Illustration by Yans Velasquez
Each month, I try and pass along the generosity you show me by employing other artists to create a variety of illustrations, portraits, magical items and other works of art that can be used in your games at home, whether they be homebrew or official modules.
This week, I wanted to highlight one of those pieces -- the cloud castle of Lyn Armaal from Storm King's Thunder with art by Yans Velasquez.
Lyn Armaal is a gloating sky castle that makes for a tactical and logistical challenge to approach, and was the main danger behind the attack on the town of Nightstone where Cloud Giants rained down boulders from high overhead. The castle is a multi-layer building, with several large areas on both the interior and exterior to explore. The details are designed to follow the module's encounters, but you could certainly use it for your own homebrew adventures!
I know of several parties that have taken over the castle as a mobile HQ once they've eliminated or negotiated with the giants.
Cloud Giant (from Morvold Fantasy Art Gallery), by Hector Rodriguez (animated by George Mason)
Most of the maps provided by the module are presented with 1 grid = 10 feet, but this map was designed and scaled to be played in a 130 x 110 environment, allowing every grid to be 5 feet and really feel the size of the environment. Medium creatures moving through the space should feel understandably intimidated and small compared to the surroundings.
So, how I can use this location?
Module Adventure - if you are running the Storm King's Thunder module, then it will have all of the information you need for the encounters there.
Homebrew - If you are running a homebrew, then the castle could certainly serve as a Cloud Giant Lair to combat, or it could also be home to a potential ally, the BBEG, a rebel force with whom the party forms an alliance, and become a quest hub as they move across your world.
Here's the original Maelstrom levels (attachment at end of post):
I hope you enjoy the piece and seeing where some of your support goes!
If you're not yet a Patron, consider joining to help support other talented artists! =)
Best,
Jeff @ Morvold