Jex nods at Thurston's suggestion. "I must confess I am in need of rest. I feel we have done much for the battle, but what remains will be fought with numbers in ranks and is not for us to finish. We are needed inside, establishing relations for the future." He smiles at Aiden as he passes, friendly and easy, taking his hand as they pass. "Thank you, we are grateful for the invitation and will gladly come inside." 

As they walk through the gates and are challenged by the officer, Jex once again finds his friendly expression and gives a deep bow. "My name is Jex, these are my friends and fellow leaders of Sheercleft. I wrote the message, I trust it gave you suitable time to prepare? We had been heading here to talk of trade and the future of our town as it neighbours yours when we came across evidence of the army heading your way."

The officer watches Jex with untrusting eyes. Especially his half-elven ears.

"Aye, time enough. Trade with Sheercleft is news t'me though. Word is ye've thrown your lot in with them damn Elves."

Jex looks offended and hurt. "Not at all. We have spoken with the elves, they lent us aid before the liberation of Sheercleft and we returned to thank them and to ask some questions regarding some arcane anomoly. Sheercleft is now open to trade from all partners though and we would very much like to discuss adding some dwarven architecture to the city, half it's residents are dwarfs after all."

The officer's expression frowns when Jex mentions 'liberation', and his bushy brows furrow further in confusion at the talk of an 'arcane anomaly'.

"Aye, your message mentioned ye'd been having trouble o' your own, but we've heard nought from the south in a month."

He glances around Jex at the weathered, but triumphant group of warriors accompanying the half-elf.

"What happened down there?"

It seems these people have been through a storm of trouble, Aiden muses to himself as he stands back, away from the gathering of the dwarven officer and the newcomers. Tangling with local politics is no easy feat.

He was unsure if he should introduce himself to Thurston's friends, or if he should just meander back to where his caravan had been put up. He wasn't even sure if Thurston would remember him. The paladin was rather busy back when they were young, on Eikthyrnir. Aiden was a few years younger. And while it wasn't a overwhelming jealousy, he had certainly envied the fame that Thurston possessed -- as did every other young man.

But Aiden had been even more different than the rest of the youth. He was of Breannian descent, captured in a raid when he had barely been alive for a decade. A Norscan family had taken him in and raised him as their own. It hadn't been a horrid existence. Soon, he had begun to think of Olrik as a true father, if not his blood. But he had always wondered what life would have been like for him on the mainland. So he left when he came of age, with the blessing of his father. 

Years went by. One thing led to another, and he ended up here, at Khaz a Grungron. He decided to wait, and then introduce himself to Thurston and his companions. Until their conversation concludes, he stands back, near a wall, unobtrusively watching and listening.

“Uh-uhm w-well...” Vark begins to chime in, timidly stepping from behind the others. “As for the trade, the reason we went to the elves in the f-first place was to help with the trade dispute between your people and theirs. We were able to handle a bandit problem they were dealing with s-so now they don’t need as much ore for weapons and armor and now we can send more ore to  Khaz a Grungron. As for the uhm... the uhm... the ‘arcane anomaly’ well...” he looks around to his friends for moral support. “W-well it seems that Sheercleft was founded on top of an ancient prison, said to contain a powerful evil force. That’s why the goblins came, they were hired by a group of mages called the Mabinogi, they wanted to unleash that evil. We dealt with the goblins and the mages and uhm...” his eyes scan the sky for any advice on how to explain Matthew. At last he seems to settle on some words and he speaks with a grain of confidence. “The force contained within the prison was released. But it was misunderstood... it... it was ancient and powerful but not evil as far as we can tell. We don’t believe it poses any immediate danger to the region and we are still uhm... monitoring it.”

The flood of information from the young half-orc seems to temporarily stun the Dwarven officer into silence. He glances left and right to be sure that his men's attention is occupied by the battle outside the walls, before quietly asking.

"How long ago exactly was this 'ancient and powerful force' released?"

Thurston looks at Jex, Vark and the officer. 
“ Are you ******* serious?? Now you listen to me “ he says to the officer “We discovered that an army was coming your way, made what we could to warn you and came as fast as we could to lend a hand. And by Odin’s breath that we had! Oh I know I know you had it all under control but we at least saved your precious doors of that damn ram and hold the ground so you could make a proper exit, so you and I know that we at least help to prevent some dozen good soldiers’s lives! Still... you got a damn battle outside to take care of and I have some injured men and beasts here so cut this nonsense and by Thor’s shake guys” he turns to his companions “can’t you wait for it to end to start talking about trade and ancient powers being released? There’s a time and a place for everything!! Seriously I love you, not you “ he quickly says to the dwarf officer to clarify things just in case “ no offense, but you sometimes get over my head. “ without waiting for an answer of anyone he starts to walk inside 

As he walks he calls for Aiden in Norscan 

“Thor’s beard!! It’s really you Aiden Olrikson? I knew I knew that voice! It’s good to see you!! Come come tell me... how did you end here?” 

"That's a boring story, and a long one at that. Ask me later, when you and your friends are healed." At that, he channels some of the divine energy into a healing spell, reinvigorating Thurston, at least partially.

He continues. "I suspected it was you at the gates the moment I heard the thundercrack," Aiden says, holding back his surprise at the recognition. "I assume the dwarves have you to thank for blowing up the battering ram?"

"And that magic paper is expensive!" Jex adds to the officer. Seemingly blanking on the part where Thurston also told him and Vark off.

He sits down on the steps of the wagon. "Honestly, I would love to go back out and help finish the battle, but that took it out of me, I don't feel I have the energy to even raise my sword arm to defend myself. Fighting brave like Val prefers me to do takes its toll!"

 Val frowns in worry at Jex's dramatic display, but does account for his fairly grievous injury. She helps her wounded companion behind the walls. "You fought well, Jex, but perhaps you should stick to the shadows. This way you do not make yourself look so foolish." She grins and punches him on the shoulder, hard enough to elicit a groan of pain. "Go get yourself healed up, Jex." 

She joins the others with the approach of the dwarvish Captain, keeping to herself and watching the dwarves around her very carefully. Dwarves were untrusting of goliaths even in the best of times... in times of war they might just as well assume she was with the filth assaulting their front door. While the others speak she takes a moment to begin examining the strange new markings upon her forearms. Maybe Vark could tell her what had happened? 'Damn magic...' She didn't understand it and that worried her...

“Uhmm about three weeks.” Vark responds.

The Dwarf is speechless for a moment, unused to being spoke to by anyone in such a manner as this Norscan has just done. However, the tempest that is Thurston soon moves on, and the officer shakes his head briefly, as though to dispel whatever it was that just stunned him into silence.

"Three weeks... ye need to speak with the Rhunki, lad. Uglar, bring the Sheercleft lot to Master Kragshield."

Uglar nods in affirmation before leading the deeper into the hold towards a nearby stabling area.

"Ye wanna park ye wagon here?" He asks as he unsaddles his boar and inspects the beast for injuries.

With his loyal steed in manageable condition, Valen walked alongside it with the others. Visor up and tabard in full view, the knight hoped that long introductions weren't needed so close to home. Partly from drilled rehearsal, and partly from anticipation, his mind switched instantly from gallant defender to fitful medic. He immediately stripped his gauntlets and stuffed them into a saddlebag. Next, he splashed water on his hands and wiped them dry with a rag within. He heard the big Norscan - Thurnon, was it? - sound very aggravated about something, and the young orc was rambling. There was also someone new, aside from the dwarven captain. Introductions later, priorities now.

Valen finally came across the treasure he sought: a rolled, leather case. The thing was overly large, but its contents justified the bulk. Carrying the package under his arm, he insisted on the attention of each companion to check on their present state. When a forceful glare would do, he'd take hold and give a pull, "I don't ask to save lives and close wounds."

Jex hops back onto the wagon to park it, then slowly opens the back door a crack to creep inside without putting the whole contents on view. 

"Brundir, we're off to meet with some important dwarf about something or other. Seems like it would be the kind of thing you'd want to er, keep an eye on."

He gives a long slow wink and a grin. Clapping the dwarf on the shoulder and helping him to his feet. 

Despite his wounds, Thurston helps Jex and Bründir go down the wagon and walks towards their meeting.

"Jex..." The dwarf's breathing was ragged and labored, "Try me an' I'll take yer's with my bare 'ands." His typical sarcasm and wit were completely spent, and his mind swam in fevered waves. Despite this, he found some unknown clarity to don his armour and hang Dumdrengi from his waist in the morning. The shining mithril still bore much of the carnage from Bründir's fateful encounter, and its bearer looked to have just stepped away from the mangled bugbear corpse.

The sight of the dwarf sent Valen into a whirlwind of panic, indignation, and rebukes. Jex was nearly shoved off his feet as the plated figure imposed himself between them, and Thurston was barely noticed at all aside from being a more stable support. "We have gone for so long, and you never once think to mention this one to me?! By all the gods, my mission is the preservation of life, and yet here you cart this man about like some ripped sack of feed." The knight caught Bründir under the arm and studied him close. Despite the battle outside and those in audience, Valen was single-mindedly focused on this one broken individual. "I will care for him now until arrangements are made for proper healers. If any of you stand against me, I will-"

The knight was cut short when a meaty hand grabbed his gorget and yanked his head down. "Listen here, you tin shit, I don' know ye from a rock, an' ye certainly won' go tellin' me or mine what yer gonna do with, to, or about me." Bründir yanked again and again to emphasize his words. The pulls were feeble, but his grip was ironbound with determination. "Do I make myself clear, boy?" Bründir was close enough that all bruising and ruin to his face were laid bare for Valen to see. While he looked terrible from afar, this close he just seemed pitifully broken.

Valen could've ripped himself away, thrown the dwarf into the cart, and held him down for treatment and care. It would've been possible, but the dwarf was so forceful it would've done more harm than good. "Go where you like, but you are my charge now, sir. I am Valen Benedictus of The Bastion of Our Lady, sworn to protect and care wherev-" 

Bründir shoved the young man's face away and pulled himself up on Thurston's support, "I know yer people an' I don' care what ye do. Let's get where we need to go, then someone get me a drink an' somewhere to lay. ******* 'ead hurts like a damn mountain fell on me."

Even stoic Uglar is somewhat taken aback by Bründir's appearance. He lowers his head to the dwarf in respect and holds out a hand to shake.

"I'm told you speak for Sheercleft?"

Thurston helps Bründir but he doesn't take his arm, is Bründir who does when he feels he need. 

The Norscan looks to Valen, though, and his eyes seems to say "Now you understand" but he can only feel proud of his friend for his will and determination has returned and they are even stronger. 

As Thurston heads to rejoin his companions, Aiden places a hand on his arm. "If you're planning on leaving this place soon, let me know." He stops, not wanting to overstep, but continues after a moment. "I'm out work at the moment and growing restless in this place. If there's any room in your caravan when you leave, well...just let me know."

He then lets the Norscan head off toward his meeting.