Diamond Lake

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Greyhawk Settlement
Diamond Lake
Diamond Lake and Environs, illustrated in The Adventure Begins, art by Sam Wood. (1998)
General information
Realm:Domain of Greyhawk
Size:Small town
Government
Authority:Lanod Neff (Governor-Mayor), Captain Tolliver Trask (Diamond Lake Garrison commander), Sherriff Cubbin
Government:Governor-Mayor appointed by Greyhawk's Directing Oligarchy
Alignment:N
Demographics
Population:1,023 (595CY)
Races:96% human, 2% halfling, 1% gnome, 1% other races
Languages:Common
Groups
Religions:Saint Cuthbert, Heironeous, Wee Jas
Organizations:Able Carter,

Diamond Lake is both a lake and a mining town in the Cairn Hills. The town is situated on the northeastern shore of the lake. Diamond Lake lies three days ride east of the Free City of Greyhawk.

Description

Diamond Lake was once an enormously popular vacation spot for Greyhawkers, especially nobles, visiting the lake to go sailing. This hasn't been the case since about 500 CY, due to the smelting runoff pollution.[1]

"The shining waters that once gave Diamond Lake its name are now so polluted as to make fishing impossible."[2] "Regular fish cannot survive in the tainted waters, leaving only dangerous, hardy predators like the ravenous, toothy gar that have become such a problem."[1]

"The town is nestled into the rocky crags of the Cairn Hills on the shore of Diamond Lake. The oldest buildings are gathered near the lakeshore. Regardless of their social class, the town square is a gathering place for all. The main road is called the Vein and bisects the town. Most of Diamond Lake's business is centered around the Vein and town square."[2]

A street-view of Diamond Lake, by Chad Du Lac and Jim Zubkovich, Dragon #124 (2005).

"Diamond Lake is the smallest and most remote of [Greyhawk's] three [mining] towns. It services the largest number of mines, over a wider territory than the other towns, but these mines tend to be much smaller than those among the lower operations. The town stretches along the shore of a lake whose clarity once must have inspired the community's (and the lake's) name. Now it is as stained and muddy as the water around the other towns, soiled with vast heaps of mine tailings and churned by the busy commerce along its shore."[3]

"Governor-Mayor Lanod Neff doesn't tolerate beggars in Diamond Lake."[4]

Age of Worms

In the Age of Worms adventure path, Diamond Lake is the starting point for the adventure and the recommended hometown of the main characters whose adventures take them into Greyhawk City and then beyond.

Just outside of the town is a cave known as the Whispering Cairn, a location with important ties to the Wind Dukes of Aaqa.

History

Diamond Lake was officially founded sometime in the 4th century CY, at the direction of the "mad" archmage Zagig Yragerne, during his stint as Lord Mayor of Greyhawk City.

In the 490s CY, the smelting of ore from the mines was taken over by the Directors of the Free City, a new tremendous fortress-workshop and production was ramped up significantly, which ruined the crystal waters of the lake.[5]

Geography

Travel

Distances from Diamond Lake

Travel via Able Carter Coaching Inn

Travel durations by coach to destinations available from Diamond Lake:[6]

Government

Diamond Lake is ruled by a governor-mayor appointed by the Directing Oligarchy of Greyhawk. In earlier times, only fighters were appointed governor-mayor, as its founder . The governor-mayor in 595 CY is Lanod Neff, who has held the office since at least 591 CY.

The town's watchmen are notoriously as corrupt and mean-spirited as the Governor-Mayor.[4] They use trumped-up charges (such as begging, loitering, trespassing, handling a merchant's goods, or blocking traffic, non-payment of fines, hindering a watchman in the execution of his duty, or assaulting a watchman)[7] to keep citizens (and visitors) in line. Those arrested for such offenses are then sentenced to working in the mine, this keeping the mines supplied with a steady stream of involuntary workers.[7]

Economy

Resources

Trade

Ore from the mines is shipped on the river, and is commonly sold in Two Ford. It them goes on to markets in Greyhawk and Hardby.[8]

Notable Items

The following are items or substances found specifically (and sometimes exclusively) in Diamond Lake:

  • Diamond Water Elixir
  • Diamond Water Ale (illicit)
  • Kalamanthis (illicit)
  • Miner's Milk (illicit)

People

Most residents in Diamond Lake are either people who have nowhere else to turn or are people who exploit such miserable souls. It's a dark, gritty, and violent town centered on mining and the entertainment of the mine workers.

Once, the miners weren't typically as destitute as they became in later years. While they were once "well-paid", (c.581 CY)[9] the miners eventually became "the chattel of Diamond Lake"[10] and were given "subsistence-level pay".[10]

Population

Demographics

Notable individuals

Religion

Languages

Locations

Shops

Business

Temples and Religious Sites

Residences

  • Dourstone Residence
  • Gansworth Residence
  • Moonmeadow Residence
  • Neff Manor
  • Parrin Residence
  • Smenk Residence
  • Tilgast Residence

Taverns and Inns

Other Notable Sites

Also nearby:

References

Notes

  1. ↑ a b Blackstone and the Free City of Greyhawk are almost due west of Diamond Lake in officially published material. The Domain of Greyhawk map insert from the Greyhawk Player's Guide (1998), shows the best depiction of this, though it is in other official material. Since this differs from the directions indicated in Backdrop: Diamond Lake (2005, Dragon Magazine #124, p.61), it is presumed an editorial mistake may have been made in the Dragon magazine text, which originally say "east".

Citations

  1. ↑ a b "Backdrop: Diamond Lake".  Dragon #124 (Aug 1987), p.60.
  2. ↑ a b "Backdrop: Diamond Lake".  Dragon #124 (Aug 1987), p.51.
  3. ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.22, Gem of the Flanaess.
  4. ↑ a b LT3 The Doomgrinder (1998), p.22.
  5. ↑ "Backdrop: Diamond Lake".  Dragon #124 (Aug 1987), p.62.
  6. ↑ "Backdrop: Diamond Lake".  Dragon #124 (Aug 1987), p.61.
  7. ↑ a b LT3 The Doomgrinder (1998), p.23.
  8. ↑ From the Ashes (1992), p.15, Campaign Book.
  9. ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.22.
  10. ↑ a b "Backdrop: Diamond Lake".  Dragon #124 (Aug 1987), p.50.

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

Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 22
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, From the Ashes: Campaign Book 15, 24
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, Player's Guide to Greyhawk 33
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, The Adventure Begins 59
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps 3, 9
Diamond Lake Geographical feature Lake, LT3 The Doomgrinder IBC, 7, 17, 19, 20
Diamond Lake Mines Settlement Mine, The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps 3, 9
Diamond Lake, Village of Settlement Settlement, The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 22, 23
Diamond Lake, Village of Settlement Settlement, From the Ashes: Campaign Book 27
Diamond Lake, Village of Settlement Settlement, The Adventure Begins: Adventure Maps 9
Diamond Lake, Village of Settlement Settlement, LT3 The Doomgrinder 15, 21, 22
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