Gern Hammerfold's page

About Gern Hammerfold

Spoiler:
Gern arrived in Varisia nearly 8 years ago with his brother Dreed. The dwarves had come down from the clanholds to seek work with their merchant kin here in the city. At first, things had been absolutely spectacular for the two brothers. Their work as hired labour paid well and they found the city itself to be enchanting and vibrant.
However, fate stepped in during a gem drop for his uncle's second cousin, and Gern had been forced to fight off a few local thugs trying to rob the shipment. This was the start of the two brothers separation and ultimate downfall. Gern got recognition as a handy dwarf to have in a fight and was quickly promoted from heavy lifter to bodyguard on some of the more dangerous runs. His perspective on the city began to sour a little as more and more "agressive negotiations" began to occur.

Dreed however, was getting happier and happier with the city. He told his brother that things were looking up as he'd just gotten involved in a great deal that would enable the two brothers to start up their own company. The younger brother was very circumspect about the details however and left before Gern could ascertain what was going on. They had argued, heavily, and it was the last time he had seen his brother alive.

When the coppers arrived, Gern was already three blows of the anvil towards drunkenness. They took him to where his brothers body was left lying in the rain and filth of the alley where he'd been gutted. They'd stolen everything from the body, including the hair on his beard. Rumour was a dwarfs beard was useful in certain illegal alchemical products and some of his less fortunate brethren had even gone so far as to start trimming their beards to sell for cash.

He carried the sodden and bleeding remains of his brother through the streets and back to his Uncles lodgings to be cared for. As the body was being prepared, Gern began to gather his weapons and armour, ready to move into the city this very night on a murderous rampage to avenge his brother. The meaty hand of his uncle had landed on his shoulder and stopped him as he was walking out the door. "Easy lad. You'll be needing to find who killed him before you go letting the blood flow. They've taken his relic hold, and won't be knowing its value if I've got the right of it. They'll try to sell it afore too long and then you'll have them". The relic hold he spoke of was small amulet of a hammer made from stone. It was hollow inside and carried a part of the ashes of the founding member of clan Hammerfold. Gern himself carried his close to his heart to remind him of the ties of family and clan.

His uncle had been right. The merchant who was selling the amulet had eventually told him it was a few gentlemen who worked for Gaedren Lamm who'd sold him the amulet. Now he had a name.

Personality
Spoiler:
Gern is determined to find his brothers killer and take his vengeance. His work in his uncles "trading" business meant he had developed quite some skill in dealing pain and violence. He was not averse to the work at all any more, having become inured to it as a bodyguard for the company. This was personal too.
He follows a strict code of loyalty to his clan, Uncle's business and friends. In that order. As such, he will do what it takes to protect all of those things, but not at the expense of the others. If ever they come into conflict, he works his way through the order of importance to help him see the way.

He is no great thinker, though he has some insight into the way of the world, acting on instinct and his understanding of people rather than logically planning things through.

Like all dwarves, once you'd earned his loyalty, he was a friend for life. Unlike many dwarves, he wasn't taciturn or grumpy, except when it came to the case of his vengeance. Most times he'd happily share an ale and swap tales of the world with those as would listen, though he has learned to keep parts of his work secret and not to trust all those with loose tongues.

Appearance
Spoiler:
Gern has straw blond hair and beard. His eyes are a flinty grey, like many in his clan. He carries a dwarven waraxe, marked with symbols of his clan and his shield has his uncles banner worked into its face design. When it comes to more clandestine work, he covers the shield with dark calico, concealing his affiliations to try and prevent witnesses from determing who was involved.
Like many of those who swung the axe for a weapon, his shoulders and chest were very broad. Wrists were thick and forearms bulged. A waraxe was no delicate weapon, it required body strength to swing and manoeuvre. It was brutal, and require force to use effectively.

His lower body was covered with armoured leggings, but he regularly wore his clan kilt when not on the job.

Contacts and people or Note
Spoiler:
Gern works for his Uncle Grimmock Hammerfold. The man was a mover and shaker in the clan, but Gern had come to realise that much of his money and power had been attained through less than legal enterprises. However, Grimmock was also honourable in his own way. He wouldn't stoop to murder in his dealings, and he took great cares to ensure that the clan name would not be sullied by his actions.
Gern was relatively new to the business, but his ability to fight and defend his companions, and his loyalty to clan had helped him be accepted. None of those were deep ties as yet though, and his Uncle certainly wouldn't hold him back if he went out on his own. As long as it didn't compromise the clan or the business.

The most potent influence in his life was his Aunt Claudette though. She was a woman of great willpower and inner strength, always looking out for the family and assisting in the running of the business. If there was person in the world Gern would never cross, it was his Aunty. She was his own mothers sister, and the last link to his immediate family that remained, now that his brother had been murdered. To Gern, her word was like iron clad law.

Stat block (generated using hero labs)
Spoiler:
Gern Hammerfold
Male dwarf fighter 1
LN Medium humanoid (dwarf)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +2
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Defense
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AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+4 armor, +1 dexterity, +1 dodge, +2 shield)
hp 16 (1d10+6)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2; +2 vs. poison, spells, and spell-like abilities, +1 trait bonus vs. spells, spell-like abilities, and poison
Defensive Abilities defensive training
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee dwarven waraxe +4 (1d10+3/×3) or
light hammer +4 (1d4+3)
Special Attacks hatred
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Statistics
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Str 17, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 16 (20 vs. bull rush, 20 vs. trip)
Feats Dodge, Toughness
Traits glory of old, love lost (widowed)
Skills Appraise -1 (+1 to assess nonmagical metals or gemstones), Intimidate +6, Perception +2 (+4 to notice unusual stonework); Racial Modifiers +2 Appraise to assess nonmagical metals or gemstones, +2 Perception to notice unusual stonework
Languages Common, Dwarven
Other Gear armored coat, heavy steel shield, dwarven waraxe, light hammer, backpack, blanket, crowbar, flint and steel, hemp rope (50 ft.), sack, waterskin, 66 gp, 4 sp
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Special Abilities
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Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Defensive Training +4 Gain a dodge bonus to AC vs monsters of the Giant subtype.
Glory of Old You receive a +1 trait bonus on saving throws against spells, spell-like abilities, and poison.
Greed +2 to Appraise to determine price of nonmagic goods with precious metals or gemstones.
Hatred +1 Gain a racial bonus to attacks vs Goblinoids/Orcs.
Stonecunning +2 +2 bonus to Perception vs. unusual stonework. Free check within 10 feet.
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