Lord Henway’s Manor and Menagerie
Lord Henway is a true eccentric, inheriting his peculiar tastes from a long line of equally unusual ancestors. His manor is a chaotic blend of mismatched architectures, and within its walls thrives one of the most bizarre spectacles in Greyhawk: a private menagerie.
This collection of over 100 varieties of birds and 20 larger beasts is open to the public on Freeday afternoons—for a small fee from nobles, merchants, and craftsmen, though those from the Low Quarter are admitted freely (though few make the journey).
The Manor’s Peculiar Layout
Half of the estate consists of living quarters—a haphazard amalgamation of styles:
- One wing resembles a desert palace with silken drapes and brass lanterns.
- Another is a mountain villa, adorned with stone-carved fireplaces and thick fur rugs.
- Yet another feels like a tropical retreat, with woven bamboo walls and open-air balconies.
Despite his wealth, Lord Henway’s table is simple, his servants few, and his treasures modest—most of his fortune is invested in expanding his collection of rare creatures.
The Menagerie
The centerpiece of Henway’s estate is the great conical aviary, a humid, lush sanctuary filled with:
- Tropical birds in every imaginable color, their screeches and songs filling the air.
- Hanging vines and ferns, crisscrossing the ceiling like natural beams.
Beyond the aviary, visitors pass through a hall of cages, where fearsome beasts prowl beneath a thinly protected catwalk:
- Three lions, two tigers, and four brown bears growl from the depths.
- An owlbear and two manticores (with clipped wings) lurk in reinforced enclosures.
- A leucrotta, its cage permanently enchanted with silence, watches with unsettling intelligence.
- Three hell hounds, in an extra-deep pit, their eyes burning like embers.
- Two elephants, standing with majestic patience.
- A displacer beast, a griffon (also clipped), and even two sea lions swim in salted aquariums.
- And the pride of the menagerie: a four-headed hydra, secured within a reinforced, rune-carved enclosure.
Lord Henway is always eager to expand his collection, offering:
- 400 gp for great carnivores.
- 1,000 gp for monstrous creatures like hell hounds or sea lions.
- Up to 4,000 gp for truly rare finds, like the hydra (for which he paid 3,200 gp).
To adventurers bold enough to capture and transport exotic beasts, Lord Henway is a wealthy patron—but those who fail to handle his creatures with care may find themselves on the wrong side of his temper... or his cages.
Comments