Embers

[vikernoss]

Vikernoss StoneShield youngest son of Brom StoneShield captain of the center shieldwall bergaig one of the toughest hilldwarf clans known in generations. Vikernoss was born of battle the day of his moms death during the defense from a army of orcs numbering in the thousands that poured out of the mountains. Destined to die day that day being cut from the womb of his ma to be saved as a victory snack as the orcs as they fell upon the wounded and dying left upon the field as the dwarven lines where pushed back by shire press of numbers when help came from the most unexpected source. The Order of the Steel Fang an elite fighting order within the church of Tempus their leader Endrik SteelHammer mighty battle axe in hand lopping the head off the orc as he swept up the babe in his arm wile beseeching Tempus to heal the babe and guide his hand as they cut their way to the dwarven defensive line. Though the day was won and the intervention of tempus Vikernoss grew up frail of body due to the events of that day. Brom having lost his wife and not knowing what to do with such a sickly babe for surly he couldn't be trained to become a memeber of the shieldwalls like generations of their family have done before so Vikernoss was raised to enter the service of the followers of Berronar Truesilver to remain behind the battle lines and heal the wounded.
Vikernoss even though being born so sickly he burned with the fires of battle in his blood and longed for the crushing of his enemies beneath his warhammer in honorable combat. He went to the clerics of Clanggedin Silverbeard and Moradin even beseeching the gods themselfs, to have them all turn their backs upon him for shurely such a sickly dwarf could never last in the battle lines. So one day vikernoss done the unspeakable he turned his back upon his kin and the dwarven pantheon themselfs and went out upon a mountain top and prayed to Tempus the god of war to look beyond his frail health and at the fire of his will willingly dedicating his body and soul to honorable battle.
After days upon that mountain on his knees praying to Tempus Vikernoss received his answer in a form of a vision of a elderly human looking well into his eighties giving a sermon...
"Tempus does not win battles, he helps the deserving warrior win battles. War is fair in that it oppresses and aids all equally and that in any given battle, a mortal may be slain or become a great leader among his or her companions. It should not be feared, but seen as a natural force, the storm that civilization brings by its very existence. Arm all for whom battle is needful, even foes. Retreat from hopeless fights but never avoid battle. Slay one foe decisively and halt a battle quickly rather than rely upon slow attrition or the senseless dragging on of hostilities. Remember the dead that fell before you. Defend what you believe in, lest it be swept away. Disparage no foe and respect all, for valor blazes in all regardless of age, sex, or race. Tempus looks with favor upon those that acquit themselves honorably in battle without resorting to such craven tricks as destroying homes, family, or livestock when a foe is away or attacking from the rear but when such an attack is launched by a small band against foes of vastly superior numbers. Consider the consequences of the violence of war, and do not wage war recklessly. The smooth-tongued and fleet of feet that avoid all strife and never defend their beliefs wreak more harm than the most energetic tyrant, raider, or horde leader."
Vikernoss his thin beard of youth soaked in tears of joy looked down to see laying on the stone before him a symbol of A flaming silver sword on a blood-red shield picking the symbol up and putting it on he could feel the power of Tempus flowing through his body as the words echo through his head "Be fearless, Never turn away from a fight, Obey the rules of war"
Little did vikernoss realize upon returning home that his faith would be tested so soon waiting for him was the counsel of his elders and leaders of the dwarven holy orders after seeing the proof hanging from around his neck of his crimes against his kin and gods he was sentenced to exile stripped of his surname and it being changed to shatteredshield and kinship. Fully in the presence of his god vikernoss picked up his pack and strode off into the darkness his future and path unknown...

[vikernoss]

Being in exile with nowhere to go I started making my way south to the temple of Tempus even though i had many hours of evening travel left i had a odd feeling wile coming upon a wayside inn by the name of Boar's Inn of the town of salvation so decided to stop and wash down the dust of the road with a few ales and see what i could see.
Nice enough little inn even if it was made of wood and not good ol trustworthy stone, ran by a human pleasant enough even though he had a bit of a situation with a thiefling before me but his waitress apparently the one with the sense in this place his gold is as good as anyone else's.
With my room per-cured and a few ales lined up i made my way to the back of the inn while trying to ignore the shrill of the humans that call music, i did notice three town guards bad mouthing the thiefling that was talking to elf a few tables in front of myself but they ended up being rather gutless to my disappointment and just sat around and complained like old hens.
After a number of ales to brighten a dull night the inn-keep was about to lock up for the night when a band of stinking skeletons shoved their way in and attacked the patrons whooping in delight i jumped on to the next table was a long throw but Tempus guided my hand as i let the hammer fly at the lead skeletons head distracting it enough to help the elf it was engaged with. After dropping a few more of these smelly abominations to my surprise and delight in strode a mountain of a undead brute haven't seen one in these parts in my half a century of life, pushing my way through the crowd to squire off with the brute the elf apparently one of them tree hugging druids types turned into a dire wolf causing even more havoc among the skeletons as the thiefling was flinging spells right and left.
By the time i pushed my way to the front the elf was pretty hurt so prayed to Tempus to give her sanctuary so she could break away from the melee and i would hold the line. No sooner than getting a few test swings in feeling out the enemy everyone in the front line was blasted by ice, mighty fine spell but that damn elf needs to learn how to aim! But with the thiefling draining the life out of the brute in front of my eyes and the combined efforts of the druid and i he finely dropped near death after attempting to flee the inn with no result.
Hearing the horns of the watch (of course after the fighting is done) Kairon the thiefling by name as i learned it rushed forward to snatch up and hand off a strange rod to me before the watched busted in. After a few praises and ales i looked over the rod that was handed off to me even though just holding it sent a chill down my spine i recognize the glyphs belonging to the old faith i handed the rod off to the elf Gaelyn Laïlo and informed her of the rod and that salvation has temples that could answer some of the questions about it. After agreeing with the others to join up and make the trip to further investigate in the morning....