The Secret War Beneath the Hills: Temple Logistics at the Hunting Cottage

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  As Dungeon Masters building immersive worlds in Greyhawk, we often focus on the sprawling dungeons and cursed temples—but what makes a setting breathe are the living villages, the secret roads, and the nameless lieutenants that oil the gears of evil. With this latest update to the Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576 CY , the Hunting Cottage south of Nulb becomes more than just a footnote on a wilderness map—it becomes the nerve center of the Temple of Elemental Evil’s underground war effort. A Cabin Cloaked in Secrecy Located deep in the Kron Hills, buried beneath the dark canopy of the Gnarley Forest, this "innocent hunting lodge" masks the Temple’s most critical logistical node. Thanks to expanded lore and character development from recent articles, the cottage now connects the surface world to the Greater Temple’s lower levels through two secret tunnel entrances—one canon (a vertical shaft through a water well) and one newly developed (a limestone cave reinforced for priso...
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The Iron Claw Clan – Bugbear Raiders in the Temple of Elemental Evil DND campaign

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 Bugbear Reinforcements for the TOEE

Greetings, Dungeon Masters! If you’re running The Temple of Elemental Evil and want to introduce a brutal, well-organized warband into your game, look no further than the Iron Claw Clan.

These vicious bugbears, hardened by years of guerrilla warfare, have transformed Varnifane, a former grugach (wild elf) settlement, into a heavily fortified war camp. Their alliance with Commander Feldrin, a leader of the Temple of Elemental Evil, makes them a key force in the region’s growing chaos.

In this post, we’ll explore:
⚔️ The history & fall of Varnifane
🏹 How the Iron Claw Clan operates in Welkwood & Nulb
🛡️ Their alliance with the Temple of Elemental Evil
🎲 How to use them in your TOEE campaign

🔥 The Rise of the Iron Claw Clan

The Iron Claw Clan was once a scattered band of bugbear mercenaries, raiding small villages along the Welkwood Forest. However, under the leadership of Braggok Iron-Claw, they conquered Varnifane, seizing it from the wild elves.

🏹 The Fall of Varnifane

Varnifane was once home to a small community of grugach elves, skilled survivalists who lived in treehouses deep in the forest. However, their downfall came when:

  1. A surprise attack by marauding kech (arboreal ambushers) weakened their defenses.
  2. The Iron Claw Clan struck at night, overwhelming the elves with their superior numbers.
  3. The bugbear vanguard breached their defenses, securing control of the settlement.

The Iron Claw warband now numbers 125 humanoid warriors, consisting of:

  • Bugbears (40) – Elite core, skilled in ambushes.
  • Orcs (30) – Heavy shock troops.
  • Goblins (25) – Scouts, messengers, and archers.
  • Gnolls (20) – Ferocious frontliners.
  • Clerics of Iuz (10) – Providing magical support.

💡 DM Tip: Varnifane isn’t just a camp—it’s a symbol of the Temple’s growing strength.

⛏️ The Dwarven Warren – A Forgotten Stronghold

Beneath Varnifane lies an ancient dwarven fortress, long abandoned. The grugach feared the cursed relics buried there, but the Iron Claw Clan sees only weapons and power.

⚔️ The Dwarven Battle Axes

Among their greatest treasures are five enchanted dwarven battle axes:

  • +3 magical axes (become +5 when wielded by dwarves).
  • Revered relics among the Ulek Dwarves, who would pay handsomely for their return.
  • Symbols of dominance among the Iron Claw Clan, ensuring their rule over the other humanoids.

💡 DM Tip: These axes could be a major quest hook, drawing adventurers into the war against the bugbears.

⚖️ The Leaders of the Iron Claw Clan

Braggok Iron-Claw – Warlord of the Clan

  • A ruthless strategist, wielding one of the stolen dwarven axes.
  • Respects discipline and organization—not just brute force.
  • Forged an alliance with Commander Feldrin, making his warband an extension of the Temple’s network.

💀 "Kill swift, feast long."

Urglash the Shadow-Tongue – Shaman of Hruggek

  • Bugbear priest of Hruggek, god of war and ambush.
  • Blessed the dwarven axes with dark rites, twisting them into tools of divine conquest.
  • Commands a small sect of Clerics of Iuz, offering magical support to the clan.

💡 DM Tip: Urglash could summon powerful spirits or curse enemies who dare defy the clan.

Gorz Blacktooth – The Enforcer

  • Braggok’s right hand, leading ambushes and night raids.
  • A terrifying warrior who enforces discipline through sheer brutality.
  • Takes pleasure in breaking enemies before executing them.

💡 DM Tip: If Braggok is the mind, Gorz is the fist—a relentless, violent enforcer.

🏰 Varnifane – The Bugbear War Camp

Defenses & Strategy

Varnifane is more than just a camp—it’s a fortified stronghold, with:

  1. Treehouse Lookouts – Scouts stationed high above, ensuring no one approaches undetected.
  2. Hidden Pitfalls & Traps – Camouflaged snares, spike pits, and alarm wires set throughout the woods.
  3. Warren Entrances – If attacked, the clan can retreat underground and fortify their position.
  4. Elite Warbands – Small squads of bugbears and orcs patrol the area, ensuring no army can gather against them.

💡 DM Tip: Varnifane should feel like a fortress—players can’t just walk in and fight their way through.

🏴 The Temple of Elemental Evil’s Influence

The Iron Claw Clan has become a major weapon for the Temple of Elemental Evil. Commander Feldrin, the Temple’s master of bandits and mercenaries, supplies the bugbears with:

  • Gold & resources to expand their forces.
  • Intelligence on elven patrols & merchant caravans.
  • Weapons & dark blessings from the Temple’s clerics.

In return, the Iron Claw Clan:
✅ Harasses the Welkwood elves, weakening their defenses.
✅ Raids trade routes, starving Verbobonc’s economy.
✅ Provides reinforcements to Lareth the Beautiful at the Moathouse.

💡 DM Tip: Feldrin and Braggok are allies for now—but who is really using who?

Additional Resources

3orcs
Bringing traditional Dungeons & Dragons back to life, one story at a time. Happy adventuring, and may your dice roll true!

 

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