|
I’m trying to work out the details on the Horned Society for my campaign and looking for sources that could expand on the very limited stuff I’ve found so far. So far I have read the LGG, the “brief reference on the horned society” by Erik Mona (good stuff), as well as the Adventure Begins and From the Ashes. Is there anything else that could help me work the details on what the current HS looks like? Does anybody know if the FC2: Tyrants of the Nine Hells with have any info about the Horned Society in it? Also what Archdevil(s) would the HS worship? I also have the book “Artefact of Evil” by Gary Gygax is it worth reading through this book to find out any info on the HS.
Although not current, Iuz the Evil sourcebook has an entire chapter on the HS. Most of it has to do with his minions when he occupied this land, but it still has some great locations descriptions.
The current state of the Horned Society is detailed in Iuz the Evil, but even if this is the best info there is, it is still sketchy. I recall various ideas as to what exactly the Hierarchs revered, from Nerull to the Archdevil Asmodeus to every Hierarch another evil being, so this will be up to you to decide anyway. Somehow, I think they originally were written as to revere Asmodeus, but this changed to Nerull later - probably due to the exclusion of Devils (and Demons) in AD&D2, but I´m not sure at all if this notion is supported by canon.
Stefan
There's a pretty detailed article here:
http://www.dracheninsel.de/dracheninsel/add/greyhawk/horned.htm
The Horned Society is my favorite Greyhawk organization too.
For what it's worth, the Dungeon adventure "Strike on the Rabid Dawn" (I forget issue # right now, but it was just before the format shift), not only has a Horned Society cell, but they follow Asmodeus. The leader is even a Deciple of Asomodeus.
That tells me that the Horned Society probably should revere Asmodeus.
but that's based on my rather limited Greyhawk-fu.
I love the Horned Society, and awhile back tried to make some sense of their organization back on the Wizards.com boards.
Here are some of the answers that were scrounged up.
The Unnameable Hierarch
(Fighter 7/Wiz 14)
Once a noble wizard, the Unnamable Hierarch was responsible for releasing the Demon Lord Fraz Urblu from imprisonment deep beneath Castle Greyhawk. Unfortunately, Fraz Urblu was privy to the true name of the Unnamable Hierarch, whom he quickly humbled. Afterwards this once good wizard was spirited away to the Abyss, where he was forced to serve the Demon Lord of Deception, a process which undoubtably twisted his soul.
Finally, in desperation, the Unnamable Hierarch called upon the power of the Nine Hells to save him, and was answered by Fraz Urblu's chief rival, the Devil Lord Baalzebul. In exchange for his allegiance to the powers of Hell, the Unnamable Hierarch was rescued from Fraz Urblu's realm by Baatorian forces. Gathering like minded individuals to himself, the Unnamable Hierarch led a band of thirteen dark hearted adventurers into the Hobgoblin infested lands that would become known as the kingdom of the Horned Society. It is said that even should the Unnamable Hierarch be slain, he will only rise again as a great devil lord.
Hierarch Blontug
(Cleric 4/Fighter 9/Assassin 9)
It is possible that Hierarch Blontug was one of the three powerful "Fighter Lords" mentioned in the CY 576 set of Greyhawk, seeing as his only source material (Dragon #56), suggests that he was a military commander of the Hierarchs. He is listed as being a 4th Level Cleric, a 9th level fighter, and a 9th level Assassin. It is most likely that Blontug was killed during the Blood Moon Festival.
Hierarch Andrade Mirrius
(Cleric 18 of Nerull)
Andrade Mirrius began his career as a worshipper of Nerull in the City of Greyhawk, the leader of the Cult of the Shriven Sickle, a dread group of Nerull worshippers that terrorized the city. In public he was known as the owner of The Pit, a cruel gladiatorial combat club that took advantage of the poor folk of the city.
Hierarch Nezmajen
(Cleric 15 of Nerull)
A Cleric of Nerull, who is currently holding out against Iuz's forces in the Felreev Forest. He escaped the Blood Moon coup due to his absence.
Hierarch Durgoth Shem
Durgoth Shem is known only from the novel of Tomb of Horrors. In that book it is suggested that it was Durgoth that led an expedition into the infamous Tomb, hoping to find one of the three theorparts. Durgoth apparently was one of the few insane worshippers of Tharizdun, and was being used by Scarlet Brotherhood agents to further their own ends.
Hierarch Vazirian
(Cleric 14 of Asomodus)
Vazirian was a well known renegade Shield Lander, with one fatal flaw. Every year, Vazirian returned to his birthplace: a mansion located in the hilly district west of Admundfort. There he carried on an affair with his mistress, Tondaleyo, a mage in the service of Iuz. It was a dangerous, foolish affair, since both Iuz and the Hierarchs would not approve if they learned of its existence.
Vazirian was a Cleric of Asomodus, and was incredibly powerful. He was five foot ten, of medium build, and had blond hair with striking green eyes. He tended to wear lavish jewelery worth at least 3,000gp in value. His age was 35 years old (CY 580). Vazirian was proofreading a new Unholy Text of Asomodus that he himself had sponsored, when he was killed by adventurers.
Hierarch Guiliana Mortidus, The Night Dame
(Cleric 12)
The owner of the Golden Phoenix Inn in Greyhawk, Guiliana was one of the few high ranking clerics of Nerull to escape Iuz's wrath during the Blood Moon massacre. Her ownership of this well attended Inn, which sees business from members of the Directing Oligarchy, the Circle of Eight, guildmasters, high priests and nobles allows her many oppurtunities to spy on the many enemies of the Horned Society. She maintains with fellow Hierarchs Andrade Mirrius and Nezmajen. She was 44 years old in CY 591. Guiliana has been recently elevated to Hierarch status in a special ceremony attended by the Unnamable Hierarch himself.
Hierarch Warduke
(Fighter 18)
Warduke's origins are something of a mystery. He appeared out of the chaos and blood shed of the Greyhawk Wars, bearing a magical helm given to him by the Unnamable Hierarch. He is the nominal enforcer of the new Horned Society, and has been known for his ability to lay low entire groups of adventurers single handedly.
Hierarch Christophe Jean Markosian, "Devil Behind Thrones"
(Sorceror 5/Fighter 2/Disciple of Asomodus 10)
The newest Hierarch, Markosian became a servant of Asmodeus during what was intended to be a life long prison sentence. He has since become greatly powerful, and seeks to subvert the town of Hardby to Hierarch control.
|
|
I just picked up Dungeon issue #111 that has the adventure Strike on the Rabid Dawn in it. The author mentions in the appendix of the adventure that cells of the Horned Society have sprung up all over Greyhawk including Istivin wich is where my campaign is being based out of. I was wondering if Gleep Wurp The Eyebiter could be a Hierarch as he is noted in the Liberation of Geoff as trying to convince the cloud giants to attack Iuz in order that he can regain favour with his old master the Hierarch Nezmajen.Once Wurp realized that he could not manipulate the giants he moved on to his old stomping grounds in Sterich. Disguised in Istivin Wurp began promoting various cults and manipulating the greedy nobility in order that he could gain favour with the HS and allow them to gain a foot hold in Sterich and ultimately create a new bastion of evil even greater than the orignal horned lands. Im also thinking that the HS will never agian gather all their eggs in one basket again after the massacre of the bloodmoon festival. Chances are they make a much more formidable enemy if they cant all be wiped out in one coup by Iuz or adventurers if there spread out in hiding across the Flaness.I was also thinking that perhaps diffrent groups,cults cells or whatever revere diffrent Archdevils, or Nerull depending on their cults propaganda/ideals/beliefs, and that the HS is probably more concerned with overall power as oppossed to venerating just one specific patron. Just some ideas Ive be rollin around in my mind, let me know if you think they have merit or if Im over looking anything here.Thanks again for the help, this is a good thread.