The fortress was getting busier by the day, and down in the shopping district, groups of dwarves were traveling from shop to shop, making personal purchases at Bomrek's Bargains, or buying booze and food from Olon's Culinary Delights. In Teduk's Fine Goods, two dwarves were arguing over price.
A tall, well-dressed dwarf wearing a monacle shook a piece of fine silk under the shopkeeps nose. "Three thousand
sovereigns? For this?"
"Mr. Migshark, you asked for the finest silk, and this is our best silk." The shopkeeper, known only as Teduk, gently removed the bolt of silk from Migshark's hand and ran it through his fingers.
"Spun from Giant Cave Spiders, imported from the mountainhomes. If you want the highest
quality, you need to be willing to pay for it."
Teduk was an aged dwarf, with a short, neatly trimmed white beard, and small, gold-rimmed glasses. He returned the silk to it's velvet-lined container in which it was stored.
"If you want something more in your budget, I would suggest some silk from the bottom shelf. Still fine material, but significantly cheaper. Or some cotton from across the way at Bomrek's. I can vouch for the quality of his merchandise, and at economy. But of course, if you only want the finest luxury items, my establishment really is the only destination."
Migshark left the shop. Three thousand soveriegns? For that second rate silk? On the other hand, he couldn't go around wearing anything less than the best. But where could he find that much gold in this backward place? Without seeming to think about it, Migshark's feet took him to the vault. He was the broker of the fortress...surely this was a state expenditure? And so much money came through that nobody would miss it for a little while...and anyway, it was more of an investment, really. How could he command the best out of the traders if he wasn't dressed in the best?
Migshark entered the vault chamber, a rough, small room, with a number of strongboxes containing government funds. Yes...surely this is for the greater good.
As Migshark's hand reached towards the strongbox, a shadow rose behind him.
The oblivious broker opened the lid...the figure raised an axe, it's edge glinting in the distant candlelight, and an unearthly scream issued from the shape behind him.
"DIE KOBOOOOOOOOOOOOLD oh, sorry, Migshark."
Migshark shot around, color coming back to his now annoyed face.
"Quakhead? What the bloody hell are you doing?"
"I thought you were one of those skulking bastards. They're everywhere you know. Just hiding in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike. We need to be vigilant against the threat. THERE'S ONE IN THE CORNER!"
"Sir, that's a moleweasel!"
"Oh, so it is."
Quackhead laughed nervously while bracing one foot to yank his axe out of the wall.
"Little buggers will steal anything that isn't nailed down, don't you know. So, what are you doing in the vault, Migshark?"
"Um. Staying vigilant?" Migshark stammered in reply, while picking pieces of masonry out of his beard.
"Ah, good on you. Vigilance, that's the only way to stop the skulking kobold menace."
"Right. I'll...I'll just be leaving now."
Migshark left the room, shaking his head. Quakhead lingered at the door for a while, before leaving himself, carrying a small leather bag.
"I thought he'd never leave," the expedition leader mumbled under his breath. He attached the bag to his waist, and as he walked in the direction of his quarters, a single gold coin fell out the pouch.
---
Ah, take me back to Craftrazors! Last time, we filled a small underground pond with magma, and we begin to utilize it. I start small, a smelter and a metalcrafter.
I get Kamikaze on producing some copper armor. We'll sell this stuff at Urist's Metal Emporium, but for now I just want to increase her armoring skills.
I get some research going.
Wait, what's going on at the entrance? Did someone just shove a Kobold off the bridge?
I find that far more satisfying than I should.
Uh oh.
Damn. We are up to our eyes in sneaks. The dwarf runs around for a little while, and then gets back to work...didn't even bother to go the hospital, despite his hand being missing.
Vabalokis' treatment was successful.
Our animal stockpile is getting full of necromancers and dire lions. They can't be trained, so I guess they're going to the butcher's shop. I'll need to figure out what to do with the lions too.
We finish the garrison.
Unfortunately, making a dwarf military is very expensive...I need to come up with new means of income.
The crucible research is done, so I start on the metallurgist. Meanwhile, although we are keeping up with drink needs by purchasing booze at Olon's, food is growing scarce, so I send the military after some dire lions.
What could PAWSably go wrong?
Lenz was wounded, but the battle was successful.
Well, we got some lion meat to last us a while, so I get Crazybones to work on dear Lenz, and the butchers to work on the lions.
While all this was going on, some migrants arrive. Among them is an arcane dwarf. I'm going to get started on magic as soon as I get some platinum bars.
Woah, possession.
Thamuzz takes a single chunk of diorite to a craftsman's and begins working.
Make of it what you will.
I can't have a fighter that can't grasp, so I decide to treat Lenz's wounds.
Oh dear.
Oh my.
That...is a lot of troglodytes.
RUN MURPLE RUN!!!
Murple doesn't run fast enough.
On the 21st of Timber, year of Armok 173, death comes to Craftrazors.
We lock Skirtpatterned until the militia is back to full strength.
And, appropriately enough, winter comes upon us.
Well, better make some coffins. Rest in Peace, Murple. You died doing what you love: collecting silk for noble's undergarments. We've begun producing large amounts of gold, which I intend to smelt directly into coins. We just finished metallurgy research, and have enough copper and flux to transmute out the nickel I need for Spring Steel and Billon (for welded Cobalt). Next month, I intend hope to start producing high-quality welded cobalt armor for the militia and fielding another squad to be permanently stationed near the cavern.
I'm not looking foreward to Haemish discovering what happened to his wife. Morale is fairly low around Craftrazors. A food shortage led to some empty stomaches for a while, and losing a mother and wife isn't going to be popular. Happiness is going to be a real problem around here; I better produce a well, at the very least, if I am going to stop the nasty-water complaints.
Current wealth is 1500c, 3000s, 1500g.
And now the new dwarf's thoughts:
Glacies, Brewer
`Glacies' Sharsididen has been quite content lately. She had a nice bath recently. She was woken by noise while sleeping lately. She received water recently. She slept in a good bedroom recently. She dined in a legendary dining room recently. She has complained of hunger lately. She has complained of thirst lately. She has complained of the nasty water lately. She was disgusted by a miasma lately.
She is married to Shasad Vandalsmith. She is the daughter of Monom Hustlingblighted and Soshosh Emeraldsheltered. She is a dubious worshipper of Adil and a faithful worshipper of Munest the Decency of Mirth.
She is a citizen of The Seducers of Loot. She is a member of The Wordy Gallows. She is a former member of The Fleshy Gulf. She is a former member of The Stupid Sword. She arrived at Rigothstukos on the 15th of Slate in the year 173.
She is one hundred one years old, born on the 7th of Galena in the year 72.
She is average in size. Her somewhat narrow eyes have slightly thin irises. She is average in size. Her somewhat concave nose bridge is concave. Her slightly upturned nose is broad. Her eyebrows are slightly low. Her lips are somewhat thin. Her ears are somewhat splayed out. Her hair is black mixed with gray. Her long hair is neatly combed. Her skin is dark brown. Her eyes are bronze.
She is very rarely sick, but she is quick to tire and quite clumsy.
`Glacies' Sharsididen likes yellow lacquered, necromantic, topaz, glumprong wood, the color light blue, horrors, traction benches, ironclad cragtooth boars for their impressive digging skills and giant wombats for their waddle. When possible, she prefers to consume louse, sunshine and mountain tuskox milk. She absolutely detests mosquitos.
She has a great feel for the surrounding space, an ability to read emotions fairly well, a good kinesthetic sense and the ability to focus, but she has little patience.
She is quick to anger. She is confident under pressure. She is somewhat reserved. She tends to avoid crowds. She is trusting. She is candid and sincere in dealings with others. She is willing to compromise with others. She is modest. She laughs loudly when she's excited. She needs alcohol to get through the working day and is starting to work slowly due to its scarcity.
*FARMERS GUILD* This dwarf belongs to the guild of farmworkers, millers and cooks. They handle most of the food production, from planting crops and brewing them, over milking and cheesemaking, to butchery and cooking. A basic, but important factor of every fortress.
I'll post the rest of the thoughts after I wake up later today. See y'all later!
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Topic: Craftrazors: Another 4e Merchant Fortress (Read 17064 times)