Whatever was in the drink affecting my vision seems to have cleared up, but any rejoicing is halted by one tiny little fact.
"FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-"
The new bridge isn't finished; can Goblins climb? I hope they can't climb. I muster the Earthen Assaults while ringing the alarm bells; my hope is that if the hoards dare the north side in, they'll be halted quickly. They're all certainly finding the north channel entertaining...
...but seem to go right past it. Oh, that's a good thing. That's a very good thing. Please let them go right past it and in to the slaughterhouse. That would be nice. That would be lovely. That would absolutely make my day. I hold my breath with everyone else, but it seems like the invaders either can't climb, or just don't notice the opening; the Earthen Assault seem almost-
WELL I SURE SPOKE TOO SOON. No, you fools, don't rush out, let them rush in-!
Damn it.
Incensed by the fall of his brethren, Lokum not only enters a mad state I've rarely seen before - but picks up his breathen's axe and gets to work. For all the good that does.
One of the civilians who thought they were too good stay inside is the next victim. I can't muster the ability to be sad; if the idiot had listened, he'd be alive. Mostly, I'm focused on how the siege is at least split; perhaps it won't be much longer until it's broken entirely?
Why there's a parade to the remains is beyond me. GET BACK INSIDE.
HOW'D YOU GET INSIDE. Belatedly I realize I should have pulled a lever or something, but at least the military's right here. WELL, BOYS, TIME TO EARN YOUR PAY.
GO BEAR, BUY THEM TIME. LET HIDDENLEAFGUY GET AWAY. GO BEAR, GO! (Is Bob safe? DAMN RIGHT HE IS.)
Oops. Okay, this one may actually be my fault. At least Sanctume is on the job to, uh, clean up. (That is an awful lot of dead animals. At least we're eating well tonight?)
why
Oh, that's why. I...think. Well, I...guess it wasn't as awful as it could have been? Also, how did these get all the way up here?
I almost send out the militia upon hearing this when the word 'diplomat' processes. Still, my first instincts are wary; there's some humans with them, and I wonder if this is the start of another siege. Or if the humans decided to forego the caravan this year with intentions to declare war.
All right, humans, let me tell you; I've a very, VERY bad headache today, and it's not from the booze, which makes it all worse. So I HOPE you intend on taking our gracious 'gifts' of troll and ogre clothing along with all of our handcrafted food...and distracting Gwolfski from finishing the bridge.
Oh, you mean now that we decorated with the body parts of your brethren?
...I hate you. Why did I even bother listening in...? Maybe I can find some better company with-
-nevermind. Let's just get the business over with. Since the humans also refuse to take the generous 'offerings', I demand a single piece of metal for them, and that shuts them up.
Also; YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY THE BRIDGE IS FINISHED! I may be somewhat overzealous in my trading with the humans in my celebration, buying up every piece of metal they have. We can...smelt it or something.
Not everyone is that happy, though. Luckily, Muthkat is ready to rejoin to rest, so I just have them trade places. The humans leave soon after, with their...diplomat.
THANKS FOR TAKING THE CRAP.
I keep getting yelled at for a lack of coal, which means it's charcoal time. We've got a decent amount of wood, so I'm not worried, but I take a look underground to see if we've any actual...you know. Coal. Turns out we've got plenty of lignite, so I promptly direct it to be mined out.
Also this.
And this. That makes the fortifications (mostly) complete, and...mostly not an eyesore. The expansion of the floors are a little more slow going, but...it'll do for now.
What, again? A bit paranoid with all the possessions, I order a few more coffins made, and watch while this one takes most of a month to get all the bits and pieces they need. But after what's enough time to drive ME mad...
Speaking of mad, I send Goden back to work. He seems rehabilitated enough. (I say before expecting to send him back within a month. Armok, I'm not drinking nearly enough for this.)
Or this. Sigh.
----------------
AND THAT WAS SUMMER. One question- where the heck's the lever that controls the bridge by the barracks? Not the West bridge's, the one that forces them to go through the barracks if they want to get inside. Hiddenleafguy paid for my ignorance, along with some animals