The events of the 22nd of Timber, 1071
"Boss," Hikan asked. He was surprised by just how gentle his voice was, despite the anger that had been roiling inside him for weeks. "Boss, hey, hey!" He reached a hand out, and gave Aryn a loud, but gentle, slap on the cheek.
Aryn had been leaning over his desk, with his head in his hands. His beard, blond and patchy from the start, looked as if it was shedding. Great chunks had fallen out, and with his thinning combed over hair, he looked as if he had mange. At the slap, he snorted, and jerked backwards, his eyes wide as he stared unseeing at Hikan. Slowly the pupils focused, and he scowled. "What do you want, Guardsman."
Hikan's mouth formed a fine, tight line. He did his best to keep his anger in check. Slowly he reached inside his trench coat and pulled free his flask, taking a long pull of water. When he had composed himself, he continued on, "You're getting out of hand, Aryn. You haven't done anything but drink and sulk for months... we..." he paused, "I need some guidance here, man. Some guidance. The Duke is running roughshod and Archin is having her hands full just fixing anything he breaks. Since his wife and kid killed themselves in the lake he's just gotten worse."
"What of my project," Aryn rasped.
"I don't know! Quote and Roaroak won't talk to me about it, they said something... Genius can not be rushed. Well, Quote didn't say it. He tried but looked embarrassed, but that ginger freak Roaroak said it and almost got himself a one-way flight into the quarry for having a smug face."
"Come and get me when the domes are done."
"Boss... come on, please. You're better than this."
"Better than this," Aryn scoffed, "I have a town full of idiots. I have thieves taking advantage of corrupt nobles, murdered blowing up buildings, terrorists sewing fear among the population. I'm untrusted by most, disliked by all but you, and for the simple - the SIMPLE! - attempt to help spare our lives from the very things these Dwarves are bringing upon themselves. Look at what their free will has gotten them? Just LOOK AT IT!" he shrieked. He grasped for his exquisitely carved mug, and in three swallows, finished the warm beer that was inside of it.
"Imagine, if you will, that you knew what was wrong, what was causing a war. You knew how to fix it. You could STOP things, if only those in charge would listen to you. Instead, they don't, and thousands die... whole towns are destroyed. If only someone had listened to your wisdom, it could have been prevented, but racial prejudice and stupid pride allowed the slaughter to continue. Can you imagine that, Hikan?"
Hikan stared mutely at his leader, who pressed on, unconcerned with his answer. "What's even worse than that, is taking Dwarves who wanted to get away from leaders who felt that way, from societies that refused to change. And though a harsh-hand was taken to keep them in line, things continued to flourish... until the ignorant took control. The impure, those who could not see the light of peace and safety. I'm beset on all sides by Dwarves who are given the choice to do something good with their lives, but inside they follow the status quo and continue on blithely ignoring the disaster falling around them. They do this because they are told to, by Merkil. By Archin. By the Duke. By Mookie and her pet goon Rinsesilver. By that terrorist Telamon. By Kuli, and by Rice, and by Likot and her corpses. They listen to everyone but me, the only one who is actively trying to make their lives better.... Hikan, a man may choose. A slave, obeys."
Before Hikan could answer, the door was thrown open. A pale faced Rice burst in, followed behind by Valania. Though her face was hidden, her gait betrayed her anger.
"We almost had a disaster, Aryn," Rice started. "There was a magma breach, when we were flooding down to one of the pods for the blacksmiths. We almost flooded the entire level of workshops, if we hadn't managed to throw up some hasty walls and block it. As it is... we're losing magma pressure."
"He lies, sir," Valania said in her hollow voice, "we had a disaster. Many, many of my masterworks have been melted clean off of the stone. So many! SO many fantastic pictures of Rice, assuming command..." her voice trailed off with a sigh, leaving Rice staring at her in horrified embarrassment.
"Do you see, Hikan? We have those who can not follow simple orders, and we have abject pride. Worthlessness, surrounding me... everyone get out. OUT! I don't care about any of these simple little problems. Tell me when the domes are complete. Until we have the safety of seclusion, our lives are forfeit by the inadequacy of others."