Bio

Able Rennet came upon his career path not of his own volition, but not begrudgingly either. Able Rennet was simply a dwarf who understood that when a job needed to be done, you rolled up your sleeves and did it. If the job was dirty, you cleaned up afterwards. A devout cleric of Silverbeard Clandeggon, he showed grim resolve when dealing with unpleasant tasks, and the church leadership eventually approached him with the possibility of studying undead in depth, and of learning the art of exorcism. Abel found every part of this task distasteful. Undead were distasteful. Possession was distasteful. Too though was the thought of necromantic malevolence, and so he did what had to be done for the church, and for the surrounding communities. He was fit and strong, unwavering in his faith, and so he took the burden of learning the art of exorcism, studying and refining, gaining experience in some of the most unpleasant locals, and gaining in strength and power. Some adventure for fun. Abel did it because it needed to be done.

His nephew Tallus showed similar devotion to the god, and had a much greater desire to go forth and sweep evil into obliteration, so with the blessings of the church, he took on the younger cleric as mentee, training him in the dour task of expelling foul presences from their innocent hosts. The two were different in their approach; whereas his younger protégé embraced War and (ironically perhaps) Healing, he himself was much more stolid and down to earth, finding comfort in the domains of Earth and Law. A studied, orderly life was what he craved, and when young Tallus took up the missionary torch, Abel was grateful to retreat to his hillside home, studying history and literature, science and nature, planes and the multiverse. Living a life of exorcism and dealing with the most foul devils and pits of hell is dour and somber work, and he didn’t enjoy dour and somber. He enjoyed church teaching, and he enjoyed studying the healing arts, though in his own ways. He knew divine healing was more effective and more efficient, but there was something satisfying and “real” about curing wounds and illness using the plants and herbs the earth (from god) provided. The gods, he knew, worked in more ways than direct columns of flame crashing unto foes. They also gave us tools, albeit much more subtly, and one had to employ patience and diligence in order to find them.

As he settled back into his life in the mountains, his standing in the church grew, and his admiration from the clan was held in high esteem in no small part to his contribution to the eradication of several undead epidemics. Eventually the torch was passed, as it always does, and he accepted leadership of the temple. In time, his grew to be the eminent authority in the church hierarchy. Whether this position of extreme power (as the church is law amongst his people) was his goal none could say, for he accepted it with the same resolve as he accepted all his life’s work. It simply needed to be done. And he was good at it. The people loved him, and he was fair and a kindly dwarf. His wisdom exceeded most, and his knowledge of the world and its past gave him a rich and diverse perspective of the place of religion in the world. He had grown quite close to his nephew and the love was mutually returned. Abel taught the younger cleric some of the things he learned about natural healing, and Tallus took to it immediately. It was unclear if he found the same simple pleasure in it or if he simply enjoyed the enhancement to his own Domain, but either way, it was a much more enjoyable pastime they could share.

Many decades later, through his more cultured contacts with the outside world, the younger dwarf learned of rumors of an undead army in a distant land. Knowing it had to be dealt with, Abel granted Tallus leave to investigate and engage the forces of darkness. What he found was the single greatest (if great can be a descriptor of unspeakable evil) army of walking dead history has ever known. The story has been told often and in much better prose, so suffice to say the torch was once again passed, and Abel retired from leadership of the Church of Silverbeard. He did relocate however, along with the rest of the clan and 90% of the race of Sacred Dwarves on this plane. He is thrilled at the surge of popularity with his god, and knows that the right time and the right place has finally arrived for the Church to be a world renowned force for good. He is proud of his younger relative, and in awe of all that he has accomplished. He would follow him to the ends of the earth if asked.

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Able Rennet accepted a position as Director of Preservation Hospital in Darkot, and spends his time focusing on the natural sciences of physiology and botany, and of mental health. He works closely with his nephew, advising him when possible, receiving advice in return, and consulting with him and with the dwarves of Darkot on the advances to the hospital to keep it the most cutting edge (no pun intended) scientifically based research and teaching hospital in the world.