Appearance:

To the casual glance, Bertram is the stereotypical Dwarf. Broad shoulders speak of great strength, while his hands look capable of great feats of power.  His clear blue eyes however speak of compassion rather than power.  His mouth seems capable of an array of expressions, varying from sorrow to laughter, and also to great anger.
Despite his appearance of strength and power, Bertram is a healer first and a warrior second.  He is capable of great gentleness, and his loyalty to his friends will not fail.  He tolerates no harm to children, for he considers them Domi's greatest gift to the world.
Bertram is very seldom found without two things: His axe, which seldom leaves his hand, and his trusty chainmail armor.  The axe was purchased from a strange store selling many wondrous items of a magical nature.  He paid all that he had for the axe, which he feels will greatly enhance his ability to serve Domi.  His armor appears chipped and dinged, but has suffered no damage that has not been immediately repaired, and Bertram is confident in the knowledge it will not fail him.   Recently Bertram was seen with a strange mark on his right hand.  It appears to be the red, staring eye of Gargul.

Personality:

Bertram was raised in a very stable home environment.  Loving parents and traditional Dwarven values are all that Bertram knows.  Thus he deals with friends(and foes) in the same way.  He is very forthright and direct with his statements.  He does not try to avoid conflict, nor does he cower from it.  These assets have served him well as a Priest of Domi.  This may give the impression that Bertram is a very blunt, non-caring person, Far from it.  Bertram is zealously loyal to his friends, and quick to sacrifice his life in the protection of the downtrodden.  His biggest weakness is children.  Perhaps It was the raising he received, or his time in the Priesthood, but he finds himself willing to do anything to save a child's life and woe to the one that causes harm to one of Domi's children.  Bertram does not seek death, but nor is he afraid of it and will do what he must to keep safe those things he holds dear.

History:

I always laugh when I listen to people in taverns telling all the grand reasons why they are Adventuring.  Its always a common theme.  Someone a long time ago wronged them and/or their family, and now they are righting said wrong.  Someone killed someone they know/love and now they cannot rest until revenge is exacted.  I suppose you want me to tell you how my parents were murdered when I was a mewling babe and now I am here to exact an accounting from the wrongdoers....  Rubbish.  My family is home and safe and will be at work in the morn as they have for the last 200 years or better.  Stone and Sea!  Must everyone have a tale of woe?  
I had a wonderful home life.  No hidden secrets, no scandals, nothing out of the ordinary.   My family has a good clan name they would never dishonor with some despicable act.  I have no intention of dishonoring my family or their name.   I have been blessed and felt the calling of Domi.  I have joined the temple guards and as part of their enlistment I must go out into the land and observe for any hint of war and evil on the move.  I am therefore looking for a brave band to join that is intent on striking out against evil.  I arrived here only yesterday so I am just now starting to look.  When I find a group that I feel can bring honor to Domi and myself I will offer my services.  Adventures are always getting hacked on and can use another good blade and a healer even more so.  Would I consider myself an adventurer? Good Heavens No!  I am merely along to look for signs of evil again loose upon the earth.  What?  How do we react if we find evil?  Well now obviously you have never dealt with one of our brothers before have you? 

Ah how long ago I said those words in haste to a bard so long ago.  Domi must now be teaching me humility.  Since that time, I have now found myself joined with a strange, but valiant group known as the Emerald Talons.  They are a brave and stalwart band of.. dare I say it? Adventurers.   I cringe at the word but there it is.  Take it as you will.   I was looking for a group that was on the move across the country but in my innocence I was expecting to join a traveling caravan, perhaps a bodyguard to help out.  Not even close.  I came across the Emerald Talons as I was coming to visit my Dwarven cousins in their mining operations only to find The Talons hired to fight a strange creature that had been awakened somehow.  Even as I entered the mines I heard the whispered name of the The Green Scaled One.  I grew cautious and even moreso after meeting the group.  But I did agree to help how I could.  We survived the encounter and my cousins even offered a way for us to escape the clutches of the Green One.   Suddenly I was one of them, almost before I knew what happened.  Strangely I was not as upset as I had once imagined I might be.  The group was heroic, brave, yet oddly gentle with the unfortunate that they met.  I was moved by their attitudes to offer my services on a more permanent basis.  Somehow it just felt right… 
Not long after this joining with my new friends, came the Cursed Time,  The Fall of Domi.  My mind was nearly torn from me at this horrific turn of events.  I was deranged for sometime after this, but I survived, again with the help of my new companions.   Soon we were being overrun by hordes of strange evil beings, ghouls and worse.  Again my sanity wanted to flee, but I was again strengthened by the ones I now name as my friends.   We have endured many things since these events;  The Return of Domi, mysterious events surrounding the one that the Humans, and Elves know as Parnoth. 
Throughout this I have had one thing remain constant.  The Talons have been there for me through each crisis, supporting me, comforting me, giving me their strength.  How could I do any less for them?  I find myself in no hurry to return to my homeland and settle down.   I can see how many would say that a life such as this is fulfilling and worthwhile.  I cannot and will not leave my friends as long as they have need of me, and I of them.  I think I begin to realize they are more than friends, perhaps even family.  And I?  I am just another of those ones known as Adventurers.