E-on
The first thing E-On remembers is sitting up on a cold stone table with somewhat of an empty feeling inside their head. They look around to see an empty room, the warm embers of a cooling forge lighting the walls with an amber tone. In the other end of the room two workbenches lay almost overflowing with tools, weapons, and various slabs of metal. After taking in their surroundings E-On steps down to the floor, as a *metallic grinding and *snap can be heard echo through the room. E-On feels almost weightless until their body slams against the floor. They glance toward their legs and see bent and torn metal where seemingly sturdy legs used to be. E-On realizing his situation takes a few minutes to straighten themselves back up against the stone table. As his head *clinks against the stone, brisk footsteps can be heard dashing into the doorway opposite of the forge. E-On turns to see a short red-haired young woman standing in the doorway. She leans up against the doorjamb and speaks softly "Up again are we number 81?". She continues "Let's get you back up on the table and I'll see if I can give you something temporary for now." Using a winch and various chains mounted above the table, the short woman gets the large metallic humanoid back onto the table. "Back to sleep number 81, I'll wake you when you are ready." The woman runs her hand across the back of E-On neck as their senses drift into the void.
E-On wakes once more to the sounds of a roaring forge, interrupted only by the *clang of a hammer striking warm metal. The flames of the forge illuminating the room like a setting sun, E-On sees this dwarf woman standing on a stool at the anvil near the forge. "Ah good timing, I'm just finishing your cloak pin!" E-On hears over the clashes of metal. The woman walks over to the table and grabs a red sash from underneath. As E-On sits up once more she places the pin and cloak on his shoulder, "You're all set now number 81!" she exclaims. "Try the new struts out huh?" she says in soft tone. E-On swings their newly polished legs to the floor and begins to stand. As they stand one of their knees buckles under the weight of their metallic body. E-On catches themselves on the table and becomes steady once more. "You'll have to get used to them and suit them up to better fit you. I'll teach you how, don't worry" the dwarf mutters quickly.
"E-On can you help me with this shield for the captain? I'm having trouble with the detailing. The shakes are getting to me again…" the red-haired dwarf pleads. E-On replies "Sure, go rest. I'll worry about the orders for the rest of the day too. It's only a few pieces of studded leather and this shield." They walk over to the dwarf and lift the heavy shield from the dwarf's hands. "Thank you E-On, I'm sorry I can't help more. I feel like I'm losing my touch with every lighting of the forge." The woman sits down on a stool near the forge's maw and wipes her head with shaky hands. E-On looks down to her as their hammer raises into the air, "Please go back to bed Dash. You look exhausted." The woman nods in approval "If you must insist." as she glances down at E-On's legs. Sturdy, covered in soot, and armored like a knight, a feeling of pride washes over her. She mutters to herself "oh how far you have come 81", the saying masked by the loud *ting of a metal chisel and hammer against a plate on the shield. The dwarf stands slowly and walks shakily out of the workshop.
As the forges light slowly fades E-On uses a small trowel to fill a metal cylinder with ash. Once full, they place a metal lid on top and twist it shut. Bowing their head, E-On swings the red cloak around their shoulder. They rip a small piece from the end and tie it around the cylinder holding the lid down. E-On peers into the dying forge as the last embers fade to black. After a moment of reflection, they place the cylinder in their backpack and slowly stand to walk out of the workshop. Stopping in the doorjamb, E-On notices a small hammer on the workbench. Worn with years of use, black soot prints resemble the shape of a dwarf's hand. E-On reaches for the small hammer on the workbench, placing it in their toolbelt. E-On then walks out of the doorjamb… lifting their head high, they continue forward ready to forge a new path.
