DA3: Previous Expeditions

There have been two prior documented expeditions to The City of the Gods.

The City of the Gods.  Illustration by Jim Holloway.

The first mention appears in JG37 "The First Fantasy Campaign" (1977):

An expedition to the City of the Gods (located in the Desert south of Monson's old place) which cost several players' lives (Nelson and Gaylord) plus their holdings going evil.

Dave Arneson

Daniel Boggs interviewed Chuck Monson, and inquired about "Monson's old place", back in 2017 (see "Monson on Playing and Wargaming").

Dale Nelson's character was known as the Sirk Am Peshwah, (the Hand of the People), leader of the Peshwah* (his character, or possibly his successor, is detailed in "Rogues, Regents & Rascals" in DA1 "Adventures in Blackmoor").

*Nelson's character was also referred to as "the Chief of the Nomads", or simply "The Nomad" in "Blackmoor's More Infamous Characters" in JG37.

Pete Gaylord's character was the famous (or infamous) "Wizard of the Wood" (see "The World's First Wizard").  A character with the same title, named Sildonis, is also described in "Rogues, Regents & Rascals" in DA1.

In "The Chance of a Lifetime" the Fetch relates:

About four years ago, we began to hear stories about a sky-sailing city that had come to earth in a desert called the Valley of the Ancients, south of Blackmoor.  At that time, we were looking for allies in our war against Thonia.  A party of us made a trip into the desert to find the city and try to form an alliance.  Less than a third of the expedition returned.

“What killed us?  Thirst, heat, trolls, sand folk, dragons - the usual.  But also other things.  We got to the city, you see - got inside and tried to contact the Gods.  But it was no good.  All we saw were monsters and metal warriors.  The metal warriors killed more of us than the dragons.  In the end, we ran from there like whipped dogs and were glad for the privilege of showing our heels. 

Fletcher William, from DA3 "City of the Gods"

If desired, the DM may link the deaths of a prior Sirk Am Peshwah and the Wizard of the Wood to this prior expedition.

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The second account is captured in a lengthy narrative, published in "Tales from the Green Dragon Inn" in Oerth Journal #6 (November, 1997):

The adventure took place in 1976 at TSR's Dungeon Hobby Shop. Gary, myself and Dave Arneson were the only participants. Dave's campaign had been running for some time previous to this and many adventures into that fabled city had taken place before ours.

Rob Kuntz

For those interested in Robilar's account of the expedition, it may be downloaded at Robilar Remembers: Journey to the City of the Gods by Robert J. Kuntz.

(It might be interesting to include Mordenkainen and Robilar as NPCs encountered by the PCs during their own expedition to the City of the Gods!)

Note the entry for "Blackmoor" in the World of Greyhawk folio (1980) states "There is also purported to be a strange "City of the Gods'' somewhere within the Archbarony."