Bendris Mondrak
(a.k.a. "Ben" Mondrak)
Bendris "Ben" Mondrak is a Duergar and veteran pirate, originating from a small settlement of his people, who are living on the upper world at a small island of the Ivalis Archipelago after being expelled from the Underdark a long time ago. Bendris is a fearless warrior, always seeking challenges to overcome and fights to win. He's also a formidable cook, originating from a family of tavern owner's in his hometown. Fighting and Cooking are his two passions in life and he follows both of them with all of his heart. He became a pirate after he suffered a horrible defeat by the hands of Gorin Rigas, which costs the life of all his friends and comrades. Bendris held an dwarven grudge against Rigas and had sworn an oath to become one of the strongest warriors of the ocean to defeat his archenemy one day and settle the old grudge by bringing justice.
Bendris is roaming the Seven Seas of Arceiron since many years. He is the former smutje of the Solcrest Pirates and a survivor of that crew after their internal breakdown and dissolution following the betrayal of first mate Dragan Kortiz. After the dissolution of the Solcrest's, Bendris roamed the oceans for eight years, before he reunited with his former friend and crewmate Davian Flynt and joined his new crew. There he took up his profession as smutje once more, becoming an important and integral part of that uprising pirate crew. Inheriting the philosophies of their old captain he steadfast helps Davian to rebuild the crew of the Solcrest Pirates to continue the legacy of former captain Sir Francis Kenneth.
Bendris is a protagonist of the chronicle Age of Change - Tales of the Sea.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Bendris is a very bulky man, with a muscular build, shaped by years of training where he perfected his fighting style using big weapons and heavy armory. As a Dwarf he is of small stature, but nonetheless very impressive with his overall physique. He compensates his smaller size easily. Bendris also have an impressive durability, being able to withstand a lot of pain and damage without getting knocked down. He has a very strong constitution, which ensures, that he not even loose his strength in longer fights.
Body Features
As a Duergar, a so called "Gray Dwarf" Bendris has dark toned skin, which get's close to a full dark tone. But different to some other Duergar, Bendris not have pitchblack skin, but it's just of darkbrown color. He also has long hair, with a visible receding hairline at his forehead and an impressive beard, which is typical for a Dwarf. In his youth his beard and his overall hair was of a deeper black, but since he grew older and the sun constantly burns his hair, the skin color changed to a more grayish tone, giving him an elderly outlook, despite the fact, that he is not that old for his people. His hands are callous from the hard work he did all his life and he also bears a lot of scars from fights of his past.
Facial Features
Bendris Mondrak has eyes of hazel color, which is untypcial for Duergar, which often have red eyes, sometimes even glowing lightly. He has a striking and strong looking face with bushy eyebrows, that give him a grim outlook, making others often believe, he is a grumpy man. His grayish hair is long and combed back, so it not distracts him. His impressive beard, also of grayish tone in color, grows wildly and looks a bit unkempt, which gives Bendris an even more dangerous outlook.
Identifying Characteristics
Being a Dwarf of dark skin tone is rare at the Ivalis Archipelago, since there is only a small bunch of Duergar, who had left the Underdark, living at the islands. So Bendris often gets identified easily and often enough even has trouble to stay hidden or blur his tracks.
Special abilities
Natural Abilities
- Dwarven Heritage: Bendris is a Dwarf and as such shares the innate abilities of his people. Beside having a strong and bulky physique and a much better durability and constitution then most other folks, he also has the ability to see in dark conditions, giving him some superior vision of sort. His body also is resistant against being poisoned and he's able to resist the effects of different types of poison much more easily, strengthening his overall very good constitution even more. When standing on a stony underground, Bendris is also capable of feeling the presence and movement of others through the rocky underground, giving him some advantage about their numbers and direction. This ability stems from a deep connection of Dwarves with natural stonework and environment.
- Duergar Origins: Beside being a Dwarf, Bendris also is a Duergar, a special type of his people, dwelling in the dangerous realms of the Underdark and therefore being adapted and influenced by the otherwordly powers down there. Bendris was born with some innate magical abilites, which is very useful to him. He's capable of making himself invisible and is also able to enlarge or reduce his own size willingly, to fit for every given situation. Since he is not a talented magician, his magical abilities are very limited, allowing him to get used only a few times before he need to refresh that powers. Beside that, Duergar are also well known for their psionic fortitude, having a very strong mind against mindcontrolling effects like charms or stuns. Bendris is good into resisting them without the need of actively doing something for it.
Trained Abilities
- Versatile Craftsman: In his youth Bendris had to work in different positions in his hometown, helping whereever he was needed. Therefore he was able to learn a lot of useful skills in different craftmanships of sorts. He learned skills in leatherworking, in weavery and in carpenting and up to this day is able and capable to make use of that skills when he has the right tools in his possession. In his life as a seafarer it's very useful to being able to repair wooden ships or patching up the sails. Bendris is talented in different ways and therefore a useful companion on board of every ship.
- Souschef at Sea: Cooking & baking always were the passions of Bendris. From an early age on he learned and perfected that craft in the tavern of his parents. He loved nothing more then creating impressive meals, satisfying the hungry seafarer with the tasteful and sometimes very special ingredients of the Ivalis Archipelago. Later on, he always took the part of smutje in the pirate crews he were in, making the caboose his preferred working field. Beside taking care of the crew with impressive meals he always looks out for more special ingredients to create new dishes or even invent them himself.
- Heavy armed Bulwark: Beside cooking the art of fighting always was the biggest passion for Bendris. After feeling helpless as a child, unable to change the fate of his family to the better, he started a rigorous training, improving his physique and skills with all sorts of weaponry and armory, to become a skilled fighter. His training came into fruition with Bendris being now able to wield even the biggest hammers, axes and swords, preferring the use of massive Weapons with immense potency. Beside that he also learned to make proper use of armory, being cladded in plate armor, which is untypical at the Ivalis Archipelago and especially for seafarer. But Bendris prefers durability and protection before swiftness and has perfected his skills in withstanding even the most deadliest blows. His talents with weapons and armor is impressive, making him a deadly fighter and a true bulwark at the battlefield.
- Champion of Dûin: After his horrible defeat by the hands of Gorin Rigas, Bendris swore an oath to settle this grudge against him by defeating and killing his archenemy, restoring his honor and being able to return home as a proud warrior. Up to this he wanted to pass every challenge he have to face. Dûin, god of war and grudges, honored his oath and made Bendris his champion, blessing him with supernatural power of the gods to see, if he can stand up to his oath. His given powers are enabling Bendris to use his hands for channeling healing magic, restoring the health of others, mending their wounds. He's also capable of channeling the radiant power of the gods into his weapon, imbuing it with divine energy to improve their deadliness massively. With his empowered warhammer he is able to crush his enemies with rightful wrath, smiting them down. Bendris also got the ability to channel the power of his god directly through his body and holy symbol, improving his senses and becoming able to detect foul creatures like Undeads, Demons, Devils and even Celestials.
- Divine Magic: Dûin also blessed Bendris, who isn't talented as a magician, with the ability of wielding magic, at least to some degree. He's enabled to wield divine magic, the power of the gods themselves. For that he can use healing magic to mend the wounds of others, enchanting weapons with radiant energy, strengthening the defense with shields of light and therefore protecting the innocents. He's also able to cleanse water and food, detecting poisons, diseases and even being able to heal them. His magic strengthens him when battling evil beings, making him a bulwark against the dark forces of the universe.
- Oath of Glory: Bendris had sworn the Oath of Glory, which means, he wants to become one of the strongest warriors of the Ivalis Archipelago, facing every hardship with courage and overcome every obstacle and allmighty enemy in his way to prove himself strong enough to defeat his archenemy Gorin Rigas. The special oath he had sworn blessed him with some very specialized abilities, especially strengthening his durability and will to fight to it's absolute peak. When channeling the power of his god, he is able to strengthen his own physique, for a short time becoming a peerless athlete and nearly unbeatable in acts of strength and durability. He's even able to inspire himself and his comrades to acts of greatness, strengthening them too by imbuing their bodies with his own glorious energy, so they can withstand their enemies even better too.
Apparel & Accessories
Bendris is a pirate that rely on heavy weapons and armory, which is rare among seafarers. For that he often wears scale or plate armor to protect his body from incoming attacks, which he normally wears above normal cloth made of linen. On top he sometimes wear a leathery coat for some additional protection. Some leatherbelt's are crossed above his chest, beneath his coat, where he is able to transport useful items like potions or knifes. His trousers, also hold by a leathery belt, are made of dark colored linen too and he mostly wears the traditinoal leathery boots most pirates have, but reinforced with some metal plates to improve them. Since his hair is combed back and sometimes bound into a knot, he often wears a traditional Tricorn, which classifies him as a traditional seafarer at the first look. His massive and impressive warhammer is carried on his back, together with an also massive warpick, he carries as a secondary weapon. More additonal weaponry like a smaller mace is carried by his side at his belt.
Specialized Equipment
Divine Symbol of Dûin
Bendris carries a holy symbol, a necklace, which has the blazon of Dûin carved into it. He never looses that symbol and always carries it, visible for everyone to see. It's unknown, if he had encarved that symbol into a normal necklace at one point after he got chosen as a champion of the god of war and grudges or if Dûin himself sent him that symbol, but it's Bendris' most important treasure. It's the catalyst of his divine magic and enables him to weave spells of godly power. So therefore the symbol is the core of Bendris' magical prowess.Cloud's Storm
Bendris warhammer, which he wields since many years and which had provided good service to him all this time got improved and strengthened, when the Genie Ishariel al-Qamar used her elemental powers and infuse them into the weapon. From this moment on, the warhammer became magical and capable of wielding the element of air. Smashing the hammer with full strength releases a thunderclap, able to smash down enemies off their feet. Bendris also can activate the magic inside the hammer itself, infusing himself with it, allowing him to jump higher then normally possible, releasing gusts of wind or even empower himself to fly a short time. But the magic inside the hammer isn't endless and must regenerate, after Bendris put it to use. So his capabilities of this skills are limited in some way. But nonetheless it makes him a even more deadly foe on the battlefield.Mental characteristics
Personal history
Early Years
Bendris Mondrak was born in the year 3060 AoM as the only child to a family of Duergar parents, spending his first years in the Underdark, where his people originated from. The Duergar were in constant fights with the hostile Drow which, at an unknown point in his youth, forced his family to flee, when the enemy had finally won and expelled the Dwarfs from their homeland. Because they had no possibilities left, they fled to the surface of the world through a tunnelsystem, which led to a small island at the Ivalis Archipelago. Bendris' family and the other Duergar who escaped the massacre settled at this island, while sealing the tunnels behind them to make sure, their Drow enemies can't follow and finish them off anymore. The next years the Duergar build up a small community at the island, an trade outpost and not long after, ships arrived for the purpose of trading and docking. Bendris' parents opened a small tavern in their community, where sailors and inhabitants of the town alike could find shelter, some good food, drinks and a place to sleep. From an early age on, Bendris learned the arts of cooking, becoming able to cook fine meals and satiating meals, but also to bake cake's and desserts, which was a secret passion of his. Since the community was small and they needed everyone to work hard, Bendris' also learned some other proficiencies to help, wherever they needed him. For this he learned the arts of leatherworking, weavery and carpenting too, becoming a hard working individual from an early age on. He never was a lazy person, but engaged in everything he did and soon enough became a hard working individual of his community.Training as a Warrior
But despite being a hard worker and a good craftsman, Bendris also shared the passion and ambitions of his ancestors as a warrior. As a child he dreamed of being the strongest and mightiest Dwarven warrior at the Archipelago, traumatized because of his inability to fight back against the Drow, when he was young. He wanted to become strong and powerful, so he wouldn't be helpless anymore, when someone is threatening his family and friends. For that he started training with weapons and armory, perfecting his physique and strength, until he was able to wield a mighty warhammer, which would become his preferred weaponry, despite is weight and size. He also learned to use heavy armor, preferring protection and durability before swiftness in battle. As one of the few warriors of his hometown, Bendris' fighting abilities would be honored by the other Dwarfs, when he and some others were tasked with being guardsmen of trade boats, traveling between his hometown and the nearby islands. He should protect the boats of pirate attacks and prevent the important goods of being stolen by that brigands of the sea, who were a constant threat to ships.A shameful Defeat
Bendris' followed that task proudly for a while. It was an honor to be watched as one of the strongest persons of his community and therefore he started to believe, he is indeed a strong and powerful warrior. He hadn't been challenged by some serious enemies at that point and repelling normal pirates wasn't a problem to him and the other defenders. All of that changed the day he was confronted by the one, who would become his archenemy, a confrontation, that would change his life forever. At one of their trips to a island to bring some goods to them, the Duergar got attacked by another small boat with only a single man on board. But this man was none other then Gorin Rigas, a Dwarf himself and one of the infamous Reaver of the Storm. Gorin, who's a Dwarf himself, entered their ship and challenged the Duergar to fight him and fulfilling their task by preventing him from taking their goods. Bendris' and his comrades were eager to accept the challenge, fighting their enemy and believing, they could win, since they outnumbered him. But this was not the case. One by one Gorin struck them down without mercy and in an outburst of pure violence. He killed them all right in front of Bendris' eyes and again the dwarven warrior felt helpless, something he wanted to prevent by his hard training. In the end all of his attempts were fruitless. Bendris' himself got beaten nearly to death and as Gorin Rigas left the trade boat, all the other's were dead and the ship was sinking. Only his stubbornness and pure will to survive prevented Bendris' from sharing his friends fate.The Oath of Glory
The Duergar survived his heavy injuries, drifting over the waves on the remnants of his boat. He had lost everything in a single moment: his comrades and his name, but not only that, his honor was tainted to a point, where he not could return home, looking into the eyes of the families, who lost their brothers, friends and fathers. His hatred and anger against Gorin Rigas kept him alive. He was eager not to die, but to continue his training, becoming stronger then even that Reaver of the Storm by facing the challenges of the sea, overcoming all obstacles until he's strong enough to challenge him and settle this grudge by defeating and killing him. The moment Bendris had sworn this oath to himself and brought up this grudge against Gorin Rigas, someone else listened to him. It was Dûin himself, god of war and grudges of the Morandinsamman, the dwarvish pantheon of gods. He accepted Bendris' oath and sealed it, making the young warrior one of his chosen champions. He wanted to see, if Bendris would be strong willed enough to fulfill his oath, knowing about all the challenges and suffering, it would meant. Strengthened by the blessing of the god, Bendris finally survived and was able to stay on the remnants of his boat until the got found and rescued hours later.Smutje of the Solcrest Pirates
Bendris got found by some pirates drifting in the water, more dead then alive at this point. It was the crew of the Solcrest Pirates and their captain, Sir Francis Kenneth decided to help him. He gave the order to fish this Dwarf out of the water, taking care of his wounds and bring him something to eat and drink. After he became stronger, Bendris explained his story to Sir Kenneth, also telling him about his oath and his newfound goals to settle his grudge. The captain was interested in Bendris, noticing that there is a goodhearted and noble man behind all that anger. And when Bendris told him, he is a formidable chef, Sir Kenneth offered him the chance to become part of his crew, sailing above the oceans and facing the challenges he need to overcome in his path of becoming strong enough to reach his goals. Bendris finally accepted and signed up as Smutje of the Solcrest crew. So his life as a pirate began. Bendris served a lot of years as part of the Solcrest Pirates, slowly befriending the others on board and becoming an important member of the crew himself. He was included in many adventures of the crew, trained his abilities as a Paladin and champion of Dûin and finally adapted the way of piracy Francis Kenneth teached his men. The way of being a pirate living by the Pirate Code, a life of freedom and nobility. Many years later, after the crew made a stop at Garlis' Island, Bendris met Davian Flynt for the first time, a young cabin boy, who had hired as part of the crew shortly before. The young boy was punished to help him in the caboose, after he not fulfilled his duties on board. Despite the reservations Bendris had at first he soon started to like that young boy, realizing, that he is a dreamer and ambitious man, like he was since his young years too. Bendris and Davian became good friends and the young pirate more often came to the caboose to help him there. Bendris' also befriended young Lucya Windris, a young Half-Elf, who was similar to Davian. She also wanted to become a prominent pirate, making her name legendary, showing her people her worthiness. Bendris became a good friend to them, teaching both of them a lot about piracy and how they shall live their dreams at the fullest. Together they witnessed a lot of adventures, which also helped Bendris himself to become a even stronger warrior and continue his path.The Mysteries of the Dead Man's Fleet
In the year 3167 AoM the crew of the Solcrest Pirates heard the first time of the Dead Man's Fleet, a mysterious supernatural fleet of ghost ships, which shall arrive in the realms of the mortals from the afterlife through a mysterious mist, massacring seafarer and entire ships to take up their souls and vessels to bolster their ranks. Recently more and more pirates talked about the arrival of that fleet at battlefields or other places, where massacres happened, killing all of the survivors in cruelsome ways and condemn their souls to eternal torment on board of their ships. Sir Francis Kenneth saw it as their duty to find out more about this stories, revealing out the truth about this tales and putting an end to this threat if necessary. They started their research, visiting the places where the Dead Man's Fleet had arrived, speaking to survivors and read a lot of old tales and stories. So they could find out, that the fleet came into existence through the ambitions of an unknown pirate captain, which wanted to create an immortal armada and to achieve that set sail into one of the Domains of Dread, the Sea of Sorrows to dethrone the Darklord of this place and took the might and power to himself. He failed and became enslaved, together with his crew. Since that moment the Dead Man's Fleet was born, arriving through the mists of the afterlife at any place, where cruelsome massacres near the sea happened, called forth by the scent of blood and death at the ocean, to pick up the souls and ships to bolster the ranks of the fleet, strengthening it. Finally the first mate, Dragan Kortiz, brought up the information and rumors, that the Dead Man's Fleet had been seen near Baradis Island a few times now, so it would be the perfect place to research and to find out why the rift into the mists opens and how to seal them for good. Sir Kenneth let his crew set sail and they arrived in the small porttown of the island a few days later, where they started their research, while took quarters in the town itself.The End of the Solcrest's
After a few days at Baradis Island Dragan Kortiz set his plans in motion, by letting hired mercenaries and some members of the crew, which he brought to his side, massacring the people of the town, while he killed Sir Francis Kenneth from behind. While the remained loyal crew members of the Solcrest Pirates and the attackers fought a vicious battle in the burning town, Dragan Kortiz left the town and got aboard the Solstice, the Crew's ship, to prepare to follow the Dead Man's Fleet in the mists, when they would arrive. Bendris Mondrak, Lucya Windris and Davian Flynt stayed loyal to their captain and fought against the mercenaries. While the latter followed the treacherous first mate back to the ship, he ordered Bendris and Lucya to safe as much of the townspeople as possible. After Bendris promised him to do that, they separated ways, not knowing, if they ever would see each other again. Together with the Half-Elf woman by his side, Bendris took up the fight in the burning remnants of the town, being indeed able to safe some of the innocent townsfolk. After a while they noticed the arrival of soldiers of the Marine Corps at the nearby beach, deciding to leave the island, before they would get locked in for the deeds of the traitors. Bendris tried to find Davian before leaving, noticing, that the Solstice wasn't there anymore. Not knowing, what that could mean, Bendris finally left the island together with Lucya, the only other member of the crew he had by his side. They escaped in a rowboat, leaving Baradis Island behind. When the sun rised the next day, the two were exhausted but also devastated about the loss of their captain, their comrades and best friend. Knowing, that this night meant the actual end of the Solcrest Pirates and their ideals, they traveled to the next island to regenerate from the fight and planning their next steps. Lucya hitted the loss of the crew even harder then it did for Bendris, since this pirates were the only family, that had ever accepted her for who she was. Now she had lost everything and Bendris wasn't able to comfort her. After arriving at the next island, at the following night, Lucya left the Duergar without a goodbye or any words, vanishing and leaving no trace behind where she would go. Bendris not tried to find her, realizing, that she might need time to handle her sorrow and to continue her own way. He just hoped, she would find her way back to him and they would meet again one day.New Beginnings
Bendris made the plan to find Davian. Not being sure, what happened to his friend, he not wanted to think, that he is just dead. The following months he tried to find a trace, where Davian could be, traveled to Port Royal and other destinations he believed, Davian could arrive there, but never found him and never was able to reveal the truth about what happened at Baradis Island that fateful night. Beside Davian, Dragan Kortiz and the Solstice had vanished and Bendris started to believe, that they are gone in the afterlife all together. Finally he accepted the fact, that he never would meet his friend again, ending his search and trying to focus again on his own goals in life. He hired as smutje in other pirate crews, sailing the oceans again the next eight years. But never again Bendris felt that familiarity with other pirates, neither would any crew life up to the Pirate Code and ideals, he uphold that much for himself. He became some sort of drifter, leaving crews behind and joining others, without a real idea, how to fulfill his goal now. He traveled from island to island, but never felt that purpose again he had felt as part of the Solcrest Pirates. Eight years later, in the year 3175 AoM, Bendris heard some rumors, that at the island of Yamataro Island one of the Reaver of the Storm have his haven. Unable to find out the identity of this reaver just from the rumors, he decided to travel there to find out, if it is Gorin Rigas, the man, he's looking for. After arriving at the island he stayed at the "Black Betty", a pirate nest of sort, where he got the chance of drinking and playing poker with others. While on his staying a pirate from his past would enter the same tavern, leading to a fateful reunion, that would become important for the Ivalis Archipelago as a whole...Recent Events
Age of Change - Tales of the Sea
Show spoiler
Season I: The Calling of the Sea
At the 29th of Stormtide in the year 3175 AoM Bendris stays in the "Black Betty" at Yamataro Island, playing cards with some fellow pirates. He get's accused of cheating and a brawl erupts in the tavern, leading to Davian Flynt, who recently had entered, realizing, that his old friend is in the same room. After he got beaten down by the other pirates, Davian emerges above him and Bendris sees his old friend for the first time in eight years. They are both overwhelmed by this lucky incident and shorty later sitting at one of the tables, where Bendris get to know Diego Montez and hearing from the adventures Davian had witnessed and his plans of building up a new pirate crew to fight back against the Ol' Tahm and Areus Varkal respectively. He also hears, that the Reaver of the Storm at the island isn't Gorin Rigas, but Dracon Blackcross and therefore not the man he's looking for. But nonetheless Bendris decides in an instant to follow Davian on his path, helping him as best as he can. After they spent the evening at the hot springs and relaxed a bit, sharing stories about what happened the last eight years, Bendris joins Davian the next day and they wander the path upwards the local volcano, together with Onira Yamato and Kaito Takahashi. They meet with Dracon Blackcross in his mansion, negotiating with him to get access to the library of his immortal father, where they want to find some informations about the plans of the Riverdevil and how to stop him. To prove themselves worthy of this, Dracon challenges them to pass the "Trial of the Volcano", claiming the lost Liannar Star and bring it back to him. Since he never recoils from a real challenge, Bendris is up to pass that trial and follows Davian and the others to the top of the volcano, where they get sucked in a pocket dimension of Yamataro Island. There Bendris and Davian are much stronger versions of themselves, with Bendris wielding the all-mighty "Thunderous Tidehammer" and wearing the powerful "Armor of the Sea Serpent". While at the island, they securing Onira Yamato from a temple infested with Yuan-Ti and also rescuing Kaito Takahashi out of the fortified city of Marisakura. Afterwards they meet the mysterious Aezra who helps them to get into possession of the pieces of the Liannar Star, when they in return take her back with them to the real world. After fighting and destroying the mighty Bronze Dragon Kaoren they were able to reclaim the two pieces and leaving the pocket dimension. Bendris joins the others back to the mansion of Dracon to show him, that they passed his trial. Impressed, Dracon let them enter the library of his father, while it also get's revealed that Aezra is his long lost sister, which he can't handle, so he outcasts her immediately. Bendris follows Davian and Onira into the library, researching about the three sigils that keeps the Ol' Tahm sealed away from the oceans, the importance of the Pirate Codex and the war, that Areus Varkal is about to bring upon the Ivalis Archipelago. For the first time Bendris realizes, how great this threat to the oceans is and that the freedom of all seafarers is on the brink of destruction. While doing their research Bendris and Davian also got glimpses of informations, that their beloved captain Sir Francis Kenneth and the legendary pirate Sir Francis Drake could be a single person. After they found out, what they wanted, they return to Marisakura to make plans. After hearing that Davian plans to set sail for Scum Island, wanting to join the Pirate Triumvirate and meeting Ava Drake to get more informations about the secrets surrounding their old captain, Bendris decides to join the crew as a smutje. He signs up by his old friend and swears loyalty to him, feeling ready to sail under the command of Davian. He also invites Aezra Blackcross to join their crew, motivating her of leaving Yamataro Island behind, showing the world and especially her brother who she really is. After leaving Yamataro Island, the crew sails to Scum's Landing, thereby passing Pelaris Island, the armory of the Marine Corps. After they meet Daryl Goreblade, another Reaver of the Storm, they decide to make station at the island, to improve their weaponry and reinforce themselves for the upcoming battles, which Bendris deeply welcomes. At the island they impersonate themselves as explorers and get hired by the marine to deal with a mysterious plague spreading through the population of the island, infecting and killing them. After doing some research they follow the trace of some slime monsters, who are behind the infections. Following them to a cave nearby the city of Puerto Diamante a fight erupts between the pirates and the monstrous beings. In the end the pirates are able to defeat the slimy creatures and also to kill a follower of Jubilax, the faceless Lord. When returning back to the city, they speak about their future as pirates and when Davian brings up the idea of renewing the Solcrest Pirates, Bendris is deeply touched and agrees to this, in the honor and name of Sir Francis Kenneth, their beloved captain. But before they make a final decision about the future of their pirate crew, they get into the bombardment of the city by the fleet of Areus Varkal and his followers. While Diego and Aezra return to their ship to set sail and navigate it out of the harbor, Bendris joins Davian in an attempt to secure Wylla Wanderlust, who wasn't outside of the town with the rest of the crew, but had visited the academy of navigation, deep inside the city. The two pirates fights their way through the bombardment, but when trying to avoid some Triton warriors in the streets, they get noticed by them, when Bendris smashes the windows of a building to create a shortcut through the burning town. Since there is also an inhabitant of the town inside the building, together with his wife and little daugther, Bendris and Davian trying to defend them from the attackers. Since being weakened from their massive fight with the slime creatures before and their weaponry heavily damaged, the pirates are not able to hold themselves against the attackers. Back to back they are fighting, but then Bendris gets pierced by the blades of the enemies and is struck down. But he and Davian atleast manages to secure important seconds for that young girl and her mother to escape, which seems to be a worthy death for the grim pirate veteran...Season II: Dawn of the Solcrest's
Education
From an early age on Bendris was needed as a worker and craftsman inside the dwarvish community he lived. Therefore he learned a lot of useful skills not only in the arts of cooking by his parents, but also in the crafts of leatherworking, weavery and carpenting, allowing him to work on a array of fields, when necessary. But while being very professional and well educated in different working fields, Bendris never got some education in the most fields of knowledge. He never had the time to learn theoretical knowledge about the world and therefore is often a bit clumsy when it comes to the need of knowing how the world really works. Even his skills in the art of weaponry and armory for the most is practical and self-educated. He learned how to proper use weapons and armor of all kinds and how to fight with them properly, but not much about battle tactics, strategies or more. In thies fields he compensates his lack of knowledge with brute strength, durability and his will to fight.
After becoming a pirate Bendris learned the ways of sailoring and piracy from his fellow crewmates and through experience for being on board of a ship for many years. Up to this day he is not well into doing most of the galleywork, preferring his work in the caboose over most other duties.
Employment
Before becoming a pirate Bendris worked in different fields of work in his hometown. He was a temporary worker in the fields of leatherworking, weavery and carpenting, whenever they needed his help there, atleast gaining some experience in that fields. For the most time he worked as a cook and waiter in the local tavern, run by his parents. When he grew older and became a stronger warrior through his selfmade training, he got hired as a guard for trade boats leaving the island more often for some short travels to islands nearby. After getting signed up by the Solcrest Pirates, Bendris became a smutje at their ship, therefore exclusively working as a cook in the caboose of their ship for many years.
Accomplishments & Achievements
His strong and iron will and his toughness of not giving up even in the face of death and the moment of his greatest defeat and his grim oath to improve himself, by becoming one of the strongest warriors of the oceans, surpassing his archenemy and defeating him whatever it might cost, impressed Dûin, the dwarvish god of grudges and war. He gave Bendris the chance to prove, that he can fulfill that given oath, accepting the challenges of the ocean and surpassing even the most greatest warriors of the sea. In this moment Bendris became a Paladin, blessed with divine magic and power and therefore enabled to fulfill his dreams of honor.
Failures & Embarrassments
The greatest moment of failure for Bendris was the day, he had to realize, that he is not a great warrior, but nothing more then a dreamer, a mere boy, who wants to be a fighter. Convinced by his own strength he had traveled the sea, guarding the trade boats, not believing, any pirate could ever defeat him. When Gorin Rigas attacked the boat, killing all of his comrades and almost himself in mere seconds, he realized, that he can't do anything against that mighty Reaver of the Storm. He got humiliated by the superior Dwarf, humiliated and robbed of his honor. Nearly beaten to death, with his friends dead, Bendris needed to learn, that he is not strong or powerful and that there are so many mighty individuals out there he have to surpass first. This day he decided to return to his hometown only when settling the grudge against Gorin Rigas by taking revenge for the deaths of his comrades.
Bendris also witnessed the end of the Solcrest Pirates by the betrayal of first mate Dragan Kortiz and the murdering of their captain. Up to this day Bendris have his doubts if he should have done something different and if that would mean, that Francis Kenneth might still be alive and the old crew still would sailing together. Again he felt, that he wasn't strong enough to make a difference, being haunted by that doubt up to this day.
Mental Trauma
As a child Bendris had to flee from his homeland in the Underdark together with his parents and fellow Dwarves, driven out by the attacking Drow Forces. He was helpless in that moment, since he was just a boy, unable to fight or making a difference. That deeply impacted Bendris for the rest of his life, leading to his self-made oath of never being weak of helpless again. He would train and improve himself and even swearing a oath of becoming a glorious warrior, surpassing the most powerful individuals at the ocean. It's this feeling of helplessness, that drives him forward and is the greatest motivation, since it was that traumatical to him.
Intellectual Characteristics
Bendris Mondrak is not known for being a smart individual. He is a simple man with a simple world view, living by the standards of strength, durability and compassion before wisdom and knowledge. Most of the time he not knows, how the world really works, having no idea, what dangerous things lurking out there, but he also not cares much about it. He is convinced to challenge every hardship he will face in his life and so it makes no difference to him, if he knows about it before or not. Often enough Bendris acts at first and thinks at second, which not rarely leads him into difficult situations. But while maneuvering himself in hardships, Bendris alwas takes up what it needs to get himself out of it too. He compensates his lack of tactical insights and strategy with passion, bravery and an iron will to reach his goals in life. He is also a goodhearted man, staying loyal to the ones, he cares for and to him empathy and following his heart surpass the need of Calculation and cold logic.
Morality & Philosophy
Taboos
Bendris got teached to live an honorable seafaring life by the Pirate Code through his years as part of the Solcrest Pirates. He learned that true piracy is strifing for freedom and independence at the ocean. For that he deeply despites the behaviour of the criminal scum, that most pirates are doing and not wanting to be part of it. Therefore it's his greatest taboo of plundering or massacring innocent townspeople.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
As a young adult Bendris learned the harsh reality of the ocean that there are much stronger and more powerful individuals out there then him. He paid a price for his arrogance in believing how strong he is, loosing his friends and comrades in a titanic battle against the Reaver of the Storm Gorin Rigas, which he barely survived. Afterwards, Bendris swore an oath of becoming stronger, overcome any obstacles and defeating Gorin Rigas once and for all, so he can restore his honor and avenge his fallen comrades. Up to this day it's his biggest motivation to improve himself, becoming stronger and more powerful and to accept every challenge, the oceans might have to offer. Bendris is determined to survive and becoming strong enough until the day of revanche finally has come.
Secondary to his main motivation Bendris sails the oceans to rebuild the Solcrest Pirates to continue the legacy of their fallen captain Sir Francis Kenneth, a man, which changed his whole life for the better. To achieve this and to support his friends he stands by the side of Davian Flynt, one of his best friends which became the new captain and helps him in all efforts to rebuild their crew. He also hopes to find Lucya Windris again, another member of the old crew, he believes, is still out there and who once was one of his best friends. Bendris deeply hopes, that one day the three friends might sail again together, following the philosophy of Sir Kenneth, making the oceans a better place.
Likes & Dislikes
Bendris has a passion for baking. He loves nothing more then to buy ingredients, often exotic ones, on every trade market he visits to create new impressive cakes and to serve them to his crew and comrades. He deeply believes that a good meal and especially good desserts are a big boost for motivation and courage and helps a crew to overcome any challenge and obstacle in their way.
The Duergar deeply dislikes the way, most of the pirates behave and is a loyal follower not only of the Pirate Codex, but also to the philosophies of Francis Kenneth. He watches pirates, who aren't following some code of sorts as criminal scum, hating their ways and how they behave. He not wants to harm someone by plundering their goods or destroying their homes and often enough becomes a fierce enemy to everyone, who is trying to do that.
Virtues & Personality perks
Despite his sometimes grumpy facade Bendris is a man with a lot of inherent charisma, giving him the possibility of making friends easily and earning the trust of others. He is open minded and offer others the chance to prove them worthy to become friends of him, without making a difference about their species, background or behaviour. He's even able to accept a Drow, which are the fiercest enemies of his people, as a comrade and giving them a chance. This trait of him makes Bendris a loyal and good friend and opens a lot of possibilities to him, since others are often inclined to him. Not rarely he's the one who make the offer to someone of joining their crew, when he got the feeling, that the other person is a good one and earned his trust.
Bendris is a stubborn and often very strong-willed individual. It doesn't matter, how often he gets beaten and struck down, he stands up again and again, continuing fighting and this behaviour is often enough inspirational for the ones, fighting by his side. Not only shows it others, that Bendris is willing to fight by their side until the end, overcoming every obstacle together, but he's a leading example that a pirate shall never give up and continue fighting to reach his dreams and goals, whatever it costs and whatever setbacks he has to suffer from.
Vices & Personality flaws
Bendris is easy to distract from his goals. No matter how important a mission is or how much the pressure of time is, he always finds the time to distract himself with things he love, especially cooking, eating or gambling of sorts like playing cards or dice. He has no feeling for some sort of urgency and believes, that for the good things in life the time is always right. More then once that brought him into difficult situations or worsening the situation of the crew with him not being at the point, where he should be or not doing, what he should do in any given moment.
The Dwarf is a straightforward man and often not sees the need of making difficult plans or strategies. Most of the time he prefers the direct confrontation, attacking with all he can and accepting every challenge. He believes, that every problem can be dealt with through pure strength and power and for that it doesn't matter, how impossible a fight would be or how powerful an enemy is. Bendris is ready to fight against everyone and often enough overestimate his own abiliites heavily, leading to disastrous situations and horrible defeats.
Representation & Legacy
Bendris strives for the goal to make his name immortal as a warrior. He wants to become one of the strongest warriors at all of the Seven Seas, able to defeat even the most powerful enemies and overcome every obstacle and passing all challenges the oceans have to offer. Supported by the god of grudges and war, Dûin, Bendris fights and trains every day to achieve that goal. Should he be successful, his name would become immortal and he also would become a leading example to future generations that a pirate can achieve everything, if he just have the will and stubbornness to fight for his dreams.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Sir Francis Kenneth
Sir Francis Kenneth was the captain, who had the most influence on Bendris' whole life, shaping his philosophy about pirates heavily. He was also the captain, with whom Bendris sailed the longest time, being smutje at his ship for many years. It was Sir Francis, who rescued Bendris out of the ocean and safed his live, after his horrible defeat by the hands of Gorin Rigas, a circumstance, Bendris is grateful up to this day. Without him, Bendris never would had the chance to prove, that he's worthy of his oath and able to fulfill it. Sir Francis gave him another chance and Bendris will never forget that. He was fiercely loyal to his captain and still blames himself, that he was not able to prevent his death and the whole betrayal. Bendris is about to hold up Sir Francis' legacy and continue the Solcrest Pirates as a whole in his name and honor.Davian Flynt
Davian joined the Solcrest Pirates, when Bendris still was a member of the crew for many years. At first he wasn't sure about that headstrong cabin boy, who was sent to his caboose as punishment for his failed duties. But after a short time Bendris realized, that Davian shared a lot of his philosophies and also have dreams nearly impossible to reach, like he has himself. The two soon became good friends and would witness a lot of adventures together, which strengthens their bond over the years. Together with their fellow crewmate Lucya Windris they promised each other to live their dreams one day and up to this point are fighting together, back by back. When the Solcrest pirates got shattered after the death of Sir Francis Kenneth Bendris lost his best friend Davian to the Mists. For many months he tried to find a trace to Davian's whereabouts, but it was impossible and so he believed him to be dead. It was a loss, Bendris never was able to overcome and in the following years he continued life as a pirate, but it wasn't the same anymore. On a destined day, more then eight years later Bendris met Davian again in a tavern at the island of Yamataro Island. Overwhelmed by joy, that his friend isn't dead, Bendris joined Davian instantly in his efforts and later on even joined his new formed crew. Since that Bendris became somewhat of the backbone of the new formed pirate crew, helping Davian to uphold the legacy of Sir Francis and rebuild the Solcrest Pirates in his name.Lucya Windris
Like crewmate and best friend Davian Flynt Lucya Windris was a young upcoming pirate with dreams nearly impossible to fulfill. She also befriended Bendris after she joined the crew and the three became inseparable. After they had promised each other to fulfill their dreams together and live up to them, they witnessed a lot of adventures. When the Solcrest Pirates got shattered after the betrayal of Dragan Kortiz Lucya and Bendris fled the battlefield at Baradis Island together, but when the Half-Elf can't handle their grief and sadness about the loss of her only family, she left Bendris behind and vanished. He let her go, since he believed, she just need time for herself. Up to this day Bendris hadn't met her again, but he hopes, that she is still out there and will join the new Solcrest Pirates one day too, so the trio would be brought back together again, fighting for the dreams.Gorin Rigas
The Reaver of the Storm was the man, who showed Bendris for the first time, that there are pirates so powerful, that all his training and all his amassed strength is nothing compared to it. This realization came with a horrible price: All of his comrades and friends got killed by Gorin Rigas and only Bendris remained, broken and beaten. It was this fight and defeat that brought Bendris to swear the oath of glory. He wanted to become stronger, passing all challenges the oceans have to offer and finally being able to beat and kill Gorin Rigas in revenge. Bendris had sworn a dwarvish grudge, which even made Dûin accept him as his champion, guiding him on his path. It's Bendris biggest goal in life to become strong enough to fight and defeat Gorin Rigas, settling his grudge and avenging his fallen comrades. This will restore his honor, making it possible for him to return with his head held high.Dragan Kortiz
The treacherous first mate of the Solcrest Pirates, who had shattered the crew by killing Sir Francis Kenneth is one of the archenemies of Bendris. Up to this day the Dwarf blame himself for not being able to foresee the upcoming betrayal and stop the first mate, when he had the chance. Instead he felt helpless again that day, unable to do anything, a feeling, Bendris deeply hates. He and Davian both hope to meet Dragan Kortiz again one day and bring justice to him, executing the law of the Pirate Codex at him, finally bringing peace to the soul of Sir Francis Kenneth.Family Ties
Mondrak Family
Bendris originated from the Mondrak Family, a dwarvish family of Duergar origins. He is an only child and lived with his parents in the Underdark, until his people got massacred by the Drow and had to flee their homeland. Since then they are living in a small community on an island at the Ivalis Archipelago. Bendris helped his parents his whole life, wanting to make them proud of him by becoming a worthy member of the small community. For that he tries to compensate the fact, that he was to young and to weak to fight, when they had to leave their homeland and got driven to the surface. He wanted nothing more then to build a home for his community and his parents especially and for that he trained since a young age. When he got defeated and all of his comrades died by the hand of Gorin Rigas, Bendris started to feel shameful and decided to become a pirate instead of returning home as a broken man. Only when his oath is fulfilled he will return home, with his head held high and his honor restored.Religious Views
The Morandinsamman
Bendris is a faithful follower of the Morandinsamman, the dwarvish pantheon of gods. He prays to them on a regular basis and often to different gods at different occasions like Vaaki, when he is on travel or Berlona, when he is cooking. He is a devout follower of Dûin, since he became a champion of this gods years ago, but this doesn't mean, that Bendris not worship the other gods of the dwarvish pantheon too and honor them whenever possible.Dûin
While worshipping all gods of the Morandinsamman Bendris has become a champion of Dûin, god of war and grudges, after he had sworn his oath of glory, which got accepted and blessed by the divine entity. Since that day Bendris get's his magical prowess send from his god to strengthen him and feels the guidance of Dûin while on the journey to fulfill his oath. He often prays to Dûin for blessing and teachings while also following his dogma as best as he can. As long as Bendris is honoring his oath and the tenets of faith from Dûin the god will support him with magical powers and other help to fulfill his dreams, restoring his honor and becoming a great warrior of the sea one day.Social Aptitude
While often looking like a grumpy Dwarf, who not wanna get into contact with others that much, this is just a facade. In fact Bendris Mondrak is a very open minded person with a goodhearted personality. He is extroverted, loud and direct and not shy about saying, whatever he get's into his mind. He also often shows others, when he likes or dislikes them directly, so it's easy to see, what Bendris truly thinks about a person. He is not good in hiding his emotions toward others, making him easy to see through. As a man who was most of his life at sea as a pirate, Bendris not really knows anything about noble behaviour, etiquette or mannerisms, being a gruff and harsh person with a tone showing that directly. He not cares about noble titles or heritage and is a direct person to everyone, which often enough snub others deeply. As a man who had sworn to never step back, Bendris is always at the forefront of every conflict and ready to take up arms. His bravery and will is inspiring to others, giving him some leadership abilities he not even knows, he's inheriting them.
Mannerisms
Bendris tends to speak open and directly, in a harsh and gruff tone of voice. He is a stereotyp of a Dwarf in that aspect, with a hardly voice and tone of speaking. He not holds back, but tend to say everything he thinks about, not caring who might hear it. That often brings him into trouble, since Bendris often enough offend others with that behaviour and not even understand, why they react to him like they do afterwards. He's also a person, that prefers to act before talking. Sometimes he not really thinks about a situation, but acts and hopes, that the outcome will be fitting. This make him an inspirational person sometimes, but on other occassions often leads to failures and defeats, however, Bendris watch that as part of his pirate ways, believing that every defeat just will make him stronger, so it's worth it.
Hobbies & Pets
While cooking is his job as smutje of the pirate crew, Bendris loves baking as a secondary passion and hobby. It's his hobby to buy rare and exotic ingredients at every trade market the crew is passing, having some inspiring ideas to create artistic desserts and cakes as a result. Baking is his way to calm down, reflecting himself and to be at peace with himself after a hard fight or otherwise dangerous situation.
Trivia
- Bendris was at first an NPC-Character from the backstory of Davian Flynt. When the protagonist Sirius Wavestorm died, his player and the DM tried to create a character, that would fit perfect into the story, without the feeling of his addition being totally random. The goal was to include a character, which motivations would fit into the story and not being added just because it's a player character. The player of Sirius brought up the idea of using the character of Bendris, so he and the player of Davian could share some ideologies and motivations and also have a good relationship right from the start. This was done in the end, since Bendris hadn't appeared up to this point and wasn't defined in detail yet. So there was enough possibility to create an individual character anyway.
- In the original concept idea, Bendris should be some sort of grumpy old Dwarf, a veteran pirate with a good heart, but a rough and sometimes distant facade. This was changed by the inclusion of him as a player character. His personality became more friendly and open minded to fit better into his new role.
- in his first concept as a player character, Bendris should had the subclass "Oath of the Corsair", which would fit into his ways as a pirate. This was changed into the subclass "Oath of Glory", because he would have needed to be a follower of Calia. This would have been problematic to explain his friendship with Davian, who is, because of his backstory, not very friendly towards Calia. Beside that the new oath also fitted better into his own backstory and allowed Bendris to be chosen by Dûin as the Dwarven God of grudges.
- It got established, that Bendris loves baking beside cooking. In every port he is about to buy extraordinary ingredients to bake some special desserts and delicious cakes.
- Bendris shares some similarities with the character of Kolgar Thoradin, who is a protagonist of the chronicle Age of Conquest - Fall of the Gods. Both are Dwarves who left their home to reach some goal important to the ideology of their people. Both have bonded deeply with a Human and became best friends with him and both are mighty warriors relying on strength and mighty weapons to crush their enemies. Both are also capable of creating something to eat or drink, with Kolgar being a brewmaster and Bendris being a cook. The similarities are to explain with the fact, that both characters got played by the same player, who deeply preferred this type of protagonist to play.
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Current Status
Alive (Resurrected)
Current Location
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Smutje
Date of Birth
In the Year 3060 AoM
Year of Birth
3060 AoM
115 Years old
Birthplace
Children
Pronouns
He/Him
Sex
Male
Eyes
Hazel brown
Hair
long; of grayish color
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
dark brown; nearly black
Height
1,32 m
Weight
62 kg
Quotes & Catchphrases
"There are three things in life, I truly and passionately love: Cooking, Baking and Fighting. And believe it, in none of them you wanna challenge me! Whatever it costs, I might become the best in all my passions. Then and only then I have lived the life of a pirate to the fullest!"
Belief/Deity
Champion of Dûin & Follower of the Morandinsamman
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