Dyvers

Primarysources|date=September 2007

In the "World of Greyhawk" campaign setting for the "Dungeons & Dragons" roleplaying game, Dyvers is a free city in the central Flanaess.

History

Dyvers was originally the capital of Furyondy, an important trading center with the lake and river traffic from Bissel, Nyrond, the Urnst states, and even lands as far away as Perrenland and the Theocracy of the Pale. Dyvers proclaimed itself a free city in 526 CY, alleging that it was uncomfortable with Furyondy allying with Veluna, a state whose policies Dyvers found overly restrictive. This was probably just a pretext, but King Thrommel II of Furyondy allowed the secession to pass in return for Dyvers continuing to contribute taxes and levies to Furyondian coffers.

Geography

Dyvers lays claim to some convert|2000|sqmi|km2|-3 of territory along the south bank of the Velverdyva to the Gnarley Forest. It also claims a number of small islands at the mouth of the great river, which are heavily wharfed and warehoused and form the center of the River Quarter of the city.

People

Population

Dyvers' influx of refugees has been a mixed blessing. Many mercenaries come to the city seeking employment, and some skilled people have settled there. On the other hand, in the poorer quarters of the city, many Shield Landers (among others) have sought refuge, and overcrowding is now a major problem. Not unnaturally, Dyversians blame the incomers for an epidemic outbreak of a typhuslike illness which killed nearly a thousand folk shortly after the Shield Landers' mass influx from Admundfort.

Internecine assaults and murders are not unusual. The constables of the Watch, famous for their ostentatious insignia and the flashy epaulettes of their officers, often have their work cut out maintaining peace.

Government

The rulers of Dyvers are drawn by meritocratic vote from mages, scholars, experienced warriors, and priests.

Heraldry

The city's coat of arms is blazoned thus: "Or, a castle triple-towered sable; on a chief party per bend gules and azure, dexter three crowns in bend of the first, sinister a decrescent argent".

Economy

Dyvers has a somewhat declining income from trade, but its fishing vessels still capture good harvests of gar, pike, and a golden, carp-like fish from the Nyr Dyv. Dyvers has something of a rivalry with Greyhawk City, since their territories overlap to the east. Dyvers looks upon Greyhawk's expansion with some ill ease.

Transportation

Military

Dyvers' army and militias have been strengthened by recruitment from the best of the Shield Landers, and a handful of good warriors have fled here from conquered lands of the west (Bissel, Geoff, and Sterich).

References

*Gygax, Gary. "The World of Greyhawk" (TSR, 1980).
*Gygax, Gary. "World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting" (TSR, 1983).

*Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. "Living Greyhawk Gazetteer" (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).

*Moore, Roger E. "" (TSR, 1998).

*Niles, Douglas, and Carl Sargent. "The City of Greyhawk" (TSR, 1989).

*Sargent, Carl. "From the Ashes" (TSR, 1992).