[I loved Boatmurdered and Headshoots to death, wasn't so fond of Syrupleaf--thought it was a bit too fanficcy, stuff being written up that had nothing to do with the actual game being played etc. SA's most recent one, Gemclod, was FANTASTIC, and I would recommend anyone to read it as soon as it's been archived. They're going to host it independently as the lparchive maintainer doesn't want a fourth DF LP.
I can't match the sheer hilarious insanity of a succession fort, I guess Nist Akath is more my inspiration here. Except where they had a tundra, we've got a tropical jungle, and where they had Captain Ironblood we've got, er... a soapmaker.
Have dwarfed rridgway as the immigrant surgeon and Jax as a marksdwarf.]
Yem's millstone appeared, despite the strange imagery, to be no more than a millstone. I followed Tannen's advice and had it put up along with a windmill; there was no point having it and not using it, after all.
The dwarven caravan left, encountering no hostiles on its way. I spoke with Endok and Lafiel about the ambush situation, and we came up with a new plan: the marksdwarves would maintain a permanent presence at the outer gate, which would be kept open except in siege situations. Two small fortified posts were constructed above the outer walls.
Only a few hours later...
"Ambush!" shouted Amante. "Fire at will!" Five goblins looked upward in shock. Very shortly after, three were on the ground and full of bolts; the other two fled for the western hills.
The Crystalline Oceans went outside and coup de graced the wounded goblins.
"I think this is going to work quite nicely," Endok said.
Winter passed with no further notable events.
While excavating the bottom level of the cistern, the miners had encountered a new layer of stone: marble. At first I didn't understand Peregarrett's excitement, but then I caught the word "steel".
Steel! The greatest of metals. It was the one undeniable advantage we had: goblins didn't know how to work it.
"Get me more iron, Madushkubuk," Peregarrett said, a fierce light in his eyes. "You get me the iron and the fuel, and I'll make our soldiers a set of armor even elite bowmen won't be able to get through."
We were slowly clearing out the cages from last year's siege. The goblins were easy; the voracious cave crawlers were somewhat more complicated to deal with. The only prisoner I reserved was Atu. I wasn't sure what to do with him yet. He seemed too important to just kill.
Another group of migrants appeared on the 21st Granite. I watched from the walls, nervously praying that the goblins would not strike again. The Lonely Jungle remained still.
We were planting quarry bushes again this spring; I made a mental note to make sure that the leaves got processed correctly this time. That got me thinking again though, about those oily seeds. Could something be done with them?
Plant soap. It sounded
elvish.
Still, it might be worth a try...
12th Felsite"Don't tell me," I said. "Elves."
"Right, Mr Madushkubuk," trigg said.
"Put the military on full alert."
"Anything happening out there yet, trigg?"
"No sir. It's quite peaceful out there actually."
"I don't like it," I muttered.
15th Felsite"Here they come," Endok said. "A little late, but better late than never I guess."
"What have we got?" I asked as I joined the marksdwarf on the ramparts.
"Swords, maces, spears, I can see two squads of ogres coming our way."
"Bowmen?"
"None. No cave crawlers either."
Of course, I thought,
because we've got their general. He's the only one who can tame the cave crawlers. I thought about that for a moment. "So... they have absolutely no way of hurting us unless we open the gate to let them in?"
"Right, Zeph."
A slow grin spread across my face. "Well, why don't you and Lafiel go and say hello to them at the gate?"
"Spear squad's backing off," Amante said. "Let's see if we can get a few of those ogres. They should be in range."
"Nice shot, Letterlegends."
"Thanks!"
"Hey!" yelled Peregarrett. "Don't forget my iron!"
"Ogres have lost interest," Amante reported. "Macegoblins are retreating without a fight. No sign of the swordsmen, they never came near us. Must not have liked the look of us for some reason. Well, that was
pathetic..."
"If there's no dwarven injuries, I call it a victory," I said.
There wasn't much iron for Peregarrett to salvage this time.
It was only the sixth of Hematite, and the halfhearted siege was broken. It was as if losing Atu had broken the goblins' will. I went down to the depot to trade with the elves.
"Good morning gentlemen, and what have you got for us todaWHAT THE HELL IS THAT"
Tree squid are not even the weirdest of my modded creatures, but they're probably my favorites. I made them at the request of a friend along with racing snails (she has a weird sense of humor). They're small, inoffensive and rare, but have very high value meat. I didn't buy it, funny as tree squid soap would be; we've got more than enough animals right now.
Having concluded business with the elves (sadly they had not brought another giant eagle; I suggested they might consider it next year), I went downstairs to the phyllite layer, where I'd had a small chamber dug out off the dining room.
"Well," I said, "it looks like your friends can't value you all that much. Half a dozen crossbow bolts and they were in full retreat."
Atu looked at me silently through the bars of his cage. His fine clothes were crumpled and dirty from long wear in cramped conditions.
"What's the matter, cave crawler got your tongue?"
"It is poor form to taunt a defeated enemy, dwarf."
"Oh, so you
can talk! Why do you keep attacking us? All we want to do is live here in peace."
"Peace!" The goblin laughed, a sick, hoarse, humorless sound. "You will never know peace here."
"Why? Why can't we live in peace?!" Perhaps it was elvish of me, but I honestly wanted to know, to understand. I'd come here to make soap, not wage war.
Atu was quiet for a long time, and I thought he would not speak. I turned my back to leave the room.
"You will all die here," Atu Liebiles said, "but not by
our hands."
Damnation, seems like just encountering the general is enough to stop mounts ever being generated again. Oh well I can work it into the story anyway. TOADY FIX THIS PLEASE
Author
Topic: Ubenudil, Soaplanterns - Soapmaker's Guild Fort (Read 57050 times)