8th Limestone 679 - MorningThe militia was assembled, drawn up by the fort as they prepared to move out to keep the caravan safe from the horde of Nothing that was bearing down on it.
The trap corridor was opened, and the militia moved out into the cold autumnal morning.
"Right!" Tarran's voice rang out into the crisp air, the militia commander casting his eye over the hills. The traders had obviously spotted them, and were waving frantically as they made their way down the slopes. "We are protecting the caravan and nothing else. We engage the Nothing if they get close, we
do not chase them. Ranged will engage once they're close enough, but no charging on the part of others. We're here to keep the caravan safe, I don't want anyone getting close if it can be helped. That means no
heroics, understood?" He gave Juggernaut in particular a fierce glare but the man said nothing in reply, his face dismissive.
"They're moving closer, Atir Purplemines keep us safe," Rovod murmured before raising his voice. "Arrows of Leading, aim!" The ranged squad brought their crossbows to bear, aimed up towards the mass of darkness swarming down the sides of the valley. "Fire!" The
twang of crossbows filled the air as bolts went flying forward, shooting into Nothing. They continued to advance however, and the caravan seemed slowed by its terrified livestock. The Nothing were almost on them now.
"Id blast it, we have no choice, move out!" Tarran called. The sound of scraping metal covered that of the crossbows as the militia charged, making their way up the steep slopes to save the merchants before the Nothing got to them, crashing like an armoured wave into the mass of beasts.
Derm was the first to reach them, the sheriff lunging forward and sending his sword into a tentacle, crashing into the Nothing.
He found himself surrounded however, and a swipe from another Nothing flanking him sent him flying, left hand fractured, hurtling into another Nothing and soon overwhelmed, tentacles snaking into his armour, breaking both arms in several places.
Kadzar was the one to come to his help, sending his spear into a Nothing looming over the fallen dwarf.
He too was swarmed, sent flying, right knee fractured. As he tried to get up another Nothing loomed over him. He reached towards Sheodir for help, who was stood nearby, but the man only sent him an odd look and moved away to engage another of the creatures, perhaps assuming the priest was fine. As the Nothing came to attack, it was cut down by Tragarus Helmbolt, slicing through a tentacle before finishing it off, the pair circled around Derm's unconscious body.
The human swordsman gave Kadzar a wry look as he helped him up. "Ought to be more careful, father," he grunted out, voice gruff, giving the dwarf a nod as Kadzar took up his spear again.
"The only care is that of the gods," the dwarf murmured, reciting a small litany. Tragarus gave a nod, murmuring some words of his own, matching Kadzar's zealousness. And with that they moved back to the fight.
It didn't take much longer for the militia to finish with the Nothing, dealing with the swarm of fifty-odd beasts rather handidly as the merchants found their way into the trap corridor and into the safety of Nomekast itself. Any relief they might have had was ruined by the sight of a growing swarm flitting through the air, approaching from the east. Injuries were quickly patched and Derm - regaining consciousness - helped up, hobbling back into the safety of the fort.
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The mason-turned-caravan master Stakud Sokancilob took a puff of his pipe, sending a small ring up into the air as he nodded. "Mhm, nasty business that. Hope your folks will recover. World's going to rot I tell you, worse 'n worse, there's talk of giants sweeping in from the north."
Opposite him, Stronghammer and Bounce were sat, the bookkeeper on a small provisional stool in the mayor's office. "Giants?" Stronghammer asked, brow furrowing.
"Aye, the north is lost they say," the merchant continued, taking a long drag on his pipe, "anywhere further north than here or the Empire of the Humble Nations - and that's in pieces itself! Just some places like here, hiding out. They say the gobbos allied with giants and monsters sweeping down from the ice, as well as with these dark blighters. Last caravan I met fleeing from there said they'd all gone mad worshipping some fool god Domen or Doren or the like, ain't right I tell you. Probably them damn Despotate dwarves, they were always more gobbo than dorf, allowing slaves and necromancers around. Wouldn't surprise me if they made the gods abandon us, Id and Armok make it false. Now I hear tell the damn blighters have turned into giants and are coming to get the rest of us down here." He tugged at his neatly combed sideburns, shrugging. "Mind you last Slate I was assured silver made these blighters melt and Armok was dead, so I wouldn't believe everything you head."
Stronghammer's mouth thinned, the dwarf running a hand through his beard. "Giants though...Allfather help us." He quietened for a few moments before continuing, "Well now, trade yes? We have a few requests for next year if you can oblige us."
"Oh aye, trade continues as ever, get your pretty bookkeeper there to draw up an agreement, I'll be glad to keep an eye out for whatever you need...for a handsome price you understand? Hard life on the roads today."
Bounce gave him a thin-lipped smile, nodding as she picked up her palette and prepared to write. "Now then, of your manifests we'd like..."
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By the end, Bounce had negotiated payment for 8 dogs - 4 females, 4 males - with the hope of training them into wardogs and breeding more. Furthermore, several barrels of drinks, crates of assorted meats, plants, and prepared meals, as well as seeds had been bought. Several dozen piles of logs (
"ethically sourced" Stakud had insisted after concerns over the elven reaction were raised), several bars of assorted metals - platinum, bronze, steel, gold and more - all kinda of glass, some varied pieces of engraved iron armour, bolts, and a huge serrated steel blade for traps were also bought for community use. A further trade agreement had been negotiated between the pair that the caravan would try to prioritise Nomekast for shipments of metals - especially steel, iron, and bronze - further dogs, weapons, bolts, and armour.
Once done, the community as a whole swarmed to trade and discuss with the merchants. Caravans were always popular once they made it, bringing news of a whole swathe of the world as they did. Brosso took the opportunity to use his silver to purchase 2 mules, a horse, and a cow for his circus, while the rest of the community were happy to trade trinkets and smaller items.
Limestone 679As Limestone passed, the merchants moved out, returning onto the road and leaving the safety of Nomekast.
Jules had taken a small section of the lower fort for himself, building himself some quarters, even going so far as to engrave them with all sorts of scenes and images. Weiss Ironscroll himself had finished furnishing his own quarters by the human temple, and others were beginning to consider following theirs and Tarran's lead in making a home for themselves out the communal quarters.
Jules, Felix, and Grawp had already been continuing their work in smoothing Nomekast, with work almost completed on the goblin temple.
Meinhard had returned from his expedition, bringing warning of strange creatures in the depths, and at his insistence the defenses on the Fiery Cistern had been strengthened, with more cage traps set up to prevent anything getting into the fort proper and attacking the forges.
Another mining expedition was being set up to prospect and excavate a pair of sphalerite and tetrahedrite veins. Sheodir Redsage had already volunteered as a guard on it, and it was due to set out late in the month.
The quiet month of peace was shattered however as the deep dwarf Danman returned from hunting, bringing dire news of a feathered serpent stalking the caves and the militia geared for combat once more.
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Topic: [Community] Nomekast - At War with Nothing (Read 177125 times)