Nyr Dyv

The Nyr Dyv, or "Lake of Unknown Depths," is the largest freshwater lake in the Flanaess, serving as a vital trade route while harboring deadly storms, monstrous creatures, and the enigmatic Rhennee bargefolk. Legends speak of the sunken Isles of Woe, while piracy and war continue to shape its treacherous waters.

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The Nyr Dyv, often called the "Lake of Unknown Depths," is the largest known freshwater body in the Flanaess. This vast lake serves as a critical artery of trade, connecting the Free City of Greyhawk, Dyvers, Furyondy, and the Urnst states, extending commerce as far as Perrenland and the Theocracy of the Pale. Its central location and many navigable inlets—Velverdyva, Veng, and Artonsamay Rivers—make it the busiest waterway in the region. Its major outlets include the Selintan River to the south and the Nesser River to the southeast, facilitating vital trade to distant lands.

A Waterscape of Danger and Opportunity

Despite its economic importance, the Nyr Dyv is fraught with peril. Its depths remain an enigma, rumored to be bottomless in places, and its waters teem with ferocious storms and monstrous denizens. Among the lake’s more infamous creatures are the Nyrrian boatcrusher, freshwater serpents, and giant octopi, while rumors persist of aquatic umber hulks lurking in its depths. The presence of a selkie community off the coast of Oldred offers some protection, as these enigmatic beings occasionally warn sailors of impending threats—though they harbor deep distrust toward the Rhennee.

The Threat of Piracy and War

The Nyr Dyv has long been plagued by piracy, despite naval patrols from Greyhawk, Dyvers, Furyondy, and Urnst. The northern waters have grown particularly perilous since Iuz's return, diminishing trade along the Admundfort Isle corridor. As a result, smugglers and black-market traders have turned to secluded coves and inlets along the lake’s southern shores. Most ships on the Nyr Dyv arm themselves with harpoons, pikes, and ballistae, prepared for both monstrous attacks and human treachery.

The Wandering Waterfolk: The Rhennee

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Nyr Dyv is its wandering inhabitants, the Rhennee. These nomadic barge-dwellers live their entire lives upon the lake, gathering in secluded coves along Midbay and near the river mouths. Though often mistrusted—some accuse them of thievery and piracy—the Rhennee are also expert navigators and traders, offering their services as guides to captains unfamiliar with the lake’s treacherous currents. Their society is clan-based, each barge ruled by a "lord" who resides in a cabin with his family, while "cousins" (blood-related or not) work and live aboard the vessel. Their unique cant and coded signals of flags and lanterns allow them to communicate secretly across great distances.

A typical Rhennee barge measures between 12 to 18 feet wide and 30 to 45 feet long, often equipped with a lug sail and, on larger vessels, an aft-rigged gaff sail. Defensively, the Rhennee fortify their barges with planked rails, heavy crossbows, and even scorpions at the bow and stern. When anchored, they chain their vessels together, creating a formidable floating enclave.

Legends of the Isles of Woe

Beneath the lake’s depths lies one of the greatest mysteries of the Flanaess: the fabled ruins of the Isles of Woe. Said to have sunk beneath the waves long before the Great Migrations, these lost isles are the subject of countless expeditions—none of which have returned with definitive proof of their existence. On rare occasions, strange silver coins, eerie obsidian carvings, and unusual jewelry emerge in the markets of Dyvers, Greyhawk, and Leukish, purportedly dredged up from the lake floor. Most scholars dismiss them as forgeries, but a few whisper of ancient arcane secrets still hidden in the lake’s shadowy depths.

A Crucial Yet Treacherous Domain

The Nyr Dyv is a lifeline for trade, a haven for rogues, and a graveyard for the unwary. Whether you are a merchant seeking fortune, a pirate testing the odds, or an adventurer drawn by the mysteries of the Isles of Woe, the Lake of Unknown Depths remains one of the most formidable and fascinating regions in the World of Greyhawk.