Horned Society
| Horned Society | |
|---|---|
 Heraldry of the Horned Lands | |
| Alignment: | Evil |
| Type: | Secret society |
| Founded: | fl. c.513 CY |
| Ended: | 583 CY, but later revived |
| Leader: | Unnameable Hierarch |
| Members: | Evil humans, hobgoblins, orcs, and other nonhumans |
| Symbol: | A red, horned skull wearing a crown |
| Headquarters: | Molag, later unknown |
| Allies: | Iuz (early years) |
| Enemies: | Iuz (later years) |
The Horned Society is a secret society of Oerth devoted to evil. The name can also be applied to an independent nation of the Flanaess c.576-583 CY, previously part of Iuz's kingdom, which is reclaimed by Iuz in 583 CY. Within the Empire of Iuz, the Horned Society lands are known as the Horned Lands.
History
[edit | edit source]Most scholars believe the Hierarchs of the Horned Society are opportunistic bandits who rise to prominences "some decades" before 576 CY[1], and who take over Molag and its surrounding territories after the imprisonment of Iuz in 505 CY, only to be driven out in 583 CY after the Old One has sufficiently rebuilt his strength.
Others, more ominously, speculate that the Horned Society is actually descended from a group that predates the Great Migrations. Certain old druids speak of the "Horned Ones," cultists who stalked the night and preyed upon the ancient Flan. It is possible that the modern Horned Society is a descendant of these ancient Horned Ones, though it is also possible they are simply exploiting old legends to make themselves seem even more frightening than their deeds alone would merit.
The Horned Society in its modern form first came to prominence in 513 CY, a few years after the disappearance of Iuz. They seized the city of Molag, which had once been Iuz's summer capital, and consolidated the territories around them. Hobgoblins, orcs, and other evil humanoids flocked to their banner. The Horned Society dedicated itself to the worship of dark beings from the Lower Planes, paying particular veneration to Nerull, Anthraxus the Decayed, and the Lords of the Nine.[2]
The Horned Society quickly comes into conflict with the Shield Lands. The Hierarchs swore upon the ashen altars of Molag's Hall of Dread that they would march into Admundfort and line its walls with the intestines of that nation's earl. The period between 550 and 570 saw heavy skirmishing on the banks of the Ritensa River. Great forts such as Torkeep were erected, but these ultimately proved inadequate.
In 579 CY, the Horned Society ally themselves with the Bandit Kingdoms realms Warfields and Wormhall. With their hobgoblin and mercenary armies supported by yugoloths and demodands, this unified host swarms the Shield Lands, laying waste to villages and farmsteads instead of the strongholds. Though thousands of Shield Landers gathered at Axeport to halt their invasion, their line is broken and their bodies devoured by inhuman beasts. By 581 CY, all of the Shield Lands except for Critwall falls, with the bandits of Warfields and Wormhall joined by bandit troops from neighboring realms. The victors carve up the Shield Lands, dividing it into holdings ruled by bandits, goblinoids, and agents of the Horned Society.
In Coldeven 583 CY, at the height of the Blood Moon Festival, demonic forces sent by Iuz slay all of the Hierarchs in Molag and quietly take control of the nation in the name of the Old One. In less than a fortnight, the Hierarchs are mere legend and Iuz has absolute control over the nation.
The Horned Society, however, secretly survives. Arkalan Sammal speculates that they must have known previously that the return of Iuz would spell their doom and planned for that eventuality. Andrade Mirrius and Nezmajen are not in Molag at the time of the murders, and due to his pact with Baalzebul, the one known as the Unnameable Hierarch is reborn as a greater devil.[citation needed] Together, they rebuild the Society.
Members
[edit | edit source]The various members of the Society are known to be devil worshipers. The Society's hierarchs (also known as the Dread and Awful Presences) are an assortment of notoriously evil powerful clerics, arcane spellcasters, warriors, and rogues.[1][3]
Headquarters
[edit | edit source]The Society is centered in Molag, though after the murder of the hierarchs in 583 CY, the headquarters of any remaining members is unknown and likely decentralized.
Structure
[edit | edit source]The leaders of the Horned Society are known as Hierarchs, of whom there are thirteen. The Hierarchs rule in veiled seclusion, hiding their identities from their followers. Rumor has it they are fiends in human form.
Their binding philosophy is rulership through fear and might, with overtones of human supremacy and the subjugation of "lesser races" to achieve their goals. Although, one of the Hierarchs in power shortly before the Greyhawk Wars, Blontug, is a half-orc.
All but two of the Hierarchs, Andrade Mirrius and Nezmajen, are slain by Iuz's forces during his coup on the night of the Blood Moon Festival 583 CY.
Notable individuals
[edit | edit source]Some of the more notorious members of the Horned Society are—
- Andrade Mirrius—powerful cleric of Nerull, living in Greyhawk City.
- Blontug—half-orc cleric/fighter/assassin. Presumed deceased.
- Christophe Jean Markosian—sorcerer and disciple of Asmodeus; called the "Devil Behind Thrones."
- Durgoth Shem—rogue Hierarch who delved into the Tomb of Horrors in search of one of the "keys" which can open Tharizdun's extra-dimensional prison. Presumed deceased.
- Guiliana Mortidus—Priestess of Nerull, living in Greyhawk City.
- Nezmajen—cleric of Nerull. post-Wars, resists the forces of Iuz from the Fellreev Forest.
- The Unnameable Hierarch—Head of the Organization. Some believe this individual to be Erac's Cousin.
- Vazirian—cleric of Asmodeus. Former Shield Lander who turned to evil. Presumed deceased.
- Warduke—powerful fighter.[4]
Alignment
[edit | edit source]The Society is thoroughly and irredemmably evil.
Legends and rumors
[edit | edit source]Rumors after 586 CY place the Horned Society's new headquarters on the coast of the Pomarj, in the Bone March, or even in the Bright Desert or Rift Canyon. While most people no longer fear them, believing Iuz to be the true threat, a few, such as Arkalan Sammal and Mordenkainen, believe the Horned Society may be more dangerous than ever, with unknown numbers dispersed to an unknown number of nations.
References
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting (1983), p.26, Guide.
- ↑ "Strike on the Rabid Dawn". Dungeon #111 (Jun 2004), p.31.
- ↑ The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (1980), p.11.
- ↑ "Critical Threat: Warduke". Dungeon #105 (Dec 2003), p.70.
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Blume, Brian, David Cook, and Jean Wells. The Rogues Gallery. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- Brunner, Frank. "Strike on the Rabid Dawn." Dungeon #111. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004.
- Cook, David. "History of the Greyhawk Wars." Wars. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991. Available Online: [1]
- Gygax, Gary. "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: Protection Circles and the Like, Plus News of the North Central Flanaess." Dragon #56. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
- ———. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- Niles, Douglas, and Carl Sargent. The City of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
- Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx
- ———. Iuz the Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Strohm, Keith Francis. The Tomb of Horrors. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Artifact of Evil | 88, 91, 95, 117, 118, 138, 141, 143-145, 150, 177, 181, 188-191, 193, 194, 218, 219, 229, 232-234, 340, 341, 343 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff | 89 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Come Endless Darkness | 38 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 18 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 21, 27, 57, 77, 78 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #056 | 20, 21 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Dragon magazine #263 | 51 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Dungeon magazine #032 | 61, 62, 68, 69 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 9, 25 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 30, 61, 62, 102, 104, 140, 156 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 4 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 30 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Sea of Death | 21, 22 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | Saga of Old City | 151, 152, 160, 163, 175, 237 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | The Tomb of Horrors—Greyhawk Classics Book 7 | 3 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | 11 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | WGR4 The Marklands | 3, 39 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 4, 6, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 44, 55, 56, 58, 64, 74, 77, 82, 91, 93 |
| Hierarchs of the Horned Society | People Group | Council, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 55 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Artifact of Evil | 7, 91, 95, 138, 141, 145, 194, 232, 234 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Come Endless Darkness | 38 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The City of Greyhawk: Adventure Cards | 18 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess | 18 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Dragon magazine #055 | 19 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Dungeon magazine #105 | 70, 71 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 6, 22, 27, 29, 37 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: References Card | #01 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: References Card | #02 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: References Card | #09 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | From the Ashes: References Card | #11 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Greyhawk Adventures | 39, 42, 49, 50, 77, 81, 82, 97 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 20, 25, 30, 31, 32 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Castles: Hart | 2, 3, 14, 37, 40, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 15, 25, 30, 31, 45, 47, 51, 54, 58, 59, 61, 62, 95, 102, 104, 140, 152, 156, 157, 159, 182, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 4, 6, 12 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 24 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 30 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 6, 10 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Reference | SEE Horned Society |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Sea of Death | 14 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | Saga of Old City | 6, 151, 160, 163, 237 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil | 29 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The Adventure Begins | 3, 17, 19, 23, 60-62, 91, 108, 116 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | 1993 TSR Trading Cards - Gold Set | 453 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The Tomb of Horrors—Greyhawk Classics Book 7 | 3 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WG12 Vale of the Mage | 5 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WG8 Fate of Istus | 21, 69, 86, 127 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | The World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting (Folio) | IC, 2, 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 21 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WGM1 Borderwatch | 2, 8, 12, 15, 20, 28, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WGR4 The Marklands | 3, 20, 23, 26, 39 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 1, 4, 5, 19, 25, 35-48, 53, 55, 56, 57, 61, 67, 75, 78, 80, 83, 84, 88, 95 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | WGR6 City of Skulls | 17, 18 |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 9, 12, 22, 26, 33, 34, 48, 55, 59, 80, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Lands} | Kingdom | (576 pop: 45000), (591 pop: Unknown), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 8, 10, 17, 32 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 3, 6, 7, 8, 21, 28, 43, 44, 48, 49, 57-59, 70, 73 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #052 | 20 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #056 | 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #253 | 44 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #256 | 49 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #262 | 38 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dragon magazine #263 | 51 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dungeon magazine #032 | 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 71 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Dungeon magazine #053 | 35 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | From the Ashes: References Card | #1 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | From the Ashes: References Card | #11 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | From the Ashes: References Card | #2 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | From the Ashes: References Card | #9 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Greyhawk Adventures | 39, 42, 49, 50, 77, 81, 82, 97 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Greyhawk Wars: Adventurer's Book | 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 14, 20, 25, 30, 31, 32 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 15, 25, 30, 31, 45, 47, 51, 54, 58, 59, 61, 62, 95, 102, 104, 140, 152, 156, 157, 159, 182, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 4, 6, 12 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 24 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 30 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 6, 10 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Sea of Death | 14 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | Saga of Old City | 6, 151, 160, 163, 237 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil | 29 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | The Adventure Begins | 3, 17, 19, 23, 60-62, 91, 108, 116 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | The Tomb of Horrors—Greyhawk Classics Book 7 | 3 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WG12 Vale of the Mage | 5 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WG8 Fate of Istus | 21, 69, 86, 127 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WGM1 Borderwatch | IBC, 2, 8, 12, 15, 20, 28 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WGR4 The Marklands | 3, 20, 23, 26, 39 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 1, 4, 5, 19, 25, 35-48, 53, 55, 56, 57, 61, 67, 75, 78, 80, 83 , 84, 88, 95 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 17, 18 |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 9, 12, 22, 26, 33, 34, 48, 55, 59, 80, IBC |
| Horned Society {Horned Ones} | People Group | People, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 8, 10, 17, 32 |
| Warduke (Hierach of the Horned Society) | Non-player character | Male, Human, Ftr18, | Dungeon magazine #105 | 70, 71 |
| Warduke (Hierach of the Horned Society) | Non-player character | Male, Human, Ftr18, | A Brief History of Warduke, D&D 3.5e Web Article |