Thuldon Rockspitter

Discovery in the Temple

A prisoner in Room 20: Temple, manacled to the wall and stabilized but unconscious. He revives with basic care and quickly asks for steel and water. All six human captives who shared his chains have been sacrificed; Thuldon was next until the PCs intervened.

Stolen gear (to be found among the orcs): dwarf-sized chain mail, anvil-shield, fine hand axe, and the winged, wide-horn helm—all Thuldon’s. He is profoundly grateful for their return.

Background & Current Course

• 570 CY: Leaves the Lortmils seeking the lost citadel of Ulthak-Nor, ancestral seat of Clan Rockhall. The surface citadel changed hands for 500 years, but no dwarf has walked those smooth granite floors in living memory.
• Wandering Years: Six hard years hunting rumors across the Lortmils and Kron Hills. Ambushed by a warband; woke in chains in the Suel Temple.
• Rescued: Owes the party (or Lady Asbury’s agents) his life and chooses Asbury as the place to plant his anvil.
• Now: Smith for Baroness Elinor Asbury. She offers a charter—after four years’ service and apprentice-training, the forge becomes his by right.

Muttered truth: “I’ve always wanted to be my own master.” He means it. He’ll accompany the PCs back to Asbury, work, and pay his debt in steel.

At House Asbury

• Role: Town armorer; repairs militia kit; forges tools, hinges, nails; saves coin for a gift—a mail shirt “like none she’s imagined” for Lady Elinor Asbury.
• Obligation: 4 years bound by charter to train apprentices (including Cito, son of Thoma). Duty first; wanderlust second.

Family & Clan

• Father: Thornblade Rockspitter, elder of Clan Rockhall, priest of Moradin, head of the 4th House of Ulthak-Nor.
• Home: The Lortmil Mountains; clan halls scattered; Ulthak-Nor (lost city) remains the Rockspitter dream.

Social / Relationship Web

• Thornblade Rocksplitter (Father & Clan Leader — Vital): Proud, stern, expects deeds worthy of the forge.
• Thuldon Rockspitter (Eldest Son — Important): Honest 5/5; torn between clan duty and a life he’s building.
• Gelten (young dwarf, 63): Met in Verbobonc City while buying steel. First apprentice at Asbury—prefers soft metals & ornament. Thuldon supports her path; she will travel with the PCs to Rockhall if asked.

What He Knows (temple intel)

• The far relief behind the altar hides a hollow flame-tile latch (see Room 20 notes vents and a handwheel sit in a narrow maintenance niche.
• Orcs typically assemble in about an hour for rites.
• The temple honors Pyremius beneath Gruumsh’s blasphemy.

Using Thuldon in Play

Roleplaying Cues

• Plainspoken, practical; touches every tool before he speaks.
• Calls the party “masters” until corrected; warms quickly to oaths kept.
• One-liners:
• “A clean edge and a kept word—that’s civilization.”
• “I’ll pay my debt in iron.”
• “If there’s a way through, it’s through stone.”

Table Stats (quick)

• Unarmed helper: use Commoner (0 gp wage, better as torch/lever duty).
• Re-equipped smith-guard: use Guard with dwarf flavor: AC 18 (chain + shield), HP 11, Speed 25 ft, Battleaxe +4 (1d8+2); advantage on saves vs. poison/frightened when within 10 ft of an ally (Stone-Stubborn perk).

Asbury Arc Hooks

1. Forge of Her Own — Deliver Thuldon safely; Lady Elinor’s charter ceremony grants PCs free basic repairs in town and a discount (10%) on mundane metalwork.
2. Apprentice Troubles — Cito and Gelten clash over technique; a minor social quest resolves into new tool proficiencies or a custom trinket.
3. Rockhall Envoys — Thuldon’s duties keep him put; he begs the party to carry a letter & gifts to his father in the Lortmils. Success earns clan hospitality and access to dwarven caches.

The Rockhall Thread (mini-campaign seed)

• Ask: Represent Thuldon to Clan Rockhall with a letter and gift; confirm his oath at Asbury and seek news of Ulthak-Nor.
• Why now: He’s homesick, but duty binds him. “Duty is the measure of a dwarf.”
• Promise: If the PCs take the road, Thuldon will outfit them: one masterwork (non-magical) metal item each, or a single suit of superior mail (advantage vs. rust/acid checks at DM’s option).

Rewards ladder (choose what fits your table)

• Return his gear: Thuldon’s lifelong discount (20%) on mundane metalwork; priority repairs.
• Deliver the letter safely: Clan token of Rockhall (advantage on Persuasion with Lortmil dwarves).
• Track a solid lead on Ulthak-Nor: Access to dwarven runesmith services (downtime: silvered weapons, adamantine fittings).