Romag

Romag, the self-proclaimed Prophet of Earth, currently leads the Cult of the Black Earth within the Temple of Elemental Evil. His rise to power was not through ambition but rather through inheritance of the infrastructure established by his predecessor, Barkinar. Though a skilled manipulator and pragmatic leader, Romag's position is continually threatened by internal dissent and external rivalries. He is a key figure within the greater machinations of the Elder Elemental God, playing a crucial role in the temple's fortifications and recruitment efforts in Nulb.

Prophet of Earth

Romag is a stout and imposing figure, his features hardened by years of struggle within the temple's brutal hierarchy. He wears earthen-toned robes embroidered with the sigils of the Black Earth, adorned with gemstones said to hold fragments of elemental power. His expression is often one of cold calculation, his deep-set eyes always assessing potential threats and opportunities.

• Stout and weathered physique, muscular from years of physical endurance.
• Brown and gray robes symbolizing the resilience of the earth.
• Wields a stone-etched warhammer imbued with elemental magic.

Personality & Traits

Romag is a brooding strategist who values loyalty and long-term planning over fiery ambition. Though he lacks the charisma of rivals like Belsornig or Alrrem, he commands loyalty through fear and order. Romag excels in subterranean warfare, siege tactics, and attritional power struggles.

• Strengths: Patient strategist, fortress builder, deeply rooted in his faith
• Weaknesses: Lacks charisma, politically cautious, mistrustful
• Belief: The Elder Elemental God is the unshakable foundation upon which the new world must rise
• Motivation: Retain his leadership by using intrigue and bolstering the temple's defenses.

History of Romag, High Priest of the Earth Temple

Origins and Early Life

Romag’s journey to his current position within the Temple of Elemental Evil was not one of glory or divine providence, but of betrayal, endurance, and calculated revenge. Before his rise as the High Priest of the Earth Temple, Romag was an unremarkable but ambitious cleric, searching for power and influence wherever he could find it. Born into a minor Oeridian noble house in Verbobonc, Romag’s early years were spent toiling under his father’s failing landholdings. Seeking a greater destiny, he abandoned his familial duties and pursued the path of the priesthood, drawn to the teachings of the Elder Elemental God—an ancient and forbidden deity that promised power through elemental might.

His journey led him into the company of three other outcasts—Dick Rentsch, his lover Dala, and a cunning wizard named Senshock, who formed a band of fortune seekers delving into forbidden ruins and lost strongholds. Though Romag served as their spiritual guide, his influence in the group was often overshadowed by Senshock's magical prowess and Dick’s knack for manipulation.

The Fateful Expedition to the Dwarven Stronghold

The group's most infamous endeavor took them deep into a long-forgotten dwarven stronghold nestled within the Lortmil Mountains. Drawn by legends of wealth and arcane secrets, they ventured too far into the depths and were confronted by the guardians of the fortress—ancient dwarven constructs and fierce sentinels of stone. As the battle raged and the group found themselves overwhelmed, Senshock made a fateful decision—he abandoned Romag to their foes, sacrificing him as a diversion to ensure his own escape along with Dick and Dala.

Romag fought valiantly but was eventually captured by the dwarves, subjected to years of imprisonment within the cold stone halls of their fortress. He endured grueling interrogations, harsh conditions, and the torment of betrayal gnawing at his soul. During his imprisonment, Romag deepened his connection with the earth, drawing strength from the very stone around him, biding his time until he could find a way to escape.

"I was buried once, left to rot beneath stone and soil. Now, I am the mountain that will crush them all."

Meanwhile, Senshock returned to the Temple of Elemental Evil, leveraging their expedition's plunder to secure a position within the Greater Temple, while Dick and Dala settled in the outlaw town of Nulb, using their ill-gotten gains to establish the 1. Waterside Hostel of Nulb, which served as a front for information gathering and illicit dealings.

Escape and the Path to Revenge

After several years in captivity, Romag seized an opportunity during a skirmish within the dwarven stronghold. Using his knowledge of subterranean paths and elemental forces, he escaped the prison, emerging into the wilderness a changed man. Hardened by his years of suffering, Romag’s sole purpose became revenge—to reclaim what was taken from him and make those who betrayed him suffer.

Tracking down his former companions, he eventually arrived in Nulb and confronted Dick and Dala at the Waterside Hostel. Fueled by rage and betrayal, Romag nearly killed them both, but they managed to convince him of their remorse and redirected his anger toward Senshock, painting him as the true traitor. The duo offered Romag their loyalty and assistance in infiltrating the Temple of Elemental Evil. Ever the pragmatist, Romag saw the opportunity not only to exact revenge but to rise within the Temple's ranks, so he spared them and instead enlisted their help.

Together, they schemed to leverage Romag’s former acquaintance with Senshock, who was now a rising figure in the Greater Temple. Dick and Dala provided valuable intelligence on Temple operations, and Romag, playing on his old relationship with Senshock, convinced the wizard that his past abandonment was forgiven. Sensing an opportunity to control Romag’s ambitions and soothe lingering tensions, Senshock brokered a deal with Barkinar, the current leader of the Earth Temple, to appoint Romag as his successor after Barkinar’s promotion to the Greater Temple.

Clawing His Way to Power

Despite his new position, Romag found himself the leader of the weakest faction within the Temple. The Earth Temple had long been considered slow and passive compared to the aggressive Fire and Air temples, and Romag's lack of influence meant he struggled to command respect from his peers. The fire prophet Alrrem viewed him with contempt, while Belsornig of the Water Temple sought to manipulate him as a pawn in his own schemes.

Romag was keenly aware of his precarious position and used Dick and Dala's information network in Nulb to spy on his rivals. Slowly but surely, Romag fed critical intelligence to Senshock and Barkinar, gaining favor within the Greater Temple while secretly hoarding knowledge for his own purposes. He began reinforcing the Earth Temple's influence in Nulb, quietly recruiting miners, mercenaries, and enforcers under the guise of hiring workers for temple fortifications.

"Senshock thinks himself untouchable, but even the tallest towers crumble when their foundations crack."

However, Romag’s ultimate goal remained unfulfilled—revenge against Senshock. He meticulously plotted his downfall, knowing that outright confrontation would be suicidal. Instead, Romag played the long game, feigning loyalty while waiting for the right moment to strike.

Current Situation and Political Maneuvering

Romag now finds himself entrenched in the temple's politics, caught between the growing pressure from the Greater Temple and his own ambitions. His hold on the Earth Temple is tenuous, with younger and more ambitious clerics constantly vying for his position. He struggles to expand his influence beyond fortifications and defense, which frustrates his rivals, who seek a more aggressive stance.

Romag’s main foothold in Nulb remains the 1. Waterside Hostel of Nulb, operated by Dick Rentsch and his informant-partner Dala. The hostel serves as a recruitment front, secret chapel, and safehouse for Earth Temple agents. However, the bar staff Wat now reports secretly to Alrrem of the Fire Temple, compromising Romag’s trust in his own assets.

Political Opponents in Nulb:

• Madame Selentis (Nysera Krivaltis): Serves as Hedrack’s personal proxy and oversees the Greater Temple’s logistics in Nulb. She controls the flow of prisoners and cult supplies from the Boatman’s Tavern and Wharf, through the Old Mayor’s Manor, and onward to Gefreid Patris at the Hunting Cottage.
• Canon Belsornig (Water Temple): Employs pirates, saboteurs, and spies to erode Earth Temple control of the smuggling network.
• Wat (Waterside Hostel): Romag suspects, correctly, that Wat spies for the Fire Temple.

"Loyalty is like the earth—solid, unyielding, and only appreciated once it's gone."

Strategic Objectives

• Undermine Belsornig’s logistics web in Nulb and reassert Earth Temple dominance.
• Consolidate support within the Greater Temple by reinforcing fortifications and troop strength.
• Use field agents to create discord between Alrrem and Belsornig.
• Maintain Hedrack’s favor by posturing as the Temple’s “defensive bulwark.”

"Nulb is a swamp of fools and thieves, but even mud can serve a purpose if you shape it well."

Key Relationships (Updated 579 CY)

Romag's Political Maneuvering in the Greater Temple

Though Romag remains the leader of the weakest of the four elemental factions, his position is far from powerless. He has mastered the art of survival through stone-like patience, paranoia, and layered deception. Where Alrrem seeks glory through flames and Belsornig plots dominion through treachery, Romag builds from the shadows—fortifying his position, feeding intelligence to rivals to set them against each other, and waiting for the inevitable collapse of the more reckless prophets.

Romag carefully maintains an illusion of loyalty to Commanders Barkinar and Deggum, providing them with regular reports that emphasize the Earth Temple’s strategic value as the foundation of temple defenses. Beneath this deference, Romag’s ambitions are singular: to discredit and ultimately oust Senshock, the Temple's resident wizard and Hedrack’s closest arcane advisor, and position himself closer to Supreme Commander Hedrack’s inner circle.

While Romag reveres the Elder Elemental God with unwavering faith, he views Hedrack’s obsession with Iuz as a dangerous dilution of purpose. He suspects that Hedrack’s true allegiance lies with the demon-god Zuggtmoy or worse still, the demon prince Iuz himself. Romag believes the Temple of Elemental Evil must be re-centered on the Elder Elemental God’s will—through earth, not through chaos.

“Senshock plays games with fire and air. Selentis traffics in lies and fear. Let them quarrel. When the storm passes and the flames die, only the stone will remain.”

Rivalries and Interfactional Tensions

Romag’s relations with the other elemental temples are shaped by deep ideological and tactical rifts:

• Alrrem (Fire Temple) is despised for his impulsive military campaigns and lack of discipline. Romag actively works to sabotage his troop movements and reports Alrrem’s instability to Hedrack via Lucius Graeme, subtly fueling Hedrack’s mistrust of Fire’s leadership.
• Belsornig (Water Temple) is viewed as the most dangerous of Romag’s peers—a manipulator and liar who uses pirates and spies in Nulb to edge out Earth Temple agents. Romag believes Belsornig’s control of the Boatman’s Tavern must be broken if Earth is to survive.
• Kelno (Air Temple) is seen as a potential asset—weak and desperate, but pliable. Romag occasionally feeds him small victories in exchange for gossip and intelligence from within the Air faction.

But Romag's greatest political obstacle is Madame Selentis (Nysera Krivaltis), Hedrack’s civilian overseer in Nulb. Her control over prisoner and supply transfers between the Boatman’s Wharf, the Old Mayor’s Manor, and the Hunting Cottage cuts Romag out of the Greater Temple’s logistics flow. Though she claims neutrality in the Temple’s elemental rivalries, Romag knows she reports directly to Hedrack and suspects she is working to erode the elemental temples' autonomy. He has tasked Dick Rentsch and other informants to observe her bandit operations, but with little success.

Romag is increasingly isolated within Nulb. While his control of the Waterside Hostel remains firm, even there he is undermined by Wat, the barkeep who secretly serves Alrrem’s interests. Romag has begun planning Wat’s removal and the restoration of Earth Temple purity within his own safehouse.

Updated Ambitions (579 CY)

• Undermine Belsornig's smuggling operations by redirecting river trade, bribing dockhands, and intercepting pirate shipments bound for the Water Temple.
• Discredit Madame Selentis within Hedrack’s network by leaking evidence of her inefficiencies, encouraging mutiny among her assigned bandits, and obstructing her prisoner routes through indirect sabotage.
• Position himself as a stabilizing force within the Temple, contrasting the chaos of Water and Fire with the discipline of Earth.
• Infiltrate Lucius Graeme’s network of informants to monitor Temple command decisions and manipulate intelligence traffic.
• Build a replacement intelligence network by converting frightened minor bandits and merchants into Earth Temple loyalists using promises of sanctuary and threats of ruin.
• Sabotage rival temples from within using agents planted among Kelno’s bugbears and Alrrem’s lesser priests.
• Secure spiritual legitimacy by locating an ancient earth node shrine buried beneath the Temple, which he believes will grant him divine favor from the Elder Elemental God and elevate him above the other prophets.

“Stone endures, and when Hedrack crumbles under the weight of his own indulgence, Earth will remain.”

Canon Belsornig (High Priest of the Water Temple)

Public Stance: Mutual distrust masked as cooperation

• Private Thoughts: Romag despises Belsornig’s manipulative nature and views him as the most dangerous rival within the Temple. He knows that Belsornig is working to subvert his forces and is determined to prevent the Water Temple from gaining the upper hand.
• Strategy: Romag keeps his dealings with Belsornig strictly transactional, avoiding entanglement while fortifying his own position. He secretly tries to undermine Belsornig's operations by intercepting his supply lines and influencing Nulb's smugglers to divert resources to the Earth Temple.

“Water erodes stone over time, but only if stone allows it. I will see Belsornig’s influence dry up before it takes root.”

Prefect Alrrem (High Priest of the Fire Temple)

Public Stance: Open rivalry and disdain

• Private Thoughts: Romag views Alrrem as reckless and desperate, a man who cannot be trusted to lead or cooperate. He sees Fire as a destructive force that threatens the Temple’s stability and actively works to weaken Alrrem’s position.
• Strategy: Romag has refused every overture from the Fire Temple for an alliance, instead bolstering his forces to defend against Alrrem's inevitable aggression. He feeds Hedrack reports of Alrrem's instability and uses the gnolls gifted to him by King Korvash Bonegnaw to harass Fire Temple operations.

“Alrrem's fire burns brightly, but even the fiercest blaze leaves only ash and regret.”

Kelno (High Priest of the Air Temple)

Public Stance: Wary tolerance

• Private Thoughts: Romag considers Kelno a weak and indecisive leader, easy to manipulate but not worth serious concern. However, he remains wary of Kelno's attempts to bargain with rival factions.
• Strategy: Romag uses Kelno’s desperation to his advantage, offering occasional support in exchange for information on the Fire and Water Temples. He has placed spies among Kelno’s bugbear mercenaries, ensuring that he remains informed of the Air Temple's movements.

“Kelno is but a whisper on the wind, and I have no need for whispers.”

Senshock (Temple Wizard and Advisor to Hedrack)

Public Stance: Cautious respect

• Private Thoughts: Romag acknowledges SSenshock’s power but deeply distrusts his loyalty to Iuz. He believes the wizard meddles too much in Temple politics and watches him closely for signs of betrayal.
• Strategy: Romag maintains a professional relationship with Senshock, offering token support to his initiatives while ensuring the Earth Temple remains self-sufficient in magical resources. He seeks to avoid confrontation but is prepared to act if Senshock oversteps.

“Magic is a fleeting trick; the strength of stone endures long after wizards are dust.”

Commander Barkinar (Commander of the Greater Temple Troops)

Public Stance: Courteous cooperation

• Private Thoughts: Romag respects Barkinar’s military prowess and sees him as a potential ally, though he remains cautious of his ambitions. He believes Barkinar’s disciplined approach aligns well with Earth Temple ideals and could be a valuable asset in the future.
• Strategy: Romag carefully cultivates a working relationship with Barkinar, offering logistical support and subtly influencing him to align against Alrrem and Belsornig. He ensures the Earth Temple’s troops remain disciplined and well-trained, hoping to win Barkinar’s favor.

“Discipline and patience build armies; Barkinar knows this as well as I do.”

Feldrin (Commander of Temple Security)

Public Stance: Mutual respect

• Private Thoughts: Romag sees Feldrin as a competent but inflexible leader who is unlikely to pose a direct threat. However, he recognizes that Feldrin’s loyalty to Hedrack makes him a dangerous obstacle to any long-term ambitions.
• Strategy: Romag maintains a professional but distant relationship with Feldrin, ensuring that Earth Temple operations stay within approved guidelines to avoid drawing his attention. He leverages Feldrin's respect for order to his advantage, positioning himself as the most disciplined of the elemental leaders.

“Feldrin serves order, and Earth is the foundation of all order.”

Falrinth (Temple Diviner and Occultist)

Public Stance: Dismissive indifference

• Private Thoughts: Romag sees Falrinth as an eccentric recluse whose obsession with forbidden knowledge poses little immediate threat. He regards the diviner’s presence as a nuisance but acknowledges that his knowledge could prove useful in the future.
• Strategy: Romag does not engage directly with Falrinth, preferring to let others deal with him. However, he keeps an eye on the diviner’s activities through intermediaries, ensuring he stays informed of any discoveries that might shift the balance of power.

“The earth cares not for the mutterings of madmen.”

Smigmal Redhand (Temple Assassin and Spy, Lover of Falrinth)

Public Stance: Cordial wariness

• Private Thoughts: Romag recognizes Smigmal Redhand as a dangerous figure and a potential informant for his rivals. He suspects she is gathering intelligence on behalf of Falrinth or Belsornig and takes care to shield sensitive operations from her eyes.
• Strategy: Romag keeps Smigmal at a distance, offering occasional "gifts" to maintain an air of cordiality while ensuring his trusted guards remain vigilant in her presence. He is considering employing his own assassins to counteract her influence.

“A blade hidden in the dark is no match for stone walls and iron discipline.”

Tactics and Strategy

The Cult of the Black Earth, under Romag's leadership, excels in defensive warfare and siege tactics. They employ monsters like bulettes and ankhegs to create subterranean strongholds and trap-laden passageways. Romag prefers to avoid direct confrontation, using the terrain and his followers' expertise to wear down foes over time.

Tactical Strengths

• Fortification: Expert in defensive strongholds and underground networks.
• Ambush: Uses terrain and hidden tunnels to set traps.
• Endurance: Prefers attrition-based tactics, outlasting enemies over prolonged engagements.

Current Adventure Hooks (579 CY)

1. "Stone and Water": Romag tasks PCs with sabotaging Belsornig’s supply lines.
2. "The Poisoned Drink": After Romag’s death, Dick is targeted by Wat. The PCs may intervene.
3. "The Triple Betrayal": PCs are offered a chance to infiltrate the Temple under Romag’s patronage but may be double-crossed by Selentis or Wat.
4. "The Juggernaut's Tomb": Romag sends the party to uncover a buried earth elemental relic—haunted and warded by ancient dwarven guardians.

Romags Treasure Trove

Treasure 1: only available if Romag and Hartsch don't get away: +1 chain shirt, 3ep, 22gp, 26pp, jasper (50gp), gold ring (25gp), gold brooch with triangular jet (150gp), Romag's vestments (750gp Iron Chest with poison needle trap (DMG 123): bullseye lantern, tinderbox, 2 leather bags, gold box with ivory inlay (350gp), 183 ep, 240, divine spell scroll of animate dead, divine spell scroll of beacon of hope.

Treasure 2: ink, quill, 10 sheets parchment, tome of dark earth magic* (50gp), 9 candles, 2 bottles white wine (10gp ea), brass stand (10gp), 2 walking staves, quarterstaff, bronzewood rod (5 gp). *This book is only valuable to an evil spellcaster. The book details a ritual that if performed (an evil act), that requires human sacrifices made before a friendly Earth Elemental, grants a charm that gives the character the ability to cast spike growth three times.

Cult of the Black Earth quests

Rentsch Makes an Offer (for party Level 4)

If Rannos and Gremag were killed during the attempt to run them off, then the PCs are not known to the entire Temple Network yet. If they've given the impression of being toughs, he will make an offer on behalf of Romag (Area 137). If the PCs will ambush a pack of gnolls on their way to join the forces of the Fire Temple, he will meet them outside the temple and assess their worthiness to join the Temple of Earth. Romag will arrive with a handful of Bugbear bodyguards to meet them in the cellar of the Waterside Hotel. This will give the PCs an opportunity to bluff their way into the Temple, with Romag walking them in through one of the side doors of C1.

• Part 1: Gnolls (4): MM p.163, 800xp
• Part 2: Romag: see area 137, 450xp
  
  Bugbears (3): MM p.33, 600xp

An Argument Overheard (for party level 5)

During a day when there are no pirates, and the PCs have managed to breach the temple, but have not yet encountered Romag, the PCs may see Wat, the barman from The Waterside Hostel having a heated discussion with Skole, the barman at the Boatman's Tavern in hushed voices at the latter location. Skole will tell PCs who insist on bothering him to “get it themselves”, but the conversation will end abruptly if they are spotted snooping.

Wat is trying to pressure Skole into working as a spy for the Water Temple, but Skole is afraid of what might happen if Lodriss found out. Skole figures (correctly) that if Lodriss discovered him using her bar as an outpost of the Temple, she would have Tolub keelhaul him. This is an ideal challenge for the party bard, rogue, warlock, or wizard to practice their espionage, but the intelligence of Wat's Alleigance, and Lodriss' neutrality are the only reward for this encounter.

Dick Pays the Price (for party level 5)

After the PCs have eliminated Romag this encounter can happen if they visit the Waterside Hotel. Rentsch is sitting with Dala on his lap in a good mood; he believe he may be invited to become the new master of the Earth Temple. When he orders a drink from Wat, Wat will slip a dose of a powerful poison into his drink, the PCs may roll Wisdom (Perception) against his Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) test, but he has advantage. The poison requires DC 18 Constitution Save, dealing 11 (4d10) poison damage on a failed save, the target must repeat the save on the beginning of every turn or take an additional 11 (4d10) damage. Rentsch will automatically fail these saves if the PCs to not intervene, causing him to die messily in a way that terrifies Dala. Wat will only comment about choosing one's employers poorly.

• Give the PCs experience points if they choose to save Renstch or attack and defeat Wat.
• This encounter is a reference to Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil which describes Wat as having
• murdered Rentsch and driven Dala to madness shortly before Nulb fell into ruin.
• Wat: see Nulb area 1 above, 700xp

Earth Temple Quests

1. Romag is rather smug in the superior position of his Earth Temple, and can be found at #23 of Level 1. However, he's smart enough not to take that for granted.

2. Upon bringing the good news to Romag, he then hands you a Sealed Note. He'd like you to deliver it to Rentsch in the Waterside Hostel, in #10 in Nulb. However, if you've completed the Triple Cross quest, chances are Wat will have already had Rentsch assassinated. Upon giving the bad news to Romag, he has an alternative quest for you. Arrange the deaths of the underling priests of the Fire Temple, Tubal and Antonio. They can be found at #17 of Level 2. Whether you pull this off by straight out killing them, or by way of exploiting the Rivalry in the Fire Temple doesn't particularly matter to Romag.

3. Romag's final task for you is to kill his closest Rival, Belsornig of the Water Temple. Belsornig can be found at #25 of Level 2. Incidentally, once you've accepted Kelno's final task, Belsornig will know of it beforehand and will respond accordingly. Once combat begins, Belsornig will be assisted by a Juggernaut, two Gargoyles, two Priests, and some Bugbear warriors. The Juggernaut is a huge golem-like construct resembling a lobster, has Spell Resistance of 18, has a lot of hit points, and can deal out devastating damage with its three attacks per round. A casting of the Haste spell is earnestly recommended. Use any spells that you can to bolster your physical defences; Mirror Image, Protection from Evil, Stoneskin, etc. The ideal strategy here is to use spells like Fireball, Flamestrike, and such, to thin out the less powerful monsters as quickly as possible. Have your hasted fighters train their guns on the Juggernaut to take it down as quickly as possible. Once the supporting cast is gone (Belsornig included, by the way), Lanatir can pump the Juggernaut with Magic Missiles, notwithstanding the Spell Resistance.