Welcome to the order of the Griffon

Another apple landed on the soft ground of the Edermath Orchid shaken loose by a sudden gust of wind that blew over the entire field overlooking Phandelin. Daran bent over with a sigh and placed it in the basket slung over his shoulder as he walked past. " If this wind keeps up I am going to need a farmhand just to go around and pick up all the apples before I get a chance to pick them myself" Daran mused out loud. The sun was starting to set and Daran was still hours away from completing his pickings for the day. A long list of repairs and chores around town had stopped him from getting to the orchid on time today but the sky was clear and no Redbrands were threatening to burn down his homestead today so all was not terrible. Daran finished up the aisle he was working on and veered back to his wagon that was parked closer to his farmhouse when he spotted a small figure walking towards him, the sun at the figures back made it hard to see anything other than a stout looking black form trudging towards him. " Ya missed one!" The figure called out to Daran while raising a hand that held one of his prized apples.
The figure crunched down on the apple as he walked and stopped in front of Daran about 5 feet away brandishing the apple like a trophy of war. " You know I should be charging you for those Galdrus" Daran retorted. The stout Dwarf huffed and flashed Daran a grin between his devouring of the fruit. " Dem red cloaked bandits arne not be giving ya any more problems any more farmer. In fact I dunno think any of dem are left in town at all after me in my clan sent em running for da ills." Daran kept walking back towards his wagon forcing the Dwarf to turn with him to continue the conversation. " Ya did good Galdrus. In fact dare I say better than I would have been able to do even in my prime." Daran paused and reached into his pouch belted to his left side. " It was nuttin really" Galdrus chuffed " Besides dem Reddies were putting a cramp on Toblen's Inn and a dwarf needs is rest." Daran laughed and put his arm around the dwarf as they walked. " Still ; I want you to have something to show my regards." Daran handed over a piece of cloth that he had retrieved from his pouch and closed Galdrus's stubby fingers around it. " I want you to accept this. It would mean a lot to me if you did." Galdrus dropped the apple core to the ground and unfolded the grey cloth that was folded in his palm. Upon seeing it a confused expression spread over his face and he looked up at Daran. " Its a badge. More appropriately it is an insignia." Daran gently removed the silver pendant that he had placed in Galdru's hand and unfurled the chain it was adjoined to and lifted it up and over the Dwarves head so that it dangled down around his neck. Galdrus held it and looked at the pendant, depicting a blade held in place by a gauntlet. " What does this mean?" " It means my short friend , that you are now a member of my order, The Order of the Gauntlet. I am bestowing the rank of Chevall upon you. You are now part of an organization that exists in secret but all have a common goal of extinguishing evil doers and threats to the peace of this land. Plus I'm to busy picking apples to keep up with all that nonsense anymore." Daran laughed. Galdrus smiled and tucked the pendant beneath his armor so he could feel it touch the skin of his chest. "Come on inside friend and show me if their is any truth to the legend of a Dwarves appetite. I have a fresh baked pie ready to come out of the oven!" Daran and Galdrus walked side by side back to the farmhouse with the setting sun slowly descending behind them...