44. Nulb Graveyard
dcAdc secluded and eerie site on the outskirts of the village of Nulb, the Nulb Graveyard is a place steeped in history, mystery, and a tenuous balance between good and evil. Situated along the banks of the Imeryd's Run, separated from the main village by a line of craggy trees, it serves as a quiet resting place for the dead and a hub of secretive intrigue for the living.
Physical Description
The Nulb Graveyard is a grim and weathered site, befitting the shadowy reputation of the village it serves.
Graveyard Features
- Headstones: Many of the headstones are broken or weather-worn, some toppled entirely, while unmarked graves pockmark the landscape.
- Cottage: A modest two-bedroom stone cottage with a double-sided fireplace is situated at the edge of the graveyard. This is home to the two caretakers, Bedhos and Rahmsoot.
- Surrounding Terrain: The graveyard is bordered by a line of gnarled, craggy trees, their branches twisted as if to ward off intruders. Beyond lies the Imeryds Run, its waters adding a somber backdrop.
- Atmosphere: The graveyard is often shrouded in mist, especially in the early mornings, and the air smells faintly of damp earth and decay.
Key Features
- Broken Headstones: Testaments to the village’s neglect and its disregard for the dead.
- Unmarked Graves: Hints of the village's darker dealings, including victims of river pirates and the Temple of Elemental Evil.
- Caretaker’s Cottage: A deceptively peaceful building hiding a complex and dramatic relationship between its two inhabitants.
Background
The Nulb Graveyard has long served as the final resting place for the village’s dead. However, its true importance lies not in its function, but in the roles played by its caretakers and its place in the broader web of Nulb’s intrigue.
Historical Context
- Legacy of Neglect: The graveyard reflects Nulb’s lawlessness, with graves poorly tended and new bodies often buried without ceremony.
- Battlefield of Redemption: A decade ago, the graveyard became the unlikely stage for Bedhos’ decision to spare the reincarnated Asmoroth, now known as Rahmsoot.
Relationships and Politics
- Graveyard as a Dumping Ground: River pirates occasionally use the graveyard to dispose of victims they don’t want discovered elsewhere.
- Tenuous Relations: Bedhos and Rahmsoot tolerate the pirates out of necessity, though Bedhos is always watching for an opportunity to bring them to justice.
The Temple of Elemental Evil
- Eyes on Rahmsoot: Leaders of the Temple suspect Rahmsoot’s true identity and hope to rekindle his former power to serve their cause.
- Caution Toward Bedhos: The Temple views Bedhos as a potential threat, aware of his paladin abilities and unyielding faith.
Politics of Nulb
- Neutral Ground: The graveyard is one of the few places in Nulb where feuding factions occasionally coexist, out of respect for the dead or fear of Bedhos.
- Hidden Influence: Bedhos uses his position to quietly monitor and undermine the Temple’s activities, while Rahmsoot’s connections to the village provide valuable insights.
Points of Interest
Cottage of the Caretakers
A modest home that doubles as a sanctuary for Bedhos and Rahmsoot.
- Double-Sided Fireplace: The hearth is the heart of the cottage, providing warmth and a space for their philosophical debates.
- Hidden Chambers: Rumors suggest Bedhos keeps records of his observations on Nulb’s factions hidden within.
Unmarked Graves
- Victims of Nulb’s Darkness: Pirates, bandits, and those who crossed the wrong people are buried here, often without ceremony.
- Secrets of the Past: Some graves may contain items or clues linking the buried to the Temple of Elemental Evil or other Nulb factions.
DM-Only Section
Bedhos’ True Purpose
- Divine Guidance: Rao has kept Bedhos in Nulb not merely to guard Rahmsoot but to uncover a deeper threat tied to the graveyard itself.
- Prophecy: Bedhos will play a critical role in preventing the Temple’s resurgence, though the exact nature of his role remains unclear.
Rahmsoot’s Hidden Potential
- Lingering Darkness: Despite his best intentions, fragments of Asmoroth’s power remain dormant within Rahmsoot.
- Manipulation Risk: If captured or turned by the Temple of Elemental Evil, Rahmsoot could be used to resurrect Asmoroth in full.
The Graveyard’s Secrets
- Buried Relics: Some unmarked graves hold magical items or evidence of the Temple’s past activities.
- Undead Threat: The Temple may be experimenting with raising the dead buried here to bolster their forces.
Adventuring Hooks
- Mysterious Disturbances: A grave has been desecrated, and Bedhos asks the party to investigate.
- Secrets of Asmoroth: A follower of the Temple of Elemental Evil has discovered Rahmsoot’s identity and plans to use this information to blackmail him.
- The Unmarked Grave: A cryptic map leads adventurers to an unmarked grave containing a long-lost artifact.
- Undead Rising: The Cult of Orcus high priest used a powerful necromantic force awakens the dead in the graveyard, forcing the PCs to protect Nulb from an onslaught of undead.
Nulb Graveyard – Minor Encounter Table (1d6)
| d6 | Encounter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shallow Disturbance | The earth shifts beneath your feet—a buried arm twitches free from the sod. A ghoul or temple-cursed corpse claws upward, disturbed by recent activity. |
| 2 | Whispering Mist | A thin mist creeps through the headstones. PCs hear faint whispers (only understood with Comprehend Languages): “They’re gathering again.” The voice fades as quickly as it came. |
| 3 | Night Watcher | A lone Iron Talon scout or cult sympathizer watches from the treeline. If spotted, he flees south toward the Temple ruins. |
| 4 | Unmarked Grave | A freshly turned grave yields a corpse still dressed in traveler's clothes. A note is clenched in its fist: “Warn Hommlet. It’s happening again.” |
| 5 | Rahmsoot’s Shadow | The caretaker stands watching the party silently from behind a tombstone. He vanishes if approached unless the PCs have already befriended him. |
| 6 | Raven Sign | A murder of black ravens perches in perfect silence atop several graves. When approached, they scatter, revealing a blackened sigil of the Elder Eye scratched into the stone beneath their claws. |
The Nulb Graveyard by 3orcs
"The graves may be silent, but they have more to say about Nulb than any living soul."
Caretakers of the Graveyard
BedhosA holy paladin of Rao, Bedhos serves as the moral cornerstone of the graveyard.
- Mission of Redemption: Sent by Veluna’s high priests to destroy Asmoroth Eastrife, Bedhos instead chose tostay at the graveyard for some unknown reason.
- Role as Caretaker: He maintains the graveyard with a sense of duty and sees it as his penance.
- Inner Conflict: Constantly vigilant, Bedhos is torn between believing the Temple of Elemental Evil is truly defeated and fearing its resurgence.
Bedhos Caretaker of the Nulb Graveyard by 3orcs
Once a mage is now a shadow of his former self.
- Loss of Power: Stripped of his magical ability, henow leads a simple life as Bedhos’ assistant.
- Moral Awakening: Deeply influenced by Bedhos, Rahmsoot strives to live a good life, though he retains a streak of rugged individualism.
- Conflicted Past: Haunted by the crimes of his previous life, Rahmsoot struggles to reconcile his current existence with his memories as Asmoroth.
Rahmsoot Graveyard Caretaker by 3orcs
Type
Graveyard
Parent Location
Owning Organization
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