Canonfire!

Wed Oct 06, 2021 9:55 am

NPC - Masruq, Paladin of Sutek

The Lost Tomb of Sutek has been found by the Death God has not been freed. His power flows to his followers and Masruq is a devotee of the Death God, a holy warrior, a paladin of darkness. Sutek's high priestess has come down the Velverdyv to Verbobonc and no uses the Mirror of Travel to summon Sutek's followers from his tomb in the Dry Steppes to her dwelling in the city. Something in the Temple of Elemental Evil was not only imprisoning Zuggtmoy but also was one of the wards confining Sutek in his ancient prison tomb.

Qaribah, High Priestess has drawn Masruq through the mirror and now he leads a band death cultists in search of answers within the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil. The invasion of goblin wolf-riders has proven to be a valuable distraction and Masruq, Qaribah and a small army of followers under the guise of a large merchant caravan will tear the ruins of the temple apart, stone by stone, to find answers to free their Death Lord.

Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:46 pm

Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - NPC Taraso Centaur-Lord

The Centaur clans of Blackmoor are perhaps the most war-like and organized within the Flanaess. As with all Centaurs they have an affinity with the bow that outshines all others, even the notable elven and halfling archers. Though they are profoundly good warriors they have no magic-users but a strong priestcraft worshipping their God Perum whose aspect changes with the seasons.

Taraso is a Lord of one of the larger clans of centaurs who roam the western borders of the Burneal Forest, often tangling with the Tiger Nomads even to the edge of the Drawmij Ocean. There is no open warfare between the nomads and the centaurs, but there is a great deal of rivalry and some trading between the two.

The centaurs have a better relationship with the people of Blackmoor and especially the Sisterhood. With the fight against the Grey the centaur warrior-priests were able to defend themselves but do little except to battle the minions and summonings of the Grey. Many of the Witches of the Sisterhood now ride with the Centaur clans and are welcome allies.

Taraso is a warrior-priest, though not the Priest-Defender of his clan and is a stern old Centaur. He has lost family to the Grey when the a large infestation of summoned creatures came upon their game-herds and killed many centaur-young who shepherded them. He has an implacable hatred for the Grey and is a fierce supporter of the Sisterhood. The Priest-Defender of his clan, Volcho, has a strong animus to the Sisterhood and any non-Centaurs.

Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:24 pm

NPC - The Prophetess of Sutek

Before Sutek she was a slave. Now she is the bringer of death and despair. Only those who worship Sutek will be spared and then only till the Ancient Master is freed. There will be power in this life while it last and then sweet oblivion.

The Prophetess brings visions of what is to come. The devastation and desolation. The torturous pain that can only be temporarily abated whose surcease is the blessing of death and death is Sutek.

She wears long gloves of red because the touch of her hands is death. Flesh burns beneath her fingers, food rots, metal turns to rust. Her ungloved embrace will quickly kill a common man or woman but a hero could break free, though wounded. She is immensely strong and she is constantly surrounded by the ever growing followers of Sutek. So far they have been chased into the deserts of Zeif but she is smuggled into to towns to grant her visions to the new believers.

The bounty on her head is great but none have survived to collect it.

Tue Oct 12, 2021 5:17 pm

Alatou is a demoness servant of Graz'zt. She is a temptress and her appearance is that of a beautiful women with the platinum tresses of a drow but horned like a gazelle and skin of a dark red. Her true form is hideous with the bristles of pig instead of hair, skin mottled and lined, rough as a reptiles. Cloven hooved and with brawny arms and black-clawed hands. Teeth are a mess of needle-like fangs and a jaw that can stretch wide-enough to swallow a barrel.

She is powerful and has domains and holdings within Graz'zt's plane of the Abyss, but currently serves as one of Iuz's lesser demonic playthings, her strength and power hidden from all, but especially Iuz.

Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:50 am

NPC - Fritha Wolfhealer

Fritha is a Fruz druidess. She has traveled south because of a dream-vision to the lands of Verbobonc. The wilds are her home though the great warmth has taken some getting used to. On her travels she has avoided most human and demi-humankind though she has had some interaction with rangers and sylvan elves as well as other druids.

She is a moderately powerful druidess but has a special affinity with wolves. No wolf will attack her and should any attempt top harm her in their presence they will defend her with their lives.

A patrol of goblin wolfriders who have recently invaded the viscounty discovered this in a rather fatal way when they set upon the lone druidess in the woodland near Nulb. Their own mounts turned upon the goblins and tore the surprised little grenskins to pieces. Now dozen of these wolves accompamies Fritha as travels toward her goal somewhere in the Kron Hills.

Thu Oct 14, 2021 11:02 am

Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - Casva the Seer

The south-western reaches of the Burneal Forest are home to the Centaur clan lead by the war-chief Taraso. Unlike many of the centaur clans of the Burneal he has found common cause with the Sisterhood and their war against the entity known as the Grey and its minions. Taraso has also formed alliances with the tribes of ancient Flan who dwell in the depths of the wood.

Casva is a powerful leader of one such tribe. A witch of great foresight and power to divine the future as well as visions of the past. The Flan natives bred with Oeridian invaders driven into the forest as a great wing of their migration was forced back by the wild Rovers of the east. The Baklunish Tiger have mixed with her people as well and Casva's grandfather was a Thousand Leader among the hors-nomads.

While she is not part of the Sisterhood she is a close ally and deeply respected. She leads her tribe as well as the Mother's Council who represent all the women. Her Uncle Arsha leads the Father's.

There is a Moon-sickness among her people and Casva is cursed with the touch of the Fox-God, changing when both Moons reach their fullness together.

Fri Oct 15, 2021 12:56 pm

Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - NPC - Jedzec Centaur Lord

Between the Burneal Forest and the Cold Marshes is a roadway, one heavily travelled by the centaur herds. Now that the land is under perpetual assault by the entity known as The Grey and its minions the herds have moved further west and only the warriors patrol the old pathways that enter the forbidding marshes.

Jedzec is a lord among his people and can be often found among the edge of the marshes though even he does not ride to deeply within the forbidding boundries of the frozen bog. He is an archer beyond compare and normally carries no other weapon than his bow that only the strongest may use. A skilled ranger he has an affinity with the Oerth and nature beyond most of his kind. Jedzec is an ally of the Sisterhood in Blackmoor and can call on their aid. In return he and his clan will aid any of the Sisterhood who call upon him.

Mon Oct 18, 2021 3:56 pm

Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - NPC Hilja

Hilja is druidess dwelling in the Burneal Forest. She is not often encountered in human form and when she is has the tendency to disdain clothing. She rarely speaks, at least in human tongue, but communicates with many animals usually while taking their shapes. She bears several amulets and totems that allow her to instantly change to one animal form or another.

While allied with the Sisterhood and a powerful enemy of the Grey she is not herself a member of the Sisterhood. Her concerns are less about Blackmoor or even humanity and more about the animals inhabiting the land.

Tue Oct 19, 2021 8:33 am

Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - NPC Brenna

Brenna is originally from the Timberway among the Fruztii or Frost tribes, but she followed a spirit quest and found herself in Blackmoor near the Land of Black Ice and a welcome addition to the Sisterhood. Her way of magic is different from the witches of Blackmoor and is strongly linked to totems, rituals and amulets. The way of the Sedr magic practiced by the Fruz, has strong tinges of necromancy among its traditions and she wears the bones of dead heroes with which she summon them to fight for her if need be.

Her powers are also those of seeress and she can set her spirit to walk among the lands of the dead to ask questions of the past or project her sight to catch visions of the future. Finally he greatest strengths and protections come from the cold and she is granted both ice magic and power of elementals from the land of eternal cold.

She is familiar with the Grey and knows portals to its realm where the intersect with that of the frozen planes of Ice.

Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:01 am

Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - NPC Maarika the Fallen Sister

Once one of the most powerful witches in Blackmoor and a leader among the Sisterhood Maarika crossed the passage torn through the barrier between the world of the Grey and our own. In the battle against the terror that afflicts Blackmoor she fell and was thought slain, but her body was never found.

Now she was somehow returned to Oerth, but her mind is twisted, her form ravaged by some disease that exudes darkness, and her power turned to evil. Whether she is a servant of the Grey or just driven mad by her wounds and time in the Grey's foul realm is unknown.

Some of the Sisterhood have confronted her only to be injured or slain. A force was sent against her and she had fled to the Land of Black Ice. Will she return? The Sisterhood would have her hunted down and have turned to adventurers who would do the task for coin as their own strength is stretched thin defending the land of Blackmoor.

Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:03 pm

NPC - Rary

The stories told of Rary of Ket, once of the Circle of Eight, are lies. Half-Baklunish, Half-Keolander, Rary was raised in the mercenary camps of Lopolla. His father was an officer in the Keolandish White Lions, his mother a dancing girl of the Dar Peshdwar. Here Rary learned shield and sword, lance and saber, here also the Keolandish mage, Dee of Dunwich, introduced him to the arcane mysteries.

Rary served his apprenticeship to the White Lions, but something of his mother's people called to him and he found himself a wanderer searching the ancient sand-swallowed cities of Zeif. It is said he journeyed further west to the lands of Sa'han, Behow and Chomur before returning once more to the east.

Somewhere he encountered the mage Tenser, was introduced to Bigby, the leader of the Eight and joined their ranks. Rary was no traitor but his parting from the Circle was acrimonious and the lies and rumors of his leaving mark him darkly.

It is said he can be found in the Bright Desert within a tower whose height cannot be measured, whose floors are hidden, that appear and disappear and a spiral stair that has no end, disappearing it the vast sky and descending to the heart of the Oerth.

Few come looking for Rary and fewer still return. His legend is perilous as is his existence. True that wild Paynim serve Rary but it is the wilds of the Bright Desert and the unnatural beasts therein which are the true danger.

Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:25 pm

NPC - Andrais of Thornward and Serjeant Miklos

Andrais is a Squire-Protector of Thornward in Bissel. Serjeant Miklos is his friend and chief Armsman. The two were born in an estate nestled among the lower mountain reaches near the city. They have known constant warfare due to the ceaseless border disputes and raids between Bissel and Ket as well as the threat from monstrous tribes that raid down from the mountains or up from the underdark. Bandits, rogue mercenaries and highwaymen are also a continual threat as the wealth of nations passes from east to west, west to east in this vital trade route between Baklunish west and the Flanaess.

Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:54 pm

NPC - Eydis Paladin of Ve

Ve is the patron god of the Schnai. His brothers Veli and Votan are respected as are the other gods and goddesses in the pantheon of the Manskr (those people called Suel Babarians by outsiders).

It is Ve who dispells the darkness and ends the long night. He who kindles the fire. His home is the sun and his armor is golden. Those who serve him, his priests and paladins wear enchanted discs of gold upon their armor granting the various protections.

Eydis is one of Ve's favored champions. She bears several disks of power and an enchanted sword that burns with the fury of Ve. When she was a child she was given to the order of Ve and raised to be a warrior-priest but so great was here strength and piety that she became one of Ve's holy champions.

Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:56 am

Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - Jehenne of Chendl

Jehenne was born in Chendl but spent most her life with her grandparents in Tusham a small hunting village in the north of Furyondy near the coast and the Vesve. It is there she took her first steps on her druidic path. Here she was taught by an ancient High Elven druidess and met her Owl-companion Hoot.

In the Vesve she fought the minions of the Half-Demon Iuz, and the Swine-Kin of the great Devil-Pig. She watched the Hidden Paths of Iuz that ran through the dark western flank of the forest and destroyed the unnatural Losels that swarmed across those paths since Iuz introduced them from the Fellreev years before.

Though the depredations of Iuz have grown steadily the Druidic circle of the Vesve heard the cries from their kindred in the cold Burneal and have sent what aid they could. Jehenne leads a group of a dozen lesser druids who answer the call of the Burneal Circle. None know what to expect in this northernmost of forests or what plagues both it and the adjoining land of Blackmoor, but they are soon to learn.

Fri Oct 29, 2021 4:32 am

NPC - Kal'Merg and D'Rald

Their rivalry began as students at the Grey College in the City of Greyhawk. Kal'Merg and D'Rald dueled many times. Their last encounter was in the Astral plane from which neither returned.

Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:27 am

NPCs - Back from the Dungeon

Returning from the Lost Library of Kes sans Thief and Torchbearer, the cleric Maynard and wizard Laran stay astride their mounts while the ranger Coln dismounts to investigate the marks of a large animal or monster's passage across the hilltop.

Sat Oct 30, 2021 4:53 am

NPC 1. Ch'lvendn - M-U Lvl 9 H.P. 27 AC: (10)

Ch'lvendn was born on the rolling hills of the northern plains beyond the city of Yecha near the Lake of Sorrows. She traveled with her people the Chakyik who cross the empty places between the Burneal Forest and the Yatils, the Drawmij and the Fler in tribal groups of three-wheeled wagons holding round tents of felt, protected by their horsemen, their shamans and their wielders of magic (who are all female among the Chakyik).

Her mother was a powerful figure in the council of the Three Elders who lead each tribe and her daughter inherited much of her mother's magical ability but none of her desire to stay among the people.

When Ch'lvendn was old enough to become a journeywoman among the practitioners of magic she disappeared from the Chakyik during a quest to the ruins of a once great city destroyed a millennia ago. She traveled south and east increasing her skill, finding adventure and making a small name for herself among the cities and people of the more populous and less cold south.

Currently she has a small residence in the City of Dyvers but she is not often found at home. She is no longer the teenage girl riding fearlessly away from all that she once knew, but her desire for power, treasure and adventure is still as strong.

Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:25 pm

NPC - Bovine the Bloody

This dour warrior from the north is relatively young to command the respect and leadership of his warband. Personally he has over 180 men and women sworn to him, 3 longships worth, but as many as 8 longships have accompanied him on his southern raids. His crews are well experienced and doughty warriors but there is always a leavening of new warriors to replace those lost during raiding season. At least 30 of his followers, normally 10 per ship, will be raw recruits between the ages 14 and 16 while another 60 or so will have only 1 or 2 raiding seasons under their belt.

Of the remaining 90 or so men Bovine has two ship-leaders and a half-dozen heroes of his own standing while the bulk of the men are experienced warriors between the ages of 18-30 with a few greying oldesters in their 30's who somehow have not been chosen by the Votan to swell his ranks in the next life.

While most of his men are normal axe and sword wielding warriors, a small group are priests of the bear-cult. These men disdain the use of armor and weapons and some take on the form of monstrous bears in battle. It is said that normal weapons do them no lasting harm or even recoil from their flesh. A number of skalds also accompany Bovine's small host. These poet-magician-priests are said to be in service of the Votan and practice healing arts, enchantments, wizardry and even martial skills though not to the same degree as those purely wielding spear, axe or sword.

A small contingent of bowmen are aboard each ship. It is not a favored weapon of war among northerners but Bovine has among his ranks a renowned bowman from the west of the Island of Ghosts and he has trained those among Bovine's followers in the way of the Longbow. About a score of these warriors are bowmen and half-a-dozen of those coming on their first raid are apprenticed.

Among these warriors about 1/3 are swordwomen. They sale aboard a single longship and fight as a single group. They are lead by Hodra, Bovine's wife, and she is one of his two Ship-leaders. While skalds are all male, there are 3 Valkyr among Hodra's ship. These wise-woman carry staves that they use in battle both as a physical weapon but also as an item imbued with magical power. There are also a group of swordswomen, perhaps a dozen among the three-score, who know the ways of the Vol, a healing art that is similar to that practiced among the skalds.

The heroes who follow Bovine are from various clans and tribes in the north but there are 3 dark-skinned warriors, a father and two sons, who journeyed on some quest to the far north, a wild red-haired warrior from the mountains in the north of the Ghost Land. a skald from the eastern islands, and even a warrior from the old empire in the southern lands who wears strange green-bronze armor and seems to know every weapon created by man.

Tue Nov 02, 2021 4:12 am

Erik One-Eye

Once he was Erik Red-Beard till a Southron's sword got in under his helm and took his left-eye with it. Now he is marked as one of the Votan's chosen. Few warriors last long with one eye removed and Erik doesn't intend to stay in the land of the first-life longer than he need be.

Once he lead a warband himself but now he is one of the dozen or so heroes who accompanies Bovine on his raids east and south. He seeks the promise of the Votan, a glorious death in battle. He disdains the use of a helm but still keeps himself armored, not seeking a gut-wound just a quick death he can see, when it comes for him.

Now he is first into a fray with no desire to stand amid a shield wall or worry that he will be struck down from his blind side. After all such a death is the promise of such a wound. He should already be dead but the Chooser has marked him so that all will know he had earned his place in the second life among the chosen heroes already. Erik is impatient to join his brethren.

Wed Nov 17, 2021 11:07 am

Skirnir is a young warrior of renown who follows the warleader Bovine the Bloody. Some call him a hero and he has several raids under his belt but he is from tribes of the Cruski nearer East rather than the more frigid and mountainous North as are most of the men in Bovine's warband. It is said that when he appeared among the Northern towns of The Fruz and Schnai he had worn out the boots in crossing through a wild and uninhabited, at least by humans, land that spanned the long miles between those of North and North-East. The title 'Bootless' was bestowed upon him and many a horn's worth of blood was spilled in the honor-square fighting over this unwelcome sobriquet. Now he is only called 'Bootless' when he is beyond hearing and much less often.

His prowess is well recognized and he is always in the forefront of combat, but his temperament is not that of a leader and his achievements not quite that of those who are deemed heroes among Bovine's warband. That may change this season of raids. Already he possesses several items of note; An enchanted torque of silver that is said to protect his flesh as a suit of chain as well as a silver emblem that is said to do the same that was taken from a Southron warrior. His great axe is the work of Dwarves and is said to aid the strength he puts behind his blows so much so that he can split a shield in a single strike.

Thu Nov 18, 2021 8:25 am

NPC - Thorolf

Thorolf is the Helmsman of the warleader Bovine's ship Blackwolf. On land he is always at Bovine's side and his horn sounds the summoning of the warband and at sea it calls to the other ships at night or when the fog has fallen (which it always does when approaching the Ghostland). He is a doughty warrior and hero in his own right and was once a sworn companion of Bovine's younger brother who fell in battle many seasons before.

It is said that his horn instills fear in men not of the north and that at sea it can be heard by any of Bovine's followers even if they be leagues apart. Thorolfs cloak is that of a bear and gives him strengeth, his belt is fashioned with the skull of a tusked troll and while wearing it wounds heal quickly even if they would be a mortal blow. His chestplate is from a Southron warleader and Thorolf's axe is called Oxkiller which causes terrible wounds and can split a man from head to groin.

Thu Nov 18, 2021 3:43 pm

Project - Blackmoor Land of a Thousand Witches - Siivnna of the Reindeer People

In the uttermost north of the Flannaess is the Land of Black Ice. Life should not exist in this clime. The boundaries between our Oerthly world and other planes is thin here. The land is beyond mere cold, it seems a cursed world meant for elementals and monsters too strong and powerful for any mundane harm to befall them. It is true that here there be Dragons of white, of ice and snow and frost. The horror that is the Grey has entrance from its own fragment of a plane here. But here there are humans that are said to cross the world at its top following herds of the semi-mystical reindeer.

Siivnna left her people, the Reindeer People, on a quest that brought her far south to the lands of Blackmoor. She was a powerful shamaness when she left her lands, but on discovering Blackmoor and the Sisterhood, she has learned new magic, the rites and rituals of witchcraft come easily to her though she speaks only with her hands and no sound escapes her.

It is thought that she has not completed her quest, that searches for something or someone, and she travels the land of Blackmoor from border to border, now with a retinue of young women who follow her, rangers, witches, druids, who have taken on her language of hands shun speech. Some within the Sisterhood are worried by her following. The Centaur-clans of Blackmoor have adopted her as if she were one of the four-legged.

Fri Nov 19, 2021 11:45 am

This is Z'vnd'sh, a Pit Fiend and minor Pit Lord. In my game he is a fairly big boss. He holds court somewhere in a side cavern near the Vault of the Drow and works in league with a cabal of drow sorcerors.

Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:45 am

The Green Knight prowls the roads from the City of Greyhawk to Verbobonc. He bears some enchantment that appears to make him immune to magic. Lightning, fire, magic missiles, webs and more seem to wash over him and his mount without effect. The knight will challenge any who appear to be of knightly character to single combat. Fights are to first blood. Anyone able to strike him first will receive a ring that confers +2 protection and +1 saves against magic. In the future the knight will come to the aid of such a character who has won the ring and still bears it. If the character who won the ring ever tries to sell it, give it away or is defeted in combat the ring will disppear.

Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:21 am

The Friendly Halfling Collection Agency (City of Greyhawk Chapter) is based out of a semi-derelict mansion in the Slum Quarter. It is hard to know if there are really any halflings involved in the business (which is thriving, thank you very much) as the real owners never seem to be about. The agency doesn't loan anything itself but works for those that are owed and lack the means to force restitution themselves from their debtors.

Most people only get to know the primary collection squad. Due to the volitile nature of their work the collection squad sees a rapid turnover in membership.

Stig with his favorite two-handed spiked mace is the squad leader,

Dobin is to the left of Stig. To the right of Stig is Horn-helm or Pug as his friends call him. Redbeard Oli is next, then Starface the victim of a massive tattoo miscommunication (his real name is Gavin)

Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:54 am

In your campaign, what's the reason Rary has gone to the Bright Desert? I'm curious.

Wed Dec 08, 2021 9:13 am

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:03 pm

NPC - Paega - Priestess of Nerull

Little is known of Paega's past or if she is entitrely human. She is one of the prime servants of Nerull in Rel Astra and the most feared. Where she goes she does not just bring death, she brings suffering and fear. Murder in its most grusome and random sense is her form of devotion to Nerull.

Her left arm is withered and at its touch she can wither flesh as if it was weeks dead. Her right arm is swollen and green as if it were rotting in the sun and her right hand is clawed, her findertips like knives. She wears a pale mask with dark eyeless pits that drip blood. Those who stare into that abyss can become blinded as their own eyes leak blood. One look into those eyeless depths will cause weeks of restless nightmares.

Paega has been killed several times and each time Nerull has brought her back to plague the Oerth.