Iggwilv

Greyhawk Character

Iggwilv
Iggwilv on the cover of Dungeon #149. Art by James Ryman.
Names and titles
Alt. Spelling:	Igwlf
Nickname:	Mother of Iuz, Tasha of the Company of Seven, Author of the Demonomicon
Title(s):	Witch Queen of Perrenland
General info
Home:	Gray Waste of Hades; Formerly Ket and Perrenland
Alignment:	Chaotic evil—Later Chaotic Neutral
Gender:	Female
Species:	Human—Later Fey
Class:	Wiz 26/Archmage 4
Dates
Age:	Unknown—150+

Iggwilv is a powerful human spellcaster and demonologist best known as the creator of the Demonomicon of Iggwilv. In the history of the Flanaess, she is remembered for her conquest of Perrenland in 481 CY.

Throughout her life, she has been known under many various aliases and titles, including Tasha, Natasha the Dark, Hura of Ket, Igwlf, the Witch Queen of Perrenland, the Dream Witch the Mother of Witches. and Zybilna. Those close to her sometimes address her as Wilva.

Appearance and personality

Iggwilv famously appears in a range of guises, from a bald, hideous crone to a beautiful woman. While she favors beautiful appearance, it is believed that the crone is her true form, although none live who have ever seen it.

In her guise as Natasha, she is a tall, slim human woman with long black hair and alabaster skin. In another, as Iggwilv circa 585 CY, she is a thin woman with golden skin, with eyes resembling black pools, and wears a dark gray robed hood. As Tasha, she is sometimes depicted wearing an iconic witch's outfit with dark robes and a tall pointed hat, as well as a variety of other clothing. She is sometimes seen with a tattoo or mark beneath her right eye representing a three-forked line, known in the Flanaess as an inverted form of a rune representing evil magic, although its purpose is unknown. Circa 597 CY, during her planes, she wore an iconic revealing dark green dress along with the demonskin artifact cloak Fiend's Embrace.

Iggwilv is capricious, wicked, and highly ambitious. As Witch Queen of Perrenland, she subjected its people to such a reign of terror that, a century later, mothers still invoked Iggwilv's name to frighten disobedient children. While she makes an exceptionally powerful ally, she also has a reputation for treachery. She plotted careful revenge against the Circle of Eight after they foiled one of her plans, but quickly lost interest after her revenge failed. She is somewhat vain, materialistic and desires wealth, collecting treasure and magic items in particular. She has a preference for the use of demons as servants. She also collects mold and fungi, including sentient species.

Relationships

Iggwilv accepts Fiend's Embrace from Graz'zt. Art by Wayne Reynolds.

Related characters

A number of relationships exist between Iggwilv and the major characters of Greyhawk:

• Iggwilv is the adopted daughter of Baba Yaga.
• She is the mother of the destroyed vampiress Drelzna.
• She imprisoned and seduced the demon lord Graz'zt, who sired her a son, Iuz.
• She is notorious for dealing with demons from the Abyss.
• She was at one time the apprentice of Zagig Yragerne, and a member of the Company of Seven (as Tasha).
• Iggwilv is a fierce enemy of the Circle of Eight.

Family

Iggwilv is the adopted daughter of Baba Yaga, from whom she first learned magic. She is adoptive sister to Elena the Fair, a lawful good sorceress of whom she is jealous, though she wishes no harm upon her. Iggwilv's father is unknown.

Iggwilv is also the mother to the vampire Drelnza. Her father is unknown, though it is almost certainly not Graz'zt. Some sages speculate that Drelnza is the only creature Iggwilv ever truly loved.

Iggwilv imprisoned and seduced the demon lord Graz'zt, who sired her a son, Iuz.

The warlock Mary Greymalkin claims to draw lineage from Iggwilv, who is also one of her patrons.

Iggwilv may have other descendants, "various children scattered in the material realm and beyond." and Iggwilv's bloodline is so strong and distinct that demons can sense those individuals' connection to her and treat them with greater respect.

Relationship with Graz'zt

Iggwilv and Graz'zt became lovers, although she continued to hold him bound. Shortly before 460 CY, the two had a son, Iuz, who was given in adoption to a petty lord north of Whyestil Lake. Graz'zt gifted her not only knowledge but items, including the rare cloak Fiend's Embrace, made from the hide of the pit fiend Drokarrn.

Iggwilv soon fell for a ploy involving Graz'zt's majordomo Verin. Early in the Wars, Iggwilv attempted to summon and bind Graz'zt again, but discovered that Graz'zt had made plans for this eventuality, bringing a unique artifact which broke her binding circles. He took her to the Abyss, who imprisoned her in his Argent Palace, where he recovered portions of his stolen power.

Not long after her capture she escaped her bondage, aided by Tuerny the Merciless, who freed Iggwilv to spite his enemy Graz'zt. Iggwilv and Graz'zt fought a running battle throughout the Argent Palace, destroying halls of priceless treasures and slaying each other's favored servants, but neither was willing to commit their full strength to deal the killing blow. Graz'zt finally called a kind of truce and allowed Iggwilv to leave unharmed, and even employed his own demonic servants to convey her research and valued possessions to her manor on another plane. Iggwilv and Graz'zt would thereafter continue in a cycle of attempting to exploit each other to serve their own plans.

Iggilv was also later enslaved by Graz'zt and was at his side as a cherished servant and concubine. In his layer of the Abyss she bore him many children that he hid to protect them.^{[citation needed]}

Enemies

On multiple occasions, Iggwilv has clashed with the Circle of Eight, who maintain a constant watch in order to ready should she return to Oerth. See Conflict with the Circle of Eight below.

Allies

She has a famous love-hate relationship with the demon lord Graz'zt, who have fought and betrayed each other in the past.

Her allies include the yugoloth Tul-oc-luc, the demon lords Zuggtmoy and Demogorgon, and Tuerny the Merciless.

She secretly holds significant influence over the demon lord Kostchtchie, and is responsible for his rise to power. Her long-term goals are to use him to defeat Orcus and Demogorgon, allowing Iggwilv to seize control of the Abyss.

Iggwilv also has numerous contacts across the planes, and could use this to bring together a large army should the need arise.

History

Iggwilv from The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, illustration by Mark Winters.

Origin

Iggwilv was born centuries ago to unknown parents. She was adopted by the legendary witch Baba Yaga as a child, who raised her and introduced her to the secrets of magic. Her first memories were of growing up in the Feywild, something Tasha resented due to frequent occurrences of bizarre and unpredictable natural phenomena.

As a young woman, she went by the name Natasha the Dark. She enjoyed manipulating demons and using them as servants, and developed a wicked streak. She also collected magic items and conducted magical research, becoming a skilled magic user in her own right. She lived with another adoptive sister named Elena.

Fourth century CY

The earliest record of Iggwilv in the Flanaess is nearly three centuries ago (circa 300 CY) in the western borderlands of al-Ket, where she went by the alias Hura. Here she occupied a tower at the outskirts of the city of Loppolla, where she conducted various terrible experiments.

Her presence there was tolerated until she plundered the Vault of Daoud (likely where she acquired the Daoud's Wondrous Lanthorn), which outraged the pious citizens of Lopolla. She was driven into exile.

Taking the name Tasha, she joined the Company of Seven, a now legendary adventuring party whose members included such luminaries as Zagig Yragerne, Heward, Quaal and Nolzur. Tasha hid her true ability, and posed as a spellcaster of less capability than her true strength. Before the end of the fourth century CY, the Company of Seven parted ways due to internal disagreements.

At some unknown point she developed the spell Tasha's uncontrollable hideous laughter.

Fifth century CY

Tasha settled in the City of Greyhawk approximately 200 years ago (circa 400 CY), where she drew the attention of its powerful and eccentric mayor, Zagig Yragerne. Zagig took her as an apprentice, studying the creatures of the Outer Planes and engaging in summoning rituals. Tasha had a particular interest in the Abyss, and learned a great deal on the subject under Zagig's tutelage. Zagig carried out a relationship with his apprentice, considered something of a scandalous in the City of Greyhawk at the time.

In a pinnacle of their achievement together, the two succeeded in summoning and binding the demon lord Fraz-Urb'luu, who they imprisoned beneath Castle Greyhawk. The pair were aided in this plot by several rivals of Fraz-Urb'luu, demon lords who hated him for his habit of incessant trickery. Iggwilv took this opportunity to interrogate Fraz-Urb'luu, Prince of Deception, and from his lies Tasha was able to glean valuable secrets.

Tasha was not satisfied sharing such demon-binding power with Zagig, and sought to wield such power by herself. She looted Zagig's library and fled in the night with several of his priceless artifacts. The greatest of these was the Tome of Zyx, a work of demonology penned by Zagig. This tome was the foundation of Tasha's understanding of demonology.

In search of greater power, Tasha traveled to the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth in the Yatil Mountains, where she uncovered the tomb where the archmage Tsojcanth was said to have been laid to rest. Unknown to most, Tsojcanth was the half-demon son Fraz-Urb'luu who masqueraded as a mortal, and was alive. Tasha deployed her accumulated knowledge to bind him in an epic contest of wills, and subsequently spent many years interrogating him to increase her knowledge of demonology.

At some point following her departure from Greyhawk, Tasha took the name Iggwilv.

Conquest of Perrenland

Iggwilv is first recorded in the history of Perrenland, a nation at the foot of the Yatil mountain range, in 460 CY.

In 479 CY, Iuz's adoptive father died, and Iuz seized upon the opportunity to take control of his estate. Iuz proved to be a capable general, and raised an army of barbaric humans and humanoids. In 480 CY, Iuz led these forces under Iggwilv's banner to conquer the lands surrounding her base in the Yatils. By 481 CY Iggwilv enslaved all of Perrenland, establishing herself the title of Witch Queen. Perrenland's nobility fled to their embassy in Exag,, and Iggwilv's rising power began to concern Perrenland's neighbors, resulting in an alliance between Ket and the dwarves of the lower Yatils.

From 481 CY until 491 CY, Iggwilv's conquests continued, taking Lake Quag to the north and attacking the Wolf Nomads. She stripped conquered lands of their wealth to invest in magical research. She offered an alliance to the Storm Riders of the Temple of Celestial Winds, raiders bound to their temple by ancient curse, but when they rejected her offer she sealed away their temple for over a century. She also gave birth to a daughter, Drelnza, whose father is unknown (but unlikely to be Graz'zt).

Under Graz'zt's influence, Iggwilv's grew ever more hungry for power, and sought to extend her conquest Ket, the land which exiled her before. Graz'zt grew resentful of his continued exploitation, and began plotting to escape Iggwilv's control.

In 491 CY, Iggwilv's control of Graz'zt finally slipped. A rift to the Abyss grew beneath Iggwilv's lair, a dangerous side-effect of her frequent summoning rituals. Graz'zt proposed freeing the half-fiend Tsojcanth to use his essence to seal the rift, but when Iggwilv undertook the ritual, Tsojcanth suddenly attacked her. Iggwilv defeated him, but was weakened in the battle. Graz'zt immediately took the opportunity to attack Iggwilv without mercy, in a titanic battle said to have shaken the Yatil Mountains. Iuz, torn between loyalty to both parents, was divided into two halves, one demon, one human.

Graz'zt was slain, banishing him to his home in the Abyss for 100 years. Iggwilv survived, weakened and broken, and with her power greatly reduced. Graz'zt's motivation for allowing Iggwilv to live is debatable: he may have been insufficiently powerful to deal the finishing blow, or wished his former lover to continue living for his sake, or wished to punish her by having her live in a weakened state. The battle cost Iggwilv nearly every spell, artifact and ally at her disposal.

Weakened and alone, Iggwilv's reign over Perrenland ended, but the impoverished nation suffered a famine which lasted for two years. Iggwilv abandoned the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth and fled north with her son Iuz, who she helped to gain power. She then departed from those lands, and was widely presumed dead. Much of her riches and many of her magic items were plundered by her former servants, including Iggwilv's Nethertome.

Sixth century CY

Conflict with the Circle of Eight

In the 570s CY CY, Iggwilv had two notable clashes with the Circle of Eight.

In the mid to late 570s CY, the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth were rediscovered. The Circle of Eight, unable to directly intervene, quietly sponsored groups of adventurers to sack the caverns. Iggwilv's daughter Drelnza, now a vampire, was destroyed while guarding the ruins.

In another instance, Iggwilv attempted to attack the Flanaess with an army of fiends and monsters. Tenser of the Circle of Eight hired adventurers to head to the Isle of the Ape to locate the Crook of Rao with which to prevent the incursion of her army of fiends. Among those who took part in the expedition were Agath of Thrunch, Great Druidess Reynard Yargrove, Franz, Lord Torkeep, Lady Marshal Rowena of the Silverbow of the Vesve Forest, Warnes Starcoat of Urnst, and Guildmaster Rakehell Chert of Scant. Iggwilv was defeated, but not before corrupting the Crook of Rao with a curse which risks its destruction.

In 585 CY, she once again clashed with agents of the Circle of Eight during a plan to invade Oerth using the moon Luna as a staging ground for her forces. Tenser, who had previously Iggwilv's lunar base abandoned during the Greyhawk Wars, chose it as a location to hide one of his clone bodies as insurance. Warnes Starcoat, now a member of the Circle of Eight, sent adventurers to the moon to recover Tenser's clone body after his death. Iggwilv was again defeated and sent into exile.

Greyhawk Wars

Iggwilv recovered most of her power and returned to Oerth prior to the Greyhawk Wars (582—584 CY), in which she secretly supported Iuz.

Recent history

In 591 CY, rumors of Iggwilv's return sparked public panic in Perrenland.

The wizard Vayne created a simulacrum of Iggwilv from a lock of her hair, less powerful than the true Witch-Queen but still greatly powerful.

In 597 CY, Iggwilv bides her time in a hidden lair in the Lower Planes, located in Niflheim in the Gray Wastes of Hades. She is guarded by Stygian linnorms. Iggwilv also possesses a small personal demiplane, where she holds a manor within an orchard of black-leaved trees and an ancient gray gazebo. Her current long-term plans include conquest in the Flanaess, although she is not yet prepared to do so.

She later became an archfey, ruling over her own Feywild domain called Prismeer under the name Zybilna. She had become chaotic neutral in alignment and her hair had turned white. At this stage of her life, she is powerful enough to send people back in time as their former selves with a wish.

Spells

• Iggwilv's lightning cage
• Iggwilv's timeless sleep
• Tasha's caustic brew
• Tasha's forcible conscription
• Tasha's mind whip
• Tasha's otherworldly guise
• Tasha's uncontrollable hideous laughter, also called Tasha's hideous laughter

Writings

Iggwilv authored the following works:

• The Demonomicon of Iggwilv
• Lore of Subtle Communication (as Tasha)
• Iggwilv's Nethertome

Demonomicon of Iggwilv

Using the additional knowledge she gained from Tsojcanth, Iggwilv successfully summoned and bound the demon prince Graz'zt, imprisoning his physical form. Once again she used this opportunity to expand her knowledge of demonology.

Collecting together her accumulated knowledge in written form, Iggwilv refined and expanded upon the Tome of Zyx to produce a six-volume work known as the Demonomicon of Iggwilv.

Creative origins

Iggwilv was the creation of Gary Gygax. He cited his inspirations to include the evil witch queen Louhi from the Finnish Kalevala, and Baba Yaga of Russian folklore. Gygax considered her primarily a behind-the-scenes manipulator type character. While Gygax's novel Sea of Death says that Iggwilv is known as Louhi on other worlds, in 2005 Gygax stated that Iggwilv is not the Louhi of Finnish mythology.

The name Tasha first appeared as the namesake of the spell Tasha's uncontrollable hideous laughter, which first appeared in Dragon #67 (Nov 1982). Gygax named the spell after a little girl who wrote him letters in crayon. Tasha's identity as an alias of Iggwilv and former member of the Company of Seven did not appear until Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007).

Natasha the Dark first appeared in the adventure The Dancing Hut, Dragon #83 (March 1984), where she is a demonologist and adoptive human daughter of Baba Yaga, although her connection to the demonologist Iggwilv had not yet been made. The Demonomicon of Iggwilv, Dragon #336 (Oct 2005) introduced Iggwilv's past identity as Hura of Ket, and noted a rumor that she was a daughter of Baba Yaga. Following the publication of Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk, which established Tasha as an alias of Iggwilv, Dragon #359's Unsolved Mysteries of D&D speculated that Dragon #83's Natasha the Dark was yet another of Iggwilv's aliases. The connection was explicitly made in The Iggwilv-Graz'zt Affair, Dragon #414 (Aug 2012).

In 2003, Gygax suggested that in his opinion, Iggwilv would be a demigoddess with a character level in the 30s.

Publication history

Appearances

Iggwilv has been mentioned in a variety of sourcebook and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons game. Some of her more significant appearances include:

• The adventure Castle Greyhawk (TSR, 1988)
• The adventure Iuz the Evil (TSR, 1993)
• Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (Wizards, 2000)
• A series entitled "The Demonomicon of Iggwilv" from Dragon (2005–2007)
• Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Wizards, 2006)
• "Enemies of my Enemy." Dungeon #149 (Paizo, 2007)
• Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk. (Wizards, 2007)
• "Unsolved Mysteries of D&D." from Dragon #359 (Paizo, 2007)
• "Iggwilv's Legacy: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth" from Dungeon #151. (Wizards, 2007)
• "Treasures of Greyhawk: Magic of the Company of Seven." from Dragon #359. (Paizo, 2007)
• Demonomicon (Wizards, 2010)
• "History Check: The Iggwilv-Graz'zt Affair" from Dragon #414. (Wizards, 2012)
• Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (Wizards, 2020)
• The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (Wizards, 2021)

Original edition

Iggwilv was first mentioned in Gary Gygax's WinterCon 1976 adventure The Lost Caverns of Tsojconth, an early version of what would become S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth. It originally described the Archmage Iggwilv as a male, who conquered the Marches of Perrunland [sic] before being slain by "the Demon Graz'zt".

First edition

Iggwilv is first mentioned in S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (1982), which introduced the Demonomicon of Iggwilv. She was subsequently mentioned in WG6 Isle of the Ape (1985), and made a personal appearance in the parody adventure WG7 Castle Greyhawk (1988).

Second edition

Iggwilv is central to the adventure Return of the Eight (1998), which gives a detailed description of her. She is briefly mentioned in WGR5 Iuz the Evil (1993) and the Player's Guide (1998) as the necromancer-witch mother of Iuz.

Iggwilv is detailed in Three Greyhawk Grimoires, Dragon Magazine #225, which presents the less well known Iggwilv's Nethertome, containing the ninth level spells Iggwilv's lightning cage and iggwilv's timeless sleep.

Third edition

Iggwilv's place in history is described in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), describing her influence on the history of the nations of Ket and Perrenland and her involvement in the events of Return of the Eight. Living Greyhawk Journal #0 also mentions her involvement in The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth and Return of the Eight.

Her most significant appearance in third edition is Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), which details her history and activities circa 597 CY. She plays a significant role in this adventure, and full statistics for a version of her are presented.

Examplars of Evil (2007) names Iggwilv in the "Introduction" alongside Acererak, Eclavdra, Vecna, and other iconic villains of D&D lore, whose legendary status comes from the fact that they have stories, personalities, and complex goals of their own.

Citations from the Demonomicon of Iggwilv appear in Elder Evils (2007). Iggwilv is briefly mentioned in the Dungeon Survival Guide (2007) in relation to her appearances in Castle Greyhawk and the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth. She is mentioned briefly in Magic Item Compendium (2007) for stealing the witchlight reservoir]] from Graz'zt.

Iggwilv's plots are part of the Living Greyhawk adventure COR8-10 Chains of Darkness. Her return to Perrenland is chronicled in Perrenland adventures for Living Greyhawk including PER1-01 Pig Tales, PER5-01 I Dream of Janni, and PER5-03 Fear of the Heart.

Dragon magazine #336 ran an article titled The Demonomicon of Iggwilv, which detailed the character and her most infamous creation. A separate article series titled Demonomicon of Iggwilv appeared in several issues, describing individual demon lords. The series described. Pazuzu (#329),. Fraz-Urb'luu (#333). Zuggtmoy (#337). Baphomet (#341). Kostchtchie (#345). Dagon (#349). Malcanthet (#353),and. Demogorgon (#357). The final print issue of Dragon, #359, ran Demonomicon: Apocrypha, detailing the manitou demon and minor demon lords. Ardat, Dwiergus, Lascer, Shaktari, and Ugudenk. The first digital issue, #360, featured a Demonomicon article on. Graz'zt. The series was well received.

She appeared in Dragon #359, the final print issue of the magazine, in the article 1d20 Villains. Iggwilv appeared as #13 on the list, which detailed a feat noting that demons can sense even distant blood relations of Iggwilv and offer them greater respect. She is also discussed in two other articles in that issue: Unsolved Mysteries of D&D, referring to her alias Tasha, and Treasures of Greyhawk, in reference to the magic item called Tasha's Grinning Idol.

Iggwilv is mentioned in Dungeon #121's Fiend's Embrace, #136's The Coming Storm, #145's Exag, #148's #148's Wells of Darkness and #152's The Last Breaths of Ashenport. Stats are given for her4 when she makes a critical personal appearance in Dungeon #149's Enemies of My Enemy and plays a role in #150's Prince of Demons. She and Graz'zt appear together on the cover of Dungeon #121, and she appears alone on the cover of #149.

Fourth edition

Demonomicon (2010) is named for Iggwilv's legendary book, and provides information on her as well as her connection to Kostchtchie. Rules for the demonomicon appear in Heroes of the Elemental Chaos (2012).

Heroes of the Fallen Lands (2010) describes the spell Tasha's Forcible Conscription.

She is briefly mentioned in Manual of the Planes (4e), The Book of Vile Darkness (4e), and The Plane Below.

She is described in Dragon #414's The Iggwilv-Graz'zt Affair, which goes into her history in great detail, and Dungeon #196's Court of Stars: Baba Yaga, Mother of All Witches. She plays a major role in Dungeon #212's Court of the Dark Prince.

A "Witch Queen" epic destiny appeared in Heroes of the Feywild, linking that title to the Feywild, which would later be established as the location where Tasha was raised in her childhood.

Fifth edition

A claimed descendant of Iggwilv, Mary Greymalkin, appears in Lost Laboratory of Kwalish (2018).

Under her alias of Tasha, is the narrator of and features heavily in the supplemental sourcebook Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (2020), an optional rules supplement featuring finalized content from the Unearthed Arcana web series. In addition to appearing on the cover and in artwork throughout the book, the book is peppered with short excerpts of her opinions and insight into various topics. however, the book "focuses on the wizard before her Iggwilv transformation, with some input from her time as the Witch Queen".

It also introduces the spells Tasha's caustic brew, Tasha's mind whip, and Tasha's otherworldly guise.

"In a call with media [...], lead rules designer Jeremy Crawford pushed back on the idea that Tasha could be described by a single type of alignment, stating that her alignment was whatever suited her current plans best. That's a definite change from her previous depiction as a 'chaotic evil' sort of character, and reflects a further development of her character beyond that of the oftentimes stereotypical scheming seductress that Iggwilv was portrayed as in past adventures". In another interview, Crawford said that "Tasha is a person who is unfazed by beings of many sorts—in addition to having consorted with darker beings, she also has consorted with, you know, beings of the upper planes. Basically, Tasha, in her brilliant curiosity, is untroubled by the various moral variations in the planes of existence. If there is knowledge to be learned and Template:Sic power to possibly be gained, Tasha is unafraid to face it. [...] Tasha is whatever alignment suits her for the day, so I guess in that sense she is true neutral". This book also added three new spells to the game that are attributed to Tasha: Tasha's Caustic Brew, Tasha's Mind Whip and Tasha's Otherworldly Guise.

In The Wild Beyond the Witchlight (2021), Iggwilv's history is recounted— being the adopted daughter of Baba Yaga, becoming Tasha the Wizard, and rising to be demon-consorting Iggwilv the Witch Queen, before finally taking on the persona of Zybilna, an archfey ruling over the the Feywild domain called Prismeer. As Zybilna, Iggwilv is a much more benevolent ruler who ruled her domain from her abode, called the Palace of Heart’s Desire, her darkest emotions magically removed (and being chaotic neutral in alignment). A glimpse of Iggwilv's future shows her evolving into a white-haired hag.

Apocryphal sources

Following Gygax's departure from TSR, he published several Gord the Rogue novels under New Infinities, in which Iggwilv appears. According to these, Iggwilv is also known as Louhi and Ychbilch on other worlds. Zuggtmoy addresses her as "Wilva." Iggwilv is described as "an ancient crone, one who had appeared a parody of every child's nightmare of a wicked witch", and transforms to a beautiful form with "flowing tresses of hair like spun gold, and face and form matched the radiance of this golden head."

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

In an interview, D&D fifth edition designer Jeremy Crawford stated that Tasha has consorted not just with demons, but with beings of the Upper Planes. He also argued that she is not necessarily evil, staing "Tasha is whatever alignment suits her for the day, so I guess in that sense she is true neutral."

Reception

Iggwilv was named one of the greatest villains in D&D history in the final issue of Dragon. Iggwilv was #7 on Game Rant's "10 Must-Have NPCs In Dungeons & Dragons Lore To Make Your Campaigns Awesome" list, in which the article states that Iggwilv "becomes the person to call for anyone with the slightest interest in demonology. Her Demonomicon of Iggwilv (also a column in the Dragon magazine) highlighted her research into the many demons and terrifying magic that can be tapped from the Nine Hells. Iggwilv stands alongside Mordenkainen as one of the most powerful spellcasters not just in Forgotten Realms but the entire multiverse".

Corey Plante, for Inverse, highlighted that the Greyhawk character "is a mage who was raised by Baba Yaga, a chaotic and frightening witch with sentient teeth. A long-time frenemy of fellow wizard Mordenkainen, Tasha grew up into a powerful archmage who ruled an entire nation as its Witch Queen before transforming herself into a demi-god called Iggwilv. [...] Different aspects of her personal history have been featured in past iterations with the occasional contradiction, [...]. Tasha, a chaotic evil character who is one of the most powerful archmages in the multiverse, is the source of many legends and tall tales".

James Grebey, for SyFy Wire, highlighted that "Tasha is one of the most famous characters to come out of the game's iconic Greyhawk campaign setting" and that the character goes from "a powerful witch raised by the arch-hag Babba Yagga" to becoming "a demi-god" that "exists as both a hero and villain to would-be D&D players".

On the narration of Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (2020), Charlie Hall, for Polygon, wrote, "the voice of Tasha feels a bit out of place, as though a time traveler has returned to the Forgotten Realms with some spicy tweets to share. Ultimately, the marginalia did not detract from the other good bits inside".

Gallery

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Post-Reynolds depictions of Iggwilv in her most commonly illustrated costume.

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Illustrations from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything" (WotC, 2020):

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  Cover art by Magali Villeneuve.
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  Tasha at study by Olga Drebas.
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  Tasha outside the Dancing Hut by Brian Valeza.
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  Tasha and Grazz't by Livia Prima
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  Tasha and Mordenkainen playing "wizardly chess" by Svetlin Velinov
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  Tasha upon her throne by Robson Michel.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Baur, Wolfgang. "Enemies of my Enemy." Dungeon #149. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
• Breault, Mike, ed. Castle Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.
• Crawford, Jeremy, Dan Dillin, et al. Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2020.
• 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 #359. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
• Greer, Stephen S. "Fiend's Embrace." Dungeon #121. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
• Gygax, Gary. Artifact of Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.

———. Come Endless Darkness. Delavan, WI: New Infinities, 1988.

———. Dance of Demons. Delavan, WI: New Infinities, 1988.

———. "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: New Magic-User Spells." Dragon #67. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.

———. Isle of the Ape. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.

———. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.

———. Sea of Death. Delavan, WI: 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 #82. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.
• Holian, Gary, and Rick Miller. "Treasures of Greyhawk: Magic of the Company of Seven." Dragon #359. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
• Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
• Jacobs, James. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Apocrypha." Dragon #359. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Baphomet." Dragon #341. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Dagon." Dragon #349. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Demogorgon." Dragon #357. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Fraz-Urb’luu." Dragon #333. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Graz'zt." Dragon #359. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007. Available online: [1]

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Kostchtchie." Dragon #345. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Malcanthet." Dragon #353. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Pazuzu." Dragon #329. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.

———. "Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Zuggtmoy." 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:[2]
• Moore, Roger E. "The Dancing Hut." Dragon #83. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.

———. 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 #225. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996.
• 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 #336. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
• Ward, James and Robert Kuntz. Deities and Demigods. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
• Wilson, Steven B. "Grey Chrondex 4.1". (2000) Available online: [3]

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
Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Fiendomicon)	Item	Book,	Dragon magazine #299	101
Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Fiendomicon)	Item	Book,	Dragon magazine #336	76-84
Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Fiendomicon)	Item	Book,	Dungeon magazine #196	10
Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Fiendomicon)	Item	Book,	Monster Manual 1, D&D 5e	55, 240
Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Fiendomicon)	Item	Book,	Reference	SEE ALSO Fiendomicon (Demonomicon of Iggwilv)
Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Fiendomicon)	Item	Book,	S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book One	30
Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Fiendomicon)	Item	Book,	S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book Two	21, 26, 29
Fiendomicon (Demonomicon of Iggwilv)	Item	Book,	Dragon magazine #225	51, 52
Fiendomicon (Demonomicon of Iggwilv)	Item	Book,	Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III	1166
Fiendomicon (Demonomicon of Iggwilv)	Item	Book,	Reference	SEE ALSO Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Fiendomicon)
Henley's Digit of Disruption (LVL7) (Demonomicon of Iggwilv)	Spell	Spell (Cleric),	Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III	1166, 1168
Henley's Digit of Disruption (LVL7) (Demonomicon of Iggwilv)	Spell	Spell (Cleric),	Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 2	329
Henley's Digit of Disruption (LVL7) (Demonomicon of Iggwilv)	Spell	Spell (Cleric),	Priest's Spell Compendium Volume 3	798
Henley's Digit of Disruption (LVL7) (Demonomicon of Iggwilv)	Spell	Spell (Cleric),	S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book Two	21, 22
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	WG6 Isle of the Ape	6, 8, 43, 44
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	WGR5 Iuz the Evil	3, 16
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Artifact of Evil	91, 92, 94, 96, 194, 232, 328-332, 343
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Come Endless Darkness	37, 46, 47, 52, 55, 56, 294, 295, 296, 297, 302
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dance of Demons	12, 13, 14, 45, 46, 75, 136, 140, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 178, 192, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 206, 207, 209, 210, 214, 218, 221
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #225	49, 51, 53
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #241	75
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #294	27
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #299	101, 103
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #336	76, 77, 78
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #350	29
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #351	42
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #358	30
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dragon magazine #359	96, 98
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dungeon magazine #149	50
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Dungeon magazine #196	10, 77, 81, 97
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess	29
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e	5
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Living Greyhawk Gazetteer	67, 86, 156, 173
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Living Greyhawk Journal #0	6, 7
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Living Greyhawk Journal #4	29
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Player's Guide to Greyhawk	18, 24, 27
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Reference	SEE ALSO Natasha (the Dark)
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Reference	SEE ALSO Tasha
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Return of the Eight	2, 10, 20, 21, 37, 48, 52-56, 59
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	S1-4 Realms of Horror, Adventure Booklet	56, 57, 63, 68, 73, 77, 78, 79
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	S1-4 Realms of Horror, Inscription and Map Booklet	2
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book One	2, 3, 7, 18, 19, 26, 27, 29, 30
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book Two	21, 26, 32
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	Sea of Death	15-31, 75-80, 82, 83, 87-90, 93, 135, 136, 139
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil	99
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	The Adventure Begins	59-61
Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}	Non-player character	Female, Human, (Louhi the Crone, Mother of All Witches),	LT3 The Doomgrinder	7
Iggwilv's Horn	Geographical feature	Mountainous,	S1-4 Realms of Horror, Adventure Booklet	57, 63
Iggwilv's Horn	Geographical feature	Mountainous,	S1-4 Realms of Horror, Illustration Booklet	#4-1
Iggwilv's Horn	Geographical feature	Mountainous,	S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book One	6
Iggwilv's legacy: the lost caverns of Tsojcanth	Adventure	Located in: Yatil,	Dungeon magazine #151
Iggwilvs Nethertome	Item	Book,	Dragon magazine #225	51, 52
Lore of Subtle Communication By Tasha	Item	Book,	Dragon magazine #082	57
Lore of Subtle Communication By Tasha	Item	Book,	Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III	1192
Natasha (the Dark)	Non-player character	Female, Human, [Ill7/MU15],	Dragon magazine #083	38, 42, 43, 47
Natasha (the Dark)	Non-player character	Female, Human, [Ill7/MU15],	Dungeon magazine #196	10, 54, 60, 77, 78, 81, 83, 97, 100
Natasha (the Dark)	Non-player character	Female, Human, [Ill7/MU15],	Reference	SEE ALSO Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}
Natasha (the Dark)	Non-player character	Female, Human, [Ill7/MU15],	Reference	SEE ALSO Tasha
Tasha	Non-player character	Female, Human, [MU?],	Dragon magazine #082	57
Tasha	Non-player character	Female, Human, [MU?],	Dragon magazine #359	70, 76
Tasha	Non-player character	Female, Human, [MU?],	Reference	SEE ALSO Iggwilv {Igwlf, Louhi, Wilva, Ychbilch}
Tasha	Non-player character	Female, Human, [MU?],	Reference	SEE ALSO Natasha (the Dark)
Tasha's Grinning Idol	Item		Dragon magazine #359	76
Tasha's Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	Hidden Lore, D&D 3.0	2
Tasha's Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	Player's Handbook, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition)	292
Tasha's Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	Reference	SEE ALSO Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter (LVL2)
Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	Dragon magazine #067	4, 9
Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	Reference	SEE ALSO Tasha's Hideous Laughter (LVL2)
Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e	30, 54
Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition)	30, 54
Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	Wizard's Spell Compendium - Volume IV	918
Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Ranger),	Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e	54
Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Ranger),	Unearthed Arcana, AD&D 1e (Premium Edition)	54