These were the only dwarven inhabitants of Murnia, and they kept to themselves in their little mountain doing what they did best. Mining. The Darvane Hills were discovered and claimed by the Durturnian dwarfs from across the sea hundreds of years before. This region sat on the eastern edge of Murnia's Freeland territory and looked over the Pallae Sea. The dwarfs claimed the hills, which were filled with riches, and there they had remained hard at work ever since. These dwarfs who mined the Darvane Hills still belonged to the Durturnian Mountains, their native home. Even the keeper of this band of dwarfs was related to Dwaven, the Silver King in Kaelliakie, and the dwarfs here sent giant fortunes across the sea back home every few months.
The Darvane Hills was not a simple mining operation. Once mining had begun, a sizable colony of Durturnian dwarfs constructed a magnificent city within the mountain to live amongst all the wealth. They had a deep love for riches and obsessed over gold and silver. Often, dwarfs went sleepless for days after finding new territory to mine. They could not be bothered with sleep with uncovering gems at the forefront of their minds.
Bilomaur Van, a great-nephew to the Silver King Dwaven Van, held the title of Lord of the Darvane colony. He and Calysto had a special bond, for he was the dwarf who found her as a baby. Bilomaur was not a traditional dwarf. Even though he looked the part, his behavior differed. Quiet and shy, he only held the title of Lord of the Darvane because of his lineage and direct relation to King Dwaven. This Darius was not aware of. Although he understood the Darvane Hills belonged to the Silver King, he didn't imagine blood kin to the Dwarf King lived so far from his native lands. Bilomaur Van was not a traditional ruler. Unlike dwarfs across the sea in their homeland, here, the city folk voted and elected their council. In this fashion, decisions got made.
Calysto had many friends among the dwarfs as Darius learned when they welcomed her return by calling him their honored guest and serving him free food and drinks just for being her traveling companion. Along with Calysto and many others, Darius gathered in a large pub for celebration.
Besides serving food and drinks, their hosts also shared their ill-mannered gestures after a few pints. The primary offenses were burping and things of that nature, though a few dwarfs wrestled around the pub and broke a few dishes in the wake of their noisy activities. Calysto joined in on the wrestling against a few of her old friends and came out the victor every time. As Calysto claimed, "Calysto is the strongest dwarf!"
Eventually, Calysto, Darius, Bilomaur, and Pogo were the only ones left at their table. As soon as he could, Darius asked the question on his mind. "You say your cargo sails east later this week? I must beg a ride that way for I seek council from Haelleenia and your uncle, the Silver King." Darius added Bilomaur's uncle's name to gain support for his cause, but it was only Haelleenia he sought.
"Aye, I is go'en wit, my friend, here, too," Calysto said. In all the excitement, she just about forgot the reason for her visit. The dwarfs gave some resistance to Calysto, claiming she planned to leave no sooner than she arrived, but after a few minutes of commotion, the topic changed when Darius inquired for news from Kaelliakie. Calysto's report of seeing thousands of ships of enemies sailing east was most alarming, and Bilomaur might have information, as his cargo went to and from the continent. However, Pogo answered instead of Bilomaur.
"Indeed! Treachery in our homeland — some wicked invasion on the Gormania mortal lands. The elves, mortal, and dwarf folk east have come together to repel them. Nasty business. They come from this hole in the Tragmont ruins of Murnia, you say? Why come from there and go across the sea to worse? What are they?" Pogo ended on a question. He was an older dwarf sporting a long mustache that became one with his bushy beard.
Darius and Calysto had no information to share, and the Darvane dwarfs knew little more than they. For vague and mysterious reasons, it seemed the continent across the sea now plunged into war against foul hosts of undead and dratzel fiends, along with tainted mortals and minotaurs from Lamisdoria and Divox. Darius couldn't fathom how or why the southern inhabitants of Murnia had gone mad, but he recalled dratzels, pulslings, and troll-kind, or at least stories about them in his youth. He understood more than these dwarfs, yet feared to reveal much and scare these peaceful people.
Darius hoped the situation might not be as bad out east as he imagined, for the Silver King had not summoned this community in Murnia to help fight. This puzzled him as well. His questions were many. The women of his visions remained a maze, but the return of monstrous beings from his childhood was every bit as alarming. In his mind, he understood the two concerns must be intertwined and not mutually exclusive. In one of his visions, he had viewed Luminear on the black cliffs unsealing this hidden gate. These mysteries demanded answers. However, these drunken dwarfs couldn't stay on topic long enough to disclose much of anything, and Darius thought they likely didn't know much more than they were saying. Relatives to eastern dwarfs or not, they lived too far removed from their people.
"Sarding shame ye both be leaving so quickly. We could always use an extra hand here. Busy, we are," Pogo said.
"When we ain't play'in," Calysto added, making Bilomaur smile. Bilomaur had almost nodded off at the table. They’d been at the pub for many hours now, and the drinks were affecting him.
"Aye, it is always play, even at work," Bilomaur said.
"I wish I had the time, but there are places I must be off to, my friend. Perhaps you fine folk can talk Calysto into staying, but my work is far from over. I do hope one day to return. I fancy dwarven ale and stories, mind you," Darius said.
"Calysto says she goes. I go with Wizzy. I go meet elves and dwarfs and get answers. You all play hard, and I return one day. Calysto always returns." Calysto raised her mug and chugged the rest of her drink, then slammed it upon the stone table. "I meet ya, uncle, Bilo. Tell him great tings about you! Make him proud." In response to her words, Bilomaur fidgeted with a strap he had wrapped around his arm. In it were odd trinkets, mining tools, and a rolled-up scroll poking its way from under the belts that kept them in place. Darius noted his fidgeting and kept a curious eye on him.
"We- well, we might be going soon. Aye, he be my uncle. Dwaven, that is." Bilomaur said haltingly.
"This war of the east must not be so bad if Dwaven continues to keep a host of dwarfs here in Murnia," Darius said. Bilomaur's fidgeting increased. He could not hide his discomfort as he appeared nervous at the mention of King Dwaven.
"Aye, uh, eh I," Bilomaur tripped over his words. "Wonderful. Are-are you? I mean. Is that who you will visit?" At last, the shy little dwarf got his words out. Pogo chuckled.
"Well, if it isn't our very own bumbling Bilomaur, great-nephew of the Silver King. What's got you all shy now, Bilo?" Whenever nervous, Bilomaur faltered. He couldn't help himself.
"Nothing. I, um, err. You must. We-," Bilomaur said as he fiddled with his hands and glanced between the group members. Calysto, too realized Bilomaur kept playing with the straps upon his arm and the scroll in particular. He was not only touching it but eyeing it too. Calysto realized Bilomaur wanted to say something. His behavior was clear, and he hid nothing well.
"What ya spitt'en about, blast ya!" Calysto shut him up fast as she reached across the table and snatched the scroll from his strap. "Keep play'en 'round wit dis. Calysto will learn why." He grabbed at it, but Calysto was faster and caught him off guard. "What's dis scroll 'bout? Ya keep look’en at it, and I know ya well enough. It is someth'en good." Calysto unraveled the scroll, catching Darius and Pogo's attention.
"See, it's not what you think." Bilomaur defended himself, but the others had no idea what was going on. Calysto unburdened Bilomaur by scanning the contents of the scroll. She soon realized that it was a letter and not a work plan. She also noticed a signature at the bottom before she began reading aloud.
Lord Bilomaur Van of Darvane,
Try as we have, the enemy's invasion was successful and now holds Gormania and our southern mines of Durturnian. Withi
n the Durturnian hills, Orzo is our last line of defense. Even with all the strength of dwarf, elf, and mortal folk, we struggle. If this defense fails us, then it is over. I summon every able dwarf in Darvane Hills to honor the oath we all have taken to the Kaelliakie Alliance. Bring your treasures. We will take back Darvane if it is stolen from us. Now come!
Dwaven Van
Silver King
What she read shocked everyone seated at the table. Calysto jumped to her feet. "How long ya had dis? Our kin! Dey needs us, and ya tink not to say someth'en 'bout it?" Calysto asked as her considerable temper flared. Bilomaur tried to explain. With the secret out, he spoke with more confidence.
"Six days, thirteen hours. I tried to say something. I got all dressed up in my armor and everything. I ran to tell people, but I couldn't get the words out. And then I did not know what I was doing, you see? We are no fighters. Lord of Darvane, maybe, but all we do is build things and mine. Merchants we are. How can I lead? How can I ask them to leave? We aren't soldiers. This is home."
"We can fight! This is our kin, Calysto is right!" Pogo now confronted Bilomaur too.
"You may not have a city to mine if you don't help your great uncle. It is not up to you to deny Dwaven's command. You all took an oath and are still eastern dwarfs whether you live on the west of the Pallae Sea or not," Darius said. His worries about his friends in the east were confirmed. Calysto backed Darius.
"What old man said. What's we do'en in here drink’in? We fight! It's in our blood! I'm ready now. Calysto so mad. I teach those folks a lesson dey soon not forget."
"When did you plan to tell us, Bilomaur?" asked Pogo.
"I was going to say something. Tonight, I had hoped. After enough ale, I figured I'd tell everyone. We could discuss this and decide what to do?"
"You woulda drank ya self asleep. And still, ya wouldn't have said noth'en." Calysto was furious at his procrastination.
"Near a week is a long time to wait, Lord of Darvane," Darius said. "I know your great uncle, and he would not summon you if he did not think it of the utmost importance. He is too proud. The situation is terrible. You should be well into packing and preparing, yet you sit around drinking." Darius gestured with his hands, then paused, palms up and fingers extended toward Bilomaur. "You must sound your alarm and ready your people as soon as possible. Postponing may very well cause more trouble for your relatives. If the east falls, you will have no mountain. Do you think they won't come here? The Kaelliakie Alliance was formed to protect all the eastern realm. It is the strongest power of the free people in all lands. Do you think the northerners or Murnia will come to help? They stay to themselves. Cassenneth and Pallaecious concern themselves with nobody else. If they are aware of what is happening in the east, I doubt they take it seriously. Perhaps convince themselves it is nothing more than overblown rumors and-"
"I'll sound da alarm!" Calysto said, interrupting Darius’s tirade. "Bilo, ya gonna needa find courage soon, cause we is gonna go to war. Calysto whip some more trolls and gouge out some beast brains."
"It will take a while to prepare; I'll begin reporting the news," Pogo said. Bilomaur hung his head and apologized.
"I am sorry."
"It is all behind us, Lord Bilomaur. No point dwelling. You can prepare now," Darius said.
"Now? At this hour? It is late and time for sleep," Bilomaur said.
"Oh no, it ain't! You. Me. C'mon. We help Pogo get this go'en. We needs to pack. Warn. Prepare. We have much to do and no time to waste. We is pack’en tonight and be dere in a day or two, eh?" Calysto looked to Darius for assurance.
"It's at least a month at sea, dear friend. Gathering your people and preparing will take far longer than one night, I imagine," Darius explained, knowing well enough Calysto had little concept of time.
"Whateva. We go dere one way or anotha." Calysto then turned her attention to Pogo. "Go, Pogo. What is all dis dragged along business? Darius says go, so go!" Darius smiled as he watched Calysto jump in to do what was needed. "Ya can go sleep, wizzy. Calysto handles dis." Calysto assured her new friend. Within moments, Calysto had a sleepy-eyed Bilomaur up from the table. She then addressed the patrons. "Hey!" she screamed, grabbing everyone’s attention in the room. "The Silva King Dwavin needs help, and we are gonna give it to him. All us getta go'en. Take ya drinks if ya gotta, but hurry an report to every dwarf! Calysto needs everyone to know. Everything packed! Get to report'en and get ready. We is go'en to Kaelliakie! To Silva King!" Calysto, with a mix of anger and excitement, was pumped full of energy, and ready for whatever this new adventure offered.
The bar patrons got the message. Calysto, Bilomaur, Pogo, and Darius explained the dire situation, and this drunken crowd of dwarfs took the news much better than Bilomaur expected, for many got just as excited as Calysto. Within no time, the dwarfs engaged in boisterous bragging as they swore to tear up any and all enemies of their kin. Since Bilomaur had been so certain the dwarfs would balk at going to war, he must have been shocked to see the display of willing and ready dwarfs. From all appearances, Bilomaur was still cautious and nervous at the idea of warring. He did not join in on the bragging and celebrating with the rest of the dwarfs, but kept to himself. Ironically, Calysto proved herself more of a dwarf than poor Bilomaur.
It did not stop there. Soon horns sounded as Pogo fulfilled his duty to signal their people. Calysto marched throughout the city with Bilomaur at her side to help spread the report. At first, Darius came along to assist and to ensure order. But he found after an hour that the excitement in the city was too much for him. Calysto and Bilomaur seemed to have everything under control so Darius decided he would catch some much needed rest. Again, this would delay Darius's quest to reach Haelleenia as the dwarfs prepared to leave their homeland behind, but it was a most necessary endeavor. The days of traveling by foot were over. Now Darius would accompany Calysto and thousands of dwarfs, as they sailed into the east and to war.
Chapter Five
Admission of Guilt
Kaelliakie Continent, Eastern Realm
Head Commander,
No sooner than I received word of potential invasion on Kaelliakie soils, I responded. I was summoned from the Starspire Island by the Head Commander, Vigo 'the Curator' Hornsworth of Gormania. King Lieulundrum Lancet of the mainland had already withdrawn from his Gormanian throne in Navelle, trading his home in the hills for refuge in the Crystal Palace in Loomis with Haelleenia, the High Elf Queen and Dwaven Van, The Silver King of Durturnian Dwarf folk.
The Starspire Islands kept our vow to answer any summons from our mainland neighbors. My response to the call was taking nine-hundred vessels to accommodate Hornsworth’s demands. This stripped the Starspire islands of our most potent asset. Our boats. It was all I had to offer. My people are peaceful folk, unprepared for anything outside our ability in the water. Still, I answered, willing, and proud. Despite my fellow islanders contending my decision, I took nearly every vessel with every capable crew to the western shores of Gormania for an impending attack. There I joined another three-hundred Gormanian warships stationed to defend against an expected threat from across the sea.
With twelve-hundred proficient crafts ready for naval warfare, a successful mission seemed assured. Vigo, the Curator, informed me Kaelliakie expected an assault on Gormania soil, and by oath and law, I would serve. I was under the assumption that my services would be needed awhile, but not likely to exceed one battle and one year of further policing of the area to assure no further retaliation. Under that false assumption, I brought my wife and daughter with me with permission to move them into Gormania's capital and the safety of Navelle. Only one battle, and with my family living in Navelle, I was more than willing to fulfill my obligation.
My family was honored to live in a luxurious city as respected guests, and we all felt privileged to serve our neighbors and to receive due respect from our allies. My daughter, 12 years of age, anticipated Gormanian hospitality while my wife appreciated the Curator's gift, but upo
n arrival, I learned the truth. Disrespect at every turn, they rushed me into the war council and shipped my family to a small military city, Dole, not but a day from the dangers of the shore. I found this both insufficient and unaccommodating. I realized the Curator deliberately lied to get my compliance, and the situation was direr than I had been led to believe. Hornsworth said what he needed to assure I would come. This lie alone, I can understand, for, in desperation, people do what they must, but under the circumstance, my family was now in danger, which I found unacceptable. Still, I agreed to the terms after a new promise that my family would be moved to the capital at Navelle and treated with due respect. The Curator agreed to these terms. I would later learn no such relocation ever took place.
On Hornsworth's first official gathering, the allied council commenced. Serving as a chief captain of the fleet, I attended. Several had come, and most I did not know, but after meeting with many of the council, I felt proud to be serving with such a noble collective of worthy advisers and wise minds. Morale stayed high even before Vigo arrived to take his mantle as Head Commander. King Lieulundrum had chosen to use his commander over the service of Haelleenia's personal choice, Elzeenor Zavon. However, Elzeenor also attended to offer suggestions on strategy and lend himself to this partnership.
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