View source for Womtham

{{Settlement
| name          = 
| image         = [[File:Womtham map 01.PNG|250px]]
| caption       = Womtham, depicted in [[The Marklands]].  Cartography by John Knecht (1993).
| motto         = <!-- motto, nickname, or other name of settlement -->
| realm         = [[Nyrond|Kingdom of Nyrond]]
| size          = Large city
| established   =  <!--  only enter the year number -->
| government    = Royal Duchy 
| alignment     = LG, LN*, NG, CG, N
| population    = 19,200 (c. [[591 CY]])
| races         = [[Human]], [[elf|elves]], [[Halfling]] (stout), [[Dwarf|dwarves]], [[gnome]]s, [[elf#Elven subraces|half-elves]], [[orc#Orc subspecies|half-orc]]s
| languages     = [[Common]], [[Languages#Common|Nyrondese]], [[Old Oeridian]], [[Elven]], and [[Languages#Halfling|Halfling]]
| religions     = [[Heironeous]]*, [[Beory]], [[Rao]], [[Pelor]], [[Zilchus]], [[Norebo]], [[Pholtus]], [[Ralishaz]], [[Boccob]], [[Delleb]], [[Celestian]]
| authority     = Duke [[Finelann Boomgren]]
| organizations = 
| allies        = 
| enemies       =  
}}
'''Womtham''' is the ducal seat of the '''Royal Duchy of Womtham''' in the [[Nyrond|Kingdom of Nyrond]] ruled by Duke [[Finelann Boomgren]].

== Description ==
Womtham is a major city of Nyrond located on the upper reaches of the [[Duntide River]]. It swelled in size after the [[Greyhawk Wars]], resulting in sizable shanty towns outside the city walls.{{csb|WGR4|82}}

==History==
Womtham has long been an important city, occupying a key strategic location within Nyrond.{{csb|WGR4|82}}

During the [[Greyhawk Wars]] King [[Archbold III]], on hearing of massacres in the [[Great Kingdom]], counterattacked the [[Army of the North]] from between Womtham and [[Innspa]].{{csb|Wars|21}}

The city walls were completed shortly before Spring [[585 CY]].{{csb|WGR4|82}}

Prior to the Greyhawk Wars Womtham had a population of 13,000, which swelled to 24,000. This resulted in a shanty town of tents, shacks and covered wagons outside the city walls. In Spring [[585 CY]] Womtham was overcrowded and finding it difficult to cope with the influx of people from eastern Nyrond due to the poor economy.  Because the importance of the trade passing through Womtham to Nyrond's economy, King [[Archbold III]] took a lenient line regarding his usual extra taxation. Due to the influx of refugees, Duke [[Finelann Boomgren]] declared martial law using the army present and sealed the city gates to keep out some 5,000 shantytown folk. The latter was not particularly effective due to so many people having legitimate business coming into the city. Starvation, begging, disease and crime were common, and a problem of increased wererat activity in the sewers and dilapidated houses occurred. Locals supported the crackdown on refugees, and were bitter towards them, which was unusual for Nyrond.{{csb|WGR4|82}}

As part of the provincial reorganization by King [[Lynwerd]] that commenced on Needfest 1, [[591 CY]] Womtham was made the provincial capital of the [[Royal Duchy of Womtham]] ruled by Duke Finelan Boomgren.{{csb|LGG|75 & 77}}

==Geography and climate==
Womtham is in the northeast of Nyrond on the [[Duntide River]], where the [[Flinty Hills]] meet the [[Gamboge Forest]].

==People==

===Population===
Womtham in [[591 CY]] had a population of 19,200.{{csb|LGG|75}}.

After the Greyhawk Wars, the population swelled to 24,000 from its pre-war size of 13,000.{{csb|WGR4|82}}

===Demographics===
The races of Nyrond can all be expected to be found here, being humans (with an [[Oeridian]] dominance, and [[Suel]] present, as ethnic background), [[elves | Olve]] (mainly sylvan with a small high elf presence), [[Halfling]] (stout), [[Dwarf]], [[Gnome]], half-elf and half-orc.{{csb|LGG|75}}

Nyrond generally is lawful neutral in alignment, with lawful good, neutral good, chaotic good, and neutral also prevalent.{{csb|LGG|75}}

===Notable individuals===
Notable individuals in or from Womtham include:
* Duke [[Finelann Boomgren]].

===Religion===
The common religions of Nyrond can be expected to be followed here, being [[Heironeous]] (the official state religion), [[Beory]], [[Rao]], [[Pelor]], [[Zilchus]], [[Norebo]], [[Pholtus]], [[Ralishaz]], [[Boccob]], [[Delleb]], [[Celestian]].{{csb|LGG|75}}

Following the [[Greyhawk Wars]] superstitions and the worship of evil gods (including [[Hextor]] and [[Incabulos]]) began to grow as a sign of the despair of the common folk.{{csb|WGR4|65}}

==Government==
Womtham is a royal duchy of Nyrond, ruled by Duke [[Finelann Boomgren]].{{csb|WGR4|82}}

===Heraldry===
Womtham had heraldry created by the Nyrond region Triad as part of the ''[[Living Greyhawk]]'' campiagn. See image to right:
[[File:Womtham coat of arms 01.png|175px|thumb|right|Womtham coat of arms. From [https://www.annabmeyer.com/2019/02/01/heraldry-folder/| Anna B Meyer]'s website, ''Greyhawk Heraldry'' page]]

==Economy==
The Royal Mint was moved from Rel Mord to Womtham in [[577 CY]], closer to the source of coinage metals in the [[Flinty Hills]].{{csb|WGR4|77}}

The city sits in a key strategic position, and ships Gamboge goods and produce including timber to Rel Mord down the [[Duntide River]], and metals from the [[Flinty Hills]].{{csb|WGR4|77 & 82}}{{csb|LGG|151}} In Spring [[585 CY]] the city is also the headquarters of the eastern armies.{{csb|WGR4|82}}

==Transportation==
There are several roads leading in and out of Womtham and they are well-travelled. But much traffic can also be found on the Duntide river, especially since the devastation of the [[Greyhawk Wars]] left so many of the duchy's roads in dire need of repair.

The Duntide River is navigable as far north as Womtham.{{csb|WGR4|61}}

==Military==
In Spring 585 CY about 1,000 troops were usually in the city, resting between tours of duty.{{csb|WGR4|82}}

Major regiments were still stationed in Womtham in [[591 CY]]{{csb|LGG|75}} guarding the borders along the Flinty Hills and Gamboge Forest, as the [[Bone March]] and the [[Great Kingdom of Northern Aerdy]] still pose real threats.

==In Gord's Greyhawk==
In Gary Gygax's [[Gord]] novel, ''[[Saga of Old City]]'', Gord passes through Womtham while taking [[Evaleigh]] back to [[Knurl]] after rescuing her in [[Stoink]] in the [[Bandit Kingdoms]]. They crossed the Duntide at the headwaters in the Flinty Hills, two days north. It was described as a bustling trade center, and a typical [[Oeridian]] town. Its architecture showed a great deal of dwarven and gnomish influence, and there were a "fair" number of both races as well as many halflings.<ref>''Saga of Old City'', pp.201-203</ref> 

== In ''Living Greyhawk''==
In the ''[[Living Greyhawk]]'' campaign, Womtham featured in several adventures along with Duke Boomgren.

==Publishing history==
Womtham was a only a map location on the [[Darlene map]] and was undetailed in the 1983 ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting|World of Greyhawk]]'' boxed set. However, it was referred to briefly in Gary's Gygax's Gord 1985 novel ''Saga of Old City''. It was detailed by [[Carl Sargent]] in ''[[The Marklands]]'' (p.82). Maps of Womtham and its undercity appeared in ''[[Dungeon]]'' #89 (2001) in its semi-regular "Maps of Mystery" feature, though no locations were detailed.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080511170448/http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/nyr/gazetteer/womtham/#Womtham Womtham] page on Nyrond Living Greyhawk Triad web site via Way Back Machine
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517034427/http://www.nyrond.org/turbine/page/nyr/gazetteer/womtham/womtham.html City Map of Womtham] page on Nyrond Living Greyhawk Triad web site via Way Back Machine

==References==
===Citations===
<references />
===Bibliography===
*[[Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
*[[Gygax, Gary]]. [[Saga of Old City]]. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
*[[Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA. [[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000.
*Lee, Rob. "Maps of Mystery: Womtham. ''[[Dungeon]]'' #89. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
*[[Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[The Marklands]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
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[[Category:Settlements]]