Gwynfaraleth Bolverk

Name: Gwynfaraleth Bolverk

Age: 31

Race: Zora

Gender: Male

Place of Origin: Eastern Sea

P5/W1/C3

Rupees: 5

Treasures:

Unusual Background (Racial)

Ore Trade (Unusual Background)

Outfitter Lvl. 2 (50 Rupees)

Helm Splitter (20 Rupees)

Jabber Nut (25 Rupees)

Superpusher (Holiday Moblin)

Height: 6’0

Weight: 192 pounds

Equipment: Warhammer, plate armour, smithing tools, bow, quiver.

Residence: Gwyn and his wife live in a coastal villa overlooking the Eastern Sea. This comfortable home was one of many erected when the Subrosians of House Bolverk decided to settle the area.

Pet: Not applicable. Nothing from the surface could survive among Gwyn’s Subrosian relatives for long, and nothing from Subrosia could comfortably exist in Hyrule.

Appearance:

*

Hardened by years of toil at his father-in-law’s forge, Gwyn is a physically imposing Zora, possessing a wider frame than many of his seafaring kin. His chest is broad, his arms are corded with muscle, and he hefts the mighty smithing hammers of his chosen profession with ease. As if to underscore his resilience, Gwyn’s scales (which are predominantly white, except for around his abdomen, where they are dark blue) are marred by a loose collection of scorch marks and scar tissue, none of which seem to bother him much. However, the extreme heat and pollution generated by his workplace have had a profound negative impact upon his amphibious physiology: He has been rendered unable to breathe underwater as he once could, and is prone to occasional coughing fits.

In contrast to his craggy physique, Gwyn has a relatively handsome face, with predominantly smooth features. Like most of his kind, he has jet black eyes, though he has a habit of squinting due to his constant proximity to bright light. A thin moustache that closely resembles a catfish’s whiskers can be found drooping from just above his mouth; he grooms this facial hair with immaculate care and is rather proud of it.

When it comes to clothing, Gwyn is almost always garbed in a comically large set of green Subrosian robes, regardless of the climate. This garment was lovingly knit by his wife to symbolize his adoption into her family, and he proudly wears it as proof of her affection. During his shifts at the forge, he typically adds an iron mask to the outfit, to deflect any errant sparks from the furnaces away from his head. While he usually wears thick gloves due to his line of work, he is never seen without his coral wedding ring, which is adorned by a strikingly red ore chunk. This ring is one of a pair fashioned by Gwyn himself, the other belonging to his wife. Considering himself retired from the adventuring life, Gwyn does not actively seek out battle, but whenever he or his family are threatened, he does not hesitate to don a suit of plate armour of his own design, custom-made from the strongest metals Subrosia has to offer.

*A big thanks to Inky for this stupendous art of Gwyn!

Personality:

Underneath his rough exterior, Gwyn is a surprisingly chivalrous man, almost knightly in his mannerisms. He is kind to others, fair in his business dealings, and usually willing to lend a hand to those in need. The unusual nature of his marriage has taught him that every race has something unique to offer, and that nobody should be discriminated against because of their species. Individuals who express such bigoted views quickly find themselves unwelcome in his shop. Similarly, he despises people who use an elevated social status as an excuse to look down on others or push them around, and will withhold his services from those he deems to be particularly tyrannical blue bloods.

Above all else, Gwyn is best defined as a man of passion; a man who pours his heart into all of his pursuits. His dedication to his craft is surpassed only by his devotion to his wife, whom he loves dearly. To him, nothing is better than a day of hard, honest work followed by a return to his spouse’s embrace. While their vastly differing biologies preclude more intimate gestures of affection, Gwyn considers his relationship with his wife to be all the purer for it. He instead channels his romantic energies into supporting his wife’s business, striving to become the best blacksmith he can be. Already he has learned much of the art from his Subrosian mentors, but the greatest secrets of House Bolverk’s forging techniques remain hidden to him, a fact he hopes to rectify in the near future.

However, despite promising his wife that he will never again venture out to sea, Gwyn’s eyes often wander in the direction of the ocean. In his heart, he secretly yearns for adventure, recalling the days of his youth when he leapt boldly into battle against evildoers for glory and wealth. Of course, his marriage and career always come first, as he proudly maintains, but if presented with an opportunity to acquire rare ores or to combat a great injustice, Gwyn can be enticed to temporarily offer his warhammer to a cause.

Biography:

As the last of his clutch to hatch, Gwynfaraleth always felt that he had something to prove. Standing out was difficult enough with five siblings, but the young Zora also had to compete with his parents’ businesses for attention. His father, a Zora merchant with a penchant for weaving grand tall tales about the origins of his mundane goods, was primarily concerned with running his shop, while his mother, an aspiring bard, was often called away to perform at venues far from home. It would be unfair to call them neglectful parents, especially Gwyn’s mother, who made every effort to sing lullabies to her children each night, but Gwyn and his siblings were ultimately forced to occupy themselves after their daily chores were complete.

Left to his own devices, Gwyn set about distinguishing himself from his peers by immersing himself in the time-honoured pastime of mock battle. Drawing inspiration from his father’s sensational stories and his mother’s heroic ballads, the boy fashioned a toy sword from a piece of coral and challenged his brothers to duels. Driven as he was, Gwyn bested them all easily, and when they were no longer worthy opponents, he turned his eyes toward the other children of his neighbourhood. The harsh Eastern Sea bred hardened Zoras, and Gwyn’s future playmates were no exception. He found many kindred spirits among them, and while his rambunctiousness made him unpopular with adults, his exploits in their juvenile melees won him respect. In particular, he established a reputation of being strong but kind; one moment, he would beat his foes to a pulp, the next, he would help them to their feet and congratulate them on a good fight.

Gwyn’s interest in swordplay persisted into his adolescent years, and soon he yearned to practice with real weapons. Appropriating two armaments from his father’s inventory, a sword the old Zora claimed had been forged in a furnace stoked by the fiery breath of the dragon Valoo and a bow supposedly strung by a strand of a mermaid’s hair, the youth began to sneak out in the wee hours of the night to spar with his friends. Normally, this would have earned him a stern reprimand from his parents, both for tampering with his father’s merchandise and for slipping out of the house without permission, but the theft and his subsequent midnight escapades went unnoticed. Their results, however, did not. Cuts, bruises… and bulging muscles. When questioned about these curious developments, Gwyn passed them off as the logical result of lifting heavy stock in the shop’s storerooms.

It was only natural that when Gwyn came of age, he would not take up his father’s mantle, choosing instead to cast it aside in favour of a mercenary career. Finding the inherent dishonesty of his parent’s profession distasteful, Gwyn joined forced with his childhood friends, and together they formed a company of sellswords. Dubbing themselves “The Whirlpool Warriors” and loudly proclaiming that they were a new order of knights sworn to protect the Eastern Sea, they set out into the world.

Tales of their deeds soon spread far and wide. Their reputation was mixed; some said that they were a valiant band of heroes who truly lived up to their boasting, others angrily named them troublemakers who caused more problems than they solved. What was certain, however, was that the Whirlpool Warriors were successful, due in no small part to their excellent teamwork and coordination. Each member was keenly aware of his comrades’ strengths and weaknesses, ready to step in to assist his allies at a moment’s notice. Casualties were rare, and new recruits flocked to join their ranks. Gwyn himself could often be seen at the forefront of the group’s battles, carving into monsters and outlaws alike with wild abandon. He grew stronger with every victory, and he would later look back fondly on his time with the Whirlpool Warriors, believing it to be the height of his adventuring days.

Gwyn’s happiest memory, however, would be the day he met his wife, an event only loosely related to the Whirlpool Warriors.

One sunny afternoon, in Gwyn’s twenty-fifth year, he and his companions chanced upon a merchant ship under attack by a pirate vessel bearing the colours of the Forsaken Fortress. Crewed by vile Miniblin corsairs lusting after plunder, the pirate frigate had ventured far from home, its captain hoping to find easy marks adrift at sea. Quickly deciding to intervene, the Whirlpool Warriors swam over to the hull of the merchant ship and cast their trusty grappling hooks aboard. Gwyn, who had been assigned to the rear guard, was the last do so.

Just as he began to climb, however, he heard a high-pitched scream and saw a small bundle of orange robes pitch over the ship’s railing and plunge into the sea below. Thinking a child had been tossed overboard, Gwyn dived back into the water without hesitation. Paddling furiously, he made his way to the diminutive figure, scooped it into his arms, and hoisted it over his shoulders before resuming his attempt to board the ship. The cloth of the child’s robes was uncomfortably warm against his scales, but he paid it no mind in his rush to rejoin the fight.

Meanwhile, above deck, the rest of the Whirlpool Warriors were treated to an amazing sight: The crew of the trade vessel was entirely composed of the strange robed race known as Subrosians, and they were proving to be rather adept fighters despite their size, slaughtering their Miniblin foes with ease. Not to be outdone, the Zora mercenaries charged into the fray with a resounding cry, and soon the pirates had all been put to the sword. By the time Gwyn arrived on the scene, the fighting was virtually over. As he gently laid his passenger down, he realized with a start that it was not a child he had fished out of the water, but another Subrosian, its robes utterly soaked by its brush with the ocean. Although the Zora was completely unfamiliar with the inhabitants of Subrosia, he could tell it was unconscious, and didn’t seem to be breathing. He was about to call for help when suddenly three of the Subrosians descended upon him. Two were dressed in green robes, while one wore an exquisite blue robe with a crown made of ore fastened around the hood.

Without warning, the green Subrosians seized their fallen kin and rapidly spirited it below decks, while the blue-clad Subrosian prostrated itself before Gwyn and, to his great surprise, began to speak in the Hyrulean tongue with perfect fluency. Introducing itself as Forgemaster Bolverk, the Subrosian thanked Gwyn profusely and insisted he was forever in his debt. When asked why, he elaborated.

Apparently, the Subrosians aboard the ship belonged to House Bolverk, a Subrosian smithing conglomerate headed by the influential Bolverk family. They had departed their underground homeland via the Subrosian Glacier a few weeks ago, seeking to establish a lucrative trade route between Subrosia and Hyrule. Because of the risky nature of the undertaking, Master Bolverk and many of his blood-relatives had accompanied the expedition to improve morale and ensure everything went smoothly. Among these direct relations was the Subrosian Gwyn had rescued, who was none other than the patriarch’s own daughter and heir: Lady Brina Bolverk herself! The Forgemaster explained that being submerged in water was fatal to Subrosians- Gwyn’s selfless act had saved Brina from certain death.

Stunned into silence by the revelation of Brina’s identity, Gwyn shuffled about awkwardly, even as his friends congratulated him and the Subrosians showered him with gifts. The impact of his heroism weighed on his mind; had he acted mere seconds later than he had, Brina would have met an untimely end, tearing House Bolverk asunder. Feeling somewhat responsible for the girl he had pulled from the jaws of death, Gwyn inquired about her recovery, but her father shook his head and said she would likely be bedridden for days.

As it turned out, however, this suited the Zoras just fine. Fearing the possibility of another encounter with seafaring brigands, House Bolverk hired the Whirlpool Warriors to escort them to the coast, willing to pay handsomely in rupees due to their odd practice of using ore chunks as currency. The sellswords cheered, celebrating their good fortune and toasting Gwyn’s bravery, but the man himself quietly withdrew from the proceedings to brood. He was proud of what he’d done, and would have done it again in a heartbeat. But what if Brina died despite his efforts? He wasn’t sure his conscience could bear the guilt.

Three long, uneventful days went by as Gwyn nervously awaited Brina’s awakening.

At last, the door to the Forgemaster’s cabin creaked open, and there stood Brina Bolverk, easily identifiable by her regal orange robes and the intricate purple ribbon tied around her hood. She was, of course, quite eager to meet her saviour, and when Gwyn was pointed out to her, she immediately rushed to embrace him. Like her father, she had mastered the Hyrulean language, putting it to good use as she heaped every compliment imaginable upon him. She expressed amazement that, in her own words, such a wonderful man could come from the depths of the sea, which she now feared and hated. In the face of this overwhelming gratitude, Gwyn couldn’t help but be charmed by the girl’s earnest manner, and he declared he was simply glad that she was safe. This pleased Brina, and she asked if they might get to know each other better in private. To Gwyn’s ears, it seemed a cavalier request, but the innocence of her bluntness assured him that her intentions were completely pure, and so he acquiesced.

From that moment onward, things would never be the same again for the young Zora. Retreating to the solitude of Brina’s personal quarters, Gwyn and the Subrosian woman talked. They talked about their lives and families, swapping stories about their respective backgrounds. Brina told him of Subrosia, its customs, and the strange beasts that lurked within the magma of the underground realm. Gwyn told her of previous jobs, his boyhood antics, as well as of life beneath the waves. They spoke throughout the day and well into the night, bonding over their similarly mercantile upbringings. They repeated this pattern the following day, and the day after that. Gwyn had no idea why, but conversing with Brina came naturally to him, as if he had known her his entire life. She was intelligent, exotic, and entertaining. Her laugh was like music, and her genuine interest in his culture was flattering. Finding no words to describe what he felt for Brina, Gwyn decided that he was very fond of her. For the remainder of the voyage, the two were inseparable, never seen far from the company of the other save for when they retired for the evening to sleep.

When the Subrosian ship finally reached its destination and it came time for them to part ways, Gwyn did so reluctantly, promising Brina that he would come to visit her as often as he could, before vanishing back into the ocean with a lingering sense of melancholy.

And visit he did. The Subrosians constructed a trading post atop the cliffs overlooking the seas, a short distance from the town of Mido, making it a trivial matter for the worldly Zora to locate them. Over the next three years, Gwyn became a frequent guest at House Bolverk’s newest outpost, using up every excuse in the book and even some that weren’t to justify dropping by whenever he had spare time. Brina was always delighted to see him, and Gwyn continued to spend long hours discussing a wide variety of subjects with her, until one day it suddenly occurred to him that he had fallen hopelessly in love with the Subrosian girl, despite, or perhaps because of, her race. Soon he could think of nothing else but being by her side, and his combat performance began to suffer. The Whirlpool Warriors, sympathetic to his plight, ignored this for a time, yet when it became clear that Gwyn was no longer interested in being an active member of the company, his friends confronted him. Torn between his duties and his heart, Gwyn polled them for an answer.

To a man, they told him to follow his heart.

While many of the Whirlpool Warriors mourned the subsequent departure of one of their finest, Gwyn was confident he had made the correct choice, his resolve renewed by his companions’ advice. He would win Brina’s love, or die trying.

Yet the now ex-mercenary did not immediately travel to the Subrosian colony, wanting to prove the sincerity of his affection to his beloved. To do so, he would need two objects: A jabber nut and a ring. Luckily, he had a good idea of where he might find both. For the first time since he had left with his friends so long ago, Gwyn returned home.

He found that not much had changed. His father was still peddling his junk to gullible travelers, only now he had several assistants in the form of Gwyn’s siblings. Their reunion was predictably brief. Gwyn’s father, embittered, barely recognized his own son. His mother, while pleased to see him, was confused by the sudden nature of his return after so long an absence. Gwyn, however, was all-business, in no mood for his family’s platitudes. He declared that he wished to purchase a jabber nut and two of the shiniest ore chunks in his father’s collection, and that he would pay a hefty sum for each. Deflecting any questions as to what purpose such an odd assortment of items could possibly serve, Gwyn handed over a sizable portion of his freelance earnings. His father’s eyes practically bulged out of his head, and he wasted no time in retrieving the requested treasures. Pocketing these valuables, Gwyn bid his relatives farewell and turned to leave, but as his hand rested on the doorknob, a wave of his childhood mischievousness came back to him. Whirling around, he announced that he was to be married, taking a moment to savour his family’s incredulous expressions before fleeing the shop for good.

Popping the jabber nut into his mouth, Gwyn then set to work on his next task. Using a piece of coral as a base, Gwyn fashioned a ring, using one of the exquisite ore chunks as the centerpiece. The final result turned out nicely, and he repeated the process with the second ore chunk to create a wedding band for himself. As he surveyed his handiwork, he mused that the combination of coral and ore made for a fitting symbol of the merging of two cultures. His preparations complete, Gwyn swam with all haste toward the coast, every second seeming like an eternity to the lovestruck Zora.

Upon his arrival at the Subrosian settlement, scarcely a half-minute had passed before Brina came running out the gates to meet him, brimming with joy like always. Pulling her aside the moment they were left unsupervised, Gwyn swallowed deeply and knelt, the moment of truth at hand. In her own language, he confessed his love for her, and asked if she would do him the honour of granting him her hand in marriage. Normally, Subrosians are inscrutable at the best of times, but as Brina leapt into his arms and nearly knocked him over, Gwyn knew that victory was his. Still clinging to the Zora, the robed maiden nodded, too overcome with happiness to even speak. When she finally mustered the composure to answer, Brina accepted his proposal and hurried off to tell her father the news.

Pacing to and fro, Gwyn anxiously awaited the Forgemaster’s reply, worried that matters of tradition and inheritance would keep him from obtaining the Subrosian elder’s consent. In fact, he had come fully prepared to elope with Brina in secret, not counting on her unflinching devotion to her family. All these fears proved groundless, however, when Brina’s father burst into the room and embraced his new son-in-law, granting the marriage his blessings. Subrosian culture placed a great deal of value on directness; Gwyn’s bold proposal was met with widespread approval by the majority of House Bolverk. Besides, the Forgemaster added slyly, Brina’s feelings for Gwyn had been so obvious, he was surprised the Zora had even needed to ask. Grinning sheepishly, Gwyn pledged his loyalty to House Bolverk and his eternal love to Brina, knowing that in doing so, he would have to forsake life in the oceans forever. He did not care.

In the days that followed, Gwyn and Brina were wed in a lavish ceremony involving wild dancing and the copious consumption of lava soup. Although the customs of Subrosia were often baffling, Gwyn took it all in stride, apprenticing himself to House Bolverk’s blacksmiths to support their endeavours. What he lacked in raw talent, he made up for in other areas: Helping the Subrosians adapt to the climate, cooking meals, and acting as a face to the general public, who sometimes found it difficult to relate to the Subrosians. His contributions eventually earned him the respect of even the most stubborn of House Bolverk’s retainers.

Two years passed as Gwyn honed his skills at smithing. The Subrosians made a modest living selling high-quality metalwork to the rest of Hyrule, and the construction of Port Mido was a great boon to House Bolverk, opening up profitable new trade routes. Above all else, Gwyn and Brina were happy. He worked hard at the forge, she managed their finances. While the clear view of the sea occasionally made Gwyn feel nostalgic about his days with the Whirlpool Warriors, he remembered what his mother had once said about marriage: That it was just the beginning of a whole new adventure.

Little did he realize just how literal her words would be, at least in his case…

Notable NPCs:

-Brina Bolverk: Gwyn’s Subrosian wife. A kind woman, but a ruthless merchant. She has an excellent head for numbers, and is a skilled administrator. She usually wears an extravagant orange robe topped with a purple ribbon.

Rupee History:

Holiday Moblin 2015: Superpusher

As per the changes to the crafting system, Gwyn's two levels in Blacksmithing have been converted into levels in Outfitter.

Update upon promotion to Veteran: +1 Courage.