The Rim and the Hammer (Exalted/Warhammer Quest)

Year 2 After Arrival

"Oh what all right thinking people want, safety for myself and for my clan, wealth and prosperity, to recover the knowledge of those who have come before us and perhaps in some small way refine it." You look the dwarf up and down as he opens his mouth, noting that his beard is starting to stand on end from the lightning kiss of your aura. "Oh, you mean what do we want with you. The chance to converse with a civilized folk who do not think worshiping the blasted Wyld is a good way to get ahead in life."

"What's the Wyld?" Heavy brows like stone overhangs lower in suspicion as he rumbles the words.

"What the Norscans would call the Spirit World or the True World, but they are rather the problem I spoke of earlier," you sigh, exasperated that you only have this tongue to speak in

From his answering glare you suspect Galdr had taken that to be an affront to his wits. Prouder than a thunderbird in storm season. You are aware that particular sin might be impugned to you just as readily, but you are not wearing rags in the growing autumn chill with no real hope but the charity of Sezekan to make it home.

"Aye, the 'Norscans' is it? And what are you be calling yourselves?" the dwarf finally rumbles.

"We are the People of the Air, Once and Forever Sworn to the Creation Ruling Mandate, Keepers of the Law That Was Given and this is Sezekan, the City Enduring. Now it is a council that rules over us and I am by grace of wing and acclamation the Voice of the People. Under the sign of Mela, Resplendent in Perfection whose power runs in my veins, I welcome you into our halls to partake of food and drink and rest you weary head."

You are not sure if it is any one thing you said or simply the storm of foreign courtesy that did it, but Goldgut finally nods and introduces himself. The way he says 'Master Smith' you would think he were one of the Copper Spiders of old come to grace you with his presence, but you did not pay six ounces of gold just to leave him out here to freeze.


The lower apartments abutting the Crimson Radiance Square are not very sought after. Between the sound of the last operational jade forge nearby and the nearness of the south gate no one wants to live here, not when there are so many more aeries deeper in the city waiting empty, too many of them in fact, but they allow a ground entrance that was far easier to clear of creeping vegetation and mildew than most other towers in good repair.

"Decent stonework, did you make it?" your wingless guest finally speaks.

"The city was raised by the artifice of the Lawgivers and the Children of Pasiap of whom none have dwelt among us for an age, but I suppose if one were to follow my line or that of any other dragon-blooded long enough it would cross with one of theirs eventually."

He does not say anything, nor does he seem to notice your guards glaring daggers at him for the disrespect, either that or he simply does not care. One can almost admire the sheer gall... almost.

"It has been a long age of the world since then, master smith, and much that we once knew has been forgotten, yet still we endure and we abide in hope that one day we can recover what was lost. It is for that purpose that we require trade and we had heard that your people are skilled miners as you are bold warriors."

"Aye, aye we are that, but we don't open our gates to any who ask." The dwarf sighs as he sets himself down on a lectus that had been provided, seeming almost comically legs kicking over the side, though there is nothing to jest about in the set of his face. This is a man caught between the flame and the deep blue sea as they say. "You've broken my chains and shown me fair guesting. Aye, it might be some daemon's trick, but then so too might it be some fever dream. Maybe I've caught the blood whip a few weeks back and I'm waiting to cough up my lungs in that shack of theirs. You can only judge by what's in front of your eyes."

You nod cautiously.

The dwarf goes on to explain that his people had once traded with the Norscans, before they turned wholly to the worship of the Wyld, but they had been betrayed and forced back into their mountain fastnesses where they've traded only amongst each other since and that any who were taken alive as he had been were counted lost for their kin. Slavery was far from the darkest fate they could fall to.

"I won't show you the way to Karak Drak, that's more than my life's worth, more by a mountain's worth, but if you'll set me down within a week's journey of it with supplies to reach it I'll set whatever message you want to give before the King and Thanes. Can't promise you more than that."

Diplomacy with the Dwarf: 52 (Success)

What do you do?

[] Agree to the deal
-[] Do not try to follow him to find out where the entrance it
-[] Bind and Earth Elemental to follow him in secret

[] Keep the dwarf in Sezekan for now, see if you can learn more of the history of the world and its people from him

OOC: Dwarfs do not have a great experience with meeting new people, and the Norscan dwarfs least of all. Good thing you have that first meeting charm.