After searching fruitlessly throughout the city for a charm to hide my name from others, I finally managed to commission one from an enchanter. At thirty gold, it wasn’t cheap, but it was on a ring to remind me to switch out the elven ring I had on my finger. I really needed to get into the habit of just taking it off anytime I wasn’t in combat or our city, but it was just so easy to forget stuff. After all my meetings and running around the city, I had enough. It was still fairly early in the afternoon, but everything was taken care of and the marathon session had left me exhausted. I stopped by a general store on my way back to my new home, and ordered the basic dwelling kit. It wouldn’t be delivered for another day, but I didn’t actually have to sleep in the game so I logged out and headed to the café.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“No offense Marty, but you look like death warmed over.” Jon spoke.

“Huh? Wah?” I woke up with a snort, wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth. “Oh, hey there Jon.”

“Rough night? I know you were wanting to pull a late night session to see something about a graveyard, how did that go?”

Just like that, the effing weight was back. “Gimme. Sec.” I said, fighting tears.

“Whoah there, what’s all this?” He asked, sitting down next to me and looking concerned.

“Lost an NPC, a friend.” I managed to get out, and caught his face falling.

“Sorry to hear that, man. Anything we can do for you? In game or out, you’re one of us know, ya know that right?”

“Thanks.” I said with a sniffle. “I’ll be ok, it just hits you when everything reminds you of them, ya know?”

“Yeah.” He said, sitting up with a wistful look. “I would lie and say it gets better, but it doesn’t. You just start remembering the good more than how much you miss them. That helps.”

“It was so unexpected. I came back from my wandering, excited. I come around the corner, and these three human players have the innkeeper, and one of them has just buried his daggers into her chest from behind. The last thing she tried to do? Warn me to run.”

“Oh shit.” Jon said, and we dropped into an uncomfortable silence. I saw him give a panicked shake of his head no, and figured someone else had gotten here.

“Everything ok?” I heard Phoebe ask, and let Jon answer.

“The innkeeper where Marty’s been staying was killed by players.”

“Oh hun, that’s awful.” She immediately gave me a hug. I couldn’t quite speak yet, so I just patted her arm.

“Thanks.” I managed to choke out, fighting shuddering sobs. “I’ll be ok in a minute.” I said, blowing my nose several times. After a few minutes where I tuned out their conversation, I managed to turn back to them. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s ok hun, we know it’s hard. Except for Derrick, we all made attachments to the NPCs. They are who we spend a good bit of our day with.”

“Just so you know, we are down to help you if you want to track these guys down. I can put out some feelers with some good guys I know on the message boards.” Jon said.

“Oh, I know who did it already. Ever heard of the Breaking Dawn guild?”

“Not that I can recall, Phoebe?”

“Not ringing any bells. But we can find ‘em, no worries on that.”

“Eh, revenge is on the backburner for now. I want us all at or near max level, as they are going to help us all evolve.”

“Oh?” Jon asked, intrigued. “That should be fun, we won’t have to hunt down materials. Will we be able to do it if we can’t form a party though?”

“Eh, I think I’ll just have to have you guys in the city. I’ve already sent off an email to Emily asking to meet with some of the devs for what I have in mind, we’ll see what they say about things.”

“Oh dear, I do believe he is plotting some world changing shenanigans Jon.” Phoebe chuckled. “Marty, are you wanting to do this in a way you don’t have to sit out for a week?”

“Yes, and I really hope everything goes according to plans. How is your special quest coming along?”

“One left to finish!” She said with a grin. “It’s been weird, as most things that involve a god are. I had to imbibe a bit of flesh and magic from four different loup garoup like me. A massive polar bear in the north, a wolf in the east, a lion out west, and I’m off to the southern swamps next for the snake.”

“Good luck hunting a snake in the swamp.” I said with a snort. “What about you?” I asked, turning to Jon.

“I’m managing. I don’t really want any special quests right now. I know, I know, it’s almost blasphemous to not want unique quests, but I’m just having fun finding out the utility of all my curses. I just want to have fun this time around.”

“Nobody’s judging you hun.” Phoebe said, patting his hand. “If they do, I’ll rip out their entrails.”

“Aw, you say the sweetest things.”

“Anyhow, I think I’m gonna go head to bed. I think I’ve been up for, oh twenty hours or so right now. Just head to the drakeling city when you get your stuff done, ok?”

“Sure thing, and goodnight.” They both replied, and I stumbled off to bed. Collapsing on top of the covers, I was out in seconds.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Grimlet’s POV, shortly after Marty left the meeting

“Master Faraldo, I have a question if you don’t mind.”

“Sure laddie.”

“I don’t have a clan, as I am an adventurer. We do have guilds, that sort of act like our clans. Do you think it would be possible for me to go through that ceremony you did, only so that I may split from my guild?”

“These be weighty things lad. I know ya feel slighted about yer quest, but.”

“It’s not just that.” I said, shaking my head. “They murdered an innkeeper, a noncombatant. And would have done far more. I can’t be associated with people like that.”

“Aye. That be a proper dwarf answer. Ye be leavin’ ‘em, not for what they did to you, but what they did ta others. The council will be meetin’ in a few hours, have the leader of yer guild meet us there. I’ll send ahead a note explainin’ things to the head of me new clan, and we’ll get everything set up.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

“No, thank you lad. You are actin’ like a dwarf should, and givin’ me hope that there be other adventurers out there like you and Angus. Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be back in a half hour.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Several hours later

“Thanks for the loan of the impressive armor, but you don’t have to do this with me.”

“Nay, I do have to.” Master Faraldo replied. “I witnessed the aftermath, and can attest to it. So I’ll be shadowin’ ya through the whole walk, don’t you worry.”

“Thanks.” I said, incredibly grateful that he would be with me. It took a while to get the ritual replies just right, but with dwarves you were expected to be exact. He opened the door and ushered me through, closing it behind him.

“Go ahead lad.” I heard him whisper, and started my walk. It only took a half a minute, but we were soon in lockstep like we had been marching together for years. Straight down the main road, people’s eyes were widening in shock. I figured it was more because of Master Faraldo making this walk a second time, as doing it once was nearly unheard of. Twice? Must be unprecedented. I held my head high though, and ignored their whispering at the edge of my hearing. With my heart thundering in my chest, we reached the gates of the royal palace.

Instead of the three that I knew Master Faraldo met the first time, there were nine royal guards this time. Three waited at attention on each side of the gate in a triangular formation, while three others stepped forward. Hot damn, but they cut an impressive figure. “I know not your position, though you are definitely a dwarf. How do you come here dressed for battle, though without your most potent weapons? Accompanied by a potionmaster who has recently gone through with the same?”

“They would be useless for this battle, sir. For I come not to destroy the body, but the ties of clan today. The potionmaster has seen with his own eyes the reason why I have come today, to bear witness and lend credence to my words.”

“Very well. In accordance with traditions, your grievances will be heard. Be warned, a full quorum has assembled, so that none may bury the truth this day. May Moradin fill you with his will, that you may finish what must be done.” The entire triad spun on their heels, and we all started marching in together. The speaker was in the lead, followed by myself. Slightly behind and to my right was Faraldo, and the two who hadn’t spoken were behind us all, again forming a triangular shape with the leader. I didn’t gawk, but my eyes were wide in wonder as we moved down the ornate hallways. The epitome of dwarven craftsmanship was on display, and it did not disappoint.

The captain walked up to the middle of the table, twelve dwarves sat facing us. Off to the side sat Goliath, confusion easy to see on his face. He was at the very end of the table, with a simple chair to sit in.

“The Adventurer Grimlet seeks audience to air grievances. Grievances heavy enough that he felt the need for our rarest of customs. Though he has no clan of dwarves, he has likened the guilds of the adventurers to clans of their own choosing. Do any here object to this conclusion?” The captain pointedly looked at each of the clan heads and the king, none of which even moved a muscle. Stepping forward, I nervously eyed the blades I knew would soon be piercing my palms. Copying the captain’s move, I looked at each of the dwarves in turn, even sparing a glance for the nervous looking Goliath.

“I come here today to sever my ties with the Breaking Dawn guild, as their transgressions have become unbearable.” Just like Master Faraldo did, I used the most serious of dwarven accusations. I slammed my palms through the blades, and declared, “May Moradrin witness the truth of my words, and strike me down should I try to misrepresent what drove me to this point, even by omitting facts.” Several of the dwarves gasped, and I saw a few nodding their heads at me from the corner of my eye. Even the king bowed his head slightly.

“You may or may not know, but I was tasked with going to the drakeling city in order to create a fitting resting place for the bones of Grumblespark Stonefist. My guild leader, Goliath, insisted that I take several members of our guild with me. Some were to help, as I am not the most talented when it comes to these things. The rest were to be our guards in case of anything unfortunate happening, in his own words. I thought nothing of it at the time, as the drakelings are newly returned to this plane and little is known about them. What I did not know, was that those guards were given different orders.”

“This is ridiculous!” Goliath managed to shout, before he was slammed in the stomach by a royal guard, and almost instantly bound and gagged.

“Interruptions will not be tolerated.” The king said. Turning to me, he made a continue gesture.

“Unknown to Master Faraldo and myself, last night these three guards slew the innkeeper where we were staying. They were under orders to retrieve the bones of Grumblespark for study, as well as go through and murder as many drakelings as possible before being caught. The only thing that saved the drakelings from a night of slaughter was the unexpected return of a warrior. He was too late to save the innkeeper, much to his sorrow, but did slay the three members of the Breaking Dawn.” Eyes all around the table widened, and the king actually held up his hand.

I nodded to him, and he asked what I guessed the rest were wondering. “You accuse them of breaking hospitality? Even though you weren’t there to see it?”

“I do. The next morning, I awoke in a cell, and was questioned under a band enchanted to react to the user’s knowledge of the truth. Later this morning, Master Faraldo and I spoke with the warrior who discovered the innkeeper.”

“Master Faraldo, you have dressed to add your weight to this one’s words. What have you to say on this matter?” I removed my hands from the blades, and was shocked that they healed themselves immediately as Master Faraldo walked up to the pulpit.

“I too, was questioned about the death of the innkeeper. They detected no guile in my words, and trusted in the warrior who vouched for me. Upon return to the alchemists guild, the warrior who caught them in the act spoke to us about what he had learned. This guild, the Breaking Dawn, was acting on orders from the Church of Pelor.”

“Very well. Moradrin has seen your truth, and shown it to us as well. As the accused has lost the rights to talk in this forum, I will ask one question in his stead. What happened to the bones of Grumblespark Stonefist?”

I stepped forward and placed a hand on Master Faraldo’s shoulder, letting him know I would deliver the worst news. “The warrior who spoke with us also happened to be the warrior who found his remains in the first place. He realized that no matter what, there would never be a place secure enough for Grumblespark to rest peacefully. The lust for knowledge is powerful, and who knows what knowledge was locked within those runes? I do not blame him for his actions, and ask that you also recognize that he did what must ultimately be done. He made a petition to Thanatos, and the bones and the runes inscribed upon them have been destroyed.”

“And the quest you were on?” One of the elders asked.

“Failed. Failed in such a way that it may never be completed, and for that I will accept any punishment that is deemed appropriate.”

“I see now why an adventurer would come before us in this manner.” The king said, standing up. “This, then, is my answer to your petition. I see more than enough reason to allow you to sever your ties to the Breaking Dawn, and ask that after this meeting you meet with the heads of any clan that is willing so that you may learn what you may offer each other. As for you.” He turned to Goliath, and his voice dripped with derision. “I banish you, your clan, and any who would associate with you after this day. Before this day is done, the clerics of Pelor will also be brought before this chamber to answer for these charges. Goliath, should any members of your guild be caught in dwarven lands at any time after sundown today, you will be immediately executed. Is the quorum in agreement?”

Twelve “Ayes” circled around the table.

“Then it is unanimous. Escort him to the edge of the city, but leave him gagged until he is there.” Turning once again to me, the king nodded so that I could finish with the ritual words.

“I, Grimlet of no clan, hereby repudiate and renounce my former guild. You are no longer kin of mine.” The next few hours were a blur of meeting with different clan heads, after Goliath was escorted out rather forcefully by the royal guard. In the end, I decided to go with the Seker clan. Perhaps one day I would be skilled enough to craft a masterpiece that would grace the royal halls. Smiling, I thought longingly of the day when things produced by Grimlet Seker would be sought after. First though, I had to learn to make iron nails. Lots of iron nails.