Even Badger Lords Need Advice

Salamandastron: Forge Room

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You are in a fairly large room, the walls rising up around you hewn from

solid rock. In the center stands a colossal object - the forge. Steam is

constantly rising from the forge due to the intense fire burning within.

The typical accessories are set around the perimeter of the forge:

billows, tongs, and a large bucket of cool water. Lining the walls are

finished and unfinished items ranging from great battle-axes to little

forks. A large ventilation shaft is above, raised higher than the rest of

the room to permit the rising heat to escape. Because of the flames the

room is well lit, although quite warm. Over in the corner of the room is

a small pile of raw ore just waiting to be molded into some implement or

another.

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                 Visible Exits:

[Out] to Intersection [Arm]ory

Steam belches from the forge, filling this room with constant heat and high humidity. Stepping inside is akin to walking into a sauna, and will almost certainly cause sweat to roll down the foreheads of anyone who ventures in. In the midst of all this is Ciocan, the great badger lord, mighty despite his young age, wielding a massive hammer atop the forge. An ingot of red-hot steel rests atop the anvil, turned every which way as the burgeoning master works his craft.

Zee has been around forges before, it's been awhile. Well he decided to come back as his family sword was left here and it's important. So he braved the closed in feeling of this place and followed one of the hare guards to someone whom may know where his sword was placed for safe keeping. The hare stops at the door and motions for Zee to wait and carefully steps just a tiny ways inside, the hare seems unsure whether to go further in and clears his throat to single someone is by the doorway. Zee meanwhile sighs and leans on his staff and waits.

Up by the anvil on the elevated dias, Ciocan continues to work, apparently oblivious to the new entry as he pounds on the metal for a few more heavy strokes before grabbing it with a pair of thick tongs and plunging it into the trough of water nearby, sending up yet more steam. He pulls the heat-resistant gloves from his paws and lays them aside, turning towards the door as he rubs some life back into his fingers. "Good evenin'," He greets, his odd accent rumbling forth. "What brings ye t' my mountain, old one?"

Zee raises an eyebrow and he could care less if Ciocan is the Badger Lord or not, " I may be old but tis good ta respect ya elders, not be calling them old, my name is Zee Winters." He walks in further feeling a bit better around something familiar like a forge, "Well, On de beach I helped this hare..Flint think name was, some private of yours, had a couple rats bothering him, rats were taken care of and he was fine. I was getting over dis annoying cough and was taken to your infirm.." Yeah he is better now, "I had went ta the village but seems I left me sword here, Blade of The Northwinds Storm tis called, been in the family for a long while and made by me Uncle Soot. Me nephew at the last to have it before he had ta step down as a warrior. He sadly died not too long ago, would let me niece have it but...well not thinkin' she wants it as she is a sister in the Redwall Order, she is here...somewhere."

"Where I come from, 'old' is a token of respect," Ciocan explains, wiping his paws off on a rag as he steps down from the pedestal onto even footing with the older badger, still towering over him. "Zinnia, I take it ye mean. I did meet her, indeed. As far as ye'r family sword are concerned, ye'll find it there." The young lord nods towards the racks lining the walls, where the hilt of the sword can be seen peeking out at its owner.

Zee is already shorter than normal size badgers, he nods and walks over to get the blade and holds it in his paws before looking back to Ciocan, "Yes, Zinnia. Can't say I have talked to very recently and I was not thar when she needed me most." He carefully places the blade back where it belongs on his back before speaking "I ..thank you for keeping it safe for me. "

"Thank ye for lending aid to my hare," Ciocan replies, throwing the rag over his shoulder. His green eyes gaze calmly back at Zee, quietly regarding the elder. "This place, it is... sacred to our kind. It would not have been better cared for in the halls of the Dark Forest itself." A small, noble smile steals over his features. "I think ye've done enough for Zinnia, even if ye don't think it. She's been. Well. Brighter. Since she came here."

Zee manages a small smile "I am glad this place has helped her, I am not sure I would....enjoy it here too much, would take getting use ta. But then, I do have a room at that village up shore and ya welcome. I am not a beast to not help one in need. I am still a warrior, though I am unsure for how long." He sighs "Age does slow one down, one is less quick then they use to be. One bit of advice I would say is, even if ya having a grand old time of peace, always keep yourself in good shape and fighting form, do practice drills and all that. That’s always important."

Never one to spit at good advice, Ciocan nods his mighty head, his white ears peeking over at the older badger with the movement. "Indeed t'is, although we've had little of real peace this season. Always some new rumor or campfire tale makes its way to mine ear, stealing the peace from me dreams and the slumber from m'eyes." Those eyes turn about the room, considering the weapons lining the walls. "I have read about the scholar-lords of the mountain whose days passed in study and learning, but I cannae help but think that my reign shall never be as theirs."

Zee may not know much on the history of this place, but he knows some things in his many seasons, "And..why would ya want it to be the same? All beasts lives are..different, each has their own destiny to face. And any beast can learn, or get someone to help them learn." He smiles "Zinnia is good at finding info, most likely why she is recorder of the abbey and wot she doesn't know she goes to find out. If ya have a library here she is probably gonna be in thar a lot and who knows maybe she can help you learn something you need to know or just curious to know of. Wisdom is a very powerful aid"

That very wisdom just offered brings a knowing grin to Ciocan's face. "Well said," He replies, nodding subtly. "Every leader dreams of peace in their time, but some are born to war. I dinnae want to accept it when I arrived here, but it seems of such is my fate." A final nod marks the end of discussion on the subject. "Might I offer ye food for the journey, Aged One?"

Zee nods having been glad to help and smiles at the offer of something to eat, "Some food will be very kind of you. And not to worry on weather tis nightfall or not, trust me few beasts go too close to a badger...even smaller ones." He chuckles a little as he certainly fits the don't judge a book by its cover saying.

A deep rumbling laugh breaks forth from the young lord, the barest murmur of his mirth enough to reverberate in the room. "As ye say!" A great paw points out the older badger's escort, who has lingered near the door. "He will show ye to the supply room. Take all that ye need." With that, he climbs back atop the pedestal, dons his gloves, and takes up the massive hammer once more. A sure grasp falls on the tongs, bringing the same chunk of metal up out of the water to thrust it amongst the flames of the forge.