Hjaal Shieldbreaker

Hjaal was born into one of the goliath families following the Thyane clan in Bhaersgraad. Growing up like most of the children he was raised with weapons in his hands embracing the ideals of honor, battleprowess and freedom. Those ideals though spoiled when he was captured by a group of slavers that was prowling the area of the clan. The proud youngling was bested by several salvers when their mage joined the fight.
Caged and defeated he was looking at a bleak future, until a couple nights later someone or something raided the camp. His watchers seemed to be killed by darkness itself. Hjaal was reading himself for his own end hoping it would be in battle and not just left behind in a cage to rott. His worries though were dispatched as a clan warrior stepped into the light and freed him from his prison. The savior introduced himself as Dorn Brashard. After Hjaal told him his story and about the mage that lead the slavers they decided to search for him.
Together they spent several days tracking down mage who hidding in a ruin. Their path lead through several more slavers, until they got their showdown with the fireball throwing wizard. As the two warriors finished off the last target they discovered a captured Aasimar by the name of Rajsha. The three joined up to follow the tracks of the criminals to Korbel to end their operation.
The hunt for slavers in Korbel proved to be more trecherous than expected as the city guard covered the human trafficers. For asking around the trio was met by guards who nearily killed Hjaal, but instead dragged him into a lonely backstreet to interrogate him first. The other two were forced to run for their lifes as Hjaal was downed, but didn't give up on him. Instead they tracked him down, charged in and set him free again. Reunited again and chased by the city guard they fled to Saara.
There they treated their wounds in the '1000 Dances' as they asked around for more informations about the slavers operating from Korbel. This got them into contact with Ravenna 'Deathwing' who was following her own path of vengance against those crimnals. Under her guidance they returned to Korbel to gather more intel on the traffickers hideout. Tricking some slavers to lead them to the house with the slaves they got finally the break they were hoping for. With a clear target they raided the compound, killed bandits as well as city guards working with them and liberated a couple of children.
The party decided to bring the children to safety in Saara and Aaradem, knowing that neither the children nor themselves would be save from Korbel's city guard. The journey turned into a bonding trip for Hjaal, Dorn and Rajsha, as Ravenna left them once back in Saara. The young party head fought slavers, guards and even demons as they passed through the fringes of the Stone Desert. Their visit to Saara and Aaradem goth the goliath insides that most of his clan members would probably never had and his later return to Bhaersgraad made him and Dorn heros to the Thyane clan.
While his new friends moved on to see Eversted Hjaal was ready to join the men of the clan protecting it. Though still very young he showed a lot of promise and the clan chief Loghain welcomed him as a potential leader of the warriors.

A year later Dorn returned with Alvery Vestergaard and Vanarel Triranadal searching for him and Nynthia. The group witnessed Gaesh Al-Khur arguing with Loghain about the clans responsability to burn Korbel to the ground. An opinion several young and battlehungry warriors shared, but not Hjaal. Loghain pointed to Hjaal's and Dorn's success in blooding the slavers as enough of a punishing action, but Gaesh, a fellow goliath, saw this as a challenge to his role. He himself was from one of the most honorable goliath's clans and expected to lead the clan into battles. Now Hjaal's reputation turned into the younger goliath into a rival for the position within the clan. As Gaesh left Bhaersgraad disgruntled, Hjaal was ready to join his friend Dorn and the elves on their quest to discover an Elven ruin called Elandirill.

Their journey north to the old Elven city lead them through undead infested attempts of creating settlements. Together with Nynthia and Dorn's group they battled through the ruins against undead dating back to the time of the war between the Elven Empire and the Hegemony of Fire. In the end he witnessed Alvery facing off her ancerstor and discovering the truth about the Elven godesses Litheth and Lolth as well as their involvment in opening up the demons' access to the world.

In 438 YoU Dorn once again passed through Bhaersgraad investigating rumors of clans attacking Korbel. While Loghain showed no interest in what caused the rumors, Dorn's warnings about the chance of demons being at the root made Hjaal and Nynthia volunteer to go along with their friend scouting east.
Soon they encountered the first cultists of Qharnate and several weeks of skirmishes with more of them followed. They also had to battle through gnolls, minotaurs and even several kinds of demonic fiends. As they reached Korbel they saw the sieging army of cultists and demons gathering. The small party interrupted a ritual at a small site were the young goliath challenged and killed a champion of Qharnate. This attack gave a handful of the cultists' prisoneers they freed a few days before a chance to make a run for the coast as the clan warriors distracted the cultists' warbands.
Chased on their way back towards Bhaersgraad they defeated several more demons and their worshipers, until they were cornered by a minotaur champion and two of his servants. As that beast beat them nearly unconscious Alvery and several elves appeared and saved them. Together they braced another assault by a bigger group of cultists and demons. With those defeated they finally had enough breathing room to disengage from their persuers and arrive in Bhaersgraad.
Alvery was looking for Dorn and concerned about the reports from Korbel the small party had gathered she urged Loghain to lead an attack against the cultists. Hjaal and Dorn argued that this would be the best chance to fall into the demonic armies rear. Vanarel warned that the cultists might sacrifice Korbel to Qharnate to gain even more demons to continue spreading the war. From an interrogation of a cultist they also found out that Gaesh Al-Khur was leading the cultists and they expected him to turn to Bhaergraad sooner or later.
Recognizing the danger the Thyane clan marched to war with Alvery's and Hjaal's parties scouting ahead. Once at they reached the city the small group observed the progress of the siege and joined the battle once the cultists charged the city.
During the first engagement of that day Hjaal fought of several cultists and delivered heavy and deadly blows to a goristro sent in to break through the cities gate. With Hjaal's effort the beast was killed before the wall broke and the the group was able to enter the city ahead to the cultists main assault. Hjaal battled side by side with Alvery on the cities walls to prevent flying demons from establishing a bridge head and later also followed her in clearing the cities streets of gnolls.
At the end of the day the elves and clan warrior party rushed to the defense of the northern gate where another goristro broke through opening up the path into the city for the main force. The small party reenforced the crumbling city guard with Hjaal once more delivering deadly blows to the monster and downing it before charging into more cultists. Holding on against Qharnate's Warbingers and other cultists he finally met his end when the growling appearance of a bloodseeker stunned him and his companions. While Hjaal was dazed Gaesh Al-Khur entered the city gates and took advantage of the situation to hack into the fellow goliath. Defenseless for a moment Hjaal was slayed by clan's betrayer.

After the battle was won his remains were returned to Bhaersgraad and Alvery took his scarf to enshrine it at Elandirill for his service to her city and all those opposing the demons.

Ethnicity

Goliath

Other Ethnicities/Cultures

• Human - Morskani

Life

414 Y.o.U. 438 Y.o.U. 24 years old

Circumstances of Death

Killed by Gaesh Al-Khur in the Battle of Korbel.

Place of Death

Korbel