Session 7: AP Part 3

Many burly dwarven guards surround them, skin the colour of liquid iron. The grey dwarves are taken away and the group confined in a guard house. After a while they are brought out, their weapons confiscated and then marched into a great cylindrical council chamber. Eight seats sit high above them with only three occupied. Silver, Gold and Bronze dwarves regard them while in the shadows the sounds of more watchers can be heard.

They are quizzed at length about who they are and why they are here. There is much resentment that they have brought the grey dwarves here, they left these Halls long ago and it seems are not welcome back. Morns association with the Unfettered God also seems to cause a bit of a stir but is mollified apparently by his possession of the Hammer. The group make their pitch for help.

Or they would have if Assamber didn’t first ask them to accept their grey kin back. This is cause for more muttering and discontent. Added to the Bonecracker clan they brought with them things look bad. All is not lost however and both Morn and Azhanti show a rare turn of diplomatic skill. The group are dismissed while the Council deliberates.

The next day two members of the Council call to see the group. Master Astronomer Finnest brings them to his observatory, a huge chamber of hanging gantries and giant telescopes. He explains how he spends his time watching the stars, looking for the meaning of events through their movements. He also fills the group in on much of the current difficulties with the dwarven nation.

The giants are long gone, left to fight a chaos army which punched a hole in the sky dome. They tried to wake the Dragons tro fight but it didnt work and so the Giants marched to War, one group to the breach and the other to the lost continent of Xen'Drik. Without their masters to give them direction dwarven society is fracturing. There is no-one left to operate the soul forge and replace dwarves who stop working and no Giant to appoint new Master Crafters when old ones fail.

Some dwarves remain hardline traditionalists believing the giants will return. Others begin to waver, unsure of the future and even more rebel. Some have even left their homes for ever, giving up the Immortality granted by their nearness to the Forge. These are the Grey Dwarves and, having left their people it is said they may never return.

They also meet Master Smith Hortense. He is very interested to learn about the Cabal’s Golems. He does not believe they are dwarf crafted, they are too small and ungainly. He seems reasonably impressed with the group despite their obvious shortcomings as humans. He allows Assamber access to their equipment so he can reforge his old staff and craft the dragonskin he has been carrying around into something useful.

The next day they are called before the Council. The dwarves agree to intervene to deal with the Golem issue. Such creatures should not be in the hands of those who serve Chaos. When the Rebellion starts they will be there to help. The stars will tell them when the time is right. The group are dismissed. They are lead away to a barge which ferries them underground out of the mountains and back into the desert.

Next stop, the Kireshi and Artemis’s meeting with his mother!

*cut scene*

Earthhome, the Chamber of the Ruling Council of Eight. “This is a bad idea, no good will come of it I swear Finnest.”

“The stars have foretold it, there is no doubt in my mind. Hortense agrees, so the will of the Council is decided. Those who were lost have returned. The Soul Forge will burn again and the Stone Dwarves will rise. It is they who will meet the threat of Chaos not us and so we might survive.”

In the distance can be heard the screaming of many voices as molten rock covers flesh and bone.