Ch 5: Loose Ends17 Timber, Late AutumnI am exhausted dealing with peasant and coercing them to do menial yet important tasks such as hauling iron minecarts.
I feel cramped in Old Town, and I am finding solace to the idea of making The Forge larger.
Sixteen minecarts would serve 8 new magma forges, but at the same time, I am being more practical, so I will settle for 2 new magma forges, and maybe up to 6 magma smelters.
At least the digging for a larger work area in The Forge begins.
1 Moonstone, Early WinterMany more collapse in securing and flooring along the jagged pillars.
This too has become an obsession, at least to an acceptable completion of work.
The engraved slabs are placed on the top level of the Jagged Pillars. There will not be any jagged pillars after all the floors are constructed. Kumil is just too eager of a novice miner when digging out the pillars before the floors above are done.
The edges of the Jagged Pillars define the boundary of Old Town from the first cavern.
8 MoonstoneThere is heavy foot traffic in the stairs between the First Crossroad to Magma Filling Station.
I designate constructions and carving of stairs to widen the foot traffic.
A masterful wooden wheelbarrow disintegrated while hauling the magma-filled iron minecart. Fortunately, no magma spilled.
16 MoonstoneSomeone named Urist petitions to be a scholar, and I approved. More Urists are welcome. I think there is a Urist who is a Chemist.
24 MoonstoneUrvad Helmsgrooves, “Xbow Urvad” has been possessed and claims a Craftsdwarf workshop.
She grabs granite stone, orthoclase stone, 2 stacks of bones, a brass bar, and sheep wool.
I am only mildly interested because my focus switches between The Forge and the Jagged Pillars.
Eventually Urvad creates Lisidtalin, “Clasheddrums”, a granite crown worth 21,000 ☼.
There’s an fascinating artwork about a dragon striking down a goblin 12 years ago.
1 Opal, 254 Mid-WinterMy first reign over the citizens of Sneaktunnels is nearing its end, and I ponder upon my legacy. A modest increase to The Forge. Some quality of life constructions of securing the Jagged Pillars. A needed military re-organization is done, and there are weapons and armor. I did not even have time to find better quarters for my family. My dream of creating a great work of art has been achieved. I have a new baby boy. And not too much excitement.
7 Opal, 254I concluded too soon that my reign will come to a peaceful end. Alas, an opponent comes seeking to either shame my rule, or add a note of glory.
The Forgotten Beast Sedastmasli, The Moist Seducer has come!
An enormous humanoid composed of green glass.
It has four long, curving horns, and it has a bloated body.
Beware its poisonous vapors!
The Situation Room is set on the dining hall, adjacent the hospital.
“XBow Limul“ volunteered to scout and observe the movements of Sedastmasli that I nicknamed, Sed.
Sed has two ways to approach Sneaktunnels:
First, either travel the jagged pillars in the south towards the west and up to the north bridge.
Or Second, travel north of the eastern edge and swim in the lake to northwest to the north bridge.
My immediate sealing off the east passage from The Forge, and south passage from First Crossroad back in spring 254 proves a brilliant decision because Sneaktunnels is down to 2 defense points of entry from the first cavern.
If Sed is to come closer, it will be the north bridge of the first cavern which is always open as per the King’s rules.
I ordered the creation of 3 burrows:
“Inside Burrow” covers most of the inside areas nearest the surface.
The “Stairs to Magma” burrow includes all the stairs and paths from Old Town to Magma Filling Station.
And the “Crossroad-Surface” burrow covers the small hallway from First Crossroad to Surface Entrance.
XBow Limul reports that Sed paces back and forth on the eastern edge and dipping into the lake. A single wide hallway that leads into New Fort has been sealed with a wall, but Sed seems unsure in committing to traverse south to west, or swim the lake to the northwest.
There is no need to activate the civilian alert just yet, so I worked on The Forge expansion.
27 OpalOnly 7 of 16 magma-filled iron minecarts are hauled in the stockpile near The Forge.
I proceed to set making 2 Magma Forges, and 1 Magma Smelter.
Step 1. Pause. Then Forbid
all iron minecart from stock menu, under tools, expanded mode.
Step 2. Unforbid 3 available magma-filled iron minecarts from the nearby stockpile.
Step 3. Create Route, and Stop (without depart condition) for each Track Stop dump site, and Assign Minecart
Since there are other minecarts mid-haul, unforbid all other iron minecarts for hauling; and fobid the iron minecarts in the portable drain.
27 Opal, 254 Mid-WinterSed commits to moving northwest from the eastern edge of the first cavern. First he swam the lake, then starts climbing up the narrow and jagged cavern walls.
Sed is unaffected by the stone fall traps and cage traps at the end of the sealed passage east of The Forge. Sed’s movements are tracked going up constructed stairs onto a quarry of magnetite. I just realized that the magnetite source is from here, but I read it was somewhere in the northwest.
Sed eventually jumps down the lake and began swimming closer, so the civilian alerts are raised!
Sedastmasli (Sed), Forgotten Beast surface out of the cavern lake and is heading towards the always open north bridge.
Captain of the Guard Zast orders The Tunnel Guards, The Clean Spears and The Sneak Hands to stay as reserves in the situation room (meeting hall).
The Grunts Axe, The Ochre Banners, and The Big Silvers are to sortie to the left, and be ready for a flank maneuver.
The Fenced Neutrals are to position themselves on the center by the walls and take opportunity shots from range.
The Skinning Blades with Capt Reyn, and The Parched Anvils with Hammer Sarvesh (and Pikachu17) are to remain inside and engage only if Sed tries to enter Sneaktunnels.
Unfortunately, the squads have not done any group maneuver practice together, and all the planned squad deployment goes to the ways of zealot frenzy.
Remembering that Stettad is the deity of jewels and wealth.
Pikachu17 (Pika) of The Parched Anvils, The Zealot of Stettad, screams
“Pika, Pika, Pikachu” “green glass are not jewels, die impersonator”, and strides towards Sed, alone.
Pika bashes twice with her (+bronze war hammer+) but the attacks glances away!
The Zealot of Stettad bites Sed in the left lower arm, fracturing it and latching on.
Sed breaks free of the grip of the zealot’s upper front teeth, then charges and colliding.
Pika tumbles backwards, quickly stands up and throws punches and scratches with great effect.
Sed, The Moist Seducer breathes out a forgotten beast extract, and the The Zealot of Stettad is caught in a fine mist of something.
There does not seem to have an immediate effect because Pikachu17 and Sed continue their dance of bashes, punches, charging, and tumbling backwards.
--
Spear Sarvesh of the Ochre Banners runs after Poka and opens by stabbing with his -iron spear-, lodging itself in the wound. Pulling the embedded spear scatters chips and chunks of green glass from Sed.
Sarvesh repeatedly stabs until the -iron spear- lodges itself in upper body and is caught in a burst of Sed’s foul breath.
--
Sword Ilral of The Skinning Blades clumsily joins the fray with kicks, and strikes of her -steel short sword- that glances away. As discipline kicks in, her next six slashes and stabs succeed in chipping and fracturing Sed is various areas of its body and limbs.
Ilral successfully blocks two breath attacks from Sed, but was caught on the third burst of The Moist Seducer’s forgotten beast extract just when her -steel short sword- lodges in the right lower arm wound.
--
Sword Domas of The Skinning Blades joins the battle a few moments later who stabs and slashes with her *iron short sword* and succeeds in fracturing the lower body, upper and lower left arm, and right foot.
--
Despite the new soldiers joining the battle, Sed continues its focus on Pikachu17 and charges the third time. Pika jumps away at the last moment and bashes with the bronze war hammer that fractures the upper body. More bashes follow, but most just glances away.
Pika bites Sed in the right hand and latches firmly.
Sed then gores Pika in the right foot and the severed part sails off in an arc!
The Zealot of Stettad falls over and loses hold of the x(cave spider silk shoe)x and x(sheep wool sock)x.
Sed breaths a burst of foul breath and Pika is caught in it.
Pika punches away at Sed’s left hand, but the attack glances away!
Pikachu17, The Zealot of Stettad : How fragile we are… This does not scare me.
Pika continues to bash and scratch at Sed, and bleeding profusely.
--
Axe Guard Rimtar of The Grunts Axe joins the battle and had one successful hack with her -iron battle axe- on Sed’s right hand, fracturing it.
--
Axe Guard Rith, Captain of The Grunts Axe joins the fray hacking with her -iron battle axe- denting the upper body, fracturing the upper leg.
Rith is a blur of axe blade and punches, and in a mighty swing, she hacks Sed in the lower body that is mostly cut away from the rest of the torso!
Rith Fatedlanced, Axe Guard Rith, gains one notable kill: The Moist Seducer.
--
Pikachu17, The Zealot of Stettad : I’ve been injured badly. This leaves me so shaken.
After Battle ReportA “Hospital Quarantine” burrow is created and added citizens: Pikachu17, Sarvesh, and Ilral for observations.
The labors for CMD Uzol and Nurse Cerol are cleared to help ensure they focus on health care.
1 ObsidianOh no! Spear Sarvesh has been found dead. He loses hold of his iron spear and falls over after being completely paralyzed!
Pikachu17, in a hospital bed cancels Rest: Paralyzed. Her diagnosis are: Faint, Paralyzed, Winded, Very Drowsy, Cannot breathe, Ability to stand lost, and Ability to grasp lost.
Likewise, Sword Ilral who is standing inside the hospital zone shows the same symptoms as Pikachu17.
CMD Uzol and Nurse Cerol are ordered to go to the hospital right away.
But it’s too late.
Sword Ilral and Pikachu17 “Zealot of Stettad” have been found dead also.
EpilogueOur spirits are dampened at the shocking lost after a clear victory against Sed.
As the new year come, we gather to honor our dead at the Jagged Pillars.
Cheers! Here’s to honor and glory, the future, and a new leader.
The EndSave File: Sneaktunnels, end of Santume’s turn, year 255.
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Topic: Sneaktunnels, a CATastrophic dungeon (Read 72449 times)