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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(contact)" data-source="post: 900840" data-attributes="member: 41">Great Delve 310 Flamerule If this is illegible, I blame my mule.We are on the road to Eveningstar, with a cart full of ill-packed glass works from the artisans of Storm Rise, and we hope to trade them for a pretty copper in Cormyr.  Selise continues to insist that Storm’s Rise is Cormyr, and I continue to point out that Cormyr’s border extends only as far as its ability to enforce its Laws.If it wasn’t for arguing, I suspect I would die from the lack of talking.  At least when I’m in the Delve, I can lean back and listen to Enkil ramble on.  The Dwarf is not with us, as he believes that he will wither and die should he leave the Delve.(A series of mathematical figures follow)Twenty-five hundred gold crowns!  All for taking the trouble to bring glass down the side of the mountain.  Granted, we had to kill several goblins to get here, and the glass we are trading amounts to half a lifetime’s worth of accumulated craft, but nonetheless, things are finally starting to fall out well.  Perhaps now I will not be lynched by my own adventuring band.Of course, both Bern and Enkil would string me up from the nearest tree in the swish of a Baatezu’s tail if they knew that I have secretly sold dwarven artifacts from the Delve.  I believe that Selise sees the necessity for profit, and she certainly has a noblewoman’s inbred expediency about her.  But the others simply do not understand—this “liberation” of a dwarven hall is a mercantile venture, nothing more.  Adventurers don’t throw their lives away in the musty depths for Rightness or Glory, despite their drunken tavern-tales to the contrary.  They do it for the gold, and I intend to see to it that my companions have plenty of reason to stay with me in this mysterious place, because I need every last one of them.  I even need willful half-wits like Ketcherin.Have I mentioned Ketcherin?  No?  Well, that is because I don’t like him.  The crusty caver calls himself a ranger, but doesn’t know twigs from turtles about herbology.  If he’s to be believed, he found his way into the great delve through the Underdark, which means that these Dwarves dug deeper than I thought.  At any rate, while we count our coins in Eveningstar, the fool caver is trying to gain the attention of that mysterious dwarf Winterbeard who supposedly built Storm’s Rise (and now never speaks).  When we left, they were standing face to face in a thickly-bearded staring match, with Ketcherin staring at the mute, and the mute staring through Ketcherin, and neither willing to back down.For all I know, they are at it still.Dwarves.10 Flamerule I won’t say I hate all bards.  I’m not the sort to make a gross generalization about the lute-plucking simpletons, just because the better part of them are overly celebrated for matters of no consequence.  I won’t say it, even if it is true, because it would be uncharitable toward what’s-his-name.Selise has purchased a dress for the Lady Tess, and I think the two will become friends, which of course would be of benefit for all of us.  Having friends in High Places is a must for any ambitious adventurer, in my opinion.  For after all, won’t the time soon come when the Lord or Lady in question has to contend with that quiet and unsettling inner voice reminding them that they are no longer the greatest power in their own realm?  A wise adventurer has either made friends with the noble, or made vacation plans.  Thank Providence for Selise—my relationship with the Lady Tess is strained—I think she cannot abide the infernally plane-touched.11 FlameruleChance has been acting so strangely in town, first spurning me, then taking up with that indigent singer—perhaps she is a doppelganger?  It certainly bears watching.  At any rate, I shall soon be rich, and perhaps then I shall patronize that little golden-haired lute-polisher only to assign him to some remote corner of the world and then dismiss him without pay.Chance will regret not having me someday, I am sure.12 FlameruleEven if it is really such a huge issue that the goblins we killed on the way here were fighting under an previously unknown emblem, why would anyone with sense needlessly wake their companion up before noon to tell him?  Really, Selise.  We make Storm’s Rise tomorrow.  By now, Chance and her minstrel are on the road to Arabel, and good riddance to both of them, I say.13 Flamerule Wouldn’t you know, they are still at it!  Ketcherin should be commended for his persistence if not his intelligence.  We are the heroes of the moment, but don’t tell that rascal dwarf.  Tickler now has a lifetime supply of ingredients for her bakery, and I daresay she’ll cut us quite the bargain for the results.I suspect that Ashnern wanted more monsters and less journal from this Monster Journal.  Perhaps I should make you a present of some of the brandy I’ve brought back with me to ensure that I remain under your fair-light, eh?You’re certainly not getting any of my cigars.13 FlameruleDamn that Ketcherin and his self-righteous dwarven entitlement straight to the depths of Moradin’s Darkest Hell.  And that is all I will say about the matter.14 FlameruleSo much has happened; I’m not sure where to begin.I think the drow must certainly have more good-aligned members of their race than the majority would like to admit.  I say that because of how many drow you see making their way in adventuring bands.  Many more than, say, good half-orcs, yet half-orcs don’t have a fraction of the reputation the dark elves have. But I digress.First and foremost, upon returning to the delve we made a beeline to the area North of the Great Hall.  There we found a throne room, but it is no place a living king would willingly sit.  There was this massive life-like representation of the Dwarven Father Moradin himself, studded with gems, standing behind a carved throne that was capped by a dragon’s head sculpture with diamonds the size of my manly-stones for its eyes.Of course, I felt that little bearded ferret’s eyes boring holes in my back, as if I were the only one among our little band who loves his gold. A plague and pox on all dwarves, I am simply the honest one.And what dwarf has any room to lecture another about propriety when it comes to financial matters?  He simply thinks that due to my heritage, he can attack my character and I will find myself friendless.  Sadly, he is right.But I digress.Relief sculpture along the walls continues the marvelous contrivance from the entry halls, and in this case it gives the impression of a horde of dwarves lurking just at the corner of your vision, all intently facing the throne.  It’s simply spellbinding, a masterful effect.  Dwarves are renowned for their craftsmanship, but these ancient ones were artisans as well, and in equal measures.  The beauty of this place is simply unparalleled in my experience.We searched what seems like hundreds of rooms.  It was probably only thirty or so, but nothing jumped out to kill us, and the place was completely devoid of treasure.It was certainly the lair of those degenerate Hepis dwarves, as we found their crossed Forge Hammer and Axe symbol in several places.  All in all, I counted 40 bedrolls and packs, but I’m quite sure that we haven’t killed 40 of them yet.The Royal Chamber frightens me.  We know that this was once the home of the Aq Med, the First House and First Children of Moradin.  The dead bodies of this place’s former rulers are still lying where they fell. Like the other ancient corpses we have discovered in the Great Delve they are perfectly preserved, and completely bloodless.Perhaps we are wrong, and our lifeblood is not our own, but on loan to us from our Creator.</blockquote>

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