So, my goblin execution chamber is a 15z level shaft, with a smooth stone floor at the bottom. Being genre savvy, I also put weapon traps around the door, to keep building destroyers in. Also, I put cage AND weapon traps in the hallway to the connected refuse pile, because I'm paranoid. AND FINALLY, upright spikes in the final corridor to the fortress proper, just in case some inhuman sonouvabitch survives a 15z level drop, weapon and cage traps, and breaks through two doors.
I like being thorough.
In other news, here is the latest Urist.
Urist had a grim smile on his face now. He walked more purposefully through the corridors of Spearbreakers, searching for former expedition leader Mitch. He passed odd and demented sights that would have confounded and disturbed him but a few hours ago, but now he barely registered them.
Several hours of searching later, he located Mitch, deep in a mine shaft on one of the lower, unused levels. Mitch was napping in a corner, comfortably tucked around a corner in a dead end, where no one could see him. Urist pondered for awhile, then finally just kicked Mitch in the foot.
One eye cracked open balefully, and Mitch nearly growled, "What?"
"We need to talk about your tenure as leader. I've got questions that be needing answers, and so far as I can tell, you're probably the best person to ask." Urist smiled sweetly, "And if you don't talk to me, I'll tell everyone where your favorite hideaway is."
Mitch closed his eyes and sighed heavily. "Bastard." He murmured quietly. "Alright, what do you want to know?"
Urist chuckled, "I know my daddy, thanks. And I want to know how the military here shapes up against the Spawn and other enemies around here. I want to know what fortifications would be required to make this place a good encampment for a dwarven army, in your opinion. Also, I want to know why you folks are so hell bent on digging too deep."
Mitch opened his eyes and sat up a bit as he started speaking, "Well, for starters, the military is good at their job, but I wouldn't throw them at anything they didn't outnumber, cepting the zombies. They train hard and fight harder, don't knock 'em. Second, we'd probably need to clear the main gate for traffic, extend those fortifications into a full on fort. Connect the lone archery tower with about six more in a ring, retake and refurbish the Keep on the Hill, and then carve out some living quarters, barracks, and basic food procurement stations up there. About six to ten years of work, with our current workforce." Mitch smiled, and said, "And the last one is our business. Don't you worry your little head about our exploratory mining."
Urist grimaced, "Digging too deep is what unleashed the Spawn on us the first time. I sincerely doubt anything good will come of it being done again. But I'll let you have that one. Are you sure a single walled fort would be sufficient?"
Mitch laughed, "I doubt it would be adequate, but it would be a nice start. A perfect defense would be a triple walled and moated fortress with inwards and outwards facing fortifications and trap design. A large panic room disconnected from everything underneath, where the civilians would bivouack when trouble came. The panic room is sealed tightly, and the military fights, winning or losing their battle independant of the survival of the outpost. We could always reinforce it by digging longtunnels far past siege lines and sneaking troops in. But that's in a perfect world. I've got some more napping to do, you mind?"
Urist smiled, "Not at all, I think I've got a good start on my report forming in my mind. Sweet dreams." Urist strode away as Mitch resettled himself. Urist returned to the caravan and started writing up his preliminary report for the Baron. Mostly it was basic infrastructure information and 'first-hand interviews', Urist not letting himself put in some of the comments he felt would be more appropriate.
Finally, after nearly an hour, his hand cramped up and he found himself unable to write anymore. He decided to put it away for the day, and sleep on his thoughts.
Time passed, more hours ticking by. Deep in the bowels of the fortress, two not-quite dwarves grew nervous, both hoping they had timed everything right.
Urist slept peacefully, for the first time in a very long time.
And now, for a special treat, independant of the Urist tales.
Chapter Ten: Fungal Agents, from
On Complex Anti-Hypnotics and Anti-Amnesiacs, by Grendal Vasiliy
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...but in some iterations, this particular plant begins producing a very special toxin. Unable to even exist in most versions of reality, this poison specifically targets several areas of the central nervous system, causing several phases of symptoms of varying intensity and duration. Highly dependant on body size, these phases are as follows:
Phase One: In the initial stages of toxicity, the symptoms are highly similar to low grade hallucinogens, producing synaesthesia-type effects, much like psilocybin mushrooms more commonly found throughout the continuum. These symptoms are short-lived and low intensity. Immediately following the end of the inital symptoms is about six to ten hours of asymptomatic normality.
Phase Two: Once the body has finished metabolizing the toxin fully, the toxin falls dormant for a long period of time, covered above in phase one. After this period of inactivity, the toxin resurfaces, being burned out of fat cells with exertion. Similar symptoms to phase one are exhibited, but far more intense, and possibly unpleasant. Typically they include a feeling of well-being or peacefulness, followed by extreme terror and paranoia, hallucinations of shadowy figures, faces appear unreal and twisted, appetite is either increased or decreased tremendously, excercise is perceived as incredibly pleasurable, and sociability is either increased or decreased tremendously. Another period of inactivity follows this phase, lasting between six and twenty hours.
Phase Three: The most controversial and highly debated phase, phase three is considered by some to be simply high grade hallucinations. Others argue that-
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Parasol, right? Cuz I wanted to put Weyland-Yutani...
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Topic: [34.11] Spearbreakers - It shudders and begins to move (Read 2278212 times)