Hearth Fire

The Dwarves had come up with a plan to farm experience to level. They would go to the Storage level and fight their way through the spiders to the various goods they needed for three days. They would make a base camp in the offices since they were protected by the thick heavy doors and with the mining carts blocking the way, the spiders would be unable to get inside. They could also lock the doors using Stronric’s master key. Bauru would leave to tend the goats and retrieve supplies if required. When they woke, the group busied themselves with collecting their supplies: food, water, beer, medical supplies and the like.

Beatrice followed Stronric around baaing at him like a mother disapproving of their plan. Stronric and Bauru were mainly recovered from their wounds now, but both were still a little stiff and sore.

“Oh calm yourself, its just a lil family outing. Nothing wrong with bonding over slaughtering the spider intruders in the hold. Ye worry yerself to much.” Stronric said as he retrieved the backpack he had gotten from the troll’s lair.

“Baa ba bbbaaaaa! Ba ba ba baaa!” Beatrice said as she turned her head up and huffed.

“No, it won’t be like that this time…” Stronric stopped suddenly and looked at the goat. “Am I going mad or am I starting to understand goat?”

“BAAA!” was all Beatrice said before turning and walking away to yell at Bauru who had just entered the hearth with a bucket of fresh water.

Stronric shook his head again and finished packing. He set his pack down by the door leading deeper into the hold. He returned to the hearth and took a seat. Grabbing another bowl of food he sat back and looked over the other two dwarves. Both Rugiel and Bauru had put on some serious weight over the last couple weeks. Living on scraps as slaves buried the young dwarfs’ potential under starvation and survival. Even with recovering from his wounds Bauru had gained considerable muscle while staying lean and quick. Stronric was not fooled by Bauru’s small frame, he knew just how strong the young dwarf was. Rugiel lifted her war hammer, carrying it to the door and Stronric could see the new slabs of muscles that covered her torso and arms. The siblings moved with newfound confidence and purpose, leaving behind the ghosts of two scared slaves they were before. Bauru was currently lifting his eye patch to get a better look at something Rugiel was showing him. It took Rugiel a moment to realize what her brother was doing before she let out a very unlady like laugh before smacking him on the shoulder.

“Ay, Stronric, when I was wounded and forced to lay in bed, I decided to do something with my time. It’s not the best work but it’ll work” Bauru said as he pulled Stronric’s pauldrons from behind his back. The last time he saw the pauldrons, he had ripped the leather harness from the metal scales and tossed what remained into the forge the day Rugiel was chosen by Morgal, the smithing god. Stronric took the reconstructed piece and looked it over. Bauru crafted a new harness from leathers he tanned from his hunts. Stronric ran a finger over the dark dyed leather, tracing the etched cornucopias carved down the straps.

“Rugiel made the claps and the like. It’s a thank you for everything ye done for us so far.” Stronric slowly turned the pauldrons in his hands. Rugiel had brushed the metal fasteners till they shined brightly against Bauru’s impressive leather work. Stronric was impressed by the two beardlings craftsmanship. He smiled as he removed his axe harness and pulled on the pauldrons. Bauru stepped behind Stronric, helping to adjust the leather straps until the pauldrons fit perfectly. Donning his axe harness, Stronric jumped up and down and shook to settle the gear. He took at few swings with his axe adjusting to the new fit before giving Bauru a thumbs up.

“Thank ye, this means quite a lot to me kinsman.” Stronric said as he reached out a hand. Bauru eyes widened at Stronric words and he claps forearms with Stronric.

“If you two are done, we have spiders to slay.” Rugiel cut in as she heaved her heavy war hammer up onto her shoulder and headed for the door.

Spirits were high as they made their way to the storage level. Stronric unlocked the door leading to the storage level. The party quickly descended the stairs making their way down to the open corridor filled with tracks. Stronric could see a few smaller spiders running into the shadows as the party approached. They made their way into the first office filled with paperwork, Stronric locking the door behind them. The party began to set up camp. Bauru unpacked Beatrice’s makeshift harness while Rugiel cleared an area for a fire on the platform. Stronric met Rugiel on the platform dropping his pack down the clinking of bottles caught Rugiel’s attention. She raised her brow in question at him.

“Oh, thats just some bottles of liquids that came with the pack when I looted the trolls cave.” Stronric said, answering her unvoiced question.

“What use would a troll have for a pack filled with glass bottles? Can I see them Stronric?” Rugiel asked curiously.

He nodded, shoving her the pack with his foot once he retrieved a sharpening stone chunk broken from a wheel in the smith. He ran the stone down the head of his axe while Rugiel dived into the pack.

“Stronric, you fool. These are healing and mana potions.” Rugiel said to him with a sigh.

“I don’t know what mana is and I’ve never heard of a potion to heal.” he replied, still sharpening the axes blade.

“Of course you don’t know. How did you people ever thrive without any common sense?” She asked him.

Stronric gave her a blank look and rolled his eyes.

“How did your people recover after battles or from wounds?” She asked

“We did what everyone did, we saw a doctor, got stitched up and sat in a bed till the wounds didn’t bleed and then went back to work.” He said

“How barbaric!” She said with a surprised tone.

“Well what were you suppose to do? We didn’t have the blessing of hearth. No wonder yer weaker than me, with all yer blessin’s and potions. “ Stronric teased.

“You truly had no magic to help you recover?” she asked.

“Eh, magic is a strong word. We had tonics, salves and such. They said the elves had magic that would heal those who were hurt. Those kinds of things don’t really work on dwarves tho. We are to resistance to their magic stuff most of the time, tho the runes did help sometimes. “ He said as he stood and motioned for the door.

“Wait Stronric, this is a healing potion.” Rugiel said holding out the bottle filled with red liquid to Stronric. “If you drink it, it will heal your wounds in seconds. Take it, if you get injured it’ll help.”

He waved it away, “ You need it more than I do, ye and yer brother are weaker than me.” He said as he unlocked the door to the corridor. He turned to the siblings. Rugiel had pocketed a healing potion and was walking over swinging her war hammer onto her shoulder. Bauru stood double checking his daggers were still in place before nocking an arrow and lowering his bow. Stronric looked them over and gave them a nod, “Remember the plan, we fight as long as we can but take no unnecessary risks. The signal for retreat for any reason is a whistle. If it’s called out, we fall back and regroup in the office.” Bauru and Rugiel looked calm and ready as Stronric pushed open the door.

Several dead spiders laid on the ground with arrows sticking out of them. Stronric walked up beside Bauru and patted him on the back.

“Wound one, lets draw them in, I am scratching for a fight.” Stronric said with a smile as he took a few practice swings with his axe.

Bauru took aim, tracking movement in the shadows before a spider’s screeched called out into the quiet of the tunnels. They could see the spider limp around the corner, the “tip tap” of it’s legs turning to a whisper as it scurried off. Rugiel smiled at Bauru then took her spot in front of her brother. They were going to fight in two groups, Stronric on one side and the siblings on the other. Rugiel and Stronric both wielded large weapons and needed spacing to take full advantage of their weapons. Bauru would stay behind the line free to move and shoot. The party shifted, itching for contact as the quiet pressed down on them. Finally, a sound could be heard down the tunnel. At first it was like a soft rain, distinct “tip taps” of legs could be heard. The party stood ready as the rain turned into a rumbling roar as a flood of spiders came crashing around the bend in the tunnel.

“You fought this many alone?!” Yelled Rugiel, fear leaking into her voice.

“Aye, we fight as one Beardlings. Ready yerselves.” Stronric called back over the thundering feet running towards them.

This is your first trail, I won’t be stepping in for anything less than a death stroke. It is time the two siblings put their lives on the line and see how their mental fortitude holds. Stronric shouted a war cry as spiders charged forward, closing in on the Dwarves. Stronric let his battle lust free and joined death in its endless dance as he fought like a mad man. His axe hewed through the mass of bodies, countless dead piling up on the ground around him. He had to keep moving forward over the piles of dead to ensure he met his enemies head on. He moved smoothly like the wind, as his axe sliced through spider, clearing the path like wind ripping thought smoke.

Bauru’s shout cut through Stronric battle haze. “Stronric, Rugiel, move the line! Push them back, I need me arrows!”

Stronric easily cut through the next wave of spiders and spared a look over his shoulder. Rugiel was covered in blood and bits of spider. As she swung a mighty arch, smashing the nearest spiders, blue flames coated her war hammer’s head. She met Stronric eyes and nodded, before shouting out a cry and running forward to meet the oncoming horde. Stronric watched the blue flames decimate and cripple half a dozen spiders, unlucky enough to meet her rage. Before Stronric turned back to his own fight, he caught Bauru slinging his bow over his shoulders and pulling free his daggers. Stronric smiled as Bauru drew out three spiders freeing the space around his sister and giving her room work her hammer. He kept the spiders busy, slowly cutting and maiming their legs slowing them until Rugiel’s flaming war hammer could smashed them into pieces.

Stronric letting out a roar of his own, charging forward. He pushed back the slowing wave of spiders. He felt the warmth with each level he gained, and he pushed himself harder, working towards the next one. Stronric pushed almost to the end of the corridor when he stopped. This should be far enough forward for Bauru to retrieve what arrows he could. Now that I know those two will not fall so easily, can finally enjoy myself. Stronric began to laugh as his battle lust rose. The waves of oncoming spiders were slowing and Stronric felt the spiders themselves were slowing, even as they were fresh to fight.

A whistle broke through Stronric’s battle haze. He turned to look at who blew it, Rugiel was fending off a charging spider and Bauru pointed out to the tunnel. “Incoming, fall back.” He shouted to Stronric. Stronric followed Bauru’s finger as two solider spiders broke around the farthest corner, their looming size dwarfing him. As much as his blood boiled to press forward and take the newcomers head on, he began fighting he way back to the party. Stronric ran forward slaying any spiders in his path and pulled the key from his pocket. Bauru and Rugiel fought side by side keeping the smaller spiders at bay. “Hurry up Stronric, they are gaining ground.” Bauru called between fluid slashes of his daggers. Stronric pushed open the door, calling in the siblings before smashing it closed and locking it. The banging of spiders’ feet echoed in the room and Stronric turned to the others. Rugiel collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, Bauru was no better himself, his arms were covered in blood and his daggers dripped with spider's blood. Stronric smiled at them and walked over to the bucket. Dipping in a tankard and handing it over to them.

“How’d you do?” Stronric asked asked making his way to the platform and fire pit. When he sat, he realized how winded was too.

“I got a level, one more and I can go foundry stone!” Bauru cheered sitting next to Stronric.

“Foundry stone?” Stronric sitting next to Stronric.

“Oh ye, the stone that lets ye pick yer class. Most towns have em, how they know yer class and all that.” Bauru said

Stronric looked to Rugiel for confirmation. She was breathing harder than the rest crawling the short distance to the fire pit. All she could muster was a nod and a mumble which sound like, “something like that”, before she collapsed on her bedroll.

“How do we get a stone? I don't want to go to town and tell anyone what I am up to.” Stronric pondered.

Bauru just shrugged at him. Stronric looked back at Rugiel, but she looked like she was slumping into a nap. I wonder why she’s so tired. Was it because her stats for fighting were low or did it have to do with the blue flames she wielded on her hammer? Stronric thought while fetching another glass of water and some smoked meat for Rugiel. He placed them beside her, then headed for the door.

“Oi, wait for me!” Bauru said he took another deep drink of water.

“I think its best ye stay here and watch your sister. I wont be able to watch you when I am out there. “ Stronric said.

“She’ll be fine and she’s sleepin’ now any ways. I can look after me-self. I just need one level so let’s take a crack at one of the big ol' spiders. I bet they have loads of experience for us.” Bauru said rubbing his hands together like a cartoon bandit.

If lad wants to be tested, who am I to stop him. “Aye, make sure you level now before we go back out. Stronric said, pulling up his own stat sheet. He gained two levels in the last fight, and he quickly spent his allotted points. The two males pressed an ear to the door. “Nothin’ directly in our way.” Bauru whispered. Stronric smiled, nodded then unlocked the door. They quickly slipped out Bauru taking point with his daggers drawn while Stronric safely locked Rugiel inside.

Back out in the corridor they looked around at the devastation they had caused. Mounds of the dead litter the floor, a film of green and yellow blood covered most of the mining cart tracks. The smaller spiders had cleared the area leaving only the large solider spiders at the end of the corridor. The two large beasts, picked through the dead webbing smaller spiders that still lived before injecting them with venom, likely to be enjoyed later. Stronric and Bauru used the piles of bodies as walls, allowing them to creep through the corridor unnoticed. Bauru grabbed the back of Stronric's stopping him. Bauru signaled that he would stay by pointing from himself to the ground here, then motioned for Stronric to continue forward. Stronric nodded and soundlessly moved forward until he was hidden behind the last pile of spiders before the solider spiders. He turned and signaled to Bauru by running a thumb along his neck as if slicing his neck

Bauru took a deep breath, stood, aimed and released his shot. The arrow flew through the air embedding itself deep into one of the spider’s eyes. Blood burst from the popped eye raining down the side of its body as it thrashed and let out a shriek of pain. The spider turned and with its remaining eyes, locked onto Bauru and charged. Stronric stayed low and hidden while he waited for the right moment to strike. He was looking for the weak unarmored area on the underbelly of the spider. As the spiders charged forward it tucked its abdomen under lowering its stinger. Ahh, that’s why they carry their stingers so high up! It’s to hide their weak spot. Stronric prepared himself to strike listening as the spider approached his hiding spot. As the spiders crawled over the bodies he was hiding behind, Stronric launched himself up with all of his might. He swung his axe in an overhead swing. He brought the axe down on the unarmed spot so fast the spider didn’t immediately register the blow. The front of the spider kept running forward leaving it’s abdomen behind a sickening thump.

The dead spider was still running forward when it’s legs started to move sporadically. The second spider had caught onto the enemies in the room and began moving forward when it was tangled in the trashing legs of the dead spider. Tangled up, both the living and dead solider spiders crashed to the ground. Stronric and Bauru pounced on the advantage rushing forward to attack. “Aim for the weak area between their bodies!” Stronric shouted dodging massive swinging legs. Bauru used the pile of spiders next to him to launch up landing on the spiders back. With Stronric below and Bauru above, the second spider was dispatched quickly. As the second spider twitched in death, smiles mirrored both Dwarves faces.

“Quickly let’s drag this one back down to the office.” Bauru said he put away his weapons and grabbed a leg.

The spider was surprisingly easy to move. Maneuvering the corpse around the mounds of smaller spiders was the difficult part. When the spider had died it curled up into itself, turning them into an awkward shape. Stronric and Bauru had just finished finessing the second spider through the mounds when they heard a pounding on the office door.

“Ye better have your axe at the ready when ye let her out, Stronric.” Bauru said, humor lacing each word.

“I’m coming lass! Stop all that banging!” Stronric shouted as he unlocked the door.

Rugiel burst through the door once she heard the lock slide free. “You fools! We agreed on a plan if those creatures showed up. We planned to fight together!“ Rugiel fumed.

Stronric pointed at Bauru, “Blame Bauru, I simply protected the lad.” Stronric mumbled.

Rugiel’s fury turned to her brother. “What’s your excuse then?”

“Ye were sleeping. Besides I hit level twenty-five!” Bauru said sheepishly but raising his head proudly.

“For anything less, I’d make you pay for leaving me behind.” Rugiel scolded. Her eyes softened as she continued, “I’m proud of you Bauru.”

Stronric shouted down the long tunnel. “Ye hear that we beasties?! We have a level 25!” Rugiel and Stronric both patted on Bauru’s back and cheered as he took a bow, his face red with embarrassment. Rugiel grabbed him up embracing him in a hug as Bauru tried to push her off.

Changing the subject Bauru asked, “Ye feeling better sis?”

“Yes, sorry I couldn’t help myself. Using this hammer drains me more than I thought.” Rugiel said shaking the war hammer draped across her shoulders.

“Keep swinging that hammer and you’ll finally get some meat on yer bones, and some stamina.” Stronric teased her. “Well I got another level and that puts me at fifteen, I’ve gotten three levels total today. I want to try and get another three or four before the day ends. Now that we know how to fight the soldier spiders this should go much quicker. Rugiel you come with me, Bauru try to collect some more arrows and slice up those spiders for meat.”

Bauru did not look confident at the spider being good for meat but he nodded and got to work. Stronric and Rugiel headed back down the corridor and as another swarm of spiders came charging around the corner. Rugiel and Stronric looked at each other hefted their weapons up to a fighting guard and launched into the melee.