And now, another story I wrote in writing class about Bastiongate but never posted.
The Founders Remember
Seven dwarves sat around a table in a huge, lavish hall. These dwarves were old even by dwarven standards – their beards were long enough to trip on. They were fat and decked in finery, though the appearance was somewhat marred by dirt and stone dust.
The table was silent until one dwarf, a carpenter by his axe and saw, spoke up.
“Do you remember why I led this expedition out into the hostile, forsaken desert?”
“Sure we do, Momuz,” said Limul, the miner. “It was to get away from the nobles!”
“And then you were the expedition leader, even though you hated nobles,” said Libash, the craftsdwarf.
“And then we founded a successful outpost, and more people showed up,” said Dumat, the other miner.
“And then the nobles showed up here!” said Atir, the farmer.
“Well, I don’t blame them, we’re sitting on so much silver we use it for crossbow bolts,” said Vucar, the stoneworker. She tapped the solid silver table with her knuckles.
“Yeah, but we’re in the ass end of nowhere! They had to cross half the Red Desert to get here, through goblin lands!” said Thikut, the butcher.
“Well, WE made the journey just fine,” said Limul.
“And don’t forget about all the weird stuff that happens here,” said Atir.
“Artifacts and babies and beasts and legends,” said Libash.
“What if we didn’t choose Bastiongate? What if Bastiongate chose us?” said Vucar.
“That’s crazy, how can a place choose?” said Dumat.
“Well, you must admit, nobody seems to be in charge here. Some miners will just decide to dig some new bedrooms and the stoneworkers will smooth the walls and floors and I’ll make the beds and everyone will stick the beds in the rooms and hang the doors and move in but nobody ordered any bedrooms built,” said Momuz.
“Now that I think of it, what made me choose this spot over the others? I picked this place because it was flat and dry and out of the way, but I could have chosen dozens of other spots.”
“Shoulda picked one with iron,” said Dumat. “Maybe we wouldn’t have to import it then.”
“Well I didn’t see you offering any bright ideas, smartass,” snapped Momuz.
“Would you two knock it off already? It’s been fifty years!” said Atir.
“Anyway, what about being drawn here? Why did everything start happening after we embarked?” said Vucar.
“Hey, what if everything is being drawn here? It certainly seems to be true. Remember how Mebzuth was only going to stay a couple weeks, but we’re drinking his beer right now?” said Limul.
“Think about it. Only Bastiongate dwarves have kids. The goblins always attack here and rarely retreat, even if they all get slaughtered. Nearly every legendary beast has attacked the fort and either gotten killed or ended it up in the zoo. Some of them even swam across the ocean to attack us. What if we’re even sucking the very life out of the world?”
“I think if something as big as all that was happening it wouldn’t have taken us fifty years to figure it out,” scoffed Dumat.
“Well, this has certainly given me something to think about,” said Libash, standing up creakily. “I’ll consider things while I carve some more pots. Mebzuth wanted some more, he ran out.”
“I’d better get back to work too,” said Limul. “Come on Dumat, you lazy old trog.”
“Shut up Limul, you’re older than I am,” said Dumat with a smile.
“Alright, well, it’s been nice talking with everyone again,” said Atir. “We never take our breaks at the same time as much. But I need to make sure these new planters aren’t mucking everything up.”
“Isn’t your job to muck everything up?” cracked Thikut.
“That was weak, try harder next time.”
“No you.”
The dwarves dispersed, thinking on what had been said. Maybe there was a bit of truth to Limul’s theory. Maybe whatever had attracted them all here was watching them now, guiding them.
Best not to think about it too hard.
Author
Topic: The Saga of Bastiongate (60 Years!) (Read 69513 times)