Fu makes his way down a once known path. The path itself has changed little, but the biggest of those changes are the feeling welling up in his dwaven heart. He takes the most direct root he can heading toward a once great forge. It lies in a state of ruin. Setting his eyes upon it, he Grimaces. With a deep breath, he presses forward
"Ah!" Shrayvar gave a start when Fu yelled, falling back onto his rear. He quickly jumped up to his feet, his own hand going towards the sword sheathed on his left side. His other hand moved up to protect his face, though it proved unnecessary. He lowered his hand slightly to better see the dwarf. "I... uh...no, no I don't. I found it by accident. Is it yours? I honestly thought it was abandoned."
Fu raised a brow at this strange Mau. Fu lowered his stance keeping one hand on his blade. He takes a slightly more relaxed stance.
"My apologies, This place has great meaning to me. This belonged to an Angori named Morzoth Korgon. He was one of my closest nakama, err I mean comrade. I believe that is the word."
Fu sighs deeply. He enters the forge carefully keeping an eye on the Mau
Shrayvar relaxed visibly but continued to rest his hand on his own weapon as well. "It's cool, it's cool," he said with a dissmissive hand wave. "If I found someone digging around some place that used to belong to a friend, I would be pretty miffed too. It's just poor timing is what it is. I mean, somebody's gotta do the looting eventually, but not while people are there, ya know?" Shrayvar shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
"Not sure the Angori would appreciate ye looting about the Quarter." Taklinn says dismissively, meeting the gaze of both parties. "Heard that ye were back in town, and if ye would want to know the tale, I can tell yethe tale of what befell me Apprentice." He says meeting the Eastern dwarf's stare. "If yer lookin' after his effects, I can make sure they get to ye. Destroyed the forge after he fell, weren't much use without a proper bellows. That fool would just use magic flame rather than stoke the forge with a proper bellows. Either way I saw no reason fer anyone to use it, so I took me hammers to it. Didn't seem proper fer anyone else ta' use it." he says, gesturing to the pile of stones that once were the forge.
The eastern dwarfs demeanor changed immediatly as his kinsmen spoke.
"Wise as always Taklinn dono. I agree with you, it would be wrong for any other to use this forge. I very much would like to hear the tale from you. I have heard bits and pieces." Fu chu spoke a smile fighting its way through his saddness. "I am only after one thing here. Morzoth's anvil. I will make it a head stone for the brothers Angori."
Fu turned his attentinon to the uncomfortable looking Mau "Again, I apologize for threatining you. I am glad you understand. I must agree with Taklinn dono, a Mau looting in the Angori camp would be met qucikly with a Thunderdome challenge, or just plain slaughter. I am not sure what they would think of you."
Dust stirs at the gate to the Crimson Quarter as Volrog makes his way back into the encampment, pulling inbetween his team of twin Bacca, hauling the creaking cart behind them. He comes to a halt in front of his own hut, wiping the sweat from his brow as he turns to unhook his beasts of burden.
"Good job Biggs, Wedge. We'z helped dem stunties dig out any survivas of dat 'dequi attack, time ta-"
The scargrim turns his attention to the gathering within the abandoned forge hut,
"OY! Wot da ZOG is all ye's doin' in der? Don't see a single 'orn among ya-"
"Aaah, da Stuntie wot fought aside in Forgehome! And ya brought friends too! GOOD! We'z gots too much Tarrasque meat from wot when we'z caught it unarmored, take some whicha when ya go afore it spoils!"
"Wait a sec, you destroyed this place?" Shrayvar said in disbelief. "Geez man, somebody could have used this forge to make a living. Feed a family or whatever. Make awesome swords. I get the sentiment of not wanting to touch the guy's stuff, but dang!" He gestured towards the ruins around him. "Destroying it all seems like overkill to me."
Shrayvar grimaced after Fu spoke. "They wouldn't think too highly of me, I'm sure," he admitted. "For all the good it does the local economy, looting is very underappreciated. And quite frankly, there's nothing here worth dying at angori hands for anyway. So if it's all the same to you gentleman, I think I'll—" It was at that moment that Volrog made his entrance. "—enjoy some free meat!" he corrected quickly as he picked up his sack and hurried over towards the angori. "Thanks a bundle, Volrog."
Fu chuckled. "You have a point Young Mau, but there is no honor in that. If one wishes to provide for themself it is best done with ones own hands, not the hands of a dead man." Fu turned his head meeting the gaze of Volrog
"Greetings Angori. I will not be here long I know the rules of the Quarter well. I am here for Morzoth's Anvil and nothing more, but I could use some help. If you would not mind loading the anvil into your cart and taking it to the graveyard. It would save me the extra effort." The dwarf thought for a few moments. "I will gladly take some of the meat if you have too much." He said as he stepped out to Volrogs side
At the mention of Forgehome, Taklinn appears to grow more sullen, his face and ears beginning to turn pink. "I helped build the durned thing, I can tear it down fuzzy!" he yells at the Mau. "If someone is ta' earn a livin', they can build their own damned forge. Besides as I said afore, Morzoth used his magic ta provide the fire, and there weren't a damned bellows ta' work the forger proper. Taught that fool how ta work the metal, an' not these rudimentary methods ye see above ground. Taught him correctly and he showed a skill that few are seein' above ground." he finishes his tirade, fully red in the face and seeming on the verge of violence.
With his eyes wild he settles on Fu Chu and seems to calm somewhat. "Aint no matter anyways, them Angori didn't see their folly until it was too late. Twas that damned hoot Binx's fault. Twas a vampire, used her powers to manipulate Barbaal. She cast a bewitchin' on Barbaal, and he turned into her thrall, foolishly mistakin' the magic fer love and askin' that hoot ta marry him. Somehow Morzoth learned of the nature of that she-devil and he interrupted the service ta try ta bring Barbaal to his senses. Bink compelled Barbaal ta' fight Morzoth and Barbaal slayed me Apprentice. Upon seein' his brother dead from his hand, Barbaal came to his senses, and in a fit of grief the Angori took his own life. I went searchin' fer that hoot that were responsible fer the death of me apprentice, but fell into an ambush. She captured me and was close ta' turning me into one of them abominations and Keg saved me. Somehow Rizzik was involved and there was a battle that town beat back his minions. Tis a tale I have been warnin' these people fer too long. Been trustin' in these hoots and it comes back ta' bite their asses every time." the old dwarf says, shaking his head and seeming deflated all of the sudden.
"As fer the anvil, I have it secured in a safe place, and can see to it that ye get it. I took it when I destroyed the forge, along with his tools. Seems fittin' that it have a purpose again." Taklinn says, puling out his horn and filling it with an amber liquid from a skin at his belt. He passes the horn to Fu and holds the skin up, spilling a bit out on to the ground before holding the skin up and saying "Ta' old friends and comrades in arms, a parting glass and fond farewell, may yer beards grow long and yer axes stay sharp.To Morzoth and Barbaal."
Fu fought back tears at Taklinn spoke. Fu had heard parts of this story before, but to hear it from Taklinn was almost too much for Fu to handle. Fu's first reaction was shame. He had failed in saving his warlord. Taklinn had warned him of binx but he ignored those warnings. Blind, Fu trusted. No more. Times must change
Fu took the horn firmly. "To Morzoth and Barbaal," Fu poured some of the amber liquid to the ground. He remembered the good times he had with his nakama. "May your souls find rest in the fires of the sacred forge." Fu paused looking at the holy water. "By the beards of the first, I will find their bodies, and lay them to rest" at this Fu drank deeply from the horn.
After finishing the entire horn, his eyes focused on Taklinn. "Thank you kinsman. I will come by and take the anvil when ever it will be most convienent for you. I will not be so blind to your warnings. I will not trust a hoot again." He handed the horn back to Taklinn.
Shrayvar rolled his eyes. "If that's how it works, I hope you didn't help build Jastrey. I'd hate for you to tear it down on a whim," he quipped as he reached out towards the meat. He paused before touching it. He then tried to cover his hands with the edge of his sack and scoop the meat in, with moderate sucess. As he collected the meat, only the movement of his ears betrayed the fact that he was still listening to the conversation.
After taking his drink Taklinn looks over at the Mau and says "Aye thats how it works lad. Didn't build the whole durned town, but saw to its defense and oversaw the building of that wall that keeps monsters at bay. Defended her from Dragons, living and dead. Defended her when demons attempted to ruile her. I don't know ye, but let me give ye a bit of advice. If fer some reason yer fingers are sticky, I would suggest that ye keep em away from me and mine. If I choose to destroy something I made, then it should be no concern of anyone but me. I'll not let another ride me coat tails and do me wrong. Not even sure why ye would worry about it either, as ye obviously don't have the patience or arm of a smith. In any case, the stone is still here and can be salvaged and rebuilt if yer wanting to build something with it, but ye wont be using my friends forge. Ye can build whatever slag ye want with it, but I wouldn't allow anyone to use my Apprentices forge. Perhaps yer kind wasnt taught to respect and honor yer honored dead, but that ain't how dwarves conduct themselves. The fact that ye didnt even offer to pay respects to the person's property ye were looking to salvage teaches me a lot of yer character and mettle." he finishes with a scoff and dismissive wave of his hand.
Inside the ruins of the once-great forge, within sight of the entrance, Shrayvar was busy rumaging through a heap of scrap metal. The Mau was on his knees, hunched over as he removed a small chisel from the pile. He cocked his head and stared at it for a moment before placing it inside a sack lying to his left. "Man, what a whole lotta junk," he muttered. "I bet they took all the good stuff ages ago."