Hommlet: Let He Without Sin Cast The First Stone

In the Temple of Elemental Evil Gygax wrote “If [the heroes] need more seasoning before continuing to the greater challenges, you may – and should – design and develop other adventures in the area”. Thus, this entry in my series on Ultimate Greyhawk. Much like how comics and movies will reboot a franchise with a new take on an old concept, this is my personal re-imagining of the Greyhawk Campaign Setting beginning with the venerable town of Hommlet. 

The following location is numbered based on how it appears on the map of the village of Hommlet found in T1-4: The Temple of Elemental Evil. You can see the rest of the entries in the Ultimate Greyhawk sidebar of the blog.

Stonemason Guild or Secret Society of Evil Elementals

29. The Stonemason

Earth Cultist: Servant of  the Apocalypse

Rurik Whitestone and his wife Edith are recent arrivals to Hommlet by way of Narwell (see Dungeon Magazine # 85 “Lord of the Scarlet Tide”). They have two children Ernst and Emma and three apprentices Sergi, Guther, Wolfgang. All are of the old faith and in the militia. Rurik has become very wealthy and is well regarded by the townsfolk. He has become close with the wizard Burne (area 31). Secretly this family is in league with the Temple. The apprentices are actually cultists of the Earth Temple. The family while not implicitly cultist themselves are now for better or worse forever tied to the cult. The family’s recent increase in good fortune is due in a large part to the cult. Rurik and his family were down on their luck after recent orc attacks from the Pomarj left them bereft of their hard earned wealth. When Rurik sought financial aid from the local Stonemasons Guild he learned that the Guild was infiltrated by the sinister Earth Cult and was pressed into their service. The cult helped the family relocate to Hommlet and re-establish themselves. In turn the family would act as spies and provide the cult with supplies and a safe house within the town. Rurik uses his power and influence to rub shoulders with all the important members of the town and shares what he discovers with the cult. Below the home is a secret redoubt for the Earth cultists to meet and plan operations. Everyone in the family will do its best to throw nosy adventurers off the trail of the cult.

Unforgiven Sins and Other Vices in Hommlet

In the Temple of Elemental Evil Gygax wrote “If [the heroes] need more seasoning before continuing to the greater challenges, you may – and should – design and develop other adventures in the area”. Thus, this entry in my series on Ultimate Greyhawk. Much like how comics and movies will reboot a franchise with a new take on an old concept, this is my personal re-imagining of the Greyhawk Campaign Setting beginning with the venerable town of Hommlet. 

The following location is numbered based on how it appears on the map of the village of Hommlet found in T1-4: The Temple of Elemental Evil. You can see the rest of the entries in the Ultimate Greyhawk sidebar of the blog.

A Greyhawk Relic: Norebo's Lucky Ruby Dice

28. The Carpenters

Oleg Carpenter is the local carpenter and lives here with his wife Gertrud and younger brother Simon. They came to the village a few years ago and will always be seen as outsiders’ despite being a part of the militia. Oleg does carpentry work for various people around town and he currently is making barrels for the brewery. The family worship St. Cuthbert.

Adventure Seed: Simon’s Secret Stash

Simon is resentful of his status as an outsider. He is the reason the Carpenters came to the town in the first place from the City of Verbobonc. Simon got in deep with a gang of ruffians selling a narcotic called Demon Dust. Simon, always ambitious, was brokering his own deals and was skimming money off the top of his takes. When the gang leader discovered Simon’s treachery he planned on killing him. Simon learned of the plot to murder him and stole a large amount of the gang’s treasure and Demon Dust supply. Thinking that he is safe Simon has set up his drug operation in the town and is selling to those in the Worker’s Camp (area 32). It is only a matter of time until the gang learns of his location. Unbeknownst to even Simon, part of the treasure he stole was a magical item that belonged to a wealthy and dangerous noble in Verbobonc. Now the Gang leader must recover this item as well as make it clear to his minions that no one double crosses him!

Adventure Seed: Gertrud’s Indiscretions

Gertrud hates this country life. She hates this backwater town and wants to back to the big city. She hates that her husband is such a pushover and that his troublemaking brother is always getting them into trouble! In short, she is looking for a way to get back into the city along with enough money to enjoy all of its finery. She will concoct whatever crazy story she think will get the party to help her make her dreams come true, even if that means knocking off her husband and brother-in-law…

Adventure Seed: The Gambler

Oleg is far from a saint. He is a hard worker, but he also is a compulsive gambler. Not long before coming to Hommlet Oleg did some carpentry work for a local noble. While presenting his work Oleg noticed a pair of ruby gem stone dice on the nobles desk. Oleg was in that moment overcome with a powerful compulsion to steal the dice, despite never stealing a thing in his life. That night he went dicing and made a fortune, never losing a game. That night angry gamblers sore at their loss and convinced that Oleg was a cheater (how could he win every game when they had already shaved the dice in their favour!?) set out to kill him. As luck would have it that was the night his brother learned that they need to get out of the city. For the past two years Oleg’s luck as been uncanny. But his luck may be running out as the owner of those ruby dice have discovered their location and he wants them back…