial tribesmen dwell.
  • Celestial Imperium—A vast nation peopled with a hard-working peasantry ruled by a complex bureaucracy. (Later made synonymous with "Suhfang"[3] and referred to as the "Shaofeng Kingdom" c.2005[4] and the "Celestial Empire of Shao Feng" c.2020).[5]
  • Elven Lands—It seems that elven seafarers crossed the Solnor Ocean millennia ago and established a kindom upon this peninsula.
  • Empire of Lynn—A sea of burning sands fill most of Oerik's western end. The fabled city of Lynn, perhaps settled by seafarers from the Flanaess, has grown rich from coastal trade and the desert's mineral wealth. (Also spelled “Lhynn” in some sources.)
  • Erypt—An arid land ruled by a dynasty of priest kings.
  • Fireland—A land not unlike the Hellfurnaces region of the Flanaess, Volcanoes and geysers sprout amid glaciers. A hardy folk dwell among the coastal fjords.
  • Gigantea—A land populated by giants.
  • High Khanate—An arid land peopled by two tribes of sturdy nomads. The inlanders resemble the horsemen of the Balkanlsh Basin, but on the coast they take to boats.
  • Ishtarland—A land watered by southern storms and at least two great rivers. The city of Ishtar vies with the merchants of Lynn and the warlords of Tharquish for control of coastal trade.
  • Kingdoms of the Marches—A temperate land filled with princely states. Perhaps another locale colonized by seafarers from across the Solnor.
  • Low Khanate—A companion realm to the High Khanate; named more for its location in a deep vale below the mountains than for any inferior status. A hidden valley reputedly contains the tombs of khans from both realms.
  • Nippon—A densely populated island nation of fishermen, warriors, and poets. Unsure of the place's real name.
  • Nippon Dominion—A protectorate only recently conquered by the warriors of Nippon.
  • Orcreich—A nation of orcs ruled by a tyrannical king. The orcs seem to thrive under the brutal regime.
  • Red Kingdom—This land is so named for the color of its rocks. Its inhabitants remain unknown.
  • Suel Empire—You know this area as the Sea of Dust. Tales of its former glory are known.
  • Tarquis Dominions—An ancient protectorate of the Tharquish Empire.
  • Tharquish Empire—An island nation of seafarers who have ambitions that extend to the neighboring continents.
  • Tribes of Enllaves—A land of proud desert nomads who eke out of living on a high plateau that escapes the worst heat of the sand sea. A few tribesmen live in mud-brick towns built around central squares that contain steep-sided pyramids. [Heward] [has] never learned whether the pyramids serve as monuments, tombs, temples, or something else altogether.
  • Zindia—A tropical land where rich cities rise from steaming jungles. (Also known as Jahindi and Zahindi.)

Geography

  • Celestial Sea—A warm shallow gulf where merchants from Erypt and the Imperium ply their trades.
  • Dragons Island—Tales from the Celestial Imperium speak of a land ruled by a dragon prince. If such a place exists, it probably lies here.
  • Elvanian Forest—An enclave of lofty trees clinging to foothills rising from the desert below. Elves and other wild sylvan races dwell here.
  • Gulf of Ishtar—The privateers of Tharquish and the fleets of Ishtar vie for control here.
  • Gulf of Ra—A deep body reputed to hide a kingdom of sahuagin.
  • Hyperboria—Heward's own name for an icy continent whose interior holds Oerth's north pole. A semipermanent bridge of ice connects the land to Oerik proper, but the crossing is treacherous at best.
  • Jothunheim Sea—A frigid body of water littered with icebergs. Giants ply the waters in great drakkars.
  • Mare Mysticum—A mystery to Heward.
  • Ocean of Storms—A region of gray sea lashed by endless tempests.
  • Oceanum Titanicum—The eastern most extent of what you know as the Solnor ocean.
  • Pearl Sea—So named for the rich pearl beds found on Nippon's eastern shores.
  • Polaria—Not a landmass at all, but a collection of islands locked in a semipermanent ice cap.
  • Sea of Hyperboria—An ice-choked stretch of deep water where the coastal tribesmen of the High Khanate hunt and fish from hide boats.
  • Sea of the Dragon King—A deep arm of the Pearl Sea noted for its cobalt blue waters and teeming coral reefs.
  • Sea of Nippon—A body of water made infamous by freak storms and enormous sea monsters — if the tales prove true.
  • Sea of Thunder—A smaller, but no less violent, companion to the Sea of Storms, it surrounds the southern Ice cap.
  • Wall of Tsian—A massive fortification separating the Celestial imperium from Orcreich, a formidable deterrent to anyone but the king of Orcreich, The Imperium has begun another, even grander wall farther west.

Chainmail Miniatures Game

The Chainmail Miniatures Game was the first product to give more extensive detail on any nations and cultures of Western Oerik. Previously, they had only been given a vague sentence or two.

Nations

These nations and factions engaged in the Godwar:
  • Ahmut's Legion—A legion of undead terrors led by death cultists and Ahmut, a fierce 3-century-old undead nomadic Baklien warlord bent on revenge against Ravilla who wields the spear of Stratis.
  • Drazen's Horde—A land teeming with savage humanoids. Drazen, a hobgoblin warlord, united the feuding tribes and became the leading chieftain and wields the axe of Stratis.
  • Free States—A group of small political entities whose names and borders change frequently, since many of them are only held together by the charisma of one powerful leader. Many who live there are known for becoming mercenaries.
  • Kilsek (Kalan-G'eld)—A Faction of Drow expelled from the underoerth city of Erelhei-Cinlu along with their troglodyte and displacer beast allies.
  • Mordengard—Very non-traditional government is run by a "People's State"; dwarves here are very typical in some senses. They use ingenious elemental weapons and are allied with creatures of the Inner Planes.
  • Naresh—Under the patronage of Yeenoghu, this nation of gnolls is bolstered by demonic forces and is led by a half-demon gnoll priest-king named Jangir who rules by right of destiny and wields the flail of Stratis.
  • Ravilla—the remaining City-States of the once great Dragon Empire which was destroyed during the Demon War. They protect the Abyssal Gateways to prevent the seals from being broken and demons returning. Led by a Council of Oligarchs. An elven hero named Tarquin who is thought to possibly become the next Emperor of Ravilla wields the longsword of Stratis
  • Thalos—This predominantly human nation repelled invasion from Ravilla, and are strongly allied with the gnomes of the region. Led by Queen Almira XXI, and her paladin and angelic allies, their patron is Stern Alia. Also known for powerful war machines constructed by gnomes.

Geography

Scalebane, in the Plain of Edoira illustrated in Fire & Ice: Set 3 Guidebook. Art by Sam Wood (2002).
  • Blasted Desert or "Blazing Desert"[6]—a massive "natural barrier" desert between the Southlands[7] and the region occupied by Drazen's Horde.[note 2]
  • Bog of Lichtor—"a morass that borders one side of the Ghostwind Plateau." "long thought to be impassable" and "impenetrable".[12]
  • Gates of Fallor[13]—on the Ghostwind Plateau. network of connected dimension door gates. "No one knows why they were constructed, or how."[13] Sometimes random things come out of the gates.
  • Ghostwind Plateau—location of Bonebreak and the last stand of the Broadaxe tribe against the forces of Ravilla. After Ravilla fell and the Godwar began, the plateau was in "an uneasy no-man's-land (the "Disputed Regions").[14] "To get to the Ghostwind Plateau [from Naresh], [one would] have to cross all of Ravilla."[15] Known to have enchanted areas created by the Broadaxe tribe which summon otyugh swarms.[16] There is only one approach to the top of the plateau[14]—which is on the north side.[17]
  • Oracle of T'bash—a temple in a great underground cavern beneath the Ghostwind Plateau, existing there for millennia.
  • King's Spire or Tyrant's Peak—Mordengard capital.[18][19]
  • Plain of Edoira—original name of the area now known as "Scalebane" (see below).
  • Scalebane—dragon graveyard; the "site of one of the most ferocious battles of the Demon War."[19] Hundreds of dragons [fell] on both sides, littering the plain below with smoldering corpses".[20]
  • Southlands—"habitable regions beyond the Blasted Desert";[7] "the southlands, beyond the Blasted Desert";[21] inhabited by tribes of "savage humanoids such as orcs, hobgoblins, and bugbears"; the original homeland of Drazen and his horde.[7]
  • Statue of Stratis—erected by the Broadaxe tribe behind the defenses on the north side of the Ghostwind Plateau. Surrounded by four indestucible columns and magical stone gargoyles which can fire bolts of magical energy at trespassers.[17]
  • Tower of Stratis—found "at the center of the "Ghostwind Plateau", the last bastion of the Broadaxe tribe. Abandoned for years, now in ruins.[22]

Western Oerik in Other Sources

Black Moon Chronicles

In 1989, Francois Froideval wrote the scenario of the first Chroniques de la Lune Noire or "Black Moon Chronicles" comic album with illustrator Olivier Ledroit. He kept writing that volume until the end of the series in 2008, after which a second volume and several spinoffs followed. The reason this is significant is the names of the nations he used were later canonized as part of Western Oerik on the Sutherland map of the World of Greyhawk™ found in Dragon Annual #1 (1996) (second image, above). The nations were created while Froideval lived and worked with Gary Gygax at TSR, inc.[23] While those names were canonized on that map, nothing more was ever done with them in officially published sources, for the most part.

Locations

On the Sutherland map
Empire of Lynn
Elven Lands
Erypt
Tharque and Tharquish Dominions
Elvanian Forest
Kingdoms of the Marches
Ishtarland
Gulf of Ra.
Developed in later works of the BMC
Altenberg
Sysigie
Ghrunkedash
Magistrya
Barony of Moork
Drach
Der Hem Shelbem
Kendrhir Vale
Feyhin Forest
Kashocs Fault/Kashocs Mountains
Tsaroth Crags

Gord the Rogue

The Gord the Rogue novels by Gary Gygax also included other far western nations. Though, technically, these nations were in "Central" Oerik, they were west of the Flanaess.

New Empyrea

Though it was never officially published in Greyhawk supplements, the region of New Empyrea (from RPGA tournament adventures) was explicitly placed across the Solnor Ocean from the Flanaess in the adventure Doc's Island. This would place it somewhere in Western Oerik as well. Later versions would remove references to Greyhawk from the storyline.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ In the original Starter Set, the region was less accurately referred to as "western Oerth", but that was corrected and all sources after use "Western Oerik".
  2. ↑ The map of Western Oerik[8] from the Chainmail Miniatures Game does not accurately reflect the information contained in the text of the game. It shows the entire region south of Drazen's Horde illustrated in the same color, seeming to make it desert, though it is not labelled the "Blasted Desert" on that map. Only the Southlands are labelled in that region. However, the Blasted Desert and Southlands are two separate locations. The Blasted Desert is north from the Southlands,[9] Drazen came "out of the lands of the south"[6] in the "region below the Blasted Desert, known in Ravilla simply as 'the Southlands',"[9] and the Horde "crossed the Blasted Desert".[10][9][11]
    Therefore, the region called the "Blasted Desert" must be between the Southlands and Drazen's Horde locations illustrated on that map, and not the entire area, even though it does not quite appear that way in the illustration, and is not labelled.

Citations

  1. ↑ a b Dragon magazine Annual #1, p72,
  2. ↑ a b Dungeon magazine #124, p85.
  3. ↑ a b @greyhawkonline. WotC has canonized the full name of the Celestial Empire of Shao Feng.
  4. ↑ a b Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), p.168.
  5. ↑ a b John Roy; Luke Gygax. Behind the Screen:Greyhawk. Dragon+ #25. WotC, 13 May 2020. Retrieved on 1 December 2021. "The Celestial Empire of Shao Feng lies somewhere to the west, the route known only to Baklunish traders"
  6. ↑ a b Chainmail Miniatures Game Core Rulebook (2002), p.6.
  7. ↑ a b c "Drazen's Horde".  Dragon #292 (Feb 2002), p.102.
  8. ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Core Rulebook (2002), p.19.
  9. ↑ a b c Dragon #292 (Feb 2002), p.102-103.
  10. ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Starter Set (2001), p.6, Model Description Booklet.
  11. ↑ "Soldiers of the Last Order".  Dragon #315 (Jan 2004), p.104.
  12. ↑ The Ghostwind Campaign (2002), p.26.
  13. ↑ a b The Ghostwind Campaign (2002), p.29.
  14. ↑ a b The Ghostwind Campaign (2002), p.4.
  15. ↑ The Ghostwind Campaign (2002), p.9.
  16. ↑ The Ghostwind Campaign (2002), p.32.
  17. ↑ a b The Ghostwind Campaign (2002), p.25.
  18. ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Starter Set (2001), p.11, Model Description Booklet.
  19. ↑ a b Dragon #296 (Jun 2002), p.100.
  20. ↑ Fire & Ice - Set 3 Guidebook (2002), p.2.
  21. ↑ Chainmail Miniatures Game Starter Set (2001), p.(insert), Build a Better Warband.
  22. ↑ The Ghostwind Campaign (2002), p.24.
  23. ↑ Guiserix, Didier (2011). Casus Belli #1. Entretien—Froideval: Gygax et Moi [Interview—Froideval: Gygax and Me]. Lyon, France: Black Book Editions. p.242-245
  24. ↑ Return of the Eight (1998), p.62.

Bibliography

———. Egg of the Phoenix. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR Hobbies, 1982.
———. The Investigation of Hydell. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR Hobbies, 1982.
———. To the Aid of Falx. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR Hobbies, 1982.
———. "The Armies of Thalos." Dragon #287. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
———. "The Children of Nassica." Dragon #295. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
———. "Drazen's Horde." Dragon #292. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
———. "The Ebon Glaive." Dragon #296. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
———. "The Empire of Ravilla." Dragon #285. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
———. "Exiles from the Vault." Dragon #298. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
———. "The Free States." Dragon #293. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
———. "The Gnolls of Naresh." Dragon #289. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
———. "People's State of Mordengard." Dragon #291. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
———. "The Sundered Empire: Soldiers of the Last Order." Dragon #315. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, January 2004.
———. "Underground Scenarios." Dragon #294. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.

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
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