Greyhawk Adventures: Horror in Hommlet (3rd - 4th level)

“The Temple of Elemental Evil crumbled not because of the valor of fools, but because its keepers failed their greatest task: to guard their secrets with blood and shadow. Their whispers reached too many ears, their ambitions too brazen, their lies too thinly veiled. Such folly is beneath me. My secrets are locked behind silence and fear, where no light may ever touch them. Unlike them, my plans will endure, for I am not content with dominion—I demand eternity.”--- Vecna, the Whispered One

Adventure Background

Hommlet, once a peaceful hamlet nestled in a fertile valley, has long been a haven for weary travelers journeying along the trade road between Veluna and Verbobonc. Its cozy inn, welcoming villagers, and its humble shrine to St. Cuthbert painted the picture of an idyllic settlement. Yet, beneath the surface of its quiet history lies a legacy of darkness.

Years ago, Hommlet was at the epicenter of a dire struggle against the rising tide of evil. The Temple of Elemental Evil, a bastion of malign forces dedicated to destruction and chaos, was constructed not far from the village. From there, the temple’s agents, led by Lareth the Beautiful—a charismatic and cunning priest—used a nearby moathouse as an outpost to spread their dark influence. The moathouse became a hub for banditry, extortion, and worse, with Lareth orchestrating these vile acts while amassing power in service of his masters. The tide turned when a band of courageous adventurers descended upon the region. First, they struck the moathouse, slaying Lareth the Beautiful in a climactic battle that sent his forces into disarray. With their outpost destroyed, the strength of the temple waned, culminating in a full-scale assault that resulted in the temple’s fall. Its leaders were killed or driven into hiding and its influence seemingly eradicated.

In the years since, Hommlet has known relative peace. The moathouse was abandoned, its ruins left to molder as a reminder of the darkness that once plagued the region. Villagers returned to their lives, rebuilding what had been lost, and Hommlet once again became a waystation for travelers, its people hopeful that the scars of the past had faded for good.

But evil never truly dies.

The Cult of Vecna

The Cult of Vecna has been working subtly in the region, slowly building its strength. Corrupting a handful of families at a time, the cult spreads its influence carefully, moving from one farm to the next. Families have disappeared without a trace, leaving their homes and farms abandoned, their gardens and fields overgrown and untended. These disappearances have sparked unease among the villagers, though the true scope of the danger remains unknown.

Drawn by the moathouse’s dark history, the cult has established its base within the ruins, conducting unspeakable rituals to attract the attention of the Whispered One. Their ultimate plan is to consolidate their strength in Nulb and the Moathouse, then launch a coordinated coup d’état against Hommlet. They aim to eliminate the village’s most prominent NPCs and defenders in a surprise attack, leaving the rest to burn in the aftermath.

The druid Jaroo Ashstaff, attuned to the land and its balance, has sensed the creeping corruption. But the cult is cunning, and Vecna’s unblinking gaze is ever watchful, ensuring that even the smallest misstep could prove fatal.