TEXT: ~1~ 
  ® and TM represent trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 
  A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIELD 
  LANDS 
   
  The Shield Lands are located near 
  the center of the Flanaess, on the northern 
  coast of the Nyr Dyv.   By land, we are 
  nearly surrounded by the hostile Empire of 
  Iuz.   
  Our nation stretches from the 
  Ritensa River to the road between the Plague 
  Fields and the traitorous Alhaster and the 
  Nyr Dyv to the Vigilant Highway.  In 
  addition, two islands, Walworth Island and 
  Scragholme Island are part of our nation.  
  We have only have two population centers 
  that would be considered cities, Admundfort; 
  our old capital and port city located on 
  Walworth Island in the Nyr Dyv and 
  Critwall; our temporary capital located in the 
  southwestern tip of our nation. We have 
  several towns and many villages spread 
  through the rest of our lands.  
  Unfortunately we recovered only a 
  small piece of our nation during the Great 
  Crusade; the lands immediately surrounding 
  Critwall and Scragholme Island.  The rest of 
  the Shield Lands is completely dominated 
  and controlled by the occupying forces of 
  Iuz. 
  The majority of the population of 
  the freed Shield Lands lives in Critwall and 
  the smaller Bright Sentry.  Both are 
  overpopulated to the extreme.  There are so 
  many people living in Critwall that an entire 
  village of tents has been constructed by the  
  t
  ll
   
  THE RESTORED HOLY REALM OF THE 
  FAITHFUL OF THE SHIELD LANDS 
   
  Ruler: Her Most Honorable Ladyship, Countess Katarina of Walworth, Knight Commander of the Shield Lands, 
  Leader of the Great Crusade. 
  Capital: Admundfort (currently occupied by Iuz); currently Critwall 
  Population: 36,800 humans, 1,400 demihumans in the free lands.  Unknown in the occupied lands. 
   
  reetings, stranger.  Yes, I know I sound unwelcoming, and I am. We are a proud people here, sometimes too 
  proud. We stand alone against Iuz and his minions that is the way it has always been, that is the way it 
  remains today. That is why I sound unwelcoming. 
  You try to enter my lands with a smile on your face 
  and a hop in your step to perhaps . . . perhaps find, glory or 
  adventure? You laugh? Tell me stranger, do you see me 
  laughing? If it is adventure you crave, off with you to the city 
  of Greyhawk. Or are you a merchant, or a thief? If you are 
  seeking to fatten your purse with gold by ripping off the good 
  people of Critwall with your shoddy goods, be gone. If you do 
  not come into our lands with steel in your hand and your heart, 
  be gone. We have no use of you here.  What we have need of is 
  soldiers. Soldiers who are prepared to stand, fight and die 
  against Iuz and his beasts. 
  What is that look for? Ah, I think I know. Yes, we call 
  him Iuz. That is the demon god's name is it not? Iuz. We do not 
  hide behind blankets. We do not call him the Old One or the 
  Old Wicked or the Old Uz. That is superstition. We call him 
  Iuz. That is the name of our enemy. We do not fear him. He has 
  thrown his worst against us and yet, here we stand. 
  Stay your questions, allow me to finish. Our lands do 
  not have much to offer you. Little in the way of wealth, little in 
  the way of entertainment, little in the way of adventure. We 
  have only enemies to kill. Of that, we have many. All to the 
  north and all to the east of Critwall is occupied by Iuz. Every 
  town, keep, inn and road is crawling with humanoids. For now. 
  If you have a skill we need or a sword we could use or a spell 
  we want at our side, by all means . . . enter. If not, return from 
  whence you came. 
  Yes, I thought you would be leaving. 
   
  Rumors from the Shield Lands: 
  ��Many in the tent town outside of Critwall speak fearfully 
  of robed strangers. They speak of the coming of the great 
  one. Those who speak against them sometimes disappear. 
   
  ��Our enemies are beginning to fight each other. It is 
  rumored the vile Conjuror Waqounis is attempting to take 
  the place of the usurper Vayne. 
  
  ~2~ 
  ® and TM represent trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 
  VARIOUS TIDBITS FROM THE SHIELD LANDS
   
  Coinage: knight (gold), axeman (electrum), shield
  (silver) and sheaf (copper). 
   
  Knights of the Holy Shielding: The oldest and
  largest order of knights in the Shield Lands.
  Virtually all members are followers of Heironeous. 
   
  Order of the Watchful Shield: A new order of
  knights.  They are a secular order that is much less
  powerful the Knights of the Holy Shielding. 
   
  Council of Lords: The ruling body of the Shield
  Lands.  It has been greatly weakened by the recent
  Wars as Lady Katarina has grown in power. 
   
  Our lands have never been in greater need of brave and goodly folk. The battle for our lands, our nation has just 
  begun, and we welcome those who wish to aid us in this endeavor. It will not be easy, for our enemy is a demigod, 
  but those with faith, honor, and strength shall help us prevail. 
   
  CHARACTER CREATION IN THE SHIELD LANDS 
   
  While the Living GreyhawkTM allows you to choose any character of any race and class combination in the PH, 
  below are some guidelines for creating a character appropriate to adventuring in the Shield Lands.  Use them to aid 
  you in the character creation process. 
   
  �� Not all who call the Shield Lands home were actually born there. Thus even though there are not any native 
  barbarians, you can still call the Shield Lands home. Just come up with a reason why you have chosen the 
  Shield Lands as your home. 
   
  �� The vast majority of the population is human with Oeridians being the dominant type.  A distant second and 
  third are dwarves and gnomes, followed by halflings, elves and half-orcs. 
   
  �� There are no native barbarians in the Shield Lands.  
  They are often looked upon with suspicion because 
  of their strange customs and beliefs. 
    
  �� Half-orcs are hated in the Shield Lands. Many of us 
  refuse to do business with them or even speak to 
  them. Occasionally, half-orcs are hunted down by 
  mobs in the poorer sections of cities and towns. 
  Many employers refuse to hire half-orcs. 
   
  �� The Shield Lands has always been a martial state, 
  and that is reflected in our primary deities. The state 
  religion worships Heironeous. Other popular deities 
  are 
  St. 
  Cuthbert, 
  Mayaheine, 
  Pholtus 
  and 
  Trithereon. 
    
  �� Characters may not be recognized members of a 
  noble family. If your character claims noble blood 
  he or she is either lying or a bastard. 
   
  �� Worshipers of Heironeous in the Shield Lands adhere to an older aspect of the God, one who favored the 
  battleaxe instead of the longsword. Paladins and priests of the Archpaladin choose the battleaxe over any other 
  weapon. 
   
  �� The Shield Lands is a very lawful land. All people are recorded with their abilities and professions. The 
  government often calls upon those with specific skills and abilities for missions to help the nation. Those 
  unwilling to aid the Shield Lands are asked to leave. In other words, your character is often going to be in the 
  employ of the Shield Lands because of their unique abilities. 
  THE SHIELD LANDS TRIAD 
  Brandon Kaya 
  gorta@io.com 
  Jon Cazares 
  flood01@aol.com 
  Rick LaRue 
  rlarue@aol.com 
  HTTP://SHIELDLANDS.OERTH.COM is the official site for information about Living Greyhawk in Minnesota, North 
  Dakota and South Dakota, including general information on the Shield Lands, a newsletter keeping record of the 
  happenings in the Shield Lands, and a list of module premiers. 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Modules/Shield Lands/Area Introduction - Shield Lands - RPGA Living Greyhawk.pdf