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[gerkinzola]

quote:Originally posted by God of Toast:
<STRONG>

Why does a MALE dwarf take the form of a god of PREGNANCY?</STRONG>

they're suppost to do it on their own are they?

[Heavy Flak]

From the journal of Johnny Fountainspring
11th of Hematite

Kuli's request has been met in record time, though most of the masons were under the impression they'd be paid both for the shrine and the Church's construction, but that was just not so.  Kuli's good name, his smooth words, and the respect he has garnered for being the most proficient with a hammer has stopped the masons guild from a full out riot, but... I don't know how much longer they'll deal with unpaid work.  Aryn has been seen cackling whenever he hears of these disgruntled workers, when he's seen outside of his room anymore.  

I was pulled out of masonry retirement at Kuli's specific request.  After constructing my coffin Thun Okin, I'm a bit of a masonry expert, though I don't like to flaunt that information.  I agreed to do some work for my long-time friend, and after much head ache we got some obsidian stones I carved into the image of Zefon.  Of these, one was of exceptional quality, and this was hauled to the forge where it was tastefully edged with well-crafted nickel.  As soon as it's out of the shop, it'll be placed under the small opened skylight.

Snake has been acting quite off lately.  The Dread Camel, their spirits increased by all of the migrants trampled, have seen fit to enter our courtyards in the hopes of spilling more Dwarven blood.  They are summarily stopped by Sulari and a few have been caught in traps.  Snake, however, is generally the first with boots on the ground after Sulari, and every skirmish ends with him sighing wistfully and stating something absurd like, "I wish some had been left for him."  There have been shouting matches between the two over his performance and training ethic, but regardless of what is said he's the first on the scene, following right behind Sulari.

Mayor Likot is still held up with her broken arm, and Stravitch has been saying this might be the perfect time to act.  One of our men in the Fountainspring Fisheries might need to be switched to cook detail, but I don't think it would take long for him to prepare the meals she eats, and th <the>

***

"Close the gates!  CLOSE THE GATES!" Aryn shouted from the courtyard.  "There are goblins in the valley!  If you're not inside in ten minutes, you're corpse will be picked up with the green skins after the battle!  IN SIIIIDEEE!"

[Kuli]

Thanks for the shrine.  It's exactly what I wanted.  I love the location, too!

[Heavy Flak]

quote:Originally posted by Kuli:
<STRONG>Thanks for the shrine.  It's exactly what I wanted.  I love the location, too!</STRONG>

It's not problem at all.  I was going to have a picture with the exceptional obsidian statue in the center (and that one spot of blood cleaned up), but it was already 11:30 and we got hit with a VILE FORCE OF DARKNESS and I decided it was probably just time to call it a night and deal with that inconvenience the next day.

Also, the roof is almost complete (damn basalt blocks!) and when it is, I'll post a picture of that too.

[Kuli]

Where, exactly, did the blood come from?  Don't tell me my shrine is being used for dark rituals.

[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 14th of Hematite, 1059

Nako Cursedabbler paced in front of the amassed goblins.  Three squads were fielded today, one of axes and one of swords, Nako's own carrying the well-made bronze crossbows of Tode Lustu.  His red eyes were narrowed into thin slits, small silver-capped tusks glistening in the harsh sun light.  

"Ngokang, Aslot, you're squads will move in first.  We will be following behind your meat-screen supplying bolt fire at the pathetic Stunts.  Remember - what are your orders?"
"Grab the Children," The goblins roared in unison.
"And your secondary?" Asked Nako.
"Remove the menace Sulari."
"Good.  Now, march!"

***

Sulari darted into the barracks to grab her axe.  All around the soldiers were donning their armor, adjusting the straps on their helms or running the whetstone across their blades.  Only Major ---- DayCovering was absent, as he was still dutifully pitching horseshoes in front of the Church - the standing soldiers too terrified to ask him to join them in battle.  

"We're leaving the eastern gate open.  We'll meet the gobbos at the crest of the hill.  We'll have the height advantage-" the Dwarves in the room stifled their snickers, "- and hopefully that will keep the bolts at bay long enough for The Silvery Trails squad to get on the parapet to rain steel death on the green skins.  You've got ten minutes to get Top Side.  Move, men!"

Sulari had almost made it out of the barracks before seeing Snake in the corner, tightening the straps on his armor.  A bemused smile spread on her face as she sauntered over, hooking her thumbs into her belt.  "Well, well well!  Look at this, don't have some snarky comment to make?  Aren't trying to hide safely back in the Mountain Homes?  What's caused this sudden growth of spine?"

Snake smiled as he gave a hard tug on the side straps, making the plate mail sit more snuggly on his barrel chest. "These aren't the terrible beasts of Old we're dealing with, these are simple greenskins.  Pathetic, easily scared greenskins that I've beaten to death with only a wooden shield.  So I don't want to fight a monster made of living metal, or some horrible lizard that belches fire.  What do you take me for?  I'm a warrior, not an idiot."

Sulari laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.  "Fine, well, I'll see you Top Side.  Perhaps your sword will actually be as good as your mouth and shield."

[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 17th of Hematite, 1059

The axe-squad of goblins were the first to mount the hill.  They stayed in formation, their axes held high on their shoulders.  They sang harsh, guttural songs in their native tongues, their teeth gnashing with blood lust.  Behind them marched the swordsmen - prepared to attack the hopefully-tired Dwarves as much as they were instructed to push the axes farther forward if they tried to break rank and flee.
   

Axeman Laborfaith was the first to break rank and charge, determined to regain her honor after the debacle with the dragon.  Her iron axe glittered in the sunlight, and she deftly removed the first goblins head on her first swing.  The others quickly joined into the melee, swords and axes and spears rending soft green flesh from the bone.  Even Woundletters was in battle, the retard laughing and clapping happily as she broke necks and shoulders with her maple sword, finishing goblins left and right by swinging it like a bat, sparks of psionic energy crackling as she blasted them towards the distant horizon.  

Regrouping their strength in front of the bridge, a single bolt whizzed past Woundletters head, embedding in the stone wall behind her.  Snake spun at the sound and wasted no time in bolting towards the bridge, shouting, "Get inside!  They'll perforate us!  Raise the bridge!"  

All but one of the Speardwarves made it inside.  The last, left in the cold, steeled his resolved and charged the masses.  One of the gobbos was stabbed through the face before the Dwarf was mobbed and quartered.

With the bridge up, any Dwarf that walked by was shot at by the crossbows.  This became a game for some of the quicker members of the military who would pop out into the open, dodge some bolts, and dart back behind cover.  Of course, this didn't always work, as one of Aryn's personal guard, drunk and stupid slouched out hurling insults and laughing.   He was promptly filed with bolts and left to die in the court yard, Snake shouting threats at anyone who came near his corpse or gear.  

Eventually the command was given and the bridge was lowered.  The Dwarves held steady by the inside wall, while the Marksdwarves took their position on the walls.  As the first goblin axeman rounded the corner, he was greeted by Sulari's axe to his face.  He dropped like a sack of rocks, the Dwarves rushing onto the bridge and into battle.
   

For some, bolts were deflected with skill.  Sulari's shield looked like a pincushion as she waded onto the gore soaked bridge, laughing and hacking at anything green moving.  Snake's sword was a blur as it knocked bolts out of the air before lopping off limbs.  Bolts were even missing Woundletters, the steel seeming to curve at the last second before missing the jolly soldier as she bounded towards the bridge, her maple sword held high.  

The goblins were soon routed, their moral broken.  But due to the tight proximity on the bridge there was no where for the goblins to run to.  They were slaugthered like cattle, their cries of "FOR OLSMO!" flitting away in the wind, their dying breaths.

Even with the victory, there were some small casualties.  Woundletters, her concentration broken by the joy of battle took a bolt through the left hand and through the chest - her punctured lung and wounded hand slowing her down not at all.  And Swordsman Abbeybucks took a bolt through the right bicep.  Unable to hold a sword he withdrew from the battle, trying to stem the blood flow.  

As the soldiers limped down to the store room for a well needed drink they were greeted with the cheers of the civilians.  The Fortresses was safe once again, the Dwarves mettle still untested.  Snake hung back with Abbeybucks, helping re-dress the wound.  They didn't speak for many minutes, and Snake was the first to break the silence, his voice pained, "Sodel - do you think that love can bloom on the battlefield?"

"I don't know, sir..." Came the weary reply, "I think it can at any time, any place; people can fall in love at any time.  But..."
"But what?"
"But nothing, sir.  Forget it.  I wasn't saying anything."
"...Yeah, I wasn't either..."

They trailed off again.  Sodel, his blood loss heavy closed his eyes to save his strength.  Snake watched the revelers from the distance, sighing softly as he watched Sulari lifted upon the Civilians shoulders, her helmet off, dark hair streaming down her back.  

Edit: Forgot a part.

[ April 23, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[ April 23, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Heavy Flak]

From the journal of Johnny Fountainspring
The 16th of Malachite, 1059

Even though the "Great Dwarf-Wash" is still being completed, Aryn has seen fit to start a new project.  At our latest all-hands, he expressed once again his intense dislike for the jobless and lazy, and has decreed that any Dwarf of sound mind and able body MUST work - doing the jobs of their forefathers:

Swinging a pick.

He showed us a crude sketch of the surrounding area, his pointer slapping the parchment loudly as he pointed to the red square.  "This will be our quarry, and it will delve deep.  It's a travesty our only source of iron comes from those worthless greenskins.  By putting picks in the hands of our charges, we will increase productivity, have paying jobs for those currently without, and will increase our stone, gem, and ore - increasing our worth to the outside world."

the Budseals love this idea, even going so far as to shake hands with a visibly disgusted Aryn.  But the plans have been set, and the quarry has begun, and for the quick cash I may raise the pick once more.  My apprentices can hold the fisheries for now, and Stravitch is both terrifying and capable in handling the traders while I toil in the mines.

[ April 24, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Heavy Flak]

quote:Originally posted by Kuli:
<STRONG>Where, exactly, did the blood come from?  Don't tell me my shrine is being used for dark rituals.</STRONG>

The blood is from a construction mishap.  I was trying to do this:

code:

 O OOOO
O#++++OO

Where the # is a constructed floor I was removing before the top wall it was connected to was actually, uhh, connected to anything else.  Knocked a Stonercrafter down and busted his head a little, but by the time he got to his room he was 100%.  No dark arts (yet).

Also, a quick apology - My project is almost at completion so I've been working on it pretty much as soon as I get home from work until about 9 or 10, and then DF has been throwing me nothing but boredom so far as I try to complete projects.  So bare with if the updates are slow for a while, they'll pick up again, promise!

[Kagus]

Heh heh, friend, if DnG! and The Woodsman (rest his treasured soul...) have taught me anything, it's that they'll wait as long as it takes for another update.

[Heavy Flak]

quote:Originally posted by Kagus:
<STRONG>Heh heh, friend, if DnG! and The Woodsman (rest his treasured soul...) have taught me anything, it's that they'll wait as long as it takes for another update.</STRONG>

It's good to hear words of reassurance from one of the Wordslingers on this forum - if I can't get a "good" update out once a day or so, I start to get antsy, ya' know?  That's probably just my obsessive side showing through, though.

Edit: Just like my obsession with going through and adding a single missing space... yeesh!

[ April 25, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Akroma]

to my shame I must admit I haven't read this story yet

but taking a look at the archieve, the architecture sure is awesome

that being said, I claim Akroma, a male bonecarver

[Heavy Flak]

From the files of Aryn Estetar
6th of Limestone

   
I had a meeting today with the head of the Bone Carvers union, one Akroma Whippedcloses.  He came in complaining of a lack of work for the bone carvers, a topic that made me throw up my hands in bewilderment.

"Look around you!  The only thing that grows in this land is death; the only fruit we have are bones.  How can you be want for work?  It's a veritable cornucopia of decay and destruction just steps from our entrance!"

It seems that my assistant is lacking in his duties yet again - the second strike against him - And this is the reason Akroma respectfully came to me.  I've ordered dozens upon dozens of bone bolts to be constructed for Likot's marksdwarves.  When that's completed, perhaps we can begin decorating our furniture with the bones of the undead.  It may be a morbid spectacle, but it should remind us of what is outside our walls; of what not following my orders can lead to.

There have been thefts in the Fortress, items stolen, items sold.  Contraband is slipping in, and I still fear the spies within our walls, they're watching me, I know it ...

The miners digging the quarry are being put to a use I neglected to inform them of: early warning.    Archin ran across a Kobold trying to escape with a masterfully worked iron breastplate that was unfortunately left on the battlefield.  She apprehended him, bringing him in with the request that he should be let go.  Of what use is punishing the lesser races, she said?  Just take the armor and make an example, and let him go.  I agreed readily.

I strangled him by the cliff face, and threw him AND the armor into the lava pit.  He was probably working with the greenskins anyway, that pathetic wretch... and no dwarf of mine would wear armor tainted by their foul touch.  Beasts!

[ April 25, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Heavy Flak]

NOTE!!!

Less then a days notice, I know, but the next cryptogram will be posted around 4pm.  Everyone is eligible to play (even those who haven't claimed Dwarves), and as the last two times, the first person to post the solution is allowed to make an in-game request.

Clarification:
That will be 4pm, EST on April 26th.

END NOTE!!!

[ April 25, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Heavy Flak]

From the Journal of Johnny Fountainspring
14th of Sandstone

I'm holed up in my room thanks to Aryn's quarry.  Part of his design has placed our mining operations where our wagon landed.  Archin and I took a small pause as we stared at the entrance, remembering the past eight years, both the good and the bad.  Our first day in this scorched wasteland, greeted by the dead.

Due to a mining mishap, I was dropped three floors in a cave in.  Those idiots we recruited from the last migratory group to swing a pick weren't listening to instructions, and one of them dropped the ceiling down on top of herself.  I dropped with ceiling.  

That miner was crushed to death, and I managed to walk away with only a sprained hip, both my legs bruised and battered, and a nasty welt on my head by tucking and rolling at the very last second.  Right now I'm "resting" in my room to get out of the rest of the days work, imbibing in contraband rum.  

I've overheard talk from Istrath, who's stressing.  The Budseals lapdog the Tax Collector has ordered that he and his jewelers supply him with two exquisite large gems, items he's already overflowed his room and tomb with.  Istrath has tried in vain to explain how "Gem's can't be increased in size.  I can't be held responsible for smaller, more delicate gems pulled from the earth."  But he won't be sated.  If proper specimens can't be found, well, someone will surely be punished for this.

Akroma, on the other hand, has been given a mandate by the Budseals to make as much out of Dread Camel bones as he can.  Such a coincidence, that a few days after complaining of the lack of work, the Bone Carvers union is now working against the clock.

[ April 26, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]