Burin

Burin
Gender:	Male
Race:	Dwarf
Unit type(s):	Dwarvish Steelclad

Burin (also known as Burin the Lost) was a dwarvish adventurer. Originally from the Great Continent, he accompanied Prince Haldric on his exodus from the Green Isle, eventually returning to his homeland.

Biography

Green Isle

I got lost while exploring deep underground, almost a century ago. I've never found my way home.

—Burin describes how he came to the Green Isle.

Originally from the Great Continent, Burin had past experience fighting orcs. Nearly a century before the founding of Wesnoth, Burin explored deep underground and eventually became lost. He maintained his course east, however, and nearly circumnavigated the globe, eventually emerging above ground on the Great Isle. He built himself a house in the Broken Mountains, some distance south from the Kingdom of Stormvale, with a sign indicating his dislike of visitors.

Almost a century after having gotten lost, he was discovered by Prince Haldric's refugees as they fled before the orcs through the southern pass. He explained how he had come to settle in the Broken Mountains, describing it as "nice enough". When Haldric informed him of their orcish pursuers, Burin enthusiastically offered to help, eager to fight orcs once more. With Burin's aid, Haldric killed the two orcish warlords blocking their escape through the southern pass, Tan-Schmog and Tan-NauVong.

Journey to Clearwater Port

Will this evil forest ever end! There are mosquitoes as big as my fist in here, and these nasty old trees are giving me the creeps.

—Burin accompanies the refugees through the Oldwood Forest.

Plot branch : Haldric chose to to travel southeast
Burin (left) accompanies Prince Haldric in the Swamp of Esten. In order to avoid meeting more orcs, Haldric decided to lead his refugees southeast through the Swamp of Esten. Despite Burin's objections to entering the swamp, he agreed to continue accompanying them on their journey. Upon arriving at the fog-covered swamp, Burin expressed his disappointment that they were not elsewhere fighting orcs instead. They fought their way through various undead forces and slew the three cultists residing there. Before they could advance towards Southbay, however, they were intercepted by Sir Ruddry, who warned them of a large force of orcs further down the path. Haldric decided instead to take an alternative route through the Oldwood Forest, much to Burin's exasperation.
Plot branch : Haldric chose to travel southwest
Much to Burin's delight, Haldric decided to travel southwest through the Midlands region. Upon their arrival, they could see smoke in the air, suggesting that the orcs had already sacked the area. They charged upon the orcs, Burin enthusiastically joining in. Once they killed the three orcish warlords there, they were intercepted by Sir Ladoc, who warned them against proceeding further along the road to Southbay, as they would encounter a large host of orcs. Haldric decided instead to veer eastward towards the Oldwood Forest, much to Burin's exasperation.

Haldric's forces walked for some time through the Oldwood Forest, Burin expressing his irritation as time went on. They then discovered a group of woses under siege from the orcs. The leader of the woses, Elilmaldur-Rithrandil, demanded that Haldric prove his non-aggression by helping the woses kill the surrounding orcish chieftains, Tan-Gralg and Tan-Rugar. Afterwards, Haldric inquired as to whether Elilmaldur-Rithrandil could help fight the orcs, who instead offered Haldric the opportunity to seize the Ruby of Fire, sealed underground with a Lich-Lord some time prior. Haldric accepted the wose's offer, who then opened the catacombs beneath the nearby temple for Haldric's men to enter, including Burin.

Once inside the catacombs, the voice of the Lich-Lord Lenvan rang out. Burin expressed his gladness to be underground again, but his unease with the catacombs' occupants. He aided Haldric in the battle against Lenvan, and they eventually slew him. Haldric retrieved the Ruby of Fire before they exited the catacombs.

Once back on the surface, the group learned from Lady Jessene that they could not proceed southwards, as the journey was occupied by orcs. They instead proceeded towards Clearwater Port. Once they arrived, with the orcs close behind them, they agreed to help Commander Aethyr evacuate as many of the refugees before departing by ship, much to Burin's frustration. After holding out against the orcs as long as possible, Haldric's forces boarded the ship and set sail towards Southbay.

Nautical travel

Fool of a boy’s just gonna burn us all up. Humans, always playing at being wizards.

—Burin fulminates over Haldric's reckless experimentation with magic.

On the way to Southbay, Haldric stopped at Fallen Lich Point to retrieve a valuable artifact, the Book of Fire and Darkness. Burin helped to kill the Lich-Lord Caror, before swiftly entering the sewers of Southbay. Once inside the sewers, Burin expressed his disgust with the humans' treatment of the cave. Soon after, the group realized that the sewers were occupied by hostile wizards, and were forced to defeat both before exiting.

Emerging from the sewers, Haldric's forces found themselves in Southbay, and were able to seek an audience with the king, Addroran IX. The group agreed to defend Southbay from more orcish attacks until the boats were prepared to sail east for the Great Continent. As spring gave way to winter, Haldric experimented with the Ruby of Fire, much to Burin's derision. When spring arrived, a group of orcs descended upon Southbay before the ships were prepared. Burin aided Haldric in defeating the orcs as well as a cluster of undead sent by the Lich-Lord Jevyan. Once the threat was eliminated, Burin reluctantly boarded the ships along with Haldric's forces.

As planned, Haldric landed at a volcanic island to re-provision his ships, to the delight of Burin. It quickly became apparent that a number of drakes inhabited the island, forcing the refugees to pacify them before carrying tending to the ships.