Lydia (Greyhawk)
Encyclopedia
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, Lydia is the Suel
goddess of Music, Knowledge, and Daylight. Her holy symbol is a spray of colors from an open hand.
(1983), by Gary Gygax
.
Lydia was further detailed by Lenard Lakofka
in Dragon
#92 (1984), in the article Gods of the Suel Pantheon V.
Lydia is described as one of the good deities that celestials
can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).
Lydia is further detailed in The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999).
(2000).
, associated with the town Release From Care.
, feeling that others must see the light of truth without being blinded by it. Her philosophy pleases Trithereon
, who similarly presses for the freedom of the individual.
In the Scarlet Brotherhood, many followers of Lydia are lawful neutral bards who use stories and songs to promote ideals of Suloise racial supremacy and resentment, though a few are good-aligned and more closely follow their goddess's true ideals.
. Their white vestments are trimmed in silver and gold. They use education to uplift women from lesser stations in life. This tends to make her church unpopular with patriarchies.
The records kept by Lydia's church are open to all, for Lydia hates secrets.
: in Lo Reltama, in Niole Dra, in Gryrax, in Nellix, and in Pitchfield.
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...
for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Lydia is the Suel
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....
goddess of Music, Knowledge, and Daylight. Her holy symbol is a spray of colors from an open hand.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
Lydia was first detailed for the Dungeons & Dragons game in the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game SettingWorld of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting
The World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting and the World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting are two closely related publications from TSR, Inc. that detail the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
(1983), by Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
.
Lydia was further detailed by Lenard Lakofka
Lenard Lakofka
Lenard "Len" Lakofka is an American writer of material for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. He was an influential voice in the development of the game, as well as the author of what has been called one the greatest D&D adventures ever written...
in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#92 (1984), in the article Gods of the Suel Pantheon V.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Lydia was one of the deities described in the From the Ashes set (1992), for the Greyhawk campaign.Lydia is described as one of the good deities that celestials
Celestial (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, celestials are a class of creatures and monsters known as outsiders who are of wholly good alignment....
can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).
Lydia is further detailed in The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
Lydia's role in the 3rd edition Greyhawk setting was defined in the Living Greyhawk GazetteerLiving Greyhawk Gazetteer
The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is a sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Despite the title, the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is not exclusive to the Living Greyhawk Campaign...
(2000).
Description
Lydia is depicted as a dynamic, white-haired woman with clear blue eyes. She wears a white gown trimmed in silver and gold. She is constantly surrounded by a sphere of force.Realm
Lydia's realm is in ElysiumElysium (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Elysium, or more fully, the Blessed Fields of Elysium, is a strongly good-aligned plane of existence...
, associated with the town Release From Care.
Relationships
Lydia interacts with many other deities, exchanging songs and information. She opposes PholtusPholtus
In the fictional campaign setting of Greyhawk used for the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Pholtus was one of the first gods created by Gary Gygax as he and Dave Arneson developed the game of Dungeons & Dragons...
, feeling that others must see the light of truth without being blinded by it. Her philosophy pleases Trithereon
Trithereon
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Trithereon is the god of Individuality, Liberty, Retribution, and Self-Defense...
, who similarly presses for the freedom of the individual.
Dogma
Lydia promotes the progress of knowledge in each individual for the sake of their self-improvement. She teaches that music is a key to learning, and that light permits the ignorant to see the truth.Worshipers
Lydia is favored by musicians, bards, sages, and by women seeking fame. She supports women's education and her church helps women who want to travel.In the Scarlet Brotherhood, many followers of Lydia are lawful neutral bards who use stories and songs to promote ideals of Suloise racial supremacy and resentment, though a few are good-aligned and more closely follow their goddess's true ideals.
Clergy
80% of Lydia's clerics are female. They are constantly driven to learn and discover, and many travel in the company of clerics of FharlanghnFharlanghn
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Fharlanghn, the Dweller on the Horizon, is the Oeridian god of Horizons, Distance, Travel, and Roads. He is a well-known deity on the world of Oerth...
. Their white vestments are trimmed in silver and gold. They use education to uplift women from lesser stations in life. This tends to make her church unpopular with patriarchies.
The records kept by Lydia's church are open to all, for Lydia hates secrets.
Temples
A large wooden temple of Lydia can be found in the city of Leukish north of the business district, greeting those who enter the city from the lake. Apart from that, Lydia has five notable churches in the FlanaessFlanaess
The Flanaess is the eastern part of the continent of Oerik, one of the four continents of the fictional world of Oerth in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The Flanaess has been the setting of dozens of adventures published between the 1970s...
: in Lo Reltama, in Niole Dra, in Gryrax, in Nellix, and in Pitchfield.
Rituals
When praying, priests of Lydia are required to give their patron updates on the things they have learned. Lydia's teachings are presented in song form to aid memory, and her church often converts historical texts to ballads.Additional reading
- Brown, AnneAnne Brown (game designer)Anne Brown is a writer and editor in the role-playing game industry.Brown began working as an Assistant editor for Dragon magazine in 1989, on issues #147 to #151 . She was later transferred to TSR's Games Division...
. Player's Guide (TSR, 1998). - Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0 (Wizards of the Coast, 2005). Available online: http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip
- Findley, NigelNigel FindleyNigel D Findley was a game designer, editor, and an author of science fiction and fantasy novels and role-playing games .-Biography:Nigel Findley was born in Venezuela, in 1959...
, Dan Salas, Stephen Inniss, and Robert J. KuntzRobert J. KuntzRobert J. Kuntz is a game designer and author of role-playing game publications. He is most famous for his contributions to various Dungeons & Dragons-related materials.-Works:...
. Fate of IstusFate of IstusFate of Istusis a multipart adventure for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, taking place in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The module is designed for characters of any class or level, and was published as an in-game vehicle to explain the transition from the game's first to second...
. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989. - Gygax, GaryGary GygaxErnest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game SettingWorld of Greyhawk Fantasy Game SettingThe World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting and the World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting are two closely related publications from TSR, Inc. that detail the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983. - Gygax, Gary, and Frank Mentzer. The Temple of Elemental EvilThe Temple of Elemental EvilThe Temple of Elemental Evil is an adventure module for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The module was published by TSR, Inc. in 1985 for the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules...
(TSRTSR, Inc.Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, 1985). - Holian, GaryGary HolianGary Holian is an American author of several products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, especially for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting...
, Erik MonaErik Mona-Career:Erik Mona served as the editor-in-chief of Dragon magazine since 2004 and Dungeon magazine from 2004 to 2006; at the time, both magazines were published by Paizo Publishing, until the license through Wizards of the Coast expired in September 2007...
, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick WeiningFrederick WeiningFrederick Weining is among those credited for design of the Dungeons & Dragons Gazetteer and the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, both published by Wizards of the Coast. He has also authored or co-authored a number of Greyhawk articles for the Living Greyhawk Journal, the Oerth Journal, and...
. Living Greyhawk GazetteerLiving Greyhawk GazetteerThe Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is a sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Despite the title, the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is not exclusive to the Living Greyhawk Campaign...
. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000. - Lakofka, LenardLenard LakofkaLenard "Len" Lakofka is an American writer of material for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. He was an influential voice in the development of the game, as well as the author of what has been called one the greatest D&D adventures ever written...
. "Gods of the Suel Pantheon." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#92. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984. - Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.
- Reynolds, Sean K.Sean K. ReynoldsSean K Reynolds is a professional game designer who has worked on and co-written a number of D&D supplements for Wizards of the Coast, as well as material for other companies. He does not put a period after his middle initial.-Background:...
The Scarlet BrotherhoodThe Scarlet BrotherhoodThe Scarlet Brotherhood is a regional sourcebook for the Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The sourcebook was written by Sean K. Reynolds, and published by TSR in 1999 for 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons...
. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999. - Sargent, CarlCarl SargentCarl L. Sargent is a British author of several roleplaying game-based products and novels.-Early career:...
. From the Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992. - Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"