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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Drey Garson, Ranger Knight of the Gnarley Forest, Greyhawk DND campaign

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A 3orcs Blog for Dungeon Masters Running the Temple of Elemental Evil Campaign

Introduction: The Legend Who Refuses to Die

Some men become legends. Others are burdened by them.

Drey Garson is one of the last true Rangers of the Gnarley Forest, a man who has spent a lifetime fighting the horrors lurking within its depths. He has walked the wild paths since his youth, hunted beasts that most wouldn't dare name, and watched too many friends fall in the fight to keep the lands of Verbobonc and the Free Peoples safe.

But time has taken its toll. Once the proud Knight of the Gnarley, he is now a tired, broken old man, his body failing him thanks to a hag’s dying curse. He had hoped to fade into quiet retirement, but fate refuses to let him rest.

A young ranger has vanished, and if no one else will go looking, then Drey will.

Appearance & Presence

Drey Garson is past his prime, but still commands the respect of anyone who knows the wilds.

  • Aged but formidable: Over seventy, yet strong and sharp-eyed, though his breath is heavy and his gait stiffens in the cold.
  • Cursed scars: The right side of his face is cracked and petrified, as if turning to stone, a cruel gift from a dying hag.
  • Unnerving blue eyes: His piercing gaze unsettles even seasoned warriors.
  • Practical attire: Wears a weathered green cloak, homespun tunic, and sturdy boots caked in dried mud.
  • Weapons of a survivor: Carries an old oaken quarterstaff, a well-worn hand-axe, and a hunting knife of elven make.

"I didn’t live this long by bein’ brave. I lived this long by bein’ meaner than whatever was tryin’ to kill me."

The Curse That Won’t Let Him Rest

The Hag’s Dying Words

Decades ago, Drey and his companions hunted down a coven of hags deep in the Fens of Tor. Though they succeeded, one of them survived long enough to curse him:

"Ye would take me sisters, ranger. Ye have a heart of stone, I wager. I curse ye then. May the blood that pumps from ye heart o’ stone harden ye limbs, seize ye hands, and root ye feet te the earth. Stone ye are, and stone ye shall be!"

Since then, each dawn, Drey must fight against petrification. If he fails, the stone creeps further into his body, turning him into a statue piece by piece.

No magic has undone the curse. Not the healers of Verbobonc, not the Druids of the Gnarley, not even the most ancient of elven magics.

"I can’t feel my damned fingers in the morning, and my feet keep trying to root to the earth. If I stop moving, I’ll turn into a damn statue. So I don’t stop moving."

The Hunt for Redaxe Randar

Drey was content to rot in peace, spending his days in his garden and his pipe. But when Redaxe Randar, a promising young ranger, vanished on patrol—something broke inside him.

No one else will go looking. So Drey will.

This is more than just a rescue mission—it’s about proving he isn’t done yet. That the curse hasn’t won.

What the Players Know

  • A young ranger has disappeared, last seen near the ruined temples of the Old Faith.
  • The Mounted Borderers refuse to investigate, too busy guarding merchant roads.
  • Druids whisper that the Hag’s Coven isn’t finished.

What’s Really Happening?

  • Randar was tracking a group of cultists, unaware that they were agents of the Temple of Elemental Evil.
  • The cultists captured him, intending to sacrifice him to their dark god.
  • The last hag of the Tor Fens still lives in secret, growing in power—she might hold the key to ending Drey’s curse.

"Yer young, yer fast, and yer stupid. You’ll probably get me killed. But fine, let’s go."

Factions & Relationships

The Gnarley Rangers (Wary Elder & Legend)

  • Respected but feared—many see him as a relic of the past.
  • New rangers seek him out, but he claims he has nothing to teach.
  • Secretly proud of them, but will never admit it.

The Mounted Borderers of Verbobonc (Old Ally & Veteran)

  • Rode with them in his prime, but now sees them as too political.
  • Some still owe him favors, and he reluctantly calls them in when needed.

Druids of the Gnarley Forest (Respected but Frustrated)

  • Have tried for years to break his curse, failing every time.
  • Some believe his fate is sealed, and he should accept it.

"Some people die with a blade in their hand. Some die in bed. Me? I’ll probably keel over in the middle of a damn argument."

Adventure Hooks – Walking the Wild Paths Again

🗡️ The Missing Ranger (Level 3-6) – Investigation & Survival

  • The party is hired to find Randar before it's too late.
  • Tracking clues lead to ruins, cults, and whispers of an ancient hag.
  • Drey might tag along—begrudgingly.

🪨 The Curse Deepens (Level 6-10) – Magic & Mystery

  • The petrification is accelerating—Drey is running out of time.
  • The only hope is forbidden magic… which means entering a haunted ruin.
  • If Drey turns to stone, will the players undo his fate? Or let a legend become a statue?

⚔️ The Last Hag Lives (Level 8-12) – Monster Hunt

  • The final hag of the Tor Fens is still alive and gathering power.
  • Killing her might end the curse—or make it worse.
  • Drey wants her dead, no matter the cost.

"I’ll tell you what I told that bandit leader before I cracked his skull—get off my damn trail."


Final Thoughts – A Legend Walking Toward the End

Drey Garson is not just an NPC—he is a story waiting to be told.

For Dungeon Masters running Temple of Elemental Evil, he is an ally, a warning, and a tragic figure wrapped into one.

The wilderness is changing. The Temple is rising. And a legend walks once more.

Will he find his peace? Or will he die on the road, chasing ghosts and monsters?

For more Greyhawk lore, NPCs, and adventure hooks, visit the Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576CY and follow 3orcs for deeper discussions on the Temple of Elemental Evil campaign!

Click here to read more about Ranger Knight Drey Garson

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