"Life is a struggle for most and evil makes it more so. I would think that Torag would be pleased by any blow struck against evil."
Korim mulls your words as he eats and finally responds-You have learned Ang. Not enough, yet, but you have learned.
Life is a struggle for all. Each of us must choose if we will make the struggle worse for others or easier. Planning what path to take is generally the best way to find peace for oneself and lend aid to others on their paths.
It's the same at the forge. If you just bang about with your hammer you will end up with scrap, but if you see what you seek to craft before the first blow is struck you significantly increase the chances of making a work of value.
It's with that in mind that I have been crafting that set of plate for you. It will be a few more weeks before it is ready for you to don and wear into a fray but when it is time it will fit you like a second skin.
He finishes his meal with a hearty belch-Ahhhh, that hits many spots. Now, show me the wood you have brought back and tell me its tale.
Show the forging wood to Korim.
"I came across a massive fallen ironwood tree. It was broken in half, the base of the tree was still standing, but the top half was broken off on the ground. It had to have been a lightning strike, the tree still smelled of smoke or at least it seemed so to me."
Korim chuckles-Hit by lightning, eh? Well that certainly sounds like the right wood to use for your hammer forging.
You have done well Ang. Now I want you to take the next two weeks to rest and meditate on your journey before I assign you your next tasks.
Do you have any questions of me? Otherwise I must return to my duties.
"Thank you Korim, I will see you in a fortnight."
Time passes by quickly and before you know it you are back at the forge watching Korim work. He appears to be doing the finish work on your suit of full plate and has a set of leather straps laid out. Come over here and let me fit this on you while you tell me what you have been doing with yourself since we last saw each other.
"I sold some things acquired during my quest and bought some others. But mostly I have been practicing with various weapons in the yard. It helps clear my head and enables me to think. I have been trying to determine where and what I should do next that will serve Torag best."
Korim stops working and eyes you quietly for a few moments-You must know by now how rare it is for Torag to call a non-dwarf into his service as a holy warrior. In fact, there are still many here that are not sure of your righteous calling to the Hammer.
A true paladin of Torag shows compassion to those he protects and the families and communities that they represent. Before I encase you in this fine suit of steel you will need to learn how an average person fears the threat of violence and what it is like to be brave without the safety armor provides.
I sense that Torag has given you new strength and with it I task you to aid the villages nearby our Hall. Take what equipment you wish, but wear no armor and carry no shield. Your mind, your heart, and your skill at arms will provide you everything you need.
Look for a liquid most pure, for that is what we will use to perform the final quench on your hammer.
When you hear Torag's whisper return to the Halls and I will have your new armor ready for you, and more tasks to perform of course.
"I will see what I can do to assist the villagers and keep an eye out for a liquid pure enough for the hammer."
Ang gathers his gear and heads out from the Halls, headed to the first nearby village.
What does he know about the villages.
There are several villages that ring the Halls of Steel within a days walk or so. They have slowly grown over the years, nestled in the shelter of the militant monks, and provide a symbiotic economic relationship sending food and raw materials to the Halls and in return receiving finished goods and protection. In addition the villages have benefited from the caravans and traders that come to the Halls and the Steward even provides some limited army patrols in the area to support what has become a small island of civilization in an otherwise relatively untamed and abandoned area of Isger.
The monks give you a tabard with the Halls sigil emblazoned on the front and back and tell you that the villagers will give you aid and ask of you for aid in return and that you represent the Halls in all your actions while the tabard is worn.
Your day of travel passes without incident and one of the well worn roads deposits you at the edge of a village with no more than 20 structures in in total. There are several farmsteads on the approach to the settlement and you can see some small fenced off areas where sheep are kept.
Enter town and approach anyone that is there, looking for someone in charge such as a mayor or member of town council, or perhaps an innkeeper or someone that would know what is going on in the area and might know who would need assistance.
Tired from the day's journey you find that this village has no inn to speak of. The best you can find is a farmer that offers to trade you food and lodging for a days work of hay bundling-Brawny as you are, and with that axe, I just wish I hadn't stocked up on firewood last week. Oh well, you can help me bundle hay and get it into the loft of the barn. Wouldn't normally offer lodging to a stranger without a good dose of coin in the bargain, but you are from the Halls so you must be OK. Come on, the missus has some hogget on the kettle and just baked bread yesterday.
Ang helps out the farmer and inquires if there is anyone else who needs help or if there is anything threatening the community.
“Yes, I am from the Halls, my name is Ang, thank you for the food and shelter. Is there anyone else in the area that could use assistance or any threats that your community faces that I could perhaps take care of?”
After a long hard day of hay bailing you enjoy some dark ale and a meal with the farmer and his family-I think the Ferguson's have been having trouble digging that new well of theirs. Otherwise there is always someone around these parts that can use an extra hand. Especially one as strong as yours.
“A fine meal and refreshing drink, thank you, tomorrow I will seek out the Ferguson family.”
Set out early the next morning.
You find the Ferguson family farm a little walk outside of the main village. You can see a group of men working at something on the top of a low rise, maybe 15' higher than the surrounding area. Near the main house and the barn you can see a stone well.
Approach the group of men to determine what they are doing.
“My name is Ang, I’m from the Halls, can I help?”
The men look up from their labor, cross looks apparent on their faces. One of the man prepares to bite off what you guess would be a nasty answer, but hearing your words he notices your tabard and softens his approach-I'm not sure friend; CAN you help? We have been struggling with this well for more than a few days and the one down by the house has almost run dry and had gone sour before that; no good for the livestock or humans.
“I have no specials skills with wells but I am reasonably strong if you need another pair of hands.”
Why are they struggling? Is it digging the well or something else?
Detect evil in the area.
You don't sense any evil, and as you pause and reach out with your divines senses you notice that the gathered men eye you strangely.
Speaking to you a little slower than before you realize that men think maybe you are a bit 'slow' of wit-It would appear that maybe you can help after all. There is a large rock down at the bottom of the well that we can't quite move. It is too large for any single one of us to lever and we can only get one man at a time down to the deepest part of the well. We could harness a rope around the edges but none of us have been able to do that either as the rock is unusually smooth.
Maybe a fellow of your stature might be able to get it done where we have failed. If you are willing, we will rope you down to the bottom and you can have a go at it.
The well is wide enough at the opening but you can see it narrows as it goes deeper and if you descend it will be tight quarters indeed. Towards the bottom you see the reflection of some water broken by a dark mass. The rock perhaps?
"I will make the attempt."
The once salty looking group of men take on a more positive appearance as they realize that someone from the Halls is going to help them with their well issues.
The leader, who you find out is farmer Ferguson, loops you with the rope and slowly lowers you into the depths of the well. Your eyes easily defeat the darkness although the pressure of the tight quarters presses down on your mind and for a few moments your breath comes in ragged gasps, until you slowly still your mind by thinking of the sound of a hammer on an anvil.
After an interminable amount of time your feet splash down in about a foot of cold dark water and you can clearly see a large black rock the exposed smooth top of which is about 4 feet across.
Dig around the rock to expose the entire thing, see how big it is. Might just be the tip of the iceberg so to speak. Once Ang has an idea of its entire size then he can decide whether it might be moved as a whole or if maybe it should be broken up with a hammer or something before moving? He will be also figuring if a rope could be tied around it so it can be pulled up by the group.
You dig around with your hands as best you are able and find that there is 2' of stone above the ground and surrounded by water. You call up to the farmers to send down a pick or shovel and dig out another 2' before the water makes further excavation impossible.
Clearly there is some artesian spring nearby in the hill; just as clearly the rock at the center of the well is quite large.
Has Ang been able to determine full size and approximate weight of the rock? Does he think rock needs to be broken up to be mobbed? Can he get a rope tied around it? Does he know anything about artesian springs or the type of rock in the well that would be helpful? Would it be better to move the well?
Ang gets the sense that the rock is quite large and with it being rounded and smooth (at least on top) lifting it out will be fairly problematic and the size will make it tough to break up and remove, especially given the cramped confines of the well bottom.
It might be possible to drive some metal pitons into the rock, construct a pulley above, and rope it up but that would require some decent engineering skills and a fair amount of time.
From what he knows of artesian springs this type of rock is of the impervious variety that forces the water out elsewhere. It appears that the men above have just stumbled onto some bad luck in where they chose to dig the well. Moving the well location is definitely an option, but convincing the farmers to start over would be a challenge.
They aren't going to be happy with me or what I have to tell them.
Ang climbs out of the well to tell the men what he has found.
"I dug around the rock as best I could, I think I was able to get about 2 feet further down, but I still was not able to completely unearth it. It is quite large, send another down to verify this if you wish. I know you do not want to hear, as bad new is rarely welcome, but we may have more success digging in another location. I will leave the decision to you as to whether we continue here or try another spot, just let me know on the morrow and I will help again as best I can."
After several minutes of heated arguing, Ferguson finally goes down the well to verify your findings. He returns to the surface about a half hour later, filthy and wet, with a bitter look on his face. It is as Ang says. I can't imagine us moving that thing and we won't be able to widen the well without it collapsing. I'm sorry neighbors, but we will have to dig again.
There is a huge outcry and it looks like if most of the men will be unwilling to return and try anew, arguing that they have already spent enough time away from their own labors.
Farmer Ferguson implores the assembled men to return the next day, but his words appear to fall on deaf ears.
It may just be you and Farmer Ferguson tomorrow unless you can convince the men to change their minds or provide some other option.
“Surely the well will be completed sooner if we all work together. I can help others of you once the well is done.”
The men waver but for a brief instance before they realize that a member of the Halls is asking for their help. Your tabard and presence are more than enough to swing the decision and the men agree to meet shortly after sun up the next day and begin working on the new well.
Ferguson stands fully astonished-I thought there was no way in hells those fellows would give me another few days of labor. Send their younger sons maybe to make a mess of the job, but not come back and do it again themselves.
Though the job is not yet even started, you have my thanks Ang. Come, enjoy the wealth of my hearth, such as it is.
He leads you down the low hill to his farmstead where his wife and five children keep you company and ask of your travels and the goings on at the Hall. They feed you as best they are able; Ferguson even breaks out a small vial of peach brandy that he keeps for special occasions and shares several sips of it with you before turning in.
In the morning before you start up the hill to begin assaying the next dig the oldest son (maybe about 10) approaches you secretively and asks-You aren't a dwarf but you live at the Halls. Do you think they Masters would accept me if I came there?
“My thanks for your hospitality.”
Next morning.
Oh Torag, how am I to answer such a perilous question? I’m like to get myself in trouble.
“No, I’m not a dwarf, my parents took me to the Halls when I was very young and arranged for me to stay there. But I’m afraid i do not know what they said to convince the Masters to keep me. And I think some of the dwarves would be happier if I had never come there and would be happy to see me leave. If you wish to live in the Halls that is something you need to speak with your parents about. This farm is a good place why do you want to leave?”
The young man looks wistful-It's just so boring here, nothing exciting ever happens and it's the same day after day with lots of hard work. If they took me in at the Halls I could learn to become a warrior like you and have adventures!
“Excitement can strike anywhere at anytime, and when it comes you may not enjoy it as much as you think. Time for me to help out with the well. See you later.”
The lad looks quite crestfallen at your words. Clearly he was expecting more encouragement from you.
You make the top of the low rise and notice that happily all of the men from the previous day have returned, although a couple look frustrated to be there. Ferguson speaks up-Neighbors, thank you for returning to help me. One of the men mutters-Again... Ferguson continues-Yes, again. You all know that the next time you need an extra hand barn raising or bringing in a large crop me and mine will be there for you. Now, the last well placement was dug at my recommendation. Before we start anew does any one have a good idea for where to dig this one? He glances at you side long, clearly hoping you will have a suggestion.
"I have not studied engineering, but this area that we stand on seems to be about 15' higher than the surrounding land. Wouldn't it make sense if we dig in some of the lower surrounding land, wouldn't that put us 15' closer to the water and we won't have to dig so far down? Maybe we can dig at the foot of the hill closest to the house?"
*Ang tips off Ferguson concerning his son when they have a chance to talk without others around.
The men look at you and you can feel their disdain.
Ferguson-I, uhhh, appreciate the suggestion, but you may have noticed the well at the bottom of the hill. As I said yesterday, it went sour before it went dry. We are hoping that digging up here on the rise will let us tap into the fresher waters of the artesian springs of the area. The soil has to be just so and then the waters will come out of it. We thought we had the right spot but were thwarted by that large rock at the bottom.
The men talk among themselves for a few moments before deciding to dig in the spot they thought next most likely.
Ferguson tosses you a shovel-Come on. Let's put those forge muscles to work.
Make 3 STR checks and 1 CON check.
You find yourself slowly warming to the work before really hitting your stride about mid-day, but by the end of the day you are completely gassed. The men work about you and Ferguson gives direction while he works. It appears that the rock at the bottom of the well may indeed just have been bad luck.
The men comment about how much quicker the work went with your help even if they do give you some good natured grief about your late afternoon fall-off. You stay with the Ferguson family another night and the hearty fare at the table fortifies you for the next day. After your meal you find time to speak with Mr. Ferguson-Something bothering you son? You seemed a little uncomfortable at the dinner table this evening.
"Your eldest boy approached me this morning. He was asking questions about the Halls and the ways of the warrior. Like most boys his age I am sure his head is full of false fantasies about the glory of battle. I tried to discourage him, the reality is grim, but if you desire it I can talk to the Masters about giving him some training. I guarantee you he will find it as hard and unpleasant as any task you have given him around the farm, albeit in a different way."
Ferguson sighs-He's a good boy, but his head is in the clouds most of the time; thinks that everything else is easier than working a farmstead. I've tried to tell him that it's pretty rare for a farmer to see his guts spill out through his hands after an orc or a bandit carves him open but he just doesn't want to listen.
Thank you for talking with and giving him a honest answer. Thanks also for telling me the truth. You are a good man Ang.
The next day, refreshed from a good night's sleep, you rise early and follow Ferguson to the top of the rise and watch as the other men arrive. Everyone shows up again and Ferguson says-If we have a good day today it should be our last. If we strike water, I can rock up the well with Ang and my boys and you fellas can return to your steads. Gods blessings on all of you for helping me do this; I won't forget.
3 STR checks and 1 CON check please.
Ang goes crazy in the morning and then bonks before recovering somewhat in the late afternoon.
Determined to show the farmers your true metal you start the day with a fury of activity, seemingly everywhere at once-digging, hauling, carrying. You feel so good, against the other's advice, you work right through lunch and soon suffer from it as you struggle to finish the day. The other men offer you encouragement along with many snarky 'it's not how you start, it's how you finish' jibes but you know you have earned their respect as you find the grit to work through until the end.
As the sun sets Ferguson thanks everyone for their aid and declares the well fit enough to stone up on the following day. His wife brings a small cask of ale to the newly dug well and you and the other men enjoy the sincere fellowship of a group that has struggled through a hard labor together.
That night you find yourself so exhausted that you are barely able to finish dinner before excusing yourself and stumbling to bed.
The following day you wake later than you have and find that Ferguson and his family have already eaten and set about the daily tasks of the farm. A little shame faced, you track Ferguson down and find him fixing the pen that keeps the small flock of sheep for the farm. He smiles at you-Don't worry about it son. You earned the rest and it's a different labor than working the forges I'm sure. Can't imagine how tired I'd be if I had to swing that axe of yours for more than a few moments.
Ferguson gathers up his oldest son and heads with you up to the well where a large pile of stones has been asssembled-I'll do the rocking and you do the fetching. He then ropes himself in and slowly lowers himself down the well as you first hand and then rope down stones for him.
3 DEX checks, 2 STR checks, and 1 CON check please.
You recover your strength from the previous days labor but your timing is a bit off and you manage to drop two rocks down on Ferguson as the day wears on causing and . Ferguson climbs out of the well at the end of the day with a small and large lump on his person.
Clearly he's in pain, but he utters no complaint as he begins to prep the area for the next day. We should be able to finish this off tomorrow provided there's no weather.
Ferguson begins to wearily head home, stopping to yell at his oldest son who is leaning over the unfinished first dig, throwing small rocks down to the bottom-Come away from there boy before you fall in and break your neck! Once you help Ang and I finish rocking this well I'll set you to work throwing more than just a few small rocks down that hole!
“Sorry for my clumsiness, I can heal you if you allow me?”
Ferguson is startled as Torag's healing energies flood through him-I didn't know you were a priest?
"A holy warrior for Torag with some small skill in healing."
Ferguson looks somewhat awed-You do us a great honor Ang. Had I known what you were, I would never have asked you to help us dig a simple well. Heavens bless you for aiding us in our labors and blessings to the Hall for sending out their finest to be with the common folk.
“We help where we can and I am hardly their finest.”