Events of 5th Granite, 255“It’s been a while since the two of us had time to just relax and walk together,” said Quantum Drop.
“Yes,” replied Nephilim. “These past few years have wounded us both. I’m lucky that I can walk right now without a crutch. Yet Eniteris is dead, and not even by my hand, while I still live. The gods have smiled on us for now, but I cannot be at peace until I leave the position of overseer.”
“Your mood hasn’t improved much in the past months, has it? You should at least try to enjoy the sun and the good weather while you have a moment’s rest between your duties.”
“Access to the sky and the sun is perhaps the only pleasant thing about Fatcat’s grand project. Even so, it makes me uneasy. The wall she constructed would be secure if not for this big hole dug into the mountain. Dwarves were made to live underground for a reason; underground we’re far less vulnerable to attacks.”
The two dwarves’ conversation was suddenly interrupted by an object zipping quickly past the two of them, embedding itself into the ground close by. Nephilim ran over to inspect the mysterious object. Bending down to examine it more closely, he nearly jumped back in shock. In front of him was a crossbow bolt, and not the wooden type often used by archers when training. This was made of metal and clearly intended to kill its target. There were no animals to hunt here within the walls of Goldsilver. Could this have been an accidental discharge by one of the rangers? Was there something much more dangerous going on?
Nephilim’s questions were answered by another bolt zipping by his head. He turned around and looked up at the southern wall near the side of the cliff. Standing there was a brigade of goblins and other races that had been captured and indoctrinated with their foul ways. Several of them were marching down the mountain side towards the main gate at the eastern side of the wall. Meanwhile, several crossbowmen were standing where the cliff and the top of the wall were about even and taking potshots at dwarves running through the exposed interior of the fortress.
“We’re under attack!” screamed Nephilim. He rushed back to Quantum Drop. “Run to to the dorms and shelter there. If the lever to raise the main drawbridge isn’t already pulled when you get there, pull it immediately. Tell everyone that you run into on the way who isn’t a soldier exactly what I just told you. I need to gather what’s left of the militia.”
Nephilim ran as fast as he could through the fortress, yelling to everyone nearby to evacuate the area. The pyramid where the militia and fortress guards were stationed was a long way off from where he started. When he arrived, several of the soldiers were in the middle of drills.
“Get to the main courtyard immediately! We’re under siege!”
He didn’t even wait to see their reactions. He was already running back to where he started as soon as he had delivered the message. When he got back, it seemed as if news of the evacuation had traveled quickly. Most of the population was climbing the stairs and ramps leading into the secure dorms. Nephilim only hoped that what Fatcat had said about it being equipped with sufficient food supplies was true.
Soon the rest of the soldiers arrived. Most of them looked half-equipped at best. Two dwarves stood out as being completely without armor or weapons.
“What unit do you belong to?”
“We’re all that remains of the Worshipful Pattern-Fountains,” one of them responded.
“You’ll be of no use to us as you are now. Retreat back to the dorms. The rest of you can head for the main drawbridge.”
They began their march towards the drawbridge, dodging the occasional enemy bolt on the way. Everything seemed to be going well. Perhaps a little
too well. Is this all the enemy had planned? Why bring such a large force if the only plan was to take cheap shots and march around a gate that the defenders would surely close?
A crashing sound was heard to the south. The soldiers looked over to see that, with a thud, an enemy elf had landed in the fortress.
Following their comrade, several other goblins and trolls began leaping from the cliff into the fortress. A few citizens who were slower in making it to the ramps quickly became targets for their attacks.
“New plan! We need to fend off the intruders before we launch any sort of counter-attack,” shouted Nephilim to the soldiers. “Kill any enemies you can! I need to warn them to seal off the dorms.”
Most of the citizens had already ascended the ramps. Quantum Drop, who had spent much of the time warning others of the attack, was one of the last to climb her way up. Nephilim came up behind her right as she was entering the dorms.
“I need you to pull the lever that seals of the dorms.”
“Why don’t you pull it yourself when you come in?”
“I’m the captain of the guard. I need to do my part in defending the fortress.”
“You’re also the overseer of this fortress. The citizen population needs you alive.”
“They can elect a new overseer. If the dwarves fighting down there are short by even one fighter, they all die. That’s why I need to be there.”
Quantum Drop sighed sadly. Nephilim turned around and began to rushed down the ramp. Quantum rushed to the door and cried out to him: “Just come back alive!”
Nephilim smiled for the first time that day. “I always do.”
At the bottom of the ramp, Nephilim looked around to see where the rest of the soldiers had gone and where any enemies might be. To the north, he saw a dwarf near the farms. He walked slowly up to it, not sure if it was a straggler or an enemy. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Lucky, sobbing to herself in a depressive state.
“What are you doing, Lucky! You need to get to the dorms!”
“It’s so awful,” she sobbed. “Clover. Where is she?”
“She’s in the dorms and you’re going there soon,” Nephilim responded, grabbing the sobbing dwarf to drag her to the dorms himself if need be. Looking up, however, he saw that they had already been sealed off by Quantum Drop.
“Shit!”
Looking for a place to hide Lucky from the dangers, he rushed her into the old guild hall.
“I want you to stay here until I come back,” he said, drawing his sword.
“Where are you going?,” she asked.
“To clean up a little mess a previous overseer has left us.”
