Midlands
| Stronghold of the Midlands | |
|---|---|
 Midlands, depicted in "Where the Bandits Are", Dragon #63 (1982), p.14. Art by Darlene. | |
| General information | |
| Region: | Bandit Kingdoms |
| Demographics | |
| Languages: | Common, orcish, Halfling |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Iuz |
The Midlands is one of the Bandit Kingdoms.
History
[edit | edit source]
This area was settled, if not very well, by Oeridians as they pushed eastward to become the Great Kingdom of the Aerdi.[1][2] It was never very tightly held, and when the Viceroyalty of Ferrond (to the west) revolted against the Great Kingdom in 254 CY to become the Kingdom of Furyondy, the area between Furyondy and the Great Kingdom (to the east) fell under control of local petty nobles[2]. These "Middle Lands" were once an enormous region, and included the "plains north of the Nyr Dyv" and once spread as far west as the Veng River,[2] and as far east as across the Zumker River to the Griffs, in the valley of the Zumkend River and Calbut.[3] (see cartography image at right). Eventually this name faded so that only the central-most domain is referred to as the "Midlands".
In later years, Midlands has a tempestuous relationship with the "capital" of the Bandit Kingdoms, Rookroost, being sometimes allies and other times enemies. By 583 CY, and the coming of the Empire of Iuz, the region is allied with Rookroost, but falls to and is absorbed by the Old One's forces. The Midland's soldiers are further decimated in the Steelbone Meadows massacre. In 591 CY the region is ruled from Kinemeet in the Kingdom of Johrase.
Geography
[edit | edit source]Midlands lies between two forests, the Fellreev and Tangles. It is largely made up of plains.[4]
Borders
[edit | edit source]Midlands shares its borders with many other Bandit Kingdoms due to its central location, namely Abbarra to the west, Mighty Freehold and Greenkeep to the north, Rookroost and Dimre to the east, and the Earldom of the Tangles to the south.
People
[edit | edit source]Religion
[edit | edit source]The region is led by a temple of Hextor.[4]
Later—during and after the Greyhawk Wars—Iuz is the main faith in Midlands as is the case with all of his occupied lands.
Languages
[edit | edit source]Common is the predominant trade language in the area, along with , Halfling. Once the region is invaded and overrun, orcish is also frequently found.[4]
Notable individuals
[edit | edit source]- Graf Venholtee (male human Clr3/Ftr7)—leader in 578 CY[3][5]
- Graf Demmel Tadurinal (CE male human Clr8 of Iuz—)leader in 591 CY[2]
Government
[edit | edit source]It is ruled from a temple "across the Artonsamay River from Rookroost."[4] The temple was razed in 585CY, and after the Greyhawk Wars it is overseen from Kinemeet, primarily by orcish forces of the Empire of Iuz, led by Graf Demmel Tadurinal.[4]
Military
[edit | edit source]Land forces
[edit | edit source]In 578 CY, Midlands are able to field approximately 200 cavalry as well as 450 infantry soldiers.[3]
Relationships
[edit | edit source]Allies
[edit | edit source]While the other Free Lords of the Combination are often rivals, they also frequently band together to fight outside forces.
Enemies
[edit | edit source]In later years, Iuz occupies Midlands, and the original inhabitants fight against him.
In Legends of Greyhawk
[edit | edit source] | This section contains content from the "Legends of Greyhawk" organized-play campaign. It is officially published by WotC's licensee and is based on the DMG (2024), so may differ from earlier publications. |
The Bandit Kingdoms[6] premiered as part of the Legends of Greyhawk organized play campaign in March 2026. It is run by Premier Organizer West Coast Adventurers Guild, owned and operated by Wolf Miller (Hallowed Woods, LLC). The Lead Story Designer is Mike Olson.[7]. Casey Brown, author of The Unofficial Living Greyhawk Bandit Kingdoms Summary (2016), is a consultant[6] and author for the region.[8]
In Living Greyhawk
[edit | edit source] | This section contains content from the Living Greyhawk organized-play campaign. |
In the nationwide Living Greyhawk organized play campaign (2000-2008), Midlands were used in the Bandit Kingdoms region, though they were not featured as strongly as others like Rookroost and Rift Barrens.
Publishing history
[edit | edit source]Prior to 2000, very little was known of Midlands outside military numbers, and some brief military actions. The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000) first gives some brief detail about the region.
References
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.23.
- ↑ a b c d Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.31.
- ↑ a b c "News of the North Central Flanaess". Dragon #56 (Dec 1981), p.21.
- ↑ a b c d e Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.27.
- ↑ "Where the Bandits Are". Dragon #63 (Jul 1982), p.14.
- ↑ a b Wolf Miller. (@Trainging_Dragons). Baldman Games Discord. "It’s ENNIE gold awarded Mike Olson as story lead currently for both. His name should be one you know, if not he’s done everything from Rick n Morty vs DnD to consulting on young Sheldon the tv show through to *inventing entire rpg systems*. He’s also a huge Greyhawk fan.... I will confirm that Casey Brown is involved with BK (so far consulting level only) but is aware that we are intending to edit problematic themes and bring the vastly dense setting to modern standards." 5 July 2025
- ↑ Wolf Miller. (@Trainging_Dragons). Dungeons & Dragons Discord (official WotC) "West Coast Adventurer’s Guild (me and my team) are taking up BK and Wild Coast." 3 June 2025.[1]
- ↑ Miller, Wolf (2026 June 14). Names of authors. Dice Online Games—General lounge,. WCAG (Discord). Retrieved on 22 June 2026.
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands (Stronghold of the) | Kingdom | Bandit Kingdoms, | Dragon magazine #056 | 21 |
| Midlands (Stronghold of the) | Kingdom | Bandit Kingdoms, | Dragon magazine #063 | 14 |
| Midlands (Stronghold of the) | Kingdom | Bandit Kingdoms, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 25, 27, 29, 31 |