Shale

Shale is a goliath fighter from the Herd of Storms. She was played by special guest Chris Perkins.

Appearance

Shale is an older goliath woman. She has dark hair in dreadlocks that she wears back in a ponytail. Her body is covered in tattoos, as is customary among goliaths. She is heavily battle scarred, missing her right eye and her left forearm, which she lost in an avalanche.

Background

Old and physically impaired, the herd had not afforded Shale much respect in recent years, especially under Thunderlord Kevdak's brash and battle-hungry leadership. As part of a goliath scouting party to Umbrasyl's cave on the peak of Gatshadow Mountain, Shale was slower than her companions.

" Umbrasyl " (1x55)

Descending Gatshadow after the loss of her party, Shale made her way through the Bramblewood Forest and emerged just as Vox Machina was recovering from their attempt to kill Umbrasyl. Grog Strongjaw recognized Shale, and after agreeing on a wary alliance to finish off the black dragon, Shale and the group flew on giant eagles to the mountain peak in search of Umbrasyl's lair.

Willing to enter battle against a dragon that she was, by all accounts, almost certain to lose, Shale had a general sense that her life was already over and a glorious death was all she could hope to achieve. She offered her possessions to Vox Machina in the event of her demise, even explaining what the items can do. Shale survived the battle and gave her dragon-tooth necklace to Grog, who dealt the repeated killing blows, in honor of his victory.

After aiding Vox Machina in the successful slaying of Umbrasyl at Gatshadow's peak, Shale returned to Thunderlord Zanror outside Westruun. Zanror, upon considering Shale's wisdom on their victory and the nature of life and death in battle, announced that the Herd of Storms was destroyed and perhaps the survivors should now join the Rivermaw Tribe for a more peaceful life better suited to raising children. Shale commended the decision.

Goliath Abilities

• Mountain Born
• Natural Athlete
• Powerful Build
• Stone's Endurance

Fighter abilities

• Fighting Style
• Second Wind
• Action Surge (once per rest)
• Martial Archetype: Battle Master
  • Combat Superiority
  • Student of War
  • Know Your Enemy
  • Improved Combat Superiority
• Extra attack (3 attacks)
• Indomitable (two uses per day)

Maneuvers

As a 13th-level Battle Master, Shale knows seven combat maneuvers and has five Superiority Dice, which are d10s.

• Goading Attack

Notable Items

• A large, runed, +1 quarterstaff (this custom weapon functions as a Robe of Useful Items with runes instead of patches)
• A dragon-tooth necklace (doubles hit points restored by hit dice; given to Grog Strongjaw)
• Horn of Blasting

Appearances and mentions

• Campaign One
  • " Umbrasyl " (1x55) (first appearance)
  • " Hope " (1x56)

Quotations

• (to Umbrasyl) "Oh, shut up, you flying suitcase!"