Deepforge

by R. J. Washburn

  “What’s ‘The Glade’?”

  “It’s the place where the elder elves come from.”

  “Oh. Well, I can imagine him running away. All of this was because of his original invention two centuries ago. This must have devastated him. What have the elves said about all of this?”

  “Chieftain Bōddy seemed unconcerned about the loss of technology, but that’s to be expected from them. They’re advocates of peace, and have given us a view of the future that lines up with what the dragons told us.”

  “We haven’t seen elves in a very long time, and usually it’s only one or two at a time. Seeing so many here at once, well that in itself is a sign. What is this view you speak of?”

  “Queen Kathryn, It all starts with the Spring Games. I had initially decided to use it as a twofold tool, to help with peace between our peoples, and also to enlist the most hardy of your warriors for an exploratory mission to the far ends of the world. For riches and glory. After what we’ve been told, we have a far greater mission. You see, we, meaning all of us, have enemies we don’t even know about. They have become strong and are heading this way to murder and conquer this land. In order to defend our River Valley, we must be united.”

  “Chromatic dragons?”

  “That’s almost certain, and probably others like us, but with evil intent. The dragons also mentioned the ancient prophesy, and that what we do now will make it possible for that to come to pass.”

  “Grognor, you need to understand the meaning of ‘evil’ is subjective. Nearly all humans see dwarves as evil and you as a malevolent tyrant. Our only saving grace has been that you haven’t warred against us for control over this valley.”

  “We would have, Kathryn. If Deccon hadn’t have stopped us, we would have. I see your point, though.”

  Brendon chimed in, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend, in a way. Our old ways of fighting against each other was a doomed situation. According to all the wise ones we’ve talked to lately, our only chance to survive depends on us being at peace, and putting this behind us… I can’t believe I just said that.”

  Grognor placed his hand on his ex-enemy’s shoulder. “You were a worthy enemy, Brendon. Now as joined forces, we will be unstoppable. I too, can’t believe these words are coming out of my mouth. Truly, the times are changing.”

  Brendon smiled. “I still believe I would have taken you down, Emperor.”

  Grognor smiled back. “And I still believe I would have crushed you on the field of battle.”

  They both chuckled.

  Queen Kathryn could not believe what she was seeing and hearing. “I never, never even dreamed of this day happening.”

  The Ambassador walked in. “Your Majesty, Orogo has arrived. He’s talking with Bōddy.”

  “Please ask him to come in, if you would, and ask Bōddy to join us as well.”

  “Yes, your Majesty.” Taylen walked out.

  Moments later an impossibly handsome dwarf, dressed with the finest garb in all shades of copper, walked in. Bōddy came in behind him.

  “It is perhaps ironic,” began Bōddy, “that the dragon companion of the humans has always been in dwarf shape. Perhaps a look of things to come and we never realized it?”

  Orogo chuckled and sat down with the rest. Bōddy remained standing.

  “Bōddy, please sit with us,” Kathryn insisted.

  He nodded and reluctantly sat, obviously very uncomfortable with the meager seats.

  Grognor noticed the elf’s discomfort and snickered. ‘These are very comfortable to me,’ he thought to himself.

  Orogo began before anyone asked, “Everything Bōddy, Grognor and Brendon have said is true. The dragons had council about this and I can assure you. gods, ones more powerful than the gods of myth have come to visit us. Everyone in the Deepforge Empire is to stop fighting each other at once, and turn efforts toward the threat to come.”

  “Just exactly what is this threat?” Kathryn asked.

  “We’ve been looking into this, and are afraid it’s not good. The chromatic dragons have awaked on the western continent, spreading their diabolical corruption. There are humanoids of all sort over there, too. I don’t think the dragons will get involved directly, but they will be pushing the humanoids east. You need to be prepared,” Orogo explained, grimly.

  “We’ll assemble the armies, and I’ll cancel the Spring Games at once,” Kathryn said, resolute.

  “No, don’t do that,” Orogo said, “I mean, do assemble the armies, but... Grognor, send a group back to Deepforge and make them ready. Bōddy, your people will need to come out of hiding. The elves have skills nobody else does. Queen Kathryn, the games are an important part of your society. Grognor has come a long way to compete and to find the strongest warriors in your midst. I think you should proceed as planned. I will be meeting up with the other dragons and convene another council. We need to fully assess the danger.”

  “To be honest, Orogo, I don’t see how we can proceed with the games. All the power is out, in case you hadn’t noticed,” Kathryn said.

  “Your societies existed for eons without electrical technology,” Orogo said, “I think you can make do.”

  The Queen shook her head ‘no’, but she would not go against the copper dragon’s wishes. “Very well. We’ll proceed as best we can. Our best guess for a rebuild of our technology is no less than a solid year, and that’s if the copper mine holds up. We’ll have a…traditional…Spring Games this year. For the good of all society.”

  “So,” Grognor began, “let me get this straight. The chromatic dragons are pushing their people against us, meanwhile the metallic dragons… you …are pushing us against them. Is that about right?”

  This statement made everyone at the table very uncomfortable.

  “Now just hang on a minute, Emperor—” Orogo began, realizing where he was going with this.

  “No, I think it’s high time we got some say-so in this,” Grognor interrupted. “We’ve given the metallic dragons the utmost respect for the whole of our known history. We’ve done everything you’ve asked of us, without question.” He stood up, his voice rising in volume and emotion. “We’ve mended our ways, and made peace with long held enemies, because you asked…no…demanded it so.”

  Bōddy reached over and touched Grognor’s arm in an attempt to calm him down.

  Grognor pulled away, obviously getting more upset. “No, dammit! Bōddy, you and your ‘hide-and-seek’ elves are just as much in the middle of this crap. You’re issue in this is self-serving, as is the dragons’. You just want us to leave the world like you want it!”

  Orogo stood up and began to speak, but Grognor cut him off.

  “For once, you’re going to listen to us!” Grognor continued. “Now, making peace is fine, as much as it made us sick to do so…” he looked at Brendon, who was nodding his head in agreement. “We would have probably exterminated them if you had not intervened. That’s fine. Now that I’ve spent a couple of weeks with them, I can see them as fine warriors…and with a bit of training, who knows? But, the point is, whether to fight or not was our choice, not yours! Now we have two factions of dragons pushing their pawns to fight each other. This is bullshit! What will you do, hide and watch your playthings kill each other? Like hell you will!” Grognor was fully yelling at Orogo now, with Brendon and the Queen nodding their heads in agreement.

  Taylen rushed in, hearing the commotion. “Is everything ok in here?”

  Grognor continued without missing a beat, “If you want us to fight, oh, we’ll fight alright! We’re a unified Empire, and nobody will take this away from us! That includes the dragons! All of them!” He pointed his clenched fist at Orogo, who was a bit taken aback by the impudent dwarf’s actions.

  Grognor continued, “By the gods, who have also abandoned us… we’ll fight you as well! Do not test us, as a unified people we can defeat you, and will!”

  Orogo got a bit upset at this statement. “Now Grognor—”

  Grognor di
dn’t let him speak. “You will remain quiet! For once!” He screamed at the copper dragon.

  Everyone in close proximity heard this, and began to assemble outside the council room. Grognor’s words were loud and clear.

  He continued, closing in on Orogo and pushing him with his fist. Orogo stood fast as the disrespectful dwarf continued his rant.

  “This is how it’s going to be, oh, honorable dragon companion!” Grognor said with the most sarcastic tone he could muster. He stood nose to nose with Orogo and continued. “You and your dragon friends will honor our demands, and will no longer direct us the way you or some unknown gods, or some condescending elves want!”

  Grognor’s fury was boiling over and was joined with Brendon and the Queen, effectively cornering the dragon. Taylen and several others looked on incredulously.

  “What in Moradin’s name is going on here?” Kergnor asked as he was joined by Teelena and many others.

  “The Emperor is chewing out Orogo!” Taylen said, not believing what he was experiencing.

  “Well, it’s about damn time somebody did!” Teelena said, proud of her new husband. “Tell him, Darling!”

  Grognor didn’t hear them, he simply continued on, managing now to push Orogo back a bit with his fists. “First of all, you will fight with us! None of this watching and advising crap. You’re dragons! Act like dragons, and do something! Don’t you have fire, and all that kind of stuff? I know you must, but we wouldn’t know it to see you! Second, you will leave us alone! We don’t give a shit about your dammed Dragon King prophesy crap! We care about us, now! If you want to help, fine! But, no more pushing us one way or another! Third, you will find a way to make peace with the chromatics!”

  Orogo frowned at this, and began to slightly morph in anger. His size slowly began to grow, and his skin began to turn to copper colored scales.

  Grognor was undaunted. “Don’t you dare change now, in this building! You want to fight, fine! I’ll meet you outside! Here’s the last demand: You and your chromatic friends will leave this world forever!” He then turned to Bōddy, who was very surprised at Grognor’s outbursts. “You and your elves will either come out and become part of our community, actual citizens of the Empire, or by Thor we’ll war against you too! We’re tired of your arrogant crap!”

  Shouts of “Yea!” and “Damn right!” and other encouraging phrases came from the large crowd gathered.

  Grognor pushed Orogo hard, causing the dragon to stumble and fall. He began to change, enraging Grognor. As soon as Orogo got to his feet, Grognor punched him in his nose/snout. Orogo fell back again, crashing into a table.

  Orogo’s voice began to change with his shape. “Impudent dwarf! You know not what you’re doing!” He sounded loud and low, more like a dragon than a dwarf. He stood up again, now looking more like a dragon, and twice Grognor’s size.

  “Oh, yes I do…impudent goddamn dragon!” Grognor yelled and punched Orogo again, much harder this time.

  Orogo flew back and crashed through the wall to the outside. He roared, very much angry, but apparently trying to control his transformation. “Grognor! Stop this!” he roared.

  Grognor jumped out through the rubble and punched Orogo several times in rapid succession, causing the transforming dragon to once again fall back. “Come on, damn you! Change!” Grongor screamed at the tops of his lungs, causing everyone around to wonder where the power had come from. He pushed back his sleeves and waited for the dragon to react. The entire village had gathered around, and all were shouting encouragement, either for Grognor or Orogo.

  Orogo roared again, his fury peaking. The village watched as he transformed before them. His skin now copper scales, his head and body quickly stretched and morphed, wings quickly growing to full size, and his arms and legs transforming. He was huge! The crowd quieted down a bit as they saw the fully transformed copper dragon before them, angry and ready for a fight.

  “Damn! He’s incredible!” Teelena said.

  “Been a long time since we’ve seen an actual dragon!” Taylen said.

  Grognor stood ready, furious and meaning to teach the dragon a lesson. Orogo roared loudly, now realizing he had lost control. He quickly spun around and roared again at Grognor. “How dare you attack me!” He then swung his tail around at the furious dwarf.

  Grognor simply jumped over it. “You’ll never again dictate what the humanoids do!” He then punched down hard on the dragon’s tail as it swept by, causing a massive bruise.

  Orogo roared in pain and slashed at Grognor with his massive talons. “You cannot stop us! We have knowledge of the future that must be!” he roared.

  Grognor couldn’t get out of the way in time, and took the full brunt of the attack. The dragon’s talon connected with Grognor’s metal breastplate, scraping it deeply and also knocking the Emperor several dozen yards away. He hit the ground hard, but quickly stood back up. “Everyone get out of the way!” he yelled.

  Orogo flapped his wings once and came down to slash at Grognor again. Grognor was ready for it this time, and ducked. The dwarf then jumped up and punched the dragon several times in the snout, splitting open the creature’s flesh.

  Orogo roared in pain again, and couldn’t hold back anymore. He growled deeply…

  “He’s going to spew acid! Everyone run!” Queen Kathryn screamed.

  Grongor looked up and smiled, he knew he had him. Before the dragon could spew, he jumped up and rapid punched him in the snout again. This nearly spoiled the dragon’s attack, but did manage to throw him off.

  Orogo roared again and let the acid go, totally missing the dwarf, and lunging the acid globule at a pile of rubble. It hit and splattered, reducing the rubble to a puddle.

  Before the dragon could recover, Grognor grabbed a hold of his front talon and yanked as hard as he could. The dragon went down in a roar of anger and surprise. His massive body slammed, causing the ground to jolt. Grognor then jumped on the disoriented dragon’s head and began rapid punching him again. Orogo roared and scrambled to get to his feet, flapping his wings and clawing the ground. Grognor climbed up behind the dragon’s horn crown and grabbed hold. As the dragon flapped and took to the air, he tried to reach up and knock the pesky dwarf off. Grognor summoned all his strength and twisted, causing the dragon’s head to turn, and making him crash to the ground, tilling up the road and destroying a small dwelling in the process.

  Everyone ran for cover as Grognor fell off. Orogo stepped up and bit at Grognor. Grognor reacted and reached up and down, grasping the dragon’s mouth open. Orogo then began growling again...

  “Darling! Get out of there!” Teelena screamed and threw her hammer at the beast.

  It flew true and nailed the dragon in the eye. Orogo roared again, as his acid began to race up his throat. Grognor jumped out of the way just in time to miss the globule which flew out, hit the ground and began sizzling. Grognor didn’t miss a beat, and grabbed one of the dragon’s legs, twisting and punching. He totally missed the tail as it knocked him into the air. Grognor slammed to the ground, and Orogo jumped on him. The dragon slammed his talons around the dwarf, into the ground. Grognor was pinned. Orogo roared and snarled at the prone dwarf, when all hell broke loose behind him.

  The villagers attacked. All manner of weapons were brought to bear against the beast, from hammers, to spears, to rocks thrown from the rubble piles. They screamed and cursed the dragon, with an energy that seemed long too pent up. Orogo released Grognor and spun around to deal with the mass of villagers, and began to growl...

  Suddenly, he stopped and backed up. The villagers pursued him, continuing to throw weapons and scream in anger. The dragon shielded himself with his arms, and continued to back up, trying to find enough room in the cramped street to stretch his wings again.

  “STOP!” an ominous voice was heard from behind the villagers. They all looked to see a man, dressed like nothing they had ever seen before. He was a metallic dragon, that was for sure, but his kind of metal couldn’t readily be dis
tinguished. It looked silver, but…

  “A silver dragon as a human male?” one of the villages asked as they all parted.

  Grognor recovered and prepared for another attack when he saw something strange. Orogo knelt down before the new dragon.

  “STOP THIS AT ONCE!” the unknown dragon roared again, nearly shattering everyone’s eardrums.

  The fighting stopped as everyone watched. Several more dragons, the known ones, appeared in their normal humanoid forms.

  Orogo, still in dragon form, remained kneeled as the unknown dragon walked up to him.

  “You’re bleeding,” the unknown dragon said. “Fall back into your humanoid form at once.”

  “Yes, your Majesty!” Orogo said, and quickly became a dwarf again, still kneeling.

  The unknown dragon then walked over to Grognor as the other dragons converged. “Emperor Grognor. We accept your terms. We will do exactly as you have demanded, with our apologies.” He then looked over at the others, and glared at Orogo.

  Grognor wiped the blood from his split lip and looked into the multicolored eyes of the unknown dragon. “Who the hell are you?”

  The unknown dragon put out his hand to greet. “Forgive my manners. I am Bahamlo, King of the metallic dragons.”

  Chapter 8

  “Ba… who?” Grognor asked.

  Bahamlo chuckled, then turned around to face everyone. As he did so, several more dragons appeared, both familiar and not, all in humanoid form. He had a captive audience. “So many things have changed. When you all were deposited upon the Great Savanna all those years ago, we had the foresight even then. You see, this world, and all those upon it are part of a great plan, one that reaches into a future unfathomable by mortals. Especially the people of River Valley and the Deepforge Empire. Yes, I speak of the ancient prophesy. To mortals, it is simply a story passed down. To those of us who reside in the outer planes, the time of the prophesy has already happened, is happening now, and will always happen. You are part of something greater, something you can’t even imagine. For that, we have always been not your superiors, rather, your humble servants. Over the eons this fact has become forgotten. Some of us considered us superiors, and instead of helping you along, demanded things of you. For that, we all.” He motioned to Orogo. “Apologize. Personally, I’ve been waiting for someone, a strong leader who did not fear us, to…remind us of our place in your world.” He motioned to Grognor.