Thane's Journal, 7th of Felsite:
I've been attempting to get slabs made for the ghosts that are haunting Demongate, but they don't seem to be on any census of citizens. I can only assume that they came with a caravan and got killed somehow, but the engravers refuse to carve a slab for a dwarf that didn't live here. Apparently their souls can only rest if their slab is at their home. Now, I work with metal, not stone, but I'm nearly certain that a nearby male animal of the bovine description defecated loudly while they told me that.
8th:
A thresher discovered a kobold thief trying to gain access to the fortress. Instead of running around like a madman, Sazir Kangoden shot the skulking filth with her crossbow, and then ran around like a madman. The thief passed out and was shredded by some green saws that rose out of the earth.
In other news, a great scaly leech has been spotted in the caverns. It has an enormous shell and a gaunt appearance(?), and it can apparently breathe fire. I'd send the militia to fight it, but it's currently hanging out with that hairy lobster, and no one's interested in getting tangled in webs and then set on fire. Also, there's a giant noseless zebra that no one told me about near the adamantine mine. It can apparently spit webs as well, so... I'm not really sure what we're going to do about this. I'll try sending in a crossbow squad first, and if that doesn't work, I might have to flood the caves with magma.
***
The Beast Hunter seemed oddly cheerful as he descended into the caves. Thane could only guess that he was glad to finally have the opportunity to hunt one of the beasts he spoke of for himself. The rest of the militia was more subdued. Some even muttered that it had been a mistake to try take the deepest reaches of the caves, that they were suffering the revenge of the earth for digging too deeply and greedily. Others whispered of the rumours about the structure made of a strange black stone that even Brenzen couldn't crack with his pick. Whether they thought that it was the prize they fought for, or the curse they fought against, Thane couldn't say. Every stair brought them deeper into the earth. This far down, only the occasional torch parted the veil of darkness, making it seem as though the blackness was dancing around them, mocking them, unbeatable. Thirty seven dwarves gathered around Thane, Brenzen and Mistress Nero. Brenzen began to say something, cut off as the door to the caves rattled on its hinges.
"SPREAD OUT!" Thane roared as the stone door rocked on its hinges again. The third blow sent the door flying into the wall opposite it, sending dwarves diving to the sides to dodge it, and an eyeless lobster seemed to stare at them for a moment. Nunur chittered to itself, then a claw shot forwards at Thanatos. His shield flashed up, deflecting the blow but knocking him off his feet. As he fell, he swung his sword wildly, cutting into the underside of the beast's arm. It screeched, rearing back, then slammed forwards again, spraying webs into the stairway. The more seasoned dwarves had gotten behind it by then, slicing and bashing at its legs. Brenzen barely had time to shout a warning before a giant lizard fell on them from behind.
Athrig had time to roar at the knight once before his pickaxe crashed into the lizard's skull. Brenzen pulled the pick back, waiting for the beast to fall. Instead it reared back, bringing its front legs down in a crushing blow. Brenzen spun to the side, swinging Udeshkurol into Athrig's right knee. It roared again, and the pick crashed into its chest. Behind him, he heard Nunur screeching. He glanced behind him, certain the lobster was about to ambush him, turning back just in time to see the glow in Athrig's throat. Brenzen vaulted onto the lizard's back just in time to avoid the pillar of flame it loosed, severing its lower spine with a blow. The beast twisted in pain, fire spewing randomly across the cave. Nunur howled as its chest was engulfed by flames, but Brenzen was glad to see that all of the soldiers had raised their shields in time. The lobster fled into the darkness, a roaming beacon, and the militia converged on Athrig. The rest was slaughter.
Thane had her back to the screams and flames. There were four beasts, and they had only fought two of them so far. The lobster and the lizard were dead and dying, but she couldn't see the leech or the zebra anywhere. The fools at the stars were celebrating as though the battle was won already. If Vlad had been there, there would have been discipline, but Vlad couldn't be there. He had sworn at them when they told him, and even louder when he realised he couldn't change their minds, but once he realised that she and Brenzen wouldn't relent, he agreed, probably so they wouldn't have to waste a soldier guarding his rooms. Thane's thoughts were cut off when she heard the screams from above. She was nearly certain that it was one of the beasts. A dwarf surely couldn't howl like that. She hung Ob Kat from her shoulder, turning to help the Hellguard in their battle-
A breath behind her. She should have been worried that it was one of the beasts, but Thane had been hearing that breath for years. Everywhere she went, it seemed to be there before her, but no more. Ob Kat spun around once as she pulled it from her shoulder, ready to face whatever demon had been dogging her. Dantheman stepped into the firelight, a finger to his lips, pointing. Thane's eyes widened, then narrowed, then followed his finger. It was called Oci, she remembered. It looked like a horse, but striped black and white- or it seemed that way in the darkness, at least- and its face was flattened where its snout should have been. Thane could see Dan lining up a shot with his crossbow, taking an all too familiar breath as he steadied his aim.
It was Dan?
The bolt seemed to take an eternity to cross the distance to Oci, enough time for Thane to wonder what she had ever done to the hunter, why he would spend so much time chasing her, or Tarmid, or Gnora. The zebra growled as the bolt struck it in the gut, and a tapestry of silk flew through the air towards Thane and her stalker. The both dived away. Thane stood up, searching for Dan. He was on the ground, reaching towards her, webs wrapped around his legs up to the knees.
"Help," he said. Thane backed away. Dan's face twisted in confusion, and he struggled to his feet slowly, too slowly. He was bringing up his bow for another shot when Oci's hoof connected with his jaw.
Necks don't bend that way, Thane thought numbly. Oci spat more webs onto the hunter as he spasmed on the ground, looking up as reinforcements arrived. There was a flash of blue through the air as Lor Istbarsigun dodged under the zebra's feet, bringing his axe up in an underhand stroke that sent it crashing through the beast's ribcage. The militia captain abandoned his weapon to jump away from Oci's kicks and bites, each more feeble than the last, until it finally sank to the ground.
Thane silently walked over to Dantheman. He didn't seem to be breathing. As she knelt beside him, there was a sickening squelch as Lor pulled his axe out of Oci's corpse.
"It looks like his neck was broken," he said when he saw what she was looking at.
"I could have saved him," Thane whispered numbly.
"Don't go blaming yourself," Lor told her. "Rule number one, remember? I'm sure if you'd gotten here before me, you would have done the same, but Dan shouldn't have tried to fight the thing alone. He knew better than anyone how dangerous they are."
Thane nodded silently. It was better this way. Dan could be a hero, and she wouldn't have to tell anyone why she'd left him there.
"Do you want to hear the tallies?" Brenzen was asking her from miles away.
"Not yet," Thane heard herself say. "I need to pray first."
Brenzen nodded understandingly. "I'm sure we all have things we need to forget."
Thane glanced down at Dan, nodding. Some more than others.
Final tally:
- Two soldiers were caught in webs and fell on weapon traps. One died, the other is only missing most of the right hand side of his body.
- Dan was an accident. Literally the first two actions of the battle were him firing his bolt and then getting kicked in the head.
- Seven dwarves and four war dogs burned to death.
- Four dead forgotten beasts.
- The leech got into the miner's guildhall and killed most of the miner's guild. At least they can't organise strikes any more. Our Legendary Drug Dealer eventually killed it.
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Topic: Demongate: Wrapping up the Loose Ends. (Read 697410 times)