Cell Master Khulmas Brightsmelt
Cell Master Khulmas Brightsmelt
Early Life and Rise as an Adventurer
Khulmas Brightsmelt was born into the Stoneforge Clan of the western Ironspine Mountains of Outer Jord. A smith’s son with a sharp mind and sharper fists, he was conscripted into clan militia duty at a young age, where his talent for battlefield leadership and indomitable will drew notice. In his 40s, he left the mountains to become a mercenary and eventually fell in with a mismatched group of wanderers who would come to be known as The Ember Company. Together with the other members of the band, he built a reputation as a slayer of aberrant beasts, delver of sunken cities, and champions of smallfolk. Khulmas was the frontline warrior and moral compass, steadfast in cause and brutal in execution. He wielded an ancestral greataxe named Ruincleave, and for nearly four decades, their legend grew. Khulmas eventually fell in love with the lady Bonwyn Heathsong, a Dwarf healer he had met saving a village from a lich-spawned plague. Their love softened the dwarf’s temper to the point he decided to finally retire from his adventuring life, returning to his homeland with riches and a desire for peace.Tragedy and Damnation
For two decades, the pair lived in quiet seclusion near Lake Aldreuj. However, the Dwarf had gained enemies that struck at his home while he was away. In raging grief, Khulmas sought the help of gods for consolation. When he found no respite for his anguish he turned to other means in desperation until eventually a voice, calling itself Derzeth, began to speak in his head and provided Khulmas with an enchanted sword as his tool of revenge. The weapon was powerful, pulling him in the direction of those that had wronged him. No matter the distance, he was always on their trail with a growing bloodlust motivating him. Once Khulmas had finally taken care of all those responsible for the murder of his family, however, the bloodlust didn't abate. Derzeth, revealing himself to be a minor archdevil of bureaucracy, revenge, and quotas, bound an Infernal Contract to him through the sword. In exchange for unrelenting vengeance, Khulmas would surrender the souls of those he slew. He felt a compulsion that made him hunt down dozens more victims—some guilty, some not—all sacrificed to his pact. At the edge of his madness, Khulmas tried countless ways of getting rid of the blade. If he could ignore the intense urge to retrieve it, still it was always returned to him by morning. If he tried to destroy it he would be overcome with pain. Finally, he managed to reassert his will by binding himself to a greater vow: not to vengeance, but to justice."At least I'm rid of it..." — Brightsmelt's dying words
The Cell Master of Jord
Over decades, his earthy eyes began to burn red, and his soul grew hollow as the Dwarf ignored the constant calling of the sword's creator. Khulmas shaped Jord into a paradox: a place of unrelenting punishment, and yet one where the rules were ironclad and enforced without corruption. But, in the spring of 1436, Khulmas met his end after receiving a new batch of prisoners to his personal cellblock of the Great Fortress. The band of rowdies, made up of two female fire Genasi, a female Tabaxi, and a male Half-elf, managed to overwhelm the guards and start a riot. He sealed himself in his office and magically sent off a missive appraising other officials of the situation. In short order, the rioting prisoners broke into his office and seized him. After interrogating him and learning that the cell block could only be opened from outside and he had just ordered against that being done, the group pressed him for their confiscated gear and he gave it to them, explaining that the island was a life sentence regardless of what they did then. In frustration and sense of revenge, one of the fire Genasi took his sword, his glamoured hellforged blade, as the others cast him down the trapdoor where prisoners were eventually released. Khulmas, injured by the twenty foot fall, made his way through the cave system in an attempt to be recovered by an outside patrol before any of the islanders could capture him. Before escaping though, he was set upon by a swarm of juvenile Carrion Crawlers that left him paralyzed and on the brink of death. By happenstance the rioters that cast him down found him and fought off the crawlers. Knowing he was about to die, his only solace was that he was now free of his infernal contract as the Genasi had unknowingly assumed the terms.
Stout and steadfast cell master of one of the Fortress dungeon blocks. He oversees the processing of new prisoners and directly commands the detachment of guards within the block.
Current Location
Fortress Prison of Jord
Alignment
Lawful Good
Current Location
Species
Date of Death
18th of Melora's Gift, 1436
Life
1250 UE
1436 UE
186 years old
Circumstances of Death
Killed by Juvenile Carrion Crawlers
Birthplace
Outer Jord
Place of Death
Great Fortress, Inner Jord
Children
Pronouns
He/Him
Sex
Male
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dull Brown
Hair
Dark Blonde to Brown, Trussed and Braided
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tanned, Fair Skin with Rosy Blemishes
Aligned Organization
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