Bay 12 Games Forum

I would like to see more opportunities for people in high school or even lower to take trade classes. When I was in high school, (ten years and more ago) the school I attended had an auto program, a graphic design program, and culinary arts. All of those have since been dropped, along with most arts electives. They were popular programs, but they didn't fit in with the direction the state wanted to go. A lot of schools that I know of have dropped skilled trades.

Jumped in front of a turret, in a desperate attempt to keep my engineer buddy alive.

((I like the journal thing, Di. I always like when people add their own characters views))

The Fire, Part Three: Fighting in the Fort

The farmer was dead by the time the Soldier turned the corner. One of the "beak-wolves" was standing over what remained of the woman, poking at the... bits with one of its sharp claws.



There had been a few of the "bird-men", as the older Oceanbridger's called them, around since she had arrived. They didn't bother anyone, and Gar had assured her that his cage traps would take care of them if they ever got "frisky".

He was wrong, she thought. The bird-men had been watching the whole time, and they new exactly where the traps were, and how to avoid them. And now they were all over the fortress,

All of that went through the soldier's head pretty quickly in the time it took for the bird-man to leap at her, claws and beak bared.

.....................................

From the Journals of Aban Brothertreaties

Gods. (Go away, gods.) It's been some time since we saw this kind of bloodshed in the halls of the fort itself. The last time was... the last time it fell. So that's a wonderful reminder.

But for now the fighting is over. We lost some more people, all from the refugee groups, but that's the way things go. And I have actual official reports on the attack, (actual and official!) from Neo and the Soldier, which I'll just copy on into here.

Report of the Soldier:

Must write with one hand, as bird thing bit chunk from other arm

Was attacked by "beak-wolf" in upper halls, wounded, but managed to kill beast despite getting bit. Monster had torn farmer to shreds. Stabbed farmer to ensure she would not rise again, made way to main food storage room after hearing screams.



Found more bird monsters menacing hapless civilians, killed them all. Not the civilians, they aren't a danger yet.



A good fight, but not where one would like to fight. Let's try to fight outside next time.

Two notes:
1. Cage traps were useless.
2. Twenty goblins or more still in halls. When they attack, it will be bad.

Only comfort of recent events is the burning of corpses and skeletons outside. The fire may be a blessing.

Neo's Report

As defending this place is my duty, I suppose I must also report on that defense. I feel it is mostly useless, however, and a waste time that might be used for something constructive. Nevertheless, here is my report.

While the Soldier and her squad fought off the monsters in the stockpiles, the rest of the militia and myself had our hands full in the old hospital.



The largest of the monsters were here, and it was only after they savaged three good recruits that we put them down. I hold very little hope for their survival.


Aban's Journal:

So that's that. Everyone, myself included, is worried about what will happen if these goblins attack. Everyone says, Hey! Get rid of them! But no one has any real ideas on how.

Maybe things will become clearer after this damn fire is gone. It's reached the gate, now.



.................................

One Week Later:

The fire had passed, but the air around the fortress was still filled with smoke, making it impossible to see more than a few yards. Remalle was pacing the walls, looking for some sign of life out in the blackened fields. So far as he could tell, there was none. All of the goblins were dead (leaving out the ones on the bridge, and in the fort itself.) That left the question: who had started the fire in the first place? The goblins... probably wouldn't have deliberately burned themselves to death, and the ape-men didn't have the brains to do something like that, he felt. So who?

The smoke was actually clearing away quickly, carried off by the endless wind that blew off the ocean. Already he could see past the arena.

And it was just past the arena's walls that he saw the giants. They were walking unscathed over the hot ashes, and they were coming straight for the fortress.

............................

Next: Giant Problems.

((So tired. Got to check this over tomorrow and hope it makes sense))

Bad Machinery - Mystery solving kids

Cat and Girl - A cat and a girl.

Nedroid.

I've kind of lost track of the whole webcomics thing. I used to read a lot more.

Man, now I'm glad that I don't know any cubs fans.

But do they know about me?

....

((I actually have forgotten what most of the levers do, so that's useful to know))

The Fire, Part Two

From the Journals of Aban Brothertreaties

Well, this is something else! This is a brand new nightmare. A nightmare aside from whatever it was that I saw in the old hall, which was nothing, so why do I mention it?

The fire... I'm not up to the task of describing it. It's all around the fort right now. No one dares step outside because of the heat. The noise is nearly worse, and if some sort of monster comes roaring out of the depths right now, I don't think anyone would notice it until it started killing.

We all watched as the flames rushed over the fields outside. The goblins didn't  even try to escape (Which was exceptionally creepy, I have to add), and were burnt up where they stood.



A few of the ice giants were out there too, and they went up like candles. Very large candles. That screamed.

When the flames reached the old arena, everyone fled to the lower levels. Smoke is everywhere, the fire itself has stopped at the walls. I wouldn't touch the walls, for fear of, you know, bursting into flame. But we've got a safe shelter here.



At least nothing much worse can happen.

Wait, what the hell am I saying? Erase that! I never wrote that!

Damn it, now Neo is telling me that there's sounds of battle coming from the shore. It must be a very loud battle, for anyone to hear it. We must be under siege again.



Hopefully the fire will burn them too.
.................................

Next: Traps are Problematic.

((right on))

The Fire, Part One:

"Ok, so close the gates!" Aban was pacing up and down in the old meeting hall. There wasn't much room to pace, as the room was packed, so she was mainly walking in a very small circle.

Gar said, "Bit of a problem with that Aban. Not one these idiots can remember which fucking lever works the gate."

Remalle spoke up. "Didn't you build it, Gar? Surely you must know which lever is which."

"I built a lot of things, Remalle. Right now, I've got to go build a new set of pumps. Deal with this thing yourself."

Ishar pushed forward as Gar made his way back to the stairs.  "Look, all we need to do is pull some of the levers, and hope nothing disastrous happens, right? The worst that could happen is we all drown or burn to death, right? Both of them can't happen at once, probably!"

"Yes, thanks for that, Ishar."

"You're welcome, boss. I'll just pull this lever right here then!"

Against all odds, it turned out to be the right lever, and the solid stone gates of Oceanbridge swung shut. They were safe.

As Ishar pulled the lever, Aban noticed something odd out of the corner of her eye. A strange flickering light near one of the walls.

Just a ghost, she realized. Nothing out of the ordinary about a ghost-



She blinked, and it was gone.
................................

Next: Sieges, Fires, and Bird-Men = Problems.

((Well, maybe that will change))

The Historian Records a Great Battle:

And in the winter, many apemen arrived. Long had they come to Oceanbridge seeking death, howling through the jungles from their distant dens. Great were their numbers, and great their stench, but the will of the dwarfs of Oceanbridge was greater still. The spear-dwarfs, and yes, the swords-dwarfs and pick-dwarfs and armed-with-cabinets-dwarfs too, marched to meet their hated enemy on the field of battle.

They then marched still further, having first found a single goblin surrounded by many bodies of ape-men, and The Soldier was heard to say "Not again, they always get here before us."



The Historian marched with them, and saw the bloodlust of the great dwarf warrior at last sated, as more apemen poured out of the thick green underbrush, like snakes that had three arms, and no tails or scales. Goblin and dwarf fought side by side, and much blood was spilled by both.



The Soldier proved to be a shield-dwarf as well, and crushed an apeman's skull, in the final blow of the battle.



The battle won, the happy dwarfs celebrated through the night, feasting on wine, plump helmets, and finely minced troll. But the soldier known as Neo looked to the night horizon, and saw bright lights, and smoke.



And he asked "What the hell is that?"

............................

Next: Massive Fires are Quite Clearly Problems.

((I don't know why the map is on fire))