Grand Citadel
| Grand Citadel | |
|---|---|
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Grand Citadel illustrated in the Baerald map from the Dungeon Master's Guide (2024). | |
| General information | |
| Alt. names: | The Citadel |
| Type: | Fortification |
| Location: | Free City of Greyhawk |
| Built in: | Early third century CY |
| Demographics | |
| Staff: | Warden of the Citadel, Chief Constable, Captain General, City Watch |
| Occupants: | Civic and military officials |
| Organizations: | Directing Oligarchy, Greyhawk Militia, City Watch, |
The Grand Citadel, or just "the Citadel",[1][2][3] is the castle which formed the original fortification of the City of Greyhawk when it was still a small settlement, when the Old City was all there was to the city.[4]
Description
"A many-towered fortress looms above all quarters of the city from its position atop a low rise. Its outer walls, darkened by soot and smoke, could use a good scrubbing."[3]
The entire city can be seen from the Citadel, and vice versa,[1][2][4] including the surrounding countryside.[2]
Interior
Within the Citadel, there are several locations of interest:
- Battle Gate
- The only gate entrance to the citadel. Massive-timbered roanwood and iron-bound, 40ft tall.[2][5]
- Great Blockhouse (and Gatehouse)
- Massive 100ft tower, used for artillery and air-defense of the Citadel and the city. Also contains Watch barracks for a hundred troops, and fresh water well and stores of non-perishable provisions.[2][2][5]
- Half Circle Wall
- Suspiciously easy approach to the Citadel and strategic weakness. It's actually a trap using illusory magic.[6][7]
- Prison
- Huge five-floored brutal prison complex holding up to about 1,500 prisoners.[4][6][8]
- Redoubt
- Two-story castle keep. This is where most of the offices are found, as well as the City Vault.[4][6][9]
- City Vault
- Treasury and storage for valuables. where the city's treasury is stored beneath the Citadel.[4][6][10]
Citadel Stables [6]
Courtyard[11]
Other locations of interest within the Redoubt itself include:
- Offices of the Directing Oligarchy
- Office of the Lord Mayor
- Office of the Captain-General
- Office of the Chief Constable
Atmosphere
Activities
History
When the Free City was first founded in 4 CY by Maret Niall, it was built as a motte-and-bailey fort.[12]
In 43 CY, a large force of humanoids attacked the city and the citadel. The defending forces inside the Citadel (there was not yet a Watch or Militia) repelled the siege, assisted by several local arcane illusionists who used magic items and ingenious spells to fool the opposing forces, break their spirit, and drive them off. This historical event is now the basis of the annual Desportium of Magic at the end of Growfest.[13]
Geography
The Grand Citadel sits atop a rise just above the northeast area of the High Quarter.
The Processional ends at the gates of the Grand Citadel, where it leads up an embankment to the Redoubt itself.[14]
There is a very old law which makes it illegal for anyone to depict the Grand Citadel specifically or accurately in cartography or descriptive text.[2]
People
Notable individuals
- Tigran Gellner—Captain-General of the Watch (male fighter 12, LN). Chosen in 583 CY to replace Sental Nurev as both Director and Captain-General of the Watch.[15]
- Sental Nurev† (NG male human Ftr13)—former Captain-General of the Watch. Died under suspicious circumstances in 583 CY and replaced as Captain-General and Director by Tigran Gellner.[15]
Resources
There is a large "fully furnished"[16] cellar beneath the redoubt of the citadel. It comprises constructed rooms and natural caverns, and has "vast stockpiles of dried food, wines and ales, several deep wells, and over 100 beds in large halls and a few smaller private rooms."[17] It is intended solely for the most influential citizens of the city (the "rich and powerful") in time of crisis.[16]
Defenses
The Grand Citadel is the last line of defense for the city, in the event of an attack or siege. If citizens have to retreat into the Citadel, it can shelter perhaps 5,000 people.[18] The Grand Citadel is the only part of the city which has permanent siege weapons stationed on the walls.[18]
"Nowhere is the Great Citadel approached by neighboring buildings. Instead. rolling meadows descend steeply away from the fortress for several hundred feet on all sides. Clear, deep ponds cove r some of the ground, filling in the dips in the convoluted terrain.
Although their placement appears random to all but the most careful observer with experience with engineering, these ponds actually create a layer of defense for the fortress.
By use of a few well-placed dig spells, the ponds can be connected into an eight-foot deep, mud-bottomed moat. If the dig spell is augmented by a raise water casting, the damage that could be inflicted upon an attacking force is quite astounding."[1]
Rumors and legends
Because the city treasury (the Vaults) are so closely guarded, it is nearly impossible to know what's actually kept there. Rumors say that a piece of the Rod of Seven Parts is (or was) housed there.[4]
Publishing history
The original topographical map of the City of Greyhawk,[19] by Valerie Valusek, in The City of Greyhawk boxed set, did not include the redoubt within the Citadel walls (or the Half-Circle Wall), even though both were included in a full-page interior illustration showing them.[20] Subsequent maps, (e.g. Wood CoG map [1998], Tetreault map [2000], and Lazzaretti map [2005]) corrected the error. (See below)
Gallery
Maps
-
from The City of Greyhawk poster map
-
from the Tetreault map, RPGA (2001)
-
from the Lazzaretti map (2007)
External links
Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.
References
Citations
- ↑ a b c The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.47, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ a b c d e f g The Adventure Begins (1998), p.80.
- ↑ a b Dungeon Master's Guide (2024), p.154.
- ↑ a b c d e f Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), p.29.
- ↑ a b The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.50, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ a b c d e The Adventure Begins (1998), p.81.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.512, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.52, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.55, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.55, 94, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.82.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.57.
- ↑ The Adventure Begins (1998), p.43, 57.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.46, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ a b The Directing Oligarchs of Greyhawk. (April 2008)
- ↑ a b The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.94, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.93, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ a b The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.5, Gem of the Flanaess.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), poster map.
- ↑ The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.48, Gem of the Flanaess.
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983. Item code TSR1015.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Weiss, Sam. The Directing Oligarchs of Greyhawk. Wizards.com. WotC, 18 April 2008. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved on 20 January 2023.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 9, 11, 12, 65, 66 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 1, 5, 46-52, 54, 61, 67, 74, 93, 94 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | City of Hawks | 6, 10, 25, 26, 37, 39, 40, 81 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | Dragon magazine #344 | 51 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | Living Greyhawk Journal #2 | 5, 7 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | Night Arrant | 277, 279, 301, 354, 355, 360, 387, 389, 391, 397 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 14, 29, 32 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | Saga of Old City | 37, 48, 86 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | The Adventure Begins | 43, 57-59, 74, 78-83, 85, 87-89, 112, 125 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | WGA1 Falcon's Revenge | IC, IBC, 2, 9, 10, 12, 18, 22, 24, 49 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | WGA2 Falconmaster | 49 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | WGA3 Flames of the Falcon | 2, 5, 10, 13, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 56 |
| Grand Citadel, Military Quarter (City of Greyhawk) | Building | Defensive Structure, Citadel, | Night Watch (1990) | IFC, 3, 11-13, 30, 24, 26, 30, 32, 35, |