Now it was Storm's turn to be speachless.
It took him a full minute to respond to Grombrim's refusal.
"I don't understand? You call it a great honor, and yet you refuse? Why?" Asked Storm.
"My clan is too small, and we're too closely tied to you. The major clans will never accept that as a solution, and even if they did, my clan just isn't equipped to maintain and utilize this to it's best potential. " Explained Grombrim.
"I don't care about their opinions! I need someone I can trust! None of these clans helped us out before! Only you did!
How can I be certain they would use this discovery to aid our cause!?" Exclaimed Storm.
"That's why we must carefully negotiate our contract with them! The site is yours!
They will be leasing it from you and you have the power to set the terms of the arrangements!
If they double crossed us, you will have full power to evict them and find another tenant." Explained Grombrim.
"How do I know which is the right one?" Asked Storm.
"I will aid you in the negotiations and in pointing out the pro's and cons of each faction. " Explained Grombrim.
"I still don't like it!" Replied Storm.
"Trust me on this, Storm! You can't risk antagonizing the major clans!! They won't directly attack you, but they can cause no end of trouble for the cause! Trust me!" Pleaded Grombrim.
Storm sighed.
"Fine!! I will follow your lead on this!!" Exclaimed Storm. ..
Two Weeks Later
Storm was currently in his makeshift office located in the city that all the magical creatures had chosen to rename 'Sanctuary'.
Despite their best efforts, it had taken the Dwarven clans a lot less time to find out what they had discovered.
A week later, Dwarven envoys from every single Dwarven clans and organization on the continent was knocking at his door.
It started innocently enough, they would meet with him and attempt to flatter him, commenting on his 'prowess' in battle as well as his notable contribution to the well-being of all none humans.
It was this point in the negotiations that Storm found the most tedious. He didn't care for false praises from people that up until a week ago, wouldn't even have given him the time of day if his life depended on the information.
But at Grombrim's insistence, he tolerated the practice. He might have refused entirely if it weren't for the fact that each of these clans and organizations also brought elaborate welcoming gifts with them to open negotiations with.
At first Storm was reluctant to accept any of these gifts, fearing that it could be some elaborate trap.
But Grombrim assured him that it was Dwarven custom to do so, and that it didn't bind him in any way.
What Storm found highly amusing was the rivalry these clans showed towards each other. With every gift presented, the groups became increasingly more desperate in an attempt to 'out do' each other.
Some of these attempts failed spectacularly.
His favorite was from a small clan of smiths that tried to sell themselves off as more powerful and influential than they were.
To do this, they had commissioned and high grade suit of armor measured to fit him in his true frorm.
Or that was their intention, anyway.
But due to either bad information, or maybe sabotage from a rival. The measurements they had based the armor off of was much smaller than Storm's true scale.
Much to the chagrin of the envoy of the clan.
He apologized profoundly, before storming out, no doubt to claim the head of whomever was responsible for the misinformation.
Grombrim shook his head.
"His clan will be spending decades trying to wipe that stain off their honor! Apologies for having to witness such a disgrace, Storm. "
Storm chuckled and shook his head.
"It's all right, I'm not offended! I almost felt bad for the guy!"
"Don't be! You always verify your sources!
It's what sets aside the Masters from the Journeymen." Stated Grombrim.
Storm gave each applicant a moment to explain why they were best suited to run the Undercity in his stead.
Storm and Grombrim listened to each envoy, before Grombrim acknowledged them and promised to review their application, before sending them away and calling up the next one.
The visits had one unintended boon, other than the gifts. The vast amount of newcomers visiting the city had improved the endeavors of the shop owners and inn keepers and significant gold was collected through taxes.
Once all the applicants had been seen, Grombrim withdrew to review their offers and planned to present them to Storm by the end of next week.
Apart from this, nothing else of note had occurred.The attempts to convince the orcs and trolls to join them had failed AGAIN !!
Storm wanted to set off to these clans immediately, but Grombrim had warned Storm that he first needed to resolve his business with the dwarves first.
He warned that they may seem patient at the moment, but if he held them on the line for too long. Then they could potentially grow frustrated, and might even begin applying pressure on the cause in order to force Storm into making a decision.
And so, Storm was stuck playing diplomat, while his other plans slowly withered.
In order to take his mind from his 'dwarf' problem, he had all information on the negotiations between his people and the orcs brought to his office in the hopes of finding a way to end the stalemate.
It was in the middle of these deliberations that Leyocan decided to visit him.
He carried two cups of some kind of cold drink made by the Fay. Which knowing them, was probably filled with enough sugar or some other sweetener to cause the hearts of lesser beings to stop entirely.
"Seems like you need a drink?" Offered Leyocan.
Storm took the Offered glass and downed it in a single gulp before pulling a face.
"What is this stuff? Melted chocolate?" Asked Storm.
"Milk... with chocolate mixed in... Apparently it's a delicacy amoung Fay. It's not to your liking?" Asked Leyocan.
"Too sweet, like most things made by Fairies!" Answered Storm.
"Anything I can help with?" Asked Leyocan.
"Know how to deal with a stubborn minotaur?" Asked Storm.
"Minotaur? Thought you were dealing with orcs?"
"Their leader is a Minotaur, of all things, and a particularly stubborn one at that!! Goes by the name 'Torin Khan'?"
"You're kidding me!!?" Exclaimed Leyocan.