Chapter 3: Tinker JonesLate summer, indoor pasture, BannerweakenCharizard the 91st of his name, or formally known as
Charizard XCI Empirestower, is a dabbling sword dwarf recruit of The Fires of Trading. He is prone to strong feelings of lust, can handle stress, likes to take it easy and is a pessimist. He has a deep dislike of the natural world.
Charizard loops a hemp rope around her neck.
“You’ve been with us for many season.“
“I’m really surprised you make it this far.“
“Anyway, you’ve been good, and this is for the best, after.”
“After? Yeah, you will not understand. I’m just talking to convince myself here.”
“But look, I want you calm throughout this ordeal.”
“I’ll be quick about it, I’ve had not much practice lately, but I’m not rusty either.”
“These moanings bother you too?”
“We should have insisted for better floors, but this is what we have to work with.”
“Come now girl, don’t be shy, this will be quick, I promise.”
Charizard unsheathes his tool and begins a soothing hum,”mmmmmm, hmmmmmm, mmm hmmm.”
He caresses her sides and neck, feeling for the pulse and deftly plunges the blade deep, cutting the heart in two inside the cow yak’s chest.
Charizard works swiftly, muscle memory in full motion, preparing meats and organs for consumption in the butcher’s shop.
Rotten prepared meats are spreading miasma in this small confined space because no one bothers to dispose the refuse despite the new garbage chute nearby.
--
A finely minced yak meat smothered in yak tallow forms the main ingredients of the dish.
Lacking proper potatoes, chopped plump helmet is used to thicken the sauce.
Fermented papaya juice will complete a masterful yak roast, but stolen dwarven wine will do.
This lavish meal, although not masterful, can feed a dwarf for many seasons!
"You know what? You can use quarry bush leaves and dwarven syrup from the sweet pods.
This way, we do not need to cook the wine. Booze is a very important."
A pause, as if Chef Geshud is waiting for a response from the sphalerite pillar.
"Well, yes, we need to find bags for the quarry bush. A barrel will do for the sweet pods. I can even help build the farmer’s workshop myself."
Silence, except for the moaning of the undead above ground.
"What cheese? Oh, I’ll grab a bucket by the well. Are you sure we have milk in this place?"
--
A mechanic's shop in a pasture, Bannerweaken*tink* … *tink* her diminutive hands skillfully places a chisel and lightly taps it with a hammer. *tink* Tinker Jones applies her skills onto stones and creating workable gears of various sizes.
Some citizens of this village are driven with paranoia from the impending doom on the white sands above.
Tinker Jones do not mind them because demands for her mechanisms are high. These folks pay top biscuits for sets of three. Always sets of three. Why that’s half of a half dozen! And a dozen biscuits trade for a barrel full of wine. A barrel!
Now, Urdim here, she is supposed to be a mechanic’s apprentice. But Urdim know nothing about chisels or anything about gear making. So, Urdim is content hauling fine stones for Tinker Jones.
Urdim would say, “Tinker Jones, Tinker Jones! I got you a pile of granite today.” And Tinker Jones would smile and share biscuits with Urdim. Tinker Jones would then say, “you a fine `prentice Urdim. Keep up your good work.”
One day, a gentle lady dwarf with dye stained hand comes to Tinker Jones’ shop. “I need four dozens of your fine mechanisms Tinker Jones, as fast as possible if you please.” Tinker Jones appreciate this fellow’s fine silks of robe, dress and socks. And Tinker Jones doubly appreciates the fellow’s payment of dozen of barrels of fine dwarven rum.
“Why good lady, this payment is much too fine. Shall you wait for said fine mechanisms, or shall I have my `prentice deliver to a place of your choosing?”
The fellow thought for a moment with sparkles in her eyes. “I do be liking the beauty of your apprentice and would think it fine to watch her work her labor and deliver to my abode.” And with a wider smile, “And may I impose an offering of fine liquor after with your fine… Miss… ?” The fellow left her sentence with a tone of an inquiring question and permission alike.
Tinker Jones heartily laughs and appreciate such generosity from the fellow. “Ahh, my `prentice Urdim. Miss Urdim, this fellow here is Miss Tobul. Will you haul some bins for her?”
Urdim replies, “Tinker Jones, Tinker Jones! I can haul bins for Miss Tobul. And I thank you for the offer of fine liquor. I accept.”
--
South hallway, Bannerweaken"10 wooden cages is all we have left, and less than 10 logs remain. We need more wood," say Tobul.
"This is desperate times, and desperate measures are needed," declares TheCheeseMaker.
Tobul says, "The nobles and admins have claimed the grand rooms for themselves, and without any plans to rid of the pests outside."
TheCheeseMaker says, "Hold on. Let me show you what I have dug so far. I started digging a separate section heading out to the southwest. It has most of the things we need: a trap hallway, a choke point, barracks, lever rooms, bedrooms, dining, and a path to the safety bunker.”
Tobul says, “this cannot be a permanent solution. Something else needs to be done.“
TheCheeseMaker says, "It is a solution."
Roar from the caverns announce more uninvited guests coming to Bannerweaken.Tinker Jones overhears their conversation as he leads Urdim hauling some mechanisms.
Tinker Jones says, “Why, there is the solution right there. Did you hear that? Yeah, that be the solution to this. Dig a path from caverns to surface and let them all fight each other.”
TheCheeseMaker and Tobul look at Tinker Jones unbelieving.
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