Gorin Grimblade

Gorin Grimblade is one of the original members of the group that became known as the New Redbrands.

## Backstory

Gorin was born into the Blackmountain Clan in the dwarven city of BrazenThrone in the Spine of the World to his father Gralmuk and his mother Daena . Gorin was not unlike other dwarves his age, boisterous and proud. He idolized his father, loved his mother, and looked up to his big brother. He lost his family, and the entirety of his small clan, in an Orc raid when he was just a child. When he awoke, he found himself alone. He was able to find his parents remains but not that of his older brother Gorfur. Judging from the scene in front of him, Gralmuk had fought valiantly and defended his family to his dying breath. He buried his parents in makeshift graves made from the surrounding rubble. He emerged alone from the tunnels petrified and with trauma that would continue to affect him into his adult life.

Shortly after, he was reluctantly taken in by his Uncle Gryak to live in Citadel Felbarr, east of where he'd grown up. He never felt like he fit in and was often neglected and left to his own devices. He felt a kinship with his uncle and his own sons, but nothing more. He soon fell into trouble and became unruly. His uncle, feeling that he needed stronger discipline and structure than he could provide him, enlisted Gorin in the local militia. He hoped a change of scenery and purpose would help him move on and forget the past and bury the pain. Instead, he found himself isolated and struggled day to day. While he was gaining valuable experience and skill in battle, he felt empty and unfulfilled. He turned to the drink to drown his sorrows. He realized he could forget himself and get lost, sometimes for even days at a time. During one particularly lengthy bender, he was put into the brig and summarily dismissed from his duties. With nowhere else to go, he returned to his uncle's home, only to be turned away. Gryak told him that his father would be so disappointed with what he'd become.

Feeling rejected, he falls further into his vices. With his military background, he's able to find odd mercenary and escort jobs to support his habit. His journeys take him west to the Sword Coast. His jobs primarily take him between Luskan, Neverwinter, Waterdeep & Baldur's Gate, though they all seem to blend together to him in a haze. One night on a drunken stupor, Gorin woke up with a strange tattoo on his right forearm in an ancient Dwarven language that he is not familiar with. While it is not entirely foreign to him, he cannot read or make sense of it. Occasionally it will shift into odd characters of something totally indiscernible. On a few instances, it has even glowed, and an inner voice has spoken to him. Is this a blessing? A curse? He just knows that it is one of the few things that scares him.

His odd jobs eventually link him up with his companions, who would eventually christen themselves The New Redbrands. In them, Gorin has found the friendships and stability that he has always longed for. While he would never admit it openly, he greatly cares for them. He has, by and large, conquered his personal demons. They travel around the Neverwinter area before being called to the Ten Towns of Icewind Dale for a greater purpose.

Upon learning that his family was killed not by orcs, but by a group of immensely powerful ghosts, Gorin had to reassess his entire life and what he thought to be true. Knowing that his family and his clan's deaths were merely collateral damage does not sit well with him. There were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when these powerful nefarious ghosts escaped from their faraway prison. One way or another, he will see them avenged.

## Personality

As a result of the trauma and loss he experienced as a child, Gorin's issues have weighed on him heavily on him into his adult life. His solution to dealing with it was large amounts of alcohol to numb the pain. He has, by and large, overcome his addiction. He has been prone to relapses from time to time, but they have become less frequent and damaging to his everyday life. Keeping busy and focused on the task at hand is key to his confidence and his sobriety.

Gorin is always concerned with doing what he feels to be the right thing, in a moral sense. If not for himself, then those around him and those he is trying to protect. He is loyal to a fault, and has no issue with laying his life on the line for his companions if it means they will have a sliver of chance to escape and survive any impending danger.

In regards to his personal quirks, Gorin can be very jovial and loves to joke with his companions and give them a hard time. He can also be very blunt if he is dealing with someone who is being dismissive or disrespectful to him or causing him difficulty. Though he is not great with words, he can be very resourceful and insightful in many situations.

He often takes the lead when exploring and/or investigating unknown areas that are often treacherous in nature. With possible danger looming around each and every corner or door, Gorin wants to be front and center to defend his friends or any innocents in the vicinity. He is a very capable and ferocious fighter, and he rarely gives his enemies any mercy.

## Appearance

* Height: 4'6"
* Eyes: Green
* Hair: Strawberry Blonde / Red in a top knot (not unlike a Samurai)
* Beard: Simple braids, not very ornate
* Body Type: Stocky & Stout
* Tattoos: Right Forearm - unknown Dwarven script. (magical in nature) Left Bicep - Blackmountain Clan crest with a smaller Grimblade Family crest below
* Clothing: He wears simple brown leather garb. He keeps his arms bare so it doesn't hinder his fighting. Dark brown boots with thick metal caps. Thick dark brown belt (this is the only remnant of his Felbarr Guard uniform) He also has a dark green cloak.
* Armor: Metal shoulder pauldrons, small metal bracers (his father's), metal greaves (all with slightly ornate design)
* Gear: Large Great Axe (BlackMountain's Revenge) in a holster on his back, two throwing axes on his right hip, compact heavy crossbow on his left hip
* Other: Simple gold ear cuff on his left ear (his mother's)

## Powers and Abilities

**Right Forearm Tattoo**

Gorin has a tattoo on his right forearm with an ancient Dwarven script that has revealed itself to have multiple abilities. When it is triggered, whether automatically or purposefully, the tattoo will glow a certain color and the characters will shift depending on the ability.

* **Gorometer** (Green): Can detect Undead in their incorporeal form. Gorin is able sense and even hone in on the location of ghosts from varying distances not unlike a GPS. This ability does not work if the ghost is possessing a corporeal being.
* **Speak to Dead** (White): Can talk to recently Undead once a day once their spirit has left their body. Once finished with his inquiry, he can release the spirit. Gorin's eyes glow and turn completely white when he uses this ability.
* I**ncorporeal Axe** (Blue): Glows when the magic imbued in his great axe (BlackMountain's Revenge) is utilized. -- See special items section for this weapon's abilities --

2303 - Gorin learns from the ghost of Fistem Ironhide, a friend of his father's during his days as child in Brazenthone, that in fact it was he who first branded Gorin with his tattoo for protection. The paranormal events that took place there ultimately imbued the tattoo with various supernatural and mystical abilities. Fistem said that the tattoo itself is written in an ancient Dwarven script that is lost to the ages. The abilities of the tattoo itself are unknown to Fistem. He believes the powers will evolve as he does, and he's unaware of what else it's capable of.

## Special Items

**BlackMountain’s Revenge +2 Great Axe**

Gorin discovered his favorite weapon deep in the bowels of BrazenThrone, his ancestral home. The New Red Brands had emerged there unexpectedly through an invisible magic portal via an underground river. Gorin came upon the weapon by chance. Perhaps destiny played a part in the pairing? Of course, no one can be sure.

Already emblazoned with the BlackMountain clan crest, he seemed destined to discover it. Its craftsmanship, artistry & balance were impeccable. Surely, this had been someone’s prized possession that wasn’t meant to be left behind. This was a kingly weapon. It bears the initials “S.V” carved into the wood on the handle. He privately christened the weapon with its name in memory of his family and his clan that were lost to him forever.

Gorin discovered his favorite weapon deep in the bowels of the BrazenThrone, his abandoned ancestral home in the Spine of the World. The New Red Brands had emerged there unexpectedly through an invisible magic portal via an underground river. Gorin came upon the weapon by chance. Perhaps destiny played a part in the pairing? Of course, no one can be sure.

Already emblazoned with the BlackMountain clan crest, he seemed destined to discover it. Its craftsmanship, artistry & balance were impeccable. Surely, this had been someone’s prized possession that wasn’t meant to be left behind. This was a kingly weapon. It bears the initials “S.V.” carved into the wood on the handle. He privately christened the weapon with its name in memory of his family and his clan that were lost to him forever.

2303 - During an unexpected encounter with some friendly ghosts from his past, Gorin encounters his aunt Janmeline Grimblade (his father's sister) in the deep abandoned mines of the Citadel in the Dwarven Valley of Icewind Dale. He learns that she in fact forged the weapon to present to him when he came of age. She had no idea how he stumbled upon it or of the magical properties that it would later be imbued with. Gorin finds a red semiprecious stone at the feet of where the ghostly form of his aunt stood and had the stone polished and embedded into the axe on the opposite side of where the blue stone sits between the blades, as a tribute to her.

**Abilities**

During his journeys, Gorin became aware that his axe has inherent magic imbued into it. He can throw the axe as a ranged attack (retaining its +2 bonus) at undead spirits in their incorporeal forms. When the power is triggered, a blue stone set between the blades glows and his forearm tattoo also glows a matching blue. Once thrown, the axe becomes a glowing blue incorporeal "heatseeker" that tracks a target of his choice. The axe can even pass through solid walls to track its target and makes an eerie unearthly sound as it flies and spins end over end through the air . Regardless if the axe hits its target, the axe will materialize back in his grip and then return to it's normal state.

2+ for Gorin (related to his family)

Weapon has the RETURNING property when thrown at a non-corporeal creature

If the creature has entered a solid mass (ex: into the wall, floor, statue), GORIN can make a ranged attack on his next turn

If he saw it enter the mass, he can make a ranged attack as normal and the weapon enters the mass in pursuit, returning after a hit or miss

If he did not see it enter, but can get line-of-sight to the entry point before attacking, he can attack with disadvantage

## Appearances

Gorin Grimblade is a founding member of the group and has appeared in every episode.