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.
No comments:
Post a Comment