Lordship of the Isles

Greyhawk Realm

Lordship of the Isles
The arms of the Lordship of the Isles, as depicted in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000).
General information
Region:	Eastern Flanaess, Old Aerdy East
Government
Ruler:	Princess Ronthal III 576 Prince Ranold 564-584 Prince Ingerskatti 591
Government:	Independent monarchy (principality), 591+ CY a puppet of the Scarlet Brotherhood
Established:	447 CY
Demographics
Capital:	Sulward
Major towns:	Duxchan (pop. 8,900), Sulward (pop. 7,200), Mahan (pop. 4,100)
Provinces:	Seven islands: duchy of Diran, duchy of Ansabo, duchy of Ganode, county of Jehlum, county of Mirim, county of Luda, barony of Temil
Population:	266,000 (591 CY)
Races:	Human (Soz):   79 % High elf :  9 % Halfling :  5 % Dwarf :  3 % Half-elf :  1 % Half-orc :   1 %
Languages:	Common, Ancient Suloise, Elven, Halfling
Groups
Religions:	Osprem, Xerbo, Norebo, Syrul, Wee Jas, other Suel gods
Enemies:	Sea Barons, Lendore Isles (distrusted), Ahlissa (distrusted)
Miscellaneous
Resources:	Rare woods, spices, shipbuilding supplies, sugarcane, pineapple, coffee
Coinage:	Great anchor (pp), sunship (gp), dolphin (ep), trident (sp), shelly (cp)

The Lordship of the Isles is a series of small island states off the eastern coast of the Flanaess between the Aerdi Sea and the Oljatt Sea. The islands are also known as the Duxchan Islands, part of the Asperdi-Duxchan archipelago.

History

Nearly a thousand years ago, Suel migrants sailed to the Duxchan Islands, conquering the Olman, and Touv who already occupied the isles.

When the Aerdi expanded south into Sunndi, they had control of the entire Flannaess' Solnor Ocean coast, and desired to add the islands that would give them control over the seaways to their empire. By this time, people of Suel descent had been ruling the Duxchans for centuries. While the islands that would become known as the Dominion of the Sea Barons were colonized quickly, the Duxchans offered considerable resistance, as its inhabitants were feared and capable pirates.

In 166 CY, Overking Erhart II committed his combined navies to put an end to the Duxchaner marauding after they set the Pontylver shipyards ablaze. Lord Admiral Aeodorich of House Atirr led the fleet; the town of Dullstrand was founded to be the base for the invasion. After less than two years of warfare, Atirr's armada defeated the Duxchaners and their allies at the Battle of Ganode Bay. Subsequently, the Aerdi settled the Duxchan Islands in great numbers, founding the city of Sulward as their capital. The population of the islands, however, remained largely Suel, with local Suel lords incorporated into the new government. An Aerdi lord, subject to the herzog of South Province, was appointed as the prince of the new Lordship of the Isles.

The island lords became rich from southern trade over the next few centuries. The population of Ansabo was still viewed as piratical, but they were kept in check.

Independence

The isles were still nominally subjects of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy, specifically vassals of the South Province until the Turmoil Between Crowns. Growing more and more independent, due in large part to their influence in trade and naval power, they broke away in 447 CY at the same time as other former regions of the Great Kingdom. This was in large part because the then-herzog of the province notably began seizing ships of the Lordship while at anchor in Prymp in the South Province.

The very next year, the prince of the Isles joined the Iron League in 448 CY, after the Turmoil Between Crowns brought the fiend-seeing house of Naelax to the Great Kingdom's throne. In retribution, the overking gave letters of marque to the Sea Barons, allowing them to target any Lordship vessel. The two island nations have fought many battles since then, cumulating in the Battle of Medegia in 572 CY. In 564 CY, the Suel-descended Duke Latmac Ranold of Ansabo became the new prince of the Isles after the Oeridian lords failed to agree upon a suitable heir. After the battle of Medegia, his prestige was badly shattered and his previously tight grip on power loosened.

Greyhawk Wars and later

Prince Ranold is deposed during the Greyhawk Wars in 582 CY, when a little-known Suloise man called Folmar Ingerskatti of Ganode takes power. Prince Ingerskatti withdraws the Lordship of the Isles from the Iron League and allies the nation with the Scarlet Brotherhood. Most are aware that Ingerskatti is nothing but a puppet for the Scarlet Brotherhood, but little can be done about it. Many other nobles throughout the realm fall, especially Oeridian ones, and are replaced with loyal Suel.

In 590 CY, open warfare breaks out between the Lordship and the free ports of the Azure Sea, although Olinstaad Corond of the Principality of Ulek, in desperation, agrees to ally with the Lordship, giving them free access to his port in the city of Gryrax.

Geography

The seven islands of the Lordship separate the Aerdi Sea from the Oljatt Sea.

The three largest islands are the duchies of Diren, Ansabo, and Ganode. Three smaller islands, the counties of Jehlum, Mirim, and Luda, are next largest. Finally, the tiny island of Temil, barely thirty miles in length, is ruled by a petty baron subject to the duke of Diren.

Terrain and climate

Their climate is tropical, with extreme heat and humidity year-round, save during the tropical storms that blow in the Oljatt during low summer.

People

The humans of the Lordship are mainly Suloise, especially in Ansabo and Ganode. Oeridian ancestry is most common in Diren, Jehlum, Mirim, and Luda. Olman and Touv-descended people are found throughout the isles, though are rare.

Military

Naval forces

The Lordship of the Isles are known for their tremendous naval strength. Very few nations of the Flanaess can be considered a rival for their fleets.

Creative origins

The names "Lordship of the Isles" and "Prince Ranold" are inspired by Scottish history. Though the island chain centered around the Hebrides on the west coast of Scotland fell under the rule of different nations at various times, they always remained functionally independent. Prince Ranald, a 12th-century leader "styled himself 'King of the Isles, Lord of Argyll and Kintyre' and as 'Lord of the Isles'."

References

Bibliography

• 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.

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
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	LT2 Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad	23
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #052	18, 19, 20
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #055	18
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #057	13
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #065	12
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #068	42
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #206	35, 38
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #271	75
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #302	99
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #306	95
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dragon magazine #315	51, 53, 54
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Dungeon magazine #071	27
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess	7, 10, 30, 31, 36, 47, 58
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	From the Ashes: References Card	#2
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	From the Ashes: References Card	#9
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Greyhawk Adventures	88
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book	14, 15, 17, 19
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e	Dis, 10, 26, 29, 31, 33, 106, 112
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Living Greyhawk Gazetteer	IC, 8, 16, 45, 55, 57, 58, 66, 70, 71, 72, 79, 91, 96, 98, 99, 100, 110, 121, 147, 148, 149, 150
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Living Greyhawk Journal #1	13
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Living Greyhawk Journal #3	28
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Player's Guide to Greyhawk	7, 8, 10-12, 45, 59
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	Slavers, AD&D 2e	87, 90, 107
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	The Adventure Begins	11, 18, 19, 29, 31-34, 38, 102
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	The Scarlet Brotherhood	5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 24, 27, 28, 31, 52
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio)	IC, 2, 6, 7, 12, 16, 20
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983)	10, 14, 28, 36, 48, IBC
Lordship of the Isles	Kingdom	(576 pop: 80000), (591 pop: 266000),	World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983)	10, 11, 17, 28, 31