Meamnar:Obryn Stoneshoulder

A lone dwarf stands before you. His fierce eyes stare you down from under an iron helm. A cloak of wolf and bear pelts cover a chain shirt that glints sharply in the torchlight from behind a brown beard that reaches almost to his knees. A second cloak can be seen glimmering here and there beneath the pelts. A footman's pick dangles at his belt inches from his tensed hand. A small, scarred stone etched with runes and an image of a battleaxe can be seen underneath his beard. You catch the gleam of a dagger hilt protruding from one of his hard leather boots. A crossbow and an odd iron staff are strapped to a worn, bulging leather backpack slung over one shoulder. The dwarf finally speaks in a low, gravelly tone that slowly rises to a controlled shout. "I am Obryn Stoneshoulder of the Iron Halls, of the Deep Realm, son of Baern Giantsbane, grandson of Valdyr, blood of Erden the Grim, Warrior-Priest of Clanggedin." The silence that follows those words is broken only by the same icy stare. Moments pass, then the dwarf takes two solid steps forward, bends to one knee, and bows his head. "At your service, Dungeon Master," he growls.

Aliases

• Obryn of the Deep Realm (to a stranger, outside of the Spine)
• Obryn of the Iron Halls (to a stranger, within the Spine)
• Obryn of the dwarves (hostile)
• Obryn Stoneshoulder (among dwarves)
• Obryn Stoneshoulder of the Iron Halls, of the Deep Realm, son of Baern Giantsbane, grandson of Valdyr, blood of Erden the Grim, Warrior-Priest of Clanggedin

The Stoneshoulder Clan

If ever there was a need for skilled mountaineers, it exists in the Serpent's Spine. Despite being known primarily for their work in the mines and the forges, the dwarves of the Spine have excelled at traversing the dangerous peaks of their homeland as well. The Stoneshoulder clan was forged centuries ago around that task. Stoneshoulders number about two hundred, with nearly all having some degree of climbing experience. Since their skills often take them well beyond the walls of their home, many Stoneshoulders have become merchants, traders, and caravan masters, while others have pursued the arts of diplomacy, heraldry, and politics.

Lineage

Erden the Grim, great-great-great-grandfather of Obryn, was a miner of the Spine in the early ninth century of Northern Reckoning. In 715 NR, Spine miners broke through into the Underdark. In the ensuing battle, Erden single-handedly held his ground against a swarm of drow while his fellow dwarves worked to seal the passage behind him. In 952 NR, when the shaft was reopened, over one hundred and fifty drow skeletons were found along with Erden’s. The drow, unable to defeat just one dwarf, had apparently sealed their end of the passage as well.

Valdyr, grandfather of Obryn, was a famous mountaineer in the tenth century of Northern Reckoning. He was the first dwarf to scale Red Wyrm’s Peak, the tallest mountain in the Spine, about twenty-five miles southwest of the Halls.

Baern Giantsbane, father of Obryn, was a member of the Silveraxe Mercenary Company. The Silveraxes were famous for defeating several frost giants north of Manetheren, as well as the pursuit and slaughter of a group of hill giants near Crescent.

Obryn

Obryn Stoneshoulder of the Halls of the Spine, of the Deep Realm, son of Baern Giantsbane, grandson of Valdyr, blood of Erden the Grim, was born on the eighteenth of Garamond, 1316 NR*. His parents are Baern Giantsbane and Delemara Bucklebar, who currently reside in the Halls. Baern, now retired from the adventuring life, is a weapons trainer. Delemara runs one of the forges.

Obryn spent ten years in the mines before pursuing his mountaineering training. Excelling at the discipline, he went on to study heraldry from the Loremasters so that he could travel the Northern Kingdoms.

A year ago, after several trips through the High Pass, Obryn decided to travel more extensively. Accepting a task of delivering a message to the dwarves of the TBD Mines, he traveled along the Spine with a caravan of merchants. The TBD Mines offered another opportunity for work, as the miners frequently contract warriors to explore caverns exposed by their mining efforts.

After a couple boring but successful ventures, Obryn found more trouble than he could handle. One such cavern evidently led to a portion of the Underdark, where a village of drow took offense to Obryn’s party’s arrival. The ensuing chase through the village took the lives of half the mercenaries. Obryn and two others were cornered in a building, possibly a wizard’s school or church, and entered a magical gate therein, rather than face death.

The gate, much to the dwarves’ dismay, led to a deserted section of the second level of the Lirath catacombs. Only after a week of exploration, and the loss of a companion, did Obryn and Maegar, the last two survivors of the drow encounter, return to the surface world in the Trades Ward of Lirath, halfway across Meamnar.

After a few days in Lirath, Obryn and Maegar decided to go their separate ways. Maegar, wishing to return to the Spine, hired on with a caravan headed for Hylar. Obryn took a similar job, but with a group destined for the Auran Empire, instead.

Obryn can currently be found traveling the Empire. He misses his home, but would like to see more of the world before returning. He also holds a deep regret over mistakes he made during his encounter with the drow. He is ashamed of his cowardice, and seeks to atone for his part in the death of his companions. He would rather not return home until he has resolved these issues.