Slaughter and ButcheryAfter she had dunked her head in beer for a bit, Mandy felt a little better. It could have been worse she supposed. That Athel could have turned them in and instead of a lone dwarf they could be looking at an army of guards looking to make sure there was some truth to the story that they had hall been killed. She looked at the wooden walls and sighed. This was not how she had ever envisioned her life turning out. She should have been married with kids by now, not leading a group of escaped dwarves as they lived above ground like a bunch of humans. The worst bit was that they were all now probably stuck in this place until they died. That damned Athel had better make damn sure there was a pick in the next caravan or Mandy was going to make her eat those goods she had requested.
Speaking of which, Mandy had spend enough time brooding. If they were going to keep Athel happy, there was work to be done. That and she had to figure out what to do with that new dwarf. She got up off the cart and went back inside the fort where she was greeted by the others. “I take it by your foul expressions that you have all had the pleasure of reading Athel's little note?” she asked/
Skuz spat on the ground, “I say if we see her again we ship her back home in at least ten separate boxes if you know what I mean.”
“Lovely thought, but she strikes me as the sort who would leave instructions on what to do in the event of dismemberment.” said Loki.
“So what are we going to do now Chief?” asked Art.
Mandy shook her head. “We will have to do what that Elf loving, goblin kisser wants. I don't really see any other choice.”
There was a fair bit of grumbling at that.
“I don't like it any more than the rest of you. This is no place and no way for a dwarf to live, but since living is what I would like to continue doing we have to do as Athel says. For now anyway.” Mandy said. She looked over the group, “Where did that new dwarf go? Is he still picking out a room?” She asked.
“I saw him heading towards the dining room.” replied Gear.
“Ok, well I'm going to go have a talk with him, the rest of you just get back to work I suppose. Athel wanted some cloth so I still need you weaving Vulk, though make some gloves along with the bags. Athel wanted handware as well.” Mandy took a moment to see that everyone was heading back to their jobs before seeking out the messenger. She found him in the dining hall just as Gear had stated. She also found the Mule and Horse that had hauled the cart, as well as several mushy brown piles on the floor complements of the mule and horse.
Wiping her boot on the floor in disgust she approached the dwarf. “Ok, I'm finally ready to hear your name.” she told him.
“Jarvous” he replied, “I like working with bones.” he added.
Mandy glared at the Horse as it added yet another pile to the floor. “Well you are in luck Jarvous. I happen to know where you can find some bones. There is even some meat and hides that you can deal with while you are at it.” she said.
Jarvous gave Mandy an unsettlingly eager look, “Really?”
Mandy nodded and gestured at the two animals. “Right there. Put together a butchers shop and tannery and then make those two things into something actually useful.”
Jarvous looked a little disappointed.
“We need the hides first since that was one of the things Athel requested of us when she was here. After you are done with that, feel free to do what you want with the bones. You could make a miniature temple to Armok for all I care.” she explained.
Jarvious looked considerably cheered by that, “Yes Miss. Mandy.”
“Call me Chief.” she told him. For some reason this dwarf unsettled her and she wanted to remind him who was in charge.
He nodded, “Yes chief.” He then pushed open the double doors and left, presumably to go gather the wood he would need to make the workshops.
Mandy stood in the dining hall a little longer wondering just what sort of dwarf Athel had sent as her messenger. Jarvous was obviously not his real name, but then none of them here used their real names. She wondered what reason he had to want to live out in a place like this. She had the unsettling feeling that this wasn't just a failed production order like the rest of them. Of course that nagging little voice in her head reminded her that she was one to think such things. After all, she hadn't been sent to Axegrind just because of a failed order herself.
Pushing such thoughts to the back of her mind, Mandy went back to her still. If they were going to be able to get anything of worth out of the next caravan, both she and Art needed to improve in their skills since prepared foods were the only thing they could really make in any quantity at the moment.
Jarvious dispatched the two bothersome animals, strangling them with his bare hands. He had a grin on his face as he pulled out the bones and neatly stacked them next to the butchers shop. Mandy resolved to keep an eye on him. A few days later the leaves began to fall indicating that winter had arrived to their little fort.
(Winter of 215 arrives and the two animals are no longer making a mess of the dining hall.)