The Secret Ingredient (Patreon)

"Humans make better half-inches than men"

Urtharg hated being disturbed. He hated company in general. He hated humans most of all.

But the dwarf held close to his chest the secret ingredient used in making the legendary alloy, orichalcum, and for another to learn it they would need to earn his favour to become his apprentice.

Nobody knew why he would only accept humans to be his understudies in this matter, but no apprentice would last longer than a week under his guidance, and all would vanish into obscurity shortly after.

Not that Urtharg seemed to care. After all, he hated being disturbed.