Herd of Storms

The Herd of Storms, also known as the Herd of the Storm, was a roving band of subsistence raiders in Tal'Dorei comprised primarily of goliaths (in terms of race) and barbarians (in terms of class). It was disbanded by Thunderlord Zanroar following the Herd's decimation by an ancient black dragon, Umbrasyl.

Grog Strongjaw originated from the Herd of Storms, and his conflict with them formed a major part of his backstory.

Society
Historically, the Herd of Storms wandered throughout Tal'Dorei as hunter-gatherers and raiders, preying upon weaker individuals and communities. The Herd's culture emphasizes a "might makes right" approach to justice. Codes of personal and collective honor tend to prevent political and social anarchy, although personal challenges, fairly declared, are suitable means for social mobility and political revolution. When appearing weak or violating the bounds of honor, swift and overwhelming punishment may be dealt upon the offender despite familial or other bonds of loyalty.

Herd of Storm honor duals and do not interve regardless of the circumstances.

The members of the herd arrange pyres for their fallen companions, which is a standard after-battle remembrance ritual to give the warriors proper heroes' sending.

Shale, a member of the herd, once mentioned a game named goatball, where all contestants stand on pillars of rock, and hurl balls made of goatskins at each other. The object of the game is to knock the other opponents off their pillars. She also said that Grog was "the runt of the goatball team".

Juggernauts
A small number of barbarians in the Herd of Storms became known as Juggernauts for their ability to smash through defenses, wade into groups of foes with an unbreakable rage, and stand against all attempts to stop them. Those who survived still teach the Path of the Juggernaut.

Known members
Alphabetical order by first name:
 * Greenbeard (dead; killed by Grog)
 * Grog Strongjaw (abandoned by the herd)
 * Horace (dead; killed by Grog)
 * Kevdak (former leader; dead; killed by Grog)
 * Cole
 * Shale
 * Stonejaw Strongjaw (dead)
 * Suda (dead; killed by Grog)
 * Skyhaal, child of Worra and Zanroar
 * Worra
 * Zanroar (former leader; disbanded the Herd)

Background
At some point after the Herd abandoned Grog and a year before the Chroma Conclave attacked Tal'Dorei, Zanroar killed the leader of the Rivermaw Tribe and commanded the tribe's members to join the Herd of Storms.

After the Chroma Conclave attacked Westruun, the Herd took that moment and we rushed into the town, feasting on the remains of the city until the ancient black dragon named Umbrasyl made his returned. He killed a lot of the tribe members, roosted atop Gatshadow Mountain and began collecting tribute and prey from the city. Thunderlord Kevdak swore fealty to Umbrasyl and governed the broken city, preparing regular offerings to the dragon by pillaging from the citizens.

Dissolution
After Grog and the rest of Vox Machina slew Kevdak, Grog appointed Zanroar the new thunderlord. Zanroar declared that the Herd would defeat the dragon, Umbrasyl. With fearsome and mighty Kevdak defeated, and faced with a foolhardy fight against an ancient black dragon, the Rivermaw Tribe members chose to break free from the Herd of Storms and return to their marshlands. Although initially resistant, Zanroar and Worra decided, with Vox Machina's counsel, to allow the Rivermaw to leave the Herd without contest.

After some planning and preparation, Vox Machina and the Herd of Storms ambushed Umbrasyl, losing most of the Herd members to the dragon's acid breath attacks. After suffering serious injuries, Umbrasyl retreated to his lair. Vox Machina pursued, meeting a goliath along the way named Shale—who herself had fortunately survived a scouting mission that ended in the deaths of all of her Herd companions. After helping to slay Umbrasyl, Shale returned to Thunderlord Zanroar, who decided (with her counsel) to leave Westruun with the surviving members of the Herd and join the Rivermaw Tribe. The Herd of Storms, Zanroar proclaimed, was dead. Before they left, the twelve surviving members of the herd, including Zanroar and Worra commemorated their fallen comrades, seting aflame their bodies in the open field, north of Westruun, giving them "the proper heroes' sending".

Grog and Vox Machina returned to Zanroar the next day and Grog explained to Zanroar where to find some of Umbrasyl's hoard atop Gatshadow to help with whatever the Herd would do next. Zanroar revealed to them his intent to join the Rivermaw. He felt that his people owed the Rivermaw a debt from Kevdak's reckless and vicious actions and that they needed to find a more peaceful life suitable for raising children.

Zanroar and Worra's child would be the first child of the Herd of Storms born after its dissolution.

Legacy
In an adventure hook Blood of the Dragon from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, the acid and magical blood of the Umbrasyl's corpse seeped through the caverns of Gatshadow, transforming the mountain's filled with poison, oozes, and the spirits of goliaths from the Herd of Storms that failed to kill the dragon, were transformed into black dragonborn warriors, and flew to the Ashen Gorge.