Member
DracoLunaris
AlmostEternity
BunniesOfDoom
TokyoPewPew
Drifting Pollen
Massasauga
Dragonydas
Morgannis
Xaltwind
CitrusArmsHere's the dwarf who'll help keep the team alive!
Picture
Name: Norburr Deepslate
Age: 98
Gender: Male
Appearance: A little short for a dwarf, Norburr is pale of complexion, enough to seem sickly if not for the ruddiness of his nose and the bags beneath his squinting, razor-sharp hazel eyes. His blonde locks carry on past his shoulder, and the lowest of six voluminous braids of his beard -the feature he’s by far the most proud of- extend all the way to his waist. His steel helmet is pointed to help deflect impacts from above, and affixed with a special candle to light the way. Other than that, he’s clothed head to toe in thick cloth and hide, well-padded to ensure minimal exposure to the dangers of the underground, be they stone shards, poison fungus, acidic drippage, or thorny briars
Skills:
Flaws:
Background: For dwarves, there is no greater industry -indeed, for many, no greater calling- than that of mining in the depths, of exploring ancient caves and carving new tunnels to extract the inexhaustible wealth of the earth. The average gung-ho, bright-eyed dwarf, however, knows little beyond walk forward, hit rock, mine ore, so fixated on the valuables just waiting to be exhumed that the stone around them is little more than a bother. Yet the underground is an incalculably vast and varied realm, with environments and ecosystems all its own, more kinds of stone than there are trees, and more exotic flora and fauna that could every be crammed in the encyclopedias, especially as you go farther down. While the hotheads are swinging away, who’s watching the area’s structural integrity, and setting up supports to make sure that the roof doesn’t fall down on everyone? Who decides the direction the miners delve, and how far? Who can see the telltale signs of a monster infestation ahead, or a pocket of volatile natural gas, or drippage of subterranean lakes? The Deepslates, that’s who.
The Deepslate line never produced the mightiest dwarves, or the cleverest, or the best crafters, or the most inventive, but just like his forebears, Norburr possessed a rare gift: perception. While in his earlier years his youthful energy drove him alongside all the other firecrackers to be the best digger and delver around, his impetuousness eventually contributed to a terrible cave-in that resulted in a slew of injuries and afflictions, some to his friends and even his brother. On that day Norburr realized just how important his stodgy old father Gorburr’s duty really was, and cast aside his thoughts of rebellion to embrace the role of support. He received his line’s humble but beloved Candle-light Cap, and from that day forward, his would be the guiding light in the tunnels deep below so that all who ventured into the howling dark might return to drink in their hallowed halls once more. While his attitude can be somewhat acerbic and clinical at times, leading others to think of him as a know-it-all killjoy, few can contest the claim that he wants what’s best for his fellow dwarf, and that his acuity makes sure that everyone gets home alive.
Miscellaneous: The stuff he carries on his person includes:
Name: Norburr Deepslate
Age: 98
Gender: Male
Appearance: A little short for a dwarf, Norburr is pale of complexion, enough to seem sickly if not for the ruddiness of his nose and the bags beneath his squinting, razor-sharp hazel eyes. His blonde locks carry on past his shoulder, and the lowest of six voluminous braids of his beard -the feature he’s by far the most proud of- extend all the way to his waist. His steel helmet is pointed to help deflect impacts from above, and affixed with a special candle to light the way. Other than that, he’s clothed head to toe in thick cloth and hide, well-padded to ensure minimal exposure to the dangers of the underground, be they stone shards, poison fungus, acidic drippage, or thorny briars
Skills:
- Prospecting - As a prospector, Norburr is very talented when it comes to telling what lies ahead in the underground world. At times it might seem like he’s some sort of wizard, possessed of future vision, but it’s all the result of extensive knowledge and lots of experience. If given a chance to study his surroundings, and especially to run some tests, he can get a pretty good idea of an area’s identity, integrity, resources, and dangers
- Prepared - In Norburr’s line of work, it pays to be ready for anything. He carries a whole host of different items on his person, offering a wide range of utility, and oftentimes can whip out just the right thing at the drop of a hat
- Perseverance - No matter how good your predictions or thoughtful your preparations, anything can happen in the bowels of the earth, and where plans and equipment fail, strength of character prevails. Norburr has a level head and a never-say-die attitude, able to take stock of a bad situation and put together a plan
Flaws:
- Greed - the fatal flaw of all dwarves. While his lust for gold might be a little less strong than most dwarves, Norburr is greedy in another way: for wonder. His heart yearns to see and experience everything that the underground has to offer, all the caves and formations and creatures that he never in a million years could have imagined. This greed can sometimes overpower his caution if he’s already assured of himself, making him complacent
- Particular - Norburr likes things done a certain way. If his fellow expeditioners object to his routines and checklists, urging him to lay off the tests for once and live a little, it’s only because they’re fools–at least in his eyes. Slow, steady, and safe wins the race after all, even if it doesn’t win him that many friends, or a place at the drinking table. This makes him somewhat bossy, even fussy, and if he isn't allowed to take the time he needs to get comfortable with a new area, he can get pretty anxious
- Fighting Prowess - while tough in his own right, Norburr is not a warrior, and has only basic training in the arts of combat. If a fight can’t be solved by mindlessly swinging his pickaxe, he’s probably outclassed. He’s forced to rely on others to fight for him, or if confronted directly, his chemicals and other items, which puts a hard limit on how much he can fight
Background: For dwarves, there is no greater industry -indeed, for many, no greater calling- than that of mining in the depths, of exploring ancient caves and carving new tunnels to extract the inexhaustible wealth of the earth. The average gung-ho, bright-eyed dwarf, however, knows little beyond walk forward, hit rock, mine ore, so fixated on the valuables just waiting to be exhumed that the stone around them is little more than a bother. Yet the underground is an incalculably vast and varied realm, with environments and ecosystems all its own, more kinds of stone than there are trees, and more exotic flora and fauna that could every be crammed in the encyclopedias, especially as you go farther down. While the hotheads are swinging away, who’s watching the area’s structural integrity, and setting up supports to make sure that the roof doesn’t fall down on everyone? Who decides the direction the miners delve, and how far? Who can see the telltale signs of a monster infestation ahead, or a pocket of volatile natural gas, or drippage of subterranean lakes? The Deepslates, that’s who.
The Deepslate line never produced the mightiest dwarves, or the cleverest, or the best crafters, or the most inventive, but just like his forebears, Norburr possessed a rare gift: perception. While in his earlier years his youthful energy drove him alongside all the other firecrackers to be the best digger and delver around, his impetuousness eventually contributed to a terrible cave-in that resulted in a slew of injuries and afflictions, some to his friends and even his brother. On that day Norburr realized just how important his stodgy old father Gorburr’s duty really was, and cast aside his thoughts of rebellion to embrace the role of support. He received his line’s humble but beloved Candle-light Cap, and from that day forward, his would be the guiding light in the tunnels deep below so that all who ventured into the howling dark might return to drink in their hallowed halls once more. While his attitude can be somewhat acerbic and clinical at times, leading others to think of him as a know-it-all killjoy, few can contest the claim that he wants what’s best for his fellow dwarf, and that his acuity makes sure that everyone gets home alive.
Miscellaneous: The stuff he carries on his person includes:
- Silver Pickaxe - a prized possession, his by rights when his brother was crippled and forced to give up mining. It’s not actually silver, but it is nice and shiny, and decorated with a miniature dwarven head. Sometimes referred to as Norburr’s ‘best friend’
- Hammer and Chisel - a couple small tools for chipping rock samples
- Soft Case - a padded bag full of vials of different chemicals, mostly acids. The different fluids react to different materials, allowing him to identify stones that they’re exposed to. They can also deal some damage in a pinch
- Matches - thirty little sticks that can be ignited via friction, kept in a little box
- Flares - ten pyrotechnic rods that produce a lot of light for about a minute when lit
- Rope, Grappling Hook, & Iron Spikes - not every cave is a nice, safe tunnel. Some go straight up or straight down, or open up into vast open spaces. Being able to traverse vertically -and safely- is a privilege
- Candles - a Norburr special. These long-burning candles are somewhat precious to him on account of the wax they take to make. Their distinctive yellow flames are very sensitive and will flare up if exposed to even a trace amount of volatile gas, warning him about larger, more dangerous concentrations of the stuff nearby. The pungent smell of the candles hangs in the air a good while and can be used to tell where he’s been. Supposedly a bug repellant too, but that has yet to be confirmed.
- Cave Blooms - Norburr carries flowers that are sensitive to toxic gas in a pouch. If one’s taken out, it will quickly wither and die in the presence of such gas, signaling that he should steer clear
- Sleeping Mat - For long nights in the caves, rolled up and tied when not in use to save space
- Canteen - Contains water. Usually.
- Cave Nuts - a pouch full of the seeds of a particular subterranean plant. They look like pebbles, but if stepped on will produce a loud crack. Scattering them around an area works as a makeshift alarm system
