Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

Yes

No

[Criperum]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- What are you standing here, dweeb - Urist noticed vicegerent's abashment and started to command - run to the arsenal for a spear, now! It's time for you to pay your debts to the mauntain home!
- This is pointless - Shasad interrupted him.
- Quite woman! - Warrior shouted at her.
- She is right - Sinsot raised his head - you can't hurt a ghost with spears and swords - the vicegerent glanced at you mistrustfully then sighed - The only thing we can do is to find and bury his body. If we fail Akrulaban will fall and we all will have to leave. Are you sure the memorial is good? - he asked threateningly.
- Yes - Urvad noddled - Urist checked them when she came to help me.
- That means I have to go down to the caves. I'm the only one here who knows how to open the passage - you prefered not to dissuade him and let him to fix the mess he made - Bucketotil you are coming with me - you noddled, it wasn't a surprise for you.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- I'm coming with you - Urvad volunteered.
- No - Sinsot shook his head - Urist will come with us, you run to the trade depot, take civilians with you. If you meet someone from militia tell them everything. Tell them not to let the ghost neigher upsairs nor to the caves.
Dwarfess noddled in response.
- Shasad go to the humans, make them sign the agreement. Don't show that something happened. We don't need they use such weakness - he gave her papaers.
- Milord - the bookkeeper came into the conversation - I'd recommend you to stay in safe place. But if you are surely desided to go I'm ready to track your commands execution if you give me full powers.
- No - Sinsot snapped out - you are going to the storage and prepare several picks for us. Right now we are going up to the arsenal, we can use weapons down in the caves.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

After the plan was ready you moved out. First you hastened to the main stairs looking around carefully. Noises and screams were heard from the corridor leading to the dining hall. You met several frightened and beaten dwarfes and escorted them to the depot with Urvad and Shasad.
Then Urist gave you a spear and you followed Sinsot with the familiar route downward.
- May be we should take the miner with us? - a good idea came to you. You were the only worked in the team actually. Fortunately Urdim was sitting in his room all this time so you found him there. He wasn't aware that something even happened in the fortress. Sinsot didn't bother to bring him up to date and just ordered to  follow him.
You visited the storage to take picks while you were going down. You wanted to use that moment and to talk with Nux but the door to his den was wide opened and the kobold wasn't there. Passing by the necropolis you discovered lifeless body of Urist noicing that desparate Urvad's act was in vain.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- What is this! - Sinsot shouted when the bridge at the entrance appeared to be opened. You were ready for such reaction so you made a surprised face and were keeping silence - Someone broke the lock - He stood near the mechanism, looked around, toched the level carefully - Bucketotil - he called you - what do you think about this?
- I guess the ghost broke it - you took out the best excuse you have prepared on the way here.
Sinsot moved inside carefully saying nothing. Urist unsheathed the sword and followed him. You and Urdim did the same.
- Someone was digging here! - the vicegerent waryed when he saw your work.
Urdim lowed loudly woth pride.
- Yes, I think the same - you said frightened before Sinsot understood everything.
- What do you think? - Sinsot started to walk back and forth.
- Well, someone digged here or may be noone did. So what? - you shrugged.
- What is that? - he kicked a dusty bag with a toe of the boot and carefully took it form the floor. You recognized your hat. You totally forgot you threw it into the ghost. Now you were feeling almost naked without it - Isn't it yours? Huh! - Sinsot pressed you.
To your relief that awkward moment was interrupted by the miner who started to noise and wave his hands, that gave you some time. He was pointing on a small cross painted on the wall with white shiny substance looking sticky on the left side of the hole.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- Urist was marking places to dig with such crosses - you noticed but you were sure the spider did it.
- You are saying it was she who been here? - Sinsot said aftef he looked at the mark.
- It is possible, how do I know.
- But how you explain this? - he shook the hat in front of your face raising the dust cloud - You were wearing it when you came to me earlier today. Where is your hat? Where is it?!
- I don't know! I lost it! - you raised your voice too - Where? I don't know. It was last thing to think about when the lunatic ghost was about to rip me to pieces. Tell me one thing - you became angry and counterattacked - are you going to get my nerves or save the fortress? There are dwarfes upstairs dying right now!
- All right - he fell back - but I'll get you when this all over. I'll bring you to light - Sinsot took a pick - Start working. Whoever painted this he thought there is something there. You - he pointed on the miner than on the mark - dig here down while we are dealing with avalanche. After all it's too narrow for all of us to dig.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Urdim started working, Urist was on guard. You took a pick too andstarted to widen the manhole you dug before with Sinsot. Swinging the pick was harder than you thought. After you finished the upway ramp you realized what a mad idea was to steal a pick and dig the avalanche solely.
You folowed Sinsot into a chamber and could to look at it closely. You noticed that some places were worked artificially and one wall had an entrance to a tunnel.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You understood that the avalanche was a trap. If not the spider you would be absolutely sure Sinsot did it. But the arthropod's behaviour didn't fit in the puzzle. Why he was so willing to bring you here, what  was his interest in it he was hiding so thoroughly. You were torn between exploring the tunnel climbing up somehow and runing away in fear. Your imagination filled the caves with monsters the spider is serving to.
- What are you waiting for? - Sinsot asked frowning despite that he was staring the walls a second ago.
- I - you stopped yourself, it wasn't right time to talk about the trap and especially blaming Sinsot in it. He had the absolutely loyal fighter on his side who wouldn't be mercyfull - think we need to look at that tunnel.
- It is not time for it now, we'll deal with it later.
- But it can lead anywhere.
- It is dwarfmade - Sinsot pointed at the tunnel - and it leads to the fortress because it is the only place dwarfes can come from. Now we need to deal with the ghost and then we'll seek for a traitor who left the entrance to the caves opened.
Suddenly Sinsot was interrupted by screams from below.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You went down to Urist and to your relief you didn't see the ghost but it was someone else. The captive was on his knees. His dress was covered with dust and blood. A crossbow bolt was sticking out of his shoulder. The warrior put him to the sword. You came closer and understood it was a dwarfess.
- She sneaked out from the passage the miner dug out - Urist reported - Speak who you are!?
When she raised her head her face looked familiar.
- What are you doing, remove the sword - Sinsot got angry - That is Sedil.

[Criperum]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You have been settled in a cowshed with a boar. And with Ivety of course. Locals treated two shipwreck victims very hospitably. They thought you were because your story about being a King in a Mountain Home nearby wasn't very convincing. To pay your booze and living you had to clean the cowhsed. Fair enough.
All this time locals gave you some food and even clothes. They gave Ivety a shabby vest and children's pants that looked very slinky on her. You got various dwarven stuff that was in great quantities in there due to the fact that Mountain Home and Goblin fortress were nearby.
Ivety was more than glad to be under the opened sky, the sun, trees... all that elven rubbish. Shortly speaking she was happy. Your sexual relations were almost daily she thought it was kind of  reward for you for saving her from the caves. You didn't know yet what to think about it. Anyway your wife was whirling and dancing on a crossroad near the well like a songbird gaining modest money and food donations from locals.
Speaking about Angryspoon - this story was sadder. Time comes to admit with regret that everything comes to an end eventually. The Angryspoon as it was when you had found it waken up suddenly in your room long time ago... existed no more. Local master shook his head with regret then he agreed to extend its lifetime artificially. He inserted a steel rod inside it and attached it to the musical instrument billet. He pulled strings, tuned them and touched... A tear drop rolled down your cheek... Angryspoon was singing! How you should call it now? You need to think about it thoroughly. Ivety mastered new instrument pretty well and was singing on the crossroad with accompaniment. Fairly speaking you got everything you could from this settlement. The only thing left was robbery.
Local blessed you to go away long time ago and according to their faces they couldn't wait till you gone.
As is was before Akkar Baktur was living not long way on south on a mountain track.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- THEEEE VOOOOICEEEEEEEEEESSSS!... - you hissed.
- What? - Ivety couldn't hear you clearly.
- They are back...
- Who are back?
- We are. I think we need to go back to Akrukaban. At least for a while. We were buried by this time I guess and I don't really like to be living dead. What do you think? Let's visit it?
- I don't know. Going underground again? I'm sorry, I love you very much but I'm really sick of cave live.
- No, no - you calmed her with a gesture - I won't drag you inside. We can even lay out a small grove for you in the yard. But I'm still the king and I need to settle some affairs, to assign vicegerent, get stuff for a travel. At least to find out why didn't they search for us!
- All right - elfess noddled - It's ok for me to go back there for a while.
Going on foot was the most appropriate option because none of you knew how to use a boat. You took a pitchfork and tied it to a shovel with a rope. Probably noone will chase you if you take it. Especially if you leave quitely.
It was almost noon and you hit the road immediately. No goodbyes, no thanks, no witnesses. You'll send a couple of wagon with stuff as a gratitude later.

[Criperum]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You decided to grief a little before you vanish. So you hid and waited for woodcutter then you punched him in the face from the corner. While he was out you ran away.
The trailway leaded you form the beach to the plateau and disappeared behind a hill. It was definitely a turnpike there leading to the Akrulaban. But here you saw a barely visible track going into a mountain cleft. Probably it was the lair of Akkar Baktur the bandit. It is time for you to decide either you go and figure it out or you go straight to the Akrulaban.

[Criperum]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- I'm not used to trust those who sneaks - Urist tried to excuse - also we haven't heard our miner for a while.
- She is a citizen of Akrulaban. You supposed to help her - Sinson definetely wanted to hear apologies not excuses - She spent several weeks there. It's a miracle she survived.
- Yeah - you didn't remind who's is that she turned out there. - she is a priestess actually. You could put god in rage - you said slightly factitiously - What  kind of dwarf you are, nothing sacred.
Urist was standing in silence for a while then who took off the helmet.
- Forgive me - he said, you didn't gear any falsehood in his words but the priestess stood up in silence - What do you want me to do, I'll stand on my knees if you want - the armor clanged when he descended.
- All right, I forgive you - she said quietly.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- Get up - Sinsot commanded - we really need to check the miner. Sedil - he refered to the priestes - this is Tok, he'll take care of you. Bear some more, we'll be back soon.
He and Urist entered the excavation darkness leaving you and the priestess alone.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- It hurts, I guess - you asked without any enthusiasm staring on the bolt in her sholder.
- It's OK - she smiled - I got used to it.
- Tell me what've happened when you were goafed - after her previous answer you had no worries that questioning will provoke hysteria. She was surprisingly calm.
- We'd almost finished exploring the cave and were on our way back. The King and Ivety were trailing behind as always: the elfess was awful in seeing in darkness and always holding us. I was ahead when Okbod caught me. He was like insane, he came on me and shot me with the crossbow. Fortunately Vuteni wasn't far, he hasted to help me and shot the madman with a bow. A bowfight started, Okbod managed to shoot once or two times before he fell, Vuteni was unharmed and send one arrow after another in his opponent. I thought it all was over but Okbod wasn't just conscious but he also could reload his crossbow and shoot somewhere to the side before he gone berserk and started impotently rage hysteria. Right after his shot the cave ceiling fell on us. Praise the Armok I wasn't under those rocks but Vuteni and that psycho died.
- What about Likot?! - oyu asked with hope.
- It's no use to search him anymore - that answer completely demoralized you.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- How is that? - it was a question more likely a perplexity shout.
- Just like that! - the priestess suddenly help up her hat she was holding all that time. Some sticky filth splashed right into your face hissing. It covered eyes, mouth, nose. You automaticaly tried to clean it with hands but it just sticked to your hands and covered more area.
The same moment you got an even more sneaky push into your balls. You bent and tried to scream but were able just inflate your cheeks and whistle a little. You fell on the floot totaly disoriented.
- His name was Lasut. Lasut Ostronatong - she said and ran away.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

More than two last weeks you were in the worst mood. Every morning you barely got up and start moving.

First of all the name priestes told appeared to be the real name of Okbod and you put the ghost to rest. The story Sedil told you about what happened in caves was more likely true. In a small niche where the priestess was jammed dwarfes found mutilated corpse of Vuteni half covered with rocks. Also a hidden pressure plate was found in the caves with broken Okbod's bolt lying on it and remains of broken support. The tonnel in the cavity lead to the tonnels net one level above. It was about there you found your cache and probably you could find the secret entrance if you search more carefully.

No one saw Sedil after that. Lots came to conclusion that she was undead, after all how could she survive more than two weeks without food and water immured in a stone bag smaller than your room. However some thought she was a divine mmissioner...ish. You were sure at least that the spider served her exactly. That's why he tried so hard to bring you to her. Also it indirectly proved that he was lying about survived Likot.

You didn't try to break throught the avalanche more, others were doing it. They told they found some abandoned camp there but there were no bodies or signs where could Likot and Ivety go. Then Sinsot stoppped searches once again, brought everyone back into the fortress and forced you to deconstruct the bridge and wall the passage out. A wall was placed also in the second tonnel. After that you met an investigation full of unpleasant questions. Fortunately the fact that you spent your spare time some where instead of sitting around in the dining room like normal dwarf played into your hands. No one could certainly witness that the dirty ball of clothing was your hat. Urvad said nothing and the bookkeeper said that you had completely different hat. Eventually Sinsot had to agree that you could be innocent. Okbod/Lasut was convinced in making the trap that buried expedition under the rubble. After all that you couldn't do anything to help Likot even if you hadn't lost any hope.

However life in Akrulaban came back to normal. Vuteni and Urist were buried with two migrants died earlier. Sinsot ordered to destroy Sedil's slab. Mostly everything went good except more than ten dwarves were in hospital with wounds and fractures. Gratin made you a new hat from good dense cloth but it wasn't a match to the old one. But may be it's just a habbit.

Urvad became your boss. You and she were building barracks on the surface for Torus men. And you were spending your spare time trying to clean the rest of the web out of your beard. That's how you spend previous day, the same way you are going to spend this one.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Also you remembered you saw Sedil more than year ago in Arol-Iton. She asked you about Likot. It was several month after he left. You told her about your adventures, about a fortress your seven wanted to found and asked to say hello from you to Likot if she meet him.

[Criperum]

Hey, guys.

What is better to write either dwarf/dwarfess & elf/elfess or dwarf male/female & elf male/female in cases when a gender of important for story?

[CaptainLambcake]

second one i suppose, but either is fine really

[Gwolfski]

Dwarves are dwarves, elf and elfess

[Criperum]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

On one hand you wanted to bring some adventures on your bored beard by going into the bandit's lair. On the other you promised Ivety no caves for the nearest time. That means Akrulaban!
You went on the track and were able to reach the Mountain Home by the sunset without any troubles. And it looks like dwellers had built fortifications on the walls for crossbowmen while you were away.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You reached closed gates, stood in a majestic pose and yelled:
- Hey! Open it!
A girl playing doll on the wall noticed you and shouted:
- There are some Mister and Miss near the gates!
Sodel Konadlogem was passing by, he turned around and almost dropped his burden.
- Likot? Ivety?
- King Likot Ubendeb Saramkurig Delerottan The Lord of Akrulaban if you don't mind honorable Sodel the animal trainer. How is your goose?
- LIKOT! IVETY! OPEN THE GATES! - he ran inside the fortress spreaing the news - KING LIKOT IS ALIVE!! KING IS ALIIIIVE!
A bustle started in the yard and soon the gates retrackted to your feet.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- King Likot is back...He is alive...Queen Ivety is alive... they are unharmed - the gathering crowd mumbled.
Sinsot appeared among other dwarves. Don't believing his eyes he stepped a little bit further:
- Likot? - contradictory feeling were on his face, for a couple of seconds he was just staring at you and Ivety then he threw his fist up and shouted -  Long live King Likot! Wellcome home! Mistress Ivety...I'm glad you are safe. Glory to the King!
Tok broke throught the crowd and froze:
- Likot...
- Tok Bucketotil! What chance brings you? - you laughed and walked towards him spreading your hands.
The engraver rushed on you. His silk-like beard was fluttering above shoulders. His eyes were sparkling from restrained tears. Your bodies get close and he fell into your embrace like a brother cuddling a brother...
All that was in Bucketotil's head while was standing stunned with his eyes rolled out.
- Tok? It's me, Likot.
- Likot...- he finally gathered himself - Likot! I've found you! I mean you've found me! I mean... You are ALIVE! I knew! I really knew it! I was looking for you!
- We all were, - Sinsot added.
- All right, leave this for later times. I see a lot of new faces. Quit your jobs, let's party!
The crowd buzzed approvingly.
- Mister Fernokzam make this be.
- Your highness.. - Sinsot bowed and went to.
- My love - Ivety spoke to you - You go and I'll stay here outside. Just order to make a tent for me and bring some food, ok?
You noddled.

[Criperum]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You woke up not in some Armor forsaken place. Travels through elven forests, undead villages and deep caves were just dreams creates by your autistic lama imagination. The idea that Likot and all his adventures were just dreams and may be there is no Likot at all threw you down into gloom and gave you a wish to kick some random dwarven ass angrily.

You have a day off today so you can rest from all that routine that is part of fortress champion duties.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The thing in the corner is not some headstone but your own -willow chest-.
You pushed the top using your nose and checked contents.
There are three sets of fake mustaches and beards, couple bed linels and reserve of food for two days. Of course any stranger could notice that there is nothing but straw inside. But as long as you are lama you don't give a fuck about strangers' opinion.


Also you have a bed in the room, but you didn't get the purpose of this thing. You tried to chew pillocase once, but it wasn't tasty and that was the end of acquaintance with this furniture.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You accelerated as much as the room size allowed and puched the door with your chest. The door creaked, jumped up and fell off the hinges. This door always makes you mad it isn't a match to your old magnificent wicket that was in your stall before. The door is heavy, hard to open and the most unpleasant you don't know how to open it and nasty dwarfes can control your freedom of movement with it.

You looked out to the corridor. No one on the horizon.

[Criperum]

[Necrotranslater] gestures!
[Thread] shudders and begins to move!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You took a fake beard and headed to ravage fortress provision which was quite various, you could even find some fruits among.

You went up a couple of floors and sneaked to the food storage. Against your expectations you met only disappointment: all barrels contained either mushrooms or meat or meals made of those mushrooms and meat. The only thing took your attention was a gremlin corpse floating in one of alcohol barrels. The gremlin looked pleased but dead and being completely alcoholized floated on the surface of mixture of dwarven wine and his own vomit. If you were carnivorous not a lama you would definetly taste that gremlin. But you had only one thing to do is to watch this body wavering in bubbles raising somewhere from the bottom of the barrel.

Came off from that sad spectacle you snacked some plumphelmet which tasted not better than straw. You started to think where could all that assortment disappeare. Most likely the food was moved somewhere. And you decided to start your searches from the dining hall.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You went down to the dining room. Comimg close to the door you thought that according to the amount of voices the whole fortress gathered there. You pushed the door and saw you were correct. Stupid dwarves were dining, eating, drinking and seems were doing whatever they could to repeat that gremlin-in-barrel's destiny.

And also Likot was sitting at the central table, the one who you dreamed this morning.

One of our OPMages finally collected enough mana to make the followinf spell.

Sedil's quest

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

There are events that could seem insignificant but lead to colossal aftermath. Oh, if I could know what my choice will go into I'd change my mind. I could guess that rush and risking won't bring me to anything good. The example of my teacher is still in my memories but he paied with his eternity for his mistakes and for mine the whole world will pay. I can only comfort myself with thought that not everything is lost, that everything could be fixed. But right now the situation went out from my control, but let's start from the begining.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The winter the story began it was the third year I tryed to make myself at home at a new place. Untamed wilds near the ice lake should be my new home and all dead in that gods-forsaken place humans and goblins should equip and protect that place. Unfortunately the tower building was slow, zombies were wearing out and replacements were mostly wild animals, among them only yeti could do some job.

[CaptainLambcake]

god i love this story i still remember first finding it a year so ago

[CaptainLambcake]

any update?

[Criperum]

Yeah. Too much job to do(overtimes and such). Too less time to bring you Likot.
I'll post it today or tonight.

[Criperum]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

It was a big luck that three dwarf travelers got lost and wandered here. It would be great if they freeze to death somewhere nearby by but for solidity the swarm was sent to chase. Two of the dwarfes started to run away from zombi-wolfes and they were doomed in this very moment. Ever if they are faster they are definitely not hardier. The living will just run out in hour or two of pursuit.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

But one of the wayfarers ran to the conglomeration of rocks which has to be my tower in future. I don't know what he was thinking about at that time, what he was relying on but it saved him that time.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

He was quick enough to run inside where he was eventually captured. I knew he was no threat to me and came out to look at him while he is still alive holding my zombies for a while. Of course he started to beg for mercy. Either this or a flood of empty curses and menaces. However I never heard anything like this.

- Wait! We fortune here unintentionally. I swear we won't tell anyone.
- Of course you won't - I agreed. His friend has to be chased down by this time.
- No! I'll be more usefull for you alive - he shouted.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

- What can you offer to me? - I asked. It was just curiosity. I didn't believe that he could buy his life.
- I'm planning to become a ruler of the Moutain Home nearby. When I come to power the graveyar will be at your service. It's a big Mountain Home. You'll get hundreds of zombies instead of one. And then a few each year while I'll be in charge.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I took a thought. I did't expect to hear such an offer from the dwarf so selfish and immoral it was. From the other hand it was a great luck for me. More and more servants get inapplicable and the work gets slower and slower. I even started to doubt if I could finish the tower at all. Yes it was a venture but I we made a deal. I did it because I knew it's a matter of chance to find material for zombi in this place.

[CaptainLambcake]

thank you so much criperum i know people are still reading it