Ursan Winterbarren
Ursan Winterbarren, Great Bear of the North, Bishop of Land's End, and dwarven smith of the Frostborne Clan, under the Principality of Rivermoor, in the Empire of the Iron Mountains
”For God, the Monarch, and Land's End!”
"Don't make me break out the Popestick."
Ursan Winterbarren
Biography
Introduced to Amtgard on 4 November 2011 by his brother-in-law Ios Tankhide, he joined Land's End that same month. Ursan Winterbarren (A.K.A. Allan Hoffman, A.K.A. Pastor Al) is an ordained minister at, and founder of, Edge of the World Ministries. EotWM is a ministry at large with the goal of serving those in need no matter their differences. He is married to Jennifer Hoffman (Kyria) and is father of Randal Hoffman (Bugus the Dinolord) and Shannon Woinarowicz. He is an avid role player and gamer, of video, pen and paper, and now LARP. He owns a large collection of out of print role playing books, plays Warhammer 40k, Star Trek Online, City of Heroes, and the occasional hand of pinochle.
Character Biography
The dwarf boy who would be known as Ursan, High Clan: Frostborne Clan: Stonehammer Family: Winterbarren, was born to a family of menial laborers in a tiny village by the River Red in western Rivermoor. Ursan's youth was troubled, as a young dwarf he experienced many beatings by his brutal, and crippled, stepfather. While his mother worked scullery for a lesser lord and made barley enough to support the family. As a youth of such low station Ursan worked the deep mines of the lord and fell in with a rough crowd. From the age of reason until in his 20th year he followed the ways of the vagabond. Bouncing from village to village with no purpose and no clear thoughts to his future. He stumbled upon an old black smith in the village of his youth. A dwarf unlike any other he had met, stout of frame with a ready smile and a grip like hardened steel, the blacksmith took Ursan in and taught him the ways of the forge and that the goal of a pure life was to serve. The blacksmith was a pious man, and in learning the ways of the forge, Ursan also learned the ways of piety. Gifted with a healer's heart, and a servant's soul, Ursan set out with the blessing of the blacksmith to bring light into the dark places of the world. Now, many years later, Ursan has settled in the village of his birth and joined with the men and women of Land's End as a healer, adviser, and crafter. He is the bearer of the Cross of Winters, a long staff said to have been taken from the branches of an ever frozen oak deep in the heart of the north lands. The staff is as hard as frozen stone, as unbending as harden steel, and is a symbol of Ursan's unshakable faith in the powers of light. How he came to be the bearer of this mighty relic is unknown to all but Ursan himself, and he refuses to speak of it. With his wife, the sorceress Kyria, and his brother Lucien Tharkoni, he serves Clan Dawn Chaser, whose members include: the healer Ursan Winterbarren, the wizard Kyria, the warrior Ios Tankhide, the warrior Bugus the Dinolord, the warrior Lucien Tharkoni, The archer Krowe, the barbarian Fang, and the monk Weaponbane.
Affiliated Groups
Clan Dawn Chaser Fighting Company
Dwarven Forge Dwarven Kingdom of Hammers Reign
Notable Accomplishments
Wielder of one of the Relics of Land's End, The Cross of Winters (a magical staff that kills on wounds)
Seeker Arcon of Clan Dawn Chaser
Additional Images
The Personal Heraldry of Ursan Winterbarren
The Heraldry of Clan Dawn Chaser
More Information
The Charter of Clan Dawn Chaser
Fighting Company of Land's End
High Seeker: Kyria
Seeker Arcon: (A&S Leader) Ursan Winterbarren
Seeker Captain: (Battle Leader) Lucian Tharkoni
Seekers: Weaponbane, Fang, Bugus the Dinolord, Krowe
"The dark is generous, and it is patient, and it always wins, but in the heart of its strength lies weakness, one lone candle is enough to hold it back. The coming dawn is more than a candle. Dawn will ignite the skies. Though this is the end of the age of heroes, it has saved its best for last."
We, the heroes and heroines of Clan Dawn Chaser, knowing the evil that lurks in the world form this band of heroes in response to that evil. We lay forth for all the world to see the precepts upon which we stand.
We come together as one force among many to stand against the encroaching darkness and say unto it:
"No more! We draw the line against the night here, bring on your hoards of darkness, one at a time, or in all your cursed legions, it matters not, you shall not pass!"
We are Clan Dawn Chaser, the seekers of light in the darkness. We raise high the banners of justice, honour, and freedom for all to see. We are the champions of the common people, who for to long have gone without a voice of there own.
We state herein what we believe and hold dear, these are the ideals by which we live.
First, we of Clan Dawn Chaser are a family, brothers and sisters born of the same desire to serve a cause greater than ourselves. We give our all to each other and help each other to improve each and every day in all ways.
We choose to go forth and combat the growing evils of our world no matter the cost. We do this not to say we are better than anyone, but to show the solidarity and loyalty that is at the very heart of Clan Dawn Chaser.
We hold our selves to a higher standard. We are heroes, we hold the ideals of fair play, honour, justice, and freedom to be most dear.
We are forever searching for those of a like mind with the spark of inner light that sets them apart from the mundane. We approach those whom we believe share this kindred spirit to join us in our vigil against the darkness. For those of whom we do approach, we shall keep them as initiates of our order for a time to make sure that we and they follow the same practices and are truly of a like mind. After this time, should we find them worthy and they find our cause just and right, they shall be accepted into our ranks as full members and greeted as brothers and sisters of the cause.
Within our number there are the greater and the lesser, though we are all equals at heart, and each voice is heard. Promotion within our ranks comes from merit, desire, and ability. Those who wish to serve at a level higher than they currently hold need only prove their worth and show their desire to hold a higher rank, and the responsibilities contained therein, to the leadership and if they meet our exacting standards they will receive promotion.
Each member of Clan Dawn Chaser has the ability to speak freely and be heard on any concern they have. Our leadership holds the opinions of each and every member as valuable and weighs them carefully when making decisions.
