White Kingdom: Difference between revisions

From Greyhawk Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Rip (talk | contribs)
m People: link
m Text replacement - "|major towns" to "|major_towns"
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Greyhawk Realm
{{Realm
|image =  
|image =  
|caption =  
|caption =  
Line 5: Line 5:
|motto =  
|motto =  
|region = [[Underdark]] ([[Sheldomar Valley]])
|region = [[Underdark]] ([[Sheldomar Valley]])
|ruler = Doresain, King of the Ghouls
|ruler = [[Doresain (true ghoul)|Doresain]], King of the Ghouls
|government = Feudal monarchy
|government = Feudal monarchy
|established = 491 [[Common Year|CY]]
|established = 491 [[Common Year|CY]]
|capital = [[Kilenor]] (pop. 2413+)
|capital = [[Kilenor]] (pop. 2413+)
|major towns = Kilenor, [[Angrimm]], [[Glimmerfell]]
|major_towns = Kilenor, [[Angrimm]], [[Glimmerfell]]
|provinces =  
|provinces =  
|resources = Constructs, slaves
|resources = Constructs, slaves
Line 21: Line 21:
|enemies = [[Illithid]]s, [[kuo-toa]]ns
|enemies = [[Illithid]]s, [[kuo-toa]]ns
}}
}}
The '''White Kingdom''', also called the '''Kingdom of the Ghouls''' and the '''Great and Potent Kingdom of White Bone''', is an undead-ruled realm in the [[Underdark]] beneath the [[Hellfurnaces]].  
The '''White Kingdom''', also called the '''Kingdom of the Ghouls''' and the '''Great and Potent Kingdom of White Bone''', is an undead-ruled realm in the [[Underdark]] beneath the [[Hellfurnaces]].  


Line 27: Line 26:
In 491 [[Common Year|CY]], a cabal of seven mages from the distant West activated an artifact called the ''Orb of Shadows'' with which they hoped to channel the power of the [[Negative Energy Plane]]. With this energy they planned to create an army of undead and increase the might of their necromantic spells. Gathering in the depths beneath the earth, far from human habitation, they activated the ''Orb'' with great care, with wards and protections, after years of study. Still everything went wrong.
In 491 [[Common Year|CY]], a cabal of seven mages from the distant West activated an artifact called the ''Orb of Shadows'' with which they hoped to channel the power of the [[Negative Energy Plane]]. With this energy they planned to create an army of undead and increase the might of their necromantic spells. Gathering in the depths beneath the earth, far from human habitation, they activated the ''Orb'' with great care, with wards and protections, after years of study. Still everything went wrong.


Their wards failed, and a being known as [[Doresain]] (described differently than, but possibly identifiable with, the demigod [[King of Ghouls]]) stepped through their portal. Doresain, the first of the [[true ghoul]]s known to the world of [[Oerth]], paralyzed all seven of the mages. He devoured one of them and transformed the other six into true ghouls like himself, the first of his followers. Together they spread their condition further, establishing the White Kingdom.
Their wards failed, and a being known as [[Doresain (true ghoul)|Doresain]] (described differently than, but possibly identifiable with, the demigod [[King of Ghouls]]) stepped through their portal. Doresain, the first of the [[true ghoul]]s known to the world of [[Oerth]], paralyzed all seven of the mages. He devoured one of them and transformed the other six into true ghouls like himself, the first of his followers. Together they spread their condition further, establishing the White Kingdom.


The true ghouls' first conquest was an enclave of drow, refugees from House [[Eilserv]] in [[Erelhei-Cinlu]]. Bolstered by their freshly undead drow allies, they conquered a [[duergar]] city, and whole tribes of [[troglodyte]]s.
The true ghouls' first conquest was an enclave of drow, refugees from House [[Eilserv]] in [[Erelhei-Cinlu]]. Bolstered by their freshly undead drow allies, they conquered a [[duergar]] city, and whole tribes of [[troglodyte]]s.
Line 63: Line 62:
*[[Frederick Weining|Weining, Frederick]]. "Playing Pieces: Denizens of Darkness." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #300. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2002.
*[[Frederick Weining|Weining, Frederick]]. "Playing Pieces: Denizens of Darkness." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #300. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2002.


[[Category:Greyhawk realms]]
 
[[Category:Realms]]{{index}}

Latest revision as of 07:29, 16 October 2023

Greyhawk Realm
The White Kingdom
General information
Region:Underdark (Sheldomar Valley)
Government
Ruler:Doresain, King of the Ghouls
Government:Feudal monarchy
Alignments:Neutral evil
Established:491 CY
Demographics
Capital:Kilenor (pop. 2413+)
Major towns:Kilenor, Angrimm, Glimmerfell
Population:2849+ (2372 true ghouls, 300 goblin slaves, 80 hobgoblin slaves, 2 deep dragons, 2 yugoloths, 15 mountain dwarves, 2 vampires, 48 ghasts, 31 shadows, unknown number of wererats)
Races:True ghouls, ghouls, ghasts, zombies, wererats, goblins, hobgoblins, yugoloths, deep dragons, mountain dwarves
Languages:Undercommon
Groups
Religions:Nerull, Mordiggian
Allies:The Cloaker Rift
Enemies:Illithids, kuo-toans
Miscellaneous
Resources:Constructs, slaves

The White Kingdom, also called the Kingdom of the Ghouls and the Great and Potent Kingdom of White Bone, is an undead-ruled realm in the Underdark beneath the Hellfurnaces.

History

In 491 CY, a cabal of seven mages from the distant West activated an artifact called the Orb of Shadows with which they hoped to channel the power of the Negative Energy Plane. With this energy they planned to create an army of undead and increase the might of their necromantic spells. Gathering in the depths beneath the earth, far from human habitation, they activated the Orb with great care, with wards and protections, after years of study. Still everything went wrong.

Their wards failed, and a being known as Doresain (described differently than, but possibly identifiable with, the demigod King of Ghouls) stepped through their portal. Doresain, the first of the true ghouls known to the world of Oerth, paralyzed all seven of the mages. He devoured one of them and transformed the other six into true ghouls like himself, the first of his followers. Together they spread their condition further, establishing the White Kingdom.

The true ghouls' first conquest was an enclave of drow, refugees from House Eilserv in Erelhei-Cinlu. Bolstered by their freshly undead drow allies, they conquered a duergar city, and whole tribes of troglodytes.

The seemingly unstoppable expansion of the White Kingdom was at last checked by an alliance between the illithids and kuo-toans. The kuo-toans were immune to ghoul paralysis, while the illithids used their psionic abilities to appear without warning and control armies of umber hulk slaves.

The White Kingdom was nearly defeated by this alliance, but the long-time enemies of the illithids, the cloakers, offered to come to the ghouls' aid. The cloakers attacked the kuo-toans while the ghouls, immune to psionic mind-control, assaulted the illithid cities. The White Kingdom expanded once again. Some of the ghouls paused in their conquests and constructed their capital city of Kilenor near the Cloaker Rift.

Lately (as of 591 CY), the expansion of the White Kingdom has driven many of their enemies to the surface, where they are creating havoc as far away as the Jotens. Hundreds, even thousands of svirfneblin and dwarven refugees have settled in Loftwick, where the surfeit of nonhuman smiths have been wreaking havoc with the local economy. The Loftwick Smith's Guild has registered complaints, and mobs are threatening to form.

Geography and climate

The White Kingdom is spread among tunnels and caverns on the north shore of the Sunless Sea, northwest of the Vault of the Drow. It borders the Cloaker Rift on all sides, enforced by various military outposts each commanded by a marquis.

People

The primary inhabitants of the White Kingdom are true ghouls, who use zombies and skeletons as cannon fodder and emergency food. They breed goblin and hobgoblin slaves as cattle and have enslaved dwarves for skilled labor. They use wererats, comfortable among the filth and disease the ghouls spread, as guards patrolling their city for intruders. Many ride giant bats. They dislike standard ghouls. The true ghouls originally belonged to many different races, including humans, svirfneblin, derro, and drow.

Religion

The ghouls are worshippers of Nerull. While most fear Nerull, for some reason the Reaper has decided to accept the worship and offerings of the true ghouls. The priests of Nerull create more true ghouls with their magic, and so have a disproportionate influence over their culture. Some have claimed that they are the true rulers of the White Kingdom.

The true ghouls are also said to worship an ancient and mysterious god known as Mordiggian. Some in other realms are even said to worship Orcus and other powers of undeath.

Languages

The ghouls speak the languages they did in life, and seem to make themselves understood perfectly well. The primary language of the White Kingdom is Undercommon, the Underdark trade tongue.

Government

The unquestioned leader of the White Kingdom is Doresain, its founder. Beneath him are his nobles, who are normally bear the title of marquis or marquess. A group of nobles who have lost their corporeal bodies, known as the Ghastly Court, advises the others. One marquess, Maerynae, is actually a Suel lich. She gained her title within the White Kingdom by becoming Doresain's lover long ago. A pair of vampires also seek to be accepted into the nobility, so far without success.

Kemehdra "the Carver," a drow priestess of Kiaransali from Erelhei-Cinlu, has invited an embassy from the White Kingdom to pursue the possibility of a ghoulish trading outpost in the drow city's Ghetto of Slaves.

Bibliography

  • Baur, Wolfgang. "The Ecology of the Ghoul." Dragon #252. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
    • Baur, Wolfgang. "A Gathering of Winds." Dungeon #129. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
    • Baur, Wolfgang. "Kingdom of the Ghouls" Dungeon #70. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
  • Weining, Frederick. "Playing Pieces: Denizens of Darkness." Dragon #300. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 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

White Kingdom Kingdom Dragon magazine #300 92
White Kingdom Kingdom Dungeon magazine #070 49, 50, 66, 67, 76