MortisCorpus
Posts 400
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They all agree it started when water fell, but some say it was tears that fell from the stone above... Some may think it a drip from the stalactites, or some will argue the earth elementals cried the day the Druegar began swinging picks at the mithril deposits. The Shield Dwarves will say it was Grumbar.
The story goes…
Twas a bright day in the dark cave for the Druegar. The Drow and the Druegar never worked together so when the geode like chasm was broken into the Druegar greedily began to rape the walls of all the minerals before the Drow could learn of the discovery. Obsidian and emeralds jetted from the dark watery reflection that the mithril gave off. The chink of picks went on for days and the cave became sparser and sparser of its once natural beauty.
The Druegar began to die off one by one as the days went on. The farther in the cave the dark dwarves went the more likely they would not return, and after a short time the Druegar became wise of the treacherous nature of the cave. It was deemed not worth the risk the day the elementals began to rise up and speak out. They said the stalagmites had risen up and began to fight.
They placed explosives, and a great many wards were placed by the dark skinned priests. Orders were set into motion and with a great resounding explosion the entrance and a great portion of the once beautiful cave came crumbling down to be long forgotten.
Sometime later…
The first stone was removed by a goodly Dwarf named Grumblebeard Stonehammer. He was seeking a new piece for the end of his recently broken stone hammer. He was a Shield Dwarf of a strong lineage who hailed from Asyria and he had seen the dark runes scrawled in the old mine shaft. He and his four fellows had been at clearing the rubble for nearly a week before they broke into the great cave.
Grumblebeard stepped into the cave first with a hopeful glint in his eye and whispered a prayer to Grumbar. An unknown raspy voice barked, “I have been waiting long and patiently. You will find nothing here but the bones of those before you.” Grumblebeard stopped moving forward with the first noise and chanted a prayer for light. As the cave blossomed to lit beauty he could discern nothing in the caves walls that would speak to him. Grumblebeard replied, “I am Grumblebeard, priest of Grumbar and loyal defender of Asyria. Show yourself!” The unknown voice bellowed a raspy laugh, “Can you not see me? I am here old Dwarf. I stand naked and ready. Take nothing and leave nothing and you shall live to defend this.. Asyria .. a while longer.”
Grumblebeard raised the end of his once mighty, yet now broken hammer. “Evil be takin me home. Me brothers be turnin against me. I done broke me hammer on dem tainted walls of Asyria rather than slay me own son! I am here for penitence and divine retribution. You will stand aside while I seek me vengeance’s means…”
The movement of the stones shone bright in the magical light and Grumblebeard saw what looked like living mithril. It's eyes shone black and red in flecks like rubies trapped in obsidian and he slowly advanced forward with the movement of flowing molten rock. He stood some reasonable distance and lifted his hands to offer a massive chunk of chip worked mithril ore in the shape of a cudgel. “I have flet this evil for some time. Here, it has served me well, take it and go.”
Grumblebeard stared in awe, “Sweet Grumbar’s beard, you be tha livin image of stone.” He gasped in exoneration and took a knee. “I be sorry fer disturbin yer home, but I be needin some help mighty earthling.” The elemental figure moved forward and stood a personal distance away and took a knee to look as near to his eyes as possible. “Help?” A curious expression crossed his face somewhat contorted by the hard quality of his skin. Grumblebeard raised his head to meet the stone figures face, “Aye, Me band of brothers here be all that be remaining of the once mighty Priests of Asyria, and we be needin yer help.”
The figure stood tall raising Grumblebeard up as he rose. “I have only the name screamed as my foes have fallen, they called me Stalag. We have work to do.”
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DM - Moderator - Lord of Ahala
ROT Contributor
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