recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Harshnag

Harshnag was a Frost Giant who is notable for his heroism and good alignment despite his upbringing in a traditionally violent and cold-hearted Frost Giant community. He lived to at least 200 years old and once defended the city of Waterdeep, leading to the city erecting a statue in his honor. He was killed by the Frost Giant Lord, Jarl Storvald, while defending the Eye of the All-Father.

## History

### Memoirs of a Harshnag

According to his book *Memoirs of a Harshnag*, Harshnag was born into a powerful clan of Frost Giants that live in the farthest reaches of the North, in Svardborg in the Sea of Moving Ice. Raised in this community, he learned the cold way of his people; violent and combative, prizing brute strength and physical might above all else. Disputes were often settled in battles to the death, and such a battle ensued when Harshnag and Storvald- another Frost Giant of his clan- had a disagreement that demanded their honor be fought for. Harshnag defeated his opponent but refused to kill him as a matter of principle, which was a choice that sent shockwaves through the clan. He was branded by the Frost Giant Lord as weak and dishonorable, and was thus exiled for his disrespect of the traditions of his people.

Cast away from his tribe, he traveled as a lone Giant ever since. He became a familiar sight throughout the bitter cold lands of Icewind Dale, originally causing fear in the hearts of nearby civilization. He traveled south beyond the wintery lands and came across many travelers, eventually earning notoriety as a friendly Giant, despite his foreboding and menacing appearance. He helped rid vulnerable towns of many threats, sometimes even including other Giants. Nearly one hundred and twenty-five years ago, he defended Waterdeep against a mass of extremists from the cult known as the Kraken Society who had summoned a formidable sea beast in the harborfront that threatened to decimate an enormous part of the city.

Harshnag was also rumoured to have worked alongside adventuring parties from time to time, finding solace in the company of others, although he never stayed with one group for longer than a year at most. He traveled with the Heroes of Red Lances for a time, and with a party of rangers known as the Greyhawks that gave him connections within the Emerald Enclave. As of late, however, the Enclave hasn't been able to get in contact with Harshnag, leading some to believe he was working alongside the Giants against the small folk.

### Bryn Shander

The Heroes of Happenstance, alongside Aoife Roisin and Darx Züks came across Harshnag when defending Bryn Shander from an attack by Frost Giants. After interrogating Nilraun Dhaerlost, the contact of Storvald (now Jarl Storvald, the Frost Giant Lord), the group agreed to accompany Harshnag to the Spine of the World, specifically the Eye of the All-Father.

## Trivia

* Storvald, the fellow Frost Giant that Harshnag fought and refused to kill, eventually climbed the ranks of Frost Giant leadership and became their Lord. He then enacted his revenge for the dishonour by killing H.arshnag
Xolkin Alessandar

Xolkin Alessandar is a Zhentarim operative, and former leader of the Seven Snakes, a mercenary group operating between Waterdeep and Daggerford. His group was forced to dissolve when the majority of them were killed in a failed takeover of Nightstone.

## History

Xolkin had led the Zhentarim mercenary group known as the Seven Snakes for several years, and were known to be a particularly nasty bunch, according to both Petrichor and Thenzin.

When Kella Darkhope infiltrated Nightstone, she summoned him and the Snakes to help outnumber the few remaining survivors and the party. When things got threatening and violent, he and his crew fought for control of the city. When all seemed lost, he and Kella fled to the watchtowers at the town's gate, and while he managed to escape within an inch of his life, Kella was killed and her body fell in the river, much to Xolkin's dismay.

## Trivia

* Xolkin spoke with an accent reminiscent of a charming southern drawl
* He was madly in love with fellow Zhentarim member Kella Darkhope
	+ She, however, did not reciprocate those feelings, and he knew it, though he willingly let her exploit his affections
* His penis is canonically tiny, according to God
Zedd

Zedd was an eagle-like aarakocra of the legendary Heroes of Red Lances, and a legendarily devout paladin of Helm. He lived a particularly long life for aarakocra; according to a book written by fellow hero Sebastian Cedrick Atlandra, Zedd lived to nearly forty years of age, nearly ten years past the oldest life expectancy of his people.

## History

Zedd was a paladin of Helm and renowned for his loyalty and devotion. According to Sebastian's book, "He was the most virtuous of us all by far; no fewer flaws in character have I ever seen than in Zedd." After the Heroes of Red Lances disbanded three years after Anzin Underbough's reported death, the remaining party members only came together once more at Zedd's funeral, in honor of their companion.
Zymorven Hall

Zymorven Hall is the ancestral keep of Lord Harthos Zymorven, located a few days travel west of Silverymoon. It is a large and sprawling estate but, while pretty at first glance, a more analytical glance shows wear and disrepair on the property itself, indicating that care for the estate has not been without its major oversights. The guards also appeared surprised by company arriving, indicating the place does not often host guests.

## History

Bean, Scrap, and Impression traveled to Zymorven Hall in search of Harthos' Giant Slayer Greatsword, at Urgala Meltimer's suggestion. They were greeted by guards Karl and Carl, who were seemingly not used to company arriving, but escorted them to Lord Zymorven nonetheless. Lord Zymorven sent the group after his missing son in Yartar, asking his personal mage, Qarl, to teleport them to the Waterbaron's Hall in Yartar.

## Trivia

* Zymorven Hall is considered akin to Glendon, in that it is pretty at first glance but severely under-cared for
Mirabar

Mirabar is a vast, populous and wealthy city, primarily home to human and dwarven populations, and is the nation's largest supplier of metals and gemstones. It is part of the Lord's Alliance. Unknown to many visitors, the city extends underground as well, and connects to a set of mines whose expanses reach below and beyond the city, with some areas stretching near the Spine of the World. The city is led by the marchion who handles diplomatic responsibilities, as well as the elected Council of Sparkling Stones, who deal in all manners pertaining to trade and security. The current marchion is Selin Ramur.

## History

The Heroes of Happenstance arrived in Mirabar after trekking out of the Eye of the All-Father, having been assigned the duty of tracking down ancient Giant relics at the behest of Harshnag. After resting in a tavern called The Accidental Corn, a misunderstanding lead to Aoife threatening a patron- later revealed to be Blimey- with a knife, thinking he was trying to lay a trap for them. He tried to regain their trust by guiding them around the city, but failed to find the library that Impression requested until they found an information kiosk. After a short interlude at the local Colossal Obster's Lobbed Lobsters, the group decided to find the Harper operative Zazspar Bronzefire. On their way, they found themselves face-to-face with Lord Delphize, who handed Impression a set of letters addressed to her, and also offering the group access to his airship for their long journey ahead.

The group agreed to take Lord Delphize up on their offer, making a final pitstop at Zazspar's residence. Zazspar revealed himself to be the keeper of Mirabar's circle in the Harper Teleportation Network, and also helped identify Aoife's Opal of the Ild Rune and Impression's Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location. He informed the group that only Krowen Valharrow, the keeper of the Everlund circle in the Teleportation Network, would be able to get the newest members of the Heroes of Happenstance access to the Network. The group then left in Lord Delphize's airship, destined for Everlund once more.

## Trivia

* Once of Mirabar's information booths is run by a particularly bored teenage human named Bam-Bam
* In the Foolish Yam, a particularly raucous pub, a dwarvish tavern brawler known as Esmerelda is a local hero and burly fighter
	+ Scrap challenged her to a fight, winning 200 gold in the process (as well as a particularly freaky time with Esmerelda afterwards)
Chief Guh

Chief Guh was the Lord of the Hill Giants- one of the six Giant Lords- when the ordning shattered. In her hopes to impress the gods and elevate herself to the top of the Giant hierarchy, she planned to devour so much that she became the largest Giant the world had ever seen. She was killed by the Heroes of Happenstance in her lair in Grudd Haug.

## History

Under Chief Guh's instruction, the Hill Giant husbands she had claimed from lesser Hill Giant wives claimed whatever food they could get their hands on- crops, livestock, even people- and return them to her to eat. She grew to incredible size this way, but grew so large she was no longer able to move of her own accord, and relied on her underlings to defend her against trespassers. As Hill Giants respect size above all else, however, they and other creatures under her would (and did) fight to the death on her behalf.
Lady Laeral Silverhand

Lady Laeral Silverhand is the current Open Lord of Waterdeep, and one of the Lords of the Lord's Alliance.

## History

The party first heard word of Lady Silverhand upon encountering Torzak Cragshield while traveling in Zephyros' tower. Torzak and other members of the Lord's Alliance, in addition to the dragon Felgolos, were defending the land below on behalf of King Battlehammer and Lady Laeral Silverhand, the Open Lord of Waterdeep with whom King Battlehammer had formed an deal. He had sent some of his own troops to Lady Silverhand for a time to defend the lands near Waterdeep as the city's own defenses were too thin to be relied upon, and Giant attacks had been reported in nearby settlements.

## Trivia

* Torzak believes she will be able to help fund the Zhentarim's suppliers, as she owes King Bruenor a favour
Aoife Roisin

Aoife Roisin (*EE-fah roh-SHEEN*) is an earth genasi rogue and Summerstrider of the Emerald Enclave in the area surrounding Waterdeep. She is stationed in Ten Towns by request of Elder Helera of the Enclave, following words of numerous Frost Giant attacks in the region. She is an ally of the Heroes of Happenstance, having fought alongside them in the Far Northern settlement of Bryn Shander and decided to join them and Harshnag on their journey to the Eye of the All-Father.

## History

She and Evendur were the messengers sent to Bean to ask for her help finding Mesmer Brightgarden. Later on, she and her sister Eithne were sent to Icewind Dale and are currently stationed at Bryn Shander at the request of the Enclave's Elder Helera.

When the party arrived in Bryn Shander pursuing a lead about the Frost Giants and ex-Zhentarim operative Nilraun Dhaerlost- rumoured ally of the Frost Giant Lord, Jarl Storvald- they found themselves in the middle of an attack and defended the town. Aoife arrived in time to help the defense efforts, acting as a powerful and stealthy ranged combatant that turned the tide of battle. She then interrogated the captured Nilraun alongside the Heroes of Happenstance and the mercenary Darx Züks.

## Trivia

* Aoife was one of the first guest PCs of the campaign, being playing by Robin
The Seven Snakes

The Seven Snakes were a mercenary group within the Zhentarim, specifically located in and operating around the Waterdeep area. They were led by Xolkin Alessandar.

## History

According to Petrichor, the Seven Snakes were a particularly nasty mercenary group operating largely in the area between Waterdeep and Daggerford, and then spreading east. They had been around for several years and, well-established and feared by the common people. Strategically, Xolkin was charismatic and diplomatic, often able to talk people into what he wanted, and when that didn't work, the rest of the Snakes would be responsible for any violence that followed. This happened during their encounter with the Heroes of Happenstance in Nightstone, where the majority of the Snakes met their ends at the hands of the party and Petra.

## Notable Members

* Xolkin Alessandar
	+ Xolkin was the leader of the Seven Snakes since its inception, and was madly in love with Zhentarim spy Kella Darkhope.
* Saltines Jeff
	+ Saltines Jeff was the lowliest member of the group, often sent to perform the more boring and unappealing tasks. He has a fear of deep water, rivers in particular. He is gentle at heart, and just got in with the wrong crowd. He now is located in Nightstone.
Harper Teleportation Network

The Harper Teleportation Network is a secret network of teleportation circles connecting six cities across the North: Everlund, Neverwinter, Mirabar, Yartar, Waterdeep, and Loudwater. Usually, the network is reserved for Harper use only, with few exceptions. In order to be able to withstand the vast protective magics and wards on the teleportation network, users must subject themselves to the trial of the Lineage Orb, and allow themselves to be branded with an arcane sigil after the ordeal.

## History

The Heroes of Happenstance were granted permission to access to the teleportation circle by the recommendation of Darathra Shendrel after the Siege of Triboar. While she was bound by oath and magic to not explain the details, she sent the group to Everlund and told them to meet with the barkeep Dral Thelev, and follow very precise instructions. While Impression, Scrap and Bean all managed to follow the instructions, Silix- having left to be on his own for a while- was not able to enter without his friends, and a misunderstanding led to attempted arson, and his arrest. The rest of the party was able to stage a prison break, but alerted the guards to their intent and were pursued to Moongleam Tower. While the guardian of the tower, Krowen Valharrow, was able to help the group get rid of the guard captain, their actions led to the party being forced to flee via the teleportation network, as they were now considered dangerous criminals.

Krowen subjected each of the four to the trial of the Lineage Orb, and they each passed. They fled to Neverwinter, forced to leave three of their mounts behind- Raya Sunshine, Hooves, and Alanis Mare-issette.

## Attendants

At each city's teleportation circle, a member of the Harpers keeps watch from within a hideout, to both activate the circles for users who need it and to ensure that no one has gained access to the teleportation network through nefarious means.

* **Everlund**: Krowen Valharrow, anarcho-socialist wizard and guardian of Moongleam Tower, and the only one able to brand new users to the teleportation network
* **Neverwinter**: Sandyse Thunderquill, a bookish young wizard whose magical ability is much more adept than her social skills
* **Mirabar**: Zazspar Bronzefire, a personable and helpful dwarven wizard disguised as a stablehand to keep Mirabar's authorities unaware of the teleportation circle's presence
* **Yartar**: Attendant unknown
* **Waterdeep**: Attendant unknown
* **Loudwater**: Attendant unknown
Impression

Impression is a member of the Heroes of Happenstance. She is an Oath of the Ancients Paladin. Her steed is a celestial warhorse named Dauphin.

## Early Life

Impression grew up on the streets of Baldur's Gate relying on odd jobs to survive. When she was thirteen she would sometimes deliver letters to researchers at The Great Library. The researcher, Oscar Torim N'iyhs, took notice of her interest in learning and took her under his care, inviting her to join his research team at the library. She stayed and joined the library as a researcher where she specialized in religion and languages. Eventually, through her love of religious studies, she discovered Paladins and resonated with them. She began training as a Paladin despite subscribing to all gods and not just one or a few.

At 23, she received a cryptic letter from Oscar, who was on an extended archeological trip, along with a white pearl. A few days after receiving the pearl it turned black, signifying his death. This inspired her to set off in search for answers surrounding his death.

## Heroes of Happenstance

About two months after leaving Baldur's Gate in search for her mentor she arrived in Waterdeep where she met Silix Adoel-Mihr, Bean, and Giddy Scrapcarver. The strangers discovered that they were heading in similar directions for similar reasons so decided to stick together for the time being- though they eventually chose to stick together out of a sense of kinship and duty to the world.

### Nightstone

In Nightstone Impression died but was somehow was revived. When she awoke, her brown hair had become white and a large gash appeared in her left hand. Embedded in the gash was Oscar's black pearl which she had been clutching as she died.

## Trivia

* Kobo seemed to smell some kind of draconic presence, energy or blood on Impression and reacted similarly to Silix, despite Impression not having any draconic ancestry
* She may have a small crush on Grin
* Before the adventure, Impression worked in the Great Library of Baldur's Gate
	+ Her mentor, Oscar, died under mysterious circumstances, prompting Impression to adventure to investigate
Ghelryn Foehammer

Ghelryn Foehammer is an old dwarven blacksmith who resides in Triboar, and owner of Foehammer's Forge, making fine metalworks, armors and weapons. He helped defend the city against Fire Giants in the Siege of Triboar.

## History

Upon arriving in Triboar, Impression went searching for someone who could teach her how to blacksmith so that she could repair a glaive taken from an enemy on their journey. Ghelryn was skeptical and sour, but told Impression that, if she could find a way to fix it without his equipment, he would give her a few lessons. She completed this task and returned for a lesson with Ghelryn, who then came with them to meet the Lord's Alliance members.

Following the Siege of Triboar, Ghelryn worked alongside the townsfolk to start the process of rebuilding and acquiring resources for such a task. He also asked Impression to deliver a correspondence to King Bruenor Battlehammer in Gauntlgrym.

## Trivia

* Ghelryn is looking for a new apprentice blacksmith, but hasn't yet found one that meets his exacting standards
* Torzak Cragshield and the other dwarves of the Lord's Alliance from Gauntlgrym, seem to know Ghelryn, and refer to him as "Your Lordship"
	+ Ghelryn does not seem to like this title, and claims that "that time and place is far behind me"
	+ Later, at the end of the Triboar meeting, it is implied by Darathra Shendrel that Ghelryn knows King Bruenor Battlehammer.
* Bean's forced smile is displeasing to him
* He gifted Impression with a mithral half-plate engraved with the symbol of Gauntlgrym, to use "until those arms of [hers] get a little more practice in", referencing her notably lower strength.
* Impression's drawing is hung up right by his workbench and temporary bed
* He wears a holy symbol of Gond, tucked on a leather cord under his clothes, despite admitting to not being much of a religious man
Kaelen Sarssir

Kaelen Sarssir is a half-elf man from Triboar and former owner of The Talking Troll, a beaten-up bar that was destroyed in the Siege of Triboar. He aspires to be involved in performance and own a theatre one day, although believes he'll never be able to afford to achieve that dream. He has a particularly soft spot for Silix, with whom he has had a few romantic interactions.
Giddy ScrapCarver

Giddy "Scrap" ScrapCarver is a member of the Heroes of Happenstance. He is a Champion fighter.

## History

Scrap was born in a small halfling village in the far south of the land, in Tejarn Hills. It was a small, unremarkable and self-reliant place that few- if any- outsiders would ever have heard of. The village was a very tight-knit community, with all the adults collaborating to raise all the children, and full of artisans. Scrap's own parents are both woodcarvers who make both furniture and art.

Life up in such a place was not the dream rambunctious and adventure-hungry Scrap, who dreamed of the world beyond. At once point, a woman passed through and talked of all the things people could get up to on adventures, and Scrap, knowing in their heart that they had to go, badgered her with questions. She talked about people she knew from different classes and Scrap was naturally drawn to fighter. As soon as he was old enough for the village folk to resign to it, he left and wandered into the nearest city to find a fighting club that would help him train and become a fighter. Scrap moved around from city to city and town to town, training in various clubs and joining various organizations but never sticking with any one for long. They worked their way up the edge of the Sword Coast, eventually finding themself in Waterdeep. Here, they got involved with the Zhentarim to work odd jobs and make some money. While in Waterdeep, he fortuitously encountered Silix, Bean and Impression and began traveling with them.

## Trivia

* Scrap looks remarkably like the fallen hero Underbough from the Heroes of Red Lances.
* Despite not being the least bit interested in literature, Silix convinced Scrap to check out a book left to him by Zephyros, which Scrap became fascinated with and read through remarkably quickly.
* Scrap's grandfather Anzin was an outsider who was found unconscious and injured by the halflings of Scrap's village. When he awoke, he had no memory, but joined the village and started a family.
	+ For as long as Scrap has known him, he's been the town crazy, constantly saying things that don't make sense
* Beaker is his family's messenger pigeon
Neverwinter

Neverwinter is a large and populous city on the Sword Coast, also called the Jewel of the North and the City of Skilled Hands. It is part of the Lords' Alliance, and is led by the former Open Lord of Waterdeep, Lord Protector Dagult Neverember, who has a very tense relationship with the current Open Lord of Waterdeep, Lady Laeral Silverhand. There is also a very strong presence of the Order of the Gauntlet in this city.

As Neverwinter's name suggests, the city is surprisingly temperate despite how far north it is situated; this is a result of the nearby volcano, the dormant Mount Hotenow, warming the nearby area and notably the water supply as well, allowing for pleasant springtime temperature throughout the year. While the city is beautiful, boasting abundant flower gardens and artful architecture, a large chunk of it remains heavily damaged, and a large rift in the earth in the southeastern part of the city is a mark of the city's past.

## History

The Heroes of Happenstance first arrived in Neverwinter by use of the Harper Teleportation Network, forced to flee their former destination of Everlund as wanted criminals. They arrived at a Harper hideout in the largely abandoned, damaged part of the city, an old home watched over by the incredibly awkward but well-meaning young Harper wizard Sandyse Thunderquill.

While in town, the party spent a notable amount of time in Neverwinter's library; Impression looked into trying to track her former mentor's path before he disappeared, and Bean went in search of information pertaining to the vision she experienced when subjected to the Lineage Orb.

While in Neverwinter, Scrap had a strange experience, seeing a mysterious cloaked figure in the crowd, with bluish skin and shoulder-length green hair. Upon approaching the figure, however, they disappeared, leaving the group to wonder if they had really seen anything at all.

## Trivia

* Bean got the party kicked out of Neverwinter's library after asking the librarian if he had any books about baby sacrifices.
Philburriee Green

Philburriee Green is a young and gangly half-elf who owns and works in a small library near the docks in the populous city of Waterdeep. He lent Impression his copy of *Memoirs of a Harshnag*, which was written by a Frost Giant hero of the city.

## Personality

Philburriee is geeky, awkward and easily frightened. He doesn't share the same bigotry towards tieflings that many city folks have, having taken a liking to Impression when she first arrived and asked to do some research.

## History

First encountered in his independent library by Impression on a research trip, Philburriee helpfully provided her direction towards a section of literature focused on Giants. When the party returned to Waterdeep, he encountered the group while closing up shop to go on a trip with his family, but not before being utterly spooked by the group's menacing appearance (much to Impression's regret). He lent Impression a copy of *Memoirs of a Harshnag*, trusting that she wouldn't get the book too damaged or bloodstained on her journey, before running off into the city at a surprising speed.
Bean

Bean is a member of the Heroes of Happenstance. They are a Circle of the Land Druid.

## Past

As her village burned down, her mother simply told her to run - so she did. She was just a tiny child, but she went into the forest she'd played in and ran until she couldn't anymore. Something told her that the woods wouldn't protect her forever, but she wasn't afraid. In the morning, she was found by a human druid out foraging. She brought her back to the small druid settlement and raised her alongside her biological children. She was raised as a druid in the Old Faith, and was raised to love and revere nature. "Nature is our mother. She will always provide for us, and we will help us in return," her mother would say. The druids in the encampment strayed too far from home, making use of the resources around them and always replenishing what they take.

Bean never saw nature the way her community did. She saw nature not as a gentle mother, but a quarrelsome sister. Sometimes you fight, and sometimes you have different goals, but when you give and take and work together, you can experience the world as it was meant to be. After 12 years with the druids, she made the difficult decision to leave her community to be with nature the way she wanted to.

After a few months away from home, she began to feel like she was wandering aimlessly. That is, until she encountered another young druid in the woods. She was hesitant to speak to him, but he was rather charming. He told her excitedly about a group he was associated with known as the Emerald Enclave, who work to maintain the balance between civilization and nature, and she knew she had to be a part of it. They travelled together to meet the Elders, who assigned her the task of leading parties through the wilderness to ensure that Nature did not harm them and that they did no harm in return. She loves what she does and her relationship with nature grows stronger every day as she understands it more and more, but she longs for a real adventure, and maybe a group of friends that will stick around - a family.

## Personality

Bean is, upon first impression, very withdrawn and serious. They can be very awkward and uncharismatic, which can put others off. When they are more comfortable, they'll express exasperation and joy more freely.

Their first instinct is to do things on their own, but after a discussion with Impression about being a family, they start seeing situations as something that the party must face together.

## Trivia

* Doesn't know how to smile, and is very self-conscious about it
* Doesn't particularly like art, but appreciates pretty things
* Softly panromantic, raging ace
* Isn't opposed to the concept of being perceived as a woman, but doesn't feel particularly connected to it
* Loves Tressymé, so much
* Has a riding horse named Alanis Mare-issette
* Bean has a strange comprehension of bits and pieces of the mysterious language spoken by the Uthgardt, despite never having encountered them before
Lady Atalia

Lady Atalia, also known as The Lady in Violet, is a human woman in Yartar who worked under Oosith and helped kidnap noblemen, before she fled the city at the behest of some heroes who infiltrated Oosith's lair.

## Background

While in Yartar in search of Harthal Zymorven, the missing son of Lord Harthos Zymorven, Impression, Bean, and Scrap met with Waterbaron Nestra Ruthiol, who mentioned that Harthal was last heard from while following a lead on "The Lady in Violet". Deciding to follow this lead on the Grand Dame, Impression found Lady Atalia on the boat playing sava with other nobles, and began to chat. After Impresssion introduced her to Scrap and Bean, and they let loose that they were investigating some missing people, Lady Atalia spoke to them in their minds asking them to meet her somewhere private to talk.

After the Grand Dame docked for the night, she met with the three heroes in a back alley and told them that she was involved in their kidnapping, but that it was against her will; she said that she had been threatened by a man named Oosith to do his bidding. She explained that she would seduce young noblemen and then lure them into the sewers to be delivered to Oosith, after which she didn't know what happened to them. Scrap gave her the key to their inn room and told Lady Atalia to hide.

After the group escaped Oosith, they found Lady Atalia and told her to flee the city, as the aboleth was still at large.

## Trivia

* Curiously, Bean briefly noticed part of a tentacle tattooed on Lady Atalia's arm.
The Plague That Sweeps the Nation

Giliensharr, known also by as The Envenomed Lord and The Plague That Sweeps the Nation, is an ancient green dragon and the final one of the Children of Tiamat. While her exact location is unknown, the Heroes of Happenstance once fought a fragment of her essence that was lodged inside the mind of Blimey Semifold.

## History

Blimey Semifold first encountered The Plague That Sweeps the Nation in a noxious bog filled with the bones of the dead when he himself was also beaten to near death. Within her lair, he was nearly claimed by her before being swept away to the safety of the Faewild by Midna. While Blimey escaped from this experience with his life, the ancient green dragon managed to mark him in some capacity, cursing him in some capacity.

Much later, while in the High Forest, the druid Wynona tapped into ancient primal magics, channelling a dangerously temperamental power to bring Blimey into a deep sleep and awaken in the Labyrinth within his own mind. When the majority of the Heroes of Happenstance fell into a magical slumber caused by the inherent and potent magic of the spell's materials, Silix was able to connect the Heroes to Blimey's psyche, and they appeared within the labyrinth of his mind. While in this strange place, the party found themselves in battle with a fraction of Giliensharr's power, an avatar that took the form of a terrible necrotic dragon made of rotting flesh and sickening green flames, and who repeated her vile curse. Upon the dragon's defeat and the party's return to the world of reality, Blimey found an artifact that Impression identified as a *Gilienshard* a physical manifestation of the Envenomed Lord's influence and a tracker of sorts. Having been defeated, the *Gilienshard* was no longer active.

## Curse

Giliensharr seemed to have marked Blimey with a curse that caused the *Gilienshard* to live within him for as long as it did:

*Left for dead in blighted mud*

*Breathe in deep the poison spore*

*Drink a drop of dragon’s blood*

*So she may keep you from death’s door*

*Answer Giliensharr’s call*

*Serve her, The Envenomed Lord,*

*And in exchange, become her thrall,*

*A trinket in her toxic hoard*

*Should you escape her noxious fume*

*Miasma sinks beneath your skin*

*She plants in you a poisoned bloom*

*A fragment of her lives within*
Bryn Shander

Bryn Shander is the largest of ten settlements that make up the collective region known as Ten Towns (alternately, Ten-Towns). It is the most prominent trading community of the Far North, and merchants from cities like Mirabar and Luskan will brave the nearly inhospitable region to trade their wares for Far Northern delicacies and specialty wares. It is surrounded on all sides by a towering, 30-foot wall to keep out the elements and wild winter threats, such as winter wolves.

## History

Towards the beginning of the party's journey, Bean received word from an elder of the Emerald Enclave that Frost Giants had been ravaging Ten Towns and the surrounding areas for unknown reasons. As a result, fellow Enclave member Aoife Roisin and her sister Eithne were sent to Bryn Shander to help the locals protect themselves and to investigate potential reasons for the attacks.

During the Triboar Meeting, Thenzin Ilystryph revealed that Nilraun Dhaerlost- Scrap's former Zhentarim contact in Waterdeep- had gone rogue and disappeared up north, and was believed to have struck a deal with the Lord of the Frost Giants, Jarl Storvald. Bean then informed Aoife by letter that Nilraun may be in the area of Ten Towns and could be involved with the Giant attacks.

Aoife later informed Bean of stranger happenings regarding the attacks near Bryn Shander, stating that the Frost Giants were growing bolder and attacking full settlements instead of just travelers. They would take people out into the cold, with victims' bodies being found days later with their items strewn about a distance away. Only one person managed to survive such an ordeal, an only within an inch of her life. Aoife reported that the only information they could get out of the survivor was the name "Artus Cimber".

When the Heroes of Happenstance arrived in Bryn Shander themselves to investigate, they came across Nilraun in a crowded street full of merchants; they chased and cornered him by a locked city gate, just as the city fell under siege by Frost Giants, demanding Artus Cimber.
The Thousand-Year-War

The Thousand-Year-War was a conflict from several thousands of years ago that took place between giantkind and the dragons in the Giant empire of Ostoria. Many conflicting accounts exist of this war, leading to uncertainty as to the actual events that transpired, and what caused the war itself to end.

## History

Tens of thousands of years ago, when the Giant nation and empire of Ostoria was at its most powerful, the dragon god Garyx launched an attack on the giants and provoked the Thousand Year War, an ancient conflict that devastated large swaths of the land and took countless lives on either side. The war ended in a truce; although, accounts of the nature of the truce were conflicting because many races recounted the event differently:

According to dwarven historians, the dragons wanted to end the war with the giants because they were fighting in a violent civil war that led to the separation of the chromatic and metallic species.

According to giant traditions, Annam the All-Father and Garyx settled the war by playing a game of *wah-ree* that ended in a stalemate.

A third account stated that the war ended as a result of a curse that struck the evil dragon goddess Tiamat after she slew an unknown giant deity, dooming her to imprisonment in Avernus- the first layer of the Nine Hells- whereupon she was only able to leave if summoned by a powerful ritual.

Regardless of the reason for the truce, however, the nation of Ostoria had been reduced to a shadow of its former glory in the aftermath, with what remained of the kingdom lying in the far North. While this fragment of Ostoria lasted for several thousand more years, it eventually was entirely dissolved.
Harthos Zymorven

Harthos Zymorven is the Lord of Zymorven Hall, as well as a former adventurer, having been in a party with Urgala Meltimer and her wife many years ago.

## History

While in Triboar, the Heroes of Happenstance learned from Urgala that her former adventuring companion, Harthos Zymorven, owned a Giant Slayer Greatsword, and would likely give it to the party at her request. Several months later, Bean, Impression, and Scrap traveled to Zymorven Hall to ask him for the sword; Harthos explained that, while he would be happy to honour his old friend's request, the greatsword was not currently in his possession, having been lent to his son, Harthal. Not only this, but Harthal had traveled to Yartar at the request of a close family friend, Waterbaron Nestra Ruthiol, to investigate some mysterious disappearances, only to go missing himself. Harthos implored the three members of the party to find out what happened to his son and track him down, which the party agreed to; he then authorized their direct teleportation to the Waterbaron's Hall in Yartar.

## Trivia

* Harthos, upon hearing the Heroes of Happenstance's name, recognized the name from correspondence with Urgala
* His former mage went missing and never returned, which led to him hiring his step-mage, Qarl
* His Giant-Slayer Greatsword is named *Rhaunaguth*
Thenzin Ilystryph

Thenzin Ilystryph is a drow rogue and member of the Zhentarim, chosen as a representative for the meeting in Triboar. He also helped defend the city against Fire Giants in the Siege of Triboar. He is secretive, defensive, and somewhat confrontational, although ultimately has his heart in the right place.

## History

Thenzin was first encountered when Silix overheard him talking to Lyra Mintheldyn in the Northshield House about the possibility of the rogue Zhentarim operative Nilraun being involved with an alliance with Jarl Storvald of the Frost Giants. After this, he encountered the rest of the party publicly, and immediately seemed antagonistic towards Scrap in particular.

Not long before the meeting in Triboar began, he and Torzak Cragshield had a confrontation, with Torzak believing that Thenzin's kind was untrustworthy, although Bean's insight seemed to imply that Torzak's distrust sprung from more than just Thenzin's drow heritage in general. Bean stealthily listened into their conversation while transformed into a spider, and saw Thenzin show his adversary something on his chest, which seemed to convince Torzak of his ability to be trusted. When questioned as to what he was doing "so far east", Thenzin replied that it was to get away from people like Torzak.

## The Triboar Meeting

At the Triboar Meeting, Thenzin was able to provide the following information:

* Nilraun cut ties with the Zhentarim and stole some artifacts before disappearing, and had formed an alliance with the Lord of the Frost Giants, Jarl Storvald
	+ Furthermore, none of the other Zhentarim members in Waterdeep are working with him
* It is possible that Nilraun is currently in Icewind Dale, in line with the increase in attacks in the area

At the end of the meeting, Thenzin is delegated with the following tasks: returning to Yartar to speak with his superiors about the acquisition of weaponry and supplies; speaking to Lord Nestra Ruthiol of Yartar about the possibility of assisting with funding of said supplies; accompanying Lyra to Silverymoon and Everlund to begin establishing the Zhentarim’s network of suppliers near the Harper’s teleportation points, to spread out the zone of defense

## Trivia

* Despite being a Zhentarim from a different area, he seemed to know Lyra from before the Triboar meeting
	+ According to Silix's insight, they may have some sort of secret relationship; at the very least, they fuck on the DL
* He has a strange raised welt on his chest in an unnatural shape
	+ This was revealed to be the Mark of the Ilystryph that sets him and his family apart from other drow
* Torzak Cragshield appears particularly distrustful of him for an unknown reason
	+ Once Thenzin revealed his mark to Torzak, the dwarf called him "one of Umbros's kind", and believed him to be less of a threat
Uthgardt

The Uthgardt are a collection of nomadic barbarian tribes that lay claim to much of the territory on the northern half of the continent. There are 12 known tribes scattered throughout the North, most of whom have an attitude that is largely opposed to magic, with the exception of each tribe's shamans, who are feared and respected by their tribes for their power. Some tribes are incredibly reclusive; others are violent and known to launch unprovoked attacks on travelers. All have a unique and rich set of traditions that span centuries.

## History

The party first encountered Uthgardt tribespeople of an unknown tribal affiliation while entering the long-lost Giant temple known as the Eye of the All-Father with Harshnag, located in the Far North and hidden away deep in the Spine of the World. They fought the party to the death at the temple's entrance, and left behind nothing but a mysterious amulet that Impression found on the chief's body.

## Tribes

There are 12 known Uthgardt Tribes:

* The Grey Wolf Tribe
* The Black Raven Tribe
* The Griffon Tribe
* The Elk Tribe
* The Tree Ghost Tribe
* The Great Worm Tribe
* The Thunderbeast Tribe
* The Red Tiger Tribe
* The Black Lion Tribe
* The Sky Pony Tribe
* The Reghead Tribe
* The Blue Bear Tribe
	+ This tribe, long thought to be extinct, could potentially still be active, according to information gathered by the Harpers. If so, they could also be allied with Thane Kayalithica and the Stone Giants.

## Trivia

* As of yet, the language spoken by the Uthgardt is unknown to the group, as they do not seem speak any of the languages spoken by the party
	+ Despite this, however, Bean discovered some bizarre comprehension of certain words the Uthgardt spoke, and noticed some strange similarities to their dialect of Druidic
Spine of the World

The Spine of the World is the name for the vast mountain range spanning across the Far North. It is notoriously dangerous and unforgiving- very few people dare to travel there, and fewer still return alive.

## History

The Heroes of Happenstance, alongside the famed Frost Giant hero, Harshnag, braved the mountains in search of the Eye of the All-Father, an ancient Ostorian temple of Giants. The only other life they have since found were a group of Uthgardt from an unknown tribe.

## Trivia

* A mysterious entity claiming to be the progenitor of Silix's bloodline claims to have been sealed in the Spine of the World eons ago
	+ This being, the One Who Wakes the Winter, was revealed by Harshnag to be a white dragon
Saltines Jeff

Saltines Jeff is a former Zhentarim member who retired and became a resident of Nightstone. He has opened up a postal office in the town called Best Impressions Post Office, named after Impression. He was formerly a member of the Seven Snakes, under Xolkin Alessandar.

## History

The Heroes of Happenstance first encountered Saltines Jeff as a member of the Seven Snakes, who had come to take over the town of Nightstone as a base of operations after it had been hit by a Cloud Giant attack. The Heroes of Happenstance attempted to reason with Xolkin Alessandar, leader of the Snakes, and Kella Darkhope, their ally, but to no avail. Fighting broke out, and The Heroes of Happenstance, as well as their ally, Petra, took down the Seven Snakes and defended the town. Saltines Jeff nearly died in the battle, but truthfully just seemed to be a guy in with the wrong crowd, and was happy to promise not to cause any trouble, so long as the party promised not to "throw him in the river".

While the party went to follow the trail of Nightstone's missing townsfolk, Saltines Jeff helped the only surviving guard, Torem Breck, find and bury the bodies of the villagers who died in the Cloud Giant attack. Later, he integrated himself into the town and became a resident himself, opening up a post office called the Best Impressions Postal Service, named after Impression of the Heroes of Happenstance.

## Trivia

* It is unclear if Saltines Jeff is a nickname, or if his first name is, in fact, Saltines
* His worst fear is of getting thrown into the river
* Some time after the party left Nightstone, a letter to Impression from Grin implied that Torem and Saltines Jeff had been growing much closer to one another
	+ Gay??????
* He never learned how to read growing up, and so Torem has been teaching him in their free time
Kella Darkhope

Kella Darkhope was a Zhentarim spy sent by the Waterdeep chapter to Nightstone so that she could scope it out as a potential base of operations.

## In Nightstone

### Before the Giant Attack

Kella had been in Nightstone for about a week prior to the Giant attack, in disguise as a travelling monk named Lucretia. During this time, she stayed as a guest in Nightstone's inn, and spent her days taking stock of the town and its people. She suspected that one of the guards was onto her and believed she was hiding something, so she decided to stay low and delay sending her flying snake as communication back to Donovan in Waterdeep.

In addition to this, Kella was keeping tabs on the Emerald Enclave contact Mesmer Brightgarden, seeing them as a potential threat to the Zhentarim's plans. Planning to eventually dispose of them but needing to stay under the radar for the time being, Kella had her flying snake keep guard at the Brightgarden residence and intercept any outgoing and incoming communications in the meantime.

### After the Giant Attack

After the Giant attack, Kella managed to survive by holing up in the inn, with a crossbow to defend herself. Her pet snake's wing was injured, however, and needed a few days to recover before she could send for help. Upon seeing the arrival of newcomers into town, she stayed in hiding until she was discovered by the party and introduced herself by her alias, Lucinda. Scrap discovered her ruse, however, and uncovered her true identity, explaining that Donovan had sent them to find her. She then sent her pet, healed from the few days rest, to inform the Seven Snakes that the time had come for them to arrive in Nightstone.

Kella refused to go to the keep with the guards, and Bean instead kept watch over her in the square. When the Seven Snakes arrived, she offered the party an ultimatum- die, or let the guards die. The party convinced her to let the guards leave instead, but Kella caught onto a trap that Silix attempted to set, and locked them in the town.

When Petrichor struck the Snakes on behalf of the party, combat erupted in the town. When it was clear that Kella was outmatched, she attempted to flee with Xolkin Alessandar, but was killed trying to lower the bridge and fell into the river below.
Yartar

Yartar is a bustling and fortified city standing on the bank of the Dessarin River, a day or two's travel east of Triboar. The west gate has a security checkpoint, and visitors are checked by guards prior to being allowed entry to the city. It is quite a sizable settlement; significantly larger than Triboar and important enough to be a part of the Lord's Alliance, although smaller than grand cities like Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate. It has very wealthy neighborhoods as well as some significantly rougher areas rife with bandits, indicating a large class disparity in the population. The city's leader- also called the Waterbaron due to Yartar's position on the river- is Nestra Ruthiol.

## Locations of Interest

* **The Grand Dame** - a party boat owned by Khaspere Drylund that mostly caters to the wealthy elite, traveling along the river from dusk until dawn, when it returns to the city pier
* **Meria** - an elaborate clothier with a variety of expensive wares all with the 'Meria' brand
* **The Spooky Cauldron** - a potion shop in a rougher part of town run by Velda Wich, an elderly woman who makes a variety of unpredictable "experimental" brews

## Trivia

* Yartar is one of the six locations connected by the Harper Teleportation Network
Grudd Haug

Grudd Haug was a massive homestead crafted along an end of the Dessarin River, near Goldenfields. It was the central den of the Hill Giants, under the rule of the Hill Giant Lord, Chief Guh. After an attack on the city of Goldenfields, wherein residents were taken to be devoured by the Chief, the Heroes of Happenstance were led by Petra to Grudd Haug in order to rescue those taken. At Grudd Haug, the Heroes faced off with many of the Giant Lord's underlings, and then with Chief Guh herself. After a tense battle, the heroes defeated Chief Guh, causing the remaining Giants and creatures to flee in fear and allowing the party to rescue the townsfolk safely.