The wind howled through the trees surrounding Heibenhall as a figure dressed in all white direwolf furs trudged across the bridge, blanketed in a thick covering of icy dust. Bardel Irongut was returning home once again from yet another of his many journeys into the wilderness to discover new botany. His bright amber eyes peered out from beneath his white hood and pierced through the thick blizzard about him.
He coughed harshly, the journey had taken its toll - all that was on his mind was the warm fire which he would be sat about whilst he shared tales of his travels with his cousins. It had been 3 months, 3 long months.
Heibenhall itself slowly began rising out of the ground. He peered up at the grand structure; an incredible triumph for the Ironguts. Bardel's head then slowly began to drift to the right where a lone tower steeped with blue stood away from the main building, a warm smile painted his face. The Dwarves stumpy legs began to move faster and kick away the snow at his feet.
Bardel took no time, upon entering, to see his cousins whom were rushing about busy with their own crafts. Instead he approached the blue tower with haste as he checked about his pouch for the many plants he had collected on his travels.
Jumping on the lift to the top he clicked the lever with his heel and whizzed to the top, whistling as he went.
The elevator halted at the top with a jerk which Bardel knowingly used to spring up to his feet. He fell toward the door and thumped on it hard with his thick gloves. Hearing know reply he took one off and thumped again.
"Pa?" He uttered from the cold balcony.
"Pa!?" He repeated this time louder.
Shrugging it off he unlocked the door and swung it open. The pressure of the wind entering the building flung it open harder than he intended causing it to bang on the wall. Bardel quickly jerked it shut and exhaled. Finally in the warm he slid his boots off and threw them aside.
"Pa? I'm back? You betta not have dem darkelf girls up der again!"
He climbed the ladder to his fathers quarters, right at the top of the tower.
Upon finally reaching the top he jerked his back in pain, the traveling had been physically gruelling, it was good to be home. He stopped in the doorway and looked infront of him with a smile; for there hunched over in the desk in front of him was another pale white figure with white locks. A candle still burned and papers were strewn about the desk along with an assortment of jars of red fluids and stones. Bardel stood there and watched him for a while, afraid to disturb his rest. Then he chuckled as he pushed off the door and approached him.
"Pa, you were up all night researching again weren't you." Bardel said as he stepped across the room.
The other figure remained where he was, his head resting upon the desk.
"Come on Pa you need to get to bed. What have I told you about obsessing like this."
Bardel sighed as no reply sounded from his father. He had enough.
"Time to wake up Pa, come on." he said as he reached down and shook him slightly. His smirk slowly drooped as his father did not move.
"Pa?" This time he shook him a slight bit more violently.
Bardel leaned down and rested his head on the table and looked at his fathers face. He shuddered and his voice broke "P-paa...?"
A tear rolled down his white cheek and onto the bundle of alchemical notes on the desk beneath him "You old fool... how could you leave me.. I wasn't ready... you hadn't taught me everything... we never.." Bardel couldn't hold back any longer. The 300 year old dwarf broke into tears. As he looked down upon the body.
"Ograhad has bid himself a new teacher today father."
With that Bardel leant over and blew out the still burning candle. Casting the room into darkness and releasing the room to the harsh cold which was always attempting to enter.
Elder Kardel Irongut, Grand Ograhad's Alchemist, Alchemist of fire, beloved teacher and father had died peacefully in his sleep on the 10th of first seed.
After encasing his fathers body in his very own Alchemical ice. Bardel sent out invitations to all Dwarves and close of kin to attend Kardel's funeral.
It is later announced by Bardel that all of Kardel's notes are to be destroyed along with any experiments and tests.
"My father was a great alchemist. But his work lead to many deaths also. No others shall obtain his work and secrets for they shall and should die with me and him."