"Just follow ahead. It is just a few blocks from here." The man says before walking away.

The dwarf remains impassive at his place, looking at the arrivals. Behind him more dwarfs, equally armored, are stationed before what appears to be a newly excavated rock at the middle of the more normal constructions. At his chest, a stylized anvil in bright red, one of the symbols of Hephaestus, the city patron.

"Thanks," Welker said out of common courtesy. In truth he shared his orc kin's yearn for a drink as well, and also a not likely shared sense of wanting to get out of the sight of the staring dwarf. As he started to walk away he asked the man with two souls, "John, that name right? You recognize that symbol? It's not any mercenary badge I recognize,"

Ludwig/John

"I never seed one before." And after some silence. "But I remember dis symbol from the dwarf garrison. I bleeve dey are part of it."

John starts walking in the direction the man pointed. After walking a few blocks they arrive at a small square in the format of a circle. In one side of it, there is big building, a tavern with the name Keg 'n' Casket in a big board with some kegs piled over it. From it, sound of conversations and laughs are possible to be heard. At the other side, one small closed building with a small board where it is written Official Undermarch Tour Guide. And below in very small letters Ilda Armanak, open tours everyday at morning.

In the center of the small square, a statue of real size height, but not from a dwarf, a man in armor. The statue is hovering over its base.

"I guess dis is de place."

"Seems it is," Welker says standing outside the Keg 'n' Casket. For a moment he looks at the statue, wonders who it might be of, and what deeds got him that honor. Its one thing that runs deep within him, he had a need to recognize a warrior no matter the race. Grogash on the other hand does not comprehend the significance of the status and instead walks over curious what keeps the stone floating.

"Get back here. I wouldn't want you playing where a mage's trick could end," Welker look over after rubbing his hand against the side of his face that was missing a tusk. "Not that I'd hope for it too,"

Ludwig/John

The lower part of the base of the statue appears to be made from shining gray metal, incredibly polished. The base is anchored by some chains, made from a more normal metal.

"Lets enter. I am starvin and thirsty. I wuld eat a horse now." John says remembering Grogash's feast and passing through the pivoted door. The ambient was not exactly crowded, but full of activity. The light was low, impossible to see features very well. Some tables with dwarves, some with humans and halflings, a lone elf at a table chatting with a human, and something that looks like a giant black bacteria at one table.

John enters and sits at one of the few empty tables. The proprietor, a bulky dwarf with light gray skin, approaches.

"Excuse me, sir. I am Fargo Lorov, your host. How can I help you?"

"I want a room, strong ale, and a bath. Nothin' that will change me into that," Welker said not sure what the large bacteria was. It unnerved him a bit, would rather fight it than share a drinking room with it, but if it was one of the guests it wouldn't be a good idea to fight it without more reason than that.

"Same for the silent one with me, though let me know if he is starting to get out of hand. I have ways to deal with him," He said of Grogash who just seemed to be smelling the air. There was still some blood on the cloth beneath his armor.

"And John, I'm offering to buy the first round. Surviving the trip here is cause enough to celebrate,"

Ludwig/John

Fanks. Dat is kind of you. John says feeling unnerved too by the strange being. Hist first idea was to run like crazy, but seeing everyone calm stops him from acting that way. The proprietor looks at his guests and perceives the uneasy feeling.

Don't worry. He isn't able to hurt a fly. He thinks a little. Hehe! Maybe he is able to harm a fly. But you, you are safe enough. He is Ulrin, a cursed dwarf. Long story, but he passes his days sitting there trying to become inebriated. That is his only pleasure now, if you get my meaning.

Strong ale? Dwarfish or human ale? Farvo asks with a wide smile, removing a note from somewhere behind his multibraided red beard.

"Don't blame him. Terrible thing to happen of any man," Welker said sitting at the bar, and with his left hand maneuvering Grogash into a seat beside him. A fully functional orc, or even half breed would likely have wanted to fight the way he grabbed Grogash's arm, but it didn't even make a difference to him in his current state.

"Dwarfish," Welker said. He took another look Ulrin's way. "His story and the Undermarch don't cross ways?"

Location: Anvil, inside Keg 'n' Casket.
Date: Hekatombaion, 19
Time: 18:21

Dwarfish? Ok, so you need to fill this form here. He says presenting a form to Welker. You know just a formality, in case you die drinking it.

Human for me. John hurries to say.

Farvo looks at Ulrin. Sad story, isn't it? He cannot work anymore. Tsk! Tsk! Farvo makes a solemn face. You mean the recent troubles.? Not a chance. Ulrin, here, was my first customer when I opened this tavern more than one hundred years ago. He is bad for business now, but I cannot kick him out even so. I pity him.

John changes for his other self.

Eureka! I finished another important step of my masterful ritual. What is that monster? He says pointing the giant black bacteria. Hah, don't mind. I will review this subject's memories of the day for the answer.

Welker struggles through the form. It's not like he'll let a drink kill him or a piece of paper stop him as he writes in angular letters, the misspelled name of his home city. But he pauses as John takes over where Ludwig was, "You're not going to-?" He pauses thinking over the line about reading the thing's thoughts. "You can do that?" Welker feels the urge to cover his head with more the the greasy strings of hair sprouting from his head.

Ludwig/John

Of course I can read minds. Haplessly only from the body I am habiting. John answers while appearing focused at something not there. What? I met Rufus Lamar while not in control. Grrrr... I would hang myself now if didn't need this body now.

Finished your form, sir? You will like that ale a lot. It is rich in copper. Very tasty. Farvo asks Welker smilling.

Grrrr... Grrrr... Grrrr... John moves fussily in his chair almost ripping his hair from his scalp.

"Sure," Welker said handing over the completed form. He doesn't get John's frustration of not meeting the mage, as he vaguely remembers some of the mage's name from earlier, especially when he did meet him. Of course he still didn't know the nature of the man who is both John and Ludwig. In the background Grogash mimics cutting his own scalp from his own head. Welker shakes his head in a solid 'no' gesture to his brother orc.

Why would he want to lose all his hair right now? Even Welker could tell that wasn't the reason for the hair pulling.

"Hey, eastern! Bring another round of ale!" One dwarf yells from a table with 10 dwarfs. "And send one for Ulrin too."

Excuse me, I need to leave. Balba will finish your orders. Farvo says pointing to a halfling and then leaving to behind the bar counter.

At his secluded table, Ulrin is still unmovable with an appendix inside a mug of ale. He doesn't react to his name being spoken.

The lone elf says something to his companion, a warrior with hazel short hair. "... join the mercenaries of the Undermarch..." It can be momentarily listened when the dwarfs stop for a moment.

John is still struggling with his error. He still moves occasionally his hand over his scalp, but without much intention. His hair seems to be safe for now.

Balba returns with three mugs of ale, two normals for John and Grogash, and one dwarf ale with a rich foam that sparkles with a coppery tint.

Some gulps of ale seems to calm John.

Farvo distributes many mugs of ale for the dwarfs' table. He leaves one for Ulrin that immediately puts an apendix inside and, then, returns to the table.

"Now, What do you want to eat? We have mushrooms, boar and giant spider's legs."

"Spider legs for me," Welker said. He had had them only one other time in his life, but that was one of his mercenary friend's specialties. It didn't hurt bringing back the memories of his strange tastes. "Glad to see you've not lost it," Welker said to John as he calmed. Somehow his bouts of madness seemed to pan out in a way he couldn't understand, but neither would he try to.

Welker looked over his shoulder at the elf thinking of him catching interest in the Undermarch. One of the other patrons at the bar a black haired dwarf with bronze ornaments in his braids looked over at him and asked, "Have a thing for elves?"

This only drew a blank look from Welker.

Ludwig/John

I lost control and that is unexpected of me. But dear god, I was so close. John says appearing to be calm again. "It doesn't matter in the end, like the saying: It doesn't help to cry over spilled blood. I'll just to cling to the first plan."

"I want boar and mushrooms, kind host." He says to Farvo. "As you may have noticed, we are outsiders. And I am a man of faith. I came from far away to help this place. Could you tell us what you know about the Undermarch problems?"

Hey, I am terribly busy. And I don't know much anyway. But you should ask someone else. Farvo answers.

"Not my place to judge, but I don't understand all these halves. Half-elf, half-ogre, half-pixie gnome... Probably haven't heard the of the last one have you?" the dwarf continued. From the sound of his voice the mug in his hands wasn't his first, but his voice was still understandable.

"No, just his gossip and my job," Welker says after his confusion parts and he takes his first sip of the mug and considers taking his first steps towards the elf's table.

Some minutes passed and Farvo returned with their plates. Spider for Welker, boar and mushrooms for John, and more ale for Grogash. Apparently eaten the horse was enough for him.

Enjoy! If you need anything else ask for me or Balba. He starts to leave, but returns. By the way, if you are new at the city, you should take the tour tomorrow morning. Very instructive.

Thank you. We will certainly consider. John says and when Favor leaves, he turns to Welker conspiratorially. You and me wish the same purpose. Solve this matter as fast as we can. We should start searching for clues now, even before we are actually employed.

"Sounds good to me. Elf over there was saying somethin' about that," Welker said before crunching through the out part of the spider leg and washing the bite down with the Dwarven ale. He collected his drink, his meal and moved over to the elf's table. "You were talking about mercenaries in the Undermarch?"

As he finds a place to sit himself his eyes glance towards Grogash who is still at the bar enjoying his drink and meal.