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[Heavy Flak]

OOC Notes and commentary:

A bunch of stuff happened in the game that was either interesting or weird that I didn't bring up during play.  Now that the chapter is over, I'll throw it all in here before answering some questions!

* Likot was the hardest of the three dwarves to bring back to life, and I spent nearly two hours troubleshooting why she kept dropping dead.  Even if I did the little trick of turning her into a bronze colossus to stop the blood loss, she'd die the second I turned her back.  After all that time, I realized a flag I'd never seen in Dwarf Companion was set - and that after healing her, her intestines from being ripped in half were still outside her body.  After they were shoved back in, she lived... Again!.

* With Likot again - after she came back, the first thing she did, above food or drink or sleep, was spend a day searching for her long-dead child.  That tugged at the heart strings a little.

* The fortress is full of rampant buggery.  A couple of the soldiers (including at LEAST one named one) are all into the same sex.  I think this is because I used Dwarf Companion to change sexes on a whim, just giving sex changes here, there, and everywhere, and it only sets the TEXT, it doesn't actually flip the bit or whatever.  For all purposes, they're transsexuals, women trapped in the bodies of men.  I haven't yet decided what I'm going to do about it... but I'm a progressive kind of guy, and we may have the first case of gay Dwarves... though, I can't be sure anyone who's Dwarf turns out to be that way will still love them...

* This last battle took the longest of ANYTHING I had done in Dwarf Fortress, because the demons were so powerful.  Almost every named non-soldier Dwarf died at least once, but I kept having to savescum as it would crash, or demons would get frozen in the air, or Aryn AND Johnny would die, or every named soldier died, or or or or or...   In the end, we had many deaths, and the I'll be putting the death total in the next story-update.  Stravitch asked for a picture of where Bax died, so, here's that.


* Lastely, for anyone who didn't translate the name, Bax Unostotho translates to Nightmare Buriedbad, and was pulled directly from the legends of the world.  Sometimes the game just writes itself for me. 

Now to answer a few questions:
Flar Moonchill: The Real Goblin Seigers were turned into these souped-up tentacle demons, and I moved them into the aqueducts.  Then I raised the floodgates until I had everything like i wanted it, and when it was time for the battle to begin (after they had actually climbed into the temple and murdered Olin), I lowered them and let the fun begin.

Jools: Hehe, all but one of your questions have to wait for the story update.  The pumps are undamaged, I was so annoyed rebuilding them I removed Building Destroy tags just for my own sake.

Zako: Count your blessing, your soon-to-be-made Dwarf will have a chance to blossom and grow among the wastes.  We're still in a holding pattern on named Dwarves, but it's almost over. 

Xofrevlis: I'm so damned giddy thinking about what you'll post next!  Every picture I've seen is fantastic.


And one last thing, before I go and finally eat my breakfast:
I'm putting out an offer to everyone that reads this story, regardless of if you have a story mode Dwarf or not.  There's something new coming up, and I want you all to feel free to throw out characters of any race (any but the megabeats, at least).  Give some stats and a profession if you want, but I need to warn you, they MIGHT not live all that long so don't put too much thought into the backstory. 

Also, feel free to have more than one, just try to consolidate them into one post.

[Kuli]

Awesome.  This is truly an epic story.  I would have loved to see that battle in action (don't suppose you took a movie?), but I was able to imagine it pretty well.

Johnny redeemed himself slightly in my eyes by locking in Mayor Likot.  It may have made a difference in the battle.

Migrursut has some real badasses on its side, doesn't it?  Good to see Merkil's training paid off.  I wonder where Major Daycovering was in all this.

I bet Kuli regretted getting rid of his adamantine sword a little bit as he faced the demon.  Lucky for him Sulari is a Zefonist!

With both Olsmo and Bax Unostotho supposedly dead now, I wonder where the story will go now.  Back to internal political struggles?  New demon?  Goblins get friskier?  I think a lot depends on whether or not Likot, Sgt. Pepper, and Valania are still "alive."

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 22^nd of Hematite, 1064

The cleanup work was being performed by Dwarves with glassy eyes, the shock of the previous days events wrecking havoc on their minds.  All around the courtyard Dwarves were breaking down, vomiting off the cliff face as they hauled mutilated demon corpses to the bone yard, or carrying the bodies of those they loved down to the crypts.  All told, fifteen died that day, though more were expected to succumb to their wounds shortly - the skin already black with necrosis.  Nine humans were among those placed onto the pile of bodies, ancient Dwarven Law forbidding mixing the bodies of the stout with those of the other races.

Six Dwarves died that day.  Olin Theaterinked, one of Aryn's guard, was found floating face up in aqueducts, his arms ripped clean from the torso.  Kosoth Glazekingdoms, the animal trainer, died of the wounds to her leg, the disease spreading through her too fast.   Farmer Bembul Diplens and Stoneworker Eral Metaltown were found next to each other at the wall, their stomachs ripped out, the entrails halfway stuffed inside the maw of a dead demon.  Another farmer, Kivish Doorspring, was found trampled by the entranceway.  Shorast Guildslide, spear champion, was found by the magma vent, three demons surrounding him - crushed by Merkil's hammer.

The crash from the tower above was ignored by the dwarves, but the reappearance of Mayor Likot and her Honor Guard certainly wasn't.  There was a scream, and the haulers in the courtyard began to back away quickly, their hands held up protectively. 

"Oy, away from them ya' corpses, it's me ya' want."

Johnny pushed through the crowd, scowling.  He tightened his grip on his iron pick, breathing hard. Likot came to a stop in front of Johnny, touching boots toe-to-toe.  Her green glass goggles, never betraying where she looked, were focused on his face, and though he tried to keep his resolve, fear was beginning to gnaw at him.  It was Valania who spoke first.

"We think freely now."
"As freely as anyone can," said Sergeant Pepper. "But we're no longer guided by the hand of the Nightmare God."

Likot reached forward, fingers tightening around the front of Johnny's shirt.  Petrified, he was pulled forward until his forehead pressed against hers.  Her voice was low and hollow, though it carried across the silence that had spread over the courtyard. "Don't think that freeing us from a demons grasp will get you back in my good graces.  Though I no longer follow the drum of some nightmare beast, I neither have forgotten the pain of being ripped asunder.  Remember that, when you decide the best course of action is to take on another member of authority."

She pushed him hard, and he stumbled backwards.  His heel caught on a demon corpse and he fell hard on his rump.  As the trio began to move off, he called out to them, "Where are ya' goin', than?  Ya' leavin' here?"

Likot stopped and turned to look at him.  "Leaving?  Didn't you hear my speech yesterday?  I'm Mayor again.  I'm not leaving.  I'm taking over from where I left off"

"Oh, ya' cannae be serious..."
"I'm completely serious.  Now BACK TO WORK.  Get the corpses hauled, and stripped.  And take their heads down to Akroma, I want my room LINED with them once their cleaned!"

[Jools]

Cool! Is it worth holding back a demon skull or two as mini-prizes for cryptogram solving or anything?

Also I note the new title... glass and steel says "skyscraper" to me. Though both can also be fashioned into blades...

Oh yeah - and I've forgotten to say it until now, but hooray for Snake.

[Duke of Nawn]

This story is amazing. Could easily become a second Nist Akath, if it can continue this level of quality, which I suspect it can.
I'ma request a kobold named Buse. He dreams of making beautiful arts, but isn't quite sure how to go about it. Possibly engraver/craftskobold, but anything works so long as he can think he's being creative. If he happens to get disemboweled immediately upon introduction, that's okay too. I'd appreciate it if his entrails make a nice pattern when they spill out onto the blistering sand, though.

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 28th of Hematite, 1064

"Where WERE you," Aryn bellowed, his fists crashing into the table top.
"Where were you," Stravitch said, his mouth full of baked gar. 
"Hiding, like any sane Dwarf untrained in combat should have been.  The difference between me and you, you daft fool, is that you ARE trained to fight.  I dare say you're one of the best in this fortress, and you were NOT up in the courtyard to defend our home.  Where.  Were.  You."

"I was taking a nap."

Aryn just stared at him, eyes bugging out comically.  He started to speak, but it came out as gibberish, and he had to take a second to try and collect himself before he spoke again.
"you were... taking a NAP?"
"Yes.  I had just finished showing little miss Meng Flickeredvessel how difficult it is to fight when her wrist is broken, and it wore me right out.  Then I went to lay down.  If the fighting was still going on when I woke up, I was planning to come stop it."

The door opening was all that saved Aryn from running his mouth more.  Sodel Abbeybucks stormed in, followed by Sulari.  Snake trailed along behind her lazily. 

"Aryn, get rid of this exile.  Have him executed, throw him in the magma!  Do anything, just rid our home of his kind."
"As much as he deserves it for his traitorous actions, he did kill the Demon God.  That's more than can be said of some people."  Aryn glared at Stravitch, who just smiled and popped more gar into his mouth.

"He wants to take over my command!"
"He should," Sulari whispered hoarsely.  "Every swordsman but you has been... killed since you took over.  Give Snake the spot back."
"Give it back?  So he can, what?  Sell us out to the nobility?"

"We are the Nobility," Aryn said.  "Leave now, I'll think on it.  I need to finish talking with Captain Fillwhip here."
Stravitch shook his head slowly. "Oh, no, I'm sorry.  I thought you knew, we were done talking.  We've both agreed I'm the best soldier in the fortress, isn't that all you wanted to say?  I have a meeting at Dodik's soon, and must finish this dinner."

***

Merkil slowly walked into Major ---- DayCovering's room, holding his helm in his hands.  The old Major was staring down at sheets of paper, and maps laid out before him.  He looked his years sitting at the table, an old gray man, bent with age. 

"Sir," Merkil began softly, "I don't think the others noticed, they were too busy dealing with the invaders, but... you weren't at the battle."
"I wasn't," He said. "I was down here, reading these letters.  Did you do well?"
"I killed five.  Sir.  Why weren't you out there?  We needed you."
"I couldn't bring myself to go out."

Merkil frowned, his head tilting slightly. "You couldn't... what are you talking about?"
"I haven't killed anything in thirty years... I haven't been in a single battle since then, a single fight.  I carry this hammer around, and all this bluster, and I train soldiers and I regale them with stories.  But after the skirmish at Rethiatera, I can't... bring myself to go into battle, not anymore.  Perhaps I'm not fit to lead this squad anymore, especially if this gets out..."

Merkil took a seat in a chair, slouching heavily.  "If you don't lead the squad, that will look mighty suspicious.  They'll catch on that..." He couldn't help it, it was the only word that would work.  "You're craven, sir."

The old Major took no offense.  He scooped the papers up into one pile, and moved them back into his cabinet. "That's why you were given a field promotion, Major Merkil Paintlengths.  You're in charge of our modest squad.  I'm retiring."

***

Varen and Asmel stood at attention before the tomb, watching as the haulers placed the last of Shorast Guildslides possessions into the sarcophagus.  Asmel was the first to speak, her voice betraying none of her grief. 

"He was a good man, Varen.  A good man..."
"Yes he was, ma'am.  He deserves better than this simple tomb.  For all he's done for this fortress, that he'd get no big ceremony, no accolades, no ... no titles at all.  It's not right."
"It is right," Asmel said quietly, "It's the price we of the Spear pay.  We're often overlooked, we're often hit the hardest.  The titles given to the others, the grand tombs, those are nothing more than props they hold themselves up with.  We give our everything, and ask nothing in return.  Shorast ask-...asked nothing in return."

She stepped forward into the small alcove, and leaned over.  Her hands on the cool stone, she pressed her lips to his name.  When she turned to leave, she was surprised to see Makrond standing off in the distance, mostly obscured by shadows.

"Have you come to pay your respects, Master Leatherworker?"
"Yes ma'am, but, not in the way most would."  He stepped forward, fidgeting with the tape draped over his neck. "I want to offer myself, as a spearman.  Seeing how hard you all fought, I ... I want to do my part too."

Asmel looked at him curiously, the faintest of smiles playing on her lips.  She reached back into the corner of the tomb, and when she stepped out, she carried with her Shorast's plain steel spear - holding it out to the young leatherworker.  "I'd be honored to have you join with us.  Go and gather your things.  Today is for mourning, but tomorrow, training begins once again."

[Sukasa]

I don't post much, but I've been following this story very closely.  Incredible work, as it's always been.  Anyways, I'd like to create a character.  Umed ("oo-med") AnyLastName, Dwarf.  He's always been a mechanically-minded dwarf, and is always coming up with new designs for mechanical systems of any sort.  He also dabbles at, and would be willing to defend his home, with a crossbow.

[Drakon]

Just decided to register, but I've been reading these forums on and off for a good month or two now, great story, you along with the cap are great story tellers, and I eagerly anticipate the next chapter!

I wish I had creative wit like you guys, and good at those ciphers

[Zako]

And so the old Major retires, and his apperentice has taken up his mantle. Poor old guy... 

Seems like the story is on a brand new tack, and i like that the undead are still 'alive' so my dwarf still has his backstory working. Be sure to give him plenty of training, of both ranged and up-close (crossbow butt to the head!) as well as some kind of armor, i prefer plate or mail, but then again i just love the high end stuff so even leather armor will do in a pinch. Sorry if i sound demanding... 

[Heavy Flak]

So some good news: I finished Revision 2a of my book tonight.  That leaves me with some rewriting, and a bunch of heavy additions, but this is coming along nicely.  My only complaint is it's not a fantasy-based story, but something more real world.  That's a complaint to me because I sometimes find myself in "real world" mode when writing up the tales of Migrursut, and I find myself in "fantasy world" writing up a modern day work of fiction.  Reminds me of an interview with George Clooney, where he was complaining about filming From Dusk Till Dawn during the day and ER during the night.

A Paraphrase:
"I kill a bunch of vampires and then expect the script to call for me to heal them.  Then I get off the set, head to the TV taping, and I want to tell some kid that had an 'accident' to go fuck himself."

Some bad news: All the demons are dead as doornails, but I just noticed the siege tag has yet to lift.  UH OH!  What are the repercussions of this?  I'm probably going to have to do a LOT of editing to get it to flag off correctly, if I can at all.  This could lead to some ... real problems if I don't fix it.  The update I was planning for late tonight got postponed because I freaked out about that tag.

Zako: You're not demanding at all, you're just a guy that knows what he wants.    Our fortress is drowning in iron, so full-plate won't be an issue.

Drakon: Your compliment made my day.  Cap'n Mayday wasn't the reason I registered on this forum, but he was the inspiration for me to start writing this story.  Thanks a lot!

Sukasa: I've put you on the ever-growing list.  Same disclaimer as always, blahblahblah, need to wait, things are being worked on to facilitate new bodies.

[Daniel Charms]

Some bad news: All the demons are dead as doornails, but I just noticed the siege tag has yet to lift.  UH OH!  What are the repercussions of this?  I'm probably going to have to do a LOT of editing to get it to flag off correctly, if I can at all.  This could lead to some ... real problems if I don't fix it.  The update I was planning for late tonight got postponed because I freaked out about that tag.

This bug report has some information on this. That guy got rid of the siege message by resurrecting some of the invaders and letting them escape/killing them again.

[Makrond]

Heh, sweet.

Of Glass and Steel... makes me think metropolis... or some kind of proper sterile utopia.

Also, regarding this 'something new' you mentioned, I'd like a hippy elf woodworker. Hehe.

[Zako]

Cool, just out of curosity, how is the steel supply?

[Flar Moonchill]

Excellent!

Would love one of the new characters a elven spearwoman if that's ok named Ashian!

[Tarquinius]

Excellent story! I'd like a human swordman named Tarquinius, if that's alright.