Iuz, Land of
The dread realm of Iuz is a land of terror ruled by its namesake, a demonic cambion whose dark sorcery and monstrous armies threaten all of the Flanaess. Freed from imprisonment in 570 CY, Iuz has reclaimed his throne and now prepares for war, seeking vengeance against Furyondy, Veluna, and all who would oppose him.
History
Iuz (pronounced "EYE-ooze") is both the name of the fell realm and its dread ruler, a half-demon, half-human cambion who emerged as a conqueror among the petty warlords of the north. Initially claiming a small kingdom in the Howling Hills, he expanded his rule through ruthless cunning, military strength, and alliances with humanoid tribes. By 479 CY, Iuz controlled the lands from the Howling Hills to Whyestil Lake, establishing himself as a terror to his neighbors, particularly Furyondy to the south.
Iuz's reign was temporarily disrupted in 505 CY, when the mad archmage Zagig Yragerne imprisoned him beneath Castle Greyhawk, along with eight other deities. For decades, the realm stagnated without its master, and neighboring lands prospered in his absence. However, in 570 CY, Iuz was freed by an ill-fated adventuring party that included Tenser the Archmage and Lord Robilar. Swearing vengeance, Iuz reclaimed his throne of bone and began gathering his armies once more, eager to resume his conquests and punish those who dared oppose him.
Politics and Society
The land of Iuz is steeped in unrelenting evil. Even the fearless Wolf Nomads and Rovers of the Barrens refuse to step upon its cursed soil, preferring to travel through the Cold Marshes rather than risk its malign influence. The infamous Road of Skulls, paved with the bones of Iuz’s enemies, stretches from Dorakaa to the Howling Hills, marking the path of conquest.
The realm is ruled by a mix of human vassals and monstrous warlords, many of whom were once the petty nobles that held power before Iuz’s rise. Some are renegades from Furyondy, while others are utterly subjugated to humanoid overlords who delight in inflicting pain and suffering upon human serfs. Slavery is common, and human life is worth little in the eyes of Iuz’s twisted lieutenants.
Iuz feigns friendship with the Horned Society, though he secretly covets their lands and plots their downfall. His hatred for the good-aligned nations of the south, particularly Furyondy, Veluna, and Highfolk, is absolute. War is inevitable, and he revels in the torment he will bring upon them.
Religion
The only permitted faith in the Land of Iuz is the worship of its dark lord. Those who refuse to pay homage to him face unspeakable punishments. While some orc and goblin tribes still cling to their traditional deities, such heresy is not tolerated in Iuz’s central domains.
Military
Iuz commands one of the most formidable armies in the Flanaess, bolstered by his own dark sorcery and demonic patrons. His forces include:
- Humanoid legions of orcs, goblins, hobgoblins, and gnolls, bred for war and loyal to their monstrous overlords.
- Losels, horrific ape-orc hybrids, used as scouts and shock troops in the Fellreev Forest.
- Human brigands and cultists, drawn to his promise of power and cruelty.
- Undead legions, raised by his necromancers to bolster his ever-growing ranks.
- Elite Woodsrunners, outlaw rangers and woodsmen from the Vesve Forest, who act as scouts and ambushers for his armies.
- Fiendish warbands, demons and abyssal creatures bound to his service through dark rituals.
Iuz’s war machine is vast, ruthless, and growing in strength with each passing year. The banners of darkness gather once more, and the good nations of the Flanaess fear what is to come.
Notable Locales
- Dorakaa – The blackened capital of Iuz, a fortress city of suffering and death. Its dungeons are infamous for the atrocities committed within.
- Kendragund – Located on the southern edge of the Howling Hills, this was Iuz’s first conquest, where he cowed the Urzun orcs into his service through a terrifying display of his unholy power.
- The Groaning Mines – An ancient dwarven mine in the Howling Hills, named for the eerie moans that echo from its depths. Few dare to explore its tunnels, and rumors abound of undead horrors lurking within.
- The Soul Husk Caverns – A place of great mystery and dread. It is whispered that these caverns hold the key to Iuz’s ascension, a secret tied to the dark power that transformed him from a mere cambion into a demigod.
The Future of Iuz’s Reign
With Iuz restored to power, war looms once more. His hatred for Furyondy and Veluna burns hotter than ever, and he will stop at nothing to break them beneath his iron grasp. As his armies grow, the Flanaess watches with bated breath, fearing the return of an age of terror—an age when the Old One will march again.
His vengeance is long in coming, but it will be absolute.
Proper Name: Empire of Iuz
Ruler: Iuz (cambion demigod)
Government: Dictatorship, directly ruled by Iuz
Major Settlements: Dorakaa
Resources: Furs, electrum; resources scarce and not exported
Population: Orc, Human, Hobgoblin, Goblin
Law: CE
Allies: Horned Society
Enemies: Most sane beings of Oerth count Iuz as their enemy; all fear him
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