Cruising...

[gilshem ironstone]

*Gilshem walks nervously in to the Surge, his hauberk recently oiled and polished, his hair and beard groomed for the first time in years.  He looks around the patrons bustling back and forth, carousing and laughing and finds a seat next to a group of women*

*coughs* Oi lasses! 'ows yer night goin'?  I be Gilshem.

// Please feel free to reply with a female PC, or any GM with an NPC.  This is Gilshem attempting to make a love connection from a quest event, but it need not be successful.  Dwarven women are what he is looking for.

[gilshem ironstone]

*Gilshem tries to hide his hurt at being brished off by the group of women*

Right den lassies... Ye enjoy... yer evenin'... um... right.

*he turns to his tall glass of ale and falls deep in to thought*

[havoc]

*Seeing his crestfallen look she steps from wall and carefully pronounces hello in Dwarven.* (its still not perfect but better then earlier attempts)

It is good to see you again.  

*smiling slightly unsure if he will remember such an unimportant elf*

Perhaps you will join me in an ale, since these .....ladies are not interested in manners.

*she indicates a table near the wall*

[gilshem ironstone]

*Gilshem looks up from his ale and an expression of surpirse crosses his face.  He quickly wipes the froth from his beard, stands and bows.*

I would be 'onoured Shar... Let us talk more o' da Priceless Gem!  An' da firs' rounds on me.

*He follows her to a table with an anxious look on his face*

[havoc]

*smiling gently she takes a seat*

Now.. which gem are you telling me about?

[gilshem ironstone]

Lassie.. Dorand be da priceless gem!  We 'ave so much ta talk about... 'e goes by tree names: Dorand, obviously, Da Master o' Crafts, an' Da Priceless Gem.  'oo was yer priest lassie?

[havoc]

I didn't have a priest.  I went to his temple though.  I don't speak dwarven, and the temple guardians  ...  well they arent the most chatty of dwarves.  After the first year they stopped laughing at me behind their beards.  Not unkind folk or anything, but I didnt know what to do and it was often I did what ever it was wrong.  I was treated with kindness, helped when I really needed it.  Yet for the most part they didnt understand why I was there and I guess it wasnt interesting enough a question to just ask.

[gilshem ironstone]

*a deep look of compassion fills his eyes*  Well lassie, dats a tough tale... Our faith is nay da mos' forgiving or tender o' religions, but everyone has da right ta be accepted before dere deity.  *leaning forward in interest* So where was dis temple anyway?

[havoc]

It was a months travel from here.  High in a mountain village that was always snowing.  I have never been so cold in my life.  

The first night I spent there I fell asleep against my shield, I didn't know any better and when I woke up I was stuck to it.  I lost a patch of skin along my arm when I panicked and ripped the shield off.

The temple had a very kind healer who fixed me up right quick.  Didn't even scar she did such a good job.

I made the most beautiful shield as a promise to Dorand.  
It was copper and had bears ingraved along the edge.  It took me 4 years to complete.  
I laid it against the alter stone where the morning sun filtered in and made the etchings glitter.  
Then I came back, to find so much had happened and most everyone I knew had forgotten me.  Some had even gone from this world, forever.   That is the nature of things.  Nothing in life is certain except death awaits us all.  
*shrugging she looks at him and smiles*

I took up crafting again, and found my powers of hiding and surviving have improved.  

I learned a great deal making that shield too.  I can't really explain it but it centered something within me.  I may never be a master craftsman in metal or anything else but there is a deep joy to be found in making things, no matter what they might be.