Hardcore: Qi Worlds Chapter 36: Spawn 3

 The Dwarves of Clan Stoneskin gathered in the great hall. Once it may have been burgeoning to the walls with all the chairs filled, however today, there were less than two hundred dwarves present. Over one hundred had perished during the surprise deep dweller invasion. 

 The three leaders sat on the platform, Barrin the Master Smith, Kindeag the Master Miner and Skandear the Warband leader. The three weapons depicted in the carving were symbolic of their roles. The hammer represented the Master Smith who was the chosen leader of all the crafters. The pickaxe was symbolic of the Master Miner, however, these were not just gatherers of ore and precious metals, they were also tunnelers and heavily involved with the crafters in the building of the stronghold. Last, was the spear, symbolic of the warriors. The chosen tools of the trade, of the warriors of the Stoneskin Clan, were shield and spear, which permitted them an outstanding defence while allowing offence from spear thrusts through grooves in the interlocking shields. As expected of the dwarves, ingenious and expertly engineered.

  Benzhi, Gisael and Reyas were afforded seating below the dais, amongst the warriors, and were welcomed as guests. The dwarves ate in what Benzhi assumed to be uncharacteristic sobriety. The loss of so many of their clan impacted them greatly, mourning had not even begun, this gathering was called to decide their immediate future.

  Skandear thumped his spear on the granite floor, calling for quiet, it was hardly necessary. "Hearken, unto the masters. We have much to argue and little time to squander," he called in a thick dwarven accent.

 "Words cannot do justice to our loss," he paused for a deep shuddering breath. "We will mourn our kin good and proper and soon," Skandear started shaking his fist and thumped it against the table with a clatter of plates. He then looked to Kindeag and sat down as Kindeag stood.

 "We 'av closed the tunnels," he said thickly, "we are safe, for now. But we lost many miners and many warriors,' Kindeag the stoic dwarf choked up. "If it weren't for these three. We would've lost many more, maybe all of us." Kindeag raised his ale mug. "Thank you, strangers. For all the kin we still 'av with us." Kindeag looked to Barrin and sat down.

  Barrin was the Master Smith. Benzhi had not met him in the corridors where both Skandear and Kindeag were defending against the deep dwellers. Barrin stood slowly. He took his time looking around the gathering of dwarves. Finally, he shook his head and intoned, "I want to hear what the strangers have to say." He then sat.

 'I guess that is my queue,' Benzhi thought and stood. His goal was to bring these people to the Alpine Forest. Not only could he afford protection for them there, they would be a boon to the lands. The quality of equipment was vastly superior to any he had seen emanating from Vaugend. It would be a gain for the Dwarves too, the Fae and Gaels could supply them with all the timber and food they needed. And between the three groups, they could defend against almost any enemy. But they had to be nearby, one week's travel was too much. Convincing the dwarves, the stubborn bastards was going to take a miracle. It would not even be possible if it wasn't for the Core and their relationship with it.

 "I have no words for your loss," Benzhi started and walked up to the dais. "I have a question for you though." He paused letting them become more attentive waiting for the question. "What is stopping it from happening again?"

 He then sat and looked down at the table in front of him. 

 Many of the dwarves became agitated, talking amongst themselves and the din became louder and louder. Finally one shouted a repeat of the question to the masters. 

 Skandear finally stood and angrily shouted, "You asked for this meeting, stranger...how dare you cause more distress upon my kin."

 Benzhi stood again, "I am sorry. But I wanted to know if you had a better alternative than me." Benzhi looked around the room. "There are more dangers than just the deep dwellers, the mountains are infested with yeti and who knows what else."

 "I want to offer the Stoneskin Clan sanctuary in the Mountains to the north. But I am afraid your stupid bravery will stop you considering it," with those words there was an uproar amongst the assembled dwarves. Many were irate about leaving their home, many were irate about being called stupid brave, many were asking what fucking mountains to the north.

 Kindeag stood and asked for quiet before speaking, "but what about all we have built here?"

 Benzhi stood, walked behind the dais and climbed the wall. He laid his hand on the Core and spoke, "I am fairly certain we can recreate what you have built using the power of the Core." He then removed it and the Dwarves went mad.

 Benzhi held up the Core high above his head and shouted, "this is your home, follow it north to where we can offer you sanctuary and allies."

 Skandear, Kindeag banged on their table asking for quiet. It took a long time but finally, there was quiet and Barrin stood to speak.

 "You leave us little choice," he said sadly. "I hope the land to the North is as promised."

  Skandear and Kindeag hung their heads, not in shame, but in sombre contemplation. The rest of the Stoneskin Clan were stunned. The last thing they expected was the Masters to acquiesce to such a ridiculous proposal so quickly. Not to mention, agreeing, without checking every detail a dozen times.

 Benzhi slid the Core into his pack. "Ok, when is the soonest we can leave? It is at least ten days journey."

 "Kill him and take back the Stone," one yelled.

 Barrin, Kindeag and Skandear called for quiet again. Barrin spoke, "do not add to our plight my kin. Clan Stoneskin heads north on the morrow. Prepare now, take only what you can carry on your back and handcart."

The next day two hundred of the dwarven Stoneskin Clan assembled outside their old stronghold, backpacks peaking above their heads filled with belongings, handcarts piled so high they could barely see over the top.

 Benzhi spoke with Skandear. "We will scout ahead, east and west. We will return regularly to report and check on your wellbeing," Benzhi informed Skandear.

 "Aye, my warband will stay with the clan, that is a good plan," Skandear agreed, "I hope you can run fast and long," he chortled, "that sure will be more running than anyone can bear."

 Benzhi smiled. He pointed to Gisael, "oh, I am used to running." The dwarf chuckled and nodded, misinterpreting Benzhi.

 "I've been thinking on you," Skandear volunteered, "you fight with a sword. But it does not suit your style. You dart in and out, you push back your enemy with your shield out of reach of your sword. The only time the sword suits you is when you spin like a sissy. Most of the time you jab with it and use it like a poor spear." He waited while Benzhi considered his words. "You should try a spear. I am an old warrior and let me tell you. You with a shield and spear would be deadly."

 "But this," showing his wooden sword, "is a special sword," Benzhi replied.

 Despite the loss and the sadness of leaving their home Skandear could not help but laugh, "You think Barrin cannot make a special spear?" He gave Benzhi a look that implied; if Benzhi thought that, he was the greatest idiot ever born.

 Benzhi left Skandear with a nod and joined Reyas and Gisael. "We have our work cut out for us," he told them.

 "When I follow to keep you safe," Gisael said with a smirk and imitated Benzhi, "my work is always ..cut...out.."

 Reyas laughed and punched Benzhi in the arm. "That was funny," she informed him. 

 'Um it was a little funny, why did you have to bruise me?' Benzhi thought. Rubbing his arm, Benzhi led the group up the trail and scouted the area. Returning back to the dwarves regularly to ensure they made a direct route to the pass.

 The snow was a hard slog, but the dwarves are sturdy folk, they hauled themselves and their possessions with methodical progress. The Stoneskin Clan marched from dawn's first early light until twilight fitting in fourteen hours a day with no breaks, they ate on the move. Benzhi was amazed at their endurance and tenacity.

 Progress on the second day was interrupted with clusters of yetis. Intrigued by Skandear's words Benzhi had borrowed a spear. He could not use qi blade with the borrowed weapon. Probably because it was not totally organic or the type or the quality was not high enough, he was not sure. Reyas was intrigued with the spear as well and they agreed to train with them when things settled down if they ever settled down.

 Clusters of yetis occupied the pass, not only would it take too much time to circumvent them, there were more in the hills in any case. Each grouping was six yetis, so if they did not swarm it would not be too much trouble for the Vanguard. Gisael would engage with the bow while Reyas and Benzhi waited. Benzhi would stand front on and Reyas leaned into his back with her right shoulder. Gisael was always able to kill two yetis before they closed, Benzhi would stab the lead with the spear and smash the second. The third would charge Benzhi, sometimes leaping into the air above its pack members Reyas would dart past Benzhi and attack the third from an obscured position. The yetis had not seen her, as she hid behind Benzhi's broad shoulders until it was too late. The sixth and last was a game, whoever got the last kill won bragging rights. It was usually Gisael and her bow until Benzhi started blocking her shots on purpose. 

  Taking down the yetis ahead of the Dwarves trek was a copious task. It consumed Vanguard for the entire day. The yetis would attack from east or west if the dwarves were within sight. Vanguard had to clear every cluster in the central trail of the pass. By the time the Dwarves had cleared the mountain pass Vanguard had dispatched ninety clusters. The pure white snow was littered with the blood and guts of five hundred and forty yetis. There were literally tens of thousands in the mountains now. Benzhi wondered how normal traders would make this route now, it would be impossible if they didn't have skilled protection.

 With the mountain pass out of the way, the Dwarves rested while Benzhi, Gisael and Reyas scouted into the plains. They knew what to expect in the mountains and contrary to having travelled the plains just a few days ago, they now had no idea what they would find.

 The Vanguard walked north well before dawn, they needed a lead on the hard travelling dwarves. Gisael in the front with qi senses allowing her to see in the dark, enhancing her hearings and sense of smell. Benzhi behind with qi sight, looking for portals or any other qi core he could find with Reyas bringing up the rear.

 Before the sun started to rise they ran into the first threat of the day. The trio crept closer to the creatures, attempting to remain unnoticed for as long as possible. They closed to within two hundred paces where they were close enough to make out the menace.

 The creatures crept on four legs and they were about five foot tall to the shoulder. Compared to the yetis and especially the deep dwellers they were huge. The yetis were slightly taller but walked on two legs these beasts looked like six foot high dogs. Their head was remotely similar to a wolf with sharp fangs and red eyes. They had a long red spiked tail, in fact, their entire coat was black covered with red barbs. Benzhi was pretty sure their paws would have sharp claws as well.

 The lead hell hound sniffed the air as Vanguard approached. The hellhounds were in a group of twelve, this would be a much tougher fight than the yetis. Gisael had been able to retrieve most of her arrows from the yetis but even with a low attrition after ninety groups of yetis, she only had fourteen arrows left out of fifty odd.

 Vanguard and the dwarves had only just crossed the mountain pass, they had at least eight hard days marching, if not more, to cross the plains. Benzhi sighed as, at a little less than two hundred paces the hellhounds aggroed and attacked.

Chapter end