Chapter 1
Ironhold: A dwarf city comes to life
The Ironhold Mountains were tall, majestic and beautiful. Those were only a few words to describe this grand treasure of nature. They were capped by snow with green pine trees dotted across its face. These mountains had become a protector of sorts. They had taken the brunt of storms that threatened the valley while also providing a barrier to those who would try and trespass upon the land far below its peaks. The solid rock that made up this magnificent site has withstood great floods, earthquakes and several realm wars that at times sought to tear a rift in time itself. Inside there was a bustling city carved out by the callused hands of the hundreds of dwarf men working together to make this mountain their home.
There were young dwarves they called dwarflings that would run and play throughout the city, jumping off the rocks and sliding down the stone railings. The sound of clanging metal echoed though the hallways and passageways. Sometimes the dwarf women would get together to test their might against the men. They weren’t actually testing them but instead they were using this as a way to spend time and bond with them. The men would try to put on a show of strength and skill with a blade. This would take place in front of the weapon smith shop where they could always be found hanging out if they weren’t at the tavern.
All of the dwarves had his and her choice of weapon to use in combat. Most of them preferred axes, while the rest chose hammers or swords. Each weapon was hand crafted by its owner and forged from steel then fitted to their specific features and preferences. They would spend extra time on the finer details during the construction of these weapons. This would become the craftsman and craftswoman’s signature, setting it apart from all of the others. Some of them had family crests carved into the handles, while others had the likeness of a dragon they had felled or sacred heirloom that had been in the family for centuries.
The women were quite the craftsman themselves and their weapons seemed to have just as much wear and tear on them as their male counterparts. The quality of the weapons they made was just as tough, rugged and durable as the person who created it. The men and women were both alike in many ways that a lot of times it was hard to tell them apart. Pride and ego were on the line for the men and they knew that the challenge that lay before them would be a great one.
They would use their weapons on stuffed dummies and various targets used in training for combat. They paired up and began squaring off against one another. Neither injury nor death was the purpose of this contest. Both sides were instead focusing on their individual skills with each weapon. The women were showing themselves to be just as tough and determined as the me and they kept up with their training all while taking care of their younglings and keeping a clean home.
The men weren’tgoing to allow themselvesto be out-done by the women. They put forth their best warriors and soldierswho were quite skilled with the blade to show the women what they all were made of. Whatever trick or talent the men came up with, the women matched them step-for-step. At times, the women made it look easy and almost effortless, while the men became frustrated and flustered with each failed attempt. Every time they dropped something or made a mistake, their frustration and angerintensified which caused them to make even more mistakes. The women would giggle and laugh as the men would pick up their dropped weapons and slam them back into the ground.
It was an unwritten rule amongst the women that they were not there to out-do the men, but they also weren’t about to lay down to them and take one on the chin. No, this was a proud bunch of dwarf women who did their fair share of the heavy lifting within the city and in on the field of battle. They wanted to have a little fun with the men and should they come out on top, who are they to argue with that? They hadn’t forgotten their spot in this pecking order, which is to clean up after the guys and take care of most if not all of the household chores. They knew that the men appreciated everything they did for them. This fact was not lost on the women.
For the men, however, this was more about their own pride and reputation than anything else. Under no circumstance could they lose any competition to the women. Their over inflated egos wouldn’t be able to handle such a huge hit and they also wouldn’t hear the end of it until the next time a show of skill would be on display. They took the losses very seriously as if their family legacy would be ruined forever.
The men, having lost yet again, decided to turn to the one thing that they knew that they were better at than the women… drinking! They threw down the last of their weapons in disgust, until the next time of course, and headed over to the Grogs Meade tavern.Jorndog, who was the owner, has been working there for years pouring drinks to drown the patron’s sorrows. He had heard the men coming and began to fill steins of beer so it would be ready when they arrived.
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