Deggum

Commander Deggum is the razor hidden behind the Temple’s armored hand. As the commander of the ogre forces and temple guards, Deggum has turned raw brutality into strategic might. Unlike the elemental prophets, whose bickering fractures the Temple’s focus, Deggum believes in centralized military discipline, monstrous efficiency, and quiet dominance. Ruthless, calculating, and deeply loyal to Hedrack—at least for now—Deggum’s ascension reflects the cult’s growing need for order amid elemental chaos.

Commander of the Ogre Forces and Temple Guards

Deggum's gaunt frame, long lank black hair, and piercing green eyes give him an eerie appearance. His haggard and drawn face, combined with his pronounced limp, make him an unsettling figure. He is clad in dusky-hued studded leather armor, designed to offer both protection and mobility, while his arsenal consists of a morningstar, a crossbow, and a long hunting knife.

• Lean and wiry frame: Deceptively strong despite his thin appearance.
• Dusky-hued armor: Unique to Deggum, imbued with enchantments of protection.
• Predatory gaze: His green eyes seem to bore into those he interrogates.

Personality and Goals

Deggum is a predator, not a visionary. Where Hedrack has plans, Senshock weaves schemes, and Romag broods, Deggum acts. He does not seek dominion over the temple through ideology—but through fear, precision, and force. The ogres follow him not out of loyalty, but because they know what happens to those who don't.

• Core Traits: Strategic, manipulative, coldly pragmatic
• Drives: Military discipline, personal power, eventual replacement of Hedrack
• Leadership Style: Obedience through fear and reward, calculated removal of dissidents

Background

Originally from the Welkwood, Deggum abandoned his homeland after becoming seduced by the promises of power whispered by Lareth the Beautiful. Under Lareth’s guidance, he honed his skills in subterfuge and manipulation, eventually proving his worth to Hedrack by securing a vital alliance with the Blackthorn ogres under Chief Garghuk.

Recent Developments (579 CY)

Deggum’s influence has grown in the shadow of Hedrack’s increasingly distracted leadership. Tasked with bolstering the Temple’s security amid rising threats from adventuring parties and Druidic resistance from the Gnarley Forest, Deggum has reinforced all chokepoints with ogres, bugbears, and Blackthorn enforcers.

• Commander Feldrin, while technically his peer, is viewed as a soft-hearted logistician. Deggum has begun poaching his troops.
• Belsornig seeks access to Deggum’s monster forces. Deggum refuses, seeing him as manipulative and overly reliant on pirates.
• Senshock tutors Deggum in magic—but Deggum privately collects material to replace him, should an opportunity arise.

Responsibilities

• Oversees temple guard deployment and monster patrol routes.
• Maintains loyalty of the Blackthorn Tribe, including ogres, bugbears, and hobgoblins.
• Commands elite chieftains such as Gloarok (Greater Temple) and Gerard (Earth Temple).
• Executes Hedrack’s military orders and suppresses dissent in temple ranks.
• Leads field raids when intelligence reports adventurer incursions.

"I didn’t leave Welkwood to cower in the shadows. I came to rise above those who scorned me, and I will." - Deggum

Motivations

Deggum is driven by a hunger for power and recognition within the Temple's hierarchy. He desires to ascend beyond his current station, hoping to one day rival even Hedrack in influence. His current focus is on consolidating his control over the temple guards and ogre forces, ensuring they remain loyal to him above all others. Additionally, as a devoted servant of the Elder Elemental God, he believes that elemental destruction will pave the way for the god’s awakening. Though he publicly worships the Elder Elemental God, he is aware of Zuggtmoy’s secret control over the Temple and carefully navigates his allegiance to maintain favor with its highest-ranking members.

Primary Goals

• Maintain discipline and loyalty among the ogres and guards.
• Eliminate any threats to his growing influence.
• Further strengthen ties with monstrous factions to expand the temple’s might.
• Prove his devotion to the Elder Elemental God through acts of destruction and conquest.

Political Relationships

Deggum’s role as commander places him at the heart of the temple's political struggles. He must balance his loyalty to Hedrack while fending off rivals within the Greater Temple. He is personally tutored by High Priest Hedrack and Senshock, both of whom see potential in him as a future leader. He carries his spellbook in a pack at all times, studying his craft whenever possible. His book contains many of the same first- and second-level spells as Senshock, ensuring that he can combine divine and arcane magic to further the temple's goals.

Relationship Chart (579 CY)

Allies and Relationships

• Hedrack, Supreme Commander: Deggum is one of his most trusted underlings and receives personal tutelage.
• Senshock, High Wizard: Deggum respects Senshock’s magical prowess but is wary of his ambitions.
• Romag, Earth Temple Leader: Maintains a tenuous alliance by supplying Romag with ogre reinforcements.

"Let Romag and Belsornig squabble over their petty rivalries. In the end, the one who controls the gates controls the Temple."

Rivals and Threats

• Belsornig, Water Temple Leader: The two compete for control over the temple's defensive resources.
• Commander Feldrin: Their differing approaches to leadership often place them at odds.

Role in the Temple of Elemental Evil

Deggum’s primary responsibilities involve ensuring the security of the temple's levels and responding to external threats. He often leads scouting missions into the surrounding lands and coordinates defenses against adventurers seeking to disrupt the temple’s operations. His influence extends to the monstrous factions of the Temple, whom he recruits in the name of elemental destruction and the Elder Elemental God's prophesied awakening.

Responsibilities

• Defense coordination: Ensuring all levels of the temple remain secure.
• Monster recruitment: Expanding the temple's ranks through alliances.
• Reconnaissance: Gathering intelligence on potential threats.
• Elemental Devotion: Conducting rituals to harness the destructive power of the Elder Elemental God.

"The Blackthorn tribe fights for us now. Loyalty bought with fear and blood is the only kind that matters." - Deggum

Recruitment of the Blackthorn Tribe

One of Deggum’s most significant contributions to the temple's strength is his recruitment and management of the Blackthorn tribe, a powerful and savage force of ogres, bugbears, and hobgoblins. With the influence of Iuz and careful negotiation, Deggum secured the tribe's allegiance by brokering a deal with their chieftain, Garghuk the Bloodtooth. This pact has provided the temple with a steady stream of brutal warriors who are fiercely loyal to Deggum—more out of fear than respect. Their warbands now garrison strategic positions in the Temple and Greater Temple corridors.

• Commanders:
• Gloarok: Greater Temple enforcer, sadistic and loyal
• Gerard: Ogre priest stationed with Earth Temple forces under Romag
• Total Strength: 40+ ogres, 20 bugbears, 10 hobgoblin scouts
• Tactics: Ambush patrols, hall chokepoints, siege reinforcements

Campaign Hooks & Adventure Uses

• “Chain of Command” – PCs can disrupt Deggum’s ogre network, turning Gloarok against him.
• “Cracks in the Scarab” – The PCs steal Deggum’s black scarab, crippling his access to temple defenses.
• “Warlord’s Ambition” – Deggum declares independence from Hedrack, plunging the Temple into civil war.
• “Whispers in the Dark” – Senshock approaches the party with an offer: help remove Deggum before he becomes too powerful.

“Let the prophets argue. Let Senshock scheme. I will own this Temple one corridor at a time.” — Commander Deggum

Quest Hook: Shadow of the Ogre Warlord

The adventurers hear rumors of an ambitious half-elf leading monstrous forces within the Temple of Elemental Evil. They are tasked with infiltrating the temple and disrupting Deggum's influence before he can unleash his forces upon the surrounding countryside.

Primary Objectives

• Disrupt Deggum’s alliance with the Blackthorn ogres.
• Steal the black scarab amulet from his possession.
• Infiltrate Deggum’s command post and gather intelligence.

Secondary Objectives

• Sow discord among the ogre ranks to weaken their cohesion.
• Discover Deggum’s secret plans for a full-scale invasion.

Key NPC Encounters

• Gloarok, Ogre Chieftain: A brutal enforcer who is fiercely loyal to Deggum.
• Senshock: May provide misleading information to the adventurers.
• Romag: Might be willing to strike a deal in exchange for information.

Rewards

• Gold and loot stored within Deggum's quarters.
• The black scarab amulet, which grants access to restricted temple areas.
• Secrets that could turn the tide against the Greater Temple.