The Western Lands

These can broadly be taken to include the lands west and north of the Tangles and south of FIeichshriver. The map shows a complete lack of any significant settlements here and population density is very low. There are but 5,000 nomadic bandits here. The bandits of these lands are deeply hostile to Iuz, for one terrible, historical reason.

In late 584 CY, when the Pact of Greyhawk had been drafted and the war was ended but for skirmishing in the fardistant lands of the Pomarj, Ratik, and the margins of the Lost Lands, the priest Bernel of Hallorn commanded a gathering of bandit forces drawn from these western lands at what is now called Steelbone Meadows. Bernel was certainly paranoid, possibly completely insane. Ten thousand bandits gathered to celebrate the war's end, expecting to be given instructions for the new campaigns of pillage they looked forward to after the winter. As most of them slept in their huge, tented campsite, Bernel, who believed that the bandit leaders intended to turn against Iuz and reclaim their lands from Iuz's control, had over half of them slaughtered by fiends, orc assassins, and lethal magic. The survivors fled in all directions. They currently eke out a perilous living in these infertile, poor plains lands.

Unfortunately, the survivors own chaotic evil disposition prevented them from allying against their oppressor. Many of them turned on each other, claiming that the other had co-operated with Bernel, betraying his fellows to ensure his own survival. Thus, the roaming bandit gangs are as likely to attack and kill each other as they are to strike against Iuz's forces, who rarely patrol these lands any more. Bernel was swiftly replaced by Iuz and is now a prisoner in Dorakaa's dungeons. The new commander at Hallorn has suffered a strange fate of his own. Perhaps the dying curses of the men slain at Steelbone Meadows have affected one victim, at least.