[Mythologique, the timing of your request is EXCELLENT. I will find you a marksdwarf shortly. billybobfred, you can have Medtob if you like, the genius who pierced the aquifer... or I can certainly find another mechanic from the fortress pop right now, just pick a name. And thanks for the kind words!]
"We know there is at least one squad out there," I said. "We know they're all bowmen. Their leader is mounted on a voracious cave crawler, an animal which I personally have never seen but am informed is very big, and very nasty. The
good news is, we now have an equal level of equipment to them."
The new squad, headed by Endok and marksdwarf-Muthkat, had been dubbed the Seas of Silver, to go with the Crystalline Oceans. A full complement of ten dwarves. Some volunteers. Some unwillingly drafted. Some with a little crossbow experience. Most with none.
"We have leather armor, we have caps. We have quivers, bolts and crossbows. We've got leggings and boots coming out of the leather works as I speak. A lot of it is goblin stuff, but it's all been checked over and it's sound. You will all be able to put on at least a basic set of gear before you go up on the walls.
Please make sure you pick up bolts from the stockpile as well, there's no point you being out there with no ammo."
I sighed, and steeled myself to finish what I had to say.
"Lastly... yes, I know, we're out of booze, and I'm sorry, it's my fault.
However, again, the good news is the farms have been producing like crazy both above and below ground, our craftsdwarves are making rock pots, and we will be able to offer you all a celebratory barrel of Sunshine once the enemy is driven off."
There was a cheer from our hastily assembled militia, but it was a ragged one. They looked scared. I couldn't blame them. Most of the dwarves Endok had rounded up had never fired a bow before. I knew it was a long shot, but there was no other way to do this. The Crystalline Oceans were only six, and their armor wasn't any better than what the marksdwarves had on. I couldn't throw them in front of a dozen bowmen.
The order was sent down, and I heard the heavy clunk from outside as the sandstone drawbridge lowered, opening the way into Soaplanterns. I wasn't the only one who heard.
"They're coming!" Ushrir yelled, leaping down from the wall.
"Stay steady," Endok warned. "We use the terrain to our advantage. They've gotta come round the edge of that pool to get to the gate. That's our chance."
"Now?"
"Now. GO! GO! UP ON THE WALL! FIRE AT WILL!"
The lead goblin looked up, startled, as bolts began to rain down from above.
"We got 'em in range!" Endok yelled. "Close the gate!"
"Close the gate!" shouted Ushrir, at the top of the ramp. Passed from dwarf to dwarf the order traveled through the dirt fort, to the stair, down to the Great Hall excavation.
The bowmen had bunched up together as they approached the murky pool. It made them perfect targets for the marksdwarves, who showered them with bolts, making up their lack of skill with rate of fire.
When the leader's mount caught a bolt, that was enough. The cave crawler turned and bolted, screeching in pain, ignoring all its rider's attempts to wrestle it back. The remainder of the squad broke and ran.
Six goblins lay dead beneath the walls. Another had crawled a long way into the jungle, leaving a thick trail of reeking gore, before bleeding quietly to death in a stand of bamboo.
The two elves looked stunned as I walked up to them with an armful of silk goods. More goblin salvage, of course. "Welcome to Soaplanterns, gentlemen," I said politely. "Trade you this stuff for the barrels on your horses there?"
"Deal," the first elf said after a moment. He turned to the horse and released the pack straps, dropping four small barrels onto the floor. He didn't even look at the armful of cloaks and gloves, just stuffed them straight into a bag and vaulted onto the horse's back.
"That was a bit rude of them," Ushrir said as she stood beside me on the wall, watching the horses disappear into the distant jungles.
"Perhaps they were in a hurry," I said.
"I can't think why. Oh well, at least we got some booze off them."
There was one more piece of good news: Catten the farmer was back on her feet. Well, one foot anyway.
"Hey!" I yelped as she limped past. "That's--"
"Leave it, Zephyr," Dr Kosotham said.
"But she's got my
soap!"
Author
Topic: Ubenudil, Soaplanterns - Soapmaker's Guild Fort (Read 56935 times)