Dreadsmear, 9 Hematite 309
For three years, we have seen neither merchant nor invader, but now the forces of the Everlasting Confederacies are at our border again. Over the intervening years, we have completed the primary apartment complex - 96 iron bedrooms, with exceptional beds and graystone doors, stretching four stories above the ground. The walls surrounding our two orchards are in better shape, and the southern entryway now leads through a twisting, wagon-passable tunnel to a raised trading platform. We've begun construction of a grand tomb complex built into the southeastern wall, and carved out most of the hills near the southeastern border for a better field of view. A great furnace in the central square, under the gaze of the growing Iron Manor, devours the worthless armor of the last army to approach Dreadsmear uninvited. We shall soon see what these new visitors have to add to our stockpiles.
Several couples have contributed to our population, but we also suffered a death during this interlude. Olazra Line's mood had been improving under the gentle guidance of Khar Menace until he became suddenly upset, apparently over the state of his clothes, and backslid abruptly. Olazra began tantruming and attacking his teacher. The first time, Khar simply stood and let him beat her, even though she suffered a broken foot from the assault. Unfortunately, her tolerance failed to calm him down. The second incident started out the same, but this time Olazra drew blood. The entire purpose of Khar's containment facility is to avoid spreading her toxic fluids. She immediately crushed his skull with a single blow, and Olazra was interred in a coffin in the deep quarries, with no honor. But the other warriors of Dreadsmear have continued training, and several earned weapons during the last invasion, so we are stronger now despite his loss.
10 Hematite
Zahn Witch of Webcaster squad reported that the invaders are approaching the northern entry in force - the better part of 100 human solders, and at least two dozen horses. Oddly enough, the horses all seem to be riderless. Most Molvokans want to be nowhere near the spinners when iron-silk starts flying. Warlord Shenik redeployed the Mechanics (who have the strength, agility, and limbs to work their way through webs unimpeded) and the Storm (who have crossbows) to support us.
11 Hematite
Preceded by waves of iron-silk and clouds of poison, we rolled over the human scouts and are now pushing out against the army. Tro Hate collects heads with her ☼steel bill hook☼; Tedakh Sin cuts a path through the intruders with dagger and long sword. Zahn is the strongest of the Webcasters, and her punches have crushed three skulls. These idiots came here to kill us, but the slaughter is still an unnerving sight for those of us unused to open battle. Still, we have nothing but superficial wounds. The biggest problem was a lasher with a bronze whip. How can such a weapon damage a steel breastplate? It seems absurd.
12 Hematite
The Warlord came to lead us personally when it became clear that the northern push was the invaders' primary assault. With Shenik Ruthless as our point, we swept through the invading army like a fire through dry brush. Only their herd of panicked horses remains before us, and iron-silk and corpses blanket the ground in our wake. As we pushed south, the forces at the eastern entry saw our approach and came forth, but the single squad of enemy soldiers that remained there delayed them just long enough to keep them from catching the horses between us. Some thirty or so of them remain on the loose. Still, there's nothing but mopping up left to be done.
(From the notes of Berkhak Fell, wordspinner, of Webcaster squad.)
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Topic: What's going on in your fort? (Read 6119921 times)