Chapter 01 (Story Arc)

Event & Story Guides (Please Read)

Etiquette

Local Lore

Timey Wimey

Combat

Magic

Wounds

OOC Plot Line

Something has stirred up the local Giant Camps, yet the conflict seems to be an internal political issue regarding the theft of some artifact of importance to the camps. Will the conflict spill into Hofborg? Probably!

Each of the camps offers something potentially valuable to the town. How will we handle the situation? Do we try to solve the conflict or wait it out, open negotiations and serve as mediators, try to hunt down the artifact for ourselves, or make a new ally with one of the camps against the others?

Summary to date

With the reveal that the cause of the disquiet with the giants might be over an artifact taken from the area near Kilkreath Temple by the Antiquarian circle, the town has to go retrieve the item and see if it will bring peace with the rest of the giants clans. Bear Clan beaten back at the Southern Gate and we await their response - if any.

The OOC plot line is provided to players so that they have a general overview of what the plot line involves and what likely solutions are available. We provide this because the in character rumors are not always clear enough to fill in the 'what the heck is going on' challenges. We will try to avoid spoilers in this section, but it is better that everyone is on page so the role-play moves along.

Rumors

If you are doing role-play that progresses this story arc, please make a point of sharing it in the #rumor-mill channel of our Discord server. In this way, the DMs and other players will know what has been done so they can react to it.

12/01/22

Various scouts, travelers and locals begin reporting to the Hofborg town guard that the giants in the Haafingar region are on the move. No one has a clear picture of where they are actually headed, but enough reports have been made that it is clearly not isolated incidents. Apparently Kal has more information and perhaps even some first hand reports. The Captain has sent word to the Thane and the town is welcomed to discuss the matter tomorrow night in the Great Hall.

12/02/22

As further reports come in, a picture is beginning to form that the movement of the giant clans is directed toward some location at or near Kilkreath Temple. Scouts and warriors are asked to gather at the Great Hall tonight to discuss.

12/03/22

The scouting party did not return last night. This in and of itself is not so surprising as Haafingar is not a small area. However, with the rumors of the giants, some members may set out at dawn to track the party and catch up to them.

12/04/22

The scouting party woke to deep snow fall the previous morning and were required to abandon the investigation of the hilltop north of Kilkreath Temple and return to Hofborg. This evening's moot will further delay the scouting plans, and Baene has called for another group to set out tomorrow afternoon.

12/5/22

A company of Hofborg scouts and warriors set out from Hofborg towards Kilkreath Temple. On the road north of the temple they met up with a couple by the name of Tyerlings. The wife was distraught as the giants took her beloved goat as tribute during their moot. The group, interested in what a giant moot was look and hopeful to save the poor goat, continued north to the flat top to discover what was indeed a gathering of giants.

At first the giants were unarmed and appeared peaceful, however a war band of approximately six arrived with a dead or near dead Dunmer in a cage. The party was unable to understand more then that their was a disagreement between the leader of the war band and the giant elder with a magnificent beard.

The arguement progressed and the war band smashed the Dunmer to paste and many of the other giants were as well enraged. At this point, the company from Hofborg opted to return to town, after sending Malraz and Murtagh to relocate the couple at the stables to the Motherhouse.

12/7/22

A canopy and tables have been set up outside of the Borg's carpentry shop as the town begins to construct heavy weapons in anticipation of a giant attack on the town. Orders for lumber and iron are being placed, and an trip to the local mines is being planned

12/9/22

Little has been seen of Vorstag of late. It is known that he had been spending quite a bit of time on his homestead just outside of town, making repairs to prepare for the coming of his wife. She finally arrived by boat about a week past, according to gossip among the dock workers, who did not expect she would be so frail or advanced in years. With care, he loaded her with her trunks onto his wagon and spirited her away to his wilderness lodge, not to be seen since.

His visits into the town and to the moot over the past month or so have been low key and brief, quiet and almost somber his mood. This afternoon is no different. His steed pulls a wagon of timber to the site in town where siege weapons are to be constructed and unloads it all. It is known that he comes from a family of loggers and rumor has it that he intends to build the town a proper sawmill after the spring thaws come. In the meantime, the timber he leaves has only been debarked and squared off into rough bulk. They are however ready to be further processed by the carpenters of town into whatever form they need for their project. Two great snowy pines had been felled, nearly two-hundred years in age each, and three more trips into town it took to deliver the harvested lumber by days end.

12/9/22

The party that set out for Dragonbridge will return the next day and the news will be generally available to any asking questions. When the company arrived at Dragonbridge they discovered the bridge barricaded to merchants and travelers and that guards had a giant pinned down. Apparently a company of giants had raided Dragonbridge for livestock. Our company moved into attack the giant but instead of a warrior they found a giant harmed and on the ground. A fierce discussion was had, and the finally call was made - to try and communicate with the beast. It was a gamble, as Ragnjorn and Ysara volunteered to approach the giant and establish a dialog.

The gamble paid off and the giant shared a necklace of his clan and speaking in broken Sea Giant said to come to the northern coastal camp and that there would be no bears there. It was generally agreed that the 'no bears' comment referred to the giants with bear skulls on their shoulders who seem to be the most warlike. What ever is going on, we know a little bit more.

But which clan is the one with bear skulls on their shoulders, who was the Dunmer they killed and what are their plans?

12/10/22

In the midst of giant conflict around Hofborg, a group of townsfolk is sent out to head an expedition into Blackreach. All in hopes that the plunder found there will give the town an edge. It's rumored they encountered a friendly Dunmer scholar in the caverns whom joined in their efforts. Before a monstrous Chaurus lurking deep within was encountered and vanquished. Leaving Larsa severely injured once all was said and done.

12/13/22

Upon entering the small quaint town, onlookers would notice it lacked its usual laid-back atmosphere. No, on this eve it did not appear homely and inviting. Instead, there was an endless buzz of people rushing around. Goods being transported, lumber being chopped, and men shouting orders. Hofborg was preparing itself. A keen eye would notice hearty-sized lumber being processed. Alongside various iron goods being melted down into fittings. The ingredients for seige equipment were being gathered.

During the midst of the town's preparation, ideas were discussed on how to deal with the impending giant threat. Rumors of giant steel chains, flaming oiled traps, and spikes set around the walls. Perhaps the town will soon see something in the works.

12/16/22

During the preparation season to deal with the Giant's situation, Ragnjorn organized himself to support any local It needed to. Also, he took a serious job of guarding the Neckacle of the Giant they faced days ago. Not allowing anyone to touch it, unless they have the authorization of Larsa or Baene. Also, he visited Malraz's Forge, to see If she can help him fixing and adding some parts on his armor. He's ready for anything It could show up

With the Party having taken up the Necklace gained from one of the coastal giants, they venture to the precarious Northern coast. Fighting against the elements, avalanches, and the cold, the party makes their way to a popular meeting spot for the Coastal giants, the Bakkijotunn. Upon meeting, Baene is able to parse that the Giants ask a trial of the people of Hofborg; to slay a whale. It looks like Hofborg is going to dust off their boats, and venture into the harsh, treacherous waters for a whale suitable to the Giant's liking.

12/19/22

The giant threat is still unclear. Certainly there are at least two factions within the giants -- those that wear the Bear Skulls are seeking conflict with the humans for unknown reasons, while the giants along the northern coast have agreed to work with us. However they have demanded a whale hunt to prove our worth so amidst the preparation of siege equipment, guard patrols, discussions of gifts to offer the giants, and the Old Life festival the town is hopping with activity. Ideas and plans are still be proposed but it is clearly a town effort that must be made for only united do we have a chance to defeat or circumvent this challenge.

12/19/22

The clanging of metal, the sawing of wood, the dust from chiseled stone, and the hammering of structures can be seen and heard coming from ‘Murtagh’s Place’ in the Borg and all around the town’s walled exterior. Murtagh and his brother Norbert have been constructing the town defenses and taking care of small daily crafting needs for the residents and visitors of Hofborg Village. You can find them in the Borg near the smithy and stables if you need something fixed, an animal looked at, or would like to lend a hand to the construction of walls, ballistae, and other defenses.

12/22/22

Elsi and Ragnjorn have returned from their trip to Solitude, but with a meager amount of netting for the upcoming whale hunt. If asked about it, they will grumble about "big city prices". Perhaps it wasn't wise to put Elsi in charge of this task. Even Ragnjorn's attempt at aggressive negotiation got nowhere. But failure is the first step for learning to do better next time, isn't it?

12/23/22

The menace of darkening clouds threatens to dump endless piles of snow and icy rain on Hofborg. The whaling crew decide this would be a terrible time to set out on the freezing waters. Instead, they opt for a warm fire in front of Kyne’s Keg hoping for a clear day in the days to come.

12/29/22

The Whale Hunt can be delayed no longer, the seas are beginning to freeze and the chance of finding a whale is rapidly diminishing. Further, after the "failed" Mammoth hunt earlier in the week, the town needs the whale meat and hope that the giants will not wish to keep it all. Branwyn turns to her bones and runes hoping to offer the crew some guidance as to which direction to head -- she shares her insight with the Captain.

With some difficulty, the crew was able to bring back a grizzled, old whale for processing! Sha'harun, eager to get to work, has already begun carving up the carcass for proper presentation, and ensuring that the meat and blubber will be well spent. In addition, oils are being extracted, and a trophy is in the works to be presented to the Coastal Giants for their approval. Anyone wishing to assist Sha'harun, feel free to reach out to him in town, for he will be -quite- busy!

01/06/23

Baene, Ragnjorn, Ilvelin, Ulf and Larsa will return from the coastal giant camp bruised, bloody and victorious. It won't take much effort to hear the tale for it was being shouted and bragged about quite loudly upon their arrival. They had made peace with the coastal giants because of the whale hunt and defeated two of three bear giants -- their bloody heads drawn behind the pack perched atop a vary loud and miserable pack donkey.

In addition, to the bragging and other excitement, Larsa, Ilvelin and Ulf would move among the crew and soliders given the news that a giant attack on Hofborg was potentially imminent and patrols were to be doubled along the southern forest. A few chance villagers would be heard to murmer something about the southern forest lands being haunted. No further details were forthcoming.

01/08/23

Many of the townsfolk gathered for the monthly moot, with a good number of new comers showing their faces. The first topic presented was the imminent attack of the Bear Clan giants. It was brought to everyones attention that the Bear Clan was coming for Hofborg, and would be doing so soon. Given this, the Thane called for a state of war and preparations would begin immediately, including the potential repair and upgrade of the old southern gate that some believe to be haunted.

01/12/23

Larsa had done her best with the resources that were available to her. Every town guard including the old town crew that now called themselves Jorm, as well as every Saebjorn oarsman that should could bribe or bullied was patrolling the town. Nearly sixty men and women, many of them hardened sailors and skilled guards worked in rotating patrols ready to sound the alarm if the giants were seen. Luckily, giants were not so hard to spot. Norbert and a skill woodsman had left early this morning, heading for the southern gate and the Bear Clan camp. Their goal; to wait for the giants to leave their camp, then spook the giant's herd of sheep and goats, hopefully to delay the attack, and bring warning. A delay that would give her enough time to get warriors to the invasion spot.

1/13/23

Norbert's plan had worked! Thirty minutes ago the woodsmen arrived in town heading straight for the Guard House. The giants had been ready to set out but been delayed rounding up their spooked herds. Their destination, as anticipated was the Southern Gate. Larsa, Baene and Rokthor commanded every able bodied warrior to the south, every child and hearth-wife to the Motherhouse, and those unable to fight but still fleet of foot to patrol the town incase there was a deeper plan.

1/13/23

It was not until the veil of darkness was lifted, set ablaze by the first light of dawn, that the Thane did cease his grim parade of the giants severed head round the town walls. From a splintering of one of the great spears that bombarded the town, a crude pike was hewn and driven into soft earth at the Southern Gate. The horrible trophy would be set upon it, to serve as a terrible warning to the enemies of Kyne's children and Hofborg alike. A few souls that kept watch of the Thane, either out of duty or some grim fascination, would have likely given ear to his vengeful ramblings and declarations upon completion of his blood walk. It would seem that a victorious defense would satisfy neither gods nor ancestors. The warrior decreed that in the days to come he would gather the might of Hofborg once more, and ride the western wilds on a blood hunt for any remaining Thunderstriders of the offending clan. Their right to exist under Kyne's sky and feel her mighty winds had been forfeited. Their line would be purged from ancient Skyrim.

These are the rumors culled from the #rumor-mill channel in discord, along with any additional suggestions the DMs or staff want to share.

Next Steps

01/15/23

We need to retrieve the artifact from solitude and if possible return it to the rest of the giant clans.

This section will provide a general outline of the DM events planned for the story arc, as well as what players can do on their own with out DM support, as well as with DM support. The first event of the story arc will be to present the situation to the players and have them agree on next steps. These next steps will drive the events we plan.

Wrap Up

Don't Forget

• The Tyerlings are at the Motherhouse and their stables may be in disrepair or badly damaged.
• Haunted gate house "its been haunted longer then anyone alive knows, there are no records in the temple regarding it, and we don't even know how long ago the fight happened here, but we do indeed find indications on the skeletons that they are from hofborg, so its at least after 2E 403."
  The party were able to venture into the run down and isolated part of town. Noting a curse in the land, they were able to break the barrier and fell victim to a hungering. A spectre appeared, explaining their loss, and the party was able to put together that victims of the Knahaten Flu were isolated here generations ago. Having nothing to help them, they resorted to cannibalism, which infected the area with the curse.

Summary of the story arc when it wraps up and what issues are currently unresolved. Some of these issues will be plot bunnies for future story arcs.