Gardus Ashenforge
Gardus is a dwarven ex-monk from the Order of the Obsidian Spear, banned from the order on false charges of heresy. He is currently seeking to clear his name and is a member of the Heroes of Celunia adventuring party.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Gardus Ashenforge was born into a smithing family in the Obsidian district of Sprigstein. The Ashenforges were not the most renowned smiths but they made a decent living within Sprigstein. Gardus was the middle child flanked by an older brother (Dri) and younger sister (Bala). He learned the basics of smithing at a young age thinking it was what he wanted to do with his life like his father. Around age 12 he after a particularly rousing sermon by the Obsidian Archbishop Grendan, Gardus decided he wanted to join the clergy. As clerics within Spristein are among the most respected members of society with the Otho being chief among them.
To further this dream Gardus began hanging around Obsidian temple to learn all he could about Rixa and the Obsidian order of the church state. He would often sneak out of his house to go there during the night to look around and pray. During one of these forays into the temple he noticed some cloaked individuals walking to alter and suddenly disappearing. Thinking they might be there to rob from the temple Gardus followed them to get a better look so he could report them to the authorities. While initially stumped as to where they went he discovered a secret stairwell leading under the Temple.
Gardus mustered all of his courage and followed them into the depths below. Upon entering the catacombs he snuck along the wall until he was only 30 ft behind the individuals he had seen enter. Not able to see their faces he kept following them. Eventually they led him to a large chamber where one other cloaked individual was waiting for them. Gardus stopped short at the entrance to the chamber and listened to see if he could gather some information. Most of what he heard was muffled until the person that was already in the chamber said loudly “You can come out now….You don’t need to be afraid….I’m very impressed the two you followed didn’t notice you.”
This was the first encounter with the man that would change Gardus’s destiny. Gorin was the leader of “The Order of the Obsidian Spears,” the secret arm of the Obsidian Temple and spy masters of Sprigstein.
Gardus approached the men standing there with trepidation not knowing what will happen next. Gorin once again put his fears at ease as he explained who he was and how impressed at how he was able to follow two senior Spears without being noticed. He asked Gardus some questions concerning his faith as they walked back towards the secret entrance in the Obsidian Temple. Prodding him to see if he was worthy or just lucky in this endeavor. Sensing promise and power hiding within this child Gorin told Gardus about how the Spears were in charge of keeping tabs on dissidents, nonbelievers, non-dwarf folks, and other people deemed a threat to Sprigstein. Gardus was enthralled and Gorin could see it in his eyes. Gorin offered to bring the boy into the order if it was what he wished. Gardus having found his purpose agreed without a thought.
The next day the Obsidian Archbishop Grendan personally came to the Ashenforge house to talk to Gardus’s parents and collect the boy. While apprehensive at first Faruun (Gardus’s father) agreed to allow his son to join in what was told to him school to become a cleric of Obsidian. During his training he would not have any contact with his former life to allow him to fully embrace the life and religion he was dedicating himself. Gardus said his goodbyes to his parents and siblings and went with the Archbishop.
The first year was the roughest as he was not prepared for the training of these monks. Hours upon hours of meditation and prayer followed by the most grueling exercises he had ever encountered. During his subsequent years of training he fell into a groove and accepted the lessons more easily. As the years passed he was taught how the Spears helped the citizens of Sprigstein, the Otho, and all of the Archbishops. He was taught to be mistrusting of outsiders and non-dwarf folk until he could be certain of their intentions. The Spears honed his natural abilities of stealth showing him how to blend into the shadows which would help him on his missions. The roughest part of training was showing him how to harness his body’s own energy and focus it. After over a decade of training Gardus finally unlocked his Ki and could now join in on missions.
His first mission was easy enough just a sneak and peak. It was his first foray into the town of Hekros and experiencing Humans at a large scale. The Spears had heard of a merchant there dealing in stolen metals from Sprigstein and wanted more information about the operation. Gardus along with his mentor Munar followed their prey from the town square back to his office. In the middle of the night he left and they went to work. Expertly sneaking in and finding evidence of an illegal trade of Sprigstein metals they reported back to Gorin. After a few weeks it was determined something more had to be done. Munar and Gardus were dispatched back to Hekros to eliminate the merchant. Gardus knew part of his mission would eventually lead to killing of certain people, he didn’t think it would come during his first mission. As he and Munar watched from a shadowy roof top waiting for the most opportune moment, Gardus began to have doubts he could do it. But being a logical person who was taught not to questions his orders he pushed those doubts aside as he and Munar scaled the fence and began their approach of the quiet house. Sneaking past the few guards the patrolled the courtyard the slipped inside and made their way to the merchants room. As Munar instructed him countless times in his training Gardus approached his target and while saying a prayer under his breath he plunged his obsidian dagger into the throat to prevent him from screaming out. The deed was done and Gardus was praised by Munar and Gorin upon his return to the Obsidian Temple.
As the years passed Gardus never again had doubts and his faith in the Spears and orders of the Archbishop grew stronger. By relaying on his logic and reason he had found his purpose and place in the world. Through his actions those that threaten the peace of Sprigstein were dealt with or were tracked. While some of his target over the years might not have seemed trying to do evil they were a threat that needed to be dealt with.
His faith and place in the order was put into jeopardy after the Spears caught wind of a rebellious individual within the Silver District. With no more information other than this individual was looking to cull Sprigstein of its sinners. Not wanting to have a terrorist organization set up shop within its city the Order of Spears sent forth Gardus and Munar. They got lucky while hanging out in a seedier tavern they overheard a discussion of a meeting for likeminded people looking to change Sprigstein. Quickly befriending the meeting organizer they were told of the location of the meeting and set out to infiltrate this growing organization. The ideas discussed within the basement of a Silver merchant’s home seemed innocuous at first but there was no denying the charisma of the speaker. Her name was Simkka and she spoke of the injustices befalling the lower castes of Sprigstein residents and how it was time for a change. Gardus and Munar however saw no real threat other that. During the next meeting Gardus and Munar were invited to meet the group’s benefactor to discuss how they could help. Eager to learn more information about this organization the pair agreed.
Unfortunately it was a set up. The pair had been sniffed out as spies. While being led down to the meeting place Munar’s senses detected something was amiss but he was to slow to react when the doors shut behind them. A fierce battle ensued between 20 cultists and the two Spears. Munar laid down his life so he protégé Gardus could escape and inform the Obsidian Spears. Beaten Gardus made his way back to the Obsidian Temple. His return was not met with one of concern or relief he was still alive, instead there were questions concerning his activities within the very group he was gathering information on. He was presented with testimony and evidence that he and Munar were feeding these cultists with information to sew dissent within Sprigstein. His objections and offers to show the scroll detailing that they were on a sanctioned mission fell on deaf ears. He was already guilty in their eyes and the sentence for this was death. Unsure of what was going on and feeling betrayed by his order Gardus began looking for a way out. He was thrown into a cell to await the Archbishops decision regarding his fate.
After a few days it seemed all was loss and he would certainly have his head stricken from his body. Rixa was on his side however and Archbishop Grendan with the input from Gorin the Order’s leader agreed to label him a Heretic and excommunicate him from the Order and Sprigstein.
Thrown out of Sprigstein Gardus was thrust into the world of non-dwarfs with just the knowledge that he had been wronged by his order and saw his mentor murdered. There had to be more to the story. While his purpose within the Order was no more his new purpose was clear. Find out what happened leading up to that night and bring those responsible to heel.
Current Location
Species
Year of Birth
402 ME
Birthplace
Children
Gender
Male
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
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