In the quiet chambers of Norhall, Hadrian sat at a long wooden table, a map of Skagos unfurled before him. The flickering light of the hearth illuminated the rough parchment, casting shadows across the room. On the map, he had marked various locations with ink—villages, forests, mountainous regions, and the rocky shores that surrounded the island. But something gnawed at him, a feeling of unease that had been growing in the back of his mind ever since they had begun planning for Skagos's future. They were building ships, a fleet that would soon connect them to the rest of Westeros, but the question remained: what would Skagos trade?
Furs and timber would have been the traditional exports of Skagos, valuable enough in the cold North but of little interest to the more prosperous southern kingdoms. The North had plenty of those resources, and though they would always be in demand, they wouldn't be enough to truly elevate Skagos beyond its current standing. Hadrian knew they needed more. They needed something unique, something that could compete with the goods from the Free Cities, the Reach, and beyond.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the map, his thoughts racing. The shipyard was progressing well, and the first trading ships would be ready soon. But without something valuable to fill their holds, those ships would sail empty. He needed ideas.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Kreacher—still going by the name Regulus Black—appeared at the door with his usual quiet demeanor. Behind him were the other elves: Nobby, Elphie, Tilly, Mippy and the ever-loyal Riff and Toff. They had become an essential part of Hadrian's inner circle, helping him with everything from organizing the rebuilding efforts on Skagos to transcribing ancient tomes. Despite their small stature and unassuming appearances, they were perhaps his greatest asset. And it was time to fully recognize that.
Hadrian gestured for them to sit. "We need to think about what Skagos can trade. The ships will be ready soon, but we cannot rely on furs and timber alone. The South won't find them as valuable as we do here."
Nobby, always the most energetic of the group, piped up first. "Firewhisky! It's always been a favorite among the old masters." His wide eyes gleamed as if he'd just thought of the solution to all their problems.
Hadrian considered the suggestion for a moment, tapping his fingers on the table. Firewhisky. It was a potent drink, beloved by wizards and witches alike in the magical world. But in this world, where magic was much less understood and often feared, he wasn't sure it was the right choice.
"Firewhisky... while it's a good idea, it poses risks," Hadrian replied slowly. "Imagine a southerner—one who has never experienced magic—taking a swig and accidentally breathing fire. That would cause... complications, to say the least."
The elves nodded in understanding. Kreacher, standing in the corner with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "But what about regular whisky, Master Hadrian? Or even vodka? Alcohol is always in demand, especially in places where winters are long and hard."
Hadrian smiled. That was a more practical suggestion. He leaned back in his chair, considering the possibility. Whisky and vodka were timeless. He could easily see the northern houses—and even those in the South—taking an interest in a well-crafted spirit from Skagos. But there was more to think about.
"Yes," Hadrian mused. "We could distill whisky and vodka. Perhaps even create something unique, like butterbeer. But we would need to experiment first."
Another voice piped up from the table—this time Elphie. "What about glass, Master Hadrian? The glass we've seen in the South is mostly from Myr, and it's not very good. We could make something better."
Glass. That was an intriguing idea. Hadrian hadn't considered it before, but it made sense. The glass from Myr was indeed mediocre, and good glass was always in demand, especially for windows, mirrors, and finer crafts.
Hadrian nodded, his excitement growing. "That's a brilliant idea, Elphie. If we could craft glass here on Skagos, of better quality than what's available from Myr, it could be a valuable export. But we'd need to set up the infrastructure for that as well."
As the ideas continued to flow, Kreacher, ever the practical one, spoke again. "Master Hadrian, what about the island's natural resources? Have we considered them fully?"
Hadrian froze, staring at Kreacher. How could he have overlooked something so obvious? In all the time he had spent rebuilding Skagos, focusing on the people, the city, and the ships, he had neglected to fully explore the island's natural resources.
"Kreacher, you're right. We need to explore what Skagos has beneath the surface. There could be untapped resources—metals, minerals, even precious stones." He felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. How had he missed something so crucial?
"Before we commit to anything," Hadrian continued, "we need to fully assess the island's potential. It's time to conduct a full survey of the land. We'll need to find out what Skagos has to offer, and we'll also need to start experimenting with distilling alcohol and crafting glass."
He paused, his gaze falling on the elves. "But first, there's something else I need to do. You've all been invaluable to me, but we've reached a point where I need you to take on more responsibilities. That means becoming human, like Kreacher."
The elves exchanged surprised glances, but none of them protested. They had known this was coming—Hadrian had discussed the idea before, but now it was time to act.
Hadrian stood and retrieved his wand from a drawer in his desk. He turned to face the elves, who watched him with a mixture of anticipation and trust. One by one, he pointed his wand at them, muttering the incantation that would transform them into human form.
Nobby was the first to change. His small, spindly frame grew taller, his ears shrinking as his face softened into human features. His skin took on a healthier color, and when the transformation was complete, he looked much like a young man in his twenties, with sharp, intelligent eyes and a mop of dark hair.
Elphie was next, her transformation turning her into a slender woman with delicate features and a quiet grace about her. Riff and Toff followed, both becoming sturdy, middle-aged men with rough hands and weathered faces—men who looked as though they had spent their lives working with their hands.
Mippy was next, transforming into a tall, lean man with kind eyes and a quiet demeanor, his once-large ears now more human. Tilly followed, becoming a petite woman with sharp features and an air of cleverness, her quick movements hinting at her elfin past.
When the transformations were complete, Hadrian smiled. "Now," he said, "we can truly begin."
Over the following weeks, Hadrian, his now-human elves, and a team of Skagosi craftsmen began their work in earnest. The first task was to assess the island's natural resources. Hadrian dispatched teams of miners to survey the mountains and valleys of Skagos, searching for veins of iron, copper, silver, and any other minerals that could be of value.
At the same time, Nobby and Elphie were tasked with setting up distilleries for the production of whisky, vodka, and butterbeer. They experimented with different recipes, drawing on their knowledge of magical brewing as well as the traditional techniques they learned from books. The process was slow, but after several batches, they produced their first barrel of Skagosi whisky—a rich, smoky spirit with a hint of the cold northern air.
Meanwhile, Riff and Toff began experimenting with glassmaking. They set up a glassworks in one of the old abandoned forges near Norhall, gathering the materials they needed from the local sand and minerals. It took time to perfect the process, but eventually, they crafted glass of such clarity and strength that even Hadrian was impressed. It was far superior to anything they had seen from Myr, and they knew it would fetch a high price in Westeros.