King Harrow was riding through the mountains near Mount Kalik. Accompanying him was his closest advisor and court mage, Viren, as well as a retinue of soldiers. Despite the wild beauty of their surroundings, Harrow knew they were not there to sightsee. They were searching for, if their sources were correct, a magic castle of all things. Rumors had filtered through the kingdom for the past few weeks. They had originated from a small village in the very mountains they were currently riding through. The tales told of a castle which had, apparently, suddenly appeared a few weeks ago.
This would normally not be something Harrow would personally investigate. No, the issue came in when a report came in from Governor Balek, confirming the reports with the governor's own eyes. Harrow had met the man many times, and always found him incredibly honest. Harrow knew Balek wouldn't falsify a report. He and Viren had agreed that a fortress suddenly appearing within their territory was a bad sign. Perhaps the result of elven magic, as an attempt to strike deep within human territory.
Now, as Harrow rode steadily and carefully through the stony cliffs, something didn't sit right with him. If this was an attack by the elves, then where was the attack? The fortress had apparently just been sitting there for weeks, and though fires and movements had been reported, no one had exited. Why would the elves build a fortress in human territory anyway? Most elf attacks against the realms had been quick and subtle strikes, not bothering with taking territory or establishing footholds. No human kingdom would've been able to construct one, either, not without someone noticing. Especially not within as short a time as a few weeks.
These thoughts still occupied Harrow's mind when he rounded the corner of a cliff, and all at once his mind fell silent. Before him was quite possibly the largest fortress he had ever seen. High above on the other side of the mountain pass, the magnificent stonework seemed to blend seamlessly into the rock. Harrow had stopped his horse, an expression of awe and shock on his face. Viren rode up beside him slowly, wearing a similar expression. Harrow imagined that every member of their party within sight of the keep looked the same.
He looked towards Viren, and they both shared a look of concern. Harrow nodded to him, and they both rode on with greater urgency, followed by the soldiers. It took them another hour to reach the other side of the pass, and another hour again to find a safe path up the shear cliff which surrounded the half of the keep which faced out of the mountains. Finally, they reached the top, granted without their horse, who remained at the base of the cliff.
Harrow looked around and was once again awestruck. The land atop the cliff was largely a flat, stone strewn meadow. Wildflowers of dozens of species bloomed, most of which he had never seen before. Butterflies flitted about, and bumblebees buzzed around. A small group of odd looking goats grazed not so far away, seemingly unbothered by their presence. In the center of it all was a wide stone path, extending all the way up as the land sloped steeper and steeper. Harrow presumed it ended at the fortress.
"Oi, Umgi!" A voice yelled out. Suddenly, Harrow found that his soldiers had surrounded him, taking up defensive positions. Viren had already opened his spell book and grabbed a handful of what looked like insect legs from his bag. Harrow had drawn his sword as well, looking around to find the source of the voice. "Oi, up 'ere!" It said again. Harrow's gaze was drawn towards a stone pinnacle. As he looked up, he saw the natural stone transition into hewn blocks. At the very top was an open room of sorts. Evidently, this was a watchtower.
Within the tower was a what appeared to be… a human? Harrow looked on in confusion. "Aye, there ya go! Good ta see an umgi again. Most familiar thing here, save the mountains!" The man said. He wore what appeared to be a dark gray cloak, with a long beard of matching color. The man was soon joined by another. He was dressed in shining metal armor, with a red-brown beard. "Gurni! We're on guard duty, fer Grimnir's sake! Don't try makin conversation!" The armored man seemed to scold. Harrow saw him turn and look down at them. "Well, state yer business." He said gruffly.
Viren stepped forward. "We should be asking you the same! Who are you, and why have you constructed this fortification without the permission of the king!?" Viren shouted up, gesturing to Harrow at his last point. Harrow stepped out of his circle of now confused guards, and placed his hand on Viren's shoulder. "Viren, I'll handle this. I am king after all. If I can't be diplomatic, what am I?" He said casually. Viren looked somewhat apologetic, then nodded and stepped back. Harrow looked up towards the watchtower. "I am King Harrow of Katolis. This fort lies within the borders of my kingdom." He stated with an even and diplomatic tone.
Harrow supposed from their manor of dress and speech that they were from the neighboring kingdom of Del Bar. It might have been that these men mistook these mountains for those of their homeland. He seriously doubted it, but as a king he wasn't about to risk a diplomatic incident with King Florian by attacking this fort. It was difficult to tell from down on the ground, but it seemed the two guardsmen shared a perplexed look, before turning around abruptly. To Harrow, it seemed like they were whispering to each other.
After a few minutes, the armored one returned to the side of the tower. "Alright, umgi, wait right there! We'll be down to meet ya in a moment." He said, before he disappeared from view, along with the other man. Harrow and Viren shared a perplexed look, and Harrow knew his friend was feeling just as confused by this whole affair as he was. Shortly after, the side of the tower swung open, revealing a perfectly hidden entrance. As the guards stepped out, one thought passed through the king's mind: "Short. Really short." And they were!
They two men were some of the shortest Harrow had seen. Neither of them could be any more than four feet tall! Yet, they weren't of the build one would expect of someone that short. They were fairly proportional, and ridiculously stout. He could see hardened muscles rippling on the arms of the man in the cloak. His entourage seemed perplexed as well. Viren didn't make his confusion as apparent, just raising an eyebrow. The armored man and cloaked man exchanged a few hushed words, then made their way over to where Harrow stood.
"Yer majesty." The armored one said, before both men gave a salute, placing their right arms with closed fists across their chests, then bowing. "I am Gromad Steelhead, Ironbreaker of the dwarf hold of Karak Vlag." The armored man, now identified as Gromad, said. The cloaked man then stepped forward. "I am Gurni Gorisson, Ranger and pass-guard of Karak Vlag. Good tae meet ya laddie!" Gurni said, far more jovially than Gromad. Speaking of the "Ironbreaker", Gromad simply rolled his eyes at his partner's overly familiar attitude.
Harrow didn't have much time to process their words when Viren stepped forward. "Just who, or what, is this 'Karak Vlag'?" The mage asked, putting on his best authoritative and imperious tone. The two men did not react as he clearly hoped, as Gurni chuckled and Gromad raised an eyebrow. "THAT, lad, is Karak Vlag." He said, pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the castle. So that's what the fort was called. That cleared up one mystery for Harrow, and opened up several more. Viren seemed to go through a similar thought process, judging by his expression.
"Ach, we haven't got time for this. If yer visitin' royalty as ya say, then ya must meet King Hrothgar." Gromad said. Viren, apparently still peeved at their lack of respect for him, spoke up first again. "King? His majesty Harrow is king here, sir!" He said, somewhat indignant. Harrow knew he should stem this before Viren really get riled up. He was his best friend, but he had a pretty big temper sometimes. He placed a firm hand on Viren's shoulder, and gave him a pointed look. Viren looked rather sheepish at realizing his folly, and gracefully stepped back.
Harrow then looked at Gromad and Gurni. "Lord Viren speaks the truth. Within these lands I am king. Why has your king come here?" He asked. He hoped that the answer wouldn't be conquest, or plunder, or both. He really didn't need any of that. "Well, that's somethin of a story umgi. To make it short, we did nae really mean tae come here." Gurni explained while somehow explaining nothing. "It'd be best if King Hrothgar spoke with ya on this matter." Gromad said. He then turned and pointed at the stone path, where a few goats stood and watched them. "It's not a far trek up the road. We'll reach the gates before dark." He said.
He then turned back to Harrow. "Speakin to the king should clear up any confusion. He is a wise king, after all. One of the best if I do say so." Gromad said, standing up a bit straighter when he lauded his monarch. Harrow stood there, thinking on things. For one this entire situation was EXTREMELY weird. On the other, he had just been promised answers if he came and met this "Hrothgar" fellow. Perhaps this was a new human kingdom? And what exactly had Gurni meant that they hadn't come here purposefully? Many questions, and apparently only one person who could answer them.
"Very well. I will meet with your lord." He said. Gromad seemed pleased with that, but kept his face still as stone save a curt nod. Gurni seemed far more enthusiastic, beaming a bit, much to Gromad's apparent chagrin. "Right then. Let's be on our way umgi!" Gurni said, starting up the road, followed soon by Gromad. Harrow made to follow them, but paused when Viren raised his staff in front of him. "Harrow, is this safe? For all we know this could be a trap!" He whispered to the king. Harrow leaned in to whisper as well. "I don't much like this situation either, but we don't have much of a choice. There are too many unknowns, too many questions that need answering, and apparently only one person who can answer them."
Viren still looked displeased, but then gave a deep sigh. "Alright then. I will follow you, my friend, as I always have. At least you'll have me if things get rough." Viren said with a small smirk. Harrow chuckled a little at that. "Oi, umgi! You followin or what?" Gromad called down. Harrow didn't reply, simply beginning the trek up the road. Viren and his guards followed close by. They caught up to the two short men with ease, for obvious reasons. The road wasn't too much to look at, save the other watchtowers which they came upon at regular intervals. Gromad gave each one some form of signal, which was returned by the inhabitants. A fire was then lit in each tower.
"Jus makin sure the gatekeeper knows yer comin laddie!" Gurni said in his usual friendly tone. Harrow supposed that made sense. They wouldn't want guests to show up at the gates, only to be taken for invaders and skewered by the guards. They reached the gates just before sunset, and what gates they were. Harris found himself in awe not for the first time today. The gates were massive, and apparently solid iron if Gromad was to be believed! They were covered in ornate and detailed images of dragons, as well as men fighting dragons.
The men on the door were just as squat as their guides, as were the gatekeepers. It seemed that shortness ran in these people's blood. Harrow was broken out of his thoughts yet again by the opening of the great gates. "Welcome to the great dwarfhold of Karak Vlag." Gromad announced with no small amount of pride in his voice. And proud he should be. Harrow found himself in awe yet again. He was considering living in a perpetual state of awe given how often it was happening lately. They entered into an enormous hall, carved from stone, with vaulted ceilings and massive chandeliers.
How many centuries must it have taken them to carve a place like this? How did it wind up just appearing in the mountains here? These were some of the thoughts crossing Harrow's mind as he gazed up at the stone sky, hundreds of feet above him. He was brought back out of his thoughts by a quick tug on his cloak. "C'mon then, umgi. The throne room is this way." Gromad said. Harrow nodded and followed along, still taking time to gaze at his surroundings, as did the rest of his entourage. Soon they came upon a great door. This one was not nearly as grand as the gates outside, but it was of masterful craftsmanship nonetheless.
The doors opened into a hall, smaller then the last few halls they had been in. But this one was far more ornate. It seemed like every square inch of the place had been expertly carved in immense detail. On the farthest end of the room was what appeared to be the greatest carving of all. Seated breath it was another stout man, in slate grey robes and a great beard, longer than the other men's. Beside him sat a woman with red hair and a piercing gaze, and beside him stood stoic guards. They were armed with gleaming axes, and armored in something that did not appear to be iron.
The man on the throne stood, commanding the attention of the room. "I am King Hrothgar Stoneback, Lord of Karak Vlag. Who is it I address?" He said, his booming voice rumbling like a landslide. Harrow stepped forth, standing tall and meeting Hrothgar's gaze. "I am King Harrow of Katolis. I have come to speak with you." He said in a tone which approached the level of confidence with which Hrothgar spoke. Hrothgar, surprisingly, gave a small smile at that. "Then we shall speak, king to king. There is much to discuss." He said. Harrow couldn't agree more.