Role

Chapter 2

But so far nothing seems to be as simple as he planned. You can't attract
the woman you want unless you have a trade to pay for a home, to give you
coin to take care of a family. You can't make a name for yourself if you
can't manage to master anything beyond the most basic forgecraft. And so
far Drothgar has not succeeded. All of this is common grist for his mind's
mill and it races around as he works this fifteenth dagger. "Pay attention
ya damned fool, what're yer thinkin', not thinkin' 'bout what yer doin!" he
thinks to himself. Too late though, as the loud CRACK! can be heard across
the floor. A few eyes lift, a few knowing smirks, all almost more than
Drothgar can bear. Shame is a terrible thing.

Tossing this last icon of failure into the scraps bin Drothgar cleans his
tools and space and banks the hearth, calling it a day. Not bothering to
call out or tell anyone - they'll notice and if they don't, does it really
matter? - he packs up his few things, tucks his beard into his belt, and
heads home. The walk isn't far, and as usual he's deep in his own head
so he barely notices the world around him. "Yer home a bit early m'dear,
everythin' a'right?" asks his Mother, preparing an evening meal before
going to sleep so she can be up before dawn to get the castle's meals
ready. "Aye Mum, nothin ter worry yerself o'er," he responds, heading
directly to his two-room space in the home. Putting his things away and
changing into fresh clothes he returns to the kitchen and sits down, watching
his mother at work. Shortly thereafter his younger sister, Ergrenye, joins
them, sitting across from Drothgar in her usual spot, and amiably chats about
her day, her clothing and everything else of absolutely no concern to Drothgar.
Not long after that his father enters and the meal can begin. After a quick
prayer to Thror in thanks they begin in earnest, beards and moustaches flying
and collecting crumbs as copious amounts of food and drink are ingested.
"Ah ran inter Grogginnd on meh way 'ome, laddie, 'n 'e ain't 'appy wid yer.
What in da nine 'ells yer doin in dere all day? Ain't yer learnt notin' yet??"
"Dinna be s'ard on the lad, m'dear," said Mum, "ain't like yer learnt 'ow ter
fight in a day!" "Don't be tellin' meh ta hush up, m'love, ain't been but a
a day fer da laddie, been almost a year now 'n 'e aint gettin' any better."
With a quick icing look at his son, Father returns to his meal, grumbling
incomprehensibly under his breath. Wanting to quickly change the subject,
and with it the mood, Ergrenye pipes in, "Da, c'n I beh goin ter da castle
wid yer and watchin' when dem fire giants from the volcano 're comin'? I 'eard
they's sendin' some kinda party to talk 'bout some kinda treaty 'r sometin. I
ain't ne'er seen a fire giant! C'n I go, please???" "Absolutely not!" roars
Da. "Ain't no place fer a young lass like yerself! Get yer mind away frem such