16 Chapter 13: Out Drink a dwarf?

AN: this Story will have Dwarves as Friends and Elves as Pretentious pricks. If you want me to change this, you have to convince me

--inner thoughts—

Story Begins

With Angus right after leaving the whole on day of Runeskru – Trikru Battle.

Wells: Where is everyone?

Angus then using Earth sense. He felt a huge disturbance towards mount weather. So deciding to look at his Map skill, he saw 55 alive Runeskru markers entering the mountain.

But weirdly he could not see the marker for Bellamy. Hope fully he was alive. (AN: the reason why Angus can't sense Bellamy, is due to some magic cast by the Trikru Mage)

Angus: I sense the others being taken into Mount weather.

John: are we going to go get them?

Angus who was looking at the gas canisters on the ground answered in the negative.

Angus: Considering the mountain men waited till after the Battle to knock our people unconscious and steal them away, I would consider them as potential hostiles.

Angus: I think we should go to the West and the Dwarves, once there we will claim some land for our own, and then we will see if we can persuade some dwarvish warriors to help.

Wells: How will we convince them.

Angus: We can probably convince them to let us pay in installments. We will probably offer labor or portions of our future crop.

John: Alright bossman lead the way.

For the rest of the day, they ran non stop, until they got to the Cliff where they originally met Garzol and the others. Though no one was there.

Setting up camp, Harper went off to hunt some food, since all of theirs went up in smoke at the shuttle camp.

At this time, Angus was observing the map for a potential settlement. (Angus made a copy of the map from Garzol)

John also looked over

John: What kind of land are you looking for?

Angus: I am looking for a place with multiple mountains and a Valley or two. Hopefully we can find one with a decent sized river for trading.

John: that is a pretty big order.

John then pointed to the area of the border of Azgeda, Boudalankru (Rock Line Clan) and Ouskejonkru (Blue Cliff Clan).

John: there seems to be many mountains and rivers there. And it is just North east of the Dwarves.

Angus simply nodded.

Angus: Alright, when we meet the dwarves we will ask them permission.

Octavia: what about the permission of the grounders?

Angus: they can suck it up, the only ones we need to keep happy are our allies. And most likely the grounders will have an ambassador or two at the Dwarven kingdom.

Wells then pointed to the crossed off section in the Lake people's territory.

Wells: What is a Long ears, and why is there a big red X on that part of the map.

Angus: Those are probably Elves. Historically Elves and Dwarves have never gotten along.

Octavia do you know why?

Angus: no clue.

Harper then came back with half a dozen Jack rabbits.

She then started cooking the meat.

As she is doing this Angus is teaching the others how to Make a ward line using rune stones placed in various formations.

He went with a simple square formation, and layered it with a life detection rune and a Camouflage rune. The Camouflage rune will hide their presence, smells and sounds from outside.

After supper they went to bed

It took another 2 days before they reached the Dwarven stronghold.

At the Gate they were stopped by some guards asking for their reason to enter.

Angus: then presented them a seal that was given to him by Garzol.

The Guards were surprised.

Guard: How did you meet the Old Prince

Wells: Prince?

Angus was surprised, he had no idea that Garzol was a prince.

Angus: I do not know of a prince. This seal was given to me by a Dwarf named Garzol after I saved his life.

Guard: can I have your name.

Angus told him his name and the Guard sent off a runner to fetch Garzol.

John: why do you call Garzol "old Prince"?

Guard: he is the brother of the late king. The uncle of the new King Garnak.

Angus: No shit, we had no clue.

After waiting about an hour the runner came back with Garzol, along with Paz, Ram and Rath.

Garzol: Angus, great ta see ya laddai. What brings you here?

Angus: I have come here to ask for help, is there somewhere we can talk privately.

Garzol: Yes, come with to a pub. Help is best asked for with a pint o ale.

Travelling through the halls was awe inspiring to those of Runeskru. (think of Erebor from LOTR)

On the walk they discovered that the other 3 Dwarves also had High rankings:

Ram was the Headmaster of the school of healing.

Paz was Head Enchanter 

Rath was the Precious High commander of the Army

While Garzol was a Prince and a Grandmaster of Forging.

At a pub

Walking inside, Runeskru saw many other beings besides dwarves. There were Ogres, Stonemen (humanoid rock people), Ice giants, humans and what looked to be Scruffy hobbits.

Garzol called for a round of dark molasses like Ale.

Garzol: So, lad what can I help you with.

Angus first took a swig letting out a belch, much to everyone's enjoyment.

Wells was unable to stomach the ale, while Harper and Octavia were guzzling it down like water. John was simply sipping and enjoying the flavours.

Angus: Originally my plan was to ask you took find someone high up for us, but since you are royalty, you might be able to help.

Angus: first off, I have chosen some land to settle, but I am looking for permission since it is nearby.

Angus then pulled out his map and pointed to the location ( this location is mentioned above)

Garzol: Hmm, I do not think we have a settlement there, but I will need to ask my nephew for this. 

Garzol then called: Braken! Kas!

At his call, a human man and woman stood up and came over.

Garzol to Angus, these are ambassadors of Rock clan and Blue cliff.

Garzol to the Ambassadors

Garzol: My friends here are looking for land to settle. 

He then pointed to the location

Garzol: Do you think your chieftains will be alright with this?

Kas: we do not have any problems, but so you are aware, we often get raided by Azgeda. And since you will be on the border you will often be attacked.

Braken: that is the same for my clan. You can settle there.

(AN: as stated above, the clans often get raided by Azgeda so they are hoping to put a buffer between them)

Angus nodded

Angus: Alright, we can handle small attacks, and once my people have enough time not even Thor, could bring down our walls!

The Grounders head back to the table

But Angus exclamation brought a Jotunn over.

Garzol: what do you need Bairn?

Bairn pointed to Angus

Bairn: Little man! You think you can challenge the great lighting bringer? You don't even look like you can out drink an elf, much less build a solid wall.

Angus got an excellent idea.

Angus: I have a little wager. If I can out drink you, you will come help me free my people. If I lose, I will give you my spear and shield.

Angus, then showed his spear and shield.

Garzol observed them: this is amateurish but still finely crafted. Why do your people need freeing?

Angus then explained about the Runeskru – Trikru Battle, along with his people being taken by Mountain men.

Garzol: I will aid you along with some of my Soldiers if you can out drink both Bairn and I.

Bairn: I will accept your challenge.

The Barmaid then brought over 3 barrels of ale, with more coming.

Three lids were opened, the barrels lifted

Then the Drinking started.

At the 5th barrel each, Bairn stated to slow down. By the 8th Bairn passed out.

On the 12th barrel was the end of the contest. But it was a Draw. Both Garzol and Angus finished theirs but could not continue.

Now just relaxing, Bairn came too, and just walked off.

During this whole time the rest of Runeskru fell asleep after drinking to much.

Garzol: don't worry about him, he will keep his word, now tell me who made that spear?

Angus: I did along with the runic work.

Garzol: do you have a teacher?

Angus: not anymore All I learnt was from my parents who are dead.

Garzol: hmm, I will teach you some forging techniques on the journey to save your people. Now for your future city do you have any architects and builders?

Angus: only inexperienced ones

Garzol: I can get you some teachers for your people, the only thing is you will need to sign a contract for mutual defense.

Angus did not take long to think and agreed.

Soon enough a Hobbit with mutton chops came to the table.

Garzol: Hey Bent what you doing here.

Bent: I heard someone needs an army?

Angus: Yeah, you got one?

Bent: The Lads back home have gotten restless since crushing the Goblin clans of the Bay Mountains

Angus: Where's home?

Bent: Far north past the Lakes. Where the land is great for farming.

Angus: past the Lakes? Are you talking Ontario? Canada?

Bent: you know it?

Angus: My ancestors came from a farm there. (in reality in his last life he lived there)

Bent: well, Better help a fellow Kanuck then. I can offer 100 troops, along with 20 earth men.

Angus: What are Earth men?

Garzol: they are hobbits who use earth magic much like you.

Bent: you can use earth magic? Can you show me.

Angus then brought a stone from the ground and made a model beaver.

Bent: nicely done, lots of control. Anyway, I will head out tomorrow, and will be back in a week with your army.

Angus: Alright I will be ready.

For the Next week Garzol threw many teachers at the members of Runeskru.

For Angus he was taught, rune work and blacksmithing 

John and Wells: Tactics and building crude siege weapons out of wood.

Harper was taught Tracking and Healing

Octavia, finally learnt Air magic from an air elemental. She also learnt tracking with Harper.

Along with the tutoring all the members of Runeskru were trained in weapons in the training yard.

Harper could now use combustion magic and made her arrows explode on impact.

Octavia started incorporating wind slashes with her sword.

John learnt dual oxtail swords. (Zuko anybody?)

Wells started learning the pole axe

Finally, Angus, started fine tuning his spearmanship, axe wielding and was being taught to fight with only a shield. (Angus could be Captain Canada)

Being put through their paces by the end of the week, they were all bruised and exhausted, even Angus with regeneration.

At the start of the nex week Bent arrived with 100 troops. Bairn also showed with 20 other Jotun's, and Garzol was able to acquisition a squadron of 40 infantry.

Angus and Garzol, then Ordered the Small army to march onwards.

It took 4 days before the Army arrived at the burns remains of the Shuttle camp.

Once they saw the writing on the shuttle. They then went south east. To Alpha station.

But just as the Station came into view from the hill, Angus and the others spotted a huge army of Grounders.

John: what the fuck? Are we going to fight them all?

Angus: No not yet, Garzol any ideas?

Garzol: Bent(hobbit), Bairn (jotunn) Angus and I will approach under a white flag, and talk to the commander. I believe her name is Alexandra.

After Bents' signal a hobbit brought up the flag for a parlay.

The 4 then Approached the Grounders.