Weekly J3H Campaign Starts 6: Skybreaker Pass
I'm going to be making 3 hexes and a town every week of 2024 in the style of Chgowiz's Just 3 Hexes format. I'm planning on keying all of these hexes in the same world (my currently running open table) so I'll keep the hexes in roughly the same area. I'll still preserve the idea that every town could be an adventure starter though.
(Hex tiles used in the image are from Zeshio's Pixel Hex Tileset, the map was created using Hex Kit)
Campaign: Skybreaker Pass has long stood as a symbol of orcish power and might, the metalwork of Mon Skirt and the power of the Redmountain clan standing tall against the border with the human kingdoms further north. With the dissolution of the human kingdoms under dragonfire, human refugees stream south with nothing more than the clothes on their back and the skills in their head, ready to accept the authority of their once-enemy over the lack of any current safety. Day-to-day life carries on "as normal" while political forces in the Redmountain clan and further abroad conspire about this new power vacuum beyond Skybreaker, wondering if perhaps Torssten Redmountain and his heirs have perhaps held the clan's crown too long.
Homebase (0301): Skybreaker Stronghold - The fort that marks the traditional border between the orcish kingdoms and the human ones further north. Ruled by Lord Megara Redmountain, she was appointed the position decades ago to keep the heir of the clan far from the succession politics at the heart of the orcish kingdoms, but the dangers posed by the dragons in human territory have now far surpassed them. The old smooth walls of Skybreaker now see hundreds of human refugees a week passing through, the heavy dragon-killer ballista standing silent over the glorified customs and border crossing that it's become.
Location 1 (0202): Ruined Temple of Zosimus - The ruins of an old temple to Zosimus, the elven god of tactics and intellect (and elven supremacy, but that's usually not mentioned in polite company). The temple was ruined and abandoned long before the orcs got here, but elven pilgrims still come by sometimes to see the old dueling grounds and the site of the temple's library. A group of scholars out of Croakpool has been at the site for a few seasons, digging up what they believe to be the tomb of the last high priest, hoping that there will be some clue as to why the site was abandoned.
Location 2 (0402): Golden Hand - A giant stone hand sticking straight out from the side of a cliff and covered in golden runes. The Hand is said to be how the mountain range "Sleeping Giants" originally got its name, old dwarven imperial explorers saw the hand and assumed that the mountains were fossilized giants. The Hand is open-palm currently, but old tales tell that it used to be curled into a fist during the days of the dwarven empire.
Location 3 (0104): Torsten's Tower - The wizard's tower of Torssten Redmountain, king of the Redmountain clan. He moved from his seat at (0304) a few years ago as his age was getting to him, his wizard tower is fully equipped with custom spellconstructs he built to help himself get around. The Redmountain court moved with him and currently dwell around him in large tents and pavilions, most currently believe that Torssten will abdicate rule to his daughter Megara any day now.
BONUS Location 4 (0304): Mon Skirt - The center for Redmountain clan industry, filled with forges and factories fed by the clan's mining operations to the west and east. The town is filled with opulence from the clan's longstanding position as a titan of industry, marble fountains and gold leaf are common sights on even the lowliest of buildings within the walls. The aristocrats currently grumble about the clan's leadership, none trust Torssten or his daughter Megara to keep the clan's economics in good standing, especially when his youngest son Rolof so clearly demonstrates better financial sense (despite his refusal to wear any crown).