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.

Quick Note: Northlands Campaign Concept

Had an idea while reading about the Northlands of Midgard and looking into the Raider's Guide to Valika. Vikings make a cool campaign concept, and the Northlands are an intriguing setting. The raiding rules found in the Valikan Clans book also make an interesting mechanical vehicle. The setting would be a remote and independent village. The village chief is a jarl, but small time and the clan doesn't travel and hasn't raided a great deal in many years. 

Unless you’re a GM you should probably leave now…

The campaign would extend into the upper tiers, but probably not beyond level 15 or 16. Characters would be restricted to options found in the Midgard Heroes Handbook, Tome of Heroes, Player’s Handbook, and potentially the Raider's Guide to Valika. The campaign would drawn upon material from the aforementioned books, the Midgard Worldbook, Rime of the Frostmaiden, and the Warlock Grimoires.

Campaign Outline

Levels 1-5: Local monster hunts, diplomacy and trade missions to other villages and the larger kingdoms of the Northlands in Midgard. Play would be episodic, with months or years or downtime in between sessions. Eventually raids against other villages or the lands to the South could occur. Players would have the option to use activities from A Life Well Lived to slowly build a feasting hall or have a family. If enough time passes I wouldn't mind characters having children and possibly switching characters to those children so their early characters are the clan elders or leaders.

Levels 5-10: Major raids against Dornig, Bemmea, into Krakovar, and Neimheim. Conquering territory from surrounding kingdoms to create a greater jarldom or a petty kingdom. Quests to prevent activities of Ragnarok cultists. Episodic play with emphasis on raids and domain-level actions and warfare. Elements of Against the Giants can be worked in with Jotunheim. There are some great adventure hooks for the various kingdoms in the Worldbook.

Levels 11-16: Continued kingdom expansion. Years pass between sessions and winters become slowly longer until one year spring does not come at all. Snow, ice, and fast moving glaciers encroach upon all settlements in the North. The crops cannot be planted, and the longships cannot sail out to raid because of the ice. Divinations and sacrifices reveal that Boreas is bringing an eternal winter down upon all lands. The characters must make an expedition to the Far North through the Bleak Expanse to confront Boreas and drive back the eternal winter brought down by the North Wind. They encounter monsters on their journey and the Boiling Tower, along with intrigue in the city of Geskleithron at the base of Boreas' Black Tower.

This would conclude the campaign, with the characters enshrined as heroes of the epic sagas, sung of in lays forever by the skalds of the North.

I may do more quick notes of campaign ideas like this or to flesh out other ones I create in the future.