Stormseer

The title of Stormseer is a revered and important one for the Northern Goliath people. Each Goliath tribe that travels the mountains of the Spine of the World and the tundra north of that contains one Stormseer, and one chieftain. Normally, the chieftain of a tribe would have the utmost authority, overseeing everything within the tribe. But in the case of the Stormseer, they rank even higher than a chieftain. However, a Stormseer would never bother intruding within the politics or day to day processes of a tribe due to their true purpose, riding storms.
The Goliath's worship what they call 'True Giants'. Massive creatures composed entirely of raw power that devolved and became the current Goliath and Giant people. Goliaths get their power from the primal elements themselves, believing they are using the True Giants power to exact their will. The greatest of the True Giants was the Storm Giant, a being of raw elemental chaos that manifested as a storm that engulfed the world. Lightning strikes that would engulf a country in flame and thunder that would shatter the eardrums of an entire people. He was also wise and ancient, called the 'Allfather' by the Goliaths, witnessing events unfold from high above where he could be unbiased and learn the most. A Stormseer is a Goliath tribal shaman that is connected to the power of the 'Allfather' and storms, giving them the power to glimpse the future through riding storms.
A shaman that has obtained the rank of Stormseer has also gained primal power. Their eyes are entirely white, showing their true-sight ability gained from the Storm Giant Seers of old. They are able to send out their consciousness into nearby storms, the more powerful the Stormseer the bigger the range. They can manifest their consciousness into a humanoid form that glides on thunderclouds and swings off lightning. They travel the land through storms and are able to see much from high above, even glimpsing the future. A Stormseer can attempt to attach themselves to a future storm, feeling its power brewing. If successful, their consciousness swirls within the storm catching glimpses of the future. For example, a Stormseer may ride a storm high above a battlefield, seeing enemy movements from high above and calling lightning strikes down onto them. Or, if a future mother is worried for their unborn child's wellbeing, they will go to the Stormseer. The Stormseer would brew a storm around the expected birthing and fling their consciousness into the future, jumping from lightning strikes to thunderclouds and looking down on the land to see the outcome of the birth with impeccable vision.

Appointment

There is only one way to earn the title of Stormseer. It cannot be bought, or obtained in any other way. A powerful shaman that wishes to become a Stormseer travels to the tallest mountain and raises their hands to the sky in a guttural prayer to the Storm Giant., pulling the storms power to them. They then must prove themselves worthy of the power, and the title of Stormseer, by getting struck by a bolt of lightning, and using their primal power to absorb it into their body and make the power their own. This is very difficult even for the best shamans, and utmost focus must be maintained throughout the dangerous ritual. If the Stormseer doubts themselves or the storm's power for even a second, the lightning will break loose from their hold and fry their body, instantly killing them. However, if the shaman is successful in taming the power of the storm, they survive the ordeal, covered in burning lightning marks all over their body and their eyes now a milky white. The skin is permanently scarred and they cannot see out of their eyes unless riding a storm, but they are now Stormseers, connected to the Allfather himself. The Stormseer's are constantly holding the immense power of the storm within them and learn to ride storms with it.

Duties

The duties and responsibilities of the Stormseer are to use the power of the storm for the good of the tribe. They use their storm riding capabilities for whatever it would be useful for at the time, trying to be great seers like the Allfather. Stormseer's also act as the religious leaders of the tribe, more in tune with their holy primordial powers than any other. The Stormseer would often hold rituals, bless new-born children and wish dead ones goodbye. They use their connection to the True Giants and the elements to make sure the tribe and the chieftain are doing the right thing, listening to omens and relaying the information to the rest of the tribe. Stormseer's are revered by the Goliaths because of this, and are looked upon as holy.

History

The first Stormseer lived during the times when the Goliath people were new to the world. Long ago, the lost travellers of the lost Human Kingdom now known as the Shattered Isles migrated to Icewind Dale and met the Giants. Over time, a new race emerged as the offspring between the two, the Goliath people. The Goliaths were looked down upon by the other races populating the country at the time, the Gith and Dragons, and were forced to constantly roam different lands, unable to settle anywhere. Soon, the Goliaths were forced to fight to defend themselves, which is when the first Stormseer arose, known only as Stormseer. She was a brawny and heroic Goliath, described in the same way modern Stormseer's are, milky white eyes with a body covered in lightning strike marks. She was a powerful shaman that had actually been hit by lightning on accident, but was so in tune with the storm that she found a way to control it, becoming the first Stormseer. She cut through the tribes enemies, raining power down from mighty storms summoned by her shamanic power, and countered every enemies moves through glimpsing into the future, allowing the Goliaths to cut out a section of land to the north of the continent of Amaron to claim as their own, Icewind Dale. Since then the power of the Stormseer has been passed down through the generations, making sure the tribes are always in touch with the storm and using its wonderful gift. If a tribe does not have a Stormseer, they are considered heretics leaving the path of the True Giants and no longer real Goliaths.

To witness the creation of the Stormseer was beautiful and terrifying. Their connection to the world itself is beautiful, wishing for its protection and cherishing every moment they spend on it. But the raw power a Stormseer commands frankly frightens me. I have made a mental note to never anger a Stormseer, else they summon a hurricane and smite me and everything else around me down with lightning and thunder. A suggestion to whomever is reading this, do the same.

— Historian Aethelward, from 'The Second Peoples of Velaria'

The sacred insignia worn only by a Stormseer. Denotes the eye of the storm, milky white with true-sight.

Type

Magical, Honorific

Form of Address

Great Stormseer...

Alternative Naming

Stormriders

Equates to

To other cultures that revolve around a monarchy, the Stormseer is like the Archbishop. They hold great power and command the connection between their people to their faith, but a King is still in charge. The Stormseer is the Goliath's connection to their faith.

Source of Authority

Power of the Storm

Length of Term

Life

Related Locations

• Amaron