Late in the evening, long after most dwarves had retired for the night, the three dwarves of the Ardentdikes Provisional Governing Council sat in one of Ardentdikes' cavernous dining halls.
"I've been receiving numerous complaints about high unemployment," said Deviled Shetbethimush, the fortress bookkeeper and broker.
"If we don't find jobs for our citizens, we're likely to have a riot on our hands."
"We've been over this before," said As Kubukneth, the manager. "Korva didn't leave any production orders! I can't just start assigning tasks to random dwarves! We have to follow the proper protocol."
"To hell with your protocol!" said Commander Xenos. "I'm really not looking forward to having to lead the Bronze Furies against our own people."
"Well I don't see
you offering any solutions," As shot back.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, gentledwarves," said Zan Ingishtobul, the Chef de Cuisine, bearing a steaming platter, "but I thought you might like some refreshment." He placed the platter on the table.
There was a chorus of "Thank you"s, and Zan bowed and withdrew. The Council members began to eat.
"I still think," said Deviled, in between bites, "that we should just set them to work making shoes."
"We've already
had that discussion," said As. "Regardless of your intentions, everyone will see it as a ploy to steer funds to shoe-salesdwarves -- like yourself."
"We'd
still end up with a riot on our hands."
"All I'm saying is--"
Deviled was interrupted by a whooshing noise, followed by a thump.
"What was that?" asked Xenos, reaching for his axe.
"It came from over there," said As, pointing to a dark corner.
The three dwarves peered at it.
"There's something on the floor," said Xenos. "Some sort of container." He walked over and picked it up. "It's made of wood," he said, "and there's something inside it."
"Hang on," said Deviled, "this sounds familiar." She heaved a great book out of her pack, placed it on the table, and began flipping through it.
"What is that?" asked As.
"It's contains the logs of all the Overseers of Ardentdikes," she said, scanning the pages. "Ah ha! I found it."
She read from the book:
"Two days ago, he locked himself away with half the food supplies," the mayor told me, sounding nervous. "But don't worry, you can still pass orders to him through a convenient system of tubes we've devised. We call it the Inta--"
"This must the system that TaeQuebb Inkycrow used to communicate with the fort while he was manager," Deviled explained. "Look at the ceiling -- is there some sort of opening there?"
"Yeah," said Xenos, "there's a tube sticking out. It looks like this thing fell right out of it."
He brought the container over to the table and pried it open, revealing a rolled up note. Deviled picked it up and started to unroll it.
"Someone... wants us to make gloves?"
"Wait a minute," said As. "If this comes from TaeQuebb's old sanctum, then it must have been sent by..."
They all looked at the signature at the bottom of the note.
They sat in silence for a moment.
"So... what should we do?" asked Deviled.
"I say we ignore it," said As. "What business does that lunatic have telling us what to do?"
"I don't know," said Xenos. "The stories they tell about McDuck..."
"They're just that: stories," said As. "All that talk of visions is hogwash."
"They say that he killed nearly thirty trolls, ending the occupation of Ardentdikes," said Xenos. "And that he single-handedly slaughtered an entire platoon of goblins -- all with no military training. No normal dwarf could do that."
"You're just saying that because
you have never managed such feats, despite your vaunted axe."
"Look," said Deviled, "we need to give people some work, and it can't be shoemaking (although really it should be shoemaking). Why
not make some gloves?"
"I agree," said Xenos. "You're outvoted, As."
"But... but protocol..."
"He is, technically, the mayor," Deviled pointed out, "and as such has authority to issue production orders."
"Fine," said As. "But what are we going to tell people when they ask us why? 'Oh, an old maddwarf told us to'?"
There was another whoosh and another thump. Xenos went over to the corner and retrieved another container. He opened it and pulled out a note.
"'Because you'll be handling some unpleasant stuff','" he read. He and Deviled looked at As.
"This is nothing more than a coincidence, you know," As said. "But fine, we can use that reason. I'll file the orders first thing tomorrow."
"Alright," said Deviled, "shall we adjourn the meeting, then?"
"Yes," said Xenos.
"Yes," said As.
The three of them stood up, said their goodbyes, and headed off to bed.
I had hoped to put up a more substantial update, but was thwarted by the dread Blue Screen.
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Topic: Ardentdikes - Absolute disaster - (31.25) (Succession)(Need Players!) (Read 222316 times)