The beasties not be enterin’ the trap corridor anymore, an’ there still be a full contingent of 60 or more undead in the caverns, includin’ two Draltha’s and a Forgotten beast.
Well, I never much liked the way we be hidin’ behind weapon traps anyways. Yar! We be dwarves! We should be killin’ our enemies face ta’ face, to die with honour or come back with a tale of heroism to be written in the books by folk like me and told throughout the ages.
So that’s what we be doin’. To the caverns!
Me intrepid crew be jumped by a hungry head the moment they arrived, but Asmoth knocked it’s teeth out. The chitterin’ an' moans closin’ in from the darkness promised plenty of action, and before long they were beset on all sides.
But hungry heads and crundles be far from the worst creatures what be awaitin' in the dark, and as they advanced slowly a large, rotting monster lumbered out. Once a peaceful herbivore, now crazed with unnatural hunger, the Draltha let out a roar and charged. The crew drew together and surrounded the beast as it kicked, reared and swung it’s big head around, trying to use it’s size and weight against them.
Luckily for the military dwarves, the beasts size made it slow and ponderous. Aside from a lucky kick which left a minor bruise, the beast was unable to harm any of them. But they were equally unable to harm it, their blows unnoticed by the unfeeling abomination, and so the battle raged on and on until Haerdalas finally saw an opening, and the creature’s head came away from its body.
The beast was down, but the fight wasn’t over: the commotion had drawn a crowd of smaller monsters from all directions. But by this stage, the crew was tirin'. It was only a matter of time before the first casualty, and sure enough, Deduk the Titanslayer was promptly brought low by a Reacher’s long, thin arms.
Far worse was what happened moments later. Urist McKiwi, Knight of Cactus was dragged to the ground and savagely mauled by a terrifying cavern beast. Ye thought the Draltha was bad? It be nothin’ compared to the unmitigated horror... of
Disembodied Crundle Head.
McKiwi's tortured screaming could be heard even from the surface as the terrible creature took it's pound of flesh.
Luckily for both dwarves, their crewmates be alongside them. The beasts were dealt with decisively and I 'ad the burrow widened just enough for a few civilians to be gettin' into the caverns to recover them, while the rest of the militia be stayin' on guard against the possibility of more undead abominations.
All in all, it be a successful expedition. More than 40 zombies were deanimated (although I expect one or two will be comin’ back), at the cost of two dwarves hospitalised. One more expedition and we should be able to return these caverns to dwarven hands: aye’ll be leavin’ that for later in the year in order to return the fortresses focus to my masterpiece.
Thob Lokumbomrek took strange and made this.
For some reason I thought it odd he be alive and not on fire, but in hindsight that be understandable: my desire to finish my magnum opus and author the greatest conclusion to a dwarven saga in all history be always at the forefront of me mind.
Gwolfsky threw a house party for 'imself.
The humans arrived. I told Edzul ta be buyin' bars and blocks. They also threw in a couple barrels of rum, which was nice of 'em. They would have happily taken a lot less in the way of crafts, but we've got too much of this stuff as it is.
The human lawgiver was adequately awed by me Magnum Opus, and wanted a closer look.
Eri: "It's very impressive, but if you'll forgive my concern, isn't such an undertaking dangerous? The workers are very high up, and they don't seem to have harnesses, or other safety equipment ."
Quasar: "Oh, don't worry about that. We dwarves have a natural sense of balance."
Asmoth: "SshhhhiiiIIIIII-"
[SMACK]
Quasar: "See that there? Falling 11 stories like that? That hardly ever happens."
Eri: "Good heavens! Is she okay?"
Quasar: "She's swearing, ain't she? She'll be fine."
Asmoth: "Fuuucccckkkk... yooouuuu...."
Eri: "Okay, well I suppose I understand. But... why? Why build such a grand, empty dome of precious metal?"
Quasar: "Oh sorry, I thought that be obvious. Ye see, we build it so that we can fill it with magma, and then unleash the magma in a tidal wave of fire and death, so the dwarves of Murderflood can burn eternally in Armok's blood rather than die with dishonour."
[silence]
Eri: "... okay then! I'll be leaving now!"
Yar, it be nearin' the fifth month of the year. My magnum opus shines like a beacon in the summer sunlight, and the magma tower be catching up.
For aesthetic purposes, I've decided to put a band of copper on the 11th level. Treated with the same coating as the silver, I'm told it should be quite magma proof.
The seasons march onwards, and we must be marchin with them, lest we... something... Can't quite remember the quote. Yar, nevermind. I'll fill it in in editing.
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Topic: 'Murderflood: (Ardentdikes IIIv3) You, there, grab this save! (Read 228964 times)