See, I can follow my own plans and schedule.
Chapter 14
Kranth's face broke into a smile as he saw the many shocked faces of his remaining friends. "Well don't just stand their slack jawed, ye bunch of blunderin Gnomes. We got work to do." It was then that the silence was broken by a thunderous cheer from the gathered dwarves. As one they raced over to see up close their brother returned from the dead. As they surrounded him, there was many a rough pat or gruff nod, yet it was Grimil who spoke what was on all their minds. "How did ye get out? Where have ye been?" He had further questions, but they all stopped dead when he noticed the golden arm. "I think that ye have quite the tale to tell us Kranth. But first we need ye to vote, who do ye wish to lead the group?" Handrel who had by this point made his way over to the group, spoke up. "Yes do you wish or your true King and the rightful leader to be in charge or do you wish for this miner upstart to lead." As he finished Handrel folded his arms and watched Kranth in a cool tone.
Kranth however made to move to speak or respond. He stood there thinking on the matter at hand, just as any good dwarf would. His eyes moved back and forth between Handrel who looked smug and Grimil who simply stood and watched Kranth. He stood thinking and stroking his mustache for what seemed like an eternity until finally he came to a decision. "The way I see it Handrel has current rulership of the mountain, but Grimil has the backing of the Clans." Grimil nodded, a knowing smile slowly spreading on his face. Handrel however was not smiling, being used to the many politics of the dwarven court he immediately saw Kranth's plan and was not pleased. "You must vote, for either me or him there can be no middle ground." Kranth chuckled and smiled all the wider while Grimil also smiling stepped in and spoke for Kranth. "Actually only a clan leader can force a clan member to vote on anything. And seeing as Kranth is his own clan leader, he can choose to not vote." Kranth nodded and continued the rest of the idea to the stunned Handrel. "That's right and since the king does not have the council vote, he cannot remove a clan, and vise versa." It was the Blessed Gunner who spoke up at this point quite pleased with the outcome of the events. "It effectively creates a balance of power between the council and King. The King controls the treasury, land, army and foreign affairs. However the council controls all clan affairs and holdings."
The dwarves all nodded their agreement with the plan, except Handrel whose face was at this point redder then the reddest tomato. He growled his next few words before stomping off into the cave. "You will live to regret this day." Grimil waited until Handrel was out of earshot before turning and grinning at Kranth. "You know that will only work for now, and that we will eventually have to deal with him." The other dwarves all laughed at Kranth's next response. "Let us deal with that disaster when it hits." The dwarves all turned to Dwdal as he cleared his throat to get attention. "I brought food and seeds for planting." Grimil smiled and clapped Dwdal on the shoulder. "I send you out to hunt, and you bring me back a banquet and an ally. I should send you to the mines to look for gold." The dwarves all chuckled before Kranth raised his hands for attention. "I also was able to grab three Runic Axes, as well as the mining picks." As he spoke he handed out the weapons and tools.
The Silverpicks all raced forward and grabbed their picks, which served as both weapon and profession. The two Stronghammer's stepped forward and took each a Runic axe, most likely weapons forged by their hands. Kranth took the last axe as Dwdal already had his crossbow and axe, while the Gemchipper's did not use axes. In fact when pressed about the issue the Blessed Gunner spoke up surprising the group. "I need no weapon, to fight the monsters with." Grimil had been about to argue the point when with a wave of his hand a rune flared to life in the air. "I need no weapon for I have the language of our god Barthuum." The group quietly murmured at this latest change. Kranth decided that it would be the best time to relay his information.
"The monsters will be here in but a day, to overrun us. Barthuum sent me back and fixed me arm to tell ye." As he spoke he raised his golden arm to show the small crowd. "I dont know how many are coming, and I don't know if Barthuum will help us anymore then he has." He looked at his arm and at the Blessed Gunner to demonstrate his point. "But I do know that here we have a chance to stand. If we work together and dig in, we can hold them off." The dwarves gave a rousing cheer while Kranth turned to Grimil. "What can you do in a day, Master miner." Grimil grinned and looked down at his clan pick once more in his hands. "Well with these I think I can get the cave deeper, the walls thicker and the opening more narrow." Kranth nodded in understanding and agreement. "I like your idea, if we funnel them we will have the advantage with superior quality weapons and armour." The other dwarves all nodded in agreement, it was the most basic of dwarven defences and often one of the best. One of the Stronghammers though suddenly looked concerned and quickly interjected. "It's a good plan, but what of trolls and ogres, they will just smash down our walls." The mood of the dwarves seemed to suddenly darken, until the Blessed Gunner spoke. "Normally you would be right. However as you place each stone on the wall, I will inscribe it with runes of strength and power." The group brightened and quickly dispersed, as the plan looked sound.
However as the group went back to work Grimil walked over and spoke to him in hushed tones. "You may give us some extra time, but your runes won't last forever." The Gunner nodded in agreement though looked unconcerned as he responded. "You are right Gimil, yet it gives them hope and the runes will last a little while." Kranth wondered over and clapped both dwarves on the shoulder while joining in on the conversation. "So do either of you think we will even last the first night?" The situation took on a more dire gloom when it was put into perspective like that. Yet there was little they could do to change their predicament, so they would shoulder the burden like any good dwarf would. So they were all of the same mind as Grimil spoke. "We will last long enough to make this army pay dearly." With those final thoughts, they separated and went to their work, trying to gain any possible advantage they could over the attacking army.
The sound of a horn blew loud and clear across the valley. It was deep and boomed through the trees, shaking them as it blew and sent every bird squawking into the air. The horn blower paused only long enough for a breath before sounding it again. Again it shook the trees and seemed to shake the very air. However the noise of that horn paled in comparison to the sudden thunderous sound of marching feet. The sound came from the great army of the Grey as it poured from the many caves and deep grottos. They poured forth into the valley, like great rivers pouring into an empty lake. The black tide stretched over the entire valley and then suddenly stopped. The air was filled with an eerie quiet as the ten thousand monsters stood still. There was goblins and kobolds, troglodytes and orcs, ogres and trolls. So vast was the Grey's army that it even had two small hill giants. Yet silent as a whisper they stood, to afraid to break the silence. Suddenly with a flash of lightning the Grey appeared atop a high boulder in front of the great force. He was clad in long grey robes, with silver script that flowed along it. He looked out at his great force and saw the thousands of faces staring back at him. Finally he spoke. "I have gathered all my power, and all my strength here for a single purpose. To long have we stayed from the sight of the southern kingdoms. It has been so long that the dwarves have forgotten about us and dared venture forth." His dark eyes glared out at the army from under beetled eyebrows. "This must not be allowed. We must destroy these interlopers. We must wipe them from our lands." He raised his hands high into the air as he spoke next, being sure to have all the monsters attention. "Therefore, go forth and crush them. There will be no retreat, no surrender. Cowards will be crushed, and any to craven to fight will die." His final words he spoke in a scream, whipping the army into a frenzy. "Death or vitory!!!"
With those final words the army charged forth causing the earth to tremble. Trees were crushed and animals fled before them. This was to be the greatest march, the north had seen in hundreds of years. Barthuum looked on with a deep sorrow. There was no way that the dwarves would hold. No way that his champion would succeed. He cursed himself for not having foreseen the march of the goblins. Why had he allowed for these beasts to gain such strength. He gathered some hope from the knowledge that even as these poor few died, he would rouse the dwarven kingdoms in revenge. For now however he owed it to these few to watch the coming battle, and to prepare their place in his hall.
Barthuum was not the only god looking down on the march that dark day. Elathern goddess of the elves too looked down. Yet though she looked with sorrow, she quickly realised that she and her followers might have a role to play. She realised that most likely any she sent to help the dwarves, would die to. Yet she could not allow for the dwarves to make their stand alone. She also knew that for the sake of one of her people currently with the dwarves, she had to send help. So she did the only thing she could. She appeared to one of the priests in the elven village close to dwarves. "Elder, I call thee." The old elf woke quickly with a start. Upon seeing the ghostly image of his deity, he fell from his bed and prostrated himself. "Rise wise Elder, I seek aid from you and your people......
It was not long after that meeting, that the Elder took what he thought was the last look at his village. The willow trees by the pond swayed gently in the leaves. The orchards had already turned orange and yellow for the year, so seemed as if they were living flame. The small huts and homes dotted the many trees of the village, yet seemed a natural part of the forest. The windows no longer glowed softly from the wood fires in the many hearths. And the village did not ring with soft music. For the whole village had been called upon. Every man, woman, and child had been asked to go and defend the dwarves. And so the elven host of 67 warriors stood in shining mail, looking like the Elder at their village for the last time. Finally on some unseen signal the host turned and quickly marched away.
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Topic: The Founding of a Home (Read 10645 times)