Grave-Soaked Secrets in the Shadow of Nulb, in the World of Greyhawk for the Temple of Elemental Evil DND campaign

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How the Village Graveyard Became a Cornerstone of My Temple of Elemental Evil Campaign When I first laid eyes on the crumbling, moss-covered tombstones of the Nulb Graveyard , I didn’t expect it to become such a pivotal piece of my campaign. But that’s what I’ve come to love about building out the Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576cy —those small, seemingly forgotten places often reveal the most story-rich, atmospheric threads. Nulb , with its damp streets and looming threat of corruption, has always been a favorite location of mine when expanding upon the legendary Temple of Elemental Evil campaign by Gary Gygax. I’ve worked to bring this infamous, chaotic village to life—not as a cardboard cutout of evil, but as a living, breathing space of secrets, routines, and long-buried grief. The graveyard , tucked between Baroness Nysera’s Manor and the road to the old Temple ruins , is no exception. The Forgotten Heart of Nulb This is no grand cathedral graveyard. The Nulb Graveyard is winds...
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The Whiterock Clan – Giants and Ogres in the Temple of Elemental Evil DND campaign

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 Giant Invasion into Verbobonc

Fellow Dungeon Masters, if you’re looking for a brutal, intelligent, and politically entangled faction to add to your Temple of Elemental Evil campaign, the Whiterock Clan is an absolute must.

These massive warriors, once a secluded band of hill giants and ogres, were drawn into the service of the Temple of Elemental Evil by the mysterious Cowled Lady, an undead sorceress with her own sinister agenda. Though the Battle of Emridy Meadows nearly wiped them out, the survivors rebuilt their numbers and now rule a significant portion of the Kron Hills.

In this article, we’ll explore:
🏰 The history & dark origins of the Whiterock Clan
🛡️ How they operate in the Kron Hills
⚔️ How the Temple of Elemental Evil and Iuz manipulate them
🎲 How to use them in your TOEE campaign as raiders, mercenaries, or major villains

🏔️ The Origins of the Whiterock Clan

Deep in the Kron Hills, the Whiterock Clan’s ancestral home is a vast, hidden cave system, a sanctuary rich with food, water, and underground life. Unlike most hill giants, they did not need to raid—they thrived in seclusion, feeding on giant insects, fungi, and deep-rothe herds.

That changed when the Hateful Wars (498–510 CY) drove orcs, goblins, and ogres out of the Lortmil Mountains. A desperate band of ogres, fleeing destruction, stumbled into the Whiterock caverns.

💀 The Rise of the Ogres

Rather than driving them off, Dundur, the Whiterock Chieftain, offered them protection in exchange for servitude. Over the years, the ogres became the giants’ foot soldiers and labor force, ensuring their dominance.

But true power came when the Cowled Lady arrived.

🩸 The Cowled Lady & The Fall into Darkness

Nassandra, the Cowled Lady, a vampire sorceress, arrived sometime before 540 CY and whispered promises of power into the ears of the Whiterock Clan’s leaders.

She gifted them enchanted trinkets, wealth, and dark knowledge, convincing them to serve the rising Temple of Elemental Evil.

By 570 CY, at her command, the Whiterock Clan marched to war.

💡 DM Tip: The Cowled Lady is a master manipulator, promising power, wealth, and immortality to those she favors. She still holds sway over the Whiterock Clan, and they await her return like a forgotten god.

⚔️ The Battle of Emridy Meadows & Aftermath

The Whiterock Clan fought as mercenaries at the infamous Battle of Emridy Meadows in 569 CY, smashing through Verbobonc’s forces with devastating power.

But when the Temple of Elemental Evil collapsed, their numbers were nearly wiped out.

Rather than seeking revenge, the surviving giants and ogres retreated into the Kron Hills, avoiding further losses. They are now stronger than ever, and Verbobonc has no idea what’s coming next.

💡 DM Tip: Want to build tension? Have rural villages report sightings of massive footprints, missing livestock, and ominous warnings about giants preparing for war.

👑 The Leaders of the Whiterock Clan

👑 Nathrok the Mighty – Chieftain of the Giants

  • The most brutal of all Whiterock leaders.
  • Favors conquest over caution.
  • Still loyal to the Cowled Lady, believing her return will grant him immortality.

💀 "The weak bow. The strong rule. That is the only law."

🧙 Nurk the Shaman – The Wise Elder

  • The spiritual leader of the clan.
  • Cautious and tactical, prefers small raids to full-scale war.
  • Has visions of Iuz and the Elder Elemental God, believing they are aspects of a greater force of destruction.

💡 DM Tip: Nurk may negotiate with players, but only if it benefits the clan.

🩸 Murga, Widow of the Last Chieftain

  • A powerful female giant, clad in skulls and war paint.
  • Respected by the warriors and a key political player.
  • Rumored to have direct contact with the Cowled Lady.

💡 DM Tip: Murga might be the true power behind the throne, and she won’t tolerate weak leadership.

🛡️ The Whiterock Clan & The Temple of Elemental Evil

Though once fully loyal to the Temple, the Whiterock Clan now operates independently.

🔥 How They Serve the Temple of Elemental Evil

  • Hired muscle – when the Temple needs brute force, the Whiterock Clan provides it.
  • Elite mercenaries – they attack Verbobonc’s outposts, steal supplies, and kill scouts.
  • An army waiting to strike – the Water Temple hopes to fully recruit them again.

💡 DM Tip: The Temple may try to manipulate them—or the giants may use the Temple for their own gain.

⚖️ Political Ramifications in Greyhawk

The Viscounty of Verbobonc has no idea that the Whiterock Clan has rebuilt its strength.

🛡️ Gnomes & Dwarves of the Lortmils – Preparing counter-raids but fearing full-scale war.
⚖️ Verbobonc’s Mounted Borderers – Underestimating the threat, leaving frontier villages vulnerable.
💀 Temple of Elemental Evil’s Water Cult – Trying to fully recruit them again.

💡 DM Tip: If the players don’t act, the Whiterock Clan will launch devastating raids on Verbobonc.

🎲 How to Use the Whiterock Clan in Your TOEE Campaign

🔥 "The Silent March" – Villages report seeing giant shadows at night.
🛡️ "The Cowled Lady’s Return" – Rumors spread that she is awakening again.
⚔️ "A Deal with Giants" – Verbobonc wants the PCs to negotiate a truce—if they can survive the meeting.

💡 DM Tip: If your players want a challenge, a full assault on the Whiterock Clan’s stronghold is an epic dungeon crawl.

📖 Want More TOEE Content?

📖 Read the full Whiterock Clan article in the Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576CY: World Anvil
📺 Watch deep-dive TOEE videos on the 3orcs YouTube Channel: YouTube
🎲 Get exclusive TOEE content & support 3orcs: Patreon.com/3orcs

🏔️ Final Thoughts – Why Use the Whiterock Clan?

✔️ They bring epic-scale battles & political intrigue to TOEE.
✔️ They can be enemies, reluctant allies, or a faction for hire.
✔️ They add high-level threats and long-term consequences.

💬 Would YOU use the Whiterock Clan in your campaign? Let me know in the comments!

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