Armchair Bugbear

 Giants and dragons are ancient enemies. Dragons are fundamentally chaotic beings. Their eggs seem to generaet sponteneously from volcanic pools and they have an insatiable appetite for destruction, seeking to disrupt both the order of nature and that of human society. They corrupt landscapes, destroy villages and steal gold. They horde treasure in order to deprive humans of resources, but they may be willing to release it in order to sow the seeds of disorder, such as giving it to a corrupt dictator or even an idealistic but naïve hero. Giants are beings of order. They seek to preserve the order of nature and the ecosystem. They are more than willing to destroy human settlements if they believe that they are over-exploiting the resources allocated to them, but they are also willing to grant aid to them if they see them being responsible. Cults devoted to giants exist everywhere and they are able to access a nature-based brand of magic.

In Rodinia, fairy tales start with the phrase 'when the mountains could walk'. It essentially means 'a long time ago'. In the past, the mountains were living creatures now known as trolls. Their size was immeasurable and they destroyed everything they stepped on, making life almost impossible. The sun arrived and its light turned them to stone. Many huddled together to shield the young troll-lings from the sun, forming great mountain ranges with troll-haunted tunnels within them as soon as dawn hit. Others walked into the sea to rest in the deep where the sun's rays don't reach, causing the sea level to rise and submerging countless hills and forests. Those troll still wander through the mountain tunnels tunnels and upon the seabed causing earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis. The high mountain peaks still bear the faces of the and some say that their hearts still beat and blood still flows deep within the stone.

We started out in the Rat-on-the-Stick, the finest bar in Korner, which says absolutely nothing about the ramshackle establishment. At the table of heroes sit Grüngebeard the Tall, Clarence (or as I have styled him, Clarence the Green), Orthax Broadjaw, Winnie the cleric, Fryedah Wayelze and Skylos Dungstab. The party was peacefully imbibing the tavern’s ale is as thick, black and bitter as liquified charcoal, they were interrupted by the kobold warden, who reminded our heroes that their mission was to clear out the hobgoblins from the level below. Clarence had the bright idea of acquiring a cask of ale to win the favour of their enemy, and upon learning that free casks are awarded to those who can outdrink the landlord, he took up the challenge alongside some of his new allies while Minnie prepared a hangover cure. Clarence defeated Grogg in a decisive victory, winning his friendship and amulet of sobriety. Our heroes set off down to level 3, where the hobgoblins lurk and found three ...