User:Thio/Arathanar Stouthammer

"The man's lived almost two centuries - most of which he's spent doing stupidly dangerous things - and he's still kicking. Say what you like about his competence as a leader, there's a dwarf that knows how to not die."
 * - Verric Morrenwell, regarding Stouthammer

Arathanar Stouthammer is the de facto leader of the Stouthammer Resistance, and a former Prospector of the Explorer's League.

Born a generation after the final War of the Three Hammers, Stouthammer rose to prominence in the Explorer's League's infancy, and was one of the founding members of the group during its induction into the Crown of Ironforge following the discoveries in Uldaman, shortly before the Third War. Remaining in Khaz Modan for much of that conflict, his knowledge of language found him assigned to the exploration of Kalimdor and the peaceful investigation of Horde culture.

The Scourgewar would see Stouthammer sent to the northlands to join the League in investigating the fabled Titan city of Ulduar. During his time there, his original position amongst the Horde was dissolved as a result of pressure from Stormwind following the Battle of the Wrathgate. Returning home to a changed Ironforge wracked with political turmoil, events would conspire to drive Stouthammer from his lifelong home and into open resistance against the Dark Iron.

Early Life
Born and raised in Thelsamar, Loch Modan, Arathanar Stouthammer spent the majority of his formative years exploring the Loch and the wilderness that surrounded it. Under the aging King Madoran Bronzebeard, no parallel existed to the comprehensive education that Ironforge now offers - to all her sons and daughters - through the League; the vast majority of dwarves were expected to maintain the same station and position as their parents.

Arathanar was no exception. During most of his childhood, it was generally accepted that he would follow his father in the art and practice of gem cutting - and, for a time, this was true. Arathanar was, however, at best, a merely competent jewelcrafter, and found himself plagued with doubt on the matter of his profession before upheaval in Ironforge would reshape his life.

Several decades into Stouthammer's adulthood, Madoran Bronzebeard passed away - and, not, as some suspected, peacefully. The ancient king's honorable memorial was mired with rumors of Dark Iron poisoning, Wildhammer assassination, or even a killer from within Clan Bronzebeard herself. The threat of a third War of the Three Hammers loomed over Khaz Modan as violence broke out not only abroad, but within the streets of Ironforge herself. Madoran's eldest son, Magni Bronzebeard, was, at the time, extremely reluctant to take the throne, resulting in a weak monarchy that did little to assuage the tensions mounting among the dwarves.

The result was the Senate of Ironforge - an uneasy compromise made between the quarreling factions of the ancient city; one that would allow for a wider group of dwarves to hold the reigns of power while the young king settled into his new role.

Joining the League
An unintended side effect of the Senate's existence, as well as the death of the long-ruling monarch that preceded it, was a gradual easing of Ironforge's more byzantine traditions - traditions that had only grown stronger during the xenophobia and paranoia that followed the War of the Three Hammers and the Breaking of Redridge.

One small band of dwarves - one that devoted itself to knowledge and exploration, rather than the accepted roles of mining and smithing - suddenly found itself tolerated (if not beloved) by the city of Ironforge. In time, knowledge of this adventurous throng would reach Arathanar's ears through the famed Samul Strangehands - a renowned stoneworker and gemcutter that also joined Munin and Tomli Magellas in forming the group - the group that would, eventually, be known as the Explorer's League.

Inducted into the League through the then-simple tradition of a night of ale at the Soggy Boots Inn in Ironforge, Arathanar left the confines of Khaz Modan for the first time in his life, journeying north across the Thandol Span to observe both the numerous human kingdoms of Lordaeron as well as Aerie Peak and Quel'thalas. Studying everything from Gilnean harvest witches to Quel'dorei arcanists, the dwarf developed a voracious appetite for language, quickly endeavoring to learn both Thalassian as well as the various regional dialects of Dwarven and Common.