25th Obsidian"All right, these guys are really starting to piss me off. Do they have any elite bowmen?"
"No bowmen at all," trigg said.
I sighed. "Well, in that case, I guess we let them in, cage trap some, shoot the rest half to death and send the melee soldiers in to clean up. Just like every other time."
"Mr Madushkubuk?" It was Taup Caudata. "I've got a favor to ask. Actually, can you keep the soldiers inside for this one?"
"Why?" They weren't going to be too happy about that; they wanted to test out their new gear.
"Well," he said, "I've made the modifications to Bessie..."
There were two groups of goblins milling around in front of Soaplanterns' gate: swordsmen and hammermen, with a pair of spearmasters leading them. Their curses and yells faded away to confused silence as the little pillbox popped open behind them.
"Hello, gentlemen," said Taup Caudata. "Welcome to Soaplanterns."
I didn't remember authorizing this. "Dear
gods. How many of those did your smiths make him, Peregarrett?"
"Eight metal heads, just as a test. I figured we could spare him some copper."
"All right then," said a gruff, familiar voice behind me. "Shall we get up on the wall and help him?"
"
Endok? But you can't--your
hand--" Endok's now useless left hand was strapped up. I knew he'd never have any grip in it again; Dr Kosotham had told me so.
Endok looked at me silently, then reached back and took an arrow from his quiver. Holding it in his teeth, he lifted the crossbow that was attached to his belt by a strip of leather. The bolt dropped into place with a click, and with one flick of his wrist he had the small bow loaded.
"Any questions?" the marksdwarf said.
28th Obsidian"Five kills!" marksdwarf-Muthkat celebrated. "Five ki-ills! Oh yeah, I'm good, I'm good."
"I'll get you yet," Endok muttered. He still only had four.
"I think they're suitably softened up now," I said. "Tell Taup Caudata to stop firing, and then tell the Crystalline Oceans to assemble."
8th Granite"That was the last one," said Nevyn. Coincidentally, it was also his fifth kill, meaning that by dwarven law he gained a soldier's title. The only remaining Crystalline Oceans dwarf to not have a title was Velg, and she was a relative newbie. She had four, anyway, so it likely wouldn't be long.
There were no remaining hostiles in our territory. For once, we'd been on the slaughtering side.
With the marksdwarves back on duty at the outer gate, we rushed out to collect spent ammo from the killing field. It had been a horrible slaughter, but for once we were on the slaughtering side. After the previous year's frustrations, it felt good.
While your suggestions for fortress defense are all excellent I reserve the right to alter, partially fulfil, not fulfil or in fact entirely ignore any of your mandates as I see fit, according to purposes of storytelling, game balance and/or fun. Be patient, the military is not far now from passing the kickass threshold.