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Description

“I'm all over my heart's desire

I feel cold but I'm back in the fire

I’m out of control, but I'm tied up tight

Come in, come out tonight…

Coming up in the early morning…

I feel love in the shock of the lightning!

I fall into the blinding light…

Come in, come out tonight

There's a hole in the ground into which I'm falling

So God speak to the sound of the pounding

I'm all into the blinding light

Come in, come out tonight…”

Oasis, ‘The Shock of the Lightning’

Another lovely commission from

Meet Bardryn ‘Barda’ Belindorn, dwarven warpriest of the Stormbringer.

A warrior-priest is nothing unusual for the durgen’len people, as the dwarves are a faithful folk who also make great warriors, being martial and steadfast in their racial temperament. But few among them worship the Stormkeeper, preferring to look to deities of earth, stone, war and crafts. However, many dwarven delves have a small sect (often just a single priest) who keeps vigil on the high peaks of the mountain, rather than under it, where most dwarves prefer to dwell. The Halls of Hammerfast have quite a thriving little cult, however, due to the proximity of the local Northmen, who are firm allies of the dwarves and enthusiastic storm-followers. Occasionally, they take on a new priest, training him in the ways of runes, weapons and the unbridled power of the storm. There, on the high peaks of the mountain, they appease the mighty lord of Storms with rituals and worship, and pray for his aid in their battles.

Bardryn is the daughter of the King, unusual in itself, as even after the Thunder Blessing, dwarven women are extremely rare. As less than one in twenty dwarves are female, they are treated with reverential care, usually kept far from battle and danger in the deepest halls of the delves and thaigs. In some ways, they are prisoners of dwarven tradition, and the very real need to produce offspring to keep their long-lived race alive in dangerous times. Most women understand this, choosing to serve their people as matriarchs and mothers, at the heart of dwarven politics far from the dangers of the outside world. However, there are always those who choose another path.

Barda knew one of her brothers would inherit her father’s throne, and only then if the Elders supported them, and so at most, her life would have simply been a more prestigious path of that taken by most dwarven women. But the mysteries of the Storm cult appealed to her, and she was chosen by the priesthood while a young woman, much to her father’s chagrin. But no king dares defy the gods, and Barda understood that belonging to the clergy gave her freedoms undreamed of by most citizens – women especially.

And so she learned her arts at the winding secret stair, and at the stone circle at the mountain’s blustery peak. The wild winds and cold mountain air called to her more than the great vaulted halls of stone, and she relished the freedom it gave her. She relished the power too, of feeling the thunder resound in her ears, the lightning sing between her teeth, a head full of storms. Then there was the contact with the other races; smooth, lissom elven maids, and tall, virile human men… Each of the Storm-faithful finds a focus for their worship, and hers was in passion, in the violent congress of naked limbs and eager tongues on the storm-lashed peaks. The handsome human men were more than happy to help her reach her epiphanies, enflamed by her cool, aloof beauty, her clear eyes and hourglass body. Most of the Northmen had never even seen a dwarven woman, let alone coupled with one, and she was a rare treat for any man. Or woman. All that was absolutely scandalous by dwarven standards, of course, were she a common taverner’s daughter and not the scion of nobility. But the ways of the Gods are strange, and so they simply ignored her excesses, turning a blind eye to whatever the Gods choose to sanction.

In many ways, Barda is typical of her people – serious, stern, eager for battle, fierce and proud, loyal to her allies and steadfast in the fray. She has little time for foolishness or selfishness, and expects her adventuring fellows to keep up with her high standards. In other ways, however, she is very much an outlier – passionate and outgoing, she enjoys the company of other races, feeling more connected to the rowdy Norse than her own culture. She has elven friends, and many human lovers, and while she is happy to fight orcs and goblins and other humanoids, she does not hate every one on an individual level, and has no problems whatsoever with having them as adventuring companions if they prove themselves.

Despite her reputation as something of a man-eater, Bardryn is still quite noble and classy in her manners, when you get beyond the shaved body, nearly bared by her skimpy priestess costume. She is well-spoken, well-mannered and altruistic – one of the few members of her current company to actively seek to help others rather than just line their own pockets. She loves the full-bodied and vital culture of the Norsemen, and is a welcome guest in their halls – she likes nothing more than enjoying honey-mead and grilled steaks before a roaring hearth, before sampling the stamina of the boldest young warrior on a bearskin rug. She lives her life to the full, gives freely of it, and does not allow herself doubts or regrets. She is not driven to defy the conservative traditions of her people for the sake of inconclasm alone; but neither will she allow tradition to define or limit her either.

Plainly-spoken and no-nonsense, she takes something of a leadership role to the others, as nobody else seems inclined to do it. The others grumble about her altruism and tendency to offer their services without asking for a reward, but they all trust her and she’s never led them astray.

She recently had something of a run-in with another dwarven warrior-maid, Helja Forgekeep, who is renowned for being a foul-mouthed hell-raiser, the kind of girl that proper dwarven parents dread their son will bring home. They quarrelled over a young chieftain’s son, who was most amused to find them fighting over his favours. Some serious insults were bandied about: ‘… impudent, trashy little slattern with no grace or class…’ and ‘… prissy, stuck-up little snob who thinks her **** doesn’t stink…’ being some of the more printable. Dwarves do not back down when honour is on the line, and both have promised to best the other in a contest of the things they do best – drinking, fighting, and loving. The menfolk of the surrounding homesteads have flocked to witness such an unusual event, and the contest is greatly anticipated by any Norseman with a pulse…

As an adventuress, Barda is a steadfast warrior, always ready with a healing hand or firm word of support to an ally. Her storm-hammer and runic shield have served her well in holding the front rank in the absence of any other warrior-type.

(GM notes: her tiny little wasp-waist was unexpected here, as she's always been described by the player as 'thick' - yeah, I had to look that up! But on reflection, the hourglass look, while very unusual for dwarven women, kinda suits her...)

Bardryn Battlehammer, Dwarf Storm Warpriest
Alignment: Neutral Good
Concept: Unconventional Princess
Str 14, Int 15, Wis 18, Dex 13, Con 16, Chr 18

Description

“I'm all over my heart's desire

I feel cold but I'm back in the fire

I’m out of control, but I'm tied up tight

Come in, come out tonight…

Coming up in the early morning…

I feel love in the shock of the lightning!

I fall into the blinding light…

Come in, come out tonight

There's a hole in the ground into which I'm falling

So God speak to the sound of the pounding

I'm all into the blinding light

Come in, come out tonight…”

Oasis, ‘The Shock of the Lightning’

Another lovely commission from

Meet Bardryn ‘Barda’ Belindorn, dwarven warpriest of the Stormbringer.

A warrior-priest is nothing unusual for the durgen’len people, as the dwarves are a faithful folk who also make great warriors, being martial and steadfast in their racial temperament. But few among them worship the Stormkeeper, preferring to look to deities of earth, stone, war and crafts. However, many dwarven delves have a small sect (often just a single priest) who keeps vigil on the high peaks of the mountain, rather than under it, where most dwarves prefer to dwell. The Halls of Hammerfast have quite a thriving little cult, however, due to the proximity of the local Northmen, who are firm allies of the dwarves and enthusiastic storm-followers. Occasionally, they take on a new priest, training him in the ways of runes, weapons and the unbridled power of the storm. There, on the high peaks of the mountain, they appease the mighty lord of Storms with rituals and worship, and pray for his aid in their battles.

Bardryn is the daughter of the King, unusual in itself, as even after the Thunder Blessing, dwarven women are extremely rare. As less than one in twenty dwarves are female, they are treated with reverential care, usually kept far from battle and danger in the deepest halls of the delves and thaigs. In some ways, they are prisoners of dwarven tradition, and the very real need to produce offspring to keep their long-lived race alive in dangerous times. Most women understand this, choosing to serve their people as matriarchs and mothers, at the heart of dwarven politics far from the dangers of the outside world. However, there are always those who choose another path.

Barda knew one of her brothers would inherit her father’s throne, and only then if the Elders supported them, and so at most, her life would have simply been a more prestigious path of that taken by most dwarven women. But the mysteries of the Storm cult appealed to her, and she was chosen by the priesthood while a young woman, much to her father’s chagrin. But no king dares defy the gods, and Barda understood that belonging to the clergy gave her freedoms undreamed of by most citizens – women especially.

And so she learned her arts at the winding secret stair, and at the stone circle at the mountain’s blustery peak. The wild winds and cold mountain air called to her more than the great vaulted halls of stone, and she relished the freedom it gave her. She relished the power too, of feeling the thunder resound in her ears, the lightning sing between her teeth, a head full of storms. Then there was the contact with the other races; smooth, lissom elven maids, and tall, virile human men… Each of the Storm-faithful finds a focus for their worship, and hers was in passion, in the violent congress of naked limbs and eager tongues on the storm-lashed peaks. The handsome human men were more than happy to help her reach her epiphanies, enflamed by her cool, aloof beauty, her clear eyes and hourglass body. Most of the Northmen had never even seen a dwarven woman, let alone coupled with one, and she was a rare treat for any man. Or woman. All that was absolutely scandalous by dwarven standards, of course, were she a common taverner’s daughter and not the scion of nobility. But the ways of the Gods are strange, and so they simply ignored her excesses, turning a blind eye to whatever the Gods choose to sanction.

In many ways, Barda is typical of her people – serious, stern, eager for battle, fierce and proud, loyal to her allies and steadfast in the fray. She has little time for foolishness or selfishness, and expects her adventuring fellows to keep up with her high standards. In other ways, however, she is very much an outlier – passionate and outgoing, she enjoys the company of other races, feeling more connected to the rowdy Norse than her own culture. She has elven friends, and many human lovers, and while she is happy to fight orcs and goblins and other humanoids, she does not hate every one on an individual level, and has no problems whatsoever with having them as adventuring companions if they prove themselves.

Despite her reputation as something of a man-eater, Bardryn is still quite noble and classy in her manners, when you get beyond the shaved body, nearly bared by her skimpy priestess costume. She is well-spoken, well-mannered and altruistic – one of the few members of her current company to actively seek to help others rather than just line their own pockets. She loves the full-bodied and vital culture of the Norsemen, and is a welcome guest in their halls – she likes nothing more than enjoying honey-mead and grilled steaks before a roaring hearth, before sampling the stamina of the boldest young warrior on a bearskin rug. She lives her life to the full, gives freely of it, and does not allow herself doubts or regrets. She is not driven to defy the conservative traditions of her people for the sake of inconclasm alone; but neither will she allow tradition to define or limit her either.

Plainly-spoken and no-nonsense, she takes something of a leadership role to the others, as nobody else seems inclined to do it. The others grumble about her altruism and tendency to offer their services without asking for a reward, but they all trust her and she’s never led them astray.

She recently had something of a run-in with another dwarven warrior-maid, Helja Forgekeep, who is renowned for being a foul-mouthed hell-raiser, the kind of girl that proper dwarven parents dread their son will bring home. They quarrelled over a young chieftain’s son, who was most amused to find them fighting over his favours. Some serious insults were bandied about: ‘… impudent, trashy little slattern with no grace or class…’ and ‘… prissy, stuck-up little snob who thinks her **** doesn’t stink…’ being some of the more printable. Dwarves do not back down when honour is on the line, and both have promised to best the other in a contest of the things they do best – drinking, fighting, and loving. The menfolk of the surrounding homesteads have flocked to witness such an unusual event, and the contest is greatly anticipated by any Norseman with a pulse…

As an adventuress, Barda is a steadfast warrior, always ready with a healing hand or firm word of support to an ally. Her storm-hammer and runic shield have served her well in holding the front rank in the absence of any other warrior-type.

(GM notes: her tiny little wasp-waist was unexpected here, as she's always been described by the player as 'thick' - yeah, I had to look that up! But on reflection, the hourglass look, while very unusual for dwarven women, kinda suits her...)

Bardryn Battlehammer, Dwarf Storm Warpriest
Alignment: Neutral Good
Concept: Unconventional Princess
Str 14, Int 15, Wis 18, Dex 13, Con 16, Chr 18