To Hire a Sculptor

November 4th, 2022
I accompanied a small party in an attempt to find and hire one Master Garan, the greatest sculptor in Dwarvendom (per Brother Hammer). His workshop was located in a remote area far to the Northeast of Scardona, behind Duergar lines.
 
We followed the Sanguine River until we reached the region in the mountains where he was supposed to be located. Stories suggested that the entrance was in the top of a mountain utilizing a rope and pulley system to raise and lower people and supplies into the workshop.
We didn’t encounter any Duergar on our journey, surprisingly. Upon finding the proper mountaintop we learned that instead of ropes and pulleys that there were magical runs along the shaft that would raise or lower someone depending on which way they pushed off. They were ancient and extremely interesting. I made copy of those at the top in case I found anyone who might be interested in studying them.
 
Inside we did find Master Garan and seven of his craftsman working on several projects. After we convinced them that we were not the blood-thirsty invaders that the Duergar had told them about we were able to convince the whole group to accompany us back to Scardona where some of them had family. We would just have to somehow convince the commandant and his guards (including a stone giant) to let them go.
 
While we were making preparations a contingent of the guards came our way. Even though we had insisted that we were not blood-thirsty invaders the party made short work of the guards and took their equipment. Fortunately the artisan dwarfs had no great love for their Duergar taskmasters.
 
Deciding it would be best to leave before more guards came up we were discussing what to do with the bodies the dwarves came up with a brilliant idea. They carved a message in the wall for the commandant, saying that the guards had had enough of his “leadership” and that they were taking the artisans to set up their own workshop somewhere else. Of course, the words they used in dwarven were much cruder and I won’t record them here.
 
After burying the dead guards in the forest we were able to return to Scardona with the artisans and get them set up in town and started on the memorial requested by the Night Queen. Both the sculptors and bas-relief carvers will be find additions to the craftsmen in town. We were also able to supply three sets of half-plate, two crossbows, and two war hammers to the town garrison.
 
Unfinished business: The mines there seem to have a good quantity of good stone remaining. It would be good to return it to the control of the traditionalist dwarves in the future. From what they told us about the stone giant working there I’m guessing he’s not a volunteer. Perhaps we can find a way to free him in the future as well.