Croi Buile Geimhreadh
Character Sheet here
Race: Dwarf
Class: Shaman
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High in the Dawnforge Mountains, a clan of dwarves, the Maidhm Sneachta, have carved out a life in the cold, ancient protectors of the back entrance to the Mines of Dawnforge. Having spent the majority of their lives outside, over the years this clan has grown taller than most dwarves, some pushing past 5ft. The clan is made up of barbarians, shamans, wardens, fighters, and rangers. Living just inside the entrance is a detachment of paladins, warlords and fighters from the main clans, acting as a liason and last resort of defense. The SS have a friendly competition with this group, but also resent that the other clans feel it necessary to have a presence there. The MS are more than a match for the occasional giant, orc, and goliath raids on the area. However, in recent months, increasing attacks have come in the night, and dead dwarves have been seen walking about in the passes.
As a rite of passage into (wo)manhood (so to speak), at the age of 20, each dwarf is sent into the wilderness with a choice of an axe or warhammer for up to 5 years. During this time, they cannot contact anyone from either the clan or any outsider, unless there is clear threat of a raid. Before they are sent out, a funeral is held for them, as many do not come back. During this time, they are to seek the ancestors and protect the land, discovering their strengths and weaknesses along the way. When they return, they tell the story of what happened to them, and they receive a new name during the Ainmnigh feast. In this way, only the strong survive, and each dwarf is able to contribute to the clan in the best way they can.
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Croi chose the hammer, in honour of his father, grandfather, and earlier generations, who had all been blacksmiths and forged his family into great warriors of high standing. Fate, however, had something else in store for him. For the first year, something within him kept him on the move, pushing him ever outwards until he found himself beyond the natural borders of the valley. Soon, he found himself the prey of a Dire Wolf, who began herding him towards her den. One day, in the midst of a blizzard, he came face to face with the wolf, and for hours they fought, until each knew the other better than themselves. When the blizzard ended, the wolf was dead, and Croi was near death. While lying on the ground, the spirit of the wolf came to him, called him brother, and led him to the cave. Several days later, Croi awoke, and found himself face to face with a pup, only a few weeks old. He stayed in the cave for several years, watching over the pup, whom he named Siocán, teaching her how to hunt and survive. During this time, the spirit often visited him, showing him the way of the shaman, the way of the wolf. Out of the pelt of the dire wolf, he made himself armor to protect himself, and out of the bones and sinew, he created his totem. 4 years later, the wolf came to him and told him it was time to return to his people, but that she would always be with him. As he left, he tried to get Siocán to remain behind, only to find her ahead of himself around every bend. As they traveled back, they came upon a hill giant, who attacked them. Croi and Siocán fought bravely, the giant fell over a cliff, but Croi was once again left at the brink of death. Siocán stayed by his side, keeping him warm, and once he was healthy enough to stand holding on to Siocán, Siocán placed him on his back and carried him back to his clan. He arrived in the middle of another great blizzard, half frozen, but still alive. When he was nursed back to health, he was named Croi Buile Geimhreadh, the Heart of Winter's Fury.
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The next five years were spent under the tutelage of the shaman leaders, teaching him how to enhance and grow his gift. He was also taught the trade of alchemy, and he often found himself wandering the valley in search of herbs, sometimes returning to the cave, and always accompanied by Siocán. A few months ago, dead dwarves were seen walking in the valley and after many pitched battles, where the heroes of one day became the villains of the next, the clan gathered to discuss what should be done. During the gathering, the ancestors came and spoke to the elders, who told them that this was happening because Orcus was making an attempt to return to the world of the living, and that he must be stopped. The elders told this to the clan, and it was decided that they would send out a few members to try to find the source of the problem. Croi was the first to volunteer, and left the next day, feeling called to head west out of the mountains.
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4'11" 230lbs Male
Pale Skin, White hair, top part in pony tail, long braided sideburns with moustache, chin and neck shaved indicating status as one sent from his clan to protect them with honor.
Piercing blue eyes
Covered in blue tattoos that indicate status, clan, protecting spirits, number of enemies vanquished
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Str 10 Con 16 Dex 10 Int 16 Wis 19 Cha 9
AC 19 Fort 17 Ref 17 Will 18
Max HP 53
Passive Perception 22 Passive Insight 22
Speed 5 Initiative +3
Feats
Mounted Combat, Alchemist, Shared Healing Spirit, Burning Blizzard
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