The Mechanics of Peace

Chapter 6 - The City

by David "Lord Davidian", posted on April 17th, 2001

Prologue - Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 -
Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8

       As he approached the outskirts of the city, Delvun marvelled at the technologically aesthetic, many-faceted metropolis that was Copperville. The many and varied buildings, the enormously intricate power-generating apparatus and the massive silos and soaring smokestacks of the copper ore refinery filled his heart with a remarkably overwhelming sense of awe and wonderment he had never before experienced in his sheltered life. Though it was generally felt by the Kindred Elves of Benlith Forest that the mere existence of Copperville was an affront to their fervent and benevolent beliefs of constant harmony with nature, Delvun could not help but feel that the mysterious city was beckoning him to enter and be in harmony with it. He promptly pushed the wicked thought out of his mind, but the feeling stubbornly stayed deep within his heart.
Delvun's attention was now on the two very big and very ugly neanderthalic creatures standing at either side of a complicated-looking contraption with many gears, pulleys and wires of various shapes and sizes surrounding a large compressor of some sort. In the center of the makeshift mechanical mess stood an archway just wide enough for an average sized human to pass through. If one of the huge creatures standing beside it wanted to enter, he would have to do so sideways. Based on what Balrun told him, Delvun deduced that the two creatures must be Half-Ogres and that the contraption between them must be the aura-detecting portal.

       As he drew nearer, Delvun could see that the two Half-Ogres each possessed long weapons crafted of wood and metal which Delvun correctly guessed to be rifled firearms. He then correctly guessed that two Half-Ogres wielding them to be city guards. Though he was still damp and dirty from walking and fighting in the rain and mud, Delvun made himself as presentable as possible and casually strolled up to one of the Half-Ogre guards. "Excuse me good sir," he said politely.

       "What you want?" The Half-Ogre huffed as he eyed the stranger suspiciously and shifted his rifle threateningly in his gargantuan hands. Of course, he didn't need the rifle; his breath alone could kill a man. "Thank Kyra there is a strong breeze right now," Delvun thought to himself quite seriously.

       "I was just wondering if you happen to know where in Copperville I might find a building called the Thundersmith Copper Exchange?"

       "Huh?" was the confused Half-Ogre's only reply.

       Delvun remembered what Balrun had said about most Half-Ogres being rather limited in intelligence and, therefore, speech capabilities. He decided to try simplifying his own speech into single syllables. "Where is cop-per shop?"

       "First go through por-tal, then ask bar-tend-er in bar. He know all."

       "Where is bar?"

       Delvun could see that the Half-Ogre was starting to get annoyed as he let out a guttural sigh. This time the smell of his putrid breath actually caused Delvun's knees to buckle slightly. "Bar is three blocks down on main street! GO THROUGH POR-TAL NOW!"

       Rather than ask the lumbering, agitated Half-Ogre where he could purchase some new clothing and risk facing the business end of the rifle he held so confidently, Delvun decided it would be best to simply move on and find out for himself. Just as he turned to enter the portal, a rude little Halfling sped past him in an obvious hurry; his large hairy feet slapping down hard on the muddy ground. As the Halfling dashed through the portal, sparks shot out violently at Delvun, causing him to jump back in surprise.

Then, suddenly, the gears and pulleys surrounding the portal ground to a halt! The Half-Ogre guard that Delvun was vaguely conversing with stomped grudgingly over to the portal's compressor and gave it a powerful kick. Delvun expected the fragile thing to fall apart with after such a blow, but instead it started it's rhythmic pumping again. Within seconds, the gears and pulleys resumed their clockwork methodical movement as well. The Half-Ogre shot Delvun a warning look. "Go through por-tal SLOW!"

       Delvun, after some uneasy hesitation, slowly walked through the portal with his eyes tightly closed and his fists tightly clenched; praying to Kyra that he didn't catch fire...or worse!

       After checking to make sure all of him was intact, Delvun headed down the main street of Copperville. He had to travel only one block to find a humble little shop with a sign that read 'HERMAN'S FINE HABERDASHERIES'. Luckily for Delvun their was a wooden plaque with a picture of a lady and a gentleman dressed in formal attire under the shop's sign since he had never heard of such a ridiculous term for clothing. Being in dire need of clean, dry clothes, Delvun immediately took advantage of the shop's close proximity. No sooner was he through the creaking door than a quick but very old Gnome came running up to him with a broad, welcoming smile on his wrinkled face.

       "Good eve to ya sir! Can I interest ya in a fine top hat? I just got a shipment of 'em in earlier today."

       "No, thank you. I am actually in need of a set of simple but comfortable clothes." Delvun gave the wiry old Gnome a trusting smile. "I shall leave it in your capable hands good sir."

       The Gnome examined Delvun's dirty and damp attire while also figuring his size. "Yes, o'course. I believe I've just the thing for ya. Wait here a moment." With that, he scampered off through a door at the back of the small shop.

       While he was waiting patiently for his attendant to return, Delvun decided to peruse the little shop's curious wares. Throughout the showroom were displayed all manner of dress and adornment. Along the length of the left wall, set aside from the fanciful formal clothing which filled most of the shop's limited space, was a tall but narrow glass display case with a bold sign that read 'Fine Armour and Accessories for Your Protection'. The majority of contents encased within consisted of heavy, awkward looking metal armor in various styles and lengths. Delvun studied each one with great interest and puzzlement.

       "How can something which would clearly make enough noise to attract a potential enemies to its wearer's location and be so heavy and bulky as to significantly hinder movement be considered protection? Also, why would someone go through the trouble of carefully crafting such intricate pieces of essentially useless metal?" The questions wafted around in his mind with no real answers. "You're a stranger in a strange land. In time you will come to learn why things are as they are." he reasoned.

       Delvun continued examining the unfamiliar items proudly displayed behind the glass until, finally, he came across something VERY familiar to him. Laying on the top shelf at the far end of the display case as if not wanting to be noticed were a well worn pair of Elven-crafted wild boar hide bracers. Having now piqued his curiosity, Delvun inspected the unique bracers closer and was taken aback to discover that symbols used only by his tribe for magickal blessings were stitched into each one! The symbols translated loosely into 'KYRA GUIDE AND PROTECT YOU ON YOUR QUEST'. Delvun wondered how it was possible that these sacred bracers ended up here since none of his Kindred has ever set foot outside Belith Forest. Something inside told him he had to possess them and discover their reason for being.

       The Gnome came back, not noticing Delvun's interest in the bracers at first. He was busy picking lint off of the shirt and pants he had folded neatly in his stubby arms. "I have yer clothes here. I think you'll like 'em. If ya want, their be a hotel just around the corner where ya can wash up 'n change." Having removed all the lint he could find on the clothes, the Gnome looked up at Delvun. "Oh! I see ya have yer self a keen eye fer quality merchandise. That there be a special item handed down from generation to generation. It's held up many a decade under countless brawls and helped win the day every time."

       "How did you come to possess such a unique item?" Delvun inquired with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

       "Oh...I'll tell ya, it be a desperate sort of feller who done sold me that there peculiar item. Said he used to be a miner 'n found 'em in an abandoned section o' the copper mine just outside o' town he did. Also said he was laid off on the count o' he done caught a nasty spell 'o pneumonia. I felt kinda sorry for the poor gent so I bought 'em off him at a fair price I should think. Look mister, ya seems to me to be a decent sorta feller, so I'll tells ya the God's honest truth. Those things have been sittin' on that shelf for 'round about six years now 'n nary a soul's shown a lick 'o interest in 'em. If ya be willin' to take 'em off me hands fer say...fifty coins, then I'd be willin' to let ya use me sleepin' quarters in the back to clean up 'n change, free 'o charge. What do ya say?"

       Delvun didn't have to consider the offer for very long. "OK, you have yourself a deal friend." He extended his hand and the now quite pleased Gnome balanced the clothes in one stocky arm while accepting Delvun's hand in a shake, thus sealing the deal.