Okay so here is the Offical opening * uses huge novelty scissors to cut the bright red ribbon on the newly renovated play space*
Feel free to dot as you wish!
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The morning began like any other inside the stone, earth and brick home of the Foehammers. The sounds of hammer and picks on the stone, hammer on anvil and the sound of brick being stacked. Fires roared and smoke began to rise.The Dwarven hold for so long had awoken to such activities for quite some time. The quarry now a true stronghold that made brick and stone for the once small village of Ulverin into a town. Even after the copper mine was found and the dwarves began to reach even further.
All of what was built was out of necessity and no other reason. These Foehammers had fallen to some strange invader years ago, its survivors came here to establish a whole new home for the beleaguered survivors. Despite this, the survivors always hoped to return to the hallowed halls of Angur'Khul. After a few thousand years the population of the hall began to see the hope fade and many of its youth leave. Still, the elders never lost faith.
Faith that on this day brought fruition. Each of you awoke to letters summoning you to the main hall. The letter reads "You have been summoned to the Hall of Elders, Each of you has been chosen for your particular skills and talents required for what comes next. The Elders will tell you more over a stout brew and under the protection of the All-Father!".
With that, The grand hall stands in the center of the Quarry, its stoneworks spun by dwarven spellcasters Inside held the Elders and the shrines to the gods. Most of all it is the assembly house and holds the relics of the past and current Foehammer heroes. Here the Elders sat on the alabaster and mithral Table, with matching chairs. They sat awaiting your arrival. When you all have entered the herald of the hall spoke.
"Greetings Kinsmen, I am Branago the Barrel, Herald of the hall. Each of you have been summoned here for your particular talents and skills are needed. The Elders of Foehammer have much to discuss with you, however before we start do you wish food and drink?" He slammed the butt of his dwarven longaxe down hard and out came Dwarven and Halfling servants bringing forth foaming mugs of the Foehammer stout and the Foehammer Hash(Potatoes, Onions, Mushrooms with a special bacon gravy).
As the servers give him the stout, Boleal puts up his hand in refusal. He does, however, help himself to a large portion of Foehammer Hash. "Delicious. The gravy is excellent. What's in it?"
Absently rubbing a soot covered hand on his blonde (with soot black mixed in) beard, Bedlam ponders the summons. He looks around at his jumble of a work place; beakers boiling, pipes whistling, fires burning his coat! Jumping up off the stool, the alchemist hurriedly takes off out the front door jumping into a large barrel of water.
Best be prepared, me be saying!
The dwarf returns inside to gather his things, dripping water along the way.
"A welcome worthy of The Bearded One himself! Who are we to refuse such hospitality from our own Elders? We thank you in the most Dwarven way possible, by letting none of it go to waste!" With that, Torant offers his stone mug up for filling . . .. Then he lays in.
"Must be something special for us to be greeted so well. Are the Elders not eating with us? If it is urgent surely we should be eating after not before. But if there is no set time for us to talk, then no harm in going in on a full stomach."
Caradmin lifts her mug in a cheers before taking a swig and filling her plate with small amounts of everything. The dwarven woman hated waste, she'd rather need to back for seconds than have to leave anything on her plate.
Not everyday you get to enjoy a free meal in the Grand Hall.
Kilduer eagerly enjoys the meal provided by the Elders, thinking to himself, Fine food. Fine drink. Soon to be on the warpath. I'm not sure that this day could get any better... What's the catch? He says nothing though, and when he has had his fill, Kilduer pulls out a thick cigar and begins to chew on the end without lighting it.
"Heh... don' mind if I do!" Dunganagar laughs. "When the drinks are on the house I'm nae one te pass it up."
"Besides," he winks at the others. "A little bit o' ale helps to wash doun the bitter pill o' bad news, does it not?"
"When do we hear the doom tha' awaits us? Best wait until after we've eaten, eh? Hah hah!"
Dunganagar seems to find the notion of horrible news terribly funny.
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Branago looks and watches as the others begin to come in and enjoy the hospitality of the hall. As the questions came rolling in the wide-chested baritone smiled and twirled his handlebar mustache.
To Boleal he comes over his flamboyant grab showing behind his tabard."Yes, it is an old Foehammer recipe. Designed by the renowned dwarven chef Orborgo Foehammer, master Chef and welder of the deadly meat cleaver known as Hewer! It is said it takes the best mushrooms from the fields, the bacon from one of the prized pigs, and the beautiful flour our friends around Ulverin grow. It took him 2 heated months to render the right spices and mixture to get the gravy just right. As for exactly whats in it, well that is a closely guarded secret amongst the Chefs of the hall. Which I assure you will not be privy to any but the most trusted of the clan!" Branago smiled and chuckled as he went down the line.
"Ah Forgemaster Torgrym, I am honored to meet one of the devout of Moradin.I am pleased you answered the summons. Eat some more you never know what might be your last meal!" Branago said moving along with grace not shown by other dwarves.
"Master Bedlam, I do hope you don't spontaneously combust before the Elders get to see you?" he says moving along to the next chosen dwarf.
"Ah Brewmeister Torant, tis always good to see you. Your master personally blessed this batch. Just remember to stay sober!" Another chortle came from his mouth as he waltzed up to Cardamin.
"My dearest Cardamin, your beauty is only as pronounced as your intellect. The elders are still conferring heatedly over the choices they made, and the proper lead you must bear, Until then drink eat be merry, you all have much to talk about, for you will probably be on the road for quite some time!"
As he laughed he appeared with a smooth and graceful slide before the local hero Kilduer Shadowaxe. With a flick of his finger he snapped and a small flame appeared."Would you like a light dear Kilduer? I know you fear no fire?"
As he stands the mercenary comes in. raised by humans, the heralds eyes narrowed and said nothing. Barbarism was best left to the lesser races. As for the battle rage many have, Dwarves refined it to an art ,making them into shock troops known as Battleragers.
As he stands the mercenary comes in. raised by humans,
Seeing how quickly Branago moved from each member of the group, Kilduer initially had no intention of responding, however, at the silence and the obvious distaste for the barbarian showing on the herald's face, Kilduer attempts to ease the tension in the room. "My thanks, but no. Just enjoying the taste of it for now. The flavor of it mixes well with the ale."
Sitting at a table (water dripping ceaselessly it seems), the alchemist smiles at the herald.
"Sober? Seriously, Branago? Sober is for battle and working! A feast is neither! And you are providing us with just that."
Branago was about to say more when a pair of brass baritone horns blew. Almost as they blew Branago spun his axe about and handed it off to a strange looking dwarf, one with a stone skin and beard. As this dwarf slid away Branago clapped his hands and gestured to the risen dias in which a table was set. Ornate chairs of alabaster and each was encrusted with special inlaid gold.
As these came out so too began the seven elders walk in. mostly graybeards dragging the floor. Only Captain Amul Clawhammer current head of the Halls Defenses and Thane Ingot Foehammer wear middle-aged. As they came into the room plates were placed in front of them.
"Honored Elders, Your guests have arrived and have begun enjoying your hospitality. If you wish I can enlighten the chosen guests the details of why they have been summoned here?" Branago said as he turned his back to the elders seeing a subtle gesture from the Thane.
"Honored Guests, the Elders under the order of our esteemed Thane Ingot have brought you each here in the hopes you will answer the call for your Clan and your People. This quest they have laid before you is one that we hope will at least give us answers to the fall of Angul-Khul"Branago stated as the Captain rose from his seat. He held a thick leather sack and sat it down on the table infront of you all.
The Captian pulls the strings on the bag and as it pulls apart shining mithral bars bearing the sigil of the Foehammer Forge lost in Angul-Khul sit in a pile.
"So brave dwarves of clan Foehammer what do you make of this?" The Herald says noting the Elders now have ale and food before them, he gives them a chance to eat while the dwarven hopefuls sit at the table which rests over ten ingots of Mithral.
Ingra joins Torgrym in examining the ingots, though her knowledge stemmed more from a merchant background than blacksmithing.
She began discussing small markings and features with him, brainstorming their origin and authenticity.
Bedlam nonchalantly lifts an ingot.
"Pretty. Who had 'em?"
Branago began to speak but was stopped short by Captain Amul. "I can answer that Branago. This stack of horribly smelted mithral was recovered by some adventurers. They took out a group of enterprising orcs who took over one of our old outlying bases. These orcs had these in their treasury. When they found it and their bard or skald realized the sigil and brought them here. The Elder Kurthil took one of the bars and smelted it down. After that and a bit of magic, he divined that these bars are indeed from Angur-Khul! Unfortunately, it took a year to verify it all, and vet well you all" Amul said before he lifted his tankard to his lips and took a deep swig of Foehammer ale.
While other dwarves inspect the ingots, Kilduer, instead, focuses on the Elders, attempting to glean their intentions and state of mind for the reason they've gathered the group and taking an educated guess as to why they've all been called. "So we're going home? We're to head to Angur'Khul and find out who's been using our clan's forges, and then figure out whether it is reclaimable?"
Dunganagar flexes his fingers as the mithral bars are dumped on the table. Those're worth a bleedin' fortune! And they just dump them on the table all casual-like. Oh, I know what they're sayin'. Oh, indeed.
"If it's yer plan te pay me in mithral, I don't mind. No, not at all."
"But I think ye knew there was mithral down there afore you got these offa those orcs. So... what does this change? Did a reminder of the mithral spur ye lot te send an expedition? Or is 'ere somethin' else?"
One of the Elders has shifted his long white beard as he ate a bit of potato. After a second he looked up and smiled.
"Young Dwarf it would be a glorious sight to see the halls of Angur-Khul alive once more. Its legendary forges working the mithral into weapons and armor. would be glorious. So much so." The man said before he took a swig of his stout.
The Captian chuckled as he looked at Dunganagar."Look here lad, your enthusiasm like your fighting style is a bit exaggerated. This here my boy is the evidence of Angur-Khuls' mines and forges are up and operational!!! Not your pay"
Torgrym the mithral bars are not magical, the seals however are. If you look up all the Elders and the Herald glow with power!
"...This here my boy is the evidence of Angur-Khuls' mines and forges are up and operational!!! Not your pay"
Dunganagar frowns in thought. "If you say these bars are newly minted, I suppose you are the ones who would know."
"But if someone else is minting mithral bars in Angur-Khul, why would they use the same mark? Wouldn't they use some new mark of their own? Do you think there are dwarves in there doing this work, perhaps held captive, and this is their... message? A call for help?"
"But if it's a trap, who for? I don't think orcs can run dwarven forges, nor handle the difficulties of mithral. Maybe they need dwarves to teach them? No, that's illogical, just to make these bars would take invariable amounts of skill. But regardless, it does seem evidence of the working forges, and someone knew the seal to use. Worth investigating, for sure."
"But I appreciate the sentiment, Torgrym. Elders, did your divinations tell you anythung of the current state of Angur-Khul?"
Gathering his gear, Bedlam takes another handful of potatoes.
Well, we be s'ploring, so let's be s'ploring!
"Don't get it. How do a bunch of old ingots tell us the smelters are running?"
Before any of the others could answer the oldest elder slowly stood. Shaking from the ravages of age the wizened elder coughed and leaned heavily on the strange green metal cane. His free hand flourishes to the bars and the symbols flash aight in magic.
"Elder Feldspar, please this is not.." Said the Herald Branago,but was silenced by the hand of the king.
"Its okay Branago, let Elder Feldspar speak." The King said silently until now.
The Elder smiled through his long white hair and began to speak." These are recently minted, as the tinge, denotes the fact that the formulae for the mixture is off. Now as for the seal each of the molds holds the magical seal of Angur-Khul. A seal that was set in the molds that can never be marred and places the seal mystically on any metal product made from the metal. These are newly minted, as we have ascertained the whereabouts of all the unused bars. These, however, have pasted all our divinations and tests. The real puzzle is the fact our divinations on its history have faltered. Someone or thing powerful is obscuring such things. As for why we did this, it was to make sure we could track and verify our product. It was a bit shrewd but that was an edict of our king." He says before he sits back down and coughs.
"An orc would nae care about magical concealment, le' alone be smar' enough to dee it."
Dunganagar shakes his head.
"It sounds like whoever is in there can wairk powerful magick. Elves maybe? It's nae ma'er to me... I'll kill elves as happily as orcs. Their 'eads come off easier, even."
Branago smiled as he clapped his hand noting the interest in the bars and the mission amongst the gathered."Why Torgrymm I do have just the maps to the forge and the area. However, a few thousand years have passed on the maps outside the valley. Those are sorely out of date. As for those of the valley and the Underdark around, are all accurate, even the rivers as ol' Waterstone and his clan have made sure to keep those accurate." he said as he then looked to Dunganagar.
"We have noted whoever has decided to use the orcs and lesser creatures to do their work above ground. We heard rumor of Angur-Khul Mithral in the hands of the Hobgoblins of Fort Hag. Also, the Kobolds of the Krags have been seen using Mithral similar to the bars. Whoever is doing this is arming the enemies of Foehammer first. Even the nearby Stone Giants have been sold the Mithral. What our shadowy enemies did not know was the Stone Giants have a treaty with us, for taking care of the Fire Giants who were at the foot of the Volcano, in the hot springs. The Stone giants said the merchants used magic to disguise themselves as svirfneblin. They could not determine who exactly was they were under the magical guise." He finished right when a plump dwarf with a skull cap and muttonchops bumbled in carrying rolls of maps. he was in loose clothing that held multiple colored ink stains on a once spider silk shirt of a tawny hue.
"Any more questions? or would you like to equip yourselves? The King and Council have provided pack mules and goats, as well as a covered cart to house food and libations." he said watching the cartographer laying out the maps.
Bedlam looks at any maps pertaining to the route there.
Kilduer also moves over to take a look at the available maps, looking to determine variously the swiftest route, the safest route, and likely ambush points, consulting with Cardamin for the meaning of the various markings on the maps.
"So they clearly dinnae like ye Foehammers, but won't face ye openly. Cowards! Do ye hae any enemies like tha'?"
Cardamin nods at the Cartographer carrying the maps.
Mapmakers weren't numerous amoung Dwarves, and while some liked keeping their secrets, they had all worked together on one project or another.
She scans each map carefully, trying to suppress her delight when handling the much older ones, making notes about symbols, layouts, even calligraphy, and of course, the more relevant landmarks, trails, etc that may or may not still exist.
"Amazing. By the end of this venture we're guaranteed to have marvelous maps to use for the future. Now I'm getting excited"
"Food and libations will be important, of course. They always are. Rope and tackle and picks could be important, too. Bandages and healing herbs will probably be important, too. Maybe more than the rope and tackle. Wish we knew something more than somebody's in there."
"No Dunganagar" Said Thane Ingot taking a drink from his ale."They are clever enemies, seeking out our enemies and giving them superior weapons. They are wanting us out and in force. However, I and the council have decided to show some sense of force, while you will be hunting down the truth, including the merchants."
The thane then chuckled."Now if you think your battles will be light and quick, unworthy of a dwarf of your caliber,you are wrong. For if you make it to Angur-Khul, you'll have to enter the belly of the beast yourself. Surrounded by numerous enemies of unknown origin! I even you Dunganagar. I will only have to negotiate and skirmish with the likes of our obvious enemies. And handle the machinations of the Ulvrin nobility. Which if you want I would gladly trade with you."
Branago looks too Cardamin and nods."Yes, the cartographers' guild will be incredibly pleased with such finds, even the Ulvrinites will love that, the caravans from the north rarely share anything."
" As for the equipment, the halls stores are open to you. However weapons and armor must still be bought, but almost everything else is up for grabs that is not you know magical!" Branago added with a smile.
Bedlam shakes his gear, sending a loud rattle and clagging across the hall.
Best be gittn' a look 'fore we be questioning folk. A quick recon missiin fer information first.
"They are clever enemies, seeking out our enemies and giving them superior weapons...."
"Och, aye, I understand the principle. That don't change the fact that they are gettin' someone else to do their fightin' for them. Which means tha' there'll be plenty enemies te plough through before we get te the real fight."
Dunganagar shakes his head.
"Bah, it nae matters. Just I may need an extra whetstone for me axe. The one I got's like to be worn down tae a wee nub!"
"... And handle the machinations of the Ulvrin nobility...."
Dunganagar gets up and takes a long draught of his mug, slamming it down empty.
"So when are we off then? The less breaths the orcs have to pollute the air true folk use to breathe, the better!"
"Ready for what? To go ask the giants what they know or to try to work our way home with only what we know? I don't mind the walk, I could use the exercise, but I would like to know which way to point my nose."
"The giants could be just as much of a threat, but it is worth the risk to investigate the merchants. If our foes have taken the time to send resources to our other enemies, then we should work with equal lightness, and find out what we are up against."
Waving his stone mug at the elders, Torant grunts. "They said the giants TOLD US about some of this. They have been working with us already. Yeah, we could anger them and make things harder, but why walk away from those which have offered help? Not that they've offered ACTIVE help, mind you . . .."
"It could be to our advantage to see if the same merchants have been back to the Stone Giants. We might even catch an exchange if we are incredibly lucky.
So far all we can gather is they are smart enough to know that the mirthal they produce could draw attention, don't know exactly how to smelt mithral, can cast illusions of which the strength is unknown, and anti-divination magic of significant power.
That, and that they appear to be our enemies, or at least in league with them. Whoever or whatever they are, they appear to not want the mithral for themselves, or are selling the faulty bars only.
It's all very disturbing. I have a theory on who it could be, but it's almost baseless..."
Cardamin's gave scrunched in worry and contemplation. She hadn't packed for this. But the need to act was dire.