Editing Greyhawk (section)

====''From the Ashes''====
In 1992, after the two ''World of Greyhawk Swords'' prequel modules and the ''Greyhawk Wars'' game had been on the market for some months, TSR released the new Greyhawk setting, ''[[From the Ashes (Dungeons & Dragons)|From the Ashes]]'', a boxed set primarily written by [[Carl Sargent]] that described the [[Flanaess]] in the aftermath of the ''Greyhawk Wars''. It contained a large 4-color hex map of the area around the city of Greyhawk; two full-color, 32"x21" fold-out poster maps of the continent (east and west), and 20 ''quick adventure cards'', and two 96-page books.

The first book, ''Atlas of the Flanaess'', was a replacement for Gygax's original ''World of Greyhawk'' boxed set, with some changes. Many human gods from previous editions were not included, although one new demigod, [[Mayaheine]], was added. This had the net effect of reducing the total number of human deities from fifty to twenty-eight. Deities of other races were increased from twenty-four to thirty-eight, but unlike the full descriptions that were given to the human gods, these were simply listed by name. Like Gygax's original boxed set, each region was given a two to three hundred word description, although some details included in the older edition, such as trade goods, total population and racial mixes, were not included in this edition. A number of regions—Ahlissa, Almor, Medegia and South Province—no longer existed after the Wars or had been folded into other regions. One new region—the Olman Islands—was detailed. This had the net effect of reducing the total number of regions from sixty to fifty eight. {{smallcaps|[[Darlene Pekul|Darlene]]}}'s map of the Flanaess included in Gygax's setting was reproduced as an 11"x17" black-and-white map printed on the inside cover of the ''Atlas''.

The second book, the ''Campaign Book'', was designed to supplement, rather than replace, the four-year-old ''City of Greyhawk'' boxed set. It included updates to the city and its environs, and gave details of some new non-player characters and possible adventure hooks.

In Gygax's setting, the major conflict had been between the Great Kingdom and the lands that were trying to free themselves from the evil overking. In Sargent's world, the Great Kingdom storyline was largely replaced by the major new conflict between the land of Iuz and the regions that surrounded it. Southern lands outside of Iuz's were threatened by the [[Scarlet Brotherhood]], while other countries had been invaded by monsters or taken over by agents of evil. Overall, the vision was of a darker world where good folk were being swamped by a tide of evil.<ref>Sargent: "The cult of Mayaheine is one considerably on the increase in beleaguered non-evil Flanaess lands, for Mayaheine is a demipower of protection and survival". {{cite book | last = Sargent | first = Carl | author-link = Carl Sargent | title = From the Ashes | publisher = TSR | year = 1992 | location = Lake Geneva WI | page = 95 | isbn = 1-56076-341-8}}</ref>

Game designer Rick Swan concurred with this multi-step approach, writing that ''[[Greyhawk Wars (game)|Greyhawk Wars]]'' "took another step in the right direction by shaking things up with a much-needed dose of epic conflict... veteran designer Carl Sargent has continued the overhaul with the ambitious ''[[From the Ashes (Dungeons & Dragons)|From the Ashes]]''. By combining heroic tradition with elements of dark fantasy, he's come up with a Greyhawk campaign that is both familiar and refreshingly unexpected".<ref name="Dragon #198"/>

Sargent tried to generate interest for this grimmer vision of the Flanaess by following up with an article in ''Dragon'''s March 1993 issue, writing, "...the powers of evil have waxed strong. The hand of Iuz, the Old One, extends across the central Flanaess, and the cruel Scarlet Brotherhood extends its power and influence around the southern lands bordering the Azure Sea. The ''World of Greyhawk'' setting has become a truly exciting world again..."<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Sargent | first = Carl | author-link = Carl Sargent | title = Campaign Journal: Greyhawk Adventures risen from the ashes | journal = Dragon | issue = 191 | pages = 64–68 | date=March 1993}}</ref>

The boxed set was supported by the publication of two new source books in 1993, also written by Sargent. [[The Marklands|WGR4 ''The Marklands'']] provided information about the good realms of Furyondy, Highfolk, and Nyrond that opposed Iuz, while [[Iuz the Evil|WGR5 ''Iuz the Evil'']] detailed information about the lands of Iuz, and emphasized the prominent new role that Iuz now played in the world order.

In addition, a number of adventures were also published, as much to provide more source material as for adventure:
* [[Patriots of Ulek|WGQ1 ''Patriots of Ulek'']] was the first module published after ''From the Ashes'', and advanced the storyline in [[Ulek States|Ulek]], threatened by invasion from Turrosh Mak of the [[Pomarj]].
* [[Treasures of Greyhawk|WGR2 ''Treasures of Greyhawk'']], by Jack Barker, [[Roy Rowe (game designer)|Roy Rowe]], Louis Prosperi, and Tom Prusa, was a loosely connected series of mini-adventures—for instance, exploring Bigby's home, travelling to the demiplane called The Great Maze of Zagyg, and trading riddles with a [[sphinx]]. Each mini-adventure focussed on a unique treasure in the Flanaess.
* [[Rary the Traitor|WGR3 ''Rary the Traitor'']] by [[Anthony Pryor]] was both an adventure module and a source book about the [[Bright Lands]], the new home of Rary and Robilar following their murder of Tenser and Otiluke.
* [[The City of Skulls|WGR6 ''The City of Skulls'']], by Carl Sargent, and [[Border Watch|WGM1 ''Border Watch'']], by Paul T. Riegel, were modules highlighting the struggle between [[Furyondy]] and the lands of Iuz.

As Gygax had done ten years before, Sargent also used the pages of ''Dragon'' to promote his new world. He was working on a new source book, ''[[Ivid the Undying]]'', and excerpted parts of it in the April, June and August 1994 issues.<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Sargent | first = Carl | author-link = Carl Sargent | title = Campaign Journal: A strange alliance | journal = Dragon | issue = 204 | pages = 52–57 | date=April 1994}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last = Sargent | first = Carl | author-link = Carl Sargent | title = Campaign Journal: The Sea Barons | journal = Dragon | issue = 206 | pages = 34–41 | date=June 1994}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last = Sargent | first = Carl | author-link = Carl Sargent | title = Campaign Journal: The Adri Forest | journal = Dragon | issue = 208 | pages = 47–58 | date = August 1994}}</ref>