The Fall of the Ice Fortress.
Chronicle of Usirdodok, "Glacierclasp", written as it happened in 0.31.10
The fortress was weary, and barely alive
A spiral of tantrums had claimed all but five
It seemed things were stable, they might yet survive
When Forgotten Beast Mogast did chance to arrive.
A great horned antlion, with deadly blood
It came from the caverns, all plastered with mud
The mayor was the first one to get in his way
The fall of the Fortress began on that day.
His mandates have ended, he lies where he fell
And now his poor soul heads off to Dwarven Hell
Though once a proud mayor, he rules here no more
Just lies in a pool of his blood, on the floor.
The three able dwarves who alone remained
(for farmer Zasit's leg was recently sprained)
Heard Armok call out to them - "Go now and fight!
"Die nobly or show this beast our dwarven might!"
Though ordered to battle, cruel Mogast they feared
They cowered in the meeting hall, and drank dwarven Beer
Young Tirist Ropepanted, who lead the militia
And Tobul Bronzesaved, a talented fisher.
(Actually, Tobul is a talented Fish Cleaner, and he's in his bedroom, not the meeting hall)
Its leg had been injured, cruel Mogast held back
At the bottom of the stairs, unwilling to attack
But soon, they all knew, its chitin would heal
And then their worst nightmares would be all to real.
The fell Tirist drank from a barrel of wine
While Tobul felt rum was more in his line
And Dakost did sleep, and they tried to forget
The dark gruesome fate that must soon be met
Now Tobul with rum keg still in his grasp
Did head to the stockpiles, an axe did he clasp
While Tirist, an axe already in his hand
Returned to the meeting hall, while action he planned.
(Seriously. Tobul suddenly strolled off to Pickup Equipment and forgot to put the rum down first. How dwarven)
Now all three were ready, no errands to run
Dakost with his pick, which battles had won
In the hands of another, a Tobul of yore
Had broken two troglodytes into piles of gore.
Now Tirist Ropepanted could stand it no more
In transports of rage, she spat at the floor
"So many have died" was Tirist heard to roar
As she started to tantrum; then glanced at the door.
A noise had been heard; did Mogast approach?
It was moving about, but did it encroach
still further within, or did it remain
at the base of the stairs, scene of so much pain?
Then Sodel the cat, gigantic and grey
Quite unaware of what lay that way
Did head down the stairs, straight to the Beast
And within mere seconds its poor life was ceas'd.
The Beast, taking new heart from killing its prey
Did smash down two doors, and then made its way
Up the main fortress stairwell, still higher than before
Between dwarves and the Beast now lay only one floor.
Quite suddenly, and indeed out of the blue
Came dwarven merchants, and liaison too
In hopes that Usirdodok had something to trade -
And would buy their wares with the trinkets they'd made.
The merchants arrived, and unloaded their goods -
No-one had told them about all the blood
While the liaison met with poor Tirist, who felt
That even 'midst peril, trade deals must be dealt.
Mogast carried on up more flights of stairs
To where Zasit Tombletters, in poor repair
Was lain in a hospital bed, all alone
For one of his legs had a broken bone.
When Mogast arrived, more damage was done
Zasit could do nothing; Mogast had his fun
Soon Zasit lay dead, still flat on his bed
Three only remained; the rest were all dead.
Now Dakost Roofrack, in search of a drink
Did dash for the stockpiles, not seeming to think
Of Mogast who stood in the way; but somehow
Young Dakost slipped past, wiped the sweat from his brow.
The dwarven liaison, who seemed not to fear
Said "What should my caravans bring you next year?"
Tirist asked for weapons, although she did doubt
That she could survive, and see the year out.
The winter arrived, although in this place
The ice never left, it always encased
Usirdodok deep in the heart of the ice
A prospect that didn't exactly entice.
Tirist couldn't stand this liaison's flat calm
And tantrummed again, but this time her arm
Held an axe, which she used to hack at a mule
The animals never last long, as a rule.
Dakost, who was starving, then ran off to eat
But instead it was Mogast he happened to meet
In seconds poor Dakost's right arm split in twain
There was nothing to do but succumb to the Pain.
Then Tobul, with similar hungry desire
Met Mogast, and soon they were both filled with ire
His axe broke its mouth, its tendons were torn -
Mogast left him, though, a small corpse, forlorn.
Now Tirist alone bore Usirdodok's flame
Upon her, the glory, the death or the blame -
This stupid liaison, though, just wouldn't leave
And Tirist, alas, could do nothing but grieve.
At last the liaison did get up to go
And tried to escape, but it just wasn't so
Mogast blocked the stairway, then chased him around -
It didn't take long to run him to ground.
The merchants had left, Tirist was alone
Except for the Beast that still stalked round her home
She thought of lost friends, and started to weep -
Then went to her room, cried herself to sleep.
Now Tirist was desperate, needed some beer
So thirst overcame Tirist's nervous fear
Amid the miasma, the devil's own breath
Tirist and the Beast in a fight to the death.
Tirist drew first blood, fractured one of its feet
A leg was the next thing her swift axe did meet
Then Morast struck back, tore at Tirist's spine
No quarter was given and blood flowed like wine.
Soon it was all over, young Tirist was slain
And with her, the fortress, home of so much pain
Did wither and crumble; the very stones
Returned to the earth and entombed Tirist's bones.
Thus ended Usirdodok, the glacier fort
And when dwarven children do not behave as they ought
Their mothers oft warn them, "Continue this way
"And fell Morast will come and take you away!"
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