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Midgard Tales: Hune the Doorlord

Midgard Tales: Hune the Doorlord

Hune by Jeff McFarlandThe Midgard Tales Kickstarter continues gathering more patrons, and we want to share our joy at seeing so many more people join in on the fun. So, without further ado, we present to you Hune the Doorlord. Many thanks go to our current patrons, and we hope to see more of you back this project in the near future!

The sage’s tomes abound with tales of the enigmatic godling known as Hune the Doorlord. With his tattered gray greatcoat, tricorne hat, and gaunt face seemingly worn down by the ravages of time, he has played a part in some of the most pivotal events of history. It was the Doorlord who provided the Cult of Chuul access to the inner palace. It was the Doorlord who allowed the Crimson Rider to cross the hundreds of miles to warn the Imperial Army. It was the Doorlord who gave passage to the ill-fated Barrett Expedition.

What is unknown to the vast majority of those who know of the Doorlord is his true nature. Known ten thousand years ago as Karakhune the God of Portals, Hune is the last flickering ember of that dying deity. Long ago brought down by the current pantheon of gods, who eradicated the worshipers of those who came before, Hune subsists on a few sycophants to avoid snuffing out completely. He has no real mind left; just the driving goal of his core function—the creation of portals—and so he wanders Midgard, providing his unique talent to any he comes across. Many merchant caravans have crossed whole continents in the blink of an eye. But the Doorlord is not picky when it comes to his customers. Thieves, saints, warlords, commoners—it does not matter to him.

Those who come upon Hune the Doorlord might hear his harsh whispering voice ask them a single question: “Door?” If they answer in the affirmative and pay the Doorlord’s price, they can request passage to anywhere. His price for this service is somewhat random. It is always something the requester has on hand, but it varies from person to person. Sometimes it is a precious magic item, other times a bit of rations or a pint of blood. No one knows to what purpose the Doorlord puts these items, and most find it’s best not to ask. The portals themselves last only for as long as it takes the requester and his companions to enter, and passage is a one-way trip. Locked rooms, forbidden fortresses, great distance, magical defensives—nothing can block one of the Doorlord’s portals.

The Doorlord’s influence can be felt not only in the history books, but also in the current age. A number of scattered groups pay homage to Hune. The Cult of the Gaping Door in the Grand Duchies believe that nothing should be closed or secured and take fanatical pride in burglarizing the homes of the wealthy simply to unlock their doors, chests, and safes. The small Temple of Passage in the Crossroads promotes magical transportation and offer teleportation services for astronomical fees. There is even a pirate in the Western Ocean named Captain Bartholomew Wayfen, whose ship, the Open Passage, sails under the flag of the unlocked door.

Hune the Doorlord can be encountered anywhere on Midgard. He follows no pattern and simply appears and disappears according to his own mysterious logic. Some say he is drawn to those who desperately need a passage and it is true that many of the stories surrounding the Doorlord concern those who greatly desired faster travel or access to the inaccessible. Other scholars contend that Hune is searching for something to rekindle his godhood; some hidden artifact that if found could breathe new life into the ember that is the Doorlord and rekindle the rebirth of the God of Portals.

Game Element: Taking Passage with Hune the Doorlord

For the few lucky enough to partake in the Doorlord’s services, the passage through his portals is not always easy. He is immortal, but not as powerful as a full-fledged deity, and because of that his transports sometimes go awry. Refer to the following table for portal results:

d10: Portal Results
1: GM’s decision
2: Arrive 5 miles away from intended destination
3–8: Arrive at intended destination
9: Arrive 50 miles away from intended destination
10: Arrive in another plane

We hope that Hune becomes a part of your gaming enjoyment. To add more tales to your game, please venture over to the Midgard Tales Kickstarter page and consider becoming a backer!

8 thoughts on “Midgard Tales: Hune the Doorlord”

  1. It’s so odd how so many articles written here just seem to automatically fit something I’m thinking of. And not only fit, but complete the whole thing! Brilliant!

  2. Wow! This is fantastic Brian! I really like the Cult, the Temple and Captain Wayfen flying under the flag of the Open Door. Love to see that flag!

    I like Hune’s name, and his rich history – his current status is compelling and nebulous at the same time. But you know what I like about Hune the most – although doors, portals and wardens are old hat, Hune is fresh and refreshing and thankfully not tied to any real-world cultural memes. I’m really looking forward to seeing more innovative takes on old-tropes, or gods-forbid, new tropes!

  3. Hey! I’m on the blog….Sweeeeet!

    Thanks for the kudos gang. I hope to see more really great Legends coming out of the Midgard Tales project.

  4. I am looking forward to the books. I am still trying to figure out what part to use in my mini-adventure. There is so much rich content to pull from. I feel like a kid in a candy store not able to choose which treat to have.

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