The renowned dwarven adventurer Doug Melper went home to be with his Lord and Savior during the Grand Hunt of this year’s Winter Festival. While occasionally known as Delmer Milmica, Doug’s true friends knew him to be a Doug beneath the skin. If only because they did in fact suggest skinning him upon the occasion of his death, so he wouldn’t look like people anymore.
Doug had a great adventuring spirit, often enjoying camping trips with small groups in the upper altitudes of the Rimeshard Range. He’ll be remembered as a dwarf with solid survival instincts (well, up until he didn’t), capable of fleeing dangerous winter wolf assaults even as the desperate screams of his compatriots split the air with cries for aid.
As his final chapter came to a close, Mr. Melper chose to stand fast with this year’s Steelborn team for the Grand Hunt. First bravely offering up his own life to act as bait for bloodthirsty, flame-averse monsters, Doug heroically watched from within a rapidly cooling and darkening cabin as his newfound allies were ambushed by ice mephits. He gallantly allowed them to showcase their own battlefield talents rather than assist in any way, simply observing as they struggled to dodge the icy breath and sharpened claws of the malicious elementals.
Eventually, a combination of suppressing fire, roof dancing, and confusing familial instructions led to the demise of the mephits, and Doug prepared to emerge victorious from within his ‘bating cabin. However, just as he steeled himself for a grand entrance, it was stolen from him by a far more serious threat–a trio of yeti investigating the commotion caused by the fight.
The Steelborn team (two-time champions Ivan and Vern Rolffson and newcomers Anders Hornraven with his grandson Arlinn) regrouped at Doug’s urging, forming a defensive perimeter around the cabin. As cries of “START THE FIRE!!” rang across the frigid air, Melper valiantly carried kindling towards Ivan’s tiny fireplace blaze. It was only the slipshod (and some might go so far as to say deliberately hostile) construction of the cabin’s floor that caused Doug to trip directly into the hearth, smothering the flames while burning himself quite badly.
Yeti attacking the cabin on all sides, it seemed that the only way to survive would be to lure the beasts inside and set the entire structure alight. However, Doug, ever the bold and intrepid leader, instead took up arms against the invading foes alongside Ivan and, when he finally made it inside, Anders. The group turned the yeti into deati, but not before a fateful strike toppled one magnificent, heroic dwarf…
Doug Melper (Delmer Milmica) embodied the heart and soul of Bryn Shander: a zeal for life, a feel for fear, and a real solid understanding of how to be bait. Doug, this one’s for you, buddy. Doug be ‘bating up in the Celestial Plane now…
In lieu of flowers, mourners may attempt to positively identify the body of the fallen dwarf casualty at Steelborn Square immediately following the closing ceremonies of the Grand Hunt, celebrating three years of Steelborn team supremacy. Donations can be made to the Doug Melper Memorial Bating Vodka Fountain directly to High Thane Bjorn Vensson.
The Clearcrest Chronicle 