Hammering a Forge

In the days that follow the victory over the Doomguard, the Dwarves feast and toast to remember their victorious dead. While feasting in the great hall a messenger arrives with a small letter for Drakus- the leader to Truehammer.

"It is time we clans meet. A meeting of the clan leaders to decide the destiny of our people. The two-fronts war and defeat of the Dark One leaves ripples we must all respond to. Come to the Table of the Ancients- we will light the fire and empty our mugs together. Bring with you whomever you may, Honored Drakus of Truehammer."

Drakus sets down his mug of dwarven spirits as streams of it run down his long beard rolling over chuncks of meat and bread caught from days of feasting. He trades his turkey leg for a pen and replies, “I appreciate the invitation to meet with our clan leadership. I will gladly come to represent Clan TrueHammer to celebrate the strength of the Dwarves! Tell me when and where and I will come.”


Two days later, the Head of each 12 clans meet at the Ancient Table (A powerful symbolic reminder to all in attendance. It was an ancient ruin, all that is left of the capital from when the Dwarves were one nation thousands of years ago)

A smooth stone table crafted by the finest dwarven sculptors is nearly all that is left. The middle of the table is hollow where a magical eternal fire burns. As the Clan leaders meet many embrace in brotherhood, others grimace and reflect generation old grudges. Some do both. The clan Truehammer is highly respected though few move to embrace the oversized Drakus.

After hours of feasting on roast goblin and firmented spirits, Garfax of StoneForge brings his hammer against the table and stands to speak, "My brothers, fellow dwarves. We gather not just for feasting but I have brought you from your warring and mining for yet another purpose, though it may not be as grand as the merrymaking we now partake of." Slamming a mug he continues, "Honor to Clan Truehammer for standing against the Doomguard." The rest cheer as well, pounding the table. "We hear mighty tales of your courage, honor and power great one. From this day forth Drakus shall be known as the Bear of Honor." The clan leaders cheer and swig their ale in approval. "Your tales and the tales of what's happened far south have reached even the fartherst corners of the Dwarven kingdom. With Talyun enslaving the fallen clans and the goblins renergized by some unseen force, the unity that I hear of has inspired me to call you all here. All of our clans should band together again. Rebuild this hall and let the world shake with our hammers and axes. Once we are united our strength should be given to that of Geneva. They have helped us before in everyway. We should help them, join them, pay our taxes to them, give our men to their armies so we Dwarves can be a part of something greater than our petty feuds-- something even greater than Dwarves ourselves. I would move for Drakus the Bear of Truehammer to be our joined clan leader and to appeal to geneva for annex into their empire." All the clan leaders explode to speak at once so much that no one can distinguish anyhting from another. Garfax will say, "Let the Bear speak first. He was there he saw Geneva open the heavens he led Clan truehammer to be more than what it was. It is he who we would make leader let him speak."

Drakus stands and after a very brief pause…”These are interesting ideas. Does each dwarf of rival clans even remember how their conflict began? Let us this day set aside our petty differences… I agree that after the many centuries of the great dwarven feuds it is time once again to raise our hammers, axes and mugs in unity!” to emphasize his point he raises his mug into the air and drinks from it.

“As for annexing into Geneva, if this great council decides that the best course of action is to add our great strength and amazing craftsmanship learned from our noble ancestors to the faith-based strength of Geneva, then we must do it. What a sight it was to see the heavens open during our battle against the Doomguard! Everyone on that battlefield was blessed with seeing the might of the gods that day. I agree that this could be a great opportunity for us and for the world to experience the dwarves this day and in days to come.

“Garfax, you honor me with the proposal to lead our great nation into this Genevan proposition. If this great council wishes Drackus, the Bear of Truehammer to do this, I would truly be honored to be spokesman for the strength of our noble dwarven kingdom.”

Garfax will guzzle his ale in approval, joined by nearly three quarters of the other clan leaders. The rest will hold out over bitterness towards one clan or another. The most powerful force of the resisting clans will agree that they should all unite under the Bear of Truehammer if the first matter of business was to use the united strength to drive the Talyun humans out of the dwarven lands and end the centuries old slavery trade. Garfax will say that uniting and joining Geneva will solve that because Talyun, while brave enough to fight broken dwarves they are not stupid enough to fight Genevan might.

After hours of debate, the resisting tribes will only join the confederacy if Talyun is dealt with. And a leader from each clan meets in council. While The Bear of Truehammer maybe the leader this council will fight for the interests of their clans and can overrule the decisions of Drakus with a majority vote.

After the decisoins are made the Bear of Truehammer taking ax in hand leads to forge these clans together as if he was forging a great ax, and with this AX he would split assunder the enemies of his brethren.

“I agree that the Talyun slavers must be dealt with first. While Geneva will be a powerful asset, we cannot rely on their army to defend us against the dirty slavers. After the Two Fronts war and Darkness Falls , not to mention the Doomguard conflict, the Genevan army is stretched thin. Besides that, we must show Talyun that we and our brothers will no longer endure the hardships they enforce in our lands. We must prove our strength!

“If we are to join the ranks of the Genevan empire, we should first show that we are a civilized race. Diplomacy should come first on our agenda. We will send a runner to the people of Talyun with our message that if they do not clear our lands within four days of our message, we will come with our united Dwarven armies to drive the intruders out. The message should also include the contingency that if the runner does not return on a specified day, we launch our attack that day.

“What do you, my brothers, think of this proposal?”

"AYE!!!!" They dwarves call in unison, the mountain caverns shaking with their might.