To Live Alone

See Also: Bardic Knowledge

Lady Anne Mowbry, Keribrar, Thorne, Hafwyn, and Quilate join the other honorblades of the Blackthorn Clan for the last meal. This meal is taken just before the last rays of the sun touch the stone of Fountainhead. It is the last peace the dwarves will know from the Mistress of the Night until the sun rises once more.

Tonight they tap one of the Red Ale kegs they brought with them in honor of their guests and the task they will undertake when the sun next touches the stone.

Their Skáld rises up and tells the tale of why they are here in the dark instead among their clanfolk of the mountains. Blackthorn Silverhammer traveled with Aegrin and saw him through many journeys. Aegrin created a tree on this sacred land that was a sin in the eyes of Barathorn. Although they had traveled for many years Blackthorn was not by Aegrin's side when he battled X'toltn.

After the battle Blackthorn forgave his friend and forged a cairn fit for the gods and vowed it would not be disturbed. He first created the barriers that stopped “Aegrin's Tree.” In time other dwarves came to this land and with the passing of Blackthorn they took up his mantle and renewed the vow. The clan took the name of their Eternal Master of the Forge and constructed their clanhold in the nearby mountains.

A gong announces the nearing of the true night and so dishes are cleaned, benches cleared, and everyone makes their way into their homes. The group are given the use of the longhouse and told to stay indoors until the gong sounds again.

“To live alone is the fate of all great souls.” Arthur Schopenhauer

The longhouse is not just a gathering place, but serves as their historical records and dry good storage. Any goes through the records; although she reads little dwarven. In general dwarves are nearly fanatical about written records and the dwarves of Blackthorn Clan are no different. After digging through multiple records of mushroom harvests and stalagmite growth she finds some more interesting records.

On records details eighteen dwarves that ventured into the city beyond Natttåke Keep led by Gishara and her husband. Only six returned to their encampment. Three of them succumbed to their wounds in the following days and one disappeared during the night. The two that survived Homraz Darkslayer recovered a Silver Maul and Gishara Crimson Eye had her left eye replaced by a large ruby. Both of these went on to become great heroes within the clan.

In the morning they are guided to Natttåke Keep by a heavily armored dwarf. He tells them that the keep has fallen twice in recent years to the creatures that roam the city. The first fell to a four-legged and two armed giant. The second is unknown for the relief force arrived and found their companions dead. Nobody goes into the city to search for artifact as it has become so dangerous.

They proceed through three large doors. Each of them barred using a complex locking mechanism and guarded by a single dwarf. Once at the keep they are announced Nargle Blackthorn, the current Camp Leader of those in the keep. He reminds them to fully announce themselves before entering the light in front of the gate to the city. If they fail to do so they will killed when they step into the light.

With Quilate and Thorne scouting ahead the group managed to avoid the small imp-like creatures that inhabit the upper parts of the city near the keep. Most of the buildings have tumbled or fallen due to disrepair. They come across a three-story building with a large dome for a roof. It appears intact, while the surrounding buildings have burned. The building has eight sides with a door on each side. Carvings decorate the outer fall obviously done by somebody with great skill.

Above each door is a small rectangular window. Quilte flies up and investigates. A large centipede-like creature made with human limbs is curled around a pedestal. Sunk into the walls are over a hundred humans breathing in and out. When they exhale the building sounds like a flute. Quilate uses his elephant artifact to see of this is an illusion or true magic that has lasted for centuries.