9th Malachite, 258, Mid-Summer
Garth had barely reached consciousness the next day when he felt a warm tingling sensation running from his head down his torso. He made a face to return the favor, but then heard an all-too familiar voice. "Hit him again." This time he felt the ale as someone splashed a full mug into his face. Now fully awake, he gargled and spat and fought to breathe as sweet-smelling booze ran down his skin. He tried to move in response, but found himself tied hands and feet by thick pig tail rope to a sturdy granite throne. Regaining his senses, he heard another familiar voice giggling nearby. "Looks like he's feeling better;" Shorna said. "nasty bump he's got, though. What happened, exactly?" Deler sighed and plunked down in another chair across from Garth. "He finally went crazy mining, and nearly got our bottom three floors flooded. Scorched, rather." Shorna looked puzzled, but shrugged and Deler continued. "He came running up the stairs screaming like a madman, so I had to knock him ou--" "Aye! and damn near broke me head!!" Garth roared. "And you talk like I went and got us all killed? I found magma, by Armok--" he stopped as Deler snapped her finger and Shorna filled another mug from a nearby barrel.
"We could do this all day," she drawled. "we've got plenty of ale." Garth bit back a retort and sat silently, watching the stoneware mug hover over his head. "You don't need to worry about the magma, Garth," she said. "because luckily I managed to call down one of our stonemasons just in time to seal off that tunnel after you uncorked that magma sea." she took a drink from her own mug and stared at him for a moment. Satisfied he wasn't going to be trouble, she waved Shorna away to a door on the far side of the room. "He's awake," she said. "you can come in now." The door swung open, and in walked Ludoc, Baron and Vergil. They took up seats next to Deler's, who walked over behind Garth's throne and began to untie his bonds. "Don't do anything stupid," she warned in a whisper. "you know as well as I do Ludoc can outrun anyone in full armor." For once Garth smiled, and replied; "Only 'cause your the one who made it, Deler." She paused for a moment, then sighed and pulled the last ties apart. Garth rose from the chair and stretched, savoring every moment of his freedom. "So why are you three here, then?" he asked finally. Ludoc shrugged and pointed to Deler. "Ask her," he said. "she said you found something interesting down in the lower levels?" Garth nodded as he understood the purpose of this meeting. Shorna walked back over and gave the mug of ale to Garth, who plunked back down in the throne and recounted his tale.
"Magma," he began, letting the word sink into their Dwarven spirits. "the single greatest, most precious thing the ancient Dwarves ever found. It's often called the "Blood of the World" by the more poetic sort, but its all Magma; a liquid ooze, like water but thick, and hot fit to melt rock." he paused for a drink as his friends digested his words. "I knew I'd found it when I hit semi-molten rock; chunky rock that covers the bottom bits of these magma seas. Had to find another way in so I dug sideways until I could punch a solid hole through and open it up." "Ok, so... how exactly is this 'magma' going to help us?" Vergil asked with a frown. Garth stared at him as if he'd never known him, and replied hotly; "Don't ye see, Vergil? Magma is a miracle substance! with it, we not only have the perfect heat source for metalworking, but we can also use it for defense, garbage disposal, executions, entombment; hell, even getting rid of all that junk rock littering our halls!" All around him mumbled and whispered at the news, and Garth grinned, knowing he had struck a spark within their young Dwarven spirits. Magma was the destiny of all Dwarves, and with it, this Fortress could truly become great, rivaling even the ancient Mountainhomes of old. "Then we should begin drafting up plans to make use of it immediately," Vergil said, and all nodded in agreement; even Deler, though she planned to keep Garth on a short leash throughout any attempts to tap the magma sea.
"One things been bothering me, Garth," Baron said. "why were you tied up when we came in here?" Deler started to reply, but Garth cut her off. "Just a little misunderstanding," he told him. "nothing to worry about." Baron frowned, unsatisfied, and continued. "Then where did you get that big lump?" he pointed at Garth's head for emphasis, which Garth grasped with both hands. "Oh, my head hurts... I can't remember..." he groaned, drawing a frustrated sigh from Baron. Shorna sipped her ale and watched the conversation, snickering. "What a convenient excuse..."
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Topic: [Community] Ravencrown - Back from Madness (Read 20630 times)