We know that two such empires existed in the Flanaess: The Suel Imperium and the Baklunish Empire, which mutually destroyed each other in an orgy of magical death-from-above. I've also read about Vecna's empire, lost to the ages, prior to his own ascension to godhood.
What other such "lost empires" once existed in the Flanaess, now lost to the passage of time? What races once lorded over Oerth like gods?
--tell me of Oerth's distant past NB
But, fleshing their history out is the job for the fan base.
Nearly no official support.Check canonfire!
Southern Hepmonaland had a host of african-inspired kingdoms, and likewise, the Amedio Jungle had a few aztec/mayan-inspired kingdoms.
The elven "City of Summer Stars" was once located in the Ardi Forest, til it was destroyed by necromancers.
I think the Wind Dukes had at least an outpost in or around Keoland, since the Battle of Pesh supposedly happened there (so there had to be something to fight over).
Several empires have existed in the Greyhawk Area, including Sulm which created the Bright Desert.
The elves
Do tell more.
the earthmasters
Who?
the illithids and the dwarves only to name a few...
Ah, so is Oerth the original world TSR had the multiplanar Illithid Empire originating on?
But, fleshing their history out is the job for the fan base.
That sucks.
Check canonfire!
I sure will!
--interesting NB
Ah, so is Oerth the original world TSR had the multiplanar Illithid Empire originating on?
Nope. That world is described in the 2E module Dawn of the Overmind, although there is a line in that book that states that even this world is not the *true* origin of the illithids. As far as I know, there are two possible candidates:
- cursed human mutants from the 3rd planet of the Astromundi crystal sphere (Spelljammer: The Astromundi Cluster)
- visitors to the Far Realms who were horribly mutated there (The Illithiad, p.37)
The truth of the matter, as ever, will remain a mystery (as it should be...)
The Isles of Woe was once a powerful empire in the Nyr Dyr.
Southern Hepmonaland had a host of african-inspired kingdoms, and likewise, the Amedio Jungle had a few aztec/mayan-inspired kingdoms.
The elven "City of Summer Stars" was once located in the Ardi Forest, til it was destroyed by necromancers.
I think the Wind Dukes had at least an outpost in or around Keoland, since the Battle of Pesh supposedly happened there (so there had to be something to fight over).
Several empires have existed in the Greyhawk Area, including Sulm which created the Bright Desert.
I must disagree on the definition of 'empire' here. Sulm was only a kingdom. A powerful one, granted, but nothing close to an empire.
Same thing for the City of Summer Stars.
The Amedio had an empire of proto-lizardfolks worshipping demon lords, that was probably followed by an ape empire of the Dakon. Thanks to Dungeon Mag., we know also of the Ixitxachitl and Kopru empires who battled each other beneath the surface of the Pearl Sea.
Do tell more.
In OJ 1 there's a comprehensive timeline; with the EM *blog* you have a lot of detailed info at your disposal.
Also, Nellisir (CF mastermind, creator of Shadowend) is currently working on some maps detailing early Oerth's days...
And I myself am writing on a sourcebook detailing one of the elven realms mentioned in OJ 1... (Scheduled to be completed AFTER MY EXAMS
)Check *Kul'gobsula* on the search engine of these boards for some short previews...
The Earthmasters wee some kind of demi-god extraterrestials, AFAIK. I don't know if their appearance is *official* canon... They're supposed to have brought magic to Oerth, to have created the first Dragons, and to have built Skrellingshald (I personally disagree with that thesis).
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Hooray! Mortepierre is back!
*It has been a little while since your last post, my friend, hasn't it?*
Hooray! Mortepierre is back!
*It has been a little while since your last post, my friend, hasn't it?*
*chuckles* Oh, fear not my friend. I am always lurking around these boards. It's just I do so silently sometimes. Lately, with all the flame wars about GH and what it could/should be, I withdrew to a safe distance rather than involving myself. But I'll always pitch in for the sake of accuracy or canon lore and, in that regard, please remember the OJ aren't canon (though they certainly contain many intriguing ideas).
*chuckles* Oh, fear not my friend. I am always lurking around these boards. It's just I do so silently sometimes. Lately, with all the flame wars about GH and what it could/should be, I withdrew to a safe distance rather than involving myself. But I'll always pitch in for the sake of accuracy or canon lore and, in that regard, please remember the OJ aren't canon (though they certainly contain many intriguing ideas).
Good to hear that! You belong to our weird little family here and it would be a mess to wander the Flanaess without your company and good advice! :D You're right, discussion here is lately a bit... err, I don't know... If I wasn't such a *board addict* who instead of learning for impending exams (tomorrow...
), *gets his mind free* by discussing about fictional worlds ;), I don't know if I had considered to post my piece of the cake everywhere I did... But, you know, one takes a break, munches some sweeties, checks his emails... and gets lost in the web... Speaking of the famous OJs, I hope the situation increases when no. 16 is out and we have some more news to discuss than *general themes* like our attitude towards Realmers or if Greyhawk does exist... ;)
--I really appreciate this NB
try HERE it is sort of a journal page by Erik Mona, and includes some entries about ancient cultures of eastern Oerik.
3/15/05
I put the Torhoon reference in “Ex Keraptis *** Amore” and was pleasantly surprised that it made it into the final edit.
The Torhoon was an idea that had, for the most part, lain dormant in my campaign for a very long time. I originally pictured them as a race of alien creatures that mated with Hepmonoland folk to create a hybrid race that could survive on Oerth. I envisioned that they sacrificed whatever form they originally held when they bred with mankind.
The hybrid Torhoon looked human for the most part but were tall and slim with very long fingers. They had extended canines and long, thin heads. They worshipped long-dead or forgotten gods (C’thulhu, Nyarlothotep, Tsathoggua, and the like) and practiced alchemy, forbidden magic, and psionics.
The whole culture and the Torhoon themselves were wiped out in -1971 Suloise Dating, almost 2,000 years before the establishment of the Suel Empire. The only listing for that date on my own extensive Greyhawk Timeline is “Devastation of Torhoon.” I never specified much more about the race or their Empire in my campaign though I did drop Lovecraftian worship of ancient and forgotten gods in the Bandit Kingdoms near Groskopf, Nyrond near Nessermouth, and in “Ex Keraptis *** Amore,” as well as a few other scattered locations. I’ve always assumed the Torhoon had colonies or at least established temples in those areas.
I never went into great detail on the race (which is, itself, unusual for me) save what was published in “Ex Keraptis *** Amore.” I never determined how long the Torhoon existed, where they governed (save for the Hepmonland reference), where they originally came from, or what their original form was. Their empire was extensive, though spread very thin.
I never did decide what the Devastation was and how it wiped them all out either. At least, not yet.
Andy
The Baklunish we know.
The Sulm - the current Bright Desert was once part of a flourished a wondrous civilization. This civilization was ended by the Sulmish ruler, Shattados. As his empire turned to the sands of the Bright Desert. For more info check Rary the Traitor.
The Ur-Flannae - Odd and sometimes early civilization that predated the current Flan, the migrations of the Suel, Baklunish and Oeridians!
The Ancient Oeridians - The Oeridians originated from around Ket and moved towards the lands of Aerdi today following the Great Migrations of the Suel/ Baklunish.
Races few know about - There are rumors of an ancient civilization hidden under the Land of Black Ice, refutable proof has yet to be seen though. =/
I'm sure theres more On Erik Mona's site as well that I have missed, this is only a 101 on Ancient Cultures. =P
Hope this helps some.
Cheerz,
Rick "Duicarthan" Miller