It's all about the sausage
"You won't get a sausage like this anywhere else in Dragsmund," Grom said as he stepped into the little shop. Smoke from a grill drifted up through a hole in the roof as a broad-chested dwarf fanned a tray of coals back to life. "Morning, Walt"
"Ah, Grom," Walt said putting down the fan and reaching across the counter to shake Grom's hand. "It's been a while. Can't blame you after what happened. You brought another one back with you?"
"Oh, yeah." Grom gives you a sideways glance before shaking his head. "People want to visit the golden temple and someone's got to guide them."
"So what will it be?" Walt gestured to the grill. "I've got sausage or sausage. All made to a secret dwarven recipe."
"Two sausages please, Walt." Grom handed two pennies over but Walt refused to take them.
"You're my best customer, Grom. These are on the house."
"Thank you, Walt." Grom beamed as Walt stuck a stick into a sausage and handed it to him. Grom took it but passed it to you. "Tuck into that and tell me what you think. You won't find anything juicer this side of the Intraana."
You hold the stick and stare at the grey sausage aware that Walt and Grom are both watching you closely. It has a strange smell that you're struggling to identify and you give the kitchen a quick look hoping to spot a pot of spices but there's nothing to give you a clue. Fat runs down the stick and you hold it at an angle so as not to get any on your fingers.
"Eat up before it gets cold." Grom takes a bite of his own sausage and hot fat runs into his beard.
Throwing caution to the wind you take a tentative bite, surprised to find that it tastes like a normal sausage. Walts smiles and Grom raises his sausageless stick in salutation. You take another bite and something pops between your teeth flooding your mouth with a rancid taste that has you wanting to spit it all out but both Walt and Grom are watching you closely.
Spit the sausage out.
Lie and say the sausage tastes great.
Spit the sausage out.
Unable to stand the taste you spit the half-chewed sausage out and try not to wretch on the floor.
"What's wrong with you?" Walt shouts as he peers over the counter at his floor.
Grom glances from you to Walt unsure who to apologise to. "Walt, I don't think they like your sausage."
"I can see that," Walt says sadly. "Humans can't handle the dwarven spice. Shame though since that was a new recipe. I guess that's what happens when I try and change things up. Here, drink this." Walt fills up a mug from a pitcher and hands it to you.
"I liked it," Grom says as he watches you swish the water around your mouth before spitting it out of the door. "But then I like all sausages."
"I need fresher ingredients." Walt reaches under the counter and brings up a bucket with a dirty rag covering the top. He lifts the corner and wrinkles his nose at the smell. "Time to get some new meat."
Grom raises a bushy eyebrow at the bucket and then nods for you to leave. "Until next time, Walt."
"Take these with you." Walt raps up a bundle of sausages in a cloth and passes them to Grom. "I won't be able to sell them to the humans."
"Thanks, Walt," Grom says cheerfully as he leaves the shop. "We won't get hungry with this lot."
Your stomach bubbles as you follow Grom on his culinary tour, hoping that the next stop is better than the last.
Rat Food
You swallow and try not to grimace as it slides down your throat.
"There, they like it," Grom says with a clap. "What did I say about Walt having the best sausages? You won't taste anything like that in all of Dragsmund."
"You're too kind." Walt beams as you nod along with Grom. "Tell you what, since you're my favourite customers why don't you come along to a wedding I'm going to? I need help carrying the food if you don't mind."
"A human wedding?" Grom asked sceptically.
"Dromae no. A dwarven one. All the food and ale you want. You'll be my honoured guests."
"I never say no to a good wedding," Grom says and slaps you on the shoulder. A foul taste floods your mouth but you swallow it back down. "What other tour would treat you so well? It's rare for a human to be invited to a dwarven wedding. You'll love this, promise."
Go to the wedding
Parent Plot
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