It is the first of Flamerule (July) and it is a beautiful, warm day without a cloud in the sky. You hear a trumpet blare from one of the guard towers. Fearing an imminent attack you rush out into the courtyard where you see the new captain-of-the-guard, Dominic, talking to one of his guards in the tower.
Dominic turns to you, “Looks like we have a visitor approaching.” The guard shouts down, “Dwarf, looks friendly. And tired.”
Dominic meets the dwarf at the front gate and after a few words, opens the portcullis himself and lets him in. The dwarf hands him his battleaxe for safe keeping.
“Whew!” says the out of breath dwarf, “The further south I come the hotter it gets, how do you people stand it? Otihand Battlebeard’s the name, and as you can guess I am from the Great Glacier (artic dwarf) and I’ve been sent as an emissary to learn of the southerners ways.” He stops and mops the sweat off his brow, “Moradin’s beard it is hot! Anyways, I be wondering if I might sign on for a spell and work with ye fine people. Eh? What do you say?”