masam - Forgot to answer you, sorry. Muenster's done some training in macedwarfship, he's only dabbling at the moment because I've had him busy making some windows for Tarran's cottage along with helping in the new magma forges.
Xenos - A kobold? But-but-but that's insane! But so are two Elves, a Human and a Goblin, so sure thing! As ever, please wait on line for the next surviving immigrants. We haven't had immigrants for some time now, so there'll hopefully be some soon.
Dermonster - It's not my fault! Well, yes it is, but, erm, I RESIGN!
Malachite 675The Dwarves (and Elf and Goblin) had made much progress since Thudel's death. Kadzar had been treated by Reg, the hospital was moved to the caverns after his discharge. Furthermore they had had no trouble except for a single giant olm that had swiftly been dealt with by Rion. A few enterprising Dwarves had also begun collecting cave spider silk, weaving it into thread and cloth. But perhaps more important to the survival and prospering of the community were the magma forges. Shin, being an ex-Royal architect, had not gone for a simple design, but what she termed to be a 'Dwarven' design, and few people argued with her on it; not just because she was violently proud of her work, but because it was. The way to the magma pool of Derfori had been cleared and the pool sealed off from the rest of the caves to avoid a replay of Mysterydrip's attack. Torvold had expressed a desire to use the second magma pool, the Molten Crater, for various traps and devices, but for now it was sealed away.
With the forges done Tarran had begun the arduous process of smelting all of the ore that had been mined, and then forging armour for the militia. When the smelting of iron and copper had finished, the galena and native platinum they had found were smelted into shining bars of silver and platinum. Ibruk and Kadzar had expressed the desire to see this wealth added to the temple, but most Dwarves agreed that that would be a waste. For now though the precious metals were stacked away and seeing no use.
But perhaps the most significant achievement had the renewed interest in the 'lighthouse'. Though the first incarnation had been destroyed by the Nothing who had smashed through the window, the Dwarves had not given up the idea of building a window that would allow them to look out across the valley and spot possible refugees. Though everyone agreed it was risky, they also knew that lives were possibly at stake, and it was important that they could see what the Nothing were doing. And so Muenster was contracted once more to create gem windows. This time four would be made, one in each direction to give total view over the valley. The window would be placed up on a tower, where the Nothing couldn't reach it.
5th Galena 675 - Morning"Alright then, get ready. Something tells me the Nothing won't just watch us." Rion told his fellow militiadwarves. They had all gathered up in the lighthouse, Kadzar and his warrior-priests were also present, as was Muenster with his mace; even Fori was there, with her delicate sword forged for Elven swordelfship. Bax was slouching at the back against the wall, a disinterested look on his face. They had no idea how strong the Nothing could have become while the Dwarves had been secluded, and so any who could wield a weapon had been conscripted. Spartan, Urist, Shin and Delta were also present, with the stones needed to build the strong Dwarven walls of the new lighthouse. Once the lower walls were made, the windows would be fitted, out of reach of the Nothing to prevent a replay of the previous attempt at windows.
"OK? Are we ready?" Urist asked, "We remove the wall, you leap out and kill the Nothing, we build the walls and the stairs, and then close the wall back up again."
"Easy-in, easy-out. Darksquids aren't much compared to what we've faced recently." Spartan nodded.
"Let us pray that's true." Kadzar murmured. Taking a deep breath, Delta and Spartan moved to the single shale wall that kept the Nothing out, and with their picks began to dig away at it. Soon bright sunlight filtered in.
"Augh, I think I'm gonna be sick." Melagius groaned, shielding his eyes,
"Better get use to it, we need to move out." Derm said, "It's no brighter than magma."
The militia, backed with Fori, Bax, Kadzar's priests and Muenster tramped out. Though the Dwarves' eyesight was briefly impaired due to the bright light and the growing cave adaptation, Fori and Bax's Elven and Goblin eyes took charge.
"There!" Bax growled, pointing at the other side of the valley. Fori nodded, spinning round,
"And there!" she cried, pointing up at the rising slope behind them. Nothing were slowly undulating down the slopes, while more were crossing the river Squeezemunch to attack.
"Go, go, go!" Rion yelled, motioning for Delta, Spartan, Urist and Shin to move out. The four charged out, arms loaded with stone. They immediately begun building the wall, while Spartan took his pick and began digging stairs out to down below. By the time the Nothing's arrived one wall was already built to impenetrable Dwarven standard, while the military Dwarves had got used to the brightness and the beating sun, and so prepared their weapons. One Nothing reached them ahead of the others, it didn't stand a chance as Rion promptly hacked a limb off, followed by Fori slicing another tentacle off with a twirl of her arm and finally Melagius stabbing his sword straight into it. The Nothing hissed, falling down and dissolving into black mist. But more were arriving,
"Hurry with those walls!" Bax snarled, the greenskin having been assailed by a Nothing. Three Nothings moved in now, one on Bax, one on Muenster and one on Johan. Once again the superior numbers on the Dwarven side made short work of them, but over a dozen were climbing up the slopes towards them, and more were still crossing Squeezemunch.
"Ok! That'll do it!" Shin yelled down at the soldiers, carefully affixing the last stone slab in the wall, "Let's get back in. Now!"
The four civilians hastily made their way back inside the lighthouse, while the military brought in the rear. Before the Nothing could arrive, the opening to Nomekast was sealed once more.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The Nothing couldn't climb walls, and so would not be able to reach inside. But the work had only begun - though the hardest part had been done. Muenster would now need to fit the windows in, while the Masons would need to roof the tower.
"Well, I'm gla-" Derm begun, before suddenly stopping. He glanced at the pieces of rock lying on the floor, picked one up, examined it, smiled and suddenly shot up, running off.
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Topic: [Community] Nomekast - At War with Nothing (Read 180185 times)