Nathan Truestrike

Dwarven Master of the Forge

Nathan of the dwarven Truestrike clan will be remembered throughout history for creating The Incar, commonly called Soul Metal. The creation of true life by a dwarven forger not part of the Great Dwarven Clans is the spark that caused the Brothers War nearly drove the dwarves to extinction.

• Time Period: Firstborn War
• Family:

  • Clan: Truestrike oathbound Blackfist Clan

Nathan had a gift for the forge and while he had no access to a Living Forge, he very quickly mastered the most simple forms of Runic Magic. However, while other forgers advanced he was incapable of mastering the more complex forms of the magic and soon found himself limited to helping out the new apprentices. When the dwarves from the Great Clans would come to the Truestrike clan, Nathan was never allowed to show his work. He was truly gifted and his work fetched a exceptional price, but without skill in the more difficult runes he was limited to very simplistic work.

Everything changed after he came back from a trip to repair some tools from a mine a few days travel from his clanhold. On the way back he encountered a deadly snowstorm that forced him to seek shelter in a small crevice. The ground was unstable and he fell into a deep shaft. The shaft was so dark that even dwarven eyes could not penetrate the blackness.

He stumbled around, but fell even deeper into the earth. Fearing his life was lost he suddenly saw a vision of the Earthmother. She unlocked within him the potential to use his gifts fully and sent him safely back to his clan. Three weeks later he stumbled back into the clanhold carrying nothing but the rags on his back. Nobody would believe his tale, but instead the Master of the Forge beat him for losing the equipment.

Within the year everyone's opinion changed. He mastered runes that not even the Master of the Forge could accomplish and at the next conclave was named the Master of the Forge for the Truestrike clan. Still, it was his final work that set the world on fire. He created Soul Metal. Small living bits of metal that would eat magic and once filled they would produce another of their kind. This was beyond anything, even the greatest Masters of the Living Forges could not accomplish.

Each Grandmaster demanded Nathan join their clan, but he refused. He saw the greed in their eyes and preferred to stay the Master of his own forge. Eventually the claims of each greater clan became attempts to kidnap Nathan. This finally led to all out war among the clans. Armies of dwarves arrived outside the clanhold and demanded that Nathan surrender to them. Those armies fought among themselves and the Truestrike clan was killed, along with Nathan.

In the ruins of Firock Stronghold Nathan Truestrike labors. The Earthmother blessed this most pious craftsman with the one-time gift of life. What should have been rejoiced instead tainted the souls of her children. Nathan, rescued from this horror by her most fervent followers, remains alone in free from the darkness that grips the dwarves.

In these once hallowed halls he wanders, his mind shattered by the horror of what he believes he created. He labors tirelessly to clean and rebuild the stronghold. Begging forgiveness from his creator for a sin he never committed - he labors instead to cleanse the sin of his brethren.

The Earthmother weeps for him - her blessed child.

Th Truestrike clan was wiped out completely in the Brothers War. While there are still dwarves legends that Nathan actually found an eighth (8th) Living Forge where he created the original Soul Metal, it has never been found. Some belief that Nathan and the surviving members of his clan work the forge waiting for the time when the dwarves have been forgiven.