Brewing Rebellion in Verbobonc – A Dungeon Master’s Glimpse Into Political Tensions During the Temple of Elemental Evil Campaign

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  By 3orcs – DM, Illustrator, and Worldbuilder When I first cracked open T1: The Village of Hommlet , I never imagined just how much depth I could layer into the classic Temple of Elemental Evil campaign. Sure, the moathouse and Nulb are iconic, but the real magic? It’s the tension building in the background—the rumors whispered in guildhalls, the quiet fury of disenfranchised gnome merchants, the clash between noble houses. That’s where the soul of a great campaign hides. That’s why I created “Political Tensions in Verbobonc – Spring 579 CY” —a dynamic Dungeon Master’s tool for injecting layers of intrigue into your Greyhawk sessions. If you’re a DM looking to breathe life into Verbobonc before your players ever reach Hommlet, then this supplement is a goldmine of factional drama, NPC motivations, and side quest hooks. Why Verbobonc Deserves Center Stage Before the Temple Awakens Every DM who’s run The Temple of Elemental Evil knows the opening act can feel disconnected fro...
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“Daughter of the River Wind” — A Rhenn Nulb-Based Side Quest for the Temple of Elemental Evil Campaign

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Introduction: Whispered Names in the Night Fog of Nulb

Of all the shadowed corners of the Flanaess, the village of Nulb may be the most dangerous place to find yourself owed a favor. Set against the festering current of Imeryd's Run and cursed by the long shadow of the Temple of Elemental Evil, Nulb is more than a pit-stop—it's a proving ground for adventurers with ambition. In my ongoing Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576 CY, one of the most personal, haunting quests I’ve written is “Daughter of the River Wind.” And if you want your campaign to carry emotional stakes as sharp as a dagger in the dark, this side quest is the one.

A Quest Hook with Teeth: A Father’s Shame, A Daughter’s Chains

This quest doesn't begin with a treasure map or an old wizard—no, it starts with a drunken, bloodied man in a Rhenn camp whispering a name through tears. “Serena.”

She’s vanished, possibly sold to cover a brawl gone bad in The Boatman’s Tavern, and her fate lies entangled with some of Nulb’s most corrupt and dangerous factions—The Crimson Reapers, The Iron Talons, and the enigmatic Elvanna Thorne, mistress of The Iron Lash brothel.

"So. You got guts for ghosts? Steel for slavers? Or are you just here for pity and songs?" — Eryk Velkori

The Attloi, an exiled landbound tribe of Rhennee, are one of my favorite narrative devices to use in Nulb. Outsiders among outsiders, they're caught between crime and cultural identity, and that makes for incredible roleplay.

Investigation and Intrigue: Tangled Webs in the Docks of Nulb

The beauty of this quest lies in its moral flexibility. Players can:

  • Investigate rumors at the Boatman’s Tavern.

  • Negotiate with Elvanna at the Iron Lash for Serena’s release.

  • Rescue Serena through subterfuge or brute force.

  • Fail, and watch as the Rhennee pack up and disappear—taking secrets and black market connections with them.

It’s gritty, it's personal, and it shines a torch into the moral murk of Nulb. These are the kinds of stories that turn your players into heroes with baggage.

Serena Velkori: Not Just a Victim

I made sure Serena is not a passive NPC. If she’s rescued, she opens up to the party with cutting insight, emotional wounds, and valuable intel on the Crimson Reapers and her father’s coerced ambushes. She even offers a fortune-telling moment, foreshadowing the campaign’s darkest paths.

“The winds bring blood, and the trail you follow leads to stone and fire…”

This is storytelling with roots, foreshadowing the rise of the Temple of Elemental Evil itself.

Optional Roleplay Scene: Vethra Velkori’s Divination

Want something a little more mystical? You’ve got Vethra “Old Eyes” Velkori, Serena’s grandmother and a Rhenn seer, offering the players a choice of Smoke, Bone, or Card. Each option delivers cryptic omens, flavored with esoteric dread and veiled truths.

These scenes deepen your game world while giving direction—and they make your NPCs feel alive and connected.

Campaign Integration: A True Temple of Elemental Evil Side Quest

As I continue to flesh out locations like Twilight Falls, Sheernobb, Ostverk, and of course, Nulb, I keep returning to this idea: what makes a town feel real isn’t the shops or stat blocks—it’s the human stories inside them.

“Daughter of the River Wind” is one of those stories.

Whether your players want to:

  • Rescue Serena to gain favor with the Rhennee,

  • Get involved with the Iron Talons to build criminal ties,

  • Or simply right a wrong in a world steeped in corruption—

This quest gives your campaign emotional stakes, brutal consequences, and a clear tie-in to the cult’s growing grip on the region.

Final Thoughts from 3orcs

I wrote this quest because I wanted to explore the collateral damage of the Temple's influence. Not every villain needs to be robed in flame—sometimes evil wears perfume and waits with shackles in a brothel.

Want more immersive, narrative-rich locations and stories like this? Check out the Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576 CY. And don’t forget to subscribe to the 3orcs YouTube Channel, where we go deep into the lore, the drama, and the villainy behind the world of Greyhawk.

 

Related Resources & Adventure Threads

This is the kind of gritty, emotional side-quest that makes your world breathe.

See you on the Forest Road,

— 3orcs

Would you like an image of Serena, Vethra, or the Iron Lash location for this blog post? I’d be happy to generate one!

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