Featured Jarthenpedia Post: Hephaestion Gorn

Gorn and a young friend

Hephaestion Gorn, though now a fixture of the West Fethil garrison of the Imperial Army, has not always led a life of acceptance and ease. Gorn was born in the fronteir town of Fennilmar, in the province of Perejin to a stern, disapproving father, and his cowed wife. Although his mother loved Hephaestion and his four siblings a great deal, she was unable to defend them from the capricious humors of her husband. Hephaestion, as the oldest child, suffered the brunt of his father's beatings and verbal abuse, and grew into a sullen, retired young man.

Nevertheless, Hephaestion was enamored of children and, after a stint as a blacksmith's apprentice, began working in a local school. Always a clever lad, he helped teach arithmetic and grammar -- subjects he had mastered on his own in the dark, dingy kitchen of his parents tenement home.

Young Gorn was forced to suddenly leave town when he got into a row with the parents of one of his students, after rumors began to circulate about the propriety of his methods. On a whim, Gorn joined a traveling circus where he worked as a very popular clown, bringing joy to countless children and townfolk throughout the eastern realms of the Empire. He was known for his deft acrobatics and hilarious capering.

However, trouble again managed to catch up with the luckless Gorn, this time in the form of the drunken circus master. According to Gorn, he was innocently helping the circus master's young son with his lessons, when his enraged employer burst in reeking of wine, accusing him of the most vile acts. Needless to say, Gorn thought it best to make an expeditious departure from his place of employ for more hospitable circumstances.

Gorn worked his way across the empire through a variety of jobs over the next several years. During this time he developed the mean, hardened aspect that is so common among those who must toil for their bread and do not know where their head will rest next in this life of wandering. Eventually, Gorn grew tired of never having enough to eat and scrambling for ldging and decided to trade his impoverished freedom for the rigorous regularity of the militarity.

Gorn joined a regiment that was sent to the front where Gorn witnessed firsthand the horrors of war. He fought valiantly with his battalion in a number of different engagements. In one particularly viscious battle, Gorn bravely rescued a fourteen year old drummer boy who was in grave peril of having his head crushed by a mace wielding gnome. Gorn saved the lad, and fought off a dozen other rebels before making receiving a nearly fatal wound to his leg from a battle axe. Nevertheless, Gorn dragged his crippled body back to safety, and was evacuated to a field hospital.

Gorn lost his leg, and withstood a very dire case of sepsis before recovering. In view of his heroic surface, Gorn was granted a lifetime position as quartermaster of the West Fethil Garrison. These jobs are highly sought after by veterans as they ensure a decent pension, safety from the dangers of the front, and all the conveniences of living in a town. Today, Gorn is a respected member of the West Fethil community, frequently volunteering to work at the school and performing other charitable works. Despite a few of the nagging rumors that always seem to follow him, Gorn is well liked among his fellow townsmen.