BX-88

BX-88 is a warforged warrior known for his involvement in the Phandelver Adventure. A massive, imposing figure, BX towers over seven feet tall and weighs over three hundred and fifty pounds, all clad in black, dwarven plate. Despite his fearsome appearance, a good heart beats within BX, born both of his experiences in battle and his relative naivety as a being who has only been conscious for about seven years.

In the course of the Phandelver Adventure, through an unlikely series of events, BX acquired rulership over the goblins of the Cragmaw tribe. He now rules over Cragmaw as its Iron Lord, assisted by his goblin seneschal, Lord Droop Sorrowheart. He hopes to lead the goblins into a new life of peaceful coexistence with the other mortal folk of Andaria.

Backstory
BX-88 was constructed by the Rhunintelk dwarves to act as a commander for a small troop of similar war constructs. Unlike his less sophisticated brethren, BX was constructed with heightened mental faculties, so as to coordinate his subordinates in battle with greater efficiency. Thus constructed, BX and his lesser golems were tasked with defending a remote mine, far from the safety of the great dwarven cities.

Generally, the foes that BX and his golems were tasked to repel were orcs and goblinoids, an ever-present menace in the lands of Rhunintelk. For the first six years of his life, BX lived in an environment of constant vigilance, broken up with armed conflict against would-be robbers and raiders. The dwarves built BX and the other constructs to kill orcs quickly and without qualms; and for six years, BX performed his duties admirably.

However, one night, in the aftermath of an orc raid, BX was ordered to run down fleeing foes and slay them. BX obeyed, as he was designed to do; yet, as he cut down one fleeing foe after another, his conscience awakened, and BX was troubled by the grim work that was his task.

And so, late one night as the dwarven miners were slumbering, BX decided to leave. And leave he did, that foggy night, intending never to return to the place that had been his home.

After leaving Rhunintelk, BX-88 made his way through the plains of Lordsleague, spending his nights at the inns, and his days on the roads along the rivers. Determined to put as much distance between himself and his old dwarven masters as possible, BX decided to make for Althoria, a land known as a peaceful realm. To reach Althoria, he would have to cut through the dark forest known as the Darschelfaeryn.

Owing to his inexperience in the ways of the world, BX did not know of the Darschelfaeryn's sinister reputation. As a result, one day in those woods, he left the road to investigate something that sounded like a cry for help. Instead of finding the source of those cries, he ran across a pack of wolves, lean and hungry. The wolves' eyes locked onto BX's, and an instant later, they leapt to attack.

BX's impeccable training with arms aided him in his combat against the wolves, but the danger was real. Just as BX was fearing he might be overrun, an arrow whistled into the dark clearing, striking one wolf in the flank. At that moment, an elven hunter emerged from the woodline, and aided BX in finishing off the last of the wolves. After that encounter, the elf introduced himself as Ryathon Silverthorn, a wanderer in the wilds. BX explained that he intended to make his way to Althoria, a land where BX could find a new beginning. Upon hearing this, Ryathon offered to escort BX through the woods personally.

The two have been fast friends ever since.

Personality
BX-88's experiences as a soldier continue to define him to this day. He believes firmly in the importance of honor and following one's conscience. At the same time, he is haunted by his past experiences in war, and the memories of the foes he cut down as they fled haunt him.

Since he deserted, BX has developed a philosophy of live and let live. He does not think that mere ideals are worth killing over or going to war for, and he firmly believes that violence should be used only when it is necessary. At times, his belief in the goodness of others and the importance of personal honor approaches naivety; yet, if BX is questioned on this, BX is content to say that his conscience is at ease, and that matters most of all.

Now that BX has assumed the title of Iron Lord of Cragmaw, BX has taken his new office to heart. He has found a new home, and a new chance to lead those who were once his sworn enemies into a new life of peace. He is prepared to do anything to protect those whom he now leads.