Stone Clan Marches South to Bring Back a Friend

by Grimslayer McDunic

Some twenty-five dwarves sit there in various states of drunkiness. Several had passed out on the bar's ale stained floors. Stepping over Spartope and Jahkra, who had almost made it to the bar a hour before, Baresh went to kick those who could still walk out.

Almost to the table he bumped into Grimslayer who was in the shadows leaning back mace in hand on a bar stool. Like a cat Grim rolls over and comes to his feet.

"Hold there!" Grim shouts mace ready.

Baresh knew the dwarves always left one of their group half sober to keep watch on the others. It seemed Grim had draw the short straw again. Grim was never very lucky Baresh thought.

"Oh its you friend Baresh," Grim mummbles with a slight grin.

"Grim get this group out of here! Even I need to sleep and the day is apon us. Why are you dwarves out and up so late?" Baresh adds as an after thought.

"Oh you didn't hear of Bubbinsters self exile and the the dwarves trip to bring him home to Stone Clan?" Grim responds to the question just as a loud crash sounds near the table followed by roars of laughter.

Grim looks over to see that Hegemonic has passed out taking Towena with him creating a pile of plate on the floor. "Yes yes," Grim continues not missing a beat, "Bubbinster had left the clan he loved and protected throughout the war because of some kind of war stress. He said he wouldn't return and cut all ties to clan and kin.

Well we waited several weeks and many of us went to him and ask him to return. Yet he said no to each of us in turn. I think it made him sad to hurt us so but he wouldn't bend. You know dwarves ever stubborn." Baresh nodded as he yawned wishing he hadn't asked.

"Well you know the Dwarves meet each week to drink and talk," Baresh nods looking at his broken bar stools and remembering the many after meeting drink fests.

"So we met tonight and decided to force our friend to return. So away we went to Shard the place Bub had exiled himself. Oh it was a Grand and large group of dwarves who set off stomping and led in song by Keeyanna the whole way. Veritey had supplied us with so much to drink that we almost had enough for the trip down."

Grim stoped speaking long enough to smile at Veritey who was sleeping next to Syrath in the corner covered by Grims leather vest.

"When we got to the gondola we were 3 sheets to the wind. We started stomping and leaning from one side to the other causing the gondola to rock and creak like an old mans chair on a rotten porch." Grimslayer couldnt help but laugh.

The non dwarves making the journey south screamed in fear for thier lives, I tell ya. Which only spured us on. I myself climbed up on to roof. I even had to use my mace to free the gondola when the weight made it stick halfway across.

We finally reached Shard and had to track down Bubbinster who hearing of us coming had hidden himself. When we found him, thanks to Cloudcrest and Galahant, our hugs and punches showed him he had been wrong to leave friends and fellow dwarves who care for him so much." Grim says as Bubbinster jumps up arm and arm with Shimmermist and Adrinalakewader. Weeping in drunkin happyness he shouts "I am so happy". Then proceeds to pass out head first in an ale barrel.

"Well with some pushing and prodding we got Bub to agree to come back to our group and to Stone Clan.

The trip back was better then the trip to Shard and the poor gondola passangers screamed in terror the whole way across the chasm. We then came here to celebrate our shared dwarven brotherhood."

"Well I am happy for you friend Grimslayer but I must sleep help me drag these sleeping dwarves to my ale wagon you can then drive them all home."

Grim nods and grabs Lugnerin and Baresh reachs down and grabs Jadens by the feet and heads for the door.

"Only twenty three more heavy drunkin dwarves and we can both go to bed friend Baresh," Grim says laughing as Lugnerins head goes bouncing down the bars steps outside. Baresh can only manage a sigh as he throws a snoring Jadens in the wagon next.