Donal Gobha & Ciaran Ceàrd

Donal Gobha: The Master of the Forge

Donal Gobha was a Dwarf from a long line of blacksmiths, mastering his craft from a young age. Known for the exceptional quality of his metalwork, Gobha was a also man of vision. He wasn’t satisfied with the traditional methods of forging and sought new ways to push the boundaries of production. His reputation for excellence spread beyond his home valley, bringing him the custom of the Barons and Kings of the Lakelands, which made him rich. But the true turning point came when he bought a series of land claims to the then-failing town of Dynamo Hill in the Hoedenheim Territory—land that just so happened to hold resources which would fuel the industrial revolution he had always dreamed of.

The Dynamo Stones

The land claims Gobha had purchased included access to the Dynamo Stones, mysterious ancient formations that had been spinning endlessly for as long as anyone could remember. For centuries, locals marveled at the stones, but it was Gobha who realized their potential. These stones generated vast amounts of mechanical energy, and Gobha saw a way to harness this power for industrial use.

However, Gobha’s expertise in metalwork alone was not enough to unlock the true potential of the stones. He needed an engineer with the vision to design machines that could capture and convert the stones’ energy. That’s when he turned to Ciaran Ceàrd, a brilliant inventor and mechanical engineer who had already gained a reputation for his innovative solutions to complex problems.

Ciaran Ceàrd: The Innovator

Born into a family of artisans in Bael Bradach, Ciaran Ceàrd was driven by curiosity and the pursuit of efficiency. He had a natural talent for mechanics and had spent his early years developing cutting-edge tools and equipment for local industries. Ceàrd's mind was always working to find better, faster, and more effective ways to do things, and it was this inventive spark that made him the perfect partner for Gobha’s ambitious plans.

When Gobha approached him with the challenge of harnessing the endless spinning of the Dynamo Stones, Ceàrd was intrigued. Together, they began developing machinery capable of capturing the stones’ mechanical energy and using it to power forges, mills, and other industrial processes. In the process, they reversed the decline of Dynamo Hill's fortunes. Their success in this endeavor not only revolutionized their business but also set the foundation for an industrial empire.

The Partnership

The combination of Gobha’s mastery of metalwork and Ceàrd’s engineering genius was unstoppable. With the Dynamo Stones providing a virtually endless source of mechanical energy, the two men transformed their fledgling operation into a massive enterprise. They first used the energy to power local forges and mills, but soon, the applications expanded into mining and heavy industry. Gobha & Ceàrd became known for their ingenuity and quality, and demand for their machinery spread beyond the valley.

The partnership between the two was founded on mutual respect and a shared ambition to build something far greater than either could alone. Ceàrd’s machinery, powered by the Dynamo Stones, allowed them to scale production like never before, while Gobha ensured that the output met his exacting standards of quality and craftsmanship.

The Way of All Things

Though the partnership of Donal Gobha and Ciaran Ceàrd propelled their company to heights of industrial might, their sudden and tragic deaths left many questions unanswered. What began as an ambitious quest for new resources ended with the discovery of Arcanite—and the loss of the two men who built an empire.

The Final Expedition

In the years leading up to their deaths, Gobha and Ceàrd grew increasingly obsessed with expanding their industrial reach. They believed there were untapped resources hidden deep within the wilderness of the Hoedenheim Territory. Their suspicions were fueled by tales of strange mineral deposits in the region, rumored to hold immense, untapped power. Armed with their engineering prowess and determination, they embarked on an expedition, hoping to secure the future of their company.

Their journey took them far into uncharted territory, where they made a monumental discovery: Arcanite, a rare and volatile mineral with the potential to revolutionize industry and technology. This discovery, though groundbreaking, came at a great cost.

The Tragedy

According to the few survivors who returned, the team’s attempts to extract the Arcanite triggered a catastrophic collapse in the caverns where it was found. Whether it was a landslide or the unstable nature of the mineral itself that caused the disaster, both Gobha and Ceàrd were killed instantly. The survivors reported that a sudden surge of energy from the Arcanite caused a cascade of destruction, overwhelming their efforts to escape.

The official report described the deaths as an unfortunate accident, citing the dangers of exploring new frontiers. However, rumors spread quickly throughout the valley. Some whispered that Arcanite’s magical properties were too unstable for safe extraction, while others suspected sabotage by rivals eager to exploit the mineral for their own gain.

The Aftermath

Despite the tragic outcome, the discovery of *Arcanite reshaped the future of Gobha & Ceàrd in particular, and of the Dynamo Valley en large. With the founders gone, control of the company passed to their estates and was soon taken over by the newly formed Board of Masters. These powerful figures oversaw the company’s operations, continuing to mine and develop technologies around Arcanite, which became a cornerstone of the company’s future.

Though Gobha and Ceàrd never lived to see the full impact of their discovery, their names are forever tied to the rise of the Arcanite age. The tragic expedition that claimed their lives also unlocked a new era of industrial power, leaving their legacy etched in both the company and the landscape of the Dynamo Valley.

Legacy and Expansion

As their company grew, Gobha & Ceàrd solidified their place as the dominant industrial force in the region. The Dynamo Stones remained central to their success, providing an endless source of energy that fueled their continued expansion. As new technologies emerged, they adapted and evolved, using the foundation laid by the Dynamo Stones to pioneer innovations in mining, manufacturing, and even aerospace.