Gnatmarsh

The Gnatmarsh, from The Marklands map (1993).

The Gnatmarsh is an extensive area of very treacherous wetlands on the western border of Nyrond.

Geography

The Gnatmarsh stretches along the east bank of the Nesser River from the Celadon Forest to below the joining of the Duntide River, which feeds into it. The Nesser River would be the preferred means of travel between the Nyr Dyv and Sea of Gearnat if not for the Gnatmarsh, as it is navigable for its whole length even to deep-draft seafaring ships. It is still well traveled except in the summer when insect swarms are horrific.

History

The area was previously the lair of the Weird of Gnatmarsh, the leader of a witches coven, until defeated by Warnes Starcoat and companions in 575 CY.

Following the Greyhawk Wars and the general breakdown of the economy and administration in Nyrond in the years following, soldiers and militia means to patrol the northern margins of the Gnatmarsh from Callistor and along the Nesser and Duntide rivers did not, allowing monsters to emerge from the swamp and attack locals and ships.

In 591 CY rumors arose that an illegitimate son of King Lynwerd had surfaced among the witches of the Gnatmarsh.

Ecology

These bogs are home to many ghastly creatures and spawn myriad of biting insects during the summer months. The swamp is a source of disease as a result.

Nearby Callistor is a market for produce harvested by locals, including swamp hay, trapped animals and birds, and the great eels to be found there.

Inhabitants

The infestation of monsters discourages heavier use of the Nesser River as a trade route.

Local swamp-folk pole about on flat-bottomed boats, fishing and trapping in their small, often untrustworthy punts with sharpened wooden spears, snares and few real weapons.

Inhabitants include:

• Lizardfolk.
• Troglodytes.
• Alligators.
• Otyughs.
• Giant eels.
• Human bandits.

Rumoured inhabitants in 585 CY included:

• A green dragon.
• Two headed marsh trolls.
• Liches.
• Swamp water elementals.

Features and settlements

While there are presumably small settlements of bandits, humans and other humanoids within the Gnatmarsh, none are known or of note.

Notable features and locations include:

• The sunken tower of the Weird of Gnatmarsh.
• The village of Grimalkinsham (see below).
• The village of Paducah, on the western side of the Duntide River (see below).

Gord the Rogue's Greyhawk

The Gord the Rogue novel of short stories Night Arrant featured A Revel in Rel Mord, set in Nyrond and King Archbold III in (presumably) the 580s CY. This novel was after Gary Gygax's departure from TSR, and therefore cannot be regarded as officially published content. However, it does provide some details from Gygax's version of Greyhawk or the Flanaess.

The story featured Gord and Chert traveling to the Gnatmarsh as a quest under geas in punishment to retrieve the pommel-stone of the Sword of Dunstan. The story featured a group of bandits, originally from the Gnatmarsh, lead by Cob the Crazed, the survivors of which were recruited by Gord and Chert.

The Gnatmarsh featured swarms of hungry insects, and hazards of trekking through the "mire" and "morass". Gord considered making a league a day (mounted) exceptional time given the miserable mud. However, the bandits were able to direct them to a causeway through the marsh that allowed much faster travel (several miles an hour), and brought them to the village of Grimalkinsham, or Grimalkin. The causeway was a relatively dry track that snaked through the marsh. Using the causeway avoided bottomless pools, willow thickets, and mud.

The Gnatmarsh was said to feature catolblepas. It featured trolls, witches, green hags, shellycoats, night hags and annis.

Gnatmarsh in Living Greyhawk

The Gnatmarsh featured in a number of Nyrond regional adventures, which introduced the village of Paducah on the western side of the Duntide River in the Gnatmarsh.

External links

Gnatmarsh page on Nyrond Living Greyhawk Triad web site via Way Back Machine

References

Bibliography

• Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983 (ISBN 0-88038-344-5).
• -----. Night Arrant. Delevan, WI: New Infinities, 1987.
• Sargent, Carl. The Marklands. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
• 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
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983)	51, 54, 56
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess	19
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Dragon magazine #191	66
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess	61, 63
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	From the Ashes: References Card	#12
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Greyhawk Adventures	74
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Living Greyhawk Gazetteer	79, 153
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Living Greyhawk Journal #0	11
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Living Greyhawk Journal #2	29
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Night Arrant	122, 129, 147, 149
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Oerth Journal #08	36
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Oerth Journal #31	17,18,19
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Player's Guide to Greyhawk	9, 40
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Return of the Eight	59
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	Saga of Old City	7, 288
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	The Adventure Begins	54
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	WG6 Isle of the Ape	27
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio)	21, 23, 25
Gnatmarsh	Geographical feature	Marsh,	WGR4 The Marklands	61, 62, 69, 70
Staff of Gnatmarsh	Item		Encyclopedia Magica - Volume IV	1281
Staff of Gnatmarsh	Item		Greyhawk Adventures	74
Weird of Gnatmarsh	Non-player character		Living Greyhawk Gazetteer	153
Weird of Gnatmarsh	Non-player character		Living Greyhawk Journal #0	11
Weird of Gnatmarsh	Non-player character		Return of the Eight	59
Weird of Gnatmarsh	Non-player character		WG6 Isle of the Ape	27