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The Origins of Greyhawk Artifacts and Relics

I differentiate between the terms "artifact" and "relic"--D&D 3rd Edition doesn't distinguish between the two, and also creates the "minor artifact" category to cover powerful magic items such as Spheres of Annihilation, Decks of Many Things, Staves of the Magi, etc.  I like this designation, and apply it to relics as well.  

What constitutes a major artifact, or a minor relic, then?  Greyhawk is famous for its unique magical items (Gygax and Kuntz seemed to create unique and new items all of the time in their adventures).  In my view, the following subjective elements form the core for my definition of an artifact or relic, and each should be present for a magical item to classified as an artifact or relic:

  • Unique (although not necessarily solitary)

  • Very powerful (artifacts and relics I designate as 'minor' do not possess Prime Powers or their equivalent)

  • Substantial body of folklore and/or significant to history

  • Very difficult to destroy

  • Manufactured (may not necessarily apply to relics)

  • Significant to an Oerthly religion (relics only)

See also Denis Tetreault's web site and WotC's The Primal Order for other points of view on how to define artifacts and relics.

I'm still unsure if places/sites can be artifacts; I have this sense that artifacts should be mobile.  Therefore, although I list the Court of Essence,  Heward's Mystical Organ, the Machine of Lum the Mad, the Malachite Throne, the Throne of the Gods, and Tovag Baragu below, I may migrate them to my Mythical Geography of Greyhawk page.   

I have split apart the various sets of items into seperate entries, since in most cases individual artifacts or relics of a set would not qualify as major items on their own, and it is rare for a set to be collected in full.  Those minor artifacts and relics which grant Prime Powers when fully assembled (and therefore qualify as 'major' items) are marked with an asterisk.  

While I do not count powerful, non-unique items as major artifacts, I do consider tomes like the Demonomicon of Iggwilv (Gygax and Kuntz's version of The Necronomicon) or The Tome of the Black Heart to be minor artifacts:  they are unique items, although multiple copies of each may exist.  

Some items that I do not generally consider major artifacts include intelligent magical swords (unless of exceptional power like Blackrazor or Hunger), unique but relatively low-signifcance items (like The Gauntlet and The Sentinel from UK2-3), etc.  I add various traditional artifacts to the "minor artifact" category, as well, especially if they have little to no impact to Greyhawk's history or legends.  

Major Artifacts

Artifact Original Author(s) Publication Source Notes
Axe of the Dwarvish Lords     See also The Axe of the Dwarvish Lords adventure by Skip Williams
Baba Yaga's Hut     See "Larger than Life" by David Nalle (Dragon 53), and Roger E. Moore's excellent artcle "The Dancing Hut" (Dragon 83)
Blackrazor Lawrence Schick S2 White Plume Mountain  
Codex of the Infinite Planes     See Denis Tetreault's "The Codex of the Infinite Planes" for an interesting take on the Codex
Daoud's Wondrous Lanthorn Gary Gygax S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojconth (1976)  
Eye of Vecna     If you use David Cook's treatment of Vecna from WGA4 Vecna Lives, then you may classify this artifact as a relic 
The Hand of Vecna     If you use David Cook's treatment of Vecna from WGA4 Vecna Lives, then you may classify this artifact as a relic
Heward's Mystical Organ     See also Steven Wiederhoft's "A Working Design for Heward's Mystical Organ" from The Dragon 29, and article on origin of Heward in Polyhedron (does this exist?)
Hunger Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying (1995) Forged by the insane elf Darnakurian (and also known as Darnakurian's Doom)
Invulnerable Coat of Arnd   First placed in Kuntz's module Dark Druids  
Jacinth of Inestimable Beauty      
Machine of Lum the Mad     In Ivid the Undying, Carl Sargent placed this artifact in the fortress Rifter (near Rauxes) 
The Malachite Throne Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying (1995)
Orb of the Elder Wyrm     See Roger E. Moore's "The Orbs of Dragonkind" (Dragon 230, June 1996)
Orb of the Eternal Grand Dragon     See Roger E. Moore's "The Orbs of Dragonkind" (Dragon 230, June 1996)
Queen Ehlissa's Marvelous Nightingale     Note picture of a female character summoning Orcus, from Eldritch Wizardry, which was apparently Sutherland's artistic license and not Gygax's direction
Recorder of Ye'Cind      
Ring of Gaxx      
The Soul Gem Allen Hammack The Ghost Tower of Inverness (1979)
Sword of Kas      
Tovag Baragu      
Wand of Orcus      

Minor Artifacts

Artifact Original Author(s) Publication Source Notes
The Brass Bottle Robert J. Kuntz MoZ4 The Eight Kings (1987) Each bottle summons a different type of creature:  greater demons/etc., lesser demons/etc., least demons/etc., and half-mortal demons/etc.
Bringer of Doom Gary Gygax Monster Manual II Summons hordlings?
Bronze Key of Portals Roger E. Moore Return of the Eight (1998) Based upon Kuntz and Gygax's Silver Key of Portals (below); this artifact's existence also  suggests that a Gold Key of Portals may exist 
The Court of Essence Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying (1995) Created by Schandor
Crystal of the Ebon Flame      
Crystal Skull of Iuz Gary Gygax T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil (1984)
Demonomicon of Iggwilv Gary Gygax S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (1982)  
Face of Xenous ? WGR2 Treasures of Greyhawk trapped in The Great Maze of Zagyg, a demi-plane 
Frost Razor  ? Return to White Plume Mountain  

Fraz-Urb-luu's staff 

Gary Gygax S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojconth (1976)  
The Gauntlet Phil Masters? UK2 The Senintel
The Helm of Lynerden the Spinner* Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying (1995) Lynerden was an Oeridian mage
Horn of Change     Mentioned in passing as once in possession of the Maure family in Kuntz's "Chambers of Antiquities" level in Maure Castle (Dungeon 124)
Iron Flask of Tuerney the Merciless Neal Healey The Strategic Review 7 (April 1976) Originally titled the Brazen Bottle; see Roger E. Moore's Return of the Eight for more background on Tuerney
Johydee's Mask      
Kuroth's Quill      
Lens of Transformation Gary Gygax and Frank Mentzer T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil (1984)  
Mighty Servant of Luek-O     In Ivid the Undying, Carl Sargent postulates that this artifact may have been destroyed by the earth elementals of Al-Fasrallah
Orb of the Hatchling     See Roger E. Moore's "The Orbs of Dragonkind" (Dragon 230, June 1996); also, Carl Sargent postulates that the smallest orb is in the hands of Aerdy's Overking
Orb of the Wyrmkin     See Roger E. Moore's "The Orbs of Dragonkind" (Dragon 230, June 1996)
Orb of the Dragonette     See Roger E. Moore's "The Orbs of Dragonkind" (Dragon 230, June 1996)
Orb of the Dragon     See Roger E. Moore's "The Orbs of Dragonkind" (Dragon 230, June 1996)
Orb of the Great Serpent     See Roger E. Moore's "The Orbs of Dragonkind" (Dragon 230, June 1996)
Orb of the Firedrake     See Roger E. Moore's "The Orbs of Dragonkind" (Dragon 230, June 1996)
Philidor Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying (1995) Philidor is a construct created by Corellon Larethian and Pelor, per some postings on Greytalk
Prison of Zagig  Gary Gygax S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (1982)  
Rod of Seven Parts* Skip Williams (?)
Brian Blume?
Gary Gygax?
Eldritch Wizardry (1976) Skip Williams' excellent "A History of the Rod of Seven Parts" appears in Dragon 224 (December 1995) as a tie-in to the Ro7P box; see also the RPGA tournament adventure "The Dwarven Quest for the Rod of Seven Parts
The Sentinel Phil Masters? UK3 The Gauntlet
The Silver Key of Portals Robert J. Kuntz  WG5 Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984) Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's story, "The Silver Key"
The Spear of Sorrow Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying (1995)  
Tenser's Ethereal Transport Gary Gygax WG6 Isle of the Ape (1985) An old Aerdy artifact, which Tenser presumably discovered in his keep (see Roger E. Moore's Return of the Eight adventure)
Tome of the Black Heart Robert J. Kuntz  WG5 Mordenkainen's Fantastic Adventure (1984)  
Treatise of Malbolge Robert J. Kuntz  MoZ2:  Dimensions of Flight (1987) A tome dedicated to the worship of Baal
Wand of Lynerden the Spinner* Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying (1995) Lynerden was an Oeridian mage
Wave Lawrence Schick S2 White Plume Mountain  
Whelm Lawrence Schick S2 White Plume Mountain  
Zydilec's Dimension Crystal Robert J. Kuntz MoZ4 The Eight Kings A tricky planar-travel device
       
       
       

Major Relics

Relic Original Author(s) Publication Source Notes
Crook of Rao Gary Gygax WG6 Isle of the Ape (1985) See also Eric L. Boyd's article "The Crook of Rao..." in Oerth Journal 3
Istus' Spindle Gary Gygax Dragon 69  
Kanteel of the Oldest Gary Gygax Dragon 70 Owned by Olidammara
Life Cutter Gary Gygax Dragon  
Mace of Krevell Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying Krevell was a high priest of Nerull
The Oerth Disc Gary Gygax Dragon 68 Owned by Fahrlanghn
Throne of the Gods      
       

Minor Relics

Relic Original Author(s) Publication Source Notes
Afterglow Len Lakofka Dragon 86 Owned by Lendor
Azure Razor Gary Gygax  Dragon 64 Owned by Raxivort
Baton of Retribution Gary Gygax Dragon 68 Owned by Trithereon
Boccob's Staff of the Archmage Gary Gygax Dragon 70  
Celestian's Weaponry Gary Gygax Dragon 68  
Crown of Might*      
Cup of Al'Akbar* Neal Healey The Strategic Review 7 (April 1976) Originally titled the Cup and Talisman of Akbar
Ehlonna's Weaponry Gary Gygax Dragon 68  
       
Freedom's Tongue Gary Gygax Dragon 68 Owned by Trithereon
Golbi Len Lakofka Dragon 88 Owned by Fortubo
Heironeous' Arms and Armor Gary Gygax Dragon 67  
Hextor's Arms and Armor Rob Kuntz Dragon 67  
Iuz's Sword, Cape, and Soul Object Gary Gygax Dragon 67 Iuz's soul object may be on Zuggtmoy's plane of the Abyss
Kelmar Len Lakofka Dragon 87  
Kord's Clothing, back-up sword,  Len Lakofka Dragon 87  
Krelestro (The Harbinger of Doom) Gary Gygax Dragon 68 Owned by Trithereon
Lendor's Ring Len Lakofka Dragon 86  
Llerg's Girdle of Cave Bear Strength, Sword,  Len Lakofka Dragon 89  
Mace of Cuthbert     See also Dragon 67
Norebo's Clothing, Sling, and Dagger Len Lakofka Dragon 86  
Orb of Might*      
Olidammara's Ring and Mask (and Left-over Carapaces?) Gary Gygax Dragon 70  
Osprem's Ring and Trident Len Lakofka Dragon 90  
Phaulkon's Bow and Dagger Len Lakofka Dragon 87  
Phyton's Scimitar and Rings Len Lakofka Dragon 90  
Pyremius' Bracers Len Lakofka Dragon 89  
The Red Light of Hades Len Lakofka Dragon 89 Owned by Pyremius
St. Cuthbert's Arms and Armor Gary Gygax Dragon 67 The Mace of Cuthbert is a seperate relic
Sceptre of Might*      
The Shalmstaff Gary Gygax Dragon 69 Owned by Obad-hai
Skull Ringer Gary Gygax Guide ('83 box set) Owned by Ulaa
The Staff of the Silvery Sun Gary Gygax Dragon 68 Owned by Pholtus
Symbol of Hate and Discord Gary Gygax Dragon Owned by Hextor
Syrul's Cloak, Dagger, and Rod Len Lakofka Dragon 88  
Talisman of Al'Akbar* Neal Healey The Strategic Review 7 (April 1976) Originally titled the Cup and Talisman of Akbar
Talisman of Krevell Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying Krevell was a high priest of Nerull
The Teeth of Dahlver-Nar*      
The Trumpet of Acheron Gary Gygax Dragon Owned by Hextor
The Viper of Hades Len Lakofka Dragon 89 Owned by Pyremius
Wastri's Glaive-Guisarme Gary Gygax Dragon  
Wee Jas' Gowns Len Lakofka Dragon 88  
Xan Yae's Falchions Gary Gygax    
Xerbo's Trident Len Lakofka Dragon 90  
       

Miscellaneous Magic of Greyhawk

In this section, I list the Oerthly items that seem to fall between the cracks of the rulebooks, modules, and such.

Magic Item Original Author(s) Publication Source Notes
Dirawaen Carl Sargent Ivid the Undying magical roads throughout the extent of the Great Kingdom's empire
formula for homonculus creation Gary Gygax? Monster Manual ?  
formula for magical mortar Gary Gygax? S1 The Tomb of Horrors? prevents the use of teleportation, passwall, etc. magics within  structures built using it

Bibliography

Dave Cook.  WGA4 Vecna Lives.  

Gary Gygax.  WG6 Isle of the Ape.

Robert J. Kuntz.  The Maze of Zayene.  Creations Unlimited.  Getter Press Works:  Whitewater, WI, 1987.  

  • Part 1:  Prisoners of the Maze
  • Part 2:  Dimensions of Flight
  • Part 3:  Tower Chaos
  • Part 4:  The Eight Kings

Roger E. Moore.  Return of the Eight.  

Roger E. Moore.  Revised Greyhawk Campaign Index, Part 1.  

Roger E. Moore.  Revised Greyhawk Campaign Index, Part 2.  

Carl Sargent.  Ivid the Undying.  

Denis Tetreault's Greyhawk web site.  


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