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[Heavy Flak]

From the journal of Johnny Fountainspring
20th Malachite

Things are really shaping up around here, though that doesn't quite mean it's going well.  For every milestone we hit, for every accomplishment seen, Aryn does baffling - case in point:  Stravitch requested a few Dwarves to assist him guarding us inside the Fortress and that was taken as a "challenge to his power" so he's doubled the size of our fighting force.

Rice was re-elected as mayor because he's done a splendid job.  Without him leading by example, our defensive wall would have taken another year, easily, and his consoling and diplomatic skills have fixed many an argument.  Because this was a threat to his managing, Aryn told Kuli to get to the edge of the cliff - his church could be built amidst the rock quarry.  

Lastly, Istrath's boy Limul has grown into a strapping young child.  The birthday party was broken up because we needed to haul things up to the human traders, who would "not wait forever."  Whatever bug has bit him needs to finish up soon.

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 1st of Limestone, 1053

"Stand ready men... stand ready," Catten said, tightening the grip on his sword.  
His two apprentices flanked him on either side.  Beside him, Sulari shifted nervously, bringing her ax up to the ready.  
"These Dread Camels killed one of Stravitch's guard, and that jeering imp Bonegripped burned to death one of mine.  See him?  See him dancing from boulder to boulder, laughing at us?  I'll keep the camels occupied, target the imp.  Are you ready soldier?  Then... CHAAAARGE!"

Clouds of dust were kicked into the air as the four Dwarves charged towards the camels.  Catten rushed ahead, his vision clouded red with battle lust, his sword singing and flashing in the air as any camel that tried to kick or trample lost a leg for it's effort.

One of the swordsmen was held up by a camel, another tumbled out of the way of a hurled fireball.  Bonegripped danced among the boulders, his long arms held in the air, waving mockingly at the soldiers.  Jumping over a prone camel, Sulari charged into the open and at the imp.

He noticed her too late, and though he brought his hands up to form a fireball, her axe lopped the left one off, the downswing catching him in the thigh, severing it as well.  Balancing precariously on his single foot, he managed to get out the beginning of a scream before Sulari swung the ax so the flat hit him in the chest.  His ribs caved in, and he was lifted into the air, sailing across the wastelands, landing and rolling, and staying still...

***

As the soldiers limped back into the fortress to the applause and praise of the citizens, two were missing from the cheer.  Stravitch was meeting in the empty workshops with one of the metalworkers, his face pale, his body slumped from the weeks of work.  

"It's, it's done..." he panted, hefting the copper mace high.  "We didn't have enough iron, so I studded it with it, and encircled it with bands of bronze, and leather stripped from the Dread Camels.  I engraved you're picture into the copper, and I carved a small bat out of sunstone."

"This looks perfect," breathed Stravitch.  "What do you call it?"
"Enteredlanced the Unseen Chances"
"I'll see it gets put to good use."

[bigmcstrongmuscle]

Sweet! Sulari is officially a blooded axedwarf. Nailing a fire imp in her first battle is a pretty good start too - Maybe someone's smiling on her new career. Praise the renewal of Zefon, I suppose.

Well, she's only a dubious worshipper, after all.

[Kaelem Gaen]

ooo Artifact Mace.
Also, could you please add PoI's to the map of bledocean?  I can't seem to find the main entrance.

[Heavy Flak]

quote:Originally posted by Kaelem Gaen:
<STRONG>ooo Artifact Mace.
Also, could you please add PoI's to the map of bledocean?  I can't seem to find the main entrance.</STRONG>

I've got three points of interest added for you.  I may be a little ignorant on the matter, but is it normal for Firefox to not work well with setting them?

[Kaelem Gaen]

I've never had trouble viewing them.  I might upload one of my pointless forts and see if I have trouble.

Also, thank you for adding the PoI's

[ March 26, 2008: Message edited by: Kaelem Gaen ]

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 24th of Sandstone, 1053

"RICE!" roared Aryn, storming into the mess hall.  "What the hell do you think you're doing!"

Rice and Lucy started, almost knocking over one of the mugs of ale on the table.  Staring upwards in confusion Rice blinked, shrugging his shoulders in an exaggerated gesture. "What?  I don't know, Aryn.  What are you talking about?  What have I done?"

"Oh, you know full well what you've done, you're hindering the safety of OUR fortress!"  Pulling a sheet of paper from inside his cloak, he waved it in front of Rice and snarled, "Is this YOUR signature authorizing us to build TWO more anvils?"

"Yes.  We need more in case something happens to the first two, and-"
"What could possibly happen to the first two!  Do you even know how anvils work?"
"ARYN!" slapping the flat of his hand down on the table, Rice rose from his seat.  Closing his eyes for a minute, Rice took a deep breath and calmed himself down.  "I'm sorry for the outburst.  But I'm the one in charge, not you.  I want these anvils made."

"...You'll have them made, Rice," Aryn said.  Stuffing the work orders back into his coat, he turned on his heel and stormed off.

After a minute of the silence in the cafeteria, Lucy gently reached across the table and placed her hand over Rice's.  She offered a small smile, giving his hand a squeeze, "You handled that just great, I'm really proud of you."

Exhaling a long breath, Rice smiled.  "Thanks.  It needed to be done, but ... I wish he didn't have to yell about everything.  That could have been done a lot calmer."

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 5th of Moonstone, 1053
"Are you sure?  Absolutely positive?" Asked Kuli.  
"Positive, I tried to get into the workshop and one of the new cheese makers attacked me!  He threw a chisel at my head and started shrieking, and... foaming at the mouth," said Archin.  
"Alright then, let's go see about this."

They slowed their steps as they near the crafts shop, ominous noises coming from inside.  A single torch illuminated the inside, casting a muted eerie glow into the hallway.  Readying himself Kuli moved forward to stand in the doorway, his faith steeling his reserve.

The workshop was a mess, plates of half eaten food scattered on the floor, tools jabbed into the walls, weird eldritch symbols carved into the stone itself.  Sitting on the floor, drenched in sweat, was the cheese maker.  He was covered in filth, greenish foam leaking from his mouth, his nostrils, the corners of his eyes.  Cradling a scepter in his hand, he slowly lifted his head to stare at Kuli and gasped, "This is made... for Olsmo, the demon god!  I ... embody his will!  You all will die!"

As he struggled to his feet and lurched towards the door, Kuli pulled himself up to his full height.  Taking a deep breath, his hand shot out and pressed to the cheese makers forehead, his voice clear and booming, "OUT!  OUT, DEMON OLSMO!  OUT!"

Screaching, the cheese maker recoiled and tried to back away, but Kuli followed him inside unwavering, his hand staying on the Dwarves forehead.  "THE POWER OF ZEFON COMPELS YOU, DEMON, LEAVE THIS HOST!  LEAVE THIS HOST, THIS IS NOT A WELCOME PLACE FOR YOUR KIND!"

Kuli pushed him back into the room, the thrashing arms knocking aside what tools hadn't already been carelessly thrown around.  Pressed up against the workbench, Kuli repeated his mantra, his voice carrying through the hallways, and eventually the cheese maker stopped his thrashing.  Opening his eyes, he stared forward unseeing for a few seconds before shuddering, "Oh, Oh!  What... what happened?  I was out by..., by the bridge when..."

"Shh, it's alright, my son.  You're fine now.  There was a ... minor incident, but it's all been resolved."
"Ri-..right, but, what's this?"
"Oh, that, you made that in a ... burst of inspiration.  It's exquisitely made, and very plain - you don't detract from the beauty of the stone at all.  If you don't mind, may I name it?"

The dwarf just nodded, staring down in confusion at the simple basalt scepter in his hand.  Kuli smiled, placing his hand on the cheese makers shoulder, "Then we shall call it Warjoins, and let it symbolize our constant fight against evil."

[Kaelem Gaen]

ooo, nice way to play off a possesion.  I suddenly want to turn Kuli into an adventurer, have him run around 'casting' out evil

[Kuli]

THE POWER OF ZEFON COMPELS YOU!

Awesome.  Truly awesome.

I take it the artifact scepter was not particularly interesting?

[Heavy Flak]

quote:Originally posted by Kuli:
<STRONG>THE POWER OF ZEFON COMPELS YOU!

Awesome.  Truly awesome.

I take it the artifact scepter was not particularly interesting?</STRONG>

I was really hoping for something good.  It was maybe ... a minute after the "possession" message came up that it said, "so-and-so is starting a mysterious construction!"

He turned out a basalt scepter, encrusted with basalt, with a picture of a dwarf on it.  Bah!

[Heavy Flak]

From the files of Aryn Estetar
1st of Granite, 1054

THEY'RE OUT TO GET ME!  Almost all of them, nothing but parasites trying to sap my energies, my ideas, my designs, my sanity.  Oh I have my loyalists but I won't name them here.  There are eyes everywhere, and I wouldn't put it past the Mason's and Miner's guilds to sneak in during the day and read these files.  If you're reading this - I'm on to you, vermin.  I'M ON TO YOU.

Census: 51 Dwarves (those that died no longer can hinder our glory)
Blueprints: The current lay of the fortress

[ricemastah]

OOC: Wow I'm really surprised my dwarf is doing anything at all. Its pretty awesome. Also I mandated the construction of anvils? Wow, I am getting to be a pushy bastard. Also this is a long post cause I've just gotten back from a CAMPING TRIP. It was awesome. Like this story only, A LOT colder with the snow and stuff.

Rice's Journal
27th of Slate
Oh joy! I have been elected Mayor! Despite the setbacks we have had this year it would seem my fellow dwarves have seen fit to have me leading them for yet another year. I will work hard to ensure that no more tragedies befall our community.

24th of Sandstone
Aryn is not the messiah or even the particularly wise dwarf that I thought he was. Despite all his talk about Utopia and paradise it seems he does the most complaining and yelling about the steps needed to be taken in forming our paradise. Even with the two anvils we have already two more can always help. Both by increasing our production as more and more dwarves realize the greatness of our fortress and to insure that we no longer need the outside world. Our dependence on dwarven traders from the king will surely be our downfall and cause this paradise to sink into ruin.

5th of moonstone
The fortress seems to be abuzz! With all the wondrous things being created it is almost unbelievable. The Mace, Enteredlanced,  wrought by mighty hands for example is among the best crafts work I have ever seen. And this latest one the scepter speaks of the amazing powers of the place we inhabit. No doubt all the dwarven gods are smiling upon this place as the shining hope of our kind.

EDIT: Spelling, apparently one loses brain cells after spending only two nights in the cold.

[ March 28, 2008: Message edited by: ricemastah ]

[Heavy Flak]

From the files of Aryn Estetar
8th of Felsite, 1054

First Law of the nature of Dwarves:
Dwarves are petty and selfish creatures, and when not given the objects that they so desire they pout and withdraw from society.

Such is the case with our newest miner Doren Bodicefancies, this absurd little dandy of a dwarf.  More interested with his beard waxes and perfumes than actually doing work it was with much cajoling that I agreed to give him full reign of the masons workshop for a "masterpiece project" he has dreamed up to pay tribute to me.  

Instead, he claimed his masterpiece couldn't be finished.  "I need shells, don't you understand!" he repeated ad nauseum, every time I saw him. "I can't finish without shells."  I told him there was nothing to be done and to just finish the damn thing without his shells but he just threw up his hands muttering as he headed back to his workshop.

With almost a full season of that masons workshop unused, I evicted him.  His artists ego would no longer hold up the productions of living necessities.  Now he mopes around the fortress, refusing to eat or drink.  His days are spent longingly standing at the edge of the cliff, staring off into the bleak, barren wastes.  This is a fact of Dwarves: They are petty and proud, their fragile egos easily destroyed.

Census: 75 Dwarves
New workers to our fort.  Great.
The Dungeon Master
A Butcher
A Bone Carver
2 Marksdwarves
A Peasant
A Child
A Dyer
A Cheese Maker
A Brewer
A Mason

[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 27th of Felsite, 1054

With the forges closed for the day, Kuli spent his early evenings as he always did, hands clasped behind him, standing at the edge of the soon-to-be-pond.  The masons were working hard laying floor, building walls, and installing windows but there was still a lot of work to be done.  

Shielding his eyes with a hand, Aryn made his way into the sunlight, scowling at the scene before him.  Sauntering up beside Kuli he watched the Dwarves work in silence for a few minutes before saying, "I certainly hope this is almost finished.  My good will has almost reached it's limit."

"Ah, Brother Aryn, I understand completely.  Without your charity, we wouldn't even be able to have things as they are now, and for that, I give you the utmost thanks.  I had decided that my first sermon when the church doors open will be dedicated to you, and all that you've given us as a community."

"Well, uh, yes, of course, Kuli," Aryn stammered, briefly caught off guard.  "Of course I'll be there.  If there's anything else I ca-"

"Oh there is, Brother Aryn," said Kuli.  "I... though our Brothers and Sisters work for the good of the church, they do it on their free time.  I would lik-... I was hoping, as a show of good faith towards Zefon, you would make a small donation towards the church, to help stock our coffers, to give the parishioners compensation for all their work.  Just a small donation."

"...We'll see.  We'll see, wait until after the winter, and we'll see."
"But you give your word that compensation will come to these tireless workers?"
"I said we'll see, Kuli.  Drop it.  Now what is with the bizarre stone use, it's not uniform."
"Oh, it's nothing, Brother Aryn.  I suppose you've yet to see..."