I now present the stats and kills of the five major warriors in Libash Tobat . . .
17th Moonstone, Winter, 108
“Gather ‘round young children! Legan the wise has a special treat for you all today!” the philosopher said from his seat in the dining hall. The fort’s children were in a circle around him, looking curiously at the large box in his hands.
“Wha’s innit?” one child asked.
“Why, only the latest thing,” Legan said, opening the box, revealing several metallic rectangles with pictures of dwarves killing goblins on them, “Trading cards! Kids in the mountainhomes can’t have enough of them! They have the stats and kills of legendary dwarven warriors from all over!”
The children, sufficiently entranced by the philosophers ad, were pushing and shoving to get packs. “Now, now, children, one at a time, ten copper a pack!” Several children had simply shoved random coins into his hands and were ripping the packaging apart. Already they had begun acting as children everywhere do when presented with trading cards; that is, bickering over who’s got the best piece of cardboard.
“Oh boy! I got Ironblood!”
“Oh yeah? I got Zasit Galleywindy!”
“What’s he done better than Ironblood?”
“Well, he’s a legendary wrestler. And look at his kills!”
“So? Ironblood’s got him beat so bad.”
“Yeah, well he’s more ‘n a ‘undred years dead. Zasit’s only just started, an’ he took down a swarm a goblins.”
“And he’s had to walk with a crutch since then, yeah.”
“Oh hey look!” a third child said, “I’ve got Sheena! They put her at Legendary Wrestler, Legendary Shield User, Accomplished Armor User, and Grand Master Speardwarf! Her favorite thing is her artifact shield, Riddledull, made outta protosteel!”
“Ironblood could beat that. He don’t even need no shield.” the first child insisted.
“Aw, man,” a fourth child cried, “I just got Crispin. Some new recruit. He hasn’t even got any kills yet.”
A fifth child shouted, “I got Bubbles! Says ‘ere that he’s a Legendary Wrestler, High Master Shield User, Skilled Armor User, and Professional Macedwarf. He killed that goblin leader! With no armor and just a copper mace, too!”
“I got Morul Bellstired,” another kid said, “she’s a legendary marksdwarf, but she hasn’t got much melee skill, whatever those are. She has a lot of kills, though!”
As the children bickered over their finds, who had the better fighters, and why, the small, gangly figure of Legan was creeping away, the sack of the children’s money on his back. He was nearly at the door when a large figure stepped in front of him.
“Where’d ye get all that coin, Legan?” Ezum said. “Haven’t been sellin’ Cinnabin ta the kids again, have ye? Morul will have yer hide if ye did.”
“No, no! Honest I haven’t! I was just selling them these fine trading cards!” He shoved a pack in her face. Ezum looked at the cards critically.
“Ye drew these yersel’, Legan.” She said, calmly, before bunching her hand into a fist.
“Gehh!” was the noise Legan made as he slumped to the ground, clutching his gut. Ezum picked up the money bag.
“I’ll jus’ ha’ these melted down. Coulda sworn I said no coins. Better give the kids their credit back.” She made sure to step on the beard of the former mayor's head on her way.
. . . With a
Nist Akath reference. I like that story. Part of what got me to write this!