just another one of these video compilations and short stories / captains logs. enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4-hIPiJgls======
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Gebdoren, 'Dentdiamonds'
settled 15th Granite, 118
by Adil Craftzeal and six loyal friends.
Adil had intercepted a report from the queen's prospector, detailing unusually large deposits of rare gemstones in this region.
Adil wished to craft a masterwork, and really liked star ruby. The prospectors samples included multiple examples of this rarest of gemstones.
Adil could not resist temptation and set out to mine this ground for her own wealth and riches.
The illegal mining operation was codenamed 'Dentdiamonds' and the final site was chosen where the temperate broadleaf forests met a elevated red sand desert.
The seven dwarves arrived with minimal supplies but everyone brought a pick or an axe, and work began swiftly…
A fat-bellied giant Copperhead snake was spotted swerving through the forest.
A series of circular hallways and interior rooms were dug from the sandy hillside. Spare logs, food barrels, and tools were moved inside. Workshops were constructed, and farms were planted too.
A staircase was dug down into the layers of sandstone, but the dwarves were slow to block the water and the shaft was inevitably filled with groundwater.
It was then mid-Spring.
A pair of giant desert scorpions were spotted roaming the western dunes, just past the slow moving stream. They seemed uninterested in the dwarves.
A carpenter's shop was established near the farms, and Asmel began producing all kinds of wooden tools and furniture. A series of birch wood chairs were made for the yet-to-be-constructed tavern.
Summer arrived and the dwarves planted pig tails.
The two yaks, who had pulled the wagon all this distance, were pastured in the southern forest at the edge of the treeline.
By mid-Summer, Adil had become a novice mechanic. Migrants then arrived.
A furnace operator, a fisherdwarf, a bone carver and their pet chick, and finally a stray goat kid.
The rooms were expanded, another layer outwards from the first.
And as Autumn arrived, a second staircase was attempted further to the west of the first.
A trade caravan from the mountainhome arrived. No one was supposed to know Adil's work party was here, but she had arranged for a side trip from one of the other caravans passing through. Metal bars and leather were requested.
A pair of giant wren were spotted flying high above the desert.
The second staircase attempt failed when the dwarves became sidetracked with chores such as hauling wood and digging other rooms.
No matter, there was plenty of time and space for further attempts.
The diamonds weren't going anywhere.
In late Autumn another set of migrants arrived, mostly peasants but also a strand extractor and a competent jeweler, Fikod 'Vaultwilts,' who would no doubt prove useful.
A loom and a tailor's shop were established around that time.
A simple tavern, floored with willow board and furnitured with chert and birch, was finished, and named 'The Bronze Pumpkin.'
In early Winter, the food stockpile was moved further into the hillside. The farms were expanded and split, one side would produce pig tails for cloth, and the other plump helmets for brew.
A strange creature was seen wandering through the trees: a walking barrel! They seemed rather comfortable out there in the wilderness and did not seem to notice the dwarves.
In fact, they were perfectly comfortable walking in and out of the hallways and rooms of Dentdiamonds. Their awkward heavy gait made for something of an annoyance for the busy dwarves.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Day 2
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
The barrel creatures have taken to hiding in our food stockpile. It is impossible to tell them apart from the real thing, that is, a barrel…
It is unclear why they do this. They seem attracted to the scent of alcohol.
In early Spring of 119, the third attempt at piercing the aquifer proved successful. The dwarves began the gigantic task of tracking down all those diamonds.
In mid-Spring, the first cavern layer was discovered. And yet, no diamonds, and no unusual geodes.
A temple was created, dedicated to Äs, god of wealth.
Later on that Spring, the second and third caverns were discovered. The second layer was impressive, full of marble stalactites interlaced with streaks of cobaltite.
A flock of wild cave chickens was seen in the first cavern layer.
Finally, on the 16th of Felsite of that same year, the great magma sea was discovered at the bottom of the staircase.
Multiple geodes or mineral spires had been discovered on the journey to the bottom of the earth's crust, full of diamonds and adamantine.
A short exploratory staircase was dug into the eastern spire, and low and behold the first wall of obsidian revealed a treasure of the gods! What luck!
A translucent metal blowgun, how odd.. it was unclear if this divine creation had a purpose.
Two mercenaries petitioned to become permanent residents of Dentdiamonds. A welcome sight as crundle incursions had become a problem.
Onol Boredbolt was dutifully mining away in the lower passageways, following a designated passageway off to the side of the main staircase.
She lazily dug a few walls of diorite, moved the boulders out of the way, and continued onward like this for hours at a time.
So when one of those diorite walls revealed a quadrapedal web-slinging demon, Onol failed to notice, and merely continued her digging.
She was killed instantly when the demon 'Phantomglow' kicked her skull to pieces.
The others heard her final yelp, knew something was wrong.. and rushed to build and seal the passageway above.
Libash almost escaped the staircase when 'Phantomglow' clawed her back to the ground. However, the doors had been built and locked, and the terrible 'Phantomglow' was sealed in.
And so, having lost access to the past few seasons efforts, that is a staircase through to the caverns, magma sea, and diamond spires (which were the entire point of this expedition, mind you), Adil Craftzeal and the dwarves of Dentdiamonds were back at square one.
The dwarves spent most of early summer socializing in the tavern, horrified at those terrible events.
The resident barrel-woman was seen throwing beer around the tavern. The dwarves seemed to enjoy this game..
The cage traps near the desert stream bridge have caught three creatures so far: a crundle, a cave chicken, and a cauldron woman (another mysterious creature!).
In early Autumn, the fortress food stocks began to run low. Again, the dwarves were indifferent to work, preferring to sing and dance in the tavern, ignoring direct orders from Adil to collect plants in the forest.
Finally, as dwarves began to starve, they seemed to awaken from their trance and hurriedly ran out into the forest to collect tubers and berries.
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Day 3
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Zimeshrab, 'Phantomglow' the very large quadruped who is also somehow gaunt at the same time now inhabits the room leading to our central staircase… Zimeshrab slings webs and, for now, the dwarves must resist the urge to smith axes and fling open the door to avenge the two fallen citizens.
Instead, a plan was devised to trap the demon in a winding hallway underneath the hillside.
The dwarves had to chose one of the miners to dig out the last wall and release the demon into the trap.
The four candidates were as follows:
Asmel Takentour, lover of Shem the elected expedition leader, close friend of Adil (the founder of Dentdiamonds) and talented miner. Asmel was much too well loved and both Shem and Adil vetoed her participation.
Shem Vaultglazed himself, who was a proficient miner. Shem was liked by many of the dwarves and also bowed out.
Reg Pulleymerchant, expert miner AND skilled carpenter, another close friend of Adil, and worshipper of Akrul. Reg was one of the founding seven, and well known to all. . .
This left Zaneg Giltbridges, adept miner but merely a 'friend' to Adil.
Zaneg traveled down the winding corridor as Domas prepared to pull the lever to seal the far end of the trap.
The demon was instantly on the chase and Zaneg barely escaped, with Domas sealing the chamber shut. Dentdiamonds was now the proud owner of a murderous coral deer thing.
In mid-Winter, a magma forgery was designated in the deep stone near the sea of magma.
The new year arrived. In early spring, the dwarves began to mine some of the extensive magnetite deposits in the shallow layers of chalk.
On the surface, fields were planted of fisher berries and quinoa. The fortress continued to run low on food quite regularly.
In mid-Spring, the food was exhausted, and the two yaks were butchered and eaten.
Migrants arrived, bringing the total camp population to 23.
It was noticed that much of the alcohol was going missing…it is suspected that the Barrel Woman who lurks in the shadowy hallways of the fortress has been stealing and consuming our beer.
A breeding pair of cave chickens had wandered into our traps, and would be trained, and raised for their eggs. We think they lay eggs, at least . . no one is sure.
By early Summer, the food stockpiles were looking better, yet there was still not enough grub to start cooking again. The dwarves were stuck eating raw meals.
A small coop was built into the hillside, for the cave chickens. A water trough was dug and filled.
A lone migrant arrived, Asob Sabreorb, a glassmaker. "I'm happy to help," she said, though her first action was to visit the temple and pray to The Tin, god of earth and caverns.
A hive room was constructed near the fortress entrance. Eight wooden hives were installed, and local honeybees were captured and convinced to live within.
Adil, founder of Dentdiamonds, went beserk after failing to acquire some unknown object during one of those strange moods. She now stood, quivering in anger, wielding a copper battle axe, waiting for anyone to approach.
Muthkat the Speardwarf Mercenary took up that challenge. Muthkat was mother to 12 children, worshipped a force of nature known as Meyi, and carried a persimmon wood spear.
Muthkat mercilessly attacked Adil until she bled to death..
With the founder dead (what misfortune!), it was decided to continue diamond mining operations, but under new leadership.
Shem Ronstizfikod, 'Vaultglazed', would take up the reigns and also the quill, as manager, broker and bookkeeper. Oddom was raised to Chief Medical Dwarf and a hospital was planned.
The dwarven caravan arrived, and Shem decided to risk trading with them for the first time in a couple of years.
The dwarves traded bins of wooden shields for leather, meats, lobsters, and cheeses for the parties.
Every dwarf was given two wooden chests.
After deep research, it was discovered that a giant rat had guzzled over 100 units of alcoholic beverage without paying for any of it.
This thief-drunkard-rat was easily captured when it stumbled into one of our cage traps.
At this point, the rat was more booze than mammal. The dwarves let the creature sleep off the hangover while they figured out where to install the cage. Giant rats were pretty cool pets, after all, and this one was a legend!
A third cave chicken was captured. The other two, trained to a semi-wild status, were released into the coop-room.
Strange creatures, with no eyes, only a fleshy stub where the head was usually found.
In late Winter of year 120, the magma forges were further expanded, and nearby a large ore vault was slated for digging.
In Spring of 121, the elves arrived. We traded spare stone mechanisms for various fruits. They had nothing else we needed, though the intruments were enticing.
In mid-Summer the human caravan arrived, full of foodstuffs. We bought them out with four bins of wooden shields, and a handful of worn clothing.
Sometime in Summer, we captured a Giant Moose.
At one point, giant vultures stole three wheels of cheese from the trade depot.
In early Winter, Bim Earthspray began to brood darkly, taking over the butcher's shop. She demanded cut gems and 'certain things' - which turned out to be the skulls of a nanny goat, a donkey, and a red zircon (special cut for Bim's strange request).
Eventually, Bim produced Reksaskikrost, 'Sinfulstockades', a pair of goat bone greaves. They are encrusted with red zircon and spiked with goat bone. Fearsome!
Hopefully Bim's mood will improve after this creation. She has realized her life dream of creating a masterwork, after all.
By late Winter of 121, the dwarves had produced iron and steel weaponry of all kinds, as well as a few kits of light iron armor. However, no military was training, and the fortress was essentially undefended..
The number of allowed citizens was raised to 60 to allow for recruitment.
The elven traders arrived in Spring of 122, yet brought little of value, and no trading was conducted.
Later on, migrants arrived, and many were inducted into the first real squads of Dentdiamonds.
Their primary opponents would be demons hatched from their obsidian prisons as the dwarves dug for treasure.
In late Spring, the tavern keeper Astesh created a goat bone artifact cabinet Anggidthur or 'Redgrasped.'
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Day 4
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
On the 18th of Sandstone, the dwarves were attacked by Ugeth, a giant salt humanoid with stubby horns and poisonous gas.
The four weapon squads were assembled and fought Ugeth near the staircase, winning easily. Ugeth's poisonous gas seemed to have no effect.
Domas the Weaver went moody, demanding plain plant cloth. We had none, and desperately searched the caverns for wild pig tails.
It took far too long to find these plants and Domas was eventually stricken by melancholy.
In early Winter, a large vault was designated. This would store the thousands of diamonds we would no doubt retrieve from the mines.
On the 18th of Obsidian, 122, a giant fire breathing shrimp attacked - "Rulush Divehollow" .
The shrimp beast quickly lit aflame the chert doors blocking the staircase, but the stone remained solid and secure. The fungal mat covering the cavern floor was soon consumed by a massive wildfire.
When the nearby fungus burnt out, the signal was given and the doors unlatched.
Rulush took the bait and lunged through the door, only to meet over a dozen pointy stabby things waiting behind that door, which quickly kebabed the beast-shrimp into tiny shrimp pieces.
Edzul, who went moody and could not be provided the requisite yarn cloth, finally snapped and became filled with a beserk rage. Running straight into a waiting squad of swords..
Unfortunate, but there was simply no way to procure the yarn without a hairy animal. We need more hairy animals around here.
In Summer, the human caravan arrived, and we traded weapons for food. Lots and lots of food.
Soon after, we were attacked by a giant puffy green raven 'Lene' . Lene possessed a square shell and external ribs, and released poisonous vapors as it flew.
Kadol Brewchambers, legendary Carpenter, was strolling through the second cavern layer when he ecountered Lene. The big green raven swooped towards this poor carpenter.
Nearby, one of the spear soldiers Zaneg Giltbridges arrived, alone, and now faced Lene.
Amazingly, in only two strikes, Lene managed to pierce the creature's heart, slicing open a major artery.
Lene quickly perished, with Zaneg being the victor and savior of Kadol.
Later on, the spear Zaneg used to kill Lene was named Thur Limur, or 'The Harmony of Nadirs.'
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Day 5
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
By early Autumn of 123, the military squads were almost fully armored in steel plate.
The miners requested a guildhall be constructed.
On the 7th of Limestone, Aban Egom, 'The Constructs of Nature ' was created by Zasit Tiretools the Armorer, an artifact steel breastplate.
The breastplate menaces with spikes of steel and cave spider silk. On the item is an image of Sinfulstockades the goat bone greaves in marble. On the item is an image of a thick crescent in gingko wood. On the item is an image of Sinfulstockades the goat bone greaves in cave spider silk.
The artifact breastplate was given to the military commander Rigoth Bittenhandle.
On the 7th of Sandstone, 123, 'Vimara Gristlyhags the Gutters of Snot' attacked in the first caverns.
Vimara was a giant one-eyed tanager that spat fire.
Fikod Vaultwilts was the first dwarf to engage with Vimara. Fikod was an axe lord in full steel plate, and was set ablaze immediately yet fought on.
Others entered the fray and soon the entire area around the staircase was on fire, as the beast-bird flew around launching fireballs and dodging the dwarves and their axes.
Vimara pushes Fikod away from the staircase with a flurry of fireballs, back into the cavern passages, eventually backing Fikod up against a fungiwood tree growing out of the cavern lake.
Could Fikod maybe extinguish their burning clothes and skin in the lake?
Yes! Fikod's flaming body is put out, however, his heavy armor drags him further into the lake than expected (it was quite deep here) and suddenly Fikod began to drown.
And despite all this, Fikod fought on, dodging attacks from Vimara all the same.
As the cavern fire raged above, the two fought onward, until Fikod's lungs gave in and he finally drowned.
Vimara, triumphant, moved on to its next target - Zaneg Giltbridges, Spearmaster and Legendary Miner, one of the founding seven.
The two fought on the branches of a fungiwood tree above the cavern lake. Smoke and steam filled the air.
Unfortunately, Zaneg forgot his spear, or it was lost at some point, and he fought with no weapons except his fists.
Amazingly, Vimara proved frail, and eventually tired to the point that Zaneg began to land serious hits, damaging the beasts spine and internal organs.
Zaneg baited the bird towards the staircase, where the others waited behind locked doors. When the time was right the doors were thrown open and Vimara was cut to pieces.
Zaneg avenged the fallen Fikod with nothing but his fists. Amazing.
In mid-Winter of 123 a green hairy pterosaur invaded the third caverns, 'Onul'.
'Onul' is met by the squads at the staircase, and quickly killed.
Urist Shieldsystem the Spearmaster lands the last hit, and names their steel spear Stizashzakogol, 'Kindlingspite' in response.
Giant vultures stole a bunch of vegetables in Spring of 124.
Later that Spring, Zakosp Ashencavern arrived, an enourmous humanoid composed of tin that shot webs.
Zakosp spewed webs and kicked Kogan the Swordmaster in the head, killing him.
The others swarmed and hacked into the tin beast with their steel weapons, and soon Zakosp was dead.
In late Spring, Udib the leatherworker died after a failed mood. A work stoppage has occurred and prevented the dwarves from tanning hides to satisfy Unib's demands.
The dwarves seem more interested in socializing than doing anything of value..
Zuntir the Mason went beserk for the same lack of leather, and was cut down after charging at the swordsdwarves during their sparring session.
A giant two-legged rhino lizard attacked one of the pet peacocks, Ber, goring it with its horn.
Due to the labor shortage it was decided to raise the citizen limit to 80, though this would risk goblin attention.
Two giant desert scorpions have been captured, both females.
On the 4th of Limestone, goblins attacked from the north.
The squads were deployed and fought off a pair of snatchers, as well as the main ambushing squad of goblins.
All were killed except one, who ran off into the desert.
Giant Camels were captured, as well as a giant cap hopper.
The traders arrived in Autumn, and we exchanged a number of steel helms and other spare equipment for bins of rare metals, as well as three very expensive large gems.
Curiously, one of the gems was engraved with an image of Sinfulstockades, an artifact made only recently here at Dentdiamonds. This suggested that the large octagon cut aquamarine, where this image was found, had been produced in the last few months.
The giant camels were trained, and a large pasture built in the hillside fortress. After some fungus grew the camels were let loose to grow the herd.
In late Autumn, a towering scaly crab attacked from the depths of the first cavern. 'Kedusm' possessed bronze scales and a poisonous bite.
Apparently we have captured both a giant rat, and two large rats. I cannot tell the difference. .
In early Spring of 125, a fisherdwarf went moody and created an iron left gauntlet named Tath Arek, ' ' . It was decorated with maple wood and on the gauntlet was an image of a diamond (which was rather appropriate given the intention of the fortress).
Soon after, goblins were spotted passing by our territory, but they failed to attack.
In late Spring, a flying hairy spider attacked in the third cavern. 'Fiva Cysthate'
'Fiva' was only just arrived when a second beast appeared…
'Bora Fishsubmerged' was also hairy, but an ankylosaurid instead of a spider, and possessed horns and deadly blood.
Asmel Takentour quickly dispatched 'Bora' with her steel spear Thir Limur.
Zaneg, hero from the encounter with the fire breathing bird, is first to encounter 'Fiva' the hairy flying spider.
Yet the webs are too much for Zaneg, and after being trapped he is quickly maimed by the spider's kicks.
And oen by one the military falls as they are trapped in the webs. Overconfident, they fought in the open, and the constant spewing of fresh webs meant it was impossible to avoid the spider's attacks, and death was swift.
The staircase was locked..
A terrible day for Dentdiamonds as every military dwarf had perished - all fifteen of them.
The horror!
Two more are killed, weeks later, when Fiva pulls them through a gap near the staircase to their deaths.
Fiva itself seems uninterested in anything except the doors.
Somehow, those doors were opened, and 'Fiva' charged the staircase.
Many died, yet in a lucky strike, Rigoth Listenracks the trader punched 'Fiva' in the abdomen and exploded the great spider into gooey bits.
This heroic feat was rewarded with the manager's office, and position as official broker.
Thank Armok for Rigoth's mighty punch!
Somehow, Vucar ended up in a cage trap when 'Lon' the gigantic feathered lacewing appeared in the third cavern layer.
Two fresh squads were quickly drafted, swords and hammers, and sent to retrieve the caged Vucar and kill 'Lon'.
Amazingly, Zasit Tiretools, creator of the artifact steel breastplate Aban Egom, was first to arrive, and fought the giant insect alone.
Zasit lost a tooth, took many injuries to his joints and arms, yet perservered and punched 'Lon' in the brain, killing it.
Zasit has become twice the legend. Huzzah!
And yet, his injuries were too much, and the doctors too slow to retrieve him, and so Zasit perished after this feat.
In late Autumn, an Ettin appeared and attacked our livestock. At the same time, a gigantic blob of water with a poison sting 'Usnos' attacked from below.
The Ettin was killed by two swordsdwarves, though Tirist took injuries to his left leg.
'Usnos' was fought by the hammer guard recruits, and Lokum and her baby Kadol died during the fight. . . 'Usnos' eventually disintegrated into a puddle of lukewarm water.
Also in Autumn, 'Omur' attacked, a humanoid with a poison bite. Climbing up the staircase, 'Omur' killed a furnace operator and another recruit before falling to the swords of the other squads.
With so much death, the fortress mood was soured. A majority of dwarves were utterly despondent, while the rest were indifferent -at best-.
The dwarves were foolish, and found a way into the snail-cavern, where a fungual inferno raged. There, the dwarves slipped on the slimy cavern walls and fell to their death in the lake. Others were crushed or burnt as the snail hunted them down .
The doors were again somehow unlocked, no doubt some apathetic god, and the snail would be fought by the recruits.
Once again, the dwarves overcame infinite odds. After murderous rampage through the masonry, the fire-snail was brought down by Kol Tikswords the militia commander.
So many were dead. The dwarves were mostly unhappy. Would Dentdiamonds perservere?
No.
In mid-Winter, 'Xan Spraysquids the Abyssal' arrived and sprayed flame across all. 'Xan' killed all the new recruits, ascended the staircase, and was joined there by 'Ngogngo Suckedmites the Hideous' a quadruped composed of flame.
'Xan' killed 'Ngogngo' then continued on to decimated, and destroy, the rest of Dentdiamonds.
One of the final scenes of Dentdiamonds is Solon Towersplatter running up and down the staircases with a flaming troll fur cloak.
Thus ended Dendiamonds in the Winter of 125.
******************************
