THE DWARF KINGS

Matt Darrow with R. Dean

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The sun rose over the mountain stronghold of Umbria.Oxholm and Drumtone, the Maegar Dwarf brothers, labored tofinish the settlement of their people. They had achieved muchsince the defeat of Guardon, the Gorgon King, and the tyrannicaldespotism of the Dragons Thoth and Tiamat.

Flowers grew among the crags and precipices of theirclandestine mountain valley and fresh cascades plummeted fromthe snow-capped peaks far above.

Oxholm addressed his brother as they chopped wood tocover the roof of a freshly hewed longhouse. The sturdystructure was one of many assembled by their people since theirreturn to the Plane of Gaea.

“At last I am at peace, Drumtone. All is well with Taliesinand the Liege Lords in the regions to the west. Word has spreadthat the Goblin and Orc hordes have not attacked the Trolls andothers there since their repulsion. I must not become too restful,however, for none of us know if or when the Stalactite Forcesmay regroup and attempt to conquer this fair valley as they havein the recent past.”

“Aye, brother,” replied the red-bearded warrior. “Althoughour recent victory is heart-warming the Dwarves need to remainvigilant if they hope to establish a lasting presence in theseArkadian Mountains. Let us finish our task here as quickly aspossible. I wish to meet with our newly founded Dwarf Counciland verify the security measures we have recently put into actionare running their due course.”

The brothers marched to the ad hoc council hall of theDwarven Tribes. There they met with a gathering of elders whohad been nominated to their positions by democratic means.Each of the elders was known for his or her battle prowess,

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tactical cunning and loyalty to his or her respective Thane.The Thanes were druid-like spiritual advisers who

counseled the Dwarves in a variety of matters ranging frommarriage to the conduct of commerce and funeral arrangements.

The elders bellowed a hearty greeting at the entrance of therenowned warriors. The leaders of the Dwarves hearkened fromvarious Tribes. These included the Maegar, Duergar, Norgar,Urdar and Ausgar. Other Dwarves were the advocates ofindependent constituents although these “rogue” eldersrepresented a minority on the council.

“Thank you for visiting us, Oxholm and Drumtone,” said ared-bearded Dwarf who sat at the head of an oval-shaped table.“You heroes would be welcome additions to this council. It haspuzzled many of us why neither of you have chosen to run forelection.”

“You flatter us, Hrothgar,” answered Drumtone.The younger Dwarf stroked his beard in contemplation.“You and your fellow elders are the duly elected leaders of

this representative council. My brother and I have much work todo although we wish we had the time to dally in politics.

“We are just stopping by to check on the progress of thesettlement in Umbria. How go things, here?”

“Things go as good as could be expected, Drumtone,”replied Hrothgar. “The mines and herds have passed a phase ofinitial development. Now time is what we need to pursue ourinterests. Our stronghold Minas Thanex has also undergone theplacement of rudimentary foundations. It will take generationsto complete our construction into the mountain face but our paceis quickening.”

“Very well, Hrothgar,” said Oxholm. “It appears that thiscouncil has all well in hand. We will take our exit and peruse the

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work on Minas Thanex.”“Good luck to you both,” answered Hrothgar. “May The

Fates be with you.”The brothers left the council chamber and began the uphill

trek to the foundation of what was planned to be the greateststronghold known to Dwarves. They passed through severallesser hamlets and farms, pausing to exchange pleasantries withfamiliar faces. The grade of the mountainous turf continued toincrease and pine trees soon overtook the tilled land of thehearty humanoids. The sky was a bright blue and clouds werescarce.

Oxholm and Drumtone breathed the wild air deeply. Theywere not winded but their cheeks grew ruddy from the mildexertion of the brisk hike.

The beginning of what would be Minas Thanex stoodbefore the brothers. The structure was a massive combination ofexcavation, mining and architecture. Ramps and scaffoldingcovered the mountainside. A steady train of wagons carried oreand rock from a number of exit points from the mines. Somestones would be combined and carved to resemble ominousrenditions of ancient Thanes. These spiritual guardians wouldprotect the stronghold for all the Dwarven Tribes. Other stoneswere allotted to pave the halls and watchtowers of thesubterranean superstructure.

Since the thwarting of the Harad Ghul, the Goblin and OrcGuild of Assassins, the hostile humanoids had dispersed to partsunknown. Oxholm remembered the bitter melees that his peoplehad entered to defend the Maegar. He hoped that his cousins andrelatives would quickly construct defensive ramparts inside andoutside the mines in the event of an organized attack by theremnants of the Harad Ghul.

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The central gate of Minas Thanex was vast. It had beenfabricated over an existing crevasse in the mountainside. Thetunnels ran deep.

Miners had hollowed out the groundwork for a massiveunderground city within the giant doors. So far the gate to thestronghold was protected by simple wooden barriers but whenthe Dwarves had smelted enough ore they would be replacedwith portals of hardened iron.

Oxholm and Drumtone passed the trio of mannedwatchtowers that protected the entrance to the city. The soldierson the multiple tiers cheered the passage of the heroic pair.

The brothers ventured within the opened gates and beheldthe city of Minas Thanex. Roads were paved with cobblestonesand they extended into the torch-lit boroughs of the complexwhere Dwarves of various ethnicity bartered their services andwares and feasted in several taverns.

Horses and livestock were abundant but rarely ridden. Theywere preferred to be used as pack animals to carry extractedmaterial from the mines and as food.

The warriors marched down the main street for some timeand reached the nucleus of the burgeoning metropolis. It was atemple dedicated to Reorx, the hammer-wielding founder of therace of Dwarves. Sconces burned incense around the temple'sperimeter and numbers of clerics and priests walked in queuesup the carved-stone steps to meditate through the colonnades.

Reorx' temple was rectangular in shape and was a testamentto Dwarven craftsmanship. The pillared building was incompletebut was etched and chiseled in shifts by talented artisans. Theycovered the horizontal stone ceiling with incantations written inrunes. Other artisans worked on sculptures of legendaryDwarven heroes renowned for their battle prowess and

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selflessness.Oxholm and Drumtone moved past the crowded temple and

followed the main street until they reached a bustlingmarketplace. Craftsmen and blacksmiths worked on refinedmetals taken from the ore in the fresh mines. They sold theirgoods to passersby who were mostly Dwarves. But, the Dwarfbrothers hoped, the businesses would someday cater to visitorsfrom throughout Gaea.

The warriors stopped at their tavern of choice. It was calledThunder Alley and sported a sign depicting a cloudy horizonwith bolts of lightning descending from the sky.

The Dwarf siblings stepped inside and were recognized bya number of the patrons within. They waved in salute and sat ona pair of oak stools at the counter.

A grizened Dwarf with a sparkling, silver earring greetedthe brothers.

“Oxholm, Drumtone! It's good to see you! How fare thingsfor the Maegar in Umbria?”

He brought the warriors a pair of steins filled to the brimwith foamy ale.

“Very well, Brent,” answered Drumtone. “We have returnedto Minas Thanex from an invigorating hike through our newsettlements. Our people are thriving in the peace left by Taliesinand the Lieges of the various regions on the surface of the land.”

“That is good to hear,” replied the tavern-keeper. “Thingsare going as good as can be expected here, in our great city, too.There are reports, however, of a skirmish with Goblins in theouter mines.”

“Goblins?” asked Oxholm. “Was it serious?”“I'm not sure,” said Brent. “I know the city guards are on

the alert. I haven't heard whether any miners were hurt. They

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dug into a cave where the goblins were living. The Dwarvesdefended themselves as best as they could and fled to the nearestshaft. If you're interested in the details you should speak withCaptain Rygar. He is the head of security for Minas Thanex.”

The Dwarf brothers took a moment to quaff their ale andthen pounded a couple of silver coins on the counter.

“Thanks for the update, Brent,” bellowed Oxholm. “We'lltalk to Rygar immediately. The safety of the Dwarves is all ofour concern and is foremost on our minds.”

The siblings marched out of Thunder Alley and headed tothe security headquarters. It was located on the innermost edgeof the city and was the last structure before the gate to thenetwork of mines.

Oxholm and Drumtone chatted briefly with the armedguards at the entrance and ventured inside. A husky, blondDwarf with a metal badge sat at a desk stuffed with notes andscrolls.

“You must be Rygar,” observed Drumtone.The warriors shook hands.“And you must be Oxholm and Drumtone,” the Captain

replied. “Your reputation precedes you, staunch heroes. How canI help you today?”

“We received word of an encounter with Goblins in one ofthe new tunnels. Are our people secure?”

“Yes,” answered Rygar. “The natural caves and crevasses inthe under earth are vast, as you know, and their outermostreaches have yet to be mapped by our most experiencedspelunkers.

“I had gotten reports of mysterious thumps and soundsemanating through the walls of some of our preliminaryexcavation sites. It wasn't until yesterday that a team of our

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leading miners broke through a section of what they had thoughtto be solid rock.

“The Dwarf miners discovered a new cave, occupied bysome hungry goblins. The denizens of this Arkadian MountainRange were small in stature and clearly malnourished. Theyattacked the Dwarves, probably more starved than angry, andwere quickly repelled by the elite team's mining tools.

“The Dwarves took the opportunity to flee the freshly-cutrock and report to the nearest way-station. Word of the conflictsoon reached this office and I ordered a military patrol to set upwatch over the breach, which, by the time of their arrival, wasabandoned.”

“Thank you for your information, Captain,” said Oxholm.“With your permission, my brother and I would like to inspectthis breach. We are miners at heart and can fend for ourselves inthe tunnels. All we ask for is is a map to guide us.”

“By all means, Oxholm,” replied Brent.The Captain reached into his desk and withdrew a freshly-

penned map.Oxholm took the map and scanned it briefly. He rolled it

into a tight scroll and stored it in his travel pack.The brothers bade Rygar farewell and departed from the

security headquarters. They headed to the gate to the mines. Thesoldiers at the wooden doors greeted the reputable fighters andturned a crank which opened the tunnel.

The initial passage was wide and well-paved. Runes andtorches lined the walls. It was broad enough to allow a pony andloaded cart to pass in either direction at once.

A few miners passed the warriors as they drove wagonsloaded with ore toward Minas Thanex. The siblings nodded ingreeting as they moved deeper into the network.

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Several perpendicular intersections crossed the main tunnelto extend miles into the mountain. Oxholm checked his map andsaid, “We are on the right path, Drumtone. These alternate routesare intact. Let us march onward to the newly-cut territory.

It took several hours of walking and the brothers paused torest, drink water and commiserate with other miners at a numberof brightly-lit way-stations carved out of the stone.

It was clear to Drumtone that these way-stations wouldsoon be enlarged to become settlements. Commerce wasincreasing in the mines under the encouragement of the Thanesand Dwarf Council.

At times waterfalls and brooks flowed through the rockface. The walls of the tunnel were no longer decorated andpaved and the jagged stone showed signs of being recentlyhewed by advance teams of miners. In places wooden pillars andbraces had been put into place to support the ceiling and preventa collapse.

Drumtone reached into his travel pack and took out a torchwhich he lit with his tinder box. This provided neededillumination in the narrowing passage. They had reached theheart of the ore mines. Neighboring shafts had been equippedwith elevators that raised and lowered loads of rock to multiplelevels above and below the central tunnel. These mobileplatforms were hoisted by a system of interlocking cogs, wheelsand chains pulled by ponies. The sound of pick axes andhammered chisels echoed through the mine shafts. The Dwarveswere hard at work and carried on with the tasks at hand despitethe encounter with the goblins.

After another mile the carved-stone of the tunnelterminated altogether. What remained was a natural crevasse thatmet with the planned excavation route of the miners. A group of

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torches had been lit around the nearest bend. Oxholm checkedhis axe and Drumtone his hammer. The lights demarcated thebase for the military patrol delegated by Captain Rygar.

A dozen finely-armored soldiers chatted tersely amongthemselves as they raised their vision to meet the sounds of theapproaching fighters. They soon recognized the pair and greetedthem amiably. They shook hands with the group.

“Welcome, Oxholm and Drumtone,” said a Dwarf Sergeant.“I am Baldur of the Urdar Tribe. It is clear that you have cometo investigate the breach where the goblins were found. Is allwell with Captain Rygar and Minas Thanex?”

“Indeed, Baldur,” answered Drumtone. “All is well withour great city and so far this is the only location where the fiercehumanoids have been located.”

“My brother and I have come on our own volition. We, likeyou, are always concerned with the safety of the Dwarf Tribes.Has there been any sign of goblins since your arrival?”

“No,” answered the Sergeant. “But we did not venture farinto the breach to pursue them. Our orders were to stay here andprevent anymore skirmishes with the regular miners in the area.”

“Good, Baldur. You are a dutiful soldier,” said Oxholm.“We will be so bold as to enter the opening in the rock. We willbe careful but see it fit to conduct some reconnaissance on ourneighbors, as it were. Is the tunnel ahead the location inquestion?”

“Yes, Oxholm. May The Fates be with you. If you haveneed of support we will be here and will come to your aid if youhave not traveled too far into the depths.”

“Thank you, Baldur. We will return as soon as we can andwill be careful,” Drumtone stated.

The siblings moved past the group of soldiers and their path

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was soon lit solely by Drumtone's torch.The air grew chilled and there was a mild breeze. The

crevasse became erratic at points, spanning wide, beyond thedesign of the planned tunnel and then narrowing, forcing theDwarves to turn sideways in order to pass.

At last they reached a wall with a hole in it. All was quietand the brothers took care to mask their steps as theyapproached the breach. Hammers and chisels were strewn aboutthe orifice and several of them were marked with green, goblinblood.

These Drumtone viewed with growing concern.How many of them are there? How deep do these

neighboring caves extend? What magic supports these strangegoblins despite their recent defeat?

The warriors entered the breach holding their weapons atthe ready. The smell of an extinguished cook-fire permeated theair. Rags and bones of small cave-dwelling animals had beentossed about in the scuffle. There was an opening in the cave atthe opposite end from the breach and must have been the avenueof the startled goblins retreat.

Oxholm and Drumtone were not afraid. They walked to theround opening and found that they did not need to hunch over topass through it. This they did and discovered another tunnel, notnearly as well-excavated as those of the adept Dwarves butsufficient for exploration.

Sounds of chanting and growling goblin speech emergedfrom the darkness beyond.

They must be having a meeting, thought Drumtone.He gestured to Oxholm for silence and to move forward.

They reached a bend in the path and cautiously looked aroundthe corner.

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The two Dwarves saw a large cave, filled with goblins whofaced a podium where an Orc shaman was in the process ofconducting a ceremony of some kind. He was accompanied by apair of beholder beasts and a Duergar mercenary.

“Now is the time to act, goblin conscripts,” declared the orcshaman. “The Dwarves are soon to detect the proportions of ourstronghold in the Arkadian Mountains. They have alreadyintruded on your cousins and slew several of them in cold blood.The magic of the ember stones is ours to wield and we need notshare it with the others. There is power here and we need but thetime to construct the tools to harness it.

“It is clear that not all ore contains ember. It rests only inthe deep veins and ancient cores of the mountains where thepressure of eons was greatest.”

I need not remind you that there are entities not presenthere that would be grateful for contributions to their dwindlinghordes. If we play our cards properly we can buy the allegianceof powerful allies in a future siege against Minas Thanex and thevillages of Umbria.

“Yes, Ordryx. Your counsel is sound,” said a beholder. “Ourassociates, who wish to remain nameless at this time, wouldbestow great rewards on those who kept knowledge of themagical ember from the Dwarves. They have already venturedtoo deeply into the Arkadian Mountain Range and are sure tocovet the multifaceted power of the ember for their own designsif they learn of its existence. They have long sought to obliteratethe Goblins and Orcs and would only use the ember to attemptsuch genocide.”

“That is true, Solyx,” declared the other beholder. “You area wise Gorgon and serve our master well. We are also indebtedto our Duergar guide, who was fortunate to secretly dig deep

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into the rock ahead of his kin.”Drumtone gestured to Oxholm to move back from the

corner of the cave. The brothers withdrew from the meetingplace of the goblins and others and made their way back to thebreach and Sergeant Baldur's entourage.

Oxholm spoke as they returned through the miner's breach.“I've heard enough, Drumtone. We must speak with the

soldiers here and let them know of the goings on in our midst.”“That is prudent. If anything should happen to us the

Dwarves of Umbria would be left in the dark. We must divulgeour intelligence to Baldur so that he can send the message toCaptain Rygar at the security headquarters.”

The group of Dwarf soldiers had heard the sounds of thewarriors approach and looked to them attentively.

“Oxholm, Drumtone, you have come back to us in littletime. What have you discovered?”

The experienced fighters reported the information theyoverheard from the goblins' meeting. All of the Dwarves presentwere shocked to learn that there was a Dwarf among theGoblins.

Sergeant Baldur quickly delegated a pair of soldiers tohurry the information to Minas Thanex.

The group of Dwarves wielded their weapons and preparedfor battle. They lit a bunch of torches and distributed themamong their number.

The team of fighters entered the breach once more andhastened to the cave where the brothers had stood. The meetinghall was empty and there was no sign of the Goblins or theominous beholder beasts that had gathered there just minutesbefore.

“We must be hot on the trail of these devious agents of

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conspiracy,” said Baldur. “Let us infiltrate this alien network ofmines and see what we can find.”

“Oxholm and Drumtone's description of this so-calledember is mysterious. Whatever it is the substance should beidentified and analyzed by trained smiths and jewel crafters. Toleave such a potent magical force in the hands of the goblins anda twisted Duergar mercenary does no good for the settlers ofMinas Thanex and beyond.”

“We agree, Baldur,” replied Drumtone. “Let us move onand be ready for a fight. The individuals here will not willinglylet the secret of their quarry escape them.”

The group of Dwarves rounded one more corner and weremet by a group of armed goblins and a beholder beast.

An intense battle ensued. Oxholm wielded his axe andDrumtone his hammer. All of the Dwarves unleashed a boomingwar cry and engaged their opponents.

Baldur swung a short sword and slew two goblins in onestrike. His weapon was sharp and had been forged by masterDwarven smiths. It cut through the goblins' defenses with easeand struck both targets fiercely.

The other Dwarves contended with the beholder beast. Itreleased scalding, ephemeral ribbons of red into the air but thesoldiers were quick. They rolled apart to evade the attack thenregrouped. The fighters ran the gorgon through at multiplelocations. The spherical beast slumped to the ground and died.

This gave the warriors the opportunity to focus on theremaining goblins. The hostile humanoids rendered a flurry ofblows on their enemies. The weapons and armor of the Dwarveswere resilient, though, and the counterattack did no damage.Baldur and his companions hastened to surround the goblins andcommenced to assert the coup de grace, knocking the remainder

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of them out of consciousness.“We are victorious!” breathed Drumtone. “Let us move on

through these mines, my friends. We must secure the ember forthe Thanes. They will determine what should be done with it.”

The Dwarves nodded their agreement and continued intothe complex of tunnels deep under the Arkadian MountainRange. Their torches continued to burn brightly and createdeerie, dancing shadows in the nooks and angles of hastily carvedrock.

All was quiet but for the squeak of the occasional rodentand dripping of water from the ceiling.

Perpendicular passages, similar in architecture to those inthe mines of Minas Thanex intersected with the chosen route ofthe Dwarves.

“Ah,” said Baldur. “This method of cross-cutting isDwarven in nature. It must be present here due to the influenceof the Duergar mercenary you brothers reported of seeing. Weare deep in the Under Earth and it is not the place for theendeavors of casual rock-finders and amateur geologists. ThisDuergar knows his business. Upon our return to the city we mustconsult with the Duergar Thanes. They may know of him.”

As the Dwarf warriors continued on they noticed strangeminerals glittering in the surface of the stone. None of them hadseen the substance before. It consisted of purple and red crystalswhich sparkled in the torchlight. At times these crystals grewlarge enough to extract with chisels.

Oxholm paused briefly to take a handful of the mysteriousminerals. As he placed the crystals into a leather carrying pouchhe spoke.

“This must be the ember we heard about. I will take thesesamples to the Thanes. I sense unknown power within this

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material. I don't think it is lawful or chaotic. It must simplyenhance the designs of the bearer whatever they may be.Perhaps this ember can be used as a psychic magnifier. It couldcertainly serve as a fine addition to my axe or your hammer,Oxholm.”

The fighters moved on through the hall until they reached achamber partially immersed in water. Stalactites and stalagmitesextended from the ceiling and floor. A cascade fell from severalhundred feet above to fill the pool. The Dwarves navigatedaround the rippling lake and headed to an arched gate at theopposite end of the naturally-formed cavern.

There was no sign of the other beholder or the Goblinshaman and his followers.

The warriors took a moment to drink water from theirflasks and check their weapons of choice. They drew near thegate and stayed on the alert.

Once through the gaping portal they beheld a complexnetwork of tunnels extending into the rock vertically andhorizontally. There were no miners in sight and it was clear tothe battle party that the workers had been warned of theirapproach.

Similar in fashion to the elevators of the Dwarves were liftswith chain harnesses to be pulled by beasts of burden. They toowere vacant and there was no sound of hammers or chisels overthe mild, subterranean breeze.

Crystals of ember continued to sparkle in the torchlight.The raw, magical power of the substance was evident to all inthe group. This only heightened their concern that it be wroughtby proper hands.

The travelers followed the central tunnel which now waswide and reinforced with wooden pillars and frames.

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Oxholm saw piles of barrels and chests that had been flungopen and emptied of their contents. He did not doubt that it hadbeen done to keep endeavors secret from the Dwarves of MinasThanex.

The stout fighters marched through the colonnades of thecentral hall and came upon a massive cavern. It contained asubstantial Goblin settlement. The walls of the opening in therock were illuminated with ember and luminescent fungus.

The wiry humanoids were notoriously small in stature andthey went about their business, paying the cautious Dwarves nonotice as they gazed upon the buildings from the edge of thechamber.

Drumtone whispered to Baldur.“My Urdar friend, I fear we have met our match, here. This

is an immense Goblin hive. They have worked at theconstruction of this settlement for years. “If we are to gainadditional intelligence on this mission I suggest we cloakourselves, covering our armor, weapons and Dwarven features.If we do this we may succeed in circumnavigating the mainstructure and enter one of the side tunnels.”

“I concur,” replied Baldur. “If we are to learn more aboutthe goblins and the ember in this place we must infiltrate thislocation undetected.”

The adept Dwarf Sergeant signaled his soldiers to don theirwar cloaks. The garments were a dark, matted gray in hue andmelded well with the shadows and obscure zones of the goblinhive.

Oxholm and Drumtone put on similar guises and the groupmoved on through the perimeter of the ominous Goblinstronghold.

As they passed the temples and markets of the strange

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humanoids the Dwarves saw several shamans and beholderbeasts conducting mysterious commiserations among thegnarled stone pillars and stalagmites.

Many of the humanoids conducted transactions withsparkling ember. They used it as currency. Other Goblins tooklarge stores of the ember to the shamans who stored it in thedeep reaches of their temples.

Drumtone glanced briefly at the heart of the goblin hiveand was sure that he glimpsed Harad Ghul. They were taller, Orcconscripts of the infamous Guild of Assassins.

The Dwarves hastened on, desperate to avoid detection bythe xenophobic horde. They continued along the edge of theconical cavern and ultimately reached an unguarded entrance toa subordinate tunnel.

This they rushed into with sighs of relief. Despite theircollective battle prowess they would feign to test their skills insuch a reckless fashion.

Oxholm, Drumtone, Baldur and the others of their groupmarched into the tunnel heading deep into the unknown of theUnder Earth.

Fungus and mushrooms grew large and many of thememitted light of their own. The tunnel wavered in green andpurple light along with the illumination of the torches of theDwarves.

Magic is abounding in this place, thought Oxholm. Theember is but a part of an arcane ecosystem growing in thesecrevasses for eons.

Glowing centipedes coiled around the stalks of severalmushrooms in a mysterious symbiosis. Stalagmites andstalactites glistened with freely flowing mineral deposits. Thebreeze grew strong and carried the scent of unseen masses of

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water and life.“This is another world, brother,” observed Drumtone. “We

had no idea of the expansive reaches of the crags and chamberswithin the Arkadian Mountain Range. There are pockets of lifehere unknown to the surface-dwelling races.

If only there were time to document these new species,thought Oxholm. A Dwarf biologist could spend his careerresearching the interrelationships of this wildlife. Creaturesthrive in the rock. They depend on the ember and the magicalforces within these mountains for sustenance. We must becareful of what entities and forces we awaken by our passage.Reorx save us from the sleeping wyrms!

The battle group wound through the masses of fungus andmushrooms with the intention of finding a turning point. Thecentipedes and millipedes they saw were not aggressive and theDwarves took care to avoid stepping on them.

The passage was no longer etched by chisels and pickaxes.It was natural and had been formed by centuries of drippingwater and the moving of layers of granite, slate and limestoneunder titanic pressure.

“Maybe we shouldn't have come here,” muttered Baldur. “Ihaven't seen any sign of Goblins, Orcs or gorgons for some time.This is a naturally-formed system of passages. There is unseenpower here. Perhaps it is better left undisturbed.”

“Don't forget our mission, Sergeant,” answered Oxholm.“We are here to gain knowledge of the ember that the Duergarmercenary has found. It has already been secured in a substantialquantity by the goblin mining process. If we have any hope ofbalancing the pendulum of arcane force in Gaea we must pushon to the mother lode. These paltry crystals and sparkling gemsare but an indication of the force that sleeps deeper within the

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rock. It is our destiny to unlock it before our competitors use itto destroy us.”

A deep, bass rumbling shook the tunnel. Clusters of stonewere knocked loose from the ceiling and walls. The Dwarvenfighters hoisted their shields over their heads to protectthemselves from the barrage. As the earth shook they stumbledand pressed themselves against the walls to maintain theirbalance. Cracks and fissures opened up in the floor and steamjetted into the tunnel.

“This route is not stable,” Baldur declared. “We must be onour guard.”

The Dwarves moved on cautiously and the passage twistedand turned in a haphazard fashion. They were determined to staytheir course, however, and did not falter.

The zephyrs and breeze grew hot and fluctuated as if forcedback and forth by a massive billows. Lava oozed and drippedfrom openings in the ceiling. The glowing, red liquid was clearlyscalding to the touch and the Dwarves took care to avoid contactwith it.

At last the ceiling fell just before the battle party. Showersof boulders and glittering stones fell into a lower pocket in themountain's core. They were forced to wait as the cascade lastedfor several minutes, barring the path beyond.

Tons of ore and stone fell from far above and the earthshook like never before. When the cascade of rock finished theair had become filled with dust and ash.

The tunnel opened into a glowing red, chamber. TheDwarves grew near to the edge and looked into the crimson-litchamber. It was a vast, cylindrical chasm, covered at multiplelocations with cascades of lava falling from far above. Immensecrystals of ember floated at various levels, hovering of their own

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volition. The purple and red minerals rotated and sparkled in thehot wind of the volcanic space.

Baldur was the first to gaze down, over the edge of thetunnel from which his party stared. The cylinder droppedhundreds of feet to the mountain's heart. Coils of steam and ashspiraled like snakes as they moved through numerous, thermalphases of hot and cold air.

Baldur saw other breaches into the cylinder where goblintunnels had fallen away in the rock slide. At the very bottom wasa radiant, lake of fire.

A colossal, ephemeral, magma wyrm rested on a bed ofvolcanic rock in the center of the lake. It looked up and laughed.

“Hah, I've been waiting for you, Dwarves. I am Fafnir! “The magic of the ember stones is but a token of the power

that these mountains possess. Be careful what you seek. “Ages ago these tunnels were tapped for their wealth and

metal by Goblins and Dwarves alike. They are gone now forgood reason.

“It was I who thwarted their designs. The forces that residein the etherium and ephemium do not lend themselves to mortaldesire. They are food for wyrms.

“This is my horde. As it has been for milennia. Don't beafraid. The ember is here for all but you may not like the price.

“Your ancestors and those of the humanoids you opposechose poorly. They opted to take what they could without payingme tribute. Suffice it to say that is why this system of tunnelsand wyrm holes has been vacated by my fire.

“Speak, now, and answer for your Thanes. They havealready detected my presence as have the populations of thevarious regions on the surface of Gaea. “The etherealwyrms can choose to fight me, but I have slept here for far too

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long. They know that I will defend what is mine.“It will do all in question good to think on my offer of

control over the processing of the ember and ore. I will take agoodly share of the magical stuff but will keep these halls undermy protection.”

“What choice do we have, Fafnir?” yelled Oxholm from farabove.

“None, as far as I see it,”answered the magma wyrm.The steaming beast chortled in waves.“Take some time. Do not fear my fire, yet. Go to your

people and give them my proposal. Half of the gold, silver andjewels, along with your manufactured weapons and armor are tobe left here on this rock island with me.

“In return I will run off any other wyrms that attempt toconquer these mountains. Believe me when I tell you the UnderEarth is vast and entities sleep that should not be awakened. Butthey will be.

“A new age is upon this Plane and the balance of Order andChaos has fallen to the meddling of Hydro, Mara, Thoth andTiamat.

“You stand on a way-point between worlds where magic isuntamed by lawful and chaotic entities and is but a bargainingtool of those ancient beings formed at the dawn of the cosmos.”

“And what of Reorx? Doesn't he have a say in this gambit?“Hah, Reorx! He is a tool-maker and molder of clay. I

would beckon him to participate in the fabrication of treasure formy horde but he is strangely absent from the pantheon ofspheres. Perhaps he has abandoned you.”

“Consider what I have said and go to your settlement. I willawait the answer of your Thanes. Do not attempt to mine theember beforehand.”

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“What of the Harad Ghul and the gorgons? Don't they paytribute here?”

“Foolish, Dwarf. They tap but a smattering of ember anduse it as currency. I know you Dwarves. You would take myhorde entirely as your ancestors attempted. And that is notacceptable.”

“Very, well, Fafnir!” yelled Drumtone. “We will go andconsult with our leaders. Await our answer and do not harm ourminers in the meantime. Farewell.”

The battle party turned from the fiery breach in the heart ofthe Under Earth. They hastened back the way they came, nolonger concerned with the possibility of interception by thegoblins and gorgons.

Baldur had jotted a quick map of the routes they saw andhis team of warriors was able to extrapolate an alternative pathof return to the original meeting cave and the breach to themines of Minas Thanex.

The Dwarves marched through Baldur's circuitous route forseveral hours without interception. They eventually reached thebreach and the outer limits of the extensive mines of the Thanes.

After half of a day's time they met with the way-stations,sending word of their encounter throughout the secure tunnels.

Although fatigued from the forced march Oxholm,Drumtone and Baldur's entourage returned as quickly as wasphysically possible to Minas Thanex.

There a mass of Dwarves from the various tribes waitedtheir arrival, having been notified of their exploratory venture bythe delegated pair of runners Baldur sent to the city before hisexpedition departed.

Captain Rygar and several male and female councilmembers stood at the front of the gathering. They cheered at the

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approach of the known heroes and were baffled by theexpressions of concern on the faces of the battle party.

“Thank you all for greeting us,” declared Oxholm. “You dous honor to gather her before us in such a manner. We are glad tobe in the bosom of Minas Thanex once again. All of theDwarven Tribes will benefit from the knowledge we havegained in the mines. We must, however, divulge our intelligenceto the Dwarf Council and the Thanes.

“If you please, make way for us and let us pass to Reorx'Temple. We will rendezvous with the council members we seebefore us at that locale.”

The mass of curious Dwarves murmured their consent andmaneuvered among themselves to clear a path for the returningwarriors.

Several drummers beat a victorious rhythm on the rooftopsof neighboring buildings. Other Dwarves applauded and cheeredas the heroes proceeded into the city.

In a matter of moments the Dwarf brothers and Baldur'steam reached the temple dedicated to Reorx. Several of therepresentative council members, including Hrothgar, werealready present among the ceremonial coffers which burnedincense.

Drumtone addressed the sizable group of tribal elders asthey continued to amass among the carved-stone colonnades.

He recounted the events that took place in the alien mines,from the battle with the goblins and gorgon to their infiltrationof the ember-laden city and encounter with Fafnir.

The Dwarves were dismayed to hear of the existence of theominous ember and the magma dragon. They took some time todiscuss the information among themselves then gestured toHrothgar to make an address.

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“We thank Reorx that you are among us, Oxholm andDrumtone. It may have been weeks before we learned of thismagical ember and even longer of the goblin city and Fafnir'slair.

“You are adept spelunkers and your extended map will becopied for the good of all Dwarves. The Thanes haverecommended that the Council of Dwarves reject Fafnir'sproposal. He does not sound trustworthy to us. Clearly this willmean war for the Dwarves. Your description of the goblin cityfills us with dread. We will put defensive measures into effectimmediately.”

The Dwarven leaders scrambled from the temple. Theyspread word of the tyrant dragon throughout Minas Thanex.Blacksmiths threw coals on their fire-pits and powered thebillows. They hastened to use their knowledge to arm their kin.

The marketplaces of the subterranean city were met with acrush of warriors, desperate to equip themselves with the finestarmor and weapons.

The city guard stepped in to keep bartering sessions frombecoming hostile. Maegar Dwarves from the surface of Umbriabrought in shipments of staffs to be turned into dragon-lances.Urdar from neighboring mountaintops and Norgar fromconjoined mines brought ingots to form reinforced bars onRygar's Gate.

Oxholm and Drumtone met with the Duergar Thanes butthey had no knowledge of the identity of the Duergar engineerhelping the goblins.

Miners became scouts, Druids became medics, farmersbecame carpenters and over all the blacksmiths hammeredthrough the night.

The forges flared with crimson light as crucibles were filled

25

with molten iron. Dies were cast and molds were shattered toquench glowing rods of steel in flaming oil.

The Dwarves were ready. The traps had been set and themines locked down. The Tribes were armed and prepared. Theywaited for Fafnir and his Goblin forces.

They came at dawn. Dwarven scouts reported that theinitial gates were demolished by a sea of goblins. The hordepoured through the mountain.

It couldn't be determined if they were pushed forward ordriven from behind. Then the wyrm broke through.

A series of temblors shook the rock from deep within. Nextcame a wave of beholder beasts. The bloodthirsty gorgonsshrieked as they descended through vertical shafts carved by thegoblins.

They engaged the vanguard at multiple locations. Thesingle-eyed, spherical creatures extended their tentacles to emitcharm spells.

The Dwarves were resilient and did not succumb to thearcane influence of the slavering carnivores. They counteredwith their short-swords and battle-axes. Many of the beholdersfell in a swath of carnage only to be crushed from behind as thegoblins rushed into the mines of Minas Thanex.

The fight was on and the vanguard was pushed backthrough the length of the tunnels. Goblins archers shot volleys ofarrows into the mass of warriors. The Dwarves used theirangular shields, however, and emerged unscathed.

Within the city many Dwarves moved to open the maingate to aid their kindred in the tunnels.

Baldur and Captain Rygar had positioned their militia in thefront of the crowd and convinced them to keep the doors closedand barred. Many fighters protested but were soon silent.

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Many Goblins fell in battle as they attempted to pressthrough the vanguard. The sounds of battle emanated throughthe carved-stone halls and the Dwarves in the city grew anxiousas the lights of first one way-station, then the next wereextinguished.

It was then that Fafnir attacked. Spouts of flame flewthrough the mines, scorching Goblins and Dwarves alike. Themagma wyrm writhed and twisted through the halls, breakingpillars and frames as it muscled for purchase in the dark.

Those of the initial Dwarven resistance that remainedhacked and bludgeoned the aggressive dragon from side tunnels.The glowing, rock of his flesh was hardly dented and many ofthe valiant fighters were forced to withdraw into neighboringchambers with melted blades. They watched as the dragon toretheir carefully crafted passages into smithereens. They could buthope that their brethren behind the gates would do better to turnthe dragon from his path of destruction.

Trapped Goblins went berserk against the gate of MinasThanex. They no longer cared about the Dwarves they weredesperate to flee the weight and heat of Fafnir. Baldur and Rygarheard the screams of the Goblins as they fell in another blast offire released from the massive wyrm's arcane maw. The doorssteamed and grew hot to the touch, but still they held strong.

Fafnir's head reached Minas Thanex and the Dwarveswithin bellowed a war cry as the magma dragon pounded hissmoldering snout against the barred portals.

The odor of sulfur and ash gusted into the city chamber.The dragon thrust against the sealed gates and the bolts and barsflexed and bent from the pressure of the massive beast.

Many Dwarves hoisted their spears and dragon-lancesagainst the doors in an attempt to stop Fafnir from infiltrating

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the city. The magma wyrm let out a hideous snarl and slammedhis head against the barrier again. This time the bars broke andthe locks shattered from the assault. The gates to Minas Thanexwere flung wide and Baldur led his soldiers in a ruthless attack.

The spearheads of the fighters had been forged by mastersmiths, and these the defenders thrust into the dragon's snout.Many of the burnished blades penetrated the rocky flesh of thebeast, causing lava to ooze from the wyrm's wounds.

Fafnir countered with a blast of fire and the Dwarves werequick to raise their shields in defense.

The blast was hot and the warriors in the city streets wereforced to hold their breath to prevent inhalation of the acridsputum.

Once the blast ceased the Dwarves rolled apart to hack atthe legs of neighboring water towers. The traps had beenprepared some hours before and the scaffolding supporting thereservoirs fell quickly into the wyrm.

The cascade of frigid liquid covered the exposed section ofthe magma dragon. He was stunned by the shock of the cold andwrestled in the fluid to escape the uncomfortable substance.

Fafnir was committed in the gateway and could not easilywithdraw. Jets of steam and chunks of rapidly cooled rock wereflung from the dragon's body and head leaving vulnerable,glowing holes in his anatomy.

These wounds the Dwarves targeted with their weaponsand they delivered the points of their swords and spears into thecore of Fafnir's cylindrical form.

At this time Oxholm and Drumtone emerged from theirhiding place in the roof of the city cavern. They held ripcords asthey dove toward the floor of Minas Thanex several hundredfeet below.

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Their belts were attached to trap doors in the ceiling andthey opened under the weight of the armored Dwarf brothers.Within a hidden cavity was a reserve of ore and sand loaded byminers over the previous weeks.

The tons of material dropped onto the suffering dragon'shead, causing additional damage to his chilled and blisteringflesh.

The citizens of Minas Thanex gave an all-out battle cry andsurrounded the dragon. They hacked and slashed at Fafnir withfull force, rending chunks of rocky flesh from his sizable,serpentine form.

The magma wyrm rolled in agony, toppling buildings andtowers in a random, desperate attempt to avoid the assaults.Many Dwarves were battered and flung by the force of thetwisting entity and numbers of them lost their lives.

Oxholm and Drumtone were enraged by the deaths of theirkin and the infiltration of their hallowed sanctuary. The cut theirripcords from their belts and dropped to the spine of the wyrm,thrusting their weapons downward as they plummeted theremaining distance.

The blows of the adept warriors were severe and theirarmored boots became immersed in a sloppy mixture of lava,sand and Dwarven blood.

At last the hostile, giant beast acquiesced and bellowed.“Enough! You accursed Dwarves are a nuisance to these

mountains. Mark my words. You will regret this insult. You havenot seen the last of Fafnir!”

The magma wyrm twisted awkwardly and writhed to gainpurchase in a hasty retreat. This did not stop the population ofmale and female warriors from continuing their barrage ofassaults on his body.

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At last Fafnir was able to pull out of the damaged sectionsof Minas Thanex and squirm in retreat to the connected tunnels.

The Dwarves gave chase as quickly as their stout legswould allow and a number of them employed bows and boltthrowers to dissuade the beast from harassing their civilization.

Fafnir continued to slink and rolled quickly, however,despite his pierced and shivering condition. The hilts of spearsand axes lodged in his flesh snapped off as he retreated throughthe extensive mines.

What remained of the vanguard in the deep tunnels hadwaited for the dragon to turn. And again they pummeled him ashe made his move back to the Goblin mines. The dragontook several moments to make his ultimate escape. Fafnir wentabout the business of nursing his wounds in the volcanic core ofthe Arkadian Mountain Range and would require much time tobathe and feed in the primordial fire of the Under Earth.

The Dwarves of the various Tribes cheered their temporaryrepulsion of the their colossal adversary.

They embraced Oxholm, Drumtone, Rygar and Baldur atthe defunct gates. The Thanes and Council Members neared theplace of the battle and nodded their appreciation of the fearlesstactics of their people.

Many Dwarves, goblins and gorgons had fallen or fledunder the invasion of Fafnir. Much of what had been constructedsince the peace of the Liege Lords on the surface had been razedto the ground.

Despite this pyrrhic expenditure of energy and life theDwarves were surprisingly boosted emotionally. Much morecould have been lost and they had succeeded in protecting theircommitment and investment in the projects of a subterraneanlivelihood.

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Drumtone addressed his fellow warriors.“Congratulations! We Dwarves have done well this day and

have succeed in putting into action the mandate of the Thanesand Dwarf Council. We will not bend to the coercive proposal ofthe dragon tyrant. He is responsible for the loss of our ancestorshere and those that fell in today's struggle.

“Let us pause, now, and regroup so that we may payhomage to our fallen kindred and bury them with full militaryregalia in funeral pyres atop the mountains. There they will bewelcomed into Reorx' forge from the proximity of theirrespective tribes.

“I imagine that the Goblins and beholder beasts will not bequick to return to our territory as they, too, have sufferedsubstantial losses to their number.

“You speak wisely, brother,” replied Oxholm. “MinasThanex will be rebuilt and the dragon will not easily forget theinfliction of our defensive tactics. We must not sit on our laurelsunder a false sense of security, though. Fafnir lives. As do theOrc agents of the Harad Ghul and those who would usurp theember hidden in the depths of the rock for their own, selfishpurposes.

“When the time is right I advise us that we consult with theThanes and Dwarf Council again. They will have ideas in regardto the creation of effective barriers to prevent such an invasionof our way-stations and settlements in the near future. Certainlywe must focus on smelting the ore and refining the yields of ironinto stronger gates, locks, barriers, pitfalls and traps.

“I was especially disturbed by the descent of the beholderbeasts through the ventilation shafts that span to the surface ofthe mountains miles above us.

“We need air circulation in our civilization, but perhaps a

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system of spinning flaps and fans with spikes on them will betterthwart the free passage of the levitating invaders.”

“That sounds like a good proposal, brother,” saidDrumtone. “We should share it with our master engineers andtalented spelunkers who are not afraid to scale the expansiveheights of our ventilation and irrigation shafts.

“The future generations of Minas Thanex will beappreciative of us if we take care to leave them a socialinfrastructure that is efficient, safe and resistant against invasionand coup attempts.”

The Dwarf brothers gave each other a chivalric embrace,glad that both of them had escaped infliction of serious injuryduring the fight with Fafnir. They headed to Reorx' Temple atthe center of the besieged city to consult and assist the Thanes intheir application of proper Dwarven burial rites for the fallen.

That night Oxholm was approached by a Duergar Captain.The soldier, like many of his Tribe, had a black beard and wore abattle mask attached to the front of his helmet. This he lifted toreveal his face as he addressed the renowned fighter as he wasmeditating in Reorx' Temple.

“Oxholm, I'm sorry to bother you at this tense time. Myname is Danzig. I hearken from the Duergar settlement on thenorthernmost Arkadian peaks. My Thanes have informed methat you encountered a Duergar mercenary when conductingreconnaissance in the goblin network.”

“That is true, Danzig,” answered Oxholm.The Maegar Dwarf shook hands with the newcomer.“I arrived at Minas Thanex just before the battle with the

goblins and magma wyrm began. There was no time to speak orconsult with my Duergar Thanes here in this settlement.

“Now that this place has been temporarily secured from

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attack I have had time to discuss the issue of the Duergarmercenary's identity.

“His name is Otto. He is a queer fellow and was expungedfrom our meager settlement some months ago for deviating fromset mining strategies. He insisted on delving deep into the rock,claiming that a mysterious magical force was beckoning for himto do so.

“My people attempted at first, to accommodate his requestsand dug some preliminary shafts deep into the granite andpumice of our mountain. It was not enough to assuage his driveto go deeper and deeper into the rock.

“Otto didn't seem concerned with normal mining, in thesense that we needed ore for iron and steel, gold and silver fortrade and jewels for weapons and commerce. He insisted that hehearken the commands of the magical force that only he seemedto perceive.

“Things got worse when he attempted to delegate otherDwarves to use our limited resources to drill far into the UnderEarth.

“Our Duergar Thanes ordered him to desist but Ottorefused. Thus he was kicked out of our settlement, which is apainful thing for any Dwarf to do to his kin.

“When I heard of the architecture in the Goblin mines thatresembled cross-cutting and deep scaling that we Duergar haveemployed, I immediately suspected that Otto had defected to aposition of command over a goblin mining team.”

“That sounds like a reasonable deduction, friend Danzig,”replied Oxholm. “We were baffled by his presence among theorc shamans and gorgons at the goblin meeting.

“It seems he has a particular sensitivity to the presence ofember. As does Fafnir himself. It wouldn't surprise me to learn

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that he reached a bargain with the ancient dragon to mine anduse the ember as currency in the Goblin strongholds.

“Unfortunately I too have gotten close to clusters and lodesof ember. It is a powerful magical artifact that can channel theintentions of the bearer be they Chaotic or Lawful. Thisphilosophy of magnification could easily be applied to weaponsand armor used against our miners and citizens.

“It is good that you have come forward and approached me,Danzig. We should consult with the Thanes and Dwarf Councilas soon as we can. They, too, will be glad to learn of the identityof Otto and will have the opportunity to prescribe a moreeducated plan for securing the magical substance in a way thatdoes not empower those who would conquer us or enhance theenergy and horde of the magma dragon below.”

Danzig smiled and nodded his acceptance of Oxholm's ideaof talking with the Thanes of Minas Thanex.

Thunder Alley was one of the few edifices to surviveFafnir's destruction. The pair went there and shared a round ofBrent's ale until it was time for the Thanes and Dwarf Council tocommence their daily meeting.

Once the Thanes, Hrothgar and the other elders of Umbriaand Minas Thanex proceeded into Reorx' Temple, Oxholm andDanzig marched inside.

The known warrior introduced the Duergar visitor andallowed him to reiterate his story of the rogue engineer. LikeOxholm, the Thanes and council were appreciative of thesupplemental information. It explained much about the sturdyand masterful construction of the Goblin mines.

The leaders of the community took some moments toconvene in private then emerged into the main chamber of thetemple. Hrothgar was the first to publicly respond to Otto's

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story.“We are gladdened to learn of the identity of this elusive

Dwarf. Although the Dwarves of Umbria and Minas Thanexhave much reconstruction to do on the foundations of thissettlement, we would all feel more secure if you, Oxholm,Drumtone, Baldur and Danzig were to seek out Otto in theGoblin network.

“See if you can convince him to return to us and team-upwith our advance engineers. We can offer him a house in MinasThanex and a group of miners to assist him. At this juncture itwould be useful to have a delegation that focuses on the depths.We have an extant interest in the ember and would be gratefulfor Otto's knowledge of the substance.

“Be careful, though, Oxholm,” said Hrothgar, “becauseOtto may still be bitter about his expulsion from his Duergarcommunity and may yet feel unappreciated and misunderstood.

“Hence be on your guard when you approach him...if he isto be found at all.”

Oxholm and Danzig nodded their agreement with theassignment and marched from Reorx' Temple to contactDrumtone and Baldur.

This they did and the team of experienced fighters andspelunkers set out with full travel packs and weapons within anhour.

As they marched through the gates to the mines each of thewarriors looked back at their city under construction. Theyhoped it would not be rendered into pieces again and wished toreturn to see it as it was intended to be in the minds of theDwarves.

The tunnels were dark and had been laid waste by Fafnir'spassage. Oxholm opened his travel pack and took out his tinder

35

box. He ignited a bunch of torches and distributed them to hisfriends.

The pillars and braces were gone and the cobblestones weretorn from the ground under the weight of the magma wyrm.Piles of rock partially blocked the main tunnel where the roofhad given way. It would take weeks for the miners to restore thehalls to their previous degree of sophistication.

The armored fighters moved on and their trek was arduousand slow-going. They made their way through cave-ins and rockslides. Oxholm and Drumtone were saddened to find the remainsof the Dwarf vanguard among slaughtered gorgons and Goblins.

“These soldiers fought valiantly,” said Baldur. “Theybought us much needed time to prepare our defenses. They willbe given full honor and laid to rest properly.”

“It would be wise to construct a mausoleum dedicated toour fallen comrades,” replied Drumtone.

“That sounds just,” Danzig stated.After several hours the travelers reached the remnants of

the first way-station. Additional bodies were strewn about,crushed in the wake of the angry dragon.

The Dwarves paused to line up the deceased and coverthem with their cloaks. They laid the soldiers' weapons of choiceon them and took some moments to meditate on their passage tothe forge of Reorx.

The path grew continually difficult. Cascades of water,previously contained in sluice lines and aqueducts flowedrandomly down elevator shafts and rifts in the Under Earth.

At times the piles of loose stone blocked the shreddedtunnels entirely and the Dwarves were forced to use theirpickaxes and shovels to clear a viable route.

The fighters passed the second way-station and entered the

36

raw granite and shale of the advance mines. Drumtone sawpieces of rock-like flesh that had been shed by the wyrm as herushed toward Minas Thanex.

Each of the warriors grew fatigued from their journey butthey pushed on. They reached the breach accessing the goblinmines and entered cautiously.

There was no sign of the Goblins in the initial caverns andOxholm led his group deeper within.

The party of fighters again reached the chamber with thelarge waterfall and lake. It, too, was vacant. They entered thearched portal at the opposite end and began the march towardthe Goblin city.

Ember glittered everywhere as the Dwarves walked. Theytook care to don their travel cloaks and battle masks. None ofthem wished to engage their enemies of the recent past beforeparlaying.

After another hour's journey they reached the edge of thecity of the Goblin miners. Purple and blue towers shone severalhundred feet within the vast cavern. Tree-sized mushrooms grewin several groves and in many dark places. They glowed alongwith the omnipresent fungus and lichen.

Oxholm and Drumtone stuck with their comrades to theouter wall of the settlement. None of them wanted to raise analarm among the hostile humanoids.

Danzig, who had not been to the strange place before,whispered to his friends.

“This city is eerie. Clearly it has been constructed under thepower and guidance of the ember stones. The magical materialshines within the bricks and mortar of the towers that standbefore us. We must seek Otto and determine the extent of theember's potential.”

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Danger was ubiquitous and the Dwarves took greatprecautions to keep their presence unknown to the Goblins andHarad Ghul. The travelers crept under a cluster of giantmushrooms and watched the commerce of the alien populationfor several minutes.

“Look, there, at that temple!” hissed Baldur.The Dwarves turned their heads in the direction that their

companion pointed. At the base of a violet and red temple aDuergar mercenary spoke with a group of Harad Ghul Orcs andGoblin shamans.

Like Danzig he had a black beard and deep-set eyes. Hespoke in hushed tones with a pair of Harad Ghul assassins.

“Quickly, Dwarves,” said Oxholm. “Now is our chance toapproach him!”

The party of warriors rose to their feet and emerged fromtheir hiding place among the mushrooms. The walked quicklytoward the temple in question, not giving random Goblins timeto identify their cloaked and masked forms.

At last they reached Otto and his suspicious companions.Danzig reached for his weapon but Drumtone gestured for himto be still.

“A word with you, friend Dwarf, if you please,” bellowedOxholm.

Otto turned to the Dwarf's voice and his eyes widened as herecognized the Maegar fashion of Oxholm's battle mask.

“Dwarves? Here, in the Under Earth? No wonder Fafnir hasbeen on the rampage!”

“Dwarves!” cried one of the Harad Ghul.The tall, red-cloaked Orc drew his scimitar as did his

companions. Neighboring Goblins called out through the streetsand hordes of them came armed and running to aid their

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apparent leaders. The Orc shamans prepared defensiveincantations.

“Please!” cried Oxholm. “We are not here to fight. We havecome to parlay with you and petition your counsel, Duergarengineer.”

Otto signaled the Harad Ghul and Goblins to lower theirweapons.

“With your permission, my friends, allow me to speak withmy kin.”

The Goblins and Orcs growled with ancient hatred then,slowly, sheathed their blades.

“We understand that you have a special rapport with theember that surrounds us, Otto” said Oxholm. “I am Oxholm ofthe Maegar Tribe. This is my brother, Drumtone. Next to himstands Baldur of the Urdar tribe and Danzig of your DuergarTribe.

“We have come to petition your assistance in mining andprocessing this mysterious, magical substance. It clearly hasgreat potential and is coveted by a number of entities in theArkadian Mountian Range, not all of them tolerant of oursettlements.

“I have been authorized by our Thanes and Dwarf Councilto offer you a home in our great city of Minas Thanex. If you arewilling to cooperate with us I'm sure that you will be greatlycompensated.”

“I'm not interested, Oxholm,” replied Otto. “My people hadtheir chance to partake of the ember that called to me. Theyturned me away into the wilderness, friendless and withoutprotection. I owe them nothing. The ember is ours, now, and weare under the protection of Fafnir. If you wish to arrange amining contract in the Under Earth you should speak with him.

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He is the force to be reckoned with in these parts.”“We have dealt with Fafnir, Otto,” answered Drumtone.

“The dragon will not emerge from his fiery lair for some time.He attacked our settlement after we turned him down. Wewounded him severely in the battle that ensued. His offer to takehalf of our ember and artifacts was not acceptable.”

“Ah, well,” sighed Otto. “That is the cost of commerce itseems. The ember is indeed potent and is a suitable currency forus, here. Perhaps Fafnir holds a grudge against our race.”

“He certainly, does,” answered Danzig. “Otto, you knowme. We didn't understand what you were getting at on ourmountaintop. Your connection to the ember is a blessing. Acceptthe apology of the Duergar Thanes. We can help. It is clear thatthe ember is an essential element of the symbiotic ecosystem inthe Under Earth. It must be managed and analyzed properly. OurDwarven craftsmen and jewelers are capable of doing the job.Let us help. We beseech you.”

“Alright, Danzig,” grumbled Otto. “I'll think about it. Thisis hardly the place to make a deal with Dwarves, though, as youare well-aware.

“Fafnir sleeps. I sense that now. Perhaps he is greedy. I willvisit your city. Await my arrival. I have business that I must takecare of first. We will meet again.”

Otto shook hands with the visiting Dwarves and they partedcompany. The surrounding Goblins and Orcs cleared a path forthe foreigners to exit. Many of them uttered oaths of animositytoward them but they fell on deaf ears.

Oxholm and his companions reached the tunnel returning tothe breach in the rock. He let out a sigh of relief.

“That went better than I expected, fellows. More bloodshedwould not have been welcomed by me after what our people just

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went through.”“Yes, brother,” replied Drumtone. “Reorx smiles on us. Let

us hasten to Minas Thanex and inform the Thanes and council ofOtto's reply. They await our speedy return.”

The warriors traveled without rest for several hours. Theirtorches extinguished and they lit fresh ones.

Danzig marveled at the presence of the ember in the goblinmines.

“I regret our past rejection of Otto's plan. It is clear to me,now, that the ember will prove a valuable asset to all Dwarves.We are sure to benefit from Otto's experience with theluminescent crystals. Let us hope the Thanes aid us inwelcoming him into our fold.”

The travelers hiked past chamber with the cascade andlarge lake. They soon reached the breach in the rock and beganthe return trip to Minas Thanex.

As the Dwarves made the return trip through the disheveledmines they were surprised to see that the bodies of the fallen hadbeen retrieved.

Many changes had been put into place upon the negotiators'arrival at Minas Thanex. Much of the ore and sand that wasdropped on Fafnir had been cleared. Other rubble and theremnants of crushed buildings were hauled away.

Oxholm led his group directly to Reorx' Temple to consultwith the Thanes. The spiritual leaders of the Dwarves werepresent among the colonnades of the elaborate structure as wasHrothgar and a number of council members.

The travelers reported on their meeting with Otto andrequested that preparations be made for his arrival.

Hrothgar was the first to speak.“Our hearts are lightened to hear this news, Oxholm! We

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will happily welcome Otto back into the bosom of our city. Hisknowledge will prove an invaluable asset to our mining projects.

“You brave Dwarfs have our gratitude for your endeavors.You are to be commended.”

Hrothgar shook hands with the four journeyers. He escortedthem to Thunder Alley to share the news with Brent and thepatrons of the tavern.

Less than a week passed and initial redevelopment hadbegun on the structures of Minas Thanex. Scaffolding andframes were erected and carpenters and smiths worked overtimeto finish their jobs.

Funeral pyres were assembled atop the Arkadian MountainRange at the nuclei of the respective Tribes. The Dwarveshonored their dead and began work on a mausoleum at the edgeof the subterranean city to store their ashes and record theirvalor.

Captain Rygar, the chief of security for Minas Thanex, wasmanning the watchtower to the repaired gate to the mines whensomeone pounded on the smaller access portal within themassive doors.

Rygar descended from the tower and answered theknocking at the gates.

“Who goes there?”“It's me, Otto, of the Duergar Tribe. I have returned.”“Otto! We've been expecting you. It's good to make your

acquaintance. I am Captain Rygar.”Rygar opened the portal and shook the hand of the new

arrival. He helped the Dwarf to enter and took him by theshoulder.

Otto carried a large travel pack replete with scrolls andmining tools. He huffed under the weight of his burden as he

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was guided by the Captain.“It took me some time to collect my notes and blueprints. I

didn't want the Harad Ghul to know that I intended to leave theirsettlement for good.

“I left the goblin city under the auspices of conducting asurveying mission in the deep ember mines. By this time theymust have realized that I defected. They may be upset.”

“Don't worry about it, friend Duergar. You are home now.We are building a house in your honor. It is nearly complete. Letus go to Reorx' Temple. The Thanes and council requested I takeyou to them upon your arrival.”

Otto nodded his consent and followed the lead of Rygar tothe Temple. The Thanes had received word of the approach ofthe pair and greeted them at the entrance.

Oxholm, Drumtone and Danzig were soon to arrive, as didHrothgar and other council members.

Many of them patted Otto on the back in appreciation of hisexodus from the goblin city.

A lengthy meeting ensued. Otto recounted his experiencewith the process of mining and refining the ember. He shared hisblueprints with the Dwarves present and they all gazed at thedesigns intently.

At last Hrothgar addressed the Duergar engineer.“Thank Reorx that you have come back to us, Otto. We are

strengthened by your presence and hope you find your housesatisfactory.

“We are in need of your knowledge and will gladlycompensate you for it. Please consult with our advance minersand help them to delve deep into the Under Earth. The Dwarvesof Minas Thanex have begun plans to use the crystallinesubstance to augment our weapons, armor and coins. It's good to

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have you back.”The leader of the Dwarf Council took the Duergar in a

chivalrous embrace. All present applauded their approval.Over the following days Otto soon settled into his new

surroundings. He expressed his relief to be among his kin onceagain. He went so far as to begin a casual relationship with oneof the matrons of Thunder Alley, named Bermgarde.

Time passed and the Dwarves rebuilt much of what waslost in Fafnir's wake. Oxholm and Drumtone took theopportunity to catch up on much-needed rest.

Otto led a team of advance miners to ember-laden lodes agood distance from those tapped by the goblins. They dug deepand found enough ore to keep them busy for several years.

It was then that rumors began to spread from Umbria andthe outlying settlements on the surface of the ArkadianMountains.

Lykanthros and dire wolves had returned. Maegar settlersreported of a massive Lykanthros demigod called Fenrir who ledthe canine beasts in organized invasions.

Once hearing the news Oxholm addressed Drumtone.“Brother, it appears there is trouble for the Maegar in

Umbria. Our settlements there are new and underdeveloped.Hence we should act if the security of the region on the surfaceis to be preserved.”

“Yes, Oxholm,” replied Drumtone. “Let us venture out ofthe caverns of Minas Thanex and survey the damage of thesereturning wolf beasts. It has been long enough since we checkedon our construction projects in Umbria.”

The pair of Dwarves bade farewell to their companions andexited from the subterranean city. Security had been boosted atthe large gates to the outside. Word had spread far and wide of

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the battle with Fafnir.The eyes of the Dwarven guards occupying the trio of

watchtowers were round with apprehension. They clearly hopedthe occupants of the city within would not need to stage a hastyescape.

Oxholm and Drumtone descended from the steep hills andfollowed a well-worn trail down, over the knolls and berms.Soon the pines and oaks of the Arkadian forest again grew large.

The Dwarves continued on their path for some time andthey again marveled at the cascades and wildflowers thatoccurred naturally at their high altitude.

At last the pair of warriors reached a clearing in the treesand beheld their objective.

The settlement of Umbria had grown during their timeunderground. Numerous longhouses and meeting halls extendedfrom the center of the Maegar town.

Herds of sheep and ponies grazed in pastures. Dwarfchildren played among the haystacks. Adults hastened to harvestgrain in several fields while others chopped lumber forconstruction and firewood.

The mood of the Maegar settlement was somber. ManyDwarves looked about cautiously, having received reports ofFafnir, the wolf-beast, and his cohorts.

Oxholm and Drumtone marched to the center of town andthe regional council chamber where they had met previouslywith Hrothgar and his companions. Many council members wereabsent due to the need to defend Minas Thanex. A handfulremained, however, along with a small gathering of MaegarThanes.

The council chamber was modest in comparison to theelaborate colonnades of Reorx' Temple in the subterranean city.

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It was a sturdy building made of oak planks and beams.A pair of Thanes meditated among burning coffers of

incense at the center of the structure. They turned to greet thereturning Maegar heroes.

A grizened Dwarf embraced the pair. His name was Thrain.“Oxholm, Drumtone! Welcome back to the Maegar

settlement in Umbria. Much has happened since you left ourmodest chamber. We are glad to hear of the successful defenseof Minas Thanex from the attack of the magma wyrm. It isunfortunate that, just as Fafnir was turned, next emerged Fenrir.Reports from the outlying population indicate that he is directingpacks of dire wolves and random Lykanthros in organizedskirmishes with many Dwarven villages.

“As of yet no Maegar have been seriously hurt. But thefrequency of the invasions is increasing at an exponential rate.Please, help us,” asked Thrain.

“We certainly will,” replied Drumtone. “Allow us to checkon our longhouses and we will travel to the outskirts of Umbriadirectly from there.”

“Thank you, heroes,” said Thrain. “May Reorx guide youand keep you safe.”

The brothers had stockpiled fresh supplies in theirrespective longhouses. Although neither of them had taken abride they were of suitable age.

Their homes proved intact and were free of the wolves'markings. The warriors filled their packs with fresh torches andhard tack, smoked meat and drinking water. The warriorsstrapped their weapons to their belts and set forth through thepines toward Umbria's border with the forests of Mystic Down.

The trees grew tall and their foliage cast lengthy shadowsover the rolling hills. Mystic Down was some way off and the

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brothers relied on their internal sense of direction to navigate apath through the underbrush.

Owls and ravens called out from perches in the expansivecanopy. And the markings of foxes and badgers followed narrowtrails through the ivy and bushes.

The earth continued to descend and after several hours' hikethe Dwarves noticed the trees becoming sparse once again.Pockets opened in the pines and oaks and Drumtone was able tolook out, beyond the foothills.

Mystic Down lay in the spacious valley and Lord Taliesin'stower formed an angular silhouette on the horizon.

The brothers were heartened to see the stronghold of theirlongtime friend. They quickened their pace and marched downinto the valley. The midday sun had passed its zenith and theshadows of the rocks and foliage began to lengthen.

Sporadic howls echoed over the knolls and at once the birdsand squirrels grew silent and cautious.

Oxholm whispered to Drumtone.“We should proceed with care, brother. Those cries are feral

in nature. We may be waylaid by the notorious Lykanthros andtheir rumored leader. It seems the wolf-beasts have reorganizedthemselves after their previous dispersion.”

The Dwarf warriors checked their weapons and hastenedonward. Despite their desire to avoid detection the howls oflarge predators grew closer. The Maegar siblings reached aclearing in the undergrowth. It was a field covered withwildflowers and tall grass.

“I don't think we're going to make it across this vale aheadof the wolves,” declared Oxholm. “Let us find a patch of highground and build a fire while time is on our side.”

“I concur, Oxholm,” replied Drumtone. “We must act if we

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wish to protect ourselves to our utmost faculties.”The Dwarves found a small outcropping of boulders that

was about fifty feet in diameter. They quickly scaled the clusterof rocks and gathered loose brush and brambles into a makeshiftfire at the peak.

They lit the pyre with their tinder boxes and a pillar ofsmoke crept above the tree line. The sun hung low in the sky andit cast a red light over the forest of Mystic Down as it becameobscured by a cluster of clouds.

Oxholm scanned the edge of the clearing and the Dwarfsaw the flickering glow of his watch-fire reflected by numerouspairs of eyes staring through the dark places among the trees.

The warrior now knew that battle was near and heunhooked his axe from his belt. Drumtone saw his brother'saction and did the same with his hammer.

The Lykanthros charged. The wolf-beasts werevoracious. They slavered and howled as they closed the gapbetween the trees and the high ground of the Dwarves. Direwolves hurled their bodies through the underbrush in a semi-circle from the forest.

Oxholm and Drumtone bellowed a war cry of their own andtheir eyes glinted fiercely as they lowered their battle masks.They were ready to die in battle if need be.

The first of the Lykanthros scrambled up the hill to meetthe stout humanoids. The brothers rolled apart and arose withweapons flailing. A trio of the hairy, fanged creatures receivedsevere blows from the hammer and axe of the warriors. They fellback on the grade and rolled to the field below.

The space opened by the fallen Lykanthros was quicklyfilled by others of their number who hungered for living flesh.They too were bludgeoned by the ready Dwarves who knew the

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swamping tactics of their opponents well.The dire wolves were mindless with the drive of some

arcane force. Their eyes flared with green light and their teethsparkled with electricity as they drove up the berm. They metthe Dwarf brothers in a cluster of claws and muscle.

The fighters used their armor to deflect the slashing of theinvaders then turned to slam their frames with their hardenedsteel weapons. Again the attackers were tossed from the hillwhile the fire blazed into the night.

It was then that an unrecognizable yell pierced the trees. Allof the combatants paused and turned toward the source of thebattle cry. Lord Taliesin emerged through the trees. He led agroup of trained wolves armored with leather and spikes. Theysaw the light and smoke of the Dwarves' fire and hastened tointercept them before it was too late.

The Troll Lord rode an armored Clydesdale warhorse. Hehoisted a steel-tipped lance with one arm and his dragon swordwith the other. He spurred his mount into full charge andtargeted the gathering of furry beasts surrounding Oxholm andDrumtone.

The sound of his lance's impact reverberated through theoaks and pines of the outskirts of Mystic Down. Dire wolves andLykanthros alike were tossed high and flipped from theirgrappling positions around the Dwarves. A pair of the roguewolves were run-through by the piercing spear and canine bloodsplattered on the tall grass. Taliesin did not stop and hacked ashe passed with his enchanted sword, severing additional headsand limbs as his horse turned for another pass.

The wolves of Taliesin's stronghold tackled the hostile direwolves in a feral melee.

The brothers cheered at the arrival of their longtime friend

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and doubled their efforts to deflect the murderous intentions ofthe denizens of the wold. They hewed into the startledLykanthros, focusing on the vulnerable legs of the wolf-beasts.The sound of ripping sinew and cracking bones filled the air.

Suddenly a hideous cackle shook the pines. The sound ofbreaking boughs and snapping tree trunks emerged from theentrance point taken by the wolves.

Trees shook and fell as a massive force approached.“Rrargh! I am Fenrir! My brother has been wounded by you

meddlesome Dwarves. You should never have dug into themountains of Arkadia. The ember stones harness a powerbeyond your ken. The deep wyrms are awake, now, and will notbe pleased with the interruption of their ancient slumber. Theyanswer to none but the nether gods of chaos. The lattice-work ofspatial planes within the helix governing the worlds of Gaea andthe others is not to be toyed with by mere mortals. You are fools.

“Thoth and Tiamat were but a test. I have been sent to cleanup their failed gambit as have the wyrms in the deep mountains.You have started a Planar War in your greed and machinations.Now face your fate!”

The last line of trees snapped and a massive, behemothLykanthros stomped onto the edge the battlefield. The feralhumanoid was mountainous and blocked the light of the risingmoons as he let out a deafening howl. Fenrir dropped to all foursand made his way toward the Dwarf Lords.

Taliesin's wolves were the first to reposition themselves inthe path of the demigod. They attacked the paws and ankles ofthe beast wholeheartedly but did little to impede the stride of thegiant entity. The Troll Lord turned from the fight with thelykanthros on the hill and charged Fenrir with his lance heldhigh.

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Fenrir gazed down at the paladin with glowing, crimsoneyes. He squatted on his haunches and curled his forelimbs inpreparation for a flurry of slashing strikes. When Taliesin'sClydesdale drew near Fenrir batted the lance aside and preparedto render a crushing blow on the would-be defender of MysticDown and the Arkadian settlements. The adept warrior was notbaffled by the maneuver and used the added proximity to hurlhis dragon sword at the tyrannical entity.

The blade, enchanted by the Lore Masters, flared withazure magic as it drew near to the hostile adversary. It piercedFenrir's thick skin and became lodged in the belly of the beast.

“Argh! That nettle rankles! Curse you, Taliesin, if that iswho you are. Your participation in the foolhardy defenses of thepuny Dwarves is duly noted. Your chance to parlay asubordinate role in the new age of chaos is past. Now you willdie! Rargh!”

Fenrir pounded down on Taliesin with both, clawed pawsand snapped at his form with his colossal maw. The troll dove tothe ground and rolled in the grass and dirt yet still the barrage ofblows covered his body, pressing his form into the soil. Thewarrior groaned with pain under the pressure of the demigod.

The behemoth Lykanthros seized the opportunity to hastenthe demise of the realm's guardian and drove his mattedshoulders over the fallen knight for another assault.

Time was of the essence, though, and the paladin had givenOxholm and Drumtone enough to come to his aid. The Dwarfbrothers leaped to the arcane beasts forelimbs and grappled forpurchase, climbing his tangled fur.

Fenrir was distracted by the strategy and lifted his head tosnap at the squirming Dwarves. They were quick, though, andscrambled for purchase at the nape of his neck. Before the leader

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of the lykanthros could shake them off they plunged theirweapons deep into his neck.

Fenrir howled in pain as arteries were breached and bloodflowed freely in spurts from his flesh.

“That pains me, pesky Dwarves. Your people will pay foryour stubborn resistance. Forget a quick death.”

Fenrir rolled in the field, causing the hills to shake and treesbreak in a swath. The power of the impact was too strong for theDwarf brothers and they were forced to disengage their weaponsfrom their bloody entrance points.

“I'll remember this night, fools. You have not seen the lastof Fenrir or his followers. We will meet again.”

The behemoth Lykanthros staggered on all fours from theblood-stained clearing and sought the cover of the deep forest.His Dire wolves and Lykanthros were quick to follow theirmaster and gain distance from Taliesin's armored wolves.

Oxholm and Drumtone gasped for breath as they climbedout of a pile of snapped branches and dirt. They had managed tohold on to their weapons but regretted losing their grip on thegiant wolf-beast.

“We are in no condition to pursue the invaders, brother,”huffed Drumtone. “Let us hasten to Lord Taliesin and aid him ifat all possible.”

The Dwarf warriors ran to the fresh divots cut into the fieldby Fenrir's paws. The liege of Mystic Down lay face down in animpression in the soil. His Clydesdale mount nuzzled him but hedid not respond.

“Taliesin, can you hear us? It's Oxholm and Drumtone ofthe Maegar Clan,” cried the red-bearded fighter.

The armored paladin moaned and moved his limbs briefly.“He's alright!” yelled Drumtone. “Easy, knight. You took

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quite a blow from that giant wolf.”The pair of Dwarves gently turned the fallen defender onto

his back.“How do you feel?” queried Oxholm. “Is anything

broken?”“Argh! The dragon sword! It remains in Fenrir. Thank you

friend Dwarves. My back is sprained but I think I can walk. Ifyou please, help me to my feet.”

The brothers did as their companion requested and helpedhim up. Taliesin staggered but remained standing. He leanedagainst his horse's saddle for balance.

“I was on patrol for rogue Lykanthros when I saw the pillarof smoke from your fire. Word has spread among the variousregions of Gaea of a new wave of dire wolves and wolf-beastsmarauding through the villages. I was on the lookout for themwhen Maegar Dwarves began arriving at my stronghold seekingshelter from the invasions. The power of Fenrir has grown. Ihave not heard of his brother until tonight. What has beenawakened in the deep of the mountains my comrades?”

“The ancient wyrms that tormented our ancestors have beennotified of our return to the halls of our fathers. A magmadragon, called Fafnir, sought to usurp the resources mined fromlodestones. He has united with the Harad Ghul and Goblins todelve to a substance known as ember. It is a source ofmysterious power,” said Oxholm.

“I see,” answered Taliesin. His face was no longer pallid with shock.“There are cities in the dark, Liege. Not all of them are

sympathetic to the construction of the settlements and tunnels ofwe Dwarves. Alas, the Thanes in our great city under themountain did not learn of the ember's existence until it had been

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mined extensively by the Harad Ghul and their cohorts.They were quick to cut deep into the rock. This was done

under the guidance of a rogue Dwarf. He was convinced toreturn to us but the knowledge of the ember was dispersedamong the Goblin hordes. Hence we Dwarves are engaged in arace against time itself. The Goblin mines and cities are thrivingand the work on the Dwarven mines has just begun.”

“How long before Fafnir and the wyrms emerge from thedeep?” asked Taliesin.

“No one knows, brave warrior. Can you help us in thismoment of need?” replied Drumtone.

“Yes, but not without the help of some friends,” answeredthe liege. “It is no longer safe here in the wilderness. Come tomy stronghold. There we can consult with my counselors. I'msure you'll encounter some familiar faces. Ride with me, now.”

It was clear to Oxholm and Drumtone that the paladin hadregained much of his strength. He was a resilient Troll and hisfortitude did not surprise the Dwarves. Although wary of thejostling and bouncing of saddles they consented to shareTaliesin's Clydesdale. The Troll pulled them up after mountingand they made their way from the clearing into the trees. Thepaladin's loyal wolves followed in silence.

Night was upon the travelers but the light of the twinmoons over Gaea made the path ahead discernible to horse andriders alike. They passed through several miles of old-growthforest before reaching the heart of the wooded vale that wasMystic Down.

Soon the trees grew more sporadic and the lights ofTaliesin's principle village, Wood's End, shone through the mistand fog of night.

“My wolves need sustenance,” declared the Troll Lord. “If

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you please, friend Dwarves, let us stop at Bard's Inn where thereis food and water. It will benefit your cause to share your storywith the patrons therein as well.”

The Dwarf brothers nodded their acceptance of theinvitation.

“We could use a tankard of ale.”“Fulla and Ullr have taken over since Bors' retirement. She

is a ranger and he is a magic-user of some purport.”“What has become of Sharon Redthorne, Baroness of

Coermantyr?”“Alas, she is with child and has two others that are very

young. She is well, however, and holds state over her domainwith her Key Mage husband.”

“That is good to hear,” replied Oxholm. “The Baroness is avaliant guardian and I wish her the best in all she does.”

“As do I,” Drumtone added.The structures of Wood's End drew near and Lord Taliesin

guided his Clydesdale through the narrow streets of the rusticvillage to the large frame of the boarding house that was Bard'sInn.

The trio of friends dismounted and tethered the horse andwolves to the hitching post at the side of the establishment. Thewater trough was full and the thirsty animals drank heartily. Thechill of night was upon them and the travelers hastened toshelter from the frigid mist.

The main dining hall of Bard's Inn had a cheerfulambiance. Many of the diners wore cloaks and hoods and werenot recognizable by the returning Dwarves. The inn-keeperswere clearly Fulla and Ullr based on Taliesin's brief description.The man, Ullr, was tall and thin and gazed at the new arrivalswith an expression of curiosity. The woman, Fulla, had long,

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braided blonde hair that she wore over a finely stitched red robethat extended to her ankles. She was remarkably muscular andher limber movements verified Taliesin's description of her as aranger. A finely-carved hunting bow and longsword hung on thewall behind the counter. The bow was oiled and strung and theblade glistened with polish and the etchings of sacred runes.

In similar fashion a shelf near the hunting artifacts boreleather-bound tomes and notebooks that gave the impression ofhaving been recently handled and perused. It was clear to theDwarves that the books belonged to Ullr, the sometime magic-user and student of arcane arts.

“Greetings, Taliesin! How go things in the wild tracts oftrees beyond?” asked the male inn-keeper.

“Not so well, Ullr. I found these Dwarves in need of help.They fought a formidable force of Lykanthros and dire wolvesdriven under the leadership of a giant wolf-beast named Fenrir.”

“Fenrir! I have heard of him,” replied the Troll-woman,Fulla. “Are you fellows alright? The giant wolf must have beena terrible opponent.”

“Aye, tall lady,” said Oxholm. “We gave him a scratch ortwo but he fled into the deep forest with Taliesin's dragon swordstuck in his belly.”

“That is bizarre news, friend Dwarf. What new magicimpinges upon our lands that this demigod is able to roam freelyin our modest spatial plane?”

“It is the same magic that drove the Goblins and assassinswith the chaotic dragons against our peoples during the pastplanar war,” answered Oxholm. “Fenrir is the brother of amagma wyrm named Fafnir. In the construction of a safe havenfor the various Dwarven tribes we encountered new mineralsand magical crystals embedded deep in the rock. It is ember. It

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has powered the construction of Goblin cities in the Under Earthahead of our modest mines. When we sought the source of thisember Fafnir was awakened and made an unfair offer to takehalf our yield and treasure as tribute. When we refused he wentberserk, crushing much of our mines and city before weconvinced the giant wyrm to turn. He sleeps now, nursing hiswounds, but for how long no one can say.

“Fenrir is Fafnir's brother and has begun to maraud Maegarvillages on the surface of the Arkadian Mountains. Drumtoneand I exited our burgeoning city of Minas Thanex to seek himout and thwart him. He is too strong, though, and his wolf-packsnumerous. We were lucky that Lord Taliesin found us andlodged his dragon sword in the beast's torso. The giantLykanthros turned and fled but not without striking the liege aserious blow with his paws.”

“Well it's a good thing you made it here in one piece, myfriends,” said Fulla.

The sometime ranger brought a tray laden with tankards ofale and hearth bread to the visitors. This they dug intowholeheartedly.

“My husband and I will accompany you on your returnjourney to your Dwarf kindred,” declared Fulla. “They mustknow of the destructive capacity of this re-formed Lykanthroshorde. With the counsel of your Thanes we may be able todevise a means with which to restrain Fenrir and keep hisbrother, Fafnir, a safe distance from the populated tunnels ofMinas Thanex.”

“I will contact Torvald tonight,” said Ullr. “He will fill infor us as manager and guardian of Bard's Inn. He has learnedmuch of that capacity from Bors, his father.

“Rest now, stout warriors. All is well. We will depart for

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Minas Thanex on the morn.”The Dwarves followed the advice of the Trolls and settled

for the night in a modest chamber in the top floor of Bard’s Inn.They slept without interruption and arose rejuvenated andrefreshed.

Lord Taliesin met with the warriors as they consumed abrief breakfast in the dining hall.

“Hail, Oxholm and Drumtone! Are you ready to return toyour kindred in the mountains?”

“Yes, we are, friend Taliesin,” answered Drumtone. “Weare well rested and look forward to sharing the details of ourencounter with Fenrir among the Thanes and Dwarf Council.”

Fulla and Ullr were present, as was Torvald, who wasprepared to replace them. They chatted with Bors’ son to insurethat preparations for the upkeep of the inn were in order.

“I regret that I cannot accompany you on your journey, myfriends,” declared Torvald. “I am indebted to my father for histeaching of the facets of running the inn. I owe it to him to makesure that all remains well here since his retirement. I wish youall good fortune on your travels. May The Fates be with you!”

“Thank you, Torvald,” answered Drumtone. “We aregrateful for your hospitality. You do your father honor.”

Ullr and Fulla accompanied the troll lord and Dwarves tothe hitching post where their horses were watered and packedwith supplies. They mounted their steeds and waved goodbye tothe villagers as they passed through the streets of Wood’s End.

The farmland and tilled soil soon gave way to the denseunderbrush and sporadic trees of the wilderness of MysticDown. The morning sun shone clearly and there were fewclouds in the sky. The cries of ravens and foxes permeated thegentle breeze and the pines and oaks of the forest primeval soon

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grew numerous.Fulla and Ullr bore expressions of concern having heard the

description of Fenrir’s size and considerable following. Theyhad prepared their respective weapons and incantations in theevent of an hostile encounter.

The group of riders continued on for some time withoutinterception. The forest was quiet apart from the sound of theoccasional denizen and the horses made good time on the worntrail.

Soon the land inclined upward and the foothills of theArkadian Mountain Range jutted through the bracken of thewold. The Dwarves were in good spirits as they neared the firstof the outlying Maegar settlements.

Arkadia arose from Mystic Down and the first villages ofUmbria appeared through the trees and outcroppings of graniteand limestone.

“I haven’t seen Dwarves for some time,” said Fulla. “Youbrothers were the first to visit our establishment in over a year.Word has spread, though, of intense construction projects here inthe mountains. My husband and I anticipate surveying theprogress of your stronghold firsthand.”

“That is good to hear, Fulla,” answered Oxholm. “I amcertain you’ll be impressed by the magnitude and scope of thearchitecture of Minas Thanex and the mines beyond ourhallowed city.”

“As will I, I’m sure,” added Taliesin. “It has been a whilesince I last visited the settlements of the Dwarves and have alsoheard good things about the progress of the construction inUmbria.”

The travelers paused to enjoy a slight repast and water thehorses. The farmland of the Dwarves grew steadily along the

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road and the group neared the finished longhouses of thereputable siblings.

“We shouldn’t stop, brother,” offered Drumtone. “Ourbusiness is urgent and we should meet with the Thanes andDwarf Council as soon as possible.”

The party passed hastily through the burgeoning structuresof the village of Umbria, taking a moment only to wave ingreeting to the residents therein. They continued on and thenreached the steep mountain path leading to Minas Thanex.

The horses were strong, however, and scaled the angulargrade vigorously. Other Maegar and Norgar Dwarves smiled asthe strange-looking Trolls approached the nucleus of theirpopulation.

The construction since Fafnir’s assault had doubled inintensity and the bronze doors before Minas Thanex were nearlyin place. The travelers ventured within the portal to themountain and beheld the process of repair on the damagedsections of the subterranean metropolis.

Thunder Alley was crowded with patrons and Otto andBermgarde were swamped with orders for ale and hearth bread.The hungry citizens cleared a path on the cobblestone street sothat Oxholm, Drumtone and the Trolls could pass to Reorx’Temple.

The Thanes had long received notice of the approach of theforeigners and had marched to the front steps of the temple tomeet them.

Thrain was among the close-knit group of council membersand tribal leaders. He addressed Fulla, Ullr and Taliesin.

“Greetings, friend Trolls! Your reputation precedes you.Welcome to our sacrosanct temple constructed to honor Reorx.Fafnir sleeps but Fenrir is yet on the move. Our resources are at

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their limit. Repairs are underway to fill the swath of destructionleft by the magma wyrm.

“We have held council in expectation of your arrival. Weare afraid that you are on your own…”

“That isn’t a problem,” replied Oxholm. “We are preparedfor whatever contingencies that may arise.”

Hrothgar was also present among the Thanes and membersof the Dwarf Council. He next addressed the newly arrivedTrolls and Dwarves from the surface of Gaea.

“We are again gladdened to see you, friend Taliesin, and arecertain to benefit from the additional aid of your companionsFulla and Ullr. Our reconstruction projects since Fafnir’s attackare well underway but, as Thrain mentioned, we cannot sparethe recruits to deter Fenrir on the surface.

“We are heartened that you have trekked to Minas Thanexto consult with us. We urge you, however, to return to thesettlements of Umbria. That is the locus of Fenrir’s wolf packand his Lykanthros are bound to instill the most destruction onthe Dwarf settlements in that region.

“In expectation of your encounter with the giant beast weDwarves have forged a runic chain to restrain him. It isenchanted with markings etched on the behalf of Reorx by theThanes. The links are hearty and it took several days for oursmiths to bind and coil the steel.

“It will take several ponies to carry the burden of the chainbut, if you are able, use it to restrain Fenrir, the demigod.”

“Thank you for the chain and the pack horses, Hrothgar,”replied Oxholm. “We will embark to the surface and seek Fenrir,the wolf giant. It will do us all good if we succeed in employingthis chain to restrain him from his attacks. Farewell.”

The Dwarves present in Reorx’ Temple applauded the

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departing warriors and cleared a path for them. It did not takethe travelers long to exit the growing city of Minas Thanex andjourney through the massive gates to the surface.

The sun shone brightly and the Dwarves and Trolls wereforced to squint until their eyes adjusted to the light. Each ofthem was interested in locating Fenrir as quickly as possible andthey drove their ponies briskly so that they might put distancebetween them and the central Dwarven stronghold.

Oxholm and Drumtone led their entourage down the gradeof the Arkadian Mountain Range. The tall escarpments andsurfaces of granite and shale gave way to massive outcroppingsof pine and cedar. Cascades continued to plummet from meltingsnow on the peaks far above. The waterfalls landed in poolslined with flowers and reeds. In turn, they fed streams thatambled through ravines and crags in the forested mountainside.

The warriors did not have time to take in theirsurroundings, however. Fenrir was on the loose and posed athreat to the security of the various regions of Gaea.

Drumtone led the way as the battle party continued theirdescent with the chain-bearing ponies in tow. It was slow goingunder the cumbersome load and the Dwarves took care not topush their steeds too hard.

At last the rocky trail reached a plateau as it coiled downthe grade in a serpentine fashion.

“We should build a watch-fire, my friends,” said Ullr. “Itwill give us light in the event that the wolf beasts attack. In themeantime I will peruse my tomes of magic and prepare someincantations that may assist in hindering the feral demigod.”

“That is a wise suggestion,” replied Oxholm. “Let’s getstarted.”

There was plenty of dried brush and fallen branches to

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assemble the fire. The sun began to set in the valley below andmist crept in with the twilight. The Dwarves consumed a hastymeal of smoked meat and dried bread. None of the individualspresent wanted to be taken off guard by the rampant marauders.

As the stars appeared in the darkening sky the cries ofwolves emanated from the tree-covered foothills. The battleparty was ready for such a warning and wielded their weaponsquickly.

Fulla was especially prepared and dipped a handful ofarrows swabbed with oil into the fire. These she shot in astaggered circle along the perimeter of the plateau. The light ofthe watch-fire grew bright and shadows danced on themountainside as the flames grew tall.

The first wave of Lykanthros appeared through thesurrounding trees. Their crimson retinas reflected the watch-fireas they charged the group.

“Prepare yourselves, my friends!” Drumtone warned.The sturdy Dwarf gripped his weapon and lowered the

battle mask affixed to his helmet. Oxholm followed suit and engaged the wolf-beasts in direct

combat.Fulla released flaming arrows from her longbow, dropping

three of the wolf-beasts before they reached striking range. Thestench of smoldering fur filled the air.

Ullr uttered a magical incantation founded on independentresearch. He gestured with his hands as he cried out.

“Lupus!”Green light coalesced before the Troll magic-user. It

intensified and formed a pair of ethereal wolf specters. Theghostly beings growled and contended with the Lykanthros. Theluminescent beasts' fangs were scathing and they bit deep

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wounds into the marauding force. The other attackers were not intimidated by the magical

maneuver and continued their charge into the united defenders.They clawed and snapped at Oxholm and Drumtone, who wereshorter in stature, but did not penetrate the hardened armor ofthe Dwarves.

In the meantime Lord Taliesin stepped into the fray with along-sword that replaced his lost dragon sword. The experiencedwarrior hewed left and right, eliminating several of the wolvesfrom the battle.

Fulla maintained a barrage of arrows, inhibiting a secondwave of Lykanthros from racing to the front. She was an adeptarcher and made each shot count.

Fulla’s shots were accurate and felled several of thecharging beasts. As the wounded attackers tumbled in the soilother Lykanthros were tripped up by their flailing bodies. Thisgave time for Ullr to issue forth another enchantment.

“Solus!” he cried.The adept magic user gestured with his hands and

unleashed a barrage of glowing, silver missiles in a wide swath.The entire wave of Fenrir’s cohorts was impeded by the arcanemaneuver.

Fenrir himself was taken by surprise by the Troll’s deft useof magic and howled in exasperation. The massive wolf-beastsnapped at the subordinate wolves, urging them to renew theirpressure at the front. This the dire wolves did and the Dwarveswere ready for the assault.

The warriors spun and wielded their weapons deftly, takingcare to protect the ponies. In a matter of moments Oxholm racedto the massive chain and made the early preparations to deploythe device with the intention of restraining the slavering

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demigod.The battle intensified and Fenrir grew close to the melee.

The giant wolf-beast continued to howl in fury.“Dwarves and Trolls! You have stung me this fortnight!

The infliction yet burns in my flesh. I will take vengeance uponyou for this offense and the denial of my brother. Your time haspassed. Feel my wrath!”

Fenrir rendered a berserk attack upon the Dwarves and theircomrades. The wolf beast was ferocious and snarled as he drovehis maw forward. The fangs of the wolf were like spears andtheir magnitude made them difficult to evade.

Oxholm and Drumtone parried the teeth of Fenrir with theirweapons and rendered counter attacks in turn.

The giant beast dodged the counter attack and backed off inorder to regroup.

This gave the Dwarf brothers time to deploy their chain.They hefted it, gripping three of the massive links each. TheDwarf warriors signaled the trio of Trolls. They nodded theiracceptance of their planned strategy and stepped toward theominous, feral demigod.

Fulla loaded a pair of notched arrows in her bow. Ullr prepared a practiced incantation. Taliesin hefted his massive long-sword.They attacked Fenrir at once, ignoring the nips and snaps of

the lesser wolves.Fulla’s arrows struck their intended targets making a

stunning impact with Fenrir’s brow.Ullr released his spell, “Strix!”A glowing, red net of arcane energy snared the bulky

invader, wrapping itself around his sinewy shoulders andlumbering paws.

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Finally the Troll Lord rendered a powerful swing with hisweapon, connecting with Fenrir’s jaw. The weight of the keenlywielded blade knocked the marauder out of consciousness,giving time for the Dwarves to move in.

The sturdy humanoids carried the cumbersome chain to thebattle scene. They wrapped the forged steel links around theimmense wolf’s neck and secured the ends of the restraint toweighted blocks. These the Trolls and Dwarves hastened to buryin the soil with the hope of further limiting the demigod’sinvasive intentions.

Once this was done the team of defenders moved awayfrom the giant beast and he soon regained consciousness.

“Rargh! What is this outrage?”“We have arrested you, Fenrir!” Oxholm cried.“Your marauding and swath of destruction has come to an

end. We bid you to think on your actions and consider a peacefulexistence in the future. Lord Taliesin will extract his dragonsword, now. It will allow the wound to heal.”

The Dwarf gestured for the Liege of Mystic Down toapproach. Taliesin did so and felt through Fenrir’s fur until hefound the hilt of his enchanted blade. He gripped it firmly andpulled it from the demigod’s flesh.

Fenrir let out a blood-curdling howl of pain then lay silent.He realized the seriousness of his bonds and was resigned to lethis injury mend naturally.

The other wolves did not continue their attack of the groupof warriors. The majority of the Lykanthros were discouraged bythe trapping of their leader and turned from the fray to flee intothe woods. What remained of the rogue pack was repelled by thevehement determination of the Dwarves and Trolls along withthe renewed pairing of Taliesin with his enchanted dragon

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sword.The conflict was over in seconds and the valiant humanoids

soon stood alone on the hilltop. The watch-fire continued toburn and the shadows of the trees danced in the depths of theforest.

“We have succeeded, brother!” cried Drumtone. “Fenrir isrestrained by the chain of our kin.”

“Indeed, we owe the smiths our thanks for their assistanceand ingenuity in our time of need. I doubt that the wolf beastswill soon regroup in the absence of their mountainous leader. Itwill do the Dwarves good for us to return to Umbria and spreadthe word of Fenrir’s restraint. We have bought ourselves timewith which to determine the next course of action.”

“I am concerned for Fenrir,” said Fulla. “Fafnir is sure to beenraged if his demigod sibling starves. I suggest we leave ashepherd here to raise sheep. A portion of the yield can be fed tothe hungry wolf-beast. This will keep him alive until such timethat the Dwarves decide upon his fate.”

“That is a salient idea, Troll archer,” replied Oxholm. “Wewill confer with the Thanes upon our return to Minas Thanex.They will assuredly send a shepherd to set up camp near thechained beast.”

“We should be on our way, friends,” declared Taliesin. “Ihave retrieved my dragon sword and will thus more adequatelydefend the Dwarves and Trolls of these regions of Gaea.Although not always ready allies of the Dwarves, my thoughtsturn, I confess, to Llewellyn and the Elves of the southernforests. They have come to our aid in recent years and would begrateful to share in the knowledge of the recent tribulationsencountered by the Dwarvish people. Perhaps we can stop bytheir clandestine settlement in the mountains before making our

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way to Umbria and Minas Thanex.”“Let us do so, Troll Liege,” answered Drumtone. “It is true

that diplomacy between our respective races has not been up tosnuff, as it were. Times are changing, however, and we Dwarvesare indebted to the Qualinesti for their assistance in turningThoth and Tiamat. Let us make way to the mountain pass. Thepack animals are bound to be swift and sure of foot now thattheir metallic burden has been removed.”

The group nodded their approval of Drumtone’s statementand made their way from the place where Fenrir growled andsnapped at his bonds. The terrain quickly inclined upward andthe trees grew massive and dense on the angular mountainside.There was yet no official trail leading to the habitat of theQualinesti Elves. Their culture was reclusive and xenophobic.They did not readily leave invitations to wayward travelers andcurious visitors.

Oxholm and Taliesin both remembered the orientation andpositioning of Llewellyn’s hidden valley. They led their sizableentourage through the granite boulders and jutting pine andjuniper of the Arkadian mountain range.

After several hours they reached the summit within anarrow pass. The sun hung low in the sky and a smattering ofclouds pockmarked the horizon. Oxholm gazed intently into thevalley beyond. Mist or smoke obscured the canopy and made itdifficult to perceive the unique pinnacles and minarets of theprinciple settlement of the Qualinesti.

“I don’t see Llewellyn’s city from here,” stated Drumtone.“My suspicions are that the elves are near, though.”

“Indeed, friend Dwarf,” breathed Ullr. “My faculties ofperception virtually tingle with the proximity of Elvish auras.Let us remain alert for they are protective of the secrets of their

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population. If taken by surprise they may attack before ouridentities are recognized.”

Rivers flowed down into the valley from the snow-cappedpeaks, irrigating ferns and cattails on their banks. The songs offrogs and toads rose from the tide-pools and the movement offreshwater fish was discernible below the surface.

At last voices emerged from the wavering depths of thenearby oaks and pines. The trees grew tall and ancient and theirextensive branches easily hid the sources of the strange, Elvishspeech.

“Intruders! State your business here quickly if you wish tolive. These woods are sacred and powerful.”

“Qualinesti! We cannot see you but recognize your tone,”hollered the Troll Lord. “It is I, Taliesin. My companions and Ihave returned to your hallowed city with strange news. We seekthe counsel of Llewellyn, your aged leader. Is he near?”

“No, Taliesin,” replied the Elvish voice. “But he knows ofyour approach. We recognize you now, famed Liege, althoughyour choice of companionship is questionable, to say the least.”

“No need to cast aspersions, Mr. Elf,” grunted Oxholm.“We Dwarves are here on peaceful business and have onlythought to share details of our recent battles with your leader.You can see us but we cannot see you. Show yourself, if youpossess the courage.”

The Qualinesti Elves responded to the request by quicklyscaling down the giant trees. They were tall and slender andwore dark, tight-fitting clothing. These garments kept the elvescamouflaged in the subdued light beneath the sprawling canopyof the forested valley.

An Elvish Captain, clearly the leader of the group,approached Taliesin first and shook hands in greeting. He next

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bowed to the Dwarves and other Trolls in the group.“Salutations! I am Silvermoon. Welcome to our valley. We

trust you Dwarves will remain on your best behavior. I will takeyou to our stronghold and an audience with Llewellyn.”

“Thank you, Silvermoon,” replied Oxholm. “My brotherand I promise to mind our manners. Much has occurred since welast visited with your principle leader. We look forward tospeaking with him.”

The visitors followed the direction of the Elf Captainthrough the unmarked woods. His knowledge of the terrain wasancient and he marched on quickly through the brush and trunksof the forest.

Oxholm soon noticed openings in the wilderness andsensed an aged power emanating from the direction Silvermoonfollowed. The alabaster towers and minarets of the centralsettlement of the Qualinesti Elves emerged over the treetops.

Despite their familiarity with the structures the visitorswere yet taken in awe by the centuries and generations ofconstruction manifested by the architecture before them.

Rivers continued to flow through the city and archingbridges stood over them, allowing visitors and residents to pass.

The Elves that the traveling party saw were aloof andclearly had received word of the foreigners’ approach for sometime.

Fulla, being new to the area, waved in greeting from hermount. Most of the Elves did not deviate from their existingtasks and only a few paused to stare at the Troll archer with dourexpressions.

Silvermoon continued on the path which crossed a numberof bridges and ascended several flights of stairs. These led to thenetwork of cogs and gears that operated the system of elevators

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accessing the higher towers.The Elf Captain gestured for his companions to dismount

and tether their steeds to the watering troughs nearby. Thehumanoids then entered a set of elevators attached to a system ofropes and cords that reached up into the trees, beyond their fieldof vision.

The system of pulleys and wheels was powered by a teamof horses that were rested and well-trained. They pushed againsttheir yokes under the guidance of their handler and the mobileplatforms were whisked into the canopy, leaving the ground farbehind.

At last the elevators met with a loading platform built ontoa set of immense branches. The travelers disembarked and againfollowed Silvermoon and his fellow Elves over severalsuspension bridges to the main tower of the Qualinesticivilization.

The sound of birds and squirrels echoed through the boughsas Oxholm and Taliesin led their entourage to a single, alabasterfortification supported by several massive oaks.

A tall, robed Elf with graying hair and pointed ears stood atthe arching doorway of the high structure. He descended thesteps at the portal and approached Silvermoon.

“Thank you, Captain, for conducting my friends heresafely. You do the Qualinesti honor.”

“You’re welcome, Llewellyn. I will leave these Dwarvesand Trolls in your charge.”

The Qualinesti and his patrol bowed and made their wayback to the system of elevators and the ground below.

Llewellyn turned to Oxholm and Taliesin.“My companions! It has been some years since our last

meeting. Welcome to our stronghold once again.”

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“Thank you, Elf leader,” replied Oxholm. “Many thingshave taken place since our last meeting.”

The Dwarf took some time to recant the story of thedevelopment of Minas Thanex, the encounter with the emberand Fafnir, and the struggle with Fenrir.

Llewellyn’s brow furrowed with concern and he paused tothink before he spoke.

“You bear fascinating news, Oxholm. I commend you andyour people for your endeavors and courageous defense of yourholdings. If only we Qualinesti had known sooner of yourpredicaments we would have come to your aid promptly.

“The movements of the demigods below and above themassive caverns of the Under Earth indicate that the mandala ofthe planar helix is yet in a state of flux. Gaea continues to existas a stage for ethereal and ephemeral forces that have clashedfor eons. The demigod siblings Fafnir and Fenrir are known towe Elves and their names are recorded in our ancient records.This was much the case for the massive dragons Thoth andTiamat repelled during our previous alliance.

“My thoughts return to the others in our past battle party,namely, Siegemunde and Restadicus. The wizards, who arefounding members of the Lore Masters, may indeed possesssupplemental knowledge in regard to the apparently spiralingincrease of turmoil within the helix.”

What is going on in this place? Llewellyn wondered.Magic has not flowed through the realm to this degree since myyouth. The titans and demigods are abounding and areseemingly unfettered in their marauding and tapping of theresources of the natural races of this Plane.

We must consult with the Lore Masters if the escalatinginvasions and awakenings of the titans are to be halted. We need

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knowledge of the latticework of the planes. From whence dothese forces come? Who is behind all this?

“With your permission, Dwarf leader, I will accompany youto Coermantyr. I wish to consult with the Lore Masterspersonally.”

“Very well, Elf leader,” replied Oxholm. “We will wait foryou to prepare for this imminent journey. It will do all of usgood to confer with Restadicus once more.”

The visiting Dwarves and Trolls nodded their agreement.The group returned from whence they came and retrieved theirhorses at the edge of the Qualinesti stronhold. In less than anhour Llewellyn appeared and mounted a well-trained, graystallion.

The motley collection of travelers followed the Elf's lead.He knew the quickest path through the Arkadian Mountains andthe humanoids soon found themselves in the foothills beforeMystic Down.

The sun hung low in the sky but none of the friends wantedto set camp. Each of them was concerned by the encounters withFafnir and Fenrir.

The horses were sturdy and did not startle amid theoccasional howls of wolves and cries ravens in the deep woods.The light of the twin moons of Gaea shone in rays through theforest canopy and the steeds navigated quickly through themasses of oak and pine trees.

Taliesin knew of the easiest route to the region ofCoermantyr. The others followed his lead as he guided hisClydesdale through the dense underbrush.

By midnight the entourage reached the edge of BaronessSharon's land. All was quiet in the nighttime forest ofCoermantyr. The travelers continued to rely on the light of the

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two moons to illuminate their path.The forest changed as Oxholm and Drumtone made their

way forward. The terrain was higher and laden with hills incomparison with the low valley of Mystic Down.

Fulla and Ullr marveled at the massive growth of spruceand elm trees that prospered at their altitude.

“We've heard of The Wolf's Fang Inn here in the westernforest,” Fulla declared. “The inn-keeper, Rodnik, was friendswith Bors, Torvald's father. Perhaps he has collected informationof the recent activity of the infamous demigods' rampage.”

“Let us hope that is the case, Fulla,” stated Taliesin. “I'msure that Rodnik and the Baroness have had their hands fullraising their children. Let us maintain our pace. We should reachThe Wolf's Fang and the towers of Coermantyr Castle in anhour.”

In accordance with Taliesin's estimate the battle party soonarrived at the clearing in the trees where the inn and castle stood.

Each of the riders tethered his mount and pack horses to thehitching post of The Wolf's Fang. The lights of the reputableestablishment shone through the square window panes above thewooden porch.

Fulla and Ullr, being experienced with the workings ofinns, were the first to scrape their boots clean and enter the maindoorway.

The Dwarves and Trolls were quick to follow. The groups of patrons and diners turned from their seats to

ogle the variegated cluster of new arrivals.To Taliesin's surprise the barkeep was none other than

Rodnik, the Key Mage of Coermantyr. The Troll Lord extendedhis hand to his longtime friend and Rodnik did the same. Theyshook hands energetically.

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“Taliesin! Its good to see you. You've come with friends Isee. Much is afoot of late. Rumors are abounding in this part ofthe woods. I've heard talk of giant creatures emerging fromancient places as well as a crystalline substance of some arcanevalue. My patrons call it ember.”

“Your information is accurate, Rodnik,” replied the liege ofMystic Down. “My Dwarf friends here can vouch for that.”

Taliesin turned to his companions and introduced them byname to the Key Mage.

Rodnik nodded in greeting to each of them.“I recognize you, Oxholm and Drumtone. Clearly much has

happened since you were last here. We will get your fullsynopsis of the situation at hand in Gaea before the night isthrough.”

“Welcome to Coermantyr, good Dwarves and Trolls! Iregret that my wife is not here. She is with child and has twoothers that are wily as squirrels.”

“Excuse me,” rumbled one of the regular patrons of TheWolf's Fang. “With your consent, visitors, please allow me tointroduce myself.”

The individual in question was a tall, middle-aged troll witha patch over his left eye.

“My name is Tyr. I am a shepherd. Word has reached theseparts that the canine brother of the dragon tyrant has beenrestrained by an enchanted, Dwarven chain. If this is truly thecase then I'd like to volunteer my expertise in animal husbandryto keep the demigod fed. I have sheep to spare, of course, and itwould be prudent to keep the giant wolf from starving to death.It is never wise to anger the gods, regardless of their destructivebehavior.”

“Your sources of information are correct, Tyr,” replied

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Oxholm. “News travels fast in these woods, it seems. Your offeris a serious one. Fenrir is a burden to the natural residents of thisplane of existence. It is true, though, that the demigod should notbe killed, despite his marauding agenda. None of us want thewrath of the gods and that of Fenrir's progenitor, raining downon us.

“Go to the ensnared beast. He remains chained near one ofthe peaks of the Arkadian Mountain Range. He must hunger bynow and will surely feast on your allotment of sheep if given theopportunity. Take care, though, for Fenrir is a trickster andwould feign submission when in fact he is evaluating hispredicament for vulnerabilities.”

“Thank you for the advice, Oxhom,” Tyr replied. “I will becareful with the great Lykanthros. I must hurry so that I maygather my herd and set forth under the light of the moons. I planto reach Fenrir by sundown tomorrow.

“Good luck to you all! I hope you visit the Baroness soonin her castle and exchange information there. As you may recall,Restadicus and his Lore Masters hold office in the inner sanctumof Sharon's stronghold. They will surely find the cause of theemergence of the monstrous titans in recent months. Until wemeet again, farewell.”

Tyr shook hands with each of the visitors and strode out ofThe Wolf's Fang to drive his herd east.

Drumtone was the next to speak.“We should be on our way as well, my friends. I am

anxious to see the Baroness, Restadicus and the Lore Masters inthe light of recent events.”

“Join us, Rodnik! We can use your magical expertise in thecoming days and nights.”

“By all means, Drumtone. I wouldn't miss this for the

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world. Let us go to Sharon. She'll be happy to receive us.”Rodnik spoke briefly with one of the chefs in the kitchen,

delegating the run of the inn to him until the Key Mage'seventual return. The Troll mage then donned his traveling cloakand stuffed the pockets with packages of salted meat, biscuits,lemons and drinking water.

The travelers exited from The Wolf's Fang. They loosed thetethers of their mounts and lifted themselves into their saddles.

Rodnik led the way to the nearby castle.“I hope you heard the news, my friends. Sharon and I are

threefold parents. The youngest of our children is soon to beborn.”

“We did know that,” replied Taliesin. “Congratulations andblessings to you and your wife.”

The horses made good time on the well-worn path and theysoon approached the outer gate and guard-post of CoermantyrCastle.

Torches and oil lamps illuminated the concentric rings ofwrought-iron fence surrounding the perimeter of the stronghold.There were also circular trenches filled with water and masses ofsharpened poles to hinder any would be siege or invasion.

Rodnik took a moment to chat with the guards. He wasrecognized by the cautious Trolls and the soldiers gestured forthe sizable entourage to proceed to the castle keep.

-----Mythology Notes-----

One-handed Tyr...Tyr is a reputable shepherd known amongwe Maegar for his courage and steadfast responsibility. He will

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raise the herds of sheep necessary to feed Fafnir. Warn him,though. That Fafnir is wild and may bite and snap at his captorswhen all seems subdued. Young Baldur is the most promising ofus all. None can say what he will achieve. He is occasionallyglum but Frig, his mother, cheers him and keeps his spirits aloft.He must remain careful not to be overly courageous, either. If hewere to pass into the netherworld prematurely great bargainsmust be made to bring his spirit back to the higher branches ofthe Yggdrasil tree. Niflheim & Hel await. Such as it is let us dowhat we can to stay in the higher worlds of the demigods.Baldur has vision, though, and an uncanny curiosity for thatwhich lies beyond our ken. He is our explorer and spelunker andperhaps the hero for whom we all have waited so many years.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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