The Dwarf Hrunaevaar sits atop his trusty goat Mirvana as she drags a cart into town. Hrune holds a book in one hand, and is puffing at a pipe excitedly as Mirvana meanders into the center of town in front of the Shady Corners. Reaching his destination, he gracefully (for a stout dwarf) dismounts and grabs his staff from the cart. He begins to draw a circle about 8 feet in diameter in front of the tavern. Looking to his book once more, he walks its perimeter, gouging runes and symbols into the ground on the inside edge of the circle. Once he has made a round trip, he inspects them quickly before snapping his book closed. He goes to the cart again and begins to carry armfuls of metal, stone and mana to the circle. In short enough order, the assembled parts resemble a portly humanoid form, complete with a great belly made of solid stone. All of the parts have runes carved into them, mimicking those on the dwarf. Seemingly satisfied the dwarf grabs one last piece from the cart; a mask adorned with long steel chains and a single mana shard.
Mask in one hand, and his open spell tome in the other, the Dwarf begins to chant in a deep, powerful voice. The runes on the ground and on the stones glow a deep blue, as the Wizard dumps magic into them. A faint blue aura connects the dwarf and the stones. As he chants, the aura grows brighter around the stones, and dimmer around the dwarf. Hrunaevaar begins to show signs of strain. Beads of sweat run down his face, and he seems to be leaning away from the circle. Still, the stubborn dwarf continues. The light around the stone figure glows brighter still, until it fades from the dwarf. Hrunaevaar collapses into a limp heap, and a quiet breath escapes from his bearded lips. The faceless stone figure's aura pulses faintly, not unlike a heartbeat.
The stones stir as the Gnome inspects the fallen dwarf. The great boulder quietly levitates about a pace into the air, and stone legs gather underneth that. Stones shaped like pectorals and shoulder blades alight atop the boulder-belly, which are quickly followed by arms made of stone and adorned with mana. A rough, featureless head sits atop rocky shoulders. Long strips of metal rise from the ground, and lash themselves to the stone in such a way that holds the floating stones together. One such piece welds itself to the stone head to form a lower jaw, qucikly followed by long chains to form a mighty beard.
Heavy feet stumble as it moves towards the body of the dwarf. Hands of stone and steel pat the air as one would in a dark room, looking for something.
The creature stumbles back away from the outburst. It points to its head, and a sound akin the beating of drums emits from it. The pitch goes up and down, as if it was trying to talk, but lacked the required equipment. It repeatidly puts its hand to its head, and connects its index and thumb fingers around where its eyes should be. The bass continues to emit from the moving statue, as it tries to communcate.
"Oh! You can communicates... Kinda." Kolli giggled, clapping her hands together as the golem gestured to his featureless head, right about where his eyes would be. "Hmmm, you can't see? Makes sense... Your face is kinda empty. We should make you all pretty! Yes, yes, yes! Let's see what little Kolli can finds for you!"
She looked around the area where they were standing. Nothing around or on the goat and cart seemed to stand out to her, so she drew her attention back to the circle. At first she didn't seem to find anything and began to consider pulling out paint, when she saw it. In the hand of the fallen Dwarf was some kind of mask of faceplate. She scooped it up and squeaked, "Ooo! Perfects! Here you go mister rock guy thing!" She moved over and reached up to try and put the mask in the hands of the Golem.
The mask, when freed from the dwarf and offered to the Golem, flies from the hand of the gnome. It slams itself onto the head of the golem, knocking it to the ground with such force that the cart and goat are lifted afew inches off the ground. The eyes flash blue, and pinpoints of blue light remain in the spaces of the mask. With the mask now installed, and combined with the jaw, the golem is complete.
The dwarf's breath ceases, and the golem's runes glow once more as he picks himself up. Stone grinds on stone as the golem's blank gaze settles on the gnome. Steel and rock complain as he kneels, soes he is closer to eye level with his gnomish helper. "Thank you" emits the gap between his jaw and upper faceplate.
Kollista was knocked back on her bottom when the Golem hit the ground, but she quickly got back to her feet, staring wide eyed at the creature as the Dwarf stopped breathing. When it thanked her, she nodded and a split second later excited babble flowed from between smiling lips, "You. Are. So... COOL. Ohmygosh, who are you? What did you just do? Why are you a rock man thing? Did you used to be this cousin Dwarf? My name's Kollista, but lots of people call me Kolli. Of course I get called a lot of other things too, but that isn't important. I like your face. DO you have a name? Is that goat yours now? Can I pet it?"
The golem's "eyes'' drift from the gnome, to the body of the dwarf. "I am Rune, and he is my Creator." emits from the golem. It stands, and walks over to the body of the dwarf. He nudges the body with his foot. "The Creator is dead" The golem's lights drift to the staff the dwarf had been using. He takes it and faces the gnome once more. "What is 'petting'?"
"Nice to meet you Rune! And Oooh. Oh goodness. Poor cousin Dwarf...." Kollista eyed the corpse with a little less concern and a little more interest than was typically considered appropriate. She looked from Golem to goat for a moment, "Hmm, petting is... Well, umm... It's... Here. I'll show you."
She stepped over to the animal in question and allowed it to sniff her hand before petting it's side with the direction of it's coat. "This, see? I'm petting her."
Rune stomps over to where the goat and gnome are. His lights go from the gnome to the goat and back again. "What is its purpose?"
The Goat Mirvana leans into the Gnomes pets, and shys away from the Golem at first. She looks up at it's face, before headbutting the golems stone thigh with considrable force. Dizzy, the goat sits and bleats.
Good riddance.
That was the only sentiment from the Uordeq who leaned against the railing outside of the tavern, as if she had been there all along. Teleporting had seemed like a better idea than just walking through the middle of the scene. She peered out from the opening in her mask, yellow eyes flicking over the bubbly warlock, goat, stone creature, and finally falling on the corpse of the dwarf. She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms in the shade that the tavern walls provided. It seemed like a good idea to keep her distance from this display.
""Well, I thinks she was pulling your creator's cart." Kollista mused. "I'm not exactly sure. I've never seened a goat this big before. She's big enough that he probably couldda ridden her if he'd've wanted t- oh dear!"
Kollista tried to hold back a giggle as the goat dizzily sat back down after headbutting the creature. She hugged it a little, murmuring first to it, then turning back to Rune, "You probably shouldn't dos that, my furry friend. Are you okay big guy? I don't thinks she's big enough for that to have hurted, but it's always nice to ask."
"What is 'hurt'?" The golem looked at his leg, and brushed off a bit of crushed rock. "Damage is minimal." The golems lights darted to the sudden inclusion of magic that resulted from the Urodeq's teleport. His gaze lingers there for a moment, and judging the dark eyed organic to be of no trouble, he re-focuses on the gnome. "I have no use for this creature, would you take care of it?"
"Hurt is what peoples usually feel when they get damaged. Like pain and stuffs." Kolli explained after a moment. "It's good that you aren't really damaged."
When she noticed his gaze shift, she allowed her own to follow, briefly flashing a smile at the somwhat familiar dark eyes. Attention back to the matter at hand she grinned up at Rune at the suggestion she care for the large goat, mind made up that the furry creature was a girl until she was told otherwise. "I will absolutely takes care of her. If you, for some reasons, find you has use for her jus' let me know, okay?"
After a moment's pause she spoke again, more curiously, "What wills you do without your creator, Rune? You'll stay here in Jastrey, right?" She didn't want her new rock-man friend to leave. He was interesting.
"What is Jastrey? I will stay, my tasks dictate that I remain here." The golem's blank gaze rests on the body. "I do not know what to do with The Creator." He walks to and kneels by the dwarven corpse, resting a hand on the body. "I will take his equipment." Unceremoniously, the golem beings to strip search the body. While the Dwarves' necklace and rings fit alright, the chain mail screeches as its slides over the bolder of his belly. The Golem puts the robes on, while loose on the dwarf, fit snugly on the golem. The Dwarf corpse is now clad in naught but a white under robe. "What is done with bodies."
"They are buried in the cemetery."
Answered the woman from the shade. The question may not have been directed at her, but the answer involved her place of dwelling. That was the primary reason she had even stuck around for the conversation- to see if her home was about to be disturbed to make room for a new resident. Or perhaps the stone creature had some other ideas of disposing of it's creator.
She stepped forward, arms still crossed. The Uordeq stood clad in her usual black leather armor, but she was unarmed save for the dagger at her hip. She would wait to see if the golem had any idea what a cemetery was, or if the tiny warlock would make a ploy for a new meat puppet.
Kollista looked a little longingly at the corpse, but didn't voice any wishes for the body. She knew she shouldn't fiddle too much with Dwarves here, especially if Mama Glimmer and cousin Taklinn were still around. Besides that, she reminded herself with a little sigh, she preferred her squirrels and froggies and bunnies, at least until she got more of her calculations and experimentings perfected. After a few moments of silence she agreed with the Uordeq, "Yes, the graveyard. There shouldn't be too much to do to get him settled to rest."
Bolgrim, astride Borghildr, trotted towards the tavern with the reigns of the ram held tight in his teeth. His hands were occupied with a large bulging satchel slung carelessly over one shoulder and his weapon resting on the other. As he approached he saw the small gathering and Mirvana infront of the tavern, his brow quirking beneath his helmet in curiosity. Heels met Borghildr's ribs and he trotted a bit quicker towards the crowd.
"Whuffs gon on hurf?" he asked from around the reigns before pulling back hard to pull the stubborn ram to a halt. "Oy, blast!" he sputters, trying to the the taste of leather out of his mouth as he descended from Borghildr and took in the scene. His comrade laying in a slump on the ground, this interesting new rock creature, and uordeq, and a pointy hatted gnome. The satchel fell to the ground with a loud thump and the sound of shattering crystal and breaking wood, accompanied by the low grumbling growl of the short tempered Dwarf. Fists clenched the haft of his weapon.
"Oy, Pinty hat!" he almost growled at the Gnome, "What struck my kin?!" He huffed, not waiting for an answer before kneeling beside his fallen friend. "By the grace of our Ancestors, by the flames of the forge eternal, by the diamonds in the depths, breathe once more cousin". The ring on his right hand glowed a faint white as he placed it to his kin's shoulder, it transfered from the artifact into the body with the breath of renewal (Revive)
"A golem... That's new.' The hooded form of Leofrick walked out of the tavern, his clothes still bloody from his meal, surveys the scene. Lowering his hood reveals long canine-like ears, and his usual marks around his eyes missing. After looking around at the scene, Leofrick begins tugging at his robes, revealing a long furry tail. "A tail... really?"
"Well mister, I think your kin put a little too much oomph in to making Rune." Kollista remarked, idly petting her new found goat friend. She held a degree of sadness in her tone as she watched the living dwarf try to help the dead one. "Rune was just asking where he should be burried. Hey, mister cousin dwarf sir? What was his name? For that matter, yours? And, if you don't mind, do you know my new furry friend's name too?"
Another voice caused Kollista's eyes to lift to the tavern entrance. She regarded the male for a moment, "Your voice sounds familiars. Have we mets afore?"
Stone and steel screech as the heavy golem walks over to the kneeling dwarf. He watches the efforts with a blank stare, his light moving from the live dwarf to the dead and back again. Bolgrim didnt seem to be harming the Creator. "Explain yourself, Dwarf. What are you doing to the Creator?"
Binx remained silent as the corpse's kin, comrade, or whatever the other dwarf was to it, grumbled his way up and made an attempt to revive it. Though most of her face was obscured and she managed to refrain from rolling her eyes at the gruff manerisms and ill temper, apathy still reflected in her black-ringed eyes when his attempt failed. She hardly glanced over as Leo emerged from the tavern- the Cassitran spawn seemed to become more and more of a mongrel each time she saw him. She decided to observe without comment, in case this dwarf had an alternative solution to a body laying outside the tavern.
"Yes Miss Nightbayne, We have met before, But i was a little different when we last met." Walking down the steps of the tavern, passing the group, he turns to the gnome. "My name is Leofrick by the way if that helps remembering." turning back he makes his way to the forest dissapearing into the trees.
Bolgrim's upper lip curled into a frustrated sneer as the light faltered from his hand and seemed to flow around the corpse and into the ground uselessly. "Argh, ye damned old fool, stubborn even in death ye are" He hauled back and punched the corpse in the arm before pushing himself up from the ground. "Too much oomph ye say, inter this thing here?" he eyed the Golem with scrutiny and scorn in equal parts. "Good thing for the Urdek here, lest I put the blame on'er head as I most likely should, the word of a Gnome is good nuff though"
"Why ye wearin' 'is clothes, eh?" he asked the Golem, his voice as gruff as always, "Couldn't leave the daft old fool his dignity?" the vein in his neck bulged ever slightly as he spoke, ire raising though it faltered quickly. "M'names Bolgrim, of the Gobl'nsmasha clan, I was in charge of Hruneavaar there" he thumbed towards the fallem Dwarf, "Tasked with keepin' him alive on the journey 'ere" he grumped, "Course the daft arse couldn't keep his nose outta thins that wanted to jump up an bite it" he grumbled. "The Ram is Mirvana. His trusty mount and, if my suspicions're true, his sometimes lover. Only girl that'd ever let him touch'er" he gave a little laugh though remained quite sombre. "I've no need of'er if ye want'er, I got Borghildr here to carry my burdens"
He glanced again towards the Golem and gave a little sneer, "I s'pose yer the closest thing he had to a child, and I'm the closest thing ye got to kin at this point" he gave a sigh, "what are ye anyway?"
The Golem's 'eyes' flash fro a moment, "Bolgrim Goblinsmasher. I am to follow and aid you. He no longer has need for his equipment, and would serve me better." Rune looks at the body, and then back to the live dwarf. "I am a Simulacrum, a Golem. I was built to serve Hrunaevaar Grandhelm, and to aid he and his ally Bolgrim Goblinsmasher in protecting and recording the tale of Jerond Fireforge," rolls out of the Golem's mouth seeming a bit pre-meditated, practiced even.
The golem slams the staff he was holding onto his back. Should anyone be behind him, they would notice brackets have been built into the golem's back just for a staff. His hands free he gently, for a creature of stone and steel, picks up the dwarven body. "I trust a dwarf knows what to do with a dwarven body. Lead the way"
"Okay, Mister Bolgrim! I can takes good care of Mirvana!" Kollista nodded as she seemingly silently confirmed with the goat that she could scramble up on to it's back. "I'm sorry about your kin, and, I suppose in your case Rune, your creator. I'm glads your purpose is keeping you here in town! That's what Jastrey is, by the way. The town you're standing in."
Smiling broadly at the pair, now seated comfortably on her new mount's back, her long skirt situated to reveal rather short pants beneath them. "Thanks agains. It was nice meeting you boths, and I really am sorries about the dwarf you called Hrunaevaar. If you can finds your own way to the grave yard or where ever you intend to put his body, then I'm gonna learn how to rides Mirvana. I've never had a riding goat afore."
When mentioned by Bolgrim, Binx almost snickered. She turned her hands out by her hips, palms out and fingers spread to indicate that she was mostly unarmed and innocent. The fact that it had crossed his mind that she was responsible for the dwar'fs death- whether it was an accident or suicide- was no surprise. Placing a hand on her hip and shifting her weight to one leg in the way impatient women sometimes do, she watched to see if the beard had some sort of plan that involved her neck of the woods.
Bolgrim offered a nod to the construct and picked up his dropped goods, Aye, we'll have him entombed in the citadel. Strange graveyards aren't safe ye know, warlocks can get in there an cause all sorts' a havoc" Bolgrim spat upon the ground as he said the W word. "Have fun with Mirvana cousin, jus not as much as old Hruneavaar did" he bowed his head to the Gnome. Glancing at Binx he just gave a slight nod, "Urdeq". With that he remounted his Ram and began the trip towards the citadel at a slow trot.
"My goodness!" A small, hatted figure squeaked as she finally drew close to the tavern. From her distance she could see a stout dwarf collapsed on the ground in the middle of various things. Her eyes lit up curiously, "Is he dead?"
The Gnome scurried over closer and noticed he was still breathing lightly. She sighed and mumbled softly, "Oh well, it happens." Gently, she reached out to poke the prone Dwarf with one hand, while the other reached for a flask. "Psssst! Hey. Hey, cousin Dwarf. Wake up, please. I'd really rather you drink some of this than me have to pour it on your face to makes you more responsives. I dun likes Alcohol Abuse."