Dwelgar, Son of Orthrek's page

"You have an impressive way with words, Mantooth Longbrow. Oi'm use tae mae father talkin tae the other clans, trying tae resolve matters justly, but nothing quite so eloquent like that. Did yae ever consider becomin a judge some day. Yae'd be good at settlin disputes and such. Oi also want to give the rest o' yae mae regards. It is a pleasure tae meechae! Oi hope Oi'm not interrupted any important discussion that needs tae happen! Please carry on as if Oi wasnae here! Oi'll just sit here and sharpen mae axe. Besides, Oi like hearin a gud argument!"

"Dwelgar, Son of Orthrek! Welcome te Brindol! We just arrived last night, we've been...huntin'. Took out a Wyrmlord an' his dragon in tha sunken city o' Rest. How was tha way, an' where's ev'rybody else? We'll get you all briefed when ye get here."

You cannot help but witness the joyous reunion of two great friends as they embrace each other with a hearty clasp.

"Oi shouldae known yae weren't just sitting around drinkin awa at the tavern. Mind yae, Oi'd be disappointed if ye didn't dae some of that as well! So ye went after Wymlords and dragons instead. Ye always did like tae get a' the attention now didn't ye? Just mak sure ye don't keep it all te yerself! We've got me Pa comin with o'er three hundred o' the finest clansmen!"

"How did tha spear-shooters work out? Me an' tha others Oi travel with have another pressin' errand, Oi'll be trustin' you te protect tha humans till we get back. Oh, an' make sure they've got some good Dwarven traps an' machinery te fend off tha horde. Oi'll introduce ye te Lord Kerden Jarmaath--he's tha human's leader--an' he'll get ye resources an' manpower if ye need it, an' if ye trust tha humans with makin' any o' tha machines! Har!"

"Aye, they put yer ideas te work and they're haulin them flimsy things along. Let's see if they don't fall apart on the way here!" Dwelgar gives Thordak a sly grin that reveals that the ballistae are likely made to last the century. "So ye can't just sit still. Ye have more te dae than enjoyin a few hard earned drinks and singing a few battle songs with the clan? Where are ye off te next Thordak?"

"Ach, what kinda way to move across the country is that! The wind is always blowin mae beard every which way and if yae let gae fer a minute, then yae'll be plummetin tae the ground tae yer death. Crivvens, remind me never tae dae that again!"

When Dwelgar dismounts from Hestar, he notices Thordak and walks up to his friend with a great smile on his face. "Well look who Oi see with mae own eyes, Thordak, son of Throtgar! Oi wondered if Oi would find yae back here in Brindol. What have yae been daein since yae left us back in the Hammerfists? Don't tell me you've been lollygaggin about here!"

"You will be eating dust for some time yet... but I would implore you to send at least a single dwarf aloft with us. Then he could deliver what words you wish to Thordak in person before we depart in the morning. But the choice is yours Dwelgar."

"Ach! Oi hate the thought of getting on one of those strange eagles, but Oi suppose it would be faster than walkin."

Dwelgar turns and talks to his companions for a moment.

There are about twelve dwarves in this group, but I realize that brigade is probably not the correct name for a group of this size.

"I see, and cannot deny that the humans need help. If there is desire I could speed the passage of one or more of you to Brindol? - so that an appropriate welcome can be prepared?"

"Uhmm, nae thanks! That will nae be necessary. Oi've seen Thordak fly on his winged beast and that is enough fer me to know that Dwarves are meant tae walk on the ground. Besides, we are just the advance scouts for the rest of the Clan. There are about three hundred armed dwarves following, including my father, Clanlord Orthrek. They cannae be mair than a few hours behind us."

"However, if yae want tae send word tae Thordak and the chiefs in Brindol that we are on oor way, Oi'd be richt pleased. Dae yae know how much further tae gae?"

"You march... to where and why?"

"I am Dwelgar. We are from the Hammerfirst Holds and we are on the way to Brindol under orders from my father, Orthrek, the Clanlord of Hammerfist Dwarves. We were told by Thordak, son of Throtgar of the inevitable attack upon Brindol by the hobgoblin army and we are on our way to help defend the city."

"I am Edvard, and I come only to trade words. Trust me when I say that if I had ill intent I would not have landed... We" pointing momentarily above to where the owls might circle still "have come from Brindol in search of savages to kill. Will you trade your own intent for that which I have freely given?"

The dwarf looks startled and perhaps a little confused at your comments.

The dwarves, startled at the sight of someone falling from the sky, raise their crossbows directly at Edvard and keep him locked in their sites. One young dwarf steps forward in front of the others and declares loudly,"Who are yae, magic weildin Skyfaller? State yer name and tell us what yae're daein commin down frae up there? Are there any mair of yae tae come?"

Thordak

"Here, Oi made some drawin's of a machine that might help against tha dragons an' bigger creatures. Oi haven't got tha time or tha resources te make one moiself, but if we've got extra hands...well, ye know. Basically a giant crossbow with wheels. Mind, tha spears it shoots'll have te be magical or blessed or somethin' te do anythin' against a dragon, but it may prove te be a big help."

"Thordak, moi friend. Where did yae come up with such ideas?! Have yae been oot in the world seein such weapons? We haven't needed such things before, but then again, we've haven't seen dragons in quite a long time as well. Well Oi know there are plenty of dwarves who could try and make such machines, but where dae yae suppose we should put these giant crossbows once they are made?"

@Thordak

"Mornin' m'lords! Like Othrek says, Oi'm Thordak, son of Throtgar. he says, resting his hands on the table and looking around. Oi came here te muster tha Holds because tha Vale is under attack. Now Oi'm not sure how much ye all already know, but here's tha short version. There's a horde o' hobgoblins, giants, manticores, some dragony-things, an' at least one big red bastard of a dragon. They call themselves "The Red Hand," an they worship some dragon lady. Oi think they're plannin' te raise some undead in tha Blackfens, too. Te tha best of moi knowledge, they're about three thousand strong, an' headed fer tha vale. Now Oi was able te take down tha bridge over Skull Gorge in order te slow 'em, but they'll make it 'round 'ventually. Oi'm headed te meet up with moi friends who're helpin' evacuate towns in tha way. Oi'm headed to Nimon's Gap, where we're gonna try fer a bottleneck. After that, we'll make fer Brindol to make use o' tha walls an' defenses there."

The dwarves listen carefully and mutter to themselves as as you tell them what you know. Finally, Othrek's own son, speaks up and asks, "Thordak, we appreciate yer bringin us this information, but from what Oi have heard about hobgoblins, they're not the most organized bunch. Oi hear they fight wi' each other more than anyone else. How could they possibly be mustered intae one big horde with giants and dragons? Is there magic at work or is there something that has united them together for this evil?"

@Thordak
• Sunday, Rova 30, 4710; 10.25 hours after noon. •

"Aye, well Lulu's a lot faster than me, an this is urgent! Oi'm gonna stop by home, yeah--Oi can wait there or meet ye at tha town hall, wotever's best. We should probably send fer Thaardin Ironhand, Uldrina Flamehair, Derra Copperfist, an' anyone else whose got some say in politics too..."

"Oi'll go and find Da, and gather the others. Go home and say hi ter yer folks. They'll be missin you. Oi'll tell the King that ye will be comin in about an hour. Let's meet in the Hall of the Hammerfist. Oh an Thordak, it is nice tae have yae home!"

Dwelgar runs across the courtyard, and then calls back as an afterthought. "If yae can get some o' yer mum's honey cake, Oi'id be mighty pleased!"

@Thordak

"Thordak, son of Throtgar at yer service."

"Well, pull moi beard out, Thordak has come home!"

A smile lights the familiar face of a familiar friend, the chief's own son. He then rushes up and gives you a rough dwarven embrace!

"What are yae doin ridin a big bird? I thought dwarves were suppose to walk places?"

"Can ye bring an urgent message te Othrek Hammerfist? Oi need te speak with him at once! Oi'm headed home first, will you let him know Oi'm on moi way?"

"Aye, Thordak, Oi can do that! He will be glad tae know you are back. He's in bed at the moment, but oi'll go get 'em! Will yae be at home?"

@Thordak
• Sunday, Rova 30,4710; 10 hours after noon. •

Thirsty, exhausted, and tired, you arrive in Ironfist, the center of government, and your home village in the Hammerfist Holds. As you touch down in the familiar cobblestone square, a guard approach and exclaims, "Who goes there?! Get off the winged beast or Oi'll have to introduce ye tae my axe! Speak up, and tell me who yae are. Oi'll like tae see yer face as well!"

Ironfist Common