Here's a couple interrelated ones: What were the actual details concerning Iuz's original imprisonment beneath Castle Greyhawk? It certainly must have been a momenteous occasion... Why the tight lips about what actually happened, particularly if it somehow led to Iuz's demi-god status? Considering that it seems that these events also led to the demi-godhood of Zagyg, I think I'm entitled to some sort of answer.
On that note, why exactly did Sir Robilar and company want to did up the Old One for anyhow? Several possibilities are explored, but what was the REAL reason? Was it merely to kill the guy? Or is something darker going on? And how was Iuz freed from his prison?
I get the impression that obviously much of this information would be answered easily if I'd been sitting behind Gygax and crew while they played the game through the 70's... After all, I assume that characters like Rary, Robilar, all of the famed Circle of Eight and so on and so on were character's of the original group, yes? Is there any sort of recollections on these games by those involved? I would think it would make fascinating reading, and would also clear up a lot of these questions...
Accounts of some of these old adventures would be kind of cool to read, from a history of the game perspective. But you don't need to use their answers to the mysteries.
I like GH and the materials out there, but I depart from them quite often in the details when it doesn't suit the way I want the campaign to work.
Must I go and find Gary Gygax himself to answer some of these questions?
If you decide to ping Gary on that, see his Q&A thread over on ENWorld's General Discussion forum.
But his composition was determined later, after his imprisonment and after thr gaming event, when the Greyhawk gods were codified. I don't know the rationale for making him a demi-god all-of-a-sudden. Gygax and Kuntz might not even know. But I don't think it is a secret in any purposeful way. I think the details of that event just have not been worked out.
I know nothing I said answers your questions. Because, I don't think a concrete answer is available. Maybe someone with more insight will help us out - I can easily be all wrong here!
Personally, it seems like the real reason Robilar was there was to gain more experience points, but maybe that's just too much meta game thinking...
"Robilar, who was 10th level at the time, entered the containment room, and viewed the nine imprisoned creatures mounted a top pedestals VERY carefully before deciding to deal with the many-handed one first (i.e. Hextor). Robilar decided to dispatch (singly) the toughest melee capable of the lot first, in case all nine were to animate simultaneously (the nine imprisoned were: Iuz, Ralishaz, Trithereon, Erythnul, Olidammara, Heironeous, Celestian, Hextor, and Obad-Hai). In the ensuing melee with Hextor, the other eight "demi-gods" were "accidentally" released, as loosing one seemed to have a domino effect. As the nine "demi-gods" turned their attentions toward destroying each other, Robilar executed a tactical withdrawal (i.e. he ran for his life) to lick his wounds.
Robilar later returned to the room to investigate. Before returning, he heard the sounds of a great battle occurring (which was another reason for returning to investigate). Upon re-entering the containment room, he saw that all of the pedestals were empty, with no beings in sight. All nine of the gods were loosed upon the world."
Originally posted by bdunn91
You have some trouble with Greyhawk because you don't know the answer the various mysteries sprinkled about? You don't need a canonical source for any of this stuff. Make it up as you need it.
That seems to be a common response, but it's not very satisfying. You just know that there's an answer out there somewhere, even if only in Gary's head, and that's what you want to find out. I've never really understood how Zagig was able to capture all of those gods in the first place, let alone how or why they got let out. If anyone knows the answer, I'd be interested in hearing it, too (as would others, I'm sure).
Iuz travels south from Dorakaa to his "Summer Home" in autumn to spend winter in the warmer climate of Molag. Zagyg, already in posession of the Soul Husks, colludes with the Unnameable Hierarch, et. al., and the conspirators abduct Iuz. Zagyg gets the Cambion-lord and the Hierarchs get autonomy. Iuz is taken to Zagyg's tower and imprisoned with other notable powers.
Zagyg, who has unlocked the power of the Soul Husks, employs them to amplify the power of his prisoners. Then, he harnesses immense energy to radically change the nature/composition of his being, soul, essence, what-have-you.
The employment of the Soul Husks materially affects the prisoners. Iuz gains substantial power from the amplification and transfer of energy as affected by the Soul Husks' cycles. And quite literally, poof... Demi-god.
Was Robilar looking for the Soul Husks when he released Zagyg's prisoners?
Originally posted by Greyson
Was Robilar looking for the Soul Husks when he released Zagyg's prisoners?
As far as I recall, the Soul Husks are the invention of Carl Sargent in Iuz the Evil, and weren't a part of the original GH campaign.
From descriptions from Rob Kuntz, Robliar was just adventuring in the dungeons of Castle Greyhawk when he stumbled into the room with the nine statues/demigods. There are some old articles in the Greytalk Archive---if search using "Kuntz and demigods and castle" (sans quotation marks) you should be able to find Rob's original posts to Greytalk on the subject.