Character
Portin
Dwarf of numbers and father of the Valerium program
Portin is a dwarf of Numbers, the second caste of Askenon: supported from birth to death and never allowed to enjoy it. He has a perfect memory and has memorized half of the great library of Kaz'Nakaram.
Valerium first broke him. His early research ended in a nervous collapse, followed by ten years without speech and a retreat into tax calculations. The metal promised weapons that could erase hills and shields that could withstand magic, but its behavior resisted even dwarven mathematics.
He returned to it during the trade mission to Cerberus. Vlad Varanov slaughtered the dwarven crew and imprisoned Portin, Valin, and Prince Merenin. After their escape, Portin completed the Valerium cannon whose calculations he had never dared to finish. Merenin carved two runes into iron; Portin forged them into the weapon and armor used against the vampire.
That cannon became the foundation of Askenon's weapons program. Galleon artillery, portable cannons, Barrier generators, runic armor, and the master-vessels built for the war against the Ark all came from Portin's work. When Merenin opened Askenar's sealed workshop, he entrusted Portin with the unfinished sword on its forge. Portin completed the blade with Askenar's own hammer. No living smith can make another.
Portin and Valin designed the invasion of Sylla around one calculation: destroy the great aqueducts and the Partage would stop feeding the Ark. On the first day, Portin's master-vessels fired through Daviau Morin's invisibility and broke the network. Every priest, paladin, and inquisitor in the Ark lost access to fresh divine mana.
His latest work began as another violation of his caste. After Sobiesansky's defeat, Valin gave him research stolen from the alchemist's laboratory and forced him to continue it. Within months, Portin used traces of Valerium and remains recovered from the Underdark to build the first Psychic implants. The Granitefist monks survived them, creating the first Monks of Kaz'Nakaram.
He still seeks the social algorithm that would tell him when accepting a gift is appropriate.