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[Orangebottle]

The throne room was quite a sight. The throne itself was masterfully forged from the
purest adamant, placed apon a raised platform in the middle of the chamber. Above, several
balconies held rulers from the various mountainhomes. The queen, Led Kilrudustuth, sat apon
her throne and pretended to listen to the bickering as her most trusted advisor, the
legendary Mebzuth Dodokritas, whispered in her ear. He had been a general for many years,
and defeated a bronze colossus in a duel. Nothing could avoid the blade of his axe.

The shouted arguments from above echoed about the room, some loud enough to make the queen
cover her ears. The nobles would never stop bickering. Never. Of course, it would be difficult
to stop them when the civilization was the center of the longest famine the world had ever seen.

"Profanemachines desperately needs the food; most of our dwarves are mechanics and masons,
not suited for a life on the farms!"

"You fool! Clearly Id Asol depends on the Axe of Timelessness for defense against the goblins.
Without food, our soldiers will fall swiftly to the green ones' iron blades!"

Led sighed. Would they ever learn? She leaned closer to Mebzuth and whispered,"Bring in the
criminal."

The old general obeyed without question. He and many other dwarves had wished to see this one
punished. The golden doors opened slowly, revealing an extremely skinny dwarf with well-kept
facial hair(the only hair on his body, apparently), and large copper eyes.

"Arzun," Led proclaimed,"You are the cause of this famine, yes?! Your managerial mistake caused
thirteen years worth of food to be dumped into the ocean. What do you have to say for yourself!"

Arzun Degelsacat's glare was clearly visible to the nobles above, who quickly quieted thimselves.
He cleared his throat and began to speak.
"I am one of the best and brightest dwarves in this hellhole you call a mountain hall. I can only
assure you that you and your sources are completely incompetent, and that you have the wrong dwarf.
You fools wouldn't know your fingers from a plump helmet roast."

Mebzuth raised his axe."You'd do well to watch your tongue, unless you want it cut from you."

"Watch my tongue? What kind of dwarf can't take a good insult? A moron, that's the kind."

"You dare!? I have been a general of Id Asol's armies since you were a newborn. Show some respect, peasant."

Arzun spat on the floor, then laughed for several minutes.
"Respect? What are you, an elf? I knew we'd find a tree-hugging bastard around here some-"

His taunt was cut short by a battlecry, as Mebzuth charged forth. Arzun tried to dodge, but the
powerful general smashed the flat of the blade into his face. There was a sickening crack, and Arzun was out.

"If you will not show me respect, I will demand it of you."

"General?" Led called from her seat above the scene of the battle.

"Do take care not to kill him; He shall be the one to solve the problem he solved. Gather the
ones that followed those ridiculous orders he made, and send the lot of them to the far north."

"As you command, my Queen."
Arzun awoke to the sound of a wagon grinding to a halt. He sat up to see...nothing. A massive field
of white stretched out around the wagon in all directions. The air in this place was freezing, as if a
god of snow and ice had taken this place as his home.

"Ah. Our fearless leader is finally awake."
"Urgh...how long...?"Arzun struggled to find the words.
"You've been out for several weeks; it's a miracle you survived. Welcome to Icemachines, 'sir'."

He assessed the situation. Six dwarves under his command, and several bags of seeds, equipment, and other goods.
The wagon even had provisions from the Queen's private stock. Of course, most were frozen solid, but it was all
they had to eat.


One of his dwarves unrolled a piece of paper and set it on the wagon.
"Let's see. Id Asol's borders are here, and we've been travelling north for quite some time, so we should be...
Here."

Spoiler: DWARVES (click to show/hide)

CLAIMED DWARVES:
Arzun(OrangeBottle) -M Overseer - Adequate Appraiser/Organizer/Record Keeper, Skilled Leader
Wes Caesar(The Master) - M Miner - Proficient Miner/Engraver
Yerrick(Yoink) - M Farmer - Proficient Brewer/Cook - Killed by Troggs+Troll
Ahra(Ahra) - M Miner - Proficient Miner, Competent Gem Cutter, Adequate Stone Crafter
Sphala(Sphalerite) - F Mason - Proficient Mason, Adequate Mechanic, Competent Building Designer
Yerp(drakon136) - M Woodworker - Proficient Wood Cutter/Carpenter
Di - Farmer, Butcher, only food hauling
Kalugog - F - Novice Speardwarf, Shield User, Armor User, Fighter, Dodger, Siege Engineer/Adequate Cook
Hatebeard(Masked_Hunter1825) - F - Novice Swordsdwarf,Shield User, Armor User, Fighter, Dodger/High Master Animal Dissector/Novice Gem Setter/Proficient Surgeon

UNCLAIMED DWARVES:
M - Fish Cleaner
M - Talented Bone Carver
M - Talented Gem Cutter/Novice Clothier/Skilled Wood Burner
F - Peasant
M - Child
F - Competent Metal Crafter/ Accomplished Shearer/ Novice Fish Dissector/ Novice Glazer/ Adequate Weaver
F - High Master Thresher/Novice Wood Burner/Adequate Lye Maker/Skilled Presser
M - Novice Armor User,Fighter,Biter,Dodger/Accomplished Glassmaker
M - Skilled Animal Trainer, Adequate Wood Crafter, High Master Stone Crafter
F - Child
M - Competent Marksdwarf, Dodger/Novice Animal Trainer,Caretaker,Dissector, Trapper, Thresher, Wood Crafter, Ambusher/ Competent Diagnostician
M - Novice Carpenter,Armorsmith,Leatherworker,Building Designer, Surgeon/Talented Wax Worker
M - Adequate Thresher
F - Adequate Trapper/Competent Cook/Talented Wood Burner
F - Novice Armor User,Fighter,Striker,Dodger/Adequate Mason
F - Adequate Trapper/Novice Gem Setter
M - Novice Fisherdwarf, Wood Crafter
M - Novice Animal Caretaker/Talented Butcher/Competent Wound Dresser/Novice Diagnostician
M - Novice Clothier/Competent Metal Crafter/Accomplished Potash Maker
F - Novice Miner, Glassmaker/Competent Leatherworker/Talented Potter
F - High Master Carpenter/ Competent Weaver/ Talented Gem Setter

MIGRANT/WAITING LIST:

Cheveux - Weaponsmith
Professor Harken(Hugo_The_Dwarf) - Doctor
Derm(dermonster) - Axedwarf
peregarrett - Hunter
Urist McHuman - Bowyer/Hunter/Bonecarver/Woodcrafter or random male peasant with those jobs

Edit:

Spoiler: TURN LIST (click to show/hide)

1.OrangeBottle - Complete
2. The Master - Complete
3. Sphalerite - Complete
4. Mitchewawa - Complete
5. Mormota - Current
6. LordSlowpoke
7. Gizogin
8.
9.
10.
etc.

[Cheveux]

Nice writing style!

I know I'm going to have to wait for the migrants wave, but I'd like to claim a weaponsmith when you'll have one.

[Hugo_The_Dwarf]

A doctor here please, Professor Harken "He talks vith a german accent, und has a love for science!" could have been exiled due to malpractice. whichever suits your fancy

[The Master]

i'll take the miner/engraver! name him Wes Caesar.

[Yoink]

Can I be the brewer? Name 'em Yerrick.
Nice writing!

[Masked_Hunter1825]

If you get a sworddwarf, name him Hatebeard. His firey rage will melt the very ground he walks on!

[Ahra]

can i haz gem cutter miner :3

[ushilzagith]

If one of the yet unclaimed dwarves likes spears, I'd like that one. Otherwise, the female mason who will try to become an engineer in charge of traps.

Can we get the detailed descriptors of the dwarves?

Name and personality pending on the either-or. The name would probably be Ninugog.

In reply to Masked Hunter: I do believe 'Lurdurad' is dwarf for 'Hatebeard'.

[Dermonster]

I'll take the first military dwarf you make. Axes. Derm. You know what to do.

[Sphalerite]

I'd like to request the female mason/mechanic/architect.  Name her Sphala.

[drakon136]

I would like the male woodworker. Name him Yerp.

[Orangebottle]

Arzun and the others stood in the snow for some time. Eventually, a few decided to introduce themselves.

Spoiler: Dwarves (click to show/hide)

The excavation soon began, as Arzun finished drawing up a basic plan of the fortress. First, a simple gate was built on the surface in case of a siege, along with a pair of trade depots. This small structure would allow the dwarves of Icemachines to seal themselves within the fortress, an easy way of avoiding any threat, and placing their lives in the hands of Sphal's stonework. Besides these few buildings, the snow-covered landscape was bare.

Spoiler: HUGE IMAGE (click to show/hide)

Next, the stockpiles were dug out. Arzun's love of circles was clearly expressed in the fortress design, as many of the excavations were for circular rooms. Ahra and Wes worked hard to get through the rock, and eventually the supplies were moved underground.

Just above the stockpile was a simple farm, made so that the somewhat antisocial farmer had something to do.


Two levels lower, the workshops, and plans for Arzun's personal quarters and office.

Just as Arzun had finished writing in his journal in the third person, Ahra came running up the stairs.
"Arzun!" she yelled, a concerned look on her face.

He dropped the book, paling slightly, before regaining control of himself.
"Let's have a look then, shall we?"

Down they went into the caverns. A large underground lake to the north, and a series of pillars and tunnels to the south. The floor was covered in mud and fungus, and strange plants sprouted from the floor here and there.

"We'll need to seal off a lake and find a safe way to get that water down here."
They thought for a moment, an eerie silence coming over the group. Eventually it was broken by Wes as he clambered down the steps and into their presence.
"We could dig a tunnel up to the edge of the lake, build some fortifications, then channel it in. It'd be perfectly safe!"
Arzun nodded in agreement. "Do it." he said, then turned and walked away.



He encountered Yerp on the stairwell. "Yerp, we've hit a cavern. There seem to be some tree-like plants down there, go cut them down."
Yerp bolted back up the stairs to retrieve his axe, glad to finally have something to do.

[Orangebottle]

Arzun's Log, Summer-Winter of the first year of exile:

The cavern's stone walls have been taking some time to be constructed, as Sphala has been the only
one building them. I myself volunteered to do the work.



We spent long hours in the tunnels, talking and working. Building the foundation of a fortress
that would stand the test of time...
By the gods, I think i'm in love. Sphala is quite simply the most wonderful dwarven woman a man
could meet. Ever.

Arzun paused to catch his breath, leaning on the stone he had just been carrying.
"Hurry up Arzun, or these walls will never be finished in time."

Sphala had a way of inspiring him, and he hefted the boulder and began to move again.

"Sphala, have I ever tol-"
"Shh! Listen!"
Listen he did. A loud squelching echoed throughout the cavern, as if a larger creature were
walking through the sticky cavern mud.

It ran forth, grunting and growling, a cave man of the old times. The troglodyte and it's allies
rushed toward the recently built gate in the center of the cavern. The pair of dwarves backed
away to the stairs, where Arzun shouted,"To arms! Troglodytes in the deep!"

The entire population descended the stairway and the battle was joined. Pick, axe, and fist
met sharp claws and animal instinct. The battle raged on for many hours, almost feeling like days.

In the midst of the battle, none noticed as a certain antisocial
farmer was mutilated. He bled out shortly after.
Asen Monomrur, Lover to Ahra Ducimdath, was struck down.

Yarrick also suffered severe injuries, a broken wrist, foot, and leg keeping him down just outside
of the gate while the others chased the troglodytes off.

The troggs were all but slaughtered. Peace eventually returned to the caverns...


Arzun's Log, supplemental:

The troglodyte invasion thwarted, I took a headcount. Asen the farmer was missing. We searched a while,
and found his terribly clawed, unrecognizable corpse quite a bit further in the cave. I broke the news
to Ahra gently, but she didn't seem to take it all that well. Hmm.

Well, construction continues on the fortifications. The drawbridge is almost ready, an


A powerful shout rang out from the lowest level of the fortress.
"Troll in the depths! Asen Kadolavuz Akruldatan Zas, save us!"
It was followed by a resounding BOOM, and the terrified scream of a dwarf. A male dwarf.

The powerful beast chased after Sphala, it's murderous intent obvious in it's movements. Just as it
was about to reach her, it howled in pain, attempting to grab something from it's back. It turned around,
revealing another dwarf riding the evil thing, hacking at it with an axe. Yerp had responded to the
call to arms, and the Troll was quickly dispatched.

"Get that bridge finished. Quickly." Yerp implored.


Soon after the completed gate was raised, Yerrick and Asen were buried in the fortified section
of the caverns, until a more permanent mausoleum could be constructed. Arzun looked on, as grief filled
his heart and words. He finished the ancient rites, and the caskets were sealed.




Arzun's Log, Autumn-Winter, first year of Exile:
I can't believe this. This terrible luck. It's as if this fortress weren't meant to be. Both
Yerrick and Asen are dead. We've been attacked by a horde of troglodytes and their Troll ally.
We barely got the drawbridge raised in time to avoid another attack. And...and...
The woman I love loves another man.

This...cannot be possible. What does she see in him that I cannot best?
Grah! The foolish wench!

Note: throwing things around will get you beat up. I've decided apon a plan that will make her
see the appeal in having me as a husband. Yes...yes, that should work.

I have just put in the order for a great many rock statues. She'll come around eventually. Next
i'll have her engrave my entire massive room all by herself. And I'm not lifting a damn finger.


By the gods, what is with this woman?



How can she engrave such evil subjects in such amazing detail? Not only that, but
since I ordered them, they're to go in my room. She planned this. But. I'll not lose her to
Yerp. Never.



Thoughts so far?

[Di]

Great writing so far. If I got it correct, you've lost both dwarves related to food production, so I'd like to request dorfing as Di remorseful farmer, he/she actually feels sorry for what was done there at mountainhomes and is devoted to fix that.
Preferable jobs: farming fields, butchery, food hauling only.

[Sphalerite]

Sphala's journal-

Horrible, horrible.  Two of our farmers already dead.  How are we to make food for the Mountainhomes now?  Needs must the Mountahomes send us replacement, and they'll not be happy about that, after sending us up here to farm food in the first place.  And I could have died with them, if not for my beloved Yerp.  Such a fine fellow, angry one moment and cheerful the next, always a surprise.

Still, the walls and bridge are done now!  I think, anyway.  Maybe I'll go and check around for any holes later, if I remember to.  Got to make more statues for that annoying Arzun fellow first.  Something that will remind people of what's outside these walls, so we won't lose any more dwarves, like the way Asen and what's-his-name died.

Note to self:  ask Arzun to set up a turkey farm.  Lovely creatures, and they make so many eggs.  If the farmers are dead, we can raise poultry intead.