Many years ago some dwarven workers were contracted to build some new
shops in the market section of Bloodloch. However, due to the fact that
they spent more time drinking than working, the shops took an incredibly
long time to build. Appalled by their incompetence, Amairgen, Lich of
Bloodloch, had them imprisoned instead of paid and they were left to rot
in the dark cells of Bloodloch's prisons. After countless years,
Amairgen once again had the prisoners brought to her. Telling them they
finally had a way to earn their freedom, they were sent into the lava
caverns and told that all they had to do was dig into the rock until
they found a rusty blade she was interested in. With balls and chains
attached to their feet to impair movement, the dwarves went to work on
what seemed like an impossible task, yet it was their only way to become
free.

The dwarves carried on in this fashion for many years, with most of
sapience still unaware of their existence. Until one day, one of the
dwarves swung his pick into the rock and heard the metallic clang of
metal striking metal. He kept on digging and unearthed a rusty blade.
Overwhelmed by the fact that after all these years, he and his brothers
might finally gain freedom, he shouted for his brothers to gather around
him. This shouting also attracted Countess Tismi D'Baen, Arch Duchess
Dasia Bouchard and the Keeper of Bloodloch, Duke Eshu Shinta'moryu, who
had already been made aware of what the dwarves were searching for when
they had originally been put to work in the caverns.

The dwarf showed them the blade and stated that if this was the blade
that Amairgen was looking for, that it was finally time for her to set
him and his brothers free. Eshu asked the dwarf to hand the blade over
to him so he could take it to Amairgen for authentication, but wary of
his previous treatment the dwarf refused to hand it over. Claiming he
could not walk to Amairgen because of the ball and chain around his leg
stalled them for a minute, but once Eshu had unlocked and removed the
ball and chain from his leg, the dwarf still refused to move or hand the
blade over.

Eshu went to speak to Amairgen and taking the importance of the blade
into account, she made a rare move into the lava caverns to see the
dwarf and claim the blade for herself. The dwarf once again stalled
them, trying to insure that that Amairgen would set him free. Growing
impatient Amairgen started threatening him and the dwarf was ready to
back down, but suddenly sensing a vast power within the blade he started
questioning Amairgen as to exactly what she had been making him search
for all this time.

Amairgen was growing impatient and annoyed with the dwarf, in a bid to
emphasize her point of what could happen if he didn't become more
compliant, she granted freedom to one his dwarf brothers. This was not
the freedom the dwarf was expecting, but the freedom of death. The dwarf
was stunned by this death but still refused to hand over the blade.
Realizing that he had to save his brothers, he raised up his pick and
drove it into the chains holding his fellow dwarves. The chain held at
the first blow, but the dwarf was determined and struck again shattering
the chains. His brothers ran for freedom, but they were not quick
enough. Every one of them was chased down and slaughtered. The
consanguine gathered back around the dwarf, adding insult to injury as
they fed off his dead brothers.

Still the dwarf refused to hand the blade over, insulting and mocking
the consanguine and Amairgen and stating they would have to take it from
his dead body. Amairgen grew weary and asked Eshu to deal with the
matter and then come to her once he had resolved it. As Amairgen left, a
portal flared into existence and a series of people stepped through
including Banial and Fonzy. They quickly went to attack the consanguine
gathered and Eshu ordered the consanguine to kill the dwarf, hoping that
the blade could be taken from his corpse. The dwarf, however, seemed to
be enhanced by the power of the broken blade he was holding and quickly
helped dispatch the consanguine around him. Following Banial through the
portal, the dwarf escaped to Shallam with the blade.

Seeking the counsel of Amairgen, the consanguine soon left for Hashan,
believing they could render the blade useless by killing the troll king.
They were met by Prince Zahmekoses Nebre'seir and some of the
consanguine from Spinesreach who had had the same idea. Between the two
groups they proceeded to slaughter every troll in Hashan they could
find. While in Shallam the people gathered checked that the dwarf had
not suffered overly from his long imprisonment and proceeded to question
him about the blade.

However the dwarf, whose name was Dorin Silverbeard, was unable to
answer the questions as he was unsure of what it was he had found
himself

Having spoken to the troll king just prior to the consanguine attack on
Hashan, Trabarg the archaeologist hurried towards Shallam. Once there he
asked Banial, who was now holding the blade, if he could see it. After a
moments examination he proclaimed that this was indeed the blade section
of the fabled demon blade of Gar'losha. This sword had long been steeped
in myth and legend, the predominant rumor being that it was a mighty
weapon against the Consanguine.

He implored the people gathered around him to seek the hilt of the
blade, but showing great foresight, Arslen Ohmsford, Master of the Iron
Citadel, had already found the hilt before he made his way to Shallam.
Trabarg asked for both the hilt and the blade, but Arslen and Banial
were reluctant to hand them over. Arslen stated that the hilt and blade
were troll relics and should be returned to the troll king, while Banial
wanted the blade returned to his fellow dwarf. Trabarg swayed them,
however, by claiming that he was the only person who could recreate the
blade. Promising to give the finished blade to the troll king, he was
handed the hilt and the blade. The dwarf, Dorin Silverbeard also offered
to help. Knowing the renowned skill of dwarf forging, Trabarg was more
than happy to accept his help. Now they both work on forging the hilt
and blade back together, locked in the barracks of Shallam for their own
safety.

It is without doubt however that the consanguine are making plans, yet
what exactly is being plotted within the confines of Amairgens chambers?
And would not Trabarg himself have an interest in keeping the blade for
which he searched so many days of his life? Or will the blade of the
ancient king once again be passed along the lines of troll succession?
The future lies, as always, in the hands of the key participants in
these tempestuous events.

Penned by my hand on the 19th of Slyphian, in the year 109 MA.