Our entry into Kraghammer was met with some intense scrutiny. Several searched were done through the car whilst many of the more smith-savvy dwarves that worked for the military drooled over the engine. Eventually we were let in though, using my identity as a head of state and the mere presence I exuded. The caravan followed us through, their pace slowing as several people within the back of the carts got off, paying the guards and also holding large sacks of what seemed to be foreign goods.
Trade was abundant here it seemed and from what I could smell, it was all based upon mineral wealth. The 'road' down, that looked more akin to a wall pathway, wound around and around leading into a massive, truly enormous, cavern. In this cavern was thousands upon thousands of carved homes. Red lights lit up every ounce of The Arch; The Arch being the top layer of the fortress city of Kraghammer. Distant clangs and hubbub could be heard echoing cavernously as the tires of our car softly met the nigh-polished stones that made this roadway.
Slowly travelling down the spiral we started to see Inns and Taverns dotting the outside of the road, houses quickly and abruptly joining them as they were a street or two back from the main road. Dwarves, Gnomes and a dotting of other species walked the streets in fine looking clothing. They were neither too fancy nor too poor, a perfect representation of the wealth of this city, given that this was supposed to be where the poor resided. A general principle applies in Dwarven society, the deeper you go, the more important the people you will meet.
Using that common wisdom of Dwarven society we continued to traverse down. Our trip was generally left unabated, the uncommon Dwarf Smith who tried to stand in front of the car to have a better look at its' design being a small problem. That was in time sorted as well as the guards that languidly patrolled the main road smacked him in the head and dragged him off to the side, the man complaining the entire time.
"These Dwarves are seriously weird..."
"Yeah! They are nothing like our Dwarves!"
I chuckled at my wives' antics as they stared through the one-way windows of the car. The air-conditioner was on at a comfortable level, the heat outside all but avoided as we relaxed in comfort.
"These Dwarves were originally 'made' by the All hammer. They represent his ingenuity for craftsmanship and creativity. Generally they are less sophisticated than the Dwarves from Dwargon because of the exceptional leadership of Gazel."
"Ohh? They were made by a god!?"
"Technically, although my brother did use an elemental creature as a template... I believe they were originally based off of mephits but he decided to change their design to be more 'aesthetically pleasing'."
Our conversation was cut short as we entered into a section where the majority of The Arch was placed. Hundreds of large merchant manors and houses now dotted the lower parts of The Arch, many businesses and places of commerce growing in number as we furthered down. The sight was amazing. It was as if we had entered into another realm, one of visual darkness but inspiring walls, defences and gothic-inspired buildings. Every hundred metres of space there were towers that were garrisoned by soldiers and a single siege equipment. The name, fortress city, was completely apt.
"Should we get an inn up here?"
Both Milim and Shuna turned to me, nodding whilst trying not to look outside once again. It was rare for them, for us, to go outside and have a 'vacation' even if it was for work. On Tensura we barely even got out of Tempestus due to the volume of work. Now, they were giddy. Shuna less so than Milim, an oddity that dug at the back of my heart again. There was something going on...
'Get an inn first and then check her out, Silviana.' I continued to drive us down to the most prolific tavern area in the city as my wives gazed out of the window with stars in their eyes.
...
Somewhere within Kraghammer
"A delegation has come to the city Ironkeeper."
Clanging sounds resounded with a large forge area as hammers met metal. Sounds of blade quenching and polishing followed in smaller tones. A man dressed in long pants and an apron grasped a sword with tongs, placing it into a vat of oil before facing the attendant who had spoken.
"Who be these 'delegators'?"
The attendant wiped their forehead of sweat as their finely braided beard swung a touch.
"They have said that they come from the nation of Tempest on Issylra, Ironkeeper."
"Tempest eh...? Find them once they have bedded down for the even'in, tell them that we invite them to come to the House Greyspine for a meeting with the houses of Kraghammer, including myself."
"Are you sure that is best sire?"
"Ai, I think it be best... But, if ye have a better idea, why don't ya pitch it?"
"Yes. Why don't we just wait a day or two, there is no way they will not top for at least that much time..."
The Ironkeeper ran his hands through his bright red hair as green eyes regarded his attendant evenly. Cuffs on his arms were adjusted by him a touch as the sweat pooled down his arms and into his palms, flowing over sinewy skin and wild musculature.
"That be a good idea... But... I do not wish to be trounced upon just be ye were not will'in to have a conversation earlier. Appreciate ya gumption lad, but I think we best to meet them early in the morrow."
He slapped a hand down onto the shoulder of his attendant before walking off, a small smile reaching the young dwarf's expression as he felt listened to.
"Yes Ironkeeper!"
...
An hour after we had set off searching for the inn we had finally chosen one. It was a rustic building that reeked of whiskey, rum and meed but had an almost natural feeling to it. The Iron Hearth was a rowdy building, a ring made for combat standing out for anyone to challenge its' previous champions. Many dwarves and humans sat around and drank freely, liberally, as rambunctious stories were shared.
We faced an issue when we stepped in however... We were, all three of us, too beautiful. Instantly the patrons noticed our entrance and over a dozen men began having hushed conversations with some hitting others as if to say piss-off to whatever they were suggesting.
Our car had been parked outside in the stabled area, my magic warding it off against any physical damage or lockpicking. My car wouldn't be touched by anyone or anything so long as I existed, it was my car. Along with that, these were my wives, and I disliked any men ogling over them, or me, they were mine. Thus, I jumped up onto a table and boomed my voice out over the entire Tavern.
"Listen up! These are my wives, anyone tried to touch them, I will cut off your dick. Got me?" Some frowns were shared by the Dwarves but were soon persuaded by my threat, all the men in the room simultaneously closing their thighs to cover their privates.
"Lass! Enough... These men are upstanding gentlemen. They would not be allowed here if they were not!" A waitress walked up to the table I was standing on, hands on her wide dwarven hips as she looked at me in exasperation. My wives were instantly embarrassed, Shuna pulling the very edges of my boots as if pleading for me to stop my display. Milim was enjoying every second despite blushing furiously, her energy sparking even more chaotically as she noted how unphased I was.
"Honey, honey! That was cute...!"
"Thanks love, you are too."
The waitress rolled her eyes and shook her head before walking away, empty flagons in her hand as men in the background chuckled at the waitress's dejectedness. With my stance given, I wasn't worried about being hit on now... Walking up to the main desk I dropped several hundred gold coins and asked for the best room, food and drinks. The clerk was immediately responsive, essentially getting me whatever I wanted. A couple people paid attention to this, so I simply knocked them out with sleeping magic, leaving them for the waitresses and barmaids to handle.
After a hubbub for several minutes the three of us strut into the fanciest room in the tavern. It wasn't anything like home, but that was the charm of it. A hearth sat in the room, funnily made of iron, and the light glimmered off of fine marble accessories and the polished king-bed in the room.
"This room, is okay, I guess..."
"This is totally awesome!!! Bein with honey is sooo cool!"
My eyes narrowed towards Shuna before I expanded my power out and began to secretly prod at her aura, covering the attempt with magic simply being more active through the room. She did twitch but she quickly moved over to the fireplace thinking she was cold.
Nothing was felt by me, only the passive control that she had over her power. A thin film of consciousness laying slick over the magnitude of her magical aura. I wasn't happy with that though... There was something going on and this didn't seem to be from Shuna herself.
"Shuna, I am sorry for this, but you will understand afterwards..." Milim turned before Shuna did as I manipulated all of the magic in the room to freeze time. Time stop, a spell that was massively powerful for most of Exandria, was used by me so I could touch my wife's forehead without her running away. And touch her head, I did.
My eyes rolled back into my skull as my mind entered into her own. The electrical links in her brain glowing a stark blue as millions of signals were sent beyond the speed that my time stop could affect. Within this network I melded, joining in so I could understand what was going on.
Time was stagnant as my consciousness joined hers for a time. Darkness with a small speck was all I could see in between me and the glimmering, shining, transcendent and stunning soul of my amazing wife who had always been excited to be with me. Like scum stuck within a pipe this darkness had stopped a large percentage of the white glowing segments of thought from escaping to her brain. Her soul was under siege by something. Foulness was all that I could sense from it, before a spark of intelligence entered into this little fragment.
~Hehe, let's see what you have in here today, little miss wife...~
Red took my vision as I spotted the form of an old man with a white moustache. He sported an eyepiece with chain and was in weird butler-like clothing. His entire expression was disgusting, menacing and altogether evil. There was malevolence within his intentions and beyond that, his words.
"How about I lobotomize you instead...? How does that sound...?" My presence was like an Angler fish within the deepest depths of the ocean. My eyes were the neon light that framed the void that was my soul. Shadow writhed at the edges of the light as the fragmented glass shards that were previous decorations within my irises started to swirl.
~H-h-h-ho... HOH... HOW!?~
"Fuck you, that's how."
"OHM NUM NUM!!!!"
~AUUUUUUAGHHHHHAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHH! F-WuCk~
~St-Swhaop...! PLAHHHH!!!~
...
Meanhwile...
'I wonder if they'll agree to the invitation...'
*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*
"Hello, I am a messenger from house Greyspine? Would you please open the door?"
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