Slave Lords
| Slave Lords | |
|---|---|
 Kalen Lekos, headquarters of the Slave Lords, as depicted in Slavers (2000). | |
| Alt. Spelling: | Slavelords |
| Type: | Criminal |
| Founded: | 569-573 CY |
| Leader: | The Nine |
| Members: | Slavers |
| Headquarters: | Kalen Lekos, Pomarj |
| Allies: | Orcish Empire of the Pomarj, Scarlet Brotherhood |
| Enemies: | Lords of Gearnat, others |
The Slave Lords are an organization of slavers who terrorized the lands surrounding the Sea of Gearnat for over two decades. The group's modus operandi is generally to raid coastal villages for slaves, aboard ships with yellow sails.
History
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The Slave Lords evolved out of a similar organization known as "The Nine," which was founded by Stalman Klim, sometime between 569 and 573 CY. Klim, a human priest of the Earth Dragon from the hidden Pomarj town of Suderham, had left Suderham in 569 CY to explore the Flanaess, where he gathered a number of allies, including drow and members of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
In 574 CY, Klim and his allies returned to Suderham, where they slew its last king, Roderic, and took control of the town. By 576, the organization had become known as the Slave Lords, though its ruling council was still known as the Nine.
From 576 to 580 CY, the Slave Lords thrive, raiding for slaves in a number of towns on the Gearnat coast, making slaves one of the Pomarj's most valuable exports. The Slave Lords' operations come to an end in 580 CY, however, brought down by the machinations of adventurers hired by a coalition of legal authorities known as the Lords of Gearnat, and Suderham is destroyed by a volcanic eruption.
By 591 CY, however, reports arise that the Slave Lords are active once more and continue their depredations, finding a new ally in the likes of Turrosh Mak, a powerful despot who gains control of the Pomarj during the Greyhawk Wars. Their leadership at this point is unclear, though many suspect a number of the original leaders are still thrive.
Structure
[edit | edit source]Little detail is known about the hierarchy of the Slave Lords. What is known is that the ruling body is the Nine, known variously as the Inner Council, the Council of the Nine, and the Nine of the Inner Council. These individuals make policy for the entire organization and are assumed to hold the title of Slave Lord.[1]
Below the Nine is the Outer Council (or Outer Council of the Lords), presumably made up of the leaders of regional operations. These individuals seem to hold the rank of "minor lord"[2].
The total number of Slave Lords on the Inner and Outer Councils is said to be twenty[3]
Below the Outer Council is assumed to be the rank and file of the organization.
Relationships
[edit | edit source]The Slave Lords have close ties to the cult of the Earth Dragon, the Scarlet Brotherhood, and the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj. They also have a working relationship with the criminal organization of Dyvers known as the Alliance. During their heyday (576-580 CY), the Slave Lords also had ties to the drow of Erelhei-Cinlu.
Enemies of the Slave Lords include the Lords of Gearnat, a coalition of nations in the vicinity of the Sea of Gearnat whose lands were raided by the Slave Lords from 576-580 CY. The exact composition of this alliance is unknown, but it certainly included much of the Wild Coast and perhaps Onnwal. Hardby, Greyhawk City, and Irongate may also have been involved.
The Scarlet Brotherhood at some point helped finance the Slave Lords as mentioned in adventure A4 In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords under the description of Brother Kerin. "Brother Kerin is the representative of the Scarlet Brotherhood, who helped finance and set up the Slave Lords."
Bases
[edit | edit source]The Slave Lords have a number of bases of operation. The best-known are:
- Kalen Lekos—settlement on Mount Drachenkopf, highest mountain in the Pomarj.
- Slave Pits in Highport (576-580 CY).
- Slavers' Stockade in the Drachensgrabs (576-580 CY).
- Suderham—hidden town in the Drachensgrabs (destroyed in 580 CY by the eruption of Mount Flamenblut).
- Sevant's Tower—partially collapsed tower near Sevant's Cove, a village north of Hardby.[4]
- Slavers Cove—cove on the Nyr Dyv, located on the northwest side of the Greyhawk peninsula.[5]
Ships
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The ships of the Slave Lords typically sport yellow sails--actually thin covers placed over the ships functional sails, which can be furled when anonymity is required[6]. During the period of 576-580 CY, purple sails were sometimes used as well[7]. Known ships of the Slave Lords include:
- Bloodwort—purple-sailed ship captained by Captain Joinville.[8]
- Eternal Sun—cog operating on the Nyr Dyv.[9]
- Ghoul—purple-sailed galley captained by Captain Girana.[10]
- Longspan—cog operating on the Nyr Dyv.[9]
- Radiance—cog operating on the Nyr Dyv.[9]
- Water Dragon—small private galley used by the Nine on the crater lake surrounding Suderham.[11][12]
Known members, 576-580 CY
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The Nine
[edit | edit source]Known members of the Nine from 576-580 include:
- Stalman Klim (also known as Mordrammo).
- Ajakstu—human wizard.
- Brother Milerjoi—human monk of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
- Brother Kerin—human monk of the Scarlet Brotherhood, Milerjoi's assistant.
- Eanwulf (also known as Feelta)—human pirate lord.
- Edralve—exiled drow priestess of Lolth from Erelhei-Cinlu.
- Lamonsten the Lazy—illusionist from Dyvers.
- Nerelas—human assassin.
- Slippery Ketta—human rogue.
- Theg Narlot—half-orc assassin.
Elredd
[edit | edit source]- Ragnar Ruvik—dwarven fighter and brother of Agnar Ruvik. Leader of Slave Lord operations in Elredd. Holds the rank of minor lord.[13]
- Hazzard—human mage and Ragnar's right-hand.[14]
- Carn—elderly human fighter running The Broken Rudder, a tavern in Elredd.[15]
- Knocker—human thief operating out of the Broken Rudder.[14]
Highport
[edit | edit source]- Sturm Blucholtz (AKA Dirk)—human thief in charge of Highport's Slave Pits. A member of the Outer Circle.[16][17][18]
- Pieta—human cleric of Gruumsh.[19][20][18]
- Alforas—slave merchant.[21]
- Hargil—half orc guard defending the Slave Pits.[22]
- Trost—half orc guard defending the Slave Pits.[22]
Safeton
[edit | edit source]- The Mad One—elven spy operating out of Safeton on the Wild Coast.[23]
- Agnar Ruvik (AKA Agnar Ock)—dwarven spy operating on the road between Safeton and Elredd. Brother of Ragnar Ruvik.[24]
- Targil the Red—human spy operating on the road between Safeton and Elredd.[24]
- Bornthien—halfling farmer forced by the Slave Lords to work as a spy on the road between Safeton and Elredd.[24]
Sea of Gearnat
[edit | edit source]- Girana—elven fighter/mage. Captain of the Ghoul, a slaver ship.[3]
- Joinville—captain of the Bloodwort, a slaver ship.[8]
Slavers' Stockade
[edit | edit source]- Markessa—elven wizard who performed arcane experiments. A minor lord in charge of operations at the Slavers' Stockade in the Drachensgrabs.[25]
- Guliyet—goblin witch doctor, and Markessa's assistant.[25]
- Blackthorn—ogre mage, an agent sent by the Nine to observe Markessa.[25]
- Icar—blind human fighter, perhaps of Touv stock. Commander of the Slavers' Stockade garrison.[25]
- Executioner—powerful ogre and Icar's lieutenant.[25]
- Adhu Nazaryet—hobgoblin shaman.[25]
- Gorbin Starworth—human fighter. Captain of the Guard at the Stockade.[25]
- Kairn—Gorbin's half-orc lieutenant.
- Carlstar Wiorfether—human engineer, sapper, and miner.[25]
- Fyndax—human alchemist.[25]
- Kyvin Trist—human scribe.[25]
- Estelrath Tancred—human slave merchant.[25]
Suderham
[edit | edit source]- Wimpell Frump—human illusionist and minor lord.[26][27]
- Samovar—human slave merchant.[28]
- Deeb—human thief.[29]
- Tudwill—human magistrate of Suderham.[30]
Known members, 591 CY+
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In later years, known members of the Slave Lords include:
Inner Circle
[edit | edit source]- Stalman Klim
- Turrosh Mak—despot of the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj
- Brother Kerin
- Markessa
- Ah-Bey—half-ogre fighter and priest of Beltar
- Kent—halfling thief
- Nadanru, human wizard
- Unjan—fallen paladin of Mayaheine
Elredd
[edit | edit source]- Davis the Reaver—fighter in charge of operations in Elredd.[19][31]
- Piera, Child of the Dragon—priestess of the Earth Dragon in Elredd.[32]
- Rurik the Taskmaster—fighter in charge of training troops for Turrosh Mak.[33]
Hardby
[edit | edit source]Highport
[edit | edit source]- Markessa the Gold (AKA Tanva)—elven enchantress. A duplicate of Markessa in charge (with Braks) of operations in Highport.[35]
- Braks—half-orc fighter in charge (with Markessa the Gold) of operations in Highport.[35]
Kalen Lekos
[edit | edit source]Sevant's Tower
[edit | edit source]- Markessa the Black (AKA Vessa)—elven mage/thief. A duplicate of Markessa in charge of Sevant's Tower.[36]
Slavers Cove
[edit | edit source]- Markessa the Red—wood elf mage/thief once known as Tynley. A duplicate of Markessa in charge of Slavers Cove.[37]
Woolly Bay
[edit | edit source]- Malot—human fighter; captain of a slaver cog.[38]
- Holvenya—human priestess of the Earth Dragon serving on Malot's ship.[38]
- Vellosh—human thief and priest of the Earth Dragon; in charge of a way station for captured slaves south of Fishtown, on Woolly Bay's eastern coast. [39]
References
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.45, 95, 105, 127.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.16, 45, 57.
- ↑ a b A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.23.
- ↑ Slavers (2000), p.48-53.
- ↑ Slavers (2000), p.24-27.
- ↑ Slavers (2000), p.19.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.8, 12, 14, 15, 20, 23.
- ↑ a b A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.17, 45.
- ↑ a b c Slavers (2000), p.19-20.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.19-23, 45.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.4, 19-20, 22, 25.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.112, 121-122.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.15-16.
- ↑ a b A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.16.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.15.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.18.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.44, 45.
- ↑ a b Slavers (2000), p.2.
- ↑ a b A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.10.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.35-36.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.45, 46.
- ↑ a b A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.45.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.12.
- ↑ a b c A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.13.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k A2 Secret of the Slavers Stockade (1981).
- ↑ A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords (1981).
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.95.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.102.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.102-103.
- ↑ A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords (1986), p.105.
- ↑ Slavers (2000), p.77.
- ↑ Slavers (2000), p.77-78.
- ↑ Slavers (2000), p.78.
- ↑ a b Slavers (2000), p.35.
- ↑ a b Slavers (2000), p.92-93.
- ↑ Slavers (2000), p.48-49.
- ↑ Slavers (2000), p.27.
- ↑ a b Crossbows and Crossbones, p.5.
- ↑ Crossbows and Crossbones, p.6-8.
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Cook, David. Slave Pits of the Undercity. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- Cook, David, Allen Hammack, Harold Johnson, Tom Moldvay, Lawrence Schick, and Edward Carmien. Scourge of the Slave Lords. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
- Cook, David, Allen Hammack, Harold Johnson, Tom Moldvay, Lawrence Schick, and Skip Williams. Against the Slave Lords. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2013.
- Hammack, Allen. Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Johnson, Harold, and Tom Moldvay. Secret of the Slavers Stockade. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
- Reynolds, Sean K.. Crossbows and Crossbones. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Reynolds, Sean K., and Chris Pramas. Slavers. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Schwalb, Robert J. "The Last Slave Lord." Dungeon #215. Bellevue, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2013.
- Shick, Lawrence. In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
- Vaughan, Greg A. "Wrath of the Abyss." Dungeon #119. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | Adventure | Located in: Wild Coast (Suderheim, Drachensgrab mountains), | A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity | 1, 3 |
| A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | Adventure | Located in: Wild Coast (Suderheim, Drachensgrab mountains), | A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords | 3 |
| A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | Adventure | Located in: Wild Coast (Suderheim, Drachensgrab mountains), | A2 Secret of the Slavers Stockade | 18, 19, 28 |
| A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | Adventure | Located in: Wild Coast (Suderheim, Drachensgrab mountains), | A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | All |
| A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | Adventure | Located in: Wild Coast (Suderheim, Drachensgrab mountains), | A4 In The Dungeons of the Slave Lords | 1, 3, 19, 22 |
| A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | Adventure | Located in: Wild Coast (Suderheim, Drachensgrab mountains), | Dragon magazine #043 | 12 |
| A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | Adventure | Located in: Wild Coast (Suderheim, Drachensgrab mountains), | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 72 |
| A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | Adventure | Located in: Wild Coast (Suderheim, Drachensgrab mountains), | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 30 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity | |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords | |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | A2 Secret of the Slavers Stockade | |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords | |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | A4 In The Dungeons of the Slave Lords | |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | Dragon magazine #043 | 12 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | Dragon magazine #167 | 13 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | Dragon magazine #200 | 70 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders | 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e | 6, 12, 26, 27, 101, 110 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 88 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 27 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | Return of the Eight | 32 |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | All |
| Slavelords {Slave Lords} {Slavers} | People Group | Organization, | The Adventure Begins | 3 |