As a young dwarf, Grem was taken into the Monastery of Untwisting Iron, one of the four Schools of Perfection in Jalmeray, to be a student of the martial arts. His parents, traders who traveled the world, sent him there in the hopes of giving him the chance to make a name for himself and his family. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be more than a year later that word would reach him of the death of his parents by pirates attacking their vessel at sea.
Studies, both martial and academic, filled much of Grem's life for many years. While he was only barely above average in his academics, he grew strong, and excelled in the martial arts, specializing in the mountain style. The one thing that he never really learned, despite their best efforts, was the veneration of Irori. While the young dwarf respected the god's tenets of perfection, they simply rang hollow in his ears. He always hung on to the stories that his mother told him of the dwarven god, Trudd the Mighty, and the works of his priests to help and protect those weaker than yourself. These were the values which pushed him onward to be greater.
Eventually, Grem grew to be an adult, and had learned all that he could from the masters of the monastery. He knew that the next best step would be to take part in the Challenge of Sky and Heaven, but that was several years away yet. With his teachers' approval, he decided that the world would be his teacher, and set out to see it. And what better place to start than the center of the world; Absalom!
Unfortunately, he never quite made it to the fabled city. When his ship was caught in a powerful storm and capsized near the Starstone Isles, he was able to swim to shore in a relatively safe manner, coming up along the small town of Otari. Most of his possessions meager possessions were lost at sea, but the good people took him in and provided him with work and lodgings to help him get by. He put his strength to work in the lumber mill as a laborer, and found the work to be satisfying, and the people kind. He also came to appreciate the hot drink that they refer to as 'coffee'.
Days turned into weeks, which turned into months. Grem found that he enjoyed the the simple work, and the simple life that these people lived. Though his plan of travel stuck in the back of his head, he couldn't bring himself to leave the industrious little town. One person in particular stood out among the others; the odd elvish tielfling called Wrin. While not very interested in her beliefs and ideas, he found the odd woman endearing, and met other interesting characters through her.
