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[LegoLord]

Well that was short.  I'm going to have another update soon.  If anyone would like to claim one of the new nobles, now is your best chance, because they are going to be named in the story soon.

Spoiler: Potential minor story spoiler (click to show/hide)

They aren't all going to be jerks like Lord Lego.

Edit:  At 2 hours from the time of this edit, I will post the update introducing the tax collector. 

Come on y'all, I won't bite or anything  .  Give me feedback, tell me what's good and what's bad, please.  I appreciate it.  And don't worry, I won't make the same mistake that I made with Omnidum's first dwarf again 

[LegoLord]

3rd Limestone, Summer, 108
   Dakost Webbedchambers, the Queen’s tax collector, politely knocked on Ezum’s door.  She coughed.  After a moment she knocked again, somewhat louder.

   “Ezum, there’s a problem with the skyway.  Ezum?  Are you in there?” 

   “No, lass.” Ezum said from behind Dakost.  “What’s the problem wit’ the skyway?”

   “Part of it collapsed, sir.  The legendary weaver’s daughter was playing on it, and the blocks were . . . knocked loose.”

   “Whut?!  How’d that ‘appen?!  Tha’s no jus’ human architecture, wimpy blocks on top o’ each other!  Tha’s dwarven masonry!  Blocks made to link together and hold!”

   “Well, yes . . .” the tax collector mumbled, “but with all the battles that have occurred, and all the daily weight it carries, sections of it have been shaken apart.  It’s not safe.”

   “Fine . . . I’ll have summa the masons work on some more support fer it.  In the mean time, ye can go an’ find sommun stupid enough to give that weaver the news ‘bout ‘er daughter.”

   “Yes sir.” Dakost said glumly.  “I’ll go get Legan the philosopher to do it.”

   Ezum nodded.  “Good idea.  Take two birds out wit’ one piece o’ bauxite.”

* * * * *

13th Limestone
   Catten the fisherdwarf found himself looking upon a beastly grin while on his way to the brook to the north.  The red eyes belonging to the owner of the face focused on Catten.  The Skakdi roared in his face.
   
   “Hahahaha!  Get ‘em boys!  Looks like we’re gonna have some fun with this place!”  The wrestler and his squad of spearmen swarmed Catten shouting, whooping, and laughing at every noise he made.  They could be heard from within the fort.  The moment Catten fell dead, the moved on to the entrance.

   As the squad arrived at the moat, Sheena and Bubbles emerged from the fort, quickly beating the lead wrestler out of the conscious realm.  After they killed that, Bubbles smashed one spearman in the gut, nauseating it.  Sheena began a fierce spear dual with another. 

   Bubbles then mangled both of his skakdi’s legs with a single blow with his mace.  Sheena managed to land a shallow hole in her skakdi’s lower body.  As Bubbles finished his skakdi off with a blow to the head, Sheena ran her wooden spear through her skakdi’s left hand.  She moved to chase down the remaining skakdi as Bubbles batted it into the wall. 

   She caught one of three that managed to get away from the moat, and ran it through with her spear.  One skakdi was left at the moat, but with one powerful swing of his mace, Bubbles sent it into the magma.

   “Why don’t they just give up already?” Bubbles wondered.

   “They like fighting.” Sheena said.  “Then again, so do we.”

   “But we’re better than them.”

   “Do you think you could kill a demon?”  Sheena asked.

   “Er . . . No?  What’s this got to do with it?”

   “The Skakdi nation of the Ultimate Gerbil is lead by a demon.  Its name is Gedor.  Pretty tough one, him.  He has to be, to survive ruling a nation with a name like that.  If my ruler were a demon like him, I’d charge at just about anything just to avoid facing him.”

   “Oh.

On an unrelated note, Chappy has recieved some mysterious brown nervous and cardiovascular wounds.  He's still walking around though.  That guy is tough . . .

[Heron TSG]

nice! bubbles sure does like hitting things!

[thunderclan]

The writing is great to read Legolord.

Have to ask though: Has my new character been added and just isn't in the story yet or has he just not been added yet?

Not really important, just curious 

[LegoLord]

Not in yet.  He should be in within the next game season, though. 

And thanks

[LegoLord]

22nd Limestone, Autumn, 108
   Ezum met with Obok, the head trader of this year’s merchant caravan.  The trader was very impressed with what he had seen so far of Libash Tobat, and expected a good deal of profit.  He also hoped to be able to tour the fort later.  Despite being the most frequently harrassed fort in the kingdom, it was, strangely enough, becoming a tourist attraction.

   “Good day Ezum Paintedtrade.  I have heard so much about this place!” Obok said.  “We’ve brought many fine goods for such a fine fortress.”

   “Er, thanks laddie.  So, let’s see whatcha got fer us-”

   “We also bring word from the Queen!” Obok handed Ezum a letter from a belt pouch.  “She has looked into why the previous King funded this settlement, and was very impressed!  She wouldn’t say why, though.  Er, you wouldn’t happen to know would you?”

   Ezum gave the letter a concerned look, holding it with both hands.  “No,” she said with a straight face, “haven’t gotta clue.  Let’s get ta tradin’ now, alrigh’?”

   “Yes!  Yes, of course.  First I would like you to look at our fine collection of cloth . . .”

* * * * *

1st Sandstone
   The letter Ezum recieved remained unopened for days.  Finally, while managing work orders, she picked it up.  She held it carefully, as though it were likely to explode.  She opened it slowly, and then unfolded the paper.

   She began reading: “Ezum Paintedtrade, as you have probably aware by now, the fortress of Libash Tobat was founded as a temporary mining expedition . . .”

   She skipped ahead to a paragraph that seemed like something she didn’t already know.  “We managed to track down the mad wizard.  We were convinced that he had lied to us about the location of the Adamantine.  Some of my  special servants were able to persuade him to tell us the truth.  We were fortunate to learn that you were not far off; the Adamantine should be to the southeast of you entrance.  You shall begin a mining expedition immediately . . .”

   Ezum didn’t bother to finish reading.  She carefully folded the letter and put it in a pocket.  She would show it to the miners later.  In the meantime, she had a letter of her own to write.

[LegoLord]

2nd Timber, Autumn, 108
   Ast Pulleymaw the bone carver was taking a drink of booze when a thought struck him.  He dropped his barrel of dwarven beer and ran down to the crafting sector of the workshop floor.  He siezed the crafter’s shop reserved for the most talented crafters.

   Nearby, Crispin the body builder was watching.  He had come to this fort to look for his brother, whom he had heard had become a great champion.  So far he hadn’t been able to find him.  When ever he asked some one about it, they just gave him a stern look.

   He dropped the log he was carrying and went to Ezum’s office.  He knocked on the door.

   “Ye better have somethin’ important ta tell me, er else I’ll have ye thrown in the chasm.”

   Crispin, confident and optimistic, walked in.  “There’s a fey bonecarver in the workshops, Ezum.”

   “That all?  Get out o’ here, ye’re wastin’ me time.”

   “Er.”  He hesitated.  This was his first time talking to the fort’s manager.  “Um, I was also wondering if you knew where my brother is?”

   “Why would I know that?” Ezum said, anger rising.

   “Er.  He’s supposed to be a champion swordsman.  He calls himself Fireheart?”

   Ezum’s expression of anger immediately melted into one of sadness.  “He’s dead, lad.  Fell off the skyway dodgin’ a gobbo.”

   “Oh . . .”  Crispin felt crushed.  “Er.  How good was he?”

   “He was one of our best.  He could chop gobbos an’ skaks ta pieces with jus’ a wooden sword.  We’ll ne’er see another like him this lifetime.”

   The last comment filled Crispin with rage.  “Oh yes you will!  I’ll show you I can be just as good as him!  In fact, I’ll be even better!”

   Ezum gave him a curious look, thinking.  She finally said, “Alright, lad.  Ye can start by wrastlin’ wit’ the fortress guard.  They’ll toughen ye up in no time.  Then ye can start practicin’ wit’ a sword.  An’ while yer gettin’ yer stuff, have Morul go ta the workshops.”

   Crispin was momentarily shocked.  He was well aware of Ezum’s reputation.  That felt like it was too easy, he thought as he left.

[LegoLord]

12th Timber
   “Finally!” Morul Bellstired shouted as Ast the bonecarver began her construction.  She had gathered a turtle shell, two cave lobster shells, a bolt of masterful pig tail cloth, two pieces of basalt, the last of the protosteel, some basalt blocks, the roughened emeralds bought from the dwarven caravan, and some carp leather.

   Morul and her squad left, leaving the craftdwarf to her work.

Shoot . . . I hope that next years caravan brings some flux stone.  Glass doesn't work with protosteel making.

[LegoLord]

15th Timber, 108, entry in the diary of Lord Lego Pickbrains, Baron
Dear Diary,
   They opened up the subterranean municipal park today.  It only just dried out enough to walk in, and one bridge still needs to be built, but there is already fungus growing in the new soil.

   Ezum violated my ban on the export of copper items, so I had a siege engineer put in jail because Ezum scares me.  A lot. I bullied a peasant into telling me about her and she killed someone once they say.  She gets angry fast.  She is really pretentious too because I saw a solid gold table in her office.  She had someone put a picture of a fly in my room which I hate.  I hate her too. 

   The miners still won’t start digging adamantine like the Queen ordered because they want to train up the new miner first which is silly because they should be able to teach him.  I hate them too.

   Good night diary I will talk to you again tomorrow.

Man, I'm really starting to hate this guy.

[LegoLord]

16th Timber, Autumn, 108
   Ast the bonecarver raised her work above her head and shouted “Behold Edoluzol!  Worth 100800 dollars!”

   No one nearby responded.  They simply continued on with their business.

   “Well fine then.  No masterpiece totems for you.”  She then lowered the crown and took it to the Arenaseum.  “Fighters in the arena will be so awed by this they won’t even bother fighting!”

That has to be the most valuable craft item I've ever had.  Too bad she didn't make some weird turtle bone axe or something.

[thunderclan]

Hopefully Crispin won't end up sharing his brother's fate

[Heron TSG]

I think it'd be awesome if Crispin became the crazy-awesome champion dwarf that finds out what's wrong with the goblins.

[LegoLord]

I have high hopes for Crispin too.  I was really disappointed when Fireheart died.  But oh well.  Just gotta role with what the game gives me, right? 

25th Timber, Autumn, 108
   Flint was walking towards the newly irrigated subterranean park for some clean graffiti painting fun.  He didn’t know why he did it with walls; he could have easily done it with paper.  But he loved to draw pictures of harassed nobility.

   Turning the corner of the hall, three large yellow, black speckled blurs of fur tackled him and began licking him.

   “Help!  I’m bein’ mauled to death, dawgs!  He.  Heha. Hehahah, HAHAHAA!!”  He couldn’t control the laughter as the three giant leopard cubs licked him, pawed him, and rubbed affectionately against him.

   “YES!!” Ezum shouted, having spotted the cubs.  “They’ll make fine additions ta the Arenaseum an’ the municipal park!  I knew the breedin’ program wuz a good idea!” She nudged a nearby butcher.  “You go an’ take care o’ that scrawny one, we gotta be careful ‘bout which ones we let breed.”  Ezum walked away, fantasizing about the leopards and their potential relations with the nobility.

[LegoLord]

14th Moonstone, Winter, 108
   Ezum barged into the mayoral office in a furious rage.

   “Hey, watch the doors!”  Rakust the mayor yelled.

   “Ye dinna have any doors, ye dafty!  I’ve had it up ta here wit’ ye!  Yer mandates ha’ been gettin’ more ‘n more dimwitted since ye got yer office back!”

   “What are you talking about?  Everything I do as mayor I do in the fortress’ best interests.”

   “Best interests?” Ezum shouted, “Best interests?! How is knockin’ out most o’ our trade in the fort’s best interests?  Most o’ our trade goods come in bins, ye damned idjiot!”

   “And our stockpiles are overflowing, last I checked.”

   “Oh aye?  An’ when was the last time ye went lower then the dining hall floor?”

   The mayor shuffled his feet nervously.  “Well . . . it was only four years ago . . .”

   Ezum’s nostrils flared with anger, her eyes gone bloodshot.  “I’ll have ye killed fer this Rakust!  E’er since we came ta this rock, ye’ve been nothin’ but a pain in the arse!”

   “I make good booze.” Rakust said reproachfully.

   “There’s them that’s gettin’ better!  We can get on fine wit’out ch’ya!  It’s the Death Tower fer ye!  BUBBLES!  SHEENA!”

   The two soldiers ran in from the hallway from their hiding place outside the office.  They each grabbed an arm and started hauling Rakust away.

   “Bubbles!  Sheena!  Wait!  I’m your friend!”

   “Sorry about this, Rakust,” Sheena said, “but you’ve been a real pain lately.”

   “‘Sides, yer a noble now Rakust.  Nobles are better popped!” Bubbles chimed in.

   “You can’t do this!  Morul will her of it!”  Rakust cried.

   “Ach, not if she don’t wanna be like ye, lad.” Ezum said, following.  “She is the sheriff, an’ she only gets let ta live since she don’t cause no trouble.  Ye cause trouble, yersel’.”  Once they reached the top of the tower, Rakust was shoved in the holding pit.

   “Have mercy!”

   “Shut up!  Sommun pull the lever!” Ezum cried.  Down below, the heard the clink of mechanisms as hatches all down the shaft began opening.  A look of horror spread across Rakust’s face as the hatch beneath him began to open.  He fell.

   “Have sommun put ‘is head in the dinin’ hall fer an example.  We dinna wan’t this happenin’ again.”  Ezum said.  Sheena and Bubbles nodded, and went about their duties.

[Omnidum]

Did he splatter prettily?