Rise n' Shine Thursdays: The Legend of the Storm Maiden and The Legend of Saint Barbara
Thursday, December 4, 2025
5 AM. The wind is howling around the cabin this morning. It’s rattling the windowpanes and making the cypress trees dance in a way that makes you respect the sky. It’s fitting, because today is December 4th.
In the real world, today is the Feast of Saint Barbara. Before we get into the stats and the dice rolling, we need to understand why we celebrate this day. The story of Saint Barbara is one of the oldest and most intense legends of the early church, and it is the direct inspiration for what is happening in Thrivaldi today.
Barbara was the daughter of a wealthy pagan named Dioscorus in the 3rd Century. She was incredibly beautiful, so to "protect" her (and keep her away from Christian influences), her father locked her in a high tower. While imprisoned, she secretly converted to Christianity.
The turning point came when her father commissioned a bathhouse with two windows. While he was away, Barbara ordered the builders to add a third window, symbolizing the Holy Trinity. When Dioscorus returned and saw the change, he flew into a rage. He dragged his own daughter before the prefect, where she was tortured—but every morning, her wounds would miraculously heal.
Finally, Dioscorus decided to execute her himself. He took her up a mountain and beheaded her. But as he walked down the mountain, divine justice struck. A sudden, massive bolt of lightning descended from a clear sky and incinerated him instantly, leaving nothing but ash.
Because of this, Barbara became the patron saint of anyone in danger of sudden death from the sky—artillerymen, miners using explosives, and anyone caught in a violent storm.
We are honoring that legend today with our own piece of Zimrala history. Thanks to a discovery by my friend Donnell Honog and the artistic vision of Angela Head, we now know exactly who watches over our winter skies.
Donnell dug up an old write-up from our games during the desperate evacuation of Troll World. It tells the story of a brave Shrine Shield Maiden who held the line while others escaped. She fell in battle, sacrificing everything. But her party refused to leave her behind. They grabbed her body and dragged it through the portal, spilling out onto the shores of the Tygerian Isles.
But death was not the end for her.
The Resurrection on Thrasir Isle Due east of our frozen Thrivaldi lies Thrasir Isle, a land of perpetual tempests. This is the home of Lord Thunderous, the Storm Giant King, and his Storm Mage Queen, Laperal. It is also a sanctuary for Earth's storm deities—Thor and his wife Sif walk those thunderous peaks.
When the Shield Maiden's body was brought through, the Storm Gods looked down. They saw a warrior who died protecting the weak. At the same moment, the Spirit of Wintermas heard the plea of her departing soul.
In a convergence of cosmic power, they resurrected her. Lord Thunderous gave her the strength of the storm. Thor granted her the courage of a warrior. And the Spirit of Wintermas blessed her with the light of the Hearth. She was reborn as a unique hybrid: A Valkyrie of Thrasir and an Thrivaldi Angel of Wintermas.
The Ice Maidens: Her Elite Guard But a General needs an army. My friend Angela Head has revealed the forces that rallied to this new deity's side.
Serving as her Sentinels, Rangers, and Elite Honor Guard are the Frosty Tygerian Moon Elf Ice Maidens.
These are not your typical elves. They are Tygerian Moon Elves who have pledged their blades to the storm. They are swift as the wind and cold as the glacier. They patrol the "Storm of Corruption," acting as the eyes and ears of the Storm Maiden. If you see a flash of pale blue skin and silver armor in the blizzard, know that protection is near.
If you are running a session today (or in game-time on this date), the Storm Maiden and her Ice Maidens are watching over your party.
GM NOTE: THURSDAY EVENT MECHANICS
If you are running a session today (or in game-time on this date), the Storm Maiden and her Ice Maidens are watching over your party.
The Storm Rages: The weather is automatically set to Sif's Chilling Gale (L5) or The Great Blizzard (L8) for the entire day. Travel is dangerous.
The Maiden's Blessing: However, if a player takes a moment to light a special candle or say a prayer to the Storm Maiden before stepping out, they gain Resistance to Lightning and Thunder Damage for 24 hours.
The Angel's Mercy: Because she is also a Wintermas Angel, on this specific day, the "Hearth Fire" mechanic is doubled. Sharing a story restores 4d6 CON instead of the usual 2d6.
The Sentinel's Watch: If the party is in danger of freezing to death, there is a L3 SR on Luck that a squad of Ice Maidens will appear to guide them to shelter.
Static Charge (Offensive Boon): The air is thick with power. Any player wielding a metal weapon deals +1 Adding Damage (Lightning) on a successful hit as static discharges into the enemy.
The Wind's Warning (Defensive Boon): The Ice Maidens whisper on the gale. The party cannot be Surprised by enemies while outdoors today; the wind will always alert them to an ambush.
NEW LOOT TABLE: BLESSINGS OF THE STORM MAIDEN (1D6)
The Storm Maiden occasionally drops artifacts to those who brave the weather. Roll 1d6 to see what the storm brings you.
| 1d6 | Artifact Name | MM 2.7 Rules & Effect |
| 1 | The Third Window | A small crystal pane. When held up, it reveals invisible enemies and traps (True Sight). Once per day, it can cast Banish on a demon or spirit. |
| 2 | Valkyrie’s Winged Cloak | Grants the wearer Flight for 1 hour/day. While flying, you have +2 AP against ranged attacks. |
| 3 | Hammer of the Thunder-King | A warhammer that deals 5d6 Lightning Damage. On a roll of 6, it casts a loud thunderclap that stuns all enemies within 10ft (L3 SR on CON to resist). |
| 4 | Sif’s Golden Tresses | A magical rope that cannot be cut. It radiates warmth (prevents Hypothermia in a 10ft radius) and can be commanded to bind an enemy (L5 SR on STR to break). |
| 5 | The Lightning Rod Shield | A steel shield that absorbs all Electrical/Lightning damage. The wearer can then discharge that damage as a blast on their next turn (Range 20ft). |
| 6 | The Maiden’s Horn | When blown, it summons a squad of 1d3 Frosty Tygerian Moon Elf Ice Maidens to fight by your side for 3 turns. |
FULL STAT BLOCK: The Storm Shield Maiden
A Class/Monster Hybrid for MM 2.7
This profile combines the defensive discipline of a Shield Maiden with the elemental fury of a Storm Valkyrie.
I. CORE STATISTICS (Heroic Tier)
Role: Guardian / Elemental Striker
Kindred: Resurrected Human / Divine Hybrid (Immune to Lightning/Thunder)
Monster Rating (MR): 300 (30D6 + 150)
Attribute Scores:
STR: 45 | CON: 60 | DEX: 55 | SPD: 40
INT: 15 | WIZ: 40 | CHR: 60 | LK: 50
Combat Dice: 6D6 + 30
Personal Adds: +45 (Due to divine speed and strength)
Armor Rating: 12 (Celestial Chainmail + Shield)
II. SPECIAL ABILITIES
1. Shield Wall (Reaction Defense)
MM 2.7 Rule: Once per combat round, the Storm Maiden can use her shield to protect an adjacent ally. She transfers half her Armor Rating (6 AP) to that ally against a single attack.
2. Thunder Rebuke (Passive)
MM 2.7 Rule: If an enemy rolls doubles on their attack against the Storm Maiden (even if it misses), they are struck by a static discharge. The attacker takes 2D6 Lightning Damage instantly (no SR to resist).
3. Valkyrie's Flight (Active)
MM 2.7 Rule: By spending 5 WIZ, the Maiden can manifest wings of pure lightning. She gains Flight for 10 minutes. While flying, she gains +2D6 to all attack rolls due to aerial superiority.
4. The Opening Crash (First Strike)
MM 2.7 Rule: In the first round of combat only, the Storm Maiden strikes with the force of a thunderclap. Her Combat Dice are doubled (12D6) for that single round.
III. EQUIPMENT
Lightning Spear: Deals 4D6 + 6 Damage. Can be thrown (Range 100ft) and returns to her hand.
Aegis of the Storm: A shield etched with runes of Thor. Grants Immunity to Knockdown.
So, as you head out into your own Thursday, remember the Shield Maiden who refused to stay dead. The storm will come. The wind will howl. But if you keep your internal fire lit, you can weather anything.
Stay warm, friends. And keep an eye on the sky.
Next Stop: Friday. We prepare for the weekend deep dive.
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DESIGNATION OF PRODUCT IDENTITY: The following items are hereby designated as Product Identity as defined in Section 1(e) of the Open Game License Version 1.0a, and are NOT Open Game Content:
Website Brand: "The Adventures of Captain Hedges Across Time and Space" and all associated trade dress, logos, and branding.
Characters: Captain Hedges, Bayou Earl, Uncle Billy Goat, Isdis Nimises (The Ice Queen), The Storm Shield Maiden, Lord Thunderous, Queen Laperal, Zimrala Baby Tyger Claws (Clause), and the Frosty Tygerian Moon Elf Ice Maidens.
Settings & Locations: The world of "Zimrala," "Thrivaldi" (and the Winter Wonderlands), "Thrasir Isle," "Bodeleaf County," "Finland Bogs," "The Cypress Swamp," "Cryzelle," "Shadow Frost City," and "The Tygerian Isles."
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Real World Personas: The specific likenesses and creative contributions of "Angela Head" and "Donald Hong" as they appear in this fiction.
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Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Scott Fitzgerald Gray, with additional design by Jeffrey Baker, Stacy Bermes, Chris Dupuis, Greg Marks, Celese Newman, Jeremy Quilling, Curtis Scott, and Stephen Schubert, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
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Rise n' Shine Thursdays: The Legend of the Storm Maiden, Copyright 2025, [Your Name/Captain Hedges].
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