Just a story I wished to share, something that took me completely by suprise, it was only after the events that I realised just how significant they were so I'm afraid I can't provide screenshots, plus being a forum newcomer I'm unsure of exactly how to post them.
The curse of the golden spear
Firstly a little background; having played DF on and off for about a year now I am at the point where I do not lose fortresses very often, that in mind please enjoy the tale of woe that is the curse of the golden spear.
Inkdawned stood a shining example to all of dwarf kind and 6 years after it’s founding in a plentiful valley the fortress received a migrant, “Sheen” the weapon smith.
Sheen had barely stepped into the fort when inspiration struck him for an artefact, the people rejoiced as he emerged from the magma forge with the golden spear Dumuramud; “Hauntedthunders”
Pleased with the item the count ordered new recruits to train with spears to earn the honour of wielding such an item, four such dwarves quickly surpassed their peers, each legendary in the art of wrestling, each extremely skilled in the use of shields.
Eventually one dwarf attained the rank of legendary spear dwarf, he rushed to the armoury and claimed dumuramud as his own and returned to the barracks to continue sparring. In honour of the achivement I gave the proffesion “Keeper of the thunder” to the lucky dwarf
(Now, this would have made for a nice enough story as it stands however the following events lead me to believe that the possession of young sheen was by more than the average ghoul. To explain I’ll have to shift narrative.)
In the following winter of that same year the orcs came in force once again, though inkdawned had killed all their local leaders the orcs were still determined. The champions of inkdawned met the first of the attacking forces at the rear entrance flanked by the magma pipe and the fighting continued. I was eager to see the keeper of the thunder’s effectiveness in battle and watched as the seven strong champion team backed up with fifteen or so apprentices met the attack. Oddly the keeper moved forward despite being under orders to stick close to his post, he entered the fight early and found himself separated behind a wall of orc flesh.
The named orc leader approached and the keeper attacked, initially he scored three devastating wounds, and then, nothing, the fight continued but no extra wounds were scored, the keeper even became tired and in a moment of horror I realised he was moving getting ever closer to the brim of the magma pipe. The keeper of the thunder fell into the magma and the dwarves cried great tears fearing the spear lost to the earth…it was only after the battle that they found the spear lodged in the body of the orc leader.
Not phased by this I assigned the spear to the next best dwarf and sent him and his apprentices on patrol. The following season tragedy struck as the other two champions from that fateful squad died from sparring injuries - their lungs punctured. Later the plucky keeper of the thunder; logem was set upon by an ambush, despite his masterwork steel armour and years of experience the bow goblins found their mark and slew the poor dwarf, a single arrow puncturing his heart.
By now I was suspicious and entrusted the spear to the homeland defence; dwarves still not quite champions but still elite in their craft who defend the entrances when under siege, the spear went to Ivette the most experienced of these dwarves.
Fastforward to the following winter and again sieges came, I sent the military out leaving the guards at the main entrance. I’m shocked to find that my defence force came under attack by a previously unspotted orc group, the defence, including Ivette was wiped out by the orcs though only a few survived, all massively injured, I ordered the doors sealed and returned to watch the main battle. Soon after I got a message at the killing of several citizens, perplexed I move to see that one of the doors was propped open by a body and due to this a second orc group had managed to gain entry, though few in number they were decimating the fort, infesting the dinning hall and bedrooms. Angered I check the door to see exactly what was blocking it, an orc, and protruding from its body? Dumuramud… at this point with my fort ravaged I abandoned, the shame of defeat hanging heavy in the air.
I’m currently training an adventurer in the same world, so that I can destroy the spear for the evils it has committed.
I tell you this story so that next time any of you recive a artefact spear, you do the right thing and lock it up so that it's evil can never be unleashed.
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Topic: The curse of the Golden Spear (Read 2342 times)