Aye? So, ye wanna know how I came to know me magic, eh? Aye, 'tis true, a magic-using Dwarf to be a mighty unusual sight. Right then, I'll tell you. Take a seat, for 'tis a long tale...

   Way back as far as I can remember, before I grew me first whiskers, I didn't live in Moorgate. I lived in the Darkspire Mountains, alongside every other self-respecting Dwarf. Me Mom was a miner, me Pop was a miner, me brother was a miner, and me sister was a miner. I was an apprentice miner. Every day I went with me brethren deep into the mines. Me Mom dug ore, me Pop dug ore, me brother dug ore ... and me and me sister rolled around in the ore.
Aye, back then apprenticeship was fun.
   There wasn't nobody down in those mines but us Dwarves, Bluestones through and through (that be me clan). Oh, aye, we'd seen humans. We made our gold from selling our works to the folk from the town of Slorgon. And we were happy Dwarves, one and all, until Grenark came to visit.
   Grenark looked the same as all humans. Big and weak. But Grenark wasn't the same. Every other human came and then left, just quick visits. But Grenark stayed.
   Now, there wasn't no law about humans not being allowed, but all the same he made us dwarves nervous. There was something about him... Something different... Aye, he tried to fit in with us, tried to make us stop acting nervous-like around him. He fit in like a winged Elf in a smithy! All us younguns were warned to keep away from him.
   'Bout two weeks after Grenark came, while me folks were off bashing goblins (Goblin raids had always happened, but they were getting real frequent-like now) I first met Grenark face to face. I'd been playing leap-stone and didn't hear him coming. When I saw him I tried to run, but he muttered something and all of a sudden I didn't want to run no more. Grenark looked me in the eye and said to himself 'It's him!' Me? Grenark then started talking to
me, I don't remember 'bout what, but it turned out that he wanted to give me something... a ring that he kept on a string 'round his neck. That was the last time anyone saw him in our mines.
   I remembered Grenark had told me to wear it on me finger when he'd gone, but instead I hung it on me neck, just like him.

   Two months later I was working in the mines (or playing, whatever ye want), when the cry came up from our scout. Goblins were in the mines! Me pop quickly shooed me and me sister up to our home. But I was a fool. I wanted to bash some Goblins too! I grabbed me hammer, and walked on up to the rest of the dwarves.
   Now, I'd never seen a goblin before, 'cept the dead ones, so when one jumped up right in front of me, I near fainted. I fell on to a pile of rocks and ripped me shirt clean in two.
   I picked up me hammer and was about to run up to me home, when I noticed the ring I'd worn had fallen. I didn't have time to worry about it then, so I picked it up and put it on me finger... And the whole world went black.



   A strange man was standing over me, clothed in green robes and a funny pointed hat. Who was he? Did I know him? Who was I??? The strange man shook his head and muttered 'Two whole months! It's about time!'
   I looked around me and found that I was in a round windowless room. The only door was bolted from this side. A squat table was along the side of the room, covered in scrolls and funny-looking potions. A wizard?
   'Come said the man, We have much to do... Son.' Son? was he me father? Why can't I remember? The man continued 'That was a nasty bump that ogre gave you, yer lucky you still remember yer name.' What was my name? The man looked at me strangely 'You to remember it don't you?'
   I couldn't remember a thing, and I told him so. "Well," said the man. My father. "Perhaps it will come back to you. You are my son, and my apprentice. You and your friends were off on a so-called adventure, when he whapped you on the head. The ogre was slain, and I healed you as best I could..." He shook his head. "well, I guess this means we'll have to teach you everything over again."
   And he did. Me father (Grenark was his name) taught me all the magic he knew. I was not the best student, but whenever I goofed, me pop would just sigh and mutter something about prophecies. Me memory never came back, but I soon became almost as skilled as me father himself. I once asked him why I never grew as tall as the other boys. He just sighed, shook his head and muttered "Time boy. Time will tell"

   Me life continued like this always learning, always practicing, 'till one day Grenark called me into his room. He was lying in his bed, looking pale as anything. "Son," he said, "Revoklaw. You must forgive me. Just remember, you are not yet strong enough. The book on the first shelf..." And then he simply disappeared.
   All at once my memory returned. I was a dwarf! I wasn't a sorcerer, I was a miner! Grenark wasn't me father. He was me kidnapper! I cursed him, over and over, as I searched his tower for his wretched body so I could rip it apart. But he was nowhere. Gradually I calmed down, and began packing.
   I had no clothes but me robes, not fit for a Dwarf, but I wore them anyway, as I began me hike to the Bluestones home. But when I arrived I found the whole place empty ... abandoned. In Slorgon nobody admitted to even hearing the name Bluestone! Was this some trick of Grenark?
   I stormed back to the tower (it must have taken me three hours flat for the twenty mile hike) and began tearing the place apart. It was then that I saw what I had missed before ... the book on the first shelf. Despite the temper I was in I took the book down and began reading. The entire thing was blank save the first few pages. The book told of a clan of Dwarves (Seastones. Could that be an old name for me clan?) who are pulled down from 'the
grasping fingers of the bottomless heights'. But the book told of one who could save the Seastones. A full dwarf yet with a human father. A dwarven Sorcerer. A dwarf named Revoklaw.
   All at once I didn't want to strangle Grenark anymore. Grenark's (me father, I realized in spirit if not in body) last words came back to me. 'You must forgive me. You are not yet strong enough.' Grenark had known all about this, and he knew what had to be done to save me clan. And, even though he had no personal concern for me clan he did it. He did it because it was right.
   A tear rolled down me cheek as I realized what Grenark had dune for me. His last warning sounded again in my head. 'You are not yet strong enough.' But I will become strong enough. I will return to and save me clan. But until I do I shall remain...
Apprentice Mage Revoklaw