Barak Stoneshield. Biography and long-winded tale.

[StrayArrow]

Barak Stoneshield

Alignment: Lawful neutral.

Eyes: Light blue, almost grey.
Height: 5'2"
Age: 66
Build: Tall for a dwarf, but still shaped like a barrel. He is heavily muscled (STR 18), he can hold his drink, and take a beating (CON 16).
Demeanor: Though gruff, insensitive and loud like many dwarves, he does at rare times glimmer through with a force of personality (CHA 9). He is a fine tactician, and pick up skills easily (Int 14), though his his judgement does not shine particularly bright (WIS 10).
Clan: Stoneshield, out of Sundabar.
Languages known: Jotun and Orc.
Deity: Clangeddin Silverbeard.
Likes: Ale, spirits, smashing goblin nose, and knee-capping giants.
Dislikes: Deep hatred of giants, normal hatred of goblins, strong dislike of orcs, and a deep seated irritation with snoot-nosed elves.

He is a trained fighter against giants, orcs and goblins, showing early prowess with the waraxe. Also, one of his stronger talents is shield-rushing and hammering foes into the ground with anything from tower shields to keg-lids.



Earlier history:
No proper dwarf should live above ground. The Stoneshields were living in houses of stone in Sundabar. Though by human standards it would look like fine abodes, the dwarves were grumpy. It was decided by the Longbeards that they go seek riches in the mountains. The finest warriors, warpriests and prospectors of the Stoneshield clan formed an expedition to see if the Greypeak mountains were worth settling. The clan where also enthusiastic worshippers of Clangeddin, and that the mountains rumored to have giants in them inspired the more warlike of the clan (which was most).

Excerpts from a half-burnt journal found by a merchant on the side of the road towards Loudwater:

"After fighting off some lackluster goblin attacks, and enduring some miserable weather, we came upon a promising looking cave. We made camp, while some ventured deeper to scout for dangers and sample the geology. After ousting a grumpy cave-bear (who trampled grand uncle Hardruns supper on his way out), it was found that the far end seemed to have collapsed, but were like to go further when coaxed with pickaxe. Thus it was decided that this would be the main base of operations, and digging would commence the next day. "

[The scribblings seem more and more hasty as the journal progresses]

"We hear thunder and drums in the distance. Warpriest Reknar believes that it is giant activity nearby. We sharpen axes."

"Breakthrough! The collapsed tunnel lead to vast underground caverns. They seem quiet for now. The head prospector smells magnetite, banded with shale. We sharpen pickaxes."

"Hargrimm notice trembles in the stone. I tell him it's just me swinging the pickaxe. Hargrimm is unconvinced. I am offended."

"The warpriest scries giant activity. Prospector Magnar smells tetrahedrite. I secretly draw up plans for a forge. We sharpen both axe and pickaxe."

"The ground tremble with giant stomps. Hargrimm says he told me so. I insult his beard. The expedition leader has had the foresight to build a fortified door. Eyes watch us in the caverns. We post crossbow guards."

"A scout has not returned from an outside foray. Warpriest scries for signs. We shoot cavebats in the caverns."

"Missing scout was found in the form of a red puddle. Stomped on by giant while relieving his bladder. We sharpen everything but the furniture."

"An umber hulk attacks our miners. I throw an axe at it which glances off. The warpriest takes it down with something hot and noisy. We are short on ale. Grumpiness ensues."

"Giants stomp on our doorstep. We shut the door. Goblins harrass our supplies from below. Narfinn runs after them, an axe in each hand, and fails to return"

"Narfinn wanders into the caverns white-faced and rambling like that gnome who fell into the distillery. There are cats that are not cats, and someone is fishing them. I think he misses his own cat. Goblin raids continue."

"The giants are probing our door. The priest lit up with glee as his fire rune went off. I brain two goblins with a stone tankard and one with my shield. Hargrimm borrowed my axe. He should get his own."

"Somehow the giants passed the defenses of the door. I think it killed at least one and crisped another. They may have shamans. We just about emptied our stock of quarrels driving them off. We manage to get up enough defenses to keep the goblins out of our caverns."

"The goblins have taken on new vigor! they also have better weapons. The leader of the expedition think something leads them from below. We await the reinforcements from Sundabar. We tire of cavemushroom spirits and cavemushroom stew."

"The reinforcements are very late. We build many traps to pass the time. Goblins smell even worse after squished by traps."

"The warpriest tries to contact Sundabar magically. It fails. Someone blocks us. We hide our winnings in a side-cavern set to collapse. No-one shall have what is ours."

"The goblins are pressing through the traps with sheer numbers. Something has them whipped into a frenzy. The giants are tearing up the entrance. We collapse the tunnels."

"We sally forth! Our finest warriors backed by warpriests engages the giants. I have the honor of rear guard with ten others. A goblin shoots me in the arse. I shoot him in the head. We push through and the rear guard is the front guard, while our warriors hold off the giants.

"It is night. The giants seem to have let up. The goblins are probably crawling out of every hole. I seem to hear odd chanting above me- *The rest ends in an inkblot*"

Barak and his companion Hargrimm is found in the wilds near Loudwater by a ranger company. Burnt, beaten and dehydrated, but still breathing. After convalescing in the town, they have an argument about where to go. As they have no coin or even their equipment, they decide to take up as caravan guards so they can get back to Sundabar. Due to difficulties of coin and equipment they end up in different caravans, but agrees to meet up in Waterdeep. Hargrimm never makes it to Waterdeep. Word is his caravan had to travel further north to avoid bandits. Barak has an argument with a local snooty noble and prudently jumps on the first caravan incidentally going towards Baldurs Gate.

Thus the adventure continues...

(If anything of this is inconsistent with canon, please let me know and I shall make amends. There is likely material on dwarves I have yet to read.)