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<small>This is a summary of an original article found on Wizards.com. (Dec 2006)</small>  
<small>This is a summary of an original article found on Wizards.com. (Dec 2006)</small>  
{{quoted text|Somewhere deep within the forest, so the tale goes, stand the ruins of a marvelous city built by the [[Suloise]] after they fled the destruction of their homeland in the [[Baklunish-Suloise Wars|Rain of Colourless Fire]]. In that place, the exiled [[Suel]] sought to recreate the glory of the fallen [[Suel Imperium|imperium]]. From the funeral pyre of their empire, they carried many artifacts of wondrous power and hordes of gemstones so numerous that they were heaped in mounds. The city’s splendor was such that even the Celeni [[elven]] were said to have marveled and wondered aloud whether gods or men had wrought such works.
{{quoted text|Somewhere deep within the forest, so the tale goes, stand the ruins of a marvelous city built by the [[Suloise]] after they fled the destruction of their homeland in the [[Baklunish-Suloise Wars|Rain of Colourless Fire]]. There, the [[Suel]] exiles sought to recreate the glory of the fallen [[Suel Imperium|imperium]]. From the ashes of their empire, they carried many artifacts of wondrous power and mounds of precious of gemstones.


Tales of the Lost City have long fired the imagination of adventurers from across the Flanaess. However, though many have sought their fortune there, they have more often found their death. The fell reputation of the Suss is well earned. The forest is home to hordes of [[orc]]s, [[goblin|goblinkin]], [[gnoll]]s and [[kobold]]s—vassals now of [[Turrosh Mak]], the so-called Emperor of the [[Pomarj]]. Even these savage creatures tread wearily in the Suss for more fearsome predators lurk in its thorn-choked tangles and noisome bogs. Ettercaps, susserus, gibberings and kech abound. Hangman trees, huge assassin vines, and other feral plants lie in wait for the unwary. The very trees of the forest, huge and blackened with age, seem to radiate malice towards any who dare to trespass beneath their boughs.
Though interest in the Lost City has waned since the [[Greyhawk Wars]], new rumors in [[Hardby]], in the last days of [[595 CY]], related to finding the body of a woman found in the waters of [[Hardby|Hard Bay]]. The only significant possession on the body was a scroll case, holding an encrypted scroll, which the [[Gynarchs]] took and worked to decipher.


Though interest in the Lost City has waned since the [[Greyhawk Wars]], new rumors recently surfaced in [[Hardby]], in the last days of [[595 CY]]. The body of a woman fished from the bay of [[Hardby]] bore no identifying marks or tokens except for a scroll case, holding an encrypted scroll of considerable length. Troubled by the possibility that a woman of the city had been murdered, the Gynarchs set about deciphering the scroll’s contents.
An apprentice to [[Oscar Longland]], was overheard bragging about how he’d helped his master decipher the message, which he said, recounted an expedition into the Suss to explore the Lost City of the Suloise.


Then an apprentice to [[Oscar Longland]], was overheard drunkenly bragging about how he’d helped his master break a particularly cunning cipher. The deciphered message, he said, had recounted an expedition into the Suss on the behalf of a group known only as the “Lords of the Hidden City”. The goal of the expedition was the Lost City of the Suloise.
According to the scroll, the expedition traveled northwest of [[Badwall]], and found ruins on a wooded ridge set amid a swamp bordering the [[Jewel River]]. A search revealed a huge number of other buildings submerged in the surrounding mire. However, exploration of the sunken ruins was impossible due to the especially resilient undead that lurked there.


The “Lords of the Hidden City” followed a map made by a party in the service of the [[Scarlet Sign]] who had discovered the city before the Greyhawk Wars. Several days travel northwest of [[Badwall]], they found a number of tumbled stone buildings on a wooded ridge set amid a swamp bordering the [[Jewel River]]. The author was certain that the ruins were those of the Lost City. The structures on the ridge were but a fraction, since a survey revealed a huge number of other buildings submerged in the surrounding mire. However, further exploration of the sunken ruins was impossible due to the especially resilient undead that lurked in the murky depths.
The explorers found Suloise artifacts, but most of the buildings, including a massive three-tiered ziggurat, seemed to be much older. Ancient, unreadable inscriptions were inscribed upon the walls of the ziggurat.  


Setting up a fortified camp, the explorers attempted to discover what they could about the Lost City and its fate. Although Suloise artifacts were found, most of the buildings, including a massive three-tiered ziggurat, seemed to be much older, and did not match any known architectural style of the Suel. Ancient inscriptions of unknown provenance were inscribed upon the walls of the ziggurat.  
They decided to excavate the central ziggurat, but found that the central chamber had already been plundered; however, it seemed a large network of undisturbed chambers lay below it. Attempts to open the lower chambers were hampered by repeated accidents, magical traps, etc.


The expedition’s leader, [[Yeranav]], ordered the excavation of the central ziggurat. The explorers found that the central chamber had already been plundered; however, there were signs that a large network of undisturbed chambers lay below it. Attempts to open the lower chambers were hampered by repeated accidents, magical traps, and terrible nightmares that shattered the sleep of the exhausted expedition.
Before they planned to enter the lower chambers, a bloody fight broke out, questioning the wisdom of delving deeper into the ziggurat, and the leadership and their true motives. The author was lucky to escape when an ancient green wyrm suddenly attacked the expedition’s camp. The author fled, and made for [[Hardby]], to seek out a trusted childhood friend named Ratter. Whether she ever reached Ratter remains a mystery.


The night before they were due to enter the lower chambers, a fight among the members of the expedition broke out, questioning the wisdom of delving deeper into the ziggurat, as well as Yeranav’s leadership and his true motives. The dispute descended into bloodshed, and the ensuing battle went badly for the author’s faction, who would have died with her companions had an ancient green wyrm of immense size not arise from the forest and attacked the expedition’s camp. All who stood and fought were slain. The author fled into the forest, shaken by the betrayal of her companions, making for [[Hardby]], to seek out a trusted childhood friend named Ratter. Whether she ever reached Ratter remains a mystery.
Although this story was denounced by the Gynarchy, many in Hardby recalled that a vagrant by the name of Ratter frequented the [[Hardby#Geography|Dock Quarter]] of the city. However, attempts to locate Ratter have proven fruitless. Those enquiring among the slum dwellers of the city learned that Ratter vanished some weeks before—shortly before the woman’s body was found.|}}


Although the story was denounced by the Gynarchy, many in Hardby recalled that a vagrant by the name of Ratter frequented the [[Hardby#Geography|Dock Quarter]] of the city. However, attempts to locate Ratter have proven fruitless. Those enquiring among the slum dwellers of the city learned that Ratter vanished some weeks before—shortly before the woman’s body was found.}}


==Geography==
==Geography==

Revision as of 01:14, 4 February 2025


Greyhawk Location
Lost City of the Suloise
Geopolitical
Region:Suss Forest

Description

Described as a lost city in the Suss Forest, an existing map indicates that this city might be found about 120 miles to the southwest of Elredd.[1]

This is a summary of an original article found on Wizards.com. (Dec 2006)

"Somewhere deep within the forest, so the tale goes, stand the ruins of a marvelous city built by the Suloise after they fled the destruction of their homeland in the Rain of Colourless Fire. There, the Suel exiles sought to recreate the glory of the fallen imperium. From the ashes of their empire, they carried many artifacts of wondrous power and mounds of precious of gemstones.

Though interest in the Lost City has waned since the Greyhawk Wars, new rumors in Hardby, in the last days of 595 CY, related to finding the body of a woman found in the waters of Hard Bay. The only significant possession on the body was a scroll case, holding an encrypted scroll, which the Gynarchs took and worked to decipher.

An apprentice to Oscar Longland, was overheard bragging about how he’d helped his master decipher the message, which he said, recounted an expedition into the Suss to explore the Lost City of the Suloise.

According to the scroll, the expedition traveled northwest of Badwall, and found ruins on a wooded ridge set amid a swamp bordering the Jewel River. A search revealed a huge number of other buildings submerged in the surrounding mire. However, exploration of the sunken ruins was impossible due to the especially resilient undead that lurked there.

The explorers found Suloise artifacts, but most of the buildings, including a massive three-tiered ziggurat, seemed to be much older. Ancient, unreadable inscriptions were inscribed upon the walls of the ziggurat.

They decided to excavate the central ziggurat, but found that the central chamber had already been plundered; however, it seemed a large network of undisturbed chambers lay below it. Attempts to open the lower chambers were hampered by repeated accidents, magical traps, etc.

Before they planned to enter the lower chambers, a bloody fight broke out, questioning the wisdom of delving deeper into the ziggurat, and the leadership and their true motives. The author was lucky to escape when an ancient green wyrm suddenly attacked the expedition’s camp. The author fled, and made for Hardby, to seek out a trusted childhood friend named Ratter. Whether she ever reached Ratter remains a mystery.

Although this story was denounced by the Gynarchy, many in Hardby recalled that a vagrant by the name of Ratter frequented the Dock Quarter of the city. However, attempts to locate Ratter have proven fruitless. Those enquiring among the slum dwellers of the city learned that Ratter vanished some weeks before—shortly before the woman’s body was found."


Geography

Rumored to lie somewhere spread across an area including atop a low ridge and a surrounding swamp somewhere within the Suss Forest.

Resources

Rumors and legends

The city is rumored to be filled with treasure.[1] The legends also say that this lost city is actually a former Old Suloise city[2], but none of this has been confirmed due the inherent dangers of the Suss Forest.[3]

Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ a b Greyhawk Adventures (1988), p.116, "The House of Cards; Map Seller".
  2. ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.35, "Suss Forest".
  3. ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.142, "Chapter 5: Geography of the Flanaess; Forests".

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
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