In the dark and foreboding depths of the Darklands, nestled amidst the smoldering forges and echoing tunnels, resided Nebuchadnezzar Scrooge. He was a wretched and miserly Chaos Dwarf, known far and wide for his heart as cold as the iron he mined.
Hashutmas, a somber and twisted celebration, was afoot in the underbelly of the Darklands. This was a time when Zhanta, a fearsome figure, roamed the tunnels, leaving coal for the blazing furnaces. Those deemed unworthy, if caught in misdeeds, faced the fiery punishment themselves, thrown into the very furnaces they tended.
Nebuchadnezzar Scrooge, adorned in tattered robes and clutching a glowing ember as a miserly beacon of his wealth, hunched over his ledgers in his dimly lit forge. His existence revolved around squeezing every last shard of labour from the toil of goblin and hobgoblin slaves, his heart devoid of compassion or cheer.
Tiny Tom, the mouthy hobgoblin, shuffled around Nebacanezzar’s forge. Though small in stature, his voice boomed louder than the crashing of anvils. He carried tales of woe and rambled of the Hashutmas spirit, much to the chagrin of Scrooge.
On the eve of Hashutmas, as the Darklands trembled with the ominous sounds of celebrations and echoing chants, Nebuchadnezzar Scrooge retired to his chambers, dismissing the concept of Zhanta and the festive spirit as mere folly for the weak-minded.
But as the forge fires dwindled, a haunting visage appeared before Scrooge—Hashutmas apparitions of past, present, and future, all clad in dark shrouds and adorned with fiery eyes. The Ghosts of Zhanta’s Hashutmas dragged Scrooge on a twisted journey.
First, the Ghost of Hashutmas Past, a spectral goblin, revealed the scenes of Scrooge’s youth. It showed him a time when the curse of stone had not yet found purchase upon his flesh, when screams and sobs filled the tunnels. Efficiency was up 20%. But Scrooge’s relentless pursuit of wealth and power snuffed out these joyful embers.
The Ghost of Hashutmas Present, a looming deformed Ogre, brought Scrooge to witness the current Darklands festivities. He saw the laborers toiling under the weight of Scrooge’s greed, their suffering and hardships, and yet their resilience and unity in the face of adversity. Perhaps a revolt was brewing. Work slowed and mishaps were common. His forges and mines lagged.
Finally, the Ghost of Hashutmas Future, a towering chaos dwarf veiled in shadows, unveiled a chilling prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar Scrooge’s impending fate. He saw the darkened path his cruelty and avarice paved—a seat at the top of Mingol Zharr Naggrund beckoned him. Between two petrified sorcerers, a plinth with his name already engraved.
As the visions waned, Nebuchadnezzar Scrooge awoke in a cold sweat, a flickering light illuminating the darkened chambers. The embers of Hashutmas spirit kindled within him. Rushing to the forge, he cast final transmutation at some nearby laborers, spreading fear and oppression amidst the tunnels.
On Hashutmas morning, Nebuchadnezzar Scrooge emerged, no longer a figure of weakness and apathy, but as a benefactor of greed and ambition. He lavished whips upon the laborers, stoking his hold to greatness on the backs of the oppressed.
Tiny Tom, the mouthy hobgoblin, gleefully danced around, heralding the transformation of Scrooge to the tunnels’ Hashutmas hero. And in the flickering light of the furnace fires, Nebuchadnezzar Scrooge found not only redemption but the true spirit of Hashutmas—power, ambition, and the warmth of the screams of the dying in the darkest of places.