Military in Swordgleams suffered a large setback - essentially back to zero. However, they died bravely defending the fortress.
Snatchers hit the cage traps in the late summer. Right as a few workers were clearing the cages a goblin ambush team popped up. The workers got clear with a few running out the far gate. (More on them later.) Since the remaining traps were not going to be sufficient for the goblins and the gate would not be sealed in time the militia squad was sent for. With the most recent migrant wave a third competent sword dwarf was added to the squad and also given bronze armor.
The squad sallied forth to confront mace goblins led by a lasher. The lasher ended up in the last cage trap before the main gate. The melee with the rest of the goblins had mixed results. The goblins went down, but the sword squad took casualties. The most recently added member was killed, and one of the others was carried off to the hospital with a broken arm. That left just the fortress militia commander as the only sound military member with armor and weapons.
The gates were ordered sealed to allow for the cages to be cleared and some other work to be done without interruption.
This was done before the two workers who had fled could get back in. And since one camped right under the gate it could not be reopened with making dwarf pancake. So a wall section was taken out in a nearby ditch allowing a temporary entrance. Which, of course, did not work out.
One of the workers started around the ditch to reach the temporary entrance - and met another goblin squad. Hammer goblins this time. And did I mention that this dwarf was the newly appointed captain of the guard? (Due to being an elite marksdwarf) But unarmed and unarmored due to the squad not being formed up yet. The dwarf leads the goblins on a merry chase and is combat skilled enough to give them a hard time even though they are armored and he is not.
While this is going on a group of novice marksdwarves are gathered, given the limited number of crossbows, and sent onto the perimeter wall in an attempt to help out. By the time the Captain of the Guard is pounded down and the second dwarf outside the walls chased down and killed they have actually managed to kill or wound three of the seven goblins.
The remaining four goblins are somewhat scattered, so the militia commander goes out to hopefully get them piecemeal before they regather and head in through the ditch entrance as a group. The commander dispatches two before the last two attack him as a pair. He cripples one, who limps off, but the other knocks down the militia commander and then kills him.
While debating whether to send out the unarmored marksdwarves to take on the lone lurking goblin a sword dwarf suddenly appears and decapitates the goblin.
The previously wounded sword dwarf had been patched up (sutures, dressing, splint) and then sortied out with his fractured arm.
Corpses and equipment have been recovered, and the four dead dwarves have been given temporary burial until a more fitting resting place is prepared.
Training will have to begin anew with some fresh recruits. Hopefully the next caravan will come in time and have enough armor and weapons to equip a squad better.
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Topic: What's going on in your fort? (Read 6196524 times)