IIRC, that "Crown of Blackmoor" was really what in Arnesonian continuity is that "Throne of the Gods".

:)

As I said, I recall it from somewhere.

But the source, I have no idea about any more. :)


Geez, old Rafe is getting old.

Hmm. Something that allows one to harness the wild magic of the land for it's own use, possibly in defense of the kingdom.

Joining the magic of the land with its mortal king. Now that idea before?

The Crown of Blackmoor was originally from Greyhawk Adventures, page 78.

"This black, iron headpiece bears a large fire opal at the front. It was created by a powerful lich who used it to spread evil and destruction throughout the world, and now only the most wicked (or foolish) characters seek its powers. When the crown is placed on the head of a deceased evil character who has reached at least 18th level as magic-user, it reanimates the character as a lich."

That's all it does in Greyhawk Adventures.

The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer revealed that the Crown of Blackmoor was created by the lich-lord Ranial the Gaunt (probably named for the Ran of Ah Fooh), who used the Crown in an attempt to wield Blackmoor's Oerthmagic against the armies of the Great Kingdom. It's not clear if the Crown had additional Oerthmagic-related powers or if it just uses Oerthmagic to transform its wearer into a lich.

There's some more background in Oerth Journal #5. Ranial was a ruler of Dantredun whose family had been a noble house of Tenh. They had settled there in -176 CY, and Ranial led his rebellion a little more than 150 years later. Ranial was defeated at the Battle of Toadwash in approximately -20 CY, when he sank into the marsh. The Crown was rediscovered about 300 years later by Engren Erris, who transformed into a lich and ruled Blackmoor for three decades from his base in the town of Glendour until he was finally defeated by Archbaroness Morgaiste.

Thanks for providing this additional information Rip! There is so much lore on Greyhawk Blackmoor to take in. I do like the connection between the Crown and Ranial/Ran though.

-Havard

Here is a connected (...duplicate...) thread on The Piazza: