Part 1 - Overview of Frostcrypt
Overview of Frostcrypt, Throne of the Shade King
When Solusek Ro raised the Serpent Spine Mountains, one clan of hill giants was trapped in the valleys and marshes that were created between the sheer mountains. The vast mausoleum of Frostcrypt was carved into the ice and stone of the mountain on Icefall Glacier, built to house the honored dead.
The giants of Valdeholm have always revered their dead. Kings, queens, soldiers, priests and even common folk were buried in the great crypt, carved out under a frozen lake. Giants live long lives, and in the days of their dominance they had little need for open battle, so deaths were few. Each time one of their kind passed on, they were given rites by the priests, fitted with attire appropriate to their station, and placed upon a litter. They were then carried down to the tomb by a procession of mourners and priests. The procession arrived would stop at the statue of Rallos, then move on to the appropriate wing of the crypt. The body was laid upon a stone table along with any appropriate tools needed in the afterlife (weapons, trade tools, etc.) Then the family would walk past the body and place with it any other items that they wanted to travel with their loved one.
After resting in state for three days, the body would be placed into a slot along the wall of the crypt and a metal nameplate would be affixed to remind every one who was resting there.
Then came the curse of Rallos Zek cast upon his own giants because they refused to participate in his war on the Plane of Earth. When King Beltron Wulfnor—the king who turned his back on the war—was being taken into the tomb, the voice of Rallos Zek was heard. The dead king's body rose up and attacked the procession. As each person slain, they rose again as Shades of Zek and turned on those that still lived. Few survived that day, but the current king—Odeen Wulfnor—was one of them, and he will never forget that evil day.
The upper portions of the tomb are damaged from the battle and other battles since. The royal areas remain untouched by battle because even the undead giants hold their royalty in high esteem.
The undead have added on to the tombs in an attempt to make it feel more like a home. These sections are made purely from ice, though in all other respects look just like the architecture of the rest of the tomb.
The front portion of Frostcrypt is hewn of ice and seems worn and basic. Deeper within Frostcrypt is the home of the Shades. The Shades are frustrated and tormented by the curse put upon them, built onto Frostcrypt, attempting to create a new city for themselves—to do what they can to feel normal. They feel their curse will end, once they kill the remaining traitors to Rallos Zek—all of their kin in Valdeholm.
Stone tiles cover the ice in most places. The only exceptions are where they have been damaged by battle or where the giants built beautiful skylights in the roof. These skylights use magically clear ice to transport sunlight into the crypts, lighting the tables where the dead are laid out to rest in state before entering their final resting place.
Currently the Shade King rules the crypt. His followers are the Shades of Zek and the zombie minions made from the corpses of their ancestors. The Shades sent war parties to assault the city every evening, and hide within the crypt during the day. No living giant has set foot inside the tombs since the day the curse turned their king into the Shade King.
Harfange the Black
As the first and most respected leader of the Krithgor giants, Harfange was a force to be reckoned with. His stature was greater than most giants and his gruff, booming voice made him easy to rally around in battle. Woijuh, his trusted, loyal wolf, was always by his master's side and followed him faithfully into every fight.
Harfange was a righteous giant with an unwavering belief in justice. He was the loudest proponent of battle prowess and skill, all the while supporting the magic and politics required to build and run a city of somewhat unruly warriors. Easy to trust, the giants took to following his lead easily. Under his reign, Krithgor was built—a great city and monument to giants which was later overrun by all the races of the Rallosian Army -- something House Harfange took great offense to.
A New Ruling House - Fridleif
When King Haruld the Young of House Harfange died in his first battle, there were weeks of ceremonies in his honor. He was praised for his bravery and skill, for he had defeated overwhelming numbers during the battle against the gnolls encroaching on Krithgor. However, one giant was not sorry to see his cousin go: Fridleif Vernund, head of House Fridleif, had spent more time celebrating than mourning, knowing he would soon be called to compete for the throne.
Fridleif was known to be cold-hearted and calculating. His ability to completely ignore the emotions that could drive others to distraction was what made him powerful. He easily took control of the rituals of ascension, fighting only three battles to earn control of the kingdom and gain his seat on the throne. There was never any doubt that he would be the one to start the second lineage, though it is widely accepted that this common belief was created as part of his own subtle plan to rule.
Ascension of Wulfnor
As time passed, kings changed. Each heir-apparent fought others for the right to ascend. When King Cadwall the Victorious of House Fridleif died when his brother led an uprising against him—which got them both killed—the lineage of the throne came into question once again. Many Krithgorian giants were relieved that new blood would be brought to the throne because the wars of the bickering brothers had taken its toll on them all.
Among the giants, there was an almost unilateral hope that the great gladiator, Wulfnor Olaffun, would fill the great throne in Valdeholm. For many years, Wulfnor proved himself to be an outstanding negotiator and motivator of the people, even when their true rulers were not. He managed to forge a calm in a city that had begun to divide itself between the brothers.
Wulfnor was the thread that held the giants living in Krithgor and Valdeholm together. An elder loreseeker by the name of Pruglar nominated Wulfnor, something which had never been done. Not a single challenger to the throne stepped forward to challenge him for the crown, and thus, Wulfnor and his house became the next rulers of the Krithgor giants.
Part 2 - Additional Background Lore
Part 3 – Coming Soon!
Gallery of Images of Frostcrypt
