Summer - AutumnKarakzon’s discovery of the caverns had some unexpected results. First, cave moss proved to be an extremely aggressive invasive species, turning the clean white sand halls of Oceanbridge into a mess of plants and the occasional towercap sapling. Several dwarfs, Aban included woke to find themselves covered in strands of the pale blue stuff. It took the talents of
Zuntir Basementnotch, Animal Trainer Extraordinaire, to control the infestation. Tamed horses were let loose in the corridors, and they devoured the plants with glee. Derm and Gar managed to capture a pair of elephants, and volunteered them to help, but Zuntir balked at taming them. He claimed that their trumpeting was “deeply offensive.”
The other revelation was the complete lack of coal, anywhere. Karakzon was getting worried. All he could do was repeat his mantra, "just keep digging".
On the Bridge, Late Summer“All right, lift… with your knees, your knees, not your back, you damn fool!” Gar shook his head. It was no wonder the bridge was taking so long to build, with workers like these.
“Excuse me, are you Gar?”
“What? Ok, put that block down, and wait for me. You’ll break your damn back the way you were doing it.” Gar turned to the dwarf who’d started talking to him. “Yeah, that’s me. Who are you?”
“The name’s Nerev, sir. The expedition leader told me you need mechanics?”
((ignore the blacksmith. he's got some mechanics skill too, just less))
Gar’s expression changed, becoming friendlier. “Ah, yes. Why don’t you walk with me, Nerve. Now, first, tell me. How do you feel about risking your life in an extraordinarily dangerous but potentially amazing venture?”
“Well, sir, I-“
He was interrupted, nearly permanently when a small, grey creature jumped out from behind a palm tree and slashed at him with a silver dagger.
It missed, more by chance than anything else, and before Gar or Nerev could react, it fled down toward the shore, screaming in fear or anger. Gar recovered first, and swore, “by the bones of Rakust! Someone chase that damn thing!” But there were no soldiers in sight, and the thing escaped down the coast.
“What the… what the hell was that sir?”
“That, my friend, was a goblin. Like an elephant or giraffe, but smaller, and more evil. And where there’s one, well…”
They both could hear the increase in shouting and barking coming from the fort’s entrance. "Should we go help them, sir?"
"Only if you really are
completely fine with dying."
The goblin couldn’t believe its luck. It had slipped through the open entrance to Oceanbridge easily, somehow walked right through the crowd in the main hall without being spotted, and now it was free in the empty corridors by the workshops. It knew there were children in the fortress, it could smell them. It was just a matter of searching. But a moment later, its luck ran out, and it was spotted by one of the many dogs that wandered the halls. (Along with the horses.)
Derm was the first one to hear the barking, and the first on his feet, and the first to see the creature as it tried to escape. He smiled, hefted his axe, and roared
“Prepare for death, goblin! To me, soldiers of Oceanbridge! Charge!”
The first charge of the Daggers of Granite was a glorious sight… right up to the point that the narrow corridors of the fort betrayed them. First Derm tripped over a pile of thick cave moss, then Guy followed him. It quickly became a rather embarrassing pile up. Derm could only watch as the goblin turned and slashed out the throat of the dog chasing it in a single stroke, and then leaped, shrieking, onto the fallen soldiers.
It was fortunate for them all that
Zuntir Basementnotch, Animal Trainer Extraordinaire was there.
Derm finally managed to dig himself out of the pile, and went over to congratulate Zuntir. "Well done, soldier! I could use someone like you in the militia. What's your name?"
Zuntir gave him a sharp salute. "I'm just an animal trainer, commander. I didn't mean to lose my temper, but that little beast hurt one of my dogs. Couldn't let him get away with it." And with that, he walked off, the sad body of the dog cradled in his arms. Derm watched him go. He'd have to keep an eye on the man.
((Next: Humans, caravans, and magma))
Author
Topic: Oceanbridge - A Fortress Defense Community Fort: Reclaimed, Again! (And Again) (Read 182805 times)