DURATH IRONDEEP
ElementalsWarden of the Stonehold Holds
"I do not govern the Holds. I hold them. There is a difference. A governor signs documents. I stand between my people and whatever comes out of the dark.""
Identity
- Residence
- Stonehold Holds (primary), Earthheart Citadel (council sessions)
- Civilization
- Elementals
Appearance
• Physical: A broad, fortress-like form of dark basalt and iron-streaked granite, standing thirty-five feet tall and almost as wide at the shoulders. His body is thick with layered stone plates that overlap like tectonic armor, and deep iron veins run through his limbs like buried rivers of metal. His eyes are dull iron orbs that glow red-hot when he is angered. • Clothing: Wears a Warden's sash of hammered magnetite links, each link engraved with the names of Stonehold's sub-regions. • Distinguishing Marks: His right arm is reinforced with a natural seam of pure iron ore that makes it visibly heavier and darker than the rest of his body -- a trait from birth that earned him his surname.
Relationships
- Family - A single offspring to whom he contributed essence, now a young Stonewarden-in-training; he is privately terrified of losing them
- Allies - The Stonewardens under his command, the Miner's Guild (whom he considers essential partners), Garron Hearthmantle (a grudging mutual respect)
- Rivals - A Council Member who wants to reduce the Stonehold military garrison to redirect resources to the Crystal-Forge District
Personality
- Traits: Stern and duty-bound, pragmatic to a fault, fiercely protective of his people, harbors a dry, dark humor
- Mannerisms: Crosses his arms when listening (which sounds like boulders grinding), stamps one foot to emphasize a point (causing minor tremors), chews on a small iron pebble when thinking
- Voice: Deep, metallic, and clipped -- like an iron gate slamming shut with each sentence.
Backstory
Durath was birthed through Confluence at a Nexus Cradle in the deepest reaches of the Stonehold Holds, his essence contributed by a Stonewarden commander and a mining engineer. He spent his first five centuries as a soldier in the Elemental Guard Legions, earning distinction during border skirmishes with rogue Void-corrupted entities. His appointment as Warden of Stonehold came after he single-handedly held a collapsing mine shaft open for three days, allowing two hundred miners to evacuate safely.
Daily Life
Durath patrols the Stonehold Holds personally, inspecting fortifications, reviewing guard rotations, and meeting with local community leaders. He holds open audiences twice a week where any citizen can bring grievances. He travels to Earthheart Citadel quarterly for Council sessions, though he dislikes the politics and prefers to be among his people in the Holds.
Secret
During a routine patrol, Durath discovered a hidden tunnel system beneath the Stonehold Holds that predates the Shaping Era -- tunnels not carved by Elementals but by something older and unknown. He sealed the entrance and has told no one, but he has heard sounds from behind the seal: rhythmic tapping, as if something is trying to communicate -- or escape.
Story Hooks
- 1 Durath needs a trusted, expendable team to explore the pre-Shaping Era tunnels beneath Stonehold before whatever is inside breaks through the seal.
- 2 A series of unexplained tremors in the Stonehold Holds is weakening fortifications, and Durath suspects deliberate sabotage from within -- but investigating his own people risks tearing the community apart.
Narrative Value
Durath provides a military-focused entry point into the Earth Kingdom, offering dungeon exploration beneath Stonehold, internal security intrigue, and a gruff but loyal patron for combat-oriented parties. His pre-Shaping Era tunnels connect to the world's deepest mysteries. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════