Arngir gives the elders his input, and they listen closely. Finally they nod, thank Arngir for his advice and return to their hall to discuss the matter further. The next morning, that very sentence was passed upon the young dwarf. The offender's family wasn't happy, but at least it wasn't a death-sentence. The young girl's family was mildly satisfied with the sentence as they had also been schooled in what it means for them to think themselves prominent compared to other families. They focus their efforts on getting the girl through her trauma instead than cry for blood.
Echadon and his band of prospectors had journeyed for days around the mountains that they were capable of climbing. Echadon being one of the few of goldbeard descent, he had higher ambitions than his band, but it soon became clear that their ambitions would be met indeed. As soon as they had arrived at where the river disappears up the mountains, they saw gleaming in the river. Very small gold corns littered the shallows and edges of the mighty river. Cheering, the band had continued up the mountains. The next few days they spent exploring the smaller mountains around the larger chain, and one of them had a small cave, or perhaps just a sort of enclave or indent seeing as it wasn't very deep. There, they had found that the indent had actually
been a cave that had collapsed, and they found broken copperveins among the rubble.
It was the third smaller mountain they explored that surprised them the most, however. They had rounded a corner and found a perfect graveled path wind up the mountain. It didn't look artificial but it didn't look entirely natural either. After a short discussion, Echadon decided they would venture up the path. Halfway up the mountain, they came across two hulking furred creatures, standing in disciplined guard in front of them, blocking their ascent. As they had gasped from the surprise, two more had stepped out behind them to block their exit.
They looked like giant humanoid bears, with leather armor, spear and shield in hand. They stared the dwarves down, as a fifth senior-looking kinsman of their came from up the path. The two guardsmen parted to let him through, and he stood in front of the dwarves, crouched to reach their height (well, he was all too large but he did his best) at a comfortable distance and stood there silently for a moment.
Their fur was brown mostly, but the one who seemed like their leader had a few strands of gray around his face. His eyes spoke of his wisdom and venerability, and his slow and gentle movements told Echadon that he was friendly. Or, somewhat.
The bear-man spoke in a gruff, deep and hoarse voice as befit his appearance.
"I've never seen such small, bearded humans. Perhaps you are not humans?" it said. Echadon was speachless, he didn't expect that to be the first thing to hear the beast say.
"If not humans, what then? Perhaps you don't speak the common language? Is that why you are silent? No, you look surprised. You understand what I'm saying, don't you."Some of Echadon's dwarves whispered something sharp to each other in dwarven behind him. Clearing his throat, he finally managed to speak.
Two days later, Echadon returns home and tells Arngir and the elders of his findings. First of the gold, and the copper, but then about the conversation he had with Oras, the great bear-man. Oras had explained that they would like their part of the mountain to be theirs, and as they are a reclusive but peaceful people would appreciate if the dwarves stayed away. To be helpful, he marked their mountain on Echadon's crude map but would not tell him how many they were or if they existed elsewhere. In return, Echadon had told them they were dwarves and had, in honor and return for Oras' help, marked the dwarven settlement on Oras' map.
Echadon tells Arngir and the elders that the bear-men call them selves Ursar, and had once long ago come to these lands escaping a human kingdom who had enslaved them and forced them into labor. Which is why they spoke common.
He also tells them of the giant size of the Ursar and their discipline and weaponry. Avoiding them would probably be best, but the two other mountains that he had prospected was ripe for the taking. The copper was nice but who could say no to a gold mine?!
In other news, the elders are still figuring out what to be Arngir's next test.
[Copper and gold marked on map.]
[You have met the Ursar civilization. They are marked on the map.]A) Improve food
B) Improve military technology
C) Improve infrastructure
D) Improve culture
E) Explore
F) Improve resources/technology
G) Prospect the land
H) Expand military
I) Take diplomatic action
X) OtherPopulation: 126 men, 123 women, 35 children.
Military: No standing military. Militia able to be conscripted up to 30% of adult population.
Food level: Average
Resources: Requires prospection and industry.
Wealth: Nonexistant
Trade: Nonexistant
Growth: Base: 5%
+0% from food level, +0% from morale = 5%.Morale: Indifferent
Foreign relations: You do not know any other civilizations.
