Iggwilv is a powerful, fictional spellcaster, in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, famous for the creation of her Demonomicons. Iggwilv is known by various titles, including the Witch Queen of Perrenland and the Mother of Witches.
Iggwilv is a fierce enemy of the Circle of Eight and occasional allies include her son, Iuz, and the demoness Zuggtmoy. Iggwilv's power is so great that some contend she has achieved demigod status. Besides her awesome magical might, Iggwilv is also notoriously known for consorting with (as well as controlling and manipulating) fiends, notably demons from the Abyss. She is the mother of the demigod Iuz, sired by the demon lord Graz'zt, and also of the vampiress Drelzna (now destroyed).
Iggwilv has two forms, one of which is that of an old crone (said to be her true form), and the other, a human female of dark beauty. It is said none who have seen her in her true form still lives.
History
Iggwilv first appears in the historical records of Perrenland in 460 CY. In 480 CY, she assembled an army and attacked Perrenland from her base in the Yatil Mountains known as the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth. Her conquest was complete by 481 CY, and she held a firm grip on that nation until 491 CY, when the demon prince Graz'zt escaped her control, enabling the native Perrenlanders to defeat her forces and regain their nation. It is thought that at some point during or prior to this period of conquest, Graz'zt gifted Iggwilv with a magical cloak of pit fiend hide known as Fiend's Embrace.
In the 570's, Iggwilv had two prominent clashes with the Circle of Eight, who had sent adventurers to thwart her plans. The first took place in the fabled Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth and ended with the destruction of her daughter, the vampiress Drelzna. The second regarded her plans to bring a large number of fiends to Oerth, which was thwarted by a band of adventurers who recovered the Crook of Rao from a magical demiplane known as the Isle of the Ape.
She last clashed with agents of the Circle of Eight in 585 CY when Warnes Starcoat employed a band of adventurers to recover Tenser's clone from Luna. Her current whereabouts and plans are unknown.
References
- Greer, Stephen S. "Fiend's Embrace." Dungeon #121 (Paizo Publishing, 2005).
- Gygax, Gary. Artifact of Evil (TSR, 1986).
- Gygax, Gary. Come Endless Darkness (New Infinities, 1988).
- Gygax, Gary. Dance of Demons (New Infinities, 1988).
- Gygax, Gary. Isle of the Ape (TSR, 1985).
- Gygax, Gary. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (TSR, 1982).
- Gygax, Gary. The Slayer's Guide to Dragons (Mongoose Publishing, 2002).
- Gygax, Gary. Sea of Death (New Infinities, 1987).
- Holian, Gary,Erik Mona, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).
- Jacobs, James. "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: Baphomet." Dragon #341; "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: Fraz-Urb’luu." Dragon #333; "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: Kostchtchie." Dragon #345; "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: Pazuzu." Dragon #329; "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: Zuggtmoy." Dragon #337 (all Paizo Publishing, 2005-2006).
- Jacobs, James, Erik Mona, and Ed Stark. Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins (TSR, 1998).
- Moore, Roger E. Return of the Eight (TSR, 1998).
- Mullin, Robert S. Campaign Classics: Three Greyhawk Grimoires. Dragon #225 (TSR, 1996).
- Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes (TSR, 1992).
- Sargent, Carl. Iuz the Evil (TSR, 1993).
- Wilson, Steve. "Grey Chrondex 4.1" (2000). Available online: [1]