A Social Call
Caldera of Karak Eight Peaks, 2485
Petra Downhill was feeling quite proud of herself as she swept the Nar side of the Karak Eight Peaks Temple of Esmerelda - though only an initiate to the temple, she'd been doing quite well in the tasks and learning assigned to her, and today she'd even been complimented on her pie by Elder Hluodwica! Not that the Elder was terribly rare with her compliments, but it meant a great deal all the same, if only to Petra.
She'd just about finished the entrance when she was approached by a Halfling. She had a feeling from first sight that he was a visitor to the peaks- his clothes were showy to the point of ostentatious, with bright red trim on what seemed like a number of layers more suitable to a female Dwarf. She'd have thought it a bit much back in the Moot, but it seemed even more out of place here, when it seemed like half the Halflings were following Marshal Muggin's example and wearing a gambeson everywhere like they were a Dwarf themselves.
A moment after seeing his wardrobe, she spied the ring on his finger- made of gold, with a plate on the front in the shape of a ram's head. She knew for sure he was a visitor, then- she'd never heard of the Quinsberry Lodge having a presence in Karak Eight Peaks.
"May- may I help you, sir?"
"You can indeed!" He beamed at her. "I've asked all around, and I've been told that the Elder of the Halfling community here is the High Priestess of this temple?"
"Oh, yes, Elder Hluodwica. Should, should I get her for you? What name should I give?"
"That'd be more than helpful. My name is Udo Hulwicket, of the Nuln Hulwickets. My older brother Odfast has made quite a name for himself with his tavern, you know- you might have heard of it?"
"Ah, I'm afraid I never heard much news about Nuln back in the Moot, and even less here of course… the meal of the day is a meat pie, if you would be interested while I fetch the Elder?"
"Oh, that sounds mighty fine. I will tell you, the biggest fault with the Big Folk cities, apart from all the Big Folk anyway, is not enough temples to Esmerelda- really, we should be making some changes to that, we should."
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Udo had downed his first course of pie and was working on a second when Elder Hluodwica approached him. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hulwicket. Certainly an honor to have such a distinguished member of the Lodge paying a visit; how are you enjoying the meal?" she asked, sitting down across from him with her own slice.
"Oh, it's tremendous," he belched. "The meat is from the local cattle, I would imagine?" At her nod, he continued, "Ah, Halfling-tended, from farm to table- best in the world, in my opinion."
As he set to taking another bite, she began on her own, only pausing to make small talk. "How have things been in Nuln? I've been hearing that the Altdorf Lodge is close to getting Pie Week made an Empire-wide holiday."
"Pheh, Altdorfers, think that just because their bums are sitting within a mile of the Emperor's that they're the only ones that can get change going. Why, we in the Nuln Lodge are close, very close to finally getting a tax reduction for Halfling-size homes- first Nuln, then all the rest!"
When the pies had finished and Udo was putting tobacco in his pipe, Hluodwica began to get to the heart of the matter. "And what brings you to our humble patch of farmland? We've had few visitors even from the Moot, let alone from the wider Halfling community. If it's purely a social call, we much appreciate it, but I can't help but feel you've another reason?"
Udo busied with lighting his pipe before answering. "Ah, it's a personal matter, just something that has been niggling at me for some time… it's my nephew, you see."
"I'm afraid you'll need to elaborate some?" she responded, sitting back and setting her hands over her stomach.
"Now, living in Nuln, the first thing that always becomes clear is that the Big Footers are, to a one, utterly enthralled with that Gunnery School of theirs. Hardly a conversations goes by without the topic going towards the latest contraption or explosion or what-have-you!" he exclaimed, before taking a draw from his pipe.
"Being an active, and further, proactive, member of our community, I of course have always maintained that anything one of the Big Folk can do, a Halfling can do just as well, if not better!" he said, sweeping forward with his pipe.
"And my nephew, Ludo, he's such a bright mind, just the most nimble fingers, can fit into the tightest space you care to name, tremendous qualities in an Engineer, he's done so well at the Gunnery School- he figured he'd try to represent the community over here by applying for a post at the Eight Peaks branch, but though he is eminently qualified, on every choosing it's a Big Footer that's gone! I began to find myself quite concerned that there might be some bias present over in this corner of the world."
Hluodwica sat forward then. "Well, I can't say I've noticed any issues. Things have been quite pleasant here, once we evicted some of the squatters. Though of course, we've been more focused on the soil than what the humans have been getting up to."
"That," Udo said sharply, "is a profoundly dangerous attitude to take. Really, this reinforces my reasons for coming ten-fold." He paused to take another draw, not speaking for several moments as the smoke curled above him.
"I've been involved with the Nuln Lodge for some years now- most of my life, really. We Hulwickets have long considered Lodge service to be the purest calling. And may I say, I've heard no end to tales of what Big Folk can get up to when we're more focused on our own affairs. It's a state of constant vigilance to make sure they're not getting one over on us, and that's civilians- the fellows over in that mountain are soldiers, a far worse matter I can assure you."
"My worry," he said softly, "is that you folk over here might not be accustomed to that sort of thing, that pressure, seeing as just about the whole lot of you are from the Moot itself. It is, I can tell you, a different world once you leave its borders. Big Footer landlords, Big Footer nobles, Big Footer constabularies… they're practically arrayed against us from the very beginning, and the only thing that's stood against them, in so many cases, as I'm sure you've heard, is the Lodge. My thought is, perhaps we at the Nuln Lodge could send some boys over, some that are well accustomed to what the Big Folk get up to. To help keep your folk organized and ready to spot any warning signs."
Hluodwica chuckled softly. "Oh, I'm not worried. We were granted this land by King Belegar himself, and though the legal bits are a bit fuzzy at the edges, the Undumgi are, if anything, fellow vassals. We grow all the food that's not imported here, he's well aware of the importance we hold in keeping his home in his own hands, long-term. It's why he made the deal he made with Hisme to begin with. I don't think there's much call for the Lodge to arrive on the scene- I'm sure you fellows are up to your ears in trouble over in Nuln."
Udo's face was stony. "You say that, but it's not Halflings that have ultimately been running these farms, is it not? It was something that all of us over in Nuln were shocked to hear about- a Human directing Halflings in farming? Practically the start to a bad joke about Stirland innovators and Ostermark jesters."
"Oh, Panoramia has been such a dear!" Hluodwica gushed. "Jade Wizard you know, so there's certainly a knack there that's rare for one of our own folk to have themselves, and she's been as eager to learn how we farm as she is to share the fruits of the Jade College. Really, I'm sure three minutes of talk with her would set your mind perfectly at ease! We could go see her now, she has a human-sized cottage just over that aways, near Karag Nar. Though," Hluodwica said thoughtfully, "she'd likely be busy with Loremaster Weber right now."
"Loremaster Weber?" Udo muttered to himself.
"Oh yes, the two of them are quite close." Hluodwica explained. "...Oh of course, how silly of me, you wouldn't have known of her, I always forget from how everyone in the Peaks could hardly have missed her- she's a Grey Wizard," Udo's face visibly lost color, "named Mathilde Weber." He began to clench his pipe tightly in his hand.
"She's the first human to ever be named to the main council of a Dwarf king, you know, and she did more than enough to earn it during the expedition. Though even before that, you see," Hluodwica hummed to herself, "before she joined up, she was the Spymaster in Stirland, to that Witch Hunter Count- supposedly she destroyed Castle Drakenhof herself when he fell in battle, and she was just a Journeywoman at the time."
"Though," Hluodwica reasoned, "even a year or two into her employ with Van Hal she was quite accomplished- there was this merchant enterprise, the Stirlandian League, that he wanted gone, and they say she dismantled the whole of it in a single night's ride… now what were we talking about? Oh yes, Panoramia. I'm sure I could have a meeting set up shortly, if you'd like, though it's possible that Loremaster Weber would also be in attendance."
"You know," Udo spoke up, "I think I'm quite convinced already, just from how you praise her, there certainly doesn't need to be any bother about that, no need at all!"
"Are you sure?" Hluodwica asked, "I'm sure she wouldn't mind it, you being such a distinguished figure over in Nuln after all."
"No, no, no need for that sort of trouble! In fact, I really don't have the time, I should be going," Udo hastily stood up, "it'll just be a quick stop for me at where they're setting up that Gunnery School about my nephew, then it'll be right back on the road! Really, I was gone too long the moment I left, things happen so quickly in Nuln, I'll need to be on my way." Udo hurried towards the door, speaking while he walked backwards, "Thank you again for the pie, and, ah, for the chance to hear your thoughts, though I'm afraid I don't expect I'll be coming by this way again, such a shame, have a pleasant day!" He hurried out the door.
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Hluodwica stood at the door, chuckling softly to herself, before one of her initiates stepped closer to her.
"Ma'am?" Petra asked, "I couldn't help but overhear, but why wouldn't we want the Quinsberry Lodge set up here? I've only heard stories from my cousin in Altdorf, b-but, they certainly seem like they're so helpful, I mean, they got him out of a smuggling charge that would have seen him in the gaol over some pipeweed if the Lodge hadn't covered the fees for a barrister…"
Hluodwica turned towards her. "Oh, I don't deny the accomplishments that the Lodge has had, and the number of our folk they've helped. But it's not all fresh hay and sunshine, there's been more than a few cases where those that have made a name for themselves in the Lodge have figured the best way to help Halflings is to help themselves… no matter who they hurt in the process. And the Nuln Lodge especially is tied at the hip to some unsavory sorts."
"What do you mean?" Petra asked, wringing her apron slightly in her hands.
"Well, take the Hulwickets themselves. You saw how he reacted to me bringing up Loremaster Weber? The Hulwickets have ties to half the smuggling operations in Wissenland, and it's not just moving pipeweed to avoid duties. I expect he had dealings himself with that merchant league I mentioned, the Nuln-to-Wurtbad road was mired in a rights issue for decades, and where legal trade cannot be had, smugglers will always step in."
Hluodwica sat down with a sigh, rubbing a hand on her face. "Even if I didn't care about trying to avoid lining some baron's pocket, the Dwarfs tend to take that sort of thing very personally. And that is my main worry with the idea of the Lodge establishing itself here- they've dealt with the Big Folk for centuries, but there's never been a population of us in a Dwarfhold, of course, and Dwarfs are just... built different. They've a longer memory than any human you care to name, for the good and the bad."
"Now," Hluodwica said, turning towards Petra, "if you see anyone around with Lodge symbols, do be a dear and come get me, won't you? Especially if they aren't here to see me…"
