And now a trip down memory lane, at least for Togenheim...
Diddly-doo, diddly-doo, diddly-doo...
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"I'm sorry, sir, but I don't think I heard that correctly," the young smith Togenheim muttered, scratching behind his head with one still-gloved hand.
His uncle and clan representative, Jefrugen, smiled, his booted feet up on his marble desk and arms behind his head. "You heard me, young'un. You're headed to the surface."
"B-but, but sir! Why? Why me? I'm a craftsmen, not a bloody explorer!"
Jefrugen of Clan Ungart continued to grin. "Aye. That's why. We don't need the surface exploring." He took his feet from the desk and leaned forward towards his nephew. "The clan elders have been discussing this as of late. You probably know that Clan Ungart isn't particularly well-liked by the rest of the folk under the mountain."
"Well, no sir, but we chalk that up to ignorance and close-mindedness, don't we?" Togenheim was getting confused.
"Aye, we do. The other clans see our use of 'black magic,'" - he flexed his fingers on either side of his head, quoting - "To be tabboo and whatnot. O'course, in times of trouble they're more than happy to accept our wizards into their ranks, and arm their soldiers with the weapons we make. Segred put us on this world to survive on our own, not ask him every waking for a little help." The older dwarf paused to brush the dust from his boots off the surface of his desk before continuing.
Togenheim remained confused.
"We've tried appealing to the other clans, o'course, for decades," Jefrugen continued. "Centuries even. But, no bloody luck. Still the black mushroom amidst the white. So, while we've not exactly given up on our kin- Segred forbid- we've decided to... branch out a bit. That, clansman, is where you come in." He smiled all the wider, square teeth bared in the darkness of the room and glinting slightly from the forge-fires beyond the doorway.
Meeting nothing but a confused look from his nephew, Jefrugen coughed and pressed on. "We're sending you to the surface, lad, to work up a little positive attitude towards us under the mountain. Surface-folk rarely take kindly to us, for some reason. I expect they don't like talking to one who can butt them in the crotch with one's head. We want you to go up to where you can see the sun and show the surface-folk just how great we folk under the mountain truly are. You're one of the finest craftsmen of your generation working at the Runeforge, aren't you? Who better to go up to the surface, then?"
Togenheim finally broke his confused silence. "But what can I do? I'm a craftsman, as you said," he blurted.
Jefrugen's jovial manner began to evaporate. "You are a clansman of Ungart. The clan has given you this task. You sound as if you have a choice whether to go or not, which you do not. You understand that, don't you?"
Togenheim hung his head. "Aye, sir, I do. I shall do what the clan has asked of me to the best of my ability, as a clansman should."
His uncle's smile returned. "Good lad. Go up to the surface and make a name for yourself. Show those surface-folk just how great we under-folk are. We leave exactly how you do it up to you. There's your choice. Find yourself a forge and make great works, or do deeds worthy of song, or whatever. What's good for you is good for the clan, and what's good for the clan is good for you, after all."
The clattering of coins piling atop one another began to ring through Togenheim's still hanging head. It dawned on him that this could prove to be a rather profitable venture for him after all. He looked up and smiled back at his uncle. "Very true, sir. I am honoured to be given this responsibility."
"Honoured, eh?" Jefrugen snorted, jokingly. "Don't get too full of yourself. You're one of a hundred or so journeymen and women given such a task. It's a big world up there, you know, so you'll be setting off individually."
Togenheim's face fell, briefly. "Ah." Competition, he thought to himself.
"Right," said Jefrugen, leaning back in his chair again and putting his feet back on the desktop. "I've let Vilheiman know of the clans wishes, so he is not expecting you back at the Runeforge once you have completed your current on-going projects, but he stressed he wants them done sharpish."
Togenheim smiled again. That sounded like master Vilheiman.
"Once you've finished those, the clan elders would like a final few words with you, so if you'd be so kind as to let them know before-hand, they'll clear their schedules." He waved the young craftsman-now-adventurer away, picking a sheaf of papers from the floor and beginning to rifle through them.
Togenheim bowed deeply to his clan representative, turned, and left the office. The workday was over, so all that was left for him to do today was make a few goodbyes. His mother and father would likely wish to know, as would many of his coworkers. Yes, it would be a while before he enjoyed the company of Diesa, Hlin, and Sannl, if he ever did again. Best make the most of it these next few sleeps.
