View source for Iggwilv

{{Greyhawk Character
|image=[[Image:Iggwilv01.jpg]]
|caption=Iggwilv plots her next move. Art by James Ryman.
|name=Iggwilv
|home=[[Gray Waste of Hades]]; formerly [[Ket]] and [[Perrenland]].
|gender=Female
|race=Human
|class=Wizard 26/Archmage 4
|alignment=Chaotic Evil
|age=300+
}}
'''Iggwilv''' is a powerful human wizard in the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'' campaign setting, famous for her ''[[Demonomicon of Iggwilv|Demonomicons]]''. Iggwilv is known by various titles, including the Witch Queen of [[Perrenland]] and the Mother of Witches. She is known as Louhi on one alternate [[Prime material Plane|Prime Material]] world, and as Ychbilch on another. Those close to her sometimes address her as "Wilva." 

==Description==
Iggwilv is said to have two forms, one of which is that of an old crone (said to be her true form), and the other, a human female of dark beauty. In the later form, Iggwilv has long black hair and pale skin. It is said none who have seen her in her true form still live.

==Relationships==
Iggwilv is the adopted daughter of [[Baba Yaga]]. She is the mother of the demigod [[Iuz]], sired by the [[demon lord]] [[Graz'zt]], and also of the vampiress [[Drelzna]] (now destroyed). She was at one time the apprentice of [[Zagig Yragerne]], and a member of the [[Company of Seven]].

Iggwilv is a fierce enemy of the [[Circle of Eight]]. Occasional allies include her son, Iuz, and the demoness [[Zuggtmoy]]. Besides her awesome magical might, Iggwilv is also notoriously known for consorting with (as well as controlling and manipulating) fiends, notably demons from the [[Abyss]].

==History==
Iggwilv is said to have once been named Natasha, and it is under this name that she was "adopted" as a child by the witch Baba Yaga. Under Baba Yaga's tutelage, Natasha grew into a talented spellcaster, and soon became known as "Natasha the Dark," perhaps in contrast to another adopted daughter of Baba yaga, Iggwilv's "sister," [[Elena the Fair]].  

Iggwilv next appeared in [[Ket]] some 300 years ago, in the third century [[Common Year|CY]], where she was known as Hura. After being driven from [[Lopolla]] for plundering the [[Vault of Daoud]] (where it is assumed she aquired [[Daoud's Wondrous Lanthorn]]), Hura made her way to the [[Free City of Greyhawk]]. Now using the name Tasha, Iggwilv encountered the wizard [[Zagig Yragerne]], who quickly (and scandalously) took her on as an apprentice. Sometime during this period (early fourth century CY), Tasha also served as a member of the [[Company of Seven]], Zagig's adventuring band. Zagig and Tasha's relationship culminated in the imprisonment the demon lord [[Fraz-Urb'luu]]. When Zagig was unaware, Tasha spoke to the imprisoned [[demon lord]], and learned many secrets. Shortly thereafter, Iggwilv absconded with many of Zagig's magical tomes, including the ''[[Tome of Zyx]]'', which she would later make additions to and rename ''The [[Demonomicon]]''.

Iggwilv traveled to the [[Yatil Mountains]], in the unclaimed wilderness near the [[Velverdyva River]], to a twisted mountain now called [[Iggwilv's Horn]], said to be the last resting place of the ancient mage [[Tsojcanth]]. There, using the lore and power she had stolen from Fraz-Urb'luu and Zagig, she bound Tsojcanth to her service, using him as her slave for generations.

Iggwilv next appears in the historical records of Perrenland in 460 CY. Using what she had learned (and stolen) from Zagig, Iggwilv summoned and imprisoned the demon lord Graz'zt. She managed to seduce the demon lord into helping her with her plans of conquest and went on to bear him a son, Iuz. In 480 CY, she assembled an army and attacked Perrenland from her base in the Yatils known as the [[Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth|Lost Caverns]]. It is thought that at some point during or prior to this period of conquest, Graz'zt gifted Iggwilv with a magical cloak of pit fiend hide known as ''[[Fiend's Embrace]]''. Iggwilv's conquest of Perrenland was complete by 481 CY, and she held a firm grip on that nation until 491 CY, when Graz'zt escaped her control. Graz'zt had suggested, maliciously, that Iggwilv bind Tsojcanth to use as a living seal against the alarmingly spreading rift to the [[Abyss]] beneath Iggwilv's Horn. Iggwilv was caught off guard when Tsojcanth fought back for the first time of years. Weakened by the battle, she was doubly unable to resist Graz'zt's subsequent attack of his own. Iggwilv herself was forced to battle Graz'zt, just barely managing to slay his earthly form, banishing him to the Abyss. As a consequence of this battle, Iuz's beautiful form was wracked by magic and split into two hideous manifestations. Iggwilv was left shattered and powerless, enabling the native Perrenlanders to defeat her forces and regain their nation. After the loss of Perrenland, little was heard from Iggwilv for decades, and for a short while, she was presumed dead. 

In the 570s, Iggwilv had two prominent clashes with the Circle of Eight, who had sent adventurers to thwart her plans. The first took place in the fabled [[Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth]] and ended with the destruction of her daughter, the vampiress Drelzna. The second regarded her plans to bring a large number of fiends to [[Oerth]], which was thwarted by a band of adventurers assembled by the archmage [[Tenser]] ([[Warnes Starcoat]], [[Agath]] of [[Thrunch]], [[Franz Torkeep]], [[Rowena of the Silverbrow]], [[Reynard Yargrove]], and [[Rakehell Chert]]), who recovered the ''[[Crook of Rao]]'' from a magical demiplane known as the [[Isle of the Ape (plane)|Isle of the Ape]].

Soon thereafter, however, the ''Crook'' was lost, and Iggwilv began gathering a fiendish host once more, which she put in the service of her son Iuz. Early during the [[Greyhawk Wars]], Iggwilv foolishly tried to bind Graz'zt a second time. This time the demon prince was ready, using a magic device to disrupt her protective circle, and he dragged her down to his realm of Azzagrat to torment. She was finally rescued in 585 CY by [[Tuerny]].

She last clashed with agents of the Circle of Eight in 585 CY when Warnes Starcoat employed a band of adventurers to recover Tenser's clone from [[Luna (Raenei)|Luna]]. Iggwilv currently resides in a manor in the [[Gray Wastes of Hades]]. Her current plans, if any, are unknown.

==Spells==
*''Iggwilv's Lightning Cage''
*''Iggwilv's Timeless Sleep''
*''Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter''

==Writings==
Iggwilv is known to have authored the following works:
*''The Demonomicon''
*''Lore of Subtle Communication'' (as Tasha)
*''The Nethertome''

==Iggwilv in other sources==
A demigoddess called "The Mother of Witches" is mentioned in "The Revenge of Ghorkai," a d20 adventure by [[Gary Gygax]] in ''The Slayer's Guide to Dragons'' (Mongoose Publishing, 2002). Given the fact that Gygax created Iggwilv, and the adventure map strongly resembles the Yatil Mountains, many assume that this demigoddess is meant to be Iggwilv.

==Bibliography==
*[[Baur, Wolfgang]]. "Enemies of my Enemy." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #149. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.

*Breault, Mike, ed. ''[[Castle Greyhawk (module)| Castle Greyhawk]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.

*[[Jason Bulmahn|Bulmahn, Jason]], [[James Jacobs]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.

*''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' staffs. "Unsolved Mysteries of D&D." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #359. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.

*[[Greer, Stephen S]]. "Fiend's Embrace." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #121. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.

*[[Gygax, Gary]]. ''Artifact of Evil''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
*-----. ''Come Endless Darkness''. New Infinities, 1988.
*-----. ''Dance of Demons''. New Infinities, 1988.
*-----. "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: New Magic-User Spells." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #67. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
*-----. ''[[Isle of the Ape (module)|Isle of the Ape]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
*-----. ''[[The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
*-----. ''Sea of Death''. New Infinities, 1987.
*-----. ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.

*[[Gygax, Gary]], and Jon Creffield. ''[[The Slayer’s Guide to Dragons]]''. Swindon, England: Mongoose Publishing, 2002.

*Heard, Bruce. "Spells Between the Covers." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #82. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.

*[[Holian, Gary]], and Rick Miller. "Treasures of Greyhawk: Magic of the Company of Seven." [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] #359. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.

*[[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.

*[[James Jacobs|Jacobs, James]]. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Apocrypha." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #359. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Baphomet]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #341. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Dagon]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #349. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Demogorgon]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #357. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Fraz-Urb’luu]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #333. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Graz'zt]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #359. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online: [https://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drfe/20071024&authentic=true]
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Kostchtchie]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #345. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Malcanthet]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #353. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Pazuzu]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #329. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*-----. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: [[Zuggtmoy]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #337. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.

*Marmell, Ari. "Iggwilv's Legacy: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #151. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online:[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/duad/20071012]

*[[Moore, Roger E]]. "The Dancing Hut." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #83. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.
*-----. ''[[Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
*-----. ''[[Return of the Eight]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.

*Mullin, Robert S. "Campaign Classics: Three [[Greyhawk]] Grimoires." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #225. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.

*[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[From the Ashes]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
*-----. ''[[Iuz the Evil]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.

*Stark, Ed, [[James Jacobs]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.

*Stephens Owen K.C., and [[Gary Holian]]. "Spellcraft: The [[Demonomicon of Iggwilv]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #336. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.

*[[Wilson, Steven B]]. "[[Greychrondex]]." Available online: [http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/ghchrondex.php]

==External links==
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=238 "Brief History of the Knights of the Hart, Part 3 - Witch Queen, Demon Lord" at ''Canonfire!''].

*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=203 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon Of Iggwilv'': Abyssal Genealogy" at ''Canonfire!''].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=47 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv'': Baphomet" at ''Canonfire!''].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=239 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv'': Fraz-Urb'luu and the Rod of Absolution" at ''Canonfire!''].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=78 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv'': Stygia, The River of Hatred" at ''Canonfire!''].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=24 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv'': The Cabrir" at ''Canonfire!''].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=39 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv'': The Glooms of Hades" at ''Canonfire!''].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=110 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv'': The Goristro" at ''Canonfire!''].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=202 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv'': The Marut" at ''Canonfire!''].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=215 "Excerpts from the ''Demonomicon of Iggwilv'': Tiamat, Demon Queen of Dragons" at ''Canonfire!''].

*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=548 "NPC Profile: Tasha, the Grinning Mage" at ''Canonfire!''].

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iggwilv Iggwilv at Wikipedia].

[[Category:Greyhawk characters]]