Away From Waterdeep At Last

By Howarde

As far as I can remember I've lived here in Waterdeep.  The city has been my home and it has been a good life, but I have always wondered whom I am and why I was brought here.  I live with my Uncle Jonas, a master smith and my Aunt Moiraine.  When I was very young, or so my Aunt Moiraine has told me, my parents were in no shape to care for a child so they sent me to live with them.  It was so long ago I can’t remember what my parents looked like.  I do however remember my mother's voice.  It was like listening to the birds sing joyously at dawn's breaking.  She had the most soothing and inspiring voice I have ever heard.  I guess that is why I can still remember this from my past.  In my dreams I can remember her singing me to sleep, only to wake at mornings light feeling both refreshed and empty at the same time.

Don’t get me wrong I love my Aunt and Uncle and everything they have done for me.  I could never repay them for their efforts, but someday I wish to make my Uncle proud.  I have grown up working in his smithy, learning the ways of the forge always watching what he crafted.  As I stated he is a master smith.  Many years a go a dwarf merchant my uncle trades with once said while examining a shield my uncle had built, "Not bad work Jonas, not bad at all".  I think only I heard him mumble under his breathe "for a human that is".

Now I know that dwarven Smiths are the best in the land so I took the comment as a compliment.  My uncle either didn't hear it or ignored it if it was slight.  Regardless ever since then I became fascinated with crafting arms and armor.  I soon realized that while I wanted to someday find myself and my heritage, learning the craft my Uncle had so lovingly and diligently instructed me in was more important.  

With this in mind I was just biding my time until opportunity provided me my chance... and then Uncle Jonas came home with the strange, yet beautiful armor.  Since then things just haven't been the same... but that is another story.

Durnock slowly opened the door to the room Thalomin had been staying in while the party was resting and planning their next course.  The dwarf had not responded to his calls, and from the sound of hammering he could make out, he was likely preoccupied.  He thought to wait for later, when the Dwarf was out among the others, and not intrude, but his purpose for coming was semi-private, and he'd rather put this to the Dwarf alone.
        Inside, he could not see Thalomin, but as the second door was also open, and he could hear the hammering much clearer now, he knew where the Dwarf was.  He entered, and walked to the second door.  From there, he could see the dwarf's back turned to him, working hard on a piece of metal at the anvil inside.  Remembering lectures he had received from his father, and the near lob the halfling had received upon ruining the dwarf's work back in Waterdeep, he stood
quietly, waiting for a good moment to interrupt.  He didn't have to wait long, though, as after a few minutes, the hammering ceased, and he saw Thalomin stand a bit straighter and wipe his brow.
        "What is it?" the dwarf asked, a bit gruffly.
        Durnock paused, surprised.  How the dwarf known he was there?  He'd not said a word or even made a sound.  Thalomin turned to face him, and seeing the startled look on his face said, "I heared the outer door open.  I've got no extra eye on me neck.  Good o' ye t' wait fer me t' finish.  Otherwise ye'd be makin' yer hilt yerse'f with a fat nose.  Now, what can I do fer ye?"
        Durnock recovered a bit, put forth the magical blade and said, "Thalomin, this blade needs a hilt, and while I know I am no dwarf, I did grow up in a smithy.  I would like to help you craft a hilt as fine as this remarkable blade.  I am sure that as we are blooded friends on a journey seeking fame and fortune we should take this opportunity to work together.  Especially as it looks like it will be up to you and me to lead this group.  Is it me or did you notice that we were the ones facing death head on?"
        Thalomin took the blade in his hands and began to quietly inspect it.  After a few moments' pause, Durnock continued, "I also need to increase my skills in weapons crafting.  I am a fairly accomplished crafter for basic weapons.  I offer my assistance to you in this endeavor.  Of course I am here to say that your efforts will not go unrewarded.  The next time we are in town you can count on me to find you the finest ale for your enjoyment."
        Thalomin looked up from the blade at Durnock, sternly, but not angrily.  "So ye want me t' give ye some teachin' in the smithin' ways, eh?"  He set the blade down on the table next to the forge.  He appeared to ponder for a moment, then said, "There're bein' many human folk who would be hopin' fer my kind to teach them our ways of dealin' with stone and metal.  I won't say it's never been done, 'cause it has.  But it's not been often.  T' dwarfs, this kind of work is very serious business.  It goes t' the very heart o' who we are.  If yer to be wantin' me t' teach ye, I'll be needin' some better reasons than those.  I can do the work yer talkin' of just fine on me own, and I'm not sayin' I won't teach ye.  I just want t' know yer *real* reasons fer learnin'.  From what I've seen, ye've got the makin' of a good smith, and ye've certainly showed yer worth in battle.  But if yer t' be learnin' from me, or any other dwarf fer that matter, yer going t' have to show the same kind of resolve, commitment, and character that I'd ask of any other dwarf apprentice."
        Thalomin, continued to look at Durnock for a moment, then turned to walk a small loop of the room, "As fer the others, ye speak of us bein' the only ones facin' the foes head on.  Yer, right, in one sense.  But on the other, what purpose would it serve t' have those whose abilities don't match wit' ours steppin' forward t' be cut down.  Our 'mage' companion, for example.  One good swing o' that sword the armor was wieldin' and we'd be one less in our group.  He's got skills, but I'd be willin' t' bet he doesn't have the stamina of a dwarf like mese'f.  That, and the cleric's intervention are likely th' only reason I'm even here fer you t' ask t' be taught.  If she'd been up fightin' at the time instead o' where she was, who's t' say if she'd been able t' help me in time?"
        Thalomin stopped his loop, faced the forge once again, looking away from you for a moment, "No, we may be th' only ones gettin' up close & personal-like, but don't be quite so quick t' be shruggin' off what they have been givin'..."
        Thal, turned back to face Durnock again, and looked, expectantly, "So, back t' me original question.  Tell me why ye *really* want t' be learnin'."
        Durnock wiped his brow and thought carefully before responding.  Addressing Thalomin with respect he said, "I know that the honor of becoming an apprentice to a Dwarven Master Smith is rare indeed.  As such I make no pretense as to my current capabilities, only the fire of my heart.  For most of my life, short as it may seem to your kind, I have watched in wonder and awe while my uncle created beautiful arms and armor.  I can't begin to tell you how many nights I've dreamt of being the one wielding the hammer.  It is my life's dream to acquire the skills necessary to make some of the finest arms and armor the world has ever seen."  He heard a slight grunt, possibly of disdain, from Thalomin at the final comment.
        With his shoulders slumped and his eyes gazing at the floor Durnock continued, "But while I yearn for the day when I can display my wares, I know that day is years away, if even I reach my goal.  I am not concerned with riches per say, a modest living is all I desire, but one day I would like to be known as the "human smith" who crafted an Axe worthy of a Dwarf.  To this end I ask for your guidance and help.  I have spent years in a smith and I think you may be surprised at what I have come to learn in such a short bit of time."
        Facing Thalomin with a look of pride and concern, he said, "And as for the rest of our group, don't take me wrong.  They all serve their parts well, without them we would not get far.  I was just pointing out the fact that it will be you and I facing danger head on.  Our strengths will complement each other and as we encounter more and more battles I feel we can develop fighting skills to rival many famous duos."  Durnock breathes deeply.  "Besides, I like your fighting style, perhaps we can learn from each other.  Anyhow my offer to assist you is sincere and genuine and I trust you will see the truth behind my words and start me on the path of knowledge.  Every chance to further my skills is one I feel I must pursue, for the good of our party as well as the attainment of my dream."
        Thalomin looked back at you thoughtfully.  After a few moments, he nods slightly, and said, "Aye, desire ye've got.  Yer heart's in the right place.  I'll tell ye now, though, yer learnin' won't be easy, as I'm sure experience with yer uncle ye well know.  But there's a few things we'll be gettin' straight afore we start."
        Thalomin, paused, and looked at Durnock seriously, "First, we'll be settin' yer expectations properly.  Ye said tha' a human bein' apprenticed to a dwarf Master Smith is rare indeed.  It's so rare, it's never happened.  I'm no Master by dwarf standards.  Likely by human standards, but the masters I answer to wouldn't even think of wastin' their time with ye.  I'll teach ye well, but there are certain secrets I don't know yet mese'f, and even if I did, I'm not sure I'd be able to teach 'em to ye."
        "Second, we'll be startin' ye out just as if ye'd never even seen a forge before."  Thalomin puts his hand up to silence the protest before it reached the man's lips, "Don't ye go thinkin' I'm gonna be turnin' ye into me lackey.  I need t' properly see what ye can and cannae do, and what bad habits I'll need t' be breakin' ye of.  Ye'll likely move through those times fast enough, and we'll get ye doin' real work soon enough.  As fer the hilt o' yer sword, I'll do work on it mese'f, t' get it done right.  As it's fer yer blade, though, I'll let ye watch closely, and I'll fashion it to yer own likin'."
        Thalomin paused once more, and his face took on a much more serious look, "The last thing is somethin' we have t' get clear from th' start.  I've been seein' the way some o' the others have been treatin' these rooms.  Aye, the original owners are likely long dead.  But I won't be havin' this room," Thalomin sweeps his hand to indicate the entirety of the room, "disrepected in the ways I've seen some o' the others.  To others this room may just be a place where stuff is made.  T' me, and if ye truly want t' learn properly, ye'll fast treat it thus yerse'f, this place is holy.  The work done here is not just the craftin' of things.  The forge, the anvil, the tables, the tools, each one is an item used to create a piece of yerse'f, in the pursuit of perfection.  Ye'll treat the metal like a child in need of teachin', the tools as a part of yer own se'f, and nothin' in this room will get handled in a way that ye don't want yerse'f handled similarly.  If ye toss somethin' across the room...," Thalomin trailed off, looking seriously to make sure Durnock understood the implication.  Seeing comprehension, his face took on a less serious, but still very professional air.
        "Also, I don't expect ye t' follow after me own Gods, as I'm sure ye've got yer own, and I'll not be responsible fer bringin' their wrath down upon ye, or on mese'f," Thalomin chuckled a bit, the first time you've seen him doing anything resembling it, "but I'll also be makin' sure ye understand and respect them.  If ye want to be as good a smith as a dwarf, then t' a point ye'll have t' think like a dwarf, and t' do tha', ye'll have t' at least understand a bit o' where we're comin' from in those matters."
        "Now, if ye've got any problems wit' any of me rules, ye'd better let me know now and be off wit' ye, as I'll not be comprimisin'.  If ye don't, then grab the bellows there and start pumpin'.  I've got plenty o' work t' do on that hilt, and it's better t' get it started now and stop wastin' time."
        Picking up a towel from his bag Durnock wipes his hands before grabbing the handle of the bellows.  With a small smile in the corner of his eye Durnock nods to Thalomin, letting him know he is ready to help.  Thinking to himself, perhaps we have reached a breakthrough with this gruff craftsman, perhaps, just perhaps we are now on the road towards friendship and adventure.