Pontylver
| Pontylver | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Realm: | Medegia |
| Size: | Metropolis |
| Demographics | |
| Population: | formerly apx 30,000 |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Stern Alia |
Pontylver is a city in the former See of Medegia.
History
The city of Pontylver was a prospering and cultured city before the Greyhawk Wars, having a population of roughly 30,000 [1]. Unfortunately, the war completely destroyed the city and killed over 90% of the population, driving the reamaining ones to madness and ruin.[2].
The city was initially spared when Osson of Chathold came through, as he was warned by his diviners that sacking the city would be a bad idea. The internal division caused by the city leaders being skeptical of Censor Spidasa, meant they were less likely to interfere in other parts of Medegia.[2] However, when Ivid V sent his army down in retaliation for lack of support in the wars, Pontylver was the first city to be sacked, and the city lay in ruins by the summer of 584 CY.[2]
The armies of Overking Ivid V were able to so thoroughly sack the city, despite its robust defenses, because of a number of factors. First, they had excellent intelligence from Censor Spidasa about the defenses thanks to his capture and torture. Second, The Overking chose to target the city first, while his army was at its freshest and most cohesive. Third, the city was conquered with the help of number of fiends, thanks to pacts with greater tanar'ri.
The sack was extremely thorough, in part to send a message to the other cities. Spells such as rock to mud were used to bypass the wall.[2] Elemental spells using acid, fire and lightning were deployed to great effect. Even the temple to Pyremius was sacked, despite him being an evil god, with a thousands inside, burned down so that nothing but blackened stone and charred bones remained [2]. Vrock, hezrou, and chasme were loosed on the city, working alongside priests of Hextor.
After the army moved on, they left behind smoldering ruins. More than fifty fiends remained there, preying on the few survivors (mostly deserters, bandits, and orcs).
Geography and climate
People
Notable individuals
Holy Censor Spidasa is a cleric of Hextor, who ruled on behalf of the Overking prior to the Greyhawk Wars, and acted as Medegia's tie to Rauxus. He was organizing defenses outside the city during Osson's campaign through other areas of Medegia during the Greyhawk Wars. He fled to Rauxes, only to be imprisoned by the Overking. Censor Spidasa was at odds with Pontylver city leaders, who saw their city as being more independent and didn't like that he was so close with leaders in Rauxes.[3]
Religion
Pontylver is the home of the Temple of the Correct and Unalterable Way, a church dedicated to Stern Alia. Many of the clergy there became increasingly arrogant and arbitrary over time, seeing themselves as the ultimate interpreters of the law. They embraced a heresy that said the Law was concentrated in the individual rather than the community, and for this their goddess forsook them, no longer granting them more than minor spells. The temple hierarchy managed to keep this a secret for a time. When their fellow cleric Myrrha attempted to speak out, they tried to silence her permanently. She barely escaped the city with her life.[4]
Since then, the faith of Alia in Medegia has been largely wiped out by in-fighting and the church of Hextor.
The city was also known for its cathedral to Wee Jas, along with the scriptorium. These were, of course, destroyed when the city was sacked by the Overking's forces.
Military
Rumors and legends
Among those who have entered the city since it has been sacked, there are reports of "growing homicidal mania, delusional insanity, and worse[2]". These effects have been reported to grow stronger, even after those afflicted left the city, and spells like heal and remove curse have been shown to slow, but not fully stop the effect[2].
One of the things that draws people to come, despite these reports and the general wretched condition of the city, is the fact that the scriptorium in the cathedral to Wee Jas is said to still contain the treasure and magic items that could not be taken out of the city in time.[2]
References
Citations
- ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.105.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Ivid the Undying (1995), p.106.
- ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.104.
- ↑ C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan (1980), Myrrha the Disgraced.
Bibliography
- Brown, Anne. Player's Guide. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
- Johnson, Harold, and Jeff R. Leason. The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan | 28 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | Dragon magazine #063 | 16 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | Dragon magazine #065 | 11, 12 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | Dragon magazine #068 | 42 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | From the Ashes: References Card | #3 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 14 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | Ivid the Undying | 10, 26, 104, 105, 106, 155, 162 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 22, 24, 71, 93, 100, 151, 152 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | Return to the Tomb of Horrors | 7 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | The Adventure Begins | 27, 28 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | 12, 15 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 28, 34 |
| Pontylver city | Settlement | Ahlissa, Settlement, (576 pop: 16000), (591 pop: 3200), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | IBC |