Page 126 - Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting

tal’dorei campaign guide
“A quality of fire giants you don’t hear mentioned
all that often is that some are shockingly good
fire giant
card players.”
Fire giant civilization’s heart is the city-state of Vulkanon, —Scanlan Shorthalt
built deep into the magma tunnels that run beneath the
heart of the Cliffkeep Mountains. The fire giants seem
shorter than other highborn, but only because of their per-
petually stooped posture. They are masters of the forge,
and have been known to occasionally ally with the duer- highborn out of fear of their sorcerous power. The cloud
gar of the Emberhold to produce some of the finest arms giant kings are particularly concerned with appeasing the
ever seen in Tal’Dorei. Vulkanite weapons are prized by storm giants; if unified, the remnants of Tempestar could
mercenaries across the continent, and are as much a status conquer the flying city of Jovatthon with ease.
symbol as they are an excellent weapon. The giants of
Vulkanon have long dreamed of empire, and their duergar the council of Seven ScepterS
allies have given them a foothold in Tal’Dorei’s darkest The Council of Seven Scepters unifies the highborn, ruling from
depths. They may be an excellent ally in the fight against the tallest spire of Jovatthon. One member of each giant civ-
the aberrations lurking below. ilization is sent as a representative to serve on the council and
keep the rulers of each city-state from causing chaos. Already
froSt giant
beset by enemies across Tal’Dorei, from the fast-breeding
Frost giants make their home in the Neverfields, the frozen humans to the vengeful lowborn, the last thing the highborn
wasteland north of the Cliffkeep Mountains. Though their desire is infighting. Two of the seven thrones have remained
people are mostly nomadic reavers led by petty jarls, they empty for generations; Hillqueen Ovam’mura refused to
all swear fealty to High King Jorskymmar, who rules from relinquish her scepter when her people were banished, and
the fortress-city of Jotunborg. The frost giants are master the Scepter of Wodensdottr has gathered dust in the vaults
animal-tamers, and are known to raid human villages with since Woden, demigod of the storm, abandoned the storm
remorhazes, mammoths, and even white dragons at their giants after the fall of Tempestar.
side. Frost giants are among the most pious of the high- Humans outsiders are often confused by the existence
born, and most pray to the Wildmother for safety before of seven scepters for six giant civilizations. The answer is
crossing the ice fields. Some giants who have suffered laughably simple to any cultured giant; the cloud giants’
near-death experiences, being trapped beneath an icy lake two kings each claim one of the scepters, and each claim a
or being smothered by an avalanche, clandestinely join one seat on the council.
of the cults of the Chained Oblivion, seeking solace in the
goblinKin
inevitability of eternal cold.
Stone giant
Stone giants live in fortresses carved from the peaks of Scholars have often speculated why the three known races
mountains. Their greatest stronghold is Skyanchor Cit- of goblinkind are so wildly different from one another.
adel, a city hidden within a mountain of the Alabaster Why have goblins never formed an organized society
Sierras, its halls winding from its deepest roots to its high- when the hobgoblin Iron Authority has ruled the southern
est summit. The stone giants view physical perfection to tip of the Rifenmist Peninsula for generations? Why are
be the greatest of all virtues, and are obsessed with both bugbears covered with fur when their kin only have hair
physical appearance and feats of strength. Unlike the low- on their head, and their bodies are otherwise disquietingly
born giantkin, who prize brute force over all else, the lithe smooth? Human, elven, and dwarven nations have warred
stone giants see all forms of physical power as worthy. with the goblinkin throughout recorded history, and
An quadrennial tournament of prowess called the Sky their few attempts to send envoys to goblin enclaves have
Queen’s Favor is held in the coliseums atop Skyanchor, always ended disastrously. Why?
and giants from across Tal’Dorei gather to compete in Discovering the origin of goblinkind may be an excit-
tests of strength, agility, and endurance. Some champions ing campaign arc, and one that can synergize with a
of the smaller races even join, and goliath competitors are campaign about the gods and the Age of Arcanum. In
not an unusual sight at the Sky Queen’s Favor. that time, the goblins lived far from Vasselheim, the
Cradle of Creation. They resided on the other side of the
Storm giant world, in the land known today as Wildemount. There
Storm giants are the most mysterious of all the highborn. were no goblins, hobgoblins, or bugbears then: were all
Their flying city-state of Tempestar was destroyed by an one people; a strong, cunning, and multitudinous race
unknown force in times long past, and all the glories of known as the Dranassar.
their realm were cast into the Lucidean Ocean, hundreds When the Betrayer Gods were freed from their planar
of miles off the coast. The storm giants live solitary lives, prison, the divine Strife Emperor revealed himself to the
keeping no other giant for their neighbor, protecting only Dranassar, and they were enthralled by his fell power.
themselves and their families. Centuries have passed since Many of the Dranassar followed him willingly, and
Tempestar was the seat of the Council of Seven Scepters, their great kingdom of Ghor Dranas became the seat of
yet the reclusive storm giants are still considered part of the the Betrayers’ power. Those who opposed their emperor

chapter 4: allies and adversaries 125