BY CIRIC

The Dwarf now known as Ciric grew up in the great city of the Empire. His family was of the House of Zoghan (also known as Roghan or Khaghaz in by other Dwarves), the Great Brewer. His family were known as the brewers for the Emperor. They supplied beer for the royal house and many of the nobles in and around the city.

Being the first son of the Chief Brewer, much was expected of Ciric and he did not disappoint. He brewed his first beer at the tender age of 17 and was considered a master brewer by the time he was 50. Many said that the spirit of Zoghan burned in him as he invented many new recipes and techniques for brewing. His seniors would study his scholarly papers on brewing and fermenting. It was during this scholarly period that Ciric wrote a now famous treatise on the Evil of Lite Beer.

Based on legends of their house, the Zoghan clan would not brew what would be called Lite Beer. Legends had it being a creation of Madu to corrupt and turn to evil the creation of beer. Ciric's paper explored these legends and it was said that he made some of the forbidden recipes as experiments. His conclusions were that the legends were correct. Lite Beer had an evil influence on those that drank it. His paper was widely published. Many of the great brewing houses of the Empire had copies and it was even read among non-brewing peoples.

This is how the Emperor and many nobles first heard of Lite Beer. When Mobius himself asked to try some Ciric's family was shocked. They refused to brew any of the evil beer. Ciric was called before the Emperor and order to brew Lite Beer so that the Emperor and the other nobles might taste it. Ciric tried to explain the danger of the brew but the Emperor would not be persuaded. Ciric refused and was cast in the dungeon.

The Emperor continued to search for some one to brew Lite Beer. It took several years but eventually he found a corrupt brewer that would tackle the recipe. The effect is well know to many and the cause of the great Brewers Revolt in the Empire. Mobius was so pleased with the vile Lite Beer that he order that it would be the only beer allowed in the Empire. The younger members of Ciric's family was at the forefront of the revolt. Ciric was rescued and lead many a raid to destroy the vats of Lite Beer.

Eventually Ciric was caught and brought before the Emperor to face justice. Mobius's Inquisitors tried to imply that Ciric's family was behind the entire revolt. In order to save his family from the Emperor's wrath, Ciric renounced his family name and excepted exile.

Thus came to the Lok' Groton Islands a dwarf with no family he could call his own. but his knowledge of brewing remained and he quickly made friends with his smile and a bottle of beer.

Thus begins the tale of Ciric of the Lok' Groton Islands.

Math: Zoghan, then, was the greatest brewer of good beer. My legends have it that Zorax invented beer. Was there a scribal error, perhaps, and was Zoghan the true inventor of the stuff?

Ciric: Our legends had Zorax as the inventor but Zoghan the one who made it an art.

Math: Your history mentions one Madu as creator of Lite Beer. Is this the same as the Mobu of other legends? Was that a misprint or is that really your Family's name for him?

Ciric: Modu is referred to as the evil lord or god. He is sometimes referred to as the dispoiler. He can cause cave-ins and sickness. In our legends he can ruin beer which we use in our religious ceremonies.

Math: It's really interesting how we are getting into the spiritual significance of beer as a tool for good or evil. The spread of Lite Beer on the continent has major significance. The fact that the Darshaks steal our beer rather than other things that might have more obvious value is very suspicious. Can they use it for their dark spells?

Ciric: We (meaning the house of Zoghan) have always used beer as a part of our religion. It is engrained in our culture. The magic of our clerics is based on beer. Healing and cleansing is done with beer.

I doubt the Darshaks can turn good beer to evil but they can prevent us from using it. Perhaps they know that beer could be a proof/cure for their spells.

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