Hearth Fire

Rugiel and Bauru slid to the ground, collapsing while breathing heavily. Stronric walked on top of a pile of gobi bodies, swinging his axe into the still twitching bodies ensuring they were dead. The room was littered with body parts, broken weapons and destroyed armor. Over thirty gobi crawled up from the depths of the hold and attacked. The siblings had been baptized in fire, their limbs weak and heavy from the effort. Rugiel attempted to pick up her hammer, gave up and sat back down, leaning against the pile of dead. Rugiel and Bauru must have killed their scouting party. When the scouts didn’t come back a gobi war party poured out of the darkness.

“Shame, a damned shame!” Stronric said smiling, “Not a single orc in the lot. These creatures were just chaff. Gobi never put up much of a fight, barely gets the ol’ blood moving. I wonder if we counter attacked now we can find some orcs.”

Bauru raised his hands in surrender, “Ye monster, how ye keep going? Feels like we’ve been at this for days.”

Stronric swung his axe down again. That gobi looked like it was twitching a little too much. “Well, ye see, all the dwarves in my old hold were required to serve in the mines and at the garrison. This is just another day on the watch. Normally there would be more, but sadly the gobi here are even more cowards than I thought possible. I made this axe, not too many days ago and I haven’t had quite the opportunity to break it in.” Stronric replied, pulling the axe out of another twitching body. “We need to strip the bodies of metal and anything else of worth, before we discard them.”

The siblings looked at Stronric like he was mad. After fighting the battle, he wanted to do chores? Stronric looked at them and shook his head. “Su’pose that can wait tho, come on, let’s get to baths and have something to eat. You both need some meat in yer belly and on yer bones.” He said as he picked up his axe and put it in its hostler and went for the door. Stronric bent to pick up the war hammer and Rugiel’s hand shot out, knocking his hand away.

“I’ll carry her.” Was all Rugiel managed to say, but her eyes were still alight with fire from the battle. She stood slowly and with shaky arms she lifted the hammer. She used her last bit of strength to lay it across her shoulders, before turning to leave.

Stronric nodded in approval. This was their second test. Weapon, equipment, then self. No dwarves would put away their gear worn and unsharpened. Let’s see what they do next. Stronric entered the hallway and partially closed the door behind him and stopped, waiting for the siblings to follow.

“That man is a monster Rugiel, I told ye he was the real deal. Can’t let him down.” Bauru said. It sounded like he was recovering arrows from the dead.

“You weren’t wrong, he’s so big. I have never seen a dwarf so big before. Do you suppose that is what we are supposed to look like? If I did this every day and had a decent meal, I would be twice the size I am,” she replied.

“Don’t know. All I know is I wont ever be that big, even if I ate a cow a day. Besides being smaller helps me stay quite and agile.” He replied between small grunts and the sounds of tearing flesh.

“Bauru! Did you check your level? I have gained three levels from this.” Rugiel said in excitement.

Check yer levels, gained three? What is that lass on about? Recovering three arrows is good but not that excitable. Stronric thought as he lowered himself onto the steps to wait for the sibling.

Bauru’s cheers echoed out the cracked door. “No way! Gots three meself.“ A small thud followed by the sound of rolling bodies. Likely the smaller dwarf tripping while celebrating what ever these levels were.

Rugiel chuckled and lowered her voice,“Don’t you find him suspicious though? He’s obviously powerful, but he pretends he knows nothing about levels, lands and our way of life. It scares me alittle, we don't truly know who he is Bauru.” She said as she pulled the arrow out of a dead gobi, tossing it to her brother.

Bauru’s response was also hushed,“ Let’s ask again over dinner. He likely wont like being bothered about it, but you have a point. He’s scary but strange. He’s always saying my old world and my old hold.” Bauru replied. He stared off in the distance as he remembered Stronric snapping the neck of a goblin with one hand while he stomped another to death beneath his boots. A shiver passed over Bauru, then he shook his head clearing the image from his mind before continuing his walk amungst the dead.

Stronric almost stood up heading for the smithy door. No. He sat back down. Mother always said it wasn’t polite to listening in. Do they not realize they are basically shouting. He shook his head in annoyance, and looked down at his scar covered hands. Do I really scare my own kin that much?

“If you beardlings are done talking, let’s get moving. We’ve haven’t got ol’ day.” They heard from outside of the door.

The siblings heads snapped up and they locked eyes as they mouthed, oh shit.

“Coming!” They yelled in unison.

The party soon entered the pond area. Stronric untied his harness and dropped it to the ground. He was pulling off his worn and torn tunic when Rugiel’s voice made him pause.

“Uh sir, I mean Stronric, is this really appropriate?” Rugiel said with a slight blush. Bauru’s eyes widened as he stared at the scars and tattoos that cover Stronric partially naked torso.

Stronric just stared at her. Is what appropriate? Taking a bath? Then Stronric saw her face and it dawned on him. They don’t communally bathe here. Stronric turned around, grabbed his axe and walked out without saying another word. He found a rock and sat down. Beatrice came trotting over to him from across the fields. Stronric was rubbing her between the eyes as Bauru sat down next to him sighing heavily. Stronric noticed his dagger was missing.

“Where ye dagger Beardling?” Stronric asked him.

“Oh Rugiel has it. She needs to shave.” Replied Bauru as he held up a thumb, pointing towards the pond.

Stronric’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He recovered quickly and shot up, shouting as he sprinted back into the cave. “Wait lassie!”

Rugiel dropped to the ground on the far side pond as she heard his shouts and boots. She peaked up, only her face appeared over the edge of the pond.

“Have you heard of knocking!” she screamed at him, her facing redding.

“Oh yes I have, but there not a door, any way, do not shave. Us dwarves do not shave. It’s a point of pride to our people. The dwarves of the Hearth Fire do not shave.” He said and walked out. “That goes for you to beardling.

Bauru put up both his hands in surrender and nodded.

Stronric went back to petting Beatrice and speaking niceties to her. When he heard screaming from inside the pond. Crap, the crabs!

This time both men ran back inside. Rugiel was once again outside of the pond, hiding on the far side. Stronric looked slightly abashed as he said. “Don’t worry, the wee crabs won’t hurt you! They are cleaner crabs. They eat the scraps that drop into the pond.”

Rugiel was staring daggers at him. “Oh, how kind of you to forget the wee cleaner crabs.” Her voiced oozed with sarcasm as she mocked his accent. She was furious her face was red almost turning a shade of purple as she said through gritted teeth, “Get out.”

It was Stronric’s turn to hold his hands up in surrender. Stronric and Bauru again were seated back outside. Beatrice stomped her hoof as Stronric lowered back down, showing her annoyance that her pets were being interrupted.

“I know we aren’t supposed to ask, but what level are you?” probed Bauru.

“I know not what you speak of,” Stronric said plainly as Beatrice glared at Bauru. Her eyes narrowing at the thought of her pets being interrupted once again. “Why do ye keep asking me that?”

“Everyone has a level, everyone knows that… wait, how do you not have a level?” Bauru said with confusion on his face.

When Bauru didn’t speak again, Stronric let the subject drop. Bauru's face was deep in thought.

Rugiel’s voice cut through the silence. “Your guys turn, I’ll get dinner started,” Rugiel’s chin was lifted a little too high as she waled past them, not even sparing them a glance. Still mad about the crabs then.

After bathing and cleaning their gear, the three were seated around the fire. The siblings ate like starving dogs. Even Rugiel was too starved to eat lady like. She ripped the meat straight from the bones. Stronric started a second portion of dinner. He wanted them to eat and to grow. They would need to be strong, not as strong as him but strong enough to fend for themselves. If they ate and trained, he wouldn’t have to escort them around the hold. Each could go off alone to complete their task. Which would allow more work to get accomplished. After dinner and a couple tankards of beer, Stronric stood and waved them up.

“Get your weapons. We are heading out front. It’s time ye learn to fight.” He said over his shoulder.

“Wait, we are seriously going to train after today?” Rugiel said in shock.

“Of course, training never stops when you suck at fighting.” Stronric said as he grinned at them.

Bauru and Rugiel exchanged looks. Stronric waved over his shoulder for them to follow him. The siblings quickly fell into line behind him as they entered the courtyard. Indomitable and Beatrice followed shortly after them. The great ram’s wound healed well and a limp could barely be seen. Stronric watched the couple to take their seats and turned to the siblings.

They would start with wrestling, all dwarves knew how to wrestle. It was a staple of every feast, celebration, birthday party, or a good night of drinking. A lot could be learned from wrestling. It taught a dwarf how their body moves, its limits and how far one can push themselves.

Rugiel and Bauru stood in a line in front of Stronric. Stronric walked in front of them like a sergeant. “Today was awful,” he said simply as he came to a stop in front of them. “Ye both would have been dead, if not for me. I know yer been slaves ye’ve whole lives. But, if ye want to enjoy freedom, ye need to learn to fight properly. Both of ye ‘ave the footwork of a drunk manling.” Stronric waved Rugiel forward and she nervously stepped up to him.

“Arms up like this,” Stronric said, as he took a neutral wrestling stance. He stood with feet shoulder-width apart, hunched over slightly with his knees bent, and his weight balanced between his feet. Rugiel copied his stance and Bauru did the same on the sidelines. Stronric looked over both dwarves’ forms, correcting them as needed. “Not bad, ye both have no sense of balance or where yer body is at. Now we are gonna find that balance.”

Stronric closed with Rugiel. He pressed his head into her shoulder and grabbed the backside of her head and arm. He waited till she mirrored his position before continuing. He then began to push her with his head while pulling down with his arm that was wrapped behind her head. Rugiel tried to adjust while moving and tripped. Stronric didn’t let her fall, instead he kept her up and like a bull, and pushed her in circles backwards. Every time she crossed her feet he would shoved hard, tossing her to the ground. “Again!” Stronric would shout and resume his stance. After many more falls, Rugiel began to pant and sweat beaded on her forehead. Stronric stopped and waved for the two to switch. Stronric began the practice over again with Bauru.

“Now that ye both know the stance a little, time for the fun to begin.” Stronric said as he lowered himself into the wrestling stance. The sibling groaned as they bent over on their knees panting.

Once the pair could barely stand and Stronric finally broke a sweat, he instructed them to retrieve their weapons. Stronric would lead them through the basic maneuvers, foot work, blocking and striking.

“Fighting with weapon is no different from wrestling.” Stronric said as he picked up his axe and took a neutral stance. He went through the footwork again. Taking swings when his body would align. Stronric swung his axe, his hips twisted, feet pivoted, his shoulders and torso turning into the blow. A crack like sound filled the courtyard as his axe sent out a shock wave of air. Stronric transfered the momentum from the blow into another movement, spinning his body and swung again. “Crack!”

“See, it has nothing to do with your strength. Sure someone may be bigger or have stronger arms then ye, but their arms are not stronger than yer whole body.” Stronric moved into another swing, not using his whole body. This time no crack sounded out. He set his axe onto its haft and motioned for the siblings to step up. They took their stance. Rugiel with her war hammer and Bauru with dual daggers. They started practicing their movements. Stronric walked around and made corrections. He sent them falling to the ground when they crossed their feet or failed to correct their own postures.

After some time Stronric set down his weapon and yelled for them to stop. The siblings sagged with exhaustion and they gulped at the air hungerly. He looked them up and down and was about to begin the review when he saw how truly tired they were. “Alright that is enough, go eat some meat, drink and go to bed. We start again tomorrow.

Stronric sat by hearth and stared at the symbol of the ancestor. Am I making you proud Thoranthana? The siblings are better than expected. If all dwarves have a thirst like they do, well it wont be long before you have more than three dwarves. I know you don’t speak back but give me some guidance. What is this talk of levels and leveling up?

Bing

You have Reach level 9, would you like to level up now?

Yes/ no

Stronric stared at the screen before him, it was like the blessing screen before. He could see through it and it had a faint gray border around it. What in the ancestor’s beard is this?

He focused on the yes, and another screen came up in front of him.

Stronric Wraith-Thane

Level: 9

Age:73

Race: Dwarf (E)

Class: N/A

Strength: 19

Dexterity: 13

Agility: 15

Vitality: 17

Endurance: 17

Wisdom: 10

Intelligence: 10

Charisma: 10

Allocatable points: 27

Stronric shook Bauru awake.

“Is it morning already?” Bauru whined.

“No, I leveled up how does this work and what do the stats mean? Also is level nine good?” Stronric said still shaking Bauru.

“Your only level 9!” Rugiel said shooting up, “thats impossible, everyone reaches level ten when they come of age. What are you not telling us Stronric”

“I knew Summ’in was off. Not from round here are you?” Bauru said looking confused and slightly scared.

Stronric sucked in a breath, “Best not to start kinship off with lies, no I am not. My name is Stronric Wraith-Thane Of Hold Kazark Grimdol, Clansman of the Grudge Bearers, Son of Thornmere Wrait-Thane, Thane and King of Kazark Grimdol.”