Brak Stonefist

Brak Stonefist
Identity: Forge-Lord of House Stonefist, Master of Fortifications Location: Steamfort
Brak is the quintessential dwarven traditionalist: stubborn, blunt, and as solid as the mountains he calls home. As the leader of House Stonefist, he oversees the design and construction of Steamfort's most formidable defenses, from the heavy iron gates to the thick, Aether-resistant plating used on their ironclad airships. He is a veteran of numerous skirmishes with the Giantfolk and has no love for the "flighty magic" of Kigum.
Brak believes that Steamfort's strength lies in its iron and its discipline. He is a vocal critic of the more experimental and "heretical" engineering projects favored by House Copperwire, fearing that they are straying too far from the lessons of their ancestors. Despite his gruff nature, Brak is a fair leader who is deeply respected by his workers. He views the security of Steamfort as a sacred duty and will personally inspect every rivet and weld on a new fortification.
Plot Hooks:
- The Breach: A new type of "Aether-Dissolving" acid is being used by Giantfolk raiders to melt through Steamfort's walls. Brak hires the party to capture a sample of the acid and find its creator.
- The Ancestral Hammer: Brak's ceremonial forge-hammer, a relic from the founding of Steamfort, has been lost in a collapsed mine shaft. He needs the party to retrieve it before a rival house uses its disappearance to challenge his authority.
- The Iron Inspection: Brak asks the party to accompany him on an inspection tour of the Northern Outposts. They must defend him against a coordinated ambush by Obsidian Scale cultists who want to eliminate the city's top defense strategist.