Helix: The Brazen Strumpet

[Spearmint]

The Brazen Strumpet Tavern

"So the corpse is still... erm, that is,

"Petrified still." mourns Red Eric. He had a previous conversation regarding the subject with some other dwarves in the more seedy rival hostelry earlier.

"Wargslayer. A mighty warrior among us. Strength as granite and a heart as big as a mountain. A generation past, I can see you are too coloured in the beard to remember but the greybeards do, when the regiments formed as ranks of axe and hammer against the horde of Tyrannids swelling from the Moor. They broke through and took refuge in the forest watching as the Saurons' were building a stronghold. Holding within many as captives for ransom or feast.

Sturgaard led the relief, assaulting the gates. They released captives and made good their escape but were harassed by the Lizardmen hunting the stragglers mounted on wyverns above and packs of beasts below. A stand was taken by the guardsmen to shield others as they made for the mountain pass under the canopy of the great Redwoods. The Saurons' beset the warriors but they stood firm though their ranks withered. Then the Saurons' on the cusp of defeat brought forth great creatures; salamanders belching fire, serpents spitting poison. Finally scaly lizards whose gaze hardened flesh to stone. There in the forest at the foot of the mountains, the braveheart stood his ground and yes, he stands still.

It is time to honour him in state and bring him home lest the lichen grows evergreen upon his brow and acid rain erode his statuesque form and memory."

Basilisk Wood is approximately 35 miles due South of Helix across the Barrow Moor.

Red Erik's intention was to leave in the coming days but commitment to such a grand undertaking has been poor, even among his dwarven kin. There is a feeling the noble task is more of a suicide mission with little chance of success. How do you find a petrified dwarf in an overgrown forest after a hundred years?

So this mission may happen behind the screens and I will adjudicate any success or it will depart later in the year as numbers commit to it. Realistically, the body of Sturgaard isn't going anywhere so there is no deadline to achieve this.

Elbart turns talk to weapons. Pikes, halberds, glaives. The Axe & Anvil Forge can craft to order. Typical base weapons are off the shelf, Duchy Broadswords a speciality (and free of inflationary price rises), more specialised and custom ware is made on demand, usually over a few days.

With Bellatrix and Berrgon remaining quiet, the conversations conclude and Elbart can take to his common room and basic tavern hosting. Later that evening a courier delivers a stamped envelope which invites him to translate some of the missives given to the church and thus you can revisit the chapel after breakfasting the next day.

[kruk]

The Brazen Strumpet

Elbart enquires regarding the Axe & Anvil Forge and dwarven community hub. Whilst Berrgon is relatively new in the village, Red Eric is a known npc and shares the forge serves practical ministry; crafting, smithing, armoury, as well as religious shrine for those of Moradinian faith. "Before dwarves go venturing, they usually commit to prayer and warrior rites, gaining the favour and blessing sorely needed upon the Barrow Moor wilderness."

Actions, any more specific interaction and greeting with Elbart, Berrgon (and Bellatrix if the player shows up)?.

Berrgon
The dwarf ponders Elbert's reply. It has been awhile since he's been forge or religious shrine. Everything he has learned to this point has been through trial and error fighting...learning what not to do and what works well when dealing with his foes. Most of the gear he wears now is from those who he killed. He scratches his beard, more so as a nervous reaction when he's in a situation where he doesn't quite know how to respond than anything else. hmmmff...yes...I will do that...blessings and talking to some of my own...would help me I think...Thank you

With that he nods to the others around him and then once more to Elbart, then turns towards the exit to head to the dwarven community.

[subaltari]

Elbart, 16 July

The human parts company with two dwarves, both the talkative one and the scarred one, and spends the rest of his afternoon touring the Village and becoming familiar with its layout. During this time he also makes an initial visit to the Axe and Anvil [separate thread].

Early evening finds the newcomer back at a long table in the tavern, and (assuming the Chapel's gold covers his supper) ordering a stew and an ale. If left to himself Elbart again takes his ease with pipe and linguistic scrolls, but this time he's more careful not to vocalize the Sauronic speech out loud.

He retires to his bunk in the Common Room well ahead of any late night revelers.

–11 sp in expenses so far, by my count.