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The old dwarf approached the half rebuilt tower of white stone , with it's
multi colored flags of the seven codex's flying above the entrance way . he
was leaning heavily upon the iron shod staff that served as both a crutch and
a symbol of his office . The journey from the sprit mountains had not been
the easiest of his life , but no journey in the last fifty years since he
past his first century had been easy , his old bones were as tired as his
beard was white , and not for the first time he regretted not sending a
younger dwarf to act as his messenger .
But that would not have been fitting . After all the white tower had proved
themselves both honorable and valiant allies in returning the grinding stone
to his people . You did not insult such trusted allies by sending a mere
messenger with a scroll when you wish a boon . You had the good grace to go
and see them your self .
Tower knights in red livery stood at the gate house of the tower as he and
his entourage approached , each resting there hands on a drawn long sword .
Some old tenant of the Tower he seemed to recall reading of once , " Ready
for battle even in welcome " or something like that . Human foolishness that
would impress other humans no doubt . But then humans ideas of honour were as
odd as the elves sometimes .
The knights may be allies but they were still more than a little stiff necked
at times .
The Guards stood impassive at the approach of the old dwarf and his three
retainers .
" You there , " The old dwarf said , poking the closest of the watch men in
the ribs , " Is Stryker inside ? "
The guard looked a little shaken at been addressed so informally and at the
informality of the question .
" My lord Commander is absent from the tower at this time . " The guard
replied , maintain his decorum . The dwarf chuckled to him self , obviously
the tower did not chose it's brightest stars to stand guard over the entrance
" That slip of a girl who holds his coat tails then ? " he asked prodding the
guard again with his staff .
" Venerable sir One does not address a knight so , nor does one use such
terms to describe the seneschal . "
The old dwarf laughed , " Venerable am I ? Is she in or not ? "
" She is else where on the business of the tower at this time , perhaps one
of the knights of the shield may see to you ? " the guard responded .
The old dwarf kicked the guard in the shin . " Listen lad , I am Svenson
Cryenseen , on the business of my liege the king of the sprit mountains ,
I'll see the most senior knight here , and you'll get them for me now . "
The guard looked even more confused , " The sprit mountains are in Bereny ,
and there is only one king ......... "
" Ahem ... " A deep voice sounded from behind the guard and a man of middle
years dressed in a gray surcoat and armor came from within the tower . "
There are in fact three kingdoms in Bereny lad , and the tower and the
kingdom venerate the king of the dwarfs and the Elven Queen as much as we do
our own liege lord Duke Steadfast , Your job is to welcome and see to the
needs of visitors to the tower when you stand guard here lad , see you do so
in future or I may have to have a word about your conduct with dame Gadrial .
"
" Yes Commander Boric sir . " the knight replied to the man in gray . The old
dwarf judged that the young knight was trying very hard to hide the fright in
his voice at speaking to the elder man .
" Svenson , you honour us with a visit , please come to my office and I will
have some old mountain sprits sent up to revive your sprits . "
" ever the diplomat Boric , I see that has not changed ... " the old dwarf
said .
The man in gray laughed , " of course my friend , tell me is this business or
pleasure that brings you to our tower ? " he asked .
The dwarfs face turned troubled , " black business Sir Boric , the blackest
in fact ........"

 
The page left the decanter of old mountain sprits upon Sir Boric's desk and
shut the door behind him as he left , Leaving the Knight Commander of the
Grey Codex and his guest alone once more in Boric plainly furnished office .
Boric poured out two tumblers of the strong dwarves whisky himself and handed
one to his guest .
The old dwarf accepted the glass and drained it in one , grimacing a little
at the strong after taste , " Good to see you keep some of the good stuff
about the place , not found a tavern between here and the mountains that has
anything but cheap blends , " Svenson said before taking up the decanter and
helping himself to a second glass as Boric sipped his casually and seated
himself behind his desk .
" One of the advantages of my position friend Svenson , and your good king
was kind enough to send my Lord commander a create after the grinding stone
mission was complete . Baron Strykers tastes are more refined to moonward
brandy than dwarven whisky so he passed it on to me for the diplomatic stock
. " Boric replied smiling . " But the Dwarf kings eldest advisor does not
come down from the mountain to talk to the tower about whisky . "
Svenson smiled at this , " Nay laddie , not that I am much of an advisor to
our king these days , I am considered more of a crank I fear by those close
to him  . "
Boric laughed openly , " but not by the king for the king knows it is but an
act Svenson , you use your age as an excuse to avoid the court from what I
hear and do your advising in private ..... "
" The eyes of the tower reach even to my kingdom do they ? " Svenson asked ,
" My liege takes a poor view of spies .. "
Boric laughed again , " Are we to joust my friend , for you know I will say
it is but the rumors I hear from the dwarfs in the tower and nothing more
sinister than that , and then you will act appeased as you must , we both
know that the tower has eyes where it should not , as does your own king ,
Given you are his spy master among other things , which you will of course
deny . "
The old dwarf howled and took another drink . " Aye fair play to you laddie ,
let us cut the joust and get on with the business that brings me here . "
Boric lent across the desk and poor his guest another glass , " I must admit
to been intrigued , you seldom leave his majesties presence . Why are you
here ? "
" To tell you and your baron a story , " The old dwarf said in all
seriousness .
Boric for once looked puzzled , " A story ? "
" Aye lad , " said the dwarf settling back in his chair , " Now keep quiet
and I will begin . " 

Svenson kept hold of the decanter , toping up his glass as he spoke . And
relayed his tale back to Sir Boric , who listened impassively till the end .
Though the old dwarf could detect that behind the mask of calm the knight of
the gray codex understood why the dwarves had could to the tower seeking help
, and the consequences that could arise if the story had more than a grain
of truth .
When the story was over Boric promised he would speak directly to his Lord
Commander . And directed the page outside the door to take the old dwarf and
the rest of his party to lodgings within the tower .
Boric drank a glass of his torliaian red wine from his private stock to get
rid of the taste of dwarf whisky from his pallet and began to write down the
story he had just be told . Pausing only briefly to examine the roster of
knights in Red Mountain Keep .
Then , to assure himself of the details he read his notes again , word for
word what the old dwarf had told him .

There is an old legend among my people , dating back to the time of thunder .
That there was not but one rift but several , one of which was on the 4th
depth of Red Mountain Keep out ancient  home . From there the demons swarmed
out to destroy our fortress and condemn us to wondering , much as they did
with other rifts and there attacks on humans .
All seemed lost to us when the greatest of our heroes Thorinson the
Hammerwielder drove a wedge into the mountains depths with ten companions
from among the bravest and strongest of our race .
For many days Thornison and his companions struck onwards into the depths of
the mountain in the hope of closing the demon rift that lay within there .
For Thorinson was not only the strongest and bravest of our heroes he was a
master of the runes and carried with him the war hammer Thundershrec , which
was forged by our finest rune smiths , With it he could seal the rift and
free the mountain from invasion from the demon realm .
They fought there way against all that the demons could throw at them till
he reached the portal , with all his companions save Borlac Runeweaver slain
.
The runeweaver created a portal of iron and as Thorinson fought back the
demons the runeweaver created the even seals that would close the door for
ever to the demon realm . But to closed each seal need a blow from Thorinsons
hammer . and as all but the last seal lay locked the demons charged once more
.
Thorinson threw his hammer to his companion telling him to strike the seal ,
and charged the demons as the assailed the gate from the far side .
With a heavy heart Borlac Runeweaver sealed the last seal , and sealed the
fate of his friend , locking him for ever in the realm of demons from where
even his soul could not escape .
And with that Borlac fled the place of the sven sealed portal , leaving
behind in his grief the hammer of Thorinson .
Borlac lived only long enough to tell of there success before his grief at his
lost companions consumed him and he died a broken dwarf , But in his last
words he spoke of the last seal , the seal the he and not Thorinson had
struck home .
For Borlac knew he had not the strength or the skill of his fallen companion .
and that he had struck only a glancing blow upon the seal . And though it
held it did not have the strength of the other six seals , and should that
seal break then all would fail in the end , and the portal to the demon realm
would lay open once more .

How much of the legend was true and how much was mere myth Svenson admitted
that even the greatest of the dwarves sages did not know . That Thorinson
lived as did Borlac was known beyond doubt however . The deeds of Thorinson
were well known from texts that survived the time of thunder , That he sort
to seal a demon rift in red mountain mines was also known , but beyond that
the rest was told in many version , all held only one thing as true . Should
the seals break the demon rift would be open once more .

The Dwarves feared that with the new demon incursions into the moral realm
that maybe the demons would try to breach the gate at red mountain keep once
more , or worse they may have already done so .
If the seventh seal was weak as the legends told then it was indeed something
to fear after all .
So the dwarves had could to there friends the tower , to ask them to launch
an expedition to recover Thorinsons hammer and investigate the seven seal
portal .

Boric sighed . Such was always the way , with one success like the grinding
stone you could easily make your self the next millstone to carry . But if
the dwarfs were right then the tower must act , for if there was a demon gate
in Red mountain keep , then it was all too possible that the seals had
been weakened , and that the demons would again threaten the world .

Boric examined the roster for red mountain keep once more , and then set off
in search of his messengers ., the high table would be convened tonight ,
there was much in this to discuss . He would also contact the rune forge , if
there was anyone who could reseal the rune stones it would be a member of that
guild . Level 4 of RMK . A challenge if nothing else . ......

by Mark Hayes

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