Brother,
I know I have not always been a strong believer in the gods. Certainly not as ardent of a worshiper as you.
Things change.
However, a stone seldom rolls by itself. As you may recall, I was absent at the rededication of father's tomb two months past. You were as well, but through fault of birth not accident. I'm told it was a wonderful affair. Dancing dwarvish maidens wearing nothing but bells in their oiled beards, the best food and drink, and a newly engraved marble and obsidian tomb for father set directly in the middle of the floor of his favorite drinking hall and brothrel....now a temple dedicated to his goddess Mothram the Gristly Buttock.
But enough of that. As I implied earlier, something happened to me that day. I had been drinking heavily even by dwarvish standards, preparing myself to face the noble louts that would be at the party. As I went into my bedroom to get changed, I noticed something new. A golden lever had appeared in the center of the room, with a note attached. On it was written, "Pull me, if you wish to see truth."
Now you know how I am around levers. If I see a new one, I have to pull it, just to see what it does. Well this one opened a grate in the floor that had been concealed by a rug. The rug I was standing on.
Three things I realized almost immediatly as I fell:
Having one's rooms constructed over a magma pool so that one can have constantly heated bathwater and warm floors might not have been so clever.
Vertigo and drinking do not mix well.
I was going to die. Die a horribly painful death.
I did the only thing I could do. I prayed to Zes Diamondbronze, twin sister to your own goddess Sarvesh the Iron of Glows.
I landed in the magma, but it did not burn my flesh. I swam to the side of the pit and crawled out. As I stripped out of my ichor covered clothes, a voice spoke to me. It was my goddess. She said, "My sister and I have saved your body from our fires, but not your soul. Through its heat you will see what must be done."
I have never felt such agony. I would rather never touch alcohol for the rest of my life than do so again. But know I knew why I had felt something was not right in the kingdom. For a few short moments I truly saw the world. Not as you or I can see it now, with our eyes, but from above, from within, from below. There are things in this world our teachers never told us about.
The kobolds, our ancient rivals are the least of our worries. Dark forces are circling our kingdom, waiting for what I do not know, but I do know they will attack soon. I have compiled a list of nearby entities you may see, including some you may have thought to be legend and others you may never have heard of. Some are friendly, some are thieves, but most will mercilessly seek to destroy all that we hold dear. They will move against Ilirdodok first, as long as you do not attract too much attention to yourself.
Not all enemies are from without. Mothram has allied herself with the demons, and seeks to overthrow her sisters from their rightful thrones. Any of her followers are to be suspected. Do not act against them. I do not wish to reveal our knowledge, but do keep an eye on any that should appear.
Meanwhile I am pursuing my own holy endeavor. The goddess has revealed that we need stronger weapons than silver, bronze, and iron to win the day. I am to find and excavate the forbidden ore of the deep. If I accidentally release the demons that reside within, Ilirdodok will be destroyed from below. But we need the ore to survive.
That is why I sent you on this mission. Who would suspect a hunting lodge built by the king's bastard brother of being something more? You are to maintain the facade of a hunting lodge on the surface, at least for the present time. Tell any that arrive that the king expects nothing but the best, and wishes a lodge that rises far above the surface, containing rooms for himself and his entire court, as well as any other important guests that come to see him. Tell them that as a faithful follower of Zes Diamondbronze, he recquires magma to be available in his rooms so that he may adequately worship. What you will actually be constructing is a refuge for if all else should fail.
My honor guard and the hunting guides I sent you with know of these plans. Other than these few, share this information only with those you can trust. I will send more information with our merchants' wagons each summer.
Try not to forget the lessons our nanny, Kel Ironbosom tought us. And try to remember that not all iron is mined from rock.
Your brother,
Cog Gearfainted
p.s. As one of royal blood, even though diluted, your followers you to show courage. They expect nothing less than keeping a route open into the heart of the fortress to encourage our enemies to approach. Try not to disappoint them.
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Topic: Spiralcrystal a Community Fortress (SG VIII mod) (Read 4244 times)