Horatio Peritwinkles Rare Book Emporium and The Dargis Messenger

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The printed word had not reached the cities of Dargis and Zerdargia despite the swift nimble brains of the dwarfs and cether, the gnomes and humans no one had come up with a working printing press yet. That did not mean that books and pamphlets were not available for a price!

Horatio Peritwinkles Rare Book Emporium was possible the smallest shop in the city barely seight feet square and covered with second hand volumes in shelves which reached up from floor to low ceiling. Horatio a Halfling who sported a red cap with a gold tassel, half moon spectacles and bright yellow waistcoat sat behind a small table with one of his own volumes opened on the desk.

The selection of books was sparse by larger stores standards but Horatio had many contacts in the book world and should he not have a favoured volume in stock then he knew a man who had.


However for Horatio there was never enough money to be made in book selling so he had a second line of income. Dwarves are rare old gossips and love like the Halflings to know the ins and outs of their fellow dwarves heritage.Thus in Horatio’s own words

It’s hatches matches and despatches that interest the everyday dwarf and nothing wrong with that!

Thus the book worm also produced a regular newsletter for distribution around the city


This was entitled the “Dargis Messenger” and in his neat copperplate handwriting he scribed the day to day events of Zerdargia and Dargis for the education and enjoyment of his loyal customers. A single copy was always pinned up in the book shop and a steady procession of readers made their way to his tiny shop to pay a silver for the privilege of reading the newsletter. Some more wealthy clients had the newsletter delivered by hand to their homes where they could enjoy the news without people looking over their shoulders and tutting about the time it took for some people to read. Nevertheless Horatio made a modest living from his labours and the back copies of the letters provided an important unofficial archive for the city.

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The Zerdargian Festival My dear readers the Third cycle of Cryaxtum is upon us and the city is thronging with new faces flocking to the festival. Indeed the CSM of the Veldar Elite the war hero Dirgus Stonethrottle reports that at least three arrests were made for driving a horse and cart too fast in the city endangering persons and property this very brightening. These villains will be spending the next cycle under the tender mercies of the city jail. [Names withheld pending trial] The city is in full bunting and from nigh on every window and door brightly coloured flags adorn our great city, excitement is rife and a local bookmaker tells me that prodigious amounts of gold is changing hands on the many events. It has been reported that sales of ale have doubled in the previous cycle as the locals gear themselves up for a season of merriment. The New Diamond Brewery issued a statement today We expect to match demand for our new spring ale with some ease extra employees have been brought in and our stocks are sufficient for at least six months consumption Mr Doric Pick [dwarf age 250] was heard to remark on the confident statement of the brewery that “It’s bad news lads I intended to drink yon bugga dry meself what’s the rest of ye going to do?” As I write the leading organiser of the festival prepares to make a speech of welcome and we all await the words of Mrs Gladys Weatherstone with bated breath. But my dear readers why a festival at all? It is here that I am grateful to Professor Pulius Goldbrick of the Dargis institute for Dwarven Affairs in Dargis I quote the leaned professor It had happened deep inside the underground city of Dargis. Much debate has ensued about the decision to partially reopen relations with the sister city Zerdargia and old memories have been engaged .One junior dwarven scholar whilst researching in the archives has come across massive rolls of cloths and when curiosity compelled him to unroll these protective bindings an artefact so rare so precious and for so long forgotten was revealed. This is “The Dargian Tapestry” sewn and embroidered by the nimble fingers of the females over many eras it tells in graphic form the history, traditions and culture of the dwarf. This discovery long thought lost in the deepest annals of time was carefully unrolled to reveal its secrets. It measures nearly fifty feet long and eight feet high and was sewn in a highly stylised fashion. It shows the passage of the dwarfs from foreign lands, the rise and construction of the city of Dargis, it depicts the dwarf at work and play, at peace and war, all in brilliant colours that its long but careful storage has not diminished . This marvel was studied at some length by Dargian scholars but it was a particular portion of the tapestry that caught our attention It depicts the dwarf at play under the bright suns of Telath brilliantly captured in threads of many hues it shows the normally serious dwarf enjoying sports and games. This caused great debate amongst the scholars and politician of the underground city this was our heritage and our history that the long sojourn in the dark of Dargis had been denied us. The recent development of relations with the sister city Zerdargia has warmed the Dargian heart. There are differences between us that time and events has caused but at heart the upperworld and underworld share a common heritage. One scholar proposed that “if these games of skill and strength were depicted upon the tapestry then surely they represented the flowering of dwarven culture and that now these games have shown themselves on the tapestry then possibly the way to draw closer to Zerdargia was to hold a version of the games” Much negotiation was held, the upperworld better used to dealing with the races of Aelyria proposed that these games should be open to all races of good faith. The underworld argued that these were specifically dwarfen events and they were celebrating the dwarfen culture. The counter argument won the brightening….one Zerdargian argued persuasively that “if we are to demonstrate our culture then we should stand proud and invite the other races to witness and participate in the glory that is dwarfdom agreement was reached upon this point and the games were born.

Addendum The festival has started a pageant of music, colour and gaiety, processions of young dwarfs dressed in mock armour led the dignitaries to the grandstand on Minith Field and set up a great deal of noise and laughter. The four main leaders the estimable dwarfs of clans Weatherstone, Burk, Goldbrick and Derisson were prominent upon the grandstand each magnificent in full ceremonial robes of fur and leather each holding their axes of leadership a potent reference to the lost axe of King Thorin the last great king of the dwarfs. But these worthies held back in deference to the single dwarf who had taken the weight of the festival upon her shoulders. Mrs Gladys Weatherstone dressed in a well cut dark blue ball gown that only allowed a hint of the fetching yellow hobnail boots she wore on her feet. Her hair was up in a magnificent style that could only be described as a bee hive and threaded through with diamonds on a silver string. A 250th wedding anniversary present from her husband I am reliably informed. Matching this headdress her beard artfully curled for the occasion was set with more matching diamonds. Mrs Weatherstone spoke showing no nervousness often noticeable with those unaccustomed with public speaking …… My fellow dwarf our valued visitors and residents of the great city welcome to the Zerdargian festival! Loud cheers it gives me great pleasure and no little pride to have been asked to open this festival of all things dwarf. It has been many eras since dwarfdom has opened its doors to all fair races and asked them to join us in celebrating what it means to be a dwarf more cheering and applause There have been dark times for this old city we have suffered greatly low moans and rumbles of agreement but now we are open for business. We welcome our visitors to Zerdargia and hope that you will judge us with some sympathy Mr Doric Pick~ “if there’s any lip I split ’em with me axe I tells yer hic!” and understanding. Therefore it gives me great pleasure to declare the festival open more loud cheers and woops and as a symbol of the great history and traditions of the dwarfs I ask that the back drop to the festival be revealed. It was at this point that the children who had processed through the city ran to the back of the stage and pulling on ropes slipped the dull black back cloth away to reveal The Dargis Tapestry a riot of colour and stitch work shining in the twin suns stretched right across the back stage area it was magnificent dear readers a work of art of the highest order unseen for uncounted eras it shone . Here was the history of the dwarf captured for posterity in a single work. This poor reporter was dumbstruck by the sight of this art work as were most of the assembled crowd but dear readers you will receive a detailed analyses of the work in later editions of this newsletter. The festival is open for business the games will begin the feasting and dancing will commence. Zerdargia is proud of its efforts and hopes that many will come to our city to join in and see what it is to be a dwarf.