Precedent picture and first picture of the "Egg of Gornhoth" storyarc: The Tavern Fight (https://www.renderosity.com/rr/mod/gallery/the-tavern-fight/2801423/) Next picture: The Contest (https://www.renderosity.com/rr/mod/gallery/the-contest/2805573/) Original picture: The New Companion (https://www.renderosity.com/rr/mod/gallery/the-new-companion/2803811/) First picture of the second storyarc: Chaos and Death (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/chaos-and-death/2889324/?p&ca) Version française en dessous. ________________________________________________ Romatzo the Mountain Dwarf was in his bed in the room he was renting in the tavern of "The Resting Bear" in the royal city of Clairmidi in the west of the continent of Tyrnaelva. He was thinking of the fight he had witnessed few hours ago, in that same tavern, involving three young women, two Humans and a Wood Elf, against three men. The fight began after one of the men had grope the breast of one of the Human woman, the tall one with red hair, probably originated, from her appearence, from the continent of Hvittland like himself. Romatzo didn't intervene, even if only two of the women were fighting, because they didn't seem to need help. The other girl, who looked like a magician, was too scared to join in. It has been a fun fight to watch and the Hvittlander woman seemed to have a lot fun with it too. He acted only when one of the men, who had fell next to him, pulled a knife. Romatzo then grabbed his forearm, blocking him. The man refused to drop the knife, so Romatzo squeezed more of his powerful hand. The bones of the man's forearm started to make cracking noise and before they broke, he finally dropped his weapon. Romatzo pushed it away, then he throw back the guy in the melee. Nobody saw his intervention, except the Elf girl who gave him a quick thankful nod and smile. The fight ended when the tall redhead threw outside, from the door of the tavern, the barely conscient three guys. She was laughing, despite her nose bleeding and a big black eye. The Elf though, seemed to have enjoyed far less the fight. She was frowning and she was rubbing her face and other parts of her body that was dolorous. But the Magician, who regained some dignity, came right to her and started to heal her without asking. It was late and the battle being over, Romatzo left the main room of the tavern to go in the chamber he rented. But there he couldn't stop thinking to that group of women. Several years have passed since the last time he had companions on his side and the solitude was starting to be a heavy burden. Since he left his mountains in the north-est of Hvittland, 10 years ago, he had teamed up several time with diverse adventurers and mercenaries, but it never lasted long. Either they separated when their contract was over, or they weren't skilled or lucky enough and got killed or severly injured or they revealed to be more nefarious than noble. His last companionship having unfortunately ended with the blood of his ex-teammates on his axe. He though at it a good part of the night until he fell asleep. The night hadn't been unfruitful and at his wake up his decision was taken. He'll join their group if they were willing to accept him. But because he fell asleep late, he overslept and he learned that the girls had already left when he finally went downstair. He came back to his room in a hurry, took his stuffs and rushed in the direction the girls took, according to the inn keeper. Fortunately, it didn't take long for him to catch up with them. Hailing them, they turned in his direction, wondering what this dwarf wanted to them. He first bow before them and presented himself, saying: " I am presenting myself. I am Romatzo, son of Musin, from the Varolk clan from the Herrshilta Mountains and I would have a request to presente to you." At first Marina and Delphine wasn't sure to want him in the group, but Minalva took his side and told them what he did when the man pulled a knife the day before. Impressed by his gesture, but still not quite convinced, they looked at him more carefully and the sincere and friendly smile he gave them in return convinced them to give him a try. And if things was not working, they could always separate from him. --------------------------------------- Romatzo, le Nain des Montagnes était dans son lit dans la chambre qu'il louait à l'auberge de "L'ours au repos" dans la cité royale de Clairmidi à l'ouest du continent de Tyrnaelva. Il pensait à la bagarre dont il avait été témoins quelques heures auparavant, dans cette même auberge, impliquant trois femmes, deux Humaines et une Elfe des Bois, contre trois hommes. Le combat commança lorsqu'un des hommes agrippa la poitrine de l'une des Humaines, la grande avec des cheveux roux, probablement originaire, d'après son apparence, du continent de Hvittland comme lui-même. Romatzo n'intervint pas, même si seulement deux des femmes se battaient, car elles ne semblaient pas avoir besoin d'aide. L'autre fille, qui paraissait être une magicienne, était trop effrayée pour joindre le combat. Ce fut une bagarre amusante à regarder et la Hvittlandaise semblait y prendre beaucoup de plaisir. Romatzo n'intervint que lorsqu'un des hommes, qui était tombé près de lui, sortit un couteau. Romatzo lui agrippa l'avant-bras, le bloquant. L'homme refusa de lâcher le couteau. Alors Romatzo serra plus fort de sa puissante main. Les os de l'avant-bras de l'homme commencèrent à craquer et, avant qu'ils ne se brisent, il lâcha finallement son arme. Romatzo le poussa de côté et renvoya l'homme dans la mélée. Personne ne vit son intervention, à part l'Elfe qui lui fit un rapide sourire et mouvement de tête en remerciement. Le combat fini quand la grande rousse flanqua dehors, par la porte de la taverne, les trois hommes à peine conscients. Elle riait, malgrè son nez en sang et un gros œil au beurre noir. L'Elfe, par contre, semblait avoir appréciée beaucoup moins le combat. Elle était renfrognée et elle se frottait le visage et d'autres parties du corps qui étaient douloureuses. Mais la Magicienne, qui avait recomposé de sa dignité, vint à elle et commença à la soigner sans rien lui demander. Il était tard et le combat étant fini, Romatzo quitta la salle principale de l'auberge pour se rendre dans la chambre qu'il louait. Mais là il ne pouvait arrêter de penser à ce groupe de femmes. Plusieurs années avaient passées depuis la dernière fois qu'il avait eu des compagnons à son côté et la solitude commençait à devenir un lourd fardeau. Depuis qu'il avait quitté ses montagnes au Nord-Est du Hvittland, 10 ans auparavant, il avait fait équipe avec divers aventuriers et mercenaires plusieurs fois, mais cela n'avait jamais durée longtemps. Se séparant des ses compagnons à la fin de leur contrat, ou alors par manque de talents ou de chance ceux-ci furent tués ou gravement blessé, ou encore ils se révélèrent plus vils que noble. Sa dernière assciation ayant malheuseument due se finir avec le sang de ses ex-compagnons sur sa hache. Il y pensa une bonne partie de la nuit jusqu'à ce qu'il s'endorme. La nuit ne fut pas unfructueuse et à son réveil il avait pris sa décision. Il rejoindrait leur group si elles voulaient bien de lui. Mais parce qu'il s'était endormi tard il avait trop dormi et il apprit que les filles étaient déjà partie quand il déscendit au rez-de-chaussé. Il retourna précipitamment dans sa chambre, prit ses affaires et il courrut dans la direction qu'elles avaient prises selon le aubergiste. Heureusement, il ne lui fallut pas longtemps pour les rattraper. Les hélant, elles se tournèrent dans sa direction, se demandant ce que ce nain pouvait leur vouloir. Il commença par une courte révérence puis se présenta, disant: " Je me présente. Je suis Romatzo, fils de Musin, du clan des Varolk des montagnes de Herrshilta et j'aurais une requête à vous faire." Au début Marina et Delphine n'étaient pas sûres de vouloir l'inclure dans le groupe, mais Minalva prit son parti et leur dit ce qu'il avait fait lorsque l'homme avait tirer un couteau le jour précédant. Impressionées par son geste, mais toujours pas complètement convaincues, elles regardèrent le nain plus attentivement et le sincère et amical sourire qu'il leur donna en retour les convainquit de lui laisser sa chance. Et puis si les choses ne marchaient pas, elles pourraient toujours se séparer d'avec lui. ________________________________________________ Here is the remake version of when Romatzo joined the group. It was one of my first picture with them all and I have learned a lot since. I think it looks a lot better, although, Marina's face looks a little weird. It is because of the focal I used who distorded her face a little. :( I also took the occasion to rewrite the story, or should I say to write a story, because there was barely one with the original picture. In the original text I have written, "At first Marina, Delphine and Minalva wasn't sure to want him with them.", but actually I have always thought that Minalva was the less refractory on the idea of him joining the group. If you did not know it, Romatzo was not supposed to join the group when he appeared for the first time in "The Tavern Fight" picture. He was just here to "fill" the scene and didn't even have a name. But I enjoyed this character and then he explicitly demanded to me to join the story and the adventures of the girls. :D About Romatzo, canonically he is 33 years old here. But I wonder more and more if he shouldn't be at least 10 years older. I want him to not be much older than the girls, but on other hand it would make more sense on some elements if he was older. The first one being that Dwarves in my univers are living between 350 and 400 years, thus they probably should maturing and being considerate adult later than humans. What do you think ?