Gehrhart rode along the weather beaten rode to the small town of Merryspring atop the pony he had bought in the settlement at the foot of the Tall Mountains, the rain fell about him and soaked the Dwarf thoroughly and making his knee ache. [i]I'll never get used to this kinda stuff[/i], he pondered, [i]water falling from the sky why the young'uns would think I lost my mind[/i]. As the Dwarf was lost in thought the pony gave him a baleful look. "What're you on about then?" he asked it "We'll be in town soon enough, and then the both of us can get out of this blasted rain." 

Soon enough the dwarf arrived at the gate of Merryspring and dismounted his pony. The Dwarf made an almost comical sight leading the horse to the stables but managed to get his pony lodging. "Ehh boy" he called to the young stable boy "Get her some feed will you, and nice place for tonight."

"Yes Sir!, Right away Sir" the young wide eyed boy said tentatively taking the reins from Gehrhart's hands and leading the pony into the stables. Gehrhart wondered if the child had even seen a Dwarf before then and couldn't help but crack a smile at the thought of the child telling an exaggerated tale to his friends later that day.

"Right" Gehrhart said to no one in particular as he straightened his armor, "To the task at hand," and with purpose he strode across the muddy street to the Galvanizing Spirit and stepped into the inn. [i]What a sorry bunch of stones[/i], he thought, the inn was nothing like a Dwarven Alehouse it was dim and dank with the patrons sitting in clusters separated and eyeing everyone else with a mix of paranoia and malice. Gehrhart found his hand easing towards Alda but then he saw a familiar face near the back sitting with some new ones and he relaxed slightly. His mind went back to the time when he had first met the Watchful and then to when he had been offered his chance to join the man on his quest.

"You desire to see the world, yes?" The Watchful had asked, a loaded question as always "I am in need of someone of your skill and experience in a party i'm putting together for an investigation" He had continued. 

"What do you say old friend one last campaign before your forge dies out?" And Gehrhart had agreed, and The Order had wished him well gifted him a good shield and sent him on his way. 

[i]I've still got an ember or two left[/i], the old warrior thought as he maneuvered through the crowd towards the table and the beginning of something he expected to be very interesting.