"The executions have started. Due to the overabundance of prisoners and the danger of keeping therm around (especially the "necromancers"), the Administration has declared a "no quarter" policy. At least, that's that the rumors say. But I believe them to be true, and I have evidence! Last month, a mechanic friend of mine was contracted to do the mechanics on the new "garbage disposal" that they've been advertising. They say it's part of a program to prevent any "undead incursions", by pulverizing any animal remains until they are naught but dust, unable to be "animated with unlife". This is partially true, and I myself have seen the effectiveness of the contraption at disposing of waste. But consider the size of the machine! Most dwarves have not seen it, since it is underground, only accessible by a small, standard-issue refuse chute, and a maintenance door that is kept tightly locked and under heavy surveillance. As it was described to me, it is large enough for a fine-quality dining hall, or even a very fancy trading depot. Why would they need this much space, when the refuse is only going to be dropping from one small corner of the room? Everyone knows that dwarven garbage chutes are designed to pack the waste into the smallest possible area, so why would they need this much space?
"Now normally, this wouldn't cause too much concern, even in myself. Dwarves are, in fact, prone to over-engineer solutions to the simplest problems. But that's not the end of the peculiarities. A few weeks ago, I caught up with another friend of mine, a furniture hauler. He mentioned they were building a new prison facility, deep underground. I remembered the Administration mentioning something about upgrading prison facilities in their latest propaganda missives, but I took it for more of their empty promises. It turns out that they are stripping the prisoners of all their possessions, and are in fact relocating them to a new facility. A new facility that, based on my friend's description, sound all too similar to the new trash compactor. He also mentioned how the cages were being fitted for release mechanisms. This makes no sense! Why would they put releases on the cages unless they were going to release the prisoners at some point? And why would they release them, unless they planned to kill them?!
"Last night, when the machine was scheduled to go on full operation, I snuck in. Not into the machine itself, but to the maintenance door. It was locked as usual, but I could hear what was going on inside. There were noises; voices, groans, and confused speech I couldn't make out. There shouldn't be anyone else in there, I thought. Then one of them got close to the door, and I could hear him more clearly. He was speaking goblin, he must have been one of the prisoners! A few minutes later, I heard that familiar rumbling; the machine was starting up. The noises turned into more confusion, then panic, followed be screams and shouts, then silence. The machine reset itself and no more noise came from the room. I was horrified. I then heard some noises down the hallway, and crept out as fast as I could while remaining silent.
"First invaders. Next will come criminals. Then dwarves who fail mandates. Then anyone who dares to speak against our so-called Glorious Administration. I am writing this diary in hopes that if I am captured, it will outlive me, and spread the word. Or perhaps if they fluoridate the booze supply, and I am no longer thinking with my right mind, it will remind myself of the truth, and help break free the shackles of oppression we are sure to be living under. It's been years since we've heard from the outside world. They tell us that we are surrounded by hordes of the undead, but all of that's just a cover up to keep us from going outside the walls, keeping us slaves to the government.
"I think they're on to me. I will have to go into hiding. But then, they will search for me, and I will be unable to spread the truth. Thus I will have to hide in plain sight, where they will think that I am no longer a threat, but only a babbling madman. It's the perfect ploy, as that's what they paint me as, so that is what I will become. Those who care to listen, however will find clues, methods in the madness, hints to the greater truth that the greater powers try to conceal from us. And if they piece together the clues, they may even find this diary, where the truth is exposed in plain writing. This shall be my last entry. To those reading this, fight. Fight against the tyranny and oppression of the Administration. Fight against deception and trickery. And above all, fight for the Truth."
-Diary of Ast Kosothmörul
Side note: Skyscrapes 1 needs only 2 more votes to be inducted into the Hall of Legends.