Durindal Brightaxe

From Toosigma

Name	Durindal Brightaxe
Player	Brandon Horn
Campaign	Shadows of the Realmstrife
Race	Dwarf
Class	Barbarian

Contents 1 Session Logs 2 Background 3 Potential Hooks: 4 Notes: 5 Mechanics: 6 Open Questions: 7 NPCs

Session Logs

• Session #1 - Getting Our Slaves Off
• Session #2 - The Werewolf Within

Background

Durindal and his twin brother Zomarak were born to Clan Brightaxe 47 years ago, heirs to the Clanhold and an ancient line stretching back to Delzoun and Deep Shanatar. As Thunder Twins blessed of Moradin, the twins were destined (or at least hoped) to bring about a resurgence of the once noble Brightaxe Clan. When they were 9, the Zhentarim attacked, seeking to capture the rich mithril mines. The twins' father, Galdur Brightaxe, and many of the clans warriors had only recently returned from a failed expedition to the Underdark (see below) when the attack began, and thus were already low on strength and supplies. Still, the siege lasted nearly a month before the food was exhausted and the clerics were no longer able to maintain the wards. Galdur sent his younger sister Arilyn Brightaxe to take the twins to safety as the fortress was being overrun.

They found shelter at a Temple of Tempus near Dagger Falls, and were trained in war alongside the clergy there, while Aunt Arilyn related the great history of the Brightaxe Clan:

• -12000 DR - Taanark Shanat founds the realm of Deep Shanatar beneath what is now Amn, Tethyr, and Calimshan. His son, Ardis Brightaxe, a devout follower of Dumathoin, leaves Brightaxe Hall to found the dwarven client kingdom of Ultoksamrin
• -8137 DR - King NAME Brightaxe of Ultoksamrin selected as the next King of Deep Shanatar after the successful conclusion of the Second Spider War
• -6100 DR - The Third Spider War results in the evacuation of Brightaxe Hall and the Wyrmskull Throne. The elven High Mage Sarenrae Irithyl aids the dwarves in their time of need. King Durindal Brightaxe swears a Blood Oath of service to the House of Irithyl. The location of the Wyrmskull throne is lost (?) (Sarenrae was a close friend and adventuring partner of Haela Brightaxe, daughter of Durindal)
• -4000 DR - With the death of Coronal Oacenth of the Elven Court, master smith Kahliss Brightaxe forges three mithril blades, gifting them to the elven council in tribute and mourning. These three blades are then enchanted by the elven high mages, becoming the Cormanthyr Elfblades - the Crownblade, the Warblade, and the Artblade. Khaevorem Irithyl is chosen by the Crownblade and becomes Coronal of the new unified elven realm of Cormanthyr.
• -3900 DR - King Gaeric Brightaxe founds the city of Ascore, soon to be the capital of the Dwarven Kingdom of Delzoun.
• -3498 DR - Delzoun makes first contact with Netheril. The elves of Cormanthyr and Earlann fear the meteoric rise of the Netherese, and ask Queen NAME Brightaxe to keep an eye on them.
• -3095 DR - Cormanthyr elves steal one set of the Nether Scrolls, a task made possible by the assistance of the dwarves of Delzoun.
• -2600 DR - Fall of High Shanatar to the encroaching armies of Calimshan
• -1800 DR - Fall of Deep Shanatar to the duergar
• -339 DR - Fall of Netheril as Karsus the Mad casts his Karsus' Avatar spell
• -100 DR - A massive tide of orcs crushes Ascore, marking the end of the Kingdom of Delzoun - only a few citadels (Adbar, Felbarr) remain. Clan Brightaxe retreats in defeat, joining their sister kingdom of Ammarindar to the south.
• 273 DR - Coronal Eltargrim announces the opening of Cormanthyr to all races. Three clans from Ammarindar, including Brightaxe, travel to the newly named Myth Drannor. The Brightaxe renew their Blood Oath to Eltargrim, pledging themselves to his vision of a city for all races.
• 500 DR - Josidiah Starym leaves Myth Drannor in search of the lost Warblade. Ardis Brightaxe, at the urging of both the Coronal and his grand-niece Aravae, journeys with his party.
• 664 DR - Aravae Irithyl, last of the Irithyl Line, is murdered, and Myth Drannor begins its fall. Clan Brightaxe takes the loss especially hard, and vow to both find Aravae's killer and keep the Irithyl dream alive. When the elves fail to elect a new leader and the Srinshee leaves Myth Drannor with the Crownblade, their spirit is broken.
• 714 DR - Fall of Myth Drannor - Many of the clan fall in battle to save Myth Drannor, including the now elderly Ardis Brightaxe (fast friend of Josidiah Starym) and his grandson Durindal Brightaxe (leader of the dwarven contingent of the Akh Velahr and fast friend to Captain Fflar), but a few manage to escape the fall. They found a new clanhold, but never again achieve the heights of the past.
• Tarsakh 9, 1331 DR - Birth of the Twins
• Hammer 25, 1340 DR - Fall of the clanhold (Age 9)
• 1340 DR - Arilyn Brightaxe takes the Twins to Anather's Dell, south of Daggerdale, to join distant relatives of the Brightblade clan (age 10)
• 1346 DR - Arilyn, supported by the brothers, chooses to leave Anather's Dell and join Randal Morn's crusade to free Daggerdale. The twins are kept safe at a Temple of Tempus. (age 16)
• 1353 DR - Randal Morn kills Malyk of Daggerdale in battle (age 23) - Durindal joins the resistance, but his age and inexperience keep him from many of the major battles
• 1358 DR - Banin Stormcrow born in Dagger Falls during Zhent occupation - Time of Troubles, Lathandar's Temple in Daggerdale burns down (age 28)
• 1359 DR - Durindal and Zomarak convince the Brightblade dwarves to send a contingent to join Randal Morn's forces
• 1364 DR - Durindal is injured in battle, and spend several months convalescing at the Temple of Tempus - it is during this time he meets his good friend Banin Stormcrow
• 1369 DR - Randal Morn reclaims the throne of Dagger Falls (age 39) - Durindal fights in the Battle
• 1371 DR - Durindal and Zomarak begin their quest for the elfblades and the Wyrmskull Throne, leaving Daggerdale. Early in their journey, they encounter the Harper Ranger Vaun when Vaun rescues them from a severe mauling by a dire bear. They meet Vaun's nephew Kalos, and niece, Abigail.
• ~1374 DR - During a visit to Daggerdale and their Aunt, the Twins meet the now adult Banin - and bring him along on their future adventures (?)
• ~1378 DR - Met Keagan when his uncle and guardian, Derimoor, was slain by a corrupt noble in (location?)
• Hammer 13, 1380 DR - Getting Our Slaves Off (Session #1, May 3, 2008)
• Hammer 14, 1380 DR - Present

Potential Hooks:

• Find out what happened to the rest of the clan - they've been presumed dead, but may be alive.
• Recover the lost Clan Weapon - a Legacy weapon wielded by Galdur in the fall of the clanhold (and perhaps by other heroes in the past)
• Reclaim the fallen clanhold of Demonbane Keep from the Zhents/Drow/Demons (or any other nasties the DM decides to fill it with) - Maybe the reason the keep was attacked was the dwarves had recently uncovered a very rich vein of a mysterious magical ore - something that makes very spiffy-cool weapons?
• Find and recover the lost Elfblades - Arcor Kerym (Crownblade), Ary'Velahr Kerym (Warblade) and Ary'Faern Kerym (Artblade)
• Find and recover the lost Wyrmskull Throne and reestablish the great Dwarven kingdom of Shanatar, perhaps with a strong semblance to lost Myth Drannor (in an interesting aside - it seems that there is actually a published 2E adventure with the Wyrmskull Throne as the focus, set in the Sea of Fallen Stars - I didn't find it until well after I came up with the hook)
• Reclaim Myth Drannor from the evil that now infests it, and help it return to its former splendor
• Prolonging the Brightaxe line - potential for some love interest? Does he see it as simple duty, or is there love involved? Maybe there is a restriction on who he's allowed to marry, but he falls in love with someone unsuitable?

Notes:

• Durindal is utterly devoted to his clan's heritage. He is steeped in Duty, Honor, and the Blood Oath.
• I also see Durindal as highly religious - with a lengthy morning ritual to Moradin, Dumathoin and Haela Brightaxe, and a brief prayer to Haela at the conclusion of every combat. Given this religious fervor, I wouldn't rule out taking a couple levels of Cleric at some point, though he would be more decidedly a warrior cleric.
• Zomarak is the elder brother, and the nominal heir to the throne. This has lots of potential for interesting conflict, since the path of a druid is decidedly non-traditional, and would allow a little tension between the brothers. Durindal sees his brother as the hope of the future, and that his (Durindal's) destiny is to be his strong right hand, protecting him and facilitating his rise. If Zomarak is more reluctant to pursue his destiny, that could make for interesting RP.
• Durindal will probably happily sacrifice himself for his brother, but I think the Duty to Clan will prevent him from taking excessive risks with his life. He's less afraid of dying than he is of failing at his duty. I also expect that he and Banin will establish some very close bonds - though I don't know about a full Blood Oath.
• Durindal is not your typical barbarian - he believes that anger is a weapon, and just like any weapon, it must be wielded expertly. I see him as a much more subdued version of your typical battlerager - every bit as deadly, still a bit on the insane side, but not quite as "over the top" nuts. He'll still charge into battle singing war chants at the top of his lungs, swinging for the fences - but he's less likely to go totally berserk and shred everything in sight.
• Strong prejudices against Orcs and Zhentarim. Less pronounced prejudices against Drow (for the Spider Wars), Duergar (for causing the fall of Deep Shanatar) and Demons (for the fall of Myth Drannor) - though I don't think he's actually had contact with any of these groups yet.
• Respects strength, honor, truth, courage, and duty. Probably not very subtle, and may be prone to solving every problem with violence.
• Drinking - I expect Durindal to be a bit more "sober" in his revelry than most dwarves, and especially most battleragers. He feels a lot of pressure from his Duty - something that keeps him from entirely letting go. Alternatively, he might turn to drink to suppress his duty for a while, laying down the load to get roaring drunk and have a grand ol' time.

Mechanics:

• Stats: Str16, Dex14, Con18, Int12, Wis10, Cha12
• Saves/Defense: AC 20/22 (Touch 12, Flat 18/20), Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +1, HP 41/47
• Feats: Power Attack, Raging Luck, Extra Rage, Endurance*, Thunder Twins*
• Gear of Note: Greatsword +1, Breastplate +1, Boots of Landing, Iron Ward Diamond, Least, Eternal Rations
• Skills of Note: Climb +5, Intimidate +7, Jump +6, Knowledge (History) +6, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +4, Survival +4

Feats of Interest: Cleave, Great Cleave, Bullheaded (PGtF), Improved Initiative

Classes of Interest: Fighter, Barbarian, Battlerager (Races of Faerun), Deepwarden (Races of Stone), Runescarred Barbarian

Open Questions:

• What were we doing prior to the campaign?
• I've addressed Durindal's father, but not his Mother - what was she like? Is she still alive? What happened to her? Are there any other siblings or half-siblings running around?
• I've got lots of other names to add, and I may spend some time working on the Ballad of Clan Brightaxe or the Dirge of Delzoun. I don't want to go too overboard until I get some more buy-in from y'all.

NPCs

• Arilyn Brightaxe - aunt, the only member of the Clan known to be alive other than the twins. Dirgesinger, Keeper of the Secrets of Delzoun and Deep Shanatar and the Legacy of Clan Brightaxe. Most likely still in residence at the Temple of Tempus where the twins were raised. Perhaps has some ties to the Harpers in Twilight - or maybe the Moonstar offshoot group (led by Blackstaff)?
• NAME - head of the Temple of Tempus - helped train the boys in combat, introduced them to Banin
• Randal Morn - the ruler of Daggerdale is something of a hero to Durindal, and one of his only living role-models.
• Raethryn - Proprietor of the Wizard's Winter Tavern in Melvaunt, the licentious old coot can't hold his liquor, and doesn't have many redeeming qualities, but he has assisted the twins in their quest, and thus has earned a measure of respect and loyalty.