Oldred

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Greyhawk Settlement
Oldred
Oldred, depicted in The Marklands. Cartography by John Knecht (1993).
General information
Realm:Kingdom of Nyrond
Size:City
Government
Authority:Duke Regurd Korenflass (Sir Elmain Vardushi, 595 CY+)
Government:Provincial duchy (Duchy of Korenflass
Alignment:LG, LN*, NG, CG, N
Demographics
Population:22,000 (591 CY)
Races:Human, elves, Halfling (stout), dwarves, gnomes, half-elves, half-orcs
Languages:Common, Nyrondese, Old Oeridian, Elven, and Halfling
Groups
Religions:Procan (Heironeous*, Beory, Rao, Pelor, Zilchus, Norebo, Pholtus, Ralishaz, Boccob, Delleb, Celestian)
Organizations:Thieves Guild, Merchants & Traders Guild
Enemies:Scarlet Brotherhood

Oldred is a walled port city in the Kingdom of Nyrond.

History

The city was built on the site of an old, razed Flan city, which provides extensive undercity ruins/[1]

The city was previously the ducal seat of the Duke of Oldred.[2]

Following the Greyhawk Wars in about Spring 585 CY the atmosphere in the city was menacing. Half drunk naval troops would roam for trouble, evil elements fled from the Great Kingdom lurked its streets, and the militia would not bother with any crime short of murder unless the victim was rich or important. Thieves lurked in dark alleyways, and cat burglary was carried out by the burgeoning Thieves Guild causing the wealthy to avoid flaunting their wealth. The Temple of Procan was even robbed of icons, shocking the city.[3]

The navy was only irregularly paid by King Archbold III due to the parlous finances of the kingdom after the Wars, resulting in threats of mutiny and disruptive navy personnel to the displeasure of Duke Regurd Korenflass. As a result the Duke refused to pay all monies due to the crown, offsetting alleged costs due to the navy unrest. Threats of marching on Oldred by Archbold were faced down with counter threats of having to face Korenflass's well trained militia as well as the navy itself and peasant levies. The Duke blamed high taxes on the King, and was believed by the local population who saw royal troops are not properly paid and kept the local royal garrison cowed with the fear of lynching.[2]

The Duke's control of the city was strong. He was Guildmaster of the Merchants & Traders Guild, and blamed the King and his local bailiff for any problems resulting in the bailiff living in virtual house arrest for his own protection. The Duke's extensive landholdings and control of trade allowed him to supply war veteran officers with subsidized goods thus keeping them content and loyal, and filling his local militia with their numbers.[2]

Prince Sewarndt was well received by the fawning courtiers of the Duke[4][5], whom was a friend of the prince.[2]

The breakdown in authority, and law and order, lead to the reestablishment of smuggling and even slaving along the Relmor Bay coast. The navy was even at times engaged in or assisting locals in smuggling, even while defending against Ahlissan raiding parties and pirates.[2]

The navy in Oldred early in 585 CY engaged in a raid on Prymp in Ahlissa, bringing back booty but also people then sold into slavery in the undercity.[1]

The reorganization of provincial administration as part of the reforms by King Lynwerd I that commenced Needfest 1, 591 CY resulted in Oldred becoming the capital of the province of the Duchy of Korenflass.[6]

Geography

The city lies on the north coast of Relmor Bay, on the northeastern corner of a small bay. Storport is located on the headland on the western side of the bay. Rel Mord sits to the north past the Entrell Estates, Mithat Bay to the east, and Wragby to the west.

Cityscape

The north side of the town features wooded gardens and the houses of the nobility and merchants.[1] Relmor Bay sits to the south.

Travel

Oldred is a major trading and naval port. A major road run north past Entrell Estates (within the Duchy to the Province of Justcrown and Rel Mord. A lesser road runs west to Wragby and less directly to Storport.[7]

People

Population

In Spring 585 CY the population of the city was 19,500.[2]

In 591 CY the population was 22,000.[6]

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. There is a stronger Suel influence amongst humans in the south.[6]

Nyrond generally is lawful neutral in alignment, with lawful good, neutral good, chaotic good, and neutral also prevalent.[6] The criminal activities in Oldred suggest a sizable portion falling outside these norms.

Notable individuals

Notable individuals in or from Oldred include:

Religion

The common religions of Nyrond are Heironeous (the official state religion), Beory, Rao, Pelor, Zilchus, Norebo, Pholtus, Ralishaz, Boccob, Delleb, Celestian.[6]

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.[8]

However, very few religions find favor on the south coast of Nyrond, save Procan, which the city features an architecturally fine temple of.[3]

Languages

The common languages of Nyrond can be expected to be spoken here, being Common, Nyrondese, Old Oeridian, Elven, and Halfling.[6]

Government

Oldred is located within the Kingdom of Nyrond.

Following the reorganization of provincial administration under King Lynwerd I that commenced Needfest 1, 591 CY Oldred remained under the control of the Duke becoming provincial capital of the Duchy of Korenflass.[6]

Heraldry

Economy

The lands of the south coast are not very fertile, with the soil being often chalky, brittle and somewhat stony, thus being mostly used as poor grazing land. Most people on the coast make their living from fishing, trading, or the support industries for the navy. Smuggling has also resurged since the Greyhawk Wars, and the breakdown of law and order in the area.[2]

Military

Oldred is the second most important naval base after Mithat.[2], for the Nyrond navy stationed along the northern coast of Relmor Bay.[6]

In 578 CY military forces from western Nyrond has mustered in in around Oldred readying for a joint Nyrond-Almor attack on the Great Kingdom. The force was under the joint command of Admiral Auriel Lexis (Nyrond) and Counter Stephen Bulhart (presumably Almor). It was listed as comprising:

  • 13 warships
  • 8 large galleys
  • 57 transports
  • 1,000 Nyrondian marines
  • 400 light cavalry
  • 1,000 heavy foot
  • 2,500 medium foot
  • 3,700 levies

The forces were described as mainly volunteers, with many petty commanders and adventurer types present.[9]

(Note: The reliability of this information is under question given certain details in the article are incorrect, noting it was published prior to the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting in 1983. For example, the king is named as Dunstan, and Chathort not Chathold is referred to.)

In Spring 585 CY the city had a 500 strong, hard nosed militia made up in part by war veterans, and a garrison of 300 of the King's troops.[2]

Rumors & legends

The undercity ruins are said to be inhabited by ropers, otyughs and worse.[1]

Oldred in the Living Greyhawk campaign

In the Living Greyhawk campaign, Oldred featured in a number of adventures. It was also detailed in the "Nyrond Gazetteer" fan-created sourcebook.

The campaign developed three major crime families of the city, the Vardushi, Caerizar and Bayfield families. A fourth family, the Torbaas, began infiltrating the city with the support of the Scarlet Brotherhood. In mid 594 CY Lynwerd removed naval forces from Oldred as part of an ongoing dispute with the Duke on the ostensible basis of crime in the city. This affected the economy detrimentally. Duke Korenflass supported Sewarndt after he staged a coup on the last day of 594 CY. Sewarndt was supported by forces of the Scarlet Brotherhood who occupied Oldred and much of the south coast during Sewarndt's brief reign. When Lynwerd retook Rel Mord and the crown later in 595 CY, killing Sewarndt, Duke Korenflass was killed during the siege. He was replaced by Sir Elmain Vardushi as Duke of Korenflass.[10]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ a b c d WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.73.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.72.
  3. ↑ a b WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.72-73.
  4. ↑ WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.68.
  5. ↑ WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.93.
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g h Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.75.
  7. ↑ Map from WGR4 The Marklands.
  8. ↑ WGR4 The Marklands (1993), p.65.
  9. ↑ Rob Kuntz. "Greyhawk's World." Dragon #65. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982. p.12
  10. ↑ "Nyrond Gazetteer" from Nyrond Living Greyhawk Triad web site via Way Back Machine

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

Merchants and Traders, Guild of (Oldred) People Group Guild, WGR4 The Marklands 72
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 18
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), Dragon magazine #065 12
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), From the Ashes: References Card #3
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book 14
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e 12
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 75, 78, 149
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), Oerth Journal #06 4
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), Oerth Journal #14 23
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), The Adventure Begins 33
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), WGR4 The Marklands 60, 72, 74, 85
Oldred Settlement Nyrond, City, Walled, (585 pop: 19500), (591 pop: 22000), World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) IBC
Procan, Temple of (Oldred) Building Temple, WGR4 The Marklands 73
Thieves, Guild of (Oldred) People Group Guild, WGR4 The Marklands 73
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