Arth

Jabal "Arth" is a name spoken with respect in the northern highlands. Broad-shouldered and battle-scarred, this burly dwarf is the kind of man who could split a tree with an axe in the morning and wrestle a bear by dusk—and according to local legend, he’s done both more than once. The great pelt that hangs in the central lodge of Furu Ridge is said to be the skin of a bear he felled alone, armed with nothing but his axe and grit.

A skilled warrior, seasoned hunter, and master trapper, Arth carved a life out of the unforgiving slopes of Furu Ridge. What began as a humble logging camp under his leadership has grown into the thriving settlement of Furu—half outpost, half town, and all heart. He runs it alongside his children, with one eye on the timber trade and the other on his grandchildren playing in the snow.

Like most of the mountain folk, Arth is fiercely independent. He wants little more than to be left in peace among the pines and peaks. But he’s no fool. He knows the day is coming when Queen Eriba, once a distant figure of southern legend, will finish uniting Surmad and cast her gaze toward the north. And Arth knows she’ll see not just his forested homeland, but its resources—and its people—as something to claim.

Though reluctant, Arth understands that the scattered mountain tribes may not survive divided. He speaks rarely of politics, but those who know him best suspect he’s weighing the cost of unity… and the burden—and privilege—of kingship. After all, it wouldn’t be the first crown a bear-killer has earned.

His followers aren’t drawn by promises or titles, but by respect. Men and women who’ve traded with him, hunted beside him, or seen him lead in storm or siege know exactly who Arth is. And if the mountains must rise to meet the south, many believe Arth will be the one to lead them.