Five dwarves were waiting in a stone room. Surrounding them were miscellaneous pipes that webbed the walls and connected to various strange apparatuses that had odd runes engraved on them. Many men from surface kingdoms would be astonished by the advanced engineering on display, but this was an everyday sight for the dwarves. They were nonchalantly waiting around, not paying special attention to the marvels of technology encompassing them.
If they were interested in something it would be the huge metal water tank in the centre of the room. There was a small chamber with a heavy metal door connecting to the reservoir and on the opposite side there was a pipe connected to the base of it. The tank was the biggest thing in the room and the pulsing runes engraved onto it emitted a constant humming occasionally interrupted by a deafened bump coming from inside of it.
A redhaired, lean dwarf was yawning as he observed the tank. His name is Loseak and he has been cleaning water tanks for 15 years now, a veteran. The noises, coming from this one, were not ordinary, but not unexpected. It was not that uncommon for some monster of the forest to get into the water supply especially now when there were dwarves working outside on the big renovation project.
The dwarf was bored as he waited for the guard crew to come and kill whatever beast got trapped in there. It was his job to clean it after the fact, but the guard crew were late and there was little to keep him entertained. This was the start of his cycle, and he was still sleepy. Dwarves only slept every three days and yesterday, Loseak stayed up late. The constant humming of the runes didn’t help him to stay awake either, as he was far too used to sleeping under whirring from the magical fan he kept in his bedroom. To keep himself from dozing off he started chatting with his colleague.
“What do you think got in there?” Loseak asked the brooding dwarf next to him.
The short darkhaired dwarf was named Kulmuk. He was younger than Loseak, but nonetheless a veteran in his own right with twelve years under his belt. By his estimation, Kulmuk was quite a bright fellow, if a bit irritable. A comradery established between them after years of working together as they argued about various topics. Loseak found it enjoyable playing a foil as the younger dwarf tried to have the last word on most subjects. Still, he would be lying if he claimed learning nothing from his vertically impaired companion. He was generally informed about goings-on in Zazarburak and other nearby dwarven settlements. It was useful to talk to him as Loseak found it too bothersome to read the public reports.
“I hope it's not another of those zombie fishes. I don’t want to wear those damn suits again…” Kulmuk grumbled to his taller companion, gesticulating angrily at the five walk-in closets standing nearby, “It’s the start of my cycle and spending it with a headache is the last thing I want.”
Loseak's eyes lazily wandered over to where the rune-sealed suits were stored, as a shiver ran down his spine. He was not a fan of the suits either and that was the prevailing opinion.
The suits were made from thick leather and covered the entirety of the body from the neck down. After donning one, you need to attach a metal helmet to a steel neck ring. This completes the seal by activating a network of sigils and runes. They ensure that the suits are airtight and fit around any size dwarf. When breathing inside the suit, two holes open in the helmet and the runes surrounding them purify the air coming in. This guarantees that the dwarf working in one of these will have no contact with either the hazardous materials or gases surrounding them nor dangerous cleaning products they use for disinfection.
Like every magical instrument it requires a power source to keep the runes running. Dwarves are magical creatures by nature and even the least gifted ones have spiritual reserves enough to power the suits. Still working long hours in them exhausts even the most seasoned cleaning crew dwarf. If you had to work till your spiritual reserves were sapped, you would suffer from an annoying list of side-effects. These include fatigue, headaches, light sensitivity, spiritual sensitivity and generally feeling on edge. Unfortunately, if the suits where required, being spiritually sapped was common.
Besides being draining magical instruments it was also hot to work in them. Natural body heat already makes you sweat inside the suits, but after a day of physical work you are left soaking wet. Also, because the suits are an expensive piece of equipment, they are cleaned with a strong cleaning liquid which leaves a horrific odour that would even make your ancestors’ ghostly eyes water. In addition to that, to keep the leather in top condition it is also treated with oils periodically and that leaves the wearer oily after a long day of work even after being cleaned.
“Dreadful things”, Loseak murmured. “Last week it was those acid monsters, but it couldn’t be them again, right?” Then he remembered something and pointed up saying, “The high clans said it was a poison spil, or whatnot, in the river. They said that it corrupted the fish! And then, they sent a squad to clear it out...” the dwarf said trailing off as if trying to remember a crucial detail.
In fact, he was right, a week ago, a slimy fish monster was trapped in a similar deposition tank. The guard crew had a hard time keeping it at bay and the beast got its slime all over the tank walls. It was a nightmare to clean, and they had to work overtime. The creature was apparently not a documented one and as such there were rumours going around about local druids experimenting with the wildlife. Timing was also suspect, as it coincided with the ongoing outside renovation project, and such the investigation was still going on.
“Gangs of cave druids poisoning rivers, sounds more like something they took from a late-night stage play. Something along the lines of “The conspiracy of the cave druid” or the “Wicked biomancer of the Orsut lake”.” he said mockingly. “I think it’s a ploy to justify increasing the guard presence.”
“You think they made it up?” Loseak asked, surprised. “Couldn’t it be that the plays were inspired by real events? My brother said the effects and characters were really convincing. I haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, but it could be right, no?” he pondered letting his mind wonder.
“I am just saying it’s suspicious for some random druids to attack the water treatment facilities. What would they gain by it? You know they could solve this by stationing guards outside the waterway, but then you don’t have the weekly scare of cultists and gangs conspiring to take down the mountain home.” Kulmuk explained in his usual annoyed tone.
“Doesn’t dwarf smell attract the beasties? It could be a coincidence or an evil experiment that went wrong.” Loseak countered. “And you know it makes sense with the current basin expansion taking place for there to be more monsters attracted to the waterways. Or a chance the terrorists would exploit.” He continued with a darker, more worried tone.
“You eat up everything the high clans tell you.” Kulmuk said, growing further frustrated. “That’s precisely why we didn’t get power crystal upgrades to our suits last month. ‘Security concerns’ my ass! They just don’t want to spend any additional gildi on us. Why would they increase our work quality if it’s cheaper to say: ‘we have strong concerns that portable power crystals are too dangerous to use in low clearance environments’. I’ve read the whole thing! They said it would endanger the integrity of the hill home. Scaremongers!” The dwarf spat. “But it worked… Everyone ate it up and now they have an excuse…” He sighed.
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“I am not sure about that. They said they are looking into more efficient designs and adding a time limit for working in suits. You know, to prevent nausea and headaches. Also, you've heard about how Alfolmet exploded his home with one of those?” Loseak combed his red beard.
“They always make promises like that, it’s cheap to talk. I want to see them do something before I give them credit.” Kulmuk huffed and crossed his arms. “And about the incident with Alfolmet: he was a fool that tried fixing runes on his stove without any knowledge about them. Fancied himself some sort of rune-smith... Idiot is lucky that a cave-in was the only damage he caused!” He grumbled. “It had nothing to do with the crystals, I use them all the time. Fools like him make people fearful of the progress that the portable crystal tools would bring!”
Loseak paused, scratched his head before replying. “I heard that it doesn’t take a lot to misalign a network and to cause an explosion. I don't want to lose a leg just because I accidentally rubbed my helmet against the ceiling.” He tapped gently on his forehead, “I already bump my head all the time, mother said we had blood of giants in us…”
“If those suits were that dangerous, we would have all fried ourselves by now! Energy levels should be the same and they are expensive for a reason. The same runes that protect our spirits would protect the crystals.” Kulmuk said dismissively. “His stove didn’t explode on its own, most-likely he tried to rewire the network and overloaded an already damaged part. At least he had the forethought of disconnecting the stone while tinkering. He would be dead by now if he operated with live wires.”
“I didn't know you were a rune-smith Kulmuk.” Loseak smiled.
“I've read up on it! I know what I’m talking about.” Kulmuk erupted at his companion’s teasing. “You are just the mushroom in a dung heap Loseak, eating up everything elders throw at you!”
Loseak was about to retort, but a large dwarf, who was getting increasingly annoyed by the shouting, interrupted him. He was the cleaning crew leader Brounut, a dwarf with a brown bushy beard and giant muscular physique. He was towering over the two and spoke in a deep baritone voice “Alright, enough you two!” Loseak immediately tensed up, while Kulmuk made a frustrated face.
Brounut was known as a strict, but fair leader. He had a long career in water treatment and even though he was a low-clanner, he demanded respect even from the waterworks commander. Brounut had innate strength and endurance; if he was more ambitious, he could serve in the high-clanner corps, but despite his looks he was a gentle giant that couldn’t even hurt a cave beetle. The outside entrance guards knew him by the fact he carried out various critters he caught in his house to release back to the wilderness.
“Waiting here is annoying enough without you two constantly bickering.” He boomed. “Kulmuk, this is not the first time I am telling you this. You shouldn't speak ill of the ancestors in general, but especially now when they sent one of the high-clanners here to work with us today. I don't want any hostilities when they come. Also, we have some new trainees today and I don’t want you guys setting a bad example for them. Let’s finish this professionally and respectfully. After, we can go to the Brewer’s Corner and get ourselves some of the finer stuff. On my bill. How about it?” The large dwarf put his hands on the shoulders of the two subordinates and smiled.
Kulmuk, on the other hand, found the idea of it frankly insulting. Lowering himself to the good for nothing high-clanner greenhorn was not something he was about to do. Particularly now when they have cost him working overtime by being late.
“The high-clans are here for different reasons than we are, Brounut.” The short dwarf sneered back. “They don’t take it seriously; they are here for a mere publicity stunt. It’s a way to show us lowly beings that they care and don’t shirk even the dirtiest of jobs. Reality is much different,” His gaze got darker. “Doesn’t it bother you, leader, that we work here so we can eat tomorrow, while they can quit whenever they want and don’t work a day in their lives again? And even when they do the work, they do not do the same jobs we do.”
“They are sending one to work with us now, Kulmuk. Now cut it out!” Brounut didn’t back down to the smaller dwarf. But his towering physique, and strict demeanour didn’t work on Kulmuk, who knew how soft the leader really was.
“Are they? There is not a single high-clanner among the cleaning crew, the slime handlers or the drainage group. They take up clean jobs that hold some prestige and pay more, even though they don’t have to care for gildi. Doesn’t it irk you, Brounut, that it took you 25 years to become the leader of this group. Meanwhile, our high-clan delegate is only a 20 year old kid and he fast-tracked to a guard crew leader position. It certainly would irk me. And to be honest, it already annoys me on behalf of you.” Kulmuk narrows his eyes as if trying to read complex expressions on the leader’s face. He saw Brounut’s poker face slip, for a brief moment, it did bother him. “Another example of elders pushing their people into positions of power, to prevent us from getting better in life. It’s unjust and you all know it!” Kulmuk now addressed the whole group.
“Well, I don't think that's a fair characterisation… The youngster is a martial magician, a prodigy I heard!” Loseak tried defending the young dwarf to diffuse the situation, as Kulmuk was going onto his rant. “He probably just has a good work ethic and has proved himself early that...” Then Kulmuk interrupted him.
“C'mon, Loseak! A good work ethic?!” Kulmuk almost laughed. “We are waiting here because he is late! We'll have to work overtime to clean this tank, and for what?! Just because he has a powerful grandfather?! Brounut, the least you need to do is say something to the waterworks commander, this is not the first time. If he was anyone from the low-clans or clanless, he would be already reprimanded. It's only fair. If we want fairness, we need to hold them accountable.” Kulmuk pleaded.
As Loseak and Kulmuk were going back and forth Brounut was lost in thought. His attempt to stop the argument and put the crew in line backfired. Loseak wasn’t much help either, it wasn’t clear if he really believed what he said or was just arguing for argument’s sake. This whole situation was making the large dwarf’s head ache.
It was hard not to side with Kulmuk. In all fairness, the newbie was getting special treatment and it was obvious. Being high-clanner he stuck out like a sore thumb, bringing scrutiny and envy. It was not that people working here were especially poor, but he flouted his wealth and privilege as if he didn’t notice the difference. Not that he could really blame the kid that was living in a golden house his entire life. Though that made Brounut think that he might not be that bright of a fellow.
On the other hand, Kulmuk often went on tirades about the elders; his bias was obvious to everyone. As a low-clanner Brounut appreciated the high-clans and was grateful for their work. High-clan dwarves not only took-up the positions of leadership, but they also helped the spirits manifest more clearly. His ancestors did not imprint strongly enough to the spiritual realm to communicate clearly with the living. Without the high-clan spirits it would be hard to seek wisdom of the past or to commune with the dead. Such it was easy to ignore Kulmuk, when it was clear his rants stemmed from a place of frustration of being clanless, but now the whole crew nodded in agreement. Morale was plummeting, and it was already hard to inspire his crew to work efficiently on a normal day. If the seed of resentment was allowed to grow, they might just walk out. This cannot be allowed.
“Enough!” Bounut interrupted Kulmuk’s ongoing rant, “I hear you Kulmuk and I agree that this cannot continue as it was. It’s only fair that our work is not hindered by the incompetence of others. I will talk with the commander after we are finished here. Though, I will not tolerate any arguments with the high-clanner, we have to be on our best behaviour, especially now. I don’t want our complains to be thrown out just because of your high temper.” Brounut stated, examining each and every dwarf in his crew. He kept his eyes on Kulmuk longer than the others as if warning him.
The dwarves nodded in agreement, but their calm lull in the conversation lasted only for a few moments until a loud scratch echoed through the room.
“What was that?!” Loseak asked, surprised.
“It's not the fishes, they didn’t have claws to scratch the tank so forcefully. A beast of different kind got trapped inside the water tank.” deducted Kulmuk.
Relief washed over Brounut's face. The mood in the room improved significantly. They might not need to don the suits today.