Dwarf Mine

Dwarf Mine (mountain access)

Who? Meeting with the other

What? Authority

Possible interpretations: Ikarnos attempts to assert his position as leader. A roll on how could give the condition of passage.

The heroes arrive at Dwarf Mine and request passage

The heroes continue to follow the mountain foothills. Impossible to descend to the plain from their position. They are on a kind of plateau and the cliffs are too high. According to the maps, they would even be walking on an enormous dwarven city. Strange people, who have lived underground in the mountains since the dawn of time. Small, stocky, strange, none of the characters have ever interacted with them. Our heroes discuss what they know or think they know about dwarves.

Peek: "their constructions are as you like them, in stone and immobile. For us they are fragile and resemble death, frozen. The great city of Pavis was partly built by Dwarves. That did not protect it however, because we nomads, more mobile, always find a way to destroy what is immobile just as water erodes the ground little by little."

Jaridan: "they are different from us but it seems some merchants have already managed to trade with them, at least those at Dwarf Mine. They are materialists and there is always a way to negotiate with someone who loves gold."

Hanya: "their constructions are certainly sturdy but they have no sense of aesthetics, they have not been touched by the grace of the Goddess. They may have helped build the Daughter's Road but it is we Lunars who created the beauty and purpose of this road. They are therefore to peoples what a tool is to things."

Ikarnos: "those are words full of wisdom Hanya but I wonder if they do not have a hidden purpose and I wonder if we could discover it during our passage. Keep your eyes and ears open but no unfortunate initiative, especially you Peek, they are probably thousands strong and we are only four. Besides, speaking of which, Peek I would like a word with you."

Ikarnos and Peek go talk aside.

Hanya: "this is going to get ugly."

Jaridan: "she is not bad at heart, she defends what she believes in and did it to help us in her own way. But what a character! I like her."

Hanya: "pride can endanger the common cause and that is what worries me."

Jaridan: "I think Ikarnos will know how to talk to her. He speaks little but I do not think it is by chance that Fazzur chose him for this expedition. Sometimes he scares me more than Peek I must confess. Without meaning any disrespect, we free men of Tarsh sometimes have trouble understanding your customs and ways. He carries the Emperor's seal and according to rumors, Argenteus the new mask is very different from Ignifer."

Hanya: "the Goddess has always chosen well. It is we men who are fallible. I have complete trust in the current Emperor despite the rumors. He announces unprecedented prosperity in the history of Glorantha."

Jaridan: "May the Gods hear you..."

🎲 Ikarnos's attempt to assert authority over Peek

• Conflict:
  • Protagonist: Peek
    • Peek's loyalty
    • Hard to impress
  • Antagonist: Ikarnos
    • Emperor's teaching (convince)
    • Make the third way triumph
• Result: success +1

Ikarnos flatters Peek and acknowledges that she tried to do well in taking her own initiatives. He tells her about the differences within the group and in their ways of seeing things differently. He tells her they need to find a solution to survive.

Peek listens with her big ember eyes but ends up concluding in her usual way: "I listen to the voice in my heart Ikarnos and I know that despite everything you say, one day, that voice will save us all. And I do not need a witch to reveal myself to myself. We are still here and well alive, more alive than ever even. Do you truly believe I am crazy enough to endanger a mission that will bring me home to Prax! We are far from Peloria now and I do not intend to undermine your authority but I intend to keep my freedom of action because without freedom of movement, that is death, that is how we nomads are and that is how we triumph."

Deep down, she thinks of those Sable men who now parade with their riches acquired since their victory with the Lunars. She knows they were bought and that what they won they are losing elsewhere. As the daughter of a clan chieftain, she does not need that and she is a woman. She is not here by chance and she is very proud of standing up to this Lunar.

Ikarnos concludes: "then we will triumph or you will perish. E pluribus Unum."

The small party sets off on mountback following the plateau. After a day of travel, they spot in the distance a square fort surrounded by a wall that hugs the mountain completely.

Ikarnos: "there is what we are looking for. Let us advance cautiously."

Arrived at the base of the wall, they observe but see nothing. No movement, no living soul, no guards on the walls and no way to make contact. This does not bode well.

Ikarnos: "the problem is that this entrance is on the mountain. Access must be more open at the bottom of the cliff. Let us wait. Let us make a fire to be noticed. We are here in peace and it would be surprising if no one saw us."

So they keep vigil and wait. Upon waking, they suddenly find themselves surrounded by a dozen small creatures in heavy armor, armed with crossbows, bearded and suspicious. One of the dwarves approaches:

"You are on dwarven land, humans. What are you doing here? What do you want?"

Ikarnos: "We come as friends and we want to descend. We were attacked by Gazzams and had to go back up the mountain road."

The dwarf: "your story is strange because this is not a trade route." He seems suspicious. Perhaps he takes them for spies.

Ikarnos: "we come from Dunstop and are heading to Prax. We have been mandated by Fazzur. Here is his seal." And he hands the seal to the Dwarf.

The latter takes it and says: "wait, we will be back" and he leaves with the seal.

Hanya: "That's clever, they are going to make a copy."

Ikarnos: "I could not care less. Only our passage matters and what would the Dwarves do with Fazzur's seal, nobody would take them seriously."

A day later, the Dwarves return and hand the seal back to Ikarnos. "We will let you pass but on one condition, write a letter to your master so that your people stop digging the mountain next to the Slave Wall."

He must be talking about Slave Wall, a city north of Tarsh known for its slave market and especially its salt mines worked by slaves. A way to occupy defeated barbarians, nomads, or political opponents.

Ikarnos hesitates, the Dwarves' request carries heavy economic and strategic consequences. "That seems like a lot for a simple passage. Would you not prefer gold instead?"

🎲 Negotiation with the Dwarves

• Conflict:
  • Find the path to the solution + the Dwarves' venality
  • Position of strength
• Result 2 vs 1: victory

The dwarves accept passage in exchange for gold. The objective is achieved but with a loss of gold.

The gates of the wall open and the group enters the fortress compound. The constructions are massive, surprisingly large for a people of such small stature. The dwarves do not speak among themselves. They advance in an organized manner and resemble ants. Nothing special is visible: openings, iron doors.. there is no plant element, everything is only metal and stone. The dwarves lead the players through a great opening and there before them is a platform. They invite them to mount it with their mounts. The platform is 10m by 10m and is large enough for the 4 heroes and their mounts.

A dwarf speaks into a pipe in a guttural language that none of the characters understand. Then he activates a lever and the platform begins to vibrate. The dwarf smiles. Peek grips her lance. Jaridan places his hand on her shoulder and whispers: "calm, friend." The platform lurches and they begin to descend along the mountain through a tunnel with smooth walls lit by luminous globes. They cannot believe it. The descent is long and slow but they are reassured. The Dwarves are indeed leading them down to the plain!

Dwarf Mine (plain access)

Note: characteristic of Dwarf Mine: piece of the cosmic needle, Isidilian, individualist and open, search for artifacts

The platform stabilizes and they arrive at the bottom of the cliff inside a great hall. They leave the hall and are taken in hand by a group of heavily armed dwarves who lead them through various halls where they pass busy dwarves.. Groups carrying stones or pieces of metal, others "singing" with tools in hand. These look at them pass with a suspicious air but do not intervene.

Ikarnos asks one of the dwarves in the escort: "Do you understand our language, friend?"

The squad stops and one of the dwarves turns and says: "I have taken courses and I understand you. What do you want?"

Ikarnos replies: "we are indeed just passing through to go to Prax but would it not be possible to address a leader of your people to perhaps.. forge an alliance between our peoples?"

The dwarf reflects, stroking his beard, appearing to be deep in thought and they can see him moving his fingers as if counting something.

🎲 Will he accept the request?

• Conflict:
  • Win-win link (Jaridan), rune of mastery (Ikarnos)
  • Fear of being punished for his initiative
• Result: Victory +1

Jaridan says to the dwarf: "without mixing, there is no alloy."

Ikarnos's natural authority also seems to work and the dwarf accepts. He leads them to a room for guests. The furniture is stone and the dwarves take the mounts. Fta-ah is nervous and Peek refuses to see her mount taken away by the Dwarves.

Sensing trouble coming, Ikarnos declares: "the woman will follow her antelope to the stables and stay with her."

The dwarf widens his eyes: "as you wish."

Peek thus follows the Dwarves. The other three remain in the room and wait. For a long time, very long. They are served a sort of meal made of moss with a rather unappetizing taste. Meanwhile the mounts are taken to the dwarves' pony stables. Peek thus ends up with the beasts. She does not feel very comfortable locked in the mountain, she who is used to the open air of the Praxian plains, and she tries to reassure Fta-Ah. She too gets the dwarven stew but tolerates it a bit better than her companions, probably accustomed to nomad food.

After a night, someone comes to get Ikarnos, Jaridan, and Hanya. They are led through halls. Sometimes it is very hot. The dwarf guiding them answers that these are the Forges helping to repair the Machine that men broke. They strangely see some humans wearing an iron collar around their necks. They understand these are slaves. But apart from that they seem to move about freely performing their tasks: carriers for the most part.

Before arriving before an immense door, the dwarves ask them to leave their weapons and they are then searched. Then they arrive in an immense hall, magnificently crafted. Every cm of rock is chiseled with geometric patterns, dwarven heads sculpted adorn the tops of columns, a warm yellow light radiates from the vault and floor-standing globes. Before them, there is a Dwarf sitting on a throne wearing a golden crown of almost blinding pure gold, his armor is equally so but in another metal. Around him Dwarves of all kinds, in armor but also in robes, and others in unidentifiable materials. The moment is solemn.

The heroes advance and Ikarnos sets the example by kneeling before the Dwarven monarch. "Your Majesty, thank you for receiving us" and awaits the response.

The king squints and gestures for them to rise. "I, Isidilian, King of the mine of the Needle mountains, welcome you with pleasure."

He speaks Pelorian! And continues: "you are lunar from what I have been told. Do you know that the raising of the Red Moon was in the Grand Schema to repair the Machine? Haha.. I see from your faces that you did not know. Normal, you are so young, you have not known the wars of the Gods nor the wars of Empires, you only see a small piece of the Plan, you are like the rabbit in its burrow but you are part of the Plan. Fazzur your employer is part of the plan."

Hanya steps forward: "Noble King Isidilian, you built the Daughter's Road with us and soon other roads will be built, will you still be ours in the Grand Plan you speak of?"

The king replies: "That depends on you. Certain variables will push us to be so but others will not. How to say in your language? Let us say that if you commit certain acts or if you do not commit certain ones, then the paths will be different."

Ikarnos: "indeed, you expressed the wish that the Lunars stop digging the mountain. I can report to my hierarchy but to decide we would like to understand."

The King: "it is not slavery that poses a problem for us, although we think you use your recruits badly. They dig poorly and you punish them. We treat our slaves better: we maintain our tools.. but no matter, inquire Lunar and but know that we are not dupes of your plan over there."

Ikarnos: "I will inform Fazzur and come back to you but I will be in Prax."

The King: "you can inform my companions of Pavis.. Ask Clousilex.. and speaking of Pavis, as I was telling you there is what you will not do like what happens in the mountain near the Slave Wall but also what you will do at Pavis. Some time ago, a man came and stole Dwarven weapons from us as well as a very precious bracelet. We tracked him in the Dragon Pass and learned from his clan that he had fled to Prax. Find him in Pavis, recover the weapons and the bracelet, bring them to us or leave them with Clousilex and we can forge ties."

Jaridan: "what is this man's name and how can we recognize him if he has changed his name O king?"

The king: "his name is Jaknar the Red, because of his red hair, he has the tattoos of Orlanth, that is all I can tell you and here is the type of weapon he stole from us."

He signals to another dwarf who arrives opening a stone casket and inside is a sort of metal tube connected to a stone stock, a hollow stock in which balls can be placed, topped with a sort of lever.

"Let us say it is an advanced sling that can kill in one shot. Only the people of Mostal has the right to use Mostal's tools! You have stolen too much from us in the past and the Plan is very clear on this, it is no longer permitted."

Jaridan: "so you no longer trade with men?"

The King: "we no longer manufacture weapons for men. In the coming war, we may perhaps provide warriors but as the Plan's variables are not all known, we do not yet know but we will be ready whatever the camp because it is our lot to be ready."

Ikarnos: "I thank you Isidilian the Wise and I will pass the message to Fazzur regarding the Slave Wall and once in Pavis, we will find the thief and recover your goods. You know well that we Lunars do not particularly hold the Orlanthis in our hearts either."

The audience ends, the heroes recover their weapons and are escorted by the Dwarves to the stables.

The heroes find Peek and are ready to leave: "they have ponies and sheep but that is all I saw. There are also human slaves who take care of the animals. I tried to talk to them but most seemed frightened."

🎲 Did Peek succeed in establishing contact with a slave?

• Conflict:
  • Peek: be nice (1)
  • Slaves: fear of working badly (1), well treated (1), not the same language (1)
• Result: Defeat: -1 so too scared to talk and moreover they did not understand anything Peek said.

The Dwarves lead the heroes before two immense steel doors with hallucinatory motifs. The door opens without noise which is a feat for a double door over 20m high! The light hurts their eyes. They advance, greeting and thanking the dwarves even though this passage was dearly paid for.

They find themselves at the bottom of the cliff at the beginning of a great plain. They look behind them and see two immense massive statues 30m high framing the doors which are already closing. Helmeted statues, armed with lances and shields as gigantic as they are sublime.

Jaridan whispers: "they say these statues can animate to defend the entrance. Brrrr, I would not want to face such colossi in motion."