Ulark Twiceforged's page

Orphaned in his youth when a gang of giants raided his clan's enclave in the Mindspan Mountains. Ulark and his younger brother Kharl were among the few survivors. Any tiny dramas about what he was going to do in adulthood was quickly pushed aside in favor of escape, and endurance. Some of the remnants of the clan made their way far to the East, drawn by rumors of the uncovered dwarven citadel that could receive them. But fearing the long trek would be too much for the atypically frail Kharl. The brothers instead made their way down from the mountains and into the hills, walking south towards Lastwall.

Some time into their wanderings, the pair came across Trunau, and stopped to rest there amonst the charitable townsfolk. What was menat to be a waypoint on their journey grew to be much more, as Kharl grew quite fond of the frontier town -- and a local halfling girl Trini. Days turned into weeks, turned into months, and by the time the wedding bells had rung it was clear that Kharl had found his new home.

Yet as happy as he was for his brother, Ulark could find no such solace in domestic life. Still shaken from his parents' and clan-mates' deaths, the dwarf was needed to find a purpose as to why he lived when others died. Throwing himself back into the traditions and teachings of his fallen people, Ulark found himself gravitating more and more to the faith of one of his clan's gods: Angradd, the Forge-Fire

In Angradd's exhortations to strike out evil before it can spread, Ulark found a way to make sure what happened to him and Kharl would be spared from anyone else. He immersed himself in his God's teachings, training to be a warrior on the front line against villainy and cruelty. Now Ulark roams across the countryside, a paladin in Angradd's name. Irregularly patrolling near Trunau and the Lastwall/Belkzan border, the dwarf knows few such as he will live to a full age. But by fighting against the savages outside city's walls, perhaps more others might.

-- Ulark has a gruff and morbid outlook on life, fully expecting to die in his fight against evil, most likely sooner than later. But when that end comes, he’ll go down fighting.

-- Despite his own internal pessimism, Twiceforged works hard to try and present on a cheerier face to those he meets. The presence of evil in the world does not mean that civilians should succumb to fear of it, and so the paladin tries to downplay his own struggles and outwardly reflect a bit of optimism. His own conflicted mind makes these attempts have mixed success.

-- From time to time the paladin has joined or been joined by others in his adventures and patrols. Ulark is far from opposed to teamwork, though he frequently insists on taking on the roles he expects to bear the brunt of the danger.

-- He is a man of action over long debate; while recklessness foolish, in terms of tactics perfect should not be the enemy of good.

-- Ulark loves his brother Kharl deeply, but is surprised at how easily the younger dwarf was able to settle down and grow roots in such an at-risk town. In his darker moments the paladin fleetingly considers Kharl selfish for moving on by marrying into Trunau, but he quickly dismisses this as unfairly harsh. After all: not everyone has the Fire inside them that keeps pushing them forwards.