Bert
Bertrand "Bert" Pasteur de Sud-Crogbon
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| Level | 3 |
| Race | Human(var) |
| Class | Arcane Forge Adept Artificer |
| Armor | scale armor and shield (magically infused +1) |
| Weapon(s) | Spear (magically infused +1/return) |
| Hometown | born in some abandoned farm community, he's lived in Erith long enough to consider it home |
Appearance
Probably closer to 30 than 20. Long hair and mustache but otherwise rather average and nondescript in size and appearance other than a number of scars and burns along his hands and arms from years of working with forges and smelters. Bert's clothing and armor are likely cheap and unadorned but all clothing he owns unless he has an assigned uniform is dyed in some combination of Purple, Black or White, the colors of the University. Unlike the usual poor state of his clothing and other gear his spear and shield both are clearly well-made and cared for and are covered in finely carved runes and magical symbols. Bert frequently casts spells through his spear but is also able to do so through less conspicuous methods using tools similar to a wand and writing his magic directly into the air rather than carving it into a weapon.
Background
Early Life
Bert comes from a family of multi-generational refugees, descended from pastoral working families that fled from the northern pasture lands near Ubrekt and the Crogbon Swamp during the Calamity of the 1400s to more southern cousins only to have to continue to do so several more times to ever more distant relations or cities over the last century. He was born and spent his early childhood in a small farming village north of Erith on the edge of what could still be considered Flannary-controlled lands. When the Long Winter came 11-13 years ago his remaining family again fled as the precarious edge of "civilization" community collapsed. Over the next year of desperation and struggle through the Haze Bert saw many deaths including nearly all of his family. Eventually a small band of refugees including Bert and his remaining family which by this point was only his uncle Alfonse, and cousin Beltrice made it the relative security of Sibnir Smelter, a small and rough outpost along the still barely functioning Silver Road trade routes just a day or 2 ride out of Erith.
Late childhood in the Smelter
Sibnir Smelter was built along an easily defensible gap in the rolling hills with a solid gate and walls and a clean fresh water spring. The most remarkable feature though was a small enclave of Dwarves, the Kezargor clan, who maintained a very long-term by human standards contract in the area. The hills nearby had several mines which had been abandoned or exhausted for decades but the Dwarves remained and continued to operate their forges and smelters and they repurposed some of the closest mines into mushroom farms which provided food even when trade was slow. While technically in Flannari territory, the Kezargors were the sole power and rulers of the outpost and nearby area. Their crossbows defended the walls and they determined who could stay or pass through. As bad as things got during the Long Winter, Sibnir Smelter's defenses held and the smelter stayed in operation which kept some amount of food and wealth passing through as well as providing opportunities to work for the scraps of those. Sibnir Smelter became known both as safe place to stop for supplies and repair for the few trade caravans that still made the dangerous international trips as well as a place that would pay for scavenged scrap metals. Part of this renown was that they were willing to buy these metals or for the caravans were able to melt these often-looted metals down into nondescript bars and ingots with pretty much no questions asked for easier trade in the city. Many desperate scavengers came from miles around to sell looted metals and grave goods just for dried mushrooms or clean water. The Dwarves were especially interested in any "silver" goods from the Ulan and on occasion were not above making sure the best of those goods didn't leave their territory through less savory means.
Bert and his family were allowed in as laborers to work the walls, mushroom farms, and bellows in exchange for food and shelter. Even within the outpost things were never truly safe; Uncle Alfonse died from Orc raiders' arrows while guarding the walls just a few months after they arrived and Cousin Beltrice was one of several mushroom pickers eaten by hook horrors who made their way up from the depth of the mines just a little over a year later. As a child Bert most often fed the coal hoppers and worked the bellows in the smelters and forges and whenever possible tried to follow and understand the processes involved. While never the strongest or most sure-footed laborer, he was very quick-witted and showed true skill bordering on prodigy with metal-working, blacksmithing, and fine detail work which led to more work directly with the Dwarves. Some of the Kezargors were friendlier than others or more willing to teach rather than simply order others around, but the Dwarves were definitely not a charity and there was a clear line between the enclave and the "help" they used. Any among the non-Dwarf refugees who could not be productive and work were thrown out into the wilderness and on a few occasions trouble-makers or rabble-rousers would just disappear completely. Even the most productive and trusted workers received little besides the basic food and shelter, though on a few occasions Bert did receive tools of his own or barely-drinkable Gilden booze, but his most-prized possessions were the few books he was able to collect over the years. Bert learned their language and became known as a reliable and skilled worker who was able to read and write in multiple languages and who could follow and eventually even draft complex plans including magical scroll work, but it also became clear he would never be seen as anything more among the enclave. While Bert is fluent in Dwarven and spent many years around them he does not think any human could ever be able to really understand the Gilden.
The University and the Capital City
After several years Bert grew into young adulthood and one day left with a caravan to Erith and immediately enrolled in the University of Flannary in the College d'Argent Plume. He struggled especially in many of the religious classes as he had little practical experience with the Church and probably somewhat heretical beliefs about "divine" magic. He also found it difficult to fit in with many of the richer city-raised or noble-born students and mostly avoided socialization to focus on his studies. He excelled in all of his Arcana (both practical and theoretical) and history classes though and had a sharp mind for writing and was a voracious reader and despite a few struggles managed to graduate on time. He mostly relished the access to books and workshop space through which he developed and expanded on several working theories of enchantment magic and magical inscribing. Like many students who had magical skills but were not born into rich trading families or ancient noble families he likely had to make money along the way copying scrolls, brewing potions, or other magic work for hire. Bert would likely become evasive if pressed to divulge the specifics of how he left Sibnir Smelter or raised the money to get to Erith and join the University.
Current Life
FUTURESIGHT start
Hooks
SPOILER Bert's Character Sheet SPOILER