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[Jools]

(OOC)

Any profession will do - preferably some sort of minor mason or stonecrafter, but I don't mind as long as they're a godfearing Zefonist - and preferably a civilian.

As for the request, I shall have to think about that - so far statue gardens seem popular, but I feel like something different - maybe a mural somewhere, or a private stash of alcohol, or even just the largest sword you can beg, borrow or steal, and the honour of having first crack at whatever larger horror is coming... I'll try and come up with something in the next day or so.

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 15th of Granite, 1063

Limul Leopardknight sat at the corner table in Dodik-Come-Lately's, staring blankly down into the mug of dark stout.  The Budseal twins, Bim and Rith were arguing as they always did, their fight refereed by the fourth child, Melbil Machinescalded.  

"No!  No no, Sulari would win.  Sulari wins at EVERYTHING," Rith said smugly, stroking his youthful goatee.  
"You're so stupid," Bim nearly shouted.  "Varen would.  He can stab things farther away with his spear, and he's young AND quicker than dumb ol' Sulari."

Melbil waved her hand for attention, talking over the two boys. "But Varen wouldn't fight Sulari," she said with authority.  "Varen isn't a squadleader, Sergeant Towersacks is, and she'd fight Sulari and she'd lose."  The bickering continued, until finally Bim said, exasperated, "Limul, you think I'm right, right?"

"Huh?"  Limul looked up from his untouched ale.  "I'm sorry, I didn't, I wasn't really paying attention..."

The others trailed off their argument, their heads cocked curiously at their friend.  He'd been acting oddly for weeks now.  Always morose, shuffling around the hallways with his head hanging low, his eyes downcast.  They'd mostly ignored him, after all, a child does as it pleases.  But this was becoming excessive.

"What's wrong?" Melbil asked quietly.
"I, uh..." He stammered.  His eyes dropped down again, and with a heavy lift of his shoulders, he said in a rush, "I miss Mayor Likot."

The others stared at him in disbelief.  Mayor Likot?  The creepy old woman in the leather greatcoat and scary mask?  Though two of the trio kept their tongues, Rith powered through with his mothers grace.

"Why would you miss her?  She was mean to everyone!"
"Not to me," Limul said simply. "She always listened to me.  She wasn't that bad and now -" he choked up for a second, "She's dead."
"My parents are dead," sulked Rith, "and you don't see me complaining about it."
"Your parents were jerks," Snapped Limul, "And now there's no one here to talk to, not when I have problems, Dad doesn't have time, he's always working..."

The din from the table was threatening to interrupt the others, even in the bawdy atmosphere.  Stravitch looked like he had half a mind to storm over and silence the brats himself, but Mookie worked her charm as she whispered something in his ear, and he quickly left with her.

Eventually the group was quieted down by Melbil, looking concerned.  "You... you shouldn't feel this bad.  I know it's sad, and stuff, but, people around here die a lot... you know, if you need someone to talk to, you might want to try talking to Maester Kuli."
"No one talks to Maester Kuli anymore," Limul said, matter of fact. "He's locked up forever."

"Well... I don't know about that," Said Melbil. "But my Daddy went to talk to him the other day.  He said he had something VERY important to talk to him about."
"But ... no one's seen him.  Not in months."
"Yeah, but Daddy is friends with Vash, and Vash got him in.  He said so, he said he warned Maester Kuli about everything and he'd be keeping us safe."

Limul thought about this, momentarily forgetting his depressing as he took a drink of excellent stout.  "So... if I go and talk to Vash, he might let me go talk to Maester Kuli?"
"Yeah, he might," conceded Melbil.  "He's always wanting to help, and I'm sure he'd help you.  Even if he is gone."

Limul smiled briefly, taking a deep drink from his cup.  His good humor didn't last terribly long as the Budseals went back to their bickering, but at least he had an idea on his mind.  Now, to find Vash...

***

Melbil's Daddy:
 

[ June 10, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 15th of Granite, 1063

"Are you sure this is okay?"
"Shh, just be quiet.  If the Guardsmen hear, we'll have to leave."

Limul tried his best to focus, to see through the darkness, but all he got was vague shapes.  He was lucky to be able to hold on to Vash's cloak as they tip-toed through the empty barracks, occasionally catching his toe on some discarded armor or a hammer left on the floor, and had he not had something in hand he might have went sprawling.  

They inched past the cells of the soldiers - many of them now standing empty, their occupants either in the crypts, or thrown unto the great pyre that lit up the night weeks earlier.  As they neared the second to last cell, Vash stopped and turned, placing a hand on the child's shoulder.

"We must not dally; please keep this quick.  And, give him this."
A wineskin was pressed into Limul's hands, and a slab of thick cave lobster roast wrapped in parchment and tied with string.  He nodded, gaping silently as he heard the jangle of keys, and the soft scraping sound of the doors edge on the stone.

"Maester... Maester Kuli?"  Limul tenatively stepped inside.  His eyes had finally adjusted, and he could faintly make out the shape in the cell.  The Maester looked thinner, his face more gaunt, and even in the darkness the streaks of gray and chalky skin were easily seen.  Shaky hands held out the offerings, and gaunt fingers reached from the darkness to take them.

"Bless you, Child.  Vash has told me of your wish to speak with me.  How may I help?"
"Please, sir - if... if Vash has keys to your cell, why can you just not be free?"
"Because there are evil men walking the halls of our home," he said plainly.  There was no trace of malice in his voice, only weariness.  "Evil men, who are not believers.  In order to succeed, to continue doing Zefon's work, we must play their games.  Even when we lose, we must continue to play, to not give them an excuse to try and push us to the beyond early."

Limul thought about that in silence, and Kuli took the opportunity to open the parchment.  The sliced roast was quickly devoured, and after squeezing the wineskin he sighed happily.  

"Ahh, Strawberry wine.  Is there any drink sweeter?"
"Maester Kuli... sometimes I feel like I don't have a purpose here."

Kuli was momentarily taken aback by the rush of words, by the first confession he had heard in more than five months.  The wineskin was passed back mostly empty, then the parchments, and finally he spoke.

"We all have a purpose, child.  You may not see it now, but you're helping, and more importantly, you're learning.  Your father is extremely proud of you, you know.  He tells me so quite often."
"He does?" Limul asked, surprised.
"Aye.  He does often," the rattle of chains was followed by Kuli leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. "I can't fathom why you could miss Mayor Likot, but I can understand how you could miss [/i]someone[/i].  This is a hard life we've carved out; we're all told to grow up so fast.  There are big things in place for you, child.  I'll be out soon, but if you ever feel you need to talk to someone come and sit by my door - I may not respond, but I'm always listening."

Limul left the cell with a smile, and even as the door was closed and locked, his heart didn't feel so heavy anymore.  Vash placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, whispering, "Now let's get you back before Istrath realizes you're gone, 'eh?  There's no wrath quite like the worry of a single father."

***

"Do you hear drums?" Varen asked.
"Aye, they're marching from the north.  You don't see them?" Sergeant Towersacks asked.
"Well, no.  I was watching out for Stravitch.  He knows my shift is over soon and I was going to try avoi-Ack!"

He was cuffed upside the head by his commanding officer.  

"Focus!" she barked at him.  "There, look, to the east.  What do you see?"
"I see... pikemen.  Standard bearer up front with sword and flag, the ... Black Hand of Tode Lustu," He said, privately pleased with all he'd learned of the Green Race.  "And... wait.  Those aren't... those aren't goblins."

"Very good.  They aren't."
"Then what are they?"
"Half breeds.  Get your spear and helmet.  It's Sulari's shift to sleep, and it's up to us to guard the pass until she wakes.  Let's move, and bring honor to the Spearmen's Squad."

[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 18th of Granite, 1063

Sergeant Towersacks was at the lead of the defenders, flanked by Spearmen Varen and Guildslide.  She leaned on her spear, her face impassive as the drums grew louder, the sounds of marching boots filling the spaces between drum booms.  

The creature climbing the hill was no goblin Varen had ever seen.  It was almost as large as a troll, it's skin a mottled brown, covered in coarse patches of black hair.  The face could be considered goblinoid, but the tusks were elongated to the point of excess, the nose flat and smashed compared to it's smaller brethren.  

   
The Halfbreed roared with laughter as it saw the trio standing on the roadway.  It began to sprint towards them, it's voice deep and booming, "We've come for the child, half-men!  We've come for the child!"

The halfbreed hefted his pike on high, prepared to bring the heavy blade down on the little Dwarves.  He was not prepared for Varen to drop to one knee and brace the butt of his spear against the iron boot.  It ran the halfbreed through, puncturing his heart and exploding out the back, tendrils of flesh hanging from the tip.

"Untangle your spear," Sergeant Towersacks shouted, thumping Varen on the back.  "There are more on the march!  Hurry!"

Sergeant Towersacks was a sight to behold on the battlefield.  Her spear flashed brillantly in the sun, and all around her the lumbering halfbreeds were howling in pain, blood spurting from arterial wounds in their unprotected inner thighs, of broken hands, or with one unlucky Ripemalice, stabbed clean through the eye.

Left behind to collect his spear, Varen was soon surrounded by the Halfbreeds not tangled up with Towersacks or Guildslide.  Unable to wrench his spear free, Varen scooped the large helm off the beasts head, swinging it around in a hard arc.  It caught the closest of the Halfbreed in the jaw, shattering it and bringing the beast down to one knee.  A second swing cracked into the beasts temple, knocking him out of the fight.  Dodging to the side, Varen ripped his spear free, grinning wide as he turned to face his attackers.

His foes perforated, Varen turned towards the other two, ready to help his commander.  Instead, he saw Sergeant Towersacks grasping the beasts long ear in one hand and yank it down towards the ground.  Her spear was lodged in his leg, and once he was on a knee yowling in pain, she yanked it from his thigh and drove it through his heart.

They were breathing hard as the dust settled, but they were without a scratch.  Sergeant Towersacks smiled wide, "I suppose we don't need Sulari.  Let's get back inside and lock the gates, I'm sure there are more in the hills.  We don't need them getting in while we recuperate."

[ June 11, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 23rd of Grantite, 1063

"What happened to the pumps?" Lucy asked suddenly.
"I... don't know what you're talking about?" Rice said, perplexed.  He looked up from his job orders, eyebrows lifted quizzically.
"Don't you hear it."
"Hear... what?"

"Exactly.  They've stopped running.  They've never stopped running before," she said. "This isn't good.  They've wrecked our pumps, oh no.  What will we do for water?"

Rice spent the next ten minutes wrestling her away from the door, making sure it was locked and barred.  He pointed through his office window to the barracks, where Dwarves were hurriedly suiting up. "Even if you could get out there, you can't fix them immediately.  Just wait until we're given the all clear, alright?"

***

The Halfbreeds came in a swarm, occasionally stopping to fire off one of their wicked barbed arrows.  They stepped over their dead colleagues without even a glance down, their tusks gnashing in anticipation of the tender flesh standing firm before them.

Sergeant Towersacks lowered the visor on her helm and charged, followed closely by Varen, Sulari, Guildslides, and the other two in the axemans squad.  She didn't bother to dodge the arrows flying in her direction, charging straight through them.  Steel arrows bounced off of her lobstered mail, doing little more than denting and scratching the metal.  

Even with their enormous surprise, they halfbreeds were ill prepared for the force at which the tiny, armored soldier plowed into them.  She bowled one of the bowmen over, rebounding off his chest to stab her spear through a halfbreeds hand, the tip spearing it completely, pinning it to his own thigh.  An arrow fired from one of her blind spots pierced the chain at her elbow, embedding the tip into the bone.  

Letting loose a fell battlecry, Sulari dove into the horde of halfbreeds, her axe slashing great gouts into the mottled brown skin.  They weren't prepared by the ferocity on display, and only after seeing one of their number disemboweled did severity of this attack sink in.  Varen was more cautious than the commanders, but even as he dodged and weaved and stabbed arrows clanged off his helm and breastplate, leaving deep gouges in the finished metal. A lucky shot took Guildslide in the hand, piercing it through completely.  

The bowmen, in such close numbers, were out of their area of comfort.  The spears flying in their direction and the hellcat with the axe were breaking their morale, but still they pressed on, the ones farthest from the fighting still firing.  Soon the only ones left standing were the Dwarves, covered in gore.  An arrow jutted from a crack in Sergeant Towersacks cuisse.  

"Check yer' squad mates for wounds, we need to get wrapped up quickly before this foul desert makes the wounds fester," Sulari said, plucking an arrow from her shield.  "You all did well today, very well.  Extra rations for the whole lot'a ya'!"

[Heavy Flak]

Funny OOC Note about the last post:

I had to savescum that battle three times.  Generally I don't do that, but these were events I just couldn't let unfold.

The halfbreeds attacking the fortress are modded, obviously.  I just thought they'd be ... more impressive.  They fell to a single soldier without doing a lick of damage.  That would not due, not at all.  During the course of this, they knocked out the water pumps which was really cool, I hadn't expected that at all.  And I was giddy as I watched them climb the aqueducts, plowing through items, and would hopefully pop out into the courtyard while all the soldiers fought outside.

Then they got knocked over by the water and all fell off the top.  They got bored and decided to just march on the east gate.  Disappointment.
 

The second time, I made every invader way above legendary in all their skills.  Bad move.  The entire fortress was slaughtered by bowmen when I got cocky - by everyone, I mean the all but two or three of the named Dwarves, and the majority of the unnamed ones.  

The third time, everything went well.  It was a pitched battle, a couple civilians died, but the halfbreeds were routed.  Since Kuli had been freed from prison during the battle I went to go check on his mood and run damage control if he was still unhappy.  Color me surprised when he's ecstatic for both being freed, and entering into a new romance!  

He was in love with Aryn.

I promptly savescummed for the last time.

[ June 13, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]

[Flar Moonchill]

Just finished reading from start to finish and gotta say love the story, it's ace!

But those codes? Harsh! The one scrawled on the wall of the craftsroom? I was only able to get about 3 words of it and that was *after* you'd posted the explanation *and* the cipher!

Keep up the good work matey, and btw I agree with Kuli, I'll miss the 'ol Mayor.  

[Jools]

quote:Originally posted by Heavy Flak:
<STRONG> Color me surprised when he's ecstatic for both being freed, and entering into a new romance!  

He was in love with Aryn.

I promptly savescummed for the last time.

[ June 13, 2008: Message edited by: Heavy Flak ]</STRONG>

Arf. That's priceless.

[Maggarg - Eater of chicke]

I laughed so hard it hurt.
Now I'm waiting for someone to bring me water so I can recover.
Oh why must I wait for so long.

[Metalax]

Color me surprised when he's ecstatic for both being freed, and entering into a new romance!

He was in love with Aryn.

I promptly savescummed for the last time.

Bwahahaha! That is just evil. Lucky you noticed it then though rather than finding out when they married.

[Kuli]

Oh god, that's hilarious.

Um, aren't both Kuli and Aryn male, though?  I've never seen same-sex romances before.  Do you have any idea how that happened?

[Heavy Flak]

Flar Moonchill: Thanks for the kind words!  Glad you're enjoying the story.  I didn't realize the creepy mayor was that well liked; I guess it's fitting that Istrath's son went into a depression after she bit the bullet.

Kuli: That's part of the reason I had to savescum.  I've never seen same-sex romantic relationships either.  It might NOT be a bug, because four of the starting Dwarves (Johnny, Aryn, Lucy and Sgt. Pepper) had their genders switched with Dwarf Companion to fit the characters.  While Lucy picked Rice... I have NO clue about Aryn, and the thought of it turning into some messed up Mr. Mom scenario grosses me out big time.  Maybe somewhere, deep inside, he really feels like a pretty little girl from the impromptu sex change.  It could explain the dresses everyone in the fort seems to love to wear...

[Heavy Flak]

From the files of Aryn Estetar
2nd of Slate, 1063

As the recent attack on our home has shown, we are in dire need of a strong leader to carry us through these rough times.  That leader is me.  

For once the death of a civilian came as a blessing.  Instead of the wailing that usually accompany some random soaper who fell off a ladder or took an unexpected trip to the magma baths, we had anger and fear at these new and fearsome beasts pushing into the very courtyards of our home - our sanctuary.

I've taken executive power.  Of course, I'm only "holding the position" until we are considered safe from attacks and a "fair election" is run.  The death of that creepy bitch Likot is one of the best things These are good times again.

The destruction of the aqueduct pumps comes as quite a blow.  They've been operational for years and apparently, taken for granted.  The Goblins have never been interested in hindering our water supplies, but perhaps they were just ill equipped to cause damage to our machines.  Lucy has been irate but with the lake gushing out into the wastes at high rates, I can't risk the life of one of this forts only useful Dwarves.  Rice on the other hand, perhaps he could go out there and fix the pumps...

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 10th of Slade, 1063

Aryn was flanked by four of his personal guard, a wicked smile on his face.  Bright purple cloak flapping behind him like great bat wings.  Those in the workshops ignored him; they were hard at work meeting mandates that he'd instructed - bone bolts (even without a squad of marksdwarves), rock blocks, glass blocks, the colossus statue finally decorated with gems.  His boots carried him around the bend and down to the end of the hallway, to the alchemists workshop.

To Bertrand's Lair.

Pushing open the door he was nearly knocked back by the stench.  The room stank of death and decay, and under it all of the cinnamon sweet smell of flesh long preserved.  Dojango and Akroma looked up and the newest member of their group Mookie looked startled as the door crashed open, the bar wench almost dropping the large jug she was carrying.  

Bertrand didn't so much as flinch.  His old head was bent low towards a large tome in front of him, a monocle wedged deep into one socket - a finger tracing the words.  He read from the book in his mumbling tones, undisturbed by the newest entrant to his workshop.

"And it will be heresy if the lowly goblin is to mate with the higher breeds; the human, the elf, the dwarf.  If the Gods, in their cruel jests, were to allow a child of such union to quicken in the mothers womb, the only course is to put her to death for that creature would be a blight upon the lands.  It will be abomination, and shunned by all.
"Goblins, much like the dog, take to interspecies breeding without ill effect.  Much as mutts may be formed with the canine, so too will Goblins if they chance to breed with such foul beasts as Trolls, as Ogres, as Harpies.  These hypothesize have led this scholar to believe that Goblins have only a rudimentary intelligence.  They are like dogs, able to bark and growl, able to perform tricks at command, following instincts alone.
"Their Halfbreed Brethren would obviously fair much worse.  Cursed with the disabilities of both parents, it's a wonder that any might make it from child birth alive.  The ones that do though are fearsome, exhibiting the strength of their larger families and the cruelty and malice of their smaller.  They should be put to death on sight, they offer nothing but destruction to the societies at large."  

Jotting down a few notes onto a small pad of paper beside him, Bertrand placed a mark into the book and shut it.  He raised his head, peering at Aryn through the monocle.  "Yes, Mr. Estetar?  May I be of assistance?"

"Assistance?  Yes, you foul old man, you can..." he trailed off, his face screwing up in disgust as he looked around the lab.  One of the least damaged half breed corpses was sprawled across the table behind Bertrand, a variety of tools omninously laying beside it.  A second was crammed into a much too small wooden coffin, salt and sand packed around the body.  Other coffins, their lids sealed, were stacked along the side wall.  He shook his head and continued, "Yes.  You can stop what you're doing immediately.  This foolishness is over; I've received MANY complaints about your antics down here, and frankly?  I just don't like you... I want you cleared out now, before I have you all hauled away to rot in the clink."

Bertrand pulled the monocle away from his eyes before he clasped his hands in front of him, his head cocking to the side ever so slightly.  He smiled, wide and nearly toothless - an effect that sent a shudder down Aryn's spine.

"We will not stop, Mr. Estetar.  We've made quite a number of breakthroughs in our research and it is my coin paying these underappreciated workers now, not yours.  You don't have much of a say on this matter."
"Then you leave me no choice.  Riddlewire, Shellpaint.  Round up the rioter."

"I think not, Mr. Estetar.  Do you forget when you were living in Onulnamash, in the mountains of Nish Neth?  Oh yes.  You may have tried to block that from your memory, but I certainly remember it.  I remember it just fine Mr. Estetar.  I remember how you left quite quickly, before your beard could be chopped off to reflect your shame.  I also seem to recall you taking the contents of the banks vault with you, and a pretty young thing belonging to the Baron.  Don't... don't you remember any of this?  What did you tell the citizens of Stukos Matul?  That you were a merch-"

"Enough!" Aryn shouted.  He was sweating, and an embroidered handkerchief pulled from a pocket was quickly dabbed at his forehead.  "I will not stand..."  He took a deep breath, rushing on, "Fine, old man.  Continue with your experiments.  But I'll be watching you - the second step you take out of place and I promise you will be taking the Big Plunge.  Let's see how YOUR bones hold up with the magma."

With a flourish of his cape, he was gone, stalking out of the labs - his guardsmen following quickly behind.  

***

OOC: And with that, this will be the last story post I make before The Great Forum Migration of '08.  Though I'm bracing myself for the worst (the worst being all the work I've done over the past 2 months vanishing into a puff of smoke), I'm looking forward to a board that might let me spoiler crypto answers and do other neat tricks within a thread.  

See you all on the other side!

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 15^th of Slate, 1063

Though the Spring was not much cooler than the rest of the year, many Dwarves enjoyed taking their breaks outside by the reflecting pool.  There were two reasons for this.  Firstly, If they spent it inside at the mess their union leaders could find them and force them back to work.  Secondly, after the halfbreeds wrecked the pump systems, the water was slowly receding and many were convinced the lake would never be full again; For that, many wanted to spend as much time by the water as they could.

Many were gathered around the lake's perimeter, or sitting on the edge of the bridge.  Archin and Lucy were among the loiterers, talking about the work left to be done.

"It's going to be a real hassle getting the pumps back up," Lucy said.
"Yeah, I know.  Thanks to Aryn's damned quarry, we're effectively cut off from the north of the site.  It'll take ages just to haul down more parts."
"And even if we did," continued Lucy, "There's the Dread Camels to worry about.  We'd have to pay Sulari to patrol the area for us, and I don't even know how long that would be, and the time she's down there with us is time she's not up here guarding the fort."
"Maybe," Sulari said slowly, "we should just write this up as a loss?  I mean, we had almost a decade of water, and thanks to Dojango the booze productions are astronomical.  What's water, when you have rum?"

The argument that was about to break out between them was abruptly cut off by a noise in the lake.  Slowly they turned to stare at the water, at the ripples and bubbles breaking over the surface.   The others began to take notice as well, all eyes turning towards the frothing water.

"Oh god, are the halfbreeds back?"
"Get away!  Something is coming out of the water!"
"GO GET VAREN!  Quick!  Go get Varen!"

Lucy choked back a shriek, hiding behind Archin.  The venerable miner hefted her pick menacingly, hoping the fear she felt in her gut wasn't showing.  Slowly, something pulled itself from the lake.  Something hideous and damp, and covered in moss and mud and muck.  It pulled itself  from the banks, a growing puddle under it's terrible form.

Archin held still for almost a minute.  She finally lowered her pick, looking dumbstruck. "You're ... a dwarf?"
"A DWARF!" Bellowed the creature standing before her. "I'm the Dwarf.  I'm your new Baron, Bomrek Galleychasm."


He extended a hand slicked with grime, and reluctantly Archin took it.  He nearly crushed her hand.  Underneath his coating of muck, jet black hair could be seen, a bulbous nose, and massive arched eyebrows.  "It hasn't been very long since Baroness Limul died, and..."
"Yes.  Word came with the last caravan, and we set out immediately."
"We?" Asked Lucy quietly, "You and your guard, your retainers?"
"No!  Me and my wife, Meng."

"WHAT!" Archin and Lucy cried in unison.  "Just the two of you, across the wastes?"
"Of course, those fools in my guard wanted to wait until we'd amassed a full host, but that could take years.  You know how the mountainborn are.  Full of bluster!  No, we set out alone - besides, the first month here we'll be on honeymoon anyway."

Archin stared at him in disbelief, but it was Lucy who asked the question on her mind.  "Where... is your wife?"
"She's hauling the luggage up your entryway."


***

OOC: And we're back!  I'm giddy over the new tags, and the obsessive in me is debating going back to every old post and fix the HTML, the quotes, and make sure all date suffixes are properly superscripted.  Then the lazy part of me doesn't want to do that at all.

I have no idea why the Baron and his Wife decided to swim up the aqueducts but my God, does it make me love him. 

With the ability to link to specific posts, I've changed the chapter listing on the first page to reflect both when Chapter 2 (Do Demons Dream?) starts, and to give specific links to Kuli's back story.  I obviously can't do that for all player-written journals, but I'll happily add player-written back stories in there. 

Lastly, there is now a spoiler tag which makes me unbelievably happy.  However it doesn't work and requires mod privileges, which just crushes this.  Once it's ironed out, hopefully we can start spoilering crypto information for those that might want to figure them out on their own.