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[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 19^th of Felsite, 1064

Varen sat in the back room of Dodik-Come-Lately's across from the exiled Snake Splitskin.  They drank coffee spiked with whiskey, and more often than not they sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts. 

"What do you go by now?  I can't exactly call you Snake when you're out on the floor."
"Cango," He said sullenly, taking a large drink from his mug.

Varen couldn't help but laugh.  "You're not exactly the most subtle of Dwarves, are you sir?"
Snake waved him off, eyes glancing towards the door. "No one around here remembers anything.  Outside of you and Sulari, and probably Aryn, I bet I'm not even on any of their thoughts.  Besides, it's a good word in the Human tongue."

"How many Languages do you know, sir?"
"The Common Tongue of Dwarvish, a good deal of Human, I've passable in Goblish... and after a few tours of duty I picked up enough to speak pigeon Elven, Trollish, and Ogrese."
"...You'd be an asset back in the fortress, Sir.  Sulari told me you're a walking library on the beasts of these lands, and while the rest of the soldiers grow fat and lazy, we keep having civilians mauled in the wilds.  A butcher was trampled to death just the other day bringing in one of Sparrow's kills, and the Guard didn't show up until nearly three hours after his corpse was discovered to get rid of the threat."

"Varen, I'm sorry.  I've been exiled.  I'm not coming back."
"But you ARE back!  You're working here as a bouncer."
"I'm an exile.  I deserve this," he said bitterly.  He lifted a hand to stroke the stubble at his chin, his one good eye narrowing.  "You know why I'm still here?  Because I keep hoping Sulari will come in here, and I get a chance to just watch her from across the room, to see if she's okay.  But she's too much a lady to come in this sin pit, and I don't blame her at all for it.  You know who I blame?  Me, for being unable to leave.  For working for coppers a day, and a cheap meal from that fool Dojango."

Varen sighed and drained his mug.  Slowly he stood up from the table and pushed his chair in, looking at the soldier in a mixture of awe and pity.  "I know you're not going to listen to me, Sir, but there are more than just we three that remember you, I'm sure of it.  I'm also sure that if you were to come back, Aryn's rage would be minimalistic compared to the good cheer you'd receive.  You'd be protected and brought back, beard or not, and I'd be your most staunch supporter.  Just take it into consideration, will you?  I've got to go now, I'm sure Captain Fillwhip is almost done with his girl."

As Varen left Snake slumped in his seat, scowling at the wall. 

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 15^th of Hematite, 1064

Aryn met with his council in his own quarters.  The Duke was there, shadowed by his silent wife.  Glacies came though he was unsure as to what purpose he would serve.  Crowpages the Tax Collector arrived late, escorting the recently arrived new hammerer Iton Wavepaddles.  They sat around a circular table, a crudely drawn map of the immediately neighboring countries laid out before them. 

"He's becoming a real problem to our productions," Aryn said, his gaze turned to the map.
"But he's one of the founding members," complained the Crowpages.  "You can't just get rid of him.  The others will talk."
"The others are talking NOW!" Aryn retorted.  "We have a situation that is mostly dissolved - that of the dead reintegrating in our fortress.  They've proven to be capable and tireless, and though their masks make me nervous I haven't forged a single complaint.  But here he is, refusing to work, stalking around the fortress armed with sword and crossbow and threatening to shoot anyone that surprises him.  And worst of all, he's taking his meals without working for them!  We are NOT a charity organization, this is ultimately a business venture!"

"He eats on average three point three four meals throughout the day, and consumes nearly a gallon of ale now that the pumps have been restarted," Glacies said, rattling out the numbers without thought.
"It doesn't matter what he stuffs in his craw, the points is it's a bad example!  A few of the miners are already beginning to talk that they should stop working as well, and the fishers put their poles away as soon as they catch a meal for them self."

"What is it he's scared of?  The ragged looking chaps in the tattered cloaks?" Asked Duke Bomrek. 
"Those 'ragged chaps' have been dead for a while, your grace," Aryn said icily.
"Even better.  Let him fight it out with them.  A real man would be pleased to be able to face his attackers on the field, and what better way to iron their grievances, yes?  I remember back in my youth my Father came back from the dead, terrible time because I'd taken over his shop and he wanted it back..."

Raising his voice, Aryn shouted over the Duke, "We're not doing that.  That leads to problems of it's own.  Though once dead they're obviously not NOW, and we can't begin to let the civilians commit murders on a whim.  It's one thing for we nobility to sentence people for their transgressions, but to let the civilians take this law into their own hands?" Never mind he's a smuggler, a seller of contraband thought Aryn.  He's been rubbing this in my face for years, making coin on the hard work of MY charges, suppling possible enemies with instruments of war...
"Then just have this rabble rouser take the Magma Bath," The Duke said, exasperated.

"That can not be done," the new Hammerer chimed in, her voice as cold and void of emotion as the last.  "He has done nothing wrong.  The work he's preformed in the quarry has earned him far more in back pay than he eats in a single day.  So he refuses to work now?  His credit is good.  He could retire now.  What charges would you have him brought up on."

There was silence around the room.  The Hammerer rose from her chair and leaned over the map, placing a gloved finger on one of the human countries near the north west corner, beside of Nish Neth.  "This is the country of Stramgil, and their merchants are on the horizon.  We have no power to punish the annoying but innocent.  But other countries may.  What is it worth to you to have this man gone, Mr. Estetar?  Offer it to them as a tribute, along with a letter of intent, and send Mr. Fountainspring with their caravan as an envoy.  He'll be out of our hair, and your ... sense of justice will be appeased."

Aryn smiled wide, making a quick circle around the capital of Stramgil.  "That is perfect, just perfect.  With the tribute I'll offer them, they'll be dancing at the chance to help me with the little problem of Johnny Fountainspring."

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 21^st of Hematite, 1064 - Part 1

The Gold Robes were back, kneeling at the edge of the unsettlingly frothy reflecting pond.  They'd been there for two days now, their chants sounding long into the night.  But more importantly, these were Dwarves who were not working.  Aryn was beside himself with rage, convinced this was the doing of Johnny Fountainspring.  The Union Leaders, outside the boundaries of Aryn's law, were still being screamed at whenever they had the misfortune of running across the ill-tempered leader in the hallway.

The human merchants noticed the water level slowly declining, but their mentions of it were met with little concern.  They had made the mistake of mentioning how they had ridden around a large host of Goblin Warriors as they traveled through the desert, and the gates had been lifted, the soldiers already beginning to assemble in the courtyard for a briefing from their leader Sulari...

***

The temple was nearly empty, but at this time of morning that was a normal sight.  Kuli stood by the statues at the sermon mound, talking quietly with Vash and Jools.  Olin Theaterinked knelt beside one of the water eyes of the mural, his head bowed in silent prayer.

Thinking he heard the faintest of gasps, Jools looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing in thought.  "Wasn't Olin just here?"
"Olin is gone?" Kuli said, startled.  "Did you see him leave?"
"No Maester Kuli," Vash said.  "I think... maybe he fell in?"
"Fell in... oh no."

Kuli rushed over, his robes sweeping the ground, and after a worried glance Vash and Jools followed quickly behind him.  They stared down at the well in the floor, at the turbulent waters frothing and lapping at the edges.  Kuli's face grew more grave as he knelt down and touched the lip of the well.  Raising it up, he showed two fingers to his assisstants.  They were smeared with blood.

"Come with me, quickly," Kuli said.  "We need to get to the barracks."
"The barracks?  But everyone is assembling in the courtyard, Maester," Jools said.
"Because those are Dwarves versed in steel," Kuli said in a harsh whisper, "And we are Dwarves cloaked in Faith.  Now we must leave this place, now.  Grab sword and armor, and hurry.  I pray Zefon's love shines down upon us this day."

As they rushed from the temple, the heavy doors closing behind him, they were unaware of the spray of water that shot out of one of the eyes.  How could they have seen the second waterspout, this time crimson, that sprayed the surrounding tiles of the mosiac, or the gentle sound the single hand made as it fell upon the floor.

***

The dwarves in the courtyard were startled by a loud bellowing from the parapets.  Turning towards the sounds, they saw Sergeant Pepper's large frame standing by the edge, his hands cupped around his mouth.  "ATTENTION, Dwarves and Men.  You are to stop your tasks, and pay your full attention to Mistress Likot "

As he stepped back, the smaller Dwarf came into view, Valania standing beside her.  She cleared her throat - a hollow sound - and stepped forward, her good hand clutching the crippled one.  "Standing as you are, you are looking upon a new day - a day where the petty and weak are no longer in a position of power.  You're looking upon the new order - We three, brought back from the Great Mountains by the will, and charity, of the generous Bax Unostotho
"Ineth is being deposed, her law laughable.  I'm taking over my rightful position as Mayor of this city.  It will be my will that guides you, my hand that rewards you, my bolts that punish you.  I died in office, a claim NO OTHER Mayor can make.  My own daughter was replaced by me, a worthless cretin unfit to rule as one should.


"Now I will bestow upon you the greatest gift of all, as a show of my generosity.  Those Dream Children gathered at the pond have been working tirelessly at my command.  They're calling to The Star God.  They're bringing him here for you.  He wants to thank you himself."

All eyes were upon Likot, confusion plastered onto their upturned faces.  It was the horrible scream of Naspa Adestruslot, Human Bowman, that made the assembled masses turn towards the pool once more.  She was flailing her arms about, her body limp and twitching.  In front of her stood a a large, green-skinned monster in rusted iron armor.  It's head was elongated and bulbous, and a mass of tentacles writhed where it's mouth should be.  Two of them were plunged through the bowman's eyes, and a third was wrapped round her throat - the crunching noises it made as they constricted quickly ceasing her screams.


More began to pour from the pond - scattering the terrified Gold Robes before their horrible mass.  The soldiers in the courtyard gave a cry of surprise, momentarily petrified.  From the battlements, Likot's hollow laughter rang through the courtyard.

[Jools]

Oh wow. Fantastic!

[Kagus]

Supertentacle demonly Tough.  That sounds fun...

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 21^st of Hematite, 1064 - Part 2

Likot turned to open the door to the tower, her teeth rattling in her head as she collided with the unyielding oak.  Letting out a cry of surprise, she tried the handle, and though it jiggled, the door was lodged firmly in place.  She kicked at it hard, her thick soled boots leaving large dusty prints on the wood. 

On the other side, Johnny panted hard.  He had wedged hastily carved stones under the doors edge, and the steel sword he had been carrying for weeks was stuffed through the handle and wedged into the jams.  Mopping sweat from his brow, he stepped back from the door, raising his voice to be heard through it, "Yer' stayin' there, ya' rotted bitch.  When this ordeal is o'er, I promise you'll be delt wi' as ya' deserve."

Johnny jumped backwards, almost toppling down the stairs, as a heavy blow shook the door in it's frame.  On the other side, Sergeant Pepper was swinging his axe, crashing the great blade upon the thick door.  It had yet to splinter, but given enough time, the three would break free of their third-story prison.  He turned and sprinted down the steps and burst into the pandemonium in the courtyard.  He didn't even notice the bolts fired at him from above as he charged towards his room to get his pick and join the fray. 

***

Sergeant Towersacks was the first of the Dwarves to meet the foe in battle.  She charged at a sword-wielding demon and ducked below it's swing, driving the point of her spear into it's foot to pin it to the stones.  Axemen Notchdoor came up behind her, lopping off a few of the slavering tentacles.  Notchdoor's second blow opened the demons belly, the purple snakes that made up it's entrails spilling out of the wound.  But the demon didn't fall.  Unseen by Towersacks, Shorast Guildslide was bulldozed off the edge of the cliff, grappling with the demon all the way to the bottom - his head shattering on the stones below. 

Varen charged towards a demon mutilating a cow, bellowing out the names of his father, and his fathers father as he stabbed at it's bloated frame.  Seeing how puncturing it's thin skin did little more than aggitate the beast, Varen began to bludgeon it with the spear, using the hafts length to stay safetly away as he broke arms, legs, and battered tentacles.  Human Lashers from the caravan, finally roused from their terror, turned to run to his aid, tangling the demons legs up with their whips.  The demon delt with, Varen turned to sprint north, to aid the civilians caught by the quarry entrance.

Two swordsdemons fell upon a helpless animal trainer, ripping gouges from his leg.  Before they could do more damage though, a bolt struck one in the chest.  Raising it's head, it saw Sparrow, his face grim as he reloaded.  The trainer tried to crawl away as the demons moved towards Sparrow - but one was stopped as the tip of a pick exploded from it's chest.  Johnny bellowed and kicked it hard in the spine, ripping his pick free.

Even the demons seemed to be surprised by the ferocity with which Merkil attacked them.  Once a lowly trainee, the hammerer bided his time until two demons passed by the kennels.  He stepped out, his hammer swinging in a wide arc - the simple steel moving so much faster than his lead lined weapon of old.  The demon's chest collasped inward with a lewd sucking sound, lifting the monster off it's feet and propelling it far away.

All around, the caravan guards that came to the aid of the Dwarves were being slaugthered.  An unfortunate maceman had his elbows shattered by the flat of a demons blade.  He was lifted into the air by his armor, his head popped off like a party favor by the mass of tentacles.  A lasher was crawling across the ground, her entrails dragging behind her as she whined pitifully, one of the demons calmly walking beside her and occasionally stabbing her with his spear to keep her moving. 

But soon the demons numbers were dwindling, in no small part to Sulari.  Her great axe was cutting great swaths through their ranks, any tentacle or arm that came within range of her was lopped from the hosts body.  Varen, his spear struck through a demon's face, was almost set upon by one of the fell swordsmen, but instead he was showered with white goo as it was severed in twain by her large ax.

As the demons began to dwindle, and the cries of the wounded faded as they passed into death, the soldiers without foes turned towards the bridge to the temple, where the largest of the foul demons stood, black eyes boring a hole through the mail-wearing Maester, Kuli Problemwalled. 

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 21^st of Hematite, 1064 - Part 3

"MaeStER PrOBLeMWalLEd" the beast roared, spraying the bridge with foul smelling ichor.  "LaY DOwN YoUR SwORd.  AcCepT My EmBRAcE."
"Back, Demon.  Away from my temple.  These are not YOUR lands!  These are not your people to corrupt!  I've sworn myself to a life of peace, to seeing the rise once more of Zoden Zefon."

The Demon laughed, more ichor spraying the bridge.  It took a step forward, the wood shaking under it's feet.  It hefted the large hammer in it's hands, pointing it at the little dwarf.  "WHen YoU'Re brOUghT BaCK iN MY serVIce, I'LL haVe A SPecIaL PlaCe foR YoU, MoUThY DwARF."

"Step aside, Maester."

Kuli glanced to his side.  Sulari stepped forward, soaked in sweat and gore, her axeblade blunt from the work she had done today. 

"No, Miss Clappedroom.  This is my foe - this is evil incarnate, the great despoiler.  The great betrayer.  This is my task."
She waved a hand for him to step back, giving a quick shake of her head.  "Maester, you've given yourself to a life of peace - do not throw that away in rage.  Let me be your weapon, and let me draw from you the shield of faith."

Bax Unostotho - The Star God, The Nightmare God, The God of Dreams - let loose a fell roar, his tentacles writhing and thrashing.  Kuli nodded, and stepped back, his poor copper sword sliding back into it's sheath.  Sulari wasted no time, charging forward. 

She was met with a backhand from the large demon, lifted off the ground.  As she landed she brought her axe up out of instinct, barely deflecting the great hammer that came crashing towards her face.  She scrambled up to her feet, raining glancing blows upon the demon.  Always she would be swatted aside, and though Bax Unostotho was littered with gashes, white goo leaking from the cuts, he continued to press the attack as her strength began to fail.

Bellowing a war cry, she swung her axe in a quick arc from the hip, the blade biting through iron armor and bloated green skin.  A burst of foul liquid sprayed from the wound - but as she tried to pull back, her axe became lodged on the armor, sticking in place.  She fought with the blade as the great demon bent over, tentacles snaking out wrap around her armor, to slide around her neck.  Blackness washed over her.

Then she was falling.  Laying on her back on the bridge.  The tentacle was still writhing around her neck, but it was loosening it's hold.  As the blackness began to clear, she saw Bax Unostotho rearing back, most of the tendrils on his face hacked off - displaying the round, teeth filled lampray mouth underneath.  A thin, leatherclad dwarf was sticking a thin steel blade through the chinks in the armor, dancing aside as the hammer crashed against the bridge sending up showers of splinters. 

As the demon over extended himself in his rage, the Dwarf stepped forward, bringing the point of his sword upward hard.  The blade skewered the throat of the Great Star God.  It's screams were cut off, as the Dwarf yanked the sword hard to the side, ripping it free.  With a great overhead blow, he brought the blade clean through what was left of the neck - the body slumping as the head rolled across the bridge before dropping into the lake.

Sulari was lifted up by the front of her armor, her head still light, her vision still blurry from air loss.  But she knew what she saw before her - the beardless Dwarf, most of his bulk lost.  He had an eyepatch, and a lopsided grin.

"...Snake?"
"Don't talk, your throat is too damaged.  Wait until it heals."

She didn't talk.  She just pressed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him. 

***



***

End Chapter 2: Do Demons Dream?

[Stravitch]

I bet Stravitch was off whoring wasn't he? -_-

[Xofrevlis]

Wow, I was just going to do some more character drawings, but after that update I think I'm going to try something a little more dynamic.

[Makrond]

So Bax Unostotho was a tentacle demon, huh...

Does Olsmo still live then? Or was his death a fabrication on Bax's part? Ooh, interesting...

Also, would it be possible for my character to take a sudden interest in learning to be a speardwarf after this latest development?

EDIT: Oh, look, end of Chapter 2! Can't believe I missed that...

Can't wait to see the witty, creative and ultimately ending-concealing title you come up with for Chapter 3.

[Zako]

Awwww man... I wish my dwarf was in the fray there... if i had one that is...

[Jools]

Fantastic stuff!

What will happen to the dwarven zombies, now that Bax Unostotho is dead? Will they collapse, the magic sustaining them gone? Or will they retreat, and regroup, and plan a slower path to bringing back their god? What of the robe-wearing chanters, will they repent and see the light, or are they forever servants of the Star God? Is Sulari okay? Will Snake be welcomed back to the fortress? Where the hell was Stravitch during all this? Merkil kicked arse, but what was Major DayCovering up to during this battle? Will this affect the opening times at Dodik-Come-Lately's? Will Bertrand stop feeding the zombie powder to everyone? What will Aryn make of all this? Can Kuli purify the temple once more, and make it a House of Zefon, untainted by demons? Are the Aquaduct and pumps undamaged?

Most importantly, are the animals in the sanctuary all okay?

[Makrond]

You forgot "Can you make a mayday call in January?"

Feel free to substitute this with some even more stupid question that wasn't ripped from the A-Team.

[Jools]

Heh. Nothing wrong with "borrowing" stuff from the A-Team.

Now drink your milk.

What I did miss out (and might have been a bit presumptuous/hopeful) was "Find out next week!"

[Flar Moonchill]

Fantastic closing to a amazing chapter!

OOI What was the final death toll out of all that?

What were the Goblin Siege upto while this was on-going?

Bring on chapter 3!