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[Urist_McArathos]

14th Obsidian, 99

The deep, throaty rumbling of chanting echoed in the polished marble room.  Five dwarves stood around a thick stone table with a throne at its head, a roll of parchment before them.  The eldest, bedecked with ornate symbols round his neck and obscured by his thick robes and hood, ran a finger over the map.  "The Azure Hills; it is more than just a beautiful place, it is blessed.  The land is a hunter's bounty, bursting with game and crops.  Fresh clean water runs through the stream.  It was truly the place of the gods; we have never before nor since found such a lush paradise."

"Wealth in the rocks, as well," another added, his hood pulled down to reveal ebony-flecked brown hair and a thick, ornately braided beard.  "Iron, coal, limestone, sand, fire clay.  It's a one of a kind place, geologically.  Everything you could ask for, and more."

The group shook their heads, save one.  Aquamarine eyes peered at the paper.  He wore no robe, but rather polished bronze armor and a brilliant silver hammer slung at his hip.  Neat double-braids of chocolate brown hair ran down his back, though his beard and moustache were simply brushed clean and straight, and tucked into his belt.  His frame was wide, even for a dwarf, belying the strength within.  "What are ye going to do about it, Lightfather?"  His brogue rumbled in the room, echoed lightly off the stone walls.

The old dwarf sighed, and sank into the throne behind him.  "What can we do?  The Azure Hills will be lost if this foulness spreads.  The reports speak of great undead monsters, foul creatures that return to life as soon as they are struck down.  The very ground of this place is against us, and we have no way to curb it.  Worse still, the land was wild there before, and now the land poisons not just foxes and deer, but giant creatures that dwarves struggle to defeat even in life.  It even works its foul ways upon the bodies of our own; every soldier lost there becomes one more servant of Evil.  This land is a terrifying place; we must abandon it."  There were murmurs of approval, but the armored one narrowed his eyes and gripped the handle of his hammer tighter.

"I can nae abandon this land to its fate.  We are dwarves of faith; we must protect this Holy Place."  The others around the table shifted uncomfortably, and all eyes turned to the Lightfather.  "Say ye'll do it; ye will fight for this land."

"I cannot," his hands rested on the table before him.  "This land is a lost cause, and though it pains me to say that, it is the truth.  To go there is suicide, and I will not bless such an endeavor nor be responsible for such waste of life."

The armored dwarf scowled and walked away.

[Heron TSG]

Hermit challenge? This looks like a good one so far!

[GreatWyrmGold]

Ah, is that what this is?

[Urist_McArathos]

3rd Hematite, 100

There was a tremendous commotion at the warehouse; dwarves were gathered around as a figure in bronze loaded a cart.  A couple others were with him; one nervously held the leashes of a few dogs while another picked up a chicken cage.  The crowd murmured and hissed with whispered conversations.

A dwarf pushed his way through the crowd to the front, adjusting his blue robe and straightening his silver beard before striding over to the wagon.  "Dastot, what are you doing?"

"Leaving;" the armored dwarf didn't even stop moving to reply, hefting a barrel into the wagon.

"Be reasonable, Dastot.  The Azure Hills are too dangerous."  The few dwarves around the wagon continued to fetch boxes, barrels, and other things for the armored one to load, and the old dwarf bit his lip.  "Is this really necessary?"

"Aye."  He set down a crate, and shoved it into place.  "I've managed to find a few others stout enough of heart to help me save this place.  Ye know its the right thing to do."  He hopped down just as the other moved forward, a wrinkled hand seizing his breastplate.

"Damnation, Dastot," the old dwarf leaned in close, urgency in his hushed voice.  "You're mad, you know that?  You cannot possibly defeat the evil that pervades that place alone."

"I'm nae going alone," he pulled free of the grip on his armor and turned.

"A few bumbling peasants aren't going to make a difference!"  The dwarf thundered, and the crowd fell silent.  Even Dastot stopped in place, waiting.  "You're not leading a righteous army to victory over evil, you're leading unwitting cattle to a butcher, with yourself at head of the herd!"  Dastot turned on his heel, steel eyes narrowed.  "Now come to your sense, before it's too late."

"We leave today; if any of ye lot are nae cowards, ye be welcome to join us.  If that nae be the case, hide here in caves and holes until the rot spreads to our doorsteps, if ye like.  I go to do what must be done, and the faithful go with me."

The wagon rolled unimpeded past the gate, and down the winding mountainous road to the distant valley beyond.  The guards at the gate stole a last, mournful glance before pulling the great doors shut.  It would be months before they reached their destination, and many feared they would never hear of the group again.  Seven dwarves, six in humble clothes and a seventh in armor, led their wagon away to their destiny.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Neat. I wonder if there'll be any windmills...

[Heron TSG]

To power the zombie smashing machines, no doubt.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Keep McQuixote away from them...
(Seriously, the windmill bit has to be the most famous part of Don Quixote!)

[Urist_McArathos]

1st Granite, 101

The wagon creaked to a halt in the snow.  The crunch of the white powder underfoot rose above a whispering wind, and Dastot peered across the land.  "Here we be, lads.  The Azure Hills, and the border betwixt good and evil.  Beyond us be evil creatures; foul and warped things that threaten our very lives, and all we hold dear on this earth."

The others huddled under their pigtail cloaks, shaking the snow from their beards.  They surveyed their surroundings, but saw only twisted, leafless trees all about them buried in snow sticking out from a rolling blanket of white.  "Where's the evil?"

"In the air, the earth, and everywhere."  Dastot pointed his gleaming silver warhammer to the south, and held it there for a long moment.

They finally risked a question.  "Is it over there?"

"Aye" he grunted.  He turned on his heel, and went to the wagon.  "Get to digging, lads; you there, take this axe and start hacking down wood, and you help her.  We haven't much time.  Dig, and dig deep.  We won't let them come for us."

Dastot hopped onto the wagon and tossed tools out into the snow at their feet.  They looked to one another before reaching for the picks and axe.

"Do you see evil?"

"He...he seems certain it's out there..."

"I really want a drink, but he told us to dig first..."