Womtham
| Womtham | |
|---|---|
 Womtham, depicted in The Marklands. Cartography by John Knecht (1993). | |
| General information | |
| Realm: | Kingdom of Nyrond |
| Size: | Large city |
| Government | |
| Authority: | Duke Finelann Boomgren |
| Government: | Royal Duchy |
| Alignment: | LG, LN*, NG, CG, N |
| Demographics | |
| Population: | 19,200 (c. 591 CY) |
| Races: | Human, elves, Halfling (stout), dwarves, gnomes, half-elves, half-orcs |
| Languages: | Common, Nyrondese, Old Oeridian, Elven, and Halfling |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Heironeous*, Beory, Rao, Pelor, Zilchus, Norebo, Pholtus, Ralishaz, Boccob, Delleb, Celestian |
Womtham is the ducal seat of the Royal Duchy of Womtham in the Kingdom of Nyrond ruled by Duke Finelann Boomgren.
Description
Womtham is a major city of Nyrond located on the upper reaches of the Duntide River. It swelled in size after the Greyhawk Wars, resulting in sizable shanty towns outside the city walls.[1]
History
Womtham has long been an important city, occupying a key strategic location within Nyrond.[1]
During the Greyhawk Wars King Archbold III, on hearing of massacres in the Great Kingdom, counterattacked the Army of the North from between Womtham and Innspa.[2]
The city walls were completed shortly before Spring 585 CY.[1]
Prior to the Greyhawk Wars Womtham had a population of 13,000, which swelled to 24,000. This resulted in a shanty town of tents, shacks and covered wagons outside the city walls. In Spring 585 CY Womtham was overcrowded and finding it difficult to cope with the influx of people from eastern Nyrond due to the poor economy. Because the importance of the trade passing through Womtham to Nyrond's economy, King Archbold III took a lenient line regarding his usual extra taxation. Due to the influx of refugees, Duke Finelann Boomgren declared martial law using the army present and sealed the city gates to keep out some 5,000 shantytown folk. The latter was not particularly effective due to so many people having legitimate business coming into the city. Starvation, begging, disease and crime were common, and a problem of increased wererat activity in the sewers and dilapidated houses occurred. Locals supported the crackdown on refugees, and were bitter towards them, which was unusual for Nyrond.[1]
As part of the provincial reorganization by King Lynwerd that commenced on Needfest 1, 591 CY Womtham was made the provincial capital of the Royal Duchy of Womtham ruled by Duke Finelan Boomgren.[3]
Geography and climate
Womtham is in the northeast of Nyrond on the Duntide River, where the Flinty Hills meet the Gamboge Forest.
People
Population
Womtham in 591 CY had a population of 19,200.[4].
After the Greyhawk Wars, the population swelled to 24,000 from its pre-war size of 13,000.[1]
Demographics
The races of Nyrond can all be expected to be found here, being humans (with an Oeridian dominance, and Suel present, as ethnic background), Olve (mainly sylvan with a small high elf presence), Halfling (stout), Dwarf, Gnome, half-elf and half-orc.[4]
Nyrond generally is lawful neutral in alignment, with lawful good, neutral good, chaotic good, and neutral also prevalent.[4]
Notable individuals
Notable individuals in or from Womtham include:
- Duke Finelann Boomgren.
Religion
The common religions of Nyrond can be expected to be followed here, being Heironeous (the official state religion), Beory, Rao, Pelor, Zilchus, Norebo, Pholtus, Ralishaz, Boccob, Delleb, Celestian.[4]
Following the Greyhawk Wars superstitions and the worship of evil gods (including Hextor and Incabulos) began to grow as a sign of the despair of the common folk.[5]
Government
Womtham is a royal duchy of Nyrond, ruled by Duke Finelann Boomgren.[1]
Heraldry
Womtham had heraldry created by the Nyrond region Triad as part of the Living Greyhawk campiagn. See image to right:
Economy
The Royal Mint was moved from Rel Mord to Womtham in 577 CY, closer to the source of coinage metals in the Flinty Hills.[6]
The city sits in a key strategic position, and ships Gamboge goods and produce including timber to Rel Mord down the Duntide River, and metals from the Flinty Hills.[7][8] In Spring 585 CY the city is also the headquarters of the eastern armies.[1]
Transportation
There are several roads leading in and out of Womtham and they are well-travelled. But much traffic can also be found on the Duntide river, especially since the devastation of the Greyhawk Wars left so many of the duchy's roads in dire need of repair.
The Duntide River is navigable as far north as Womtham.[9]
Military
In Spring 585 CY about 1,000 troops were usually in the city, resting between tours of duty.[1]
Major regiments were still stationed in Womtham in 591 CY[4] guarding the borders along the Flinty Hills and Gamboge Forest, as the Bone March and the Great Kingdom of Northern Aerdy still pose real threats.
In Gord's Greyhawk
In Gary Gygax's Gord novel, Saga of Old City, Gord passes through Womtham while taking Evaleigh back to Knurl after rescuing her in Stoink in the Bandit Kingdoms. They crossed the Duntide at the headwaters in the Flinty Hills, two days north. It was described as a bustling trade center, and a typical Oeridian town. Its architecture showed a great deal of dwarven and gnomish influence, and there were a "fair" number of both races as well as many halflings.[10]
In Living Greyhawk
In the Living Greyhawk campaign, Womtham featured in several adventures along with Duke Boomgren.
Publishing history
Womtham was a only a map location on the Darlene map and was undetailed in the 1983 World of Greyhawk boxed set. However, it was referred to briefly in Gary's Gygax's Gord 1985 novel Saga of Old City. It was detailed by Carl Sargent in The Marklands (p.82). Maps of Womtham and its undercity appeared in Dungeon #89 (2001) in its semi-regular "Maps of Mystery" feature, though no locations were detailed.
External links
- Womtham page on Nyrond Living Greyhawk Triad web site via Way Back Machine
- City Map of Womtham page on Nyrond Living Greyhawk Triad web site via Way Back Machine
References
Citations
- ↑ a b c d e f g h WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.82.
- ↑ Wars (1991), p.21.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.75 & 77.
- ↑ a b c d e Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.75.
- ↑ WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.65.
- ↑ WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.77.
- ↑ WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.77 & 82.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.151.
- ↑ WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.61.
- ↑ Saga of Old City, pp.201-203
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Gygax, Gary. Saga of Old City. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA. Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Lee, Rob. "Maps of Mystery: Womtham. Dungeon #89. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- Sargent, Carl. The Marklands. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Womtham, Royal Duchy of | Province | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 77 | |
| Womtham, Royal Mint of Nyrond at | Building | Mint, | WGR4 The Marklands | 82 |
| Womthan {Womtham} | Settlement | Nyrond, City, (576 pop: 13000), (585 pop: 24000), (591 pop: 19200), | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 19 |
| Womthan {Womtham} | Settlement | Nyrond, City, (576 pop: 13000), (585 pop: 24000), (591 pop: 19200), | From the Ashes: References Card | #3 |
| Womthan {Womtham} | Settlement | Nyrond, City, (576 pop: 13000), (585 pop: 24000), (591 pop: 19200), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 21 |
| Womthan {Womtham} | Settlement | Nyrond, City, (576 pop: 13000), (585 pop: 24000), (591 pop: 19200), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 75, 77, 145, 151 |
| Womthan {Womtham} | Settlement | Nyrond, City, (576 pop: 13000), (585 pop: 24000), (591 pop: 19200), | Saga of Old City | 7, 201-203, 240 |
| Womthan {Womtham} | Settlement | Nyrond, City, (576 pop: 13000), (585 pop: 24000), (591 pop: 19200), | WG8 Fate of Istus | 122 |
| Womthan {Womtham} | Settlement | Nyrond, City, (576 pop: 13000), (585 pop: 24000), (591 pop: 19200), | WGR4 The Marklands | 61, 67, 77, 82 |
| Womthan {Womtham} | Settlement | Nyrond, City, (576 pop: 13000), (585 pop: 24000), (591 pop: 19200), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | IBC |