A Land Far Away

Orengard stood in her room, in her families home in Deepstone hall, packing clothing, and equipment into a large backpack resting on her small bed...the bed she had slept in almost every day of her fifty years of life. For the last twenty-four of those years Orengard had lived here with just her little brother Nicklaus, the two young dwarves having been orphaned, when Deepstone hall was attacked by grey dwarves, and both of their parents had been killed in the fighting. Now Nicklaus had reached his twenty-fifth year, his age of apprentiship. Nicklaus had decided to become a silversmith, he had already found a master, and moved his few belongings into a room in his master house, and Orengard found her little house far too empty.

A voice from the rooms doorway causes Orengard to look up.

“So yer almost ready ta go then I see”

Orengard met Sarah’s eyes briefly before looking back down stuffing a tunic into her pack “Aye I’ll be leavin come first light tomorrow”

Orengard heard the hearth guard sigh softly. “Ye dinna have ta go girl, ye ken stay, the Hearth guards 'll take ye, ye know that as well as I”

Orengard stoped and just looked down into her pack. “I know Sarah, and I thank ye, and all the guards, fer all ye have done fer Nick, and I o’er the years. but I can’t stay ye understand don’t ye?” Orengard looked up at the female warrior, and Sarah saw the glint of unshed tears in her eyes. “It’s been better than a score o’ years, and I ken still feel em here, I still find myself waiting fer my da ta come home after a day at his shop an’ grumble about how much the price o’ wood has increased from when he went inta business. or ta hear my ma call me ta set the table, or pick up my clothes, or a hundred other things. Now Nick has gone ta his ‘prentiship and all I got left is the ghosts, and an empty house.

With a shuddering breath that is dangerously close to a sob Orengard went back to packing stuffing items forcibly into her pack. Sarah’s slightly callused hand came to rest on Orengard’s shoulder and turned her around. The Older warrior looked down into the pain filled face of the girl who she had taught how to fight with axe, and crossbow, Hammer, and shield.

“Have ye given any thought ta where ye’ll go?”

Orengard shrugged slightly “South, Shadowdale perhaps.”

Sarah Nodded “Aye Shadowdale ken do ye right, plenty o’ adventurers in the dale, but here’s another possibility fer ye ta think on, Glen, they have opened the mine and are looken fer strong axes ta serve as guards. I understand ya haven ta leave Deepstone, but ye ken still be with kin.

Orengard regarded her mentor for a moment then nodded. “Aye I’ll consider Glen...thanks Sarah.”

Later that evening Orengard sat with Nicklaus at the kitchen table, the Siblings had shared one more evening meal before they parted ways for the gods alone knew how long Nick kept looking up at his sister opening his mouth to speak then looking back down.

“Nick” Orengard said gently “If ye got somethin ta say..say it aye?”

He looked up into his sisters face “I’m just afraid that yer goin ta die too”

Ornegard reached out and took her brothers hand in hers.

“Nick...I ken nay promise that I wont die...cause only the gods know when they’ll call ye back ta the forge...but I will promise ye that I’ll be careful.Have faith in Berronar. Nick I am so very proud o’ ye. Ye are growin inta a fine young lad. and yell make a good smith, but I need ta do this, please understand, I got ta get out and see what's ta see afore I ken figure out what i'm saposed ta do with my life.

Nicklaus reached out and pulled Orengard into a tight embrace. “ye’ll come home and visit aye?”

Orengard squeezed her brother back felling the budding strength in his small arms. “Aye Nick I will...and the gods have pity on anything that tries ta stop me.”

The shadows were beginning to creep across the road, as the sun began it’s slow decent towards the western horizon. Orengard glanced up, noting its position, and tried to urge a bit more speed from her weary legs. She had been traveling for two days, south and east from Deepstone hall, and she hoped to reach Shadowdale before another night caught her on the road.

Her departure from Deepstone Hall had been hard. She had hugged Nicklaus several times, and clasped arms with Sarah, her mentor, while the warrior rattled off a stream of last minute advice on traveling the often dangerous roads of the heartlands. So far, her trip had been uneventful, but none the less stressful. Orengard was away from the Hall for the first time, and traveling alone. Her first night on the road had been a sleepless one, as she sat huddled, close to a large fire, with her axe clutched tightly, starting at the unfamiliar sounds of a surface night.

Orengard suddenly jerks to a stop as a loud voice snaps her back to the present. “Halt and be known...you are entering the Protectorate of the Guards of Shadowdale”

Glancing around Orengard realizes she come in sight of a guard post of some type several humans stood ahead of her armored and holding swords and bows. Orengard moved her hands away from her sides palms facing forward in an obvious display of non hostility. “Orengard Shieldstone Sir, a warrior from Deepstone Hall. I seek Shadowdale and an inn.”

The guard nodded and motioned to the others, weapons were lowered and he Motioned Orengard forward. “well met warrior Shieldstone. You are indeed close to both the Dale, and an inn. The Old Skull lies not an hour further up the road, and no finer inn shall you find.” Orengard smiled at the man “Well met good sir, and well received is yer news.” With nods for the other guards Orengard passed through the check point and down the road. She crossed over a bridge stopping for a moment to admire the large waterfall cascading down into the Ashebenford, before continuing on.

Soon she came upon the outskirts of the village of Shadowdale, small farms, and houses, amid neat gardens. she looked around with wonder, each new sight a marvel to the young dwarf. She tramped across a foot bridge, and noticed a small shrine. Brazers burned around several benches of stone, and a large stone alter. The alter bore the symbol of a sword wreathed in flames. wracking her brain orengard tried to come up with the deity this symbol represented, finally identifying it as Tempus, the Human equivalent of Clanggedin Silverbeard, the dwarven god of battle.

Orengard continued through the village, trying not to feel self conscious when farmers stopped their work to watch her pass. Soon a large building came into view, and Orengard found herself looking at a sign proclaiming this the Old Skull Inn. With a grin, and a murmmred thanks to Berronar Truesilver, dwarven goddess of the hearth, she pushed open the heavy door, and entered into a room full of light, noise, and wounderfull smells.

Orengard walked over to the bar and smiled at the woman behind it smiled and offered a greeting. Orengard inquired about a room and the woman said there were several available and quoted Orengard a price. Orengard frowned a bit considering her not abundant coins. The inn keeper looked at Orengard noting the way the young dwarf was weighing her purse. “Pardon me, I know you just arrived, but might I ask a favor of you. You see I have a door to one of my rooms that is stuck, I have been meaning to have it fixed, but haven't gotten to it yet.I’ll tell you what, you look strong, if you can get it unstuck, ill knock some off the price of a room and meal, deal?”

Orengard smiled at the woman. “Deal where’s the door?”

The next morning Orengard asked the innkeeper where she might go to find work in town, and the woman directed her to Charney Ricpeth at the tower of Ashaba.

As Orengard walked down the street toward the tower, she met a male gnome. He had dusky colored skin and his head was shaved. as far as she could tell, he was only armed with a cross bow, and his armor was light leather. She nodded to him, and he smiled and said “Well met. Are you going to see Ricpeth?” Orengard nodded “aye, I was looken ta get some work.” The Gnome nodded “He’ll have something, he always does, I'm going to get a patrol route. Hey, you want to team up for some patrols? Safety in numbers you know, and it’s nice to have company while your walking.” Orengard smiled and Nodded. “aye, I think I would at that, Orengard Shieldstone.” She held her hand out to the Gnome. The Gnome banged his bracer together, and bowed, then took Orengards hand and shook it. “Ras Ironhand, well met.”

As the two adventurers patrolled the northern road between Shadowdale, and the borders of the forest of Myth Dranor, Ras informed Orengard about some of the humanoid tribes that have been sighted in the area in the past. The young warrior was impressed with the monks knowledge, and skill.

Later as they were walking back to the Old Skull, Ras looked at Orengard. “you seem a competent warrior, I am a Corporal in the Glen Guards. We could always use another fighter. If you like I could introduce you to Gilim Greybraker, he is sargent of my squad.” Orengard smiled, and nodded “Aye, I would appreciate that very much Ras. thank ye.”

A couple day later, Orengard arrived at the Large willow tree in front of the Old Skull inn, and found Ras and two dwarves waiting for her. Ras smiled as she walked up “Oy Orengard how are you?” Orengard returned the monk’s smile “Greetings to you Ras, I’m fine and ye?” “I'm good. Orengard this is Gilim Greybreaker.” Ras said, as he motioned to the older of the two dwarves “And this.” he said, indicating the other dwarf “Is Granite Stonejaw.”

The two male dwarves nodded to Orengard, and Gilim offered his hand. “Well met, Ras has told me ye might be wanten ta join the guards.” Orengard nodded, “yer a warrior aye Oren?” “Aye Gilim, I was trainin ta be a Hearth Guard when I left my hall.” Gilim's bushy eyebrow rose slightly “A hearth Guard eh? well ye’ll be a good addition ta the squad fer sure.” Gilim looked at the others “An on that note, we should go. I got orders ta assemble at Glen. cap’n wants ta do some trainin.”

Orengard, and the others, took the Wild Stallion Coaster to Ashabenford, then walked the rest of the way to Glen. The town was fascinating to Orengard. At first glance, it appeared to be a human like collection of homes built on the surface around the entrance to a mine. The others explained that many of the buildings actually extended several stories down into the ground, and joined with a large underground town. Orengard fell in love with the town almost immediately, finding the construction very clever, and the dwarves living there to be a friendly and hard working community. Less than a week after her first meeting with the Captan of the guards she took her oath, and signed on as a permanent member of Gilim’s squad.

Very nice, keep em coming