Seeing the high wisdom score and the high strength I
instinctively thought of a divine combatant. Paladin was out and I really
wanted to find a way to pump his diplomacy even with the horrible charisma. The
inquisitor class feature Inquisition has an ability under the Reformation Inquisition that
allows you to use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Charisma modifier when
making Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Perform (oratory) checks. It also makes
Perform (oratory) a class skill for the inquisitor. So inquisitor of Hembad, as
I marry the story to the mechanics and the mechanics to the story.
Karldin Irontoe
Isger wasn’t always as unfriendly to dwarves and other
non-humans, as it is now. When Dorskar’s Crag erupted during the Rending, Isger
took in many of the dwarves from Raseri Kanton, the above-ground dwarven
trading town. With both Raseri Kanton and the Tar Khadurm capital city
Jernashall destroyed, these stout folk found themselves with nowhere else to
turn.
Karldin Irontoe’s family was one of the few above ground
dwarves that made their home in Isger instead of seeking asylum back in the
Five Kings Mountains. However, it was only one generation before the newly
formed government of devil worshipers in Cheliax threw off the yolk of Taldaor
and took Isger with them as a vassal state. Although the dwarves didn’t have it
as bad as the halflings, who were outright enslaved, they still found life far more
difficult.
Fearing the worst, many of the remaining dwarves
congregated in the northern most portion of the Aspodell Mountains, bordering
the Chitter Wood. It is here that Karldin was born to a family of tradesmen.
His coming was considered an ill omen though, as he was born with birth
defects. Among the most obvious was his twisted visage, but others wouldn’t
appear till later as he fell behind in his studies.
Being disconnected from their homeland, many of the
Aspodell Mountain dwarves took to worshiping outside their racial pantheon.
With most of the stout folk being craftsmen and traders the Empyreal Lord
Hembad was revered for his aspect of cooperation and making connections. The
merchant’s guild and the trade guilds turned to the growing church of Hembad
for their needs. Karldin took quickly to the teachings of the deity as well.
Although he wasn’t the shiniest ore in the barrel, and
certainly not the handsome dwarf, Karldin could read and understand people.
This was considered by many to be a gift from Hembad himself; the fact of which
eased the original stigma of dire portent from his birth. Karldin left his
family home to train with the priests of The Wise Grandfather.
Unlike stricter deities, Hembad encouraged connections
for his followers. Karldin, to the
surprise of those he grew up with, took easily to this tenet of faith. The
young dwarf managed to cycle through a few significant relationships, although
not always without incident—In one instance even manipulating his current
paramour into shaming an ex-lover for him.
Often, though, his affairs ended amiably and he learned
about himself and the world from each joining. When he took one of the senior
priests for a lover he gained much insight into the truth of the faith of
Hembad. Even after he and the priest parted company, the cleric was still
influential in Karldin’s life as a mentor.
Life is nothing without conflict, and the Goblinblood
Wars where a major disaster for Isger in general and the Aspodell Mountain
dwarves in particular. Bordering the Chitter Wood, the dwarves were hit hard by
the attacks of the goblinoids. Like many of the priesthood, Karldrin joined in
the defense of their mountain home. A successful raid by a tactically
proficient hobgoblin commander breached their defenses, however. Many dwarves
died that day before they could be repelled, including Karldrin’s mother.
Distraught, Karldin finished his studies but decided that
when his time came, instead of serving the dwarves in their mountain home he
would bring the word of Hembad to those around them. He would seek connections
with the local populace who were also suffering from the Goblinblood Wars and
its aftermath, and maybe even try and reconnect with the dwarves of the Five
Kings Mountains. Where his path leads is strictly up to the Wise Grandfather.
What class would you have chosen for these stats? How
much does this dwarf dedicate himself to Hembad? How do you reconcile low
charisma and a healthy love life?
Like Hembad, the CRB seeks to strengthen your
connection--specifically to gaming. If you’re feeling the synergy of game and
blog please consider donating to the CRB’s Patreon. If you’d like to get more
than just the weekly articles, drop on by the CRB’s social media homes.
Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, and Twitter all have a growing CRB community. And
please feel free to drop me a line on any of these platforms with questions or
comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment