Barrick Ironstone
Barrick Ironstone
Introduction
Before joining the army, Barrick Ironstone was apprenticed to his uncle Frideric where he honed his physical strength and took up the worship of Gond, god of craft and smithing. Just before joining the army, Barrick forged his flail and shield under his uncle’s tutelage. They were no work of art, but the link to his family and village has infused these items with sentimental value.
Barrick joined the Calishite Campaign with Hugh as a member of the infantry where he trained with his new flail and shield. Barrick honed his fighting skills, learning not just to overpower his opponents, but to anticipate their moves and exploit their weaknesses. His training sergeant assigned him to Scout Group Sling with Hugh.
Barrick is incredibly close to his half-brother Hugh. They grew up together, trained together when they joined the army, and Barrick still prefers to guard his brother’s flank.
Barrick is overall quiet and reserved in his manner, only really opening up with his family. He’s protective of his “little brother” Hugh - and the horrors of war have only made Barrick more so over the last few years.
Background
Saddlestone
Barrick grew up in the quiet hamlet of Saddlestone, raised by his mother Damia, her brother Frideric and her parents. Damia and Mara were childhood friends - they both encouraged a strong lifelong bond between Barrick and Hugh. Damia always encouraged Barrick to watch out for “his little brother” Hugh.
As Barrick grew older, questions about his father were met with stubborn silence from Damia, who refused to answer any questions about Barrick’s father. She would only acknowledge that Barrick and Hugh were half-brothers, and she promised to tell Barrick more about his father “when he was older.” Like Hugh, Barrick imagined their dad to be a great hero.
When Barrick came of age, Damia arranged for Barrick to be apprenticed to her brother Frideric, the local blacksmith, where he honed his physical prowess, and took up the worship of Gond, god of craft, smithing, and inventiveness.
Unknown to Barrick, his father Vance Thornfield, during the first night of the week-long harvest festival at “The Foal and Barrel”, had raped his mother, but then secured her silence with a combination of threats against her family and a few silver pieces. Barrick was born 9 months later, days before Mara gave birth to Hugh. Damia, thinking that her dearest friend Mara seemed to love Vance, never told anyone about him - she kept her silence until the day she died. Damia was murdered when Barrick was 16 years old - a murder still unsolved to this day.
After Hugh and his mother Mara laid Cedric to rest, Barrick joined Hugh that evening for a drink at The Foal and Barrel. When Hugh resolved to take the green, Barrick resolved to join him - his little brother would need his help.
The Calishite Campaign
In the army, Barrick eventually caught the eye of a gruff but skilled veteran soldier, the Battle Master [[Sevestre]] who recognized Barrick’s potential and took him under his wing. Under the old warrior’s tutelage, Barrick honed his fighting skills, learning not just to overpower his opponents, but to anticipate their moves and exploit their weaknesses.