Sorry about the delay with updating.. Let's just say I have a lot on my mind right now *cough* A levels *cough*
***
RAWR's personal journal entry:
It had been a few months since we had seen any goblin trouble, so maybe I started to let my guard down. This is a mistake I cannot afford to make again.
A goblin drunk, known as "Zolak Hellsabres" almost caught Sparrow, while he was cutting wood. Zolak had been engaged in the goblin's pasttime of chasing Elephants when he saw a more tempting looking prey.
Fortunately Sparrow saw him coming and fled back towards the fortress. Boltedhandles, my prize war hound, smelled the goblin coming from a mile away and ran to intercept him.
The other dogs followed, tearing into the goblin ferociously, one even ripping the goblin's arm right off. Luckily the dogs escaped injury, but I am growing more and more frustrated at never seeing combat myself.
I am now conducting regular training sessions with Aardvark in the Barracks, although we fight without weapons because I am fearful of an accident should we use our iron war axes.
It seems bad luck comes in twos because soon after the first goblin attack, two more goblins came, "Blackdeer" and a priest known by the fearsome name "dungeonanus".
Boltedhandles was enjoying the midday sun outside and was blissfully unaware of the goblins' dark intentions. Nevertheless it was his barking that alerted us to danger and myself and Aardvark immediately ran to the scene with the other dogs.
Boltedhandles found himself outmatched by the two goblins. Once the other dogs and myself and Aardvark arrived we turned the tide of the battle but we were almost too late to save Boltedhandles, who was left blind in both eyes, and with a mangled lower body.
Somehow, the legendary goblin scourge went on living, although he passed out from pain every few steps he took as he slowly stumbled back to the fortress.
The sight of this wounded animal still giving its all for the fort moved all of us deeply, and I have decided that myself and Aardvark will devote more and more time to training, so that we will eventually be able to take the fight to the goblins, in their unnatural sky towers.
***
An extract from Sparrow's diary, late spring:
I have scarcely had time to write in my journal lately, but so many strange things have happened recently, that I have been compelled to put pen to paper. First of all there is our leader and Aardvark.
They've been spending a lot of time in the barracks, only to later emerge sweaty and exhausted. As I was installing a bed I had made into the barracks, I saw the two of them wrestling on the other bed. (Author's note: this did happen!) Naturally rumours are spreading round the fortress but I would not like to comment.
Secondly, while on a break from cutting wood, I sometimes sit on a log and watch the goblins in the valley below. Of course they are always chasing elephants, herds of which seem to often come from the north east and south east.
Recently though, I watched as they actually managed to chase one into the northernmost fortress. I could hear various screams and trumpeting coming from inside, so I could only guess what happened while it was inside, but then it ran up the stairs (don't ask me how) onto the roof, pursued by many goblins and I could again watch what was happening.
Many goblins surrounded the elephant, and I watched with bated breath as to what would happen next.
What followed was absolute carnage, as the cornered elephant stampeded, crushing and mangling bodyparts everywhere it trod.
Bizzarely, even the critically wounded goblins crawled after the Elephant, seemingly determined to kill it no matter what.
One goblin got trapped between the elephant and a wall, and was splattered against it with a mighty blow.
All the goblins chasing the elephant had now been maimed somehow, and it disappeared away down the stairs. Later on I tried to pick it out again but it had seemingly disappeared away to the East.
For a second I almost felt sorry for the goblins, but then I had a better idea, and reported to RAWR about the elephant rampage.
(Author's note: before it reached the roof, Godthrone was cornered in a corridor by many goblins and a goblin guard, but escaped with only a slight head wound, mangling many goblins in the process.)
***
RAWR noticed that Sparrow was looking rather uncomfortable, as he came to give a report. RAWR couldn't imagine why, he was only holding Aardvark in a leg submission. He quickly stood up and listened to what the other dwarf had to say. He listened with glee to Sparrow's account, then immediately shouted to Aardvark to arm up.
"It's time to do what we came here for!" he said, eagerly. "Kill goblins!"
Leaving the war dogs in the fortress to guard it, and because he could not persuade Boltedhandles to stay behind without shutting all the dogs inside, RAWR and Aardvark set off for the Northernmost fortress. In his haste RAWR forgot his axe, but he still had an iron shield he had taken off a dead goblin.
They arrived at the fortress without incident and stepped inside the cold, dark, obsidian passages. In front of them, they saw a goblin drunk, and wasted no time in hacking one of his arms off.
Drawn by the sound of combat, a goblin guard armed with a bow joined the fray, attempting to shoot RAWR, his shot was blocked by his shield. RAWR immediately stopped attacking the drunk, and charged after the bow goblin.
Aardvark decided that he was actually kinda thirsty, and would return to fight more after getting a drink at the fortress.
"Hold on I need some beer, I'll be back in a second," he shouted at RAWR as he left.
However, his way out was suddenly blocked by another goblin guard, this one from outside, armed with a vicious whip and shield, and wearing iron chainmail armour.
The guard cracked his whip, stunning Aardvark momentarily, who was wishing he had some kind of armour. But he regained his senses quickly, driving his axe into the goblin's arm.
Meanwhile, the bow goblin had fled, but RAWR had found another opponent, an injured goblin drunk, who he quickly beat into unconsciousness.
Aardvark was not faring so well against the guard, who tripped him up using the whip then lashed him, breaking the dwarf's left arm. The pain shook Aardvark to his senses and with he regained his footing, flooring the goblin with a powerful strike that nevertheless did not penetrate his armour.
Realising that he was outmatched, Aardvark retreated to the fortress, because he really was thirsty, and he could never fight well sober.
RAWR had dispatched the drunk, and now rushed to his companions aid, engaging the guard before it could chase Aardvark.
He blocked the goblin's whip strike with his shield, then tore the whip out of the goblin's hand and knocked him to the floor with a shield charge.
"NOBODY. HURTS. MY. DWARVES!" he shouted, punctuating each word with a powerful punch into the floored goblin. He then used his shield to bludgeon the goblin, mangling various parts of him and sending him into pain excruciating enough for him to pass out.
After the slaughter was over, RAWR realised he needed a drink, and the fortress needed his leadership. He would leave for now. But he would be back.
Oh yes he would be back.
***
I will try and add another update soon, but tomorrow is not looking good because I have important exams. Next time: Kobold thieves, a cold blooded murder and RAWR's revenge.
Edit: Paragraphing again
[ June 03, 2008: Message edited by: RandomRandomUK ]