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Bert: Difference between revisions
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==Appearance== | ==Appearance== | ||
Probably closer to 30 than 20. Long hair and mustache. 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 | Probably closer to 30 than 20. Long hair and mustache. 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 unremarkable and plain other than his spear and shield both of which are clearly well-made and cared for and are covered in finely carved runes and magical symbols. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
===Early Life=== | ===Early Life=== | ||
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Mosos 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, Mosos 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. Mosos 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. | Mosos 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, Mosos 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. Mosos 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 | 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=== | ===The University and the Capital City=== | ||