=Events as they occurred, 13th of Hematite, 1061=-Morning-The morning sun had just begun to cast warm rays of light on Boatsmokes back as he drove the worn copper blade of his axe into an old birch tree. With every heave of his muscled arms the tree shook in anguish. Boatsmoke was nearly alone, one of two woodcutters out this early, and allowed himself to smile since no-one could see him or prove that it happened. This was one of the few places Boatsmoke felt truly happy, chopping away at the trees.
In the distance to the north, several cliffs above him, Boatsmoke heard a distressed howl break the morning silence. He narrowed his eyes and gripped the handle on his axe tighter.
Medib! The tone in Boatsmokes voice brought the young woodcutter swiftly to full alert.
Medib! Snarltooth is howlin up a storm! Run up there and see what in the nine hells is going on!
Medib ran as fast as he could to the top of the incline ramp connecting the lower forest level to the upper one. He could tell immediately that something was wrong, as the wardog had ceased to cry for help. Medib carefully peered around the corner to find five filthy goblins crouched over the dead dog, pinned to the earth by black feathered arrows. Medib had little time to count the four axes and one bowgoblin before he was spotted. He darted back toward Zirilzuntīr, bellowing for help.
Below, Boatsmoke realized he was alone, with but an axe to guard him. He knelt down in the grass and waited patiently while four goblins ran past the ramp, following Medib toward the fortress. If everything went as planned, the goblins would find themselves being hammered to death very shortly.
Boatsmoke breathed a sigh of relief. He would return to cutting trees knowing that his kin were well alerted. Just as he stood up to go, a fifth goblin walked into his view and stood at the top of the ramp, unmoving. Boatsmoke watched without breathing as the goblin, fully clad in iron mail with an iron axe gripped in both hands, turned toward him, and began the short walk down the tunnel ramps. Boatsmoke cursed under his breath. With naught but copper axe and cloth clothing, he charged.
-Noon-Nilumoz braced himself against the Cliffside, as black feathered arrows pelted the rock beside him, he swore loudly and motioned to the three other dwarves each armed with solid copper hammers.
Alright, When I give the signal, release the wardogs and charge in behind them. Take out the BowGoblin first then focus on the guards. Got it?
Nilumoz heard the scream of a female dwarf over the commotion of battle, and knew that his time had run out. He waved his arm and shouted Release the hounds!
Three wardogs bolted from their chains and ran barking, teeth bared, toward Em the bowgoblin. The wretched creature pulled back a long black arrow, and ordered his guards to hold their grown in face of the terrifying beasts. Usbu prepared for the wave of paws and teeth, as Em held his bow steady, aiming at the edge of the cliff, waiting for the right moment.
Nilumoz stared confused as a half dozen tiny puppies went yipping after their wardog parents, but he had no time to contemplate the loyalty or foolishness of dogs. He gave the second signal to the hammer squad, and leapt from behind the cliff face, turning to charge after the green scum, as a long black arrow lodged itself in the nook between his helmet and his copper chain mail. Nilumoz grasped at the iron shaft with both hands, as he struggled to breathe, but it was no use: his helmet was filling with blood.
The last thing Nilumoz saw as he fell to his knees, through the haze of red, was his squad mates doing as any dwarven warrior should: following orders, charging down the green menace.
Usbu screamed in terror as the wardogs bore down upon him with unwavering ferocity. The first wardog grabbed his axe arm and held it motionless while the second leapt into him, knocking the goblin flat on his back and completely helpless as sharp canine teeth clamped around both sides of his skull and twisted.
Em reeled back, dazed by the speed at which his guard were overwhelmed by simple guard dogs. Both axegoblins were being torn into chunks by the fierce dwarven war animals. Where were the other two axegoblins?! Where were Ngoso and Korgol?! Em fired one last arrow before his bowstring snapped. It would take only a few seconds to string a new one, but Em didnt have any time left. Before he could look up, Sibrek Rulkol, Hammerlord, brought her copper warhammer up into Ems chest, sending the creature sprawling onto the stone ground. Sibrek wasted no time in raising her hammer high and bringing it down on Ems torso, crushing it into the earth.
In no time at all, the goblins were silent.
-Afternoon-Besmar spit into the grass, where a severed goblin hand lay, still holding an axe, and still being gnawed on by one of the wardogs.
How many, Nifo?
Three, sir
Thob Idigam the tanner was shot through the lungs
he bled to death not fifty yards from the outer walls. The second was Nilumoz, who perished here after flanking the goblins and ordering a counter-charge. The third was Boatsmoke, who was felling trees at the bottom of the cliff with Medib.
Besmar tugged his gray beard as he looked at Nilumozs corpse, and the corpses of dogs and goblins that were strewn around by this simple, worthless piece of land. A place that just happened to serve as a chokepoint in the battle that had just occurred. Besmars gaze returned to Nilumozs lifeless body. He was a young dwarf. Most of the dwarves here were young
In fact, it occurred to Besmar that very few lived to see old age these days. Nilumoz was one of many dwarves to give their lives for their homes
One of many sons
one of many fathers
Besmar turned away and focused his anger toward Nifo. Where was Beryl during all this? Where was the mayor?
Nifo scowled. Until now she had no regrets about voting for Beryl, even when the woman began filing impossible mandates, but now she shared Besmars distaste. She was in the dining hall
trumping up her re-election campaign.
Besmar shook his head in disbelief. A real leader would have been out here, fighting and dying alongside her kin." Besmar knelt down next to Nilumoz, as he gathered the energy to speak. "Alright Nifo, I have a mandate for ye. I demand we build two statues! One here in stone of Nilumoz, clad in his armor and hammer raised high like the gods! I want another smelted of solid iron of Boatsmoke, with a big tankard of dwarven beer in one hand and his axe in the other! THERES A BLOODY MANDATE FOR YE!
Besmar punted a severed goblin head a good dozen yards before storming back to his room to plan a funeral for his friends and comrades.
Nifo stood amongst the destruction and wrote down Besmars order, handing it off to another dwarf by her side. Give this instruction to the masons
The Iron statue is to be set up in the forest on the Cliffside below. The stone one should be built here, in this place. Nilumozs Fall. Be quick, lad, for war has come to Zirilzuntīr.
**Nilumozs Fall**
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Topic: Zirilzuntīr - FireAnvil - The Forge of war (Community Fo (Read 18315 times)