Trumbyl Putnik was born into the great family dynasty of Draco Martel (also know as Dragonhammer in common speech). Trumbyl’s ancestors hail from within the far Northeastern reaches of the Great Spine of the World. The patronymic Draco Martel was a well known name rooted in the Dwarven legends of his home realm. The dynasty’s founder was none other than Balin Turnkey of Draco Martel, whose mysterious origins were tied firmly to the Axe of Clan Jeddon; a family heirloom passed from generations of first sons to first sons. It is believed, however evidence is scarce, that the original patronymic of Balin was Dungslinger; a seemingly derogatory term for the beginnings of such an exalted line of Dwarven rulers. There is only obscure references on surviving stone runes that provides a basis for this ongoing histiographical argument, however to date there is no direct evidence to fully support such a view. The origins of Draco Martel will perhaps forever remain surrounded in a veil of mystery, yet thanks to the erudite dedication of Balin Turnkey’s distant descendent Gortho Runemaker, reasonably accurate records of this family comings and goings have thereafter survived the long decay of time.
Trumbyl, though only the second son of Putnik Swordarm, was his father’s favorite. His older brother Balin Turnkey XXVII (Balin Magna) was a stout warrior who later became ruler of the Dragonhammer Keep. Despite this, Putnik wisely realized that he could only depend upon Trumbyl to follow his paternal instruction, for Balin Magna had a strong will to do his own bidding. Though this was an unusual circumstance when considering the customary course of primogeniture, Trumbyl was raised just as his brother was, that is, in the fortunate graces of extreme wealth and power. Privileged to all of the advantages that were typically bestowed only upon the first born, the young Dwarf was trained side by side with Balin Magna from an early age to learn the art of warfare. His father wisely groomed Trumbyl to later work as war advisor to his elder brother.Skilled and fierce, young Trumbyl was a dominating competitor in Dwarven games, particularly Gruk Nak from which he acquired his name. Proud and courageous Trumbyl took his game experience to war where he advanced through the ranks of the North Dwarven Army with exceptional speed. There he was ceremoniously awarded the title of captain at the Battle of Trolshenbeon . Returning home at age fifty-three, after more than thirty years of fighting in the Dark Campaign, Trumbyl had reached dwarfhood as a skilled and cunning warrior. Since the war had come to a grinding halt after the somewhat decisive Dwarven victory at Balin’s Stone, Trumbyl decided to return home.
Upon his arrival Trumbyl visited his elderly father who was then dying. Putnik revealed to Trumbyl a great family secret that had been kept sacred for hundreds of years, Trumbyl’s father passed the Axe of Thorgallon into Trumbyl’s hands; never before had such a worthy warrior held the steel which had been forged in the fires of the otherworld. Beautiful and intricate in design the Axe of Thorgallon had thereto only been known in children stories; ever since the first days of Durin’s rule the axe had been faithfully passed from first born to first born in complete secrecy. As a dutiful son Putnik followed the tradition of his forbears and made Trumbyl swear an oath of Dwarven honor that the axe was to remain hidden until it came time came to pass it on to his own firstborn. Though the particular custom of passing the axe in secrecy was observed, this action totally ignored the established notion of primogeniture. In practice Balin Magna was the rightful beneficiary of this incredible gift, however Putnik had clearly avoided custom and nominated his beloved second as the recipient. As a result there was no initial conflict, for the axe was largely considered a matter of legend and Balin Magna had not yet learned of its existence.
For Twenty years the members of the Draco Martel Clan lived in relative peace while continuing to enjoy the prosperity of a rich mining society. In the meantime Trumbyl became the Patriarch of his own family which consisted of a dutiful wife as well as several sons and daughters. His eldest son, by the name of Bruin Strongtankard carried a strong resemblance of his father. Then Dark times fell on the great Clan. Bands of goblin raiders from the north began to slowly encroach upon Dwarven lands. Infiltrating the deep caves and recesses of the mountains, raids upon the keep became frequent and eventually war loomed heavily upon the brow of the Dragonhammer Clan. This tense period in the Keep’s history eventually precipitated into a great battle; which is now remembered as Bruin’s Fall.
After many years of brooding in hateful solitude, the northern goblin clans had slowly coalesced into a large and formidable unified force. Laying siege on the Dragonhammer Keep, an endless flow of goblin forces pummeled the Dwarven outer defenses. The defending forces were initially successful at bolstering a strong external defense which is credited to the precision and permanence of Dwarven construction. After three months however their stance began to crumble. Feeling the pressure of an impending invasion, gloom crept into the minds of the Keep’s inhabitants though they continued to fight valiantly.
On the day of the siege’s conclusion Trumbyl stood among the ranks of Dwarven fighters holding the outer defenses. Tired and weak from the incessant onslaught Trumbyl lost his only remaining weapon while sparring with a goblin invader. Without a weapon and fearing to leave his fighting companions one less defender, Trumbyl picked up the axe of one of his fallen brothers and continued the defense. Though this could suffice for the moment, it was improper that a soldier should use the axe of a fallen brother, and so Trumbyl called on his son Bruin to fetch a war hammer from his chamber.
Whether ruled by divine intervention or cruel fate it will probably never be known; Bruin was unable to find the weapon in which Trumbyl had called for. Fearing the wrath of his father while at the same time yearning to retain the high esteem of his clan, Bruin worked feverishly within his families living quarters to find his father’s hammer. Perhaps by chance, he removed a floor covering in his father’s chamber which concealed a trap door. Using a length of steel he had found from the armory, he pried the door’s locks from its fastenings. Underneath the door was revealed a large solid object wrapped in tattered cloth. Needless to say, Bruin never found the hammer that his father had asked for; he had found something far more valuable and potent; the Axe of Clan Jeddon.
Trumbyl never saw his son again. The ancient power of the axe which had been wielded by distant ancestors was rekindled in this Dwarven boy. Hurrying to the fight, the power of the axe overcame his fury at the goblin invaders. Bruin, a young Dwarf not yet come of age hurled himself into the fray. An eye witness account chronicled in the Draconina Primus exclaimed “Bruin grew ten feet in height” while another recounted “the boy’s eyes flamed from the deepest recesses of hell’s wrath and his hands worked at his enemies throats like the talons of a griffons claws.” These are typical productions in legend, however it is known as fact that after Bruin’s introduction into the Battle of Bruin’s Fall the war tipped dramatically in the favor of the dwarves.
Sadly, Bruin’s charge into almost certain fame ended in tragedy. Sweeping through the goblin forces, Bruin led an entire division of Dwarven fighters up the center ranks of the enemy. Empowered by the enormous shift in initiative the dwarves spearheaded completely to the rear flanks of the goblin invaders. Disconcerted by their swift changes of fortune, the Goblin forces dispersed chaotically in terror, fleeing back to their wretched holes. The war was almost over except for what happened next. Finding no more foes to vanquish, the young Bruin amazingly turned on his followers, hewing them in droves. Dumbfounded, many stood and took his blows. His movements were a mesmerizing terror as his axe swung in the summer light. Unable to stop this surprise melee in hand to hand combat Dwarven crossbowmen were summoned to the surrounding hillsides to shoot him dead. By this time hundreds of dwarves had already fallen by Bruins axe. One such dwarf marksman remarked:
It was simultaneously the greatest victory and defeat in Dragonhammer History. Despite the triumph over the Goblin Forces Trumbyl Putnik was shamed for his role in the keeping of the axe. News that the Axe of Clan Jeddon had been found reached every corner of the realm and when Trumbyl’s older brother Balin had learned all the details of the conflict he grew into a great rage of shame and jealousy. His father had picked Trumbyl instead of himself to carry the secret tradition. The people of Dragonhammer looked away from Trumbyl with downcast eyes and scandalized his name. In a single stroke Trumbyl Putnik fell from the prominence of esteemed war advisor to a vagabond rambler, and the axe of Clan Jeddon was considered an accursed device sent from the fires of Hell. Even his wife and children shunned him for being the silent keeper of such an evil thing. At once, Balin Magna disowned his brother Trumbyl’s name and banished him forever to roam outside the realm of Draco Martel. Trumbyl left the only home he knew and became a wanderer. He believed that by doing good works he could restore some dignity to his name. Sadly it was never enough to allow him to return to his former home, for the axe of Clan Jeddon stayed with him for the rest of his life. An epitaph engraved on a memorial to Trumbyl reads: HE WAS ITS KEEPER, AND IT KEPT HIM UNTIL DEATH.
Legend recounts that Trumbyl embarked upon a great quest to break the curse of the axe. This journey was inspired by the many soothsayers and oracles in which frequented seeking counsel. Though Trumbyl died in obscurity, a proud but sad member of a long Dwarven lineage, history smiles upon him with forgiving eyes as one of the most courageous and loyal members of the Dragonhammer Clan.