Gerald is a barrel chested man with skin toughened by years in front of a furnace. He has salt and pepper hair and a beard kept short and tidy to avoid singeing. He wears well maintained chain mail over thick, soot stained leather aprons. His eyes are the color of cooling iron, and he always smells faintly of coal smoke and holy incense.

Gerald is patient and methodical, treating every situation like a piece of raw iron that needs the right amount of heat and pressure. He is soft spoken but firm, preferring to listen and observe before offering his counsel. He finds peace in the rhythm of labor and is deeply uncomfortable in idle, high society settings.

Gerald began his life as a simple apprentice in the Silversmiths' Guild of a bustling merchant city. For years, he was content to create intricate jewelry and fine cutlery, until a tragic fire at the guild hall changed his path. While the building crumbled, Gerald found himself surrounded by flames that did not burn him, feeling a divine warmth that guided him to safety and helped him pull his fellow artisans from the wreckage. He interpreted this miracle as a call from the deity of the forge, realizing that metal could do more than just serve as decoration, it could protect and provide for the community. He spent the following years transitioning from a simple craftsman to a devout cleric. He believes that the act of creation is the highest form of worship. Now, he travels to seek out lost artifacts and assist those in need, viewing every broken shield or dull blade as a soul in need of tempering. He still maintains his ties to the guild, sending most of his coin back home to support young orphans entering the trade.