Henrik, Tamer of Iron was born somewhere in the Twelve Duns. He is somewhere in his mid-twenties. (Exact age depends on what year we're starting this.)
His grandfather on his mother's side was killed in the Great war. His two older brothers were killed in the war against Soulblighter. I'll come up with names if necessary.
Henrik was too intellectually curious to be happy among the berserks, so he went south to Muirthemne to seek his fortune. There, he studied smithery, which is what he did at home, and history.
He met up with Derrin and Ori (married couple, btw) two dwarven smiths in their mid-sixties who are among those favoring dropping all the magic and explosives and going back to the good ol' days of axes and mail. THe rest is as per my previous description.