The Mountain's Cold [PK]

[Jordan1921 373]

 

Spoiler

 

 

On a humid cavern day Dimlin Irongut would spot a letter perched on the floor near his doorstep. The letter would read: 

 

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under Khaz’A’Dentrumm.
A time for Anbella and a time for Dungrimm.
A time to dig and a time to collect.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to smith and a time to brew.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to drink.

 

Dimlin, by the time you are reading this I, Hogarth Irongut, will be on the cold mountains of Urguan. Do not search for me if you expect a Dwed still breathing. By the time you read this I will be gone from this world. Know that whatever possessions I have left, which are not many, I leave to you. I trust you with my legacy, whatever that may be. 

I went into the mountains to find peace with our Gods. My time has been spent reading the holy texts, meditating, and chanting. I hope that the Brathmordakin deem me worthy of a high price at the auction. Perhaps I could even gain a seat at the feasting table in Khaz’A’Dentrumm, if I spend my last moments in honor of the Brathmordakin. 

I have been around since Aegis, where I was a young naive soldier of the Ascended. My father, a pious man much like how I turned out, named me after a Dwed holy man. From there my life accelerated quickly. I joined the guard. I adopted my first child. I witnessed the destruction of the Irongut manor and the burning of our ancestors so that they may reside in the Irongut Urn. It was not until later in my life that I joined the clergy. Before that I was a Legionnaire, a diplomat, and a politician. At first I wanted to escape becoming like my father, but in Urguan blood runs thicker than water. 

It feels odd still living in the mortal world. I have lived alongside countless Kings and have moved to countless realms. I don’t even remember the name of this current one. I think back on all of the Dwed friends in my life during reflection. It’s a futile task to name them all, but I want all of them to know I count them as brothers. Urguan is my family just as much as the Ironguts are. I love all of them dearly and will miss their company. At least I may reunite with old friends after my death. 

For Norli, I wish you luck in returning the Clergy to traditional Dwed ways. I’ve enjoyed our conversations these past stone days. I only wish that we would have more time to speak, but I feel that I must do this. I’m sure you understand. 

To the Ironguts, I cannot have asked for a better family. I’ll miss all of you dearly. Keep the memory of our past alive and teach it to new Irongut generations. I will especially miss my good friend and kin Balek, Dwalin, Dwain as well as you Dimlin.

I would also like you to send word to my spouse, Solaris, if you can ever find him. Let him know that regardless of the time we have spent apart, I always have and always will love him. Solaris made me the happiest I had ever been in my life. He made me happy to live a simple life and cook meals for the both of us. I hope that you one day return to civilization and continue living a good life. Do not let my death ever paralyze you. 

Finally, I want those who read this to think of the future. We Dwarves rightfully take pride in our history, but the future is bright. The future depends on the hard work and generosity of both the old and the young. Urguan is the cliff that stands withers constant beatings from the shores. Urguan even fell once but nonetheless has risen once again. It is a symbol of Dwarven unity and strength in the face of invaders. Let us build up that cliff to withstand any hardship. Let us Dwed work in unity and peace for a bright future. Urguan is a large part of my legacy. I shed blood time and time again for our Grand Kingdom. I have no doubt that the newer generations will make those same sacrifices again. 

Love to all my family and to Urguan,
Hogarth Irongut 
 

[mateolog 1623]

Baldin hears from the news of the road “A’ wise dwed...a’ brave warrior...and a’n ‘onest lad. ‘e shall be missed. May he rest in tha ‘alls ef ‘is patron. A’ ‘ope ‘e meets Skippy there and they both feast en great mead  ‘all were they will tell tha tales ef their lives.” He would look at an old depiction of Skippy “Until we meet again, m’lord, m’friend, m’king”.

High Chief Karl Blackroot is informed of the death of Hogarth Irongut “Ded net kno ‘em well, bat et es always a sad tu ‘ear ef tha death ef kin. May Belka carry ‘is soul to tha night, where Dungrimm will take ‘im tu ‘is ‘alls tu be bidded upon.”

[Beamon4 1690]

Dimlin would shed a tear over the loss of one of his most valued friends “May ye’ rest well dear Hogart’, rest well”

[CHARLES THE BALD 2615]

Charles The Bald would hear the news from his hiding place in the middle of the capital, he would let a tear go down his face as one his of dearest friend has gone for one last battle in heaven. He begins to wonder if life is worth it after all...

[Cordial__ 230]

Dwalin Irongut, upon hearing the news, would quickly read over the news once again, disbelief filling his thoughts. After a few minutes of sitting in deathly silence, he’d raise a glass of ale. 

 

”Farewell, cousin. Ah can onleh ‘ope tuh live up tuh da legacy yeh left behind, but ah know ah’ll seh yeh soon en da halls ov Khaz’A’Dentrumm.”

[Hiebe 2493]

Dwain hears of the passing of another legendary Irongut.

 

Gu tu dall great alls. Say ello tu Iebeh, Me fadder. Yer legacy shall live on fur sureh.

 

He goes back to his work. Thinking of the memories of the elder 

[Hobolympic 1093]

Upon hearing of the departure of his dear old friend, Balek reclines in his seat, silently murmuring as he shakes his head in disbelief. The now teary-eyed dwarf pours himself a mug of Umbergleen, raising it in Hogarth’s memory. 

 

“Rest now, ol’ friend. ‘Til we meet again in Their blessed ‘alls.”

[Eranikus 348]

A mali’ker druid sits on the wall around the Talus Grove, his legs dangling over the side. His pipe has long since burned out, and his bottle of mead is almost empty. He takes one last swig of his liquor before pouring the last out on the ground.

 

”Rest long and well, old friend,” he sighs, adding Hogarth’s name to a growing list of friends he has outlived.

 

- – – 

 

The afterlife had a lot of white, and eyes took time to adjust to surroundings. In that field of nothingness, Hogarth would see a familiar face, pale and angular, wreathed in hair like flame. The one it belonged to was tall, a good bit over six feet, wearing long robes that cascaded to the pristine floor of... wherever it was they were. It was an elf with bright green eyes, and a smile spread across his face at the sight of the dwarf. He spread his arms in welcome, tears forming in his eyes as the old Irongut approached.

”You made it,” he whispered, pulling him into an embrace surprisingly warm in the cool of death. “I’ve missed you so much.”

[Fimlin 1997]

“Goodboi, old friend, ye ‘ave lived a long life, and I was ‘appeh to share in par’ of it.” Fimlin sighs as one of his oldest friends now rests in Khaz’A’Dentrumm.

[J33xt101 316]

Balrog reads the letter, his mind starting to wander, yet he remembers the few times he had seen the honorable dwarf around Urguan. ”Nae will ah s’ed a tear, fer eht e’s teh will of teh Brat’mordakin and Dungrimm that all should eventually cease to draw breath on this world... farewell laddeh.”