Born at the great barrier, Murgrim Ranulfsson looked to be destined to continue the watch of his forefathers. His father was a Watch-captain, holding the Wall against the ravages of Chaos for all time. While starting training he befriended a fellow stripling named Durgan who was also hale of body and quick of mind. He and Durgan trained long and well with skill of arms and while Durgan was the more skilled at arms, Murgrim was gifted with a keen eye to ferret out the enemy. His mother also noticed that Murgrim had the fine hand control for expert smithworks, but Murgrim grew into adulthood with strong martial desire fostered by his friendship and competition with Durgan. Under his fathers stern guidance both friends joined the Watchers at a young age, looking from the heights and standing shoulder to shoulder with the other guards against the horrors that would invade the southern lands and tear the last refuge from Barrier Dwarf kin.
But one night there would be an event that would sway Murgrim's fate, he stood watch in the tallest of towers with Durgan. A massive cloud of dust, almost invisible at night swept down from the north. It crashed into the wall before being thrust upwards into the tower, most of its strength spent. Whether it was a natural fell wind, the whims of Chaos or something summoned by a witch it was never known, nor where it was going. Murgrim saw the shape of the cloud and dove down the stairs with a yell that his fellow, but Durgan did not have time to follow.
Murgrim was awoken day later, rescued unconscious down the stairs a changed dwarf. While still young his hair and beard now showed the gray of age and his body had melted away leaving little more than a skeleton with skin tight on bone. Durgan although had completely disappeared.
Murgrim's next season was as a bed ridden invalid as he struggled to regain strength and health. He also blamed himself for his companion's death he fell into a deep depression. Released from service to the wall Murgrim had little to do, but the dedication of his maternal grandfather brought him back.
Gargrim Snaldsson was a mighty smith of long lineage and tradition who had seen his daughter marry a Watcher. Gargrim put the time and effort to forge his grandchild's spirit back into shape with the patience and care of a mastercrafter. Bringing Murgrim back with tales of the lost Forge-lore that the Dwarves had lost into the world while they stood Watch at the Wall.
With spirit renewed Murgrim now had a purpose before him. One that would take him away from the Wall that had dealt such pain. His body recovered its mass and strength as he trained again prior to setting forth, but the toll of his suffering still remained in hair and height, while recovering his old bulk and strength it came also with great girth. Still Murgrim now had a task. To become a Smith and Loreseeker, and while he had only skill at arms for now, hopefully Fate would bring him skill at toil to match his skill at arms.
