Kelborn finds himself in the same overworked leather crafter's shop.
"Ah, Hru. I thought you might be here. Worry not, you do not have to return my extra pair of boots." At this, Kelborn turns to the shopkeep. "I will be needing to buy another pair, however. How long do you suspect this will take, my cobbling friend?"
The leather crafter begins to look a little overwhelmed. Seeing that Manfred is not some guard from the Keep but one of the heroes from the spires and that Kelborn seems to know them as well he stands.
"I ... Welcome," he manages. "Look. I'm Rustin. My wife ... well ... when the spires are safe ... We'd like to move there. All the business at the Keep is wearing me out. I want some place to do my art. ... Is it ... ? I mean, when do you think the spires will allow new families?"
Hru answers the cobbler's question. "It's as safe as here...but they have much repair work to do on the living quarters up there. I've hunted the valley below and I'm sure there will be a ready supply of hides to be tanned as well as a ready supply of hard working dwarves in need of tack and boots..." he stops and cracks a wide grin "though they are a bit particular"
"I ... Welcome," he manages. "Look. I'm Rustin. My wife ... well ... when the spires are safe ... We'd like to move there. All the business at the Keep is wearing me out. I want some place to do my art. ... Is it ... ? I mean, when do you think the spires will allow new families?"
Sir Manfred replies; "I will certianly bring your request to King Klyndak, but I can make no promises. The king has his own ideas for the future of the spires, and they aren't even completely cleared of hazards yet."
The leather crafter thanks you and apologizes. As he gets the fit for Hru's and Kelborn's boots he tells the story of Orlan saving his wife and child and how she feels beholden to him. His wife also wants him to retire from the day-to-day business of the shop. He says something about the marriage working out surprisingly well considering he was one of "Kerrigan's Twenty". He doesn't explain what that means.
He promises to have the leather barding for Trouble fitted at the stables.
Later that evening ... Quite a crowd of soldiers, merchants, and staff have gathered in the seldom use main hall of Kerrigan's residence. The food is simple but abundant. The crowd remembers that half a dozen men were severely wounded in the battle today, of which three have died. Still, the atmosphere is festive.
As the evening winds on, someone calls for a "Boast". Darby, Kerrigan's personal servant, stands.
Waving his hand towards Klyndak, Hru, Ovirid, Manfred, Kelborn, and Yin, Darby begins.
"Fate hung heavy in the air that evening," Darby begins with not even the hint of a smile. "The pounding at the door had the deep tone of destiny. I set down the scrolls I had been so dutifully translating for my good Lord and Master and hurried the the entrance foyer. I was not mistaken. Three loud knocks again, each with the weight and urgency of a heroic quest begun."
"Opening the door, I saw, on our humble doorstep, a dwarf who would be King. Even then, the moonlight anointed his shoulders, casting a crown upon his royal brow."
The audience applauds and then turns to you.
There is a pause as they wait.
"It's your turn," says Falcon Warchild. "Each speaker must outdo the next. Just take your cue from Darby. He makes opening the door sound like mission from above."
The audience waits for one of you to continue the story.
I wait politely for a moment, willing to allow others their moment of fun, but when the silence seems to grow a little long, I harrumph my throat clear, stand and intone, "Somewhere the hammer fell... Somewhere thunder crashed... Somehere the anvil lay broken! Now was the moment of fate. Now was the moment of truth. The future hung uncertainly in the balance and gods themselves watched with bated breath. Feeling the weighty eyes of countless generations upon him, the valiant dwarf stepped over the threshhold and entered the room."
The audience applauds politely but it is clear they are expecting less truth and more bravado.
Falcon, who has heard much of your story, elbows Hru, "Tell them about the river journey!"
Kelborn steps up before Hru, speaking eloquently, though half-jokingly the whole time. "There, at the dwarf's side, was his human companion, a tall man of startling looks so good that even the most chaste of women would blush at his passing. He was so skilled and athletic, he once hopped a 20ft. gap in a broken bridge with hardly a running start.
He approached the door, standing tall as the thunder crashed and the lightning flashed around him. He put his hand on his dwarven companion's shoulder and spoke with resolve:
'My good friend, though we may meet our fate tonight, know that I shall be at your side, ready to protect you and aid you in any way. We shall be victorious tonight, despite the ill omens surrounding us! I swear it on the grave of Aroden!'
And with that the man drew his blade and, moving with a warrior's gait, approached the door where their destiny lay."
Kelborn waits, as if expecting applause.
A very unsure dwarf stands...
"Ah, er. Well, Ah'm not much fer talkin' o' meself, so Ah'll draw yer attention t' yon young knight. Ah seen 'im 'n one o' yer own 'oldin' off a 'andful o' orcs. When they got a lucky 'it on yer man, 'e took one out single-'andedly, but 'e 'ad t' step back 'r collapse from blood loss. Me lad Manfred stepped between 'im 'n th' other two and laid about wit' sword 'n shield wit' such skill 'at neither could approach 'n 'e cut 'em both down. Any dwarf 'ould be proud t' be fightin' alongside 'at young'un, Ah'm fer sayin'."
With that, Ovirid abrupts sits back down.
Hru looks like a deer in the sunrods. How can a green person look so red?
he stands up and stammmers...
"Well, now that you mention it, there was a certain amount of mishap involved in the quest for the throne...er no that's not..eh"
"Well if it be Gorum's will, then the tale may come out." Hru pauses and takes a long draught, emptying his yard of ale.
Well after the hoard of Bat riders we defeated (that's another tale) The King, his two protective cousin's-the Canyonfathers, one of the smoothest (and prettiest) elves I've ever seen and my self, humble chosen of Gorum, made our way past some really disturbing stuff (again another tale) to the gateway to the spires. We were confronted with taking the stairs to the first spire by a virtual horde of evil and despicable humanoids. They had somehow brought an ogre....yes a real man eating giant, into their service!"
Hru pauses to make sure people are still listening.
"He had 4 rows of huge teeth that jutted from his jaws and were crusted with the blackened blood of any humans unfortunate enough to find themselves his victim. It charged down the stairs-nay! Used some kind of foul sorcery to float down the stairs leading a horde of goblins behind it!! The brave Canyonfathers led the charge with me up the stairs at great disadvantage and by Gorum's will I decimated the beast with a blow! But alas Dareg, bravest of us all was carried over the edge!! The finest dwarven warrior (next to his brother and perhaps the Kings other cousin) of all time cast into the valley like a stone, never to see the quest to it's pinnacle!!"
Hru slumps a little and looks as if he might lose it beforre quickly interjecting "But Gorum's will is known to Gorum alone..."
and then he goes silent.
Kelborn steps up before Hru, speaking eloquently, though half-jokingly the whole time. "There, at the dwarf's side, was his human companion, a tall man of startling looks so good that even the most chaste of women would blush at his passing. He was so skilled and athletic, he once hopped a 20ft. gap in a broken bridge with hardly a running start.
He approached the door, standing tall as the thunder crashed and the lightning flashed around him. He put his hand on his dwarven companion's shoulder and spoke with resolve:
'My good friend, though we may meet our fate tonight, know that I shall be at your side, ready to protect you and aid you in any way. We shall be victorious tonight, despite the ill omens surrounding us! I swear it on the grave of Aroden!'
And with that the man drew his blade and, moving with a warrior's gait, approached the door where their destiny lay."
Kelborn waits, as if expecting applause.
The audience is split between applauding Kelborn and shouting him down with 'braggart'. There is hardly a consensus though, so the boast continues.
A very unsure dwarf stands...
"Ah, er. Well, Ah'm not much fer talkin' o' meself, so Ah'll draw yer attention t' yon young knight. Ah seen 'im 'n one o' yer own 'oldin' off a 'andful o' orcs. When they got a lucky 'it on yer man, 'e took one out single-'andedly, but 'e 'ad t' step back 'r collapse from blood loss. Me lad Manfred stepped between 'im 'n th' other two and laid about wit' sword 'n shield wit' such skill 'at neither could approach 'n 'e cut 'em both down. Any dwarf 'ould be proud t' be fightin' alongside 'at young'un, Ah'm fer sayin'."
With that, Ovirid abrupts sits back down.
The audience politely applauds Ovirid but many of them glance at each other with raised eyebrows.
"He doesn't get it," comments one.
"Whoever heard of a dwarf that couldn't boast," says another intentionally loudly. "Thought that was a racial trait."
Hru looks like a deer in the sunrods. How can a green person look so red?
he stands up and stammmers...
"Well, now that you mention it, there was a certain amount of mishap involved in the quest for the throne...er no that's not..eh"
"Well if it be Gorum's will, then the tale may come out." Hru pauses and takes a long draught, emptying his yard of ale.
Well after the hoard of Bat riders we defeated (that's another tale) The King, his two protective cousin's-the Canyonfathers, one of the smoothest (and prettiest) elves I've ever seen and my self, humble chosen of Gorum, made our way past some really disturbing stuff (again another tale) to the gateway to the spires. We were confronted with taking the stairs to the first spire by a virtual horde of evil and despicable humanoids. They had somehow brought an ogre....yes a real man eating giant, into their service!"
Hru pauses to make sure people are still listening.
"He had 4 rows of huge teeth that jutted from his jaws and were crusted with the blackened blood of any humans unfortunate enough to find themselves his victim. It charged down the stairs-nay! Used some kind of foul sorcery to float down the stairs leading a horde of goblins behind it!! The brave Canyonfathers led the charge with me up the stairs at great disadvantage and by Gorum's will I decimated the beast with a blow! But alas Dareg, bravest of us all was carried over the edge!! The finest dwarven warrior (next to his brother and perhaps the Kings other cousin) of all time cast into the valley like a stone, never to see the quest to it's pinnacle!!"
Hru slumps a little and looks as if he might lose it beforre quickly interjecting "But Gorum's will is known to Gorum alone..."
and then he goes silent.
The audience seems to be surprised that an uncivilized half-orc would be so good at this game. They applaud sincerely and glance around to see who would top this tale.
"Well-played," says Kerrigan. "Praising the Canyonfathers while telling tall tales."
Sir Manfred, sweat trickling down his brow as his turn rapidly approaches, suddenly has a terrific urge to go to the bathroom.
As he gets up to flee, a sudden shout of "I, SIR MANFRED HAVE A TALE TO TELL!!". Coming from some somewhere sounding just like him. And suddenly all eyes are upon him.
Grimacing as the fearsome moment arrives, he glances to the side.
His suspicians confirmed by Yin gigling into her wine cup.
Bracing himself he faced the audience.
"Savage orcs rung the valley,
showering Kerrigan's men
with bow and bolt,
mangonel and catapult,
hellfire and blackend spell
cast by tratiorous man and sorcerer vile.
King Klyndak travelled out,
to meet the threat he heard about.
He saw the flare he heard the shouts,
Stealthily he approached,
as the orcs they scream and shout.
King Klyndak he should have run,
'gainst odds more than forty to one.
But undaunted he looked and saught,
the means by which the enemy faught;
To save those men as an ally ought.
Then he saw the crux of the enemy might,
And planned to take to the enemy fight.
Sternly he pointed and shouted "Attack!"
As Ovirid and Kelborn and we all acted.
Ovirid he shot down the orcs at the catapult
then shook out his axes and to the fight vaulted.
Kelborn approached unseen to the fray,
Attacked from behind then the blood it did spray.
Hru Gorumgrag was filled with exaltation,
his sword flashed with holy light
as he screamed Gorum's salutation
and lept into the fight.
Yin's eyes flashed with the fire
that lept from her hands to the enemy's pyre.
Quarrel he shouted and crashed into the enemy
his morning star whirling in a frenzy.
King Klyndak he was not last,
his enemies erupted in a firey blast.
Sir Manfred he saw a line
of approach to hit the enemy blind
At the shout of "Charge" his mount Trouble did run
towards the enemy, not wanting less fun
Sir Manfred lowered his lance and pennon
he thundered toward the enemy one
A Captain! In charge of the catapult crew
he laughed at the sight of the heroic few
Sir Manfred he charged 'tween explosions right and left
In a shower of fire and a splinter of lance
he caught the enemy and pinned him to a cliff.
In the midst of the enemy did King Klyndak charge,
Through enemy brains his warhammer did barge.
The enemy did Sir Manfred seek
All around him they rose, destruction they did wreak;
In the chaos of battle was Quarrel knocked off
of the cliff and the bottom was not soft;
King Klyndak was surrounded, his fate was bleak;
till to his side his allies did seek
Sir Manfred did crash into the backs
of the enemies that Klyndak did stack.
Between fire and sword, hammer and bolt
at the top of the cliff, our victory was told.
In the valley the fire still scouered
as the sorcerer still blazed and men still fell
'till up from the dead Quarrel scamper
and grappled the villain, his fires did quell.
Seeing the hero so engaged foes attacked from around
because all alone with enemies he was surround'
Divinely inspired, Sir Manfred and Hru
did leap from the cliff, five thosand feet high
To rescue the hero, and fell the vile grue.
Into the orcs the heroes did fall from above
and into the bodies of the enemy they clove
'till peace once more in the valley did reign,
and Kerrigans men once doomed now sang."
Sir Manfred stops at this point, mumbles a prayer of thanks to Iomedae that it was over, says "Over to you Yin" and runs for the bathroom.
Halfway through Manfred's poem, the assembled guests begin to beat time on the tables. When the meter shifts, half the guests switch to the new meter and half continue on the old. Eventually the beating of time on the table becomes a disorganized pounding of goblets and culminating in wild applause.
Kerrigan smiles at Manfred as he runs by, extends a fond pat and proudly says, "Braggart".
Falcon shoots Manfred a glance.
Falcon seems jealous.
Kerrigan stands before the applause for Manfred has died down.
One member of the audience yells "Braggart" before Kerrigan has even started.
"Amidst the sounds of clashing steal,
the screams of anguish, the fog of war,
I looked upon my brave and noble few,
and wished only I had a hundred more.
"For had I more men like this,
I would not rest this evening at my Keep,
I'd march my soldiers through yonder hills,
and not stop until we were in the Belkzan deep.
"As it is and was I had no choice,
but to end the battle with marauding scum,
who came forth with engines of war,
to beat our home like a drummer beats a drum.
"I waited beneath the cliff 'til the time was right,
and the traitorous Sarpis was distracted,
by our honest friends from the spires here,
and then, without hesitation, I acted!
"As these noble heroes flanked the foe,
I knew the endgame had in earnest started,
Seeing 'twas time to strike the final blow,
I turned, dropped my pants, and nobly farted.
"The blast shook orcs from their hiding places,
And brought rocks down from the cliff.
The mage's wizardry was stopped short,
His concentration shattered by but one whiff.
"Thus, listen not to the young knight's boast,
was not brave King Klyndak's troop who saved our asses,
'twas I Lord Kerrigan who won the day,
and did it by passing Lordly gasses."
The cries of "Braggart" are unambiguous. Kerrigan has lost the game.
With a look of mischievous glee dancing in her eyes Yin looks set to yell out a counter to Kerrigans words (after yelling braggart loudly at him, of course) before she catches Falcon's eye, her expression becoming a little concerned, slowly she gives the Shoanti man a small supportive smile, the game forgotten for the moment.
Whatever was bothering Falcon moments ago has faded. He is now rolling his eyes at his adoptive father's speech and shouting him down with "Braggart".
The tale of Manfred fires Hru's blood, it looks as though he might just burst into a litany of Gorum or perhaps some of his customary devotions (the crazy routine of battle moves he does most religiously every morn) but Kerrigan's comic tale seems to break the wind out of his sails.
Summoning another yard of ale from the serving wench, he digs into more of the fine meats heaped in front of him and awaits further fun. The fog of ale and comraderie dissipating his usual feelings of not quite fitting in.
"Brrumfffurt" he's heard to mutter whilst tearing off a great piece of meat with his prodigious canines.
Kerrigan seeing he still has the stage turns serious.
"We lost men today. Good men," he pauses while the crowd mutters their agreement. "We lost men but not as many as we would have were it not for our allies. I hope I can call them that ... allies."
He turns and looks to Klyndak for agreement.
"Eat. Drink. Mourn our losses. Celebrate our victories. Remember that the day was ours because of friendships. Friendships are all that has sustained our little Keep in the Cinderlands. We have been in need of more of them. And, it looks like today a friendship has been tested and proven."
After some more celebrating, Kerrigan bids the party of the Foehammers to follow him and leaves the hall with as little ceremony as possible.
He invites you into another chamber, one you haven't been in before. Although it is in the middle of the house, an entire wall is taken up by a thick and heavily reinforced pair of wooden doors.
"I can consider you to be friends and allies ... Can I not?"
Following along with the others Yin's focus is immediately drawn to the big doors, eyes alight at seeing such important sturdy looking doors. A dazzling grin on her face she merely nods at the lord's words, knowing that he should know by know that she was here and happy to help, especially if there was somebody to be burnt.
"Allies to be sure," I say with all dwarfish seriousness, "And friends iffin' time permits. But if ye be 'avin' needs that we can be 'elpin' wit' then a 'elp we will fer all good folks must be standin' together in the face o' peril."
"Allies to be sure," I say with all dwarfish seriousness, "And friends iffin' time permits. But if ye be 'avin' needs that we can be 'elpin' wit' then a 'elp we will fer all good folks must be standin' together in the face o' peril."
"You have helped. You saved the Keep today and possibly your spires as well. I think Sarpis would have been a worse neighbour than me if he had gotten his hands on ...," Kerrigan pauses and glances at the reinforced doors.
He looks at the party again and then makes a decision. "Darby," he calls out, "Open the doors."
A loud click releases a lock and the doors fly open. Beyond them is a well-stocked wine cellar.
I can't help but grin and say, "Truly a mad man loaded wit' booze would be bein' a dangerous neighbor."
Then I say, trying for a more serious tone, "I take it ye are keepin' some secret in yer basement?"
I can't help but grin and say, "Truly a mad man loaded wit' booze would be bein' a dangerous neighbor."
Then I say, trying for a more serious tone, "I take it ye are keepin' some secret in yer basement?"
"I don't drink ... anymore," replies Kerrigan. He quickly crosses the room, one hand on his sword, and pushes the only wine cask not completely coated in dust. One shelf of casks scrapes as it slides out of the way.
Kerrigan beckons you to follow him through another large room. This room has as many deep shelves as the wine cellar but these shelves are covered with various items -- a few assorted weapons, strange armour, pottery, vials, mysterious tomes, and more. He glances around cautiously, strides across the room, and opens an even more heavily reinforced door.
His hand remains on his sword as the door swings open to reveal a surprisingly large chamber.
You are standing on a balcony in at least 60' tall and 40' radius. Below you is a chamber, ancient and in disrepair, but once, quite obviously lavish.
"There's a whole other world down here," says Kerrigan with the grin of an obsessive. "A city! And it's mine."
You are standing on a balcony in at least 60' tall and 40' radius. Below you is a chamber, ancient and in disrepair, but once, quite obviously lavish.
"There's a whole other world down here," says Kerrigan with the grin of an obsessive. "A city! And it's mine."
Ovirid's been keeping quite after his dismal attempt at a boast. Which he actually thought was reasonably good, but wasn't taken well at all. Seeing the huge chamber, he says, "Ah'm fer thinkin' this were 'ere afore ye arrived 'n built yer keep, aye? Any idea 'oo 'r what was fer buildin' such a place? Is this what ye were 'opin' we'd be fer findin' an entrance t' in th' Caves yonder?"
"Are ye thinkin' that the orcs were bein' led 'ere fer reasons o' this city," I ask, my curiosity aroused.
"Are ye thinkin' that the orcs were bein' led 'ere fer reasons o' this city," I ask, my curiosity aroused.
"As you said," replies Kerrigan, "the cost of that expedition was great ... He could have built his own keep for the cost of those rings."
"For the last fifteen years, I've been 'exploring the basement.' It's big enough to get lost in. I've had Sarpis sell a number of items for me to his contacts in Kaer Maga ... I guess he figured things out."
"But, ... I showed you this because I owed you for your help. And, because I want to thank you properly." He waves back to the store room you just came in through, "Choose something. What can I give you to show my gratitude?"
I look back at the store room and its contents.
"That's very generous o' you," I say. I motion to the others to go ahead and look to see if there is anything that they want.
I look back at the store room and its contents.
"That's very generous o' you," I say. I motion to the others to go ahead and look to see if there is anything that they want.
Ovirid nods, "Very kind o' ye, Lord," but continues looking out into the chamber. "Ladies 'n yout' first, Ah'm fer thinkin'."
Once Kerrigan explains about the city below, Kelborn can't help but look puzzled. "But how do you keep an underground city a secret for any length of time? You should be pleased that it's been quiet so long, it seems like an enormous task!"
At the mention of free goods, however, Kelborn quickly drops the line of inquiry and moves forward with Yin to see what's available.
Once Kerrigan explains about the city below, Kelborn can't help but look puzzled. "But how do you keep an underground city a secret for any length of time? You should be pleased that it's been quiet so long, it seems like an enormous task!"
At the mention of free goods, however, Kelborn quickly drops the line of inquiry and moves forward with Yin to see what's available.
"It's not exactly a functioning city ... more like a dungeon than anything else," his eyes gleam. "My own personal dungeon!"
He pauses for a while and hinks about the question, "Sirap Hilltown, Rydak Hillgrain and I established some gates and wards. Some 'Skum' in the sewers close to the river. I suspect the caves on the old road connect but can't find out where. Most of the denizens lack the intelligence to launch an invasion. ... Turns out the biggest threat was from within the Keep."
Yin looks around curiously, looking for anything that jumps out at her, hunting for traces of books or flames. After a moment she pauses and grins broadly at Lord Kerrigan. "You could save yourself some money by rewarding me by letting me look around your city, it sounds interesting!"
As you look through the shelves the value of the items Kerrigan has collected begins to dawn on you. If, as he says, he has sold many of the items through Sarpis (thus tipping off Sarpis as to the true nature of the Keep) than Kerrigan is a very wealthy man.
The items you find:
Nonmagical items of obvious value:
Magical items:
Two shields:
There are numerous weapons. Some appear magnificent but radiate no magic whatsoever. Others appear rather ordinary but give off strong auras. Some of the most clearly special are:
Miscellaneous Magic:
If none of the above interests you, you can look around some more. There's lots of stuff. Less of the other stuff would be magical though.