Aza

Aza (full name: Aza da Taarnakgal) is a Durn (dwarf) who lives and works in Durnhol-Saarkaaz.

Before moving to Abexilas, she used to work as a bartender in Vulthalla. She is 251 years old. She speaks Durnic and Common and a small bit of Vulpin.

Early Life
Born and raised in the Durn (dwarven) halls of Taarnakgal Aza spent most of her days either learning how to brew drinks like mead and beer or designing and building arches to hold up the main hall's large ceiling. One day Aza climbed the stairs from the mineshaft connecting to Taarnakgal to find herself in the Vulpinian mountain city of Vulthalla. Her first time exploring the surface left a big impression on her. She'd return many times and eventually sought to move into the city.

Cosy Cavern
After meeting with Duke Jesus Regulus and being given a tour Aza was shown an abandoned house carved into the mountainside in the city centre. She carved out a little more space, ripped up some of the flooring but kept the fireplace and made it into a homely tavern named the Cosy Cavern. Moving into the backroom of her tavern she made it her permanent home, though would still frequent the Durn halls nearby.

The backroom also became the location of many experiments where she'd brew for days on end attempting to discover new recipes. Most of her attempts were met with failure but after much determination and resources she had some successes.

Construction Work Around Vulthalla
For a while Aza sustained her income from bartending but when drinks sales were declining she sought out other odd jobs around Vulthalla. She learned of DangSage's desire to build catacombs under the city and got straight to work chipping away at the stone to make a respectful resting place for nobles' burial coffins, including a crypt commissioned by Jesus Regulus. She went on to build cranes around Vulthalla's mining district and applied her dwarven building experience to make strong fortifications and gatehouses around the city.

Remaining After the Durn Exodus
The leader of Taarnakgal, Lady Cyronax, had a political falling out with the Duke of Vulthalla about the status of the Durn halls as a seperate entity from Vulthalla. When Cyronax discovered a large unexplored cavern with Caden she left to establish a new home for the Durn but Aza, being loyal to the surface world she had come to know, wished to remain. The stewardship of maintaining Taarnakgal fell to her as the last Durn left in the region.

Training an Apprentice
On 25th January 2022, a scruffy vul named Lith was hired to manage the Cosy Cavern while Aza was away. Whenever she was in Vulthalla for a few days she'd teach Lith how to brew drinks like a professional, starting with meads and beers and eventually teaching him more difficult drinks when he was skilled enough.

The Mountain Home
Aza disappeared for 2 years while Lith looked after her tavern. When she returned she found herself in an unfamiliar land called Abexilas, having accidentally survived the destruction of Eldham by getting lost in a deep mine. She reconnected with her fellow Durn and helped with the construction of Durnhol-Saarkaaz, where she currently resides.

Damak na Kraalg
On 22nd April 2024, Aza was promoted to Damak na Kraalg of Durnhol-Saarkaaz. The title literally translates to 'noble of knowledge'; functionally the role is akin to 'minister of culture and education'. She was tasked with the construction and maintenance of buildings such as the temples and a library, though had to delay work when she got to commissioned to build a market for Industrial Tech Solutions.

Appearance
Being a Durn Aza is short and strong. She has blonde hair and dull green eyes. Like many female dwarves she has female-pattern beardlessness resulting in her not having the beard she sported in her younger years. Sometimes she'll wear a painted ceramic vul mask to fit in at large Vulpinian events.

Personality
Aza is generally friendly to all she meets. She is very loyal to those she considers her friends and will often give gifts, often bread or potatoes. She is also loyal to Vulpinia and Vulthalla in general, helping build defenses and inventions to aid the city. Sometimes Aza will play jokes on people. Her curiosity has led her to many interesting places, both around Vulthalla and across the world in general.

Religious Beliefs
Aza believes that Harnag (the Durn creator god) forged the world using his hammer and the sacred flame but is open to believe in other gods too, viewing them as creations of Harnag who are less powerful than him but more powerful than mortals. She has a fondness for the Nabu deity Zerdeus despite not being a vul and often mutters prayers to him while brewing.

Trivia

 * Aza possesses a stack of resurrection gems that help prolong a dwarf's lifespan if killed due to trauma or injury. She has been known on occasion to give these to others. One example of this would be when upon learning of an assassination plot against the Grand Valar's daughter she rushed many miles to provide her with such a gem.
 * Aza admits that she is terrible at melee combat.
 * Though primarily a bartender at this point Aza has probably done more building work than brewing. When bored she also designs inventions, most of them related to city defences.
 * Aza has travelled to Varn Torum, been inside their mountain hold and gets along with the dwarves there.
 * Lith is a unique vul playerhead on an armor stand. Lith is not actually a player, though when Aza eventually dies canonically Lith is planned to be her next character.