[Age of Giants] The Fall of Castle Hammerfire

[Havard]

Thanks for the kind response gentlemen! I have taken to reading DoCBM in more detail. There is really much more background information in that book than I first realized. I also really like how much of Dave Arneson's work can be gleamed from this book.


I'll elaborate on some of the points:

• The Age of Bronze - DoCBM

This is from DoCBM. I will assume that Thonia at its founding was at the Bronze Age, just like how Rome was in its Bronze Age when it was founded. Bronze technology had probably also reached the humans living in the North at this time; Valemen, Peshwah and Skandaharians. But the Thonians would be generally more advanced, both in terms of technology and military techniques.

[*]The Murder of Hurghast and Herutu and the Banishment of Calelrin (Riders of Hak)

Hurghast and Herutu were the two first heroes of the Peshwah. They are mentioned in Riders of Hak. The traiterous Calelrin engineered their murder, but this probably didnt happen untill around 20 years later. What do you guys think about the Peshwa heroes joining King Robert and King Uhlmar against the Giants? Or is this turning into a Soap Opera?

• Caradegg the Valeman ("The Giantslayer") - My invention. Appears in the LFC and the Vales Campaign.

Okay, this part is just completely non-canonical. For those familiar with my Vales Campaign, Caradegg is the hero who got a town in the Vales named after him (Caradegg's Rest). Note that my original idea is that he did not get the name Giantslayer untill he went to the Vales. At this point, I simply plan on having him be a minor character in the service of King Robert.

• King Robert of Genova - Canon, various

King Robert is Dave Arneson's invention, named after Rob Kuntz. The character appears the first time in the FFC. I'd like to have King Robert be a hero of his own right. I could see him dueling the Fire Giant king on the ruins of Castle Hammerfire.

• King Uhlmar, Grandfather of Menander Ithamis - My invention

A favorite creation of mine, derived from various canon sources, but with my own twists to him. My previous work involves the time 500 years later when Uhlmar is betrayed by the Thonians over the Battle against the Temple of Id. However at this point in history I would like to explain why Uhlmar would trust humans in the first place. Perhaps it was the memory of his friend King Robert that made him blind to the traitors of Thonia 500 years later?

• Halgred Forestwalker, the First Druid - BMPG, extrapolated alot by me.

This character plays an important part in the Vales Campaign. He is the first druid, and the story I have weaved about him is that he learned those ways because he was raised by Uhlmar and the Elves. My idea is also that he could be the one who introduces Robert and Uhlmar to eachother.

• Battle Between Valemen and Thonians - My take on Arneson's 1969 adventure

As I have mentioned elsewhere, my other idea about Halgred is that he would be the same as David Megarry's character in the 1969 game Arneson ran with Romans vs Celts. In this version that translates to Thonians vs. Valemen. Again, this occurs some decades after the Battle of Castle Hammerfire. At this point, relations between Thonians and Valemen is still fine.

• First appearance of Sun Brothers in Blackmoor (Sollux) - DA4

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DocBM describes how the Fire Giants are followers of Zugzul. Do you think it is reasonable that they also followed him back then? If so, we know from DA4 that the elemental warriors known as Sun Brothers oppose Zugzul. Perhaps this was Zugzul's first attempt to conquer Blackmoor and that the Afridhi invasion was just a result of him being really patient?


-Havard