Weekly J3H Campaign Starts 17: Where Giants Tread
I'm making 3 hexes and a town every week of 2024 in the style of Chgowiz's Just 3 Hexes format. Check the J3H tag to see all entries in the series.
(Hex tiles used in the image are from Zeshio's Pixel Hex Tileset, the map was created using Hex Kit)
Campaign: Jes Rezkal fights onwards to survive and thrive under the looming threat of Mount Dreadfurnace to the north. The giants rumble that another eruption from the mighty volcano is due soon, and that many will perish if the proper rituals are not followed to appease its wrath. The orcs reply that if the eruption doesn't kill them, starving to death under the constant taxation under Redmountain from back east definitely will.
Homebase (0316): Jes Rezkal - The remnants of the Black Sky orc clan base their capital here along with their giant allies. Their meager sheep herds huddle in uneven corrals made from rusted metal sheets, the remains of the skyships of their forefathers. Sputtering forges burning sickly trees cover the western side of town, covering the rooves and inhabitants in a light layer of soot.
Location 1 (0115): Kardin's Tomb - The palace and final resting place of Kardin, the last king of the fire giants. He ruled the mountains and eastern plains from his obsidian palace until he was consumed by an eruption ritual at nearby Mount Dreadfurnace. His ever-loyal Carnelian Guard encased his remains in electrum and buried him in his palace, sealing the doors with a 13-star eruption binding seal.
Location 2 (0315): Brimstone Lake - An underground reservoir is easily accessible from the surface here via a carefully carved staircase. The water here is always at least a little warm and often form into wandering steam clouds. The fish here are strange scaled monstrosities with thick skin and warped eyes due to the dark and the heat.
Location 3 (0217): Rooftree Caverns - The giants claim that their ancestors hid in these caves millennia ago when the sky threatened to fall on their head for their hubris. In a tantrum after seeing its prey hide from sight, the sky did fall, burying the world in water and darkness. When the waters receded, the giants left the caves full of stories of the old world and never returned (and will never return except under threat of death).
Bonus! Also pictured:
- (0117) Resource: Sulfur Spires
- (0516) Lair: Kylok the Roc (bandit)