Emmeric awoke in his simple lodging to the sound of the gulls flying above the docks, a sure fire wake up call for the dock men no doubt. “Infernal birds have no need to be so loud.” Emmeric groaned into himself. Emmeric sat on the edge of the straw lined bed and sighed into himself, the aura of that elf's source still on his mind, he had never felt something of such power before. A part of him feared it, part of him wanted it for himself. Emmeric always had a gift of gauging one's source potential, of his four companions Uriah was the most powerful in the source but he couldn’t quite place the nature of his power. The dark elf Kraven had some connection to his source, yet it was murderous in nature. Well, he was a dark elf after all, it was in his nature, his race where famous for their blood thirsty demeanour. The draconic Veraxes had latent source ability due to his bloodline, although this added more of a physical side to the draconic than a spirit related potential as is common with demi races descended from beasts. Then there was the dwarf, Therwick was it? That dwarves source connection was a dull ember at best and yet there was a power of pure emotion lurking somewhere deep within him which could potentially turn that ember into a raging inferno. Emmeric grinned unto himself, “Shame not even Uriah matches me in pure source power.”

Emmeric rose from his straw bed and began to dress, finally pulling on his ashen black hooded robes around about him and strapping his belt about his waist. He adjusted his dagger and spell book to comfortable positions. He hadn’t ever had to draw that dagger likely because he never needed to but as logic dictates, you never know. Emmeric donned his hood and placed his treasured gloves over his hands, although only the right one was source enchanted, the pair fit well. He descended the stairs to the tavern floor. Realising he was the first to arrive the serving girl finished cleaning the table she was working with and bowed to Emmeric, she indicated for him to sit down and scampered off to the kitchen.

“At least some people remember their place in the pecking order." sniggered Emmeric.

He went to the centre of the tavern and took a seat at the table from the previous night and threw his feet up on the table. He closed his eyes as his mind crept back to simpler times at the Calder estate, his father always expected he would inherit the family name. Emmeric scoffed at the idea, nobility wasn’t ever for him, well leading a noble house wasn’t. To say that the title that went with it didn’t matter to Emmeric would be a lie. The only thing that mattered was honing his craft and becoming a source user to rival the heroes of old. That old man Variks showed him the ways and got him to where he is now, one of the most powerful source users in the realm, he was so sure of his abilities until the previous day, when he felt that presence. What was it that Variks used to tell him often? Something about never being prideful and that there would always be someone more powerful? “Utter hogwash!” thought Emmeric “If there are any more powerful than me then I simply must gain more power and become stronger than them!”.

Then again, thinking back to his lessons of the source with old man Variks he had explained that the source is a natural feeling within all living things within the world which grant them latent abilities. In some races this can inspire inhuman abilities linked to elements and forces out of the reach of normal people. In others this can enhance their natural abilities far beyond regular states, such as with Therwick having a weak source in terms of power projection but being able to enhance his will far beyond his companions, being able to shake off the strongest abilities through sheer defiance, such is the stubbornness of dwarves.

Emmeric opened his eyes to the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs and spotted unmistakable presence of Uriah descending from the second level. Now this one truly was a curiosity. Uriah was clearly a man of some standing in the state, but his characteristics weren’t in line with the typical man of office. Firstly, what exactly was an eye of the king? Was Uriah some kind of spy? Secondly, what is the source of this man’s power? He has a powerful source that much is obvious, but it seems blocked, blanketed by some force Emmeric couldn’t identify. Thirdly, what is it he knows or rather the question of what had Uriah done in his past or what had he experienced that made him so alienated? His reaction at the thought of having help was nothing like the calm and collected Uriah he had met in the tavern the day before. Nevertheless, Uriah’s source was unique, and it felt like raw untamed power. Emmeric grinned into himself fantasizing about whatever that power could be and decided that the knowledge of it would be his. Is that not his goal after all? He would learn to master it, or he would take it.

Uriah nodded to Emmeric in passing and approached the bar. Emmeric seen the exchanging of the water skin Uriah carried on his belt and a few coins. The barkeep filled the skin with a mixture of red wine and water and placed the stopper back into the skin before handing it back to Uriah who took it with thanks. Uriah strapped it back onto his leather belt and swiftly exited the bar, placing his hood over his head as he went without so much as a backwards glance.

“Well good morning to you too Uriah.” sighed Emmeric, placing his feet back onto the ground. He dabbled with the idea of going after him in his head and monitoring his movements but decided against it, realising there was no possible way Uriah wouldn’t sense such a powerful and familiar source tailing his movements. Sighing in defeat Emmeric turned to the returning serving girl as she placed down a tray holding a bowl of barley gruel and a small loaf of bread, from her other hand she laid down a jug of water. Emmeric thanked the girl and handed her a few coins for the meal.

“Well breakfast is the most important meal of the day, if you could call this a meal.” Emmeric sighed.

He began half-heartedly digging into his food while unbuckling his spell book from his belt and placing it on the table. He began flicking through the pages with a sense of pride at the methods and powers he had developed. He turned to his most recent entry and began pondering over his findings. Emmeric was an oddity among source users in the realm as the norm is a source user who can tap into the very elements of the world, Emmeric had a tie to a much different element, the human source itself. Emmeric laughed into himself while weighing up the options for his newest incantation as he placed the finishing touches into the symbols with his feathered pen.

“Now all I need is a situation to test this out. It’s sure to be particularly hilarious.” Emmeric thought while laughing under his breath.

He closed his book and placed it back into the harness on his belt and finished off his breakfast. He refilled his goblet with the cool water brought by the serving girl and reclined back in his chair as he noticed Therwick joining him at the table.

“Good mornin’ lad, sleep well?” asked Therwick as he sat down at the table.

“Probably better than you considering you drank enough to poison half the city.” grunted Emmeric.

“You should have a drink sometime laddie; it might improve that uppity attitude of yours.” replied Therwick with a smile.

“My attitude needs no fixing and I certainly do not need to indulge in peasant piss water in order to do so dwarf!” snapped Emmeric.

“Ach yer too high-strung lad, live a wee bit.” laughed Therwick signalling for the serving girl “A tankard of dark ale lassie and a bowl of whatever my friend here had!”

The serving girl bowed and left to retrieve the order and returned shortly after. Therwick handed her a few silver coins with a smile and assured her she could keep the remainder.

“You are far too generous with your money dwarf; you shouldn’t be so frivolous.” grumbled Emmeric.

“Money isn’t everythin’ in the world lad, there's always more gold to be made in this life, that wee lass probably has more use for it then I do.” explained Therwick tucking into his breakfast.

Therwick began to vigorously consume his meal as though he hadn’t eaten for an age. He hungrily wolfed down the gruel and the small loaf and finished it straight from the bowl. He slammed the empty bowl down on the table and lit the room up with a monstrous belch that surely could be heard from the street outside.

“You truly are the most uncouth individual I've had the displeasure of meeting!” snapped Emmeric.

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“Aye so far lad, you’ve clearly never been to a dwarven hold in your lifetime.” laughed Therwick.

“I’d hate to visit your hold if every dwarf there is as insufferable as you.”

Therwicks hearty expression suddenly switch to one laden with regret, all humour gone from his face, he took a deep breath and then finally spoke: “I’d love for nothing more than one last visit to my hold lad, you’d find naught but dust and ash.” sighed Therwick. “To hear the horns of a Stoneclad battle host marching into the fray one last time would bring joy to this old dwarf's heart.”.

“Did your inconsiderate table manner drive them into the hills?” inquired Emmeric with more than a hint of sarcasm.

Therwick sighed at the remark. “If only that where the truth lad. There’d at least be beating hearts in their chests in that case.”.

Emmeric froze in the moment as he realised what Therwick was letting on. “My apologies Therwick, I hadn’t realised.”

“It’s all right lad. Some people can’t help being an arse.”

Emmeric made to retort to the comment but stopped as he noticed Kraven and Veraxes entering through the tavern door. He sulked back in his chair as they approached and took the seats to Emmerics left and right.

“We’re here as asked Therwick, so tell us the plan.” stated Veraxes.

Kraven agreed with a nod and looked to Emmeric with an expectant look on his face. “Uriah?”.

“Uriah left the tavern some time ago, I believe he left us behind on purpose.” explained Emmeric.

“Nothin’ we didn’t expect lads, seems like we may just have to have our own wee investigation into the situation, we know the elf peddles his wares on the docks, we’ll probably see him if we wander around long enough.” explained Therwick while running his fingers through his beard.

Emmeric looked at him with a puzzled expression. “That’s your plan? Wander around the docks and maybe we’ll see something?” inquired Emmeric “Is that some kind of jest?”.

“Do you have a better idea lad?” asked Therwick?

Emmeric grunted, he hadn’t given it any thought so no, he did not. He slumped his shoulders in defeat and accepted the idea. “So, we wander around the docks, what are we looking for?”.

“Well, you know lad, suspicious things, unusual goings on, things that seem weird, that stuff.” stammered Therwick. He must not have been expecting the question.

“Split up.” suggested Kraven. “Cover more ground.”.

“Wise plan.” agreed Veraxes. “More eyes in more areas will see more, seeing more brings us more strength in this battle.”

“Aye, it’s settled then. You two lads take a jaunt across the trader's road and try and find any mention of this elf fellow, me and my good pal Emmeric here will sweep the docks.” agreed Therwick.

Emmeric stiffened “Why must I be paired with you?”

“Because we’re such good friend's laddie!”.

Emmeric sighed. “There isn’t any point trying to argue with you, so I'll go along with it, not that I have a choice.”

“Exactly!” yelled Therwick before clearing his tankard in one mighty swig before slamming the empty vessel back onto the table. “Well, let's get to it.”.

The group finished up and rose from the table. They approached the bar and purchased provisions for the day, filling up waterskins or in Therwicks case a wineskin and left the tavern through the front door.

“We go now Therwick. Fortune favours you, do not die to anyone who isn’t me.” said Veraxes, letting out a laugh more akin to a low roar.

Kraven nodded in his usual silent manner. Emmeric was beginning to become confused with this Kraven’s demeanour. Something about it didn’t sit right with Emmeric but he couldn’t quite place the feeling at the back of his mind, it was almost as if the very source of Kraven was conflicted somehow.

“Good luck lads, good fortune be at yer backs.”.

Therwick and Veraxes clasped forearms and separated at that, Kraven nodded to Therwick in turn and the draconic and dark elf left along the trader's road. Therwick turned to Emmeric and gestured to the docks and the two began their walk-in earnest. The grand docks of Stormhold where a sight indeed to be seen especially in the early hours of the day. Vast trade vessels of incredible size dwarfed the small fishing vessels local to Stormhold, grand galleys ferrying foreign travellers and delegates filtered to and from the grand jetties, a constant see of arrivals and departures. The sights of livestock from all around the land where centres of intrigue to the locals of Stormhold. Giant cats with golden coats and fangs the length of a common man's shin roared from the confines of their cages, monstrous woolly mammoths where herded from the large trade ships destined for northern farmlands caused tremors in the ground with every step, fire breathing wyrms muzzled within steel containers struggled against their bonds before their travels to maintain the grand forges within the city. The trade goods where another matter entirely. Vast coils of silk in every colour of the spectrum and the grand robes that they are used to create imported from the Dai-Qi Empire situated the next continent over. The aroma of fresh spices and incense from the Khanate of Sharn filled the air around the docks in swirls of smoke. Barrels of varying vintages where offloaded from trade vessels hailing from Lentrios, famous the world over for their wines and stocks of lumber with the strength to rival tempered steel from the forests of Sterngard were lowered to the docks by large framed Sternlanders from the north. It seemed to Emmeric that the entirety of the world converged in the docks of Stormhold in one large mess of culture and export. It wasn’t just the cargo that displayed this, large red skinned draconics displayed their strength carrying large crates above their heads while half orcs pulled large carts with levels of strength to rival the mammoths themselves. Emmeric observed as the goods where gradually loaded up onto carts and wagons and began their exodus up the trader's road and as quickly as the area cleared of activity more vessels came pouring into the strait of storms and the hasty activity began again in earnest before the local cargo haulers even had time to catch their breaths.

As Therwick and Emmeric both made their rounds of the docks the sun came to its peak, with the high sun beating down upon the vast seaport activity came to an end as loud horns signalled for the days break and the dock workers retreated under large canopies constructed to bask the workers in shade where they could enjoy their mid-day meals and dress their injuries in the shade. Emmeric retreated to one such canopy as he left Therwick to laugh and joke with the dock workers. Emmeric began leaning against a tall pillar and summoned his book from his belt and began looking over the pages. He spent some time reading over his work and adjusted some of his existing theories and sigils. Emmeric prided himself in the techniques he had invented and the advancements he had made in wielding his source. He glanced up and observed the area around him for any sign of something, anything that stood out to him. “Now if I where an all-powerful self-absorbed elf, where would I be?” he thought to himself. He placed his book back into its harness and closed his eyes, he cast his mind out to the surrounding area searching for any sense of power he recognised. He felt the sources of the dock workers all around him and the emotional fury of Therwick, he felt the mighty nature sources of draconics, the foreign beasts and the raw brute force of the half orcs too. He felt a draw to the northern end of the docks and cast his presence there. This source was one he did not know but not one he was unfamiliar with.

“Ah, Uriah. I was wondering when you’d show up.” said Emmeric, with a smile.

He pushed himself from the wall and dusted his robes down and made to leave from the canopy. Therwick approached him from the direction of the local dock workers.

“Good bunch of lads out here, hard workers all of them.” smiled Therwick as he approached.

“I’m sure as far as commoners go, you’re quite right dwarf. Did you happen to learn anything then?”.

“Not an awful lot Emmeric, few of the lads know of the elf, according to them he’s been here a few times late in the day, I'd reckon he’s bound to show up later.” Therwick replied, pondering his next move.

“It’s the only information we have, since you’re clearly the brains of this operation where do you suggest we go from here?”

“It’s probably best we hang about; we don’t want to miss a chance at finding this elf lad.”

“Well, have fun with that. I’m going to go for a walk, we’d probably cover more ground that way.” pondered Emmeric.

“Suit yerself lad, I’ll nurse these old feet here for now.” agreed Therwick sitting down with his back against a pillar.

“Try not to kill anyone while I'm gone dwarf.” muttered Emmeric, turning in towards the northern docks. “I’ll return shortly.”.