Papa Rock

Deep within the mountains of Urguan, in the depths of Kal'Darakaan, the Starbreaker works. The news reaches him through networks with the Order and himself. Given the nature of the news, Ulfar's work goes dark, absent, dormant. Hours pass after the news had touched his large dwarven ears, his house dim and dark as it lacks any presence of light, any presence of comfort. A grim essence lingering about the shadows of his home, of the city, grows violent, awoken from a slumber that had started long ago. Those who dare pass by his doors are met with the stomach turning scent of dread, decay and lack of shower. Occasional clinks of metal and scraping of nails across a chalk board echo out to break the silence from time to time. The howling cold winds are drawn to the residence of this dwarf, this silent place akin to dwarven tombs. With the death of Elias, the Starbreaker vanishes within his own home, never to be seen again.

"Oi left while the king wos in danger, should oi be trialed tuu?" Asks a dwarf

"Oi, ah want mah clan shop back!" Yells a starbreaker

A Starbreaker grumbles out into the city, his voice echoing in random intervals "Whu dare place judgement upon moi clan-kin. Whu dare assume themselves Judge an' Jurreh ov deh Gods? Fear the judgement ov deh Gods themselves aftur oi have delivered yuu teh them."

Good magic, please add.

Ulfar yells out into the city many times to make sure even the dead can hear his voice. "These trials given tu the ghost of Alaric es not wortheh enuff. You task hem wiff minor quests practiced by the every day Khazad? Seek meh out if yeh wish tah take on true trials ov the GODS!" The voice then fades, so does the dwarf.

This part is well defined and the [3] month requirement for a TA is a good mechanic in place given that sometimes a player may post their TA after a month of learning the feat. This gives them time to brew and age like cheese. The slots are understandable given that golemancy and golems is getting a buff compared to the initial sigilcraft lore. —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not much changed from previous lore besides material and becoming the main method of crafting, where initial sigilcraft requires the anvil only to make the cores. Given that Auxiliary sigils have combative additions now in this write, I believe this is a better change for anvils. —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Golem limbs have been a roller-coaster for a while. I support the durability clarification and of course the option to add aux sigils to them as well. This can be played around with creatively in the future with MARTS or whatever. The eyes do not have any changes with them, though I would have liked if they’d have a slot for Auxiliary sigils. However, that is something that can be worked on in the future by active golemancers. —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not many changes, but the clarification on strikes from boomsteel and potions is a +. Core exposure is abit iffy, I don’t see why a golem would malfunction if their core is exposed. I imagine if the core is exposed, they would enter a reactive/defensive state to stop the destruction of their heart. The meltdown and explosion is a nice recall to old Thanium golems having the ability to self-destruct back when thanium was capable of such. The meltdown isnt that exactly, but it is close enough to enjoy some what of a return. The addition of being able to learn things such as alchemy is nice and welcomed. —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No opinion. No changes here that require any thought to talk about. Naturally formed golems are pretty cool. —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No opinion. No changes here that require any thought to talk about. —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everything here is a plus. The freedom and Impera tango golems get from this is rather pleasing and I am happy to see this. I enjoy the Alien likeness behind them being more defined in this write where in previous editions, it was not discussed much. The ability for cores to return back to normal is a nice call back to older lore where berserking golems had the option to ‘cool down’ and return to a blue state. —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The defining of durability is a long needed part of golem’s and their body. Often they are either under played or Over played by the player(s). After reading over them, there is an over all suggestion I have for all types. All golems should have the ability to be an NPC, this is something that was used by golemancer players and sometimes non-golemancers for a long time to add more to their rp. Just as it is currently, NPC golems would not have any combat purposes unless you speak to an ET to use them in their events. The golem’s limited freedom can be reduced while they are an NPC if needed for balancing reasons. I understand that there may appear to be a drought in golemancers, but there isn't. There are a few active golemancers currently working to feed more back into the dwarven community. Mundus core is going in a good direction. The merge between thanite and swift is a change that is welcomed by me. My suggestion for this is to increase the number of Aux sigils this type can hold. If the slots were lowered from 3 to 2 because of the addition of combative sigils, then limit the amount of combat sigils it can have instead. This way it doesn’t take away from the non-combative aux sigils a golemcaner have to add more flavor to their rp. A recommendation to this from me would be they have 4 auxiliary slots and only 2 of those slots can carry a combative aux sigil. If the golem/golemancer wishes, all 4 slots can be filled with non-combative sigils. Sort of a task type golem rework, I vibe with it. Can you define how much faster they are? Brutus move at 3 blocks, Mundus move at 4 blocks, But seruvs is undefined. With this addition, I would say brawn golems have been turned into the Old runic golems of previous lore. I like this, I prefer this. The size limit popping over 8ft and 10 ft is great. Amazing. Big stone war machine. One suggestion for this however, similar to mundus, it would be good to increase the amount of Auxiliary sigils this type can have. Optimal solution can be 3 slots, where only 1 of these slots can be taken up by a combative sigil. If the golem/golemancer wishes, all 3 slots can be filled with non-combative sigils. YES. I like this addition, but of course I would like something I requested and helped to add. I wouldn't limit the possibilities for Aux sigils on this kind of core for one reason, that reason being that auxiliary sigils could be made specifically for this kind of core. My suggestion would be that this type of core is not compatible with any of the current Auxiliary sigils. This part of the write is my only main Con. While soul golems have always been a form of punishment to the soul. The punishment is in the form of servitude, stripping them from their mortal flesh and all the sensations that come with it. Having rped a soul golem for a long time with Urguan, this rp goes from punishment to something fun to play oocly. The character inside turns golem over time, their life being overwritten by the alien nature of the core until they are no longer what they were before. This act is taboo because it uses a soul for the golem, but the only reason it was done is because it produces a better golem. Punishment was only a bonus. I cant imagine a golemancer spending so much time to put a soul into a core when the soul golem produced is lacking and can be out done by the creation of three types just like it except it lacks a soul. Soul golems in this lore don't get anything besides suffering. While that is kind of the idea irp, the mechanics behind it for a player is dull. In the past, Soul golems were more capable than all other golems, since they are powered by the soul and carry a consciousness that allowed for it to function better. These soul bound didn't completely out perform other golems, such as the thanium version, but was still a more reliable one. In the Sybyll lore, soul golems have a stronger core due to the soul. This gives them the ability to carry additional auxiliary sigils with more slots. They also have more refined personality than the other golem types. My recommendation for this is to increase the capacity of Auxiliary sigils in the soul golem to +3 onto capacity of the type they mimic. (Mundus would be 4+3 and Brutus would be 3+3, assuming those individual golem types had their caps increased as well). Additionally, the function of the soul golem would be only slightly better than their counter parts. These don't come from the soul’s memories, but come from the fact that it is a soul powering the core. (Example of this can be enhanced cognitive function, allowing Mundus Soul type to handle advanced machinery and weaponry like crossbows, ballista, cannons, etc.. Brutus Soul type can handle more advanced weaponry or techniques such as more advanced combat maneuvers utilizing the weight or slowness.) As for the creativity behind these golems, the soul golem could have a wider range of thought while their consciousness is also overwritten by the alien nature of the golem. They can produce better personality and traits that you would not see from your soulless golems, such as dormant emotions, etc.. Justice for Grogg —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The addition of combat aux sigils is welcomed. The only issue here is the removal of the Preservation sigil which is utilized to back up a golem’s memory so that if core is destroyed, they don't have to restart and instead get to pick themselves back up from a checkpoint. Removing this feature does not benefit the player of the golem in terms of their own character story and progression. If the core is destroyed, then it is destroyed, sure, but at least have a way for them to return to their previous state instead of a full wipe. That aside, how do new sigils created through mart get taught? Currently you don't need a TA to teach the new sigils, but will it require a TA for this version? —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ulfar was working on something, carvings spread out all across the walls, the floor and the ceiling. Once the news had reached him of his friend Bjorn's passing, the Starbreaker simply worked in his silence, digging himself deeper into the hole of work. Though for a moment, he brought his hand up to touch the side of his face, a very old wound that Bjorn had treated nearly a human lifetime ago. The memory bringing too much weight to his shoulders, he stuffed himself back into his work.

"Mmm..."

Khron’Hunmar and Kal’Darakaan Miners speak of a tale as they sit in a tavern and enjoy a good Miner’s ale. They speak of a starbreaker they helped within the mines, but escaped before the tragedy. Deep within the caves of the Kal’Darakaan mountain, this starbreaker chisels away at the stone walls. Strike after strike, on a mission to find a gem worthy of becoming the apex of all stones. Why? Well the thought came to him upon a request, a thought that brought him back to the books of Silverbeard history. The first, Urguan Silverbeard, plucked a Star from the heavenly night skies and carved it into the most beautiful gem. Now this starbreaker ponders his possibilities, to pluck a gemstone from the earth and carve it into a Star. A gem to carve into a star, a star to set into a crown, and a crown to dawn the head of a queen. That is the task given to him, a quest to challenge himself beyond what is known as a limit, to show that the prime blood of the Silverbeard is not diluted, but thriving into the creativity of the Craft. Deep within the caves, there he stands, the starbreaker. Strike after strike, the stone breaking away until finally a light breaks through the cracks; light only the starbreaker can see, see with the eye of his mind as his eyes set upon a gem worthy of the Craft. Carefully, he chisels away at the curves and shape of the gemstone, to pry it out of the rough stone walls, but each strike brings him closer to his doom, for he dares challenge the greatest rival, the heaviest idea, the entity of himself. Perhaps this is an attempt to stop him, the Gods and Ancestors declaring him unfit for the task, or perhaps it is The gemstone that wishes to trial him, a gemstone which knows that he dares pluck it not for his own greed, treasure and hoard, but for a purpose, to serve a need. So the walls crack from a thundering strike of the chisel, powered by the determination of the starbreaker. Cracks grow, they travel and migrate across the caves like the rams that run across the mountain sides. Hooves beating against the mountain surface, the cracks spreading deep within the caves. A rumble shakes the starbreaker, but like a pillar standing against the tides of nature, he remains to chisel and chisel away until finally, the final strike against the stone of the earth collapses the cave around the starbreaker, or maybe on the starbreaker. From this point on, it is unknown if Ulfar Starbreaker survived the collapse in search of the most glorious gem in service of the Craft. Perhaps this is the beginning of the Gemstone’s trial or maybe Ulfar Starbreaker is no more.

There on the night of the great full moon, Ulfar steps into the underdeep of the Kal’Darakaan. Why is he here, what leads him down this path? Days before, a dream came to the Starbreaker, a vision of a cave that is wet and moist, dripping with ooze and slime which glow with the shrooms and plant life within. This leads Ulfar to this point, walking down a stone path that leads deeper and deeper into the depths until finally, the light of his lamp meets the glow of a glittering cave of Anbella. A shrine built within hours after his arrival, Ulfar completes the beginning of the rite which showed itself to him in his slumber. There, Ulfar sets up the seven candles before the shrine, each wax carrying a symbol of the brathmordakin gods, and then coats each wick with sacred oils while muttering the prayers to each of the gods. To end the preparation and begin the rite, Ulfar takes his lantern and lights each candle before blowing out the lantern and setting it aside. “Yemekar, it is Oi, Ulfar.” the dwarf mutters before the shrine, the slime dripping throughout the cave as he speaks. “Oi come tu yeh within dese caves ov deh Goddess of the hearth, to pray, teh ask yeh for ah favor.” Ulfar then brings up a dagger that glows gently in response to the natural light within the cave, pressing it against the midpoint of his braided beard. “Oi have lost so much, an’ yet Oi remain, so Oi ask yeh, Forge fathur, fur ah Son.” He starts to move the dagger along the beard until finally, the beard is cut from the rest. Ulfar sets the severed beard down into the slime of the cave. “Ah son that es nae born intu deh duty ov deh Balance, but instead ah khazad ov deh heart.” There, Ulfar pulls up a bottle of Dr. Beard and uncorks it. “Ah son that will bring great things tu deh world, things Oi am incapable of.” Then goes silent for a moment as tears gather at the base of his stone eyes, dripping down his face and falling into the slimy beard blob, then tilts the bottle over and pours the Dr.Beard over the slime and tear infused beard until it is empty. The crying dwarf continues on with his prayer until going silent, and the caves seem to go silent with him as if in thought. Hours pass, maybe a day, until the lit candles reach the end of their wicks before finally, a gust of air travels through the slimy caves which blow the candles out. Ulfar sits there, silent, then it happens. Maybe it is the shrooms and fumes in the cave, but Ulfar hears a whisper from a voice, maybe multiple voices, which utter the name, Tharkun. Then from the slimy beard blob that lies before Ulfar, an infant dwarf gurgles, opening his silver eyes to look up at Ulfar. …… …… …… “Tharkun… Ulfarsson..” Ulfar mutters in response as he holds the little dwarf in his arms.

Ulfar sits within his halls, enjoying his last warm bowl of soup before the time of absence comes. The stars do not move along the world, but with it. This kin of Gotrek sets for departure and breathes in the air that sails the sky, at once standing at the masoned gates of Omenthiel and then absent like the stars during the rise of the sun. The spawn of Urir left in grandest of hands.

What is your name? Ulfar What is your age? Yes What is your race? Urguani Dwarf Where do you reside? Anywhere What powers do you have to fight against this great evil? I am a Dwarf. What is the meaning of a free-spirit, in short words? To be a Dwarf.

The dwarf stands within his trashed house, furniture and equipment thrown all over the place. His hair and beard loose and free, messy from a fit of rage that he had released. The eyes of the aged dwarf looked up to his ceiling, but pierce past the stone to peer into the sky itself. "Why du yeh keep takin' mah friends?" he asks with his broken and worn voice, his bruised hand resting against his folded legs as he questions the gods and their motives. Soon after, with a lack of response, the starbreaker finally breaks and enters a phase of rage and depression as he tears up his room and his belongings.

The dwarf is sat at a table, enjoying the steamy soup in the cold rain. He is unaware of Balor's passing and perhaps it should remain so.

At the top of the mountain of Kal’Darakaan, there stands the shrine of the forge father. Its warmth it offers to pilgrims and travelers challenge the howling cold winds that occupy its peak. Standing within this shrine, this temple of the creator, is a dwarf knelt in prayer to the forge father and all the ancestor kin and at the base of his feet lies the herbs required for his struggle ahead, his purification. “Yemekar, Mah ancestral kin, oi must walk intu ah darkness. A darkness that es not ov aneh creature, not of deh drakki folk or deh dead dat still walk. Et is deh darkness ov meh own soul, theh whispurs ov deh betrayer that plague moi mind and tether etself tu moi wills an’ emotions. Oi onleh ask that you strike me down if oi return with a blackened heart.” As the radiant sun sets over the mountain and Dungrimm’s moon rises to light the forge temple with its luminescent silver light, the Starbreaker consumes the herbs. “Oi dont feel aneh differe-” the dwarf stands frozen in place, unable to move. The fires of the forge temple extinguish and smolder, the magma chilling into obsidian, the moon that fills the entrance grows a wide toothy smile while a cold chill runs up the aged dwarf’s spine. Thoughts, horrors, flood his mind, scenes of greed and gluttony, urges of unchained lust, the plague of unbreakable pride and selfish glory, and the slaughter led by his envy. The symbol of the forge father, an anvil sculpted into the wall of the shrine, bleeds red from its crevices. Visions of the dwarf’s hunger feeling like reality, his hand gripping a dagger carved with Grimdugan’s sigil that is plunged deep into the High prophet’s chest, The grand justicar’s back, the Grand king’s skull and the King’s Hand’s heart. Riches, fame, glory, heroism, justice. A hunger for power, the lust for knowledge and the envy to achieve it, the need for control of the strings of fate, over the people, not people, puppets. All puppets of a grander scheme, to serve a single purpose, himself. The bodies pile up at the base of the anvil, towering higher and higher until it eclipses the symbol of the forge father, covering Yemekar’s eyes from the dwarf’s presence. Black ichor stains the blood red that leaks from the anvil, black ichor bursts from the corpses of those slain by his hand. When the Lady asked him, “What is it you fear?” He lied, because what he feared was worse than what he had answered with, to mention its existence within his mind was to confirm that it existed, so as he usually did, he muffled the real truth with another lesser truth. Now he cannot lie, the barriers that he built up within his own mind broke down, the horror it held crawling out from it’s shadows. The black ichor dissolves the bodies and forms into a figure, it casts no shadow when the light of the moon hits it because itself is a shadow, but whose shadow? The figure completes itself, stepping closer to reveal a reflection, Ulfar starbreaker. He cannot lie now, not to himself when the truth stands right in front of him. His greatest fear is himself. The dark reflection grows a wide smile mimicking the moon’s, its lifeless eyes staring back into the dwarf’s. “Why du yeh hate me? Oi ahm yur true nature, the one yeh du not wish teh show others, but you know et, oi ahm yur ambition, yur very will manifested.” It speaks with Ulfar’s voice. “Moi ambitions are mah own, mah will is moi own, yu’re just deh whispurs of deh betrayur, his slitherin’ servant that was sent teh curse evreh khazad upon their birth.” Ulfar responds in cold sweat, his hand shaking as he stares his truth dead in the eyes. “You are roight about one thing, oi’m not yur ambitions, oi’m not yur will.” The reflection steps closer, “Oi am You.” “Yeh’ve killed deh Prophet, now you ‘ave all the riches, glory and knowledge you sought teh achieve. Deh justicar is dead, by yur blade, now you cahn serve justice upon those yeh marked with heresy because you are the judge, the jury and the executioner. The late king rests within hes tomb, the throne empteh with yur crown waiting tu rest upon yur head. The heretic, layed at yur feet an’ executed at yur will for wot he has done, justice served.” The reflection says as it folds its arms over its chest. “How did oi kill them.. theh..” the dwarf mutters shakes his head, “theh are mah kin, Oi did nae kill them.” Ulfar replies in denial. “You didn’t kill then yu say? But their blood stains yur clothes, deh weapon that tuuk their loife rests in your hands. Everythin’ yu’ve evur wanted deep down, yeh now have. All that needs tu be done now is teh turn Grimdal intu deh murderur.” the reflection speaks the truth, Ulfar did kill them. He took their life for his own goals to come into fruition, all he has to do now is shift the blame onto another. This was his reality, he slaughtered those who stood in the way of his ambition, stood in the way of his thirst for knowledge and held him back from what he is supposed to become. The monsters he kills are nothing compared to what he has turned into. “Oi cannot let dis continue, yur ah monstur, Oi’m ah monstur.” Ulfar says, the reflection speaking in unity with him. “Yu are me, so if oi die, you die.” He says as he raises the blade up to his chest, the bloodied tip pressed against his heart. The dark reflection smiles wider, no longer standing in front of Ulfar, but behind him. Whispering manipulation into his ear with its darkened hand guiding Ulfar’s blade against his chest. “Yesssssss… Thrust yur blade deep entu yur heart. Yeh’ve killed yur clan kin, yur kin, yu cannot be forgiven, yeh cannae redeem yurself. Yu cannot even control yur uwn blade. End it so that oi may reign, yur true intentions.” Ulfar feels himself slipping away, a familiar feeling he felt before when at death’s door. The blade begins to draw blood, a tense pain coming over him as his chest is punctured at the surface. In these last moments, the moon’s silver light shines against the symbol of the forge father, and its reflective light hits the dagger causing the blade’s star like nature to glow a soft silver light. A light that caused the reflection’s guiding hand to sizzle and retreat. The dark reflection returns to the front of Ulfar, its face shifting, frowning, the wide smile turning upside down. “Hwot are yeh doin’? Finish et, yur ah danger tu yur kin, luuk at those yeh’ve alreadeh killed, do yeh think they will be deh last? Nae!” the creature roars out. The aged dwarf pulls the dagger away from his chest, its tip sliding out of the small surface wound. “Yu are jus’ me, but oi ahm in control. Tha’s why yu cannae kill me, that es why yeh whispur, that is why yeh are standin where yu are and why oi ahm standing where oi am. Yu are jus’ deh shadow that mimics me, ah shadow that es cast when oi stand in deh light ov mah kin.” A warmth begins to fill Ulfar as he speaks, as his mind comes to realization of why he is here in the first place. “Yu believe oi cannot hurt you? Oi cannot kill you?!” The dark reflection extends its hand out with dreadful speed and dips its fingers into Ulfar’s mind. “Look at what OI have alreadeh done!” it roars with pride. Ulfar stands there, watching the corpses of his children and wife lay at his feet, their beards torn off and eyes plucked. “THEY WUR IN YUR WAY, SO OI GOT DEM OUT OV YUR WAY!” The reflection and Ulfar say in distorted unity. “YU’RE FATE IS SEALED, YOU CANNOT ESC-” The dark reflection’s voice stops, a silver dagger of Grimdugan thrust deep into its black heart. “May Yemekar and his General cast ah light upon meh and moi kin so dat not even deh shadows we create can exist in our presence.” He says as the silver light of the blade grows stronger and brighter, the dark reflection screeching in horror as black ichor spills from its wide toothy grin. Ulfar leans into the dark reflection to offer a whisper in return, “Oi ahm without darkness, Oi ahm without deh whispurs of deh betrayur, Oi am without deh serpent that slithers moi soul. Oi ahm without greed for treasure an’ glory, for all riches must ‘ave purpose an’ without et, deh are useless, nor do Oi envy those who achieve greatur then me, for their victory es moi own an’ moi victory is theirs. Oi ahm moi kin an’ moi kin is me, deh Ancesturs fill our bluud an’ so we shall not forget our origin, our history an’ our faith. Oi am not deh doom ov moi kin, nor ahm oi their savior, Oi ahm simply, Ulfar ov deh Kornazkarumm.” And with that, the dark reflection withers away, turned to nothingness as its existence is no more within this aged dwarf. Ulfar wakes, his eyes open to the warm forge shrine of the world maker, his clothes soaked with sweat and his chest stained with blood, blood that bled from a small wound in his chest. He stands up from the ground and looks to the anvil, his body weak and tired from all the pain he went through. A gentle smile forms over his face with relief before turning to the exit. The glowing moon sets over the mountains as the stars leave the sky, Ulfar watches the radiant sun rise from over the horizon and shine its radiant light upon the mountain of Kal’Darakaan for the beginning of a new day.

The dwarf, within the starlit halls, drops his soup upon receiving such news. Its content splashing and spilling all over the carpeted stone floor.

The dwarf watches Norli sleep in the hospital bed. Just there. Watching. Only watching.

The dwarf sits within a busy tavern, among drunken folk, enjoying his steamy soup.

A dwarf sits within the hall of stars, enjoying the characteristics of his soup.

Art from Laputa: Castle in the sky The beginning of a new life The world was dark and he could feel nothing but emptiness. No sight, smell, touch, sound nor time blessed his presence. No matter how much he tried to reach out into the abyss, he was met with stiffness for he could not move. Suddenly he felt his form expand and pour out into something, as if he were a body of water filling up a tankard, a person fitting into armor, and then within a blink of existence, the blazing halls of the runeforge made up the world around him, beneath him was the anvil he laid upon. One old dwarf, the creator Bolgnir Irongut, stood before him surrounded by kin, Korallon and Utak among them, who all watched with curious eyes. “As your Impera, oi name yeh, Grogg.” The old dwarf spoke, and for the first time in a long time, a vibrating monotonic sound released from the runes that made up the dwarven masonry of his body as he spoke in response, “Gr-Ogg”. It had been many years since a golem walked the halls of the dwarven kingdom, so the dwarves watched Bolgnir’s work in awe as Grogg stood from the anvil, towering over all with a soft hum that naturally radiated from his runes. Once more the golem spoke as his gaze was set upon Bolgnir and Bolgnir alone, “Imp-Era”. The Mountain dwellers In Grogg’s beginnings, he met the dwarves that lived under the mountains and watched over them, as he was tasked with not only defending them, but also learning from them. There he met many dwarves that spoke with the golem frequently, among them was Gimli, a dwarf who shared in Grogg’s essence, the dwarf’s arms and legs humming with a similar life as his, and Reghor who was a fine chef that made food from stone. Another was Korallon, a dark dwarfess who looked after Grogg from time to time, making sure his body was well oiled. The young golem became well known among the dwarves, as they watched him monitor the kingdom and lay waste to the enemies on the battlefield. One day, out of fun and jokes, the dwarves forged a few ingots of gold into a glorious golden crown with an emerald set at its center. They gathered around and sat the crown upon Grogg’s head, there they cheered a new name Grogg hadn’t heard before, “Grogg! King ov the golems!”. While they were mostly joking and celebrating victory of battles, Grogg believed he had been made king of all stone-kind. Once the mountains fell during a great war, the dwarves migrated from one mountain to another, and so Grogg followed, settling among them in their new home. A powerful dwarf made himself present to Grogg, Kazrin, who cared for Grogg and mended his stone form in Bolgnir’s absence. The two became strongly bonded and there Grogg continued on his duties, a king who stood among newly forged golems. . The Spring and Winter of the forest Throughout the adventures of Grogg’s new life, he found himself commonly interacting with the dwarves that dwelled within the forests that surrounded a gargantuan tree. There he found someone who would become almost a brother in spirit to him, Bjor Cottonwood. The young forest dwarf showed Grogg the ways of the forest kin, the feasts, the drinks, the battle and the stories. Grogg witnessed life all around the forest dwarves, different from the mountain homes below, spring with color, color which he fought to protect as he was the wall between the enemy and the dwarves of the mountains and forests. What felt like nothing to Grogg, time passed, and his body became slow as it carried the damage of battle and time. The aged golem had seen what happened to the dwarves and humans who grew old and slow, under the idea that he too would perish, he met with Bjor and set beneath Anbella’s tree. The golem, in his unique nature, understood what it was to feel sad, but could not express it when he spoke to Bjor, so Grogg lifted the golden crown that sat upon his head and gave it to Bjor towards the end of their conversation, “Good. Bye.” he rumbled before he rose above and walked off into the distance, disappearing over the large hills from the forest dwarf’s view. Bolgnir called to Grogg and set him down in his workshop, the old dwarf wielding a hammer that hummed with the same life the golem hummed with. “You look loike yeh need a new body, Grogg. Good thing oi made yeh a better one now, ain't et?”. Grogg did not know what his Impera meant by such words, but he sat still and watched. The hammer tapped against his chest and then nothingness. He had returned to a state he thought would never return, his voice tried to speak, but could not be heard, his hands reached out, but not in sight, the whole world black and empty. He roared out into the darkness, a roar he could not hear, until the flash of life stuck him once more. He felt himself pour out and fill a space once more, but this time larger, as if it was a barrel compared to the tankard before. The world around him returned to his sight as his muted roar was no longer muted, echoing out in a thunderous boom throughout the chambers around him. Before him stood once more his Impera, “Shut up yeh dramatic lump o’ rock.” Bolgnir spoke. Grogg felt different, the world seemed smaller and his body better. The golem was sent off by his Impera to return to his duties, duties which led him back to Hefrumm. There he sought out an old friend, Bjor, to speak with him as it was only moments ago he left the forest dwarf. There he found Bjor standing atop a stone looking out over the village. Grogg stood before Bjor and spoke to him, but Bjor did not respond, the dwarf motionless, his eyes still like stone. In truth, what was only moments ago for the golem was actually years in reality, and by this time, Bjor cottonwood had died, turned to stone after his sacrifice to protect his dwarven kin. The golem looked upon Bjor’s stone form, the golem’s golden crown resting around Bjor’s waist like a belt, and simply watched in silence, the forest kin telling him that Bjor was dead and passed on to the grand halls of the gods. This can’t be true, not to Grogg as he was made of stone, he could walk and talk, see and hear, so clearly Bjor was still alive, still in there. From there on out, Grogg returned to Bjor every chance there was and simply watched him, forever guarding the forest chief until his return. The beginning of the end Years passed, unfelt by the stone sentinel that was Grogg, the dwarves he once knew now gone and his body slowing once more. The halls of the dwarves were silent and cold, this caused Grogg to wander in search of the life that used to surround him. In his search he stumbled into an unstable cave where he was trapped and eventually put into a deep slumber. The grounds shook and the mountains roared, waking the golem from a slumber that felt like mere moments but was actually years. The caves around him were weakened over time and so an opening was made, the golem pushed himself through and stepped out into a world he did not recognize. A large kingdom stood in the place of his home, there he found dwarves who were young, the halls filled with folks once more. Grogg entered the throne room where Utak once sat and found Jorvin who had finished fighting a great infernal war. Grogg left the mountains as they were unrecognizable, and walked his long walk into the forests. There he found Bjor who stood tall against the change of time, and so Grogg watched Bjor in silence as he usually did before he departed into the world once more, returning whenever he did and repeating this as if he were stuck in a loop. Father time arrives The world around him changed, he followed Bjor over the seas to a new land foreign to him. While the lands were new, he was not, plant life had grown onto him and his body was slowly losing function. Most of the dwarves of old are gone for good at this point, replaced by new folk who did not know who Grogg was, their cities protected by new golems that looked different to Grogg, they did not hum with the same life as he did, but a sound new to him. The old golem brought himself before the only thing that did not change, just as he did not change, Bjor. Grogg did not know what to do but to continue his task, watching over Bjor. There, a sound vibrated the air around that called his name, “GROGG.”, a new golem that was tasked with retrieving Grogg for repairs found him, Grogg had to keep watch over Bjor and denied any request to be taken away. The new golem tried to force Grogg into a submission but this only endangered Bjor, and so Grogg’s body shifted and roared with old energy, one of his arms broken off from the impact. Once the battle was over, Grogg woke up in a forge, parts of his form no longer responded to him. His time coming to an end, the ancient golem pushed off the ground and broke free from halls that contained him. He took his final walk into the forest where he looked to Bjor, the dwarf’s body covered in plant-life as much as his own stone form, “Must..” His voice rumbled with a disfigured tone as he moved himself to stand behind Bjor, setting his gaze down onto him, “De-Fend.”. Grogg knelt down to steady himself at Bjor’s side, the power in his legs weakening by the second. “Bjo..” The golem spoke his last word as he towered over Bjor despite being down on one knee. The orange light within his eyes faded along with the glow from the runes over his broken body. He felt everything slip away as the world went dark once more, he did not scream anymore. He did not speak for there would be no sound, he did not listen for there was no sound he could hear, he did not look for there was nothing to see, and he did not reach his hand out for he was where he had to be.

Name: Ulfar Place of Residence: Undecided Bid: 500 coin

Ulfar, unaware of the creature's passing, continues to consume his soup. The young dwarf enjoying the simplicity of such a dish.

Ulfar sits within the star lit halls, stuck in thought.

Da Dverga Ur Da Arakh Kadrin ᛏᚺᛖ ᛟᚱᛞᛖᚱ ᛟᚠ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚹᚺᛁᛏᛖ ᚨᚾᚹᛁᛚ +-={ ᛚᛟᚾᚷ ᛗᚨᛃ ᛏᚺᛖ ᛈᚱᛟᛋᛈᛖᚱ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛒᚱᛁᚾᚷ ᚨ ᚾᛖᚹ ᚨᚷᛖ ᛟᚠ ᛞᚹᚨᚱᚹᛖᚾ ᚲᚱᚨᚠᛏᛋᛗᚨᚾᛋᚺᛁᛈ }=-+ The great ancestors forging artifacts during their time, the relics of today. Greetings Khazadmar, I am Ulfar of the Kornazkarumm. Long have the crafters within Kal’Darakaan and the lands of Urguan slumbered, our work fading as the world around us evolves into a newer society of Umros and Elgus. Therefor, it is time we strike the anvil harder, let the ringing of steel and rumbling of stone pierce through our deep dwedic halls to remind Almaris, “The khazadmar kadre will not be forgotten”. Through study of the guild’s past lives, I have made modifications and changes. From the ashes of the old guilds, not just from Almaris and Arcas, but from every barimmar past, rises the guild of the White Anvil. Here, we as dwarves will work together to train and learn, excel at our crafts once more. Yrrommar are allowed to join the guild and work alongside the mighty Khazadmar, they will learn our ways and climb our ranks, but are blacklisted from specific rankings that are unique to the dwarves alone. Additionally, Yrrommar can graduate the guild with a form of certificate presenting their rank along with a stamp or sigil of approval from the forgemaster. These certificates are very important in validating the skill of the smith, should they be foreigners. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Progression System Those within the guild must learn and adapt in order to achieve greater heights, This takes many years to learn and even more to master, but when they have learned all they have to learn within their rank, they may apply to climb to the next ranking where they will have to go through a set of trials so that we can see what they have learned and if they qualify to ascend. Chapters Chapters are considered metallurgy knowledge, Chapter of Iron covering the basic to advanced techniques of Iron smithing to Steel smithing. Chapter of gold being the same, and so on for every other chapter for any metal. As you learn and climb the ranks, you gain access to more chapters which in turn allow you to learn more advanced metals. Trials The trials are tasks given to young smiths as they ascend the ranks as their skills increase and their minds widen. The trials are based on the current rank the smith is in to see what they have learned throughout their time within it, made by the Forge Lord or any Forge Hand that hosts the trial. Should they fail, they can retake the trials after a stone week. New Forge Lords Should a Forge Lord step down or die, Yemekar’s pick or the Rhun Prophet will choose from the either the Forge hands or Forge Masters. In the case that the Forge Lord steps down, they may choose to apprentice someone in order to train them into becoming a Forge Lord. Payment Every labor will be paid at a minimum of 10 minas, though metalworkers seeking more pay should do orders/commissions which are paid at 20 minas minimum, potentially more if a commission says so. Some commissions will specify specific ranks required to be trusted to take the order. Such commissions will often pay higher. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hierarchy ((A key requirement to qualify for trials is to have a sustainable amount of rp throughout their time within the ranking. If there is an irl reason for inactivity, let us know. The more rp within the guild, the better.)) Forge Lord Lord of the White Anvil, the Forge Lord is in charge of keeping the Metalworkers guild active and training his apprentices in the many techniques of metallurgy. He is obligated by oath of Yemekar to spread the knowledge of the forge to worthy apprentices, and is given great respect for his service. Forge Hand Assistants to the Forge Lord and High Overseers within the Workforce as a whole, Forge Hands help oversee the logistics of the White Anvil. They are expected as well to be masters of forgework and able to serve as teachers, leading lessons. Forge Hands are offered a free office in the headquarters of the guild, as well as a personal anvil. The guild is willing to accept four labors from him. Forge Master A veteran blacksmith capable of crafting in virtually all techniques. Highest quality craftsdwedship is expected from a Forge Master, and they are given a personal anvil and corner within the facilities of the Workforce for their dedication. Forge Masters are paid 20 minas for their labors unless otherwise stated, and the guild accepts four labors from them. Chapter that you are opened to learning upon reaching Forge Master: Hammerer The standard blacksmith rank within the White Anvil, it is any blacksmith who has become adept at numerous chapters, and is capable of teaching it to aspiring Forgelings and Apprentices. Hammerers are paid 15 minas for their labors unless otherwise stated, and the guild accepts four labors from them. Chapters that they will learn before they can qualify for trials for Hammerer: Apprentice A novice blacksmith who is still learning many of the basic chapters of forgework, but is capable of making standard quality works. Apprentices are paid 10 minas for their labors unless otherwise stated, and the guild accepts three labors from them. Chapters that they will learn before they can qualify for trials for Apprentice: Forgeling An aspiring blacksmith with little knowledge beyond the concept of hammer and anvil. After their first dwarven quality craft, they may be considered an apprentice. Chapters that they will learn before they can qualify for trials for High apprentice: Initiation In order to join the guild, you must speak with either the Forge Lord, any Forge Hand or Yemekar’s pick in roleplay. Contacts Rhun Prophet Norli Starbreaker ---------------------- Yemekar's Pick Ulfar Starbreaker ---------------------- Forge Lord Nara Starbreaker ---------------------- Forge Hand Charsi Doomforged Hana Starbreaker ---------------------- Translations Khazadmar, Dwarves Yrrommar, Foreigners Kornazkarumm, Starbreakers Umros, Humans Elgus, Elves Reference https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/82997-da-bak-kadrel-barimmar-~-the-great-smithing-guild/?tab=comments#comment-715879 Change Log: