Fort Flame is a canon colony of the Flaming Fist north of Maztica, founded with the assistance of some Mazticans. Jon Hild’s Anchorome Campaign Guide on DM’s Guild isn’t canon, but has inspired a lot of my art over the last few years.
People are free to use these for their games. If they’re not in Fort Flame, perhaps they might be useful as Flaming Fist members in Faerun. Correspondingly, while Hild developed a new flag and a new identity for the Fort, I have emblazoned the Flaming Fist emblem over everyone! Sorry Jon!
This series is a little different than my usual Easter Egg NPCs series, as not all of the characters below are taken from pop culture.
ORIGINAL NPCs
The following are both my own work and inspired by Jon Hild’s work. Jon wasn’t involved but I hope he approves of these takes.
The Ruling Council
STREOLDUS GRAYHORN
Hild’s Fires of Fort Flame supplement describes the elected leader of the colony as the First Flame. He identifies a stern Streoldus Grayhorn, but I like my darker take. Because Hild also suggested that shape-changed Kuo-toans have been infiltrating the colony and bearing children, some members have developed the Innsmouth look.
GRAYHORN is Hild’s idea, but I designed his look.
THE THREE DUKES
The First Flame is advised by three Dukes. They handle various aspects of the government. Achse, the Brass Duke, oversees matters of judgement and public construction. Teorgia, the Azure Duke, looks after maritime and naval matters. Crimson Duke Kridarzros is the Fort’s general.
Once again, Hild named and described the Dukes in his Fort Flame supplement, but I designed the looks.
The Tanarvraki Dragonborn
The Crimson Duke is a member of a Dragonborn race known as the Tanarvraki, whose feathers connect them to the Mirage Dragon and who have come from the twin world of Abeir. I imagine these two to be a Druid (Circle of Dreams) and a Ranger (Horizon Walker) respectively.
Jon Hild came up with the idea for the Tanarvraki in his Anchorome Campaign Guide.
The Red Watch
Fort Flame, in my eyes, is a rather sinister place – built on racism and colonialism. These three Flaemish represent that side of things. I imagine them as a Bard (College of Valour), Paladin (Oath of Vengeance), and Fighter (Samurai).
These are entirely my idea and design.
EASTER EGG NPCs
While the above are all original designs, those below are familiar figures from pop culture you can use as Easter Eggs in your adventures in Anchorome.
The Marauders
Faerunians don’t have a lock on evil. These three Anchoromeans have been enticed to become collaborators with the colonisers, forming a special unit in Fort Flame called the Marauders. Silver Fox is a Rogue (Assassin), Noatak is a Fighter (Arcane Archer), and Greycrow is a cleric (Forge Domain).
They are based on some of Marvel Comics’ Indigenous villain characters.
The Borderers
Lord Bakshagorn, who carries Elven blood, leads a unit of rangers made up of people who defy the binary of Indigenous and Coloniser. Their watch on the borders has made them deadly warriors, but also valuable intercessors between the Fort and the local elves and humans. They are all based on various DC, Marvel, and other pop culture figures.
BAKSHAGORN, KEYS, and HAWK
Bakshagorn, Keys, and Hawk are all of mixed descent. They are a Paladin (Oath of the Ancients), Rogue (Scout), and Ranger (Hunter Conclave), respectively.
They are based in Ralph Bakshi’s animated Lord of the Rings film, Young Guns, and DC Comics respectively.
SULLY AND OHIYESA
Sully and Ohiyesa live outside their own contexts. Sully is a Faerunian firbolg who longs to live among the Indigenous peoples of this land, while Ohiyesa has come to Fort Flame to learn Faerunian ways. Sully is a Barbarian (Path of Wild Magic) while Ohiyesa is a Rogue (Inquisitive).
Sully is from the film Avatar, and Ohiyesa is another DC Comics’ character.
GHOST and SWIFT
Ghost and Swift were raised by Indigenous peoples. Ghost is a Bladelock with a Spirit (Fey) Patron, while Swift is a Fighter (Battle Master).
Ghost is from the rather poorly received film Pathfinder, while Swift is based on DC Comics’ Speedy.
The Travellers
Some mysterious figures are able to move among many communities freely, while owing allegiance to none.
STRONGBOW and THE MAKER
Strongbow is a Paladin (Oath of the Eagle Knight) descended from the Mazticans who helped found Fort Flame. The Maker is an Artificer (Mastermaker), who has collected knowledge from many different communities and travels widely to teach his arts.
They are based on American Eagle and Forge from Marvel Comics, respectively.
Looking for more Easter Egg NPCs? Look no further.
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