Ch 3: Undead From Above Spring, 34 The Village of Pale is thriving and news is spreading in the region. T'Amber, a human bard petitions to reside here. The construction of the new tavern and houses within the walls, and on the surface are waiting for furniture.
There is shortage of charcoals as three glass furnaces are brought online to make various furnishings, tubes, and giant corkscrews. The two wood burners are no longer enough to keep up demands of a growing population, so the Sapper Brigade commences digging down deeper in search of permanent fuel. A great cavern was soon discovered and sealed shut to divert the passage down and deeper.
When the great magma sea is found, a plan for the Magma Filling Station (MFS) immediately begins. A green glass screw pump, 2 basalt grates, a basalt door, a basalt hatch cover, and basalt mechanism are ordered.
As for the metal situation, 3 nickel minecarts are available. There are only 15 steel bars and these are reserved for the armory.
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Harllo the Younger is now just called Harllo who leaves behind playing make believe to wield a silver war hammer and be guided by Commander Whiskeyjack in Silver Blunts squad.
When the elven caravan from Nelarelulo arrives, Harllo is also tasked to make silver serrated discs for trade but it was slow going because of the charcoal shortage. The delay in trade was long enough for the a flock of five giant sparrow corpses swarming and attacking the elf merchants and elf guards in the trade depot.
The Silver Blunts, Bladed Woodsman, Spear Maidens, Crossbow Marines, and Mortal Swords rush into battle inside the trade depot.
Captain Swordsdwarf Keneb slays two giant sparrow corpses by stabbing them in the head. Recruit Swordsdwarf Gruntle stabs one in the head. Commander Whiskeyjack bashes one in the head with his masterful silver war hammer. Recruit Kindly regains consciousness from a giant sparrow ringing his copper helm. A named giant sparrow corpse, Wikirapini has been slain by Marksdwarf Knuckles with a bismuth bronze bolt striking the head.
One of the elf merchant, Aleya died which shocked all the remaining elf merchants and their pack animals. These creatures just stand in place uncommunicative as if they turned into trees. The trading halted because there is no elf to negotiate with. The elf guards has long fled after the announcement that the elf merchants are leaving. So the elf guards left, but the elf merchant are still there in various places where they fled. (
bugged, used “dismissmerchant” lua, hopefully fixes them).
Clear skies follow, after a skunk corpse, and a giant mosquito corpse came and dispatched. The surface is not safe at all but there are still a few more trees to fell and logs to gather. Eight giant cardinal corpses came from the northwest when the civilian alert is activated with all the squads stationed to the west gate.
A battle begins as the squads charges northwest, with copper bolts support from long range. With little respite, after the eight giant cardinals corpses are slain, a herd of six giant deer corpses came bounding from the tree-less forest. After the dead deers, ten giant sparrow corpses swoops down.
It has become a battle of attrition with Whiskeyjack, Ebron, and Fiddler too injured and unable to stand. Whoever can fight are recruited to bolster the army, including the miners of Sapper Brigade. The civilian alert is lifted so that retrieving the wounded can take place during the battle.
The Village of Pale is victorious, and Mallet will get plenty of practice and use of the hospital. A need to increase the medical team is a priority, so there are job openings for skilled medics.
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The peace or calm after the battle led to much socializing. Mallet was so busy in the hospital that the seat of expedition leader has been dissolved. Seal, a fisherdwarf, has been elected as mayor of the Village of Pale. Seal has no item preference, but do like hemp fabrics and platinum.
The
Fiery Flier-Inn is opened to all visitors. This is a large building featuring a basement stocked with lavish meals and fine drinks and dinning room. The entire first floor is a dance hall except for the spot a coffer sits filled for goblets. The 2nd and 3rd floor are bedrooms for visitor. The 4th floor has a large room that is unoccupied. And a narrow 5th floor attic is also unused.
Withal, a human dancer petitions to reside in the Village of Pale to entertain citizens and visitors.
Aimless, a crossbow marine
Absi, a gem setter
Agayla, a wood crafter
Amby Bole, a miner
Balm, an axedwarf
Cafal, a peasant
Darist, a paper maker
Dayliss, a crossbow marine recruit
Galt, a spear maiden recruit
Kalyth, a macedwarf recruit
Korbolo Dom, a hammerdwarf recruit
Lap Twirl, a crossbow marine recruit
Lubben, a carpenter
Laerdas, a miner
Madrun, a lasher recruit
Malachar, a weaver
Ocelot, a lasher recruit
Okral Lom, a miner
Raest, a gem cutter
Talamandas, a farmer
Udinaas, a lasher recruit
Ulag Togtil, a macedwarf recruit
With only 2 nickel minecarts in service for hauling magma, the first magma smelter is in service. Smelting tetrahedrite ores for copper and occasional silver bars commences. The large bronze armor pieces from the humans are also being melted.
Summer, 34 Two more cycles of Magma Filling Station enables two magma forges in service. There is still a huge demand for charcoal from the 3 glass furnace. The next project is to create magma powered glass furnaces.
The mayor’s condo which composes of private bedroom and office on the first floor, and 2nd floor dining is complete. Mayor Seal is moving in. There is one more condo unit on the 3rd floor that is unoccupied.
Widdershins, the legendary leatherworker and maker of chicken mask, claims an office to do managerial duties and free Mallet to his hospital.
The first library of Pale,
The House of Knowledge is opened to everyone. It features green glass tables, green glass thrones, green glass bookcases.
The
Strategic Councils, a temple dedicated to
Zasit the War of Burning is open. The
Abbey of Palms is a temple for all others. There is a room on top of the social building (library and temple) that is unoccupied.
Amiss, a crossbow marine
Duiker, a miner
Enias, an armorsmith apprentice
Lubben, a mace dwarf recruit
Saltlick, a lasher recruit
Seren Pedac, a nurse
Ocelot, the captain of Whipping Lashes is elected as mayor.
Ten archery ranges are being built along the 2nd platform of Pale’s Wall.
Toc the Elder, a human lord consort petitions to entertain in Pale
Masani Gilai, the hottest looking dwarf-babe of Crossbow Marines sporting the only steel crossbow defender herself well against the flock of ten giant bluejay corpses swooping down from the northwest. All the squads are called to attack except the Sapper Brigade.
The recruit Speardwarf Galt, lusting after Masani, joins the battle without armor. At least four giant bluejay corpses take turn biting Galt. Galt drops his spear when his hands was cut off. Galt dies when a beak tears his brains out.
Swordsdwarf Kindly is disarmed then continues to fight with fists and bites. Kindly is injured rather badly, so it may be time for him to change profession to something like a scholar if he survives the battle. Kindly’s predicament turned more grim when Gait’s corpse rises and begins attacking.
The battle is won, with Ruffle, Balm, Ulag Togtil, Kindly, and Masani Gilani needing medical attention. Most of the squads remain on guard until the wounded are rescued. The heads of the bluejay corpses rises but are dispatched.
Galt’s right hand begins to reanimate and confusion within the ranks spread. The attacks were glancing or passing through but eventually, even Galt’s hand ceases to animate. The battle report against Galt’s corpse and hand brought about many thoughts of vengeance and horrors.
Back in the Fiery Flier-Inn, Iskaral Pust, a human entertainer petitions to join Pale.
☼