And so, a new thread begins...

For the new players, I'd like you to think about the following items/questions as we prepare to begin the next adventure.

The people of Elsir Vale suffered a lot of damage during the Red Hand's failed conquest. The Red Hand completely sacked the villages of Drellin's Ferry, Terrelton, Nimon Gap, Talar, Dauth, and Prosser prior to being defeated during the Battle of Brindol.

Even still, the city of Brindol did not escape unscathed. Brindol was set ablaze by a red dragon, crushed by boulders thrown by giants, and pillaged by hobgoblins who spilled into the city streets.

Think about where your character was three years ago when this occurred. Did you character participate in the war? Did they lose loved ones? Did they flee before the horde arrived (many did)?

It's now been three years since the war ended. The hobgoblins have not re-emerged and initiated any attacks against Elsir Vale. Some say the threat as passed. Why would your character want to seek out the warlord responsible for all that destruction? Isn't it best to let sleeping wyrmlords lie?

Next, I want you to think about possible character connections between other characters. You don't have to know other characters already, but it sure makes it a lot easier than having a group of strangers form up for adventure.

Eoni, Sarah, and Vaxfar already have an established pre-war connection. I recommend you think about how you know eachother, if at all, and use this OOC thread to estabish some connections.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:36, Tue 21 July 2020.

Dergan is such that he is quick to form bonds, however, I have added to his history this bit, if anyone wants to tap into parts of it so we have some past association, please feel free.

Other Notes:   A man of the East, Dengar has travelled much of his life since he
was old enough to go on his own.  His early days saw him using his size and muscle
to make a living, as a assistant builder, a laborer, even working in a quarry for
awhile.  He learned to use a sword when he signed aboard a working boat, it turned
out to be a smugglers vessel, and sometime raider.  He enjoyed his days upon the water
but they were eventually caught by the local navy.  Dergan spent a few months working
in a labor camp for it, but got off pretty easy in the long run.  Deciding it was time
to start anew, he joined on with a caravan heading west, and ended up in Dennovar.
A city he took to liking and with the large water nearby, he had skills with boats
that gave him easy access to work.  This time, he signed on with the local guard,
that helped to protect and regulate the vessels upon Lake Ern.  During the war,
soldiers were called up from Dennovar to support other towns, Drellin's Ferry needed
men who knew something around water and it was there that Dengar fought in the
great war.  A pitched battle was fought to hold the river, but they were quickly
overwhelmed.  Dengar himself, bloodied and weary fell into the deep currents and
nearly drowned.  He survived and spent days after that fighting alongside small
groups of survivors, doing what they could to harry the enemy upon their flanks.
He saw many dark things during those days, but is not one to dwell long on the
past.  But he has no love for the Red Hand.

Everyone welcome Ovo to the game! He's finishing up character creation now, but is well on the way.

Thanks, DM Pawn! Hey everyone! Just wanted to stop by and say hello. I will be playing Ovo, who's cropped beard shows he is an outcast or Clanless Dwarf. Since leaving his Hold in The Hammerfist Mountains Ovo has become an Axe For Hire or mercenary. He fought on the right side in the great war, but first for coin and then for survival.

He first sold his axe in the defense of Dauth just north of the Hammerfists. Galadan Ryethresher's gold and the Council of Elders' approval bought that sleepy little hamlet Ovo's axe and the people thereof time to escape to Brindol. The small force was easily defeated by The Red Hand but Ovo and a few men cut their way through and joined other bands of likewise defeated and fleeing men-at-arms, which harassed the advancing scouts of The Red Hand all the way to Brindol.

Hey Dergan! Maybe we fought together and made it to Brindol together? Or at least fought side by side for a while. Ovo did not fight with Eoni, Sarah, Valthur, Vaxfar, and Kane but knows they are all The Heroes of Brindol! Perhaps later, after the war, Ovo has assisted Valthur Ironhelm in some way and he has given Ovo a letter of introduction to Eoni, Sarah, and Vaxfar.

Just suggestions on my part. I will be happy to edit, modify, or add to it if anyone has any ideas. I look forward to writing with you all. Cheers :)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Wed 22 July 2020.

Let's say in the chaos of the war and fighting retreat, Ovo and Dergan fought together.  Split by fates, but for a time, comrades against a common foe.  Never knowing if the other survived,
but at the very least, having raised axe, sword, and shield together.

Just for Dergen's reference on Drellin's Ferry, the first post of Chapter 9: The Elsir War Begins... describes the Vale's first encounter with the Army of the Red Hand.

---

Floyd Hammerfist, Prince of Hammerfist Holds

     - Valthur Ironhelm

Sounds good to me! Look forward to writing with you Nyrmer (Axefriend or Brother)! Cheers :)

Thanks for this Eoni! I have been following the game but my memory is not what it use to be, so I will go back and reread.

Floyd Hammerfist?!?!? I hate that guy!- Valthur Ironhelm

So does Ovo, maybe why Ovo and Valthur get along. Cheer :)

I think Dergan and Ovo's connection is a good start.

Perhaps when Valthur received The Trailblazer's message about The Fane of Tiamat, he passed this along to his acquaintance/distant relation, Ovo.

An easy possible connection is to have either Dergan or Ovo know Elam, perhaps from a past adventure where they required the skill of a wizard?

This would link the three newbies to Trailblazers (Eoni, Sarah, and Vaxfar), through Ovo, by way of Valthur.

Thoughts?

I think that would work well. Better than just a letter of introduction. I think it will depend on Elam's background. Is Elam a mercenary of sorts? Did he fight or flee from the Red Hand during the war? If so he could have met Ovo and Dergan as they did the same. If not Ovo did spend some time in Brindol after the war. Or maybe Elam hired Ovo or Dergan for extra muscle during an adventure and they remembered the mage when it came to this adventure. Just some ideas. Cheers :)

While Elam is not opposed to hiring out his magical skills, it is challenging because his skin condition tends to make people avoid him. It would make more sense that he hired some meatheads muscle to protect him on various adventurers of his own, you know "gathering components for his research" (from dangerous beast most likely). Assuming Ovo or Dergan are the types of mercenaries that are more interested in the pay and adventure than the condition and oddities of the mage that hired them.

It also makes sense that Elam would have gravitated toward Brindol. Large settlements are easier to blend in than the small no name village from which he was more or less exiled from. Being one of the largest settlements in the vale, I would assume there might be a larger library or academy here.

The Brindol Academy is the most prestigious place of learning in the entire Elsir Vale. The academy offers courses in history, magical theory, geography, alchemy, engineering, and culture. Its headmaster is a no-nonsense matron named Damynda Rianthar. So this could have drawn Elam to the city.

Then at some point, perhap he met Ovo and Dergen, as you suggested.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:56, Wed 22 July 2020.

Ovo would not mind Elam's condition as long as the mage kept his end of the bargain and was honest. Dwarves are mistrustful of magic but Ovo also knows it has its uses. He being clanless and outcast himself makes him even more approachable. So Ovo would have worked with him/ for him. Cheers :)

So Ovo and Dergan fought together a few times during the war and afterwards crossed paths a few times, so they know each other from the past.

Ovo has worked for Elam a few times and knows him from past work.

Sounds good to me. At least it's not total strangers all around :)