Chapter 4 – AgressionYear 24 and 25“How much further?” asked Captain Spiritwing
“Just over this hill here, captain” replied Lieutenant Twigstorm
“How many times do I have to tell you, Nisa? Until we complete the mission, you’re to refer to call me Ecafe. It’s critical that we aren’t discovered.
“I’m sorry, Cap… I’m sorry, Ecafe. I’ll try to remember.”
“You will remember. If the savages catch on we’ll all be killed on the spot.”
The Elven caravan reached the top of the hill. Captain Spiritwing surveyed the area.
“They’re definitely up to something down there… Almost all of the plant life has been stripped away… Unforgivable… They’ve also erected walls and seem to have expanded their operation underground.”
“What do you think they’re doing down there?”
“There’s no telling how far below the surface their corruption has spread... Perhaps they seek to drain the life from the soil itself… To convert the forested taiga to a rocky wasteland. When we arrive, we can assess the situation. Once we know what the Dwarves are up to, we can decide the best response.
The Elves made their way down the hill into the Dwarven territory. They passed several piles of logs, stone, and assorted goods, scattered seemingly at random. The Elves received several dirty looks as they walked the winding path towards the Dwarven fortress. Finally reaching the entrance, their path was blocked by two Dwarves wielding wooden axes.
“We cannot allow yeh to go any further.” said the Dwarf on the right.
Captain Spiritwing smiled “We’re just humble traders who have come to sell our wares… surely we have something that might interest you… Please, take a look at our goods and see if there’s anything your leader might find useful.”
“Drop anything that can be cooked or brewed and leave us, yer kind has proven time after time that yeh cannot be trusted. Every time one of yet kin has come to our home as guests, yeh have shown nothing but rudeness and disrespect. There’s nothing humble about yeh. Leave.” said the Dwarf on the left.
Twigstorm was insulted “How dare you speak…”
Spiritwing raised his hand to stop his lieutenant. “There’s no need to get upset Twigstorm.” He turned back to the Dwarves. “I don’t think you understand… We cannot merely give you our goods. We’ve come to trade, not… You see trading is when two parties decide to exchange…”
“And that’s exactly the condescending and disrespectful attitude that makes yeh not welcome here.” Interrupted the Dwarf on the left.
“… Very well.” Spiritwing gestured to the rest of the Elves who started unloading the goods the Dwarves demanded. Afterwards, the Elves left the site without saying another word.
“What do you make of it?” asked Twigstorm once they had left the Dwarven territory.
“They’re definitely up to something. It’s obvious they’re hiding something from us… I don’t like it.” replied Spiritwing.
The Elves walked in silence for a few minutes before Captain Spiritwing spoke again.
“We’ll report their suspicious behavior back to the head druid… He will decide how to deal with the Dwarves.”
Ochita and Soulchopper couldn’t contain their laughter.
Soulchopper did his best Elf impersonation “Yeh see, trading is when… Ha!”
“I almost lost it and started laughin’ right there when he said that!” said Ochita.
“Me too… It’s a good thing they left when they did, I don’t think I coulda kept a straight face much longer.”
“I dunno if the pointy ears really think anyone is
that dumb or if they’re just tryin’ to be insultin’, but it’s damn funny watch ‘em try to weasel their way through.”
Bookworm was overseeing the fortress work. The miners were already working three levels below ground on the grand entrance hall the king had ordered as a condition for the expedition’s charter, the masons were finishing work on the main wall and would soon get back to work on the outer wall, and Soapgear, the lone mechanic, was setting up traps at the entrance of the fortress. In time, the entire operation would be moved underground, to the relative safety of the cavernous depths.
Bookworm felt something poke his back. A second later he smelled the overpowering stench of cheese. He turned to see Le Chef standing behind him.
“A moment of your time monsieur Bookworm… I would like to request zee grand kitchen, one zat would make Armok ‘imself envious of zee fine cuisine prepared within!”
Bookworm stared for a second, piecing together what the strange Dwarf standing in front of him had said. “Yeh want a kitchen?… Umm… Aye, good idea… We’ll get on that as soon as we can.
Le Chef’s eyes lit up with joy and excitement. “You will not be disappointed monsieur Bookworm, zee Dwarves will ‘ave zee grand feast every night while I am in zee kitchen!”
The strange Dwarf ran off, overjoyed, leaving Bookworm to stare in confusion.
The summer months passed slowly. Lack of ice made fortress work grind to a halt and the Dwarves instead focused on deforestation and rebuilding a food surplus. Despite the crippling weapons shortage, the military continued their training. Imports and small ore deposits gave the Dwarves some much needed steel, but there was never enough. Without fortress expansion to worry about, the miners focused their efforts on removing what was left of the hill that had originally stopped their progress. As autumn rolled in Stonestrike spotted them…
The alert went off and Steelbeard’s men rushed from the underground towards the entrance of the fortress. Bookworm stopped them at the top, Sopagear at his side.
“Get out of the way! We’re under attack!” yelled Steelbeard, barely restraining himself from shoving past the two Dwarves standing in his way.
“There won’t be any need for that, commander.” said Sopagear with a grin.
“We’ll all be slaughtered if yeh don’t get out of my way!”
“Think for a second… We’re under attack by well armed foes. We lack the essential steel to give yer men axes or shields or armor. If you run out there, your men will be cut down easily. Please, just sit and watch.” said Bookworm.
“Yeh’ve both gone mad in the head. Fine, if yeh don’t want me to fight the enemy, don’t expect me to lift a finger until after the two of yeh have been cut down.”
The enemy came into sight. At their head was a Dark Elf with a vicious curved sword. He and his band of spear wielders charged the entrance.
Steelbeard gritted his teath. “Soon as they make it through, attack. We’ve got em outnumbered, so if we can wrestle their weapons away…”
*Snap* *Twang* *Whoosh*
As soon as the enemy had set foot inside the walls, the trap went off. Each Dark Elf had been ensnared and caged. The prisoners yelled and cursed in their own incomprehensible tongue.
Bookworm grinned. “Until we can supply yeh with proper equipment, there won’t be much yer men can do against invaders. I don’t like it any more than yeh do, but theres nothin’ we can do about it. Think of these six fools as a present… Yer free to do as yeh like with them.”
Soapgear continued his work, installing traps at the entrance of the fortress. The number of prisoners grew with every attack. The next fools to attempt to take the citadel as a group of Goblins. In the spring of 25, the traps captured a group of Snakemen and another batch of Dark Elves. These small forces were nothing, their futile attempts to break through only led to more prisoners being captured.
It was a stormy night in late summer. Most of the Dwarves were working underground, but Treeslayer was not so fortunate… Fortress defense came first. The trees wouldn’t be stopped by a little rain and neither would he. Treeslayer stood over the body of his latest adversary, an enormous Larch, taller than any Dwarf. He wiped the sweat from his brow and started walking back towards the fortress. As he passed through the unfinished northern wall, he heard something… It was a booming, but it wasn’t thunder… it was too rhythmic. Treeslayer ran towards the source of the sound. As he neared the eastern river, the noise became louder and louder. Treeslayer peered into the river valley, where he discovered the origin of the sound… War drums. He could see two camps… One of Gnolls and one of Snakemen. Treeslayer ran back to the fortress as quickly as he could to report his findings.
“Theres still time” he muttered to himself, knowing that the invaders could not advance until the river froze.
The Dwarves increased their defenses as best they could. Several more traps were installed and the military was put on alert, but it was a race against time. According to Treeslayer’s report, the enemy force was massive. Shortly after finishing their preparations, the attack came.
Steelbeard rallied his men. “Today we face a foe that is better armed than us and greater in number. These bastards want nothing more than to kill yeh and destroy everything yeh hold dear! If yeh give ‘em a chance, they will! This is not a battle we can win through force. The only way any of us are going to live to see tomorrow is by fightin’ smart. Let the traps thin their numbers then overwhelm the ones that break through. If any of yeh don’t wanna fight, nows yer last chance to try to escape. As fer me, I’d rather die than let a buncha dirty dogs and lizards scare me off!”
The soldiers cheered.
The attack had started. The Gnolls were the first to strike, they charged the fortress, but once their leader had been ensnared by the traps, their formation broke and they scattered. Furious, the Snakemen advanced, killing a few fleeing Gnolls as they did. Unlike the Gnolls, who had just rushed blindly, the Snakemen tread carefully, hissing and spitting at the Dwarves as they did. Even after their leader had been caged, the serpents continued their advance.
Steelbeard watched intently, waiting for the moment to move. Most of the traps had been sprung, but there were still a few Snakemen advancing. The first had made it past the traps. Steelbeard signaled and the soldiers threw themselves on her. She hissed and stabbed at the first Dwarf to approach, cutting her leg deeply. The wounded Dwarf backed off while the rest piled on the serpent, bringing her to the ground. Seeing this savage display, the remaining Snakemen backed up slightly, only to trigger the remaining traps.
The wounded Dwarf was carried to the hospital. Blood was pouring from her left leg and upper body. Steelbeard and Bookworm stood over the wounded soldier.
“What’s yer name, soldier?” asked Bookworm.
“Hawkeye” replied the soldier, weakly.
“Well Hawkeye, yer bravery may have saved us all.” said Steelbeard “Those wounds are badges of honor.”
Dr. Nick entered the room, his expression much more serious than his usual absent-minded grin. “Hi everybody.” he said.
Dr. Nick examined Hawkeye.
(Her liver is also broken, though as a Dwarf she doesn’t need it)
“This Dwarf’s blood has gone bad, her only hope is emergency surgery. I’m going to need a silk cloth, some rope, an obsidian mechanism, a screwdriver, and a barrel of Dwarven Rum!”
Steelbeard gave Dr. Nick a strange look. “Are you sure you really need…”
“You’re wasting precious time!” exclaimed the doctor “Both of you, out! I cannot operate with the two of you looking over me!”
Dr. Nick shoved the two Dwarves out of the hospital and shut the door behind them.
“So… she’s gonna die, isn’t she?” asked Steelbeard
“Probably…” replied Bookworm.
Steelbeard paced in front of a row of cages.
“So yeh fools think yeh can invade my home… Take it over… Loot whatever’s valuable and slaughter the lot of us like cattle.”
The prisoners from the recent attack had been moved into the lowest levels of the cavern. Their cages had been lined against the walls. Steelbeard ran his finger along the blade of his new axe.
“Yer garbage... all of yeh... Scum too low to survive on yer own labor... Trash that instead chooses to live as parasites, exploitin’ the hard work of those with value in this world.”
Steelbeard grinned
“Yer also failures. Don’t yeh worry, I’ve got ideas for what to do with the lot of yeh… Even trash can be put to use if yer creative enough...”
The prisoners hissed and growled and yelled in their own languages.
“And I assure yeh, I’m plenty creative... Yeh’d be surprised what kinda fun ideas yeh get when yer excused from normal labor all day long.”
“You realisssse that one of them can undersssstand you, don’t you?”
Steelbeard turned to see who had spoken… It was the leader of the Snakemen who had been captured during the attack. She was fairly small for her kind, though still larger than most Dwarves.
“Oh, but yeh can understand me just fine, can’t yeh snakey?” said Steelbeard with a smirk.
“Yessss, Daverven is jusssst one of the sssseveral languagessss I sssspeak.” replied the Snakewoman
“And can yeh speak the whatever tongue the rest of the prisoners speak?”
“Mosssst of them.”
“Good, then I’m sure I could convince you to translate for me”
“I ssssupposssse.”
The Snakewoman started talking, but Steelbeard couldn’t understand what she was saying. Each time she paused, the prisoners grew louder and louder… first the Snakemen, then the Gnolls, then the Lizardmen, and finally the Goblins… all screaming and banging on their cages.
“Whats yer name, snake?” asked Steelbeard
“Ssssangossssm Nusssstudo.” replied the Snakewoman.
“Well snakey, if yeh keep doin’ like I say, I may just let yeh live a bit longer.”
Steelbeard walked away.
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Meet the DwarvesCommander Steelbeard – Born: 34 years before the start of the current ageSteelbeard is a 59 year old male Dwarf. He has peach skin, cobalt eyes, and long, curly, black hair. His hair and moustache are both neatly combed and his sideburns and beard are braided.
Steelbeard commands Imnisgak Isholmestthos’s militia. He has become increasingly annoyed with situation at the fortress… From lack of steel for weapons and armor… to sub-par medical care… to the fact that most of the fortress defense is handled by traps…
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Legendary DwarvesEarthhmover (Miner)
Stonestrike (Miner)
Rocksmasher (Miner)
Nameless Male (Miner)
Nameless Female (Miner)
Treeslayer (Woodcutter)
Woodbane (Woodcutter)
Brickhead (Mason)
Nameless Female (Mason)
Greenthumb (Planter)
Nameless Male (Planter)
Weedpicker (Herbalist)
Soapgear (Mechanic)
Currently Unnamed DwarvesMale Miner (Legendary)
Female Miner (Legendary)
Male Woodworker (I wanted him to be a woodcutter, but I can’t get him to grab an axe so he may go Carpenter instead)
Male Carpenter/Woodcrafter
Female Carpenter/Woodcrafter
Female Mason/Stonecrafter (Legendary)
Female Mason/Stonecrafter
Male Mason/Stonecrafter
Four Female Weaponsmiths
Female Blacksmith
Female Jeweler
Male Jeweler
Male Stonecrafter/Mason
Female Stonecrafter/Mason
Male Leatherworker
Two Female Bonecrafters
Female Weaver/Clothier
Male Weaver/Clothier
Female Glassmaker
Female Fisherdwarf
Female Milker/Cheesemaker
Two Male Threshers/Millers/Dyers
Female Butcher/Tanner
Two Male Planters
Female Brewer/Cook
Female Soapmaker
Male Wood Burner/Potash Maker/Lye Maker
Female Peasant (Daughter of Soapgear and the unnamed female Soapmaker, probably going to become a Marksdwarf unless someone requests otherwise.)
Male Child (Age 3) (Son of Derek Soulchopper and an unnamed female future military dwarf)
Female Child (Age 1) (Son of Derek Soulchopper and an unnamed female future military dwarf)
Several Military Dwarves (8 Male Axedwarves, 1 Male Marksdwarf, 12 Female Marksdwarves, 6 Male Hammerdwarves
You may notice the abundance of Female Marksdwarves… this is because of the Dwarven tendency for mothers to carry their children into battle. Though babies make effective body armor, I prefer to try to prevent that from happening.
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Topic: Everfrost, the Frigid Citadel (Read 2111 times)