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Horned Society Discussion thread

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
cwslyclgh
Jun 30, 2003 17:13:18 The Horned society… the very name conjures images to my mind…

The horned society has always been one of my favorite villainous groups in the greyhawk setting, and the purpose of this thread is to start a discussion about them, to find out how others have used them in the past, what others think of them as villains, what the general consensus as to the future of the organization is etc.

Let me start off by saying that I always preferred the original devil worshiping version of the society over the Tharizidun worshipers idea, it is my personal opinion that not EVERYTHING dastardly in the setting has to (or necessarily should) link to that dark deity. However I think that a small sect of Tharizdun worshipers concealing themselves with in the larger society makes for an interesting proposition.

With the seeming destruction of the group by Iuz, I see the group as having moved underground, spreading their influence further throughout the flanaess, but in less obvious ways. They have already made a small appearance in my GH campaign (in the adventure “Devils of Blackstone”), and I had planned on working them into more story lines in the future, eventually turning them into a major, but well hidden threat.

So what have you guys done with the society, or what do you plan on doing with them in the future?

Also please feel free to discuss the horned society in general on this thread.

Wes
#2
zombiegleemax
Jun 30, 2003 17:25:39 In the current Shield Lands game I am running, there is a PC working undercover who is a member of the Horned Society.
Though the world believes the society to be eradicated, they are slowly working behind the scenes to gain a foothold once again, and perhaps seek revenge on the Old One...among other things.
Utter secrecy is priority to the regrowing society, and traitors or spies are weeded out with the utmost precision.
The campaign is young, so I have yet to flesh it out entirely. Few of the society's members know anything of the Patriarchs, though the Horned PC in question in my game recently uncovered something alluding to a Horned Matriarch.
I've gone with the devil worshipping basis as the foundation in this case, with overtones of human supremacy.

As I said, this is still a work in progress.
#3
grodog
Jun 30, 2003 23:53:51 I'm a big fan of the Hieararch Blontug (which I interpolated the letters as Blotung IMC) from Dragon 56. He's a Half-Orc C4/F9/As9 in 1e terms.

Here's an extract from Jason Zavoda's index of Greyhawk content, focusing on the Horned Lords:

Blontug (Hierarch)(Half-Orc)[C4/F9/As9][NPC]
DRG#56 Pg# - 20,21

Hierarchs of the Horned Society [ORG]
AOE Pg# - 88,91,95,117,118,138,141,143-145,150,177,181,188-191,
193,194,218,219,229,232-234,340,341,343
ATG Pg# - 89
CED Pg# - 38
COG:C# - 18
COG:FFF Pg# - 21,27,57,77,78
DRG#56 Pg# - 20,21
DRG#263 Pg# - 51
DUN#32 Pg# - 61,62,68,69
GW:ADV Pg# - 9,25
LGG Pg# - 30,61,62,102,104,140,156
LGJ#0 Pg# - 4
LGJ#3 Pg# - 30
SOD Pg# - 21,22
SOOC Pg# - 151,152,160,163,175,237
TOH Pg# - 3
WGG Pg# - 11
WGR4 Pg# - 3,39
WGR5 Pg# - 4,6,35,37,38,39,40,44,55,56,58,64,74,77,82,91,93
WGR6 Pg# - 55

Horned Lands [KNG]
SEE Horned Society

Horned Lords
SEE Hierarch

Horned Society (Horned Ones)(Horned Lands)[KNG][ORG]
AOE Pg# - 7,91,95,138,141,145,194,232,234
CED Pg# - 38
COG:C# - 18
COG:FFF Pg# - 3,6,7,8,21,28,43,44,48,49,57-59,70,73
COG:GOTF Pg# - 18
DRG#52 Pg# - 20
DRG#55 Pg# - 19
DRG#56 Pg# - 18,19,20,21,22,23
DRG#253 Pg# - 44
DRG#256 Pg# - 49
DRG#262 Pg# - 38
DRG#263 Pg# - 51
DUN#32 Pg# - 61,62,63,65,67,71
DUN#53 Pg# - 35
FTAA Pg# - 6,22,27,29,37
FTAR#1
FTAR#2
FTAR#9
FTAR#11
GA Pg# - 39,42,49,50,77,81,82,97
GW:ADV Pg# - 3,4,9,10,11,14,20,25,30,31,32
HART Pg# - 2,3,14,37,40,43,45,46,47,48
LGG Pg# - 15,25,30,31,45,47,51,54,58,59,61,62,95,102,104,140
152,156,157,159,182,IBC
LGJ#0 Pg# - 4,6,12
LGJ#1 Pg# - 24
LGJ#3 Pg# - 30
PGTG Pg# - 6,10
SOD Pg# - 14
SOOC Pg# - 6,151,160,163,237
T1-4 Pg# - 29
TAB Pg# - 3,17,19,23,60-62,91,108,116
TOH Pg# - 3
WG8 Pg# - 21,69,86,127
WG12 Pg# - 5
WGG Pg# - IC,2,5,7,10,11,14,15,21
WGM1 Pg# - IBC,2,8,12,15,20,28
WGR4 Pg# - 3,20,23,26,39
WGR5 Pg# - 1,4,5,19,25,35-48,53,55,56,57,61,67,75,78,80,83
84,88,95
WGR6 Pg# - 17,18
WOGA Pg# - 9,12,22,26,33,34,48,55,59,80,IBC
WOGG Pg# - 8,10,17,32

Nezmajen (Hierarch)[C13][3eC15][NPC]
ATG Pg# - 89
LGG Pg# - 61
TAB Pg# - 91
WGR5 Pg# - 38,56,57,58,74,77,82,93

IIRC, there were some mentions about the Nameless Hierarch in some of Gygax's Gord novels, but they may have been implying Nerull vs. an Oerthly mortal.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jul 02, 2003 19:37:11 I don't have much access to materials detailing the Horned Society (2nd edition player's guide and the Living Gazetteer among websites..). I do use them often, however, as an underground force at this point in time as some of you have. Agents across the Flanaess, assassinations and murders to keep themselves secret, etc.
I portray the society Hierarchs as either devils themselves or servants to, and go the devil worshipping route as opposed to the whole Tharizdun idea.
This is taken from the Living Gazetteer:

"In the early months of 583 CY, however, the occupiers began fleeing the country, leaving only handfuls of easily defeated bands behind. Though few understood at the time, reports that Iuz's armies were on the march frightened even the cold-blooded Hierarchs..."

What materials should I look for to expand my knowledge of canon Hierarchs?
(forgive my ignorance, I don't know much of the abbreviations above)
How do you all portray the Hierarchs of the society?
#5
zombiegleemax
Jul 07, 2003 19:16:58 I too liked the descriptions of the Horned Society, which seemed far more malignant a nation than Iuz (prior to From the Ashes). Although I don't think it's online presently, Jason Verbitsky, wrote extensively on the Horned Society and posted his version on the old Codex of Greyhawk website. That file and others from the Codex will eventually go online at Canonfire: http://www.canonfire.com/htmlnew/.

I appreciate the the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer authors salvaged the Horned Society from Sargent's wholesale destruction of it. To be fair, Sargent may have realized his "mistake" and sought to ameliorate it in the description of Rinloru (in Ivid the Undying). Still, I like that the Horned Society apparently has links to certain Ur-Flan religious practices and also the intimation that agents of the Horned Society may well compete with those of the Scarlet Brotherhood in the practice of gaining influence over humanoids and related monsters -- in order to encourage the raiding of civilized lands. Cf. the Bone March and Nyrond with the Pomarj and Wild Coast.

On Greytalk, Gary Welsh once posted about a certain agent, a horned rider, who traversed the Wild Coast -- perhaps in preparation for the coming of Turrosh Mak, perhaps not related at all...

In the 590s CY, I suspect that agents of the Horned Society are attempting to coordinate many malefactors (typically without their knowledge). Rather than putting all efforts to Rinloru, the Hierarchs may be attempting to subvert the courts of the Central Flanaess.
#6
cwslyclgh
Jul 07, 2003 21:18:27 in my campaign the horned society has a secret base (with mostly low-level operatives) in the cairn hills near the minning town of blackstone, from which they spy on the free city of greyhawk, and seriptiously steal the fruits of the minner's labors (hey even secret evil orginizations need funding). One of the clerics working from that secret base recently got a bit over zelous, and was dealt with by adventurers
#7
zombiegleemax
Jul 08, 2003 3:20:57 I've said it before elsewhere but because I like the idea so much, I'll say it again.

It was mentioned that some of the horned society worshiped Nerull.

The timing of the exodus and slaughter of the Horned Society coincides nicely with the arrival of Nerull clerics to Rinloru, a gift of Nerull to Delglath, apparently.

So... although I wouldn't say ALL the horned society is under Delglath's rule, I would definitely say there is a contingent operating within his organization and possibly forming the upper echelons of his dominion. Who better to side with when a demi-god hates you than the chosen of a greater god?
#8
zombiegleemax
Jul 24, 2003 21:42:15 The highest ranking heirarch still alive is Andrade Mirrius - 18th level going by 2nd edition. He was first mentioned in the City of Greyhawk Boxed Set and again in another release in 1998 on an update about the City of Greyhawk.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 cwslyclgh Jun 30, 2003 17:13:18	The Horned society… the very name conjures images to my mind… The horned society has always been one of my favorite villainous groups in the greyhawk setting, and the purpose of this thread is to start a discussion about them, to find out how others have used them in the past, what others think of them as villains, what the general consensus as to the future of the organization is etc. Let me start off by saying that I always preferred the original devil worshiping version of the society over the Tharizidun worshipers idea, it is my personal opinion that not EVERYTHING dastardly in the setting has to (or necessarily should) link to that dark deity. However I think that a small sect of Tharizdun worshipers concealing themselves with in the larger society makes for an interesting proposition. With the seeming destruction of the group by Iuz, I see the group as having moved underground, spreading their influence further throughout the flanaess, but in less obvious ways. They have already made a small appearance in my GH campaign (in the adventure “Devils of Blackstone”), and I had planned on working them into more story lines in the future, eventually turning them into a major, but well hidden threat. So what have you guys done with the society, or what do you plan on doing with them in the future? Also please feel free to discuss the horned society in general on this thread. Wes
#2 zombiegleemax Jun 30, 2003 17:25:39	In the current Shield Lands game I am running, there is a PC working undercover who is a member of the Horned Society. Though the world believes the society to be eradicated, they are slowly working behind the scenes to gain a foothold once again, and perhaps seek revenge on the Old One...among other things. Utter secrecy is priority to the regrowing society, and traitors or spies are weeded out with the utmost precision. The campaign is young, so I have yet to flesh it out entirely. Few of the society's members know anything of the Patriarchs, though the Horned PC in question in my game recently uncovered something alluding to a Horned Matriarch. I've gone with the devil worshipping basis as the foundation in this case, with overtones of human supremacy. As I said, this is still a work in progress.
#3 grodog Jun 30, 2003 23:53:51	I'm a big fan of the Hieararch Blontug (which I interpolated the letters as Blotung IMC) from Dragon 56. He's a Half-Orc C4/F9/As9 in 1e terms. Here's an extract from Jason Zavoda's index of Greyhawk content, focusing on the Horned Lords: Blontug (Hierarch)(Half-Orc)[C4/F9/As9][NPC] DRG#56 Pg# - 20,21 Hierarchs of the Horned Society [ORG] AOE Pg# - 88,91,95,117,118,138,141,143-145,150,177,181,188-191, 193,194,218,219,229,232-234,340,341,343 ATG Pg# - 89 CED Pg# - 38 COG:C# - 18 COG:FFF Pg# - 21,27,57,77,78 DRG#56 Pg# - 20,21 DRG#263 Pg# - 51 DUN#32 Pg# - 61,62,68,69 GW:ADV Pg# - 9,25 LGG Pg# - 30,61,62,102,104,140,156 LGJ#0 Pg# - 4 LGJ#3 Pg# - 30 SOD Pg# - 21,22 SOOC Pg# - 151,152,160,163,175,237 TOH Pg# - 3 WGG Pg# - 11 WGR4 Pg# - 3,39 WGR5 Pg# - 4,6,35,37,38,39,40,44,55,56,58,64,74,77,82,91,93 WGR6 Pg# - 55 Horned Lands [KNG] SEE Horned Society Horned Lords SEE Hierarch Horned Society (Horned Ones)(Horned Lands)[KNG][ORG] AOE Pg# - 7,91,95,138,141,145,194,232,234 CED Pg# - 38 COG:C# - 18 COG:FFF Pg# - 3,6,7,8,21,28,43,44,48,49,57-59,70,73 COG:GOTF Pg# - 18 DRG#52 Pg# - 20 DRG#55 Pg# - 19 DRG#56 Pg# - 18,19,20,21,22,23 DRG#253 Pg# - 44 DRG#256 Pg# - 49 DRG#262 Pg# - 38 DRG#263 Pg# - 51 DUN#32 Pg# - 61,62,63,65,67,71 DUN#53 Pg# - 35 FTAA Pg# - 6,22,27,29,37 FTAR#1 FTAR#2 FTAR#9 FTAR#11 GA Pg# - 39,42,49,50,77,81,82,97 GW:ADV Pg# - 3,4,9,10,11,14,20,25,30,31,32 HART Pg# - 2,3,14,37,40,43,45,46,47,48 LGG Pg# - 15,25,30,31,45,47,51,54,58,59,61,62,95,102,104,140 152,156,157,159,182,IBC LGJ#0 Pg# - 4,6,12 LGJ#1 Pg# - 24 LGJ#3 Pg# - 30 PGTG Pg# - 6,10 SOD Pg# - 14 SOOC Pg# - 6,151,160,163,237 T1-4 Pg# - 29 TAB Pg# - 3,17,19,23,60-62,91,108,116 TOH Pg# - 3 WG8 Pg# - 21,69,86,127 WG12 Pg# - 5 WGG Pg# - IC,2,5,7,10,11,14,15,21 WGM1 Pg# - IBC,2,8,12,15,20,28 WGR4 Pg# - 3,20,23,26,39 WGR5 Pg# - 1,4,5,19,25,35-48,53,55,56,57,61,67,75,78,80,83 84,88,95 WGR6 Pg# - 17,18 WOGA Pg# - 9,12,22,26,33,34,48,55,59,80,IBC WOGG Pg# - 8,10,17,32 Nezmajen (Hierarch)[C13][3eC15][NPC] ATG Pg# - 89 LGG Pg# - 61 TAB Pg# - 91 WGR5 Pg# - 38,56,57,58,74,77,82,93 IIRC, there were some mentions about the Nameless Hierarch in some of Gygax's Gord novels, but they may have been implying Nerull vs. an Oerthly mortal.
#4 zombiegleemax Jul 02, 2003 19:37:11	I don't have much access to materials detailing the Horned Society (2nd edition player's guide and the Living Gazetteer among websites..). I do use them often, however, as an underground force at this point in time as some of you have. Agents across the Flanaess, assassinations and murders to keep themselves secret, etc. I portray the society Hierarchs as either devils themselves or servants to, and go the devil worshipping route as opposed to the whole Tharizdun idea. This is taken from the Living Gazetteer: "In the early months of 583 CY, however, the occupiers began fleeing the country, leaving only handfuls of easily defeated bands behind. Though few understood at the time, reports that Iuz's armies were on the march frightened even the cold-blooded Hierarchs..." What materials should I look for to expand my knowledge of canon Hierarchs? (forgive my ignorance, I don't know much of the abbreviations above) How do you all portray the Hierarchs of the society?
#5 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2003 19:16:58	I too liked the descriptions of the Horned Society, which seemed far more malignant a nation than Iuz (prior to From the Ashes). Although I don't think it's online presently, Jason Verbitsky, wrote extensively on the Horned Society and posted his version on the old Codex of Greyhawk website. That file and others from the Codex will eventually go online at Canonfire: http://www.canonfire.com/htmlnew/. I appreciate the the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer authors salvaged the Horned Society from Sargent's wholesale destruction of it. To be fair, Sargent may have realized his "mistake" and sought to ameliorate it in the description of Rinloru (in Ivid the Undying). Still, I like that the Horned Society apparently has links to certain Ur-Flan religious practices and also the intimation that agents of the Horned Society may well compete with those of the Scarlet Brotherhood in the practice of gaining influence over humanoids and related monsters -- in order to encourage the raiding of civilized lands. Cf. the Bone March and Nyrond with the Pomarj and Wild Coast. On Greytalk, Gary Welsh once posted about a certain agent, a horned rider, who traversed the Wild Coast -- perhaps in preparation for the coming of Turrosh Mak, perhaps not related at all... In the 590s CY, I suspect that agents of the Horned Society are attempting to coordinate many malefactors (typically without their knowledge). Rather than putting all efforts to Rinloru, the Hierarchs may be attempting to subvert the courts of the Central Flanaess.
#6 cwslyclgh Jul 07, 2003 21:18:27	in my campaign the horned society has a secret base (with mostly low-level operatives) in the cairn hills near the minning town of blackstone, from which they spy on the free city of greyhawk, and seriptiously steal the fruits of the minner's labors (hey even secret evil orginizations need funding). One of the clerics working from that secret base recently got a bit over zelous, and was dealt with by adventurers
#7 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2003 3:20:57	I've said it before elsewhere but because I like the idea so much, I'll say it again. It was mentioned that some of the horned society worshiped Nerull. The timing of the exodus and slaughter of the Horned Society coincides nicely with the arrival of Nerull clerics to Rinloru, a gift of Nerull to Delglath, apparently. So... although I wouldn't say ALL the horned society is under Delglath's rule, I would definitely say there is a contingent operating within his organization and possibly forming the upper echelons of his dominion. Who better to side with when a demi-god hates you than the chosen of a greater god?
#8 zombiegleemax Jul 24, 2003 21:42:15	The highest ranking heirarch still alive is Andrade Mirrius - 18th level going by 2nd edition. He was first mentioned in the City of Greyhawk Boxed Set and again in another release in 1998 on an update about the City of Greyhawk.