Finnbjorn Cinderforge

### Siblings

Eridred Cinderforge, Bjernhart Cinderforge, Isbjorn Cinderforge, Arbjorn Cinderforge

### Grandparents

Melsindra Cinderforge, Olbjorn Cinderforge (deceased),

### Aunts and Uncles

Baern Cinderforge (deceased), Hjoldur Ironfist, Bardryn Ironfist

## Biography

### Early Life

Finnbjorn was born in 428 AC to Duke Bjermund and Duchess Farhilde Cinderforge in the Cinderforge, a castle bordering the city of Nuramek. The eldest of five children, Finnbjorn was the only one of his siblings to be born in the Cinderforge.

In 452 AC, the Cinderforge was attacked by an army of fiends. With no mage powerful enough to operate the castle's magical defenses, the Cinderforge fell to the attacking army and Finnbjorn, along with his parents and his uncle Baern were forced to retreat to Nuramek. Due to the family's longstanding friendship with the ruling Stonesong family, the Cinderforge family was provided with a manse in Nuramek by King Brynjar Stonesong.

A few years after the fall of the Cinderforge, Baern decided to lead the Cinderforge army in an attempt to reclaim their home. Bjermund advised against it, fearing that the Cinderforge army was not strong enough, but ultimately gave Baern his permission to lead the attack. Unfortunately, Bjermund's fears became reality, and the attack failed. Baern never returned from the attack, and was presumed dead.

### Early Campaigns

In 463 AC, Finnbjorn joined the Topaz Garrison and served five years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. After leaving the Garrison, he took up a role as an officer in the Cinderforge house guard. In this capacity, Finnbjorn took part in several conflicts, including a war with Mahalinor and several campaigns fighting goblins in the Nuramek Undercity.

From 478 - 481 AC, a portion of the Cinderforge Guard was sent with Nuramek's army to fight alongside the Sulduran army in the Third Borderlands War. The war took place primarily in the orcish nation of Arzak-Nath and in the south of the Falkenried region of Suldura. During this war, Finnbjorn met and began a friendship with Tiberius Falkenried, the son of the Margrave of Falkenried.

Between 481 and 498 AC, Finnbjorn returned to Nuramek. He took part in one conflict between Darenkad and Haldur in which Nuramek sent troops to support the forces of their ally Darenkad. However, due to the growing goblin presence in the Undercity, Nuramek's forces were increasingly forced to focus on defending their home and were less able to take part in foreign wars.

In 396 AC, Finnbjorn took a squire, Torvald Stonesong, who would accompany him on his later travels.

### The Siege of Westmarch

In 399 AC, Finnbjorn left Nuramek, hoping to find allies who might help him retake the Cinderforge. He traveled first to Westmarch, where he hoped to find support from his old friend Tiberius, now the Margrave of Falkenried. Falkenried was unable to provide him troops, needing all of his men in anticipation of a siege by the Silver Inquisition, and so Finnbjorn decided to redirect his focuses, hoping to gather an army that he could bring back to Westmarch to help defend the city.

Finnbjorn traveled to the Sulduran capitol, Crownport, helping to escort Falkenried's son Owen to safety. In Crownport, Finnbjorn was informed by Queen Calliandra Tavore that the Crown was embroiled in Kainen's Hollow and would not be able to provide troops to help Westmarch. Forced to pursue other avenues, Finnbjorn hired the mercenary company The Cat's Claws and recruited the help of the retired general Kyrel Evander and the disgraced cavalier Elend Tavore.

On the return journey to Westmarch, it was discovered that Alys Tanner, a powerful warlock of Asmodeus, was secretly accompanying the army, disguised as Elend's wife Julia, who Alys had killed. Finnbjorn and his companions defeated and captured Alys, who revealed herself to be part of a conclave of mages known as The Ruby Order.

In Westmarch, Finnbjorn played a major role in defending the city from the siege. He led a cavalry charge that destroyed Captain Fredrin Gardner's army, and a subsequent cavalry charge against the attacking Silver Inquisition army, leading to the capture of General Maldon Arrindell's son Juniper. In thanks for Finnbjorn's help, Falkenried provided him with a loan of Westmarch guardsmen to help in the recapture of the Cinderforge.

### Return to Nuramek

Finnbjorn returned to Nuramek by way of the Faewood in order to find the drow druid Mallara Elluviel and have her resurrect Julia Tavore. Finnbjorn participated in Julia's resurrection ritual, praying to the dwarven gods for their help. After traveling through the Faewood, Finnbjorn and his companions retook the ancient dwarven outpost Var Kalduhr, where Finnbjorn acquired the ancient maul Dawnsinger. After acquiring this weapon, Finnbjorn began to develop new powers, martial magics he had never heard of before. He would later learn that these powers were granted to him by an entity known only as He Who Was.

In Nuramek, Finnbjorn participated in the funeral tournament for the recently slain king Brynjar Stonesong, where he won both the melee and the joust. Later, he helped to hunt and kill the draegloth that had killed the king. He also helped to capture several members of the Cult of Transformation, leading to the exoneration of his childhood friend Valona Stonesong and assisting in her ascent to the throne.

With the help of Valona and the armies of Nuramek, Finnbjorn led an assault on the Cinderforge. His combined forces were easily able to take the walls, and Finnbjorn and his companions led an attack on the castle's magic defenses, defeating the dark mage Falrik Clanless, a second member of The Ruby Order.

In thanks for Finnbjorn's assistance to both her and the city, Valona married Finnbjorn and made him Prince Consort of Nuramek.