The tundra doesn’t care for weakness, and neither do I. Get to work, keep the fissures burning, and remember—everything we build here keeps Ironhearth alive.

— Dharn Emberfall

Title: Overseer of Emberfall Outpost

Age: 189

Race: Dwarf

Appearance

Dharn Emberfall is the embodiment of dwarven grit and resilience, his rugged appearance reflecting a lifetime of hard work and survival in the unforgiving tundra. His broad, muscular frame is built like the mountains he calls home, with arms thick from years of wielding tools and overseeing the geothermal extractors that power Emberfall Outpost.

Dharn’s face is weathered and scarred, his dark bronze skin etched with the signs of age and exposure to heat and frost alike. His eyes are a piercing ember-orange, a trait that earned him his family name and gives him an intense, almost otherworldly gaze. His bald head is often covered by a heavy, fur-lined hood, while his beard—a thick, fiery-red cascade streaked with ash-gray—falls to his chest in carefully braided strands adorned with copper beads shaped like flames.

He wears reinforced leather armor layered with plates of dark froststeel, designed to protect against both the freezing cold and the intense heat of the geothermal vents. A belt adorned with tools and small vials of alchemical coolant hangs at his waist, along with a hammer of frostforged steel—a versatile tool that doubles as a weapon. His cloak is a deep crimson, trimmed with black fur, and bears the emblem of Emberfall: a flaming fissure carved into obsidian.

Personality

Dharn is a practical, no-nonsense leader with little tolerance for inefficiency or excuses. He speaks in a low, gravelly voice that carries the weight of authority, and his blunt manner often intimidates those unused to his straightforward style. Despite his gruff exterior, Dharn deeply cares for the people of Emberfall Outpost, viewing their survival and success as his personal responsibility.

Dharn is fiercely protective of the geothermal fissures that fuel the outpost, treating them as both a resource and a sacred trust. He values hard work, discipline, and loyalty, rewarding those who prove their dedication while being quick to reprimand those who slack off. While he’s not one for small talk or pleasantries, he is fair and honest, earning the respect of his subordinates and peers alike.

Though Dharn focuses on the practicalities of running the outpost, he has a strong spiritual connection to the land and its fiery heart. He views the geothermal vents as gifts from Morgrim, the Forgefather, and often consults with the temple clergy on matters of significance.

History

Born into the Emberfall family, a lineage of miners and engineers with a deep connection to Ironhearth’s geothermal resources, Dharn grew up learning the intricacies of resource extraction and survival in harsh conditions. From a young age, he displayed a knack for leadership, often organizing work crews and solving disputes among his peers.

Dharn’s rise to prominence came during a crisis in the Deep Warrens, where a sudden cave-in threatened to flood Ironhearth’s lower mines with molten lava. Dharn’s quick thinking and engineering expertise saved countless lives, earning him recognition and the position of overseer at the newly established Emberfall Outpost.

Under his leadership, the outpost has become a vital hub for resource extraction and trade, producing the geothermal energy and rare minerals essential for Ironhearth’s survival. Dharn has also forged strong relationships with nomadic clans, ensuring a steady flow of goods and mutual protection in the tundra’s harsh environment.