10th Limestone, 145
Someone went nuts. Saw her running around saying the “hornets were in her brain screaming ROBOBCOP!” Over and over again. What the hell is a robobcop?12th Limestone, 145A sorcerer was scraping piles of rats into a bucket to toss on the shit pile and... Well, the liaison might be dead. Got jumped by chaos dwarves. Sending Fenglel's team out to escort the caravan, I'm leading mine out to deal with the OL killers.
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Somehow, I don't know how, the liaison survived. We're body guarding the idiot now, since the mayor doesn't seem to know what “Finish your goddamn meeting with the human already” means. Oh, and Dailm managed to take out another squad on his own! Better soldiers in all ways I'd say.
13th Limestone, 145Seems the Count wants to turn Riverrun into a place of culture for some twisted reason; saw the plans for some bigass library north of the residential blocks, probably to act as some kind of public school for the fortress. Just great, now we have someone trying to attract more brainy types along with wanting to build some fuck-all monastery to draw religious idiots.
I wonder where they even plan on putting that?15th Limestone, 145
Deadeye found some kind of old notes among the copious piles of papers and whatever else are stuffed in Arcvasti's lab. The forgedwarves have been eying that lead katana left from the ward, and this “inventor's bench” supposedly has the ability to copy it in new materials.
The initial results aren't promising, or so I'm told. Apparently someone managed to make a freaking mace while trying to copy a sword.22nd Limestone, 145Teduk's Fine Goods sent a representative with the caravan, and now a shop is finally open! And some elf named Ineri decided to open up a pet shop, in case we wanted to buy any exotic pets and vicious wild animals.
Think I might peruse the place myself, see what kinds of goodies that supposedly refined prick's cronies can offer, maybe get somethin' nice for all the officers, Count Rakust, and Nidor.14th Moonstone, 145
And we are now officially a duchy! Guess I need to get used to calling Rakust “Duke” from now on. Still, he's a good dwarf, and frankly the only noble I've seen that didn't make asinine demands or mandates, unlike a certain mayor who deserved what she got.18th Moonstone, 145Seems Psi gave birth to a boy today. Named him Jet, for some reason. Still, cute enough beardling.6th Opal, 145Elcur finally croaked. Nidor had a coffin prepared ahead of time, so it's only as bad as people make it out to be. In other news journal, Vexxy's looking mighty proud of her squad all dressed up in ancient bloodsteel plate armor!
I suppose I need to look into having new shields made for them. Those rusted iron things just look so out of place with the ancient armor patterns.8th Opal, 145Some asshole painted my room purple again. Who the hell keeps doing this? It always happens at least once a year, and I have to spend my down time chipping the damned lacquer off! I asked the ghost dwarf and he says he doesn't know who it is either; I suspect he's in cahoots with whoever's doing it!15th Opal, 145
Tenderroat's pet asp went and killed a leprechaun, ever seen a tiny redheaded guy in a funny green outfit run around with a snake on his head? Funny shit journal, let me tell you. 13th Obsidian, 145
We got us a mess of... Badgermen? Ugh, just great. Never actually seen one up close, and I really hope they don't smell as bad as normal ones. We're gonna set up by the storehouse and let them come to us for a change, make clean up easier on our people.
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Killed'em at the bridge. Their leader got mulched and the rest didn't wanna press forward but wouldn't withdraw either. Rakust wants us to mark what we think should be melted down before he sends the work crews up to remove the remains of the battle.19th Obsidian, 145There's some frosties on the horizon. We're heading out to put them down. Pretty sure the drow diplomat was supposed to arrive around this time now that I think of it...
I'm sure they're fine.
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Issue dealt with! Casualties: One injured shadowsniper who we found getting the shit beaten out of, and someone's pet mastiff that got caught in a burst of Pyro's fire when she spotted a snatcher. Along with most of the southern road. Ah well, gives the masons something to do besides cut blocks all day.6th Granite, 146Tenderroast is heading to the Emberblaze Alter, so we'll soon have two proper mages running around. Again, I hope he doesn't go torching half the place by mistake or something. Khaziraad made two basilisks, I wonder what he can make when he finishes his training?10th Granite, 146The Paints had visitors today, whole tribe of cave fish men. Only killed two, and the rest that hadn't already been caught either got captured or fled into the deeper parts of the caverns. Still, they got to kill three of them, so that's what counts.18th Granite, 146First we catch Sibrek cheating at poker and now I wake up to find my civvie shoes full of otter shit and what I suspect is cauchemar piss. When I find the culprit they're gonna be in for an unwelcome stint in the paints as the new meat. Been needing to find someone to take Cerol's old posting anyway.6th Felsite, 146Where does the time go journal? That library is coming along nicely I guess. Six wings, one for all the main areas by the looks of it. Got to take out a small band of frosties though! Oh, and the manager got mauled by a spear-nosed bat. Gusil'll live, but they're still nasty little things, so I got Vexxy's squad heading down to kill'em all.11th Felsite, 146Apparently one of the Paints named their crap buckler. Guess I should've put in for new shields a little sooner, huh journal.13th Felsite, 146
Looks like we've done well enough to get the Pandashi clans' attention. We're heading out now to show them how real soldiers fight.
They crept through the shallow brush and brown stone ditch quietly, trying to avoid detection of the roaming dwarves. The sight of their small citadel was inspiring, to an extant. It wasn't an impressive structure, a simple, short fortification built from the hard undersands of much of The Dyed Forest. It resisted the rain well enough, and shown as a beacon to all in the forest within a few miles or so. It seemed as though a small trading hub was being built around the place, shops and a large tavern easily seen.
One of their number however jumped, cursing a strange fluffed weasel kit bounding by. And they heard rather disturbing sounds of a black caiman, and growls of a bear. They took cover, Their leader Rava cursing the less disciplined warrior. They were glad that despite the lack of bodies, the air with thick with a scent of death. Many had died here, and many more likely would in the future; the bifrost remains of several frost giants in the area hadn't exactly been encouraging either. A large female bear followed by her cubs passed, an unmistakable caiman traveling alongside it. They passed, and they let out a sigh of relief. Rava motioned for the one who might have given them away and sent her forward to scout the entrance.
They waited patiently, but they heard nothing, save for the wet thunk of the pandashi scout's upper body hitting the ground at the end of the ditch. Then came the unmistakable clatter of... What sort of armor was that? Rava hadn't heard this particular rattle from a dwarven fortress before; the citadels of the Astrean Order maybe, but not a dwarven fortress. And the Astrean Knights hadn't been seen in this region in decades!
But there they stood, six figures clad in shimmering armor of a long-gone age, swords drawn.
Three warriors charged without a word, and blades flashed: One's shield arm was cloven away by a bronze blade, the sword swiftly slashing into the Pandashi's head and tearing away his jaw in a brutal display, teeth flying as the mangled jaw flew away, ragged hunks of flesh and fur with it as the warrior collapsed. His brain had been sliced, his still form having only puddles of fresh blood forming around the stump and mangled head for movement.
A shining wolfram sword took the leg from under the second, then her mace arm. As she collapsed, the dwarf climbed onto her back and jammed its blade in her neck, wrenching it sideways, practically decapitating her, save a few ragged hunks of meat on the front of her throat, which briefly splurted blood about and into a small pool.
The third swung a maul, only to be deftly blocked with a round shield, sending the blow hard into the stone floor with a crack. He tried to bring it up for a backswing into the dwarf's side, only to have a shimmering dark blue blade cleave away his entire forearm, still clutching the haft of the massive blunt object. The next two moves were quick, the sword sinking into the warrior's gut and swiftly pulled free, where the dwarf spun around and sliced the Pandashi in half, upper and lower halves hitting the ground with a damp and sloshy thud, slashed entrails unceremoniously slipping out of the cavities.
“Well well well, lookit what we got here!” The dwarf with the blue sword said, shaking the blood from it. “Was wondering when you big fuzzy assholes would come crawlin' out of your bamboo forests for a go at us.”
“That we have dwarf.” Rava said, saluting the six dwarves. “I pardon my overeager warriors. They should have known better than to lash out before you accept the challenge of The Hollow Clearing.”
“Huh, aren't you a polite lot.” The wolfram sword-armed dwarf said.
A short, young-sounding dwarf stepped forward, asking “Are we supposed to be impressed by your manners or something?”
“Easy now guys.” The apparent leader said, motioning with his shield. “They're being a million times more considerate than everyone else so far.” He moved forward pointing his sword at Rava. “We accept. How exactly do you plan on tellin' your clan leaders since we'll be killing all of you?”
“Observers will relay the the message when they witness us begin.”
“Well, alright then. Your move fuzzy.”
“As you wish, defend yourselves!”
Polite buggers, I'll give the Pandashi that much. Dead buggers too.12th Hematite, 146Tenderroast is progressing nicely with his arcane studies and he's officially an “ashkin.” And already diving into the next phase of his studies. Well, once we can get some oil made for him anyway. I also hear Khaziraad's finally getting the statue he needs to finish his too. 26th Hematite, 146Giant gray langurs, just what we need. I hope the traps kill most of them because I'm sick of dealing with those pests.
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Dumb apes are all dead thanks to the traps! Good, saves us the trouble of being hit by squirrel-sized turds.11th Malachite, 146I just realized we didn't get visited by the elves.
The old kiln's being moved inside, and getting replaced with a big ol' crematorium. It'll be nice to be able to have the remains of sieges and such totally incinerated. I know it's been a long time, but that noise above the hospital's finally stopped and that worries me; the smurfs are also starting to act weird...6th Galena, 146
Looks like we got another visitor, and yet another red dragon. Funny, Arcvasti revived one species and his work has practically sown the destruction of another.
Dwarves were scattering as the great lizard descended into the fortress from above. One dwarf clad in mithril, bifrost blade drawn, stood waiting. The wyvern landed with a mighty thud, sending some dwarves sprawling as the ground shook. It glared at the armored dwarf before it, and it loosed a growling laugh.
“Only one?” It asked, head low to the ground. “For a hall famed for slaying my kin, I expected more. More than mere peasants and one pitiful canned meal.”
The dwarf got into a combat stance, shield forward. “Canned meal. Funny. So, you come to join the reds you big dumb bastard?”
“Hardly dwarf, I am Lugha, and I've come to kill you all. To see your flesh and metal skins dissolved in my acid!” With that, the beast loosed a spray of caustic acid and charged, nearly all of the acid hissing and blurbling against the paint adorning his shield and he plate armor. The great reptile's neck smashed the dwarf down, and as it reared and lunged for a bite, it instead found a metal boot smashing its nose and stunning it!
It roared in anger as its meal taunted it while rolling away, the wyvern's claw smashing down where it once was! And then it felt the sting of its scales breaking, flesh tearing, and suddenly it had great difficulty breathing: That accursed beard with legs had managed to drive its false-fang into its lung!
“By Uz you're a biggun!” The dwarf said, wrenching the blade free, which he had driven in to the crossguard, a small spurt of blood trailing with it. Lugha tried to swat him away with his wing, but the dwarf ran away, coming back into the reptile's gaze. Lugha made a lunge, and got struck by the dwarf's pommel before the little beard hooked his sword in Lugha's fang. The wyvern tried to shake the dwarf off growling all the while, and on the third shake, he came loose, but landed with a metallic flop on Lugha's neck!
The dwarf awkwardly changed the hold on his sword and drove it into the great thrashing beast's neck, and Lugha suddenly lost all feeling in every limb: wings refused to flap, legs to move, tail to lash around, and the monster fell to the ground. The dwarf started twisting, jerking his sword back and fourth, shredding muscle and scale with his sword, and finally jammed it in and jumped off, slicing most of the wyvern's throat apart.
It didn't take long, as Lugha's agonizing pain quickly subsided as blood emptied in copious amounts.
Splint staggered away, yanking his helmet free of his head and beard, and started to vomit uncontrollably. “Ugh... God... Godsdamn man... Thing's breath is... Is fucking vile...” He hocked up more bile, and threw his helmet on the floor, angrily shouting “Awwwww! Awww god damn it, it's all in... It's all in my beard! And my armor! AUGH.”
-
“You're cleared to return to duty Splint.” Emtan said, finishing the exam.
Splint drew his head out of the apparently labeled 'puke bucket.' “Eugh... You uh... You sure Em? Feel like I've been run over with a cartload of plaugebearers spraying death everywhere.”
“Positive buddy, just a case of wyvern sickness, comes from breathing in the fumes from its acid. Good thing you were wearing that armor though.”
“What? Wh-” He proceeded to empty more bile into the bucket, sighing and wheezing a bit after. “Why?”
“Well, because that acid breath of theirs is known to cause things ranging from what you have, all the way up to.... Well, y'know. Dissolved skin, bubbling eyes, that sort of thing. Which I can assure you you would not have survived. Not for long anyway.”
“Ugh...”
“I mean, it would have been absolutely excruciating since you would have-”
“Em.”
“-felt everything the entire time, and if it had gotten in your-”
“Em.”
“-eyes then it would have been a million times more-”
“EM!”
“WHAT!?”
“Jus'... Jus' stop. Please. Your bedside manner needs some work Em. It's fucking atrocious.”
“Give me a break Mr. Badass, My last patient consisted of telling him stop crying while I stitched up the bat bites in his arm and head and a cavern trooper who was unconscious the entire time. Anyway, the fever and nausea should clear up soon. How's the dizziness?”
“Not too bad, at least since I got here.”
“Good, means you're almost over it.”
15th Galena, 146
I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say I think we pissed the elves off Journal. We're heading out now, I'm leading The Grasses and Caverns out to deal with the initial threat and the Darkness are keeping an eye on the front entrance, but at this rate we'll have everyone trying to kill us before the end of the decade.
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I may need to push for those bifrost swords if we're going to be going up against the elves. Saw more than one hit to the head and body do more than knock the elves down thanks to their mithril armor.18th Galena, 146
The bandits are here for another round. Four squads of'em I think. Just like last time most of the pricks swung around and set up across the river, but there's one squad on our side coming down the road. Gonna send the Darkness to look after the ones to the east, in case they try anything funny. The rest of us are going on a little day trip over the river, since that's where the worst of the enemy is.
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South group down. We're holding off on attacking the two to the southwest. A giant wren also got killed during the fighting there for some reason, probably heat of the moment, but still pointless.19th Galena, 146Made our move at dusk. Wiped out half the swordsmen before they decided they didn't wanna play anymore, leader included. The riflemen couldn't hit the broadside of a barn either, between all the trees and the low light conditions. Their commander wasn't so fortunate, and they broke and started running once she went down.23rd Galena, 146Welp, the bandits called it quits! Ngithol and Reksas moved on the last group and only found two spearmen playing rearguard. They're dead now, as expected. No trade this summer though, bastards.25th Galena, 146Seems Rakust is working on some kinda project, bone by the looks of it. We're all taking bets on what it'll be, and my money's on a figurine.27th Galena, 146So! Two developments! First, the so-called “Enlightened” Alter is finished being... Unlocked I guess? The second.... Ehm, what's a polite word for incredibly stupid pants?
[For much of the autumn months, the entries are rather uneventful, mainly consisting of the outcomes of poker games, a languar raid that ended with Dailm getting an apparent second piece of excrement in his helmet, and progress notes on the library.]
14th Limestone, 146No trade this year at all it's looking like. A merchant from the company had one of those eh... Episodes the schizophrenics are known for and took a javelin to the head from one of the guards after trashing his wagon on a stump. Just as well, I'm pretty sure I saw one who was pretty sick.
17th Limestone, 146
Chaos again, and this time the little buggers brought some of their real warriors, praetorians. Plus some odd looking ones I've never seen. We're heading out. This should be interesting.
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Just finished going over the reports, three squads, mace, axe, and spear, lead by a pike, spear, and markslord respectively. Saw to the speardwarf squad myself, since that markslord was most dangerous. I'm told Fenglel's squad sent the axedwarves packing, or more, the half that booked it with their commander anyway. Formed up with the Darkness and went after the macedwarves, but they'd already cleared out.3rd Moonstone, 146All the adult tuskoxen are getting put down, mainly to get them out of the way. I heard Rakust say he's going to be passing down some production orders, and has plans to have an armory built behind the military wing of the library to hold the copious amounts of generously donated second-hand crap we keep bringing in, either to use in traps or to melt down. Doesn't sound like a good idea to me personally, just cause we have some much shit laying around.6th Opal, 146Where does time go Journal? I think I ask you that every once or twice a year eh? Well, seems that crippling cabinet shortage is finally getting addressed, and some guard's gone off his rocker and started working on some project or another, speaking in tongues, that sort of thing. Dunno what the guy's making, but I know it involves bones from a dead chaos dwarf.
In other news, Tenderroast is gonna have a pleasing surprise when he comes out of the fire alter: Psi and Gumka have forged him a suit of bronze chain and bloodsteel plate! And Fergus is getting a new bifrost blade with bone worked into it like mine. Fergus asked about his ol' bronze thing, and I said he could keep the thing on display in his apartment; that's what I did with my first sword and I didn't even name it.1st Obsidian, 146Tenderroast is on the last leg of his training; seems something during Khaziraad's hadn't taken, so he's gonna try again when we have the platinum for it.7th Obsidian, 146Drow are here, thank the gods. Maybe we'll finally get to sell off all these damned spare animals. Sending the caverns out to run interference. It'll be nice to see a caravan that isn't carrying disease or immediately set on by goblins, heretics, or only Rulush knows what else.
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Was leading a patrol across the river and ran into some pandashi, so a bunch of overgrown fur rugs are coming at us this winter. Also heard the Caverns got involved in a shootout with a mass of pandashi archers too, screened the drow shadowsnipers and even killed their leader while the arrows were flying. Heard the commotion, was heading that way when we ran into a pack of war-trained jaguars. Either way, was apparently a “good display of archery” according to Fenglel!
Found a couple of freshly dead goblins gumming up the traps too, so they might be paying us a visit as well.10th Obsidian, 146The badgermen are here for another, go, and this time they brought... Well, I'm not exactly sure what in the fuck those things are supposed to be actually. Usual three teams heading out, Darkness covering the northeast, Caverns west and north west, and Grasses covering the bridge (and by extension the entire south side of the river.)
This outta be fun.
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Whatever those... Fishfrogs? Whatever they were are reported as dying just as easy as anything else if you poke enough holes in it.26th Obsidian, 146Alright, so whoever was doing the trading fucked up. Seized some bags of blue dye and pissed the drow off; hopefully this won't escalate to an armed conflict because it's bad enough the elves were on our asses in spring.[Once again, the entries trail off into random subjects, thought the “New Years” one (along with several under it) is stained with wine and rum.]
2nd Felsite, 147Seems the first proper wing of the library is officially open! Dunno how I feel about it being the military wing, but hey. At least it's done. Place is all lit up now, braziers everywhere, everyone has a working fireplace, and there's even enough room for a few more families!7th Felsite, 147
Looks like we have our first full-fledged battlemage! And equally important, a needed scrap smelter and blacksmith. He even went the extra mile and made himself one of those fancy bracer-things that projects an aura at targets!
Outside Riverrun, the mighty red dragon Genlath skulked about the trees. It had gone to drink of the river the dwarves protected so fervently, when it felt something amiss. He lumbered across the bridge, the metal groaning under his impressive bulk. Genlath grunted, a puff of smoke escaping his nostrils.
“Come out little elves.” The red dragon rumbled. “I know you lurk amongst the brush.”
As if on cue, two arrows soared through the air with an almost song-like whistle, striking Genlath squarely in his right front leg! Genlath loosed a pained roar and searched for the source, spotting mounted elves lead by one of their feared druidic bladedancers... Armed with what looked like a fancy metal rod. Without a second thought, he slammed his good claw into the ground, staggering the leader's now-charging unicorn and glaring into the trees and brush, reared back, taking in a great breath.
The leader's eyes widened in terror. “Oh nononono, everyone find something solid to hide behind! It's going to-!” His panicked warning was beaten by a fanning torrent of flame, and in an instant three unicorns, two deer, and their attendant bowelves were set ablaze. The leader looked on in horror, but suddenly found himself flung from his unicorn, a massive tail having smashed into him!
The dragon lowered his head to the elf who staggered to his feet, wildly lashing out with his mithril jitte only to have it glance harmlessly off Genlath's nose. The dragon did not look amused, and snorted, the puff of smoke knocking the elf on his rear. “You foolish leaf lovers will pay for your trespasses. This fortress and its woods are the domain of I and my kin,” The great reptile rumbled. “And we will not have the likes of you wretched tree lovers daring to threaten our hoard or dominion!” At this, he reared just enough to slam his claws down, digging them into the earth as he racked them backwards, tearing the poor elf's feet off with it. Then it struck again, crushing the elf's chest through his root armor, at least three ribs cracking under the weight.
Two more arrows struck, one glance off his tail and another finding purchase in his side amid the small volley of six or so fired. Genlath roared in anger and struck for the third and final time, clamping down on the now-sobbing elf's upper body with his mighty jaws. He shook violently four times before throwing the elf upwards, and clamping down again, catching the unfortunate elf around the neck. With a little extra push of his jaw, Genlath popped the elf warrior's head from his shoulders, and spat it out.
Three more arrows struck, finding themselves embedded only shallowly in his scales. Genlath spun around, tail smashing a tree and claws rending small saplings out of spite, and loosed a second jet of searing agony on the elves; most now were naught but screaming torches, and those that weren't, suffered a third blast of fire.
As elves screamed and the fire raged, Genlath dove in, chomping on first a unicorn and then a deer, tossing both burning carcasses away once the animals stopped braying. Before long, the elves were dead, fried in their mithril hides and their mounts would soon follow. Genlath snorted with satisfaction: He had slain the group along, and barring many shallow arrow wounds, was unhurt. Best of all, he wouldn't hear from the grouchy little men in white that they'd need to repair their roads like they had with Alacore.
Soon, all that would remain would be the ash-filled mithril hides and weapons.
20th Felsite, 147One of the dragons came in today peppered with arrows. Rakust asked what happened and it said that it had dealt with “the knife-eared pests” across the river. Guess that explains the forest fire.22nd Felsite, 147We've definitely pissed off the elves. The engraver Vakun just spotted two whole mounted squads, archers and swordelves.
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By some twisted fucking miracle, Vakun's alive and unhurt. Same can't be said for a moleweasel, but still. Crisis averted! Now we get to watch piles of dead guy get dragged in for incineration. Seriously, that thing's been running almost nonstop for weeks.
Durdurrr! Updaaaaaaaayte!
So yeah, there was a few looooooong swaths of unusually uneventual time, but the library just needs the books installed and it'll be finished! We have definitely pissed the elves off about something, which I guessing is the slaughtered caravan from years back or maybe the dead diplomats. One of the dragons hauled off and fried a whole squad, but is unfortunately quite dead. Seems something caused his fat to catch fire and he bled out. From a story standpoint, Genlath is still alive and kicking though.
The place is all lit up for the most part now, with braziers and fireplaces, furniture is finally churned out enough that everyone (save Splint and Fergus) have two cabinets and a chest, bed, and fireplace! And doors! Splint and Fergus though have their old swords on display. And speaking of dwarves, Vakun by some fucking miracle uncovered a pack of leopards, two squads, and isn't hurt. Apparently they were actually already falling back due to the traps near the tavern.
Tenderroast has finally finished his mage training which has him off refuse removal, because he'll probably kill a bunch of friendlies. Happened once before with one of the dragons in a version that got 86'd by a power outage. And related, Khaziraad must've not been caught in the upgrade cloud. Next time I'll lock his ass in there so he won't path out of the cloud. Also working on a suit of plate armor for a water school mage.
There's also been the painful lack of trade and one fuck-up with the drow. Seriously, by the end of the decade I won't be shocked if we have the whole god damn world trying to kill us.
Last note, our official colors seem to be brown and purple; we have a ridiculous quantity of both paints and I have absolutely no idea what to do with it all since I've more or less color coded all the furniture in the library wings.
And best of all? Scribble of a leprechaun being shewed on by Tenderroast's pet asp!
Enjoy guys!
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Topic: ☼Riverrun, a Masterwork Community Dwarf Fortress RISE AGAIN!!!☼ (Read 157752 times)