20 Short Stories: The Complete Works of Geltab Vol I

By Geltab

Twenty short stories, everything from dragons and dwarves to nanotechnology. From erotica to future alternate realities, these stories will satisfy the needs of any fantasy or sci-fi reader looking for various subjects. Crossing multiple genres, multiple stories and ideas. Take time to appreciate your imagination, please enjoy this collection of stories written for your reading pleasure. Thank you

• Language: English
• Publisher: Geltab
• Release date: Aug 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466198777

Geltab

Please take time to enjoy your imagination. You can contact me [e-mail].

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The Complete works of Geltab thus far, 20 short stories

The Dwarven Kingdom of Thazdulrene

Stories I-V

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PUBLISHED BY:

Geltab

The Dwarven Kingdom of Thazdulrene Stories I-V

Copyright © 2011 by Geltab

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Testimony I

The war of the Two Kupoinin

As Told by Bultan the wizened: Bultan’s Introduction

Mak-Thazul is the capital of the under the mountain Dwarven kingdom of Thazdulrene. Being closed for now shortly over a millennium in human years, this being the time measurement we shall use since this is the beginning of a new age for humankind. Most readers of my introduction will no doubt be men should we succeed in our endeavors. The dwarves at last understanding had perfected their mining, smelting and rock work to seemingly supernatural proportions according to mortal knowledge. Their underground mountain halls burned bright as the noonday sun, their mastery of light to banish the darkness of the underground mountain kingdoms cannot be properly expressed in words of any Language known and must be witnessed. I can try to attest however that I, Bultan, wizard of the sacred spark, servant of Xamuiez do this day in the year 11,146 by my counting of personal age do declare I have just visited Mak-Thazul as I have not done for over a thousand years. Upon spending one year in their kingdom this is my reporting on the current status of the dwarves. Forgive me for jumping to disparate subjects there is much information to relay after such a long time and now the opportunity to tell the tale grows short. Firstly, and most important all the myths and legends of men as well as my memory are true beyond imagining.

The lost Dwarven kingdom not only still exists but thrives under the whole world, more than is known even to wizards imaginings. Their number and size is only comparable and understandable to ants within the animal kingdom, their scope and power has truly expanded beyond any sight. Surpassing what I remember even in the old days before the great stone closing. Their numbers were nowhere near as great in years past. The dwarves have not troubled with matters other than their own stonework for many generations. The reason for their calling upon me to enter again had yet to reveal itself. The kingdom is currently ruled by Ul-Baine son of Thrages, he is grandson of Kupoinin, the longest lived of any known dwarf, and they all live to at least six hundred in human span. Not only long lived, but he is responsible for the decision to isolate the kingdom from all but dwarves.

Their hall of records is immaculate in recording this and all matters. It is peculiar such a hardy and stout rock driven folk would also contain a class dedicated to preserving every shred of their history. Yes, they are divided into classes as all the lore dictates, that much is true. However there are no classless dwarves as some tales tell. They don't allow classlessness; any such dwarf when born classless although rare is immediately executed as well as any involved in the distortion of the rigid class hierarchy established. Their hearts are as hard as their stone in general, there are a few exceptions. One almost feels sorry for the goblins they have met in forgotten underground battles. The last one was over four hundred years ago according to the Dwarven records. They are called goblins because the word from myth and legend so accurately describes them in both behavior and appearance. They of course do not call themselves goblins and are called Eshken in their native guttural language.

One Thousand years ago a goblin warlord who fancied himself a king calling himself Kupoinin in a mock reference to the great king of the Dwarves ambushed two Dwarven halls as weddings were being celebrated ,as was their evil plan to maximize the carnage both physical and mental. One wedding hall was for the king’s niece. He was, as fortune would have it not attending as a riot between two houses over a newly discovered gold vein had erupted in another distant part of the city. All were killed at the wedding ambushes, the corpses mutilated in the most horrible fashions imaginable and piled in an apparent act of random cruelty and murder declaring to the Dwarves that the Eshken are here and they choose where they strike, the underground rock belongs to Eshken not Dwarven kind. This insult was beyond acceptance even for the most timid of people known and the dwarves are anything but timid. They resolved to go to war, not a typical campaign, but a war of extermination, no marching for victory and honor, but marching until every single Eshken they knew of in their Southern lands lay dead.

The feeling was then and only could they truly thrive and live in peace. Dwelling alone as the kings under the rock the whole Dwarven race was of one mind on this subject. Dwarves being a naturally martial people had no hesitation at going to war. It was only a matter of resolving internal strife, a task much easier said than done for those familiar with the Dwarven disposition. Once united, such a fearsome war machine is hard to recollect even among the oldest of the dark wars. The only comparison would be when Zangoath first brought evil into the world in its infancy. However, such an extensive tale is for other times. The war is officially known in the Dwarven hall of records as the war of the two Kupoinin in reference to the Dwarven king and in reference to the goblin warlord mockingly using the same kingly name. Though the records tell the Dwarven king was very old at the time and apparently close to death. His son Thrages led most of the armies of Thazdulrene.

Speaking on the Dwarven armaments, what can be said about the armor and weapons of the Dwarven armies of Thazdulrene? Each dwarf warrior is fitted in a personal robe of chain mail armor, from the top of their wide heads, over their short and stout bodies all the way to the muscled wrists and ankles. The weight of the mail alone would keep a full grown man pinned in place. On their hands they wear another thicker type of armor called Rethlin, articulated and fitted to each individual’s proportions. Their boots are fitted in the same manner of the same material. Over their helm of mail already fitting their thick, skulls they place an outer helm of the same material as the gloves and boots studded with jewels describing rank, class and family lineage. The outer helm reaches down to under the shoulders and covers up to the eyes and nose so they can see perfectly and are protected at the same time. Each has a belt fitted with four razor sharp daggers, each boot carries two daggers. The number eight is special number to the dwarves; for certain instances unknown to even myself.

Two small one sided axes are left on their back forming an X and in their hands their favorite weapon, which each has been training with for a hundred years or more. A double edged battle axe made of a material that never bends or dulls, stronger than even the Rethlin armor. The blade is covered with a poison which the dwarves are immune to but others are not. The poison is said to come from a fungus that grows under some mountain stones. The stench of the poison is unbearable and overpowers even the normal stench coming from a full company of dwarves on the warpath.

Their Martial prowess is only matched by their craftsmanship. I can say that when the light during the day streamed in from the shafts carved in the mountainside, or when the light from the stars combined with the Dwarven ability to amplify the light of a single torch using special crystals made their halls and armor gleam as a thousand noonday suns, and in the darkness, believe or not, these crystals glowed a translucent almost ethereal silver. I tell you truly, the dwarves have mastered the crafts of metal and stone. Never in all my long years, can I remember such a sight of a metal monster as their army appeared a thousand years ago and it has grown immensely since then. What a fearful sight! Seeing upwards of one hundred and fifty thousand angry dwarves united under one banner, completely fitted in gleaming armor and weapons marching to destroy every Eshken or Eshken dwelling they come upon until their bloodlust is satiated. Most of the dwarves being veterans of many campaigns, a more grim and determined folk when angered do not walk this realm.

This is why to this day, even as I write this there are no Eshken in the southern lands of Oleskia below the forest of Sharmdewmon. The nearest goblin village or hole is over the lands and mountains as far north and away from Dwarven habitation as is possible. This is also why the Eshken now live in holes rather than deep rock, Dwarven fear consumes them. The Eshken learned a terrible lesson which they have never recovered from. Nor should they ever forget the price they paid for their arrogance, and the fear that memory instills in their race perpetually. Perhaps it will keep them from making a similar mistake again and call for the dwarves to spill above ground and search the entire world North, South, East and West. Searching for and destroying all Eshken down to the last. Eshken were known to have no fear before the war and be filled with pride, they fear the dwarves now and with good reason.

Many other races are coming of age and wondering if the doors to the mountains of Thazdulrene will ever open again, or if the doors actually exist within that seemingly solid stone. For it has been so long fact has become legend in the minds of men. Many wish to establish trade and good will. There are others who wish to probe for treasure and to foolishly test the ancient martial reputation of the Dwarves. None can say what is true anymore, after all it has been long centuries since any man has seen or heard from a dwarf except for their brief march above ground a thousand years ago.

The races of the world do not know a new Dwarven king sits on the throne. Ul-Baine has come of age and swiftly into his power. This king does not believe in further isolation of the dwarves. He believes, and correctly so that isolation has gone as far as it can and will now only cause them further harm. The king sees both the negative and positive effects the isolation has had upon the dwarves unlike his predecessors who saw only what they wished. He stands ready to rejoin the world of Oleskia, and establish relations with the races inhabiting the world be they helpful friend or helpless foe. The other races of the world, including that of the race of men have no way of knowing this information, so they go about their daily tasks as they have done since time immemorial.

A tale I briefly spoke of, is still told among many human villages of a Dwarven army passing by the edge of Sharmdewmon forest above ground a thousand years ago. The tale says the mere sight of the army caused many of the village men to pass out in fear at the dwarfs’ terrible countenance. For such things, dwarves, their items and the metal adorning them had never been dreamed about much less seen with the eye. This sighting of course, unknown to the people above ground coincided with the war of the two Kupoinin. The move and the march were part of a rear guard attack by Thrages in a stunning moment of clarity and genius. The dwarves did not stop in any human villages and made all effort to avoid any contact with others during their short march, and under strict orders. This, of course led to very few people witnessing the event as the march also took place under cover of darkness. Still, the story spread like wildfire on the parched mountainside. Prince-king Thrages and his gleaming legions of armored, scarred up and angry, stinking dwarves marching above ground to exterminate Eshken only whispered about by men in far off underground mountain lairs. Truly such a tale could not be made up if one were to try for a lifetime! Young Ul-Baine was there as well, full of the vigor of arrogant youth. Such a phase is often magnified within dwarves. Juvenile male dwarves coming of age are notorious for their violent outbursts. Dwarves are considered somewhat juvenile until they reach at least one hundred years old.

They shone brighter than the sun they did, two of my ancestors went blind just from looking at their armor, as the story goes. This is but one of the many quotes told in stories all over the land about this march. Ul-Baine still remembers his brief time above ground, and this is partly why he is eager to open his kingdom once again. The way he explained it to me was, taking that first breath of air above rock was both so exhilarating and frightening, it filled his heart to bursting and he needed his people to have that feeling of knowing both worlds over and under. I must say here, it is unknown to all even to myself why the Dwarven line of kings lives so much longer than the average six hundred year life span of other dwarves.

Their hall of records also notes the time before the closing of the stone when Mak-Thazul enjoyed many close friendships and trade agreements with other races. Ul-Baine does not understand his Grandfathers choice but it is not the Dwarven way to question the elders, especially the king. He also understands this was a different time this choice was made in, and he cannot judge his Grandfathers choice against his own time and personal feelings. However, Ul-Baine remains resolved to re-establish Dwarven power above ground within his lifetime. This has become his dominant focus, even surpassing his natural Dwarven feelings of greed and lust for expansion and jewels under the rock.

Testimony II

Ul-Baine Grand Hall Testimony, a hand extended to mankind.

  Written by Lord Ul-Baine himself

I Ul-Baine, son of Thrages, Lord of Mak-Thazul, and King of the rock under the mountain hereby transcribe the following account of the march over the mountain to clear our northern most trade route of Eshken filth. I also write this to inform all races we now come back into contact with of our intentions and the ways of our people and habitations.

This now fabled march occurred during what is known amongst the outliers as the war of the two Kupoinin. Curse the Eshken imposter’s very memory! Long may his bones gather dust in our kingdom! Father and I conceived of this move because we knew the Eshken would never believe we could or would travel above ground. They think we are hurt by sunlight as they are, Ha! We live under the mountain because we are the mountain, not because we are cursed and burned by sunlight like the hordes of the Eshken.

Though their numbers were superior after our surprise move from behind which they never expected, they had been pushed back to the final hall by our glorious warriors, there we cut them down to the very last. Our rock is sacred, others seek to pillage, we seek to glorify and magnify. I will not speak of tactical details, or of further military aspects. That was a long time ago and tactics have a way of repeating themselves, better such a move is forgotten by all, especially enemies. Secrecy and Stone is my father’s favorite saying.

Our glorious kingdom will be opening to the outside world once again. Therefore I would like to move on to a subject that men have dreamt upon for centuries. To speak to you on the magnificent jeweled city of Mak-Thazul and its glorious capital Thazdulrene, long has it been lovingly worked and labored over in the deep by our hands. The main road leading into the city is gold and jewels stretching beyond site, each pillared hall appear as their own forest. The roads themselves as I stated are made of one of the most abundant materials in the surrounding mountains, gold, as far as the eye can see. We have also found a way over the years to remove the impurities from the gold in a way no one else ever has conceived of, the methods will not be discussed, leaving it almost transparent. Such another type of pure gold exists nowhere in the world. It catches the light remarkably well. Yes, many have wondered, and rightly so, how can you possibly light an underground city? Those dwarves must live in the dark like the Eshken they scorn so much! Nothing could be further from the truth. This is usually the way it goes with the myths of outsiders.

Rather than try to get your mind to grasp the complete concept of a fully lighted underground city, I will instead try to explain my main hall which provides a good example on a smaller scale. The floor is our finest gold inlaid with diamonds polished to the smoothness of a still lake. There are six rows of fifty pillars in the main hall alone. Each pillar is over forty feet high by outside measurement reaching to the arched and vaulted ceiling. The entire ceiling is beset with what we call in our tongue the crystals of light. One of the many useful gems and crystals we have discovered over the eons of mountain shaping. The crystals of light are well known among my people for their ability to generate their own light and the ability to greatly amplify any light, even the smallest torch or sunray of a carved mountain shaft shining ever so briefly upon them causes them to shine for hours brilliantly. Each pillar is carved with reliefs of our glorious battles and victories through the ages against Eshken and even more ancient foes. More beautiful than any written word, each pillar is inlaid with jewels of all colors. Each figure on the reliefs has jewels for their eyes instead of carved stone and over each pillar is a polished coat of crystals as clear as glass which has served as long as memory can recall protecting the delicate ancient reliefs on the pillars.

Throughout the hall there are shafts carved through the mountain all the way to the surface allowing both sunlight and starlight to stream inside. There are a total of six shafts in the ceiling of the main hall. Each shaft has its own rotating cover all controlled from a central console within the main hall. I will explain the covers in this manner; each shaft can be changed to different covers bearing different colored jewels, changing the color of the light that enters the hall. There is also a setting for solid rock to block all light or to seal all shafts when in an emergency such as war or even so repairs can be made. Our ancestors truly thought of everything, they are more than worthy of our reverence and worship.

Within their halls, different dwarves enjoy their fires prepared in different ways. I place a huge roaring fire right in the center of my splendid hall. The light shines and flows like liquid creating colors unlike any the eye beholds elsewhere. Even after all these long centuries underground I am still breathless each time I enter my great main hall. Many a hearty feast we have had around that fire and hearth. Tables of gold inlaid with jewels are used as dining furniture when a feast or celebration is occurring. Men may wonder, how can they use gold for these things, yes it is strong but gold is bent and warped so easily? Remember I spoke of removing ALL impurities in the gold earlier; there is also a process for adding strength to the gold using other metals and gems. Our ways are not your ways and our knowledge in this area is unsurpassed. I am opening my kingdom in hopes of gaining your knowledge and sharing ours. My faithful servant Burlain carries this testimony with him to present to you races of the world so that you may know what he says is true. The Dwarven kingdom of Thazdulrene does exist and has returned seeking to establish goodwill towards our old allies and new folk alike.

Now back to our explanation so you may better understand we are a people just like yourselves, not Gods or Demons, only a people with a specific knowledge. I believe knowing something about a people and their background makes it easier to understand their ways. As for our water that must remain our secret, although visiting friends will truly marvel at the purity and delivery systems. Perhaps we owe our longevity to that! We do raise our own livestock under the mountain. They are raised in huge underground farms carved from the rock into even larger cavernous farms, so large they appear outdoors. Even I am not sure of the height or width of our farms, and they do vary in size depending on the wealth of the family who owns them. That is a question for an engineer, I am merely a king! The farms have shafts carved through the rock everywhere so it appears they are nowhere, this allows the farms to be kept on a normal day and night, light and dark cycle in rhythm with the planet to keep the animals happy and comfortable.

When I say these farms are large, it is an understatement. The animals are able to graze and sometimes graze so far they can no longer be seen from the front of the property, this is no cage, as far as the animals are concerned it is a free range endless oasis. We dwarves are known or were known for our splendid meat, falling right off the bone. The key to such a delicacy is an animal that has lived a stress free and enjoyable life. We duplicate the very sun in the sky for them; we are not ungrateful for their lives and the energy they impart. Playing no small part, this is one reason our numbers are many now where once they were few; especially after the long years and many losses of the wars fighting for our survival. Every drop of blood was worth it, no axe was lost in vain, for we alone now rule the underground kingdom and flourish all the more due to our adversities.

This very day my hall is as golden as the sun herself, the stone filters the sun’s rays through its prism. My personal royal stone is called a Cyane. A high blue stone and is casting a blue tinted glitter across the golden rays of the sun. Myriad rubies of the floor glint, glowing red. The emeralds are blazing bright green adorning the pillars. Truly this is an enjoyable afternoon to compose this to you my new friends.

This fortyear or in human terms fourteen years has been a wonderful time for my people. Our lands have plenty and we are constantly expanding, our animals and people are fed and happy in their pursuits. Crafts have lately replaced war, of course war being its own art to us, we have our martial class within society. Our history dictates we must always be ready for the unexpected enemy. Never has our kingdom been so large, united and prosperous even in the time of our Father's ancestors, may their memory bless the stone. It is my great pleasure and honor to be king during these days of peace and plenty since I have experienced their opposite as well and am do not wish to return there.

Though there are still those who live that deserve to have an axe placed enjoyably into their skull, there are none who rouse us to the point of changing our current preference of exploration craftsmanship and dwelling deep under the rock in a festive and earned peace. We have also many skilled in the craft of fine smokeables and many different types of ales, the diversity is quite astonishing. Closing I say I extend my hand to all the free people of the world above the rock and I, Ul-Baine do pledge our doors are now open and for you to please accept my humble servant Burlain's assistance as he is very skilled and capable. I do so look forward to showing you all I have spoken about in person. Now I go to feast, drink and smoke. Until we meet under the rock may the ancestors guide your decisions and provide wise counsel.

Testimony III

The Trust of Burlain

The sound is deafening, like a thousand screeching rock Hyen, worse than metal dragged upon metal. The Eshken horde is as if locusts with an evil and homicidal mind have been released upon the lands. I have been trained since birth to fight the Eshken to extermination and still I feel a pinch of fear upon the sight of an Eshken horde, especially this far north. Through my training, I have the ability to turn the fear into a fire of rage, though this takes years to learn and decades to master. I can only imagine how these poor farmers and merchants feel, being drafted to fight for their kingdom against the Eshken, with such minimal training. Their fear is impossible to miss, what could you expect from men whom last week were peacefully plowing a field and now at the point of a sword they are forced to fight a monster; it would be laughable if it did not mean their lives. The Eshken will be feasting on their flesh tonight it seems. Damn these humans and their incompetence coupled with their lack of training system!

Only learning through life and death combat? Hoping you live long enough to go through it all again with the next Eshken wave? In war ignorance is not bliss, it is death. I hope they remember what I told them about the massacre at the two weddings and the blasphemous mocking of our beloved king Kupoinin's name by that filthy goblin warlord. Death is all that awaits Dwarven enemies.  Alas, I am not with my Dwarven brothers, but among the various kingdoms of men which is why I speak of conscripted merchants and farmers.

The moon is full tonight and she is tinted a soft almost indiscernible yellow. The breeze, depending upon the speed seems to both calm and terrify the men. I am by no means the bravest dwarf or the most skilled fighter, but I do understand the language and somewhat the thinking of men best among those who were prepared for this mission of helping unite the various kingdoms of men in the North and training them in the fighting of the Eshken here, since we have exterminated all Eshken in the South. The Eshken now threaten men above ground and seem to want to rule there in the North during the dark of night. This journal can only be continued under different circumstances should I survive the night, all will be told.

New Beginnings

The night has been survived by the skin of my teeth and many dead Eshken. Many men as I predicted were killed by the Eshken during the battle due to lack of preparation. After several hours of being driven further and further back it seemed we were in grave trouble, soon to be overrun. That instant we received unexpected assistance from at least a thousand Wolvin. Apparently, the ignorant Eshken had killed many Wolvin the night before in an unprovoked attack to feed their army thinking they were regular wolves. Dwarves know of these creatures from our excellent record keeping, they are vicious and unmatched in battle when