Snurre's Legacy

King Snurreson Forgebelly

The fire giants of the world used to be a force to contend with. They were among the most feared craftsmen and warriors to walk the world since the Dawn Age. Even though the cloud giants and the storm giants boasted even greater strength and power, these giant species dwelt in regions even more remote and isolated from the mortal races than others. 

Hill giants breed quick, like orcs, allowing them to replenish their numbers quickly. But they are oafish brutes and possess the least intellect among the giant kinds.

Frost giants breed more like humans over time. However their tendency to live in climates too cold for humans to survive prevent regular interaction. 

Fire giants, on the other hand, breed slowly, like dwarves. As such, their populations tend to be small. And when one of the most powerful fire giant nations takes a massive hit – like that of King Snurre Ironbelly – the chance to recover is slow in coming.

King Snurre and Queen Fruppy were seduced by the offers of power promised to them by their alliance with Eclavdra Eilservs. She even used their own magnificent mountain fortress to house a temple to the Elder Elemental God, granting them divine might the like they never experienced with the fire giant deity Surtur. In exchange for this added divine power, the fire giants were tasked by Eclavdra to make alliance with the other giants of the mountains and wage war against the surface worlders.

Unfortunately, the fire giants were but pawns in Eclavdra's greater plan. Powerful pawns, yes... but pawns, nonetheless. And they fell hard. Through their alliance with the hill giants and the frost giants, the fortress of King Snurre was discovered and numerous adventuring parties lay siege to the iron gates. Many were thrown back or slain by the mighty fire giants. But eventually one party succeeded in slaying King Snurre, his wife, and the inhabitants of the Fire Giant Halls. From there, the adventurers continued into the Underdark, lured by a map “left behind” by Eclavdra which led them to the city of Erelhei-Ciunlu in the Vault of the Drow. And from there, she manipulated the surface world adventurers to believe the Lolothite church was responsible for the attacks by the giants. So, the adventurers stormed the Fane of Lolth, entered the Demonweb Pits, and smote the Queen of Spiders.

With the Lolthites weakened, Eclavdra was able to win her decades-long war and take rule of the Vault of the Drow for herself.

And the base of power for the fire giants was forevermore broken...

Luckily for King Snurre, his legacy endures.

The fire giant known as Snurreson was sent to apprentice under the tutelage of the efreeti merchant Varachus. By traveling with Varachus across many planes and worlds, Snurreson learned of many different cultures and how powerful trade was over the standard giant methods of raiding and pillage. Even after learning of the death of his father, Snurreson continued traveling with Varachus for several decades, accumulating wishes from his efreeti tutor which he used to enhance his already prodigious strength. (see “Lord of the Iron Fortress”)

When Snurreson felt he was ready to return to the mortal world, he gathered his wife and daughter and returned to the Halls of the Fire Giants. From here, Snurreson set about gathering the scattered tribes and families of fire giants under his banner. Once he had accumulated enough of a following, he was established as King Snurreson Forgebelly.

Snurreson was determined to not follow in the same folly as his father. Having studied the art of trade and mercantilism, Snurreson turned the fire giants into a mighty trade guild faction. Yes, they are still evil, but their cutthroat tactics are used to get the best deals for the best armor and weapons in the world!

When fire giant raids started against the lands of the Sword Coast only a few years after Snurreson established himself, the fire giant king was quick to discover the true culprit of these attacks: his own daughter, Ingrid, who had fallen to the worship of the archdevil Mephistopheles. To prove his innocence, King Snurreson hired a band of adventuring heroes to assault the temple in Hellfire Mountain and eliminate his own daughter, in order to maintain the peace. Snurreson had seen what happened to his father and mother. He was not about to allow all he had accomplished be destroyed due to the actions of a wayward child.

[WRITER'S NOTE: I do not have access to a copy of the 4th edition adventure “Revenge of the Giants” to understand what events might take place or influence the world. However, according to its description online, it is not so much a remake or continuation of the classic G-series adventures. Instead it is an homage. Perhaps someday, I will acquire a copy of the adventure for my collection, and its events will fill an entry in the Common Year 609]

When the Ordning was sundered by the giant deities, the fire giants under King Snurreson did their best to stay out of the ensuing faction wars. The greater threats at this time came from the frost giant Storvald who acquired the Ring of Winter from Artus Cimber in Bryn Shander; and the cloud giant Stratovan who started accumulating the scattered fragments of the Rod of Seven Parts to forge a new Ordning by bending Law itself to his whim. Both were eventually defeated and their plans ruined.

But King Snurreson endures!

Embria Timeline

CY 578. Prompted by the drow Eclavdra Eilservs, giant raids against human lands in the Sword Coast begin.

CY 581. The giant raids end with the deaths of King Snurre and Queen Fruppy in the Hall of the Fire Giants.

CY 586. Heroic adventurers battle the forces of Lolth in the Vault of the Drow. Venturing to the Demonweb Pits, they smite the Queen of Spiders herself.

With the Lolthite forces decimated by the surface worlders and the powers of Lolth's remaining clerics diminished, Eclavdra Eilservs and her allies sweep through the Vault of the Drow and purge the Lolthite houses. Eclavdra is crowned as Queen of the Vault.

CY 603. Snurreson ends his apprenticeship with the efreeti Varachus. Returning to his home plane, Snurreson sets about to unite several scattered tribes of fire giants under his banner, eventually reclaiming the Fire Giant Hall and naming himself King Snurreson Forgebelly.

CY 606. Snurreson's daughter, Ingrid Forgebelly succumbs to the worship of Mephistopheles. She leads a faction of devil-worshiping fire giants to Hellfire Mountain where they establish a temple to the archdevil. (see “Heart of Hellfire Mountain” in Dungeon Magazine #140)

CY 616. Upset by the events of Tiamat's attempted release from the Nine Hells, and the Rage of Demons throughout the Underdark, the deities of the giants sunder the Ordning – the hierarchy of giants' place in the world; the hierarchy upon which storm giants stand. (see “Storm King's Thunder”)

King Snurreson Forgebelly

Huge giant, lawful evil

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Armor Class 18 (Plate)

Hit Points 202 (15d12+90)

Speed 30 ft.

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STR 28 (+9) DEX 11 (+0) CON 23 (+6)

INT 14 (+2) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 14 (+2)

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Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +10, Cha +6

Skills Athletics +13, Intimidation +6, Perception +6, Persuasion +6

Damage Immunities Fire

Damage Resistance cold

Senses Passive Perception 16

Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Giant

Challenge 11 (7,200 XP); Proficiency Bonus +4

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Fiery Majesty. While Snurreson is not bloodied, allies within 30 feet of him have advantage on their melee attack rolls and are immune to fear.

Royal Resolve. Snurreson has advantage on all saving throws against charm and stunning effects.

ACTIONS

Multiattack. Snurreson makes three greatsword attacks.

Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 30 (6d6+9) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) fire damage..

Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, range 60/240 ft., one target. Hit: 31 (4d10+9) bludgeoning damage.