Maruk Ironhale, the Village Blacksmith
Alignment: Lawful Good
Class: Blacksmith (retired Fighter)
Race: Orc
Role: merchant
Stats Ac: 16
Stats Cr: 2
Stats Hp: 52
Status: alive
Description
Maruk Ironhale is the village blacksmith of Reedmouth Crossing, and the only smith for three days' travel in any direction. An orc who came south after his warband dissolved, he bought the forge with salvage money and has spent eleven years making hinges, eel-hooks, plough blades and, when the work truly calls for it, weapons. He repairs adventurers' gear at fair rates, can name the make and origin of almost any blade laid on his counter, and will forge a custom weapon for a party willing to wai
Appearance
Broad and grey-skinned, with a burn-mottled left forearm and tusks filed flat for comfortable talking. Wears a scorched apron over a smith's kilt, spectacles pushed up on his brow, and a leather thong of small iron name-tags around his neck, one for every blade he has made.
Motives
Wants the forge to outlive him, and wants an apprentice with the patience for it. Would take genuinely reckless risks to keep the delta's only smithy from closing, including debts he cannot pay.
Personality
Slow-spoken and unhurried; measures twice out of habit and answers questions in the order he thinks they should have been asked. Quirk: he says the name of every finished piece out loud before handing it over, and flatly refuses to sell one he hasn't named yet.
Voice
Deep, unhurried, faintly formal. Long pauses mid-sentence while he thinks it through. Calls everyone 'friend' on the first visit and by their name forever after.