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[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 21st of Moonstone, 1055

"And that'll ... jus' about ... do it!  Gentleman, ladies?  Ya've just made history here wit' me.  We're on way to a better life."

The Dwarves filed out of the sparsely decorated dining room, broken into pairs, talking and laughing among themselves.  Johnny was the last one out, his eyes ringed from lack of sleep, a tired smile beaming out from his beard.  In his hand he carried a sheet of graphite-smeared paper which was promptly tacked to the main entrance to the dining room.

Aryn passed him in the hallway, and was greeted with a cheery, "Hoi, Aryn, ya' should check out the new notice tha's been posted by the mess.  It's a real hoot."

"Notice?  Notice, what notice?" But Johnny had vanished up the stairs, heading towards the liquor stockpiles.  He hurried to the dining room and stopped in front of the door, his eyes growing wider and wider in disbelief at what he read:

AS PREPARED BY JOHNNY FOUNTAINSPRINGS AND WITNESSED BY THE LIVING ORIGINAL FOUNDERS, THE DWARVES OF THE POLISHED TRUMPET HEREBY ANNOUNCE THEIR UNIONIZATION TO INCREASE PAY, PRODUCTION, BENEFITS, AND FOODSTUFFS.  BELOW ARE THE NAMES OF CURRENT UNION LEADERS-
Miners Union:       Archin Spunpillars
Stoneworkers Union: Rice Relicmastered
Engravers Union:    Valania Riftlash
Metalworkers Union: Kuli Problemwalled
Jewlers Union:      Istrath Leopardknight
Mechanics Union:    Lucy Hammertempests
Fishermans Union:   Johnny Fountainspring

Balling his fists at his side, Aryn turned and sprinted towards his room, preparing a new section in his files: TRAITORS TO THE CAUSE.

***

OOC: We've reached somewhere important, and I'd like to give you guys a chance to tailor your characters more to how you feel they'd act.  Even though things are now unionized, that doesn't mean everyone is working for the same goals.  You're more than free to pick your allegiance: Johnny, Aryn, or going into business for yourselves (or each other)

I'll continue to make a posts, take tally of what the results are (if there are any), and start altering the story accordingly.  Lastly - if you want a dwarf in the fort, feel free to make a request.  Give me a name, gender, alliance, and what profession and I'll do what I can to accommodate.

[bigmcstrongmuscle]

Sulari is apolitical at the moment - the hullaballoo about the unions doesn't affect her too much in the army, and she's much more interested in the promise of helping to carve out a Utopia than in Aryn himself, although she hasn't really given enough thought to him to realize he's kind of skunky. Her domain is fending off the Dread Camels and the Goblins to keep the fort safe, not power struggles within the fort itself; for the moment, she's a politically naive idealist and easily persuaded by a strong argument by a skilled speaker.

[ricemastah]

It seems that Rice is stuck as a Union leader already, although being a leader of a guild is more of what I saw him as. He honestly, or at least in my imagination, saw this as a place to carve out Utopia. But lately he's been looking down on Aryn, so it may just be that he's corrupted and began to seek fortune for himself and people with like interest. Whatever works for you story I'll go along with it. And try to keep my little journal things in line.

[Heavy Flak]

quote:Originally posted by ricemastah:
<STRONG>It seems that Rice is stuck as a Union leader already, although being a leader of a guild is more of what I saw him as. He honestly, or at least in my imagination, saw this as a place to carve out Utopia. But lately he's been looking down on Aryn, so it may just be that he's corrupted and began to seek fortune for himself and people with like interest. Whatever works for you story I'll go along with it. And try to keep my little journal things in line.</STRONG>

I've actually felt kind of bad about all the crap that's come Rice's way.  Poor guy just wants the best for the fort, likes his fellow dwarves, does everything right, and gets thrown out and mistreated by the "guy in charge".  I can see why he'd be a little disenfranchised.  

When I imagined these "unions", they were more just glorified guilds in my mind.  I just like the word Union because it gives those that don't like them a couple built-in reasons for their dislike.

[ April 02, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 22nd of Moonstone, 1055

The only reason they knew the goblins had arrived was because of the shrill scream coming from the wastes as Udib the brewer was perforated with arrows.  Immediately the front gate was raised, but Snake grabbed one of the peasants before he could reach the other lever, "Get underground!  Civilians are nothing but casualties on the Field of Battle!  The Eastern gate is our choke point, it's to be left open!  Marksman, to the parapets.  Sulari!  Follow me!"

The marksman bounded up the steps, taking up their positions behind the fortifications.  Sulari and Snake hid inside the gate house, their ears ready for the noise of running feet - a sound muffled by the snarls and screams as bolts rained down on them.

Eventually the sound of small feet racing across the bridge was heard, a few of the unwounded breaking into shelter from the marksmen.  "Now," whispered Snake, "Let's go."

"DIE, GOBBOS!" screamed Sulari.  Her stout frame, coated in heavy armor stunned the goblins into a moment of a pause, and in that instance she planted her ax into the face of their leader.  Twisting and fighting to get the blade out from his skull, Snake darted past, cleaving a chunk from a thigh before sticking his sword through it's throat.  Pulling her ax free, Sulari lopped off a hand, then the opposite arm, followed by the poor goblins head.

The rest of the day was clean up.  The few bolt-riddled goblins that had crawled away were put out of their misery with a swift length of steel.  After, drinks were shared by the soldiers in the barracks, in memory of the most important person in the fortress: Poor Udib, Master Brewer.

[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 19th of Opal, 1055

Around the pit where the lake would be the Dwarves milled about restlessly in the scorching heat.  Fans made out of paper and thin bones were used to fan themselves, wide brimmed prospectors caps shielding their eyes from the harsh sun above.  Aryn was standing alone at the side, a handful of schematics in his hands, making one last check that everything was in place when Kuli approached him.

"Aryn, Is there anything I can - anything the church can do for you?"
"Hmm?  No, I don't believe so.  Thank you, Kuli."
"I understand you've asked the people to gather around to watch.  I would like to bless this device, to ensure our prosperity.  So... you will see me walk forward, towards the pumps-"
"The Aqueduct."
"Yes, the Aqueduct, and I'll want you to say my name, and then I will bless the aqueduct-"
"When you walk up?"
"Yes, when I walk up.  And then I will bless it, and you can say my name."
"...that sounds fine, Kuli."

***

Aryn stood at the end of the bridge.  Beside him stood the Leopardknight's young son Limul, shielding his eyes from the light with the flat of his hand.  Aryn raised his hands to silence the crowd, and at that moment Kuli stepped forward from the crowd.  A serene smile was on his face, his hands clasped around the leatherbound Word of Zefon.  As he stepped up beside the pair on the bridge, Aryn lowered his hands and stepped forward to speak to the massed Dwarves.

"I thank you all so much for coming sky-side at this time. I've had the pleasure of talking with some of our new denizens, and I hope very much in the months to come, I'll be able to talk with each and every one of you.  Uhh, I'm much better at, ahh, working the books and organizing the days labors than I am making speeches, so let's skip that and just do a simple blessing instead.
"You see- one man doesn't redirect whole rivers.  It takes a community of good people, such as yourselves, and, ahh, you've all done so well. We stay together in these once-wastes, we pray together, we work together, and if the good Lord Zefon smiles kindly on our endeavor, we share in the wealth together.  
"If we become split as a community, we will never succeed to find this wealth. As we distance ourselves from one another by such petty attributes as job titles because we're upset with the slow build of pleasantries here in the boondocks, we, ah, we will be doomed to be no more than dust for the Dread Camels' hooves trampling among the hills.
"Now before we flip the switch on what we've christened Limul's Aqueduct, named for the charming Mister Limul Leopardknight here by my side - a proud son of these wastelands - I'd just like to say Zefon praises these honest labors of ours, and, of course, blesses you all. Amen."

The crowd erupted into cheers as Aryn and Limul marched over to the lever embedded at the cliffs edge.  Together they pulled it, and in the distance the grinding of gears could be heard, and soon the rush of water, as clear blue liquid rushed down the channel.  As the Dwarves rushed forward to drink their fill, Kuli was left on the bridge alone, the serene smile still on his face, his hands still clasped around his book.
 

Edit: Clarification on who's actually talking.

[ April 02, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Heavy Flak]

The Journal of Johnny Fountainspring
1st of Granite, 1056

Ugh, it keeps getting harder.  Aryn's swayed over a few supporters with his little speech, and his rise to power after Catten's death was a real kick in the nuts.  To make matters worth, poor Istrath Leopardknight is now a widower.  His wife's spine was broken by the Dread Camels, like so many others, and before Snake and Sulari could get out to her aid they'd ... ugh, they'd split her skull open.

There's now a war against the Dread Menace.  The squads are working in shifts; Sulari's axes in the morning, Snake's swords in the afternoon, and the hammerers stalking the wastes at night.  In a single week, we've re-killed twenty of them, and there are still more.  There will always be more.

I've taken to mapping out as much of the complex as I can, and I think I have a good map of the place, secret passages and all.  <see>

[Kuli]

Well, Kuli as he's become in the story wouldn't choose sides in the Aryn/Johnny conflict.  He'll support whoever shows respect to the House of Zefon.  If neither does, then Kuli would probably try to consolidate the Zefonists into an independent group which would then try to mediate the dispute.  If it comes to it, they would defend themselves.

Kuli started as a simple man of faith.  Now that he's the leader of the Zefonists and also the Metalsmith Union leader the responsibility is likely going to his head a little bit.  He's starting to think of himself as some sort of hero, though in a relatively modest way.

Wait.  If I'm reading that last post right, Kuli is the new mayor?

[Heavy Flak]

Thanks for all the input!  This will definitely help with how the characters will act in the upcoming feud.

quote:Originally posted by Kuli:
<STRONG>
Wait.  If I'm reading that last post right, Kuli is the new mayor?</STRONG>

Sorry about that.  I edited that post to add more clarity in who's talking when.

[Kuli]

I'm still a little confused.  If Aryn is making the speech, why does he invoke Zefon's name several times?  Political expediency maybe?

[Heavy Flak]

quote:Originally posted by Kuli:
<STRONG>I'm still a little confused.  If Aryn is making the speech, why does he invoke Zefon's name several times?  Political expediency maybe?</STRONG>

Exactly.  It doubles as a small "go to hell" to Kuli who wants to do a good deed, and as a way to try to get in the good graces of everyone who's unionized to strip him from his newly-gained powers.  What better way than picking a child, invoking the name of the biggest God in the fort, and bringing up the water all the same time?

[Heavy Flak]

From the Journal of Johnny Fountainspring
22nd of Granite, 1056

In less than a years time our Workers Unionization has offered great success.  Our craftsmen have been pumping out trinkets by the barrel full, the masons and miners renovating the bedrooms, the engineers laying down their complicated mechanisms for whatever machination Aryn had dreamed up.  The elves arrived, and our fortress is once again rid of our crap and full of their goods.

This was offset by the goblins at the horizon.  Aryn has been overing double-beer rations to anyone who spots a Threat to Fortress Safety and Valania, with her excellent vision, spotted the group in the distance.  Unlike the skulking retches that try to sneak in and cause havoc, these are Fifteen well armored pikesmen, their leader wearing a standard pole on his back sporting what looked like a Dwarves' skull.  

There was a fight with Aryn about closing the gates immediately, but eventually Rice's humanity won out.  Aryn pulled the switch himself, the last remaining worker launched a couple paces into the court yard.  He's already busying himself with the prepartion of the soldiers, and that left me to discover something very important:

These damned elves refuse to take anything made of wood, or animals, or anything with even a smear of vomit on it!  Sneaking into the trade depot at night, I pissed the whole lot of them off by offering a vomit covered wooden crossbow, and we're now stuck inside with a dozen of the pointy-eared squeekies.  Perhaps I'll just open the doors at night and let the goblins have at them.

[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 26th of Granite, 1056

The squads lined up at the front of the bridge.  Their faces were stony, their resolve set as they listened to the marching goblins, their raspy voices shouting out a near-tuneless marching song in an alien tongue.  Sulari, the highest ranking soldier in the fortress, leaned on her axe and watched the rising wave of green bodies march over the hill.  Unlike the other recruits she was calm, her nerves tempered by the Dread Camels and the years previous ambushers.

Many mistakes were made in this battle, ones that would be remembered and discussed.  Mistakes such as the Marksmen upon the parapet breaking their resolve and bolting downstairs with the civilians.  The second was the elves, the pointy-eared pacifists taking that moment to lead their wagons across the bridge.

As the Goblins set upon them pandemonium broke loose.  As the elves and their mules tried to flee back across the bridge, two of the recruits broke ranks and charged.  They were set upon by the pikeman and struck down, spraying blood across the sand.  

As Sulari charged forward with another recruit, Snake held back, deciding it would be in his best interest to lead the Elven traders back to safety.  Turning to shout at him, a goblin pike found a chink in her left thigh plate, grazing the skin.  Glancing down at it, her upper lip curled into a snarl, and her axe blade began to sing.  

With three of her number dead, Sulari wasn't looking to give the Goblins a swift death.  She spun in a tight circle as she was surrounded, dodging spear thrusts.  As the Axe sang towards a bicep, an ankle, a head, she would turn it in mid air so the flat caught her target, shattering bones.  

Even with every goblin suffering a broken bone, she was still surrounded, and the screams and spear-thrusts were wearing her out.  The little gashes were beginning to add up, and a lucky shot broke through her armor and stabbed her thigh.  The goblin grinned a wide sharks grinned and twisted the spear a second before Sulari was sprayed with his blood, a bolt jutting from his eye.  

One of the rangers had broken free from the civilians, and was standing at the top of the staircase, rapid-firing bolts at the goblins.  His aim was true, and the ones still standing took bolts through the chest and eyes.  

Sulari stumbled backwards panting hard.  All around her were the dying bodies of their attackers, or the corpses of the ones fortunate enough to shed their mortal coil.  She raised her axe wearily and waved to the ranger, who waved his hand with a flourish before exploding another goblins head with an arrow.

Passing out from exhustion Sulari didn't notice Snake and the marksdwarves sauntering onto the battle field, casually finishing off the goblins still alive.  She didn't see them leave her in the sand while they headed back inside for drinks and food and to be hailed as heroes while they sang the Alls-Clear.

But Rice, trapped in gate-house during the battle, saw it all.

[Heavy Flak]

From the Files of Aryn Estetar
14th of Slate, 1056

Investigation: Though I've finally achieved the coveted spot of Mayor, I've been haunted by a very serious problem.  Catten's suicide, in itself, isn't abnormal.  Crippled in battle, her lover gutted by goblins, confined to her room, her life had no meaning.  She should have been put out of her misery long ago.

But the key phrase that keeps coming to me is crippled.  Her spine was shattered!  She couldn't walk!  Yet her door was locked, and she had pulled herself to the middle of the room to hang herself.  Oh, how curious that a paraplegic could have access to rope, an item we had just bartered for.  No.  There is something amiss.  Sulari was meant to be a trap for any would-be assassins, but she's much too strong to be put down by such a petty force.  

We've received new migrants, strong backs will be needed to haul all the filthy material left by these goblins.  There is so much, I've taken to throwing it into the magma vent, lest we drown in it.

Census: 92
New Arrivals:
A Glassmaker
A Animal Disector
A Swordsdwarf
A Axedwarf
6 Peasants
2 Woodworkers
A Weaponsmith
A Soap Maker
A Engraver
1 Child
A Siege Engineer
2 Farmers
A Animal trainer
A Bowyer
A Jewler

[Heavy Flak]

From the Files of Aryn Estetar
17th of Hematite, 1056

WAR!

Damn them, those green skinned hooligans, those war mongering Neanderthals.  Their pike squad was nothing more than a test of our defenses.  Now there are 45 of these parasites outside our walls, trying to suckle at the teet of the great Dwarven production machine.  

Despite having everyone safe inside, two recruits have been found dead from "training accidents".  This is becoming absurd, the audacity of this fortress's assassin.  Picking off our own defenses in the middle of the day!  Their arrogance knows no bounds.

To safeguard myself I have stepped down from the position of Mayor, and Likot of the Marksmen has been elected.  She will be my eyes, my ears, and my voice in this pit, and with any luck, my body.  If she falls?  Hopefully the attacker will leave behind that they can finally be found out.

The Marksmen have been stationed on the parapet, and the axe- and swordsmen are readying themselves in the barracks.  I'm particularly nervous about the goblin's squad of crossbows, because if Johnny is correct their marksmen are some of the best in the land.  Wonderful.  Just wonderful.

***

25th of Hematite, 1056

The siege has been broken.  Likot and her squad picked the goblins off from a distance.  Breaking their moral, they bolted, leaving a smattering of dead around the walls of the fortress.  Even if we "won" I don't feel this will do.  These beasts must be punished for their aggression against us.  

I plan to have Sulari and Snake train their shields up as much as possible.  Perhaps, perhaps they can distract the crossbows long enough for the hammer squads to take out the remaining greenskins.  Damn this land, damn it all.  No matter how many monies we get, it isn't worth this.  Something must be done.  Something to safeguard my life, and the lives of those closest to me.

[ April 05, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]