At the dark fortress of the goblin King, Catten...
Ngom bowed low before his liege, and shook slightly with fear. "My Lord, we have found another dwarven outpost."
"This is not unexpected, worm." Catten said, looking down menacingly from his steel throne. "How big is it, how many dwarves are there, what are it's defenses?"
"I...I...I don't know, my lord. We had barely gotten near it when we were mowed down by crossbows. I was the only one to escape."
"Pity, Ngom. You have failed me greatly." The king motioned for his guards. "I hope the demons enjoy eating your tender flesh."
Ngom struggled vainly against the guards' superior grip. "My liege, there is one thing more!" The guards stopped in their tracks. Catten nodded for him to continue. "They are building something. A massive felsite tower."
"What is it's purpose?"
"I don't know, my liege, but I am willing to go and find out."
"Do not fail me again, Ngom." Catten said. "I will not be as lenient next time. Find the purpose of this tower. Once we know more we will wipe this menace from the map."
Ngom bowed low, and scurried to leave the dark tower on his mission.
____________________
In the fortress of Heroicstand of Glory...
The humans finished loading up the trinkets and goblin clothing the General had offered them. What she had bought cost the fortress dearly, but it was neccesary.
"I hope to see you again soon, Henrick," The General said. "You do us a great service by bringing us these goods."
"As long as the profit is great enough, I don't mind," the human said, shaking the General's hand. "If my king were to find out about this, I'd be hanged, though. We have a tenative peace with the elves, but it hinges around us forgoeing trade with your race."
"Then I am doubly grateful, friend. I would leave swiftly before the tree-lovers discover you here. Thank you again."
The merchants packed up and left swiftly, which left the General just one other task. She wandered down the hallway and up to the farms. There she saw Vesa and Dacnor hard at work planting rock nuts.
"Dracnor! What are you doing?"
"Planting, ma'am," the veteran said.
"So you are playing in the dirt when there's real work to be done?" She said, forcing as much venom into her voice as possible.
"No, ma'am. I'm assisting Vesa in our farming operation."
"Are you a smith or a gardener, then, soldier?"
"A smith, ma'am."
"Then get down to the forge and make us some weapons." She turned on her heel and made for her office.
"Yes, ma'am" Dracnor said. A realization came over him, and he ran down to the depot. Surely enough there sat not one new anvil but two. He ran them the length of the main hallway and set up two forges. Immediatly he began hammering soft copper into the forms of weapons and armor he had longed to see for a while. Dracnor smiled with the glee of a child as he raised his forge hammer high, and slammed it down upon the form of a copper sword blade.
OOC: yay for traders.