Author: Jared

Anarchy in Iuz, and the Cells of the Boneheart: Yes, that's right. Through unknown means, many of the humanoids in Iuz have rebelled against their dark tyrant, pledging allegiance instead to the traditional humanoid gods. How this occured is not known, but some new power may be causing problems like this, or possibly it was the Horned Society doube-crossing its ally. Whatever the reason, humanoid risings came up across Iuz, and somehow a bloody civil war has erupted. The Boneheart magic-users have tried to contain it, but now the Horned Society has seized the opportunity and begun its own invasions, realizing that Iuz would double-cross them sooner or later. Anarchy has erupted, and now Halga and Null control only Dorakaa with loyal monsters and humanoids, the rebelling humanoids whipped into a fanatical frenzy by some mysterious power. Iuz himself has fled to the Abyss, and the Horned Society has begun to try and quell the warring factions.
With its attention diverted northwards, the Shield Landers have some desperately needed breathing space, but the Rovers of the Barrens and the northern Bandit Kingdoms are not so lucky, some of the bandits having allied with the Horned Society, who is now aiming to subvert Iuz's territory and create a new northern empire. It is quite likely they will succeed, although the other warring factions, as well as outside enemies, may have something to say about that. More than likely, the Horned Society will vastly expand its borders at the expense of its neighbors, and woe betide the Shield Lands when the Hierarchs turn their eyes to the south again.
But what of Iuz himself? The Old One has fled to the Abyss, carving out some layers with allied fiends and causing a bloody war in that infernal plane with established lords. His clerics and mages have scattered across the land, with special gifts given to them by Iuz to create the Cells-territories ruled by the priests and mages in Iuz's name. Mini-wars have eruped in Furyondy, Keoland, the Flinty Hills, near Greyhawk the Great Kingdom near the Gull Cliffs, and up near the Kingdom of Fruzzti. The Cells of Iuz have begun to arise-small, but very dangerous territories ruled by Iuzite priests and wizards, aided by fanatical warriror and summoned demons and daemons. One has even been rumored to have started near the region of the Scarlet Brotherhood, causing problems for the Scarlet Sign on its own doorstep.

The Scarlet Sign's Problems: A kraken and black dragon who were considering an alliance with the Brothers have somehow turned against the Scarlet Sign, along with their own armies of marine monsters and humanoids. Their raids against the Hold of the Sea Princes and the Principality of Ulek have been less than successful, although they have conquered a great swath of land on the inside of Relmor Bay, with southern Nyrond, Idee, Onnwall, South Province and Almor all battling the Brotherhood at once, caught off guard by its subversive tactics. The situation looks bleak in many parts, although Onnwall and Idee's capitals are still holding out.
In the most recent attempt to break the Iron League, Herzog Chelor was only able to cause a stalemate with heavy costs to both sides. Ivid V, however, in a fit of mad rage, had Chelor and his family executed, replacing him with a high-ranking priest of Hextor loyal to Rauxes. Grenell views this as a threat to his own safety and province's sovereignty, and he is becoming increasinly angry and rebellious towards his cousin in the south, who responds quite well in kind.

New Conquests: With Imperial funding of an army to recapture Bone March having fallen through, an infuriated Grenell has sacked and burned the humanoid-choked region himself, conquering much of Bone March with the aid of North Province humanoids. The slaughter of Bone March humanoids has been appalling, while the Ratikkans have attempted to capture some of the lucrative mining potential for themselves. A tense borderland now exists, as Bone March is once again in the hands of men, while Ratik and North Province face off. Ivid V has yet to mediate in this as of 581 CY.

Turrosh Mak has arisen to power through bloody conquests in the new Empire of the Pomarj, conquering much of the Suss Forest, the southern Wild Coast, and dangerous inroads on Celenese territory. The City of Greyhawk is now menaced by both a Cell of Iuz and the Orcish Empire to the south.

The Giants of the West: Due to the destruction of the giants' command forces (the deaths of Nosnra, Grugnur, Snurre and the defeat of Eclavdra) and the prevention of Lolth's priesthood from taking command, the giant attack was disorganized and repelled from Geoff and Sterich, although with no little loss of human and demihuman life. Queen Frupy is still rumored to be alive somewhere, at least according to the adventurers who penetrated Snurre's hall. She may be planning another alliance with House Eilservs, although this is unlikely. Due to a lack of Keoish aid until several weeks after the fighting began, there has been much less tribute and talk of complete secession from the Throne of the Lion. King Kimbertos has so far failed to address these issues, leading to his growing unpopularity even among native Keoish.

Other changes: With one of the Cells of Iuz threatening the Gem of the Flanaess, there is a call for adventurers of all stripes to assasinate the members of the Boneheart who have seized power here. Tenh has further isolated itself in response to a Cell in the Griff Mountains, possibly declaring itself a Kingdom. The Great Kingdom deals with both Grenell's increasing belligerence and the Cell in the Gull Cliffs. The Scarlet Brotherhood appears to have the upper hand in Relmor Bay. The Horned Society will likely forge a great empire in the north at the expense of old Iuz, the Rovers, and some of the northern
Bandit Kingdoms.
Yet there is still hope. The warriors of Relmor Bay now have a fierce determination to fight until the last breath is gone from their bodies. The Tenha prepare for battle against the forces of Iuz, who might possibly battle with the Fists to the north as well. Sevvord Redbeard is reportedly furious at the Iuzites intruding on his "stomping grounds", so to speak. The Fruztti might call upon their northern brethren as well as tthe Ratikkans for aid. Blackmoor is always a mystery-neither the Egg of Coot or the enigmatic Archbaron Bestmo have been heard from in a while. It is important to stress that, despite the flareups and conflicts across the Flanaess, no lasting economic damage has been done, except perhaps to the Scarlet Brotherhood. If things settle down once again, trade should resurge and the economies of the Flanaess recover.