Canonfire!

I could have done this as a poll but there would be too many possible options.

Imagine you were told a known 'Greyhawk writer' had been tasked to produce a long article (>10 pages) detailed any city or town in the World of Greyhawk (apart from the Free City of Greyhawk itself). You get to pick which one - which one do you choose and why?

Personally I'm a huge fan of, and have a campaign set in, the Free City of Irongate - so I would choose that. Aside from the excellent but brief Dragon magazine article and the ancient Irongate Project website, there isn't a lot. And for me it has a lot of appeal as a major city, away from some of the more popular spots of Greyhawk.

So what would you choose and why?

Sat Jan 08, 2022 8:21 am

I agree that Irongate would be a fantastic city to have more detail on as a base of operations, like the City of Greyhawk.

But, from a purely adventuring point of view, I would choose Molag, Rauxes, Port Toli, and a reworking of Hesuel Ilshar in that order. These preferences are all pre-Greyhawk Wars.

SirXaris
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Sat Jan 08, 2022 2:17 pm

So many options!

I supposed I'd go with some of these from a "place you can adventure in" POV (based on 576 CY):

- Rauxes
- Hesuel Ilshar, the Scarlet Brotherhood capital
- the olven City of Glass in the Lendor Isles
- Spinecastle
- Stoink
- Highport

Some additional options open up during/after the GH Wars, including Chathold and Icespire among others.

Allan.
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Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:00 pm

Niole Dra! A map is a must by Mike Schley.

Gradsul is my 2nd choice. Ditto on the map.

The Sheldomar Valley is its own microcosm and the central influencer of Keoland, Niole Dra, needs its own definitive write-up.

Great question. Thanks.

Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:15 pm

Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:19 pm

I thought we would see a lot of love for the Sheldomar Valley, because as you say, it sort of forms its own microcosm. Niole Dra and Gradsul would both be great.

Sun Jan 09, 2022 11:55 pm

As a matter of fact, my votes will go to Highfolk City and the Elven capitol of Flameflower.

Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:50 pm

Another vote for Gradsul and Niole Dra.

Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:35 pm

I'll cast a vote for Stoink.

That seems to have been the perpetually "coming soon" from Dragon Magazines past.

Wed Jan 12, 2022 8:19 pm

Add one more vote for Niole Dra and Gradsul.

Thu Jan 13, 2022 4:11 pm

Another vote for Rauxes, here. - Perhaps not the obvious choice, but a detailed "year 600" version of the place could make for a pretty unique setting. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that "Ivid the Undying" and the entire Sargent series of books are probably still the backbone for many a modern Greyhawk player; "Ivid" perhaps moreso than other titles because it was always free.

Following on the free setting book with a free introductory booklet for the main city set in that space, probably worth the while. - Rauxes pre-Wars would have been sweet, but, personally, I'd be more interested in a post-Wars take than that, if only because it would take me to places I don't know about yet. Smile

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Thu Jan 13, 2022 4:52 pm

Rel Devan - or really anything in the south east-ish Flanaess.
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The eternal war between Law and Chaos flared often in Greyhawk... But the laws of Chance will let neither gain full sway. Quag Keep, Chap 1&2

Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:28 pm

Lots of votes for Keoland. I'm interested to know what it is about Stoink that captures interest?

Rel Deven I agree would be great. And I agree Rauxes would be super-interesting - I too would make it ~CY 600.

Yes - I find I'm always re-reading Ivid the Undying - all those little gems of detail buried in the text are just brilliant.

Thu Jan 13, 2022 11:50 pm

Fri Jan 14, 2022 9:03 am

Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:35 pm

All of these would be fine choices. Here are a couple I'd add:

Rel Astra: This is where it all began, the original capital of the Great Kingdom before the Malachite Throne was moved to Rauxes. It's probably got some of the richest cultural and magical heritage in the entire history of Aerdy, particularly with how much of the rest of the Great Kingdom's lore would have been destroyed in Rauxes. The kind of historical continuity and tradition here would be fascinating.

Enstad: Similar to Rel Astra, Enstad is probably one of the oldest and most historic cities in the entire Flanaess. It being a demihuman, particularly a gray elven, city also means that it has potential to be really different than most human lands. Fey creatures like brownies, leprechauns, sprites and unicorns, which are all rare at best in human lands, could all be much more common here. Architecture and art shaped by milennia of tradition could also be shown here, similar to the likes of Qualinesti in Dragonlance or Evermeet in the Forgotten Realms.

Sun Jan 16, 2022 12:44 am

Mon Jan 17, 2022 4:05 pm

Rel Astra or Rel Deven would be great. Enstad also.
But Niole Dra as capital of Keoland has to be up there. Massive kingdom never full explored (probably deliberately) prior to LGG.
And I reckon Gary Holian has it all in his brain ready to write if not written up.
As an aside Lopolla in Ket would be cool. Cross roads of east and west. And big hole in the ground where Rary’s tower used to be.

Tue Jan 18, 2022 4:21 pm

I'm going with Enstad. I can't recall ever seeing a grey elf/faerie settlement (as opposed to high elf or wood elf) anywhere in any setting. What are the gossamer spires like? How does a CG government really function?

There could be taverns there over a millennium old . . . .

Thu Jan 27, 2022 9:00 am

Fri Feb 04, 2022 5:02 pm

I'd love to see a fresh take on Exag. Hated the super boring Paizo treatment.

Mon Feb 07, 2022 3:07 pm

Tue Feb 22, 2022 2:56 pm

Another vote for Enstad and for Stoink.