Hargrym sits at the table, the rings laid out on top of the small velvet bag they have been transported in.  "I hope they like them ..." he mutters.

Domitius had returned from a morning sparring at the Iomedae temple, a quick wash down and a fresh set of clothes and he was ready to meet with Hargrym.  He and waited at the door for Alisa to finish getting ready then the couple had walked to the meeting.  Dom looked over at Alisa and smiled "Truly my love Desna smiles upon me." and wrapped an arm protectively around her as they walked.  Upon arriving at the meeting room he opened the door to let Alisa in "Hargrym it is good to see you." he said as he pulled a chair out for his wife.

Alisa had arisen that morning with curiosity foremost in her mood.  She didn't know Hargrym other than in passing.   Sejana had mentioned spending some time at the bar with him, during the reception, and described him as amiable enough, with a strong interest in his craft.  Alisa had had little interaction with dwarvish folk during her life - she knew only what was generally held to be true of them, but beyond that little.

She washed her hair, placed in its customary braiding, then donned a sleeveless light blue tunic, fitted breeches, and a pair of soft leather boots.   Slipping Acavna's symbol over her head, she was ready.

Walking with Domitius, she leaned into him and kissed his cheek after his reference to Lady Luck.  "Hey, here's hoping she saw fit to put master Silverhammer in good mood morning this morning." 

She smiled when he opened the door, and likewise greeted the craftsman, with a courteous incline of her head. "Master Silverhammer,"  she took the offered chair, touching Dom's hand as she sat.   She gazed with interest at the rings atop the bag, faintly canting her head in question.

Hargrym rises at the two walk into the room and waits until the pair are seated before taking his own seat again.  He greets them with a nod "Good morning."  there is a cheerful twinkle in his eye, but something about his demeanor indicated that there might be more to this than just the rings.

"The boys have finished your rings ..."  he indicates the two rings laying on the velvet bag in the centre of the table

The rings look like pain wedding bands from a distance, on closer inspection you can see that they are decorated with Suns and Bears to represent the two families.  The inside surface of each ring is engraved with the name of the recipient, the name of the new house and the location of their marriage.  Alisa Medveyed-Solanus Tusk inside the smaller ring and Domitius Medveyed-Solanus Tusk inside the other.

"I hope you like them. The boys went all out to do their best work ..."

OOC:  These are both exquisitely finished Masterwork quality rings, that are suitable for enchanting, if you so wish.
This message was last updated by the GM at 09:44, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

Alisa rose and reached for the smaller of the pair, that looked as thought it had been sized for herself.   She held it in her fingers, turning it, examining and admiring the subtle, masterful engraving work.    And she smiled, nodded.

"Thank you. They are lovely.  Please give all thanks to the boys."    So said, with no more ado, she slipped it over the ring finger of her left hand, the hand nearer to the heart.

Dom waited for Alisa to pick hers up before taking up the larger ring, he rubbed it between his fingers before holding it up to read the inscription. "They are beautiful, give the boys our thanks for such a lovely gift." he then placed the ring on his own ring finger.

He paused to admire how it looked before he asked, "Now my old friend, what was it you wanted to discuss, have you heard anything from the clans elders?"

Hargrym nods as the rings are appreciated, but gets straight down to the business Dom asked about.

"I have.  They are prepared to take responsibility for the loan at the bank of Tusk.  I will have to pay them back, or course, out of the profit that the jewellers will make.  They have suggested that I approach you for an alliance agreement.  They say that if you have a formal arrangement with the clan, well at least me and the boys that are here already, they will assign my cousin, Bungrima, over here."

He looks around, almost furtively, to check there are no other dwarves in the room, then shrugs.  Of course there aren't he made sure of that before the meeting started.  "Bungrima is good.  Really good with stone.  She can make it sing.  Quite literally some times.  The slate xylophone thing that she made for the Great Mine is still spoken about today.  However,  she has a slightly embarassing history, that makes it difficult for her to work in Dwarven societies. BUT, she is my cousin and part of the clan.  And she is very good."

Hargrym swallows a couple of times, knowing that this wasn't what Dom had expected, but Hargrym believed that it was a fair arrangement and beneficial for everyone.  "Of course, with an Alliance agreement, and once the bank loan is paid off, we will commit the local Siverhammer income to helping you create your new stronghold, when you decide to do so.  The Silverhammers and the Medveyed-Solunus can grow together."

Domitius stroked his beard as he thought things through, "It's an attractive offer but I want to just make sure I'm clear on a few things, firstly we are aligning your whole clan with my whole house or is it just the local branches?  while I'm sure my grandfather would approve an alliance with the Silverhammers I just want to be sure what is on the table.

Secondly my friend your cousin Bungrima, a Stonesinger that would indeed be a coup for the workshop.  However I am wondering what this little embarrassment is if you can tell us.  It will go no further but we may be able to help.

Now you know there are a lot of mountains around the lake, I think we would be looking for exploration teams to look for minerals and good stone, I would like to see if we can get some marble for the temples in Kunlun.

Now in the event of any unpleasantness what sort of support would you be asking of us and what could we expect from the clan?"

Hargrym looks a bit embarrassed, “It is a sort of half and half, Dom.  We Silverhammers are very spreadout at the moment, and we don’t really have a holding to call out own.  We lost most of our holdings along with the great mine.  There are small pockets of Silverhammers spread around now, many working for other people, a few with small businesses of their own.  The jewellers will make me one of the Clan Elders, and the more I own the more seniority and influence I will have.  But I don’t have authority to sign an alliance on behalf of the whole clan.  Nor would I expect your grandfather, and his holding in Restov to be involved.  The alliance would be between us.”

Hargrym grimaces as Domitius asks about Bungrima, and thinks how to answer.  “Can we just say that it is a heritage thing, which makes life a bit complicated in Dwarf society?  She’s a good girl, from what I can tell.  I’ve only met her a couple of times and she has been fine.  Nor have I heard any bad stories about her from other people … well, nothing apart from the normal gossip, anyway.” Suddenly he is on firmer ground, “She is a good dwarf, and she is a Silverhammer.  She won’t do anything to damage either of our reputations.”

When the talk turns to mountains, Hargrym is much happier.  “Of course we would like to explore any mountains with you.  Perhaps, eventually, we Silverhammers might be able to have a village of our own, working the stone on your behalf.  That is always a goal for an aspiring dwarf!”

And the contentment continues as the conversation turns to possible unpleasantness.  “Of course me, and any of the local clan, will support and defend you, your family and your new holdings.  We are dwarves of our word.  We would hope that you will offer us the same support, or rather offer the same support to the local clan members and out businesses.  But that goes, almost, without saying.   I am happy to contract that any military forces associated with the Local Clan  are put at your service during times of war and insurrection, or in similar circumstances.”

Satisfied with his answers, Hargrym sits back and looks across at Dom, then Alisa, waiting for their response.

Alisa listened intently to the interchange, finding she was taking a liking to this ambitious yet easygoing craftsman.  She turned what he was offering over in her head several times, and could personally find nothing to object to.

"I think you and your people have a great deal to offer, and it would be our pleasure to support you in your stated goals."  She smiled.  "And, I would enjoy meeting Bungrima, one day.  We may have something in common; I know what it is to be found inconvenient because of circumstance and personal choices."   

She glanced to Domitius, aware that his was the more experienced, as well as the more significant, opinion.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Mon 23 Nov 2020.

Dom placed his hand upon Alisa's and gave it a slight squeeze as a sign of approval.

"A new homeland for your clan amongst the Tors of the Levenies, that sounds ambitious but something House Solanus would be happy to be a part of my friend.  We intend to build on the shores of the lake and your masons will have plenty of work I am sure.  Of course we will need to make a thorough survey of those lands before we settle on a spot but I have a feeling the gods will provide.

Old friend, these terms are accepted on behalf of my family, we will have a contract written up and lodged with Bishop Adoven and the church of Abadar, would you wish a copy with Torag's church?