[h2][center]Thargas Anvilmar[/center][/h2]
[hr] 

Thargas was not unused to politics. He was a senator for his homeland and had served in the seat for as long as a human lifetime, and yet he felt a bit out of place here. Had his King been present, there might have been some manner of acquaintance or camraderie, but as it were Thargas knew none of them and had only expected to come and reinforce the humans with their expeditionary force before Khaz Modan could mobilize properly. It seemed the war was starting sooner than expected!

He took hearty sips of the mead and listened intently as the varying leaders greeted and spoke with one another. Geradin did the same, though he held his head high and watched with an authority only a dwarf of the cloth could muster, holding his staff with the grandness of a statue wrought in the elder days of the titans. Thargas couldn't hold himself with granduer. He was just a warrior and a politician, and different people would tell you differently on which came first to him. 

"While the Gilneans are taking their time, I'll take the floor and provide ye with a bit of information on our involvement in this conflict o' yorn." Commander Anvilmar remarked, stepping forward at their center to grab the gathered attention of the crowd. He was shorter than all of those present, but his bulk wasn't something to be ignored. He could arm wrestle the best of the orcs and still come out looking for more. Once Thargas saw eyes on him, he began... 

"Ye have the support of me people, and the good citizens of Gnomeragan-" He conceded, extending a hand to the present Gnomes in acknowledgement. "And of our King. The Bronzebeards have always been staunch supporters of the Alliance, no matter the circumstances and no matter the foe. Our involvement here will be no different. In the coming weeks and months, ye can bet we'll bring more than our token force we've shown here today." 

Twelve hundred veterans was nothing to scoff at, but it was certainly not the mobilized military of Khaz Modan. "But know that me king grieves for his brother, and while the dwarves are ever with the men of Lordaeron, some of our people feel that this war must be a war of gain rather than just passion and shared loyalties. Some want to protect our King, even from himself. And so after the war is won, and ye've rebuilt, we'll become trade partners again. We will have much business to discuss, and new roads both above and below ground if ye catch me meaning. If we are to fix this world, then we who have suffered from the Old Horde much as you who are suffering now will need to know we're in it for one another, not just when one of us is down. It took decades to free me homeland from the orcs and dragons, and some of me people felt abandoned during that time. Some felt that the men who ask now for help, delayed in their help earlier. Now, I know that's bullshit, and me king knows that's bullshit, and most dwarves worth their beard knows that's bullshit... however, some might need a bit of hard evidence by the time this is over, in trade and treaties."  

Thargas managed a smile, because he knew just how ridiculous it was to even mention such a thing. But it needed to be let out to breathe and to be on the minds of the men and even elves present, because if it wasn't, then some dwarves might worry they would forget. And a dwarf that feels slighted is a dangerous and dogged foe. 

"Thank ye for hearing me. Me forces and meself is at your service. Let's slay the zombies in their holes!"