...in a good way or a bad way?
I'm not the one you asked this question to, but I will answer nonetheless. I do think your Dwarfs bear a significant similarities to the Dwarves in canon, but better. I've always loved reading your interpretation because it's much less exaggerated and far more relatable. I can understand the concept of grudges and oaths and all those things very well, but the extremes that canon Dwarfs go to are barely understandable to me. Your Dwarfs on the other hand, are incredibly relatable and understandable. I can always relate to them.
And beyond that you do an absolutely amazing job presenting a wide variety of perspectives, showing that while Dwarfs are different, they're still people, and I greatly appreciate that. It's part of what I love about this story, and I've read a bunch of WHF stories after DL, and I haven't liked the Dwarfs in any of them as much as I do in DL.
Now, to get to the update:
Tor Lithanel has very many open green areas, but the Agora is foremost of them all. Located at the centre of the city and flanked on one side by the Queen's Silver Tower and on the other by the Temple of Asuryan, the only break in the otherwise open space is a single golden-veined lornalim towering high enough to make a bid for Tor Lithanel's fourth tower, and the circle of marble flagstones around it that marks where the High Council convenes.
Where do they get all of these resources? Like, I get the silver, it was already explained. But Marble, obsidian, gold etc. it seems like they never run out of building materials of all kinds but I don't think they would have any mines? There are no mountains anywhere near them. Do the hills contain all the necessary materials or do they have quarries?
"Those wordplays were the Elven equivalent of them inviting you to a meal in their Clan Hall. They're indicating their support for your presence here, and leaving the door open for individual overtures from you." You consult a list you've made a habit of always having on hand in Tor Lithanel. "Miriel are dedicated to Vaul, so they're probably interested in Dwarven artisanry - seemingly very much so, as they're normally one of the isolationist Houses. Ellemakil are the ones most focused on building ties with Middenland, so they're probably supporting this as an extension of that. Tindomiel are one of the more magic-inclined Houses, so they might be the ones with the highest hopes for the Project itself. Mardil are traders, so they might be angling for some sort of trade link with the Karaz Ankor. Filuan... I'm not sure what their angle would be. They're Avelornian and Isha... Ishaists? Ishaites? So they might just be loyalists to the Queen as a descendant of the Everqueen, I suppose."
Excellent, more politics to dissect. The Major Houses section on my notes is getting bigger every update. It's good that Boney is drip feeding the information, excellent way of getting us used to it instead of throwing us into the deep end.
with the Warden of the Sun notably absent.
We really need to find out more about her. She's one of two people on the council with two votes from her House and Ward, and her being isolationist doesn't bode well.
As Thorek approaches, there is a crack of metal on marble as the Arbiter slams the haft of his ceremonial halberd on the flagstones. "Master Runelord Thorek Ironbrow of Karak Azul," he intones, his eyes locked on the approaching Dwarf, his expression unreadable. The Arbiter was the very first of the Queen's Champions, making him one of very few beings still living who fought in the War of Vengeance.
This shocked me. Laurelorn doesn't have just the Grey Lords, but they still have their first Champion? You barely hear about anyone this old in Ulthuan, but Laurelorn has several of them. Even Ariel and Orion in Athel Loren have the excuse of being demigods, but I doubt this Arbiter is a demigod himself. What is it in the water giving them so many long lived people?
You're reminded that Thorek is cannier and more willing to engage in politics than most Dwarves, and you wonder if it might have been better to go with a Runesmith that would have disdained the lot and stuck to the work at hand. But it's too late to change course now. "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help," you say, "or if there's anything that should be done to make your wing of the manor more suitable for when the Project begins in earnest."
I don't know, I actually view Thorek's canniness as a complete positive. Yes he has his own agenda, but he's smart enough not to let that get in the way of his projects. As long as it benefits the Karaz Ankor as a whole and maybe boosts relations between Dwarfs and Elves, then it's great. Kragg certainly wouldn't be doing much to boost relations.
"Tell them that I've heard much of them from the manlings and they seem more struck from the mold of Bel Shanaar than Caledor the Second, so I see reason to hope that our time together will echo our earliest shared history, rather than the last of it." Suppressing another wince, you translate the general gist of good repute and high hopes.
Classic Dwarf stoneshaping metaphor. Gotta love it.
Through Egrimm's reports and corroborated by a letter here and there to the Provostry to confirm what few details could be confirmed from the outside, you hear of Alric quickly learning that Mira's preparations for this takeover have been extensive and long-running, and there are no friendly ears left to him in Altdorf. A more sensible Wizard might have accepted defeat at this point, but at his core Alric seems to be incapable of knowing when to quit, and he starts looking further afield. You hear of his talks with Grand Count Konstantin of Wissenland, and how they sputter to a halt after Mira tips off her hopefully soon-to-be counterpart of the Amethyst Order, and Elspeth von Draken needs only exert a fraction of her influence for Alric to find that Wissenland is no longer interested in the Light Order's partnership in certain sensitive matters. You hear of him trying to insert himself into the Sylvania situation and being politely but firmly evicted after he demonstrates he's more interested in digging into the fate of the late Magister Patriarch Hexensohen than he is on making any sort of contribution to the ongoing campaign. And then he starts worming his way into Talabecland, and though the Jade and Ambers stand ready to repulse any attempts by him to gain influence within the Royal Academy, he seems to be working instead on some sort of internal matter amongst Talabecland's nobility that neither Egrimm nor the Provostry seem to be able to give you any insight into. News dries up, and you find yourself feeling like you've read half of a story only to find that the rest of it is missing.
Alric's so pathetic. I don't care much about him personally, but the desperation and ridiculous tenacity that he has at this point is far past the point of admirable and just loops around to pitiful. The fact that he might be successful only irritates me. He really needs to get a reality check and stop clinging to his position.
It's genuinely amazing how the one man's ambitions is making all this fuss. The Empire already has its fair share of problems and he's only adding to it by reducing the effectiveness of the Order.
