The events of Granite 5thAmara Yifyiyi waited at the southern entrance of Ulolgeshud, flicking her bow aimlessly as she watched the dwarves in the artificial valley below mill between the smattering of buildings. Her lip curled into a snarl of disgust as she watched one of them go up to a tree and begin to axe it down. Savage creatures, they had no idea what they did to the world around them... or they just didn't care. Amara wasn't sure what was worse, criminal ignorance or open defiance of nature, she quite rightly felt that both were equally punishable by death.
But, this group of dwarves had proven to be hardy, even moreso considering that they had both survived the initial holocaust of their race, and lived on to prosper in this small hamlet. Where other groups may have faltered or died out, they had gone to not only carve our a place for themselves, but to complete one relatively large work and have a very good start on another. For a barbarian race they were driven and efficient, quite determined to not falter.
Amara leapt to readiness as one of the dwarves broke in it's routine, heading for the gatehouse where the elven ranger waited. It was a female, as most of this group was. Some of the more feminist elves had even suggested that the dominance of women in this village was the reason for their success. Dirt and grit covered her from head to toe, traces of flour and sugar coating parts on her arms that were not regularly cleaned. She was a little portly, and and an infant was strapped across her back like a second head, sleeping peacefully as it's mother made a beadline for one of the socks left by the goblins from the most recent attack.
Amara waited until the dwarf was close. Too close to escape, and too far to attack, before calling out, her voice decepivly soft. "Frea Libashrur, I presume?"
The dwarf jumped into the air in shock, spinning as she looked for the speaker. A rolling pin brandished like a club as she tried to locate the voice. Not that she would, Amara was a master at not being found when not wanting to be found. "Who's 'ere?" she said belligerantly, her child waking and beginning to cry in the sling on her back, "Show yerself elf, I know the voices of your kind!"
"I don't want to fight Frea." Amara said from her hiding place comfortably, watching as the dwarf began to swing wildly at the undergrowth in hopes of finding the hiding elf. "Just to talk."
The dwarf continued for a moment, swiping at the nearby bushes and trees fruitlessly before sitting down to rest and pulling a crepe out of her pocket. Her chest heaving from the exertion. "fine, what do ye want?" she said
"I come from the intricate nut, I'm sure you remember us, with a message of great importance."
At once rage filled Frea's face, her stumpy body suprisingly agile as she jumped to her feet. "The Nut? You bastard! I'll cut you down where you lie... once I find you! You're kind killed my family!"
Amara continued nonplussed, "You are to stop attacking the caravans of our allies, lest we be required to attack your settlement and end your kind once and for all. We have graciously allowed you to survive in order to keep your place in the ecosystem intact, but if you continue to act like you have been it will be necessary to destroy you."
"You... what?" Frea blinked, her anger contained for a moment as she let all of the words sink in, "You're letting us go? After all that you did to us you're letting us go? Why should I believe you?" for a bare moment Frea thought back to her escape from her home wistfully"Why... why would you have any reason to let us live?"
Amara ignored the dwarf, throwing a small envelope from her perch to the dwarf, one bearing a seal of an acorn crossed by a lightnin bolt. "This is your only warning. Stop murdering the elves the caravans that have been sent to aid you. Failure to comply with this request means death. Peace go with you and good day." With a lethe movement the elf sprang across the moat from her hiding spot as Frea knelt to pick up the letter. Leaving the confused dwarf alone with her thoughts.
Or rather, her scream of fury.
Frea's diary, 17th GraniteThe elves have come as the elf has said. It took some convincing, and a lot of browbeating. Rikkir in particular was anxious to have them all killed quickly so that . If she wasn't our assigned trader (not that she has any experience trading mind.) I would probably lock her in her precious cathedral while the elves were here. (If I was feeling generous I probably would have thrown her some beer and biscuits too... maybe.
Either way, I'm worried.
Rikkirs Holy Scriptures, 17th GraniteWhen goblins come to the land of expectation, plotting death openly and offering battle, give them naught but death and war dogs, lest they can kill one of your people and demoralize the rest.
When Elves come to the land of expectations, plotting death behind a mask of trade. Strike first and strike hard. Eliminate them before any damage can be dealt to your people lest you lose everything you hold dear.
When your own people come to the land of promises and expectations, ensure they understand that failing to follow either guildline is a recipe for death. When prevented from properly destroying your enemies, strive to divert them by parting them with all of their worldly possessions. Should they still remain after that then it is likely that you have found a potential ally amidst all deceit.
Rikkir's logs, 18th GraniteOne of the war dogs bled to death today, it's throat slashed out by a kobold. I felt it was significant enough to metion.
Rikkir's logs, 21st GraniteThe elves have left today after a very sucessful trading session. We got what we wanted, they got nothing. Perfect!
Rikkir's logs, 13th FelsiteI have had my eighth child today, a boy. Surly Likot looks upon his priestess favorably to grant us such a boon.
Rikkir's logs, 5th MalachiteFrea had her ninth child today, a girl. Likot frowns upon her mercy towards the elves and punishes her with a child who is likely to never hold a husband.