The first trade exchange had gone well and the MountainHome dwarves were ecstatic, as was to be expected. Acting as Broker also, Bookie had offered a dozen pots of prepared meals and one very nice steel trap component all in exchange for a single bar of tin. The visiting diplomat had accepted the bound Report with Bookie’s secret message and was now in discussions with that usurper Oddom. Bookie was feeling great. Excited! And thirsty. As the traders began greedily loading the first stone pots into their wagons, Bookie excused herself for a short break and went to a nearby stockpile for a mug of ale.
The attack came as a complete surprise: a Giant Lizard within the courtyard walls! Bookie heard the screams and turned just in time to see the beast upon her.
[note: 8 screen pages of bites, punches and counters between Bookie and the Skink]
Then suddenly,
The Beast was dead. The mayor herself had punched it out with her bare hands and then it was over. It was over, in fact, pretty much before anybody had a handle on what was happening and dwarves and animals were still scrambling and screaming. But the giant beast was dead.
[note: 6 screen pages of the mayor battling barehanded before finally taking it out. Kinda repetitive.]
In an emotional speech to the gathering residents, Oddom took full blame for Bookie’s ‘tragic, senseless’ death and that, for whatever reason, none of the town’s troops had been garrisoned near the Depot or on watch when the attack came. “I don’t know how this could have happened,” she said, “but it did and I accept full responsibility. The fact that I myself defeated the monster came too late for our beloved Bookie. There will be investigations. But more importantly, there will be a better tomorrow, for all of us.” The crowd cheered and cries of “Countess! Countess!” and “Long live the Mayor!” echoed through the fortress hallways.
Late that evening, alone in her suite, Oddom reviewed the plans the late bookkeeper had earlier given to the architects for a massive suite of rooms in that newest magnetite lode, plans that Bookie thought had also been secret. Yes, those rooms would be just fine.