ToEE Setting 3, SECRET HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE (DM spoilers)

SECRET HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE


When the demoness Zuggtmoy initially conceived the plan to establish her own rule on a portion of the Flanaess, she decided to use as many "tools" as possible, just as did er competitor (Lolth). Consulting some of her clerical servants, Zuggtmoy decided that Elemental Evil would have more appeal than a cult dedicated to her beloved fungi. Recruiting was not difficult, and soon the rudiments of the Temple of Elemental Evil were flourishing.

The beauty of the quadrate system was obvious to Zuggtmoy; each type of Elemental Evil would appeal to a broader base of servants and followers, and certain ones would actually serve her directly. The four separate elemental temples would also compete, spreading evil more effectively and also serving to check one another if any grew too powerful—Zuggtmoy, of course, desiring to retain all real power in her own grasp. The appeal of elemental destruction and demonaic aid attracted many malign and twisted creatures to the Temple, and it grew ever more rapidly.

At this crucial juncture, luz himself requested an audience with Zuggtmoy. The Old One, long ruling a realm of his own, perceived the Temple of Elemental Evil and Zuggtmoy as tools to be used for his own ends. Help the demoness and her Temple to grow, aid their ravaging of the lands around, and they would surely draw down the hosts of Good from Veluna, Furyondy, and everywhere else nearby. This drew foes away from his own border immediately, and at the very worst weakened them to some degree. If Good triumphed, the luz would not be harmed, for the Old One could retire to Dorakaa, none the worse for having spent time and effort helping Zuggtmoy. If the battle were a draw, then luz could move his own armies down to Furyondy to put the hosts of Good in a vise of irresistable Evil. If the Temple triumphed, then he could call upon Zuggtmoy to repay his aid and make sure that luz, not the Horned Society, benefited most from the territorial acquisitions in Furyondy. Also, a strong Chaotic Evil ally against the growing power of the Horned Society could be most useful.

Zuggtmoy, in turn, saw the advantage of having luz' magic to aid her in building her fortress and expanding her domain in the Flanaess. Having just learned of the sharp check dealt to Lolth in her plans to wreak Evil, the Lady of Fungi agreed to accept luz as an (almost) equal in the Temple. She saw him as an excellent weapon, especially useful against the Horned Society once she had absorbed most of Veluna and Furyondy. She would then encourage luz to crush the might of the Society, and she would be left as the great Evil power in the Flanaess, ready to absorb the Wild Coast and Pomarj, while the rumps of luz and the Horned ones served as buffers in the north and east. Her hordes, in turn, could concentrate on the hateful elves and dwarves to the west....
And so the alliance formed, and actually worked, but saved not the Temple. Zuggtmoy was bound in its dungeons, but luz remained free (just as he had planned). After the mighty magicks had been wrought to bind Zuggtmoy—powers which most certainly involved great wizards, high priests, and deities—luz determined to occasionally return to the Temple in hopes of gaining advantage for his past efforts. If he could somehow free Zuggtmoy, she would certainly be much in his debt. At the same time, she would be seething with a lust for revenge against those who imprisoned her. It was luz, in fact, who helped the renrnants of the Temple's followers to remain viable, but he lacked the power to forge them into a useful tool.

The weakened elemental temples fought more amongst themselves than with the forces of Good pressing their advantage above. luz, meanwhile, remained more concerned with establishing a following of his own than with the furthering of Zuggtmoy's organization of elemental evil. Some of the latter remained faithful to the demoness, despite their not knowing where she was or how to free her. Some actually turned to Lolth in desperation, for many drow visited the Temple after its fall. Lareth was one who sought to serve both the Temple and Lolth. And although Lolth hated Zuggtmoy's Elemental Evil, she so lusted for power that she accepted such service. Had she not been routed, her dark followers so crippled, much might have come of this.

But as it transpired, Lolth could—and can yet—give only encouragement, without physical or magical aid, to those who call on her. The Temple is thus factioned into no less than seven competing groups: four serve Elemental Evil principles, one luz, one Lolth, and one still loyal to Zuggtmoy. Woe to the disloyal should the Lady of Fungi ever regain her power!