General:
Name: Zander Vruden
Age: 72 years
Deity: Marthammor Duin
Race: Shield Dwarf
Exploits: Equally terrible at lying and telling the truth it can be difficult to discern if Zander's exploits are based in reality.
Chief among his exploits was his lone adventure into the lair of a sleeping red dragon. He claims that he managed to sneak into the dragons lair and steal a fair amount of gold and a flaming dwarven waraxe of considerable power. But before leaving he made a dragon egg omelette from the flames snorting out the dragons nostrils.
Another exploit involved him being captured by a powerful wizard who imprisoned and shrunk him down to the size of a pea after being caught trying to make off with a bag full of magical trinkets. While imprisoned and in his shrunken state he encountered a small band of similarly miniaturized halflings who made him their mayor in admiration of his strength and ability to sneak up and kill the pesky house spiders that had plagued them. Unfortunately for the wizard it can prove difficult to keep track of miniature dwarves and halflings. Zander ordered his faithful halfling subjects to crawl up the nose and down the mouth of the wizard while he slept and deliver a batch of hand made spider poison from deep within. While this killed the wizard, it also effectively ended the curse causing a particularly gorey end to both the wizards and the halflings. Although saddened by the loss of his subjects, the requisition of the wizards magical trinkets helped him feel better.
Appearance:
Zander's frequent adventures into the wilds often leave his exposed skin and clothing muddied and stained. He insists that this helps him blend in with the wilderness and covers his scent from both prey and predators. His arms have various crude tattoos, one of them appears to be covering up a brand of some sort. His beard is magnificent, thick and full, women crave it and men want to be it.
Biography:
Zander was orphaned as an infant and was raised by an old dwarven smith of great talent who went only by the name Smiddi. He spent most of his youth in a small dwarven enclave nestled in the southernmost tip of the spine of the world mountains. His foster father insisted Zander call him grandpappy, and refused to acknowledge that Zander was not of his own bloodline. Zander's complete lack of interest in becoming a smith irritated his foster father to no end, often leading to angry and sometimes comical outbursts.
Initially trained as a warrior Zander soon became bored of his sheltered life and longed to explore the world. He spent a great deal of time wandering, learning how to track game and hide from the beasts and monsters which roamed about, returning home only to resupply and check in on his foster father.
While exploring the wilderness he ran afoul with a group of bandits who captured and enslaved him. However, instead of immediately trying to escape he attempted to learn as much from these bandits as possible. Although disgusted by their evil actions, he was impressed by their methods of stalking and assassinating those who tried to subdue them. He toiled diligently for his masters and eventually won the favor of one of the bandits who taught him the basics of the art of assassination. Satisfied he had learned all the bandit was willing to show him he escaped during the night and made his way back to his home.
Upon returning to the dwarven enclave he was greeted more coldly than usual, and scolded for his unusually long absence. When he explained what had transpired his kin were in disbelief that he could be so reckless. He assured his clanmates that he was careful to cover his tracks and had not been followed. Exhausted from his journey he went to his cot for some needed rest. When he awoke, he went to speak with his grandpappy again but to his horror he found that he had been poisoned, and he clearly recognized the handiwork of a skilled assassin. Strong willed as he was, his foster father did not survive the assassins handiwork.
When those in his clan discovered what had happened they became enraged, demanding that Zander pay for his actions with his own life. Some even felt that Zander may have been the one who poisoned him. Using the skills he had learned Zander made his escape, never to return to his home again. Zander spent a great deal of time exploring the wilds, looting dungeons and even stealing what he needed from travelers and small villages. He traveled south, always south, until he found himself at the great city of Baldurs Gate.
Quotes from Zander and "Grandpapy:"
"Grandpappy how come ye don't have a first name?"
"Because I be the last o' me line, except fer ye runty excuse fer a dwarf!"
"Grandpappy what does me name mean? No one else seems to know do you?"
"It means ungrateful brat who cannae use a hammer now bugger off!"
"Hmm, 'ungrateful brat who cannae use a hammer now bugger off', are ye sure that's what it means?"
"I neer been so certain o' anythin in me long life!"
"Grandpappy who was me mother? Did ye know who she was?"
"Oh aye, yer mum was a half dwarf, half chicken, half demon, half dracolich who made ye ta annoy me till I draw me last breath!"
"I'm not sure the math adds up on that grandpappy... I be afraid to ask who me father was now."
"Oh it adds up alright, now go make yerself useful and fetch me some ore, we has work to do."
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