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[Ghazkull]

The air is brisk and cold, and has a weird taste to it unlike to the air back home, it has once again aquired that weird taste which you learned to connect with rain. You curse inwardly, it would make the days journey even more arduous than it had already been. The vast steppes surrounding you would turn into a muddy mire causing your heavy wagons to get stuck again, slowing the entire trek back down to a crawl. Oh waht misfortune had befallen the once proud Great Dwarves. The King under the Mountain slain. Kraka Aevi, The Eternal Mountainhome plundered,looted and in Ruin. All the Krakas overrun, and the once mightiest people, yours, on the run like common beggars.

Morose, you look behind you on the column stretching on the horizon and remember the last days of your People:

When you first heard of the Endless Hordes from the East, it was from the hordes of Orkish refugees travelling through the Mountain Passes. What first seemed like an invasion soon enough turned out to be a massed flight. Women, children and the old in endless tracks travelling past, begging you to send help to the Strongholds. Your father first thought it another incursion of the Wild Tribes which the Ork Fortresses had beaten back time and time again. When you finally realized that it was something far worse you:

a) Sent Forth the Mighty Dwarven Armies to support the Orks in their fighting retreat
b) gave food and shelter to the refugees
c) gave food and support to the refugees and sent your own women and children ahead in anticipation, evacuating whoever you could
d) closed the Mountain Passes using the ork refugees to buy you and your people time to save what could be saved and to prepare for the oncoming enemy
e) profiteered from the refugees
f) did nothing, after all what do the plights of the common ork concern us? The Gates are Strong and the Mountainhomes impenetrable!

When the Enemy was at the gates you:
a) saved as many of your people as you could
b) saved as many riches as you could
c) saved an equal deal of your people and your riches...well at least as many as was possible
d) collapsed the tunnels and saved most of your people and riches at the cost of the home of your ancestors
e) Drafted every able-bodied dwarf to hold the line, the Mountainhomes are not to be abandoned

When the Gates broke your father...
a) Let a valiant last stand fighting tooth and nail for the Homes. Every hall was turned into a fortress every inch gained was paid dearly in oceans of enemy blood.
b) pulled the lever at the last possible moment, taking with him his loyal Guards, Kraka Aevi and a good chunk of the enemy host drowning all of it in magma.
c) sacrificed the civil districts to evacuate the Armories and Forges saving as many secrets of your kind as possible
d) ordered a organized retreat saving as many lives as possible

The other Mountainhomes...
a) were ordered to evacuate while Kraka Aevi held them off
b) were ordered to hold until the last dwarf fell.
c) were ordered to collapse all the access tunnels and hold out till help arrives.
d) were given no orders, each of the Jarls and Thanes did as they saw fit.

Finally your brother the Crown Prince plotted the course:
a) West through the Steppes and onwards through the Border Kingdoms, Phalia and finally to the Red Range at the Border of the Iustinian Reich.
b) North through the Steppes and onwards into the untamed North, settling in the lands of the Giants
c) South through the Steppes into the Burning Woods and further south to the wooded slopes of your lost brethrens mountainhomes.

___________________

This will be a RPG in the veins of You Are King, where you the players take the Role of the Secondborn Prince/Princess of what remains of the Dvergr and up to 4 of his companions. Your goal it is to first find a new home for the Dwarven people and once you are settled, decide how to retake what was once yours. In a similiar way to Dragon Age, you will travel around the world map trying to gather allies and support for a united front against the Enemy...or you can simply decide to just carve out a new empire wherever you have settled down.
Depending on how you play i will either concentrate the game on court intrigues and warfare or a more dungeon crawly approach.
Characterwise we need at least 1 Dwarven Noble to take the role of our esteemed Prince/Princess. Beyond that you guys can freely create characters although i would prefer a majority of Dwarves...

Spoiler:  Character Sheet: (click to show/hide)

Name:
Description:
Special Item/Thing: (A Special Item which gives your character something that makes him unique in your party, if you are from another race, this slot is taken up by that)
Skills: (You have 3 Points to spend, levelling one skill up to level two will cost all three of your points. Be warned that some Skills might see not much use and will be only very seldomly useful...but then again at that point they might come in mighty handy)
Weaponmastery(add any weapon you would like)
Medicine
Diplomacy
Brute Force
Guile
Lore (Having read much you know things others dont about the world in general. Sometimes that knowledge might come in MIGHTY handily...at other times its just useless)
Mechanic (you have been a tinker back in the mountainhomes trying to invent new means to make your homeland ever richer and mightier, with the fall of it however your skills have become mostly useless but perhaps...it may still come in handy)
Survival (Includes being sneaky and how to survive in areas others have no ideas how to survive in)
Nobleman/dwarf
Logistics
Tactician
Defensive/Offensive Specialist

[Ghazkull]

Encyclopedia:

Utanlôk

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The "Endless" aptly named for their huge numbers come originally from the east. What their purpose is is unkown. The first reports were from the Wildmen of the East their many and numerous tribes butchered by these beasts. Wary of the Wildmen the reports were both discarded by Orks and Dwarves and never reached further West. When the first Ranger Groups went missing the traditionally paranoid Orken Holds called the banners.

The Utanlôk appear in various forms and sizes. What they all have in common however is that they seem to be twisted versions of normal races.
Most common are

Lôkthralls humanoid beings of the size of a human or Ork. They seem almost deathly pale and their skin is stretched taut over their meagre bodies. armed in scraps of armour and weapons stolen from the dead these beings attack in huge waves like mad desperate rats. It has been noted that they feast on their own dead and those of their enemies alike.

Lôkbern The sizes of a human child or a particular small dwarf, they are often called Goblins although actual goblins would feel insulted to be compared ot such disgusting beasts. Dirty and half starved these pale almost mindless beings do nightly raids and infiltrate enemy holds. Their ability to crawl along walls and their high pitched wails aswellas their very good eye sight makes them also good trackers and guards.

Utantrolls In size comparable to giants these terrible beasts certainly have nothing but a vague basic body form in common with them. So far the only time they have been seen was at the assault on the gates of Kraka Aevi and the various Strongholds of the Orks.

That is so far all information that is known about the Utanlôk...you have to discover more yourself

Orks

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A Proud People living to the east of the Aevi Mountain Range. Orks are a militaristic people. Wedged between the anvil that the dwarvenholds are and the hammer that were the Wildmen and darker beings from Woodsinger's Folly, The Border Fortresses of the Orkbanners have become famed warriors and mercenaries.

Orks themselves are a bit larger than an average human being but built broader and more muscular. Skin colours range from dun over black to olivegreen, depending on area the ork originates from.
The Orkish society is ordered into félags and banners and fortresses.

a Félag is an Orkish community with a specific task. An Ork may belong to several felags at the same time. For example all Smiths inside a Fortress would form a félag, so would all hunters form another and all Soldiers of a Company. Félags are supposed to support each other and the félag as a whole is taxed by the local Fortress Captain.

The next higher stage of Orkish Society is the Fortress. Each Fortress is an self-sufficient community, not owned by a lord or a king but by the inhabitants as a whole. Taxes are paid to the Fortress Captain who will use them to keep the fortress intact, the larders full and buy weapons and armor for every ork in the fortress. While there are outlying small villages in the form of fortified small forts these are subordinate to a proper fortress and just as the félags pay taxes and provide levies.

Fortresses in turn are obligated to provide professional cadres of troops so called pennons to the Banner. The Banner is ruled by a Fist. As a mixed position between Duke and General his position is purely military in nature. He leads the banner into battle and forms overall policy of the various fortresses. The Banner itself is a purely military institution and its qualit depends on what the Fortresses provide. The Different local Banners in turn are beholden to a High Fist. Elected by the Various Fists they are only elected for occasions where the entire military of the Orkish Fortresses is needed.

Over the centuries the number of Orkish banners has waxed and waned, depending on the ferocity of the Wildmen incursions and the Interal Struggles of the Banners. There has been as few as one banner and as many as 300 in various points of Orkish History (see Pactbrother, respective Grand Fist Fisher for informations on these)

While Orks are mainly known for their military prowess, they are capable craftsmen, not as good as dwarves, but Orkish craftsmanship has always been solid and reliable.
Politically Orks have mainly relations with the Dwarves although over the centuries various wandering Banners have found their ways into the Human Kingdoms of the West and even to the staeddings in the North. Besides the Greatdwarves of Aevi their only Political Friend is the Iustinian Reich, where Orks serve as Personal Banner of the Emperor since time immemorial.

That is all you know so far about Orks...

The Border Fortresses

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Is the Name given to teh various Orkish Holdings east of the Aevi Range. There were ten major fortresses before the Endless came. 4 belonged to the Western Banner, including what could be seen as the Orkish Capital of Thegnbrand with a population of over half a million. 3 belonged to the Northern Banner and 3 to the Eastern Banner. The Eastern Banner was completely lost to the Endless buying time for Orkish refugees to escape. The Fate of the Northern Banner is unkown.

Orkish Architecture lacks in aesthetics but is by far superior to that of humans. Of course it pales in comparison to dwarven masonry but that should be clear.

Woodsinger's Folly

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A forest east of the Lands of the Wildmen. Named after the famous Elven Expedition who ventured inside of it to settle there, but never emerged again. Even the Wildmen only skirt the outskirts of it to gather wood but otherwise avoid it. From the insides of it the Endless came...or maybe they came from even further east.

Pactbrothers

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

It was shortly after the time of Men began, that the Orks of the East came suddenly under the pressure of vast migrations of humans. In what would become known as the "War of the Pact" the Orks were driven from most of their homelands and towards the Aevi Range where they came upon the Dwarves. The Dwarves, at that time in a food crisis due to the War with the Kolthan Helm, happily agreed to help the orks in return for large concessions of food. Low King Hrafnel IV. readily sent the Dwarves into war expecting a short campaign against the marauding human tribes. It would turn out to be the longest war of the Dwarven Empire. The War of the Pact lasted for more than 100 years and ended in an uneasy 10 year long peace between Orks, Dwarves and Humans. The Orks had by that time lost large portions of their lands to what would become the untamed lands of the Wildmen.

However it also forged an alliance that lasted until the Endless Invasion. Where for the first time in history dwarves refused to honor the pact.

Kolthan Helm

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A realm of an unkown race living in what are today the Steppes. The War with Kolthan Helm was the last great war in which the Greatdwarves of Old unleashed the weapons of old. As of today nothing remains of Kolthan Helm...at least nothing anybody remembers.

Lanfear

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Daughter Heir to Fist Dalk. a particular beautiful Orkish Woman she is the hope and future of the Orkish Refugees of the Western Banner

The Western Banner

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Orks of the Western Banner live closest to the Aevi Range and are by comparison the richest and mighties tof the Orkish Banner. They are also the oldest and pride themselves to be the only Banner that has never completely fallen to the Wildmen.

[Terenos]

When you finally realized that it was something far worse you:
F We are unmoved by the plight of others. Whilst the Orks did mimic our capacities, they never understood the finer points of dwarven architechture, and engineering. I stood by my parents and siblings in their folly.

When the Enemy was at the gates you
E What dwarf would give up their homes and livelihoods to an invader? We stood shoulder to shoulder, and faced our enemy with steel and fire.
It was not enough.

When the Gates broke your father...
A Songs will be sung and legends told of my Father the hero. He slew endless enemies, too many to count until his wounds became too great and he was in time, overrun. His sacrifice will be remembered.

The other Mountainhomes...
C They did not have our resolve. Their soldiers came to us, their merchants and artisans cowered. No help is coming.

Finally your brother the Crown Prince plotted the course
C South, to the lands of our distant kin. They would listen to fellow dwarves about the threat and aid us in retaking our homes. [/b]

Spoiler:  Character Sheet (click to show/hide)

Name:  Riegir Harfnel
Description: As dwarves go, Riegir is fairly average. Short, stout and belligerent though his class demands otherwise. Three and a half feet, well muscled and moderately scarred from a few tavern brawls in his tempestuous youth. His hair and beard are long, coal black and often unkempt. Riegir is 72 years old.
Riegir is 5th in line to the throne of the Low King, though his ambition may see him claim more than is his birthright.
Special Item: The Keystone. A small polished stone of long forgotten craftsdwarfship and an unknown metal. This stone has been passed down by the Harfnel dwarves since time immemorial. Legends and myths surround the Keystone, mostly centered around its gifting to the Dwarves of old by the gods, or some powerful allies.
It is a symbol of the Harfnel ruling line, and also on occasion used in great ceremony to operate certain machines in Kraka Aevi.

Skills:
Weaponmastery: Long Blades
Brute Force: 1
Nobledwarf

[Ardas]

Choices same as Terenos.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Ardmir Greifir
Description: Of average height for a dwarf, Ardmir is broad, with a rich brown beard and piercing blue eyes. He shaves his head clean and wears a leather coat with fur rim, with a heavy breastplate on his chest.
Ardmir was a captain of the Gate Guard, who stood as the first line of defense of the Mountainhome - he always believed that offence was best defense. While following his lord in his duty, he was unable to stem the enemy tide and made it out alive by following his prince. Since then he shed most of the ornate heavy armor by selling bits, retaining only his richly decorated breastplate and the Hammer of the Gate.
Special Item/Thing: Hammer of the Gate - Richly decorated example of highest craftdwarfship, this weapon is both sign of the captain of the guard as well as is the symbol of the old mountainhome.
Skills:
Weaponmastery (Hammer)
Brute Force
Offensive Specialist

[Shootandrun]

I will bow to Terenos' choices, with the exception of the last question, where I would rather choose A.

Spoiler: Heirik (click to show/hide)

Name: Heirik Aghenroth
Description: A tall (almost four and a half feet!) dwarf, built lean when one compares him to his kin, Heirik is fairly good looking by his kind's standards. Blond of hair, with an unkempt mane behind and a mighty beard up front, he is hazel-eyed and quick to smile.
When Kraka Aevi still stood, Heirik was one of the king's primary spies and eyes within the outside world. He warned the dwarves of the coming of something dark and mightier than they, but they ignored him. A wiser man might have fled, and in fact many of his colleagues did, but Heirik remained, and earned great distinction during the fighting under the gates. Luck and martial skill allowed him to survive the day and make it out alive with one of the princes.
Special Item/Thing: Heirik is outfitted in complete armor that has been painted black, oiled and padded to prevent noise, matched with soft-soled boots and a black, light cloak. This "night armor" is a dwarven specialty, and has grown very rare indeed since the fall of Kraka Aevi. Providing both stealth and protection, it is the envy of any thief, and Heirik is the owner of one of the last out there.
Skills:
Guile
Weaponmastery (Axes)
Survival

[Ghazkull]

Fine so far, you guys need to decide on your items however and then there is the decision whether we wait for another two players or start immediately and let them join later on if somebody shows interest.

[adwarf]

I support Terenos' choices.

Spoiler: Volgar (click to show/hide)

Name: Volgar Harsson
Description: Volgar is a hefty, even for a dwarf, with a stomach like a barrel and limbs accustomed to hard work from his long years in the Engineer's Guild back in the mountain home. His hair and beard are a fierce red in the spots where it isn't stained with soot, oil, or simply burnt from his numerous failed experiments.
Special Item/Thing: Eagle Eyes, the name of one of Volgar's first inventions Eagle Eyes is simply a headset with a six or so lenses to the side of the wearer's eyes  that are used as magnifying lenses to allow more accurate examination and inspections of the devices
Skills:
Mechanics II

[Elfeater]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Name: Skorri "One Eye" Grumsson
Description: An average sized dwarf, with a brown, bushy unkempt beard. He is missing an eye, which he lost in skirmishes with the Endless Hordes. He was one of the rangers who first brought the news of the orc invasions from the edges of the dwarven empire. He wears a thick leather armour with a chain mail chest piece, one one hip he carries an average craftsmanship battleaxe, and on his back his great crossbow, Deathsigil
Special Item/Thing: - "Deathsigil" - A runed crossbow fixed with state of the art dwarven sights, it is reloaded with a crank, sacrificing some reload speed for greater power.
Skills:
Weapon mastery - Crossbow
Weapon mastery - Battleaxe
Survival

I also am fine with Ternos's choices

[Ghazkull]

((OOC: Okay All Applications are fine except for elfeaters, Orkish and Dwarven Relations were actually neutral till good with trade happening regularly. Orks in this universe are more akin to Elder Scrolls Orks than anything else but otherwise your character is fine. I will from now on add Encylopedia and inforrmation into the second post. If you find anything that can later be found in the Encyclopedia it will be bolded in my posts))

When you first heard of the Utanlôk (dwarven for the Endless, describing quite fighting the endless numbers of the enemy) it was through Orkish refugees from the eastern borders, more and more of them came by an entire people on the run. The Border Fortresses, mighty holds in their own right (if lacking dwarven sophistication) had stood against many a threat and held off whatever came out of Woodsingers Folly. You let the Orks pass but did nothing to help them nor hinder them, a few of you traded and made profits, others set out to help but by and large the dwarves did not care for what was approaching, nor what was happening to their ancient Pactbrothers.
(This Decision brought you the Enmity of the Refuge and will make future dealings with them harder. On the other hand you did not lose any dwarf though the Utanlôk did neither: Endless infestation of the mountainhomes -5%)

When they finally came like a black ocean washing over everything, the People were drafted. Every dwarf young or old enough to hold the line did so. Over a Million Dwarves in Kraka Aevi alone and the same amount all over the Dwarfen Holds. The People stood as one and held darkness at bay...and then fell as one dying in droves when the gates broke, destroyed by incomphrehensible horrors, things that shouldn exist. After that it became a butchery.
((This decision cost the Dwarves many a son and daughter, many an ablebodied soldier on the other hand the Endless paid in blood and you will have more dwarves-at-arms than usual: -400.000 Dwarves, +50.000 Dwarves-at-arms in the Main Refugee Host, -25% Endless Infestation))

Nonetheless you held out, every inch of the Eternal Fortress were turned into a bloody slog for the enemy, every room a fortress, every hall an indomitable obstacle, for every dwarf at least a dozen of them fell, it was the stuff of legends, and the halls revebrated as dwarves died with a song on their lips and laughter in their bellies, kicking and spitting all the way into darkness and cursing the enemy with their last breath. They almost broke the endless hordes...almost. In the end, Kraka Aevi fell despite all efforts, a sacrifice unkown by the world.
((This Decision saved much of the Mountainhomes but cost you even more lives...: -90.000 Dwarves-at-arms in the Main Refugee Host, -45% Endless Infestation

The other Mountainhomes were ordered to collapse the tunnels when it was clear that all was lost and to hold out till help arrives...well they will wait for quite a while longer
((This Decision will have many unforseen consequences, however one thing is clear: until you make sure of the fate of your brethren, your dwarves are the last of the Great Dwarves: The other Mountainhomes may or may not be intact, other Dwarves may or may not have survived but there will be no other Refugee Hosts beside the Main One. Your are on your own))

Riegir Harfnel
It was time for a camp, you had walked now for two days without rest and the young and the old were getting tired, even your famed dwarven endurance has limits. Out here on the Steppes, out in the open you feel vulnerable, even more so with all these children, old and sick around you. The Night Sky is no consolation either, the sheer openness and size of your surroundings makes you sick, it is unnatural. And then there is the thing behind you. as you turn around the night is still illumined by the fires of Kraka Aevi, the mountain is smoldering beneath the moon, a fell sign indeed. Shivers run down your spine as you look at it, the terrible picture underscored by the sounds of the refugee camp around you...quiet sobbing, the wailing of small children...and a general feeling of loss and hopelessness has gripped your people. You don't envy your brother in his role as leader of what remains. You shake the terrible gloom off and quickly turn around entering the large tent before you. The two guards in front of it look like they are no older than 90 years, beardlings, a testament to how far your people has fallen. They quickly step aside. Inside you find your brother, and a good two dozen other dwarves, some of them surviving noblemen (most of them look also rather young) others guards who had been sent to defend the refugees and were none to happy about it. Standing out amidst the Crowd were an engineer, a ranger (most had perished in the early skirmishes with the Endless, buying time to save the herds and bring the outlying farmers in), a Shadow of the King (most of those fled when they saw that all was lost) and standing out the most, Ardmir the Captain of the Gate Guard. You remember that he saved your life when the gates broke and feel a pang of sympathy for him when you see the dark looks the others give the captain. you look away from the veteran and turn your eyes on your brother, bowed over a large map in front of him, deep creases furrowed his face, third in line, he was never expected to become king, yet now the fate of an entire people depended on him. His eyes were sunken deep and his pale perplexion told you everything you need to know that he hasnt slept in days. When he looks up at you you nearly jump back, his tired grin looks skull-like, your brother is at the end of his rope. A dwarf forced into a position he never wanted. When he speaks his voice sounds sickly yet determined.

Brother, good that you join us. It is time we decide how to continue.

Spoiler:  The Dwarven People (click to show/hide)

Poor
Few Supplies
No Artifacts


100.000 Dwarven Civilians
10 Gate Guards
100 Rangers
90 Karak Warders
300 Greatbeards
1500 Longbeards
3000 Miners
5000 Dwarfs-At-Arms

Spoiler:  Riegir Harfnel (click to show/hide)

5th Prince of the Dwarven Empire (currently first in line)
Languages( Dwarven, Common, Orkish, Nomad, Border Cant)
Dwarf Steel Longsword ( Damage 2, Penetration 0, Crit 1)
Dwarven Steel Chainmail and Armor (+1 Damage Protection)
The Keystone

Long Swords +1 (accomplished Swordsdwarf)
Medicine -1
Diplomacy 0 (basic skill as Nobledwarf)
Brute Force +1 (very strong)
Guile -1
Lore -1
Mechanic 0 (Dwarf)
Survival -1
Logistics -1
Tactician 0 (Natural Skill)
Defensive/Offensive Specialist 0 (Natural Skill)

Spoiler:  Ardmir Greifir (click to show/hide)

Former Captain of the Gate Guards (-1 on any Speech Skill with other Dwarves)
Languages( Dwarven)
Hammer of the Gate (Damage 2, Penetration 2, Crit 2)
Gate Guard Armor (+2 Damage Protection, -1 to Agility Related Actions (until you reach Brute Force 2))

Hammers +1 (accomplished Hammerdwarf)
Medicine -1
Diplomacy -1
Brute Force +1 (very strong)
Guile -1
Lore -1
Mechanic 0 (Dwarf)
Survival -1
Logistics -1
Tactician 0 (Natural Skill)
Offensive Specialist +1 (Trained)

Spoiler:  Heirik Agenroth (click to show/hide)

Shadow of the King (+1 to Speech Skills with other Dwarves)
Languages (Dvergar, Common, Nomad, Orkish)
Dwarf Steel Axe (Damage 1, Penetration 0, Crit 2)
Dwarfen Night Armor (+1 to any Stealth or Sleight of Hand related Action, +1 Damage Protection)

Axes +1 (accomplished Axedwarf)
Medicine -1
Diplomacy -1
Brute Force -1
Guile +1
Lore -1
Mechanic 0 (Dwarf)
Survival +1
Logistics -1
Tactician 0 (Natural Skill)
Defensive/Offensive Specialist 0 (Natural Skill)

Spoiler:  Volgar Harsson (click to show/hide)

Dwarven Engineer
Languages (Dvergar, Common, Ancient Dvergar)
Eagle Eyes ( +1 to Mechanics, + 1 to Actions relating to Awareness or Perception)
Dagger (Damage 1, Penetration -1, Crit 0)
Dwarven Clothes (-1 Damage Protection)


Daggers -1 (Dabbling Daggerfighter)
Medicine -1
Diplomacy -1
Brute Force -1
Guile -1
Lore -1
Mechanic +3 (Dwarf, Master Engineer, Eagle Eyes)
Survival -1
Logistics -1
Tactician 0 (Natural Skill)
Defensive/Offensive Specialist 0 (Natural Skill)

Spoiler:  Skorri Grumsson (click to show/hide)

Ranger ( +1 to Speech Actions with Orks due to longstanding cooperation between Rangers and the Orks)
Language (Common, Dvergar, Orkish)
Deathsigil (Damage 0, Armor Penetration 2, Crit Chance 2)
Dwarf Steel Axe (Damage 1, Penetration 0, Crit 2)
Dwarven Leather Armor (0 Damage Protection)

Axes +1 (accomplished Axedwarf)
Crossbows +1 (accomplished Crossbowdwarf)
Medicine -1
Diplomacy -1
Brute Force -1
Guile -1
Lore -1
Mechanic 0 (Dwarf)
Survival +1 (Ranger)
Logistics -1
Tactician 0 (Natural Skill)
Defensive/Offensive Specialist 0 (Natural Skill)

[Terenos]

Riegir tugged worriedly at his beard as he spoke to his brother, smoothing out many of the tangles.

"We must look to the people, my King. We must deliver them to new safety. I know not the capabilities of the Utanlôk in an open field, but my advice would be to range our best fighters in a screen protecting the lesser fighters and then the civilians. I doubt they will be eager to fight us once more, but we will bleed troops if we engage them again. The young and old must rest. For a few hours.

Until we know the fates of the other mountainhomes, we must assume we are the last. I am loathe to scatter our people to the winds. Therefore I advise we do what we can to keep our people together until we can bring them home. Dwarfkind will endure. We will see to it."

"What direction do we travel my King? Are there stops we should make along the way?"

[Playergamer]

PTW.

[Ghazkull]

Thror looks up from the map in front of him, his face wry and somewhat amused around him several of his councillors (mostly older dwarves) frown at you, apparently you were not supposed to speak up only to watch and listen.

Indeed brother, the plans for that have already been laid out and i am well aware that we must assume to be the last.
As to your question, we will travel south, maybe our lost kin are still alive and if not their mountainhomes will at least serve us as refuge.


One of the Dwarven Nobles harumphs rather loudly at that point.
Bomrek looks at him rather annoyed, but then nods.
straightening out his whiskers, the greybearded dwarf begins to speak:

"My Liege i doubt we have enough supplies to last even half that way. At best we can feed our people another week if we start rationing now."

Options?

"Well there are always the Humans which live in this...place" his digust of the steppes is made very clear. "We could ask them for help...or take what we need by force..."

Certainly not Lord Harek, we cannot afford to make more enemies

Your brothery eyes fall finally upon you.

Riegir, contact these humans in an official capacity as diplomat, try to get the food we need. Time is of essence brother.

the Kings eyes fall upon Heirik

Shadow you speak Nomad, you will accompany my brother. Captain Ardmir. his face becomes a frown.

You did well by saving me brother at the gates although some say you are a coward and should have stood and died with the rest of your men. You and whatever remains of the Gate Guards will accompany him as his Honor Guard. That is all. Brother, Captain Ardmir, Shadow, you may leave.

he gives a dismissive wave.

[Ambidextrous]

PTW

[Shootandrun]

As the prince left the tent, Heirik stepped out after him and kept his pace slow to walk alongside him. His eyes lingered on the burning silhouette of Kraka Aevi, his birthplace, before speaking.

"Your brother's plan is a good one, my prince, at the base - but I fear we are being misused. I speak the language of the nomads, but I am no diplomat, and with the captain coming along you will not be lacking in protection. With your permission, while you deal with them I could try to visit their camp, learn what I can from rumors and idle talk, perhaps ask a few questions to those unwise enough to answer... We could learn much more that way than by sending us all to one meeting."

He paused for a moment, thinking.

"And while your dealings go on, you might as well send the ranger who accompanies us on a scouting mission... Our convoy is large but we have few eyes. We cannot afford to move blindly into unknown territories, when our forces are so few."

[Ardas]

Ardmir followed the prince in silence. He wanted to speak out and scream at all gathered, that he did all that he could. Yet he said nothing, shamed and despised for forsaking his duty, which was to perish while letting others escape. Only the prince could have any sympathy for saving him. He had to follow him in order to redeem himself somehow, if there was such word in dwarven language.