Bay 12 Games Forum

"That was the Link's script?!" Joseph said to himself, surprised and only half believing it. But it was clear. He had gone back to the Empath's quarters, dug his book out of his belongings, and compared them to what he had spotted on the door. It was hard to believe. Even as it answered one question, it brought up a dozen more.

What was that expedition to the maw all about?

Did they know the connection between the script and the Links?

If so, what is the reap purpose behind the expedition?

The list went on and on, Joseph wasn't sure where to begin. One thing though, he was in way over his head to be pursuing this alone. But he didn't know who he could turn to. He would share the information with the other empaths, they were interested in stopping the link, or so Joseph thought. The information about this hideout would be useful to them. He only hoped they would move in time to help the escaped slave. Perhaps his abilities could earn the slave some more time or maybe a refuge.

Another thing was certain, he would need friends if the Link took offense at his meddling. Accompanying the expedition out beyond the maw would provide him with guards and people invested in his well being. It would be safer than the city.

And it would get him away from this huge crowd. For the moment, he lay down and tried to rid himself of his new headache. After a while, he'd go out and find the escaped slave, and he'd take one of his fishing harpoons with him, just in case. But for now, he needed rest.

From the journal of Fori

   It seems not all the dwarves have let go of old feuds as I once thought. Recently, Reg has been pestering me about these ‘tests’ of his. Now, not so much pestering as downright demanding. But it doesn’t matter. My heath and body is one of the few things that have not been snatched away by the defilers. I’m not about to let that dwarf cut into either. Say what you will, but I believe that no dwarf can hold the title of ‘healer’ without a proper understanding of herbs and blessings. Besides, this ‘hangover’ business is getting out of hand. I better refrain from drinking the dwarves’ potent brew for a while. Maybe that’ll convince Reg that this hangover is nothing to worry about.

   Still, some of the looks I get from him make me glad that I decided to train with a sword. I just hope it doesn’t come to that.

   Also, Ibruk has started to concern me. I thought his talk of gods and building temples was benign at first, but now I’m not so sure. I could overlook him working on his temple. Even him drawing away workers from projects that even I can see are important to the survival of our fortress. And even despite Tarran’s protests, the theft of the iron wasn’t too bad. But now, he speaks of living with goblins. Humans, I could tolerate, but why goblins?

   Perhaps I’m being hypocritical. After all, the dwarves accepted an elf into their midst. But still, the thought of living with goblins frightens me. If there’s one thing besides the defilers that dwarves and elves can agree on, it’s goblins. I have seen families torn apart by their child thieving ways. I’ve seen parents who mourned the loss, no, the corruption, of their sons and daughters. And every time they set foot in the forests, it was with fire and blades. Invariably, they came to kill. I do hope that Ibruk is not serious, or that more sane minds will prevail. If a goblin did live here, I shouldn’t get a nights sleep, for fear of waking up to find a dagger blade buried in my back.

   Besides, I always viewed dwarves and elves more as rivals than enemies. But there’s no mistaking goblins.

Get the hell out of the water.

From the log of Fori

Despite the ever present danger outside, life seems to be becoming routine here. Once one gets used to living underground, a dwarf fortress isn't a bad place. My eyes are getting better at seeing in the dark tunnels, and the air no longer feels so close and restricting. While it isn't as open as a retreat, it does feel much safer. Also, I think the new arrivals are getting used to me as well. They don't mind my singing as I work at farming the mushrooms.

There has also been more construction projects going on. Ibruk and some more of the more 'devoted' dwarves have been busy building a temple. There was quite a row when he made off with some of the forged metal from Tarran's workplace. Personally, I don't understand him, or his talk about the gods. Then again, most dwarves don't understand the spirits of the trees that I talk with. It's pretty much a given fact that they can't even hear them. But temple aside, there's talk of making a grand dining room, so we don't have to eat dinner in the storeroom anymore. Of the two ideas suggested, I'm in favor of building it in the cavern. I even took up a moment to draw up some plans of an open styled room, up on a platform to keep the creatures of the caverns from bothering us. Personally, I thought it to be a nice fusion of dwarf and elf styles, their stonework paired with the openness to nature favored by the elves. I don't know if they will agree, or even if it is feasible, but it wouldn't hurt to present my ideas to them.

And I'm getting better with the training sword Muenster made for me. This is the first time I've ever picked up a weapon, let alone a metal, dwarf-made one. Dwarf swords are usually made to work like their axes: heavy chopping implements. But Muenster made me a sword more fitted to my style. It was lighter and thinner, more suited to the elves way of fighting. Its rather reminiscent of the human style of fencing. I hope I don't have to use it, but I'm more ready to face the dangers that await us.

There has been no other sightings of other elves though. Some days, it depresses me, but there is usually a dwarf there to cheer me up. Of course 'cheer up' and 'get hammered drunk' are fairly synonymous to dwarves. I generally wind up forgetting my worries for a while (or forgetting everything for a while) and simply laugh at the defilers outside and at all our troubles in general. And wake up the next day with a splitting headache.

I'll pursue that lead. I'll try and find out who exactly the link's competetor was, and why he was being chased.

Damn, that was foolish. Whether from inexperience, or the blasted headache from the crowd, I erred. The link is aware of me now, he...it...will be on it's guard. Whats more, it is aware I know what it is. I was merely struck this time, but the speed at which it fled made me think that fighting it in hand to hand would be stupid at best.

But at least the day bore some fruit. This stranger named Trap intrigued me. His mind was different, alien, but not cruel or dark like the links. Rather interesting really. More interesting was the fact that he was approached by the same group that came to me. Recruiting a warper? They're serious about this venture. I might have to reconsider.

But for now, I wonder what business the Link had here at the amphitheater. Following it directly would be dangerous, but I can discover it's actions indirectly. Focusing as much as I could, I headed into amphitheater to investigate what the link did there.

(Heh. So far, I think I'm the only one who actually likes elves thrown in to live with dwarves in these things. I haven't seen anyone else do it.)

“Muenster, Doc, thank you. The window is lovely.” Fori said, looking out of the new window. The view was indeed lovely, and it did her heart good to see the sun and forest again. Even if the Defilers lurking about outside did spoil the view.  “And don’t worry, I trust your stone and gem work. I don’t think the defilers could even get up here.”

Fori sat quietly, gazing out over the forest, before speaking again. “That encounter with the grimeling has mea thinking. I might have been very lucky. It could have been any manner of creature down there. I’ll need some way to defend myself. I’m no soldier, and I don’t want to be one, but I’m thinking that I should learn how to use a weapon. What do you think would be best for me? Perhaps a sword?”