NarniaMUCK - Monday, February 21, 2011, 5:48 PM
Carmichael Mine Entrance
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High above you, the snow-capped peak of Mount Car rises up against the sky,
its peak obscured by scattered clouds. Sadly, however, you cannot see it
from here, forested in at the mountain's foot. Trees grow in wild tangles
here, sheltered as they are from the harsher elements, but denied the amount
of sunlight necessary to grow tall and straight. The ground is covered with
rocks, leaves and bracken, but the path here is still distinct. It leads
directly into a vertical stretch of the mountain's base and disappears into a
cavernous opening there.
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You can go: Enter the Mine <SW>, To the Road <NE>
Contents:
A son of adam with vibrant green eyes (Loc)
You glance at Loc.
====> He is wearing A Pair of Boots.
Loc keeps to his area, monitored by one of the dwarfs. He is busy filling one of the carts with fire wood, while a large pile of freshly cut wood remains scattered about here and there.
Lidwyrt trudges out of the mine, blinking slightly at the change of lighting. Another dwarf is walking beside him, and Lidwyrt is in the process of talking the other's ears off. "...and don't be comin' back ta me with more excuses! That whole shaft shoulda been reinforced a week past. Now, git to it!"
The other dwarf nods, looking annoyed, and heads off to do what he was told. Lidwyrt grunts, and then notices Loc working. He walks over and begins conversing with Loc's superviser in quiet tones.
Loc continues filling the cart carefully. He stacks the wood neatly, carefully making sure the pile can withstand the rough journey down to the main mine. He pauses when the pile reaches the rim, breath puffing in the cold. He adjusts his cloak for warmth and runs the back of his hand across his forehead. He turns to his supervisor, waiting patiently.
Lidwyrt takes notice that Loc is waiting, and glares at him. "What're ye stoppin' fer?"
Loc gestures to the cart, "Wanted to know sir if I should start stacking out h're or fill 'nother cart for the mines."
Lidwyrt cuts off Loc's supervisor before he can respond, taking charge. "Fill another 'un. The woodpile's mighty low. Haseth'll take this cart inside," He said, while motioning for the other dwarf to do so.
Loc nods gravely, "Yessir." He goes over to an empty cart, wheeling it over. He begins the laborous task of stacking wood in the bottom.
Lidwyrt leans on the haft of his pick and watches Loc work, taking over the job of supervising him while Haseth is gone. "Mine ye stack'em even, lad. It'll be no good if the pile topples."
Loc nods, pausing to adjust a few pieces. "Yessir." He makes sure that as he stacks the larger pieces keep to the bottom while the thinner, smaller pieces are placed aside for the top of the pile.
Lidwyrt nods, "Aye, that's the way, more or less." He keeps his eyes on him carefully while he works, as if evaluating each move. "Spendin' yer day stacking wood... that must be pleasur'ble fer ye." He says with a sarcastic chuckle.
Loc continues working carefully, "It's a good change of pace from repairin' carts. First time I've been out in the woods of late--although I think with this kind of weather I prefer the indoor repairs to the snow." He chuckles, "But it could be worse."
Lidwyrt says, "Aye, that it could. Ye could be assigned ta shovel out the trash heap, fer instance." He chuckles. "But don't worry... ye won't git that job, unless ye do somethin' partic'ly uncalled fer..."
Loc shudders a bit at the mention of the trash heap. "Aye." He grins a bit, "Need a shower at the end a the day as is, but this cleans off. The trash heap leaves it's fragrance on ya fer days." He pauses, checking hs progress. He begins to look for medium sized pieces as he continues. "I remember I had that job fer the first few weeks."
Loc chortles, "Thought i'd never git a breath a fresh air again."
Lidwyrt exclaims, "Ha! That be the truth. Nasty job, it is. Good incentive fer ye ta behave well, aye?"
Loc nods eagerly, "Aye sir!" He becomes reflective. "Reminds ya that there are some not so nice places in the world and that's where ya end up when ya don't do what yer supposed ta."
Lidwyrt raises one eyebrow, giving him a look that seemed to be a warning. "Are ye metaphor'cly suggestin' that me mine is one o'them not so nice places?"
Loc shakes his head. "No sir. Just that a trash heap made me think a some of the bad places I been." He pauses, "I ain't gonna lie, bein' un'er ground made me a little uneasy when I first got 'ere. Reminded me a the cell I been in. But then I saw it weren't so bad. There ain't no bars and damp like there had been in a cell. And it was dry 'n safe. I saw di'n't 'ave to be afraid." He pauses, stretching a bit. "Dunno if I'd e'er make it as a miner, but a mine ain't such a bad place after all." He grins a little. "Might be better suited if the tunnels were a bit higher."
Lidwyrt harumphs, listening to his explanation in a wary manner. He nods. "I ne'er understood what humans have against bein' under the ground. Seems only natural ta me, just as natural as wantin' ta live under a roof while above ground. Not much difference, if ye ask me. Though I s'pose our tunnels are a bit small fer yer kind, eh?"
Loc nods, beginning his task. "Can't tell ya how many times I 'it my head the first few weeks. Tunnels ain't so bad--it's the supports that git ya e'ery time." He begins stacking thinner, longer pieces. "Bein' underground ain't so bad, ye just gotta git used to it. Once ye develop certain eyes and can go between 'bove and below, it becomes pretty easy. I never knew that it'd be warmer under the earth then above it in the winter."
Lidwyrt chuckles slightly at Loc's account of knocking his head. "Heh heh, can't say I've ever had that happen ta me. Aye, tis a good deal warmer, too! And cooler in the summer months. No matter how ye look at it, livin' under the earth is jes plain sens'ble."
Loc nods. "Didn't know things like that. That the earth could be different down below than from up 'ere. You'd think just the oppsoite, that it'd be colder because of the stone in winter and hotter in summer." He looks over at Lidwyrt. "Why's it different? I mean, what makes the rock different than the outside?"
Lidwyrt laughs aloud at Loc's display of ignorance. "Ha, leave it to a human ta ask such a question." He shakes his head. "I s'pose I can't 'spect ye to know what we dwarfs to instinctively, though." Despite his apparant amusement, he doesn't offer to share his wisdom right away.
Loc has paused his task to ask the question. He quickly remembers it, going back to stacking the wood. "There was a lot a trade in Chesterton, but nothin' like mines or farmin' 'n such. 'n the nobles never cared ta teach us about those things. It's interestin' tho. How different things can be from what you'd think."
Lidwyrt shrugs, "I s'pose... sometimes. Though other times they be jes what ye'd think they be. Take Lord Ast, fer instance. He ain't never surprised me once... and from the sound of what ye say, the nobles of yer hometown are just the same."
Loc snorts, his expresson becoming sour. "Nobles there were worse than 'ere if ye can believe it. They didn't seem ta 'ave any care a the common folk. Tyren--the one who married the girl from here, he ain't too bad. But that Paige." He spits. "She's somethin' else. And her daughter is just as high minded as 'er." He shakes his head. "They took the shop from ma when my dad passed. And ma weren't made for the hard work she had. Didn't care at all about her, just wanted their pay."
Lidwyrt tsks, shaking his head. "See what I mean? Jes terrible. I tell ye, humans be bad enough on their own... give'em power, and ye've got some major trouble on yer hands."
Loc gives a small nod, falling quiet. He stacks the wood, finally nearing the top of the second cart. "Sir--'ave you been 'ere all yer life or 'ave ye been ta Narnia?"
Lidwyrt frowns, contemplating a moment before answering. "I was there as a young lad. I were young, but remember it quite well. 'Course, that t'were back when all was ice and snow all year 'round. But as ye've already pointed out, that doesn't make much diff'rence when yer underground. Aye, I've fond memories o'that glorious country." His gaze grows distant as he recolects.
Loc pauses to look over, his eyes wide and curious. He opens his mouth and closes it, contemplating his question.
Lidwyrt notices Loc's contemplative look. "What, ye've got somethin' else ta ask?"
Loc licks his lips and speaks slowly, "I heard stories... about the ice and winter when I was little... The terrible long winter they called it--and it was said it was always winter and never Christmas--was it really like that?"
Lidwyrt nods slowly. "Aye, it were. Terrible times, they were, for all folk. Many people accused us dwarfs of..." he hesitates, "of makin' it easy fer ourselves there, but that ain't true. Least not all of us, anyways. A good many of us suffered just like e'eryone else. And some of us fled." He sighs, and motions toward the mine. "That's how we ended up here."
Loc looks fascinated. He gives a sympathetic nod. "I remember when they opened the pass again--and said the long winter came to an end--" He pauses, "And that they had new rulers put in by Aslan himself. There was a festival at least a week long..." He frowns thoughtfully. "Didn't sound like life was pleasant a fore that for anyone. Least not if you didn't... didn't... you know." He shifts uneasily. "Us childred used to wonder if the stories were true, or just told to scare us. Either way it kept us in line."
Lidwyrt's eyes fill with memory. "Aye, they be true." A moment of silence descends. Then his countenance hardens, and he nods toward the cart. "Ye finished with that one, er what?"
Loc looks at his cart and places a few more pieces. "Yessir."
Lidwyrt nods, perhaps approvingly. "Alright, ye ken stack the rest of these up here." He crosses his arms while he watches, and his gaze grows a bit vacant again. "Ye know... I haven't thought about the old times fer years."
Loc gives another nod, moving to the other wood. He finds a clear, dry spot and begins the stacking. He listens quietly, carefully moving his gaze between Lidwyrt and his chore. "What was Narnia like?"
Lidwyrt, "Cold, back then. But ye know, it weren't always like that, and it obviously ain't like that anymore. But one thing that were always the same, were the gems. Oh, let me tell ye... the earth sparkled with 'em. Here they be so hard ta find, but not there."
Loc stacks carefully, although he keeps turning his attention back to Lidwyrt. "Really?"
Lidwyrt grins; the sort of joyful grin he rarely shows. "Oh, aye! Me father an' me ancestors didn't hafta work near as hard fer a profit as we do here, fer sure. This Archenland ground is nearly barren; and this here mountain is the best this country's got ta offer, too!"
Loc gives a soft heh and grins, "If this rock is the best the country's got, then it is indeed barren." His eyes brighten a little as he countinues to work.
Lidwyrt nods. "Aye, aye. But still, Mount Car's been my home fer most o'me life, and we ain't emptied it out yet. I 'spect the old hill's got a few more streaks left in her... if we ken find'em amid all this blasted stone."
Loc hehs and nods. He frowns a little, "What happens when--er, if the mountain goes dry?"
Lidwyrt's brow rises a notch, as he considers it. "Well... a dwarf tries not ta think o'such things. But, once the mountain is empty, thar be nothin' ta do but move on. Don't know whether that'll happen in my time."
Loc ponders out loud, "Wonder what the Lord'll do then..."
Lidwyrt exclaims, "Ha! He'll run outta money, is what he'll do! He won't have us ta extract taxes from. Don't rightly know where he'll turn after that."
Loc nods gravely. He looks at the woods. "Maybe do something with lumber. Or rock." He looks thoughtful. "Would this rock be any good for making stuff with?--Like houses and the like."
Lidwyrt tilts his head curiously, staring at a boulder of granite poking up through the earth nearby. "Don't rightly know... I'm not very knowledge'ble when it come ta constructin' things. I s'pose he could quarry it, though, don't see why not. He'd need labor, though... and I promise ye this, it won't be me! If thar be one thing this dwarf'll ne'er do, it's resign himself ta movin' rock simply fer the sake of movin' rock. I only do it ta get the good stuff out!"
Loc gives a small nod, although his expression is thoughtful. "Aye... he'd need labor--good strong labor..." He pauses, "Lidwyrt--er, boss--sir--" He does't look quite sure how to address the lead dwarf. "What if the rock /was/ good for constructing stuff. Maybe ye could sell it to the Lord with the gems as well? Help increase the profit? Sure it might not be as much as Coghill, but anything is better than nothin' ain't it?"
Lidwyrt's brow furrows. "What? Sell'im the rock we be diggin' out?" He thinks it over a bit, and then shrugs. "I ne'er thought of it afore. I don't reckon it'd work, but if it did, that would be somethin'. I'll have ta mull that one over a bit more. Keep usin' yer mind, lad, that's good." He doesn't smile, but he gives a sharp nod. Just then, Haseth finally returns.
Loc gives a small nod. "Yessir." He continues stacking wood, expression thoughtful.
Lidwyrt turns to Haseth. "Took ye long enough! Watch the lad. I've got things ta do." Lidwyrt begins to leave, but stops to give Loc a parting nod and word. "Keep the work up. I'll be thinkin' yer idea through." Then he walks back to the mine.
