And...we're back. No excuses, I've run out of them.
The 'can't remember this character or what they've done' seems to be a recurrent thing, not least due to the fact that I am
quite very much extremely slow with updates, and this fort has Loads and Loads of Characters (43, not including the 4 new people or the 4 dead ones, which would bring it up to 51! And that's not including the 'non-forumite' ones such as Ibruk or Imiwa or Rakust.). Would it help if I made some sort of recap-type summary/timeline of major events and people and put it on the first post maybe?
New Guy - Sure! Just put up a bio and I'll add you in.
lockman766, neo1096 & Xenir - Sure thing! You'll have to wait for the next surviving immigration wave though, we're thin on the ground for unclaimed Dwarves.
25th Obsidian 677And so Nomekast went to the polls. For some, it was a welcome return to the normality of a Mountainhome or Town; to others it was a new and unusual experience.
The crowd gathered around the dining-area to hear the returns. As the community's Bookkeeper, Bounce was chosen as Election Overseer. Standing up on the dining platform besides the large stone pots that had held the votes, she held up a simple piece of pig-tail paper which was enough to silence the chattering crowd.
"By the Grace of the Gods and the Ancient and Grand Nobility," she began with the archaic formulas that Dwarves had used for centuries to relay election results. Some, Ibruk and the non-Dwarven races prominent among them, had suggested leaving such useless formalities out, especially in a fort as multi-racial as Nomekast, but Bounce above all, though quiet and rather meek, respected the rule of forms and the forms said that the words were necessary, "The results for the election for the First Mayorship of Nomekast is as hence follows;
Ocade - 14 votes.
Fori - 35 votes.
Stronghammer Fireforge - 38 votes.
By the Grace of the Gods and the Ancient and Grand Nobility - Stronghammer Fireforge is hereby elected First Mayor of Nomekast!"
A loud cheer rose from around Stronghammer and his supporters. The normally rather stoic industrialist allowed himself a largish smile as he shook hands enthusiastically with his supporters, accepting their words. Not all were pleased by this result though, a boo came up from the predominantly Elven part of the crowd, while many of Fori and Ocade's supporters did their best to politely applaud, while others showed less restraint and scowled outright at the result. Still with applause in the air, Stronghammer took to the dining-area 'podium'. Traditionally the first speech of the Mayor was to outline their policies for the coming year, and if there was one thing Stronghammer admired besides industry, it was also tradition. Now up on the podium with the community's eyes upon him, the usually quiet industrialist spoke,
"My good Dwarves, Elves, Humans, Kobolds, Goblins and Bogeyman. I am not in the habit of making big speeches as many of you will know. Firstly I would like to congratulate Fori and Ocade on their admirable conduct and campaign in these elections. Their sense of fairplay and respect would be enough to make any one of them admirable Mayors in their own right.
Many of you will already know the policies I am pushing for; freedom, respect, safety and industry. Freedom for every male, female and child of any race to make for their own place in our community. Respect for all ideas and beliefs. Safety from the scourge of the surface. Industry to bring about all of these.
To this end, I would like to announce the following preliminary policies to be implemented after my first meeting with our good Sheriff Derm. The ban on burning any above-ground tree due to its offensive nature to the beliefs of many of our fellow citizens. The protection of all religious beliefs and the creation of places of worship so that any may find the spiritual solace they wish. The expansion of our industrial strength to better equip our militia and protect us from the danger roaming the caverns and the surface. The appointment of judges so that matters can be resolved even when our overworked Sheriff cannot attend to them. And finally the creation of a forum so that matters, ideas and suggestions can be discussed by all and voted on. Details for all these policies will be forthcoming. Thank you all for listening and thank you all for voting, no matter who you voted for."
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Stronghammer sat at his desk in his new Mayoral quarters. It was across a suspended walkway from the great hall. He'd have preferred his little cottage by the forges, but as Mayor he had to be closer to the 'masses of the people'. Papers were strewn before him detailing everything he needed to know, along with outlines of his policies, orders for the forges and the Iron Guard, and more. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Bounce the Bookkeeper entered, holding her precious records with her,
"I've got the latest records here, Mayor Fireforge." she said, placing them on the desk in front of the industrialist-turned-mayor.
"Ah good, thank you. Now Bounce, I have an important job for you. If we are to expand Nomekast we must know everything about her. To that end I need you to do a report on the wealth of everything we have here."
"The...wealth?"
"Indeed. If we know the rough estimate of wealth, we can measure its increase or decrease and thus the prosperity of everyone here."
"But...to what standard? I mean, there's no reference, no ma-"
"Just follow the old prices, no need to worry about changing prices or fluctuating economy." Nomekast was, after all, anything but a free market, being much closer to state capitalism.
"Well-"
"I have full confidence in you, you're our Bookkeeper for a reason." Bounce sat straighter at that, her job as Bookkeeper was often taken for granted by most of the community, people wanted to know how much of things there was, they didn't much care for how they found this out. "And as thus," Stronghammer continued, "I am nominating you as our Broker." It was essentially a meaningless gesture in a fort that had seen maybe one caravan in its four years of existence, but it made Bounce feel a bit better about herself.
"Thank you Mayor Fireforge." she said, rising, giving what could have passed for a half-bow-half-curtsey and leaving.
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The forges on the Fiery Cistern were abuzz with activity, everywhere one turned a Dwarf or Human or even Goblin would bustle past, arms laden with iron ingots. The sounds of hissing metal and the clang of hammers on metal filled the air and with the already uncomfortable heat it gave the place the feel of some demonic hive. As part of his policies Stronghammer had insisted upon armouring the entire militia and Iron Guard with complete metal armour. Furthermore the stocks of bolts and weapons were to be expanded. This growth in industrial activity brought with it all sorts, Arsethotheles the blind Philosopher smelted bolts by himself in a corner, Tarran and Muenster forged weapons side-by-side, while a small group of Goblins brought their expertise in viciously barbed bolts to bear. Urist and Bayar together worked on ballista bolts, and one Elf - most probably a supporter of Fori - had even been seen ferrying bars of metal to and fro. Against an innumerable enemy, Nomekast prepared a war machine.
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"Yes, the bottle, just above the one with its blood in it." Ugo Sosleng directed Fori. The Elf perused the shelf, finding the bottle containing the curlings wisps of what passed for the blood of a Nothing and looking above it. Sure enough, a small phial containing what could only have been a few drops of some darkish blue liquid stood. She took it carefully, passing it to the Goblin.
"Thank you my dear." he said. One thing Fori had noted about Ugo very quickly were his perfect manners. He seemed the perfect gentlegoblin at all times, or rather the perfect gentle-something else, much unlike most Goblins. The most Goblinish thing about him was his complete apathy towards causing pain. Ugo held the phial up to the torch-light, "Do you know what this contains, Fori? It's a most potent poison. Could kill a man in a minute, an Elf in two. I had the good fortune of buying it from a caravan from...hmm, let's see, I think it was the Gross Ruthlessness. Yes, that was it. Extracted from some great Titan or Demon or suchlike they told me. I've only ever used a drop, to test it on a woman sentenced to death. It was very effective."
Again his warm tone coupled with his complete apathy towards death made Fori almost shudder. Ugo was definitely a strange Goblin, but he was still a breath of fresh air among his more racist and even more callous brethren.
"And you'll be testing it on the Nothing?" she guessed. Ugo nodded,
"If we know how poisons affect them we'll know a great deal more than we already do. Now then, if you'd be so kind to get me that iron claw over there." she did so, and the Goblin uncorked the phial, letting a single drop fall on the metal blade. "You see, the poison can be transmitted with a simple scratch. A very effective thing indeed, considering we'll dealing with a creature which wouldn't eat what we give it, poisoned or not." he held the claw up, "Are you ready to record the observations?" he asked. Fori simply nodded. "Then we'll begin."
With the speed of a cobra he sliced the claw into the Nothing's flesh. Fori winced, almost turning away, but stood firm, the quill in her hand as she prepared to note down whatever happened to the Nothing.
"Now, we know nothing - ha - of their particular metabolism, so the poison could take anything from a minute to five." Ugo noted. Leaning on the table besides her. The Nothing hadn't moved at all, preferring to simply stare at them as it always did. The scratch on its body bled wispy black blood that dissolved into the air.
A minute passed, then two, then five. After ten minutes Ugo sighed,
"No results. Whether from extreme slow-acting or simply no-acting is hard to say at the moment. We'll have to pick up the test tomorrow."
The layout of Nomekast on 1st Granite 678
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Topic: [Community] Nomekast - At War with Nothing (Read 180272 times)