After that scene by soulcake about Karstah wanting to be skilled enough to examine the runes on the hammers it got me thinking about her next steps.
What kind of support can an orphan dwarf expect as they're trying to set themselves up as a journeyman? And what level of assistance can Snorri legitimately give without coming across as favouritism or a lack of trust?
I like the idea of Snorri handing over a very well-prepared pack for her, new boots, a couple of spare outfits, and a red cloak with a clan winter hearth fastener. And maybe making sure that particular dwarves are going to keep an eye on her and give a little bit of assistance.
New project idea - no rune
A Clan winter hearth Sigil brooch/cloak fastener with incorporated hearthstone. Made with a little extra material that even at very inexperienced, say, journeymen level Rune Smith could turn this into a functioning talesman.
This doesn't count as giving a student an unfair advantage, does it?
The other thing that sticks in my head is a potential scene ;
Karstah closed the door to the street and surveyed the debris-filled room with satisfaction. It wasn't much, but after signing the lease, it was Hers.
The previous owner was either kind or busy enough to sell it to her as is, contents included. He had also done so relatively cheaply for all it had taken nearly all her savings to buy. Now her best chance to make some quick money and get herself properly started lay in salvaging what she could from the accumulated detritus of the ages. "Something valuable accidentally left among the rubbish? Not likely." she snorted to herself dismissing her fantasy, more likely the true value of this hovel was in its solid walls.
Built as emergency housing during the siege and more or less abandoned after. The neglect was plain to see—worn and broken furniture piled up against the walls concealing cut stone shelves and alcoves. A solid hearth with a chimney that keen eyes hinted at a possible conversion into a sound forge lay choked with broken wood and shattered cooking implements. The entire scene was lit by a high window that let in the perfect amount of light for a workshop while keeping other distractions out.
Surveying the room revealed a cleaned corner and other piles of rubbish that hid possible treasures. The cleared corner held a solid, if battered, table and the only intact chair found so far. At the same time, timbers for most of a bedframe lay stacked in the corner into the shape of a simple set of shelves. Placing the stonebread loaf on the table, she then sat looking out on her small domain, picking at her bread while pondering the next pile to clear.
A flicker of light from the chimney or the window had her ducking reflexivity in surprise. This was immediately followed by diving to catch her knocked meal.
"No Pocketgravel here," she muttered to herself as she regained her feet and sat again. Returning to savour her stone bread, she caught a glimpse of something in the heath.
It hadn't been there before or had it? The shadows from the piles of junk cast a deceptive light on the hidden portions of the room, making it impossible to be sure.
Intrigued, she left her seat and meal and carefully threaded her feet between the piles of junk. Arriving at the hearth, she crouched and gingerly moved one of the broken boards aside, revealing the source of her confusion a small battered leather pouch.
Form its lay it could have been there all along or perhaps freshly fallen down the chimney. "Or", she snorted to herself in a flight of fancy, "thrown by some strange dwarf with unnerving precision in the window."
Retreating back to the table and the best light in the room, she placed the pouch by her half-finished meal and carefully opened it.
A gasp drew itself involuntarily from her lips as its contents, Coins and a few invisible diamonds glinted at her from the table.
Outside an elderly dwarf with a dark red cape pilled his hood closer and smiled to himself as his shadow disappeared unnoticed around the corner.
TLDR Snorri following the traditional form of throwing a bag of money through the window / down the chimney to help a maiden reach her dreams.
