Brurclard Benmerda

Inventer, Merchant, Engineer

**Brurclard Benmerda** was an innovative and intelligent dwarven engineer and inventor, as well as a part-time merchant, and was a the dwarven ally to Ryvlyn of Sanzode. Brurclard was an adventurous and rowdy fellow, quick with his wit and tongue and this had often landed him in trouble. But the dwarf was also a strong and stout fellow and good friend, and was almost never seen without his comrade, the gnome Sadrick Hasselfried. Brurclard accompanied Lyn on his many adventures, from the uncharted reaches of the continent to even other worlds, and is credited for several inventions that have impacted the Northern Kingdoms.

## History

### Early Life in Mahakam

“*Oh yeah, I was a devilish little rascal back then! There was one time I tried to cook up my own little fire-maker, y'know, something so you woundn't have to use flint & steel all the time. Well, the fire got...a little out of hand.*”
―Brurclard recalling his childhood
Brurclard was born in 1224 in the mountains of Mahakam, and as a young boy took an interest in mechanical engineering and construction. As he grew older, Brurclard would continue to develop crazier and crazier machines and devices, many that didn't work and often caused the ire of his fellow dwarfs. To support himself, Brurclard took to working as a merchant, and developed a strong friendship with the gnome Sadrick.

### Meeting Lyn

“*And what are you? Oh wait...you aren't one of them witchers now are ya?*”
―Brurclard meeting Lyn for the first time.
The two friends would eventually open their own shop in Mahakam, and Brurclard would continue his merchant exploits to expand his business. During one of his travels his group was attacked by a werewolf, but they were dispatched by the witcher Lyn. After dispatching the beast, he offered to accompany them and offer protection, to which the dwarves agreed. Lyn and Brurclard would strike up a strong friendship. Lyn would accompany the dwarves on their routes around the area and even was offered to accompany back into Mahakam.

The two would go on to be good friends, and Lyn would later help the dwarf and gnome open their own shop in Carreas.

### Adventures Beyond the World

Always an outgoing figure, Brurclard was asked by his friend to travel with him across further lands, to which Brurclard agreed to, along with his friend Sadrik. The group would journey south into the regions of Nilfgaard, before travelling to the east into the Korath Desert, even supposedly making it to distant Zerrikania.

Moving then from one extreme to the next, the group aimed north, and set about travelling beyond the Dragon Mountains. There, Brurclard would meet with the mysterious and so-called snow elves, and engaged in many adventures with his friends. Eventually however, there various journeys and adventures reached an end, and Brurclard returned back to his humble life in Carreas, though greatly inspired by all that he had seen.

Brurclard and Sadrik would continue to work together, establishing a well-maintained shop and good reputation, with Brurclard noted for several inventions and improvements upon existing technologies, such as the "self-inking feather," an early precurser to the pen. Throughout this period, Brurclard maintained close relationships with his friends, especially Lyn.

Brurclard would be unexpectedly pulled back into the fray during the so-called "Beast War" when a former enemy of Lyn returned and prepared his. During the conflict Brurclard mainly served in whatever way he could, notably helping to craft several weapons effective against the Beast King using knowledge from the denizens of Gywnsten. While not as proactive in combat he participated in at the Battle of Brigstead alongside Ryvlyn.

### Benmerda Co.

Following the end of the Beast War, Brurclard began to have bigger ambitions, and established Benmerda Co. along with Sadrik, based in the city of Novigrad. Initially very small, Brurclard's company began to slowly grow. It was during this period that he married, and set about living a comfortable home life, surrounded by his friends and family and constantly building and inventing. During this period, he met the dwarf Biaza Steisaggord and married her, thus starting a family of his own.

A big break came when Lyn returned from isolation and offered several of his writings collected over the years. *A Witcher's Guide to Far-Off Lands*, proved to be a hit, and help grow Brurclard's company, which expanded into various other areas of expertise, including trading or book publishing, while still focused a lot on blacksmithing.

For the next several decades, Brurclard remained as the leader of Benmerda Co., notably seeing action during the Haak Invasion with the creation of a very effective and deadly repeating crossbolt design. Benmerda Co. also saw a close connection with the other Witcher schools, supplying them with valuable weaponry and tools following their resurgent in the Second Conjunction. Thanks to this prosperity Brurclard became an influence figure within Novigrad and the surrounding areas, and used his prestige to help advocate for better rights and working conditions for non-human races.

### Death

By the end of his life, Brurclard was the wealthy owner of a very successful company, which extended across the Continent, and surrounded by a large family of his own. He continued to constantly tinker and create, before peacefully passing away in 1403, at the age of 179, while working in his shop.

## Relationships

### Relatives

* Biaza Benmerda [Wife]
* Bralcau Benmerda [Father]
* Crasrarn Benmerda [Uncle]
* Misand Benmerda [Uncle]
* Sturna Benmerda [Mother]
* Sadrik Benmerda [Son]
* Isla Benmerda [Daughter]

### Friends

* Ryvlyn of Sanzode [Witcher]
* Sellandra [Succubus]
* Sadrick Hasselfried [Gnome]
* Cedda [Golden Dragon]
* Sha’nnerra [Mermaid]

## Personality and Traits

### Personality and Demeanor

Brurclard generally possessed a happy face and a curious mind, although he was known to complain about many different maladies affecting him. He was extremely interested in anything new he came across, especially it was about construction and new devices he had not seen. He possessed a deep ability to notice the tiny details in anything, and often used this to mental take apart any piece of work he found and develop new methods of using it. He also had a deep loyalty to the few close friends he had

#### Physical Traits

Brurclard had long flowing hair which he left untethered, and usually maintained a scruffy appearance. In his youth he preferred to keep his beard shorter so as to avoid burning it or having it be a distraction while working, but he let it grow out as a he grew older. He had brown eyes and strong hands, and was of average height and weight for his race. As like all dwarves Brurclard possessed a stocky frame and great endurance.