Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Year 1302 DR.

Chapter 1: “The Prophecy”


In the Great Rift at Iron Gate Keep, Moruk sits in the great hall discussing politics of the land with the clan warden council. There is much to discuss with seven united clans, and a combined population of 8,300 dwarves that live in the Great Rift. Tempers flare as Fendar request more dwarfs into the military. Fendar, warden of Brawnanvil clan, who are the most disciplined warriors and hold the frontline defense for the council.
“Oi need mer recruits ta keep da miners safe” Fendar looks at Dolak and lectures “I told ya noot ta beh digg’n under Glory cliff and now look at what happen’d we gut a dozen dead miners, lost six o meh hammers ta dem beasts ye sterd up Dolak and ya gut nut’n ta show fer it”.
“meh miners were follow’n a vein of mithral dat could of outfitted a dozen of yer hammer’s wit gud armor Fendar” Dolak warden of Hammerforge clan yells back into Fendars face.
“Oi nut beh mov’n anymer o me Hammers away from guarding our wemon and children, deh beh our first priority. Dare beh no more new mine’n expeditions until oi get mer recruits ta properly guard dem”. Fendar Brawnanvil lectures with a deep meaningful voice to the council.
Two huge doors in the hall swing open, Owynn Brighthammer rushes into the hall interrupting the council. Owynn looks towards Moruk without raising her head, “sorry ta interrupt, oi beh sent by Runecaster Mordenguard, he request ta speek wit Moruk at once” Owynn says in a heavily breathing voice. Moruk scratches his beard realizing by Owynn’s demeaner he must make haste to Mordenguard.
Moruk reaches out his hand and puts it on Owynn’s shoulder “Tanks Owynn, beh on yer way now las” Then Moruk turns to the council and looks at Ragnar Stonecrusher “Continue wit yer discussion, Ragnar ye beh fill’n meh in on wat oi beh miss’n upon meh return'n” Without wasting anytime Moruk sternly nods and walks out of the great hall.
Mordenguard at the age of 430 is one of the oldest and highest respected dwarfs in the Great Rift. It is said that Moradin himself whispers through metal and steel to Mordenguard, helping guide the dwarves who live in the Great Rift.
Mordenguards door opens and Moruk walks in “Wat beh so important dat ya sum’n meh away from a meeting wit da council” Mordenguard motions for Moruk to sit down.
“Moradin visited meh in a dream last noy’t, he spoke of reforg’n dwarven souls. Told meh we need ta beh prepar’n fer dare arrival.” Mordenguard says slowly to Moruk still putting it all together in his own mind. Moruk looks into Mordenguards eyes “ar ye sure dis ta beh true Runecaster” Moruk says with piercing eyes. Mordenguard nods “Da year of thundering beh apon us soon, Moradin refer’d to dem as thunder children, said many of will come in pairs of two, twins dey beh, and dats how we will know dem ta beh thunder children. Talked bout dem being skilled in warfare, possessing arcane and devine powers. Moradin beh bless’n us, da chosen’s ones, wit a new bread of dwarves. We must prepare for dare arrival.”
Morak, stroking his beard, thinking deeply. “Oi will talk wit da Brawnanvil clan, dey beh best suited fer train’n dese thunder children. We have much prepar’n t’do Runecaster”

Year: 1338 DR.

Chapter two: “Coming Of Age”


It is a misty morning in the Great Rift, the fog is so thick a dwarven eye can’t see past five feet. From the Brawnanvil Stonghold School, the sound of metal hitting shield can be heard echoing throughout the valley. Two dwarves are in the arena sparing. “ye best keep dat shield up brudder” Delrak says to Bracer as he makes a powerful swing for Bracer’s head. A slight smirk can be seen on Bracers face as he ducks, letting Delraks attack pass over while bringing a counter attack from below knocking Delrak off balance. “ye gut t’do better dan dat Del” Bracer says to Delrak in a cocky but serious voice.
“Ye damn fools, wat da ells be goen on down dare” Fendar yells from a high up window down onto the two dwarves. “We all still beh sleep’n and train’n dunt start fer anunder hour. Both of you out of the arena!” Fendar slams his window and retreats inside trying to catch his lost hour of sleep. “ye fool Brace oi told ya it beh ta early” Delrak says to Bracer only to be met with a punch to the chin from Bracers fist. Delrak, counters the punch with a kick to Bracers shin knocking Bracer back a few feet. Both dwarves start to laugh and put down there guard walking off to the breakfast hall.
Many student Dwarves start gathering in the breakfast hall. The long tables that stretch from one side of the great room to the other start filling up with one young dwarf after the next coming to gain their strength for the long day ahead. The hall is filled with the smell of brown bread and slices of meat. Breakfast is consumed by the young dwarves faster than it can be brought out of the kitchen. Fendar walks into the hall, stretching with a grumpy look on his face, he pauses and looks about the room finding Bracer and Delrak with an angry look. As Fendar sits and starts to eat, thinking about the punishment he will give the two dwarves for causing all the racket and waking half the school from their needed rest, he looks up and notices Dora Brighthammer rushing towards him. “Moruk sent meh, dare beh a group of Dwarves pinned down by orcs, to da south near da Great Runes, Moruk beh on da way dare with several hammers” Dora spits out in a single breath. Fendar, with a focused look on his face, brushes Dora to the side heading for the armory, knowing there is no time to waste. The sound in the breakfast hall lessens as the student dwarves spread the news overheard from Dora’s message to Fendar. Word reaches the table of Delrak and Bracer. Delrak and Bracer, looking at one another, knowing what the other is thinking, simultaneously jump to their feet and head to the armory. As Delrak and Bracer enter the armory, Fendar and a few hammers are hastely equipping their gear. Without hesitation Delrak and Bracer also start to equip their gear. Frendar notices the two dwarves “Were da ells ye lads tink yer goen” Fendar yells. “we beh goen wit sir” Delrak says with a quick nod to Fendar. “aye we beh ready sir” Bracer says while strapping on his boots. Fendar knowing Delrak and Bracer are the best recruits he has seen and can fight as good as any of his hammers, is reluctant to allow such young dwarves into harms way. “oi have no time fer dis lads, if ya beh com’n, ye beh stay’n in da back, oi best not see’n hide nor hair of ya” Fendar lectured to the young dwarves not breaking his stride leaving the armory.
Fendar keeps 50 hammers and 24 gutbusters on hand at the school ready to move out at a moments notice. A group of 84 dwarves form up outside the entrance of the stronghold school with Fendor in the front, Delrak and Bracer in the back. “We head fer da great ruins lads. Morak and few oders already beh on da way. Our kin beh pinned down by orcs, it beh a two and half day march and oi plan ta shave o day off dat time lads. Lets move!”. Fendar says in one breath with a turn and starts to run at a steady pace with all the dwarves following in perfect formation. Bracer and Delrak give each other an excited but serious nod as they head off into their first battle with orcs- they have only heard about in stories.

Chapter 3. “Battle at Great Ruins”

Fendor and his 84 Dwarven warriors top the crest of a hill that overlooks the Great Ruins. A few hundred orcs below a ridge to the south catches Fendars eye, he raises his arm and makes a hand signal for the small army to take cover in a nearby rock formation. “Fendar” Morak yells from a tree, 100 feet off. Fendar and his warriors make there way to Morak’s position. “ye made gud time get’n ere Fendar, looks like day beh trapped in a cave on dat ridge, from wat oi can make out.” Morak says as he points out a cave to Fendar. “Sum must still be alive, er dem orcs would of moved on by now”, Fendar replies, as the two start to plan a strategy of attack.
“Bah! can’t see nut’n from back ere” Bracers says to Delrak. “keep yer head down brudder and yer voice low” Delrak replies to Bracer.
Whispers are heard making their way through the ranks. “We wait until noy’t ta attack. Fendar is sending scouts out, stay alert and quiet fer now” a hammer relays to the young dwarves.
The two young Dwarven warriors wait impatiently for night to fall. As the dark night sky begins to blanket the hills around the dwarves, Bracer and Delrak hear a twig break off in the distance from the direction which they came, the two grip their shields and ready their axes. Another twig breaks which focuses Bracer’s eyes to a fixed location, were he is able to make out the silhouettes of two dwarves. “two dwarves over dare head’d ar way Del”. Bracer picks up a rock and throws it in the direction of the two dwarves, waving his axe, giving away his position. Bangor and Buster find there way over to Delrak and Bracer. “wat ye lads doen ere” Bracer says softly to Bangor, trying not to attract any attention. “erd back at Stronghold dare was an orc attack, Buster an oi was nut gona let ye lads have all da fun” Bangor says grinning to Bracer. “Ye beh couple o fools, lucky one o dem gutbusters did’nt see ya and mistake ya fer an orc, er we beh pull’n bolts out yer hides. Keep yer heads down and dun’t beh lett’n Morak er Fendar see ya.” Delrak angrily states to Bangor and Buster. “Gud ta see ye lads” Bracer says with a wide smile to Bangor and Buster and continues to fill the latecomers in on the situation.
A hammer in front of the four dwarves signals for them to start moving forward. Moving through trees, shrubs and around small boulders, each dwarf taking the position last occupied from the dwarf in front of them. As the four dwarves pass around a boulder, Delrak motions to the ground for the other dwarves to look at a dead orc sprawled out with his neck sliced open. All four dwarves, stepping quietly over the dead orc, knowing that the orc was killed by a dwarven scout signaling they are getting closer to that ridge, and the orc army.
At the head of the small dwarven army, a hundred yards away from the ridge, Fendar and Morak peer into the orc camp, set up under the ridge, just below the cave where the trapped dwarves have barricaded themselves inside. Outnumbered four to one Fendor wished he had more dwarves. This was the case for most of Fendar’s battles. Fendar new how to utilize the terrain to his advantage, getting the most out of every dwarf in his ranks. Fendar whispers to Morak and couple of high ranking hammers. “We go in in two waves. Oi lead da first with 35 o meh hammers, da 24 gutbusters behind meh hammers. Morak ye count ta ten, den follow with da rest o da hammers, protect da gustbuster and keep em shoot’n. Once inside dare camp, form a circle round da gutbusters and hold all sides. Half da orcs will fall behfer dey know we ar upon dem, wit any luck da rest em will flee being pick’t off by gutbusters.” The orders are whispered from dwarf to the next until finally reaching the four young dwarves in the back. With deep breaths Delrak, Bracer, Bangor and Buster ready themselves for battle waiting for Moraks command.


Continued…………..