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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Annika Silverwood, Ranger Knight of the Lake Verge, Gnarley Rangers in the Gnarley Forest, Greyhawk DND campaign

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A Torch Among Shadows in the Gnarley Forest
By 3orcs

Introduction: The Young Flame of the Gnarley

When we talk about the Gnarley Rangers in our Greyhawk campaigns, we often think of weathered veterans, grizzled woodsmen, and mythic guardians lost in the canopies of ancient oaks. But Annika Silverwood? She's the spark of something new—a symbol of youthful determination thrust into the crucible of duty before her time. In my Temple of Elemental Evil campaign, she has emerged as a narrative centerpiece, offering a compelling blend of political intrigue, wilderness grit, and emotional weight. She's a character I love introducing to players when they wander the edge of Dyvers or begin exploring the deeper trails of the Lake Verge.

Who Is Annika Silverwood?

Raised in the wooded edge near Lake Verge, Annika is a woman of mixed Oeridian-Suel heritage, once a hunter and forager, now a reluctant leader. She walks in the long shadow of her mentor, Darreth Garlson, whose tragic death at the hands of a necromancer forced Naimur the Oakfather to elevate her above her seniors. She wears that promotion like a second set of armor—heavy, constricting, but essential.

"Let the old rangers scoff. I’ve walked the roads they refuse to see." – Annika Silverwood

Description & Presence

Annika is clad in studded leather, her once-blonde hair dyed black for stealth in the forest’s canopy. Her green-flecked eyes hold the weight of someone twice her age. Her serious, somber demeanor helps fend off doubts from those who question her rise.

Quick Reference:

  • Race: Human (Oeridian/Suel)

  • Class/Level: Ranger 5

  • Deity: Ehlonna

  • Armor Class: 19 (Studded Leather +1, Ring of Protection +2, Dex +3)

  • HP: 67

  • Favored Enemies: Gnolls (+4), Goblinoids (+2)

  • Combat Style: Two-Weapon Fighting

  • Spells: Entangle, Animal Messenger, Cat’s Grace

Role in the Campaign

As a Dungeon Master, Annika makes for a perfect hook for wilderness campaigns in the western Gnarley Forest, especially those with players venturing along the High Road or navigating tensions with Dyvers. She’s the kind of NPC that can drive side quests or campaign arcs—be it uncovering the necromancer who killed her mentor or leading a recruitment effort to replenish fallen rangers.

Adventure Hooks:

  • Necromancer Hunt: Players assist Annika in tracking the dark caster responsible for recent ranger deaths.

  • Dyversian Diplomacy: Mediate between Annika and merchant factions seeking to exploit Lake Verge’s resources.

  • Gnoll Raids: Annika knows the tactics of the gnoll enclaves like no one else—she needs allies to strike at their lairs.

  • Recruitment Drive: Help her train or vet new rangers amid growing threats.

  • Ranger Politics: Navigate the tension among Ranger Knights, some of whom resent her presence.

Personality & Motivations

Annika doesn’t want to lead—she has to. She’s driven, self-aware, and feels every failure deeply. That makes her both relatable and inspiring for players who engage with her. I’ve had roleplayers in my sessions latch onto her as a comrade, a rival, even a moral compass.

“I was not chosen to be comfortable. I was chosen to do what others would not.”

Key Traits:

  • Terse & Overworked: Takes on patrols herself, rarely delegates.

  • Respected but Resented: Trusted by Naimur but doubted by others.

  • Diplomatic: Prefers to talk before fighting—though she knows how to end a fight.

Annika in Your Campaign

Here’s how I recommend using Annika:

  • Early Campaign: She can serve as a guide or quest-giver for players arriving near Dyvers or investigating strange disappearances on the High Road.

  • Mid Campaign: As the Temple of Elemental Evil’s agents begin reemerging, Annika becomes a key ally—warning of gnoll movements, necromantic signs, or strange bandit behavior.

  • Late Campaign: Annika could either be a political ally in the Ranger Council or a field leader in a raid against gnoll enclaves or temple outposts.

 

Relationship Web

Annika’s placement makes her an ideal bridge between factions.

Allies:

  • Naimur the Oakfather: Her mentor and fiercest supporter.

  • Gnomes & Fey of the Lake Verge: Friends from childhood.

  • Some Elven Clans: Respect her diplomacy, if not her rank.

Tensions:

  • Older Ranger Knights: Question her youth and methods.

  • Dyversian Merchants: See her as an obstacle to expansion.

  • Gnoll Enclaves: Personal vendetta—she has hunted them for years.

 

3orcs Final Thoughts

Annika Silverwood is one of my favorite NPCs in the Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576cy. She represents a different kind of ranger—one forged by loss, tempered by duty, and determined to earn the role fate has thrust upon her. If you’re running T1: Village of Hommlet or Temple of Elemental Evil, she’s a superb tool to expand the story beyond the moathouse and into the wider world of Gnarley Forest intrigue.

Want the full stat block, quest lines, and original artwork of Annika? Head over to the Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576cy website and check out the 3orcs Patreon for exclusive content!

Click here to read the full article of Annika Silverwood

🧭 3orcs YouTube Channel: We’re diving deep into NPC design and campaign prep for Verbobonc weekly!

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