On a busy street of Haven, the noon rush navigated in droves by the cistern. On the edge, a heavy iron grate skidded across the cobblestone and a dwarf emerged reeking of filth. The night was pitch black, clouds blotted out the stars and it was cool and damp. Rain was in the air. Founders Bridge was just to the north. Heads turned toward as Durwith climbed up onto the street. An officer of the watch was among them, but merely offered a knowing nod before continuing down the street to the south. Seeing as Founders bridge was the closest place to turn in the ears he'd collected, Durwith made his way north. Founder's Bridge loomed ahead. Foot traffic and carts moved along the street to an incline leading up to the bridge. A beggar stepped out of an alley as Durwith drew near, holding his hat out to the dwarf. "Charity if you please" the beggar said "For a veteran of the Khagoni war".
Durwith reached into his coin pouch and pulled out 3 gold pieces, 3 silver pieces, and 5 copper pieces. Durwith dropped the coin into the hat and gave the beggar a respectful nod.
"Gods bless you, sir" The beggar said with a nod as Durwith continued on his way.

Upon reaching Founder's Bridge, Durwith turned towards the western keep, coming upon the gate. As he approached the gatehouse, Durwith overheard 2 officers of the watch talking. "Damn near killed him, he did!" 1 of them said.
"You mean to tell me he slipped by two patrols and drove the wagon [i]right[/i] to the keep?" the other asked with disbelief.
"That's right" the 1st confirmed "And poor Barnon bit off his own tongue fighting the brigand!".
Leaving the officers to their idle chatter, Durwith continued on his way.

At the gatehouse Durwith caught sight of a familiar face. His former sergeant, another dwarf named Damis Jadeborn. He wore an iron helm and chain shirt, an axe across his back. The unruly eyebrows of the aged dwarf furrowed as Durwith approached. "What are you doing here, Bronzebeard?" Damis asked warily.
"I'm 'ere to turn in some goblin ears fer that bounty that's been offered up fer 'em" Durwith said as he pulled out the 6 goblin ears he had collected "I got 6 o' them".
Damis looked down at the ears in an uninterested manner before raising his gaze back to Durwith. "I hear we have a dwarf named Grimblade to thank for that" Damis said.
Durwith cringed slightly at the mention of his stage name. The fact that he had a hand in unleashing the goblins on the city weighed on him. "I've heard that too" Durwith said "Out o' curiosity, do you know if he's wanted for questionin' or not?".
Damis shook his head. "Save it, Bronzebeard! I know it was you" Damis said "Didn't I tell you that hot head of yours was going to land you in trouble!".
"Ye always have, sergeant" Durwith replied.
Damis sighed, stepping into the gatehouse and motioning Durwith to follow him. "Look, the way I see it those goblins were just itching to hatch an escape" he said as moved behind a desk, pulling out a coin purse and dropping it down on the surface "At least you killed a score of 'em, and took care of that spell caster and thankfully it didn't happen on Founder's Day".
"An' 'opefully it clears up before then too" Durwith said as he took the coin purse and left the ears in its place.
"I figure after this, only a few are left" Damis said as he sat down, kicking his boots up onto the desk "I figured you'd be drowning in a pool of ale by now, yet here you are, hunting down goblins. When you ain't releasing them, that is! You looking to get back in the Watch, hm?".
"I didn't 'ave the coin to drown meself in ale" Durwith said "An' even if I did, the only decent place in the city won't be lettin' me in fer a while now. And no, I ain't doin' this to beg fer me job back. I'm doin' this because I 'ad an 'and in makin' this mess, an' it's only fair I 'elp put it right in any way I can".
Damis nodded slowly, before shaking his head, swinging his feet down and pulling out a ledger, jotting down a few notes. "You're a good dwarf, Bronzebeard, even if you're stubborn as a mule and just as tempered!" Damis replied "I'll be sure to tell the Lord-Commander you set things right." He closed the ledger, putting it back into the desk, his boots clanging loudly as he rests them back up on the desktop. "So what's next fer ya?" Damis asked "If Bronzebeard ain't a watchman, what is he?".
"Well once I'm away from 'ere, I plan on washin' this stench off o' me" Durwith replied as he opened the coin purse to make sure he'd been paid enough "After that, I'm not sure. I guess I'll just see what fate brings and go from there".
"May the fates treat you kindly" Jadeborn grunted "Oh! Have you heard that King Wrothiron hisself will be arriving today for Founder's Day. Every dwarf worth his beard will be in attendance at the main gates for his blessing".
Durwith looked up at Damis with wide eyes when he revealed the shocking news. "The king? Here in Haven?" Durwith said "What time will he be at the gates?".
The sergeant shrugged. "Can't say for certain" Damis said "But his caravan left Razor three days ago. So long as they don't dolly-gaggle, should be here anytime".
"I see" Durwith said "Let's 'ope the king's arrival will be loud enough to let us know when it's time to make fer the gates then". With that said, Durwith finished checking to see if he'd been paid correctly before emptying the purse he'd been given into his coin pouch. "Well it was nice seein' ye again, sergeant" Durwith said as he placed the now empty purse back on the desk "Give the lads my regards...The lads I could stand bein' around, that is".
"Farewell, Bronzebeard" Damis said as Durwith made for the exit.

Some time later, Durwith was walking to the Uphill Bathhouse to wash the stench from his body before the king arrived. Just as he reached his destination, Durwith heard a faint cry for help coming from the nearby alley way. Durwith moved into the alley way towards the cry, readying his weapons as he did so. Durwith couldn't quite recall much of what happened next but when he came to, Durwith had a lot less stuff with him and was bound by his own manacles. After this incident, Durwith Bronzebeard sank into obscurity. Never to be heard from again.