Lumi Kibilsorn, Son of Deryn, Forge Master of Turil

Dwarf (with Draconic heritage), Barbarian

Background

In the dwarven city of Turil lives a renowned family, the Kilbisorns. They are well known, not just in the city, but across all of dwarvenkind. The family is most famous for their exceptional craftsmanship, with weapons, trinkets, jewelry, and even simple tools forged in the heart of Turil—specifically in Teloran. Teloran is the district of the city where the hammering of anvils never ceases, where the fires burn hot, and where steam from metal dipped in water fills the air. In short, it is the forge and workshop district of Turil.

The Kilbisorns are blacksmiths by trade. They read the fire like books, and their hammers seem to move as extensions of their own bodies. Whether crafting sturdy weapons or delicate jewelry, beautiful pieces or simple tools, the Kilbisorns never fail to meet expectations. Over the ages, many of their creations have helped build or destroy cities, save or take lives, and some of their works have even become legendary, finding a place in the songs and tales of great adventures. Kings, queens, and farmers alike proudly own items forged in the halls of Teloran, crafted by the hands of a Kilbisorn.

A truly gifted family, indeed. However, every dwarf knows the saying: those who work with fire will inevitably get burned. The truth behind the Kilbisorns’ success is that, through the generations, only one Kilbisorn in each generation is blessed with a talent unmatched in the world. It is a well-kept secret, known only to the heads of the family. The rest of the Kilbisorns have talent, of course, and they either work the forge with skill, manage the family’s coin, or use their silver tongues to negotiate.

Other blacksmiths know that Kilbisorn products are of the highest quality, but never surpass their own. Yet, once or twice a year, a truly magnificent weapon emerges from the Kilbisorn forges. No one knows exactly who is responsible for these masterpieces, when they will arrive, or what they will be.

Rumor has it that these weapons are not crafted in Teloran at all, and that somewhere beyond Turil, there exists a master craftsman. Who this person is, or where they work, no one seems to know? Not even members of the Kilbisorn family, like Lumi Kilbisorn, the youngest of seven brothers. Lumi was born to Halbjörn, the current head of the family, and his charming wife, Frida. Forn, the eldest brother, is talented and will likely take over the family business, but he is not a master craftsman. Lorn, Dorn, and Gorn are better salesmen than blacksmiths, while Birdol has no interest in weapons at all, preferring to craft intricate jewelry with a keen eye for finesse. Dalbrun is eager to learn the craft of weapon-making and often gets permission from his father to study the masterpieces as soon as they arrive. He is always the first to hear of the arrival of the legendary weapons.

Then there is Garlock, Halbjörn’s brother. A warrior at heart, Garlock has a deep love for ale and barfights. He never thinks of the consequences and lives life to the fullest. He has fathered several children with various women, all of whom work in the forges or in the family stores, eager to gain the respect of the family head.

And there is Durgator, Halbjörn’s father, once a proud and joyous blacksmith. Durgator never fully recovered from the death of his brother, Bran, a legendary blacksmith in his own right. Lumi remembers all the stories about his grandfather’s brother, Bran, the last of the Kilbisorns to possess the god-given talent to forge masterpieces. However, Lumi was more interested in the adventures Bran had, stories that were necessary for testing his weapons and gaining greater insight into the craft. According to Durgator, these adventures were just as important as the work itself. Whenever Durgator told tales of his brother, his eyes would light up with joy—only for that joy to be quickly overshadowed by a deep sadness.

One day, when Lumi was alone with his grandfather, Durgator pulled him aside, looked around to ensure no one else was listening, and with a kind smile said, "Bran is proud of you. You remind him of himself in his youth. Don’t let the others get in your head—you will show them all the greatness that lies in your hammer, my grandson."

From that moment on, Durgator never spoke of his brother Bran again, except to recount the old, familiar stories. He no longer smiled at Lumi with that same proud look in his eyes. This shift puzzled Lumi, and what Durgator had said left him with more questions than answers. It was as though Durgator spoke of Bran as if he were still alive…

Lumi tried his best to be a good blacksmith—because it was in his blood, because he genuinely enjoyed the craft, and because he wanted to earn his family’s respect. But Lumi struggled. Whenever the work became difficult, one small mistake would set him off into a primal rage, unable to stop hammering and destroying everything in his path. Sometimes, his rage would spill over, injuring those working nearby. Those who helped him at the forge began to fear that, at any moment, Lumi could lose control and hurt them.

Over time, Lumi discovered another hidden talent: the ability to heal others. The more he hurt people, the more his skills in treating wounds seemed to grow. Yet, this wasn't enough to keep people by his side. No one seemed to care enough to stay with him, and soon Lumi felt like an outsider in his own family.

It became clear to Lumi that something needed to change. This is when his grandfather spoke to his father, advising that Lumi be sent away to find a teacher who could help him control his anger and turn his destructive impulses into creative power. And so, Lumi set foot outside of Turil for the first time in his life.