Knowings of the Unknown Kin

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02. Zephyrion a. DSE

Guran Zursh didn't feel really comfortable here. But that was the entire point, he figured. Right now he was sitting unarmed, unprotected, naked in front of six other dwarves, four of them women. Not that he was ashamed of anything - and so weren't the others - but that was the first time he was negotiating in a huge pool of hot water, surrounded by more or less naked people. What did he expect since Renskar Klinkubrjóta ríða Eldsmiður sent him an invitation as an answer to his request and the meeting point was stated as the Caves of Joy?

Well, now they were here. Sitting in this large pool of steaming hot water, skin wet, beards, breasts and everything else clearly to see. No secrets and weapons here. Only the truth. That was the honourable way. And since they also wanted to have fun, everyone including Guran wore red bracelets. Those indicated what they wanted to do in the caves and if someone can approach. Red means enjoys the caves, open for physical contact, open for company, food or conversation.

Two elves - both females on this day - and a female dwarf brought them refreshments and snacks. In the background Guran could hear a couple or a few couples talking and having fun and hoped his potential patreons would refrain from that. Never mix business with fun, that was his motto.

"So" Renskar started after they had their mead and tea, "thank ya all for comin'. I think ev'ryone knows Guran, but me doubt that he knows us except for meself. So let me introduce.

The lovely lass with the nice bosom and the carefully trimmed beard is ma wife Thyra Eldsmiður giptin Klinkubrjóta." The dwarven woman nodded slightly, her small beard was indeed well trimmed. He tried not to look further down. "The lad to her right is Sorjé Koparkeggur giptinn Gráníthöggur with his wife Bryndá Gráníthöggur giptin Koparkeggur."

Sorjé honoured his name with a mighty beard, hanging in multiple braids, armed with silver beard beads in a contrast to the shiny coppery colour of his beard hair, which ended somewhere near his legs. His wife Bryndá had only a neatly trimmed fluffy beard of a few millimeters and more muscles than everything else, including some scars on arms, torso and legs. She was a warrior or a guard. Both nodded and she winked, Guran raised an eyebrow.

"And last but not least we have the sisters Silfurbrekka, Helga and Gudrun." Silverhills? Interesting, that was not a common name. Wait, those were the sisters with the silver mine? Oh by Greybeard and his assistants, that could go horribly wrong!

Both were beautiful, both had silvery beard hair - probably coloured - and a small bead in it right under their chins in the same silvery colour. Both were noble, starting from their polished and coloured toe nails to their entire skin, the soft hands, and the well-groomed hair. Guran doesn't like them right from the very beginning; they had the same aura as Pederslen Lokare: money, could buy you and your entire family and own you. Both had the same eyes of a predator - honour or not - and either Guran could make enemies out of them both or do whatever they want and befriend them. Or more. Hm, he had a few nice spells for that.

"Very well." Guran coughed, grabbed the cup with the mead and toasted to them in the order of introduction. "It is ma 'onour to be greeted by such friendly faces." Which was not a lie, but he didn't meant them. "Did ya all know why we are here? In this... very open area?"

"Easy, friend." Helga chuckled, grabbed herself bread and cheese and leaned back against the pool walls. Her sister Gudrun made a similar movement and both presented... well, nearly everything. "We have no weapons, ya have no weapons, spells or anything. The Caves are the best place for having negotations because normally everyone is doing something else. Relaxation is a bit... overpriced, so to say."

In her very clear way of speaking she meant that only for relaxing nobody would pay the high prices of the Caves. There were other ways to relax and just to lay in a pool of hot water can be a lot cheaper outside the Caves. So it was a bit of protection, non-secrecy and not getting spied on.

"So yes, we know why we are here." The bread in her hand was gone before he could even take a look. "Ya made a really clear point in ya letter. Something about an Unknown Kin and a prison? Ya wanna have money, dwarves, axes and ya former master with his apprentice?"

"Aye, ma Lady." She was not born a noble of a Baron or Baroness like humans, but it couldn't be a bad thing to be nice to her and her sister. "We need the big catapults. A lot of arms, spells, axes, money and brains. Whatever Pederslen freed with touchin' da runes, might still roam there. From what me could see we have enough space to set up a camp, but me don't know what we are up against. We should figure that out and contain whatever is lurking in the city. Then, and only then, we can raid it. The weapons and treasures are worth entire mines."

All six dwarves nodded, the sisters looked very pleased and the other four had this greedy gaze in their eyes. Of course. They tried it with higher powers, but the dwarven kings couldn't be moved. It wasn't honourable to disturb the sleep of the dead. The only thing they would have done would be to seal the city again. Which might be a good idea after all.

"And what exactly do ya need?" asked Gudrun now with glittering eyes. "Ya master and the apprentice, I gather. But what else?"

"A lot of metals for the runes." grunted Guran unwillingly. He knew that he had to pay for everything they give him eventually. Not in gold, but in favours or nastier things. He could end up as their willful slave. At least Renskar had an interest in this, because he was not only greedy, but also a patron of scholary activities. He and his wife supported some libraries and schools.

"Of course, they need to be durable."

"Tools. Books. Parchment. Workers, warriors, a few other scholars for ma former master to commandeer and to annoy. Trust me, he is more balanced when he had yelled at someone." Guran sighed. "Food, chocolate in limited quantities, explosives and, if you can arrange it, a few Glowballs or the materials for them. We have no idea what awaits us. - Uhm, then ink, parchment - me said that already - and quills. Coalpens, crossbows, ammunition. Someone who can speak Ancient Dwarvish to support ma master. Donkeys maybe, me don't trust horses. "

Everyone nodded again. Horses were crazy animals.

"Ya need some Skuggagriði or Skuggadvergur for... deliveries?"

"Aye, ma Gudrun, that might be useful too."

"Great!" Sorjé gulped down his mead and filled the cup again. "What are the names of ya master and his 'prentice?"

"Aelfric Rúntunga and Frëydis Klæðisilfur if she is still his apprentice. But me master would suffice if he is alone."

"Ya got it." Sorjé laid back at the side of the pool, pulled his wife into his arm and kissed her. "Talking logistics and reports. Ya report to us. Ev'ryone of us gets the same report. We provide provisions, you provide knowledge."

"Don't forget the share." whispered Bryndá, which was nearly drowned in the laughing, splashing, moaning from deeper in the large cave. At least she tried to whisper, the voice of the warrior was raw after shouting orders on various battlefields.

"Ah ya, the share." He kissed her again, her hand wandered down. "Whatever it is we may find down there..."

"Considering we don't met our demise."

"...aye...well, considering we don't meet our demise down there, we have a fair share of ev'rything. Meaning we bring experts to estimate the value, cover our costs and then we divide between all dwarves down there. We also have a contract for this we can go over in the restaurant while we eat a bit more. Is not so wet in the restaurant, ya know?"

"Me knows." nodded Guran. "But me take a hot whiskey with some bread, methinks."

"Suit yaself."

"And... what do me peeps think when things can get done?" He wasn't nervous, but to ask how some nobles and merchants were working and when they would work was always dangerous business. "Me would go back and prepare meself and the workers down there. We can still use them."

"Ah, don't fret. Three weeks tops." said Renskar, his from work scarred hand was playing with the breast of his wife and she was clearly enjoying it. "Maybe even two. The largest problem is the Skuggadvergur."

"Oh." Guran coughed and rubbed his beard in an attempt to look embarressed. "We... uh, might need a Formulist."

"That could be a bigger problem then ya think. But we manage. Gudrun, Helga?"

"Aye." said the sisters at the same time.

"Good." Renskar grinned. "Is that all, ma Guran?"

"Aye, ma Renskar, it is."

"Good...sisters? He looks lonely."

The sisters laughed clean and sinister and cold as the silver they mined. Naked as they were they came to Guran, started to kiss him. Well, that was a good way of negotiating. Screw his motto, he already had a plan for securing their and his future.

---

Prepping for Now and Beyond

46. Zephyrion a. DSE

Three weeks and a few days later Guran was in the last preparations. He had his own tent now, large enough for at least six dwarves to sleep in. He had set up his alchemy desk, a workstation and an "office" desk alongside his sleeping bag and blanket. The shipment of Glowballs came in a few days ago, along with some unattuned Glowballs. Guran had thought about how he should attune those blank Glowballs, so he went with general runes and nothing too specific. Five Glowballs were ready now and, since they were relatively large, he stepped back from crafting more. The really small runic inscriptions on the insides of the metal containing the Glowball were a pain in the ass and it took hours just to inscribe one of the eight encapsultating bars.

Right now he finished the last two binding spells. Well, it was only one binding spell, but each variation had a different binding ingredient which binds the target to Guran. The spell was his own creation and the use of it made him very much not honourable. He wouldn't even think about it if there wasn't this huge axe hanging above his head since he agreed to the conditions of the Silfurbrekka sisters. The moment the spells would do their work, they were his and would agree to the marriage proposal. And yes, he even had the rings ready. Those were just silver rings, but pretty ones.

The spell itself was harmless. For the creation it needed a few natural ingredients, a bit of iron, blood or a hair from the crafter and something from the body of the target. Since both sisters were really, really close to him in the Caves of Joy, it was easy to get a few hairs from both of them. He had wrapped them around different fingers so he wouldn't confuse them with each other. The effect of the spell was to infuse a certain level of attraction to the binder and enhance it over a few hours which felt to the target like love or at least a huge amount of desire and affection.

If they ever find out what he had done, he would not only be dishonoured, but sent to prison. That was deprivation of liberty. To a degree. The targets remain with their own free will and choices, it is just if he ask Gudrun and Helga if they want to marry him, they agree despite their original feelings for him. He only needed to touch them at the shoulder or something not so obvious. Skin was not necessary, the spell would do the necessary arrangements.

For the rest of his preparations he mixed various potions and a few smokebombs. Some of them were using silver and iron for various kinds of demons he anticipate. Since they don't know what they were up against, it was nothing too specific. He also added a few spell scrolls to his repository and some to use by other dwarves. He also had crafted a replacement for his enhancer, just in case. Right now he slapped the spells on two small sheets of paper, none larger than the nail of a thumb. They would desolve in seconds when applied.

To his surprise Renskar, Sorjé or the Silfurbrekka sisters also contracted an Orc couple who had broke camp a few days ago. Their task was to design and craft glasses for the dwarves and one cage twice the size of a dwarf out of copper and iron. Gurans task was to inscribe runes so that the dwarves could see through smoke, could see heat, see magic and, if everything was going to plan, could also see the being inside the city. The cage was the last resort if they had to catch the thing. The inside and the outside of the cage with the strong metal bars and small windows out of thick glass were inscribed with myriads of small runes and fueled with three storage crystals. Just in case. The couple left the blueprints and instructions for repairs and maintenance before they vanished.

His knowledge of Ancient Dwarvish hadn't increased in the last weeks. He had worked tireless to secure the breach in the wall with shielding runes on top of his normal work, inscribe tools with runes in case of random effects like haunting, madness and such. And with his spyglass he tried to make out more runes of the prison, but it was not enough to come up with anything remotely useable.

"Ma Guran." somebody said suddenly next to him. He screamed, dropped the small hammer he needed for runic inscriptions, did a small jump and turned to the Skuggagriði who had appeared in his tent without a sound. Which was one skill in their impressive skillset. The Skuggagriði looked like a normal dwarf in chainmail with an axe, but the small sigil and the strange calm aura were the only signs that one was a Skuggagriði.

"By Greybeards assistants!" exclaimed the mage. "Can't ya just knock?"

"Nah, ma Guran, too easy." smiled the Dwarf behind his braided beard. "Me was informed that ya master and the 'prentice have arrived and that me shall come and get ya. Ready?"

Guran picked up the small hammer, put his belt with his book around his hip, and nodded. "It was about time, don'tcha say?"

"For me and my brothers it isn't relevant. We are just there and get paid, if somethin' happens or if someone is there." He winked. "It is not our coin ya investors pour into our service."

"But it is ma neck." Guran tilted his head and smiled. "Me can hear ma Master from here. He is trying to commandeer you guys?"

"He is indeed trying." The Skuggagriði didn't smile, but his dark eyes looked amused for a second. "Ya need anythin' else?"

"A new set of nerves maybe? Ma master isn't very easy."

"Ya afraid?"

"Nah, concerned. But lets not dwell on old thoughts, show me da way."

The Skuggagriði showed him the way to the beginning of the miners camp, which was now the base camp of the entire operation. Some eager dwarves had enlarged the cave and put up some fireplaces and torches to illuminate the surroundings. Guran sighed as he heard his former master.

"Oi, lad! Go fetch me some mead and this bloke Guran. Me said it three times now and if me has to say it again, me is going to your supervisor to apologise for turning ya into a worm! Or a cushion for my mighty buttocks!"

Someone female snorted and Guran saw Aelfric Rúntunga and Frëydis Klæðisilfur standing between tents, the cart with the donkey behind them. All three of them were accompanied by a few Skuggagriði, more surrounded by them.

Aelfric looked nearly the same way as Guran left his apprenticeship a few decades ago: normal height for a dwarf, more grumpy looking than a normal dwarf, with an aura of authority surrounding him, a blue-black robe with trousers, outfitted with silver seams and gems, and a mighty beard down to his belt; braided, supported with silver strands and a lot of inscribed silver beard beads. The runes should strenghten the hair and are - at least according to Aelfric - some kind of protection spell.

"Nah need to fetch me." grunted Guran from the side, nodded to the Skuggagriði who disappeared between the tents.

"Ah, the pebble comes to visit. Gracing us with ya glory, ay?" Aelfric snorted. "Whatcha thinking to order us here? We have things to do, places to be."

"And this is one of the places." Guran did a small bow to honour the glory of his former master and bowed in the direction of Frëydis. "Ya must be the new 'prentice. Nice to meet ya."

"So, you are Guran." She smiled a bit, her speak was plain and reminded him of the surface-dwellers. Her short beard fluff had a honey-like colour and was neatly trimmed with the exception of the sides where it vanished into her also honey-colour hair. She looked only a few decades younger than Guran, was nearly as tall as he and had very bright grey eyes. At anything she was interesting and appeared to be more friendly than Aelfric.

"And ya are Frëydis, I presume? Nice to make ya acquaintance. Hope this old bugger is not bugging ya too much."

"Ah, not really. And if he does, I bug him as well. Sometimes literally." She grinned at her master.

"Ya young pebbles!" Aelfric bleeted, his face went a bit red. "Ya have no idea about anything! What are ya thinking to talk to me like that?"

"Yes, Master." Guran bowed again. "Because we don't know anything, we have called for ya. Would ya accompany me to ma tent so me can fill ya in?"

"Why not here?"

"Think ma tent might be a better place." He lowered his voice a bit. "So we don't scare the workers. Not more than we need to."

"Pish posh." grumbled the older dwarf, but turned around and shouted at some random worker, that his donkey needs to be taken care of and may Greybeard with ya, if anything happens to the donkey or his cart or the wares on it.

Goran lead both dwarves to his tent. He noticed that Frëydis smelled like iron, herbs, stone and something which smelled like oil. A very pleasant mixture. Aelfric smelled like he always does: some very strong herbal beard oil which burned in his nose and soap. Too bad that Guran already had plans, otherwise he would have asked Frëydis for dinner. But... hm, maybe both. Not honourable, but enjoyable.

"Welcome to ma own refugium." Guran opened the tents entrance and let them both in. "Please do not touch..." He sighed as Aelfric picked up a phial which Guran plucked from his hand. "Do not touch anything while me fills both of ya in."

"Impressive." said Frëydis and Aelfric laughed.

"What? This pebble has a few instruments and parchment and ya lass is impressed? Didn't me teach ya better?"

"You did." She smiled again and Guran instantly liked her a bit more. "But you also said that I should learn from others. Guran here" she rolled the R-sounds which was unusual and made his skin cribble in a pleasant way "obviously has made a good living after you released him from his shackles you gave him. So yes, it is very impressive."

Aelfric grunted and looked like a hot steam-engine from the Orcs is about to explode. "Shackles? Nonsense, lass, it was an oath to secure that we are not separated and secure the learning!"

"And still he was bound to you as I am right now." Her smile grew cold and suddenly the air was colder too. "Don't patronise me, Aelfric. I am your pupil, but no twenty year old pebble with snot around their nose."

No, that she was definitely not.

"So, shall we continue?" Frëydis asked and looked around.

"Fine." grumbled the master annoyed and still angry. "What is this nasty business, Guran? Ancient Dwarvish? Nobody uses that anymore."

"Ya think I don't know that?"

"Nah, I was... well, whatever. Ancient Dwarvish means that we have a fairly old settlement of dwarves here. Do ya know of which clan?"

"That is the thing, Master." Guran pulled out a scroll and handed it to Aelfric. "We don't know. There are scriptures around the settlement which might describe the clan, but we couldn't decipher them, only a few words. And who would be better suited for that than ma former master?"

"Flattery isn't getting ya anywhere." Aelfric shoved himself to the writing desk and with that Guran to the side. He took a look at the parchments and scrolls. "But ya are right. Me is ya best option. We are going to prepare ourselves, but what do ya have we can work with?"

---

A Seal is a Seal is a Seal

48. Zephyrion a. DSE

Two days later the expedition departed from the base camp and made their way to the hole in the wall which was still sealed by Gurans spells moons ago. It was lead by Aelfric, Frëydis and Guran who deactivated the seals. The runes were still there, so they could be activated every time.

"Ya ready?" asked Guran loudly. Nobody objected, but that could be out of fear and nothing else. Most of the dwarves were outfitted with at least one protection spell which was weaved into their armour or clothes. Some had their weapons inscribed just in case, others their small shields. The Skuggagriði had just their normal equipment with them and an offensive spell in a combustion scroll. Could be useful or bury anyone in the inactive volcano.

Guran waved, mumbled some words under his breath and the seals lost their active state and their power, which resulted in a quiet humming as they powered down. Slowly their light began to fade and with them the barriers.

"When are the famous leaders coming?" asked Aelfric and Guran shrugged.

"Probably when everything is safe and secure. They are leaders for a reason."

"Cowardness is not a reason. It is a weakness of character." the master said with enough acid in his voice to make a venomous snake jealous.

"Well, they need to be, methinks. They have the money not without a reason."

"So, we are going in or what?" asked Frëydis and ratteled with her magical enhancer which was decorated with feathers, stones and small bones. She looked like a shaman and smelled really, really good and fresh.

"We are going in indeed." Guran turned around to the dwarves, sixty in total, and raised his voice. "Ya lot knows the plan, amirite? Skuggagriði with me and the other mages to the temple, normal guards escort the workers and Pastwalkers! Note everything down, don't take anything away, don't destroy or misplace. You understood?"

Weapons and tools were rattled, but that was the only response. Good enough, so the three mages got flanked by the Skuggagriði as they entered the building and the city behind that. It still smelled more like sulphur, but luckily the sleeping god in the middle of the city still slept. Nobody needed an active volcano in the middle of an investigation.

"He." Guran mumbled as they started to venture up the roads. The oil was still burning which meant somewhere in the city was a reservoir which provided the lamps & torches with the blue burning oil. "Ya have sumthing to do in the evening?"

"Me?" Frëydis looked at him, her bright grey eyes glittering with amusement and laughter. "Depends if we survive what is going on in here. Why? You want to discuss something?"

"Ja, over dinner maybe?"

"Maybe?" She snickered. "Alright, lets discuss things over dinner tonight."

"As long as ya pebbles don't form an alliance for more pebbles!" barked Aelfric and pointed with his short staff upwards. "It is still glowing, we still have activity!"

"Demons..." Guran pulled up all six defensive spells in his mind, ready to activate them, as a low howling was to hear and it came from the volcano. Every dwarf raised his shield, weapon or tool, crossbows were raised. Before they could do anything, something bright and cloudy rushed from the hole in the middle of the city to the temple or prison and disappeared.

Was that the thing which tore apart poor Pederslen?

"Ev'ryone!" Aelfric turned around. "Gather yaselves and go to ya tasks! We don't have much time! If ya see anything, just scream!"

"If they are still alive to do that." mumbled Guran under his breath, got a friendly bump from Frëydis on his arm. She grinned at him, which was good.

And up they ventured. The spiraling streets were still tidy and only a bit dusty. Guran could see the footprints he and Pederslen left a few months ago and he shuddered. Whatever remained of Pederslen was gone, even his blood and organs. Somehow.

"Spells!" shouted Aelfric in front of him. Both dwarves, Frëydis and Guran, raised their shields and barriers. "Better be prepared. We have it cornered in the prison, lets raise the seals again. Guran, barriers and inward shields between the statues. Frëydis, supporting runes and seals at the doors. Me is going to take a look at our friend here."

"Master, are ya sure? That thing..."

"Is a mighty motherfucker, that's for sure." Aelfric laughed, rattled with his staff and the runes started to glow. "Now, get to work, ya pebbles. I hold it off!"

And he did. Aelfric was not for nothing the master of Guran and Frëydis. His runes were strong, his spells mostly self-made in years of research and he also had a mighty beard. And that can't mean nothing!

Runes began to glow, something hissed from the inside, wailing started to creep out. Guran started with the runes at the basis of the right statue and an inward shield. Which meant, that the shield was designed to hold things in and not out. It was the first layer from the inside and other spells were there to support it and strengthen the defense with layers of layers of layers of even more defenses.

Frëydis did the same with her supporting runes for the doors. The scratching and cling cling cling of the small hammers were drowned by the wailing and other noises from the inside. He heard Aelfric mumbling and the glowing from the artefacts started to pulsate.

The runes were simple enough to be done fast, but they were sturdy as well. He saw that Frëydis was nearly done with her three layers and so he started his own last layer. She was good, fast and precise and he noticed the three binding runes he had developed under the care of Aelfric. Good, his master did appreciate him. Finally a bit of honour here!

"Done!" shouted Frëydis and a two minutes later Guran also shouted "Also done!"

Aelfric nodded. He made a harsh gesture with his staff. Whatever he had conjured, broke with the shattering sound of glass and the next thing they could see was the cloudy body of that thing which had killed Pederslen. It was a grey cloud with a lot of featureless faces and wailing mouths, open in anger.

"Arthro!" shouted Aelfric with a voice of thunder and authority. The doors creaked and began to move. Not slowly, but really fucking fast and Aelfric grinned. Both doors missed him only by the width of two hairs to either sides.

The loud noise was probably to hear across the city. In the moment the doors closed, Frëydis' runes activated themselves and started to glow, two seconds later the runes of Guran. Whatever that cloudy thing was, it was now trapped.

"That's it?" Guran asked, packed away his hammer and the chisel.

"No." Aelfric was sweating, his beard was hanging down like it was wet and his forehead was bright from sweat. "For the moment we have it contained, but that is just a band-aid. Lets go back and talk with our employers."

"Good idea." Guran nodded and he noticed that he was sweating as well. After a short glance Frëydis was also sweating. Was it the panic, the proximity? It couldn't be the volcano, because besides the sulphuric smell it was just like a hole in a mountain. And it was cold too.

"He." He grinned. "We are still alive. So...dinner?"

Frëydis laughed and nodded. "Yes, dinner. I'll come and get you."

"Hold ya too it."

At the breach they were greeted and welcomed by their funders and employers. And luckily the Silfurbrekkar sisters were at the front because they had poured the most coin into the expedition. The Formulist was on their way as well and they had hired the guards and spies. Guran, as they were his mates in the Caves, greeted them with a hug. They go their seals on the back and it vanished a few seconds later. Hopefully Frëydis and Aelfric hadn't seen it. But his work was done, he would ask them in a few days.

Renskar and Sorjé were there as well including their wives. Bryndá wore an armour made out of chainmail and a bit of plate armour and she made small metallic noises with each step.

"So." Renskar smiled with a greedy glimmer in his eyes. "What do we got?"

"Good news first." Aelfric leaned against a barrell. "It is not a demon. Not even close to one. Well, at least it isn't fitting the requirement for being a demon."

"That...is good news." Sorjé crossed his arms. "But if it is not a demon, what had killed the ... Unknown Kin? Unknown Clan?"

"That is a really good question. One me is hoping to answer with the help of Guran, Frëydis and the Formulist with the deciphering of the Ancient Dwarvish."

"Me is getting that, but do ya have an idea what it is?"

"Yes."

"And? Did it kill the Unknown Kin?"

"No." Aelfric sighed and looked around with hard eyes. "That is the bad news. Those are the Unknown Kin."

---

Skuggagriði

Shadowguard; a protector of secrets, sworn to secrecy

Skuggadvergur

Shadowdwarf; a spy, an assassin, trained in many hidden arts