There appears to be a shared sentiment amongst the community on nobles being overdamanding ingrates so hopefully this will give some small catharsis. This story was synthesized by using a mixture of legends, fort, and adventure mode to follow the details closely and glean a more indepth understanding of its characters. Little is permitted in the way of creative liberty to ensure the events are depicted without distortion. My fort is known as Tradedreveres.
* - indicates my fortress or characters
...dwarven eyes had seen... begone fear!
The Human Town of Prestigebrain acts as the seat of a civilization known as The Parched Confederacy. Once having 33 settlements and a population of 1700 in Prestigebrain, this civilization has faced an aggressive decline. After 200 years of violent colonialism their empire was warring with every civilization it had come into contact with. Their once offensive strategies had turned to defense as they tried preserving what they had. It wasn't long before their distant settlements fell. The decay set in as territories closer to home were razed, until it spread to the heart. Prestigebrain became the sole survivor of this scourge which had now turned to whittling down its population. Now, in the wake of these consequences, nobles send their last men to die in their wars while they are left unprotected.
Slate 3, 314
Prestigebrain... Four days travel... Population 10
A month prior, dwarven eyes had laid witness to the peculiarity of a town populated only by nobility. Now, the dwarven fortress of Tradedreveres is gearing up to invade a city they had never come in contact with before now, Prestigebrain. Command* saw the advantage of raiding the old city. Tradedreveres would gain favor throughout the continent while gaining a monolithic artifact haul. It would be an easy victory and give the military a healthy way of venting their frustrations with nobility.
Forces gathered in the moat foyer before heading out into the wilderness.
Slate 7, 314
Queen Thora Tapstrenáwlist was vocal about her opinions - how she hated family, despised nature, and begrudged hard work. She sits around her palace contemplating an argument about values she had with an unexpected dwarf* visiting earlier that month. Her aristocracy waits with her. The armies they sent out are long overdue. Now, they are just waiting for the inevitable invasion they won't survive. Today, the consuming fear was fully realized in steel clad axdwarves. The barons and abbot made for easy work, not a dwarf was harmed. The chaos settled and amongst the body parts and gore an arm and an eye lie there without their respective owners. Closer inspection of the dead reveals only 8 out of the 10 nobles were successfully slain.
Thora has found herself wandering the wilds with a crippled leg, missing eye, and deformed body. Her companion, the now one armed baron Atir Adorspishab, is in a similar condition.
Slate 9, 314
The Human Hamlet of Ismanmedon... Population 27
The two wounded nobles join the hamlet as peasants upon discovering it amidst the wilds. They must retire here for the time being killing their civilization once and for all.
Galena 12, 314
A lack of any practical skills has left the nobles toiling as peasants the last four months. The one armed baron had a childlike tantrum from the stress and decided he would be better served in a settlement with a higher population. He departs for a human town less than a day's travel away leaving the one eyed toothless queen to suffer alone.
Sandstone 2, 314
Human Town of Singseer... Population 200
Atir has struggled to make a steady living the past two months. Incapable of ascending to a position of nobility where his abilities would best be utilized, he turned to crime. Today, he has been apprehended for theft. He'll likely eat better in prison, at least.
Moonstone 4, 314
Atir is released.
Slate 2, 315
Nobility are known to attempt ascending to their original positions of nobility when having lost their title.
Thora has succumb to her tendencies as a ladderclimbing whore and has upgraded her social standing from peasant to farmer by marrying one and being taught how to grow plants or something. Who knows, maybe she will lead a farmers guild someday.
Hematite 1, 315
Esteemabyss...The Constructive Empire...Population 2500
Atir had gained friends and favor with the ruling classes since his release and has achieved a position as a spy. He had since been sent out to the town of Esteemabyss to gather intel. After a 6 day journey and a name change, he has arrived.
Hematite 14, 315
Having the qualities of a spy doesn't mean you have the qualities of a good one
Atir is discovered to be a spy and is imprisoned. Atir drops his false identity.
Slate 17, 320
Thora's husband, Othral Breechesincenses, valued stoicism, hardworking, and family. The mixture of her trauma and her husband has swayed her heart into embracing the idea of family. On this day Thora bears her first son Nor Breechesincenses.
Timber 15, 322
In pursuit of an even bigger family, she birthed a girl. Thora named her Thran.
Obsidian 20, 322
Atir is released from prison. Figuring he had no more investment in Singseer than he does here, he decided to settle into Esteemabyss.
Granite 28, 323
Atir has become a mercenary in Esteemabyss.
Sandstone 22, 323
Someone is still asking for her head...
Thora experienced an assassination attempt. Her husband and youngest daughter are killed in the confusion. Thora flees with Nor to a human hillock less than a day's travel away.
Sandstone 29, 323
Socrates was grateful in the end...
Thora returns to her hamlet of Ismanmedon leaving her only begotten son behind. She has accepted the inevitable, having learned to value family she has also learned self sacrifice. Not many have the opportunity of choosing when they die but she has embraced it. She continues farming at home one last time.
Opal 17, 323
Atir has arrived at Tradedreveres. He was discovered unconscious in a pile of his own blood and vomit. He is escorted to the infirmary for surgery and suturing.
Obsidian 24, 323
The command* at Tradedreves considered killing Atir but believed it wouldn't be right. There's no sport in it. Either way, his old civ has been dissolved for a long time now.
After weeks of getting drunk at the tavern, Atir departs.
Hematite 29, 325
Another attempt is had on Thora's life. She doesn't survive this time.
Sandstone 14, 325
A series of seiges orchestrated by the Escavated Council had compromised remote settlements belonging to the Constructive Empire. In retaliation, the nobility employed squads of mercenaries to target those responsible. The last four months have been marked by massive casualties on both sides and the ire gathered from many more civilizations in the wake of this brutality.
After a 45 day journey into the distant heart of the Escavated Council's kingdom Atir arrived into the interior of the royal chamber. The ensuing skirmish left all but two dead, Atir and a mercenary companion Umci Scarpeek. King Rostfen Shoveldreams lie in pieces before him making for Atir's second act of regicide during his career as a mercenary. He must make it back home but has neither the resource nor constitution to survive the return trip. They must visit a nearby castle for the time being.
Sandstone 16, 325
...must keep moving
Retaliation was found at the hands of a few swordsmen under the Escavated Council's banner. Atir survives but at the cost of his companion.
Desperate to leave, Atir departs for the wilderness.
Slate 26, 326
The Dwarven Fortress of Seizedcanyons...Population 35
Atir lives nomadically outside of his home town of Esteemabyss, staying in settlements for only a few months, weeks, or even days. Oftentimes, his stays are interrupted by wouldbe assassins. It won't be long before he's in the same positions as the mutilated queen Thora. However, as his migration towards home brings him closer to the uncharted wilds so too have the frequency of attacks lessened.
Atir has come to a stop at a rural dwarven fortress known as Seizedcanyons. Traveling towards home beyond this point would force Atir to make a 16 day trek in the wilderness. Alone, Atir is likely too vulnerable to survive the trip and so he settles indefinitely.
Moonstone 7, 332
The Monastery of Arrowbreeds...Population 11
Atir decided to brave the 15 day trip. Mangled from violent encounters with wildlife, he retires for a while at the monastery.
Moonstone 13, 332
A lasher tries finishing off Atir while he was too weak to defend himself. A monk twists the lasher like a pretzel with his advanced wrestling skills.
Moonstone 18, 332
Boltpasses...The Constructive Empire...Population 56
Atir arrives at a human fortress known as Boltpasses in time to join a competition. The fortress is hosting its 114th annual triatholon. He gets into an argument with a contestant and nearly beats him to death with an article of clothing. Atir is apprehended and jailed.
Slate 17, 333
Nor Breechesincenses grows to be a peasant like his mother.
Hematite 25, 333
...no longer in allied territory...
An invasion razes the fortress. Atir is released on account of his captors all being dead. He leaves for Esteemabyss, now two days away.
Hematite 27, 333
After a long journey, Atir retires to the luxury and safety of Esteemabyss.
Moonstone 29, 335
After a short time spent as a soldier left Atir broken, he releases an autobiography titled "Scraped Nobilities" with masterful prosing.
tbc
I will update the story as it develops.
Author
Topic: Scraped Nobility (Read 1248 times)