Worship
The potential for growth of the hedroforn is so vast that some cultures incorporate the monster into religious doctrine, weaving its sporadic appearance into stories of divine judgment and wrath.
The
Blossom brotherhood, a cult dedicated to the
Demonlord Zyra also worship Hedroforn, as its warth may align with Zyra's objective.
History
The Hedroforn is a Titan, a being so old is predate history and the creations of gods. Left to rule the lands with its unmatched strength.
Trolls and Giants
The trolls reigned over Goria for six hundred years until Imperator
Molok attempted to deceive the giants of
Voninerike in 4520 BD. Molok amassed an army with the aim of challenging the Titans. His forces clashed against
Tromokratis and the Hedroforn, ultimately perishing against these formidable monsters. Unaware of the trolls' freedom from the giants' influence, Tromokratis and the Hedroforn sought vengeance against the giants, sparking a conflict between the giants and the Titans.
As the giants mobilized their forces to confront the colossal adversaries, they found themselves outmatched by the Titans' might. The trolls, observing the Titans' progress, mustered a massive army and joined the fray, challenging the giants' dominion over the world.
Skoraeus Stonebones, the god of stone giants, sought to dissuade his siblings from joining the conflict, believing that the matter of their creation should be left for them to resolve. However,
Stronmaus argued that the titan's involvment was not to be resolved by mortals and refused to heed his counsel. To tip the scales in favor of the giants, the giant gods intervened:
Gods an Titans
Surtur faced the Hedroforn and, unlike his twin, sought
Grolantor's assistance in facing this formidable challenge. However,
Memnor intervened, recognizing the need for a strategic approach rather than brute force.
Memnor approached Grolantor, claiming that he alone could defeat the Titan if he waited in the frosted heights. Meanwhile, he persuaded Surtur to forge unbreakable chains suitable for a Titan. Memnor orchestrated a confrontation between Grolantor and Surtur, spreading rumors among the giants' ranks that his brothers were distracted them from the urgent situation. When the Hedroforn defeated the giants, it learned of the feud between Grolantor and Surtur and sought to kill them both.
However, only Grolantor was there to face the Titan, and as he launched his assault, both he and the Hedroforn fell into a pit dug by Memnor leading to the deepest regions of the world. There, Surtur and Memnor chained the Hedroforn while Grolantor attempted to fight it, sealing the Titan within the caverns in 4508 BD.
Left by the gods as a captive in this subterranean prison, the Hedroforn posed a threat to
Aq'id, whose inhabitants resided in these caves. The Hedroforn offered unspeakable power to the mantis in exchange for his freedom, yet despite the offers of power, the
Mantis refused to release it, recognizing the peril to their people.
Over the course of two centuries, the titan's influence gradually infiltrated the highest echelons of Mantis society. In 4326 BD, the voice of the titan managed to infiltrate the thoughts of Grand Empress
Shek'zeer, driving her to madness. Despite her descent into insanity, she adamantly refused to release the titan, redirecting her fury toward the surface-dwellers who had left the creature imprisoned in the depths.
After a war opposing the mantis and the mantis, the empress was removed. The first decree of the new empress was to maintain vigilance over the chained titan, making it the duty of Aq'id to watch over it.
Titan's freedom
A duo of adventurers,
Rose Fancy and
Lalia Herbier, were kidnapped by Mantis during an expedition in the Underdark after trespassing into their territory. Thrown into the Mantis' jail within the City of Blades, they met
Aelsthim, another prisoner.
Lalia noticed that the city is carved into enormous roots and tried to communicate with the plants. She learned that the city was built entirely within these roots, and the Mantis lived symbiotically with the tree. She also sensed the presence of a powerful entity that the plant couldn't fully identify, but its presence disturbed all natural life around the shaft where it was contained.
Lalia focused on this link and managed to reach into the mind of the entity, finding that it had a connection to plants, allowing communication. The entity, known as Hedroforn, begged Lalia for help. Learning of this exchange, Rose proposed a deal: if the entity freed them, they would free it. Hedroforn agreed and lashed out, drawing the attention of all guards and soldiers as its screams echoed through the city.
With the guards distracted, the group escaped. Rose suggested fleeing, but Lalia, feeling compelled by her promise, led the group further into the city to free Hedroforn. They witnessed the colossal shaft where the gargantuan Hedroforn was imprisoned. Its shape shifted based on what it consumed, and the guards complained about the
Death of another Mantis due to Hedroforn’s attacks.
Witnessing this, Aelsthim and Rose wanted to leave, but Lalia, still hearing Hedroforn's voice, refused. She pushed the group to help the titan. Sneaking into the chasm, they managed to break one of its bonds before getting caught. Hedroforn lashed out again, creating chaos that allowed the group to flee across the
Dark lake on a boat made of mushrooms. The flames rising within the city lit their way as the titan fought the Mantis, leaving the city in ruins.
Final Confrontation
THe tian, ragin within the city, cause chaos and destruction, but is soon slowed down by the power of an
Archdevil,
Elise.
However, many mantis are still forced to flee their homes, as the titan's rampage is only slowed, not stopped. THe heroes choosen by Elise, the very adventurers who freed the titan, Rose and Lalia return to the city of blades. As they approach the city, Elise's pressure on the titan, which had slowed and weakened its movements, ceases.
Elise grants them the knowledge of a curse she concocted specifically for the titan. This curse, if used properly, will stop the titan. With this curse in their possession, the ritual to curse the creature will be challenging to perform amidst the chaos of a fight. Lalia decides to prepare the ritual while Rose fight.
Rose faces the monster and sustains serious injuries but manages to keep it in check. However, in his rage, Hedroforn breaks the last bond chaining him and unleashes his full fury against the characters. Now free, Hedroforn rushes to Lalia and absorbs the druid, consuming her whole.
From within, Lalia manages to activate the curse. The curse spreads from her, turning Hedroforn's body to stone. He shouts in pain as his body stiffens but is ultimately frozen in place, turned to stone.
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