Part I:Darker Times in Waterlures
From the journal of baroness Kasat Waxedtiles
2nd of Slate, 330
“Everything is falling apart around me. Things are not panning out as I planned. I may be baroness and things are looking bright on my part, but the others, oh the others! It was a mistake from my part to let the others take more responsibility of running our settlement: our livestock has been breeding like rabbits (not to mention the cats - cats everywhere!) and with this rate, the pasture will be barren for the rest of eternity; crops and fruit are being left on the fields to rot, since we ran out of space in our stores; 'Delphonso' is about to snap - he's constantly coming to complain to me - and currently in an oblivious state; and Zas... Zas, the one who was supposed to keep us safe... Well, he's been in a particularly sour mood, throwing tantrums and all, battering those cats and kittens running in front of your feet.Today, he went too far. He defiled the shrine of Mestthos at the mine entry. Toppled the statue he did. Of the god who has kept the fortresses of the dwarves - and us capybaras along them - safe for since the beginning of times. I just pray for his soul that Mestthos will be merciful.”
From the journal of baroness Kasat Waxedtiles
13th of Malachite, 330
“A horrible discovery was made today in the dormitory: Imush found 'Quandale' lying in her bed, unmoving, unresponding. She was dead. Not only that, her body appeared as if drained of all of her lifeblood. I am at a loss what could have caused it. Yawo spoke of 'the angry spirits of the forest', for in spring an elven emissary came to visit unannounced. Apparently we had felled some of their sacred trees and the elves were furious. Despite that, they traded with us. But maybe Yawo is right. Maybe the spirits are angry? This is a magical part of the lands: we have seen fairies flying and dancing above the lake waters. We have to be careful. I have ordered that no more trees are to be felled. I will consult Yawo if she knows how we could appease these 'spirits'.But first we mourn and bury our beloved 'Quandale'.”
“I've been feeling thirsty. Very thirsty. Not for beer nor ale or wine. For something else. My mouth feels parched. Dry. I need to quench it. Some way. I had to quench it. I found a way. Poor 'Quandale'. Poor, poor 'Quandale'. She didn't deserve it. I was thirsty. I have trouble controlling my temper. I hope the others won't find out. Why Mestthos, why? Why did you curse me? Please forgive me.”Zas kneeled before the statue of Mestthos that he had previously defiled, humbling himself before the mighty god of Fortresses, hoping to have his curse removed with enough prayer.
Yet he would not find peace, his thirst would not end, no matter how much he prayed.
From the journal of baroness Kasat Waxedtiles
1st of Limestone, 330
“As if things were not dour enough already: the unfinished library designed by our plump helmet man collapsed today. It seems likely that the lack of proper supporting structures were the cause of it. We need a proper dwarven architect - if we want to build something as spectacular. Now all the stone lies at the bottom of the Lakes of Saturnity.Good news is that nobody was hurt and no books were lost.”(OOC: Sorry about that @Avolitionbrit. My OCD kicked in when I noticed the lack of proper, game-wise unnecessary completely necessary, supporting structures beneath it, so I collapsed it. I am, however, going to build it anew in the same design, but adding pillars or something under it.)
From the journal of baroness Kasat Waxedtiles
5th of Timber, 330
“I am concerned. Imush was found dead in her bed a week ago, all dried up like a prune. We followed Yawo's advice to appease the spirits by culling our livestock and leaving their meats for the spirits. Some of the meat is gone, but most of it is laying untouched and rotting. I fear it didn't please them. Maybe the wombat man 'Brewer Bob' is right when he scoffed at 'such sillyness' and said it had to be something else? This has to be sorted out soon, lest we lose any more of our friends to the malevolent spirits or whatever is doing this. Who knows who'll be the next one if we don't find a means to stop this?”
From the journal of baroness Kasat Waxedtiles
25th of Timber, 330
“That does it! Zas in his ever deepening depression and haggardness went too far! He is no longer responsible for our safety, nor among us. I expelled him today. He battered Inod so badly in one of his fits that even Yawo couldn't mend the wounds. Inod is dead! We have lost three of our kind this year and it isn't even winter yet!I don't care where Zas goes, but he certainly is not welcome here anymore! I am sad, angry, disappointed and outraged by such behaviour. If this is Mestthos' way to punish him, I can not but feel that it is others who pay the highest price for his sins. I curse you Zas!”
Zas felt guilty and ashamed, burdened by his actions. Trudging across the frozen lake, a cat following him, he didn't look behind: he had deserved this. He was not worthy of the ones he left behind. He hadn't meant to kill Inod. It was supposed to only be a slap! But he couldn't control his temper nor his new strength. He punched too hard. But it was not only Inod. He had killed before. Imush. Quandale. Both were dead because of him, not some 'spirits'. The others didn't know. He was the cause. He was a murderer.
He didn't care what would become of him. He didn't care if Mestthos struck him down in this instant. All that he cared for was to quench his thirst.
And he was very thirsty.
From the journal of Yawo Cunningfur, Mandrill Woman Witch-Doctor:
“That 'Delphonso' fellow lost it finally. Had enough. Snapped. That stupid, stupid man. 'Tremendous stresses' they say. Bah, it's the nature here that's coming after them, I say. They been living too long with the mudsuckers and rockbiters of Ustuth Ďdath. Just like dwarves they are now. No beards, but more hair. Short. Stout. Who will I now argue with? 'Delphonso' was fun to make angry. Now he's just walking around, blank stare. 'Melancholic', they say. Cursed by Icemi, I say. He'll die soon. Going to feed the earth then, just like 'Quandale', Imush and Inod do. Stupid, stupid man.”(OOC: Yawo and 'Delphonso' were often arguing with each other. 'Delphonso' didn't like it, but Yawo was exhilarated by it. They were pretty much the first ones in the fort to become friends.)=====
So, yeah.
The happy, peaceful fortress took some darker turns. We're down to 8 citizens now: 6 capys, a mandrill woman and a wombat man.
'Delphonso' was pretty beyond help, though I managed to reduce his stress somewhat. However, Zas flipping out and giving Delphonso a beating before he was expelled made stuff worse. They were both with 40k+ stress. I know it's possible to fix that in .05, but yeah, getting an unexpected vampire (who unfortunately chose 'Quandale' as his first victim) didn't help the situation. Can't remember when's the last time I've got a citizen cursed during fort mode (probably 0.40 something?).
Anyways...
I think now I'll
have to bring more capys with adventure mode. I'll be doing that tomorrow.
So, if you @delphonso and @salmeuk want new capys, let me know. Also, if there's any other preferences such as a particular skill or what-not, now's the time to say it.
I might also take a peek on Zas at some point (if the unretiring isn't *too* big a hassle).
edit. It's actually a curious detail that Zas chose Imush as his next victim after Quandale - Imush after all was the first to discover the body.
Author
Topic: Waterlures - A Capybara Man Fortress & Adventure [DF 0.47.05] (Read 83500 times)