A company of dirt stained and equipment bearing dwarves arrive in from a long and arduous journey…
[Arthe Dale, Community Garden]
Row upon row of cabbages, carrots, potatoes and turnips have been planted in this garden plot. The industrious Halflings of Arthe Dale have maintained it well. The rows are neatly arranged, and there is not a weed in sight. A tiny ladybug flutters from plant to plant, sometimes thrown off her course by the gentle breeze.
You also see a nest of eggs and a path.
Obvious paths: east.
One stout, dark skinned Dwarf known as Merrick, eyes wide open stops the party and shushes the remainder which seem to be reminiscing about the ale from last night.
Merrick says, "Do you see those there?”
Merrick points at a nest of eggs.
Stepping forward while slipping on his monocle from the pocket of his pants, he murmurs softly to himself and stares intently at the nest of eggs. Jaw dropped to the ground, he can’t believe what’s in front of his eyes.
Merrick rushes over and kneels down before the nest, grabbing tools from his backpack to examine the groups findings.
A barely audible CRACK! shatters one of the eggs.
The group, bewildered continues to watch as a baby S’kra Mur emerges from the broken shells.
Turning to each other in amazement Merrick stands up and begins wandering around to search for life of where this child’s mother might be.
Convinced that these eggs were left abandoned, the team huddles together to discuss their next actions.
The group packs up their belongings and as they continue heading north from their trek, you can't help but notice the empty egg and the infant S'kra Mur in the right pocket of Merrick's pants.
Decades later
After wiping her face with the wool rag, Anhh'shre tosses it aside as she gazes intently at an elderly dwarf with her penetrating blue eyes. Slipping her knife back onto her hip she turns to face her visitor.
Anhh'shre says, "What do I owe the pleasure of this visit, old friend?"
Merrick's face, pale as a ghost whispers, nervously into Anhh'shre's ear.
"I have news of your siblings, it's not good...."
TO BE CONTINUED
