Hilma Grunden

Hilma Grunden was born into the thriving mining settlement of Khaz-Thorin, nestled deep within what is now the Dragonbone Mountains where her family had worked the stone for seven generations. She inherited her mother's strength and her father's skill with a blade, becoming one of the settlement's most respected defenders and a master of the forge. For thirty years, she lived contentedly among her kin, crafting weapons, raising fortifications, and participating in the sacred rituals that bound her community together. Everything changed during the Great Culling, when an army of human raiders descended upon the mountains with torches and steel. The attack was swift and merciless; Hilma fought desperately to protect her neighbors, but the humans vastly outnumbered the settlement's defenders. By the time the invaders withdrew, Khaz-Thorin lay in ruins, its halls flooded with ash and its people scattered or slain. Hilma emerged from the rubble as the only survivor. She marks her face with soot and shaved her beard in remembrance of that terrible day. She chose not to flee to other dwarven strongholds, fearing that the humans might pursue her people further, and instead claimed the high peaks as her domain, becoming a solitary sentinel of the mountains. The twin axes she now carries were forged from the melted-down weapons of fallen humans, a constant reminder of her purpose and her rage. Years of isolation have hardened her into a woman of few words, her dark eyes perpetually shadowed with grief and fury, though she maintains a rigid code of honor in her rare dealings with travelers. She trades grudgingly with those who venture into her territory, not out of kindness but out of necessity and a disciplined refusal to become the savage beast the humans made her to be. Hilma survives, she endures, and she waits—for justice or vengeance, she no longer distinguishes between the two.

Strength

20, modifier 5

Dexterity

14, modifier 2

Constitution

20, modifier 5

Intelligence

10, modifier 0

Wisdom

12, modifier 1

Charisma

8, modifier -1

Double Axe Strike

Make two melee attacks with her axes. Each attack deals 1d12 + 5 slashing damage.

Mountain's Wrath

Hilma slams her axes into the ground, creating a shockwave. Each creature within 15 ft. must make a DC 17 Strength saving throw or take 4d8 bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone.

Defensive Stance

Hilma takes a defensive stance, gaining +2 AC until the start of her next turn.

Rage of the Fallen

Hilma enters a rage for 1 minute, gaining advantage on Strength checks and saving throws, and dealing an additional 2d6 damage with melee attacks.

Grim Scowl

Hilma targets one creature within 30 ft. that can see her. The target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.

Brutal Counter

When hit by a melee attack, Hilma can use her reaction to make one melee attack with advantage.

Mountain Sentinel

Hilma has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks in mountainous terrain.

Fury of the Fallen

When Hilma is reduced to half her hit points, she gains +2 to attack rolls.

Axe Mastery

Hilma's attacks with axes deal an additional 1d6 damage.

Iron Will

Hilma has advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

strength

9

dexterity

6

constitution

9

wisdom

5

Vengeful Strike

Hilma makes one melee attack with her axes. On a hit, it deals an additional 3d6 damage.

Mountain's Grasp

Hilma causes rocky terrain to erupt in a 20 ft. radius around her. Creatures must succeed on a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw or take 3d8 bludgeoning damage and be restrained until the end of their next turn.

Echo of the Fallen

Hilma can choose one creature she can see. That creature must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or take 2d6 necrotic damage and have disadvantage on its next attack roll.

bludgeoning

piercing

slashing from nonmagical attacks

frightened