Who Is Horwich Cobbleberry?

Horwich Cobbleberry might be the most self-assured halfling to grace the Swindle & Swine.

Every Darkest Day, the hamlet of Pondaroak waits with bated breath to see if this audacious, well-dressed character will live to tempt fate again.

For seventeen years, he’s strutted into the inn, Keening Cup in hand, like the star of his show, delivering grand speeches and weaving tall tales about his adventurous ancestors.

He’s more than just a crowd-pleaser — Horwich embodies the spirit of a halfling who lives for the limelight. With a flashy dinner jacket, burgundy waistcoat, and silk lime-green ascot, he commands attention with his attire and confidence.

But Horwich’s tradition isn’t just about fun; he dabbles with danger, downing a drink from the Keening Cup. In the story, the Keening Cup is a mysterious and foreboding relic passed down through the Cobbleberry family for generations. Crafted from the wood of a blackthorn tree that grew over a witch’s grave, this cup is said to be cursed. It’s a central tradition for Horwich Cobbleberry, who uses it yearly in his annual toast on the Darkest Day.

Legend has it that drinking from the Keening Cup can summon a banshee — a wailing spirit who reveals how the drinker will die in the coming year. If the banshee does not appear, it’s taken as a sign that the drinker is safe from death for another year. To Horwich, this ritual is a bit of harmless fun — a way to show off his bravado and impress the townsfolk of Pondaroak. He’s convinced that nothing supernatural will happen despite the cup’s dark origins.

However, Elina Hogsbreath, the innkeeper, isn’t so sure. She sees Horwich’s ritual as a dangerous flirtation with forces beyond his control. Her concerns prove valid when the cup seemingly fulfills its grim legend, leaving Horwich with a terrifying vision of his mortality. The Keening Cup serves as both a literal and symbolic reminder that some traditions are best left untouched, especially when they tempt fate.

Horwich scoffs at the superstition, convinced he’s invincible. To him, it’s all a bit of harmless excitement — a means to charm and entertain his fellow villagers.

Yet, beneath the showy exterior, Horwich’s bravado may mask a more profound vulnerability. Elina Hogsbreath, the innkeeper, seems to sense the folly of his antics. She knows that when you play with the supernatural, there’s a chance it’ll answer back. Whether Horwich will ever take her warnings seriously remains to be seen, but as long as he’s breathing, you can bet he’ll return, ascot and all, to raise that cup high for another year.

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Who is Hevroth Bloodgrog?

Hevroth Bloodgrog is a fictional character described in the Gammond Brandyford story, Eyes of Memory.

He’s depicted as an imposing, legendary dwarf with a rich backstory and significant cultural importance to dwarven culture within Aevalorn Tales.

Rest assured, I plan on writing more dwarven stories one day, but here’s the rundown.

Legendary Figure

Hevroth Bloodgrog is celebrated as a master builder, warrior, and the earthly son of the goddess Berronar Truesilver. His life is marked by extraordinary feats of bravery, knowledge of metallurgy, and acts of wartime heroism. He is revered for his physical strength and skill as a blacksmith and his sacrifices, including severing his arm to support a mountain and protect the dwarven people from landslides. In fact, in the story, I have him overlooking the sea as if he were solely responsible for warding against erosion of their mountain home.

Bronze Statue

In the story, Hevroth is represented as an eight-foot-tall bronze statue wielding a blacksmith's hammer, with his left arm ending in a stump. This statue, located in a sanctuary on the side of a cliff overlooking the sea, guards his people's memories and history. The statue's empty black eyes and detailed description of its appearance contribute to Hevroth's reverence as a protector.

Symbol of Dwarven Ideals

Hevroth embodies the ideals of strength, skill, and sacrifice central to dwarven culture in the story. His life's work, including the construction of Bhanboldihr and his legendary acts, are celebrated and remembered through stories, the statue, and the runes engraved around the sanctuary.

For me, the name Bloodgrog should strike up an image of a bloody brew sloshing about in a tankard . Fairly fitting for a dwarven hero, wouldn’t you say?

Catalyst for the Adventure

The quest to reach Hevroth's statue and uncover the Eyes of Memory drives the main characters, Gammond and Vongur, on their adventure. Hevroth's legacy and the magical aspects of his statue play a pivotal role in the story, providing a physical and spiritual journey for the characters seeking to connect with their past and discover their true identities.

Through these aspects, Hevroth Bloodgrog is a complex figure within the narrative, symbolizing the depth of dwarf culture and the importance of legacy, sacrifice, and determination.

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