The Village of Hommlett--or merely
"Hommlett," as it is commonly called--is
situated
in the central part of the Flanaess, that
portion of western Oerik Continent which is
known and 'civilized.' The hamlet-sized village
(local parlance having distinguished it with the
greater term) is located some 30 leagues southeast
of the town of 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 Lowroad. Many
days' 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
are miles and miles of forest (the
Gnarley), beyond which is the
Wild
Coast,
Woolly Bay, and the Sea
of Gearnat. The road
south forks a league or so beyodn the little
community, one branch meandering off towards
the Wild Coast, the other rolling
through the lower Kron Hills ot
the village of
Ostverk and then eventually turning southwards
again into the 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 a wheel and
wainwright 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 thieves 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 Hommlet 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 purposes planned for this
settlement, as was its position on a small
river flowing into the Velverdyva.
The
thickets and marshes around Nulb became
the 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 therein. The servants of the Temple
of Elemental Evil made Hommlet and the
lands for leagues aroudn 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 to 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 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 Elemental 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.
Life in Hommlet quickly returned to a
semblance of its 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 monstrous troll
which
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.
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 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 Hommlet, this
seemed all too familiar, so they sent word to
the Viscount that wicked forces might still lurk
thereabouts. This information has been
spread through 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 Hommlet; but deeds speak more loudly
than words, and lies cloak the true purposes
of the malevolent.