- - - - Malachite 77By mid-summer, some of the snow had melted and the deep snowstorms that had reduced visibility had largely receded. For once,
the surface of Angerdangers was almost serene. Maybe this place wasn't so awful. Apparently Besmar on our trip had gotten
wasted at every tavern from here to Helmshank. He neglected to let Ustuth know that he had boasted about our "amazing"
fortress to every adventurer he was in the general vicinity of.
We got a few visitors during the summer months, 7 human mercenaries and one dwarf adventurer. Ustuth had little patience
for non-dwarven visitors, especially ones that brought little value to Angerdangers. Ustuth told the humans to bugger off
but let the Dwarf stay as Ustuth had do uphold his "Dwarven Honor." His name was Udil and Kirkrost wrote him off as a
grade A nut. All he would do is sit around drinking alcohol and muttering about adventuring into the underground caves we
were about to breach so he could slay monsters and become a local "hero."
Infrastructural improvements had been made to Angerdangers, infuriated by the musty cramped dorms they were forced to reside in, everyone bugged Ustuth to improve the situation. Clearly irked Ustuth dragged a barrel of Dwarven ale into his ornate office and drunkidly drew up
plans for a residential level to the fortress. Whether it was the alcohol or Ustuth himself the mad man designed it into a
circle with rooms haphazardly stuffed to fit into the said circle. Asmel and Alath swore to everyone that Ustuth had downed
the entire barrel of alcohol. Ustuth staggered out of his office and handed the plans off to the miners and set them to work
It was a stylish albeit weird design. With the residential area carved out, Ustuth decided to get industry going so he could
trade for better-tasting food. Nothing could possibly be worse than freezer-burned cave lobster.
- - - - Galena 77Migrants! 8 souls to be exact, each one as useless as the next. However, Ustuth saw their potential. While they may not be artisans
they could certainly learn how to carve stone blocks and engrave/smooth walls. In fact, he used three of them to smooth the walls and floors of his room. Ustuth was enjoying his new-found leadership position as the expedition leader in Angerdanger. However, he could go without the constant meetings with aspiring cave-delvers and adventures, it seems like humans just don't seem to take a hint.
After witnessing a troop of 3 kobold thieves skulk around the boundaries of the gate area Ustuth came to the conclusion that
the simple walls and gate wouldn't be able to keep out other lurking dangers. He commissioned the fresh migrants to slave away
at the masonry workshops and mass-produce rock blocks.
Udil the adventuring hammerdwarf was delighted when the dwarves finally breached the caverns and built into its depths.
She immediately paraded into the caverns in search of beasts to slay. Unfortunately, the caverns seemed as desolate
and empty as the surface. A few drathlas came and went, but even with a lack of a target Udil still soldiered on with a
seemingly iron devotion to her adventure. While the rest of the fortress tended to view Udil as a zealous idiot Ustuth admired
her endless desire to achieve glory and fame. Ustuth saw a little of himself in her, but only a little. For Ustuth was not
the type to brainlessly charge into death, he preferred a little more scheming and a little more deceit.
- - - - - Sandstone 77Ustuth was furious. After another drunken night drawing plans up in his office he had to tear them up.
The fortress entrance was better walled and a drawbridge airlock installed. Additionally, a trade depot spot was installed
and a broker instated. Athel, the new broker, almost immediately went to the surface and In the distance, he spotted a small
group of travelers. Right on time! 2 traders and their horses, including accompanying guards. To Ustuth it was a rather small trading
group however he was excited to begin growing commerce. What Athel neglected to spot was a much large group to the Northeast
approaching quickly which would prove to be a fatal mistake.
Athel began haggling with the merchant over a few small trinkets and some elk tripe. While the merchant certainly wasn't
interested in the +diorite bracelet+ or a =serpentine crown= his attention was certainly caught by a polar bear woman vaulting the
depot wall. A hulking beast with bleach white fur billowing in the harsh blizzard. She wielded a snowy owl leather pair
of trousers. While not a menacing weapon, in the hands of this behemoth it was still lethal. The fortress alarm sounded and
Athel ran inside while the fortress walled up the staircase.
The depot was a gruesome scene. The polar bear woman repeatedly bashed the merchant in the head with her pair of pants until
his brain was no longer solid. The rest of her tribe launched themselves into a frenzy. It was a tense fight, the macedwarf
and marksdwarf against 7 burly opponents. While not having numbers on their sides the dwarves had training and cold iron equipment.
It was a bloodbath. Polar bear blood was splayed across the Depot walls and onto the trade goods. The trade horse
was decapitated and a polar bear man launched into the wall only to have his ribcage smashed and heart pierced with a mace.
In the end, only the guards and terrified outpost Liason stood. They quickly ran into the distance as they no longer had a
caravan to guard. The Liason chose to stay within the safety of the fortress.
Depot MacabreUstuth was very mixed about the matter. While gaining many needed supplies from the abandoned trade-depot he may have just
lost a valuable trading partner, only time will tell. However, he was angry that his defenses had failed so spectacularly. In
his anger, he ordered the gate draw bridge to be lowered so he could take in the failure of a defense he had designed. In his
rage-fueled exit he neglected to see if anyone was under the drawbridge before opening it. One of the merchants crippled and
bleeding on the ground and the marksdwarf that saved his life were both simotaneously atom smashed.
Ustuth didn't care. His fortress was stained with the blood of failure.
The dwarves watched as Ustuth angrily stamped into his officed and locked the door.
Ustuth enjoying food and wine while furiously planning his next buildMeanwhile, the rest of the fortress feasted: cave fish, pig milk, jaguar meat you name it. The merchant had brought a swathe
of exotic food and drinks. While a few dwarves may have perished another 15 went to bed with full stomachs. Yet in this
jubilant celebration something itched at the back of their tiny dwarven brains. What else did this hellish landscape have in
store for them?
Feel free to leave comments about Angerdangers and Ustuth or recommend dwarf names. This is my first story!