Whether the evil came west from Dyvers, or crept up out of the forestlands bordering the Wild Coast, come it did. At first it was only a few thieves and an odd
group of bandits molesting the merchant caravans (that's sick -- they must be very odd). Then came small bands of humanoids raiding the flocks and herds
(but not molesting them in any way, thank Pangrus). Local militia and foresters of the Waldgraf of Ostverk 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 that were about to increase. A wicked cleric established a small chapel at this point The folk of the nearby Hamlet of Tharp tended to ignore this place, called Nulb, even though it was not very 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 to the Velverdyva. 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 but three years, a grim and forbidding fortress surrounded the evil place, and swarms of creatures worshipped and worked their wickedness within. The servants of the Temple of Existential Evil made Tharp and the lands for leagues around a mockery of freedom and beauty. Commerce ceased, crops withered, pestilence was abroad. This was all terribly annoying. The existentialist leaders of the temple sought to spread their evil and radical ways to the surrounding lands. They forced upon others their philosophy that existence precedes essence and that while we and things in general exist, these things have no meaning for us except as we through acting upon them give them meaning. All the world is adrift in a sea of chaos, and everyone shall embrace it or die. This was also extremely annoying, but also confusing to your average gnat-toothed serf of the day.
The leaders of this cult who introduced these bizarre ideas were full of hubris, and, in their pride, sought to overthrow the good realms to the north, who were coming to the rescue of the lands being crushed under the tyranny and despair wrought by the evil temple. A great battle was fought.
When the people of Tharp saw streams of ochre-robed men and humanoids fleeing south and west through their community, there was great rejoicing (yaaay), 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 was the victory of good, that the walled stronghold of the Temple of Existential Evil fell within a fortnight, despite the aid of a terrible demon. The place was ruined and sealed against a further return of such abominations by powerful blessings and magic...
At least until, years later, adventurers started to come around.
DM Notes: Welcome to the adventure journal of my 3.5 Edition D&D adaptation of Hackmaster's The Temple of Existential Evil. Character generation, performed in classic AD&D 3d6 fashion, is currently underway. Be prepared for the group to begin play immediately thereafter, and to have journal updates posted within a week or two of each session. Also be prepared for the weird and the unusual to become commonplace. This will not a tale for the faint of heart or weak of humor. Expect there to be at least as much making fun of the glory days of AD&D as an appreciation for it (how can one separate the two, really?).
Enjoy, for what it is worth...
The DM, Mr. Gelatinous
A collection of hovels and their slovenly inhabitants formed the nucleus for the troubles that were about to increase. A wicked cleric established a small chapel at this point The folk of the nearby Hamlet of Tharp tended to ignore this place, called Nulb, even though it was not very 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 to the Velverdyva. 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 but three years, a grim and forbidding fortress surrounded the evil place, and swarms of creatures worshipped and worked their wickedness within. The servants of the Temple of Existential Evil made Tharp and the lands for leagues around a mockery of freedom and beauty. Commerce ceased, crops withered, pestilence was abroad. This was all terribly annoying. The existentialist leaders of the temple sought to spread their evil and radical ways to the surrounding lands. They forced upon others their philosophy that existence precedes essence and that while we and things in general exist, these things have no meaning for us except as we through acting upon them give them meaning. All the world is adrift in a sea of chaos, and everyone shall embrace it or die. This was also extremely annoying, but also confusing to your average gnat-toothed serf of the day.
The leaders of this cult who introduced these bizarre ideas were full of hubris, and, in their pride, sought to overthrow the good realms to the north, who were coming to the rescue of the lands being crushed under the tyranny and despair wrought by the evil temple. A great battle was fought.
When the people of Tharp saw streams of ochre-robed men and humanoids fleeing south and west through their community, there was great rejoicing (yaaay), 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 was the victory of good, that the walled stronghold of the Temple of Existential Evil fell within a fortnight, despite the aid of a terrible demon. The place was ruined and sealed against a further return of such abominations by powerful blessings and magic...
At least until, years later, adventurers started to come around.
DM Notes: Welcome to the adventure journal of my 3.5 Edition D&D adaptation of Hackmaster's The Temple of Existential Evil. Character generation, performed in classic AD&D 3d6 fashion, is currently underway. Be prepared for the group to begin play immediately thereafter, and to have journal updates posted within a week or two of each session. Also be prepared for the weird and the unusual to become commonplace. This will not a tale for the faint of heart or weak of humor. Expect there to be at least as much making fun of the glory days of AD&D as an appreciation for it (how can one separate the two, really?).
Enjoy, for what it is worth...
The DM, Mr. Gelatinous
