Goldbolt

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Greyhawk Settlement
Goldbolt
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Goldbolt and its environs, from Ivid the Undying (1995), cartography by Kent Matthewson.
General information
Realm:Former Great Kingdom
Size:Fortification
Government
Authority:Karn Serrand
Demographics
Races:Humans, 1 giant
Groups
Religions:Rao

Goldbolt is a fortress built near the border of what was once the Prelacy of Almor and the western edge of the Great Kingdom, garrisoned by Karn Serrand, a paladin of Rao whose main objective is to hold back the fiends and other dark creatures that haunt the ruins of Chathold. He is allied with Prince Carwend of Rel Deven, who provides material support in the way of supplies, particularly food to offset the decrease in agriculture due to the Greyhawk Wars, despite mutual dislike between the two. [1]

Description

The castle is massive, with six towers and twin courtyards. A tower was built in 585 CY to accommodate Hierranea, though progress was slow.

History

The castle was not named Goldbolt until the female storm giant Hierranea showed up to speak with Karn Serrand shortly after the fall of Chathold in 584 CY. He meant to turn her away, knowing the storm giants tended to be chaotic, but there was a dark storm cloud that suddenly gathered over the citadel, and she reached up touched the top of one of the towers with her left hand, which let her draw down a golden bolt of lightning with her right hand, which she was then able to hurl so far that it exploded above Chathold with a deafening thunderclap. Serrand meditated on what to do and received a vision from his God Rao, who instructed him to let the giant into his citadel. He later found an ancient source in the castle library that contained accounts of priests being able to summon golden lightning from the site where the castle was built. He renamed the castle Goldbolt in honor of the strange visitor and the vision from Rao, along with prophesies that she gave.[2]

Geography

The citadel in the very western edge of what was once the Great Kingdom, near the border with the Prelacy of Almor, which now falls within the Kingdom of Ahlissa

Rumors & legends

Hierranea has prophesied that the land just to the west of the castle, around Chathold, with crumble into the sea within a year or two, leaving Goldbolt as a coastal castle. This had not occurred by 591 CY.

References

Citations

  1. Ivid the Undying (1995), p.139.
  2. Ivid the Undying (1995), p.140.

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

Goldbolt Settlement Defensive Structure, Ivid the Undying 139, 140, 142, 143, 144, 148
Goldbolt Settlement Defensive Structure, Living Greyhawk Journal #3 9
Goldbolt Settlement Defensive Structure, Oerth Journal #22 7,9,10