The Village of Hommlett -- or
merely "Hommelett" as it is commonly called-- is situated in the central
part of the Flanaess, that portion of western Oerik Continent which is known
as "civilized". The hamlet-sized village (local parlance having distinguished
it with the greater term) is located some 30 leagues south-east of the town
Verbobonc, or thereabouts, on the fringe of the territory controlled by the
noble Lord the Viscount of Verbobonc. It is at a crossroads.
To the north is the mighty Velverdyva
River, along whose south bank runs the Low Road. Many day's travel to the
east, on the shores of the Lake of Unknown Depths (Nyr Dyv), is the great
walled city of Dyvers. The Village of Sobanwych lies about halfway
along the route. Below that to the southeast and east are miles and miles
of forests (the Gnarley), beyond which is the Wild Coast, Wooly Bay, and
the Sea of Gearnat. The road south forks a league or so beyond the
little community, one branch meandering off toward the Wild Coast, the other
rolling through the the lower Kron Hills to the village of Ostverk and then
eventually turning southward again into the Elven kingdom of Celene.
The western route leads into the very heart of the gnomish highlands, passing
through Greenway Valley about a day's travel distant and going onwards
to the Lortmil 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 resthouse became a thriving inn, and and wainright settled
in the thorp. More farmers and herdsmen followed, for grain was needed
for the passing animals, and meat was in demand for the innfolk.
Prosperity was great, for the lord
of the district was mild and taxed but little. Trade was good, and the land
was untroubled by war, outlaws, or ravaging beasts. The area was free, beautiful,
and bountiful -- too much so in the eyes of some.
Whether the evil came west from
Dyvers (as is claimed by one faction) or crept up out of the forestlands
bordering the Wild Coast (as others assert), come it did. At first it was
only a few theives and an odd group of bandits molesting the merchant caravans.
Then came small bands of humanoids -- kobolds or goblins-- raiding the flocks
and herds. 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 which were to increase.
A wicked cleric established a small chapel at this point. The folk of Hommlett
tended to ignore this place, Nulb, even though it was but 6 miles distant.
But its out-of-the-way position was ideal for the fell purpose planned for
the settlement, as was it's position on a small river flowing into the Valverdyva.
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 it's faithful brought in their ill-gotten tithes.
Good folk were robbed, pillaged, enslaved, or worse.
In but three years, a grim and
forbidding fortress surrounded the evil place, and swarms of creatures worshipped
and worked their wickedness therein. The servants of the Temple of
Elemental Evil made Hommlett and the land 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 overweaning pride, sought to overthrow
the good realms in the north, who were coming to the rescue of the land being
crushed under the tyranny wrought by the evil temple. A great battle was
fought.
When the good people of Hommlett
saw streams of ochre-robed men and humanoids fleeing south and west through
their community, there was great rejoicing, for they knew that they murderous
oppressors had been defeated and driven from the feild in panic and rout.
So great was the slaughter, so complete the victory of good, that the walled
stronghold of the Temple of Elemental Evil fell within a fortnight, despite
the aid of a terrible demon. The place was ruined and sealed against a further
returnof such abominations by powerful blessings and magic.
Life in Hommlett quickly returned
to a semblance of it's former self, before the rise of the temple. For five
years afterward, the village and the surrounding countryside have become
richer and more prosperous than ever before. A monsterous troll which plagued
the place for a time was hunted down by a party of passing adventurers. Carrying
the ashes amd 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 villages losses. Other adventurers, knowing of the
evil that had once resided in the area, came to seek out similiar caches,and
several did find remote lairs and wealth -- just as some never returned at
all.
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 the loss of income, but others relieved by the return to quiet,
normal life -- and Hommlett continued it's quiet existence for four years
more.
But then, a year ago, the bandits
began to ride the roads again -- not frequently, but to some effect.
To the good folk of Hommlett, this seemed all too familiar, so they sent
word to the Viscount that the 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. Who and what these
men are, no one can be quite sure. All claim to be bent on slaying monsters
and bringing peace and security to Hommlett; but deeds speak more loudly
than words, and lies cloak the true purpose of the malevolent.