BY GRUMBLE

This history was presented to me orally while working in the mines with my father. These stories had always been given orally. Most likely because my ancestors put no great emphasis on written works. Most time was spent in the mines or brewing. It wasn't until my generation working under the rule of the "Descendancy" that any of my people learned letters. So I put this down in the first written form that I know of.

The great mine works were usually created under the direction of the Descendants of Ghrim. Ghrim, also known as Ghrum, was a great engineer. It is said he could look at a stone for a second and then break the stone in perfect pieces blindfolded. Ghrim did not associate much with his siblings, but devoted his time to mining. He concentrated on two things, lengthening tunnels and enlarging chambers. Due to Ghrim's work habits the idea was conceived by another of his siblings to put BEER in kegs so it could be taken to where he worked.

As time passed Ghrim came to feel he was not getting the credit due to him. All of his accomplishments and advances were always credited to the Forger. He decided that he would leave and begin again in another mountain. So a few select Dwarves went with Ghrim to begin a new settlement. This settlement became known as Tumbmorna. (Tumb meaning deep and Morna mountain, due to the fact that Ghrim and his descendants mined to the heart of this mountain. This translation is as close as I can find in the common tongue.) For reasons not known to me Ghrim selected an area close to the ocean. The first mines and chambers are easily recognizable for the fact that they are unadorned. Ghrim put no emphasis or labor into any of the artistry required to create the adornments. Instead Ghrim spent all his time teaching his descendants the art of engineering leaving the artistry to others.

His descendants learned well. In fact, many of the things that the Dwarves had in the original settlement were nonexistent now. Thus, not only did Ghrim's descendants become mining engineers but most every aspect of engineering. Forges had to be set up, breweries built, and all the other amenities. After Ghrim had delved deep into the mountains he one day appeared in the meeting hall at the time of the story teller. Ghrim announced he had a calling to attend and would someday return. I never learned the nature of this calling.

Soon after his departure a second group of Dwarves showed at the settlement. Thank the Forger they were brewers, because though we had BEER for medicine, religious rights and ceremonies, and drinking it was not the best they ever had. They had come in search of Ghrim and his descendants. One reason was that they figured we would be in need of good BEER, and the second was a need of engineers in Ghrim's original home. The mines were still expanding in the original home but problems were arising that they needed some advice on. So a group of Ghrim's descendants left to go and help. This began the spreading of the engineering trade among Dwarves.

Many years later Ghrim reappeared. With him he brought a new compound. Black Powder. Ghrim and his descendants experimented with this powder and and learned how to make it and best to use it's explosive properties for stone works. Then Ghrim left again and said that it was time for his descendants to prosper and thrive without him, and time for him to rejoin his siblings.

This obviously is an abbreviated and incomplete story of Ghrim. I learned Ghrims stories over the many years I worked in mines and was cut short by my exile. As for the second group that arrived, I have no real knowledge of them. My mother was a descendant of this group. She was a brewer and worked with my sisters. Perhaps Scorpion can shed more light on this group, though she spent most of her time in the mines as our healer.

THE STORY OF GRUMBLE REVOLREEB

The name Grumble was given to me in honor of Ghrim, also known as Ghrum. Although I am honored by this name I feel that it misleads others about my nature. I am no more surely or unsociable than any other Dwarf. I was not always a destroyer of evil, but circumstances have brought me here and to this life so I will do what must be done to survive. At least that consists of lots of beer drinking.

I was a miner working under my father, Master Miner Dunthar Revolreeb. My father had the foresight to train each of his sons in a specific aspect of mining. To my great pleasure I was the explosives handler for the family, and I was quite content blowing things up and drinking beer. We were a small settlement newly established on the Northern border of the Ascendancy. No more than 600 years old and boasting only about a hundred fifty Dwarves. This settlement had been named Taurdruin. (Taur meaning forest and Druin meaning mountain. In this case Druin is actually the word mountain as used by the Rangers who resided in the area in difference to the fact that the Rangers had first resided in the area.) This settlement was named thus due to the thick forests surrounding the mountain that were thought to be a buffer between the Dwarves and the common men. Unfortunately one day a hunter/surveyor for the Emperor stumbled upon our settlement while seeking shelter from a storm. The hunter was dress and mannerisms were in a such a fashion that we mistook him to be a Ranger with whom our settlement had often dealt. It was customary in our settlement to provide lodging for the Rangers. In turn they would provide us with news about the things that could affect us, such as the state of the Ascendancy. If we had known he was of the Ascendancy he never would have seen daylight again. Either agreeing to remain and live in the mines with us or die.

Soon after this vile creature left our settlement the first troops of the Ascendancy's arrived. That was some fun fighting with those fools. It reminded me of the first Starbuck I wrestled when I was a lad. These soft girly soldiers would cry for their mothers at the lose of only a few fingers or a limb. I assume that when none of these thousand men returned they decided we were a threat to the Emperor. The Emperor in turn then sent the entire Eastern detachment of his army to come and subdue us. At first they decided to try and starve us out. Apparently the army had ever heard of self sufficiency before. Anyway, finally it came to battle. The army finally did subdue us with the use of magic. Somehow the Ascendancy's sorcerers took the fight out of us. I still have not figured that out. I suspect that they somehow had turned our BEER into lite beer.

The deal was worked our that a certain amount of raw ore out of each mine would go to the Ascendancy. As with all deals the Emperor strike, he one day sent word that the amount of tithe was to increase. Master Dunthar refused to tithe more ore to the Emperor and the Ascendancy out of his mines. The Royal Guard came and shut down our mines. No green warriors this time. Out of work, I spent more time around the brewery, which was run by my mother Olga Revolreeb. Without the mine work I soon became very drunk and bored. I decided to work on my demolition skills. Well, the mines were closed so I decided to practice on the local guard barracks. I was a little strong with my mixture and demolished the whole compound with one charge. It was an explosion to be envied by other explosives workers. Too bad I didn't notice the detachment returning to the compound. I was soon tried and exiled after that. I still don't understand why.

Anyway, my family didn't want me to be exiled alone so they decided a member of the family should go with me. My sister Scorpion, a healer of the best skills, decided she would go since she had little work with the mines closed. In order to be exiled she replaced the local guards bandages with Dwarven Strength beer patches. The pitiful humans couldn't even stand for several weeks. It was quite a show I hear. The Guards healer finally began to suspect something when his troops started wounding themselves in order to require binding. This is good for us exiles, because Scorpion brings with her a vast knowledge of Medicinal Beer usages. I am sure they will miss her famous Revolreeb Beer Patch(TM) on the mainland since they were so easily packed up for emergency usages in the mines.

Once arriving to the town of Puddleby I befriended two valiant Dwarves named McBain and Astral Duck. They were both members of the valiant Dwarven Militia clan. Thus began my life with the beloved Militia and the exiles of the Lok' Groton Isles.

Math presented me with a question and thought I would give all the answer. In my writing I mention that Ghrim is also known as Ghrum. Though Ghrim is the name given to him by the Forger, Ghrum is the name that his descendants often use to refer to him. It is a name used only by his descendants. It is not used by other clans to refer to him thusly in order to show respect to him. It is equatable to meeting yer friends parents. You would not use a familiar name to greet them rather a greeting of respect such as Mr. Revolreeb.

Also, I have learned that some clans seem to revere their Great Ancestor as a god or demigod. That is not so with the descendants of Ghrim. He is most commonly referred to as teacher. Though it is believed that Ghrim, as well as the other Great Ancestors, is still alive though he now leaves us to thrive on our own.

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