Oerik: Difference between revisions

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Though few sources exist for information about nations or cultures beyond the Flanaess, the primary source is ''Dragon'' magazine Annual #1.  The article presents names of nations across the continent, though there is scant information provided about them.  Both nations and geographical features are labelled and given short descriptions of only a sentence or two.
Though few sources exist for information about nations or cultures beyond the Flanaess, the primary source is ''Dragon'' magazine Annual #1.  The article presents names of nations across the continent, though there is scant information provided about them.  Both nations and geographical features are labelled and given short descriptions of only a sentence or two.
<blockquote>"Ever wonder what the world of Oerth looked like beyond the borders of the Flanaess? Wonder no more! The TSR staff and the Greyhawk setting's original creator sketched out this map of Oerth in the early 1980s.
{{quoted text|Ever wonder what the world of Oerth looked like beyond the borders of the Flanaess? Wonder no more! The TSR staff and the Greyhawk setting's original creator sketched out this map of Oerth in the early 1980s.
'My Dear Mordenkainen,
'My Dear Mordenkainen,
I'm glad you found my doodles enlightening! I cobbled the map together from diverse sources - mostly the recollections of some of the "old guard" I can't vouchsafe the place names; doubtless the locals have their own names for many of the areas. Enclosed are some more excerpts from my journals.'<br>
I'm glad you found my doodles enlightening! I cobbled the map together from diverse sources - mostly the recollections of some of the "old guard" I can't vouchsafe the place names; doubtless the locals have their own names for many of the areas. Enclosed are some more excerpts from my journals.'<br>

Revision as of 09:15, 10 June 2023

Oerik depicted in both the D&D Gazetteer and the LGG
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The Flanaess and Central Oerik as depicted in the 1980 Folio.

Oerik is the largest continent on the world of Oerth, where the Greyhawk campaign takes place.

Oerik is named after the Oeridians, a human people who settled much of the continent. The best-known part of Oerik is the eastern portion, known as the Flanaess, named after the first human settlers to that region, the Flan.

The region of New Empyrea in RPGA modules was placed across the Solnor Ocean from the Flanaess in the adventure Doc's Island. This would place it somewhere in Western Oerik as well, though this was never in officially published Greyhawk material.

Nations

Though few sources exist for information about nations or cultures beyond the Flanaess, the primary source is Dragon magazine Annual #1. The article presents names of nations across the continent, though there is scant information provided about them. Both nations and geographical features are labelled and given short descriptions of only a sentence or two. {{quoted text|Ever wonder what the world of Oerth looked like beyond the borders of the Flanaess? Wonder no more! The TSR staff and the Greyhawk setting's original creator sketched out this map of Oerth in the early 1980s. 'My Dear Mordenkainen, I'm glad you found my doodles enlightening! I cobbled the map together from diverse sources - mostly the recollections of some of the "old guard" I can't vouchsafe the place names; doubtless the locals have their own names for many of the areas. Enclosed are some more excerpts from my journals.'

- Heward"[1]

Dragon Annual #1

A map of Oerik, as depicted in Dragon Annual #1 (1996). Cartography by Sutherland, Dave
  • 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. (Also known as the Celestial Empire of Shaofeng.[2])
  • Celestial Sea - A warm shallow gulf where merchants from Erypt and the Imperium ply their trades.
  • Elvanian Forest - An enclave of lofty trees clinging to foothills rising from the desert below. Elves and other wild sylvan races dwell here.
  • 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.
  • 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 priests kings.
  • Fireland - A land not unlike the Hellfurnaces region of the Flanaess, Volcanoes and geysers sprout amid glaciers. A hardy folk dwells among the coastal fjords.
  • Gigantea - A land populated by giants.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Jothunheim Sea - A frigid body of water littered with icebergs. Giants ply the waters in great drakkars.
  • 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.
  • Mare Mysticum - Unknown details.
  • Nippon Dominion - A protectorate only recently conquered by the warriors of Nippon.
  • 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.
  • Orcreich - A nation of orcs ruled by a tyrannical king. The orcs seem to thrive under the brutal regime.
  • 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.
  • Red Kingdom - This land is so named for the color of its rocks. It's inhabitants remain unknown.
  • 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.
  • Red Kingdom - This land is so named for the color of its rocks. It's inhabitants remain unknown to me.
  • 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 tribes-men live in mud-brick towns built around central squares that contain steep-sided pyramids. I have never learned whether the pyramids serve as monuments, tombs, temples, or something else altogether.
  • 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.
  • Zindia - A tropical land where rich cities rise from steaming jungles.

References

Citations
  1. *Williams, Skip. "Beyond the Flanaess." Dragon Annual #1. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1996. p72-73
  2. John Roy, "Behind the Screen:Greyhawk". Dragon+ Issue 25. Wizards Of the Coast, p.12 Available Online
Bibliography

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

Oerik Region Artifact of Evil 7
Oerik Region Artifact of Evil 7
Oerik Region Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff 4
Oerik Region Bastion of Faith 8
Oerik Region Come Endless Darkness 13
Oerik Region The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 17, 94
Oerik Region The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 4, 33, 38
Oerik Region City of Hawks 114
Oerik Region LT2 Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad 2
Oerik Region Dance of Demons 41, 43, 46, 402
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #141 14
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #189 13
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #225 53
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #230 9, 10
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #241 47, 77
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #293 90
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #294 92, 94
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #306 100
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #348 70
Oerik Region Dragon magazine #AN1 72
Oerik Region Dungeon magazine #041 48
Oerik Region Dungeon magazine #042 32
Oerik Region From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 2, 9, 13, 49
Oerik Region From the Ashes: Campaign Book 3, 9, 12, 38, 39, 49, 68, 69, 80, 84
Oerik Region Greyhawk Adventures 92, 99
Oerik Region Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e 5
Oerik Region Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 2, 13, 17, 22, 23, 68, 142
Oerik Region Living Greyhawk Journal #0 6, 9
Oerik Region Living Greyhawk Journal #1 7
Oerik Region Living Greyhawk Journal #2 8
Oerik Region Living Greyhawk Journal #3 11
Oerik Region Living Greyhawk Journal #4 7
Oerik Region Night Arrant 90, 184
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #01 2,3,4,6,9,12,13,15,16,20
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #02 15,16
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #03 4,6,15,16,22,23,24,25,27
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #04 8,9,10,11,12,14
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #05 4,6,7,13
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #06 6
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #07 10,33,43,45
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #08 4,29,40
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #09 33,34,40
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #10 72
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #11 58,88
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #15 14
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #19 5,9,16
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #21 6,10,11
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #22 17,19,35,41
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #24 6,19
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #26 4,5,6,7,8,9,10
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #27 24,25,32
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #29 9
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #31 22,44
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #32 8
Oerik Region Oerth Journal #33 16,18,44
Oerik Region Player's Guide to Greyhawk 1-3, 4, 6, 15, 21, 27, 34, 36, 41
Oerik Region Polyhedron magazine #128 28
Oerik Region Polyhedron magazine #163 107
Oerik Region Return of the Eight 36
Oerik Region Sea of Death 6, 61, 129, 132, 150, 249
Oerik Region Saga of Old City 6, 75, 351
Oerik Region T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil 4
Oerik Region The Adventure Begins 2, 9, 10, 12, 14, 87
Oerik Region LT3 The Doomgrinder 45
Oerik Region WG8 Fate of Istus 40, 58, 122
Oerik Region The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) 1, 2, 4, 5, 20
Oerik Region WGR4 The Marklands 12
Oerik Region WGR5 Iuz the Evil 49, 54
Oerik Region WGS1 Five Shall Be One 3
Oerik Region WGS2 Howl From the North 5, 16, 51
Oerik Region World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 1, 3-5, 8, 16, 47, 61
Oerik Region World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) 2