Hemlock Twinhammers

Hemlock Twinhammers is the captain of the Grimbolt Cripplers, the company of exiled dwarves. He was born into the proud and noble House Twinhammers, a renowned line of artisans, blacksmiths and warriors respected among the dwarves for their craftsmanship and battle prowess; in the heart of the dwarven kingdom the house was famed as its foremost weaponsmiths.¹

Youth

Hemlock was the third son of the house, and as he grew up it became clear that he would not inherit the family workshop and business. He was raised under the tutelage of his father, an accomplished blacksmith, and his mother, a seasoned axewoman who had fought valiantly in the tunnel wars. From her he learned the ancient dwarven fighting styles and the use of two heavy weapons at once, in a style that embraces risk, finding deadly angles of attack at the cost of small openings in his own defence. From an early age he showed exceptional talent in combat and a natural gift for leadership.²

Soldier and exile

Among the dwarves military service was held an honourable duty, and Hemlock's joining the militia was a moment of great pride for his family. He became part of the legendary third company, the Grimbolt Legion, and rose quickly through the ranks, earning a reputation as a fierce and honourable warrior; his strategic mind and determination caught the attention of Duffrein Grimbolt. On a perilous mission to transfer the ancient dwarven artifact known as the axe of Glodein, the legion was ambushed by greenskins. Many soldiers died and the artifact was stolen, and the failure brought such shame on the Grimbolt Legion that it was exiled.²

Still young and thirsty for adventure, Hemlock adapted easily to the surface world. Over the years, though, he watched countless brethren fall in the service of men's causes, and now all he wants is to see them safely home. Restoring their honour and filling their bellies with ale has become his steadfast aim.³

Coralax

The encounter that changed Hemlock's life came on an expedition into the depths of the Underdark, where Duffrein Grimbolt was leading a perilous search for the Lost Axe of Glodein, the mythical weapon that could redeem the cast-out dwarves. The ancient red dragon Coralax stood in their path. Grimbolt faced the dragon head-on so that his comrades could escape, and Hemlock, seeing his leader's courage, rallied the dwarves with a battle cry and led a counterattack that brought the beast down. With the dragon dead, he took up the leadership of the Cripplers.⁴

The company's own history tells that Grimbolt died about sixty years ago in that battle, having killed the monster before his own death, and that Hemlock, his most trusted friend and second in command, took the mantle from him there on the battlefield.⁵

Captain of the Cripplers

Under Hemlock the company grew as more dwarves came to seek redemption alongside their brethren. His leadership stresses discipline, resilience and unity, and every member undergoes rigorous training. As captain he leads by example, upholding dwarven tradition and inspiring his warriors to fight with honour and unity, and his reputation as a resilient and skilled leader has earned him the loyalty and respect of the guild.⁶

Finding the Lost Axe remains the company's primary goal, but Hemlock dreams of expanding its operations across the Western Provinces and offering a home and purpose to the dwarves scattered beneath the sun. He believes the company should go on serving as protectors and warriors even after the axe is found. When rumours surfaced in Vansreik of a mythical dwarven artifact, Hemlock saw a chance to secure the Cripplers' legacy; the idea of setting foot in the crater intrigues him, and he has vowed to lead the guild there to investigate the whispers.⁶

Kardakar stands as Hemlock's right hand in the Cripplers, and in the young Arti Boulderhead Hemlock recognised the same fire that had once burned in him.⁷

In battle

Hemlock fights with two warhammers and seems to disregard the wounds he takes, keeping his focus on his opponents and the mission. To him survival is paramount, and thinking about injuries can wait until the threat is gone. Retreat is not in his vocabulary except in truly dire circumstances, and even then he sees it as a manoeuvre, not weakness, waiting patiently to re-engage from a better position. He favours sieges and open combat, and he never acts against dwarven tradition.⁴

Spoiler: Kardakar's lineageRevealSpoils: Mercenary Compendium · Say what you have read

Kardakar keeps his surname a secret. Only Ember and Hemlock know his true lineage, and both keep it to themselves.⁸