Rotgrim Murderbeard XV
Age: 53
Race: Duergar
Sex: Male
Date of birth: Eleasis 27th 1309
Place of birth: Dunspeirrin
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Patron deity: Deep Duerra
Profession: Mercenary
Classes: Fighter, Divine Champion, Whirling Dervish, Dwarven Defender
Primary language: Dwarven & Undercommon
Secondary languages: Elf, Orc, Gnome
Physical description
This figure stands shorter and more wiry than most dwarves. Weathered and rough ashen skin was stretched tightly over a muscular frame giving the male an appearance like that of a statue carved from cold and unforgiving rock. Creases and faint scars mar his skin giving the impression of a life spent in toil and hardship.
The male was mostly bald but what hair remained grew thick and held a stark white color. Coarse white hair travelled down and formed a massive beard that continued downward to his jaw. Adorned ontop of his great beard was a heavy mustache that curled at the ends.
The brow of the gray dwarf was pronounced and heavy. The eyes resting below the brow were recessed and shadowed appearing sunken. The orbs themselves were pure white and held a cold and unfriendly demeanor. The dwarf's other features were blunt and severe: a broad nose, pronounced cheek bones that seem almost chiseled on, and thick round ears.
When he spoke his voice was guttural, blunt, and practical and in his speech his R's were rolled, his accent antiquated and his tone prideful.
Psychological description
Blunt, stubborn, and absolutely no filter to his language. Rotgrim is an utterly unpleasant individual that speaks his mind, and mulish in his approach. Rotgrim perhaps seems most intrigued and impressed with history. Retelling the tale of his family name and his ancestors with great animation, but also from this historical passion comes a sense of duty and loyalty to his people: the duergar. To Rotgrim his people are his everything and that is where he will judge a duergar most harshly. Rotgrim cannot forgive a gray dwarf that is struggling or isn't quite the strongest duergar in the clan as Rotgrim places heavy and back breaking demands on himself and fellow Duergar's; but the one thing he truly cannot tolerate are traitors. Duergar who turn their backs on their clan, their religion, and the divine proclamation of their rulership over the Underdark are traitors and are to be treated with absolute disdain and hatred.
Religious views
Rotgrim can be defined so simply as a religious zealot. Deep Duerra is the way for all the Duergar people, and those who do not worship Deep Deurra better worship Laduguer, or are foreigners. Those who have turned their back on the Duergar pantheon are considered nothing more than worthless traitors to his people and the holy Queen Mother. Rotgrim's love for his Goddess transcends theological matters entirely, for Deep Duerra is the way and life of the Duergar people. Without her his people would not be free, and without her his people would have no destiny. The only thing Rotgrim hates more than Mindflayers is traitors; and traitors are to be dealt with severely and with extreme prejudice.
Immediate Family (NPC)
Name: Rotgrim 'The Traditionalist' Murderbeard XIV (NPC - Father)
Status: Alive
Description: The Fourteenth was an old Duergar unpleasant, strict, and untrusting. The Traditionalist has dedicated his life stubbornly to the future of Clan Murderbeard. Unfortunately, The Traditionalist is trapped in stubborn and unmoving ways. Opting to keep the gears moving rather than encouraging ambition and growth. The Traditionalist is not fond that his son is off adventuring for opportunity rather than learning to oversee the family's slaves and mercenaries. Deep down however, he is interested in seeing the family return to the golden age it once had according to the records.
Name: Branahilda Murderbeard (NPC - Mother)
Status: Alive
Description: Wife of The Traditionalist and mother to Rotgrim Murderbeard XV. Branahilda was a materialistic duergar female that holds her faith above all else. Deep Duerra is her patron like most of the rest of the family and in her devotion to Deep Duerra she truly believes in the supreme dominance of the Duergar. Though her greatest vice is greed. Branahilda is easily enamored with gold coins, trinkets, and baubles. This infatuation of gems and gold has put pressure on her husband to always find new and interesting treasures so much so that it has only contributed to his very unpleasant nature. Branahilda displays a shocking level of hospitality for a Duergar as she believes how she presents herself is very important. The Duergar mother holds her and her family name in high regard, and has no trouble at all mustering her wrath on those that would seek to tarnish it.
Name: Rotgrim 'The Adamant' Murderbeard XIII (NPC - Grandfather)
Status: Alive
Description: The thirteenth was an old and mostly unresponsive Duergar. Having endured, and issued back breaking labor his whole life even his Duergar body designed for labor could not bear much more. Blind in one eye and requiring some assistance to move. The Adamant is the true current patriarch of Clan Murderbeard though he is ill fit in his current state to rule and has since delegated the actual management and operations to his son The Traditionalist. The elder Duergar still instructs his son and his son's children from the shadows concerned he has not done enough to set an empire into motion.
Family History & Character History
~ The Mythological Age (Generations 1 - 6) ~
The Murderbeard family's beginnings are one shrouded in legend and mystery. Very little is known about what came before the family was once known as the Murderbeards. What is known now was passed down orally and through memory which leaves some of it to the imagination. It would not be until much later that true chronicles were kept to document the history of Clan Murderbeard. This 'Mythological Age' held only one Murderbeard of great significance and that was Rotgrim Murderbeard I. The clan name as it is known today was earned through the deeds and actions of Rotgrim I. During the Revolution of -3717 against the Illithid slavers it is said that Rotgrim I made his mark during the revolution by strangling an Illithid overseer with his own beard. An brutal act of violence that garnered the respect of his many kin and even attracted a bride for him. From this deed alone he earned his clan name and the nickname 'The Murder Beard'. It was said that the Murder Beard had many children including his first born son: Rotgrim II who would come to be known as: "The Silent Son".
Above; an sculpted depiction of The Murder Beard's legendary actions. Commissioned by Rotgrim VII (The Chronicler); it is worth noting that the image itself may not be accurate as no one truly knows what The Murderbeard looked like.
The Silent Son would be an unimpressive inheritor of the Murder Beard's name. Though that does not mean his place in the family history was insignificant. The Silent Son would set the tone for all future generations of Murderbeards. It is said that the Silent Son felt cheated out of his own personal glory by his fathers presence and ultimately lived in his shadow a grumbling and angry duergar. After all, it would take a great feat to stand out from the status of a Revolutionary Hero as his father before him was. The Silent Son would instead cultivate a warrior culture within the family. It was easy for him to continue the family as he was able to ride the glory of his father's deeds though he would never admit that was the case. Rotgrim III who would become known as 'The Hammer' would become a fairly known mercenary in the Underdark. Preferring to work for Duergar of much higher station he made a living on and gained a reputation with his trusty war hammer. An honest and respectable living would make a simple yet effective life for the Hammer and soon he and his wife would bring their own son into the world: Rotgrim IV 'The Stonehand'. The Stonehand served as an architect, mason, and engineer that specialized in militaristic constructions. The Stonehand's brothers and sisters honored their grand-father's name by following combat pursuits and would become guards and enforcers to the very institutions the Stonehand built. The Stonehand would be succeeded by his son whom would like The Silent Son had before him, lurked in the shadow of his father. Continuing his work and preparing for the new generation. With the strongholds built, and the fighting men stationed the arrival of Rotgrim VI was perfectly timed. Known as the Black Ledger, he would serve as the first to take a more mercantile stance as patriarch of the Murderbeard family. A ruthless and very cut-throat business man, it is said the Black Ledger was a duergar wise beyond his many years, and more cunning than the smartest of the Illithid. The Black Ledger only handed over the patriarchal throne once his body could work no more. The next son would become the clan's second founder.
~ The Age of Conquest (Generations 7 - 9) ~
Rotgrim VII known as the "Chronicler" was a duergar that was born into what was nearly the height of the Murderbeard Clan's rise to power. Inheriting his father's intelligence and possessing an unusual amount of charm for a Duergar; the Chronicler was the Clan's greatest businessman. Pulling all of the right strings and expanding all avenues for business. In addition to The Chronicler's impressive business prowess, the Chronicler was also a visionary that saw great things for the Clan and wanted to see it rise above that of a simple warrior clan. Presently, The Chronicler served as the architect for the Murderbeard family including the expansion of their mercantile empire, the development of the clan's heraldry, and perhaps most important of all he ensured the history of his clan was engraved in stone. The Chronicler was an eccentric enjoyer of the arts and was known for commissioning sculptors to make grand engravings of his family's history. The Chronicler's brothers and sisters would learn such arts and pass that down to their own children making the stone engravings an valuable part of their record keeping. Though in the shadows of the Underdark success can never simply be left alone. Clan Ironmark a rival duergar clan of merchant slavers that were much better connected. Constant failures, businesses stolen, and trade deals out maneuvered saw the Ironmark clan suffering greatly from The Chronicler's constant motions. It was the last straw when a supply cart for Ironmark's operations was picked clean of it's mining tools. One night the Chronicler had held a great feast to celebrate the anniversary of Clan Murderbeard inviting cousins and other family. The feast however would be cut short and the anniversary spoiled by a hired drow assailant who slew the Chronicler with a well aimed hand crossbow's bolt.
Above; an sculpted depiction of Rotgrim 'The Chronicler' VII's assassination. Commissioned by Rotgrim VIII (The Auditor).
The assailant however did not escape and was questioned viciously by The Chronicler's Son: Rotgrim Murderbeard VIIII. Sixteen hours of torture revealed that he was hired by the Ironmark Clan to deal with Clan Murderbeard's beloved patriarch. It was at this moment Rotgrim VIIII would earn his name the 'Auditor'. Hellbent on correcting the slight against his family name; the Auditor marched onto Clan Ironmark's home in a brutal frontal assault using slaves as shock troopers and canon fodder. It was a brutal assault that left many of Murderbeard's own retinue of slaves, servants, and family deceased. It is said none of Clan Ironmark survived the relentless assault and their home and holdings were utterly absorbed by clan Murderbeard. From this acquisition the Clan saw the height of it's golden age fondly labeled the 'Age of Conquest'. The Clan would change hands to Rotgrim IX who would be given the title 'The Overseer'. The Overseer expanded all of Clan Murderbeard's holdings but particularly focused on slavery. The efforts of the Overseer allowed the Murderbeard family to enjoy a generation of great wealth and abundance. It seemed like there was nothing more the Murderbeard's could ever want or need. Of course there isn't ever truly such a thing as 'enough'.
~ The Fall (Generations 10 - 14) ~
It can be said that decadence and indulgence are the greatest forces of ones self destruction. Rotgrim Murderbeard X or as he would come to be known "The Falsebeard" was the next heir to the patriarchal throne. The Falsebeard grew up a tyrannical and spoiled child that enjoyed delegating, commanding, and taking shortcuts. The Falsebeard enjoyed the privileges of being part of a wealthy family but never truly understood nor cared for the kind of labor that builds empires like these in the first place. Demanding, insufferable, and lazy; the Falsebeard had little true interest in the family heritage and was more than happy to bite the very hand that fed. The Falsebeard would be quick to scorn the origins of his heritage if it meant his own personal gain. The Falsebeard would manage slaves with a cruel impracticality and kept the money coming in order to enjoy a rather lavish lifestyle for a Duergar. Despite all of this he was still unhappy and he had wanted more. The spoiled Duergar went behind his own family and made deals with Tanar'ri demons. The Falsebeard would sacrifice slaves and even some of his own family's souls in exchange for great power and wealth. The depraved craving for power would be the Falsebeard's undoing as demonic influence slowly overtook his mind. Others began to notice and take note of his behavior becoming stranger and more absurd with each passing day. Finally his own brother Vorgrim I had motioned to do something about it but at that point it was too late. The Falsebeard grew to the height of his power and had Vorgrim I captured and his soul offered to his demonic masters. This deed would not go unnoticed though as the ritual and offering were observed by Vorgrim I's wife Nismora. Nismora enraged and sickened by the actions of the Falsebeard called mercenaries and her personal retinue of soldiers to confront the Falsebeard. The mask had fallen off and The Falsebeard would engage Nismora and her men in combat only for Nismora to see defeat. A narrow retreat from the family stronghold would spare many but not all members of the family. It was at this moment The Falsebeard fully chose to renounce his heritage. Driven mad by power to the point where he believed himself to be an immortal demi-god; The Falsebeard shaved his beard believing it to be a sign of 'filth' and 'mortality', and instead took the name: Ozgunnoth. Nismora saved many of the family but not all of the family from the clutches of Ozgunnoth. Among them were: Rotgrim Murderbeard XI & Vorgrim II her own son. The remainder of the family had lived far away from their home and they could only watch as it fell into demonic influence. During this time away from the stronghold Rotgrim and Vorgrim would train themselves in combat and a means to combat magic. Hope lay with Rotgrim and Vorgrim. They were mentored by crusaders and champions of Deep Duerra who instilled feelings of conquest and superiority of Duergar kind. Rotgrim XI in particular would become known for his violent zeal and he would be through his religious trials given the title: 'The Zealot'. The Zealot and Vorgrim I hated traitors, and were even more angered by Ozgunnoth and his treachery. When the two completed their training they would march upon their twisted and destroyed family home, now the grounds for an abyssal cult. Without mercy they would cut down slave, servant, and cultist until they came upon the ruined remains of the family throne room. The mad Ozgunnoth seated in the very chair where the Chronicler had been assassinated greeted them with a band of lesser demons at his command. The Zealot and Vorgrim engaged with their party; though they suffered many losses. Many died both mercenary and loyal family alike. Ozgunnoth the treacherous warlock would be felled by The Zealot and his blade. Vorgrim II would also survive the assault and ordered the remains of Ozgunnoth be dismembered, desecrated, and then subsequently fed to large lizards. Despite this the damage has been done and while the family stronghold had been reclaimed it was in disrepair and would require great work to rebuild it to its former glory. Even with Ozgunnoth's treasures seized it would be not enough to cover the resources and labor required. The family Stronghold could not even reach a shadow of its former glory.
Above; an sculpted depiction of The Zealot and two Duergar allies confronting Ozgunnoth in the family throne room. Commissioned by Rotgrim XIII (The Adamant).
The actions of Ozgunnoth were harsh on the entirety of the clan, and their neighbors saw them as little more than trouble. While The Zealot was a great warrior and a hero of Clan Murderbeard he was unfortunately no builder. Enter The Zealot's son: Rotgrim XII who would come to be known as The Redeemer. The Redeemer dedicated the entirety of his life erasing the corruption of his grandfather before him. The Stronghold was rebuilt but smaller, family art was rescued and restored, and the family was brought back together under his careful guidance. Though his efforts were great it was ultimately a small victory as the damage Ozgunnoth inflicted upon Clan Murderbeard were so great it truly would take generations to even begin rebuilding. Following in his father's footsteps was Rotgrim XIII or as he would come to be known as: The Adamant. The Adamant continued his father's work and focus almost primarily upon preserving family history to ensure the same mistakes were not made ever again. In addition to these efforts the Adamant would restore the Clan's cultural traditions of being a warrior clan while still upholding the religious zeal of his grandfather The Zealot. The Adamant lives still but has stepped down as the patriarch of the family and instead has delegated his powers to his son: Rotgrim Murderbeard XIV or as the family archivists have called him 'The Traditionalist'. The bleak current state of the family still rests heavy on the shoulders of the Murderbeards and The Traditionalist earned his name by dictating the family back into the old direction. Now that the history is secured, and relations were restored it was time to rebuild. The Traditionalist knew that the only way to accomplish this would be to live up to their family name: Murder. The children of the Traditionalist were raised with a formal education, a martial education, and a strong religious education. All children of The Traditionalist were demanded to enter martial vocations.
~ The Future (Rotgrim Murderbeard XV) ~
Rotgrim Murderbeard XV was The Traditionalist's first born son and the inheritor of the tarnished yet great family name: Rotgrim. Rotgrim was an adventurous and wild boy who could not sit still for too long. As a young Duergar he felt the need to explore and 'conquer' the very land he marched upon. Despite this adventurous nature he was not one to turn his back on responsibilities or duties. In fact it was quite the opposite he reveled in it. All of The Traditionalist's children reserved a religious education but for Rotgrim the message resonated mostly clearly while he was growing up. Rotgrim pledged himself as a crusader to Deep Duerra's cause and dogma. The supremacy of the Duergar people, and their destiny to the rule the depths. While his interest in the faith was great he was certainly not the stuff of priests and would prove to excel most greatly in martial combat. In his youth Rotgrim wanted to live up to the family name so greatly and redeem the still very dark shadow left behind by the Ozgunnoth. In his youth he would first serve as a guard for temples dedicated to Deep Duerra, and then he offered his services to the far wealthier Duergar families of Dunspeirrin but ultimately would be ridiculed for his family's past occasionally getting some jobs. Despite the stain upon his family name the talents of Rotgrim the fifteenth were anything but ignorable and very quickly he would acquire the attention elite mercenary companies in the Underdark. With them his skills would grow exponentially and his eye for management made him a key for leadership. While he was offered greater leadership positions in other Duergar company, Rotgrim declined having much stronger ambitions for his own goals. Rotgrim would return home after many years of jobs only to find himself disappointed with the state of things. It wasn't that the family was losing power; it was that the family had become stagnate. The Adamant had become old and his mind had gone and The Traditionalist had become excellent at management and operations but was lacking in aspirations for greatness. Seeing this steady stagnation as unproductive Rotgrim took it upon himself to leave the homestead to seek out wealth and prestige using his expertise in violence as his vehicle to achieving greatness both for himself and his venerable clan. At the age of 53 Rotgrim would set out from his home in Dunspeirrin and march towards Sshamath seeking opportunity and wealth. There he would found the 'Murder Kiln Mercenary Company' as his tool to meet his goals. Rotgrim hopes to use the Murder Kiln company to bring treasure, pride, and power to his clan. Through his leadership and devotion Rotgrim too also seeks to bring victory to the Duergar people through expansion and conquest in Deep Duerra's name and his family's.
Heirloom Item
The Murderbraid
This well preserved belt appears to be made of a composite of materials: leather, brass, and most peculiar blackened hair. It is said that the hair was cut from the beard of Rotgrim 'The Murder Beard' Murderbeard I. During preparation for his funeral though no record of the artifact existed until the item's discovery by The Black Ledger. Regardless of its authenticity the belt has been well preserved and maintained and its craft was done so by none other than the hand of a true master of leather working arts.
The Auditor's Signet Ring
An authentic piece of Murderbeard family history. The Auditor's signet ring was one of the first signet rings ever forged. Originally commissioned by The Chronicler, these signet rings were designed to assert the authority of the Murderbeard family. This ring in particular however was owned by the Auditor as the sides display his numerals. This ring is worn and has seen better days with it holds the ferocity of a grudge bearing Duergar eager to settle the score.
Helm of the Zealot
A practical and unremarkable looking armet helmet from the outside. An undiscerning eye would see this item and not think much of it, but those with a more dwarven eye for craftsmanship know to look beyond exteriors. The inside of the helmet was a luxurious piece made to be a comfortable fit on the wearers head. It's overall practical engineering despite looking unremarkable was impressive. Comfortable to wear, and expertly designed. A brass tag on the inside of the helmet reads: RM-XI indicating its previous owner.
Plot Hooks
* Religious service - A devout follower of Deep Duerra, Rotgrim is personally interested in spreading her dogma and fulfilling the destiny of the Duergar people.
* Mercenary Work - Rotgrim's company 'The Murder Kiln' is always looking for work and Rotgrim is always eager to bloody his hands like his ancestors before him.
* Family Politics - As the first born with a name and destiny of becoming the family patriarch one day, familial politics are an excellent way to get hooked in with or for Rotgrim to get hooked into a plot.
