Bert: Difference between revisions

Mosos Smelter was built along an easily defensible gap in the rolling hills with a solid gate and walls and a clean fresh water spring. The most remarkable feature though was a small enclave of [[Dwarves]], the Kezargor clan, who maintained a very long-term by human standards contract in the area. The hills nearby had several mines which had been abandoned or exhausted for decades but the Dwarves remained and continued to operate their forges and smelters and they repurposed some of the closest mines into mushroom farms which provided food even when trade was slow. While technically in Flannari territory, the Kezargors were the sole power and rulers of the outpost and nearby area. Their crossbows defended the walls and they determined who could stay or pass through. As bad as things got during the Long Winter, Mosos Smelter's defenses held and the smelter stayed in operation which kept some amount of food and wealth passing through as well as providing opportunities to work for the scraps of those. Mosos Smelter became known both as safe place to stop for supplies and repair for the few trade caravans that still made the dangerous international trips as well as a place that would pay for scavenged scrap metals. Part of this renown was that they were willing and and able to melt these often-looted metals down into nondescript bars and ingots with pretty much no questions asked. Many desperate scavengers came from miles around to trade looted metals just for mushrooms and clean water. The Dwarves were especially interested in any "silver" goods from the Ulan and on occasion were not above making sure the best of those goods didn't leave their territory through less savory means.

Bert and his family were allowed in as laborers to work the walls, mushroom farms, and bellows in exchange for food and shelter. Even within the outpost things were never truly safe; Uncle Alfonse died from Orc raiders' arrows while guarding the walls just a few months after they arrived and Cousin Beltrice was one of several mushroom pickers eaten by hook horrors who made their way up from the depth of the mines just a little over a year later. As a child Bert often fed the coal hoppers and worked the bellows in the smelters and forges. While never the strongest or sure-footed laborer, he was very quick-witted and showed true skill bordering on prodigy with metal-working and blacksmithing which led to more work directly with the Dwarves. Some of the Kezargors were friendlier than others, but they were definitely not a charity and those who could not be productive and work were thrown out into the wilderness and trouble-makers would just disappear completely. Even the most productive and trusted workers received little besides the basic food and shelter. Bert learned their language and became known as a reliable and skilled worker who was able to read and write in multiple languages and follow and eventually even draft complex plans and reading magical scrolls, but it also became clear he would never be seen as anything more there. While Bert is fluent in Dwarven and spent many years around them he does not think any human could ever be able to really understand the Gilden.