Fan Kobold Press Northlands Adventure: Return of the Azure King - Pitch

I was a little disappointed to discover that my submission to Kobold Press' (KP) most recent open pitch call had not been selected. I would like to offer a hearty congratulations to those whose adventures were selected! According to the latest KP update on their Northlands kickstarter project they were:

• In the Hall of the Hill Troll Chief by Atgeir

• Storm Champion's Barrow by Miranda Crowell

However, I enjoyed my pitch, and I have an abet small platform to share it here under the KP fan content policy, as it uses elements from their outstanding Midgard Campaign setting. Further, the guidelines provided to folks who were eligible to submit is that we can do with it what we please, while of course respecting KP's copyright. So I have decided to post my idea and make a personal goal to follow through as if it had been selected, using the KP fan content policy to share it for free here on the blog.

Over the next couple months, I will draft an 8,000 word adventure based upon my pitch and post it here (perhaps broken into several posts for readability). The non-specific eventual deadline of early Spring 2026 was provided, so I will look to have this project completed by the beginning of March. Significant spoilers for the adventure are in the pitch. I will look at including a brief non-spoiler blurb when it is completed for any readers who would like to suggest this adventure to their GMs, while any GMs potentially interested in running an original adventure set in KP's Northlands region of Midgard should read on.

So without further ado:

Return of the Azure King

For Adventurers of 8th Level

The Cradle Cave at the heart of the city of Tanserhall was breached and the holiest relics stolen, a hammer and anvil of Thor and Volund. The rulers of Tanserhall tracked the thieves to Veles Fang, where the trail goes cold amongst the rivers and marshes. Panicked by memories and legends of Thor’s wrath when he cast Tanserhall down, they request the adventurers’ aid. 

On a journey for the sagas, they encounter Khazzaki riders, Kariv wanders, and dwarven reavers, discovering clues leading to the fabled Red Mounds of Rhos Khurgan. These clues and rumors are dark—that the shadow of Ulf the Azure King has returned, a despot so terrible that fallen Domovogrod and Tsar-ruled Vidim allied over half a century ago to defeat him. There are dark symbols of a god spoken of only in whispers—Chernobog. All leads point to the cursed 32rd red mound. 

Exploring the red mound, the adventurers discover the truth. Fjolmod, son of the Azure King, has returned from exile in Vellarsheim alongside troops of the Thursir warlord Mensnark Obsbane. Allied with cultists of the Cauldron of Chernobog, Fjolmod seeks to imbue his father’s weapon, Menneskelig-dod, with unholy power and conquer the whole of the Northlands.