BRISTLECOG WEAPONSMITH
GnomesDefensive Weapons Engineer
"The best defense isn't a bigger weapon—it's making attack unthinkable. My job is to create systems so effective that no one ever tests them, barriers so strong that no one ever tries to breach them.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Arsenal Quarter, Gearhaven
- Civilization
- Gnomes
Appearance
• Clothing: He wears reinforced leather clothing designed for workshop safety, heavy boots with steel toes, and a vest with pockets for tools and weapon components. His apron is covered in oil and metal shavings. • Distinguishing Marks: A prominent scar on his arm from an early weapon malfunction, permanently stained fingers from various compounds, and a tattoo of a shield on his shoulder marking his defensive focus.
Relationships
- Family - A wife who worries about his dangerous work, children who've chosen peaceful professions, parents who don't understand why he works with "weapons"
- Allies - The Defensive Engineers' Guild, clients who value his integrity, city officials who appreciate his protective focus
- Rivals - Those who want him to create offensive weapons, competitors who've copied his defensive designs
Personality
- Traits: Deeply serious about his work, genuinely believes in defensive applications only, frustrated by those who want weapons for aggression, fiercely protective of his designs
- Mannerisms: Assesses threats constantly even in safe environments, speaks in terms of deterrence and protection, gets uncomfortable when people praise his "weapons"
- Voice: Gruff and measured, with occasional passionate defenses of defensive engineering
Backstory
Bristlecog was originally trained as a general engineer but chose to specialize in defensive weapons after his hometown was attacked. He's since become Gearhaven's premier defensive weapons engineer, creating fortifications, protective devices, and deterrent systems. He refuses to create offensive weapons and maintains that the best weapon is one that never needs to be used.
Daily Life
His days are spent in his workshop, designing defensive systems, consulting with clients about their protection needs, and overseeing production of his approved designs. He frequently visits sites to assess vulnerabilities and recommend solutions. His evenings are dedicated to studying new threats and planning countermeasures.
Secret
Bristlecog has discovered a defensive technology so effective that it could make its possessor virtually invulnerable—and virtually unstoppable if turned to offense. He's hidden the research, terrified of what would happen if anyone learned of it.
Story Hooks
- 1 Bristlecog needs help protecting his hidden research from those who would exploit it, offering his defensive expertise in exchange.
- 2 Someone has learned about his discovery and is trying to steal it; he needs help stopping them while deciding whether to destroy the knowledge entirely.
Narrative Value
Moral weaponsmith and keeper of dangerous knowledge. Provides defensive expertise, raises questions about security and ethics, and adds moral complexity to weapon creation. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════