Protato
2019-01-21, 11:29 PM
Hello Playground, I just ran a session of Stormking's Thunder for the first time. I feel like that's a natural place to start my first ever campaign journal. I doubt it'll be on par with Silverclaw's or anything but I hope its still worth reading, and if my writing is spotty I'd like tips on how to improve it! With that out of the way, onto the journal. Individual parts are all under spoilers.
Giants roam the Sword Coast, threatening to destroy any semblance of peace. The sheer strength of the giants overwhelms all that stand before them. Rumors abound that the giant's caste has been thrown off-balance by the disappearance of King Hekaton, the ruler of the giants. Most simply accept that it's the end of days and that the warring giant tribes will simply destroy all in their equally large ambitions. But, a small band of heroes stand in their way, and will not rest or retire until the threat is dealt with.
The Party
Sam Thundergale was perhaps destined for an adventerous life from the moment he was born. Born to a human woman, Herid, and the Storm Giant King Hekaton, he was the child of two worlds. While he felt something of a connection to his giant half, he was also considered by most to be one of the Smallfolk. While King Hekaton typically did not think much of the Smallfolk, his wife and interracial son were perhaps the biggest exceptions to this. However, as the child of two worlds, Sam had obligations to fulfill. He was often the one to negotiate with the Smallfolk when needed, and when he wasn't back at home, or acting as intermediary, Sam was a sought-after bodyguard and occasional mercenary. While reluctant to send his son to do such dangerous jobs, Sam had proven successful in his endeavors and so was frequently allowed to do as he pleased. However, as the months rolled on by, he had heard little from his family, and what little news he did receive was never good. In time, he had heard that there had been upheavals in the family's royal court, however, and had even received word that his father was missing. With the caste falling around him, the races of giants had begun to war with one another and had been attacking Smallfolk as well. Fearing the worst, Sam set out to recruit a team of fighters that may be able to quell the coming madness, and solve the drama that had yet begun to plague his family. With his custom-made greatsword in hand, Sam always tries to lead the charge without fear.
Ashh was perhaps also destined for greatness, but not in the way he had assumed. Around the age of 14, Ashh, growing up on stories of heroism, was sent by his folks from the growing city of Daggerford to the large city-state of Waterdeep, the Crown of the North. Upon arrival, Ashh was then enrolled in his mercenary training with the retired Minotaur magic knight Harvey. Harvey spent years teaching Ashh in the art of weapon use, and while his pupil lacked forearm strength, his graceful movements and upper arms certainly lent him well toward practice with the rapier and buckler. However, his mentor always warned him to stay away from the rapier in the glass case, Quillek. A foul power lurked within the blade it was said, and while a shortcut to magical strength, it was also claimed that this would come with a cost. Harvey, warning his student to not use it's power one final time, left his home and his pupil behind, speaking of unusual behavior by the giants, behavior he wanted to deal with. He should have been back by a week, but after no less than a month he had not returned. During that time, Ashh heard the siren song of the mysterious weapon calling to him, tempting him to use its power. Ashh, no longer able to complete his training, cannot resist the temptation, and takes Quillek for himself. While his master may be disappointed, if he still lives, Harvey - or possibly his corpse's - disappearance can't be ignored any longer. Setting off to find it, Ashh leaves his adoptive home to seek his own future - the sword whispering to him all the while.
Splint of Phandalin was once a human teenager, someone who's life was often boring. Wishing for some excitement, he struck out into the woods near to his home and had found some ancient ruins, largely undisturbed, and not guarded by traps or monsters. Resting upon an altar was a ring, seemingly waiting to be taken. However, as he tried, Splint was warned by a voice in his mind that he would one day receive great power but also great pain. Undeterred, Splint placed the ring upon his finger and felt a pain immense enough to render him unconscious. When he came to, Splint's form had become that of a young dragon hatchling, transformed. Splint, initially excited, soon realized that he would no longer return home for fear of attack and so had ended up playing up his status as a dragon to naive travelers as a source of food and water, in between scavenging. This persisted for about a month, until a wandering fighter named Sam Thundergale had been "attacked" by the "fearsome dragon". Sam, realizing something about this dragon was amiss, had simply asked him what had happened. Splint told his story, and Sam, both feeling pity and feeling he may have found a great ally in his quest to find his father, agreed to take him on his travels.
Mike the Phoenix Sorcerer had an ordinary name, unassuming even. The stories associated with this Mike however, are anything but. Once an ordinary human, he was kidnapped to be a research subject by the mad alchemist Silvermilk. Silvermilk had concocted a mutagen that would forever change the form of Mike from man to mouse, and that was no metaphor. The alchemist's antics, later discovered by the authorities of Waterdeep to be criminal and unethical, were shut down and Mike saw his chance to run. Leaving as fast as he could, mike had climbed to the top of a hill only to meet with a strange, red flower that seemed almost to call to him. This voice asked Mike to eat the flower, promising a great strength in spite of his now diminutive size. Heeding the advice, Mike ate the flower, feeling a heat unlike he had felt before, passing out from the sheer intensity. Upon waking, however, a fire burning throughout his veins could be felt, and the voice ringed louder than before. He had now housed two souls, both his own, and that of a Phoenix called Solanus. Mike, seeking fortune as a mercenary with his newfound powers, struck out at a time that would as of yet lead him to become quite busy with such a field indeed.
Chapter One: A Great Upheaval
After about a month's travel, Sam and his party had arrived at the small city of Nightstone, named for the pitch-black obsidian monolith in the town square. In need of food and shelter, the group had arrived in the early afternoon, expecting the sight of guards securing the perimeter, and the scent of freshly-baked breads filling the air. However, it soon became clear something was amiss. The drawbridge lowered, the perimeter empty, and all around was a quiet feeling of unease. Mike and Sam, leading their way into the village, found desolation, rubble, large stones scattered throughout, and two Wargs feasting on the corpse of a small family dog. Enraged, Sam charged the beasts, striking one to minimal effect as his companions unleashed magical fury from all sides. Finally, Splint used his breath of acid to fell the beast, melting its skin and fur, leaving a grotesque pile of sinew and bone. Sam dealt with the other in the meantime, the Warg failing to pounce on Sam as he simply shoved him off to the side. The commotion had alerted their masters, goblins ransacking the town, of the trouble the party was causing. Taking formations around the town square and loosing arrows, Ashh and Splint sought cover behind some large stones in the town square, Ashh moving between them to cover a gradual advance towards the harassing archers. Meanwhile, a blindsided Mike caught an arrow, almost dropping him instantly, his thin robes providing no defense and his natural constitution weak. Sam, too, caught an arrow, but he simply tore it from his exposed flesh and felled the poor fool who dared to strike him, picking him up by the arm before decapitating him. Ashh, advancing on the goblins, picked off stragglers with Quillek, killing them all but instantly. Mike, in spite of his injury, pressed on and launched a bolt of flame dead-on at the archer that inflicted his ghastly wound, killing his attacker by broiling him alive. The village of Nightstone was certainly worse for wear but at least the attackers were dead. Or, were they? Goblins didn't use catapults to launch these stones, at least not as far as the party can tell. In hopes of finding someone that might explain, the party had split off in an effort to search for anyone still alive. While searching the town for survivors, Sam and Ashh find a goblin with a pumpkin upon his head, seemingly oblivious to the carnage around him. In exchange for his life, the goblin offers to take the party to his cave, where its alleged the other prisoners are being held.
Well, that's all she wrote for now. I've omitted a bit here and there for flow and I can just move to elsewhere in the story as I have more to say. For now, I hope this is an alright enough read with some interesting party members!
Giants roam the Sword Coast, threatening to destroy any semblance of peace. The sheer strength of the giants overwhelms all that stand before them. Rumors abound that the giant's caste has been thrown off-balance by the disappearance of King Hekaton, the ruler of the giants. Most simply accept that it's the end of days and that the warring giant tribes will simply destroy all in their equally large ambitions. But, a small band of heroes stand in their way, and will not rest or retire until the threat is dealt with.
The Party
Sam Thundergale was perhaps destined for an adventerous life from the moment he was born. Born to a human woman, Herid, and the Storm Giant King Hekaton, he was the child of two worlds. While he felt something of a connection to his giant half, he was also considered by most to be one of the Smallfolk. While King Hekaton typically did not think much of the Smallfolk, his wife and interracial son were perhaps the biggest exceptions to this. However, as the child of two worlds, Sam had obligations to fulfill. He was often the one to negotiate with the Smallfolk when needed, and when he wasn't back at home, or acting as intermediary, Sam was a sought-after bodyguard and occasional mercenary. While reluctant to send his son to do such dangerous jobs, Sam had proven successful in his endeavors and so was frequently allowed to do as he pleased. However, as the months rolled on by, he had heard little from his family, and what little news he did receive was never good. In time, he had heard that there had been upheavals in the family's royal court, however, and had even received word that his father was missing. With the caste falling around him, the races of giants had begun to war with one another and had been attacking Smallfolk as well. Fearing the worst, Sam set out to recruit a team of fighters that may be able to quell the coming madness, and solve the drama that had yet begun to plague his family. With his custom-made greatsword in hand, Sam always tries to lead the charge without fear.
Ashh was perhaps also destined for greatness, but not in the way he had assumed. Around the age of 14, Ashh, growing up on stories of heroism, was sent by his folks from the growing city of Daggerford to the large city-state of Waterdeep, the Crown of the North. Upon arrival, Ashh was then enrolled in his mercenary training with the retired Minotaur magic knight Harvey. Harvey spent years teaching Ashh in the art of weapon use, and while his pupil lacked forearm strength, his graceful movements and upper arms certainly lent him well toward practice with the rapier and buckler. However, his mentor always warned him to stay away from the rapier in the glass case, Quillek. A foul power lurked within the blade it was said, and while a shortcut to magical strength, it was also claimed that this would come with a cost. Harvey, warning his student to not use it's power one final time, left his home and his pupil behind, speaking of unusual behavior by the giants, behavior he wanted to deal with. He should have been back by a week, but after no less than a month he had not returned. During that time, Ashh heard the siren song of the mysterious weapon calling to him, tempting him to use its power. Ashh, no longer able to complete his training, cannot resist the temptation, and takes Quillek for himself. While his master may be disappointed, if he still lives, Harvey - or possibly his corpse's - disappearance can't be ignored any longer. Setting off to find it, Ashh leaves his adoptive home to seek his own future - the sword whispering to him all the while.
Splint of Phandalin was once a human teenager, someone who's life was often boring. Wishing for some excitement, he struck out into the woods near to his home and had found some ancient ruins, largely undisturbed, and not guarded by traps or monsters. Resting upon an altar was a ring, seemingly waiting to be taken. However, as he tried, Splint was warned by a voice in his mind that he would one day receive great power but also great pain. Undeterred, Splint placed the ring upon his finger and felt a pain immense enough to render him unconscious. When he came to, Splint's form had become that of a young dragon hatchling, transformed. Splint, initially excited, soon realized that he would no longer return home for fear of attack and so had ended up playing up his status as a dragon to naive travelers as a source of food and water, in between scavenging. This persisted for about a month, until a wandering fighter named Sam Thundergale had been "attacked" by the "fearsome dragon". Sam, realizing something about this dragon was amiss, had simply asked him what had happened. Splint told his story, and Sam, both feeling pity and feeling he may have found a great ally in his quest to find his father, agreed to take him on his travels.
Mike the Phoenix Sorcerer had an ordinary name, unassuming even. The stories associated with this Mike however, are anything but. Once an ordinary human, he was kidnapped to be a research subject by the mad alchemist Silvermilk. Silvermilk had concocted a mutagen that would forever change the form of Mike from man to mouse, and that was no metaphor. The alchemist's antics, later discovered by the authorities of Waterdeep to be criminal and unethical, were shut down and Mike saw his chance to run. Leaving as fast as he could, mike had climbed to the top of a hill only to meet with a strange, red flower that seemed almost to call to him. This voice asked Mike to eat the flower, promising a great strength in spite of his now diminutive size. Heeding the advice, Mike ate the flower, feeling a heat unlike he had felt before, passing out from the sheer intensity. Upon waking, however, a fire burning throughout his veins could be felt, and the voice ringed louder than before. He had now housed two souls, both his own, and that of a Phoenix called Solanus. Mike, seeking fortune as a mercenary with his newfound powers, struck out at a time that would as of yet lead him to become quite busy with such a field indeed.
Chapter One: A Great Upheaval
After about a month's travel, Sam and his party had arrived at the small city of Nightstone, named for the pitch-black obsidian monolith in the town square. In need of food and shelter, the group had arrived in the early afternoon, expecting the sight of guards securing the perimeter, and the scent of freshly-baked breads filling the air. However, it soon became clear something was amiss. The drawbridge lowered, the perimeter empty, and all around was a quiet feeling of unease. Mike and Sam, leading their way into the village, found desolation, rubble, large stones scattered throughout, and two Wargs feasting on the corpse of a small family dog. Enraged, Sam charged the beasts, striking one to minimal effect as his companions unleashed magical fury from all sides. Finally, Splint used his breath of acid to fell the beast, melting its skin and fur, leaving a grotesque pile of sinew and bone. Sam dealt with the other in the meantime, the Warg failing to pounce on Sam as he simply shoved him off to the side. The commotion had alerted their masters, goblins ransacking the town, of the trouble the party was causing. Taking formations around the town square and loosing arrows, Ashh and Splint sought cover behind some large stones in the town square, Ashh moving between them to cover a gradual advance towards the harassing archers. Meanwhile, a blindsided Mike caught an arrow, almost dropping him instantly, his thin robes providing no defense and his natural constitution weak. Sam, too, caught an arrow, but he simply tore it from his exposed flesh and felled the poor fool who dared to strike him, picking him up by the arm before decapitating him. Ashh, advancing on the goblins, picked off stragglers with Quillek, killing them all but instantly. Mike, in spite of his injury, pressed on and launched a bolt of flame dead-on at the archer that inflicted his ghastly wound, killing his attacker by broiling him alive. The village of Nightstone was certainly worse for wear but at least the attackers were dead. Or, were they? Goblins didn't use catapults to launch these stones, at least not as far as the party can tell. In hopes of finding someone that might explain, the party had split off in an effort to search for anyone still alive. While searching the town for survivors, Sam and Ashh find a goblin with a pumpkin upon his head, seemingly oblivious to the carnage around him. In exchange for his life, the goblin offers to take the party to his cave, where its alleged the other prisoners are being held.
Well, that's all she wrote for now. I've omitted a bit here and there for flow and I can just move to elsewhere in the story as I have more to say. For now, I hope this is an alright enough read with some interesting party members!