A broad-shouldered hill dwarf with copper-red hair, a carefully braided beard, weathered bronze skin, and a scar running from his left temple to his jaw. He wears battered chain mail beneath a dark green military cloak, carries a heavy battleaxe and shield, and keeps his old regimental insignia polished despite the stains and dents of countless campaigns.

Gruff, patient, and intensely dependable. Brannik speaks plainly, dislikes unnecessary boasting, and has a dry sense of humor that appears most often in grim situations. He is protective of younger or less experienced companions and treats every adventuring group like a squad that must learn to rely on one another.

Brannik Ironvein was born beneath the granite halls of Hammerdeep, where every dwarf was taught that a sturdy wall was more valuable than a sharp sword. He proved unusually quick with an axe and shield, and by adulthood he had joined the Stonewardens, a military regiment charged with guarding trade roads, mountain passes, and the settlements scattered beyond the hold. Brannik became known for standing his ground long after wiser soldiers had retreated, not because he lacked fear, but because he believed fear was simply another burden a soldier carried for those behind him. His regiment was betrayed during the defense of a border fortress. A trusted officer opened the gates to raiders, and Brannik survived only by leading a handful of wounded soldiers through a collapsed drainage tunnel. The fortress fell, many of his companions died, and the traitor vanished into the wider world. Brannik left the Stonewardens after the battle, carrying the regiment's damaged banner and the names of the dead. Now he works as a sellsword and protector, seeking the traitor while trying to build a new company whose loyalty will be tested by deeds rather than promises.