Game Posts

The barbarian can feel his blood boiling at the casual dismissive from this lord. He barks a string of words in dwarvish and turns sharply to depart for the door leading to the cemetary.

Billy bristles a bit but realization takes hold. Right, Ulfren. We'll tend to Dirk first, then see what we can do for these people.

In Dwarvish:

"Speaking of helping, Billy, we should mention we have a ship offshore. Perhaps we can give passage to their envoys to re-establish trade? I fear this island is at risk of a terrible food shortage, and their fleets might have fared poorly in the ice."

After Ulfren has left, Ryyrik throws a thumbs-up to the lord "Go, enjoy time with your kids, we can finish this conversation after our fallen is rightfully put to rest and a clear mind is acquired."

Phineas decides the wounded land necessitates him speaking to the human lord. He sorts out a few tricky verb conjugations that always confuses him in the human tongue, then stumbles ahead:

"Um, pardon me your, erm, Lordship? On account of the thousand years of ice, it would seem your nation's agricultural output will be severely stunted for this year, maybe more. May I ask: how are your people going to manage this?"

Ulfren leaves his companions to their negotiations and sets about finding a spot in the cemetary to temporarily hold his departed commander and friend.

It bothers Phineas how easily Reinhel speaks of the destroyed environment. Quite surprising, and most surprised is Phineas himself. In many ways his practical Dwarven upbringing, heavily steeped in industry and progress, made it difficult to accept the teachings of The Circle that put much more value on nature's right to exist as it is than the right of Dwarves to put nature to use.

He grit his teeth, bowed, and bid the King a good rest.

Then Phineas joined Ulfren and others in the crypt.

"This isn't a worthy place for a hero like Dirk Clawhammer, Ulfren."

"Damn right, it ain't." Gunnar growls.

"It is not," agrees Ulfren, "but it'll have to do. I ain't stuffing Dirk in these bags while we wander about this place tryin' to figure out what's what. This is only temp'ry afore we head back home, where we can return him to the rock and stone he was chiseled from." He sets to the task of claiming the empty crypt and constructing an appropriate marker to designate the (temporary) resting place of Dirk Clawhammer.

"I agree that he shouldn't be buried here but he does deserve a proper ceremony of sorts, regardless of where we are; we at least owe him that."

Gunnar salutes solemnly as Clawhammer is laid to (temporary) rest.

Phineas considers mentioning that a Bag of Holding is at least airless, and Dirk would decompose less in the bag than the crypt. But, he thinks better of it. Ulfren's reasons were probably solid, and he trusted them enough that he didn't need to hear them. Phineas just nods.

"So when do we leave for home?"

"Lord Rain-Hell don't seem concerned about the situation anymore," says Ulfren once the ritual and symbolic interment is complete. "But Billy said something 'bout something he had to do. We can go home after that, I suppose."

"What do you think home will be like?"

Ulfren huffs a breath. "It is rare for a dwarf home to change. We're like the very rock. But even a mountain will change its shape given enough years."

He looks away, and down to the ground. "I honestly have been trying not to think 'bout that."

Phineas pauses and regards Ulfren. Seeing the big Dwarf looking that way, looking awful tired, gave him an idea.

"Fuck it. You think their ale froze? Gotta be a place to drink in this icy old keep. Probably where Ryyrik and the rest of them ended up anyway. The first round and the first song's on me!"

Phineas pauses.

"Though, it might be unwise to spend these coins of ours. They're a thousand years old! Might be worth something more these days! Never thought we'd get rich on army pay, but who knows eh?"

"Aye, let's all raise a toast to Clawhammer."

In a slump over the loss of their leader and potential drastic change of their home since following the faux ceremony, Ryyrik's ears perk up and a slight smirk dons his mouth. He rushes over and bear hugs Phineas "Now your speaking my language; I knew you had it in ya', Phiney-boy." he drops Phineas and whips his bag off "Now, what kind of toast would it be without ale? I assure you no Codeci toast, that's for certain!"

He begins pulling flask after flask out and handing it to every dwarf present. Without waiting, he breaks the flask top off and starts to chug it, he stops and places the flask next to Clawhammer "To Clawhammer!" he looks to the sky "Where ever you are you crazy fool, you better save some ale for me when I join you or I'm sending your ass back here to bring back more." He turns and begins to leave, he throws up two fingers above his head as he walks "I'm expectin' two free drinks now, ya woody basta'd."