The Stormhold
Stormhold is a region forged by chaos and tempered by necessity. Volcanic peaks loom over the jagged Dragon’s Teeth Mountains, their fiery hearts fueling both creation and destruction. Across the storm-battered waters of the Glass Sea lies the Obsidian Chain, where six volcanic islands rise defiantly, their shores glittering with the black stone that has become the hallmark of this land’s power.
It is not unity that binds Stormhold but an uneasy agreement: the Stormforge Accords, born from a daring proposal by Saltuk Phalantor and tempered in negotiation with the pragmatic Menehune. The Accords were not a promise of peace, but a tool of stability—a framework that would define the rules of conflict and carve order from perpetual strife.
The Birth of the Accords
Saltuk Phalantor was an ambitious leader of the Machai, a people defined by their rigid hierarchy and insatiable hunger for conquest. Gaining a foothold on the largest of the obsidian islands, Saltuk saw an opportunity that others did not. He approached the Menehune, whose mastery of crafting had given them a technological edge even in the face of relentless goblinoid skirmishes. Saltuk offered them a deal: stability in exchange for their skill. In their volcanic forges, the Menehune crafted weapons and armor unlike any seen before, culminating in the creation of Goblin Glass—a material forged deep within the heart of a volcano, its jagged edges a reflection of both violence and artistry.
Saltuk had but a year to prove the worth of his vision. Armed with weapons of unmatched lethality, his army became an unstoppable force, breaking enemies on the battlefield and offering the survivors a choice: swear to the Accords or face annihilation. Goblin Glass, as sharp as ambition and as enduring as Saltuk’s vision, became the prize for loyalty—a symbol that resonated deeply within the goblinoid psyche.
By year’s end, Saltuk had shattered resistance, bringing the islands and their warring factions under the shadow of the Accords. The Menehune, spared the violence that had long plagued them, arrived with more Goblin Glass, and Saltuk’s followers—those who had embraced the Accords—found themselves rewarded. The four smaller islands promised to the Menehune became sanctuaries, while the two largest islands became the foundation of the Stormforged Host’s power.
Goblin Glass and the Stormforged Host
The name "Stormforged Host" does not describe a singular army but a loose collection of militaries, warbands, and naval crews, each bound to the Accords but fiercely independent. Their rivalries continue unabated, but their weapons speak of a shared agreement, forged from Saltuk’s vision and the Menehune’s artistry. Goblin Glass, with its jagged elegance and primal allure, flows only to those who demonstrate loyalty to the Accords and strength in their actions. The balance of power is not spoken of—it is felt in every blade, every shield, and every jagged shard.
The Host’s fleets are as varied as its armies. Ships ply the treacherous waters of the Glass Sea, some hunting prey with the efficiency of mercenaries, others raiding traders with the unrestrained ferocity of pirates. On land, warbands carve out territory in the Dragon’s Teeth Mountains and along the coast, their banners a testament to the ever-shifting allegiances within the Host. The Imperator, perched on the largest of the obsidian islands, wields influence not through domination but through the careful distribution of Goblin Glass and the enforcement of agreements that benefit all—if only just enough.
Peace Bonds and Rituals
The Stormforge Accords dictate the enforcement of peace bonds, agreements that temporarily suspend conflict to preserve order during critical times and in key locations. These bonds are not merely suggestions but binding rules, rooted in the Accords themselves, with severe consequences for those who violate them.
Among the most important peace-bonded locations is the mountain passes to Thrakkaal, essential trade routes that connect Stormhold to the outside world. Thrakkaal itself, a bustling hub of commerce and diplomacy, also remains under a perpetual peace bond, ensuring that its markets and negotiations proceed unimpeded. Here, warriors of the Host can cross paths without drawing weapons, their rivalries momentarily set aside in deference to the Accords.
Equally vital is the annual Vok, a gathering of the warlords and captains of the Stormforged Host, held on the largest island under the Imperator’s domain. The Vok serves as a time to reinforce the Accords, distribute Goblin Glass and other rewards, and negotiate disputes or alliances between factions. For two weeks before and two weeks after the Vok, the peace bond extends to all participants, allowing safe travel and ensuring the proceedings remain undisturbed.
The Vok is not just a meeting but an event, hosted by the Imperator with grandeur and purpose. Feasting and drink accompany the assembly, reminding all who attend of the power and stability the Accords have brought to the Stormhold. Though rivalries burn hot beneath the surface, the peace bond commands restraint, ensuring that the Vok remains a time of unity—or at least a temporary truce—in the fractured landscape of the Host.
The peace bonds, like the Accords themselves, are both practical and fragile. They carve moments of order from the chaos of the Stormhold, their enforcement a testament to the region's tenuous balance of power. Where the bonds hold, the Host finds space to regroup, plan, and reinforce its shared identity, however fractured it may be. Where they are broken, the jagged edges of ambition and rivalry are quick to cut deep.
The Role of the Menehune
The Menehune are more than artisans; they are the unseen architects of Stormhold’s uneasy order. Their volcanic forges produce Goblin Glass, and their skilled hands craft the ships and tools that sustain the Host’s power. It is by their labor that the Accords endure, and they undertake this burden not with resentment but with quiet purpose. For the Menehune, the cost of peace is small compared to the chaos that once consumed their homes.
In their sanctuaries on the smaller islands, the Menehune live as they always have, their culture of celebration and service untouched by the Host’s machinations. They alone possess the secret of Goblin Glass, and in their quiet way, they hold the power to shape the Stormhold’s future.
The Imperator’s Seat
At the center of the Stormhold’s uneasy order stands the Imperator, a role forged by the Stormforge Accords to guide and mediate the disparate factions of the Stormforged Host. Saltuk Phalantor, the first Imperator, oversees the distribution of Goblin Glass, manages relationships with the Menehune, and enforces the agreements that hold the region together. His position is one of balance—rewarding loyalty while ensuring no single faction grows too powerful.
The Imperator’s influence comes into sharp focus during the annual Vok, a gathering of warlords and captains hosted on the largest obsidian island. Here, rival factions meet under a temporary peace bond to reinforce the Accords, settle disputes, and receive rewards for their loyalty and strength. Saltuk presides over the event, ensuring the Host remains strong and united—if only for a time.
Succession remains an unspoken question, as Saltuk’s focus lies on maintaining the stability he has built. For now, his role as mediator and leader ensures the Stormhold remains fractured but functional.
We Break The Waves
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