Post by shimmerxxx on Aug 12, 2007 9:51:58 GMT -5
Two dwarves sit uncomfortably on stools in the Inn of the Wild Wolf, each has a triple bock grasped in his hand and are taking long, thirsty pulls between talking. The dwarf in the red cloak looks over to his old friend, motioning back to the meeting that they just left "Yer don't like forges much does ye Grumm?"
The larger dwarf sighs and turns to his clanbrother "Nae, Kasin thas part o tha reason I be 'ere, and most o tha reason tha Sygni's bin oopset o late."
Kasin nods and asks "She given ye grief fer not doin sumat den?"
Grumm shakes his head, adding "Nae but last time I saw 'er she brought a letter from Ma wit her. Mebbe I told yer afore but me Pa be a weaponsmith."
"Nae, never talked much aboot da past wit ye."
"Aye, weel aint summat I likes talkin aboot really, but as yer asked..." Grumm mutters.
The younger dwarf bobs his head again, "S'pose I can understand."
Grumm takes a deep swig of ale before continuing, "Me Pa wanted me tae take over hes profession, he trained me fer a while, an I di whit I cud tae learn tha trade. Managed tae forge a couple o daggers alreet an a wee axe or two. But it wasnae fer me, I jest nae cut oot fer tha. So I tells tha ole fella thas as nae fer me an he hes tae fin sumone else tae take over. Weel this makes his reet mad wit me an he yells an shouts. Afta a while he calms doon afta a while an I think hes alreet, but I think he were
jest thinkin o another way tae use me"
"Wit did he do?" Kasin asks with interest.
"So come me birthday he throws this big gatherin fer me, seems gud tae me, like hes fergiven me an all"
Kasin furrows his brow and listens, sipping as his ale as he does.
With a pull of his beard the fat dwarf goes on "He even invites over tha neighbourin Orcbiter clan whit we aint bin gittin on tae weel wit. Pa hed bin tellin me I shud git married fer tha sake o clan relations fer a while but I kept tellin 'im tae git fooked, but fer once he seems friendly enuf, keeps offerin me ale afta ale. All seems tae be goin weel, I gits merry an even the neighbourin clansmen seem nae tha bad afta all. An tha be tha last I remember o tha night"
The younger dwarf shoots his grizzled clanbrother a puzzled look.
"Tha next mornin I wakes oop an I be married!"
"Whit! How in da nine?" Kasin exclaims.
Grumm stares into the bottle he holds and adds "I were so happy on tha ale seems tha I hed agreed tae marriage wit Kesra.
Kasin strokes his beard and slowly shakes his head, "Didn' happen tae be da lass yer pah wanted ye tae marry was it?"
"Aye! tha very same! Funny tha, huh?" Grumm watches his friend as he furrows his brow and pulls on his beard. "Weel I cannae go back on me word, even iffn I were a bit tae merry whin I gave it. So I tries tae git on wit tha. I thinkin mebbe I learns tae live wit her iffn it strengthens tha bond between Ironfists and Orcbiters. But she jest git worse an worse an noo wes married she doesnae even pretend tae be nice tae me. Always moanin aboot summat or other and makin life tough."
Looking at the gnarled dwarf Kasin shakes his head somewhat sadly.
With a dark look in his eyes Grumm mutters "She even picked on Sygni so much tha she left tha clan an went tae work in Neverwinter!"
Sighing and rocking back on his stool Kasin remarks "She half ogre er whit? Now I see why ye's always sayin such nasty tings remind ye of 'er."
With a snort the bulky stout waves away the comment "Half demon more like, temper on her yer wudnae believe, always wantin her own way and takin it oot on me whin she didnae git it"
Seeing the dark look in his kin's eyes Kasin tries to lighten the mood "Least she weren't half elf"
With a spit on the floor the Ironfist answers, "Nae she were a dwarf alreet, strong an sturdy, an thas whit worried me when she came at me wit pot and pans. Tha I cud bear, but then she really started actin oop."
Kasin winces, "Wit happened next?"
Grumm finishes his bottle of bock and reaches for another, ripping the cork out with his teeth and talking a long pull before continuing. "Weel she an I were alone in the clan holdin and she went off on one, screamin an yellin at me. I started yellin at her back an she went fer an axe she hed hidden in tha kitchen!
The red-cloaked dwarf's jaw drops, "Yer ain serious?"
With a sharp nod Grumm says "Me axe were in oor room so I made a dash fer tha, an she were chasin me wit a fookin greataxe! I thought I be alreet iff I could git tae me axe, I cud fend her off until she calmed doon. But I gits tae oor room an me axe aint thar. She catches oop an whilst I searching fer me
axe she lands a blow on me back, blade doesnae go in deep but it knocks me over tha bed"
Kasin's eyes widen and he takes another swig on his bottle, not even realising that it is empty.
Grumm passes over a fresh bottle to his stonebrother and goes on, "I'm bleedin all over tha place but I manages tae pick oop tha bedside table an lob it at 'er. I hes tae run fer it, so I tries tha front door but as bin locked an tha key aint in it. Weel I didnae know how tae pick locks back then an didnae ha tha time even iffn I di know. So I figures git tae sumwhar safe. An tha only place I kin think o be tha clan shrine tae oor goddess. Haela bein tha goddess o joy in combat doesnae stand fer attackin an unarmed opponent, so I thinks Kesra surely nae attack me in tha shrine. I heids off thar, still bleedin, so she catchin oop agin. I stands in front o tha symbol o tha greatsword and says this
be holy ground yer mustnae harm an unarmed stout 'ere, but she jest screams at me a charges, sinkin her axe intae me leg."
The thinner dwarf's mouth opens and he looks stunned.
Grumm looks grim and contines between mouthfulls of triple bock, "Weel I aboot tae fall over an knows that once I be doon I be deid so I grabs oot fer summat tae hold on tae. An whit I grabs on tae be tha holy greatsword o Haela."
Kasin's eyes widen "It just appeared fer ye?
"Nae I grabbed it off tha wall, we used a real greatsword as part o tha shrine"
"Och! soory, go on den."
Grumm snorts and looks over, "So she gits ready tae swing her axe agin, so I lashes oot wit tha holy symbol. I doesnae remember much afta tha, think I must ha passed oot due tae loss o blood. Whin I comes roond I be in a pool o blood, I think I be a gonner fer sure an me spirit aboot tae leave me
body. Then I looks aboot an thar be her ugly face starin oop at me from the floorboards."
Kasin looks as if he is playing the scene through in his head for a moment then sighs and nods sadly.
Grumm continues, "Weel I gits oop and an tends tae me wounds an goes tae find me Pa tae tell him whit happened tae me wife. But when I fin him hes blamin me agin! sayin I ruined tha bond wit clan Orcbiter. An things worse then even noo so thas whin I left me clan an heided sooth tae Amn." He sighs, adding "Weel I finds work on tha docks in Athkatla shiftin crates an ends oop fallin in wit a bunch o tallins tha teach me a thing or tae aboot how tae make coin. I gits intae a wee bit o trubble wit tha law so I hes tae leave Amn quicksharp an I hears aboot this place called Cormyr needin folks tae help wit killin orcs an shite. Seems like a fair bet so I heids here. Weel yer knows most o tha rest, afta bein 'ere a while I doing alreet fer meself fer tha first time in me life so as it bin aboot seven years or so I heids back tae me clan tae see iffn things between Ironfists and Orcbiter back tae normal."
Rippin into a bread loaf Grumm looks around the inn and continues, "Weel I gits back tae Kelvin's Cairn an me Pa seems tae be alreet, still blamin me fer Kesra's death, but as bad as he were afore. So hes on agin aboot me takin over hes profession, an me goin back tae tha forge. I tell him bollocks tae tha, I part o a clan doon 'ere noo an makin a name fer meself. An he on aboot how he gittin ole and thar be naeone tae run tha forge. I returns tae Cormyr an tries tae regit aboot him, an aint doin a bad job until I sees Sygni and she hed tha letter I told yer aboot"
The younger dwarf gets to his feet, listening to his friend "I see."
"Tha letter be sayin tha Pa hed a bad accident at the forge, so Sygni reet oopset an me niece Renenja rushes back home tae take care o Pa. But I cannae help thinkin tha tha ole bugger hurt himself tae try an make me feel guilty aboot wantin a life o me own."
Kasin Stoneshaft firmly grasps Grumm's shoulder, "Sorry fer ye mate. No one should have tae go through dat."
Grumm nods his thanks to Kasin, "Thanks Samman, so thas why I nae tae fond o forges!"
Kasin nods, "Can understand yer feelins der."
Both dwarves drink deeply from their bottles and share a knowing look.
The larger dwarf sighs and turns to his clanbrother "Nae, Kasin thas part o tha reason I be 'ere, and most o tha reason tha Sygni's bin oopset o late."
Kasin nods and asks "She given ye grief fer not doin sumat den?"
Grumm shakes his head, adding "Nae but last time I saw 'er she brought a letter from Ma wit her. Mebbe I told yer afore but me Pa be a weaponsmith."
"Nae, never talked much aboot da past wit ye."
"Aye, weel aint summat I likes talkin aboot really, but as yer asked..." Grumm mutters.
The younger dwarf bobs his head again, "S'pose I can understand."
Grumm takes a deep swig of ale before continuing, "Me Pa wanted me tae take over hes profession, he trained me fer a while, an I di whit I cud tae learn tha trade. Managed tae forge a couple o daggers alreet an a wee axe or two. But it wasnae fer me, I jest nae cut oot fer tha. So I tells tha ole fella thas as nae fer me an he hes tae fin sumone else tae take over. Weel this makes his reet mad wit me an he yells an shouts. Afta a while he calms doon afta a while an I think hes alreet, but I think he were
jest thinkin o another way tae use me"
"Wit did he do?" Kasin asks with interest.
"So come me birthday he throws this big gatherin fer me, seems gud tae me, like hes fergiven me an all"
Kasin furrows his brow and listens, sipping as his ale as he does.
With a pull of his beard the fat dwarf goes on "He even invites over tha neighbourin Orcbiter clan whit we aint bin gittin on tae weel wit. Pa hed bin tellin me I shud git married fer tha sake o clan relations fer a while but I kept tellin 'im tae git fooked, but fer once he seems friendly enuf, keeps offerin me ale afta ale. All seems tae be goin weel, I gits merry an even the neighbourin clansmen seem nae tha bad afta all. An tha be tha last I remember o tha night"
The younger dwarf shoots his grizzled clanbrother a puzzled look.
"Tha next mornin I wakes oop an I be married!"
"Whit! How in da nine?" Kasin exclaims.
Grumm stares into the bottle he holds and adds "I were so happy on tha ale seems tha I hed agreed tae marriage wit Kesra.
Kasin strokes his beard and slowly shakes his head, "Didn' happen tae be da lass yer pah wanted ye tae marry was it?"
"Aye! tha very same! Funny tha, huh?" Grumm watches his friend as he furrows his brow and pulls on his beard. "Weel I cannae go back on me word, even iffn I were a bit tae merry whin I gave it. So I tries tae git on wit tha. I thinkin mebbe I learns tae live wit her iffn it strengthens tha bond between Ironfists and Orcbiters. But she jest git worse an worse an noo wes married she doesnae even pretend tae be nice tae me. Always moanin aboot summat or other and makin life tough."
Looking at the gnarled dwarf Kasin shakes his head somewhat sadly.
With a dark look in his eyes Grumm mutters "She even picked on Sygni so much tha she left tha clan an went tae work in Neverwinter!"
Sighing and rocking back on his stool Kasin remarks "She half ogre er whit? Now I see why ye's always sayin such nasty tings remind ye of 'er."
With a snort the bulky stout waves away the comment "Half demon more like, temper on her yer wudnae believe, always wantin her own way and takin it oot on me whin she didnae git it"
Seeing the dark look in his kin's eyes Kasin tries to lighten the mood "Least she weren't half elf"
With a spit on the floor the Ironfist answers, "Nae she were a dwarf alreet, strong an sturdy, an thas whit worried me when she came at me wit pot and pans. Tha I cud bear, but then she really started actin oop."
Kasin winces, "Wit happened next?"
Grumm finishes his bottle of bock and reaches for another, ripping the cork out with his teeth and talking a long pull before continuing. "Weel she an I were alone in the clan holdin and she went off on one, screamin an yellin at me. I started yellin at her back an she went fer an axe she hed hidden in tha kitchen!
The red-cloaked dwarf's jaw drops, "Yer ain serious?"
With a sharp nod Grumm says "Me axe were in oor room so I made a dash fer tha, an she were chasin me wit a fookin greataxe! I thought I be alreet iff I could git tae me axe, I cud fend her off until she calmed doon. But I gits tae oor room an me axe aint thar. She catches oop an whilst I searching fer me
axe she lands a blow on me back, blade doesnae go in deep but it knocks me over tha bed"
Kasin's eyes widen and he takes another swig on his bottle, not even realising that it is empty.
Grumm passes over a fresh bottle to his stonebrother and goes on, "I'm bleedin all over tha place but I manages tae pick oop tha bedside table an lob it at 'er. I hes tae run fer it, so I tries tha front door but as bin locked an tha key aint in it. Weel I didnae know how tae pick locks back then an didnae ha tha time even iffn I di know. So I figures git tae sumwhar safe. An tha only place I kin think o be tha clan shrine tae oor goddess. Haela bein tha goddess o joy in combat doesnae stand fer attackin an unarmed opponent, so I thinks Kesra surely nae attack me in tha shrine. I heids off thar, still bleedin, so she catchin oop agin. I stands in front o tha symbol o tha greatsword and says this
be holy ground yer mustnae harm an unarmed stout 'ere, but she jest screams at me a charges, sinkin her axe intae me leg."
The thinner dwarf's mouth opens and he looks stunned.
Grumm looks grim and contines between mouthfulls of triple bock, "Weel I aboot tae fall over an knows that once I be doon I be deid so I grabs oot fer summat tae hold on tae. An whit I grabs on tae be tha holy greatsword o Haela."
Kasin's eyes widen "It just appeared fer ye?
"Nae I grabbed it off tha wall, we used a real greatsword as part o tha shrine"
"Och! soory, go on den."
Grumm snorts and looks over, "So she gits ready tae swing her axe agin, so I lashes oot wit tha holy symbol. I doesnae remember much afta tha, think I must ha passed oot due tae loss o blood. Whin I comes roond I be in a pool o blood, I think I be a gonner fer sure an me spirit aboot tae leave me
body. Then I looks aboot an thar be her ugly face starin oop at me from the floorboards."
Kasin looks as if he is playing the scene through in his head for a moment then sighs and nods sadly.
Grumm continues, "Weel I gits oop and an tends tae me wounds an goes tae find me Pa tae tell him whit happened tae me wife. But when I fin him hes blamin me agin! sayin I ruined tha bond wit clan Orcbiter. An things worse then even noo so thas whin I left me clan an heided sooth tae Amn." He sighs, adding "Weel I finds work on tha docks in Athkatla shiftin crates an ends oop fallin in wit a bunch o tallins tha teach me a thing or tae aboot how tae make coin. I gits intae a wee bit o trubble wit tha law so I hes tae leave Amn quicksharp an I hears aboot this place called Cormyr needin folks tae help wit killin orcs an shite. Seems like a fair bet so I heids here. Weel yer knows most o tha rest, afta bein 'ere a while I doing alreet fer meself fer tha first time in me life so as it bin aboot seven years or so I heids back tae me clan tae see iffn things between Ironfists and Orcbiter back tae normal."
Rippin into a bread loaf Grumm looks around the inn and continues, "Weel I gits back tae Kelvin's Cairn an me Pa seems tae be alreet, still blamin me fer Kesra's death, but as bad as he were afore. So hes on agin aboot me takin over hes profession, an me goin back tae tha forge. I tell him bollocks tae tha, I part o a clan doon 'ere noo an makin a name fer meself. An he on aboot how he gittin ole and thar be naeone tae run tha forge. I returns tae Cormyr an tries tae regit aboot him, an aint doin a bad job until I sees Sygni and she hed tha letter I told yer aboot"
The younger dwarf gets to his feet, listening to his friend "I see."
"Tha letter be sayin tha Pa hed a bad accident at the forge, so Sygni reet oopset an me niece Renenja rushes back home tae take care o Pa. But I cannae help thinkin tha tha ole bugger hurt himself tae try an make me feel guilty aboot wantin a life o me own."
Kasin Stoneshaft firmly grasps Grumm's shoulder, "Sorry fer ye mate. No one should have tae go through dat."
Grumm nods his thanks to Kasin, "Thanks Samman, so thas why I nae tae fond o forges!"
Kasin nods, "Can understand yer feelins der."
Both dwarves drink deeply from their bottles and share a knowing look.
