The Story of Orsik

One of my hobbies other than DMing is painting metal miniatures. Usually this goes with my DMing as I can paint minis to use at the table, but my current painting project is a bit different. It's not a mini meant to be used at the table, rather its a diorama, depicting one of the coolest characters I've ever had the pleasure of running a game for. I finished this beast of a project last night, after 3 weeks of modeling, and I wanted to share this with everyone; share the awesomeness that is Orsik.

Orsik was born the only son of Grandor Baern of the Stonewall clan. His uncle was
the Clan Lord of Stonewall, but Orsik took up as an apprentice blacksmith to his grandfather, Ragnel. His life was traditional, as befitting a Stonewall. He married at the age of 27, young for a dwarf, and had his first son within a few years. Life was peaceful, and  Orsik became well-known as a blacksmith, surpassed only by his grandfather.

Things went well for several years, but all good things must end, and this peace ended when there was an attack on his city. Another dwarf, who has never been identified, led an force of undead and demons into the city; it was not a normal goblin or orc raid. This dark dwarf had an aura about him, a semi-tangible darkness that pervaded even in the deep caverns. He was a worshiper of Orcus, demon prince of the undead, and this attack was an attempt to harvest souls for the demon prince to torture in his Abyssal lair.

Player rendering of Orsik

Orsik was out at the quarry that day, and he returned to the sound of fighting. Thinking orcs, he picked up his smithing hammer and went to defend his home. He hadn't expected to enter his house to find this supplicant of Orcus draining the life out of his wife. Orsik charged the dark dwarf, only to be knocked backwards by a swing of his foe's hammer. The shockwave threw him out the door and down a ravine. The pain eventually knocked him unconscious, and when he awoke and climbed from the ravine, he saw only destruction, and not a single corpse. He cursed his god, Moradin, and cried for anyone who could help.

In that moment an angel appeared; one of the Raven Queen. This angel told Orsik of her masters' purpose: to ensure the dead reach their proper place, and to destroy the undead abominations that Orcus creates. He spent the next few weeks forging himself a new set of armor, and crafting a new hammer to use, this one designed for war. He took the Raven Queen's message to heart, and swore that he would free his family from the bonds that hold them in the underworld.

Yes, his hammer is THAT big.

Orsik later joined forces with a banished Dragonborn, Krayus, along with some other mercenaries. This is where the adventure Keep on the Shadowfell takes place. From this point on during the campaign Orsik continues to be a devout follower of the Raven Queen, making sure the undead stay dead, and the living don't die before they should.

He was a defender, and a leader; a fighter and a cleric. he was always impatient and brash. He loved booze and fighting. He even named his weapons! A hammer named Smashy, an axe named Slashy, he did love his job. And his friends. Mostly his friends. He was also prone to getting into issues during the more diplomatic missions.

So you're probably wondering where this all comes in with my hobby for miniatures? As I said in the beginning, I made a diorama for Orsik's awesomeness, so it shall forever be remembered.

Orsik Baern Stonewall

You'll be seeing a lot more of Orsik in my Sunday Story Hours as I run through what has happened in my campaign so far. Thanks for reading, and happy gaming!