Deephole just was sieged. It was the second siege, being the first a squad of goblins archers and a swordmaster riding a Jabberer. We had some casualties, the Jabberer killed three of our soldiers, but we defeated them in the end, killing them all, and life in the fortress got back to normal.
Then the dwarven caravan arrived, bringing the precious steel and copper (for bronze-making) Deephole need so badly, because even digging really deep we never found a single ore of iron or copper, only tin and silver. As a result, our military is badly, badly equipped, most soldiers wearing scrapped armors and bad quality weapons.
The traders were nearing my fortress when the goblins attacked. Three squads - goblins archers, hammergoblins and axegoblins - ALL OF THEM RIDING JABBERERS. And to make things worse, a squad of Trolls.
Now, in Deephole we like the things close and personal. So the fortress isn't a impenetrable rock - the only passive defenses were a raising bridge and a line of weapon traps close the civilian zones. We waited to see if the carvan would get to the halls before the goblins, but then we see they wouldn't.
For a moment we were in doubt in what to do - go outside, to open field, and die beside our fellow dwarves, or await in the thin halls of Deephole where we could stand a chance, hoping the survivors of the slaughter got in? Or still, to raise the bridge and pray for the gods to starve the goblins, and let the merchants to die alone?
The mayor was discussing the matter with me, Likot, militia commander. I was supposed to protect the civilian halls if our first line, the squad lead by our captain of the guard, failed. Deler, a seasoned veteran, was hearing impatiently. Then, without a word, he just left.
After the meeting with the mayor, I went after him, and learned that he was charging the enemies alone! I should know he couldn't let dwarves being killed without doing something. He did not ask his subordinates to follow him, yet they followed.
The battle was already going on, with many merchants dead already and the escorts fighting for their lives. Deler fell upon the goblins like a battle god - killing rider and mount alike, dodging deadly arrows amidst flyng members and goblin blood. Most of his companios fell, and his was still fighting, with only minor wounds. When the wounded soldiers started to arrive at the hospital bringing news of the battle, I decided to charge with my men. Because there was still hope! Many goblins were killed, the goblins archers fled, and though there were trolls in the entrance hall, Deler was still fighting out there, and some of the caravan escorts were alive as well!
Many of my men died. But in the end the goblins fled, letting behind more than 30 corpses of their own. We lost about 10 soldiers, mostly green recruits, but they died with honor. The caravan was destroyed, but most of the soldiers were alive, badly wounded but glad for our help.
And Delen? When I saw him he was pursuing a Jabberer left behind. He was covered by blood, mostly goblin, though he was wounded, losing an ear. I smiled, happy for finding our hero, a real hero, alive. He gave the final blow on the monster, and said "Why are you smiling. This is just the beggining. The next will be worse. It's better we are prepared."
(Sorry for the english, it's 3 a.m here and I am not a native speaker)
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Topic: What's going on in your fort? (Read 6228711 times)