Hearthguard candidate
Balik Khazadsson.
Accounting for the variation in the number of drinks consumed, and what precisely those drinks contained, the answers for an individual asking after Balik Khazadsson was surprisingly consistent. He was an excellent dwarf to know. Trustworthy, reliable, a natural mediator and very lucky to have been admitted to the engineers guild as an orphan, and stay a member of said guild. It just that his ideas were a bit radical, well a lot radical, well not at all radical as that was master so and so's idea Balik was proving worked. Balik just didn't seem to understand other dwarfs priorities. You know, the basics that most beardlings learn at the knee of their parents, pity about that odd lisp he had.
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Balik had first come to the attention of the guild of engineers in Kraka Drakk somewhere around the tender age of 25. The issue had arisen when two younger dwarves from the foundling halls had argued over one of Master Snorri's toy bolt launchers. Balik had offered to mediate at first, then to take the toy himself and replace it with a new one each. In deference to an older dwarf providing guidance to reach an equitable solution, they agreed.
That he managed to do so untrained, revealed a fantastic touch with both siege weapons and replicating a masters work, impressed the engineer who caught him doing it. That he had borrowed said engineers workshop and tools without asking, made a mess and blunted his third favourite number seven chisel, did not. Nor did Balik's lack of understanding as to why this might be a problem. Balik solved the problem of arguing dwarfs, Hadn't he? No dwarf was hurt, and it was unlikely they would fight over that particular toy again, so what was the problem?
This resulted in an explanation about respecting property, paying attention to elders and just how talented he was to do what he had just done. He was then offered an apprenticeship in engineering and basic dwarf social norms to hopefully keep him out of trouble. Balik happily accepted. It was only partially successful.
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Balik quickly proved himself a capable dwarf and seemingly could replicate anything put in front of him. He could even make small simplifications that the oldest dwarves were eventually forced to call improvements. Well if you squinted and turned your head but had best be tested for at least another fifty years to be sure.
Balik's other major talent was resolving conflicts, mediating disputes and broadly getting dwarves to stop and listen to each other. Usually, by asking a question that revealed his ignorance and forcing other dwarves to explain what was happening in detail. This often led to the dwarves doing the explanation reconsidering precisely what the argument was about. What he was less good at was following advice like "Leave Master Dwain and Fili's Argument about fish alone. Yes, it's annoying that they block the main walkway, but our Grumbling will eventually get to them, and they will settle it."
A typical dwarf in his position, when faced with the dispute between Master Dwain and Fili would have a word with another apprentice, who would have a word with yet another apprentice. This would be discussed over drinks with his friends and would be overheard by some select other Master Engineers, who would then have a word with a few more Masters. Then both Master Dwain and Master Fili would be taken aside and have it pointed out how silly they were being and to go and get a longbeard to review both designs.
Balik building his own rod by combining Dwain and Fili's modifications and catching a significantly bigger fish than either might have been a bit of a radical solution if left to rumour and never fully acknowledged. A discrete word about an apprentice who outdid both by combining their work and perhaps they had better stop arguing so much and instead focus on proving that they were masters would have probably worked, been discrete and been proper.
Taking said rod and fish to the tavern Dwain and Filli where carefully ignoring each other in, dropping both on the bar and loudly proclaiming to the stunned silence how great their improvements worked and could he have some more tips was extreme. It did work killing the dispute between the masters stone dead. Or that could have been the laughter of every other Dwarf in the tavern at the looks on Dwain and Fillis faces.
After the laughter had calmed slightly in the face of Balik's politely puzzled expression, Dwain and Filli pointed out fifteen separate flaws in the rod, commented it was indeed a big fish and then stated confidently that that Dwain had left a Bolt Hurler strung and they had better get on with fixing that. Then both Dwain and Fili walked to the door, their bearing showing all the dignity of a master engineer out to fix a small oversight. They stepped into the street, checked both ways to make sure no one was looking and dashed out of sight, the memory of the sound of laughter enough to chase them all the way back to their workshops.
Back in their respective workshops, both found themselves thinking similar thoughts about the fish, the rod and the flaws, that each saw. Indeed, there was room for improvement. What else would you expect from a beardling of only fifty years? As for design, there was nothing that couldn't be traced back to ether Fili or Dwain or the guild approved base design. Nor could they argue that it was an inferior rod than either had made alone, even a beardling could see the improvement Balik had made. Filli and Dwain's problem was the resulting rod used ideas from that other fool. Both were masters of their crafts, dedicated to the ideal of improving their work, and if that's what a beardling could do what could they do together? That shared thought warred with dwarfish stubbornness and pride, but the first chink in the feud between them had been formed.
Further chinks occurred as their friends and acquaintances seemed to want to discuss fish or fishing rods with a particularly knowing look in their eyes. Dwain and Fili did not. The end result was a significant reduction in the number of trips to taverns or other places where Dwain and Fili's drinking could be interrupted by those Wazzocks. This was accompanied by a significant increase in impromptu lessons and other acts of showing the Beardlings hanging around the Guildhall that the Masters know what they were doing.
This turned into late nights at the Guildhall as they found themselves simultaneously avoiding interactions and wanting another look at the rod that Master Otri had "kindly" borrowed from Balik and hung in the main hall. Their first non-hostile talk in decades was in front of that fishing rod with both of them tentatively deciding that the Beardling had "it" and perhaps a few insights could be gleaned.
This led to actual politeness and then a deliberate collaboration with the only other Dwarf seriously thinking about engineering work, rather than the Wazzocks making jokes about fish. That Wazzock calling himself a master Otri should really work on his whip and pulley design rather than Laugh at Engineers actually working. Dwain's braiding method for the line and Fili's spinner design had been included in the Beardlings rod and were where Otris contributions? Peace was restored to the guild, Dwain and Fili stopped blocking the corridor with their argument's.
Six months later, Dwain and Fili disappeared together for a week to test a rod they had jointly developed and returned with several truly enormous fish. Their prizes were displayed, alongside the improved Fishing rod, in the Guildhall just along the corridor where Otri had to walk to reach the Main Hall.
Rumours that they had settled their differences by some sort of fish-based duel were obviously false. Fili and Dwain had of course, talked it out like rational dwarves. No self-respecting Master would go after each other with a freshly caught fish like a Garazi, no matter how senior the Ranger that apparently caught them at it insisted it was true.
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Dwain and Fili, fairly or not, got the blame for putting the idea in Balik's head that he could just bring any revision he wanted to the senior guild members attention. A typical dwarf goes through a period of intensive testing, building multiple prototypes and collecting a great deal of wealth influence and favour before approaching a senior guild member. Balik's method, to most of his targets consternation, was of walking into the Guildhall or targets favourite pub, dropping the project on the high table and going "How do I improve this combination of your ideas with the Honourable Master that you don't get along with ideas?"
Grumbling started to grow in taverns around Kraka Drakk and in the back rooms of the Guildhall. Wary eyes were kept on the door just in case Balik came in. Once was funny twice was ok but when it was Balik doing it to the former heckler, it wasn't amusing, after all those other dwarfs would laugh. A minor push to have Balik expelled from the guild for disrespecting his elders and reckless experimentation was quietly shot down. Firstly for dwarfs not put on the spot this was quite entertaining to watch. Dwain and Fili, in particular, were both very happy to have the love spread around widely. Other victims wanted to see Honourable master so and so receive his comeuppance too. Secondly, Balik had a confused air about himself as if he really didn't understand what he was doing wrong. He seemed to want to build and well he wouldn't be the first Dwarf to lose himself in a project and not stop to consider if it was sensible rather than if it was possible. That's what elders were for, to mitigate that sort of thinking. Finally, Balik was just that much of a prodigy. His latest Bolt Hurler was almost on par with a Jouneydwarf of a half century. Not that they would tell him that, pity about the weird addition of a barbed bolt and winder unit to retrieve it getting in the way of efficient operation. Why would any dwarf need a harpoon launcher?
Still, rumblings continued and it was eventually agreed that Balik Khazadsson was talented enough to not completely shame Kraka Drakk's engineer's guild if he want out and did a few jobs here and there. The hold reclamation in the north was into the second phase with the underway recovered and the holds with survivors reclaimed. There were a lot of heavily armed dwarves around able to offer him assistance if he got into trouble. The work would give some good experience and help show the engineering guilds commitment in sending out their newest prodigy. Besides, it had been ages since anyone in the guild had been able to have a proper Grumble without it being interrupted by Balik.
Therefore on Morgrim's day in 172 AP a seventy year old Balik Khazadsson was acknowledged as a journeyman engineer of Kraka Drakk in good standing, Given a cart full of new tools and a goat to pull it and sent out into the world to make a name for himself. He was also discreetly informed that the good standing he was currently in would decrease shortly if he didn't go and journey away from them for a bit. Balik took the news with an air of surprise and pleasure that almost covered the hurt in his eye at losing another home.
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Balik Kazadsson's Journeying took him north to the newly recovered Dwarf holds and beyond, and saw him talking to just about every sort of Dwarf. It also resulted in a trail of ruffled beards and frayed plats. Nevertheless, his disruptions would also result in an overall reduction in arguments in the communities he passed through. Here a small offshoot of a mining clan would have a series of carts upgraded, and two brothers would be talking to each other again for the first time in decades. Unfortunately, the subject, for the next few years at least would be of how the beardling engineer had upset things. Over there a forestry operation would have the kinks worked out of a timber sawhouse and the crane made far safer. The engineer who made it all possible was politely excluded from the clan celebration. A group of rangers would commission him to prepare earthworks for the next stage of the reclamation. They would leave with little more than a nod of thanks and the agreed payment as they moved on to the next target.
The true rewards he received from his labours where usually heartfelt thanks discreetly given by perceptive elders and discreet small treasures. On more than one occasion he would find a few loves of the good stonebread or a small keg of the really good ale hidden in his goat drawn wagon. From the rangers and other more military inclined dwarfs he received lessons in stealth tracking and other things a journey dwarf in hostile terrain would find useful. But those lessons couldn't last forever, and Balik would be again left with his cart and goat and his lonely search for the next Dwarf to help.
These same dwarves would return to places like Karak Drakk and over a few drinks, tell of their adventures. More than a few engineers stated that Balik hadn't changed a bit after listening to one particularly offended long beard tell the story of his interaction with Balik.
The Rangers Balik had been travelling with were tracking a group of trolls suspected of operating out of a former dwarven mine. Initial scouting had determined the trolls had taken the living quarters and probably eaten the family that had once owned the mine. A direct assault was risky, but there was a collapsed tunnel that could be recovered if enough pit props could be quickly made.
The Journeyman engineer in question had prepared for the assault by assembling an extensive collection of temporary pit props. If Balik had followed Master Otri's already radical design and carefully smoothed and squared timbers, there would have been less grumbling. It would have taken more time put the rangers at risk, but there would have been less grumbling. Balik saved time and increased productivity by precisely cutting the contact surfaces and leaving everything else, bark, leaves and all. What was worse was that he followed up by demonstrating their worth and ease of use in a fast install by propping and securing a partially collapsed mineshaft far ahead of schedule. That the unconventional props allowed the rangers to flank the trolls, had impressed and frustrated the long beard in equal measure.
Master Fili had plied the longbeard with Drink and asked for more details about the props used. A sketch later and Master Fili was crowing to the bar that Balin had proven his design for emergency props worked. This was followed by Master Otri demanding to see the sketch and then declaring Fili blind as it was clearly based on the work done by Master Durin. Then Master Dwain demanded to see the drawing…
By the end of the evening, there were three things every Dwarf there agreed on. The longbeard ranger was a good sort to have kept an eye out for Balik. That Balik was doing ok for himself and not disgracing the engineer's guild. And that they would have to come back tomorrow to debate the true origin of Balik's pit prop over another barrel of Folgis Strange brew.
Similar stories tricked back to Karak Drakk over the Decades. Many grumbles were heard in 177 AP on the vague topic of spears for Hunting should not be cut down and mounted on a miniature bolt thrower with a rope attached to allow for more effective retrieval. No matter how effective it was for fishing without getting wet, at least once the sights had been adjusted with Master Snorri "Silvereye's" Refractive sight.
In 182 AP, an argument about the proper use of harpoon launchers to assemble a temporary rope bridge across a flooding canyon ended with several engineers temporarily banned from the central market Bryggeroot tavern. Fili and Dwain had both built slightly different scale models of the scenario. Fili's demonstrated that the risky method reported to the guild that Balik had employed was safer than it looked. Dwain's made it seem much more dangerous. It is worth noting that neither had been to that part of the north and the critical point to the debate was the exact braiding method that Balik used to create the rope.
In 186 AP, the answer to the braiding method Balik used was proven definitively. Balik captured an exceptionally large troll by striking it with a harpoon and winching it up, resulting in the Troll being suspended in mid air and unable to move. As far as the gossips at the engineers guild were concerned, the cord suspending the live Troll was the most exciting part. The caravan saved by Balik had managing to transport the live Troll back to Kraka Drakk or that the Giftgiver himself wanted the Troll for something was secondary distractions at best. Fili was vindicated and wouldn't shut up about it for nearly a month. Then Otri started to make fairly unsubtle comments about Fishing rods.
188 AP was a year of pride and anxiety as Boggri Groundbreaker had encountered and commissioned Balik to fortify a section of remote farmland that were rumoured to hold some fascinating plants. Much celebration was had at the Market tavern later in the year. Balik had gotten only a lesser frown from the Living ancestor for his work, and Dwain and Fili were finally allowed back into the tavern instead of having to stand outside to drink.
189 AP a year of anxiety. Balik had run into Morgrim himself and went so far as to ask for clarification on something. It was sort of alright for Balik to do it to dwarves he knew but to the ancestor himself? The guild would never live it down. Dwain, Fili, Otri and Snorri, in particular, made a decent attempt to drink the hold dry in their distress. Ironically they would have been far happier had they actually heard Morgrim's explanation. That Balik's Harpoon bolt thrower was on par with what he expected from a dwarf of 400. Balik was also given a small device that, when correctly fitted allowed him to hear what a typical dwarf would. Finally, Dwarf speech made sense to Balik.
In 190 AP the office holding letters for journeying dwarfs out and away from the hold had to start a second box to contain the correspondence awaiting Balik's return. Nothing in the box was deemed urgent enough to hire a Branna to find Balik and get him back immediately. The final letter placed in the box was from a set of brothers apologising for rudeness years ago. They also want on to ask about the viability of a winch system to go with some carts he had built. The Dwarf on mail sorting duty grunted with approval. It seemed like Balik was finally sorting himself out. Might be worth a drink to go and Bother Master Fili with the news
In 191 AP one of Grimnirs companions, now following Morgrim, left a letter for MASTER Balik Kazadsson. The Dwarf on duty at the Guildhall just about managed not to make a complete fool of himself in offering to hold it until Balik came past again. Much debate and Drinking ensued in the Guildhall. It was eventually agreed that a message would be needed to remind Balik of dates. It would be quite embarrassing for an acknowledged Master to not to arrive for his one year post mastery celebration because he had forgotten. Oh and add that he needed to pick up his mail while he was here.
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Balik Kazadsson was surprised to find himself practically ambushed by Master Engineers Fili and Dwain outside Karak Drakk in early spring. Balik was presented with several sheets of paper documenting his bolt launcher and informed that his masterwork had, of course, been accepted. Still, the documentation had been damaged since by a bearding or a large rat or something. The issue right now was for him to attend his one year anniversary Feast tonight. The documentation needed to be settled and, as it was happening tonight and they needed a copy to show the Guildhall immediately he had better get writing. Stunned Balik complied.
The masterwork displayed in the Guildhall was not truly a fraud, Dwain had argued while setting it up. All the components of the masterpiece were things that Balik had worked on and sent back or left behind. He had just helped it along a little with assembly.
That said Dwain was pleased to remove the somewhat questionable device. Balik had been building his own and had brought almost all the pieces. Swapping two sieges weapons six dwarfs high in a room being set up for a feast without being noticed was infinitely more comfortable than deliberately misleading a dwarf. Just, couldn't the new Master have avoided drilling all these extra holes in it. What did a bolt rower need an additional winch for and why did the cable need to play out just here. He wasn't still messing around with that fishing harpoon idea, was he?
Hours later a still stunned Balik was nursing a mug of beer in a discrete corner of the hall as Master Otri explained the situation to him. Of course, Balik was a master now. The alternative was to tell Ancestor Mogrim that he made a mistake addressing a letter. Besides if there was one who was qualified to declare Balik a Master it was Mogrim himself. All this was just sorting out the paperwork. Dwain and Fili had volunteered to educate him on the master level secrets of the Kraka Drakk Guild, and that shouldn't take more than a year. Oh and here was his held correspondence and here was an unopened message from Mogrim himself. Better read that right away, good lad.
To Balik's surprise, it was not a letter from Mogrim. It was merely from one of Grimnirs Companions he had talked to about their duties as part of Mogrim's throng. It offered some interesting insights and advice nevertheless.
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Balik's return to the Kraka Drakk Guildhall was met with a lot more smoothness than any had expected. Baiik finally seemed to get those social hints hidden in the Grunts that the masters had tried to give him before and now was much more tolerable. His deft touch sorting out dwarves had sharpened as well, somehow got master Kili to have a civil conversation with Master Fili. This feat had not happened since Kili lost his arm to a dragon ogre back in the siege. Of course part of that was the Gift Giver relacing the lost arm and Balik's undisguised fascination with the arm. Hadn't there been a challenge for the engineer's guild to match the Runesmiths work? Balik might be thinking of taking the challenge up and leaving this silly harpoon idea behind what with the number of times he was seen examining one of the prosthetics.
In the year 193 AP Snoori Klausson, the Gift Giver, established his Hearthguard.
