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 from the larger world. You drop your players into Hommlet and they wonder why the gods should care about a crumbling moat house.

But what if Verbobonc is already burning with unrest? What if political instability and racial tension were spilling over into the countryside, threatening to derail Lady Elinor Asbury’s mission before it begins?

This guide turns that potential into a living, breathing campaign environment.

The Faces Behind the Unrest

Here’s a quick overview of the key power players tearing the city apart at the seams:

  • Lady Elinor Asbury – The newly minted Baroness of Asbury and ambassador to Veluna. Loved and feared in equal measure, her refusal to marry Lord Milinous has set the entire city whispering.

  • Lord Simon Milinous – Knight-Captain of the Mounted Borderers and political predator. His ambition is matched only by his sense of entitlement.

  • Mayor Haxx – Tax collector and thug-in-chief, his “Hardheads” are turning the city into a fear state.

  • Prince Jimm Pithriggen – Gnome councilor and voice of reason, now labeled a traitor by some for defending gnomish trade rights.

  • Archbishop Haufren of St. Cuthbert – Caught between righteousness and riots, trying to hold his church together while his priests call for gnome expulsion.

The “Political Tensions” article gives you rumors, street chatter, priestly murmurs, and conflicting agendas for each. As a DM, you’ll be armed with in-world voice, not just exposition.

Side Quests That Matter

If you’re building toward The Temple of Elemental Evil, you want your players emotionally and politically entangled before they ever set foot in the moathouse. This supplement includes hooks for side quests that set the tone:

  • NSQ-03: The Merchant Argument – A silver shipment stolen. Gnomes blamed. Players caught in a spiraling web of trade sabotage and racial mistrust.

  • NSQ-04: Godsday Procession and the Flame of Retribution – A sermon by High Priest Cornelius Arx calls for armed rebellion. Will the PCs align with the people… or the law?

  • NSQ-05: On a Mission from Rao – A dream-wracked priestess, a missing chest of Rao, and a madman in hiding. Ties directly into the Temple’s deeper lore.

Each of these side quests is part of the larger Noble Ambitions 579 CY campaign, a prequel arc that connects your characters personally to the Temple’s long shadow.

DM Tips: Running the City

Want your players to feel like their choices shape the world?

  • Drop gossip organically: tavern brawls, overheard arguments, whispered temple prayers.

  • Let rumors contradict: Not all informants are reliable.

  • Foreshadow the Temple’s return: Strange symbols, rumors of missing caravans, unsettling dreams from Rao or Istus.

  • Let factions court the party: Lady Elinor needs discretion. Milinous wants leverage. Haxx wants spies.

And don’t forget to bring the tension to life through NPC expressions, city patrols, and the subtle shift in street-side behavior.

Final Thoughts: Why I Built This

I’ve been worldbuilding since the Blue Holmes set, running campaigns that focus on character immersion and political nuance. I built this supplement to fill the space between rumor and rebellion—to turn Verbobonc into a pressure cooker that boils over right as your players reach Hommlet.

If you’re looking to make The Temple of Elemental Evil feel alive, relevant, and deeply connected to your player characters, you owe it to yourself to start here.

👉 You can find “Political Tensions in Verbobonc – Spring 579 CY” and all the related modules for sale on the Dungeon Masters Guild.

🧭 Explore the expanded world at Verbobonc Campaign Guide 576 CY for full articles, side quests, and gorgeous artwork.

📺 And don’t miss our deep-dive video content on the 3orcs YouTube channel, where we dissect narrative arcs, character psychology, and GM prep techniques in detail.

🔥 Take your players on a journey through a city of masks and knives—before the Temple even opens its doors.

🛡️ Let them fight for something real, before they face something evil.

— 3orcs
Dungeon Master | Illustrator | Old School Greyhawk Fan

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