Part VII:Books and Giant Keas
A flock of giant keas arrived to Waterlures. They pestered the livestock, snatching at them, causing cuts and bruises, while construction work was halted when the keas swooped around the capybaras, scaring them and sending them running for cover.
Kumil, 'Avolition' and Cañar did their best to drive the avian menace away, but alas, the thieving parrots managed to avoid all attempts... until one fool-hardy kea flew into the temporary underground area. There it was cornered and Cañar gave a swift and decisive blow with his war hammer Nethlîlar Emlïd, which Edu had gifted to him (was it Edu's to give is an different story - it was after all acquired by dubious means from Inkedwhims).
Unfortunately Kumil took some nasty cuts and scratches, which needed tending to. He headed off to Yawo's clinic.
The wounds were not that bad and Yawo managed to heal Kumil with little difficulty.
Meanwhile, 'King Zultan' was still at the Hut of Romancing with Kasat. He was recounting an old, gruesome tale of the cruelty of goblins and their poor victims. Surprisingly, Kasat was interested by the story.
There was no change in their relation - they still were just friends - and when autumn came, Kasat had to attend to other tasks: the caravan from the Mountainhome should soon arrive.
From the journal of Kasat Waxedtiles
24th of Limestone, 335“I had a great summer: it was wonderful to get to know 'King Zultan' better. Yet, I am unsure whether he is of the type that I would fancy. I am very fond of him, of course, but when it comes to romancing, he seems a bit... lacking. I doubt I will fall in love with him - in fact, I don't think there's any single one around here with whom I could imagine getting intimate.In any case, the outpost liaison visited as well as a caravan.We made a trade deal for the coming year and I requested more lumber and flux stone. That shall have to be enough for 'Avolition'. I'm certain there should be enough to make a large enough batch of steel to equip our defenders. We're not here to build an army. A few well-equipped and trained hands will have to suffice.”
The year was over quickly, and come spring and year 336, the elves arrived once again.
However, trading didn't go exactly as planned. Absentmindedly Kasat had offered a large amount of stone and bone crafts without noticing that among them was a walnut wood scepter.
The elves were shocked and horrified.
They refused to continue trading with the capybaras. And they left, their hearts filled with sorrow and anger.
From the journal of Zefon 'Brewer Bob' Drunkenceilings
19th of Felsite, 336“A most fascinating sighting in the skies: a flock of cardinal men have been seen flying around and over Waterlures more than once this week. It must be a wonderful feeling to soar through the skies, the fresh wind blowing on your feathered face - truly remarkable. Ah, to have wings and join them! If only my duty didn't lie here, I would join them without hesitation. The open sky around you with the heavens the only limit! Oh, to experience such things!”
One morning during early autumn, Zuglar the manager, after waking up blissful from sleeping in his very good bedroom, was deep in thought.
'If Kasat can remain in her fancy quarters despite not being a true baroness anymore, why shouldn't I also be allowed something special? I am the one responsible for managing the labor here. It is only right that I should have... Hmmm... That I should have a nickel statue in my office!'He passed Kumil in a passage, looking at the faun who was gleefully carrying items to the stockpiles.
'Why are they fixated on these baubles?' He pondered as he made his way to the plump helmet man's smithy.
'Avolition' upon hearing what Zuglar asked for, nodded, headed to the depot to grab some bars of nickel and to the forge. There was no other use for the few bars they had, and 'Avolition' had nothing better to do, so perhaps this could be considered a late congratulations for becoming a father?
The plump helmet man forged a statue of Abod the Prince of Duty - the deity of chaos, war and death.
Abod was depicted as a female dwarf and she was weeping.
Kasat, eager to find romance, was once again in the Hut of Romancing. This time 'King Zultan' was not with her, but instead Led Winetheaters accompanied her for a long, long late winter date.
Work had finally finished on the large library and the capybaras were having a much deserved break from toil. It was agreed that the latter half of winter and spring would be spent socializing, praying and whatever each wished to do.
On summer's arrival the new House of Knowledge, the library, would be opened to the people of Waterlures.
The year 337 arrived.
Cañar was singing 'Amethysts' in the Fruit of Letters, while 'King Zultan' played an uzo they had bought from the dwarves, Suwu simulated the quabu with her voice and Ilral imitated the uta.
The elven traders were expected to arrive any time now and Ilral would act as broker. Though, the question remained: how offended the elves were from Kasat's mistake to offer them wooden items? Maybe they wouldn't arrive, the pessimists thought, while Ilral - who despised the natural world - thought,
'Well, if that's the case and they get hurt by one measly wooden scepter, then good riddance!'
Summer.
It was time to open the House of Knowledge for the citizens of Waterlures.
The library was built on the Lakes of Saturnity. A long phyllite bridge lined with pillars that had statues atop them led to the main area of the library.
The hall rose several floors up, the north, east and south walls with massive, tall windows made of cut black zircons.
Above the building proper rose a grand spire, its main body composed of phyllite and the top structure - possibly a home for a future scholar - was made of wood.
Below were two large rooms dedicated for studying and sharing knowledge.
And below the studies were several still unfurnished rooms. They were to house visiting scholars and seers once the capybaras deemed it time to open their community for outsiders. For now, the rooms would stay empty.
Yet below that lay a space for making paper, crafting scroll rollers and bookbindings and some storage space. It was still far from finished. There was no hurry to finish the area.
Almost all work on new buildings was finished. Only a new combined granary and brewery were still being built, but it was likely it'd be completed before the end of summer.
Winter was just around the corner. The leaves had turned red and fell onto the frozen ice of the lake.
Work for the year was mostly completed. All the constructions were finished and all that remained was moving goods from old, temporary stockpiles to new storage spaces.
The damned giant keas had been harrassing the denizens of Waterlures since late summer and one of the foul beings was particularyl persistent in tormenting livestock and capybara folk.
It had been wounded earlier by Suwu's arrows, yet it did not give up. It retreated further to tend to its wounds, but remained close-by until in early winter it swooped to snatch at the pet goat of 'Bob', Mistêm.
Finally, after a long chase, Suwu managed to hit one of the keas with her arrows, forcing it to land on the ice. Kumil rushed in, his short sword raised and quickly put an end to the green-feathered miscreant!
Once the kea was slain, the rest of the flock scattered and flew away.
The library proved to be a welcome addition to the settlement: those who didn't feel like mingling in the tavern could indulge themselves in some written words.
Though, most of the writing was not very good.
From the journal of Kasat Waxedtiles
19th of Granite, 338“Once again a new year began, and spring's arrival heralded the coming of the elf traders. And once again they did not have much of interest - except for a few more pedestals made from pure gemstones. We traded them for many bundles of sheep and yak wool cloth. We are producing more yarn than we need. It is for the best that we get rid of all excess - if we don't, we'll soon need to bring more storage space. And in that space the goods would lie without use for Ôsed knows how long! And that is something that the Heavenly Rabbit certainly would not approve of!In any case, what this year will bring with it is, well, a mystery to me. All the necessary work to make things run smoothly appears to be finished. We have a tavern - one of our first buildings. We have a smithy underground - in dwarven fashion. We have wells. We have a mill. Yes, we do not really need it yet, but every proper settlement must have one. There will come a time when we will put it to good use. We have shrines. We have a new brewery and a granary. And now, we have also a library.All we need now is to grow our humble little hamlet to a lively village. We need more capybara folk to come live among us and raise families.”
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Okay, so that's my turn then. Finally.
Sorry for spending way too long on it. Got a bit too carried off with it and was hard to find the "proper" time to end it.
So, attempts to marry the "baroness" to someone haven't been successful, but then again I didn't leave her to socialize with others for that long (and most of the time I used a tavern location instead of just a meeting hall, which I believe slows down their socializing?).
At least we got two babies, which is more than I've ever got before from retired "adventurers".
Speaking of which, @delphonso, you're next. If you don't have time, we can move you down the list.
Also, whoever is next, are you rather interested in continuing the fort or would you like to do an adventurer run (that is, bring more capies to the fort)?
I'll be posting the save tomorrow (with a general overview, if I've got the time).
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Topic: Waterlures - A Capybara Man Fortress & Adventure [DF 0.47.05] (Read 83503 times)