3. The Chancellor's Journal

The Chancellor's Journal


  • _One rainy morning Dwin decides to clean out some of the old documents and ledgers in the storage room in the Great Hall. Most avoid or are at least blissfully unaware of the old closet that is stacked with all kinds of books and ledgers. The dust covered contents are of little use unless you are interested to know how much Rando spent on new militia armor, or if you need to know how much Milshot spent on shovels, or if you are interested in what Lucid's "hot tub" cost to build and install.

    At the bottom of one of the piles Dwin finds a book older than most others. As he opens it he realizes that it is a journal written in the Dethek runes of his kin, Belthor Troff. Belthor sat on the Chancellors throne for years when the Great Hall was found further south in the now ruined 'old town.'

    Dwin spends the greater part of the morning reading through the books. He chuckles here and there as he reads about exploits of old friends. As he gets about halfway through the journal, he sees that Belthor ended his notes (rather abruptly) as his time in Norwick came to and end.

    Dwin carries the large book back to his study and starts a new page._

    Chancellor's Notes
    Dwin Dolvak

    I've meant to put thoughts on paper many times, but it seems that there is always something more pressing. I see some folks writin their words all the time. I've never had much of a skill for that, so we'll see how long I can keep this up. I figure if I pick up where Belthor left off, his spirit will at least urge me to keep up with it. Belthor, wherever you are, May Moradin be at yer side.

    The Realm is in a relatively peaceful time as I write. When all seemed lost just a year or two ago, it now seems that the crushing storm of O-mog and Wendigo has faltered. I will not believe either has been defeated until their heads hang from my gates, but for now people are no longer freezing nor as frightened. I thank Moradin for watching over my flock.

    The Dwarven Hold also prospers. Bless Telli and her donations to both Norwick and the Hold. What a sum of coin! I am not yet sure what to do with it here in Norwick. We need new walls to the south–Albryanna reminds me of this every time we speak. Perhaps a tall stone tower as well. "Tell'is Tower," perhaps.

    Albryanna has a better recruiting record than I ever did while running the Militia. Our numbers are higher now than they generally have been. Wasn't so sure how she would manage, but she's exceeding all my expectations. I am not sure what her relationship with Devlin represents, but I'm conscious that it could be a liability. ((at this point the word liability is circled and and arrow in the margin simply has the letter "F" pointing to it.))

    The Senate elections are complete, but the Senate is withholding the results. No good can come of that. I cant think of any good reason they would do so–either they are forcing a recount to make the results come out their way–or there was some innapropriate actions taken by one of the electors. If they elect that criminal Isle to the senate I wont be surprised. I'm hoping Heffa wins--it would be good to have kin in that damn senate chamber for once, and now that the Masons are in the Council of Moradin, it would be good for both Norwick and the Hold.

    Trade with Oscura continues for now.. with some of our ships skirting around the Jewel and heading straight to the Under-city. Now that the crops can return, I hope to increase our coin purses--but importantly I want to build a grain-store for any future blight. We learnt that lesson the hard way.

    Need to speak to Z about him takin on Telli's role as a leader for the farmers. Folks like the lad, so I think it will work. Perhaps we hire him into a Chief Farmer role here. Need to think on that.

    ... good to have Foilir back in Norwick.

    ... need to purchase some more trade ships. Perhaps some of telli's coin can go to that as well. name a ship after her... cant imagine that pussbag Mercy would like that too much. ((note in the Margin has "Drelan" next to this section))

    Not sure where the damn Kelemvorites have been. Seems they show up for a few months and then disappear. We got a vampire infestation... I wish Wog and his crew would come in and take care of it. They'd make lousy exterminators. ((small sketch of a bat with long fangs))

    all for now... Praise Norwick, Praise Moradin.


  • New page

    Well, the shadow-scourge can be crossed off the list of Norwick-foes. A large group recently descended into some hellish-ancient cavern beneath Norwick's center. How many hives of villany exist under our feet? When Lucid and I chose this spot, we had no idea all that lay beneath us.

    Anyway, I had decided not to go with them, I was going to keep watch on the top of the hill. Then my axe-lust got the best of me and I accompanied them. Glad I did, for it was a savage battle. Many of these fiends couldnt be harmed by regular steel… only enchanted blades and other weapons would slow them.

    They were terrifying. Several times they took shapes of things I cannot even describe... fears from my childhood. Duergar. Bugbears. I know now that it was all mind-magicks--but at the time there is no such reasoning. My skin chills thinking about this battle.

    Ultimately in the depths we found the Necromancer. Moradin led me to him, and we battled, one-on-one. Before Steelcutter could remove his head from his neck, one of our party --that Quelcoth fellow-- exploded his head with some bright magick. I had gray-matter in my beard, and bone fragments all over me. Leave it to a wiggler like that to take my final blow from me!

    So, we had relatively few losses for such a horrendous battle. There were many capable warriors, including the idiot Aurilite that I've shared words with a few times. I can tell that our fates are intertwined and that we will certainly continue to trade words, perhaps blows, until things are decided. Fate is inexorable, that way. He asked if he was still banned from Norwick. TO be hoenst I had no idea what he was talking about--I guess he took our last interaction to be a banning when I asked the guards to arrest him--and he fled like the coward he is. It seems to me this lad's life might be easier if he understood the way things work around here--or at least understod that he cant write his own rules. Not worth my time, to be honest, nor even this ink to write about it. note in margins says "F to handle"

    Jerrick and Tindra were there as well, and I am thankful for that. Old warrior-friends in battle are like a comfortable pair of boots. You can depend on them and you feel safer with them around. The hins were even helpful. A couple kin were there, good strong lads. Didnt get to talk to them much, I hope to see them again.

    One threat gone, others to consider. The Rawlins still crawls with some of our old enemies. Need to research this dracolich more and see what, besides full evacuation, our options are.

    Praise Norwick, Praise Moradin.