Role

Chapter 1

Kardebast grew from birth to adolescence in Akan, and was working as a
stablehand before he moved to Udgaard. His clan, the Windhammers, has been on
the less martial side of modern dwarven society. Life in Akan has stagnated
somewhat in that families who are fighters supply most of the city watch,
king's guard, and even exported troops to Mortorn. Families more involved in
commerce also have developed a hierarchy, with those producing weapons and
armor at the top, ale next, and then everything else as more of a working
class.

While the dwarven respect for their kin is alive and well, there is an
unspoken social norm where those that do not contribute to fighting have less
sway over matters of defense. So when Kardebast, whose uncles the Farhoaks
run the Whispering Wind inn, grew tired of seeing his kin slayed by outsiders
looking to hone their deadly arts, he had little agency to change anything.

At first, he thought of asking the watchmen to bar entry at the gates to any
armed foreigners. But being related to hospitality, he knew it wasn't
feasible. So he stewed from his vantage in the stables as parties of
adventurers would come in, sometimes almost monthly, and slay his kin for
sport. And he started to notice a pattern: many of those that reaved through
Akan were mages.

As each 'learning party' came through and the notoriously non-prolific
dwarves bore more and more losses, his anger grew. He asked his family why,
but no one had any real answers. So he continued to stew, pushing his rake,
biding his time, though for what, he did not know.

A year and change passed, with Kardebast alternately berating or beseeching
the watchmen to do something about the stream of marauding outsiders. At
least stop the wizards, make them be accompanied by a guard, he would say.
No, we can't treat anyone differently, sorry Kardebast it doesnt work
that way. All the while he looked for a solution or at least a direction for
himself.