Goblin's Landing

“Come over here, you!” Stubby, weathered hands reached out for the red headed dwarf known as Ginger. Grimm grabbed him by the collar of his tunic and dragged him off another Sapper named Bits. This was not the first scuffle between the two in the few days Goblin’s Landing had been open.

“Wait ‘tirr next time we’splorin’, Ginge! I’rr push ye down thur next cavern we’rr crossed!” Bits shouted as another patron helped him to his feet, saliva and beer spewing from his mouth. Despite the patron’s best efforts, the drunken Bits stumbled once again, toppling over a table.

“Get that drowning Sap out of here!” Grimm shouted as he dragged his own inebriated dwarf to the bar. Bits was drug out as Ginger laid back against the foot of the bar, vomiting  a mix of mead, bile, and whatever the red dwarf had for lunch onto the tavern’s floor. “Aesalar help me!” Grimm shouted, but the god was sure to be silent now.

“Dotty, I told you to watch the pours of the fucking Saps!” Dotty was the new barmaid, hired at the request of her mother, a respected Shieldmaiden in her own right and longtime friend of Grimm’s. Dotty made no reply, stone silent as she grabbed the bucket and mop to pick up the mess. Some other Sappers that had been with the two drunks had begun to help by righting the table that now wobbled awkwardly in a dance of shame.

Grimm could only shake his head as he walked around the bar to grab some cloth towelettes and tossed them violently at the Sappers. "I don’t run a damned Sapper bar! Ginge, this is going on your tab.” He could hear the hidden Ginger gargle some reply from the other side of the bar.

Grimm was a retired Sapper himself. Sappers, formally known as Picks in the Stone Guard, were few but considered the elite troops of the Orcjaw Clan. They were often sent to clear caverns and dungeons before the rest of the Stone Guard made way to secure a new mining area. Each division of the Stone Guard, the Shield, the Hammer, the Axe, and the Pick, had their own roles roles, traditions, and even cultures. Many consider their membership in their respective division as a sense of pride and part of their identity. Some taverns were even division specific. Grimm did not care for all of the rah-rah pride and his taverns were always open to everyone, but his background naturally attracted Sappers. Unfortunately for him, Sappers also had the reputation for being the most destructive.