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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ghostknight" data-source="post: 3385137" data-attributes="member: 15338">Chapter 9The mass of refugees moved through the gap, heading towards the Outpost by the lake.  Delire stood with Jeria and watched the weary trudge of the tired, worn out, ragged refugees.  Many of the wealthier citizens struggled with bruised, bloodied feet, the more sturdy work boots of the working classes lasting, and protecting, better.  Delire gestured to Jeria; they moved forward, and once again, they left the column of people and wagons behind.Delire noted happily that the path down to the lake was an easy one, the refugees would appreciate the water smoothed rock, worn enough that it was no longer slippery but containing no major obstacles.  The trip took the two of them two days, the massive caverns walls fading from sight.  When they reached the Outpost, they were amazed at the activity.  Scores of masons and builders were building an outer wall and lines of carts bearing food were coming in; large tents were blooming near the lake, creating a city of their own.  They wandered nearer and sharp-eyed sentries spotted them as they neared and sent horse mounted troops out to meet them.  The troops arrived quickly with two spare horses in tow."Word of your expected arrival was sent.  Welcome."  They were helped onto the horses, the seasoned horsemen around them steadying them and helping them to remain mounted as they cantered towards the city.  After but a short distance, Delire was quickly dismounted and placed in front of another rider to share a horse.  Her short stature left her unable to gain a decent grip on the massive beast.  At the city a man stood; his armour of a finer quality than his men's, a sword with a jewelled pommel at his waist.  "Welcome, Delire and Jeria.  Our advance units reported your journey and we have prepared as best we could.  Come, there is much to talk about and you will need water and food after your long trip."  The man led them through the outpost, into the main keep and a large office.  One of the Dark Paeons sat behind a large desk, rising as Delire and Jeria entered.  He was tall for his kind, wearing long, flowing, grey robes with a badge in the shape of a harp over his left breast."Greetings unto you; May the music of the Gods flower in your ears.  You are welcomed to Lake Harmony.  I am the Master Harpist Darid, the commander of the keep and of those that dwell within.  Let us retire to my private dining area so you may refresh yourselves and rest weary legs, I will tell you what is proposed and the message I would like you to convey to your people."Darid bowed, steeped forward and opened a door set into the far wall, leading them into a smaller room, containing little but a table carved from some dark wood, its surface filigreed with lines of an unusual purple rock.  Darid took a seat at the head of the table and gestured for Delire to take the place of honour to his left.  Everyone seated himself or herself, and servants dressed in the grey livery matching that of Darid’s colours quickly brought in food.  No conversation began, Darid remained silent until all had food and had started to eat."The destruction of your city is known to us.  We mourn its loss, deeply.  The actions of Weald Hall created a symphony that was enjoyed by all.  You and your fellow travellers are welcome to rest in our care, but in these unfortunate events I see an opportunity."  He hesitated, trying to mask the excitement he obviously felt might manifest, and would be inappropriate in front of those that had been dispossessed and suffered a grievous loss."This cavern is large; there is space here to build a city larger and better protected than Weald Hall ever was.  In time, we could grow to be one of the most powerful and prosperous cities within the network, that is the reality of our life underground.  The lake supplies fish and ample drinking water for a multitude.  The area is a crossroads, though only three paths lead into the cavern, multiple areas joins into those three paths and trade will automatically arrive and help to build up the city."  He looked at the two Outwalkers, trying to gauge their reaction.  Both sat there, evidently interested but neither looked like they were completely enamoured with his idea."Think of this.  We will take all your people in as citizens.  Help to build them homes, make sure they receive food, provide them with clothes and integrate them into our community.  In return we will receive the expertise and wealth of experience for which Weald Hall was renowned; a corps of Outwalkers that was famous, fiend hunters that guarded your gates and kept the immediate area secure and alchemists who knew the secret of cold iron, and produced enough of it that no gate guard was armed without it."  Darid leaned back, hoping he had sold the two on his idea.Delire looked at Jeria and then pulled herself forward, a smile on her face.  "Who is going to rule?  You, Master Harpist?  Forgive me for being blunt, but your race is not known for its love of others, and its rulers are noted more for their cruelty than their love of sharing power.  You have been most gracious, and your offer is more than fair, but the reputation of your kind makes me reluctant to place our future within your hands.  Indeed, this is not my decision to make; you should have made it to those who have authority."If Delire had expected anything, it was not laughter.  The Master Harpist's laughter was clear, musical and accompanied by a smile."I appreciate your candour, Delire.  Indeed my race is, as you said, noted more for its cruelty than its altruism.  Truly, our reputation often does us justice, too many of our kind are adept at cruelty and are truly vain.  That is not so for those within this outpost.  We are outcasts amongst our own, worshippers of the wind, the whistle and music of its passage.  We share much with our brethren, but not their worship of the dark Gods and their love of cruelty, nor their disdain for others.  In the past, our brethren would have destroyed us without compunction, used us as sacrifices upon their altars, and as commodities to be traded with those that rule above.  Time and necessity has changed them.  They no longer hunt and destroy outcasts like ourselves, but use us to expand their territory.  Small outposts like this are given the bare necessities to survive.  If we make it, they will use us as a conduit to other races, a means of facilitating trade and dialogue, knowing that few will trade with them and none will enter their cities."He sipped at the goblet of white wine before him. "As for presenting this to those that have authority, you evidently have not taken in the state of your refugees.  How many of your previous councillors and ministers retain any power?  Without their wealth and their holdings, how many of them will be able to muster any respect?  No, Delire.  It is you, the heads of the guards that protect the refugees, the men in charge of the food that wield the power.  If you speak, they will listen."The three continued their meal, conversation drifting from the serious to the mundane.  At the end, Delire and Jeria left, happy with what was to come and bearing an invitation to a new future and the chance to be part of something new; not just refugees assigned to the slums of Gunder's Hall.***Gyv and Mekior worked their way round the mountain.  For four days, they searched for the hidden entrance, finally finding it concealed behind a copse of trees.  The hidden entrance was a dank hole that was filled with the droppings and the smell of some predatory beast. They descended carefully, Gyv looking for clues as to what beast was responsible; scared they might meet it within.  Only once at the bottom did she see it was a ruse, the small chamber's walls not the dank earth from above, but carefully worked rock.  In the rear of the room, they wormed through a small hole, and were grasped by hands as they started through, hands that pulled them roughly through the hidden gap.  They looked up to find themselves facing a group of dwarves."What have we here?  Outsiders; question is, who do you work for?"  A dwarf stepped up, his armour dulled by black paint, a large bladed axe strapped to his back.  The others stood watching them, their weapons at the ready, their faces hidden by full faced helms, visors drawn closed.  "No, don't get up.  If you satisfy us that you are allies and not foes, we will allow you up, if not, it will be easier for us to drag your bodies away."The two relaxed, knowing that they stood no chance from this prone position."Now, care to tell me who you are, where you are going and why I shouldn't just have your heads removed from your shoulders as a precautionary measure?"Mekior looked at him, and spoke, his voice clear, but no louder than necessary to carry to the dwarf that questioned them."I am Mekior, a fiend Hunter from Weald Hall.  My companion is Gyv, late of the House of Souls.  We have lost our companions, been attacked by fiends and worked our way through the wilds for close to a month.  Just tell me what has happened to Weald Hall before you chop of my head, so that I can at least die with my curiosity satisfied."The dwarf looked at the two, their scruffy, damaged clothes, dishevelled, dirty appearances and their gaunt bodies and faces.  He held his hand out, pulling first Mekior and then Gyv to their feet.  "Welcome home.  Come share a mug of ale and rest by our hearth, and I will tell you what I know.  Then you must decide what you wish to do."  The group moved back, fading into an opening in the rocks, invisible from the construction of the passageway.The room beyond was just a murder hole, beyond that lay a comfortable encampment, a hearth with a roaring fire heating and lighting the room.  The dwarf led them to a table, pulling up a chair as he sat, and watching as two of the dwarves mounted some stairs and took up their watch positions on the entrance below.He pulled out a large ale skin, filling three mugs to their brims, a welcoming froth on top.  Mekior took a long draught, surprised to find it pleasingly warm, a slight taste of cinnamon coming through.  Gyv was more circumspect, not fully trusting the dwarves and not wanting to impair her facilities should they need to escape.  "Well, Mekior of Weald Hall and Gyv of the House of Souls, I am Fihor, sergeant of the watch and part of the Gunder's Hall army.  On my word, what I say and what I tell will be only the truth, as I know it.”  He paused, the opening formulae completed.  “An army of fiends came through.  Obviously someone had informed on the city since they headed straight for the gate."  The dwarf, busy with his ale, never the less noticed the slight start Gyv made at these words, watching her surreptitiously he continued, "The city had been warned by one of their Outwalkers, a half-fiend by the stories, but who could believe one of those bastards would turn on their own?  Anyways, the city set-up a welcoming committee, they held that army up for days, while the evacuation took place.  It was the only solution really, once the devils knew where it was, it became merely a matter of time, there was no way to preserve it indefinitely.  It was a good battle; the humans on both sides fought well.  The magic of the defenders easily the equal of the devils, at least until that blasted Gerion and his entourage arrived.  Seems he was delayed with Disciplinary matters, never did find out exactly what that meant."The dwarf paused to drain his mug, refilling it from the ale skin which seemed to never empty.  "Anyways, Gerion and his entourage blasted the defenders, forcing them to retreat within.  Our spies lost track of the battle once it went underground, but it seems apparent that the defenders were a suicide force. Once they had a significant portion of the devil's forces in there with them, they dropped the mountain on the lot of them.  Weald Hall is now solidly encased in rock, the paths from there into the network blocked and rendered useless.”“Gerion was furious; he ordered his forces home, not even allowing them to recover their dead to bury of burn."  He chuckled, raising his glass, "A toast to those brave souls who gave their lives to score a blow and save their fellow citizens."  They all drank in silence, their thoughts on those who had died to make the ruse successful.After a suitable time Mekior spoke up. "Tell me, Fihor, where did the refugees from Weald Hall go?"  Fihor stood, pacing, coming to rest behind Gyv's chair.  His hands shot out, grabbing her hair, pulling her tight head back over the top of the chair, exposing her neck."How much do you know of your companion Mekior?  Did you not see her guilt when I spoke of a traitor, an informer?"  The dwarf's voice a low growl, the fury and pain within obvious.  "Her kind, the lowly, traitorous scum, have led us into the trouble we have these days.  I give you your informer.  Take your revenge; strike her down, in memory of your city."  Mekior stood slowly, seeing the fear in Gyv's eyes, the way she let her hands hang down; she knew that to reach for a weapon was instant death.  He looked at her wondering how much to say, how much of the truth was needed to convince the dwarf to let her go."Fihor, my friend, she is no traitor.  No more than any other who has been controlled by devils against their will.  She bears no guilt.  Her actions were the ones that led to the cities destruction.  Gerion himself rode her consciousness, controlled her.  More than my city was lost to the wiles of Gerion; she was forced to kill her own husband, betray her own people and strung up to be a mere pawn for Gerion when he no longer needed her."  He stopped, looked at the dwarf, and knelt down. "Kill her, and then me, if you must; though it will not change what has happened.  I will not strike at you or your fellow sentries, but if you kill her then you must kill me as well."  He bowed his head; not daring to look up until a soft hand took his chin, lifted it and placed a kiss upon his lips.He turned and saw that Fihor watched them."Make your way to Lake Harmony.  A new city is under construction there.  The Dark Paeons and the refugees corroborate to build a new city, a new society.  A strange mix, but it seems that much is happening within the realms of the Dark Paeons and they, too, produce outcasts.  We will give you provisions for your way.  Go well and in peace."The two rested, sleeping that night in the comfort of the dwarven outpost.  The trip to the lake took them another week, but they moved quickly, eagerly, the journey a happy one now that they knew most of the city had been saved.  Gyv and Mekior talked often, rejoicing in their new found love, the fact that Jeria lived and the city, though destroyed, lived on in a new place.  They were awe-struck when they entered, amazed at the cavern's size and the massive wall that enclosed much of it, nothing visible beyond its high ramparts.  They gazed in wonder, and followed the guards that arrived happily, into what they hoped would be a better future.</blockquote>

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