Chapter 1: Shadows of the Past
Day Eight: Monestary of the Sacred Heart
I had been in Thanesport for about a month before anything interesting happened. In that time, I had flung myself in full force, trying to be as dwarfly as possible so that they would let me move on to something worthwhile. I wore dwarven clothing, braided my hair in a proper fashion, and allowed my facial hair to grow. I still carried my longsword and bow, since they were the only weapons I could use, but that didn’t set me too far out of place with the other dwarves.
I worked as a personal assistant to Gawyn Thunderheart, at his request. He was the ambassador for Clan Thunderheart in Thanesport, a mighty fine brewmaster, and an overall prick. I had never been hit on in Sylvannus; being 3’10” and dark skinned doesn’t make one too popular amongst the elven lads, but this man did not know the meaning of subtlety. I had to get out of here.
Well anyway, about a month after I had been in Thanesport, Gawyn walked in and said that he would be giving up his position of Ambassador to someone new, and would I be so kind as to write up a contract to make the change of leadership legal. I was confused, but anyone was better than Gawyn, so I wrote up the document and he set out about mid-day.
He returned several hours later, signed contract in tow and a triumphant beaming smile on his face. The new Ambassador, it seems, was one Arfin Kegsplitter. I’d never heard of this Arfin before, but Kegsplitter was an Arutha’s Forge name, and they were all right people. Whoever this Arfin was, he had to be better than Gawyn.
At dusk, Gawyn pulled me aside and asked me to retrieve Ambassador Kegsplitter from a tavern a bit outside the south gate of Thanesport. So I did. Only when I was outside the gate did I realize that I had failed to ask in which tavern I would find him. In the general area there were several taverns and inns. I entered the first and politely enquired to each dwarf whether or not he was Arfin Kegsplitter, Ambassador to Clan Thunderheart. None of them were. The same with the second inn, and the third. By the time I entered the fifth establishment, it was late and I was tired. I never realized how many dwarves there would be in the Thanesport taverns. So I walked into the center of the tavern and stood on a stool so that I could be seen. “Any of you Arfin?” I said.
One dwarf picked his head up from his mug. “I am he, and who are ye?” he said. Finally, I had found him. As I rounded the table, I noted his rather odd selection of companions. Three humans, a mid-elf, and a mid-orc. As I approached Arfin, I immediately knew he was an improvement over Gawyn; He was less of a jerk, less of a womanizer, and more…intoxicating? No, no... intoxicated. The man stunk of ale, even more than most of the dwarves I’d met. But still…an overall improvement.
I introduced myself and told Arfin Kegsplitter that I had been sent to collect him to the Stronghold within Thanesport. He cast a nervous look around at his friends, and pulled me into close conversation, explaining that he and his friends would require a more secret way into the city. What was he, shy of crowds? Sure, people would want to meet the new ambassador, but though it would be a bit extreme to sneak into the city just to avoid the crowds of his constituency.
His companions leaned in to discuss different ways of entering the city. Apparently they didn’t like crowds either…When they had nearly decided, the mid-orc piped up something about sewers, sparking the debate all over again. I stopped paying attention, pausing to mention that with Arfin’s new credentials they could get into the city without a problem. That apparently was not elaborate enough…something was said about the guards. I didn’t know, nor was it any of my business. I simply had to get Ambassador Kegsplitter to the stronghold.
They finally decided on a plan, and agreed to set off right away. Though it was late, the gates would still be open. So off to Thanesport we went…
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
