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Disambiguous This article is about The Hero of Strength, Hammer. For the weapons of the same name, see Hammer (Weapon).

Some people call me Hammer when they think they're being clever. They're not. But I can't do much about it because monks make a solemn vow never to bash anyone's face in.
— Hammer to the Hero of Bower Lake upon first introduction

Hammer, formally Sister Hannah, is the Hero of Strength and a companion of the Hero of Bower Lake.

History[]

Adopted by the Abbot of the Temple of Light, Sister Hannah grew up as a monk practising their ways and worshipping the lords of light. The temple monks solemnly vow to a life of pacifism. As she aged, Hannah became very tall and developed incredible strength. Many would mock her appearance and call her "Hammer." Unknown to Hannah, her bloodline descended from ancient heroes who were known for their remarkable strength.

Fable II[]

With the temple's sacred ritual approaching, two monks are to enter the Wellspring Cave and collect holy water for the golden acorn's blessing. The ancient texts state that the strongest monk is to enter the cave, and the abbot chooses the second. Sister Hannah, the strongest, is selected to carry the jug and collect the water deposits. The abbot begins questioning the texts, believing the cave may be dangerous and knows Hannah's vow prohibits her from protecting herself. Instead of a second monk, the abbot recruits a protector for Hannah's safety.

The abbot recruits the Hero of Bower Lake as Hannah's protector and directs them to the Wellspring Cave. While waiting for the hero's arrival, Hannah sits upon an aged piece of ruin, drinking and singing to herself. As the hero approaches, Hannah says she "knew her lovely singing voice would bring the crowds." Sister Hannah jumps down from the ruins and introduces herself to the hero. She immediately likes the hero's dog, and they bond very well. Sister Hannah reminds the hero of her vow as a monk and explains how any fighting in the cave "is all yours." As Sister Hannah carries the water jug over her shoulder, she tells the hero she's envious of them, as they get all the excitement while she must act like a mule.

Wellspring Cave[]

As they enter the cave, they notice a bundle of wisps by the cave's ceiling. Hannah says they're lovely but are souls of the dead that never left the world. Hannah talks at length about the cave's steepness and details her time as a monk. She talks about the monks from the north who believe in transcending violence but must understand it first. Hannah begins imagining how her life would be utterly different if adopted by the warrior monks instead of her father. She says she would be the same person, but by changing her upbringing, she would have different beliefs. Although she has gained this understanding, she mentioned how she couldn't imagine ever breaking her vows.

Hammer&HeroWellspring

Sister Hannah and the hero at the first fountain.

As they arrive in the central chamber, Hannah explains how the three pressure plates activate a different gate, allowing them to proceed. Each pressure plate will require more weight, which they will achieve with each water deposit into the jug. As they arrive at the fountain, the hero and Hannah must stand on separate plates to extract the water. As Sister Hannah collects the water, she comments on how the hero doesn't talk much and how this day will probably be the highlight of her life - "the day I carried a jug through a cave." As the two returns to the central chamber, the wisps raise the Hollow Men and begin charging toward them. The hero begins to slay the possessed corpses. In amazement, Hannah expresses her admiration and becomes inspired by the hero's actions.

Sister Hannah thanks the hero at the central chamber for being there and questions how two defenceless monks would have made it alive. Hannah now changes her tone and says she would give anything to be free "of this stupid vow." The hero protects Hannah at the second fountain, while Hollow Men attempt to attack her while she fills the jug. She believes the creatures are trying to protect the water. The final gate stalls and the hero's dog runs through the gap. The dog returns with a detached hollow man's head. Hannah compliments the hero for the excellent companion they have.

Many hollow men appear in the final chamber, and the hero slays them all, including the headless corpse. Hannah continues to thank the hero and proceeds to the last room. Sister Hannah takes the jug of water and stands on the pressure plate in the cave's centre while the hero stands on the adjacent plate. As a ray of light appears, Hannah prays to the lords of light to bless the water. The gate blocking the exit to the cave begins to open. A monk charges in and alerts Sister Hannah that an agent of Lucien Fairfax is holding the abbot hostage at the temple. This news sparks Hannah to act. By the exit lies a stone statue holding a replica of the legendary "Hammer of Light", the weapon used to destroy the ancient Temple of Avo. Sister Hannah charges up the incline and uses her mighty strength to rip the hammer off the statue. Hannah heads for the temple, determined to save her father. The monks begin to spread rumours, stating this threat is due to them abandoning the traditional rules of sending two monks to the Wellspring Cave.

As she enters the temple, the guard threatens Hannah saying she must come with him, or the abbot dies. Hannah responds, "Like hell I am, you let him go, or I'll break you in half!" The guard shoots the abbot, and he dies. Finally, Hannah finds her inner strength and kills the guard with her stone hammer. Sister Hannah falls to the ground and mourns over her father's dead body. She begins sobbing and yelling at herself for being reluctant due to her vow.

The Blessing of the Oak[]

Sister Hannah at her father's funeral

In the morning, Hannah and the monks place the golden oak in the soil of the buried abbot. Hannah is accompanied by the Hero of Bower Lake and their dog. As she gives her final words, Sister Hannah makes a new vow that Lucien will die. The monks remind her to give the blessing, but she lets them do it. The monks bless the oak, then leave Hannah and the hero to themselves. Hannah looks at the hero. She vents and asks if life goes on as before. Suddenly, Theresa, the blind seer, appears and tells Sister Hannah her eyes have been opened. Hannah looks at Theresa and asks her where she came from and who she is. Theresa replies that she is someone who can tell her much about Lucien, where he is, what his plans are, and how she can gain her revenge. Sister Hannah agrees and says she would like to know everything. As the two teleport away from Oakfield, Hannah tells Theresa to call her "Hammer" from now on.

Call me Hammer[]

Hammer

Theresa takes Hammer to the ruins of the old Heroes' Guild. Theresa explains to Hammer how Lucien and his plan to rebuild the Tattered Spire also victimised the Hero of Bower Lake. Theresa educates Hammer of her true destiny and how she is a descendant of the strongest heroes. Lucien would need her blood to complete the spire, for she is the Hero of Strength. Theresa tells her of their plan to collect the others Lucien will need, The Mage, the Hero of Will and Thief, Hero of Skill.

Once the hero arrives, Theresa states her belief that the Mage is an Old Kingdom scholar named Garth. She says he was Lucien's research partner when he began rebuilding the spire. Hammer interjects and asks how they're supposed to trust him. Theresa explains how Garth believed Lucien's interests were purely academic, while Lucien thought Garth was only a brilliant scholar; when each learned the truth about the other, their partnership ended - violently. Theresa allows the hero to go to Brightwood but restrains Hammer for her safety.

After Hammer argues with Theresa, she tells the hero that she won't make her father's mistake of believing her faith can protect her from the world. As she steps away, Hammer yells rebelliously, "So I get to stay here with Mrs Barrel-of-Laughs while you go out into the world? Great!"

While at Brightwood Tower, the hero witnesses Garth's abduction and duels many spire guards. As the hero returns empty-handed, Hammer says she knew she should've come. Theresa redirected the hero to the pub in Bowerstone to gather insight on entering the spire. Theresa, once again, restrained Hammer from leaving the guild, as the task would require tact and delicacy, something Hammer is "unfamiliar with." Hammer storms off, saying, "I'll just stay over here being indelicate and tactless!"

The hero finds Lucien's old butler, Jeeves, at the pub. Jeeves provides the hero with a map of Lucien's buried diary. With the diary written in Old Kingdom text, the hero returns it to the guild so Theresa may translate it. Hammer questions Theresa on how she can read the diary, being blind. After she claims she can see into other worlds, Theresa discovers that Lucien is recruiting guards from Westcliff. Hammer says Westcliff is a dump full of thugs, and the only thing worthwhile is the Arena Crucible. Theresa tells the Hero of Bower Lake that they must enter and win the Crucible to gain entry to the spire. With Theresa's permission, Hammer finally exits the guild and waits for the hero in Brightwood.

Road to Westcliff[]

The hero and Hammer leave Brightwood together and begin travelling the Bandit Coast. Hammer comments on the "architecture", saying sharp pointy logs are all the rage around here. As the two proceed, they finally encounter Bandits and slay them. With Hammer getting her first taste of being a hero, she comments on the incredible feeling. She tells the hero that she was scared out of her mind for most of it but excited too. The two continue fighting through bandits until they reach the "infamous barricade." Hammer says it doesn't look that tough. With a wack of her hammer, she destroys the barricade with ease. The two finally enter the Westcliff region after charging in and defeating the Highway Man.

Hammer tells the hero she has heard plenty of stories about Westcliff and how it's infested with Balverines. Hammer relays the story of a set of traders who Balverines attacked. The parents died, but the kids survived. A slaver found the children and locked them in a cage at his camp. That night, the kids turned into Balverines and ripped every slaver in the camp to shreds. As she finishes her story, Hammer and the hero share their first encounter with a Balverine. As the Balverines die, Hammer mentions how she spent her whole life praying, yet the roads are just as dangerous as ever. Hammer feels like she is finally making a difference in the world rather than praying at the temple.

As the two proceed, they find a woman named Lilith crying about her dead husband. Hammer calms the woman down and tells her she is safe with them. Lilith says Balverines took her son and needs help finding him. They approach the howling halls where Lilith believes her son is within. As they enter, Hammer finds it strange that the Balverines refuse to attack them. She also mentioned how ridiculous it is that the main route leads through this dangerous place. As they all reach the heart of the halls, the door locks, and Lilith reveals herself as the mother of the Balverines. Hammer and the hero now face a dozen Balverines.

Further ahead, there is a pit of spikes and no way of crossing. Hammer tells the hero they must find a way out or they will die. The hero notices a weak pillar in the halls that has the potential of breaking. "Lilith" returns to her proper form as a White Balverine. While the hero faces Lilith, Hammer uses her stone hammer and all her might to break the post and create a bridge. The two proceed and exit the halls.

Now in the Westcliff camp, the two are mocked by the thugs. One pair of thugs, Biff and Ron, laughs and tells the hero they taught their pet troll (Hammer) how to speak. As they ignore them, the hero and Hammer approach the Crucible gates, meeting the commentators, Allen Murray and Mad-dog 'The Strangler' McGraw. If the hero is famous enough, they will allow them entry. Hammer watches the hero's dog as they compete in The Crucible.

As the hero emerges victorious, they meet Hammer at the base of the Crucible with cheering thugs. Hammer tells the hero she got in to see a few rounds and that the one with the Hobbes was "bloody brilliant." Hammer advises the hero to take some time for themselves before they depart for the spire. Once the hero ties up their loose ends, they travel to the Westcliff docks with Hammer. Hammer says her goodbyes and assures the hero that she will look after their dog and possessions.

A Decade of Waiting[]

Hammer

The Hero of Bower Lake would spend a decade in the spire. During this time, Hammer would continue to hone her strength as a hero and return to the Temple of Light for a short period. As time grew closer for the hero to return, Hammer began researching the final hero required for the mission - The Thief.

When the hero comes home, they meet Hammer at the Rookridge Inn. Overjoyed, Hammer welcomes the hero back and says she never gave up hope with Theresa "whispering in her head" about foreseeing their return. As the two depart, Hammer says she is meeting someone who may have information on The Hero of Skill. She states that she will return to the guild once she learns anything.

The Hero of Skill[]

Arriving at the guild, Hammer admits that her delay was due to Lucien's men all over the place. Garth and Hammer officially meet but tend to get off to a bad start. Hammer reveals her discoveries of a pirate named Reaver who runs the port of Bloodstone to the southwest. Garth begins criticising Hammer's research and asks if she gathered this information from a drunk in a tavern. Hammer replies that this "drunk" sailed with Reaver for years, captured hundreds of ships and would take down gallons with one bullet—the more impossible the shot, the quicker the crew surrenders. Theresa tells the heroes that Bloodstone is surrounded by the ocean and a dangerous swamp called Wraithmarsh. Garth suggests using the Cullis Gate in the guild, but Theresa confirms that it will only take them to Hero Hill. Garth proposes using the one he built at his tower in Brightwood. Theresa warns them that Lucien's men are guarding the tower. Hammer, Garth and the hero depart the guild and head to Brightwood.

Entering Brightwood, Garth recommends they use a different way into the tower, as the guards will expect them. As they travel, Hammer tells the hero how she returned to the temple during the last decade and states it's the "same old nonsense." She adds that the monks are "ignorant men trying to tell everyone how to live their lives based on books written a thousand years ago." Garth sarcastically says, "Nothing that ancient couldn't possibly contain any wisdom." Hammer claims it's only superstitious nonsense that never helped anybody and could kill anyone who believes it. Garth agrees, and the three proceed to Brightwood Tower.

After fighting through many spire soldiers, the three arrive on the tower roof. A great shard appears and transports more spire guards to the tower. Hammer and the hero protect Garth while he charges up the Cullis Gate. Finally, the gate opens and the hero and their dog step through first. Unfortunately, the gate malfunctioned, preventing Hammer and Garth entry themselves. Theresa orders Hammer and Garth back to the guild while the hero travels through Wraithmarsh to find Bloodstone. Eventually, Theresa reveals a vision of the hero and Reaver arriving on the Smuggler's Beach. Hammer and Garth arrive on the beach and meet the hero with Reaver. Suddenly, the great shard reappears, destroys Reaver's escape ship, and summons dozens of spire soldiers to the beach. Together, the heroes defeat the hordes of spire guards. Garth discovers the shard's weakness, and it explodes into the ocean. With Reaver attempting to escape, Theresa arrives on the beach and persuades him to join them.

The Weapon[]

Theresa transports the four heroes to Hero Hill in Bower Lake. They begin the ritual to summon the weapon they need to defeat Lucien. With the Hero of Bower Lake on the centre pedestal, Hammer steps on the pedestal, symbolising strength, while Garth and Reaver step on the pedestals symbolising Skill and Will. Finally, the ritual begins and creates a force field around the hero. Once complete, the three heroes lay around the Hero of Bower Lake stunned. Hammer says that the ritual hurt, and notices Theresa is missing. Suddenly four shards appear and transport Lucien and his soldiers to the hill. Lucien scolds the heroes for wasting their power on the old world when they could instead "build a new one." In shock, Hammer realises she is face-to-face with Lucien for the first time. She then yells at Reaver for attempting to sell the heroes to "King Lucien." Hammer looks at Lucien and asks what he has done with Theresa, responding that he "merely listened." The soldiers then take Hammer, Garth, and Reaver to the spire to complete the final step in its reconstruction.

Retribution[]

Lucien arrives at the spire with the heroes now in the main chamber. With each standing on similar pedestals from Hero Hill, Lucien steps into the centre, and the ritual begins. The spire is now completely operational and at Lucien's command. Finally, the Hero of Bower Lake arrives after being "killed" by Lucien and dismantles his power over the spire. The heroes are set free, and Lucien falls to his death.

Theresa arrives, allowing the hero to use the spire to claim their desired wish. Theresa presented the hero with the choices of Sacrifice, Love, or Wealth. Hammer will make her comments after the hero's selection. Hammer favours the option of Sacrifice - resurrecting all the innocents who died in building the spire. She will commend the hero if they make this choice but scold them if they choose Wealth. If the hero had a deficient morality but still chose Sacrifice, Hammer would be surprised and tell the hero their choice was "Noble." On the other hand, if the hero had high morality and chose Wealth, Hammer would be shocked and ask what happened to cause the hero to stoop as low as Reaver.

Now that the mission has concluded, Theresa allows the heroes to choose where they want to go from the spire. Garth asks to return to his homeland of Samarkand. Reaver desires to join Garth as he would like to find the "uninhibited people" within. Garth tells Reaver to stay out of his way but invites Hammer to go too. Hammer declines and states that she was so sick of avoiding violence, but now she is sick of causing it. Hammer turns to the hero and says a warrior always finds battle, which is why the Hollow Men attacked them the day they met, but the two monks would have found nothing. Hammer asks Theresa to send her north so that she may study with the warrior monks.

Before leaving, Hammer will say she needs to get away and "do some thinking for a change." She will comment on the hero's choices made throughout their journey. Again, if the hero has low morality, she will say, "It's a shame about all the rotten stuff." If the hero has high morality, Hammer will tell the hero that they are the only thing she leaves behind, as they are her "greatest friend."

Sister Hannah is a member of the pacifist monks at the Temple of Light in Oakfield, but has within her deep reserves of strength. Her large stature has led many of the others at the Temple of Light to mockingly call her Hammer, a name she bristles at, but unbeknownst to her, history may indeed have a need for her muscles just yet. When she isn't daydreaming about a glorious life as a warrior, she can be found touring Albion's many pubs.
— Fable II Official Strategy Guide Description


Fable: The Journey[]

One hundred years after the events of Fable II, Theresa reveals to the Dweller, Gabriel, that Hammer is a descendant of the hero Stone. Theresa confirms that Hammer has passed away, leaving no descendants to the long bloodline she belonged to. The loss of said line represents one of the last of the great Hero bloodlines, which leaves Albion vulnerable to The Corruptor and forces Theresa to make a Hero out of the Dweller.

There is also a location in Miremoor named after the Hero of Strength, a large campsite called "Hammer's Rest".

Personality[]

Hammer&Dog

Hammer and the hero's dog.

Despite her incredible strength and almost brutish nature, Hammer appears to be an articulate, intelligent young woman. Hammer is highly talkative at first. The Hero's sojourn through the Wellspring Cave elicits a near-endless stream of comments. As the game progresses, her talkative nature diminishes, and her sense of humour lessens. She remains uneasy around newer people and manages to alienate many of the people she comes in contact with. She is specifically restrained from dealing with Jeeves because of her lack of tact and manages to ensure her non-entry into the Crucible when she insults Mad-dog 'The Strangler' McGraw's nickname, questioning the reasoning for having two nicknames.

While she quickly becomes friends with the Hero of Bower Lake, Hammer displays difficult interacting with others. She initially shows anger and impatience with Theresa, lamenting her decision to hold her back from the action. She shares a very strained relationship with Garth. This is out of her hatred for Lucien (as Garth helped him at one point) for killing her father, and his pursuit of knowledge over strength, which she views as a folly in the Monks' teachings. In their last interactions, they seem to be much less cold towards each other, indicating that they manage to overcome their differences. This is not true of her relationship with Reaver, which is never shown to progress past barely restrained disgust.

Fable Heroes[]

Hammer Doll in Fable Heroes.
Main article: Hammer (Fable Heroes)

Hammer returns in the Xbox LIVE Arcade title, Fable Heroes, where she is one of the four playable characters unlocked by default. On the Hero Tile of the Abilities Board she can unlock Scythe. Of all the characters in Fable Heroes with melee attacks, she appears to do the most damage; this is no surprise given that she is the Hero of Strength.

Notes[]

  • Hammer is descended from the Hero Stone.
  • When your hero first meets up with Hammer after spending 10 years in the spire, there is a visible change in her appearance. After 10 years of being a Hero she seemed to have purchased some armour for her left arm and lost a bit of weight, although this size decrease may be because her monk robes magnified her size.
    • While meeting Hammer again after the spire, she will jokingly call the hero "You old bastard/slag."
  • She mentions after first meeting the Hero that others used to call her "Hammer" as a joke (and a play on her real name) to make fun of her size. What was once a cruel nickname later became a fitting hero title.
  • One may notice that she is extremely large (a physical effect of having a high mastery of strength), larger than the Hero can actually become from fully mastering strength.
  • In The Pilgrim card, which is about Hammer, it says "The Pilgrim's path leads to the north", this could be a reference to either the Hero going to Oakfield, located to the north of Bowerstone, or to Hammer going to the north herself at the end of Fable II, or both.
  • Hammer's Hammer, The Absolver, appears in Fable III as a Pre-Order incentive from Walmart and GameUK.
  • The Absolver reflects Hammer because to use its abilities you need to make yourself fatter (referring to Hammer's large size), became friends with 30 villagers (referring to Hammer's friendly personality) and kill 200 evil enemies (referring to Hammer being a monk).
  • In Fable III, Hammer is mentioned in the book The Pangs of Sunset. The book is acquirable after obtaining seventeen books for Samuel during the quest The Pen is Mightier.... The book can be found in Mourningwood by digging at the grave of Ilona Pureheart. The book is a fictional, homoerotic tale involving Hammer, Garth, Reaver, and Theresa.
  • Hammer makes a couple of casual comments regarding the Hero's lack of words when having a conversation with him/her. The first being, "Boy, you're a quiet one." and the second after informing what the Whisps are in reality, "Don't talk much, do you?".
  • Hammer, like the rest of the three heroes, represents the three stages of morality, in her case, she represents the pure and noble side due to her upbringing, friendly nature and kind demeanour.

Trivia[]

  • Hammer is voiced by English actress Julia Sawalha.
  • Hammer's given name, Hannah is derived from the Hebrew for "grace" which links to her being a monk.

Quotes[]

Some people call me Hammer when they think they're being clever. They're not. But I can't do much about it because monks make a solemn vow never to bash anyone's face in.
— Hammer during her first meeting with The Hero of Bower Lake.


Do you reckon we'll run into anything nasty in here? I mean, a dark, creepy cave is a hell of a place for a holy spring. Especially for an order of pacifists.
— Hammer to The Hero of Bower Lake, as they are travelling through the the Wellspring Cave.


Lords of Light, bless this water. That with it we may give rise to new life once more. As new life rises, so shall we.
— Hammer, blessing the water in the third room in The Wellspring Cave.


You let him go before I break you in half!
— Hammer to a Spire Guard who has The Abbot held captive.


I'm sorry, Father. Not that I broke my vow. I'm sorry I didn't break it sooner. I never did fit in at this place. We both knew that. And now I'm making a new vow...Lucien will *die* for what he did to you. I won't break this one.
— Hammer during the Abbot's funeral.


So I get to stay here with Mrs Barrel-of-Laughs while you go off into the world? Great(!)
— Hammer, to The Hero of Bower Lake, referring to remaining in The Chamber of Fate with Theresa.


You did it. You rescued Garth. Took your sweet time, alright, but you did it. I never gave up hope. Kind of hard to when *every day* someone's whispering in your head about *their* vision of the Hero's safe return. Honestly, there were a few times there I wanted to *smack* Theresa.
— Hammer to The Hero of Bower Lake, upon the first time that they meet after the Hero's return from The Tattered Spire.


Not like I'm leaving much behind. Well. Maybe one thing. About the greatest friend I ever had. But it's time to say goodbye. Take care of yourself.
— Hammer's parting words to the Hero of Bower Lake, if the Hero is good.


Gallery[]

  1. Fable: The Journey - Theresa confirms that Hammer is long passed along with the rest of the hero bloodline.
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