Unfortunate Dwarfs

**Unfortunate Dwarfs** is a book published by the dwarven writer Septos. The book details a series of unfortunate events happening to the dwarves in the past 200 years. The book is divided into different chapters, each detailing a different story.

## Book

### Chapter 1: The Drowning of Arel Usân

Arel Usân was once a proud fort, its original naming having been lost to time. Located near a river the dwarves hoped to harvest its power for great waterwheels which in turn could power a minecart system down to depths and back up for transportation of valuable minerals. The dwarves decided to this approach after getting tired of manually hauling stones up the many stairs for the rich minerals were deep in the ground.

A great plan was set into motion to divert the river into the fortress. Channels were dug waterwheels were installed, new shafts dedicated to minecarts were opened, everything went almost according to plan. A few unfortunate dwarves managed to drown themselves while digging out the first channels to slowly divert the water. Perhaps this should have been a sign for them to stop, nonetheless digging continued. Not soon after the final stages were complete it was time to open the floodgates.

Alas the dwarves had forgotten one simple thing, during construction the dwarves build a few locations for artificial waterfalls around the main catacombs. The dwarves had dug out a great reservoir, but it wasn't deep enough. The dwarves opened the floodgates and for the first few days enjoyed their new systems, the fortress was more productive than ever. A few dwarves noticed the rising water levels, but none were to bothered. That was until suddenly the floors in the fortress got a bit slippery, not soon after the dwarves discovered their flaw, but they were too late. The fortress started flooding and the lower levels with most of the industry were quickly flooded, thereafter the rest of the fort quickly filled up. Many dwarves died that die, others managed to escape.

The fort still stands today, filled to the brim with water even creating a waterfall coming down from the main entrance. So the original name of the fort was lost and it would be instead called Arel Usân in the dwarven tongue, Water Murdered.

### Chapter 2: The tale of Mörulgost 'Pagearch'

Founded in the year 100, Mörulgost was the beginnings of a new hope, a new hope that would end in vein. Located next to a brook and big mountain, a truly mineral rich area was settled and soon the dwarves began exploiting the rich resources. The wealth of the fortress would grow exponentially quickly becoming one of the richest mountain homes of the realm. Soon a mayor was installed, the dwarves had chosen their expedition leader for his wise and honeyed words would flatter all. Not soon after the fort was elevated in position and acquired the title of barony, with the mayor being installed as baron. Quickly he would become a count and then the duke.

Everything seemed to be going well for Mörulgost the dwarves were happy, the fortress was wealthy. But the wealth attracted great, in 106 the queen of the realm arrived at Pagearch. She saw potential in the mountain home and declared it the new capital of the realm. She focused the efforts of the fortress on rich chambers prioritising her and the other nobles over the common folk. This in turn meant that other projects were abandoned, such as the enlarging of the temples or the badly needed renovation of the hospital. Or the construction of a pump stack, allowing the dwarves to harness magma. Instead a grand dining hall was constructed, with walls made of gold and engraved by the most masterful of the arts. The dwarves were busy working on these projects, therefore not giving them the time to pray to their gods. And if they did have the chance to do so the temples would be constructed poorly, lacking instruments and performers.

The dwarves grew unhappy and soon fortress wide brawls erupted, killing multiple dwarves with every brawl. Some people were banished, and a effort was made by some dwarves to fix the problems. But the greed of the queen was to overpowering. In the year of 108 the dwarves staged a revolution, a siege dawned upon the fort by goblin forces. Using the situation the bridge was raised, trapping the queen outside of the fort. The enemy quickly killed her and a new era dawned upon the fortress. However few dwarves were still loyal to the queen and secretly dug tunnels during the winter connecting the brook into the fortress. Once spring came the brook started flowing again and soon after water spurted into the fort. Taking down the fort into a watery grave.

### Chapter 3: From fire to water to fire

Hoping to recreate the success of Othlest Inod a group of about 200 dwarves set out of the fort aiming for the Wabu Islands, for they had heard of a great volcano was located on these isles. They headed first towards the closest harbour which was located west in the Cobalt Bay, part of the princedom of Zephyra. Hoping to find passage towards the Wabu Islands the dwarves were unlucky. The only ship that would head towards to archipelago left the harbour right as the dwarves arrived into town. Arriving at the docks they could see the ship sailing away on the calm waters of the Cobalt Bay, another ship would not head out towards the Wabu Islands for the months to come. Instead they were recommanded to board ships heading for Madamsrest, which wouldn't leave until a weeks time. Days passed and the group of dwarves got bored of the general sights, eventually causing a tavern brawl, for which several dwarves were arrested just to be realised on time to board the ships to Madamsrest. They would be carried by three ships, two large ones and one small one, towards the city.

The first part of the travel onboard the ship went okay for the dwarves, the waters were calm which calmed the nerves of the dwarves who are absolutely not sturdy seafarers. However things would take a quick turn when they arrived out on the open seas. A day had not gone by were a dwarf did not throw up, this caused minor grievance towards the captain of the ships who forced the dwarves to clean up their own puke. About half way through to journey on the open sea things would turn even more worse when a large storm hit the ships. The smaller of the three ships sunk, drowning about 50 dwarves and the captain in the process. The rest of the ships were blown off course, additionally some of the navigating had gone missing in the storm. Without the proper tools to navigate and missing their captain the ships drifted on the seas for a day. Eventually the rest of the crew managed to get their act together and managed to replot their course for Madamsrest, however they had made a small error and instead arrived in the city of Dienerdam. From here the dwarves could have boarded a ship to Madamsrest again they decided to walk the two day trip towards the city, for they were happy to finally be on solid ground again.

Arriving in Madamsrest the group of travellers was weary. Purchasing a map of the region the dwarves figured out their were two routes to reach the Wabu Islands, either by ship or over land through the Alweald Swamplands. Asking around the came across a professor who strongly recommend to note go through the swamplands for a few years earlier he had travelled through these land with an experienced party and lost many of them in these hostile lands. Nonetheless a group of about 40 dwarves absolutely did not want to travel through over sea again and opted to split from the group. They were not heard from again. The rest of group headed for the ships and set out again. This time the boat trip was more successful as the ships sailed past the coastlines. Eventually the volcanic isles was in sight, but one of the ships got stuck in a series of reefs drowning another 20 dwarves. The remaining dwarves and other ship passengers were rescued by a group of tortle fisherman who happened to be nearby. Left with only 90 dwarves the rested for a while and headed towards the volcano. However the success of Othlest Inod could not be recreated here, for not only did the lack the proper materials but also the expertise to recreate the power of Othlest Inod. Who ever said that working with magma would be easy? The dwarves sick of sailing across the seas decided to stay on the island, forming a small minority of dwarves who life on the Wabu Islands to this day.