Lendore Isles
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons and Dragons World of Greyhawk
campaign setting
, the Lendore Isles, also known as the Spindrift Isles, are a collection of five large islands in the Solnor Ocean, just off the eastern coast of the former Great Kingdom
. This portion of the World of Greyhawk served as the base of Len Lakofka's campaign, and is the setting of the L series of modules authored by Lakofka: L1 The Secret of Bone Hill
,
L2 The Assassin's Knot
, and L3 Deep Dwarven Delve
. Previously unpublished materials from Lakofka's gaming sessions in the late 1970s and early 1980s were released in an article in issue 5 (August 2005) of the Footprints e-zine. Additional material, originally intended for release in L3 Deep Dwarven Delve was released by Lakofka in an article in issue 9 (December 2006) of Footprints. In 2006, Lakofka announced on the Pen & Paper website that he will be releasing L4 and L5 through the Dragonsfoot website, introducing additional material and adventures set in the Lendore Isles. A subsequent threaded discussion on the Dragonsfoot forum gives the title of L4 as "Devilspawn".
In their earliest published form the Lendore Isles are named the Spindrift Isles. The southernmost island was named Lendore Isle after the fictional Suloise
Arch Mage who led the human
settlement of it. The northern islands are described as being inhabited by elves
who hold an isolationist foreign policy. It is notable that the northern islands are described in this source and the one following as being three in number though the map included in the sources show four northern islands. This earliest form is the setting for the L series, which takes place on Lendore Isle. The town of Restenford is detailed in L1 and the town of Garroten (Lake Farmin) in L2. L3 is set in the Restenford/Lake Farmin area but no details are given other than of the dungeon in which the adventure takes place.
The setting changed dramatically in 1992 with the publication of From the Ashes which advanced the World of Greyhawk's fictional timeline to the year 585 CY, and detailing the aftermath of the Greyhawk Wars
. In this iteration the name of the isles is changed from the Spindrift Isles to the Lendore Isles, though the former is still used as a common name. In this description the elves of the northern isles have taken over the southern isle of Lendore, expelling the majority of the human population in 583 CY, so that the elves might form a theocratic
society. The elves protect the islands with magical fogs and illusions to prevent any contact with outsiders. Lendorian Elvish, a language unique among the other fictional languages in the World of Greyhawk, is also introduced. Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins
, published in 1998, and which advances the fictional timeline further, gives few details about the islands themselves due to the isolationist policies of the inhabitants but makes note of increased activity by elven mariners from the Spindrifts.
In the latest official published work describing the Lendore Isles,
more details are given of the islands, including that they make up a nation officially known as the Radiant and Transformed Domain of Sehanine of the Lendore Isles. The focus of the theocracy is revealed to be the cult of the elven goddess
Sehanine Moonbow, which is tied to the increasingly widespread elven mystery cult known as the People of the Testing. The issue of the total number of islands is addressed by the authors in-universe by explaining that some older charts in the World of Greyhawk only showed four islands.
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, the Lendore Isles, also known as the Spindrift Isles, are a collection of five large islands in the Solnor Ocean, just off the eastern coast of the former Great Kingdom
Great Kingdom
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Great Kingdom, or the Great Kingdom of Aerdy, refers to an empire that varied in size at various points in its history.-History:...
. This portion of the World of Greyhawk served as the base of Len Lakofka's campaign, and is the setting of the L series of modules authored by Lakofka: L1 The Secret of Bone Hill
The Secret of Bone Hill
The Secret of Bone Hill is an adventure module written by Lenard Lakofka for the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and published by TSR in 1981. It is designed for novice and intermediate players with characters of levels 2-4...
,
L2 The Assassin's Knot
The Assassin's Knot
The Assassin's Knot is an adventure module written by Lenard Lakofka for the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and published by TSR in 1983. It is designed for novice and intermediate players with characters of levels 2-4....
, and L3 Deep Dwarven Delve
Deep Dwarven Delve
L3 Deep Dwarven Delve is a Fantasy Adventure Module or "module" for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons .-Publication history:...
. Previously unpublished materials from Lakofka's gaming sessions in the late 1970s and early 1980s were released in an article in issue 5 (August 2005) of the Footprints e-zine. Additional material, originally intended for release in L3 Deep Dwarven Delve was released by Lakofka in an article in issue 9 (December 2006) of Footprints. In 2006, Lakofka announced on the Pen & Paper website that he will be releasing L4 and L5 through the Dragonsfoot website, introducing additional material and adventures set in the Lendore Isles. A subsequent threaded discussion on the Dragonsfoot forum gives the title of L4 as "Devilspawn".
In their earliest published form the Lendore Isles are named the Spindrift Isles. The southernmost island was named Lendore Isle after the fictional Suloise
Suloise
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Suloise, also known as the "Suel," are one of the major races of humans inhabiting the Flanaess....
Arch Mage who led the human
Human (Dungeons & Dragons)
Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...
settlement of it. The northern islands are described as being inhabited by elves
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
who hold an isolationist foreign policy. It is notable that the northern islands are described in this source and the one following as being three in number though the map included in the sources show four northern islands. This earliest form is the setting for the L series, which takes place on Lendore Isle. The town of Restenford is detailed in L1 and the town of Garroten (Lake Farmin) in L2. L3 is set in the Restenford/Lake Farmin area but no details are given other than of the dungeon in which the adventure takes place.
The setting changed dramatically in 1992 with the publication of From the Ashes which advanced the World of Greyhawk's fictional timeline to the year 585 CY, and detailing the aftermath of the Greyhawk Wars
Greyhawk Wars
In the Dungeons & Dragons World of Greyhawk campaign setting, the Greyhawk Wars raged across the whole of the Flanaess from 582-584 CY.-History:...
. In this iteration the name of the isles is changed from the Spindrift Isles to the Lendore Isles, though the former is still used as a common name. In this description the elves of the northern isles have taken over the southern isle of Lendore, expelling the majority of the human population in 583 CY, so that the elves might form a theocratic
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
society. The elves protect the islands with magical fogs and illusions to prevent any contact with outsiders. Lendorian Elvish, a language unique among the other fictional languages in the World of Greyhawk, is also introduced. Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins
Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins
Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins is a 1998 sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. The 128 page book was written by Roger E...
, published in 1998, and which advances the fictional timeline further, gives few details about the islands themselves due to the isolationist policies of the inhabitants but makes note of increased activity by elven mariners from the Spindrifts.
In the latest official published work describing the Lendore Isles,
more details are given of the islands, including that they make up a nation officially known as the Radiant and Transformed Domain of Sehanine of the Lendore Isles. The focus of the theocracy is revealed to be the cult of the elven goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
Sehanine Moonbow, which is tied to the increasingly widespread elven mystery cult known as the People of the Testing. The issue of the total number of islands is addressed by the authors in-universe by explaining that some older charts in the World of Greyhawk only showed four islands.