Dirk, the bastard son of Dania, was from the village of Chirk, at the edge of the Arundel Forest.  He grew up an only child and became a woodworking apprentice as a young teenager.  He started making chests and then cabinets.  Being fond of music he would always listen to the bards that passed through the village.  Once his apprenticeship was complete, Dirk decided leave Chirk, so that he could work his trade where there would be a greater demand for his skills.  

Morgan was a bard that passed through Chirk  several times each year.  Dirk enjoyed Morgan’s poems and ballads more than those of other bards, and Morgan in return always had fresh tales to tell.  When Morgan passed through the village again, Dirk asked if they could travel together to Framlingham, so Dirk could start a new life there.  Morgan accepted Dirk as a companion and they began their journey to Framlingham.

Besides being a bard of some renown, Morgan was also a skilled craftsman.  On the long journey, Morgan taught Dirk to craft the stringed instruments used by bards.  By the time they reached Framlingham, Dirk had a basic understanding of how to build a lute, a skill which he would perfect in later years.

In Framlingham he set up a shop.  He found that there was a lot of competition in his field of expertise, but once he had established his clientele he was able to make a comfortable living.  After one year, he hired an assistant, Barnett.  He was now able to spend more time working on his stringed instruments.  Morgan would visit whenever he passed through town, try out Dirk’s lutes and tell him how they needed to be improved.  Eventually, Dirk was making instruments that were being purchased by bards and music lovers from around the region (something made easier with Morgan’s endorsements).

In his first year in Framlingham he met a woman, Lorea, who was the daughter of a local innkeeper.  They fell in love and were married four months after they met.  They had 7 children over the next 9 years.  First was a daughter, Sarna, then the twin boys, Nelvar and Falin.  Next was a son, Ekwen, then another daughter, Mala, and then a son, Horam.  Their last child was Urgon.

Urgon grew up in Framlingham, occasionally helping his father around the shop, but mostly going to the town square to listen to the tales of the bards.  His father didn’t really need a lot of help, having an assistant and several children around.  This gave Urgon plenty of free time.  Whenever Morgan came by to visit, he would teach Urgon to play the lute, to read Common and Dwarven texts, and tell more tales of adventure.  Urgon wanted to go out and see the world, but knew he should wait until he had served his mandatory time in the town guard (all of Dirk’s male children would have to serve this time).  That time had finally come…


Urgon’s family now:

Dirk and Lorea  still live in Framlingham.  Dirk’s shop is doing quite well these days.

Sarna, now 28, works as a serving girl at the Green Griffon Inn once owned by her grandfather.  It is now owned by her Uncle (Lorea’s brother) Sarnon.

Nelvar and Falin, who would now be 26, disappeared 5 years ago.  Nobody has heard from them in that time.

Ekwen, now 24, stayed in the town guard after serving his year of service.  He primarily works night patrols in town.

Mala, now 23, left home at the age of 17 to become one with nature and lead her life as a Druid.  She lives in a woodland area only 2 days ride from Framlingham.  Morgan and Urgon have visited her on occasion at Uldran Depression.

Horam, aged 21, is currently in the city guard.  He is in the tenth month of his one year service.  He has learned the woodworking trade and plans to take over his father’s business eventually, but may stay in the town guard with his brother for an extra year.


Urgon Dirkson, Philosophy and Psychology

Urgon believes that all people should be able to live a good life within their means.  Evil should not be able to take away from the people.  Those individuals that are more privileged than others, should help those in need, if they are being attacked or oppressed.  It is OK to seek adventure, to seek wealth, to seek love, to seek fame, but not at the expense of others.  One should not steal from a farmer or craftsman or innkeeper, if that individual is innocently making a living doing what he does, but stealing from a lord who tortures those who don’t pay a tax, when they can barely feed their own families could be deemed acceptable.  Urgon realizes, that it is not possible to help everyone that is in need.  Financially, it doesn’t make sense to give one beggar a coin, but then not the next (and the next and the next…).  It is best to just give some money to the church, so they can distribute it as needed.  Those skilled in combat would do better to help fight off an invasion of orcs than ladle soup to a homeless man.




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©2002 Alexandr Machula