Burke’s Bulwarks

Kari looked down at the list for a moment before looking back up again.  They'd progressed down Horseshoe Road and past The Strip and it was the sound of the hammer down a small opening on the right side that let them know that they'd come up to one of their businesses.  Walking into the cul-de-sac the wooden sign hung from a thick beam extending out from the heavy ceiling, a grey brick castle wall and the name Burke's written beneath it.  Glancing back at the others he remarked, "I'll take this one."

Striding up to the smithy where suits of armour in various degrees hung from pegs and dummies Kari spoke up loud enough for the man hammering away to hear him, "Oi!  Where's Burke? I need ta talk to him..."

The stout man turned from where he was hammering and gave Kari an eye in sizing up the half-orc wearing bronze plate and having an axe at his waist.  It didn't take more than haf a blink of an eye before he was striding long and hard towards Kari and the hammer slammed into his heavily gloved hand, "I told the last one I'm not paying no protection money and I'd break the legs of the next one!"

Kari backed off a half step and while one hand went up the other rested on his axe head, "Whoa there.  I know I'm muscle, but only protection I'm representing right now is the Nightswatch..." the other man having gotten almost close enough to take a swing paused but looked like he was half a moment away from bringing the hammer into Kari, "...Pelor's day?  Gifts for little rugrats?  Sergeant Erkennis?  Any of it ringing any bells before you ring mine with that well used hammer?  Jorda back there has the writ that was given to us..."

Eye narrowing to look at him again before looking past him at the gaggle of individuals that appeared to be with him rather than just passing by.  Giving Kari the stink eye whether he was honest or not he harumphed and turned away but pointed to one of the men working the now half still bellows keeping the coals hot, "Dunno why they sent a halfbreed but git the metal in the bag on the table in there."  After the man came back out and handed a thick hemp bag to Burke he walked back to Kari and harumphed again, "Used scraps to make a bunch of head teaser puzzles," after which he handed the heavy bag to the half-orc.  Rapping his knuckles on Kari's bronze breastplate he added, "Good worksmanship.  If you need it fixed bring it here.  I won't overcharge you cause you're getting gifts for kids...much."

Without waiting for a reply Burke walked back to the forge and bellowed out at the man who had stopped pumping the bellows.  In short order the fire was white hot again and it was as if Kari had never been there.  With a shrug and shake of his head he turned around, "Guess we can scratch off Burke's Bulwarks from the list.  Least he didn't hit me with that hammer..."

River Quarter