~ Varden Stonehold ~
Race: Dwarf, Shield
Age: 147 (looks around late 30's if human)
Height: 4’ 8” Weight: 189 lbs.
Appearance: Weather warn, clear eye'd and strait jawed. Dark blond-ish brown hair. A little learner then some, yet sturdy and sure footed.
Profession: Hunter, wilderness explorer, Deepstone mountaineer Orc hunter.
Habits/Hobbies: Killing Orc, whittling, killing Orc.
Quote: "I'm a Dwarf in all ways, a man of honor and deed. But I've also done what is needed to keep my family safe, I've had not the luxury of idealism."
Personality Profile
Gruff, battle hardened, does what he must to protect his kin, and strait shooting to-the-point speaker who avoids drama kind of man. He's able to think outside the box on tactics, but tends to focus on the solutions at hand rather then the moral chattering. With the Deepstone he spent most of his life in the deep mountain wilderness with small bands of Dwarven gorilla fighters living a military closely bonded brotherhoods. He finds the chaos of the larger world irritating, and feels uncomfortable around large groups being most comfortable in the wind swept mountains then anywhere else. The noise, and comfortable quarters, with those who "can't understand" what it's like out there, made him not stay at home very long, leaving as soon as the weather allowed for the simplicity of the hunt.
History
He was born to Jarand, the adopted son of Walark Stonehold, his 3rd son. His father Jarand was found as one of the many lost children before and after Stonebar's fall. His mother was Belrisa who has sense died a few years before he would leave the Stronghold. Perhaps one of the reasons he left sooner then later. His father would later be maried to Oldrid. They had to 2 sons Aberon, and Beltri. Beltri died recently in the western heartlands far from their home, and is something that still angers Varden with a fire he hides. While he has seem many even closer to him then his real brothers die, this stuck to him like a festering wound he can't shake as Beltri was the first true family sense his mother he'd lost. Something he spent his life fighting to save.
He joined the Deepstone mountaineers as soon as he was old enough. He even shared the founders name in common, it was almost like a sign of fate to him... even though he says does not believe in fate and only hard work, and training. That said there was plenty of knocking on stone and good luck rituals before battles done with the Deepstone. (like one might before a big football game). Deepstone Mountaineers are an elite squad of mountain warriors tasked with keeping the last few remaining Dwarven holds in the Aator secret from the roving band of Orc. Being staggering outnumbered they used assassinations of leaders, sowing chaos, raids, distractions, and luring off bands of Orc all to keep them from discovering the last Dwarven clan holds of Stonebar. After two hundred years of horrors this task was made far simpler after the "Battle of Shattered Spears" broke the backs of the Orc, and liberated Stonebar opening up trade and organized reinforcements in the Aator.
Jarand Stonehold's other sons were also slated to join the Deepstones but their homeland seemed to have other plans for them. They found themselves far from the Aator mountains and like all such Stoneholds in the heartland, they are still unable to return home. He must make the best of the situation until the events correspond to open a way home.
He arrived on the sword coast years back, and made his way to the Baldur's gate region. Much to his happy surprise discovering how many other Stonehold and Stonebar survivors there are. While fiercely loyal to his clan and family he has spent little time around them or the halls of Kraak Helzak preferring to stay out of politics of the realms and keeps to himself. He often finds him self out of the loop and unaware of the going ons do to this, something he has recently decided to remedy. He was given the rank of Shield of Stonebar, while never having seen Stonebar himself since it was liberated he was honored, but also felt he had earned it with a lifetime of blood and fighting. He's also been pondering the invitation to apply to the Grove, and if he'd really fit in with their outlook on life.
Goals:
Return home. Kill Orc. Protect his kin.