Zigpin Hammer-Sharpener
Clan Hammer-Sharpener, a hearty and joyous clan of dwarves that have hones their skill with the warhammer to near god-like efficiency. How? Simple. Hammers are good at smashing, but if you can put an edge on the corners of your hammer you can strip the flesh from the bone you just shattered. And it is from that clan that Zigpin hails. While there is always a need for warriors, and hunters, there also need to be those that can ease a weary band, or embolden it's warriors to fight like Goff herself is wielding their weapon.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Not just satisfied with smashing through foe after foe, something other than bloodlust called to Zigpin. Something more emotional. A need to spread the tales of his allies so that all may know of their achievements and of Clan Hammer-Sharpener. This is where Zigpin found his calling. Starting out with a simple lute bought off a wandering trader, Zigpin practiced for days till he could play with troupe's playing in the mead halls. He then began studying old tales of hero's long gone and weaving their histories into verse. Soon he became a regular at the halls, and smaller courts of the surrounding areas. Fame and small fortune were his for the next 10 years.
Growing tired of playing the same places, Zigpin found it time to leave the clans home and venture out. He would play anywhere that would have him and spread the glories of his clan and heros. On a particularly long stretch of road he found himself becoming unusually tired. He found himself a nice tree to sit under and regain his strength. He pulled out his lute and began playing a small melody to pass the time. Getting caught up in his playing like he usually did he didn't notice the woodland creatures gathering around him. Even more so he hadn't even noticed a rather large green parrot had decided to land on the neck of his lute. Shocked at how close the animal was to him he gasped. To which the bird responded in a squeaky voice “whatcha doin?” followed by a string of whistles and squawks. This wasn't Zigpin's first encounter with a talking bird, but the fact that he was so close to one and it hadn't tried to bite him yet was astounding. He slowly reached a hand out to the bird. It lowered it's head and said “scritch scritch”. Zigpin took this as he wanted to be pet. Slowly he pet the birds head, and the bird responded happily. He took his hand away and the bird jumped from the neck of his lute to Zigpin's shoulder. The bird bend forward, tilted its head to Zigpin's face and in a shrill happy voice said “friend” followed by chirping and kissing noises. Now finding himself with a new travel companion Zigpin felt refreshed and continued down the road.
Zigpin eventually found much work in the taverns of the south. Some came to hear the stories and songs, other to see the exotic companion that occasionally lent a squawk or a chirp. Every passing day the dwarf and the bird grew to trust each other more. Soon he found himself having long conversations with the bird. It would respond with a myriad of noises, or a word or 2 it had picked up from Zigpin. On long travels it would whistle songs he played, and Zigpin would play his lute while the bird bobbed to the music. They had become very good companions, it even nipped at innkeeps that tried to pay Zigpin less than the agreed amount for a performance.
It was not long after he got done with a performance that he was approached by a very finely dressed man. He was an emissary for a duke 2 cities over and wished for Zigpin to play for him. He promised to pay handsomely, and assured he would get more for a fine performance. Not wanting to waste the opportunity before him he quickly agreed, and set off in the morning. When they arrived at the duke’s manor he saw a wonderful sight. Colored banners, Jugglers, Fire Eaters, and knights in polished armor. The emissary guided him to the main hall where he met the duke. A tall man with a jet black beard and kind eyes. Introductions were made, and the duke called a quiet upon the revelers in the hall. As with all his other performances Zigpin let the bird down off his shoulder to wander around him as he played. He began his performance with a few well known songs. The crowd loved it, some ever began singing along. As he was finishing a song he heard a terrifying shrieking. It wasn't the shrieking of a woman in glee or a child playing. It was much more shrill, pained and panicked. It was then he noticed a very drunk man waving around a thrashing green mass. He knew immediately it was his companion being throttled and waved about. Zigpin started to run towards the drunken oaf but he wasn't quick enough. The drunk had spun around and smacked into a wall, the shock jutted the man’s hand to tighten, and the bird cried no longer. Zigpin stood in shock, trying to process what had just happened. His companion, dead at the hands of some drunk.
It was then that something inside him snapped. The world went silent, everything began to slow as he trudged towards the drunk. Rage had consumed him. He brandished his lute like a club and broke it in half over the toss pots head. But this wasn't enough to stop the tidal wave of anger and sorrow that battered his soul. With a scream that would have rivaled a giants war cry he lept at the man and brought him to the ground. Blood splattered Zigpin’s face as he landed blow after blow to the mans skull. He heard bone crack and splinter, not sure if it was his own hands or the man skull. Guards tried to pull him off but were all knocked away in Zigpin’s fury. Suddenly everything became clear, sound had returned and here he sat. Hands bloody, sitting on the man’s chest, looking at the stump where the head should have been. He rolled off the man and picked up his fallen companion. Staring down at the lifeless corpse of his friend, Zigpin dropped to his knees and wept. The duke’s guards took this opportunity to bind him. He didn't resist, he was too weary to fight back.
The guards threw him in the manors dungeon where he caressed his friend and wept. He was awoken sometime later by the duke. His kind eyes were now ablaze with anger and woe. He told Zigpin that he would pay for his crimes with lifetime slavery for the murder of his only son. Zigpin was silent. He now finds himself in shackles toiling away in dark caverns. The only thing keeping him from crushing his own skull with a large rock is the happy memories of his time with his friend. And though he only has a handful of feathers to remember him by, they are his prized possession. Woe, misery, and death await those that try to take them from him.
Intellectual Characteristics
Musical
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