Plot Overview

The players are sent to investigate and eliminate the threat posed by hill giants who have been raiding human settlements. These raids are part of a larger, more sinister plot involving the unification of giant clans under a mysterious force.

Key Elements

• Chief Nosnra: The brutish and cunning leader of the hill giants. He’s not just a thug—he’s part of a larger conspiracy.
• The Steading: A large, two-level wooden fortress filled with hill giants, ogres, dire wolves, and enslaved creatures. It’s designed to be a tough infiltration mission.
• Tactical Challenge: The fortress is noisy and crowded, making stealth difficult. If the alarm is raised, the entire steading can mobilize quickly.
• Secrets Below: Beneath the steading lies a dungeon with more clues about the giants’ coordination and their mysterious benefactors.

Themes

• Brutality and chaos of hill giant society
• Tactical infiltration vs. full-on assault
• Uncovering a deeper plot that connects to frost and fire giants in later chapters

Recap

At Comic Quest in Southern California, the energy was electric as adventurers gathered for a live-action session of The Boreal Ball, the thrilling D&D sample adventure from the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide. The party had just arrived at the grand winter gala, cloaked in mystery and frostbitten elegance, when the unexpected happened—another party of adventurers crashed the scene! Just as alliances began to form and secrets started to unravel, a sudden magical rupture tore through the ballroom, unleashing a pack of frost-touched beasts and sending guests scrambling for cover.

Steel clashed and spells lit up the icy chandeliers as players leapt into action, embodying their characters with theatrical flair and tactical brilliance. The immersive setting, complete with snow-dusted décor and live sound effects, turned the game into a cinematic spectacle. With the fate of the gala—and perhaps the realm—hanging in the balance, the adventurers had to navigate shifting allegiances, unravel arcane mysteries, and survive the chaos of a party turned battlefield. It was a night of high fantasy, high stakes, and unforgettable heroics that left everyone cheering for the next chapter.

Summary

The adventure begins by explaining the back story to the players: giants of different types have been raiding the lands of the humans. This has angered the human rulers, causing them to hire a group of adventurers (the PCs) to “punish the miscreant giants.” The player’s party must defeat the giants, or have their own heads placed on the chopping block. The human nobles equip the party with weapons and horses, along with a guide and map of the exact location of the hill giants. The players are informed that the hill giants are led by Nosnra, a hill giant chieftan who is sly and loves to ambush. Also, that there is an unknown force behind the banding together of the different giant groups. They are to keep any spoils that they find, but return at once if they determine what “sinister hand” is behind the alliance.

The bulk of the adventure consists of two parts: the upper level of the hill giants lair, and a dungeon level beneath it. In the upper level there are halls, barracks, and common rooms. These rooms house Chief Nosnra and other hill giants, ogres, and servants.

The dungeon level consists of slave quarters, torture chambers, and caverns. These house troglodytes, bugbears, and carrion crawlers. The bulk of the treasure is to be found by completely searching the dungeons. The Chief’s treasure room contains a map of the glacial rift from the Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl, and a magic chain that can automatically transport the party there.

Characters

David – Rosty – High Elf Wizard
Derek – Ajax – Paladin – Oath of Devotion (Soldier) Dragon Born – Neutral Good
Jacob – Krok – Paladin (Acolyte) Half Orc – Chaotic Good
Kenyen – Big Wig – Barbarian Harrington
Montana – Tak – Monk Bugbear – Neutral
Rafael – Talin – Rogue (Scribe) – Elf (High) –
Scott – Oless – Cleric (Hermit) Dwarf

Not there

Austin – Erythios – Paladin (Guide) – Goliath – Neutral Good
Brian – Winnie the Wizard – Wizard (Sage) – Elf (High) – Neutral Good
Cody – Akor – Wizard (Artisan) Elf (Drow) – Lawful Evil
Natalie – Bother – Ranger (Swarm keeper) (Outlander) Halfling
Roy – Raft – Bard (Entertainer) Elf (Half) Chaotic
Zane – Ragnar – Barbarian (Soldier) – Orc – Chaotic Neutral

Adventure

Tales From the Yawning Portal_ Against the Giants – 5etools | PDF | Fantasy Role Playing Games | Dungeons & Dragons
https://www.scribd.com/document/841251426/Tales-From-the-Yawning-Portal-Against-the-Giants-5etools