Excerpt from the histories of Helious Prime.

 -Editors note: It is interesting to note the dwarven tactics. Dwarves are notoriously close mouthed about them. Their effectiveness cannot be underestimated and this is one of the few insights in human records. Helious might have been considered a herobut his people probably consider him a traitor for reasons other than his use of guns.-

 These humans, I cannot work them out, they seem happier retarding their and others full potential than fulfilling theirs.  It’s like they gain more satisfaction through the act of dithering then actually acting. Maybe it’s that ego or ‘self-satisfaction’ thing I heard about. It makes no sense. Dwarves know what they are and are content in being that to their fullest. Effort brings action, action begets results, and results bring gain: material, emotional, and career.

It’s like humans don’t want to act because their afraid of what they will find lacking. Knowing your flaws is the greatest of all gifts, it’s the only way to hammer them out, otherwise lake a poorly forged blade your likely to break at inconvenient times when the stress is greatest. Even elves urgently perform at their best when there is a threat .. even if between threats they teeter on the self-satisfied smarminess’ of humans and waste away decades on doing nothing useful for anyone. At least elves have style and bearing, they sadly combine this with attitude instead of the dwarven way of conducting themselves with bearing, honesty and manners but at least it’s better than the posturing of humans. My father said humans once had a sense of comportment, but it’s so distant it may as well be myth.

 They need a good head-butting if we’re to all become rich, powerful and titled instead of feeling entitled and ending up crippled and whining like kobolds.

I decided to brooch the topic over a couple drinks one evening when we were resting. I had some notes I found in justins shelter and the memories of his evening rants on theology and spell craft to fill in the ‘magic’ gaps in my otherwise sound dwarven tactics.

 Not much to say to the archer, elves have pretty much perfected that path, I did say she should use a gun instead (those ranger spells seem perfect for guns one even reloads for you so with the right deed she could use a musket even) .. or at the very least one of those movement items to get out of trouble fast- she ain’t that tough in melee after all.

 After a couple I got self-reflective and my occult wagon train of thoughts led me to think about getting some of those ranger spells made into items. Justins ideas were revolutionary: his ‘credibles cocker’ to load guns as you draw them with a simple pulley system or by reversing the hammer housing on guns, use of scabbards of vigour and guns, his idea to saw off a double musket and call it the jurist for inquisitors everywhere.. but I think I have topped them. A pouch with the abundant ammunition spell. It would make the costs far more reasonable. Also use of permanent symbols of healing to replace makeshift hospices in dwarven mines. Mining is a dangerous hobby and clerics are stretched thin with all the glorious battles against lawless under beings mining leads too. It’s the perfect solution.

 
As for the glowing rune scarred snake, I avoid that abomination. It reminds me of the aberrations I specialized in destroying in our mines. I know little of grabbing and eating people, it seems like a dishonest way of fighting. I do wonder where those eaten go and if the rune scarred summoner gains any sustenance from the snake. I mentioned to the summoner (in hearing of the snake in case it is really in control) that it seems wasteful as two creatures to do one creature worth of actions mostly. I understand the summons are focused on but summoners get many spells, some very good defensive ones. I predict my defensive suggestions will merely be used on the snake, its eyes gleamed when I mentioned it, ironic that for one so captivated with their supposed authority the summoner does little to lead or empower the group and serves the serpent. Humans have no idea how to lead, they want control without blame, authority without service and lack the vision to see how this lacking undermines the actuality and relegates their plans to delusions.

For our theologically challenged cleric I shared some old dwarf wisdom I had been taught and heard of many times in my apprentice decades. For I am sick of having strange clerics join our excursions, ours is more than competent. His been too concerned with theology and the extreme demands of healing to spend time pondering how to hurt the many freaks this group attracts as enemies. Healers in dwarf enclaves often cover themselves in a divine aura of untouchability, like a god effecting others with a miasma of awe so others won’t attack- sanctuary. Not for the warlike but for those who heal, shield other and summon the embodiment of their ideals it protects against more attacks than a concealing mist. The arrows of law and spears of purity the clerics use as the ‘test of soul iron’ to get the measure of apprentices. Blinding those who refuse to see with eyes of wisdom and the most stunning of the war clerics tricks: the chains that control the battle. Without them moving opponents closer many the elite stalwart defenders once set in stance might have fallen to those with reach. Also I spoke of the terror of having ones attacks neutered or ones very actions subverted by the will of a deity.

Most I belaboured the basic prayer spell. The arumvorax meat at the clerics table and the spell that has changed the outcome of entire battles. I heard the forest elves that sit in glades and stare at the sky understand the magic behind predicting the outcome of things, their paths and the chance of success – and with prayers power to move everything in your sides favour its ranked highest among all spells. Combined with haste should the shoanti ever cast it again in a timely fashion, a spell once the secret of the priests of time, our groups many parts would be all but invincible with the archers dual arrow flurries, the barbarians spirit attacks and all those tails and arms our monstrous members have.

That shoanti.. always a problem. I wonder how he always has spells fortifying him at the right time. I know Justin struggled and ran out often even with better casting and extra spells he managed through some human trickery. The summoner also always struggles yet the alchemist is weaker in casting. I wonder that all of us need announce our actions in combat to better combine forces yet the casters seem never too and just assume or attempt to hide their casting.

It’s a shame his focus on traps and smashing things has taken from his exponentially growing alchemical powers. He should get some goggles to focus if he just wants to smash things. Surely if he can give himself arms he can infuse himself with extra traits like better casting.

As for the emotional barbarian, even if he channels fell negative energies and imprisons the souls of his ancestors, I had to tell him of surmount affliction. If only for justin for he gained the spell just before he passed, and was looking forward to using it.

I don’t know if they will consider my drunken words. Humans sometimes prioritise their failure over their success if it means a moment of passing solidarity. I suppose without it the greatest humours written about humans by our bards would not exist. Nothing is funnier than refusing help just to fall so hard one needs extreme help later. A moment of solidarity is oft swapped for a lifetime of need.