I haven't finished reading the whole thread yet, but I got tired of reading (which is saying a lot given that I read books non stop) I wrote this and hopefully its generic enough that any changes I don't know about won't matter.
Before I begin, I think that a quick recap on dorfhex’s nature is in order. Terrahex has a physical aversion to talking to or communicating with most dwarves if not properly acquainted. Because of this, he has learned how to walk in the shadows so well that he no longer needs shadows to walk in to go unnoticed.
The only real friends he has ever made were Talvi, Splint, and a Spawn of Hollistic that got stuck on a ledge that he affectionately called Spawny. He worked as a messenger for Splint because of his agility and ability to go unnoticed but has since been repositioned for something that suits him much better.
Terrahex has demonstrated in the past that he has nothing but good intentions and loves Spearbreakers despite its many flaws. He does not date his journal entries, making it easier to fit in the rest of the story where it’ll be appropriate. This time I have decided to forego making it sound like an actual diary entry in favor of good story telling.
And so without further ado…
Excerpt 1 from the third diary of Terrahex the dwarf
Technically, nobody should ever be outside the fortress walls unless it’s in the statue garden. It’s dangerous and stupid for anyone who isn’t me or the military.
I, however, have a job to do out here and I’m the only one who can do it. I leave every other morning, blood rain or shine, and come back laden with information to feed to Splint who then gives it to the overseer. Reconnaissance, Splint told me. That’s what I do.
He called me into his office one day near the beginning of his second term and asked without looking at me (he knew I could get sick if he did) if I would be up to the task. I asked him why he needed me to do it. Mr Frog, I said, had eyes and ears everywhere and Splint was as close to being a friend to Mr Frog as the surly dwarf would allow.
It was true, Splint responded with dignity, that Mr Frog fed him crucial information, but it wasn’t enough. Splint told me that an overseer could only be as good as his eyes and ears would let him be. As it turns out, I have some pretty good eyes and ears.
Out I went the next day, eyes straining against the brutal sun but knowing that I had a job to do. I went out hidden like I normally went inside. I passed by Spawn who, when they smelled me, could be deterred by simple words in their language that I had picked up from Spawny several years earlier. Spawn wouldn’t be the problem.
It was the undead that caused, and still cause, the worst troubles for me. It doesn’t seem to matter how well I hide. They know I’m there, even if they don’t know exactly where. I fed Splint invaluable information coming from the outside that proved to be useful. Eventually, I began giving him information on what was going on inside as well. I could be in places he would never be able to be. As I traveled through Spearbreakers, people spoke freely around me, believing they had no listeners. It didn’t feel like I was eavesdropping, and I had no intention to cause harm with knowledge that I gained. I didn’t tell Splint everything, just what he needed to know.
Of course I’ve grown a lot since then and today while walking by trees laden with sticky blood from yesterday’s downpour, I spotted a lone goblin scout heading the way I came. He was picking his way slowly, and I could tell that he was trying to go unnoticed the way I did. I wasn’t surprised. Shadow-walking was a goblin and kobold thing anyway, even though I was the best at it.
The goblin walked within feet of me and didn’t even notice me. This is why I didn’t wear armor despite Splint’s wishes. A single clink of metal on metal could kill me in an instant. The goblin was dressed in tattered rags that were coated in dried blood. A leather backpack was slung over his shoulder and was also coated in dried blood.
I debated my options with myself. I obviously couldn’t just let it go to Spearbreakers. Leaving it was out of the question. However, just shooting it with my Spawn-bone crossbow could be a bad idea as well. While I was a whiz at making them, I wasn’t the best shot with a crossbow. Even at point-blank range, the bolts could be better used for something else. There have been occasions where an undead horde caught me by surprise and chased me all the way back to the entrance with an empty quiver. Using my dagger was not out of the question, but if I didn’t kill it right away I’d be in trouble.
That left one option. I pulled up my cloak’s sleeve on my left arm. On it were three small runes in black ink. Satisfied, I crept closer to the goblin. It had gained a little ground on me, but I had no problem running soundlessly up to it. I looked for a proper place on its body to grab, settling on its arm. It would take a bit more time than its chest or back, but at least I wouldn’t have to work through clothing.
Not wanting to put it off, I reached out and grabbed the goblin’s exposed arm, startling it. I immediately felt the first of the three runes on my arm burn as I went to work. The goblin turned to me with shock and, still having a hard time seeing me, took a dagger from its belt.
It was too late though. I had cast the spell and the goblin began crumbling into dust before me. It started where I had held onto its arm and spread, causing half its limb to fall to the ground. I watched wordlessly as it continued until all that was left was a pile of fine sand, tattered and bloodsoaked clothes, and a leather backpack.
I snatched the pack and shook off the remains of the goblin. I wanted to get out of here before the spell wore off, not quite interesting in seeing a naked goblin. As I walked, I pulled my sleeve up. The first of the three runes had turned grey on my arm. It would take awhile to recharge.
Sometimes when I was out on reconnaissance I found things that certain dwarves would be interested in. I picked up documents and maps from dead leaders for Splint to ponder, and I picked up masterpiece armor pieces for Talvi to study or improve. I picked up baubles for children, and I picked up a shiny mirror once for Draignean. I once picked up a futuristic gadget that I thought Mr Frog would be interested, but his door was locked so I set it outside.
One day, while walking along, I kicked something and it went skittering along, shedding blood as if it were made of glass. When I saw what it was, an old book, I was intrigued. Its black cover had a six-pointed gold star on the cover and neither it nor any of its pages showed that it had spent any amount of time in contact with blood. It didn’t look like a journal.
That night I discovered it was encoded, but I knew immediately what it was. It was a necromancer’s tome. I didn’t tell Splint.
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Topic: [34.11] Spearbreakers - It shudders and begins to move (Read 2273198 times)