Famigliolabuona

Valley Dwarf Clans I

The new IC post is ready: Do not disappoint your ambitious Clans. We want betrayal and blood. We want ale and beards.

I remind anyone passing by this thread that there is room for 1 more clan.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

Autumn. One year and a half after Master Muin death.

Heavy rain broke against the incomplete fortifications of Muin's keep. That very week many of the scaffolds, unatended for too long, fell into the mud of the streets below. Few people remained in Muin's Keep, but those engaged in offial tasks as keeping the archives, the treasure and the prayers and offerings, and few lost souls who did not understand that decadence had closed upon the castle. And among those who stayed, some deep pain, foolishness or melancholy had sprouted in their before rock hard hearts.

In the Watermill Tower, peeking above Kalerodom lake, Yulna, the Wolf-Lady as some both mockingly and seriously started to call her, had secluded herself in the high Watermill Tower and let the city be ruled by the carrion-like nobles that had stayed. In her mind, she waited her sons, whom she had cast away, to apologize, to love her back, to surrender to her insane impositions, and to be tangled in never ending disputes to torment them. And so, she watched everyday, expecting to see a boat, across the misty lake, bringing back home her Muin and his gorious expedition. Alone, in her tower, watter was slowly dripping. Maybe the repetitive dripping kept her awake and wore off the sadness and despair that assailed her.

In her pain, she had called for the adivines, who read the old runes, the bones and their marrow, the guts and the odd gems. She could not bear the parting of her Master, and she had let in the underground halls, before filled with nobility and joy, all kind of sorcerers and charlatans, who managed to slip out the treasures and rich works of Muin before the madly blinded eyes of the Lady. Meanwhile, the unlaborious dwellers of the keep, thrown into orgy and indulgence kept consuming the ale, wines, and stored foods until nothing was left. And after nothign was left, the charitable and unnoticed help of the now distanced Clans of the Sons of Muin, provided, even just for charity, to feed this folly.

And so, the castle run unstopably into ruin and degeneration. And so into corruption was driven the mind of Yulna, by the sweet-words of those beguiling dwarves who promised her to see Muin again in life. Into the sacred burial vault she drove these dwarves of witchcraft all impure rituals were conducted, also in the tombs of the other dwarves fallen in the West Pass. Soon, the underground halls, for a while silent since the departure of their Lord, were filled with sounds again. But not the noise of noble craft or the art of arms, not the heart-lifting drums and the long-remembered songs of glory, but whispers of dark spectres and consumed sanity.

Buri Bizidurum, as old as he was,now looked perpetuosly fatigated since the recent events. His beard had become sparse, his teeth weakly falling, his ears barely being able to listen to his apprentices. He wished he could sweep out all the scum and parasytes that had took home in these halls, but he had not anymore the strenght to do it. Oh, how much he missed his Lord, and his youth times when he could have spoke into reason the most fool drunkard. But, ah, he was done, and he had settled to remain loyal to his Lord and his Castle, to sink with it if it was necessary.
Important news had arrived, and he knew that Lady Yulna may not listen to any other than him, if anyone. Decided but hopeless, he slowly climbed up the stair steps, and knocked the door. No answer came from Lady Yulna, as he expected. He went on:

- My Lady, there are important errands - he paused, maybe to listen an answer - My Lady, please. Your Son Orin has not sent us manutenance since last spring. Remember, I told My lady that he had rallied all the brothers and villages of the Valley no to provide us either. He has secluded himself in his Mountain - more agitated, he knocked the door - Mylady open the eyes! Please see that this mistrust will contagiate to the Sons. Send a letter to Karolus... he has proved a friend of the House now and always. I have written one, and with your consent My Lady... the is no need to let Valley fall - he heard steps from below the tower and agitation took control of elder Buri - With tears My Lady, I oathed to protect these Halls. Heed my advise, we will not survive the winter like this. Please My Lady...

- Master Bizidurum, your head always in the fairy tales of old, as old as you are - a creaking voice answered- You want me to open my eyes into reason, or rather give the Keep, to one of the rats that call themselves Sons of Muin. Well, if betrayal is what you seeked, now openly go to your new Master. Go and shame further the House you always greeded to rule. Have not I seen that in your eyes, that has been seen by the Loremasters? They have clearly unveiled your lies and those of the priests, of my Sons. Be gone Master Bizidurum, and do not return to this halls ever.

The steps were louder and louder. Where should this old man go now? As he waited to be taken away by the ravenous bullies of Yulna, he undressed himself from every symbol of his status, ready to be humbled and without a home, as he came to the world. He knew he would not make it past the winter, as the the Keep, as the Sons. His time was gone, he accepted deep in his heart, without complaints, without remorse,but he could not give up for the Valley.When would the srping of this Valley come again?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rumours and news:

- Clan Orin has withdrawn into their Mountain and closed from every contact with the outside world since last spring. The Mountain lies as silent as Lord Orin, son of Muin, about the future King of the Valley. Out of curiosity, mercy, friendship or politics, contact should be retaken.
- In the woods laying below the peaks in the northern shore of the lake, northwest of the lands of Clan Brightshield, several hunters and dwarfs have gone missing.
- The road surrounding the southern contour of Kalerodom lake is intransitable: aside from several fallen trees and landslided ways, some unloyal dwarves, fleeing from Muin's keep with stolen weapons have been assaulting the traders and travelers in the way.
- A caravan has arrived to the southern pass, and it is rumoured that the famous skald Zigild Seventeeth comes along a most extravagant company of Dwarves from far Kingdoms.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

@Gorgenmast

Yes sure, take the 4th born place.

Should I assume we are done with the introductory round? Do you want to move to the next morninh meeting or further on?

Valley Dwarf Clans I

I'm going to drop out of this actually, I don't think I'll be able to do it justice, best wishes to everyone else.

@bluetommy2

Really a pity. This means we have one open spot for anyone.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

I just modified the first OC post to include the territorial claims and a genealogy. I am happy to see this started.

@Ethanjory
Nevermind what I said in the last post, because now I think better we have a vacancy for the third son, and stil space in the map (some interestingly harsh locations) If you want to do a whole Clan after all, feel free to do so. What did you have in mind?

Valley Dwarf Clans I

@Gorgenmast

I apologize if I was rude. I agree that a sheet can be brief and telling at the same point, and I agree that it can make worldbuiding harder if it is all to direct.. However you say you have good ideas incoming, then okay, I will trust you and be welcome (that is accepted). I do not want to disencourage good ideas just for rejecting a piece of you Clan development that you though crucial, and I do not want to create an atomosphere of disharmony by being picky with a lore that myself I set to be vague. The human guy is okay, maybe send me a PM with further information. Humans in the Valley of our Father, what an offense, etc.

@Ethanjory
So far I am not considering more characters... may I send you a PM If I reconsider?

I see that Werner has possted IC, and anyway, IC is open for all.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

Well here you have the new territory map.

Teritory map

Clan Karolus please confirm location, Clan Hoarfrost we are waiting for your sheet fix to start this.
I think this will be closed as soon as Clan Hoarfrost finishes unless someone drops out.

@Elgappa
I like your idea and definitively will think about it, but patience

Valley Dwarf Clans I

@Aristo
Accepted,
but let me see:
- I am fine with Seaver keep, but you can hold Muin's Keep as well (Muin's keep is the largest castle in valley).
- Your population, economic advantage and military numbers put you in a better-than-average position towards other players. I expect fair roleplaying under this circumstances. But it definitively makes sense that you control such a "large" army as they are the remnants of Muin's troops.
- In the IC or before you should readily manifest which claimants would Karolus support. I'd love to see conflict out of Karolus stubborness.
- Take in account that the situation of the old aristocracy that is associated with your clan is one of low morale, dessertion, and tense political atmosphere. The nobles expect to retain their rights through your grasp as steward of the Lordship of the Valley.
- I will add your lands to the map in a while

I am yet deciding about firearms. That technology is surely known to the dwarfs, but maybe not so in the valley. I am pondering this question

Valley Dwarf Clans I

The first IC post is there, but please let us wait until at least the first 5 Clans finish, tidy up, confirm location and post their sheet in the Character Tab

@Elgappa
Accepted for sure,
but are you OK with the location?

Valley Dwarf Clans I

After the aboveground, more pompous ceremony,Buri Bizidurum descended silently the staircase dug into the bowel of the earth, leaving well above the noise of the mourning bells that had rung since the pyrrhicly victorious company reached the Water Mill tower of Muin's keep. His mind, frozen at the memory of the view of the boats slowly crossing Kalerodom lake, blowing their horns as they rowed towards the castle had been struck with a meancholic mood. He had been waking between reality and the images of the robust and stoic looks of Master Muin, to wohom he was aways indebted, and the many high and lesser lords that were taken away in the Western Pass. Drawn into day-dreamingness until the same day that the hosts of Muin sons arrived to the castle, now his presence was required to direct the burial. Only him, as the High Runesmith and few others could lead the woeful sons into the hidden crypt.

They stopped by a cliff, and the roaring sound of an underground river woke him up from his reverie. Silently, he leaded the crossing of a narrow bridgeleading into the darkmost chamber. He knew well this room, as he had devoutedly carved the lore of the humble House of Muin since his Lord felt the death chill menace calling him to order his burial place. The room would have been barely been big enough to host the former court of the Valley, but in it dismished state, all the rich works of engravement and the scripted walls were as if the painful feeling of void that grew in the hearts of the Valley was incarnated in the very meaningless ostentation. Ah, Buri, who had dedicated his life to the craft of words, runes and tradition, always with an eye on the past and other on the future, felt the very stab of the emptiness of death, the fear of disintegration, the utter unknown, as a proof of the vanity of all the work of the dwarven kind.

Even the screaming river shouted when the room was closed after the coffin was laid in the burial hole. Not a coffin of gold or silver, no colorful gems or priceless crafts, only a living-rock, carved out as the serene and clear-seeing face of Master Muin. The clasp of the axes, swords, rings, chainmai and clothes he wore being laid below the sarcophagus accompanied the sacred choirs that were sung. In singing toghether, a brief peace and fraternity had settled in everyones souls. At the light of the richly worked weapons, greed and the major passions and ambitions were lit again in the hearts of his young sons. Muri could read that, in the rune oracles, and in the faces of the sons, that the fate of the Valley was doomed. But Master Muin was ever-wise and had prepared for this ocasion. Cutting the cold silence, Buri stepped into the center and drew a tablet:

- Long we mourn you now Master Muin. Here, in the heart of stone from which you came you may rest now. I will now read your last will to your alliegates, Lord and Master of this Valley - he cleared his voice and resumed thunderousy-

For the hour I will be gone,
shall my advice weight on my Sons
and shall these mountains be my final home
For a Dwarf does work the decaying wood,
yet his flowers and fruits feed us in this world
and we do not sharp the metal axe
as for hunger it is blunted the sword.
When the dwarf dies and the mountain rest
what good was it to greed beyond?
When with envy rumours are sown,
is not the folly of a kin against his own?
For many are the Sons of Dwarf,
And mine are those who understand,
that the jewell is precious after being worked.
What wisdom is to split ahalf?
The broken shards will not stand,
unless from them the mighty hammer is forged.
Flee quarrel and seek the Brother,
Fear the Gods and build further.
The Key of the Keep for only one,
so for all the Valley will...

A bitter weep interrumpted the recitation: Yulna, wife to Muin, fell to her knees and growled:
- Not the key will my firstborn receive. Where was him at the fall of his Master? Mother of a pack, they will call me, for I did not raise dwarves of high birth but the lowest wolves of evil thirst. Seven times you be cursed, and I will not give away the Key of the Home of the Valley, no one here is worth to step through the godly gates of Muin.

Swifly, she left the room and her steps were muffled amidst the discomposure and disputes...