Korrus Gol-Darn, Dwarven Architect

[Phntm888]

Quick Statblock

Korrus Gol-Darn
Character Sheet
LN Dwarf (Oread) Transmuter 1; Perception +5
"There's work to be done, so we might as well be about it."

 

AC 14
HP 18
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +7

Trained Skills: Acrobatics +4, Arcana +7, Athletics +4, Crafting +7, Diplomacy +2, Lore (Plane of Earth) +7, Lore (Architecture) +7, Nature +5, Occultism +7, Religion +5, Society +7, Survival +5

Staff +4 (1d4+1 B, Two-hand 1d8)
Clan Dagger +1 (1d4+1 P, Agile, Dwarf, Parry, Uncommon, Versatile B)
Crossbow with 20 bolts +4 (1d8 P, Reload 1)

Spellcasting: Arcane Spell Attack +7, Arcane Save DC 17
1st-level (3/day) - Color Spray, Magic Missile, Magic Weapon
Cantrips - Detect Magic, Electric Arc, Mage Hand, Scatter Scree, Shield, Sigil

Spellbook

 

Cantrips - Approximate, Detect Magic, Electric Arc, Gouging Claw, Mage Hand, Message, Produce Flame, Scatter Scree, Shield, Sigil
1st-Level: Ant Haul, Color Spray, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Magic Weapon, Shockwave

 

 

Backstory

Korrus was born in the Golushkin hold, in the Golushkin Mountains in the human nation of Brevoy. He is the third cousin, once removed of Toval Golka on his mother's side. His birth caused something of a stir among the dwarves, with some wondering if he'd been cursed to become one of those hated enemies, a Duergar. Fortunately, a well-learned priest of Magrim knew the signs of an elemental origin, and soon convinced the populace that he was not cursed, but had instead been blessed with a strong bond to the Plane of Earth. Though this largely satisfied the people, he was still something of a curiosity, for none of the Golushkin dwarves had shown such signs in several hundred years. As he grew, Korrus was revealed to be very intelligent and focused on applying himself to his studies. Some whispered that this was a side effect of his more elemental origins, and he, too, began to grow curious about them. 

He began learning what he could of his more unique origins, but he soon found that much of the information was couched in terms of arcane learning and magical knowledge, something most dwarves had, at best, a passing familiarity with. Not to be deterred, he began teaching himself many of the arcane principals, learning to read such runes and texts. Even once he became an apprentice stonemason, shortly after his 20th birthday, he continued his studies. Eventually, he began to master small cantrips and magical abilities, refining his arcane knowledge even as he proved to be incredibly adept at stonemasonry. Upon reaching his 29th birthday, he was officially declared a man, and a stonemason in his own right.

As full stonemason, Korrus was able to venture forth and take on masonry jobs outside of the hold. This gave him access to additional sources of knowledge to learn more of his origins, even as he applied his trade to human settlements, such as Highdelve, New Stetven, Restov, and beyond. In the process, he came to be called a "Wizard", which he treats as simply a term for a learned scholar, and learned that he was likely descended from a shaitan, a genie of the plane of earth. Still, he continued refining his craft, returning home every couple of years between jobs. Then, ten years ago, the Vanishing happened.

Korrus was in Mivon, where he had been overseeing the restoration of a noble estate, when a letter from his cousin, Toval, arrived, informing him that the entire Golushkin clan had vanished, along with the Rogarvian house and Lord Howlan Garress's son, who had been a ward of the clan-chief. Pained and worried over the loss of his kin, Korrus nevertheless reminded himself of his duty and remained in Mivon until the work was finished. As soon as he was done, he left, journeying north to Brevoy and returning to Golushkin hold. It took several weeks, and the caravan he traveled with was attacked by no fewer than three bandit groups, but upon his return, he entered the hold, and found it deserted. His footsteps echoed, empty, within its halls. There was no sign of the clan anywhere.

Korrus spent the next five years doing everything he could to find a way to restore his kin. He sought out occult rituals, studied fey magic, scoured the hold for any signs of hidden passages that the dwarves could have been taken through. All his efforts yielded nothing, and eventually he resigned himself to failure. Magic had failed him, so he abandoned magical studies, throwing himself into his work as a stonemason and architect. As the only Golushkin stonemason left, he found himself in high demand. Yet, increasingly, he found simply working on buildings for others to be stifling. He wanted free rein, to build and design as he wanted, without anyone else's specifications. It was while he was in Restov, working on a Swordlord's mansion, that he heard of Jamandi Aldori's plan to send expeditions to the Stolen Lands. It seemed like just the opportunity he was looking for. Dusting off his spellbook, for he knew his magical skills would be needed for this, he went to pledge himself to the expedition, to seize the opportunity to build new settlements without interference. He would also be making the area safer for trade, as well.

Perhaps, though, there was also a quiet part of him that thought about how, maybe, somewhere in the Stolen Lands, the key to his clan's disappearance could be found. After all, no one really knows what secrets the untamed wilds may hide.

 

Appearance & Personality

Korrus is a stocky Dwarven male with skin the color of shale and hair and beard the color of dirt - making plain his elemental heritage. While both skin and hair feel like normal skin and hair, and his beard is braided per the dwarves custom, his appearance can be somewhat off-putting when people first meet him, as they aren't quite sure if he's a living creature or an earthen construct given a spark of life. He usually dresses largely for utilitarian purposes, in boots, breeches, shirt, and leather apron and gloves with his stonemason's tools arranged appropriately. For an event such as this feast, however, he has...still dressed the exact same way, although he's packed away the leather apron and gloves and added a well-made yet plain green coat and brown cloak. His walking stick is gnarled oak, sturdy and solid but unremarkable. His clan dagger shows the mark of the Golushkin dwarves of the Golushkin Mountains.

Korrus is task oriented, and believes in work first, fun second. He can be very stiff and formal, at times, and is very disapproving of those who shirk their duties. He considers his magic largely in utilitarian terms, a side effect of his studies researching his ancestry, while viewing masonry and architectural design as his true calling. With magic having failed him in finding out what happened to his clan, he is less concerned with understanding the cosmos than he is with perfecting his stonemasonry skills. He has two reasons for joining the expedition to the Stolen Lands: first, to make the region safer for travel, and second, to refine his architectural craft in building new settlements from the ground up.

 

Edited September 5, 2023 by Phntm888 (see edit history)

[youngaberration]

Very interesting. Are you going to be changing shapes a lot later on if I may ask?

[Phntm888]

If the party is light on melee combatants, I can go in that direction. When I play casters, I usually tailor my spell selection in a direction that best augments the party, so the degree of shape shifting I use will depend on the final party (and whether or not I get in). The choice of Transmutation mostly came from the fact that Transmutation felt like the kind of school that an architect who has studied magic would have specialized in, as opposed to the actual spells that were part of the school.