Kelno

High Priest

High Priest Kelno is the embittered and cunning leader of the Air Temple within the Temple of Elemental Evil. Once an ambitious cleric with grand designs, Kelno now stands as the sole survivor of his temple’s leadership, his apprentices having been slain in the vicious power struggles between the elemental factions. Hailing from the lawless city of Narwell on The Wild Coast, Kelno brings a ruthless pragmatism and a keen eye for opportunity to the Temple’s dark cause. He believes himself to be the true voice of Elemental Evil, despite his diminishing influence and constant struggles against rival factions.

Master of the Air Temple

Kelno is a wiry man in his late forties with sharp, hawk-like features and piercing blue eyes that reflect both intelligence and paranoia. His dark, thinning hair is always meticulously combed back, and he wears chain mail beneath flowing gray robes adorned with swirling air motifs. His demeanor is cold and calculating, his every word chosen with precision to further his hidden goals. He is rarely seen without his enchanted cloak of protection and his prized mace +1, which he wields with deadly efficiency.

Background

Born in Narwell, a city known for its cunning thieves and ambitious bandits, Kelno grew up learning the value of alliances and betrayal. Drawn to the worship of the Elder Elemental Eye through whispered promises of power, he abandoned his previous faith in the Suel deity Norebo, god of luck and thieves, and joined the Temple's resurgence to seek his fortune.

• Joined the Earth Temple initially but sought greater influence by shifting to the Air Temple, believing it to be the most strategic element.
• Quickly rose through the ranks by undermining rivals and leveraging his connections in the Wild Coast to supply the Temple with mercenaries.
• After the deaths of his apprentices at the hands of the Fire and Water Temples, Kelno has turned his focus to vengeance and survival, employing bugbears and gnolls as his personal enforcers.

"The winds of fate shift constantly; only fools stand against the storm." - Kelno

Personality

Kelno is arrogant and fanatical, seeing himself as the true voice of Elemental Evil. He views the Elder Elemental God as an invisible storm, whispering chaos and destruction to those who will listen. Despite his confidence, he struggles with his diminishing influence and constant setbacks caused by rival factions. Kelno is a bitter, self-serving manipulator who thrives in the treacherous environment of the Temple. He has an intense hatred for both the Fire and Water Temples, blaming them for his setbacks, and is willing to bargain with anyone to see them suffer. Despite his outward loyalty to the Elder Elemental Eye, Kelno's true devotion lies with himself, and he constantly searches for ways to turn situations to his advantage.

• Cunning Opportunist: Seeks power through manipulation and subterfuge rather than brute force.
• Paranoid Survivor: Constantly watches for betrayal and plots his own preemptive strikes.
• Strategic Thinker: Views every encounter as a potential avenue for influence or profit. Believes controlling the skies will bring ultimate power.
• Vindictive and Ruthless: Never forgets a slight and will exact revenge when the time is right.

"I care not for their blind faith—I seek power, and I will have it."

Role in the Temple

Kelno holds sway over the remaining forces of the Air Temple, maintaining his position by hiring and bribing mercenaries, primarily bugbears and gnolls. His chamber is a grim reflection of his dwindling resources—his personal wealth drained in his pursuit of vengeance and power. Despite this, Kelno remains a force to be reckoned with, using deception and alliances to stay relevant.

• Recruitment: Maintains contacts in Narwell and Nulb to bring in additional forces to the Temple.
• Weather Manipulation: Seeks to control local weather patterns to demoralize enemies and sow chaos.
• Espionage: Uses spies within the Temple to monitor rival factions and report weaknesses.
• Survival Tactics: Avoids direct confrontation, relying on trickery and escape routes such as concealed passages.
• Political Maneuvering: Works closely with Hedrack but secretly plots to improve his standing by exploiting the Greater Temple's conflicts.

Political Relationships

Kelno navigates the Temple's volatile politics with skill, balancing alliances and rivalries with a keen sense of self-preservation.

Allies and Rivals:

• Hedrack (Supreme Commander): Pretends loyalty but secretly despises his rule and longs to usurp his influence.
• Belsornig (Water Temple Leader): His greatest rival, and Kelno dreams of using his dagger of venom against him.
• Alrrem (Fire Temple Leader): A hated adversary whom Kelno blames for his losses.
• Romag (Earth Temple Leader): Considers him an easy pawn to manipulate in his schemes.
• Smigmal Redhand (Assassin Leader): A dangerous figure whom Kelno seeks to employ for clandestine operations.

"If I must deal with devils to see Alrrem fall, so be it." -Kelno

Kelno’s Chamber (Room 225)

Kelno’s grim chamber reflects his desperate position, with its sparse furnishings and a locked chest trapped with a poison needle. His remaining funds are meager, holding only a few gold pieces and silver coins. Hidden escape passages allow him to flee when threatened, and he often uses his darkness spell to make his escape.

Motivations and Goals

Cult of the Howling Hatred (Air Temple)

Kelno and his followers believe the Elder Elemental God manifests as an invisible storm, whispering secrets of chaos and devastation. Their faith is rooted in the belief that the air element holds the ultimate power to erode civilization over time.

• Belief: The Elder Elemental God manifests as an invisible storm, bringing whispers of chaos and the power to sweep away civilization.
• Goal: Focuses on controlling the skies, manipulating weather, and summoning devastating winds to erode their enemies' morale.
• Avenge his fallen apprentices by orchestrating the downfall of the Fire and Water Temples.
• Rebuild his power by securing more mercenaries and bribing key figures.
• Gain greater influence within the Temple, positioning himself as a contender for power.
• Escape if needed, having multiple plans to flee should the Temple fall.

Tactics and Strategy

Kelno fights with caution, avoiding direct combat whenever possible. He relies on his bugbear and gnoll guards to handle threats while he retreats to plan his next move.
Combat Tactics:

• Prefers ambush tactics, using his guards to soften enemies before engaging.
• Uses darkness 15’ radius to escape or disorient foes.
• Resorts to poison and sabotage over direct confrontation.

Conclusion

High Priest Kelno is a desperate yet dangerous figure within the Temple of Elemental Evil. Though his power has waned, his cunning and ambition remain as potent as ever. Whether he regains his influence or meets an ignoble end is a matter of fate—and cunning.

Temple Politics

Belsornig is working to subvert the humanoids of the Air Temple while threatening their cleric (Kelno, in area 225) — not with harm from the Water Temple forces, but rather with the machinations of Alrrem and the Fire Temple.
The bugbear chieftain is secretly treating with the bugbears who serve the Air Temple (those in areas 223-226) because he and his fellows know of the offer regarding the trolls (203 and 218-219), and plan to defect en masse to the Air Temple if the Water Temple should win the service of the troll chieftain. If he sees a party in the company of a troll, he executes his defection plan. (Naturally, the whole thing is encouraged by Kelno — area 225 — who is promising more pay, more food, and less work.)

Enemies and Allies

The cultists of the Howling Hatred find the Black Earth cultists to be coarse, rude, unimaginative, and stubborn to the point of stupidity. Most offensively, the earth cultists are bluntly unimpressed by the Howling Hatred cult and its achievements.
Followers of the Crushing Wave are more flexible and inventive, but they are crass mercenaries and likewise too pragmatic to appreciate the finer points of the air cult’s philosophy.
The Eternal Flame is the best of the lot, since the fire cultists share the decisiveness and creative energy of the Howling Hatred cult, even if they are overly proud and aggressive.

Kelno the Prefect

Cleric level 5

• AC: 1 (chain mail +1, cloak +1 to saves)
• MV: 12" | HP: 32
• #AT: 1 | Dmg: 4-9 (mace +1)
• SA: Spells | SD: Cloak +1 to saves
• XP: 520

Spells Memorized:

• 1st: Command, Cure Light Wounds, Protection from Good, Purify Food & Drink, Sanctuary
• 2nd: Hold Person, Know Alignment, Resist Fire (x2), Silence 15' Radius
• 3rd: Cause Blindness

Notable Equipment

Kelno relies on a collection of magical items to give him an edge in combat and intrigue.

• Chain Mail +1: Provides protection while maintaining mobility.
• Cloak of Protection +1: Enhances his saving throws against magical attacks.
• Mace +1: A symbol of his authority, used both in combat and intimidation.
• Dagger of Venom: Coated with a single dose of deadly poison, reserved for his most hated enemies.
• Potions: A stash of healing and speed potions, ensuring his survival when plans go awry.

Species

Humans of Greyhawk

Belief/Deity

Elder Elemental God

Aligned Organization

Cult of the Elder Elemental God

Kelno's Bodyguards

Bugbears (4)

• AC: 4 | MV: 9" | HD: 3+1 | HP: 20, 17, 15, 11
• #AT: 1 | Dmg: 2-8 (bardiche) or 2-7 (hurled mace, range 10/20/30 ft)
• SA: Surprise on a roll of 1-3
• Treasure: 1-6 pp, 1-6 gp, 1-6 ep, 1-6 sp each
• XP: 215, 203, 195, 179
• Equipment: Scale mail jack, gray kilt and cape, bardiche, mace (hurled before melee)

Gnolls (2)

• AC: 4 | MV: 9" | HD: 2 | HP: 16, 14
• #AT: 1 or 2 | Dmg: 1-8 (battle axe) or 1-6/1-6 (longbow)
• Treasure: 3-12 gp, 3-12 ep, 3-12 sp each
• XP: 68, 64
• Equipment: Chain mail jack, gray kilt and cape, longbow (18 arrows), battle axe

Kelno’s Bodyguards

Bugbear Defection Plot
Kelno’s personal guards consist of a group of four bugbears and two gnolls, distinguished by their gray kilts and capes. The bugbear chieftain is secretly colluding with Kelno to defect from the Water Temple, should they secure the services of the troll chieftain.

• The Plot: The bugbear chieftain, aware of the Water Temple's plan to recruit trolls, has been persuaded by Kelno's promises of greater pay, more food, and easier duties to defect en masse should they encounter evidence of troll alliances with the Water Temple.
• Trigger Event: If the bugbears witness adventurers in the company of trolls, they immediately enact their defection plan, retreating to Kelno’s forces.
• Motivations: Kelno has meticulously worked to cultivate their loyalty through steady payments and strategic bribery, reinforcing their belief that the Air Temple will offer them greater opportunities.

Forces Under Kelno's Command

Kelno’s Bodyguards – Personal enforcers and trusted guards.

• Bugbears (16) – Heavy shock troops used for raids and ambushes.
• Gnolls (2) – Mercenaries and scouts skilled in tracking.
• Goblins (4) – Runners, spies, and messengers within the temple.

Potential Reinforcements from the Water Temple

• Bugbear Chieftain – A high-ranking warrior considering shifting allegiance.
• Bugbear Guards (4) – His personal bodyguards who may join the Air Temple ranks.