Our investigation has run its course, Baron.
... that sounds suspiciously similar to your lordship. Vhat did you find?
We were... unable to discover any cultist activity, should a cult be present. It's possible they escaped our detection - me and Tarmid are hardly inquisitors.
... meaningk? I am, as you vell know, not a smart dwarf. Except of course vhen it comes to my business.
'Repurposing' the belongings of the dead?
No, my business is fightingk. The boot thingk is just a hobby.
If no cult is operating in Demongate, the most likely organization maintaining a line of communication to the lower caverns we don't know about is the mining guild. If it's just them, they're clearly operating outside their perimeters. The militia hasn't ordered any more exploratory tunnels dug, and the mayor should at least know enough to ask permission before expanding our current digsites. The lower level is still restricted under your decree.
... troublingk. Vhy vould no report be made to the militia of the beast's presence? I mean nobody vants to get punished for violatingk the law, but you think that vould come second to the hopes of not gettingk eaten by a monstrosity from the darkest reaches of the world, yes?
We think that they hoped that if it came close enough to the entrance to be identified as a threat, they'd be able to report it then.
The question remains... what in Armok's name were they digging for in the lower cavern? I don't think any valuable ores have been found down there besides the adamantine.
Perhaps they thought there might be another vein, yes? Harvest it away from the vigilant, bloodshot eyes of the militia and smuggle the wafers to a caravan and they'd all be rich as lords. Vell, lords vho aren't in charge of a settlement like Demongate. They'd be able to buy passage back to the mountainhomes and live richly for generations, yes?
That's certainly on possibility, although how they think they'd get away with refining the adamantine is beyond me. Thane may not spend as much time working in the forges any more, but she basically has all the smelters under her thumb.
I have... another possible solution. During the search we discovered that some dwarf or group of dwarves has been dealing a drug known as 'gypsum' in the fortress. Are you familiar of it?
A few buddies of mine tried it vhile I vas still vith the company, yes? Apparently it's good stuff. Makes you stark ravingk mad after a while unless you keep takingk more and more of it, though. And if you take too much of it... vell, the users I knew didn't survive long enough for me to find out vhat it vas that happened. Ve lost that entire unit at Savagewinds.
The substance is, of course, highly illegal. I suspect that most of the components are being dug in the lower caverns by the miners guild. Someone is then cooking that up into gypsum and distributing it to the populace. We haven't been able to locate that someone. Other guilds might be involved; it's worrying that this much activity was able to take place with me, the manager, knowing.
A disgusting thing to sell. They should all be locked up.
Vell, if most of the miners guild and more dwarves are in on it, ve certainly don't have the cell space, yes? I'd mandate more cells dug, but I'm not the Overseer any more. The only real power I have as baron is to have officials report to me. Vell, and the ability to make sure the militia does vhatever the hell it pleases, but that's not officially accepted.
Nevertheless, something should be done to curtail this gypsum ring. A sizable cartel operating in this fortress could cause... problems if not held in check.
I say get Talonis and the Fortress Guard to crack down. Brenzen can go along too, since I bet you're just itchingk to bust some gypsum-dealer heads. Rough up any distributors you can find, and try to intimidate the miners. Hopefully, the cartel vill get the idea that ve're on to them.
Distasteful as it is... we might not want to risk conflict with this organization. We have no idea how big it is, and of course there's a war coming. We can't risk our attention being diverted.
Vell then, ve'll scare them until they decide to talk. Oh, your honor von't be sullied. I'll handle things; ve'll keep cartel activity vithin reasonable limits. No gypsum for children or essential vorkers, get the miners to report to us as they should - and then once ve feel secure, ve burn their supply, rough up the lackies and imprison the leaders vithout charges. It's good to be a tyrant, yes?
I think I speak for Brenzen as well when I say this doesn't sit right with me. Nevertheless... we have a higher duty to keep this fortress safe. It would be wise to take the most pragmatic course of action.
I'll tell Talonis vhat is required of him. He should be ready to punch somethingk by now. Haven't seen him howl at the moon in some time.
Blasted heretic. His ability to punch people is without rival, though. I'll see you at Prayers.
See you at prayers, Knights. Fine vork.
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Topic: Demongate: Wrapping up the Loose Ends. (Read 697247 times)