An Ancient Blade Recovered

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 Amairgen's 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.