Dorn Roder

NOTE: Although he was born in 1469, due to time traveling 20 years into the past, his chronological age is 50.
Once a devout cleric of Helm, the lawful god of protection, Dorn eventually lost his faith in the tenets of Helm and became a worshipper of Shar, the evil goddess of night.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

He was heavy for a thin man and thin for a heavy man.

Facial Features

Six scars.

Specialized Equipment

• Frostwrath, a powerful magical greataxe from Laerakond.
• Armor of Midnight, mysterious chainmail armor that emanates shadow energy
• The Sola Scriptura, a holy book treasure binding that facilitates communion with the gods

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Entering the Faith

Dorn entered the faith at a young age. He was fascinated by the majesty of the temple and the rituals of its clergy. He was reluctant to join the order, but something compelled him to join. Looking back on that day, Dorn often wondered if it had really been his choice at all.

Helm Worship

Dorn frequently had visions he claimed were from the god Helm. Sometimes he glowed with a celestial emanation that he couldn't explain during his sermons. But Dorn was fiercely independent, and while he gave everything he had to his faith during the day, at night, he wandered the streets seeking pleasure and vice.

The Adventure Begins

Returning from a night of gambling, drinking, and womanizing, he was viciously attacked by a ravenous zombie right in the middle of the street. Reacting quickly, he summoned holy fire and immolated the wretched thing where it stood. He ran to the nearest tavern and shut the door behind him to catch his breath and, perhaps, wet his parched lips with a stiff drink. Inside the tavern, he met two people who would become his constant companions for the next year -- Rippertron, an infamous halfling pirate, and Vernigorn Prexilmorev, a skilled dragonborn swordsman from across the sea.

A Test of Faith

Dorn, caught up in the moment, stole two powerful magical tomes from a shop in Athkatla, the capital of Amn. The shopowner cried out for help and the city guards quickly responded. Dorn was forced to confront the shopkeeper and the city guard in combat or else be clapped in irons and taken to prison. Dorn barely escaped, but hours later he discovered his divine powers had been revoked.

The Calling

Dorn spent days trying to commune with Helm, but his prayers went unanswered. On the third day, he had three visions.

First Vision

In his first vision, Dorn saw groups of men and women chained together being led off of a cliff to fall to their deaths below. Group after group were mindlessly led by beautiful angels, who grinned with maniacal glee as each body crunched on the cavern floor below. Dorn was filled with revulsion and rage.
Suddenly he saw a flash of light. A voluptuous, scantily-clad, raven-haired woman sat upon a golden throne, a mounds of gold coins and gems were carelessly heaped around her. Her crown was spiked with gems of five colors. She started to speak with a voice like thick honey.
"Faithless one, pledge yourself to me and all the wealth and pleasures you could ever want will be yours for the taking. Nothing will be denied of you, you will experience every pleasure, and nothing can stand in your way. The other gods are petty tyrants who seek nothing more than to smother the spark of man. Their followers are too blind to see the truth of existence. To free man from the tyranny of the gods, we must destroy their temples, topple their monuments, and see everything they stand for fall to ruin. No one can deny this wisdom, you know it in your heart, you've always known it. I will raise you up to a glorious golden throne and the truth of creation will spill from your lips and all will worship me."

Second Vision

In Dorn's second vision, wolves chased him through a dense forest, baying and snapping ferociously as he run, his flesh torn by sharp sticks and his feet gouged by jagged stones. The wolves then become men, laughing and throwing spears at him, howling in mad glee. Dorn stumbled and fell into a ditch, sliding head-first down the mountain in a torrent of mud and sludge until it vomitted him into a pit of dead bodies. The stench was overwhelming and he clawed and struggled at the rotting flesh, swarming with flies and maggots, trying to get to the edge.
A dozen men walked over to the edge of the pit high above him and looked down on him, laughing. The world spun and then he saw them for what they truly were. Wicked demons, covered in bristling hair, salivating, drooling. Curved claws on gnarled fingers. Fangs dripping with ichor. A sense of utter helplessness overwhelmed him and he cried out in desperation.
Suddenly he saw a flash of light. A terrifying figure wearing imperious black armor, riding a horse made of fire and smoke, towered over him. The figure's words reverberated the space around Dorn and resonated within his chest like thunder.
"Fallen hero, Helm has denied you your rightful power. The universe is inherently violent and destructive -- it ravages and consumes everything of value. Without your power to stave off the chaos, the world will fall into ruin. You are all that stands in the way of annihilation. Take my power, make it your own, protect what you love, and utterly destroy those who would stand in your way. In my name, all will fall before you, if you have the strength to answer my call."

Final Vision

In his final vision, he was slowly descending through a void like the night sky. He saw a blue globe falling away from his feet and he moved imperceptibly towards what could only be the sun. He was clothed in pure white vestments of fine silk and a gleaming golden breastplate that reflected the brilliance of the sun in every direction. He felt magnificent. Glorious. Loved. But slowly, the armor became tarnished, corroded and began falling from his body like sand. The silken vestments became dirty and torn and likewise fell away into the nothingness around him. He started to feel a coldness creep over him and he began to shiver even though the sun was shining brightly on his nude body. No matter how he tried to cover himself, the sun was no source of warmth, only light. Minutes passed. He despaired as he was left only with the feeling of shame and loss, slowly turning to that of bitter betrayal regarding the oppressive light of a sun that provided no warmth.
Suddenly there was a flash of light. A woman made of pure black shadow sauntered toward him, her head ringed by a halo of soft purple radiance. Her words were soothing and calm, and her touch made him feel like the most important man in the world.
"Guilt. Shame. Failure. Take heart, wanderer, your soul despairs, but I am here to comfort you. You are worthy of love and this privation of your divine power is an unjust and undeserved slap in the face from a god who seeks nothing but obedience. I will never ask you to protect anyone but yourself. I would never ask you to die for another pathetic mortal for the sake of honor or duty. Life is short, why should you spend even a single moment living for someone else? Embrace me. Embrace yourself. Take control of your life and live it to its fullest."

Shar's Revelation

While the Great Tree Thessalia burned with wraithfire, Dorn received a prophecy from Shar.
"Take heed of my words, Dorn.
The self-proclaimed Emperor of Relmaur has tampered with forces beyond his understanding. The window of opportunity soon closes, and when it does, Laerakond will be destroyed by the Great Dragons. In time, the World Eater and his insatiable wraithfire soldiers will spread across the realms, seeking to devour every mortal soul. Within a generation, wraithfire will have spread to every corner of the world.
If you wish to prevent this fate from befalling this world, you must construct a powerful artifact. Once constructed, this device must be used to consume the heart of the World Eater by defeating him in his lair. Then you will use the device to send his heart far into the Astral Plane, thus denying him the mortal souls he so desperately craves to devour.
First, you will need to retrieve the Solar Spear, the weapon you were always destined to possess. Ancient celestial guardians will attempt to stop you. Powerful though they are, they are no match for you and your warband. The Solar Spear thrums with the power of creation itself. With it, the wraithfire armies will cower before you.
The next step will be to retrieve the Ruby of Pramathya. This primordial relic, stolen from the heart of the Abyss, consumes elemental fire and stores it within. Replace the gem in the Solar Spear with the Ruby and, by your command, it shall consume wraithfire instead.
As for the last piece of the device, you already possess it. The holy symbol around your neck is known as the Astral Halo. Place it atop the Solar Spear and the artifact will be complete.
With the Solar Spear by your side, the Wraithfire soldiers will be no match for you. Seek out Thaartaag the World Eater far below Relmaur, in his ancient lair in the Underdark. His lair will be guarded by a mad cult of drow who had sought the power of wraithfire for centuries, only to be outsmarted by that insipid dragonborn usurper, Medrash.
Construct the device. Defeat the World Eater. Consume his soul with it and send it into the Astral Plane.
Or not. It makes no difference to me."

Personality Characteristics

Virtues & Personality perks

"Though I don't always live up to the perfection of my deity, I strive to find some way to honor them every day and channel their will. The rest of the time I exist is for me."

Vices & Personality flaws

"I love to drink, to gamble, the bloodlust of battle, the fervor of a destitute working girl, and all in excess."

Species

Human

Year of Birth

1469 29 Years old

Gender

Male

Eyes

Gold

Hair

Black and gray

Height

6' 4"

Weight

228 lbs