The Funeral Train Leaves Dargis

[Firebird]

It was a sad group of people who gathered around the wagon carrying the bodies of the three dead miners. Their families were devastated. The names of the dead were common names, members of two of the clans residing in Dargis. The train of wagons containng the mourners would leave early in the morning.

It had been reported that there were a small band of thieves operating on the road to Zerdargis, so it would be best if the group traveled together with no stragglers.

The mourners reluctantly left the wagon to retire early. It would be a full day before they rested again.

[Coulter Minith]

Having discovered from his few short-brightenings of investigation within the dwarfen city of Dargis about the disappearance of part of the Dolwood, the young dwarfen adventurer had come to an impasse in his investigation. In order to continue, and hopefully develop, his investigation into this disappearance and the involvement of four dwarfen brothers, the former Prefect of Daltina now knew that he would have to travel to the Aelyrian Empire’s City of Zerdargia; a good brightenings travel in distances even for a harden dwarfen warrior like himself.

However there was some good news at the end of the tunnel about travelling to Zerdargia, at least for the black-bearded dwarf, and some very bad news for kinsmen and brethren of recently dead miners. After a few rounds of drinking dwarfen ale within the Hole in the Wall Tavern with the locals, Coulter Minith had learned about a recent mining accident, in which a mine had collapsed, and the news that three dwarfen miners had lost their life’s in that accident. Their funeral train, from the information gained from his chat, was leaving this brightening for Zerdargia and the four-foot tall dwarf had decided that company, no matter how sad, was better than nothing.

Therefore, as the wagon filled with mourners left the underground city of Dargis travelling on the paved road to Zerdargia, a recently rearmed dwarfen warrior would join the back of the mourning group, walking with his fellow kinsmen keeping his thoughts and feelings to himself.

[Firebird]

But Coulter did not go unnoticed. One of the men following behind the funeral train was a miner who was at the Hole in the Wall last night. He was surprised to see Coulter, and in the light of day, he seemed meeker than the loud drunk last night.

Looking over at the black bearded dwarf he said, "Aye it was nice of ye to come with us, ye're a good man in case we have trouble. I've heard of your battle prowess. Its said that a bunch of thieves been on this road. Had a wagon of supplies hijacked here a cycle or so ago. Don't know what happened to the wagon or horses, but they found the drivers. They were laid out on the side of the road like they was sleeping, not a mark on them, but stiff as boards they was. Their faces looked like they was scared to death, wide open eyes just staring out sightless.