Sorry for the wait guys, I got lost on the way to the shops and was then mugged by a giant cave spider. Luckily I managed to cleave it into two with a pig tail sock.
Hematite 675Mysterydrip had still not been sighted again but the attack had brought changes to Nomekast, changes of the defensive kind. The entrances to the open space that the settlement occupied were being shut off by drawbridges, and what had become known as the Spider Maze to the west where the giant cave spiders bred had been completely sealed away from the fortress, the only way in was by going round through the labyrinth of caves and only Derm was confident enough to pilot his way through to the Spider Maze entrance. Torvold was busy tinkering to get magma pumped up to the upper caves to use in traps and defences, while the lower levels (or what had once been the lower levels before Derm and Fori had discovered even
lower levels and what was now sometimes referred to as the 'Magma levels' or the 'Fiery Cistern') had still not had their magma touched after the initial expedition due to the fact that it was a veritable maze of pillars, dead ends and stone that confused everyone. Instead, work had begun cutting a wide open path to the magma pools of Derfori and the Molten Crater, the miners being guided by either Derm or Fori. The pitchblende that had adorned the entrance had been removed and under Ibruk's calls due to its position as a 'gods-cursed stone' was to be thrown away into the hole Hellbore to fall down into what was now the very low levels. Meanwhile, stills had been set up besides the farms and the communal bedrooms had been finished, Bounce's new open-air office was finished and furnished and work on Tarran's cottage was progressing smoothly. All that now remained on the surface level were a few workshops, the hospital where Rovod still lay resting, and the barracks where the soldiers trained, always keeping an eye on the stone drawbridge that stood as the only thing keeping the Nothing out.
14th Hematite 675 - Early AfternoonRovod was propped up in the bed when his fellow militiadwarves arrived. Reg and Steve had sutured his leg and shoulders as well as dressed his wounds thanks to the pig tails collected by Fori.
"Well Rovod, how have you been?" Melagius asked, cracking open a barrel of ale they had brought with them to share between the five of them.
"Same as before, Reg says I'll be out soon." the marksdwarf replied, "How's the rest of Nomekast?"
Rion let out a barking laugh,
"Same as ever! Ibruk spouting religion at any turn, Kadzar following him suite and spouting more religion. The Goblin keeping Atis near him at all times, the Elf helping in the farms, Stas keeps disappearing whenever there's work to do, and Torvold seems to be trying to fill the caverns with a horde of plans involving magma." he snorted.
"At least work has begun on the magma forges." Tarran said, "That's always a good thing." There was a round of nodding and positive murmuring.
"I don't know guys, I've got this gut feeling-" Johann began
"Bad alcohol? I always thought hospital drink was too watered down." Melagius offered. The hammerdwarf shook his head at this,
"No, I mean...first the troll attack, now Mysterydrip, I just feel we're gonna get something bad happening soon."
Rion took a long draught of the barrel of ale,
"Something bad is always happening here. If you hadn't noticed the world outside is crawling with monsters." he said dismissively, "Whatever bad happens we'll just chop it up and leave it at that."
21st Hematite 675 - NightThe met in the night, in the cemetery garden beneath the temple. Stas, shrouded in the cave spider silk cloak that had seen more of the world than most Dwarves had, stood arms folded leaning on the gneiss wall. Bax slowly slid open the door with the faintest of creaks and spotted the Dwarf straight away. Atis stood behind the Goblin, clutching his cloak. Stas stood up straight as he saw him, Throatground could be seen on his wrist, he never took it off especially since Ibruk and Kadzar were intent on taking it since they saw it as a holy artifact like Slyshaken or Domas Eser.
"So you didn't like the troll meat?" Bax asked, humour apparent in his voice. Stas raised his hands unconcernedly,
"It's not my favourite food, no."
"So you're the one who stole the missing pick, I imagine? And the gems that Dwarf lady's on about?"
"Bounce?"
"Whatever her name is."
"Well, I'm sure
I don't know what you're on about. I haven't
stolen anything."
"Oh? You
borrowed them did you?"
"You could say that."
"Ya know, Goblins don't care much about theft, its a personal matter." Bax said with a toothy smile. Stas' anxiety grew as he became worried that the Goblin might attack him for his attempted theft, "In fact," the greenskin continued, "I'd like to help you."
This caught Stas by surprise, and he immediately received mixed feeling. He had been looking for more recruits for his fledgling 'thieves guild' but a Goblin? Was that a good idea?
Bax continued, trying to win the Dwarf over,
"You'd be surprised how much I know. It's not because I no longer have slaves that I can't find some...interesting information."
"Well I-" Stas was immediately stopped as his wrist began shaking, slowly at first, and then uncontrollably. Throatground began to glow a dull grey light, casting shadows off the plant life. Atis shielded herself behind Bax as the Goblin's hand went immediately to his weapon,
"Wha-" he himself was stopped as a loud roar was heard through the caverns, echoing off the pillars of the western maze. Finally Throatground stopped its quivering, leaving Stas there, a terrified expression on his face. Then a whispering voice rang out from all around them,
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Topic: [Community] Nomekast - At War with Nothing (Read 180152 times)