Staff

Role & Responsibilities
Barun serves as the headquarters’ archivist and lorekeeper. He records the daily findings of the mine, transcribes reports onto stone slabs, and maintains the official history of the dwarves' Saltmarsh expansion. Most consider him eccentric, but his records are meticulous.

Background & History
A respected scholar once based in the royal archives, Barun gradually became obsessed with the possibility that something ancient and malevolent lies buried beneath the mine. He has found disturbing regional myths—references to something dark and long forgotten. His warnings are largely ignored.

Personality & Demeanor
Friendly and eager to share his theories with anyone who will listen, Barun has the wide-eyed intensity of a man chasing truths no one wants uncovered.

• Earnest & Obsessive: His theories are outlandish—but often supported by uncanny logic.

• Gentle but Isolated: Lives almost entirely within the stone archives.

• Dismissed Visionary: Friendly to adventurers, desperate for allies.

Role & Responsibilities
Thorek is the master gem cutter of the operation, responsible for refining the largest and most valuable gems pulled from the mine. He oversees junior artisans and ensures all cuts meet Toran guild standards. His word is law in the gem-cutting chamber.

Background & History
Born into a famed clan of gem cutters in the Tor Mountains, Thorek was practically raised with a chisel in hand. He has never truly accepted life outside the mountains and finds the coast—especially its humidity and proximity to humans—repellent. He came here out of obligation to his kin and to uphold the integrity of dwarven craftsmanship.

Personality & Demeanor
Withdrawn and reserved, Thorek prefers stone to conversation. He avoids humans when possible and speaks plainly when forced.

• Traditional Craftsman: Devoted to his art and heritage above all else.

• Solitary Worker: Often refuses assistants or apprentices, working late into the night.

• Unapologetically Proud: Will insult inferior gem work, even in front of its maker.

Role & Responsibilities
Marda manages the kitchens and grounds of the compound. She coordinates daily meals, herbal supplies, minor healing, and keeps tabs on the staff’s well-being. While not part of the chain of command, her voice carries surprising weight.

Background & History
Once a caravan cook and caretaker for dwarven mercenaries and traders, Marda has seen it all—from cursed tombs to sea raids. She was invited here by Manistrad to maintain morale and order among the off-duty staff. She’s considered a neutral ear in a place full of tension.

Personality & Demeanor
Warm, grounded, and sharp as a cleaver. She plays dumb when it suits her, but nothing escapes her notice.

• Neutral Confidence: Respected by both Loyalists and Traditionalists.

• Keen Listener: Knows who snuck out last night, and who’s been shirking shifts.

• Mother Hen: Will scold miners and commanders alike if they forget to eat or sleep.

Role & Responsibilities
As foreman of the mine, Dworic manages all active operations underground. He organizes shifts, inspects supports, and ensures worker safety with unflinching authority. In matters of stone and labor, his word overrides even Manistrad’s—though he never flaunts it.

Background & History
Born and raised in the depths of the Iron Hills, Dworic survived a cave-in during his early years, earning him his nickname and a permanent distrust of risk. He sees outsiders as unpredictable and dangerous. He only tolerates Loyalist soldiers because they guard his miners, not because he trusts them.

Personality & Demeanor
Gruff and perpetually irritable, Dworic doesn’t mince words. He protects his workers like a father bear protects its cubs.

• Old-School Dwarf: Favors pickaxes and calloused hands over politics or magic.

• Wary & Guarded: Tolerates no interference underground.

• Respect Must Be Earned: Respects bravery and endurance—not words.

Role & Responsibilities
Torren serves as the compound’s runesmith and magical advisor. He appraises enchanted objects, oversees protective wards, and studies magical anomalies encountered during excavation. He keeps a personal list of rumored artifacts tied to the region's history and magical currents.

Background & History
Once a gifted ritualist, Torren was partially blinded by a failed rune experiment involving unstable ley-lines. Since then, he’s grown cold and focused, devoting his life to studying lost dwarven enchantments and regional magic. He believes something powerful lies hidden in the Hool Marshes and Dreadwood—and he’s determined to find it.

Personality & Demeanor
Calm, observant, and unnervingly quiet. Torren only speaks when necessary, often in clipped, cryptic phrases.

• Intensely Focused: Pursues magical knowledge with religious fervor.

• Cryptic Communicator: Uses pauses and silences as part of conversation.

• Pragmatic Loyalist: Not political by nature, but supports the crown for access to resources.

• Office & Trade Staff (2–3): Clerks, scribes, and trade liaisons managing documentation, merchant interactions, and accounting.

• Gemcutting Apprentices (1–2): Working under Thorek, usually quiet and terrified of disappointing him.

• Archivist Assistants (1–2): Help Barun transcribe and transport stone slabs.

• Guard Rotation (3–6 dwarves): Internal security (not the Keoland soldiers). At least one per shift, two on standby, others off-duty or training.

• Skilled Laborers & Engineers (2–3): Mid-ranking dwarves who don’t live in Saltmarsh permanently but rotate in to oversee logistics, equipment, repairs, and technical problems.

• Servants & Kitchen Hands (1–2): Answer to Marda. Handle cleaning, food prep, errands.