Work first, drink later.

[Erik Vrell]

Erik, Uther and Davras sat at a table, along with a group of other dwarves, drinking ale and eating an array of exotic meats hunted in the fields. “Let's hear it one more time for Erik!” Davras cried, which was followed by a cheer from the table. “Go on, lad.” Uther urged. “Show us the axes.” Erik obliged, and raised both the gifted dwarf axe and the stolen troll axe above his head, which elicited another round of cheers from the dwarves.The dwarves grew quiet again and Erik realised that he had been drinking and eating far longer than he had intended. “I'd better get going.” Erik said, standing up. “Are you sure you can't stay a little longer?” Davras asked, to which Erik replied with a simple nod. The dwarf shrugged. “Alright, if you insist. But come back and visit again soon, eh?” The psychic chuckled at the dwarf as he made his way to the exit. “Of course.” Erik made his way to the stable where he had left his horse. Thankfully, he hadn't drank too much and his prime regeneration working in tandem with his liver was already sobering him up.

 Erik entered the dwarven stables, ducking his head under the door and walking up to the counter. The same bored dwarf sat behind it with his feet on the counter, reading a book, before looking up at Erik. “Oh, hello. Em, blue cloak, sword, brown hair. Yours was the grey mare, right?” The psychic gave the dwarf a surprised nod. “You've got an impressive memory.” “Okri! Get the grey mare saddled up.” The dwarf shouted, before turning back to Erik. “You learn to put faces to mounts pretty quick, horse thievery is more common than you'd think. Your horse should be outside.” Erik thanked the dwarf and exited the dusty building to find Okri with his horse. “There she is.” The dwarf said as he handed Erik the reins. “You have a safe trip.”

Erik mounted his horse as he entered the tunnel to leave Dwarfholm, patting its mane as he coaxed it forward. “Sorry I had to leave you there, girl.” He whispered to his mount. “I couldn't exactly bring you to a mine, though.” The gates of Dwarfholm swung open and Erik exited the cavern. The frigid air chilled the psychic to his core, and as much as he loved the tundra, he was glad that he would be out of it soon. He turned his horse in the direction of the gate and urged it to move faster. As the horse broke into a gallop, Erik thought about his mount’s loyalty. It had carried his from the dunes to the fields without a complaint, and was about to carry him back. He had already gotten too attached to the horse to desummon it, so giving it a name was natural. “I will name you… Jorunn.” Erik decided, blessing his mount with the same name as his grandfather’s horse.

Erik guided Jorunn through the fields until he came to the gate leading to the Nexus. Before entering, Erik considered where he was going next. He berated himself for even having to ask. His next destination would be Nippur, of course. It had been too long since he had last been there, and it had probably deteriorated even further than its already poor state. The psychic urged his mount forward, determined to get there as quickly as possible.

Passing from the Frozen Fields into the Nexus.