Steading of the Hill Giant Chief

Template:Book Template:BookSteading of the Hill Giant Chief is a 1st Edition AD&D module, meant for between 3 to 9 player characters of around level 9. This module is intended to be followed by the rest of the G series (Giant), G2: Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl and G3: Hall of the Fire Giant King, then followed by the D series (Drow).

A 4th edition D&D version of the module was released in Dungeon Magazine 197#, under the same name, that changes many details of the adventure.

This module was also part of the G1-2-3: Against the Giants, compilation and the GDQ1-7: The Spider Queen Mega module.

This module, along with the rest of the series, was also novelised Against the Giants (Novel).

Blurb

1e AD&D:

"This module contains background information, referee's notes, two level maps, and exploration matrix keys. It provides a complete module for play of ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and it can be used alone or as the first of a three-part expedition adventure which also employs DUNGEON MODULE G2 (GLACIAL RIFT OF THE FROST GIANT JARL) and DUNGEON MODULE G3 (HALL OF THE FIRE GIANT KING)."

4e D&D:

"Yo, Nosnra! We’re in yer house, killin’ yer doods! A D&D adventure for characters of levels 12–14, and the first of four paragon-tier adventures based on Gary Gygax’s classic Against the Giants series."

Index

Art

1e AD&D:

• Dave C. Sutherland III: Cover, The Cloak room (p.3), Backcover?
• David A. Trampier: The Kitchen ^(p.5)
• ?: Interior?^(p.2), Carrion Crawlers^(p.7), The Treasury ^(p.8)

Some publications of this module, such as online purchasable PDF versions, appear to replace some of the original artwork with the artwork used in the G1-2-3: Against the Giants compilation module, such as the 'Interior' artwork on page 2 being replaced by an image of the Steading done by Erol Otus.

4e D&D:

• Eric Belisle: Nosnra^(p.20)
• Noah Bradley: The Steading ^(p.29)
• Goran Josic: Roper^(p.48)

Characters

1e AD&D:

• Eclavdra ^(p.4), mentioned only.
• Nosnra^(p.2), Hill Giant Chief.

Pregenerated Tournament Characters:

• Gleep Wurp the Eyebiter, Human MU 12,NG, 
• Cloyer Bulser The Magsman, Human Thief 13, N,
• Roaky Swerked, Humn Cleric 12, LN,
• Frush O' Suggill, Human Fighter 14, LG,
• Fonkin Hoddypeak, Highelf F/MU 5/8, CG,
• Flerd Trantle, Human Cleric 9, LG,
• Redmod Dumple, Dwarf Fighter 9, LN
• Faffle Dwe'o-mercraeft, Human MU 9, N
• Beek Gwenders of Croodle, Half elf ranger 9, CG

4e D&D:

• Arnak^(p.32), The stone giant Thane (mentioned only).
• Belastraya^(p.36,50), sister of Arnak and lover of Leathar (Mentioned Only).
• Ironjaw^(p.31,34), a dire bear.
• Feramaug^(p.49-50)
• Javok^(p.45), half-orc scout.
• Leathar^(p.31), Emissary of Arnak and lover of Belastraya.
• Morzul^(p.34), wife of the chief (unnamed in original).
• Nosnra ^(p.28,31-33), Chief of the Hill Giants.
• Obmi^(p.34,50), a dwarf working with the giants, originally mentioned later in the G series. (Mentioned Only)
• Smolderheart^(p.43-45), Fire giant smith.
• Varrg^(p.38-39), a hill giant werewolf (Unnamed and not a werewolf in original).
• Zandor Caskerhill^(p.43), A captured human merchant (unnamed in original)
• Thoot Grimhold, Dwern the Sly, Gobb Brightshield, Nyzan Silvervien, Zorn "Big Z" Ironbeard^(p.45). Dwarven slaves.

Creatures

1e AD&D:

• Ape, Carnivourous ^(p.6)
• Bear, Cave ^(p.3,4)
• Bugbear^(p.6)
• Carrion Crawler^(p.7)
• Drow (Mentioned and Implied only)
• Dwarf^(p.7)
• Elf ^(p.6)
• Giant, Cloud ^(p.3,4)
• Giant, Fire ^(p.7)
• Giant, Hill ^(p.3-5)
• Giant, Stone ^(p.3,4,8)
• Human^(p.6)
• Lizard, Subterranean ^(p.6,7)
• Manticore^(p.8)
• Ogre ^(p.3-6)
• Orc ^(p.3-7)
• Skeleton ^(p.6)
• Troglodyte^(p.7)
• Wolf, Dire ^(p.3,5)

4e D&D:

Ape, Carnivorous^(p.40-42)

Bear, Dire^(p.32)

Bugbear^{(p.27,31,40-42)}

Dragon, Iron^(p.49)

Dwarf^(p.43-48)

Elemental, Fire^(p.43-45)

Giant, Fire^(p.43)

Giant, Hill^{(p.27,31-35,38-45)}

Giant, Stone^{(p.31-33,36-37,47)}

Half-orc^(p.45)

Lycanthrope, Werewolf^(p.38-39)

Ogre^(p.37-38)

Orc^(p.38,43-47)

Roper^(p.47-48)

Umberhulk^(p.489

Wolf, Dire^(p.38-39)

Items

1e AD&D:

• A tube marked with a triangle intersected by an upside down Y. ^(p.4)
• A unique Intelligent Sword of Giant slaying with other magical abilities ^(p.4)
• Drow wine, noted to be incredibly potent, earthy smelling and black in colour^(p.8)

4e D&D:

• Many paraphernalia relating to the religious worship of the Elemental Elder Eye/ Tharizdun.

Locations

No locations are given in the module itself. The World of Greyhawk places it on Hex P5-129, which would be in the Joten Mountains, 90-120 miles northwest of Loftwick.^(p.30)

Appendix

Comparisons between 1st edition AD&D and 4th edition D&D versions:

• No mention of drow or Eclavdra in the 4th edition version.
• Temple found under the steading is explicitly stated to be dedicated to the Elder Eye, which by 4th edition was synonymous with Tharizdun.

On RPGGeek