Taupe was the first to notice the goblins as they cleared the hills surronding Breadbowl. As military commander, he was responsible to limit the deaths surronding the fort, even if in his heart he just didn't care anymore. Breadbowl's control room had been reclaimed, but the fort was sealed except for the western bridge to the barrack. As such, any invaders who wanted to enter the fort had to pass through the barrack. Unfortunately, the goblin recon knew this, and decided to go for easier pray.
Crazy Blades drew his sword. "Shouldn't we do something?". Taupe considered it.
"No, we go out there, we'll get caught in a cross-fire. Nothing we can do ..."
Sibrek, a miner who had been hauling blocks to shore up a deficiency in the north wall was caught between the goblins entering. One of the crossbowmen aimed and took fire, but Sibrek wasn't going to deal with that.
"To fucking hell with you, I've seen dragon, I've see death, I DON'T FUCKING CARE!"
Sanctume blinks. So did the rest of the military. They had heard stories that a legendary miner could route seiges all on their own, but until this moment, none of them believed them. "Taupe, we need to recruit that guy!"
"If he lives ..."
"Yeash, you always got to be on the negative man"; Murky was sitting on the far side of the barrack, only barely aware of what was going on. Rumors had it that he was running an (literally) underground supply ring of plump helments, but no one could prove it.
"Fuck. Taupe, can we please engage!"
"No! We go out there, we get pincushioned. That's just the opening wave. Look!"
The goblins clearly knew that Breadbowl had seen better days and were determined to finish the job. The initial count was 80, but the fortress's resident counter, Bearskie said there was even more.
"Here they come boys, light them up!"
Crazy Blades moved ahead, to block the entrance.
"No one that ugly enters Breadbowl on my watch".
The troll and his spearman handler roared and charged.
"All you got, punks?"
---
On the catwalks, Pyro watched helpless as a carpenter was cut down. A group of goblins had spread north, obviously hoping that one of Breadbowl's other entrances were open, and were mowing down anyone in their path. Unfortunately, all they found was Neblime.
Pyro and his watchers fired a few bolts to try and get their attention, but at that range, it was no use. He kept watching for anyone to move close enough to make the goblins pay for Neblime.
"Boss, look!"
"They're bringing in the heavies!"
Pyro swore. "Get down to the barrack, and let Taupe know he's about to have company. Watchers, to arms, we need to buy the meele guys more time!"
Someone piped up behind, "10 bits to whomever gets the first headshot!"
---
Crazy Blades had done well.
But well wasn't good enough. With each goblin, troll, or orge he cut down, three more took their place as they forced their way into the cramped barrack.
He was starting to tire, and a recruit saw a chance for glory.
Blades tried to stop Bomrek, but the cocky recruit was struck down after he took a moment to celebrate his victory.
Blade and Taupe (who had been standing near the entrance way) were startled when Angus, whom had up to this point been silent, let our a ferral roar and charged into the fight stepping over them to do so.
Bomrek had been his favorite student after all.
He was going to paint the ground blue in troll blood.
He was going to fulfill his life long goal of becoming a dentist.
He was ... distracted at the worst possible time.
Taupe had not liked Sakzul. He was lazy, and ill suited for military, but the orders from high up was all were to be trained. Unfortunately, in his first real fight, he snapped, and punched Angus straight upside the head. The momentary distraction was enough to turn the tide of battle.
Many goblins were dead, but so was much of Breadbowl's military. Only a few veterans remained, and if this last line of defense was breached, the fortress was doomed. Taupe gave the order.
---
Pyro saw the handsignals from his crowsnest. He didn't like it, but he relayed the message on the update. "Prepare for fighting within the city!"
The tide of battle had turned against Breadbowl. The reservists and citizens milta were mobilized.
---
Lolor, a relatively new recruit jumped into the fray. "Arg boys, we ain't going down that easily!"
Urist Nakasreg, the civilian who happened to become a legend by slaying Uslot and ending the great burn, could only nod as another swipe of the axe sent a head rolling.
Taupe did the math. They were down 12 dwarfs, including several veterans, but the goblins had lost over 70. The remainder was starting to break up. The goblins were out of ammo, and there retreat had turned into a route as some had gotten stuck in the moat. This was there chance.
He did the math in his head, and made the call. He was going to end this.
"All units, ATTACK!"
---
15 drunken bastards charged out of the barrack. Blood, guts, and brains flew left and right. The goblin's leadership had been offed by Pyro's marksdwarfs, and the retreat had shattered their lines. Now to escape Breadbowl, the goblins would have to go through Taupe and his men. He gave only one order.
"No survivors"
Within a day, there were only five goblins and a troll left.
Withint two days, the counts were in. Only four goblins had left Breadbowl with their lives. Six had stumbled into traps. Over 65 goblins slain, 11 trolls, and 7 orges lay dead. The entrance-way to Breadbowl was caked in blood, but there was only one thing as in his mind as Taupe signaled up to Pyro. Two words.
"Breadbowl Endures"
The question on his mind, for how long?
They had survived trial by goblins (twice!), trial by dragon, trial by fire, trial by werebeast and trial by ocean ...
Sooner or later, they would fail ...
---
OOC: I believe we've passed the 100 dead dwarfs mark. It should be noted I've gotten every migrant wave in, and I started at 200 dwarfs. The fort FPS is now sitting at a lovely five due to the pile of corpses our military paved the road with. I'm likely going to need an extension to finish this place off. It's amazing how much things has gone to shit ... Hope this is dwarfy enough.
On the plus side, nearly every surviving member of the military has a nickname now. Also, I think Dwarf Fortress finally ran out of things to throw me. This is what I get for getting slightly bored. I suspect I've made enough !!corpses!! that we might get an age change when spring rolls around.
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Topic: Breadbowl: a Succession Farm [42.06] - Breadbowl Ends (Read 446600 times)