Teodron Stonecutter
Appearance
Being half dwarf and half human, Teodron is a mix of both races. He stands at about 1.5 meters, and his build is broader and stouter than a typical human, but not close to a full dwarf. He got his dark hair from his mother and his pale skin from his father, and his hazel eyes from both of them. His features are relatively unremarkable, neither attractive nor unattractive, aside from his bushy eyebrows and his thick hair and beard. His nose is a little too big for him and his lips too small to be conventionally handsome. However, whenever he smiles, his whole face lights up, almost transforming him into another person.
Skills and Abilities
Teodron is only a mediocre mage at the moment, though he works to improve every day. As a student at the College of Elbion, he has learned at least a few spells in the more common disciplines. Mostly, he follows in his mother’s footsteps for now as a rune mage, where his specialties include wards and other defensive magic. Still, his mind is sharp, he is both curious and a hard worker, and though his innate talent for magic isn’t as strong as some of his fellow students, he has a lot of potential. It remains to be seen whether he will unlock it.
Beyond that, he has some experience with various crafts, learned from his father’s work as a builder and architect. While he is not an expert craftsman by any stretch of the imagination, he could make a living as such in a pinch, though his skills in this area are a bit rusty at the moment. He never attempted some of the fancier work that his father sometimes dabble din, however. His father also insisted that Teodron learn some rudimentary combat. Although they trained sparingly, and only with staves, though between that and the work as masons, it kept them both in shape.
Unfortunately, Teodron has spent his entire life inside Elbion, rarely venturing outside it, and he’s never been in any real danger. As a result, he has no experience in actual combat or in the wilderness. Growing up rather sheltered means that he has a rather naïve outlook on life, and he isn’t always aware or concerned about intrigue or politics, which can leave him open to manipulation.
Beyond that, he has some experience with various crafts, learned from his father’s work as a builder and architect. While he is not an expert craftsman by any stretch of the imagination, he could make a living as such in a pinch, though his skills in this area are a bit rusty at the moment. He never attempted some of the fancier work that his father sometimes dabble din, however. His father also insisted that Teodron learn some rudimentary combat. Although they trained sparingly, and only with staves, though between that and the work as masons, it kept them both in shape.
Unfortunately, Teodron has spent his entire life inside Elbion, rarely venturing outside it, and he’s never been in any real danger. As a result, he has no experience in actual combat or in the wilderness. Growing up rather sheltered means that he has a rather naïve outlook on life, and he isn’t always aware or concerned about intrigue or politics, which can leave him open to manipulation.
Personality
Overall, Teodron is nice, kind, hard working, and loyal to a fault, qualities instilled in him by his parents. He’s not the most charismatic or socially adept individual, and often will stay quiet rather than speak up. Although he doesn’t have a particular knack for making friends, he values the few he does have and he will protect them to the end. Teodron is also devoted to his family, especially after his mother’s disappearance. That loss still marks him to this day, and he hasn’t completely reckoned with the depression that sometimes descends upon him when he thinks of her.
Still, Teodron prefers to focus on the present and the future, almost obsessively so. He is voraciously curious, always devouring whatever scroll or tome is placed in front of him with a frightening intensity. It doesn’t always allow him to master the arcana or skills within—though he will practice until he’s perfect—but it does serve him in good stead. That single-mindedness also manifests itself when it comes to his stubbornness: like many dwarfs, he’s hard to budge once he’s set his mind on something. He also has a bit of a temper, and will become impossible to reason with once it’s roused.
Unfortunately, his quick mind, which works well in his studies, fails him in emotional and interpersonal exchanges. Often, he will be at a loss for how to respond appropriately to others in ways that will benefit him. Rather, he strives to treat everyone equally and with kindness, which may not always be the best approach. He also has trouble opening up to people.
In many ways, he is the child of two worlds (human and dwarf, magic and mundane), but that never made feel less than. Rather, the two combined in him to create a whole better than each individual piece. He married his father’s practicality with his mother’s thirst for knowledge and beauty into a cohesive whole.
Still, Teodron prefers to focus on the present and the future, almost obsessively so. He is voraciously curious, always devouring whatever scroll or tome is placed in front of him with a frightening intensity. It doesn’t always allow him to master the arcana or skills within—though he will practice until he’s perfect—but it does serve him in good stead. That single-mindedness also manifests itself when it comes to his stubbornness: like many dwarfs, he’s hard to budge once he’s set his mind on something. He also has a bit of a temper, and will become impossible to reason with once it’s roused.
Unfortunately, his quick mind, which works well in his studies, fails him in emotional and interpersonal exchanges. Often, he will be at a loss for how to respond appropriately to others in ways that will benefit him. Rather, he strives to treat everyone equally and with kindness, which may not always be the best approach. He also has trouble opening up to people.
In many ways, he is the child of two worlds (human and dwarf, magic and mundane), but that never made feel less than. Rather, the two combined in him to create a whole better than each individual piece. He married his father’s practicality with his mother’s thirst for knowledge and beauty into a cohesive whole.
Biography & Lore
In order to understand Teodron, one needs to understand his parents. Guntyre was a dwarven builder—who fancied himself an architect, and may very well have been if his own boasting didn’t always undermine his efforts—while Salmira was a junior human mage studying, of all things, rune magic, considered obsolete at best and frivolous at worst by many of her colleagues. They met one night in a tavern, and sparks flew, though initially not of the romantic kind. Instead, Guntyre felt Salmira was a useless academic, as he believed in tangible, useful things and felt strong foundations, whereas Salmira saw knowledge as the foundation of everything that made civilization work. They got into a furious debate that lasted until the tavern finally closed its doors. And then it happened again the next night. And the night after that. And many more nights, until the arguments had grown into something deeper and truer.
Eventually, they started a family. Teodron was their firstborn, the first of four and the only boy. Both parents doted on him and his sisters (Elsbeter, Antaya, and Liatry, in age order), though both were kept busy with their respective work. From his father, Teodron learned the value of hard work, loyalty, kindness, industry, and strength of mind and body, while his mother instilled in him a great sense of curiosity and introduced him to the great mysteries of the world. That included both some rudimentary magic as well as her faith: Salmira hailed from Amol-Kalit, and she worshipped Naspar, God of Scholarship and Magic. Out of respect for Guntyre—not that he believed in theology, decrying it as the stuff of nonsense, but fair was fair—Salmira also taught Teodron the importance of Munnun, God of Trade and Artisanry. She would spin tales of all the deities and their wondrous powers, though time and cultural drift distorted some of it. In addition, Guntyre would occasionally share snippets of his own upbringing in Celestialism. Metisa, the Mother of Civilization, held a special place in Guntyre’s esteem, whether Teodron’s father was aware of it or not.
Teodron was incredibly happy growing up. He mostly worked for his father, fully intending to inherit the family business. Though secretly he longed to follow in his mother’s footsteps—the ancient magical artifacts that combined the best of technology and the arcane had always been of particular interest of him—it wasn’t something he felt strongly about. His first twenty years, which was still young for a half-dwarf such as he, were spent like this.
Until the day that everything changed. Teodron never learned the full details of the incident, perhaps because his father kept them from the son, or perhaps because they were unknown. But all that he found out was that after a magical accident at the college, Salmira was missing presumed dead.
He spent the next couple of days in a numb haze, doing his best to take care of his father and his sisters. Liatry was too young to know exactly what happened, but she was distraught, as were they all. Life had to go on, though, and after the funeral and the long period of mourning, Guntyre and Teodron went back to building homes and laying bricks. But suddenly it wasn’t enough for Teodron, and after thinking long and hard, he told his father of his intention to apply to the college. Guntyre, pleaded, threatened, wept, and begged, but Teodron was as stubborn as both his parents combined and he prevailed in the end. He was determined to unlock greater feats of magic and technology by combining both than both his parents could create individually. And maybe, just maybe, he was hoping to find answers regarding his
Despite his dwarven blood, Teodron could use magic, perhaps a gift from his human mother. And despite that blood, and maybe again due to his mother’s membership at the college, Teodron’s application was accepted. He managed to get through the interview and then—though it was difficult—he passed through the five preliminary trials. Since then, he’s been a proud student at the College of Elbion, ignoring those who feel his heritage might limit him as a mage.
Eventually, they started a family. Teodron was their firstborn, the first of four and the only boy. Both parents doted on him and his sisters (Elsbeter, Antaya, and Liatry, in age order), though both were kept busy with their respective work. From his father, Teodron learned the value of hard work, loyalty, kindness, industry, and strength of mind and body, while his mother instilled in him a great sense of curiosity and introduced him to the great mysteries of the world. That included both some rudimentary magic as well as her faith: Salmira hailed from Amol-Kalit, and she worshipped Naspar, God of Scholarship and Magic. Out of respect for Guntyre—not that he believed in theology, decrying it as the stuff of nonsense, but fair was fair—Salmira also taught Teodron the importance of Munnun, God of Trade and Artisanry. She would spin tales of all the deities and their wondrous powers, though time and cultural drift distorted some of it. In addition, Guntyre would occasionally share snippets of his own upbringing in Celestialism. Metisa, the Mother of Civilization, held a special place in Guntyre’s esteem, whether Teodron’s father was aware of it or not.
Teodron was incredibly happy growing up. He mostly worked for his father, fully intending to inherit the family business. Though secretly he longed to follow in his mother’s footsteps—the ancient magical artifacts that combined the best of technology and the arcane had always been of particular interest of him—it wasn’t something he felt strongly about. His first twenty years, which was still young for a half-dwarf such as he, were spent like this.
Until the day that everything changed. Teodron never learned the full details of the incident, perhaps because his father kept them from the son, or perhaps because they were unknown. But all that he found out was that after a magical accident at the college, Salmira was missing presumed dead.
He spent the next couple of days in a numb haze, doing his best to take care of his father and his sisters. Liatry was too young to know exactly what happened, but she was distraught, as were they all. Life had to go on, though, and after the funeral and the long period of mourning, Guntyre and Teodron went back to building homes and laying bricks. But suddenly it wasn’t enough for Teodron, and after thinking long and hard, he told his father of his intention to apply to the college. Guntyre, pleaded, threatened, wept, and begged, but Teodron was as stubborn as both his parents combined and he prevailed in the end. He was determined to unlock greater feats of magic and technology by combining both than both his parents could create individually. And maybe, just maybe, he was hoping to find answers regarding his
Despite his dwarven blood, Teodron could use magic, perhaps a gift from his human mother. And despite that blood, and maybe again due to his mother’s membership at the college, Teodron’s application was accepted. He managed to get through the interview and then—though it was difficult—he passed through the five preliminary trials. Since then, he’s been a proud student at the College of Elbion, ignoring those who feel his heritage might limit him as a mage.