New Post: Jhoric's Backstory

_posts/2020-06-18-gabriella_s-fall.md

@@ -128,3 +128,7 @@ in her voice.
 
 “I am the patron of Silent Fall. I am Erathis. You asked for my help. I have
 given it.”
+
+### 100 Days
+I'm writing this post as part of [#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload),
+an initiative to inspire writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.

_posts/2020-06-19-jhoric_background.md

@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+---
+     tabtitle: "Character Write-up: Jhoric Stonehammer"
+     title: "Character Write-up: Jhoric Stonehammer"
+     topics: [gaming, writing]
+     pub: "2020-06-19"
+     short_desc: "The backstory of my proud cleric of Moradin, Jhoric
+     Stonehammer."
+---
+
+Jhoric Stonehammer is the character I'm playing in the `Descent into Avernus`
+campaign. The backstory was originally developed for a different character, and
+a different campaign. However, by Moradin's Hammer, I decided to play a cleric,
+and as I began building the character, I realized the dwarven cleric I had in
+reserve would do fine. The last bit of his backstory was quickly thrown
+together, as part of the hook into the campaign, but it works well enough.
+
+# Character Backstory: Jhoric Stonehammer
+
+Most of the great halls of the world have been built by dwarven masons and
+smiths. The mighty vaulted ceilings and buttresses of cathedrals, the
+impregnable walls of keeps, and the humble alcoves of libraries, can all call
+themselves brethren. Birthed by the greatest architectural minds of the realms,
+dwarven craftsmanship is unparalleled. The secret, any dwarf will tell you, is a
+dedication to the lifelong pursuit of absolute creation. Dwarves do not seek
+merely to craft stone, but to shape stone; not to carve, but to coerce it. The
+great stone masons of old, so the legends tell, willed stone into shapes. They
+worked with the stone, not against it. When they finished, the product was one
+never seen before, and never to be seen after. Unique not only in shape, but in
+spirit. The lifeforce of the dwarf, with the lifeforce of the stone, combined
+into a creation of such quality, the divines would be impressed. In fact, as
+many a dwarf will boast, the Halls of Valhalla are built by their ancestors.
+
+Becoming a stonemason is a great honor for a dwarf. Many of the families of many
+settlements have long and storied histories and traditions, none-the-least of
+which involves dedicating a child to the masons or smiths. Being of a trusted
+family is not enough, though. No dwarf is admitted to the mason’s craft before
+forty. Until then, it is expected that would-be mason spend his time learning
+not only of stone, but of history. They must learn the history of their clan, of
+their bloodline, and of all dwarves. Often, they are sent with expeditions to
+ruins, as scribes and laborers. They may accompany trade caravans to foreign
+lands (though generally to dwarven settlements), as assistants or guards. They
+are often called upon by priests and clerics to aid in ceremonies. One of the
+first pre-mason stone-working jobs they may be given is helping to shape
+gravestones, though not for any significant figure. As their knowledge of
+history, tradition, and lore improves, they are invited to more prestigious
+tasks. For smiths this may be helping to create mundane tools. For masons, this
+may be helping the architects in their daily activities, or cutting blocks.
+Still, they are taught to focus on learning. As they grow, the students begin to
+see the learning opportunities in all they do. Every tool created offers secrets
+of iron; every block cut reveals the history of the stone. When a dwarf exclaims
+this revelation to his masters, only then is he considered eligible for
+training.
+
+Now, having been worthy of applying to become a mason or a smith, a dwarf must
+begin work on his entrance piece. For a smith, this is often a weapon of
+masterwork quality. For a mason, this may be an architectural design, or a
+finely crafted stone idol. Once their creation is completed, a task which may
+take a decade or more, they submit it to the council of their chosen profession.
+If the council is pleased, they will announce that you are eligible to seek an
+apprenticeship. If they are not, they will tell you to do better and return to
+them when you have done so. Once eligible for an apprenticeship, a dwarf
+generally seeks his bloodline. As tradition dictates, blood teaches blood, as
+stone teaches blood, as iron teaches blood. In circumstances where a bloodline
+relative is not an option, a dwarf may find apprenticeship to the second or
+third representative from a bloodline. In doing so, the dwarf generally seeks to
+renew their bloodline, through the assistance of the stronger one. This is seen
+as an honorable position for a second or third representative of a bloodline.
+
+As an apprentice, the dwarf discontinues any previous expeditions in favor of
+working exclusively in the workshop of his chosen craft. For a decade or more,
+the dwarf apprentice practices their craft. A smith may start off working the
+bellows of his master’s smith. After several years, the dwarf may be trusted to
+smelt ore into ingots. After that, the dwarf may be trusted to help hold and
+quench items. It is often a decade before an apprentice smith touches the
+hammer. A stonemason may start off cutting stone, and also learning the
+difficulty in transporting stone. They then may move to assisting architects
+with drawings or measurements. Often apprentice masons are called upon to assist
+with cosmetic fixes through plaster, or to cut uncommon shapes. A daily ritual
+for every mason is often to create several pallets worth of cut blocks, whether
+it be stone, brick, or less common materials, and to assemble the necessary
+chemicals for mixture into plaster, grout, and other cements. After many years
+of this, the apprentice is often called upon to assist their master with
+foundations, extensions, roadwork, and more intricate stone working.
+
+Generally after two decades of apprenticeships, a dwarf will be given the title
+of journeyman. At this point, they are permitted by the councils to open their
+own shops, and sell their own services. Journeyman shops are often specialized,
+so as to find a niche they can work in and profit. Once they have proven their
+craft, journeyman shops will expand and generalize more and more, until they
+claim proficiency over their craft on the whole. Once this is done, a journeyman
+dwarf may apply to the council for the title of master. On average, this
+transition takes five decades. During this time it is not uncommon for
+journeymen to coordinate and form guilds or shared shops. Once the title of
+master is given to a dwarf, they are considered proficient in their art. At this
+point, they are permitted application to the council, and application to receive
+apprentices. This is also when a dwarf is permitted (and sometimes expected) to
+leave their settlement in search of foreign (though still often dwarven)
+settlements in need of their craftsmanship. It is expected at this time, when a
+dwarf is generally 110 to 150 years of age, that they start and family to
+continue their tradition.
+
+It is not the first time that Jhoric defied expectations.
+
+Jhoric Stonehammer, born of Namrok Stonehammer and Hilga Stoutwood, was the
+second born. His older brother, Horace, was to be a smith, and so Jhoric was to
+be trained a stonemason. He was trained in the tradition of his Uncle, Hilga’s
+brother Thordon. In his 23rd year, Jhoric went on a 5 year expedition to the
+ruins of an ancient giant trading post. Upon returning, he spent 2 years cutting
+bricks of clay for Thordon. In his 31st year, he was dispatched as a caravan
+guard along a trade route. He travelled with several merchants, selling stone
+from Thordon’s shop, and returning with iron, for Horace’s master’s shop. In his
+38th year, Jhoric assisted with an excavation of an ancient temple of unknown
+patronage. There, he helped to recover many tomes of knowledge, which the
+priests of Moradin were extremely happy to receive. In his 39th year, he
+assisted in the construction of a new mineshaft at the local quarry. In his 41st
+year, Jhoric began work on his entrance piece to the mason’s council: a lectern,
+the base of which was granite, the stand of which was marble, the desk of which
+was yellowstone sandstone. The desk was decorated as a scroll, inlay with
+obsidian lettering of a prayer to Moradin. After his admission as an apprentice
+to Thordon, Jhoric donated the lecturn to the temple of Moradin.
+
+Jhoric’s apprenticeship initially saw him dealing primarily with block cutting
+and transportation. Drawing on their previous arrangements, Jhoric arranged with
+Horace a caravan to transport cut stone and iron. The arrangement was further
+improved when the shops of Thordon and Horace (who had attained the rank of
+journeyman during Jhoric’s 50th year) joined. As a result, Jhoric’s focus shifted
+to construction and architecture fixing. In his 55th year, Horace left the
+settlement to establish his second shop. At this time, Thordon’s shop was called
+upon to assist with the construction of a new temple to Moradin. Jhoric assisted
+directly with architectural design, structural design, foundation laying, and
+resource acquisitions. On his 70th birthday, Thordon and the council announced
+that Jhoric had achieved the rank of journeyman. Jhoric continued to assist with
+the construction of the temple, until it’s completion during his 87th year.
+During those 17 years, Jhoric had established his own shop to work from and for.
+
+On his 88th birthday, Jhoric had a divine vision, and was compelled by Moradin
+to pursue a specific artifact in a lost temple. After consultation and
+confirmation with the priest of Moradin at the temple he just completed, Jhoric
+assembled a small adventuring party and pursued the relic. He obtained the relic
+during his 91st year. Upon returning the relic, the priest of Moradin instructed
+Jhoric that he must travel to Baldur's Gate. Little detail was given as to the
+reasoning, aside from that Moradin had once again chosen Jhoric's path. He
+transferred ownership of his shop to Thordon.
+
+Upon arrival in Baldur's Gate, Jhoric took up employ with the Shattershield
+Guild. Having learned that this guild constructed the walls around Baldur's
+Gate, it seemed the most appropriate place for him. A wealthy noble, Jopalin,
+contracted him through the guild to construct some elaborate building materials
+for an addition to his building, which contains his tea shop as well his living
+quarters. After several weeks, the materials were completed. Plans to deliver
+the materials to the construction site were temporarily waylaid by ruffians
+attempting to steal some of the finer looking items. By Moradin's hammer, they
+were smote. As Jhoric stood outside the building watching the construction, the
+tea shop exploded. Nearly everyone, including Jopalin, died. There was one
+survivor from inside the shop: a half elf. A contingent from the Flaming Fist
+arrested Jhoric, the half-elf, and a nearby gnome that witnessed the explosion.
+This is where his story truly begins.
+
+### 100 Days
+I'm writing this post as part of [#100DaysToOffload](https://100daystooffload),
+an initiative to inspire writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.