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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Falls Keep: The Last Bastion of Order in the Western Gnarley Forest in the World of Greyhawk DND Campaign

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Mounted Borderer Fort in the Gnarley

Deep in the Gnarley Forest, standing as the last line of defense between civilization and chaos, Falls Keep is a key outpost of the Mounted Borderers. Strategically positioned near the village of Twilight Falls, this motte-and-bailey stronghold watches over the Forest Road, a vital trade route that connects Dyvers, the Wild Coast, and the Viscounty of Verbobonc.

For Dungeon Masters running the Temple of Elemental Evil, Falls Keep is an essential location that brings in political intrigue, frontier law enforcement, and rising tensions between factions. Whether your players seek military aid, uncover dark plots, or test their combat prowess against roving bandits and orc raiders, this fortress serves as a gateway to adventure.

🏰 The History & Purpose of Falls Keep

Built in the early 570s CY, Falls Keep was one of several military outposts constructed following the Battle of Emridy Meadows (569 CY). Its mission? To pacify the lawless frontier, deter banditry, and secure Verbobonc’s claim over the region. However, the fort’s diminishing garrison and growing threats have left many wondering if its walls will hold.

"They call it Falls Keep, but one day, it will be Falls Ruin."
— A disgruntled woodsman in Twilight Falls

⚔️ Key Historical Notes

✔ Constructed in response to increased bandit activity and humanoid incursions
✔ Part of the Mounted Borderers' expansion after Emridy Meadows
✔ A symbol of Verbobonc’s power, yet resented by local villages and elves

💡 DM Tip: Players may uncover ancient Flan ruins beneath the keep, adding an element of mystery and magic.

🏛️ The Layout & Defenses of Falls Keep

Falls Keep is a simple but highly defensible fortress, consisting of a three-story central keep, a palisade wall, and a fortified gatehouse.


🔑 Key Features of Falls Keep

✔ Central Keep – A three-story tower housing the commander’s quarters and garrison.
✔ Defensive Walkways – A 12-foot-high wooden palisade lined with archer positions.
✔ Garrison Quarters – Housing up to 40 soldiers (though only 12 remain).
✔ Shrine to St. Cuthbert – A small chapel maintained by a loyal cleric.
✔ Supply Storage & Prison Cells – A basement stocked with food, water, and two prison cells for captured criminals.
✔ Observation Post – Provides a commanding view of Twilight Falls and the surrounding forest.

💡 DM Tip: If Falls Keep is ever besieged, the adventurers may need to lead its defense against an overwhelming force!

🌲 The Role of Falls Keep in the Campaign

Falls Keep is more than just a military outpost—it sits at the heart of rising tensions and ongoing conflicts.

🛡️ The Duties of the Mounted Borderers at Falls Keep

✔ Patrolling the Trade Routes – Protecting merchants from bandits and humanoid warbands.
✔ Defending Twilight Falls – Serving as a bulwark against orcs, goblins, and giants.
✔ Maintaining the Viscount’s Law – Mediating disputes and collecting taxes.
✔ Monitoring Elven Tensions – Watching over the four major elven clans, who resent human expansion.

💡 DM Tip: Players who befriend Falls Keep’s garrison may gain allies, military assistance, or even training. However, crossing them could lead to exile—or worse.

⚖️ Political & Military Challenges Facing Falls Keep

Falls Keep’s garrison is stretched thin, and Viscount Wilfrick’s shifting priorities have weakened its position.

📜 Political Issues

✔ Tension with the Gnomes – The Free Assembly of the Kron Hills is furious over reduced Mounted Borderer patrols.
✔ Strained Relations with the Elves – The Elven Clans of the Gnarley see Falls Keep as an instrument of human expansion.
✔ Resentment Among the Villagers – Many in Twilight Falls believe the Borderers are nothing more than tax collectors.

"If they let us do our jobs, the roads would be safe, the gnomes would have their trade, and the elves would know their place. But politics, politics ruins everything."
— Jeska Rawl, Commander of Falls Keep

⚔️ Growing Military Threats

✔ Banditry on the Trade Roads – Brigands prey on merchants traveling from Dyvers, the Free Lands, and Verbobonc.
✔ Orc & Goblin Raids – Humanoid warbands increasingly test Falls Keep’s defenses.
✔ Giant Incursions – Hill giants and ogres have been spotted moving southward.

"The elves say we do not belong here. The gnomes say we do not do enough. The villagers say we tax them too harshly. And the orcs? The orcs say nothing, but their axes speak plenty."
— A weary soldier at Falls Keep

💡 DM Tip: Falls Keep may fall if the players do not intervene, making its survival a major campaign event.

🎭 Key NPCs & Factions in Falls Keep

🏇 Jeska Rawl, Commander of Falls Keep

✔ Seasoned warrior, leader of the garrison
✔ Fiercely loyal to the Viscount, but critical of recent orders
✔ Struggles to balance military needs with local resentment

💡 DM Tip: Jeska may ask for adventurers’ help in handling sensitive missions without direct involvement from Verbobonc’s leadership.

🎲 Adventure Hooks for Falls Keep

Falls Keep is a hub of adventure opportunities in a Temple of Elemental Evil campaign.

🔥 1. The Bandit King’s Ransom (Espionage & Combat)

  • A bandit warlord has captured a merchant caravan near the Forest Road.
  • The garrison is too small to mount a full rescue—will the adventurers take the job?

🔥 2. The Orc Warband Approaches (Defense & Diplomacy)

  • A large orc warband is preparing to raid Twilight Falls.
  • Do the adventurers fortify Falls Keep, or take the fight to the enemy first?

🔥 3. The Cultists in Twilight Falls (Investigation & Deception)

  • Suspicious activity in Twilight Falls suggests agents of the Temple of Elemental Evil are operating nearby.
  • Can the adventurers infiltrate the cult before they strike?

💡 DM Tip: Each of these hooks ties into the broader Temple of Elemental Evil storyline, expanding the world and offering players meaningful choices.

📖 Want More TOEE Content?

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

💬 Would YOU defend Falls Keep, or let it fall to chaos? Let me know in the comments!

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