TOEE - Recruitment

The Temple of Elemental Evil is more than just a bastion of darkness—it is a growing army, meticulously built through recruitment efforts that span the region. From river pirates and mercenaries to monstrous warbands, the Temple ensures a steady influx of warriors, spellcasters, and creatures to bolster its ranks. Each elemental faction—Earth, Fire, Water, and Air—has distinct recruitment strategies, ensuring the Temple remains a constant threat to the forces of good. Leadership of the Temple of Elemental Evil organization is chaotic.

Recruitment Operations

Recruitment by Faction

Each elemental faction within the Temple maintains its own recruitment network, leveraging unique strategies:

• Earth Temple (Romag): Recruits heavily from bandits, mercenaries, and smugglers using intimidation, coercion, and religious fervor. Romag relies on field operations in Nulb—especially through the Waterside Hostel, where Dick Rentsch and Wat recruit and host Earth Temple sympathizers. Romag receives logistical support from Commander Feldrin, and delivers prisoners and resources to the Temple via Gefreid Patris at the Hunting Cottage, using the hidden tunnel to the Greater Temple. Romag also coordinates with monstrous allies like the Iron Claw Clan and Jagged Fang Tribe.
• Fire Temple (Alrrem): Focuses on chaos-loving humanoids and fire-worshiping fanatics. While their presence in Nulb is minimal, Alrrem’s only agent in the village is Wat, the barkeep of the Waterside Hostel. Recruitment relies on messengers and emissaries traveling from the Temple proper to the surrounding wildlands to attract werewolves, bugbears, and trolls.
• Water Temple (Belsornig): Recruits smugglers, pirates, and mercenaries through bribes and influence. Belsornig’s key relationship is with Captain Tolub and Lodriss at the Boatman's Tavern. He has no direct foothold in the Waterside Hostel. Tolub supplies the Temple via river access, but all materials must pass through Madame Selentis’ coordination and the 55. Hunting Cottage under Greater Temple control.
• Air Temple (Kelno): Appeals to stealth-based operatives—assassins, scouts, and spies. Recruitment involves infiltration, manipulation, and surveillance missions that span Nulb, the Temple, and the broader region. Kelno's cultists are few but deadly, often seeded quietly into bandit or merchant caravans.

Key Recruiting Agents

Many of the Temple's leaders play an active role in recruitment, ensuring its constant expansion:

Commanders of Large-Scale Recruitment

• Commander Feldrin: Supreme logistical officer for the Temple, overseeing recruitment and movement of all resources and personnel. He is the architect behind the current Nulb–55. Hunting Cottage –Temple tunnel route and uses Gefreid Patris as his trusted field lieutenant.
• Commander Barkinar: Works with monstrous warbands, reinforcing the Temple’s wilderness presence and recruiting from the Iron Claw and Jagged Fang tribes.
• Commander Deggum: Directs recruitment of large monsters, including ogres and goblinoids. Supports Temple defense and brute-force assault teams.

Elite Recruiters & Strategic Planners

• Dick Rentsch (Nulb): Owner of the Waterside Hostel. Recruits land-based thugs and mercenaries, hosts Temple agents, and facilitates prisoner holding prior to transport to the Temple.
• Wat (Nulb): Barkeep and observer at the Waterside Hostel. Relays information and screens new arrivals. Secretly supports Alrrem and keeps tabs on rival Temple factions.
• Lucius Graeme: Courier and diplomatic agent for the Supreme Commander Hedrack. Travels between the Temple, Nulb, and outer regions, recruiting informants and overseeing field coordination among Temple cells.
• Smigmal Redhand: Oversees surface defenses and enforces Temple loyalty. Directs bandit groups including The Crimson Reapers, placing trusted lieutenants under Madame Selentis’ command in Nulb.
• Madame Selentis (Nysera Krivaltis)(Nulb): Serves as Hedrack’s protector and high-level field commander. Coordinates all surface activity in Nulb and manages prisoner and supply deliveries to the Hunting Cottage for tunnel transfer.
• Captain Marad Vesrek: Operates The Crimson Trader, trafficking in slaves, weapons, and black-market goods. Sells slaves to Lorveth Thrask “The Broker” at the Boatman's for redistribution to the Temple.
• Captain Tolub: Pirate and Water Temple agent. Supplies slaves and goods to Belsornig through the Boatman's, though dependent on Selentis’ approval to move anything to the Greater Temple.

Monstrous Recruitment: Who Recruited Whom?

The Temple relies on key leaders to forge alliances with monstrous humanoid warbands:

• Deggum → Blackthorn Tribe (Eastern Gnarley Forest - Ogres & Monstrous Humanoids)
• Feldrin → Iron Claw Bugbears (Southern Gnarley Forest - Mercenary Warbands)
• Lareth the Beautiful → Jagged Fang Gnolls (Lortmil Mountains - Savage Warbands)

Given the political structure, leadership roles, and objectives of the Temple of Elemental Evil, here’s my analysis of who would have been responsible for recruiting each of these monstrous humanoid tribes:

1. Blackthorn Tribe (Eastern Gnarley Forest) – Recruited by Deggum

Best Choice: Deggum , Security Commander

Why?

• Deggum is in charge of maintaining security and defense within the Temple, including recruitment of monstrous allies.
• His established ties to ogres and humanoid mercenaries suggest he has the authority and capability to negotiate with the Blackthorn Tribe, which consists of monstrous humanoids like ogres, orcs, and goblinoids.
• His military-focused role means he would actively seek strong foot soldiers for the Temple’s forces, especially ones that thrive in woodland skirmishes.

Verdict: Deggum most likely recruited the Blackthorn Tribe to bolster the Temple’s standing army and reinforce security against external threats.

2. Iron Claw Bugbear Clan (Southern Gnarley Forest) – Recruited by Feldrin

Best Choice: Feldrin , Commander of the Temple Guard

Why?

• Feldrin is responsible for the Temple’s bandits, raiders, and mercenary forces, making him the perfect liaison for the Iron Claw Clan, which consists of ruthless bugbear warbands known for their guerrilla tactics and raiding expertise.
• Bugbears respect discipline and organization, and Feldrin’s structured command style would appeal to their desire for raids and plunder.
• The Iron Claw Clan operates within the Southern Gnarley Forest, a region Feldrin already oversees as part of his military raiding campaigns.

Verdict: Feldrin most likely recruited the Iron Claw Bugbears, using promises of plunder, leadership opportunities, and secure strongholds within the Temple’s sphere of influence.

3. Jagged Fang Gnoll Tribe (Lortmil Mountains, SW of Moathouse) – Recruited by Lareth the Beautiful

Best Choice: Lareth the Beautiful, Prophet of Elemental Evil at the Moathouse

Why?

• Lareth is a charismatic and cunning recruiter who excels in persuading warlike and chaotic creatures, making him the best fit to recruit gnolls—a race notorious for their bloodthirsty, brutal, and savage tendencies.
• The Jagged Fang Gnoll Tribe operates in the Lortmil Mountains, which are directly southwest of the Moathouse, where Lareth was based before his defeat.
• Lareth’s devotion to the Elder Elemental God and Zuggtmoy’s influence aligns well with the gnoll’s taste for slaughter and chaos, making them eager allies for his cause.
• Of all the Temple leaders, Lareth would have the best chance of converting the gnolls to his cause through a mix of promises of divine favor, destruction, and battle spoils.

Verdict: Lareth most likely recruited the Jagged Fang Gnolls, using his charisma, religious zeal, and ability to appeal to their savage instincts.

Final Recruitment Breakdown

Conclusion: Who Recruited Which Tribe?

• Deggum handled the Blackthorn Tribe (Ogres & Monstrous Humanoids) because of his military recruitment role.
• Feldrin secured the Iron Claw Bugbears because of his command of bandits and raiding forces.
• Lareth personally converted the Jagged Fang Gnolls, as his charisma and religious zeal made him the ideal figure to inspire them.

This division ensures that each recruiter’s personality and role align with the tribes they would realistically bring into the Temple’s fold.

Recruitment Chart by Faction

The Temple’s Growing Threat

If left unchecked, the Temple of Elemental Evil will continue its unchecked expansion, bolstered by its relentless recruitment machine. Raids, assassinations, and growing alliances with monstrous factions will threaten Hommlet, Verbobonc, and beyond.