Darlingverse/Borin

Borin (Shield Dwarf Mason)

Before Darling: Borin was a sturdy, earnest dwarf boy of eleven, deeply proud of his family's long line of stonemasons in Waterdeep. He spent his days watching his father and uncles work, admiring their precision and strength, dreaming of the day he would lay stones for great halls. He was disciplined and meticulous for his age, always making sure his small pile of practice bricks was perfectly stacked. He respected order and the enduring strength of well-built things.

Captured by Papa: One late afternoon, while helping his father clean tools at a construction site in the Castle Ward, Borin lingered to admire a freshly laid wall. A sudden, sharp prick on his neck was followed by a dizzying disorientation. He remembered collapsing, the sounds of the city fading into a terrifying, muffled silence as he was hauled away.

Papa's Basement and the Void: His next awareness was of the bone-chilling cold of a stone basement, the scent of fresh blood, and the metallic tang of fear. He saw other children, small and terrified, huddled in rough cages. He recalled a tall, shadowy figure—Papa—moving with chilling purpose. Then, as Papa approached a whimpering child in a nearby cage, a blinding flash of visceral horror erupted, and the memory violently tore itself from his grasp, leaving only a cold, echoing void where the terrible truth should be.

Life in the Darlingscape: The Unyielding Foundation: When Borin awoke in "The Golem's Canvas," he found himself in a chaotic, shifting reality. Driven by his core belief in structure and the enduring power of creation, he immediately began to solidify his surroundings. He views his purpose as ensuring the very fabric of this internal world remains stable and robust, constantly working to shore up weak points against the encroaching chaos.

   With Kael: Borin found an immediate comrade in Kael. They share a fundamental understanding of physical strength, practicality, and the necessity of defense. They often patrol the outer boundaries of the safer districts, reinforcing psychic "walls" and clearing away encroaching mental "debris."

   With Lyra: He respects Lyra's meticulous nature and her dedication to order, seeing her as essential for mapping and understanding the mind's complex architecture. They often work together to ensure the structural integrity of the Gallery of Shifting Memories and the Grand Conjunction.

   With Flicker: While sometimes exasperated by Flicker's whimsical inventions, Borin appreciates his mechanical genius and how his ingenuity contributes to the fundamental structure of Darling's mind. He often provides the "solid foundation" for Flicker's more experimental constructs.

   Antagonistic Towards: Borin struggles immensely with the chaotic natures of Pip and Jinx, viewing their unpredictable antics as dangerously destabilizing. He also finds Zee's shadowy, evasive methods unsettling, preferring directness and clear boundaries.