Friends in a Foreign Land

Liam opened his eyes. He could tell that it was pitch black, but he could still see just in gray scale. ‘Dark vision!’ he thought to himself. Looking around, Liam saw that he was in a small room, lying on a small bed. Liam lifted his hand up and could see the changes. ‘I’ll be damn. Gaans really did turn me into a dwarf,’ he thought with a grin. Liam had actually spoken with Basama, the goddess of smithing, mechanics, and inventiveness. She had told him that Gaans had agreed to let him become a mountain dwarf. Liam got out of bed and, seeing some clothes on a chair, he started to dress. Putting on pants felt a bit weird. Though never long, his legs were really short now. Looking into the mirror on the dresser, he saw that he was maybe 4’5” now. ‘That is going to take some getting used to,’ he thought to himself.

Liam finished dressing and exited the room to find himself in a hallway. He realized that all the walls in the room and the hallway were stone. ‘Oh shit, I’m underground!’ Seeing a glow of light coming from one direction, he followed it around to find a room with a large table. Sitting around the table were a group of dwarves; the closest one was as gray as ash and looked absolutely pissed. He paused, letting his eyes adjust to the light when one of the dwarves yelled out, “About damn time you got your lazy ass up!”

Liam immediately looked at that dwarf, and though some of the features were different, he could still recognize the face of his childhood friend Miguel. “I was busy talking with a goddess. You can’t rush things like that.” Liam walked up to the table and took a seat. Now that he knew what to look for, he recognized the dwarf next to Miguel as his wife Celeste and the child next to her as their daughter Deandra.

The rest of the dwarves didn't look familiar, so Liam looked at the angry one and said, “Hi, I’m Liam.”

“I know who the fuck you are, you rat bastard!” the dwarf replied.

“Dakota?” Liam asked, confused. “You wanted to be a dwarf?”

“Fuck no, I didn’t want to be a dwarf. I wanted to be an elf, but my goddess made me a dwarf.” Dakota snidely replied, complete with finger quotes around goddess. “When I got upset, she just looked at me at told me that 'race doesn’t matter'," He added in a falsetto voice.

“Tell him the rest of the story,” Miguel said with a smirk

“Fuck no. I just got through telling the story.” Dakota looked to Liam, “Let’s just say my goddess has a short fuse, and she’s a bit… creative.”

“You pissed off your goddess already? What the hell, man?” Liam said while shaking his head. “Is that why you’re gray, too?”

Before Dakota could start up, another dwarf at the table spoke up, “Nae. It seems Tisodi made him a Duergar, also known as a gray dwarf. Which makes Dakota one of tha few Duergar ta come into our city and tha very first Duergar ever ta set foot into me home.”

“Oh?” Celeste said, shocked at the statement. “Why is that? Are Duergar enemies or something?”

“Not enemies per se. Not for some time at least. Some generations back, they split from tha rest o' tha dwarves, and we were enemies for quite a while. But eventually, they straightened up and started to act right. Over tha last few millennia, relations have been improvin'. But they still choose to live far deeper in tha earth than any other dwarves. Between tha distance and old feelings, they and we both tend to keep to ourselves. But we do trade with 'em. Bein' so deep, they find things that are hard to come by where we are.”

“But now Dakota's finished whinin' like a wee lass, we can get back ta tha business at hand. Various gods and goddesses have contacted those of us at this table on yer behalf. They've asked us ta help train ye up fer a mission they have fer ye. I'm nae sure of tha hows or whys of things, but I'm nae one ta argue with a god.” Then with a smirk, he added, “Especially after meetin’ Dakota.” The entire group of dwarves cracked up laughing at this joke, including Miguel and Liam. Celeste just smiled. Dakota started muttering under his breath.

“My apologies Mr. Dakota. I ken see ye're havin' a bad day. I cannae imagine what it'd be like ta wake up as another race. But I was told ye were all humans before today, so at least ye got lucky and woke up as a dwarf!” This got some heads nodding from all the strangers at the table. “Now, back ta business, shall we?"

Before the dwarf could continue the sound of cursing echoed from the hallway. Everyone turned and waited to see who else was coming. After a couple moments, someone else entered the room. Liam saw Wendell walking out of the same hall he had just come through.

"Wendell!" Liam yelled. "Look at ya, a brand new world and your still late."

"Don't let him do you that way," Celeste said, "Liam ain't been here three minutes."

“I might have been on time if I could have seen the room I woke up in. Spent way too long trying to find my way around before I remembered that I had magic,” Wendell replied.

The other dwarves at the table were all muttering and Liam heard the word "human" more than once. "Well Dakota, at least your god gave you a race that could see in the dark before dropping you into an underground city. Wendell must have really pissed someone off if they dropped him here as a normal human," quipped Liam.

The dwarves started laughing and the one that appeared to be in charge started speaking again. "Come have a seat, young lad. I was just about ta make introductions." Once Wendell was seated he continued, "I’d like ta welcome ye all to tha dwarven city of Kan Ladur and ta me home. Me name is Gito of clan Bloodbeard. While you’re in our city, me clan will be responsible for ye. Thusly, your actions will reflect back on us, so I ask that ye act in a manner appropriate for ones sent by tha gods.

"Because o' ye lot, I had tha chance ta meet an' speak wi' he who created us dwarves, Gaans. For tha chance ta actually meet me own creator, I thank ye all. It’s me understanding ye are all humans from another world. I was nae told why ye were brought here. What I was told was that some folk would be dropped off here for safekeepin' an' trainin'. I was given a list o' instructors ta find an' told ta use me best judgment for any other needs. All o' us here know yer secret an' have taken an oath nae ta reveal it without just cause.

“To me right here is Renir Holyforge. His clan contains tha best smiths I be knowin and they will be teachin' all of ye ta one degree or another because every dwarf should know the basics of the forge.

“To his right be Mardora Trollcarver. Mardora has honored us by agreein' ta train ye all herself. She will be teachin' ye combat. Everythin' from how ta stand ta how ta swing an ax or whatever other weapon ye want ta use. When she's done wit ye, yew'll know how ta kill an orc with a spoon if needed.

“To her right is Luitwin Spiritbreaker. Luitwin is a war mage and a powerful one at that. Most of his time will be for Celeste, whom I’ve been told is an aspirin' wizard, but Luitwin will be workin' a bit with each of ye because ye never be knowin when a spell could save yer beard.

“And finally, we have Davruck Goldenale. He’s here ta teach Miguel tha art of brewin' dwarven ale and mead.

“Dakota, I was informed that you were to be a ranger. I must apologize as I do nae have anyone here ta teach ye tha skills of a ranger, but I’ve already sent word ta an acquaintance that we be in need of someone ta train ye. Until they arrive feel free ta focus on your fightin' and anything else ye wish to learn.

“An that’s about it, I has work to be about. Anyone have any questions 'fore we adjourn?”

Liam spoke up, “It sounds like we’re going to be here for some time learning new skills. While we’re at it, could you get someone to work with me on masonry, carpentry, and any other construction skills as well?”

“Aye, I believe I know just tha people. Anyone else?”

"I need someone to teach me as well," Wendell said. "I made a deal of sorts with Beliki. After speaking with her for a bit, she decided I should be a sorcerer. We spoke for a while about what type of sorcerer I should be; it turns out there are a lot of different types. I told her I wanted something different than the others."

“Of course you did,” interrupted Dakota.

Ignoring Dakota, Wendell continued on, “After promising to become a tanner and leather worker, she agreed to give me a unique class. I’m a psionic sorcerer. But I need someone to teach me tanning and leather working so that I can hold up my end of the bargain.”

"I'd like to help in the kitchens, if that’s okay. I used to be a cook and would like to learn how dwarves do it." Dakota added.

"We can find trainers for both of ye. Anyone else?" Not seeing any other questions, Gito continued, “The rooms ye awoke in today be yours until you’re done training. Ye all missed breakfast today, so I’ll have some food brought out shortly. Take the day to wander around and get a feel for the city. I’ve sent word ahead to the guards that I had visitors from the surface visiting but best if ye stay in groups, though. Try not to get lost, be back in time for evenin’ meal.”