You come from a wealthy or scholarly family, you are literate in any language you speak.
Your father is Duine Emishkir, he and your family are solid members of a 2000+ member dwarven community called the Enclave of Redlaen, in The Saelish – a region of the Earldom of Bar-Innis, within the Grand Duchy of Dunstrand. Your family has a long history there, at least 200 years.
Your uncle was the famous Dorn Emishkir, leader of a dwarven adventuring group that hunted Orrish (goblins, orks, and off-spawn) and wielder of Dorn’s Fist. He too was a berserker – and so you have chosen to follow in his path. The call of the forge’s hammer and mine’s pick are for your brothers and sisters… your way is one of ax and sword.
Demis has pledged himself to Mizras, and the spirit of the Berserker is his to call on. Mizras only requires a glorious life and death to live forever in the Halls of Contesta, where the continual accumulation of adoration in feasting, fighting, and fucking bathes the follower in bliss forever.
The nearly 30 year old civil war of Bondeu in the Riverdans has made it a central focus. Dwarves were specifically invited back to Bondeu in order to help set up a decent smithy once again in the city of Zerburre. Escorting this mission was his first foray into the world beyond his home. Since then, he has sought out more and more opportunity to prove his mettle. Escort missions all over the Riverdans, the earldom of Bar-Innis, and County Faer have given him perspective and wisdom. He has slain bandits, fought against the Orrish at night, raided nearby competitors, and been part of countless faires and contests to prove his strength.
The Orrish have recently reared their ugly head after 40 years of near complete silence, surprising everyone. The hills near your home meant some Orrish raids have always been a source of frustration – The Underlands are always being expanded by the tunneling goblins. But the folk of The Saelish – humans and dwarves alike – have always maintained a high level of vigilance, and though you have stood against them several times, you have never stood against a full host in a great battle. The last one was a battle a couple years ago at a place called Wolf Thicket Tower to the north of the Hawktail Hills.
Recently, a massive army stormed Gaeraen’s Vein Ironworks in the Hawktail Hills region of the Riverdan of Pelmon. Some of the senior (really they are retired) dwarves of Redlaen serve as onsite “consultants” there. All communication with them was lost, including a friends’ uncle. It is assumed that all of them died defending it – they were certainly not too old to swing an ax. There was a lot of trepidation of the inhabitants of the Folded Edge Smithy nearby. At least 50 dwarves and their families maintained and worked the smithy, and kept in contact with their kin in Redlaen. It is hoped that they were able to barricade themselves in, and might still be alive. It was a smart move for the Orrish – the smithy was one of the main sources of armaments nearby – cutting off access will hurt the folk of the Riverdans and nearby greatly.
His father has said that the Hawktail Hills is where forces are now being gathered. A total of 40 dwarves from Redlaen were sent as sapper and miners to help seal in the Orrish when they were defeated; Among them was a cousin of yours. News from the outside comes slow to The Saelish, but you feel like this is the opportunity you have been waiting for. Your father tells you the history of, and gives you the famous Dorn’s Fist – “make your family proud, my son!” In traveling to Pelmon on your own, the locales tell of the savage battle that was fought and lost – you are too late! They say even those that surrendered were slain and their bodies laid out in the day-time for all to see. The host was originally sponsored by the Lady of Bondeu, in the city of Zerburre. To Bondeu in the Riverdans you are traveling to join a new host – glory for yourself, and revenge for your kinfolk. You spend some of the last of your silver to get word to your folk in The Saelish. Old Kratch, one of the elders told you that you should make sure your great deeds are documented. While you cannot ensure that, you know the regular updates will be wanted – it is up to you to represent your people now.
You send your first update to Kratch – the condition of the locales and the area in the human lands. The condition of the forge is unknown – something you will have to work on uncovering. People are fleeing from the area. You are no scout, and not stupid. You send word to the enclave to prepare for war themselves – but you need more experience in working along side the local humans to send reports to find cause to collaborate or decide if they just need to close up shop and hunker down.
You travel another 50 or so miles to Zerburre without stop, day and night. Exhausted, you present yourself as a representative from Redlaen – you remember your first assignment here long ago. This is enough to get you into the great hall area. You tell the herald in the Lady of Bondeu everything you gathered on your way. You are invited that night to an assembly. There you overhear an impassioned speech from a celestial paladin of Whelm (the Protector of the Lightbringer pantheon) named De’Vosa. Afterwards, it takes him a while to move through the crowd – there are many who seek him out afterwards. You manage to get a moment with him and tell him of what you have heard and witnessed. He takes you seriously, and is thankful, and that he will consider you in a group he is putting together to go to aid this fight in the borderlands of the hills of Pelmon. “No, you are not understanding”, you say. “I AM going to return, I AM going to get revenge. I AM going to make the rivers run red with the blood of the Orrish. You may either join me, or step aside!” He looks you hard in the eyes for seconds. Then he nods. “I will have quarters found for you here tonight. At sunrise, join me and others in the courtyard. There, ask the quartermaster for anything you may need. You will have a small host at your back Sira Emishkir!”
Current Date: Common Year (CY) June 8th, 9169 @ Ancient Blood’s Due