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« on: March 22, 2011, 10:08:12 pm »
The Sour fields, they call this region. And yet, looking around, you can see wealth, without needing to look too hard. Boulders of limestone dot the landscape, and low hills break up the otherwise flat landscape. Soon however, we could all see it, the massive outline of Granitemaw. Yet even as we approached, there was trouble brewing. A group of dwarves were fighting off a band of goblin pikemen, staining the brook with blood. Myself and the others with me managed to escape notice. The soldiers seemed grim, with torn clothing, and clad in dented copper armor, likely salvaged. The commanders however were fitted better, with steel and bronze. None of them had complete armor however, but the weapons were good. Coming up to the west gate, the only way in, the defense of what we could see looked fairly rough. Two entrances, both with drawbridges made of limestone. One archer tower, made of gabbro, as what the rest of the structure seemed to be made of. There were however signs of construction, where the gabbro wall was being replaced with obsidian.
Just before we got to the gate, the sound of machinery clicking into place could be heard, and water began to rush out of an opening in a nearby hill. The muddy ground around told me this was a fairly normal occurrence. Inside, I was greeted by the current military commander. Modom Blockadebeaches he was called. He looked fairly better off then many of the other soldiers, clad in bronze armor, and holding a silver morningstar. The rest of the military was here as well, training for combat. Most had weapons of silver, though two had axes of steel. All of them in torn clothing.
"Well it is about time. We haven't seen any newcomers in the last three years" He started off. "Welcome to Granitemaw. The Manager will likely want to see you so you can be placed where your needed." He moves off, allowing access to the inner structure.
What I saw inside, however, showed the true troubles this fort was having. What found me first, were the wardogs. There were a rather large number of them roaming about the main yard. Off to the right, there were a fair number of workshops. For the moment, however, those were silent. Further to the right was a trade depot, and what looked to be the remains of a trade depot and caravan, with various goods scattered everywhere. Nobody had cleared the area of the wreckage yet.Unlike the outside, which was lush and green, the inside had been trampled to sand and blood.
Off to the left showed a splendid dining area, with plenty of tables and chairs, made of gabbro, limestone, even hematite. Besides a few children however, there was nobody there. Further off, I spotted a forge, and a smelter. Both were long cold and dusty. Further back, near the wall, past the dining area, were coffins. At least seventy of them, and two headstones. Most of them looked filled. Some were not. These dwarves were ready for that. A fair number of levers are against this wall, in various positions.
Closer to the back wall showed a rather curious structure, made of limestone with a single door, yet the wall only went halfway to the ceiling. I would need to ask about that later. Beside that was a pile of barrels on barrels. Food clearly was no issue. Scanning along the back wall showed a group of wells, recessed into the wall, then a tower, of sorts. Behind that tower, was a farm, and the first dwarves I found besides the military.
At least ten dwarves were here, and they all looked in bad shape, with ghastly wounds. Some were even missing limbs. Others looked like they would never walk again. Nearby however was another stockpile, piled with the bodies of dead goblins. I started to wonder how many dead there really were, when the mayor found me. We were all quickly given tasks to do. I was told to go man the carpenters shop and build bins. I had no skill in such tasks, but, I also had no real skill in anything else, and you had to start somewhere...
It is excellent defense XP as long as you don't kill it.