The City and the Forge

The two figures travelled on horseback through the forest at a mild gallop. The sun was shining beams of light through patches in the canopy of the trees above. The one leading was a female with short black curly hair and freckles known as Ashintina Hawkfeather. The man behind her has short cropped salt and pepper hair and a beard with a scar across his eye that was covered in a blue tattoo, and he is Morningar Silvertyr.

They rode on while Morn sang a travelling song and Ash sighed to him. "You do know Morn that goblins, orcs, and wolves keep to these forests where your singing can be heard... oh and not to mention the spiders in the deeper parts that drop out of the trees." Morn stopped and started to look up into the trees a little worried. Ash smiled she knew he didn't care about the others but spiders always gave him chills. Now it wasn't that she didn't like his voice. Actually without him knowing she loved when he sang but she found his confidence a little lacking at times, especially when danger could be a foot.

She kept constant watch as they continued on, "Morn? Why are we heading this way anyway?  You never said much except it's time you met my good friend the Forge." Morn smiled "trust me Ash you will find this much to your liking plus not to mention we are not far now, you see the clearing is just ahead." Turning around she saw the break in the forest and a clearing of grassy plains. As they broke through the trees the wind greeted them with a cold chill. They both drew there forest green cloaks closer to them; Morn even donned his hood as the cold was felt on his face. As the wind blew the grass on the plains were like waves in the sea, it made Morn smile, he always liked this journey to Aroch.

Further ahead smoke could be seen over a hill a little ways away. Morn smiled and pointed beyond where smoke could be seen over a hill, nodding to Ash as she kept watch around them. She was a soldier through and through always expecting the worse, while most times finding it. What Ash didn't realize though was that Morn may seem aloof at times but in reality if danger appeared an arrow would be waiting without hesitation from him. They rounded the hill and Ash's mouth was agape at the sight before her. She turned to Morn with amazement "my lady welcome to Aroch the city of steam and home to the dwarven smiths."

The city was an amazing site to behold as it broke out of the grey mountain to its back. Around an iron fence that towered over the city protecting all within. In the center stood a large tower made of wood and metals where a circle rotated over and over producing a sound like lightning, while rushing water from the mountain behind the village circled around the tower. Homes and shops dotted the city made of the same metals and wood and each seemed to have steam coming from there roofs.

As they approached Morn turned to Ash "my reaction was the same when I first encountered Aroch. The dwarves built this as a trading post allowing humans and elves to live and sell there wares, while they do the crafting in the mountains. Each home has a small forge that is powered by magic, metal and water to produce heat. Though deeper in the mountains they use this to burn the hottest forges creating some of the most magnificent creations you can only dream of. It is here we need to get you a true weapon worthy of any hunter of darkness that is if you are still so determined to follow the path I am on."

She nodded to Morn in agreement and looked back to the city with utter amazement. They reached the gates and two dwarves with crossbows awaited them. One stared laughing when he noticed the male rider. "As I live by the stone is it a year already Silvertyr or have you come back for a rematch early?" The dwarves lowered there crossbows and Ash relaxed her guard. "For the record gentlemen that dragon's ale was quite strong, especially when smashed over your head." Morn laughed as he jumped off his horse to embrace arm to arm with the dwarf. "Well ye did say anything goes and who be the lass with you ye didn't go get married now did ya? Ye know Oryll will be heartbroken if so the poor lassie." Ash jumped down from her horse "oh another girl awaits the bard how surprising." Morn sighed as the dwarves laughed "no Ash not as one may think. Ok where is he oh wait let me guess." The dwarf pointed to the building near the tower the picture above the doorway showed a dwarf running from stone boulders. "Yep I hope ye healed up from the last time, he is itching for another go and has been training since then, but I still be betting on you just so ye know." The dwarf laughed as he called a young boy to take the horses, Ash looked at them quizzically.

Morn shook his head as he made his way to the tavern as large group of yelling came from the windows. Ash looked to Morn with curiosity again "do I want to know and what’s this about betting on you?" He sighed "nope you do not want to know in the least, welcome to the Falling Boulders Tavern." They opened the door and the yelling was even louder as they entered. It was your typical tavern though with a few changes. First a forge dotted the center that was cooking various meat and was also surrounded by running water like outside. To the side was a set of railings and people hanging over it yelling down to something. Looking down was a circular pit where two men fought one another. Men, women, and dwarves yelled in unison as punches and kicks were thrown, while to the side some played drums to escalate the fight.

One dwarf in particular caught notice of Morn and threw his hands in the air. He was dressed in various leathers and very muscled, while his hair and beard was the color of a dark fire orange. "Morn? Morn you stone crawler haha I knew you wouldn’t miss our next dance, get yer arse in the pit!" The dwarf jumped into the pit grabbing both fighters by the head and slamming them against each other knocking them both out. The crowd roared with laughter and started yelling "Forge"over and over! Morn turned to Ash sighed and handed her some of his gear. "Do me a favor if he wins don't let him shave my beard the last time it took me forever to grow it back the way I wanted." With that he took a running jump and spun into the pit. The crowd roared even louder and more people came rushing in from outside to watch the battle. 

The drums intensified as the dwarf and human circled each other. “Same rules as before unless you need a mug to help again dwarf?” Morn said as he danced in fast to hit the dwarf in the face. "Aye lad and still quick I see, but I got some new tricks for you this time human and no mugs needed!" Forge scrambled around and feinted as he lashed out and hit Morn in the stomach.

Ash watched the two square off as a dwarf gave her a mug of ale and smiled revealing a few missing teeth. "You'll need this trust me if your with Silvertyr, I have been helping Forge train for this fight not of my choosing mind ye." She raised her mug watching the two fighters and admiring Morn's style and skill. "Yes I can see you have, who usually wins when they do this anyway?" The dwarf took a swig of his ale leaving foam in his beard, "well this has to be there tenth fight now and Silvertyr has won one match so far." Ash looked at the dwarf with a look of worry and surprise and then looked back to the fight while starting to drink faster.

They both showed signs of fatigue but neither was letting up in this fight. "By the way lad yer early this year did ya miss yer yearly beatings?” Morn side stepped a punch to his knee. "Not in the least dwarf I have a partner it seems now and she needs your skills of the fire when this contest is done, she is watching above as we speak." Forge looked up to catch Ash's smile and was captivated by her green eyes. "Thanks Ash, I knew that would work!" Morn yelled and caught Forge in the face with a kick from his boot. Forge stumbled back shaking his head and Morn didn't miss a second of this chance as he rolled into the dwarf with a forceful uppercut. The crowd roared as the dwarf slammed into the ground dust blasting up all around, this year belonged to Morn and put two wins now on his belt.

After a few drinks Ash, Morn, and Forge made there way into the mountain. The mountain was a honey comb of tunnels passing by multiple homes while some clanged with the sounds of banging from within. "Ye got lucky lad if it wasn't for yer lady friend I would have had ya!" Morn laughed hitting Forge on the back and making him cringe with pain "perhaps my friend perhaps, but lady luck was on my side this year." Ash turned to Morn and smiled "oh is that what I am now, and I see what the guardsman meant about Oryll she did seem jealous of me but she is cute I'll give her that." Forge laughed as they walked deeper in the hallway "well the Boulders had her since she was a pup, I think its his singing she likes most, you should hear when they do a duet she howls like the best of them."

They all laughed as they entered Forge's home, it was a sight to behold as a huge forge of fire took up most of the room with various circular gears turning water and making vast amounts of steam. "Very impressive Forge I have never seen anything like it!" Ash said as she couldn't keep her eyes off the room and the forge itself. "Thank ye lass and trust me you'll never see anything like it anywhere else, dwarven craftsman to its finest. Speaking of which I have just the idea for a sword for you so please get comfy and tell me how ye met this stone crawler here I call me friend. Oh and Morn just so ye know when we are done here I am going with you, no arguments I am bored of this place besides someone has to make sure you live for our next rematch!"....