A Pathfinder conversion for the Temple of Elemental Evil campaign. An evil coalition is determined to free the Rough Beast. From Andoran to Taldor, Droskar's Crag to the Fog peaks, madness and destuction awakens once more.
Brother Smythe, male half orc Expert 5, Blacksmith an elder of the Church of Erastil
Calmer, male human Cleric 3, Church of Iomedae
Canoness Y'dey female human Cleric 12, Head of the Church of Iomedae deceased
Elmo of the Axe male human Ranger 7, Captain of the Town Guard
Garrick, male human Commoner 3, Groomsman, Inn of the Welcome Wench deceased
Hoak, male half-ogre Expert 2, Blacksmith apprentice
Ilsa, female human Commoner 1, Waitress, Inn of the Welcome Wench
Jaroo Ashstaff male human Druid 9, Head of the Grove of Erastil deceased
Jennithar Rhengold, female half-elf Cleric 4, Grove of Erastil deceased
Jessa Nevets, female human Aristocrat 5, Mayor of Hommlet
Kalizar DeMagius male human Wizard 12, Wizard of Andoran
Kenter Nevets male human Aristocrat 7, Mayor of Hommlet deceased
Marta Gundigoot, female human Expert 4, Hostess Inn of the Welcome Wench
Meridosen, female human Expert 3, Waitress, Inn of the Welcome Wench deceased
Mytch Blaylock, male human Expert 6, Head of the Merchant's Board
Neil, male human Commoner 1, Stableboy, Inn of the Welcome Wench
Nira Melubb, male gnome Aristocrat 2/ Expert 3, Banker, House Vaylen Trades Bank
Ostler Gundigoot, male human Expert 5, Proprietor, Inn of the Welcome Wench
Paddy, male human Expert 1, stableboy, Inn of the Welcome Wench
Sir Romidar Averigus male human Fighter 9, Captain, Eagle Knight garrison
Sharla, female human Commoner 2, Waitress, Inn of the Welcome Wench
Spugnoir the Red male human Wizard 7/Alchemist 2, Potionmaker missing
Terjen the Keen male human Cleric 7, Cleric of Sarenrae
Yundi the Lost, human male Druid 2, Grove of Erastil deceased
Marketplace
Base Value 1,500 gp; Purchase Limit 8,500 gp; Spellcasting 6th
Minor Items 3d4; Medium Items 1d6; Major Items 1
Menu - Inn of the Welcome Wench:
Full Meals
Baked Beef Steak in Gravy - 6 sp
Boiled Crawfish in Butter - 5 sp
Grilled Sellen Trout - 6 sp
Marinated Mutton Brace - 8 sp
Poached Salmon w/ Wild Nuts- 6 sp
Roast Goose or Turkey - 9 sp
Savory Whole Hen - 5 sp
Spiced Sausages - 6 sp
Squab-Stuffed Wild Pheasant - 1 gp
Steak & Kidney Whole Pie - 5 sp
Stuffed Pork Chops - 6 sp
Venison Steak w/ Onions and Peppers- 8 sp
(Full meals served w/ honeyed loaves, spiced potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and daily desert)
Light Fare
Black Peppered Bread, small loaf - 4 cp
Boiled Chick Eggs, Trio - 1 sp
Boiled Haggis, bowl - 2 sp
Daily Desert - 1 gp
Fruit and Aged Cheese, bowl - 2 sp
Hearty Beef Stew, bowl - 3 sp
Oatmeal w/ Sweet Laf - 6 cp
Salad Greens and Garnish, oiled & spiced - 1 sp
Vegetable and Broth, bowl - 1 sp
Yogurt w/ Minced Fruit - 1 sp
Common Beverages - Served per pint
Blackpeaks Ale - 7 cp
Bellis Sweet Mead - 14 cp (2sp w/ comb)
Cadenbrew - 5 cp
Hardroot Cider - 7 cp
Hommlet Amber Ale - 4 cp
Hommlet Dark Stout - 3 cp
Hommlet Pale Ale- 2 cp
Hommlet Fire Lager - 1 sp
Luglurch Ale - 4 sp
Milk, Cows or Goat - 5 cp
Sarain Special Lager - 1 sp
Verduran Black Tea - 2 cp
Water, Deep Well - 1 cp
Wench's Own Coffee - 1 cp
Wench's Special Brew - 2 cp
Wine - Served per glass
Andoren Golden - 2 sp
Corentyn Ruby Dry - 2 gp
Galtan Fireamber - 3 gp
Hommlet Tables - 8 cp
House Jeggare Clear - 3 sp
Kyonin Emerald - 1 gp
Qadiran Lilac - 4 sp
Sarain Rose - 2 gp
Sauerton Red - 6 cp
Sealord Summer - 1 gp
Taldan White - 5 sp
Spirits - Served per gill
Absinthe - 3gp
Almas Reserve - 5 sp
Anduran Special Red - 1 sp
Chelaxian Pepper - 2 sp
Dragon Punch - 3 gp (10gp per mug)
Druman Cognac - 3 gp
Elidir Special Blend - 2 gp
Oldlaw Whiskey - 2 gp
Steyran Applejack - 1 sp
Taldan Sunfire - 5 gp
History of Hommlet:
The Town of Hommlet, or merely “Hommlet,” as it is commonly called – is situated on the eastern edge of Andoran, that portion of the Inner Sea Region which is known as “free and civilized.” The small town (locals still referring to themselves as villagers) is located some 580 leagues northeast of the capital of Almas, on the far border of the lands controlled by the Peoples Council and Supreme Elect Codwin I of Augustana. It is a crossroads between Andoran’s northern neighbors and the nation of Taldor to the east.
Running nearby is the mighty Sellen River, along whose west bank runs the Lowroad, which runs from Woodsedge in Galt to a coastal terminus in Almas. Many days’ travel to the south, on the shores of the Inner Sea is the large town of Triela, whilst across the watery border lays the great walled Taldan city of Cassomir. Beyond Hommlet to the west, north and northeast are miles and miles of forest (the Verduran), beyond which are the wild lands of Galt and the River Kingdoms, and the peaks of the Five King Mountains. To the south, at the mouth of the Sellen, lie Star Bay and the Inner Sea. The Lowroad forks a league or so beyond the little community, one branch meandering a few miles off towards the nefarious Taldan ferry crossing of Nulb, another rolling southwest 150 leagues through the Carpenden Plains to the town of Steyr, and then eventually turning southwards again towards fair Almas. The hard western Highroad leads into the very heart of Andoran, passing over the Andoshen River into the Arthfell and going onwards to the Aspodell Mountains far beyond.
Hommlet grew from a farm or two, a rest house, and a smithy. The roads brought a sufficient number of travelers and merchant wagons to attract tradesmen and artisans to serve those passing through. The rest house became a thriving inn, with wheel and wainwrights settling in the growing thorp. More farmers and herdsmen followed, for grain was needed for the passing animals, and meat was in demand for the inn folk.
Prosperity was great, for the Chelaxian lord of the district was mild and taxed but little. Trade was good, and the land was untroubled by war, outlaws, or ravaging beasts, though tensions at times were high with neighboring Taldor. The area was free, beautiful, and bountiful – too much so, in the eyes of some.
Whether the evil came west from Taldor (as is claimed by one faction) or crept up out of the forestlands bordering the River Kingdoms (as others assert), come it did. At first it was only a few thieves and an odd group of bandits molesting the merchant caravans. Then there followed small bands of humanoids – kobolds or goblins – raiding the flocks and herds. Local militia and foresters of the Count of Steyr apparently checked, but did not stop, the spread of outlawry and evil.
A collection of hovels and their slovenly inhabitants formed the nucleus for the troubles which were to increase. A wicked cleric established a small chapel at this point. The folk of Hommlet tended to ignore this place, Nulb, even though it was but 20 miles distant. But its out-of-the-way position was ideal for the fell purposes planned for this settlement, as was its position on a small river flowing into the Sellen. The thickets and marshes around Nulb became the lair and hiding place for bandits, brigands, and all sorts of evil men and monsters alike. The chapel grew into a stone temple as its faithful brought in their ill-gotten tithes. Good folk were robbed, pillaged, enslaved, and worse.
In response, Cheliax ordered built a border outpost nearby, to curb the depredations choking off trade through the region. Alas, this fort stood but for two years before the civil war began in 4640 AR, which ultimately resulted in the rise of House Thrune and Chelaxian diabolism. The outpost was destroyed by a rebel house, and laid abandoned for many years.
Then, in 4666, a grim and forbidding fortress was erected across the Taldan border, an unwholesome and evil place, where swarms of creatures worshipped and worked their wickedness therein. The servants of this Temple of Elder Evils made Hommlet, its ruined outpost, and the lands for leagues around a mockery of freedom and beauty. Commerce ceased, crops withered; pestilence was abroad.
But the leaders of this cancer were full of hubris, and, in their over-weaning pride, sought to overthrow the good realms to the east and west, who joined together to rescue theirs land being crushed under the tyranny wrought by the evil temple. A great battle was fought, along the Sellen Run at Emridy Meadows, a rare though unfortunately forgotten time where common good foreswore nationalism and mistrust.
When the good people of Hommlet saw streams of ochre-robed men and humanoids fleeing south and west through their community, there was great rejoicing, for they knew that the murderous oppressors had been defeated and driven from the field in panic and rout. So great was the slaughter, so complete the victory of good that the walled stronghold of the Temple of Elder Evils fell within a fortnight, despite the aid of the terrible demoness Lamashtu. The place was ruined and sealed against a further return of such abominations by powerful blessings and magic.
Life in Hommlet quickly returned to a semblance of its former self, before the rise of the temple. For three years afterward, the village and the surrounding countryside became richer and more prosperous than ever before. A monstrous troll that plagued the place for a time was hunted down by a party of passing adventurers. Carrying the ashes and a goodly fortune as well, the adventurers returned to the village. Before going elsewhere to seek their fortunes, the adventurers also returned a portion of the villagers’ losses. Other adventurers, knowing of the evil that had once resided in the area, came to seek out similar caches, and several did find remote lairs and wealth – just as some never returned at all.
With the beginning of the People’s Revolt in 4669 AR, Hommlet found itself uncertain of what the future would bring. The Chelaxian Count of Steyr had always treated the region fairly, despite his turn to diabolism, but fears were soon found baseless, as the region easily made the transition to this new democracy; the Count willingly accepted repayment for his deeds and titles and returned to Egorian a wealthy noble. His representatives in Hommlet, Lords Rufus and Burne, became free citizens and joined in forming a new council, the first elections left the same wise leaders in charge as before.
After a time, adventurers stopped coming to the area. It seemed that no monsters were left to slay, and no evil existed here to be stamped out. The villagers heaved a collective sigh – some pained at the loss of income, but others relieved by the return to the quiet, normal life – and Hommlet continued its quiet existence for forty three more years.
But then a year ago, the bandits began to ride the roads again – not frequently, but to some effect. To the good folk of Hommlet, this seemed all too familiar, so they sent word to the Supreme Elect that wicked forces might still lurk thereabouts. This information has been spread throughout the countryside, and the news has attracted outsiders to the village once again. An Eagle Knight and his patrol have taken up residence in Hommlet Tower, alongside Lord Burne’s heir the mage Kalizar. Who and what these men mean for the lands, no once can be quite sure. All claim to be bent on slaying monsters and bringing peace and security to Hommlet; but deeds speak more loudly than words, and lies may cloak the true purposes of the malevolent. Caravans now travel more guarded than before, and rumors suggest than some never leave the coverage of the mighty Verduran oaks.
Dream of the Burning Pit:
the Three united, in the past,
Prison to break, with spells to cast.
the Power grew, and took the land
and people round, as they had Planned.
Four keys without a lock they made,
of Gems and metals, overlaid.
with Souls as tools for men to wield
and force the powers Joined to yield.
then armies came, with Weapons bared,
yet while spawn great, did Slumber on.
eagle Followed by lion crown,
Freed the peoples of sorry towns.
the Three were split; two got away
she did not when came Judgement day.
She broke the keys, and sent the parts
to children Four, in magic stocks.
in doing so, She fell behind
They escaped as she was denied,
her Own were slain; before the host,
alone against the Prison door.
the way ruined and Torn apart
and left with Chains around the heart
the Door remained shut, but the keys
Were never found in the debris.
Four know now what she did plan,
she set the Minion's path, the way
to restore the Keys whole once more
with Souls of flesh and beastly men.
many now have been Sent to die
in water, flame, in Earth or sky.
They did not bear the keys of old
to break the door - dear shafted Orbs.
Beware, my friend, for you shall fall
unless You have the wherewithall
to Search out the slumbered four and
imprison them Forevermore.
but with the keys, you might Succeed
in barring closed that Prison door.
Destroy the keys when forms undone
and then Rejoice, the battles done.
Master Shylocke's Caravan:
Scout Conner Hawthorne, Ranger 5
Partner Sir Gareth d'Orionus Fighter 1/ Inquisitor
Dick Rentsch, male human Fighter 6, Proprietor of the Wayside Hostel
Hruda Screng, female half-elf Expert 6, Herbalist
Lady Ophelia Demuffis, femal human Aristocrat 1/Expert 5, Proprietor of Red Lantern House
Mona the Darkened, female halfling Witch 7, Seer
Otis Highhammer, male human Expert 10, Blacksmith
Skole One-Eyed, male half-orc Fighter 6, Proprietor of the Boatman's Tavern
Tolub Longshanks, male human Fighter 9, Patrol Captian of the River Kingdoms
Marketplace
Base Value 650 gp; Purchase Limit 3,750 gp; Spellcasting 3rd
Minor Items 2d4; Medium Items 1d4; Major Items 0
These works could not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the creators of the campaigns I am converting, Gary Gygax, Frank Mentzer, Monte Cook, and countless others at TSR and WoTC that published the original works.
Many thanks to the creators and editors of the Pathfinder Wiki, without which much of this would not have been possible. My gratitude to you all.
