Bandit Kingdoms
| Bandit Kingdoms | |
|---|---|
 The arms of the Bandit Kingdoms, as depicted in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000). | |
| General information | |
| Region: | Empire of Iuz |
| Government | |
| Ruler: | Iuz (in theory) |
| Government: | Various petty dictatorships theoretically owing fealty to Iuz |
| Demographics | |
| Capital: | None; Hallorn, Riftcrag, Rookroost, and Stoink function as "regional capitals" |
| Major towns: | Hallorn, Riftcrag, Rookroost, Stoink |
| Population: | 475,200 |
| Races: | Human 79% (OFSb), Halforc 9%, Halfling 5%, Elf 3%, Gnome 2%, Dwarf 1%, Half-elf 1% |
| Languages: | Common, Orcish, Halfling |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Iuz, Olidammara, Erythnul, Norebo, Hextor, orcish pantheon, Nerull, Ralishaz, Kurell, Fharlanghn, Pholtus, Trithereon, Rudd, various goblinoid gods. |
| Allies: | None |
| Enemies: | Shield Lands, Furyondy, Stonehold, Rovers of the Barrens, Tenh, County of Urnst, the Pale, Nyrond, Knights of Holy Shielding, Knights of the Hart, hostile factions within Iuz’s command structure (sometimes) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Resources: | Silver (Rift Canyon) |
| Coinage: | No national coinage; some fiefs produce their own coinage |
The Bandit Kingdoms is a political state in the Central Flanaess properly known as the Combination of Free Lords, and sometimes called the Bandit Lands (post-Greyhawk Wars).
History
This area was settled, if not very well, by Oeridians as they pushed eastward and fell under the rule of the Great Kingdom of the Aerdy. It was never very tightly held, and when Furyondy revolted in 254 CY, this area fell under control of local petty nobles. Eventually, they united as the "Confederation of Free Lords",[citation needed] an alliance to stop outside invasions; it did not stop them squabbling. By the early fourth century CY, the Shield Lands were created to stop raids from this group.
The Bandit Kingdoms once spread as far west as the Veng River. But, in the late fourth century CY, at some point between 480 CY and 499 CY,[1] when Iuz was rising to power, he "conquered the westernmost Bandit Kingdoms, declaring the walled city of Molag his "Summer Capital.'"[1] Then, in 513 CY, shortly after Iuz' disappearance, the Horned Society broke away from the Empire, and took Molag and the surrounding lands as their own.[1] Even after Iuz' return and he distroyed the Heirarchs, the region did not return to the Bandit Kingdoms.
In 579 CY, the Shield Lands launch a successful invasion, only to themselves be defeated by the Empire of Iuz in 583 CY, who occupies all the old Bandit Kingdoms.[2]
By the late sixth century CY (591 CY+), the Bandit Kingdoms remain under Iuz's control, though his power is weaker there than at home. Many people in the region work against the Empire and do their best to "regain their independence."[3]
Geography
The Bandit Kingdoms are in the central portion of the Flanaess. They are bordered by the Fellreev Forest to the north, and by an undefined border with the Shield Lands to the south. To the west, the Ritensa River divides the Kingdoms from the Empire of Iuz proper, while the Artonsamay River forms the eastern border, starting in the Fellreev, and arching through the Phostwood before passing between the Shield Lands and the County of Urnst.
In the heart of the Bandit Kingdoms lies the vast Rift Canyon, more than 180 miles long and up to thirty miles wide. Formed by forces unknown, it is surrounded by a rocky wasteland. Near the southwest end of the canyon rises White Plume Mountain, a volcano whose tunnels until recently housed the evil wizard Keraptis. And to the north of the canyon lie the Tangles, a small, yet dense forest where bandits opposed to Iuz's force reside.
In 591 CY, the most populous towns are Rookroost (pop. 17,500), Stoink (pop. 13,300), Kinemeet (pop. 7,300, though orcs outnumber humans over 2-to-1), Riftcrag (pop. 5,000), and Alhaster (pop. 4,700).
People
Population
In 576 CY, the population of the Bandit Kingdoms totals 95,000+.[4][5]
In 591 CY, the population of the Bandit Kingdoms totals 475,200.[6]
Languages
The most widely-spoken languages in the Bandit Kingdoms include Common, Orcish, and Halfling.[6]
Government
There is no one central government within the Bandit Kingdoms; most of the territories are petty dictatorships whose alliances can shift as quickly as the wind. From 584 CY+, in theory, the various warlords all pay homage to Iuz and his forces, since these lands were claimed by Iuz as his own during the Greyhawk Wars. However, for most of the Bandit Kings, this fealty is a charade.
As the Bandit Kingdoms are an occupied land, there is no official national capital. Hallorn, Riftcrag, Rookroost, and Stoink function as "regional capitals".
Administrative divisions
- Unified Bands of the Warfields
- Barony of Wormhall
- Mighty Freehold
- Abbarra
- Earldom of the Tangles
- Men of the Rift
- Great Lands of Reyhu
- Principality of Redhand
- Duchy of the Artonsamay
- Free City-State of Stoink
- Grand Theocracy of Dimre
- Kingdom of Johrase
- Stronghold of the Midlands
- Greenkeep
- Free City of Rookroost
- Fellands
- Grand Clans of Groskopf
Heraldry
Due to the independent nature of the various groups within the Bandit Kingdoms, no one standard has been adopted as representative of the entire region. However, several of the fiefs have traditionally carried their own devices:
- Dimre: Azure, a roundel or voided gules between two chevronels of the second
- Johrase: Per bend argent and or, a morningstar erect sable
- Reyhu: Argent, a quatrefoil vert voided or, a chief ermines
- Rookroost: Argent, a rook passant sable within a bordure gules
Economy
Resources
The Bandit Kingdoms have little in the way of natural resources, though a fair amount of silver is produced from mining operations in the Rift Canyon.[8][9]
Currency
The Bandit Kingdoms do not maintain any standard coinage of their own, though individual fiefs within the Kingdoms will produce their own currencies (or will use coins looted from nearby nations).
Transportation
Military
In Legends of Greyhawk
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing | This section contains content from the "Legends of Greyhawk" organized-play campaign. While it is officially published, and is approved by WotC, this content is based on the DMG 2024, and may differ from earlier publications. |
The Bandit Kingdoms[10] will premiere as part of the Legends of Greyhawk organized play campaign in March 2026. Casey Brown, author of The Unofficial Living Greyhawk Bandit Kingdoms Summary (2016), is a consultant for the region[10]
In Living Greyhawk
 | This section contains content from the Living Greyhawk organized-play campaign. |
In the Living Greyhawk organized play scenarios, the Bandit Kingdoms region was assigned to players in the real-world US states of Texas and Oklahoma. The Bandit Kingdoms triad produced a large amount of content, producing almost 19 "rounds" (four-hour sessions) of content per year, well in excess of Wizards of the Coast's initial goal of 8 rounds per year, which was not reached by all regions.
Casey Brown authored a 92-page book, BDKR1 Unofficial LG Bandit Kingdoms Summary (April 2012), to sum up the eight years of adventures in the Living Greyhawk Bandit Kingdoms region.
See also
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ a b c Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.62.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.3.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.32.
- ↑ World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.19, Catalogue.
- ↑ WGR5 Iuz the Evil (1993), p.47.
- ↑ a b Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.23.
- ↑ "Where the Bandits are". Dragon #63 (Jul 1982), p.14.
- ↑ WGR5 Iuz the Evil (1993), p.48.
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.25.
- ↑ a b Darryl Miller. (@Trainging_Dragons). Baldman Games Discord. "It’s ENNIE gold awarded Mike Olson as story lead currently for both. His name should be one you know, if not he’s done everything from Rick n Morty vs DnD to consulting on young Sheldon the tv show through to *inventing entire rpg systems*. He’s also a huge Greyhawk fan.... I will confirm that Casey Brown is involved with BK (so far consulting level only) but is aware that we are intending to edit problematic themes and bring the vastly dense setting to modern standards." 5 July 2025
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. "From the Sorceror's Scroll." Dragon #56. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
- ———. "Where the Bandits Are." Dragon #63. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
- ———. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Sargent, Carl. Iuz the Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Artifact of Evil | 31, 37, 95, 189, 193 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 11 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 3, 6, 43, 48, 71, 73, 78, 84 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 14, 19 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | City of Hawks | 142, 223 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition | 157 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dance of Demons | 8 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #037 | 11 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #052 | 20 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #055 | 18, 19 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #056 | 18, 21 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #063 | 14 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #191 | 67 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #208 | 54 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #253 | 44, 46 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #262 | 38 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #265 | 60 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #293 | 90 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #297 | 92 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #306 | 95, 101 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dragon magazine #315 | 51, 53, 54 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dungeon magazine #032 | 61, 62, 64, 65, 71 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Dungeon magazine #114 | 102 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | The Fright At Tristor | 16 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 4, 6, 10, 22, 27, 28, 33, 35, 37-39, 55, 59, 75 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 4, 19, 31 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | From the Ashes: References Card | #1 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | From the Ashes: References Card | #2 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | From the Ashes: References Card | #9 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Greyhawk Adventures | 37, 38, 45, 46, 81 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 7, 9, 15, 17 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | IC, 15, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 35, 47, 58, 59, 62, 63, 82, 94, 102, 103, 104, 109, 112, 113, 123, 124, 144, 152, 159, 182 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 3, 5, 13 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 4, 24, 28, 32 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 28 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 26 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #01 | 17 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #03 | 11 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #04 | 5,8 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #05 | 6,9,10 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #06 | 18,22,35,38 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #07 | 2 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #08 | 15 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #09 | 18,20 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #10 | 19,49,53 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #11 | 25,27,30,31,36,76 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #13 | 9,10,17 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #14 | 23,44 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #15 | 17 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #18 | 19,23,25,26 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #19 | 19,20 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #21 | 11 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #23 | 5,20 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #27 | 12,13 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #28 | 3,6,7,32 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #29 | 7,32,41 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #30 | 26 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #31 | 9,13,24 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #32 | 18,22 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Oerth Journal #33 | 22,23,24,25,28,29,30,36 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 6, 10 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Polyhedron magazine #163 | 111 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Return of the Eight | 59 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Return to White Plume Mountain | 3 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | S1-4 Realms of Horror, Adventure Booklet | 23 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | S2 White Plume Mountain (1st-3rd printing), AD&D 1e | 2 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | S2 White Plume Mountain {Expanded} (4th+ printing), AD&D 1e | 2 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Sea of Death | 14 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | Saga of Old City | 6, 138, 151, 236, 242 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | The Adventure Begins | 3, 5, 19, 69, 116 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | WG12 Vale of the Mage | 5, 48 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | WG8 Fate of Istus | 3, 6 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | IC, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | WGM1 Borderwatch | 13 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | WGR4 The Marklands | 3, 15, 20, 28, 45, 59, 62, 71, 76, 79, 81, 89, 95 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 1, 4, 7, 15, 16, 28, 35-38, 40-42, 45-56, 61, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 74, 76, 81, 90, 96 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | WGS1 Five Shall Be One | IC, IBC, 4, 11, 24 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | WGS2 Howl From the North | 6, 10, 13, 31 |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 11, 14, 19, 29, 33, 34, 36, 49, 55, 59, IBC |
| Bandit Kingdoms | Kingdom | (576 pop: 95000), (591 pop: 475200), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 8, 10, 17, 32 |
| Bandit Lands | Province | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 25, 30 | |
| Bandit Lands | Province | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 6, 12, 59 | |
| Bandit Lands | Province | Reference | SEE Bandit Kingdoms | |
| Bandit Lands | Province | Return of the Eight | 59 | |
| Bandit Lands | Province | The Adventure Begins | 17, 23 | |
| Iron Crown of the Bandit Kingdoms | Item | Encyclopedia Magica - Volume I | 334 | |
| Iron Crown of the Bandit Kingdoms | Item | Greyhawk Adventures | 81 |