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[Makrond]

Now I can totally fail to understand whats going on in real time!

Yay, me too!

[Kuli]

Thank you, Heavy Flak!

Dodik-Come-Lately is a Zefonist.  How bizarre.  Must be a casual or dubious worshipper?

[Jools]

Perhaps she is taking the first steps along the road to becoming Born Again, Maester Kuli.

Also, I believe I have a request that has yet to be claimed... would it be possible to have a small zoo filled with donkeys? My dwarf seems to like them, and the idea of just trying to get by as a stoneworker and quietly run a donkey sanctuary in your spare time, while surrounded by Dread Camels, goblins, monsters, demons and more political intrigue than you can shake a white house at, rather appeals...

Placing, size, layout etc. are completely at your discretion - and if you don't have any donkeys, then a general animal sanctuary will do - with space set aside for any donkeys you can find.

And of course, my dwarf would be most upset if any of his charges somehow got zombified...

[Heavy Flak]

Perhaps she is taking the first steps along the road to becoming Born Again, Maester Kuli.

Also, I believe I have a request that has yet to be claimed... would it be possible to have a small zoo filled with donkeys? My dwarf seems to like them, and the idea of just trying to get by as a stoneworker and quietly run a donkey sanctuary in your spare time, while surrounded by Dread Camels, goblins, monsters, demons and more political intrigue than you can shake a white house at, rather appeals...

Placing, size, layout etc. are completely at your discretion - and if you don't have any donkeys, then a general animal sanctuary will do - with space set aside for any donkeys you can find.

And of course, my dwarf would be most upset if any of his charges somehow got zombified...

You've got it, Jools.  The only donkeys in the fort that haven't been turned into biscuits or stew are pets, but there are some other animals (just purchased, I think) that can start to flesh out your sanctuary.  As soon as the next batch of traders come, I'll put in a rush order for donkeys! 

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 26^th of Malachite, 1063

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!" Stravitch roared, "You should be INSIDE, TRAINING!  And what are you doing, you're out here fooling around?" 

Guardsmen Bravepainted and Watchedboard stopped in their tracks, the color draining from their face as the Captain of the Guard bore down on them, an incredibly uncomfortable Varen trailing unhappily in his wake.  Supported between the two of them was their sister-in-arms Erush Claspfancies, as pale and drenched in sweat as the other two.

She had an excuse much better than fear of an overbearing commander: she was missing her right arm from the elbow down.  There was nothing but ragged meat and broken bone, blood still oozing from the hastily cauterized stump. 

"Sir?  Are you ... sir, look at Claspfancies here!  She got mauled by one of them, uh, zombie jaguars.  It just ran up and ripped the whole thing off."
"...And where is her mace?  Where is YOUR mace, Guardsmen?" Stravitch snarled at the wounded dwarf.
"It's... the jaguar ate it, along with some of my fingers," Claspfancies said weakly.

Stravitch shoved hard on Bravepainted's chest.  He almost went sprawling, letting go of the wounded soldier quick enough that neither dropped to the sand.  "You've to get that beast to the butchers."
"We can't eat that!  It's already rotting!"
"IT'S NOT TO EAT!" Stravitch bellowed, "Get her mace out of it's gut.  Leave it on her bed.  As soon as she gets back to the fortress, she's to get her weapon and get back to training.  What an insult, a Guardsman losing her weapon... count your blessings I don't have you thrown in the clink for your traitorous attempts to get out of work."

While the others begrudgingly set to work hauling the jaguars corpse, Stravitch picked an extremely unlucky Jools out of the crowd of onlookers.  "You!  Hod carrier.  Take what's left of her arm down to the workshops."

Jools quailed.  "You can't be serious?  It should be... properly disposed of."
"I don't believe I asked for your opinion.  I believe I wanted her arm taken down to the workshops, and a nice idol of Lenod carved out of it.  Now hop TO IT!"

As Jools gingerly picked up the near-fingerless lower arm, carting it off where told, Stravitch turned to Varen.  He smiled wide, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.  "Well, that's over.  Shall we hit Dodik's?  Nothing like some fine wine and finner broads."
"...You won't even care if I say no, will you?" Varen said morosely. 

Of course Stravitch didn't.  He had already turned, tromping across the sands to the brothel, his shouts carrying back on the winds.  "Come on, Varen!  I've got a feeling this is going to be a great day!"

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 19^th of Galena, 1063

Bertrand stood in the entrance to his workshop, arms folded over his wizened chest.  His jaw was set firmly, rheumy old eyes staring into the dimly lit area.  Akroma and Dojango shifted nervously behind him, keeping quiet.

"Yesterday.  When we left for the day.  Do you remember the table-top being empty?"

Akroma scratched at his beard, eyes dropping down to his scuffed boots.  Dojango tried to meet the damp stare but quickly looked away, rushing his excuse out. "Yes.  There was an experiment there.  But, we did as instructed.  I don't know what happened."

I know what happened thought Akroma.  and Dojango is right, we did exactly as instructed.  But not your instructions old man...

Bertrand sighed heavily and limped his way inside.  Looking behind the work bench, he groaned low, pointing to the ground.  "Did you break ALL the wooden bins?  There's wood and powder EVERYWHERE.  Get in here, clean this up!" 

***

From the journal of Johnny Fountainspring
19^th of Galena, 1063

We've had excitement lately, something I'm always pleased to report.  The monotony around here can be overwhelming sometimes, just working or drinking or sleeping or getting attacked by skinless camels.  It's such a bore.  Jools came and joined Rice, Lucy and I in the mess hall the other night, and seemed like he wanted to say something of importance.  With some good natured ribbing, Rice finally got him to open up to us.

He wanted to create an animal sanctuary. 

While I personally think the idea is all kind of silly, Rice and Lucy love it.  Jools has amassed a decent fortune, and it was all passed over to the stonemason for this task to be completed.  They're still working out the specifics of the layout, but it seems as if animals that aren't cats will be getting a reprieve from the butchers once they pass through our hallowed gates. 

Perhaps I should get myself something exotic like Aryn has.  I'd feel much safer with something big and full of teeth guarding my stairwell.  I've been getting the strangest of feelings that I'm being watched when I cross the courtyard at night, and it's keeping me on edge.  I keep seeing flashes of green, and hearing whispers by the parapets. 

I sure hope Aryn didn't build this place on an old Elf burial ground.  That would just be icing on the cake. 

[Maggarg - Eater of chicke]

This fortress ias already one hell of a cake.

[Kuli]

And one day hundreds of XXSkeletal ElvesXX will suddenly rise out of the ground.  The horror!

I probably shouldn't be giving Heavy Flak any ideas.

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 27^th of Galena, 1063

Aryn shoved his way up through the crowds, snarling threats at the Dwarves loitering in the main stairwell.  Shoving a hapless thresher aside he pushed into the sunlight, boots ringing loudly on the stone-covered courtyard.

His jaw slowly fell open at the sight in front of him.  Of the twenty - no, twenty three - Dwarves wearing brilliant yellow-dyed robes kneeling at the edge of the empty reflecting pond.  Kneeling as if in prayer, their hoods down, Aryn counted Dwarves he had seen many times before.  There was Dojango and Akroma a few spots away.  By the bridge Mookie and Dodik-Come-Lately knelt side-by-side.  The Machinescalded brat Melbil was there, and Cog Citypillars, the fool who created that masterful cabinet Bothontangak. 


From them rose, low and rumbling, a chant of "Bax Unostotho dutsmon Olsmo" rose from the crowd. 

"Mr. Estetar, we seem to ... have a problem."
"What the hell is going on here!" Aryn shouted as he turned, his skin crawling in revulsion as he recognized the hoary old philosopher.
"I was able to get a small word from my apprentice Akroma before he left the shop.  He says they are praying to The Star God.  These are Dream Children."
"...I want this stopped, now.  Go get your men, and get them inside, or I'll have them all put to flame where they sit.  This is absurd."
"They can't hear you now," Bertrand said sadly.  "I've tried, I highly doubt burning them alive will do more than fill the area with smoke.  Do you see that?"

Aryn looked to were the old man was pointing, squinting to make it out from this distance.  Intricately stitched onto the back of each robe was this:

BAAAB AAABB BAAAA ABBAB AAAAA BABBA
AAAAB AABBA AAAAB AAAAA ABABA ABBBA AAAAB

"When did they ever find time to do that?  What does that mean?"
"I've no clue.  I've seen it before, in ruins far to the north.  The lands of Smostostrambegozru Ngedlu are so desolate, so ancient, that most of the towns are buried under ten, twenty feet of snow and ice and soil."  The old man shook his head, slowly limping towards his house at the edge of the cliff.  "I'm going to consult my books.  If you can translate that evil scrawl, perhaps it will help explain their insistence on Star Gods."

***

OOC: Apologies for this being twenty minutes late.  There were last-minute crypto issues that had to be worked out.  That said, let the games begin.  And for forgetting the picture the first time, oops!

[Kagus]

Okay...  Dream Children listen to Abba.  I don't see what all the fuss is about...

[Kuli]

These ciphers are very successful at making me feel stupid.

If it helps anyone, the word dutsnom is a goblin word meaning "destroyer."  I assume it's intended as a verb here, so the chant probably means "Bax Unostotho destroys Olsmo."

[Makrond]

Gah! You're truly evil! I know what it is but I get nothing but nonsense!

[Kuli]

What is it?  Maybe I could help you.  Once I understand the method, I might be able to figure it out.

I'd still let you have the credit, Makrond.

[Makrond]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

It looks to be Bacon's Stenograph...
 
 What I have so far is:

Code: [Select]

Original Translation:

BAAAB AAABB BAAAA ABBAB AAAAA BABBA

= S     D     R     O     A     Y

AAAAB AABBA AAAAB AAAAA ABABA ABBBA AAAAB

  B     G     B     A     L     P     B

Assuming small = A (it doesn't work as B)

AABAA AAABB AAABB AABAA BAABB AABAA

= E     D     D     E    U/V    E 

BAABB ABAAA ABAAA BABAB BAABB AABAA AAAAB

 U/V   I/J   I/J    X    U/V    E     B

Which works out as:
 S   D   R  O  A  Y

 B   G   B  A  L  P B

 E   D   D  E U/V E

U/V I/J I/J X U/V E B

26 letters, so unless one is a 'filler', then it doesn't work as a 5x5 grid.

I tried removing all instances of B, U, D and O (Bax Unostotho dutsnom Olsmo - it was worth a try)
but the resulting 4x4 grid (with slight modification) doesn't work either.
I'm stumped, as no matter which way I try to arrange the letters I get nothing.

Unless it's been double encoded, I'll check that now...

[Flar Moonchill]

The answer if blatantly 42.

Failing that I'm stumped.

How about you make the next cypher a word jumble and give me a 24hr head start? That was I may stand a chance!