Brann Tallowkin

Brann is a tall, broad-shouldered tiefling with dusky red skin and curling, ram-like horns polished to a shine. His eyes are golden and calm, betraying a steady presence. He wears a well-kept brown cloak over simple but sturdy priest’s garb, with a wooden symbol of Erastil carved from river driftwood. His hands are calloused from both labor and battle, and he often smells faintly of woodsmoke and herbs.

Personality

• Pragmatic: Brann values results over lofty ideals; he prefers action over endless debate.
• Devout but Grounded: His faith in Erastil shapes his decisions, but he interprets doctrine through the lens of community survival.
• Steady & Patient: Rarely flustered; his calm is a counterweight to village tensions.
• Diplomatic: Prefers compromise and mediation, though he is firm once a decision is reached.

Motives

• Preserve the unity and survival of Xandarin above all.
• Strengthen the ward by guiding the people in faith and discipline.
• Ensure the village does not repeat the mistakes of Aul’Daran’s fall.
• Pass on Erastil’s principles of family, duty, and stewardship to the next generation.

History

• Exile’s Son: Born to tiefling parents who were driven from a larger settlement after the Pale Wars.
• Ward of the Village: Grew up under Esmerelda’s watch and trained as both a hunter and a cleric.
• Chosen by Consensus: Became Lodgemaster after years of service as a mediator, healer, and advocate for community needs.
• Today: Seen as the village’s stabilizing voice, respected even by those wary of his infernal heritage.

Languages

• Common, Infernal, Elvish.
• Can speak prayers in Sylvan, though with a heavy accent.

Features & Traits

• Community Healer: Provides both mundane and magical healing. Trusted to officiate weddings, resolve disputes, and lead funerals.
• Voice of Balance: Advantage on Persuasion checks in social disputes.
• Ward-Faith Connection: His prayers bolster the ward at times of strain.
• Unyielding: Once Brann commits, he cannot be swayed; DC to persuade him doubles if it goes against his principles.

Quirks

• Always carries a small wooden pipe, though he rarely smokes it—he chews the stem when thinking.
• Keeps a meticulous tally of supplies and food stores in a ledger he guards personally.
• Hums hymns under his breath while working.
• Touches his wooden holy symbol whenever making a difficult decision.

Specialized Equipment

• Driftwood Holy Symbol: A carved emblem of Erastil, worn smooth with use; doubles as a divine focus.
• Ledger of Provisions: Lists supplies, debts, and communal goods. Brann uses it to mediate disputes.
• Hearthblade: A longsword with a simple iron hilt wrapped in leather; reliable, not ornate.
• Prayer Beads: Worn on his wrist, each bead carved with symbols of family or nature.

Speech Patterns

• Calm, measured, and plainspoken; avoids flourishes.
• Uses farming and hunting metaphors (“A field untended breeds weeds,” “The herd survives together”).
• His voice has a deep, steady cadence, like a sermon.
• Rarely curses, but when pushed, lapses into Infernal expletives.

Example Phrases:

• “A council’s strength lies in its balance, not its noise.”
• “The ward may shield us, but it’s our duty that keeps us.”
• “Family is more than blood—it’s everyone who eats at your table.”

GM Roleplaying Notes

• Brann is the anchor of the council, the one who ensures Esmerelda, Darrik, and Hessa’s differing priorities stay balanced.
• He can serve as a quest giver when the village needs diplomacy or aid in maintaining supplies.
• His infernal heritage makes him a target for distrust among outsiders, which can create tension if PCs are biased.
• He should feel like a pillar of stability—calm, pragmatic, and devout, with quiet strength behind every word.