Gyrnst

Gyrnst mab Cewllüg, Weapons Minstrel of The House of Hywelglas

Gyrnst is a battle-scarred dwarven weapons minstrel with a tragic past shaped by slavery, devotion, and loss. Once a slave to the brutal Vengema Rankora, Gyrnst endured unimaginable suffering, including confinement in cramped torture coffins that left him severely claustrophobic - an unusual trait among dwarves. His visible scars and pervasive discomfort in enclosed spaces are constant reminders of his torment. Despite this, Gyrnst’s resilience shines through in his mastery of weapons and music, skills he honed after being freed by the noble Dyrfen (Dervin) Hywelglas of House Hywelglas. Gyrnst revered Dyrfen as both a savior and a spiritual figure, dedicating his life to serving as his weapons master and later teaching combat to Dyrfen’s children. He bears the warthog emblem bestowed upon him by Dyrfen after the fall of House Hywelglas as a symbol of personal honor and strength.

Tragedy struck again when Dyrfen and his family were murdered by agents of The Vengema Rankora, rival house of the Hywelglas line. Wracked with guilt for his perceived failure to protect his rescuer, Gyrnst retreated to the wilds, vowing to atone by dismantling the Rankora’s operations. He forged tenuous alliances, including with House Ulfwic and Lieutenant Poltun of Cadet House Torweny, to disrupt Rankora business interests. Gyrnst’s vendetta is also deeply personal, especially against Slave Master Kilnijj, a sadistic figure who oversaw his suffering.

Though driven by vengeance, Gyrnst finds fleeting solace in music. His performances, often played in solitude, temporarily alleviate his claustrophobia and bring him a rare sense of peace. Among those who listen, his skill with music is deeply respected, adding an unexpected beauty to his otherwise grizzled persona. Gyrnst assumes the rest of the Hywelglas family is dead, leaving him burdened with the weight of his devotion to their memory. Haunted yet resolute, Gyrnst channels his pain into his fight against the Rankora, ensuring that their tyranny is met with unrelenting resistance.