Bardin was right (again)

WHO IS BARDIN?

Some dwarves run toward danger. Some dwarves sing songs about danger.

And then there’s Bardin, who prefers to spot danger from a safe distance, chart it meticulously on a map, label it with three different warning runes, and then go the other way (or give it a taste of good old-fashioned arrow therapy!).

As a seasoned Iron Crow Sentinel, Bardin is not just cautious: he is a professionally trained catastrophe anticipator. With the eyesight of a falcon and the cautious dread of someone whose full-time job is making sure no one dies (yet), Bardin has successfully avoided more disasters than most dwarves have birthdays.

He doesn’t smile. He doesn’t relax. But he does hit whatever he aims at and, more importantly, he is almost always right.

Much to everyone's annoyance.

Bardin wasn’t the first to join Thugni’s merry band of misfits. In fact, he was the last—and not by accident. He arrived with a scowl, a travel-ready kit, and Thurri, his unnervingly intelligent Imperial Crow, who stares at people like they owe him rent.

The Offcuts first met Bardin on the island of Svart, shortly after convincing old Kragmir to abandon his retirement (again). They’d just wandered into a Hill Troll’s ambush—standard fare for a group that plans like a tavern brawl—when Bardin appeared out of nowhere and saved the day with a barrage of arrows and the unholy clanging of bells (Hill Trolls, famously, despise bells!).

Impressed by the Sentinel’s sharpshooting and his apparent ability not to die immediately, Thugni extended an offer. Bardin replied with several hours of frowning, a mysterious letter delivered via crow, and a very firm “maybe.”

The next morning, as the Offcuts prepared to leave port, he showed up fully packed and perfectly punctual. No one asked what the letter said, nor who the receiver was: some things are better left to corvids and fate.

Or at least, this is what Kragmir loves to say.

Now, you might expect a frontline Sentinel of the Iron Crows to be all bravado and bold leaps into danger. Bardin is… not that. He’s cautious. He’s calculated. He treats optimism like a contagious disease and carries enough backup supplies to rebuild a village. His pessimism isn’t a flaw—it’s a profession. He’s spent his life preventing disasters, often by assuming the worst is not only possible, but probable, and then preparing accordingly. Priceless skills, for a fellowship led by the most reckless Dwarf alive!

Despite his sharp tongue and endless list of things that could go horribly wrong, Bardin is indispensable: he can read terrain like a map, spot danger before it knows it’s dangerous, and navigate wilderness as if it were his own back garden. He may grumble more than he speaks and never trust anything that moves after sunset, but the Offcuts know this much: when Bardin speaks, you listen—especially when he says, “Bardin was right!"

WHO IS BARDIN FOR?

If you love well-executed plans, hate surprises, and think grandma’s cake still beats anything conjured by TikTok pastry wizards, Bardin might just be your dwarven spirit guide.

Reliable, responsible, and firmly grounded (both literally and metaphorically), Bardin is the kind of ally who’ll help you navigate the wild maze of daily stress and danger—and make sure you get home in one piece.

If your dream is to return to a simpler, more authentic life in tune with nature (with proper boots and a warm blanket, mind you), and you secretly miss the good old days when a walk in the woods and a ham sandwich were enough to feel accomplished, then Bardin is the Offcut for you.

WHAT’S IN THE KIT?

Sculpted by Carlos Pérez Bugedo, Bardin is the perfect kit for all Iron Crow Sentinels enthusiasts. From his backpack full of dwarven delicacy to his rugged cloak, we designed this model for painters who crave the perfect balance between crisp details and smooth surfaces begging for some brush wizardry.

The new design of the Imperial Crow was made to feel more like a stroll through a sunny meadow than a blindfolded dash across a minefield (I'll admit it, the original sculpt might’ve been a bit too detailed!). And as the cherry on top, the kit includes two interchangeable heads: hood up or down, your call.

I expect to see a whole flock of Bardins popping up on Instagram soon!

Want more tales of improbable heroism and professional worrywarts? Stick around.

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(Oh, and join the mailing list. Bardin says it’s the most responsible thing you’ll do today.)