"If the will is strong, a dwarf can accomplish anything." I wonder how many of our people really realize the deeper meaning of this statement. It is intended to be a truism; something that is ingrained into a dwarf from birth, so that he will always know that any failure is the result of his own faltering, and no one else's. However, I have learned that it means much more.

I was already in my apprenticeship as an engineer when the Human Gods angered the Overpower, and he banished the Gods from the Heavens. Our people went crazy in that time, running about like humans. So many priests found themselves lost without the voice of our Gods whispering in their ear, each of them trying more and more elaborate ways to reach out to their Patron. I found myself wrestling more and more with an idea that had come to me.

Perhaps the priests were going about it the wrong way. We are taught, since we first pick up a hammer, that everything we create carries a portion of our essence. We are also taught that, in the beginning, The Maker created us from stone and iron. Could it not be that we each have a spark of the Maker within ourselves, needing only to feel the breath of a dwarf to grow into a flame, a flame that we can use to shape the world, just as The Maker did.

I spent what spare time I could find exploring this idea, seeking deep inside myself for a spark that would do more than connect me to The Maker; I would be as The Maker, with a spark of his power in my mortal form. After many weeks of searching, I found such a spark, glowing inside my soul. I felt myself standing beside that spark, felt the heat of Creation rise from it. Gently, so as to not extinguish it, I began to breathe upon it, fanning the flame. It grew in size as I breathed, catching hold of my spirit and using it for fuel, growing and growing until I was engulfed... burning without being consumed. I awoke in the darkness of my clanhold, to find the stone ceiling above me glowing cheerfully, as the spark had. Heat poured off it and, as I kept my will focussed upon it, drops of molten stone fell from the ceiling to scar the floor. I had found the Maker within me.

Unfortunately, knowing of the Maker within and being able to make use of His power are two different things. I practiced as much as a I could, expanding my capabilities slowly, studying both the crafts I was to learn and the arts of war. By the time the Wars began, I was nearly sixty, as humans reckon time, and I felt capable to take my place in the war against the Darkness. With a strong will, a dwarf can accomplish anything. I intend to prove that.

Strength: 13 45/140# carrying capacity; 7 open doors; 4% bend bars\lift gates
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 15 +1 HP per level (tied to fighter level); 90% system shock; 94% ressurection survival
Intelligence: 13 3 additional slots/languages
Wisdom: 17 +3 vs magical mind control
Charisma: 11 (12 to dwarves) 5 henchmen (one must be a dwarf)

Ht: 3'9"
Wt: 152#
Right handed Male
60 years old, Lawful Good Alignment

Bern is short dwarf proportioned roughly like a boulder. When unarmored, grey braids of his hair and beard blend effortlessly into his tunic, his blue eyes sparkle like sapphires from his roughly tanned face. When armored, the studs glitter like flecks of ore on the granite-colored background of their leather backing. He carries a warhammer so effortlessly that it is almost an extension of his thick arms, and looks well at ease with the crossbow that rests in across the top of his backpack.

Level: 2nd level Fighter, 2nd level Psionicist
Experience (Fighter): 3718
Experience (Psionicist): 3918

Hit Points: 18
Hit Die Rolls (Figher): 10, 10
Hit Die Rolls (Psionicist): 6, 6
Psionic Strength Points: 36
Armor Class: 10 (6 with armor and shield)
ThAC0: 19
Saves:
Poison: 9
Paralyzation/Death: 13
Rod/Staff/Wand: 11
Petrification/Polymorph: 10
Breath Weapon: 16
Spell: 11 (6 against spells designed to control)

Natural/Class abilities
60' infravision
+4 vs. Spells, Rod/Staff/Wand, and Posion (already figured into saves)
+1 to hit orcs, half-orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins
+4 AC vs. ogres, trolls, ogre-magi, giants, and titans
20% magic item malfunction
Detect Grade/Slope: 5/6
Approximate Depth or Detect Stonework Traps: 3/6
Detect Sliding/Shifting Walls and Rooms: 4/6
+2 vs Enchantment/Charm spell (already figured into saves)
At 9th level in each class, Bern will begin to attract followers

Weapon Proficiencies:
Warhammer (specialized)
Dagger
Light Crossbow

Non-Weapon Proficiencies
Rejuvenation (16)
Meditative Focus (18)
Mining (17)
Modern Language: Common (13)
Modern Language: Orc (13)
Read/Write Common (14)
Engineering (13)
Read/Write Dethek (14)
Endurance (15)
Raven's Bluff geography
Giant Lore
Orc Lore
Goblin Lore
Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Heraldry (Army of Tilverton only)

Languages:
Dwarf, Hill (Native)
Human Common
Orc

Psionic Powers:
Primary Discipline: Psychokinesis
Secondary Disciplines: Metapsionics
Sciences: Telekinesis (14)
Devotions: Molecular Agitation (17), Molecular Manipulation (10), Ballistic Attack (13), Cognitive Trance (13), Fighting Trance (16)
Defense Modes: Mind Blank (10)

Equipment
Brown breeches, dark gray tunic, leather belt w/buckle, soft boots, hood
Warhammer: d4+4/d4+3. Speed: 3 +2 to hit (specialization and magic)
Light crossbow: ROF: 1 Speed: 7
20 crossbow quarrels (in case): d6+1/d8 12/24/36 range
3 Daggers (one in sheath in boot, others in belt): d4/d3 Speed: 2
Backpack
Winter blanket, 2 weeks dry rations, 2 scroll cases, 2 wineskins, 5 pitons, 50' silk rope
2 belt pouches
Flint and steel, 22 gold, 2 silver, 5 copper, bloodnote worth 35 platinum with the Army of Tilverton
2 sets Studded Leather Armor, 3 set gauntlets
Small Shield
Entrenching tool
Bushman's knife
2 torches
1 small beltpouch
1 sewing kits, 2 tinder boxes, healing potion, 2 bandages
1 pairs of gamashes
Manual "Assembling the Sembian Light Field Ballista"
Ring of Fire Resistance