"Kadi I, Turn 164, Part 3"
Kadi and Tobul and the Quest for Bright Metal17th Moonstone 1175We gather our possessions and prepare for the journey ahead of us. Tobul has a good idea where Ashcinders is, nestled into the western reaches of the great Perfect Horns which encircle this world. It is a long journey, but we are well stocked with food and beer. The first place we encounter is a castle, Spicetrails, which is inhabited by human merchants, and an enormous giant black bear covered in many scars and wounds. This beast would make a fine mount, but it refuses to be ridden by any but its lost master.
Strange artefacts are found in the keep - pouches of impossible leather. I take one of foul blendec leather, Tobul one of the hide of a forgotten beast. We continue south. We may reach Growlsupper in a day or two - ancient capital of The Creamy Confederacy, though whether or not it has fallen to goblins or ghouls I do not know.
In sacklures we find many humans of The Armored Confederacy, and their immortal law-giver, Avolition Crystalcrab the Ruler of Jewels. He tells us of the surrounding area. South East lies Growlsupper, and further south Pricerings. Directly south lies Futureseals, a dwarven fort. Strange temporal anomolies swirl around the human towns, and the scorpion urges caution, lest we find ourselves back where we started. We do not know what to make of this advice, but Tobul nods sagely.
We spend the night in Lawtaker, seemingly abandoned.
18th Moonstone 1175We visit Growlsuppers. Within the keep are several goblin corpses, and two members of the ruling cabinet. The law-giver is nowhere to be seen, but the head doctor seems friendly enough. It transpires dwarves of the Walled Dye sacked this place shortly after the Returning during the upheaval of thousands of souls returning to life. I claim it once more for The Creamy Confederacy and install the strangely named Aspka as new lord. We spend a few hours tidying up the place before sleeping in the keep for the night.
19th Moonstone 1175Our gracious lord is already awake when we rise shortly before dawn. How peculiar. His teeth do look strangely long. We travel south, through a number of towns now under dwarven rule - it seems The Matched Hame rules many of the previously goblin-infested towns near Growlsuppers. Eventually, as night falls we arrive in Pricerings, sleeping in an abandoned house.
20th Moonstone 1175The central spire of the citadel is home to many wondrous things. An artefact battle axe is on display, alongside armour of adamantine and blistered metal belonging to King Ineth of the Matched Hame. We meet the General Zefon Paddledrinkers of The Matched Hame. He seems pleasant enough, but he knows as I do that these lands were stolen by the dwarves. The Matched Hame claimed this place as capital before reclaiming their old seat of Palaceeork, though it seems some of the nobles still reside here. We leave before tensions rise any further.
We try to forge further south, but each time we do, we find ourselves back in Pricerings. This must be what Avolition warned us of. Determined not to let this set us back, we try a different route - west skirting the mountains towards Palacework. The trek through the snowy mountains is gruelling but uneventful, and soon enough we find ourselves on a frozen lake. A squat snow covered structure is visible on the western bank of the lake. Tobul thinks this is Futureseals, a dwarven fort of The Walled Dye. It is mostly abandoned now, the site of many battles against goblins as the corpses attest to. Tobul touches the stones and his brow furrows. This place is trapped, and no place for a human.
I try not to take offence, but moments later he shows how right he was. Trap, after trap! I spot a few but his dwarf eyes see more. I gingerly crawl along the corridor as menacing spikes fly left and right.
One gores me in the leg. It is a superficial wound, but my greaves are damaged. Suddenly, from nowhere a goblin runs round the corner! Tobul starts chatting to him, before realising he is clearly a bandit and lodging his hammer in its skull.
We descend to the forgehalls, which appear recently flooded, and meet the militia commander Mebzuth. Disaster strikes, another weapon trap for some reason down here amongst the forges - a copper spear slices off my nose!
My limbs are bloody ruin but they will heal. I will forever be noseless. Regaining my wits, I manage to craft replacement greaves, a steel helm and some gauntlets, before we decide to leave this place before uncovering any more traps. I take more swigs of rye bear from my pack than I should to dull the pain. This is a bad idea. I feel ill.
We travel south into the Bearded Horns as the moon rises. I need to make camp for the night. My body aches, as does my head.
21st Moonstone 1175I have the worst hangover I have ever had. I melt some snow to slake my thirst - I dare not touch the beer for a day or two. Tobul leads the way south, cursing my weak human constitution. By midmorning we have come down the hillside into the Tame Plain. There are a few hillocks to the south, according to Tobul, then it is a westerly route towards Palacework. In the hillock of Bridgedaggers, we find two great beasts to act as mounts. I take a giant leopard, and Tobul harnesses a massive giant raven. This should make the journey less arduous. We head west, past cursed Warshrieks, in the direction of Palacework. We make good progress, before sleeping in the mountains.
22nd Moonstone 1175Palacework is oddly overrun by wildlife. Scores of ravens caw in the sky, and foxes and deer prance in the snow. Time slows to a standstill, and we decide to leave and continue the voyage south. Before we leave, we gift our two mounts to the King, Ineth Relicheart as a token of respect.
23rd Moonstone 1175We skirt The Eternal Citadel - we have no desire to disturb the Blind Sadist, and our true goal lies many miles to the south. Snow still blankets the world and it is brutally cold. The weather here has never been the same since the sun twisted in the sky, but that is a worry for another day.
24th Moonstone 1175We are interrupted in our sleep by a muscular cougar. It is quickly dealt with.
The Merged Jungles are huge and spread out before us like a white carpet. The going is easy, the land is flat, and cougar meat fills our bellies. The rivers which normally flow through this once lush land are all frozen, and we are thankful for the rye beer which we have rationed since Carminedonkey. We arrive in a small hillock near dusk, and the militia commander allows us to spend the night. We are not far from Ashcinders, as these hillocks rely on it for trade.
25th Moonstone 1175Finally it seems the snow has melted. We continue in the direction pointed out by the dwavres of Shotgulfs, when suddenly we are attacked by wolves. Tobul and I draw our weapons and fend the beasts off.
We arrive at Lightningrope, a Staff of Kissing fort. Tobul relishes speaking with his kin again. This place used to be a vault of Udir, strip mined for all its angelic crafts by The Walled Dye and Page of Tiredness. Only scraps left for the Staff of Kissing. Inside we meet several strange creatures which must be angels, and a very familiar looking Captain of the Guard - Bralbaard Hammerfishes.
Tobul is complaining about having to drink rye beer every day, so I find him some peach cider. His face lights up.
26th Moonstone 1175We arrive at our intended destination, Ashcinders the Molten Scar, after sunrise. Tobul has a spring in his step after a breakfast of peach cider and wolf meat. The entrance way is open, and lined with statues representing The Walled Dye, and also the Molten Scar, the local government - a depiction of an angel being slain by a dwarf.
If the prong is here we will find it. This place has been scarcely populated for over three centuries, so we are more expecting to find looters than noble dwarves. The first living creature we encounter during our exploration is a duck called Avuz. This would appear to be Avuz Figuremirrored, a 376 year old bird. Finally we find the Champion, Vucar Lancermoistened, and a militia captain, Dobar. Neither are willing to divulge any information as to the relics here. In the forge halls we spot a skulking human bandit. Tobul makes quick work of her.
Our search remains unfruitful, until Tobul suggests we try the strange green glass structure built into the side of the mountain. This appears to be an inn of sorts. Blistered metal statues guard the steel doors. This would appear to be "The Glorius Adventure" - set up as a stocking up shop for would be Adventurers of the Museum.
Atop the inn we find what we seek! On several pedestals, looking out through gold opal gem windows, are artefact weapons. To the north is
The Quake of Allying - an adamantine mace. Tobul appraises it slowly, running his calloused hands across its surface.
"Ushrir Astel" he whispers. This was found in the angelic vault, having been lost there by the dwarf hero who later came to be known as
Nazbardum - The Divine Fight - Erith Whippedumbral the Granite Gears of Aquamarine, who slew angels and demons. To the south is
Illnessbrainds the Muscular Wines. Tobul lifts it and hefts it in a wide arc. It is perfectly balanced, and in the arms of a hammerlord such as he, a weapon of infinite destruction. It was made in Kindlingrings, not far from where I was born, over a thousand years ago. It was retrieved from Heroicgem and the clutches of the Scholarly Manors by the Blind Sadist and brought here in the 9th century. Tobul claims it as his own.
Atop the central pedestal, is something unlike anything we have encountered before. It is tiny, thin, impossibly sharp, and made of a shimmering white metal that gives off its own glow in the dim surroundings of the inn. Bright Metal! This is
Utoksnug,
Ringedwires, gift of Rogon the Umber. We stow it carefully and decide to leave before the few remaining dwarves here get suspicious.
28th Moonstone 1175We travel north, occasionally fending off packs of starving wolves. On our second day of our journey back north, we encounter a small linen camp, within which is a tall, pale and powerful looking undead elf. She is Emofe Stormcrystal, swordmaster hollow hunter. She has stalked these lands for decades and agrees to be our companion in this harsh climate.
We stop for a while at Emofe's camp, Hollowhold, before continuing our journey. We pass an abandoned necromancer's tower, Eldergrave, and plan our next steps. We must head north, but the travel is dangerous with all the temporal anomalies. Tobul remains tightlipped about the location of his new fort, but states we must travel past the Museum and north through the territory of the High Confederacies. In any case, we should return to Carminedonkey first and tell Em of our discovery.
2nd Opal 1175The journey seems faster with the undead Emofe leading the charge. She is quiet but capable, and never tires. We have to occasionally remind her we need to eat and sleep. We are attacked by wolves once more. They are getting desperate as the seemingly endless winter continues to ravage the land.
4th Opal 1175We arrive at Palacework once more. The route north east over the mountains lies before us. On this occasion, the fort is surrounded by packs of dingoes and raccoons. Emofe shimmers and vanishes from sight in a cloud of darkness. Seconds later the terrified howls of wildlife echo around us as the hollow hunter mercilessly slaughters her prey. We head east, Emofe appearing again wiping blood from her thin black sword. I would not like to get on her bad side. After many hours treking through the frozen Bearded Horns, with Emofe's guidance we reach The Forest of Axes.
We take care to avoid cursed Warshrieks, and head in the general direction of Futureseals, attempting to avoid the human towns to the east plagued with anomalies. Passing through the hillocks we visited what feels like weeks ago, we continue north, skirting Futureseals through the unforgiving snow of the Horns.
Out of nowhere an unnatural thick fog descends and we are under attack! An undead speardwarf! It stabs Tobul in the foot as I draw my sword. The elven banshee Emofe vanishes again in a whisper of black smoke. Tobul bashes the undead dwarf with his great legendary steel hammer shattering many bones, but the monstrous dwarf does not slow down. It punches Tobul in the head, knocking him to the ground, his neck twisting awkwardly. The Fallen Slayer's head splits apart a moments later as the shimmering form of the elf hollow hunter coalesces around the black longsword in her grip.
She nods towards me grimly, strapping the blistered metal blade to her back. Both Tobul and I have sustained injuries and will require rest to recover. It is only then I realise that Tobul is not moving. Oh no. No no no. He's... dead!
I stumble and grasp the dwarf's still warm body in my arms. I feel a cold hand on my shoulder. The elf wight's face is unreadable as she softly says "Death is not always the end, human."
She gathers all of Tobul's belongings, lifting his broken body effortlessly, and we make camp for the night. His masterful steel helm is dented where the supernaturally strong speardwarf crushed his neck with its bare hands. I am distraught, the burning fire in my ankle no match for the anguish in my heart.
We must complete Tobul's plan or all of this was for nothing. With his corpse, perhaps Em can restore him to life? Without the knowdlege in his head I cannot find this new temple to Rogon. I cannot get to Carminedonkey fast enough.
5th Opal 1175We arrive in the Adventurous Steppes. The more arduous part of our journey is done for now. We rest a while and continue north, heading for Carminedonkey. Em will know what to do. The first human village we find is Juggledclaps. It appears deserted. I am anxious to continue but Emofe makes me stay until my ankle is healed. There is a large hole in my steel boot and my ankle aches, but I can walk.
6th Opal 1175We continue all night and reach Carminedonkey before dawn. I am exhausted, but try to explain what has happened to Tobul to the concerned abbot. The elf places his corpse and equipment in the mead hall. At length we recount our adventure, out retrieval of the bright metal prong and our fateful encounter with the undead dwarf.
Em sighs. She makes a complex gesture and the corpse of Tobul stirs. He stands up, confused. His leg is broken and his neck lols at an unnatural angle. A cool light shines behind his eyes, but all of the warmth and laughter have been torn from him. We will need to rest here for a while so we can repair his undying body for the coming journey. May Rogon have mercy on him, and pity on me.
9th Opal 1175I stay in Carminedonkey for several days, repairing Tobul's body as best I can. Emofe takes her leave, returning to her vigil in the Merged Jungles. Tobul is now a Rotten Slayer, gifted new life by Kas Bannershocked and the power of Stabbedwring. He gathers his equipment and is keen to complete the mission. We must head west, then north into the territory of the High Confederacies. They are a human kingdom, at war with the Staff of Kissing for some reason lost to time. Tobul explains that one of their great citadels, Emeraldcrown, was conquered by these humans not so long ago. We may pass it on the way to The Heavenly Steppes, where Brighthelm was founded.
10th Opal 1175We travel west through the snow, avoiding the goblin pits and the roaming monsters around Ironwards. We visit the old fort Bodiceblunt, lost to the undead but reclaimed by the Staff of Kissing nearly five centuries ago.
Tobul thinks we can take the deep roads to Confusedship, avoiding any human patrols at the southern border of their lands. We meet dwarves of The Bald Ship, who tell us Confusedship was reclaimed by The Eternal Mechanism of The Walled Dye a few decades ago, driving out goblins of the Curious Horror. We descend the central ramp looking for the deep road. Tobul finds a shrine to the Mine of Ambers, Atiladir god of wealth and balance. He is granted good luck, which can only help.
We continue into the deeps, through walls of scintillating malachite and fire opal, shining platinum and native copper. This place is surely carved from a treasure trove of mineral wealth and even Tobul is impressed.
As a human raised in a dwarven mountain halls, I am used to the wide stone roads of the deep ways. We pass through spectacular caverns and plump helmet farms as far as the eye can see, passing through Laborchains, and finally to Confusedship.
11th Opal 1175We emerge from Confusedship and continue north, hugging the mountains to the east, where many old and abandoned dwarven halls are carved. On the horizon we spot Stakelessons, nestled in the foothills. The carved cinnabar stone reminds Tobul of his home, Bloodspire, in the evil Bad Steppe far to the north.
In Stakelessons we find a skulking goblin priest, Asno Juicefiends. His attire marks him as a Sacred Skull of the Umbral Order, worshippers of the death God Tithleth of The Walled Dye. Tobul is happy to grant him his wish to meet his God.
In the lowest level we find the trade goods. Tobul rummages for a replacement helm when suddenly out of the gloom steps a dwarf Dark One. In his hand is an impossible object. A perfect steel shortsword encircled with goat bone and inlaid with precious lapis lazuli.
I have seen this sword before, engraved on the walls of Kindlingrings, near where I grew up. This is
Nazushakith,
Bloodwrath! It was lost centuries ago, in the hands of a general of Oddom Girdergrove's undead horde. The Returning must have brought its wielder back to life!
Tobul hefts his artefact warhammer and we leap into battle against this General of the Scholarly Manors. The dark one is tough, but Tobul was a musclebound hammer lord even before undeath granted him unnatural power. He hefts the hammer again and again, splitting the wight's limbs in showers of bone. I try to help by grabbing the dwarven steel helm from his head, but he is too strong for me. The dark one is impossibly tough. Tobul manages to disarm his crossbow and tear the helm from his rotten head. Even with the artefact steel warhammer lodged in his brain, Sarvesh Cudgelkinded the Honest Shrine is still undefeated.
Tobul lifts a hand and makes a flicking gesture. Sarvesh roars in pain and horror as his flesh blisters and cracks. Distracted, I heft the steel short sword I took from Ashcinders and in a wild slash hack at the dark one's arm. Turning its attention to me, Sarvesh is left exposed and Tobul kicks him in the head with his steel boot, crushing it completely.
The dark one crumples to a mangled heap on the stone block floor. I lift the sword, Bloodwrath, and strap it to my back. Tobul searches the dwarves steel armour but, aside from a replacement helm, cannot find anything better than his own. We leave, heading north once more, continuing along the foothills.
Encountering a seemingly abandoned vulture leather tent in the vast desert of the Dunes of Song, we stop to rest for the night. Tobul, not requiring sleep or sustenance, keeps watch.
We discover an abandoned cave, its walls glitter with embedded amethyst, but sadly no treasure let alone monsters to slay. Rounding the jutting mountain range, the westernmost point of the massive Perfect Horns, we arrive at Largtempest, an ancient necromancer tower. Hob Tiledoctrines performed many cruel experiments here.
13th Opal 1175We arrive at Emeraldcrown, a vast city of green glass suspended over a volcano. The once proud city has been ransacked and taken over by wildlife. Yaks and keas swarm the dense forest outside and debris is strewn wide, alongside the corpses of many humans. The High Confederacies have destroyed what was once a treasure of The Staff of Kissing. Perhaps one day it will be reclaimed, but not today. The lone surviving dwarf here is the erstwhile mayor, Ushrir Wordcobalt, who claims he no longer lives in the city. Sad times indeed. Tobul indicates it is not far to Brighthelm, but there are a few goblin cities and contested towns between here and there.
We sneak between two goblin pits - Raspedhells and Ashgouls - and in the distance I can see grassy fields of blue. This is the Heavenly Steppes, a meadow of bubble bulb and feather trees. Brighthelm is on the horizon. The briliant blue cobaltite wall surrounds the fort proper, farmers in the fields wave at us, unsure of our purpose.
Unicorns and llamas frolic in the pastures inside the fort. This is truly a blissful place. Rogon smile upon us. We climb the brilliant white granite tower and Tobul gestures into a small room. On all sides are sparkling aluminum statues. They depict Rogon the Umber in all her beauty and glory, holding aloft a shining war hammer of the purest metal, and at her feet, dwarves rejoicing at the shining sun. This is hope. This is a future without death or blight. In the centre of the room, is the Divine Forge.
From his pack, Tobul produces something that until now I did not know he had. A backpack, which he says is from Bloodspire, containing ten ingots of blistered metal. A piteous offering from the Eternal Citadel. This black angelic material shimmers and twists in the light. I have seen it before, in the blade of the elf banshee Emofe.
Tobul speaks. He tells me that I now must perform a blessing, as a priest of Rogon. To transmute these foul black metal bars into something worthy of Her glory, using the tiny prong as some kind of conduit. I have never done anything like this before, but I am no stranger to beseeching Rogon for blessings. Tobul gathers charcoal from a store above us, and the Divine Forge roars to life. The blue flames are hotter than anything I have experienced before, but Tobul does not even sweat. He is a high master furnace operator, trained for decades in Bloodspire in the ancient dwarven forge sorcery - trained it seems for this very moment. He begins to heat Ringedwires in the sacred fire.
There is a blinding light. A ringing in my ears. I can feel the presence of Rogon the Umber and it is beautiful. Tears stream down my cheeks.
Slowly my senses return to me. In the centre of the forge, Tobul holds aloft a white hot bar of brilliant metal... Bright Metal. The angelic metal of Rogon the Umber. Ringedwires... is untouched! Rogon in her benevolence has granted this boon! Even the aluminum forge shimmers an unearthly brightness!
I feel I have witnessed a true miracle. I will found a temple here, to great Rogon the Umber. The dwarves will toil and work the forges until arms and armour of bright metal clad every dwarven soldier. I have found true purpose in my life, and it is glorious.
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Topic: Museum III, adventure succession game (DF 0.47.05) (Read 506861 times)