Athrogate

Athrogate was a dwarven warrior of some reputation in the Bloodstone Lands.

Physical description
He had the stout and powerful build of a typical dwarf. He wore his black beard parted in the middle, with two long braids of straight hair running down to midchest, each tied off at the end with a band set with three sparkling blue gemstones. His bushy eyebrows nearly covered his brown, almost black eyes. He had large ears. . Athrogate was well over 300 years old.

He wore a suit of armor, part leather, part plated, and covered with a myriad of buckles and straps. His twin morningstars were tied in an X at his back, their handles reaching up and well beyond the back of his bushy hair.

He was able to speak the goblin language fluently though heavily accented.

Equipment
Athrogate wore a broad belt depicted with metal lightning bolts that was rumored to be a Belt of Storm giant Strength.

He fought with twin gray glassteel morning stars, with spiked metal heads attached to the ends of adamantine chains. He called them Cracker and Whacker or Rotter and Slaughter, which ever suited best. On command, the left-hand one of them, Cracker, emitted from the small nubs on the striking ball a dark reddish and chalky fluid, the ichor of a rust monster, which corroded other metals on contact. The right-hand morningstar, Whacker, coated itself with a clear, blue-gray and oily liquid known as Oil of Impact. Using thus enhanced weapons with first left then right strikes, Athrogate could smash anything from a portcullis to an iron golem into rust flakes.

Athrogate was also given a Figurine of Wondrous Power by Jarlaxle, in the form of a red boar named Snort. The figurine looked like a small red boar without skin covering its body. The summoned beast, a large red-skinned boar, was a creature from the Lower Planes, the fiery pits of the Nine Hells. Steam rose from its back and bursts of red flames erupted from its nostrils. The boar appeared with full saddle, was fierce and rode tirelessly into battle. Snort was able to keep pace with any conventional beast of burden such as a nightmare and covered tremendous ground. By stomping a hoof and snorting, the boar created a defensive ring of fire from its snout and body, which didn't really harm but rather distracted enemies enough for a charge of its rider.

History
Athrogate's home was Citadel Felbarr, a dwarven stronghold east of Mithral Hall and south of Citadel Adbar. An orc clan raided Felbarr and his children and wife, Gerthalie, were slain. When the call went out to reclaim Felbarr, Athrogate didn't answer and thus did not return when his fellow dwarves reclaimed Felbarr some 300 years later.

Athrogate jokingly explained to Jarlaxle that he was cursed by a wizard to live a long life and never to forget the hardship he went through. Thus, although few dwarves reached 300 years of age, Athrogate was about 370 years old.

Athrogate was a supreme killer, an agent of the Tightpurse thieves guild of Heliogabalus and associated with the Citadel of Assassins. Thus he was often accompanied by Canthan Doolittle, a wizard of the Citadel of Assassins.

Later, he became a member of a group of warriors chosen by commander Ellery Dragonsbane to fight the legacy of Zhengyi, the Witch-King. During the battles, Canthan Doolittle, Ellery Dragonsbane, Mariabronne the Rover, and the dwarf cleric Pratcus were killed. Two of whom fell by the hands of Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri, other members of the party who opposed the Citadel of Assassins, and later were conscripted into it.

Athrogate was subsequently arrested by the Grandmaster Monk Kane and held in prison for a long time. He was freed when King Artemis the First was captured by the Paladin King Gareth Dragonsbane, and Artemis's friend Jarlaxle saved them.

After many journeys with Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri, Artemis parted ways with them, and Jarlaxle returned to Bregan D'aerthe with Athrogate. Athrogate proved instrumental in their plans for Luskan, delaying the rogue Drow Drizzt Do'Urden (and also proving quite a match for the skilled dark elf) from saving Captain Deudermont of Sea Sprite, helping Luskan descend into chaos, and opposing Deudermont's attempts to save Luskan.

Athrogate journeyed with Jarlaxle to a meeting with Mirabar's Marchion to broker a trade agreement. When Jarlaxle was contacted by the Ghost King via telepathy, Athrogate was sent into Mithral Hall under the guise of a dwarf with a cure for Catti-brie, who was suffering from a strange illness brought on by the Spellplague. Bruenor Battlehammer, Drizzt, and Thibbledorf Pwent all set out to Spirit Soaring. Before long, Jarlaxle and Athrogate revealed themselves to the travelers, who reluctantly agree to allow the pair to tag along.

During the journey, Athrogate and the Gutbuster Pwent forged a friendship, with the pair always proving to the other their battle prowess.

At Spirit Soaring, the group met with the priest Cadderly Bonaduce. Soon after, they were beset by a minion of the Ghost King, who was a dracolich combined with the crystal shard Crenshinibon. The first time they battled the dracolich he was nearly defeated but took refuge on the Plane of Shadows to recuperate. Upon returning to the Material Plane, the heroes battled the Ghost King once again, only for him to return to the Plane of Shadows. This time, Cadderly Bonaduce followed and finishes off the dracolich, only to take the title Ghost King and seal the breach for all eternity.