Slave Lords
The Slave Lords are an organization of slavers who have terrorized the lands surrounding the Sea of Gearnat for over two decades. The group's modus operandi has generally been to raid coastal villages for slaves, aboard ships with yellow sails.
The Slave Lords evolved out of a similar organization known as "The Nine," which was founded by Stalman Klim, sometime between 569 and 573 CY. Klim, a human priest of the Earth Dragon from the hidden Pomarj town of Suderham, had left Suderham in 569 CY to explore the Flanaess, where he gathered a number of allies, including drow and members of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
In 574 CY, Klim and his allies returned to Suderham, where they slew its last king, Roderic and took control of the town. By 576, the organization had become known as the Slave Lords, though its ruling council was still known as the Nine.
From 576 to 580 CY, the Slave Lords thrived, raiding for slaves in a number of towns on the Gearnat coast, making slaves one of the Pomarj's most valuable exports. The Slave Lords' operations came to an end in 580, due to the machinations of adventurers hired by a coalition of legal authorities known as the Lords of Gearnat, and the destruction of Suderham by a volcanic eruption.
By 591 CY, however, reports had arisen that the Slave Lords had began their depredations once more, finding a new ally in the likes of Turrosh Mak, a powerful despot who had gained control of the Pomarj during the Greyhawk Wars. Their current leadership is unclear, though many suspect a number of the original leaders are still thriving.
Little detail is known about the hierarchy of the Slave Lords. What is known is that the ruling body is the Nine, known variously as the Inner Council, the Council of the Nine, and the Nine of the Inner Council. These individuals make policy for the entire organization, and are assumed to hold the title of Slave Lord (A1-4.45, 95, 105, 127).
Below the Nine is the Outer Council (or Outer Council of the Lords), presumably made up of the leaders of regional operations. These individuals seem to hold the rank of "Minor Lord" (A1-4.16, 45, 57).
The total number of Slave Lords on the Inner and Outer Councils is said to be twenty (A1-4.23).
Below the Outer Council is assumed to be the rank and file of the organization.
The Slave Lords have close ties to the cult of the Earth Dragon, the Scarlet Brotherhood, and the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj. They also have a working relationship with the criminal organization of Dyvers known as the Alliance. During their heyday (576-580 CY), the Slave Lords also had ties to the drow of Erelhei-Cinlu.
Enemies of the Slave Lords include the Lords of Gearnat, a coalition of nations in the vicinity of the Sea of Gearnat whose lands were raided by the Slave Lords from 576-580 CY. The exact composition of this alliance is unknown, but it certainly included much of the Wild Coast and perhaps Onnwal. Hardby, Greyhawk City, and Irongate may also have been involved.
The Slave Lords have a number of bases of operation. The best-known are:
Kalen Lekos, a settlement on Mount Drachenkopf, highest mountain in the Pomarj.
The Slave Pits of Highport (576-580 CY).
The Slavers' Stockade in the Drachensgrabs (576-580 CY).
The hidden town of Suderham in the Drachensgrabs (destroyed in 580 CY by the eruption of Mount Flamenblut).
Sevant's Tower, a partially collapsed tower near Sevant's Cove, a village north of Hardby. (Slavers.48-53)
Slavers Cove, a cove on the Nyr Dyv, located on the northwest side of the Greyhawk peninsula. (Slavers.24-27)
The ships of the Slave Lords typically sport yellow sails--actually thin covers placed over the ships functional sails, which can be furled when anonymity is required (Slavers.19). During the period of 576-580 CY, purple sails were sometimes used as well (A1-4.8, 12, 14, 15, 20, 23). Known ships of the Slave Lords include:
The Bloodwort, a purple-sailed ship captained by Captain Joinville. (A1-4.17, 45)
The Eternal Sun, a cog operating on the Nyr Dyv. (Slavers.19-20)
The Ghoul, a purple-sailed galley captained by Captain Girana. (A1-4.19-23, 45)
The Longspan, a cog operating on the Nyr Dyv. (Slavers.19-20)
The Radiance, a cog operating on the Nyr Dyv. (Slavers.19-20)
The Water Dragon, a small private galley used by the Nine on the crater lake surrounding Suderham. (A3.4, 19-20, 22, 25; A1-4.112, 121-122)
The Nine
Known members of the Nine from 576-580 include:
Stalman Klim (also known as Mordrammo).
Ajakstu, a human wizard.
Brother Milerjoi, a human monk of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
Brother Kerin, a human monk of the Scarlet Brotherhood, Milerjoi's assistant.
Eanwulf (also known as Feelta), a human pirate lord.
Edralve, an exiled drow priestess of Lolth from Erelhei-Cinlu.
Lamonsten the Lazy, an illusionist from Dyvers.
Nerelas, a human assassin.
Slippery Ketta, a human rogue.
Theg Narlot, a half-orc assassin.
Elredd
Ragnar Ruvik, dwarven fighter and brother of Agnar Ruvik. Leader of Slave Lord operations in Elredd. Holds the rank of Minor Lord. (A1-4.15-16)
Hazzard, human mage and Ragnar's right-hand. (A1-4.16)
Carn, an elderly human fighter running The Broken Rudder, a tavern in Elredd. (A1-4.15)
Knocker, a human thief operating out of the Broken Rudder. (A1-4.16)
Highport
Sturm Blucholtz (AKA Dirk), a human thief in charge of Highport's Slave Pits. A member of the Outer Circle. (A1.18; A1-4.44, 45; Slavers.2)
Pieta, a human cleric of Gruumsh. (A1.10; A1-4.35-36; Slavers.2)
Alforas, a slave merchant. (A1-4.45, 46)
Hargil, a half orc guard defending the Slave Pits. (A1-4.45)
Trost, a half orc guard defending the Slave Pits. (A1-4.45)
Safeton
The Mad One, an elven spy operating out of Safeton on the Wild Coast. (A1-4.12)
Agnar Ruvik (AKA Agnar Ock), a dwarven spy operating on the road between Safeton and Elredd. Brother of Ragnar Ruvik. (A1-4.13)
Targil the Red, a human spy operating on the road between Safeton and Elredd. (A1-4.13)
Bornthien, a halfling farmer forced by the Slave Lords to work as a spy on the road between Safeton and Elredd. (A1-4.13)
Sea of Gearnat
Girana, an elven fighter/mage. Captain of the Ghoul, a slaver ship. (A1-4.23]])
Joinville, captain of the Bloodwort, a slaver ship. (A1-4.17, 45)
The Slavers' Stockade
Markessa, an elven wizard who performed arcane experiments. A Minor Lord in charge of operations at the Slavers' Stockade in the Drachensgrabs. (A2)
Guliyet, a goblin witch doctor, and Markessa's assistant. (A2)
Blackthorn, an ogre mage, an agent sent by the Nine to observe Markessa.(A2)
Icar, a blind human fighter, perhaps of Touv stock. Commander of the Slavers' Stockade garrison. (A2)
Executioner, a powerful ogre and Icar's lieutenant. (A2)
Adhu Nazaryet, a hobgoblin shaman. (A2)
Gorbin Starworth, a human fighter. Captain of the Guard at the Stockade. (A2)
Kairn, Gorbin's half-orc lieutenant.
Carlstar Wiorfether, a human engineer, sapper, and miner. (A2)
Fyndax, a human alchemist. (A2)
Kyvin Trist, a human scribe. (A2)
Estelrath Tancred, a human slave merchant. (A2)
Suderham
Wimpell Frump, a human illusionist and Minor Lord. (A3; A1-4.95)
Samovar, a human slave merchant. (A1-4.102)
Deeb, a human thief. (A1-4.102-103)
Tudwill, a human magistrate of Suderham. (A1-4.105)
Known members, 591 CY to present
The current Slave Lords consist of:
Inner Circle
Stalman Klim
Turrosh Mak, despot of the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj
Brother Kerin
Markessa
Ah-Bey, a half-ogre fighter and priest of Beltar
Kent, a halfling thief
Nadanru, human wizard
Unjan, a fallen paladin of Mayaheine
Elredd
Davis the Reaver, a fighter in charge of operations in Elredd. (A3.10; Slavers.77)
Piera, Child of the Dragon, a priestess of the Earth Dragon in Elredd. (Slavers.77-78)
Rurik the Taskmaster, a fighter in charge of training troops for Turrosh Mak. (Slavers.78)
Hardby
Gormadoc, a halfling thief working in Hardby as a spy. (Slavers.35)
Highport
Markessa the Gold (AKA Tanva), an elven enchantress. A duplicate of Markessa in charge (with Braks) of operations in Highport. (Slavers.92-93)
Braks, a half-orc fighter in charge (with Markessa the Gold) of operations in Highport. (Slavers.92-93)
Kalen Lekos
Devon, a human fighter. Markessa's bodyguard. (Slavers.35)
Sevant's Tower
Markessa the Black (AKA Vessa), an elven mage/thief. A duplicate of Markessa in charge of Sevant's Tower. (Slavers.48-49)
Slavers Cove
Markessa the Red, a wood elf mage/thief once known as Tynley. A duplicate of Markessa in charge of Slavers Cove. (Slavers.27)
Woolly Bay
Malot, a human fighter; captain of a slaver cog. (Crossbows and Crossbones.5]])
Holvenya, a human priestess of the Earth Dragon serving on Malot's ship. (Crossbows and Crossbones.5]])
Vellosh, a human thief and priest of the Earth Dragon; in charge of a way station for captured slaves south of Fishtown, on Woolly Bay's eastern coast. (Crossbows and Crossbones.6-8]])
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