Cairn Hills

The Cairn Hills are a range of hills that form the boundary between the Domain of Greyhawk and the Duchy of Urnst, though Greyhawk controls most of them. They are named for the many burial sites within them. Some of these cairns precede the arrival of the demihumans and Flan, while others are of more recent creation. Many are filled with traps to discourage grave-robbers. Most were looted long ago, but some still remain to be exploited by new generations of adventurers.

In addition to old corpse-loot, platinum, gold, and electrum are mined in the Cairn Hills.

Ecology

The local flora is mainly tough grasses, alpine plants, galda trees, and evergreens, as well as the rare psychotropic kalamanthis plant. Local animals include mice and other rodents, wild pigs, and grass-eating deer.

Inhabitants

The hills are populated by some 6,000 gnomes, 4,800 halflings (especially around Elmshire), 1,200 dwarves and 2,500 "hillsman" humans. There are also about twenty bands of human bandits and brigands.

Features and settlements

• Stonefort
• Stonebridge
• Diamond Lake
• Blackwall Keep
• Marsh Keep
• Fort Leman
• Fort Gellner
• Ryell Pass
• Berenad
• Storaven
• Elmshire
• Greysmere
• Grossettgrottell
• Harrgrek Kukulend
• Janaquil Valley
• Karakast
• Blackstone
• Steaming Springs
• Sourlode
• Wavenair
• The Doomgrinder
• Echo Crypt
• Maure Castle
• Screaming Valley
• Tenser's Tower
• Twilight Monastery
• Stankaster Tower
• Caves of Milk
• The Walking Stone of Eyes

Known Cairns

• Great Barrows
• The Choking City
• The Sarcophagus of the Red Mummy
• The Silver Metal Cairn
• The Star Cairns
• The Stirgenest Cairn (Dungeon #124)
• Tomb of Blood Everflowing (Dungeon #114)
• Tomb of the Green Lady
• The Whispering Cairn

Bibliography

• Baur, Wolfgang. "A Gathering of Winds." Dungeon #129. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.

• Bulmahn, Jason. "Mad God's Key." Dungeon #114. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004.

• Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
• -----. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.

• Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.

• Mona, Erik. "The Whispering Cairn." Dungeon #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
  • "Backdrop: Diamond Lake." Dungeon #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.

• Niles, Douglas, and Carl Sargent. The City of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.

• Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.