Joseph Millar

Joseph, a seemingly ordinary laborer in the bustling environment of Hommlet, is in reality a covert operative embroiled in clandestine activities. His true allegiance lies not with the local workforce but with a secretive cult operating within the region.

Background and Lore

Originally from a nondescript part of the Flanaess, Joseph's past is shrouded in mystery. He came to Hommlet under the guise of seeking work, but his true mission was to infiltrate and spy on behalf of a sinister cult. His role as a secret agent involves gathering intelligence and overseeing the sabotage of strategic plans that could threaten his masters' agendas.

• Origins: Little is known about Joseph's origins. He emerged in Hommlet as a laborer but has ties that trace back to darker affiliations outside the village.
• Journey to Hommlet: He arrived under the guise of seeking honest work but was tasked with spying and undermining local efforts that might oppose the cult's interests.
• Secret Allegiance: His true loyalty lies with a cult that operates from the shadows, manipulating events and people to serve a grander, sinister purpose.

"Ah, you wish to know who I am? I am but a humble laborer, my friends, striving like any other to make ends meet in these troubled times. As for anything unusual... well, one hears rumors, doesn't one? Whispers of shadows moving at night, strange gatherings in the woods... But I, alas, am just a man of the soil and sawdust, what could I possibly add to such wild tales?"

Motivation and Relationships

Joseph's main drive is loyalty to his cult, motivated by undisclosed rewards or the ideology they propagate. His interactions with others are superficial; he remains distant, ensuring his true identity and purpose are not compromised. Relationships are tools for manipulation, used only to further his secretive goals.

• Underlying Motives: Joseph is driven by a deep-seated allegiance to his cult, motivated possibly by ideological conviction or promised rewards.
• Interactions and Manipulation: He engages superficially with the locals and other workers, using relationships as leverage to manipulate outcomes in favor of his covert objectives.
• Isolation: Despite his interactions, Joseph remains emotionally and personally distant from others, safeguarding his true identity and mission.

DM Only: Current Events

Show spoiler

In the unfolding events around Hommlet, Joseph has been instrumental in orchestrating disruptions. He has tampered with architectural plans, relayed sensitive information, and facilitated covert communications between different factions of the cult, significantly impacting the local dynamics. 6. Finding the Saboteur - Hommlet 

Joseph's Covert Operations and Alliances

• Background and Allegiance: Joseph Millar, presenting himself merely as a laborer from Dyvers, is in fact a secret agent embedded by the Temple of Elemental Evil within the workforce of Doomwatch Keep's construction. His true employers are Rannos Davl and Gremag Gozlin, key figures in the local clandestine operations, who run 13. D&G Dry Goods & General Mercantile in Hommlet. This trading post, while functioning as a standard mercantile establishment, serves as a front for more sinister dealings connected to the Temple.
• Mission and Activities: Joseph’s primary role is to ensure the construction of Doomwatch Keep faces continuous delays, aligning with the Temple's broader strategy to weaken Verbobonc’s defenses. By slowing the fortress's completion, he aids the Temple's plans to eventually overthrow the Viscounty. His tasks include spying, subtly sabotaging equipment or blueprints, and relaying information back to his cultist contacts.

Sabotage Details

Joseph manipulated the blueprints for the keep, introducing subtle errors to delay construction. He is suspected of making copies of the blueprints, likely to be analyzed by the Temple to identify defensive weaknesses.

Secret Meetings and Communications

Under the cover of night, Joseph meets with representatives of the Temple to update them on the project's progress and receive further instructions. These meetings often take place in secluded areas around Hommlet or within the confines of Tent Town, where Joseph resides.

Appearance and Demeanor

Joseph maintains a low profile, with a pointed, cropped beard and slick hair that give him a somewhat sinister appearance. His attire and demeanor are designed to blend in with the other laborers, yet a keen observer might notice his occasional secretive behaviors.

Residence – Tent Town

Joseph's accommodation in 32. Tent Town consists of a modest wattle hut amidst others housing laborers and their families. This setting provides him an ideal cover, being one among many transient workers.

• The fluctuation of workers with each shipment from Verbobonc provides him with the perfect alibi to communicate unnoticed with incoming or outgoing agents.
• Future Plans: After the completion of the keep, Joseph is slated to transition into a security role for Rannos Davl, allowing him to remain close to key operations while keeping his true intentions concealed. This position will likely enable him continued access to sensitive areas, maintaining a pipeline of information to the Temple.

This questline allows DMs to weave a narrative of intrigue and espionage into the campaign, challenging players to uncover and thwart Joseph's machinations before they can further jeopardize the region. Successful detection and confrontation of Joseph could lead to significant alterations in the power dynamics within Hommlet and potentially stave off a larger conflict orchestrated by the Temple of Elemental Evil.

Politics and Intrigue

Joseph operates within a web of political maneuvering, his actions subtly influencing the power balance in Hommlet. By undermining construction efforts and relaying strategic information, he ensures the cult retains its influence and hampers any efforts that might oppose their hidden objectives.

• Influence on Local Politics: Through his actions, Joseph subtly shifts the balance of power in Hommlet, ensuring that the cult's presence remains undetected yet influential.
• Expertise in Rebellion: His skills in espionage and disruption make him a key player in the cult's broader strategy to foster instability and prevent any unified opposition.

Secret Plans

Unbeknownst to the townsfolk and even his closest associates, Joseph holds keys to several covert operations. His involvement is deeper than mere espionage; he is a crucial node in a network that spans across the region, affecting decisions and outcomes that align with his cult's desires.

• Long-term Goals: Joseph aims to establish a stronghold of influence in Hommlet to further the cult's reach and control.
• Hidden Operations: He is involved in planning larger, more impactful

This complex character brings a layer of depth and intrigue to the campaign, offering both challenges and opportunities for player characters to uncover and combat a hidden threat within their midst.

"Ah, good sirs, you seem curious about my story. My name is Joseph Millar, merely a laborer from Dyvers. The streets of that grand city offered me nothing but hunger and despair, so I ventured here seeking honest work. Verbobonc's call for hands to raise a grand castle promised more than just wages—it promised sustenance and shelter. I did not expect to bunk down in Tent Town with folks from all corners of the realm, but a man takes what he can get. The job pays well, and the provisions—ale and food at the Inn of the Welcome Wench—are hearty and fill a man's belly after a day's toil. Sure, there are whispers of bandits lurking about the roads, yet within these village walls, under the watchful eyes of Lords Rufus and Burne, and flanked by Burne's Badgers, I feel a peace I've not known in a long while. Hommlet has been good to me, and though I am far from the cobbled streets of Dyvers, I find a semblance of home here among the timber and stone."

"Trust is just another tool to be exploited."

Joseph Millar, laborer

Joseph is depicted as a robust man with a stern visage marked by years of living a double life. His appearance is that of a typical laborer; sturdy, dressed in common garb but with a demeanor that hints at a life less ordinary. His features are hard, with a sharply pointed beard and slick, well-kept hair which contrasts with his rough attire.

• Appearance: Joseph presents himself as a robust man in his early thirties, with a stern, weather-beaten face that tells tales of hard labor.
• Attire: Typically dressed in common laborer's clothes, his garb is nondescript yet meticulously maintained, hinting at a life of purpose cloaked in secrecy.
• Demeanor: He carries himself with a quiet confidence and a watchful gaze, always aware of his surroundings and the people within it.

Bandit Thief level 3

• Armor Class: 15 (Leather Armor)
• Hit Points: 27 (5d8 + 5)
• Speed: 30 ft.
• STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
• 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 8 (-1)
• Skills: Stealth +5, Deception +3, Sleight of Hand +5, Perception +4
• Senses: Passive Perception 14
• Languages: Common
• Challenge: 1 (200 XP)

Thieves’ Cant. Joseph can communicate secret messages with other thieves through coded phrases and signs.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Joseph deals an extra 7 (2d6) damage when he hits a target with a weapon.
Backstab: +4 to hit, x2 damage

Actions

Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Equipment: Scimitar, light crossbow with 20 bolts, leather armor, thieves' tools, various disguises.

Alignment

Neutral evil

Current Location

32. Tent Town

Species

Humans of Greyhawk

Ethnicity

Oeridian Oerid

Year of Birth

549 27 Years old

Sex

male

Eyes

Dark brown

Hair

long ash brown

Height

5'10"

Related Plots

• 6. Finding the Saboteur - Hommlet