On 25th of Felsite settlement of Murderwheel was visited by elven merchants once again. It was more and more surprising that they kept showing up, apparently oblivious to fate of previous caravans of their race.
Gar was standing in the outpost, making sure the elves are not trying to do anything unsavoury. Murderwheel has decided to give elves a chance for a peaceful co-existence, much to Flame’s dismay.
[elven]’Excuse me, do you know what happened to my brother?’ [/elven]One of the traders asked Gar. Who in turn shrieked in fear. In Gar’s eyes the elves was eyeless, pale and sickly looking. [elven] ‘What’s wrong?’[/elven] Elf was definitely terrified, this sudden outburst has definitely surprised him.
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ImageShack.us‘Stay away! STAY AWAY!’ Gar started running towards the doors dividing the Depot from the rest of the fortress. It was for no use though; the doors were bolted, to ensure no elven saboteur could sneak into the Fortress proper. Gar has no choice; he turned around, nocked an arrow and shot blindly. Blood burst from the wound in a crimson river, for Gar however it was brightly yellow and oily as if the elf had pure cadaverine in his veins. ‘I SAID STAY AWAY! HELP! HELP! I NEED HELP! MILITIA TO ME!’ Gar was desperately emptying his quiver but to no avail, the monsters did not want to die! After a few moments he was out of ammunition and was bashing on the adversaries with Rasuk Id like with a quarterstaff. Than a rescue came, the Fiery Wolverines, squad let by Sumyunguy have entered the fray.
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ImageShack.usGar took no chances and fled as the zealots bashed at the elves
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Meanwhile Litheme was receiving a strange visitor.
‘Who are you?’ She asked, forgetting she had no mounth or voice anymore.
‘I have no name, child, and yet I have more names than you could remember’ Said the female figure, much to Litheme’s shock.
‘What do you want of me?’ Litheme was not sure she liked Her. Her clothing was like graveyard mist and Her eyes seemed infinitely deep.
‘Just to be. Just to exist a little bit longer. And then I will let you go.’ That voice, if it could be called that, was both calming and panic inducing. Litheme has realised she can hear it, without having any body parts that would allow for it.
‘Why?’ Was Litheme’s next question.
‘You will see. Everyone in this world will see.’ Was the response and Litheme suddenly realized she was once again completely alone, save for those creatures that roamed in the room around her. Litheme felt terrified, it would be better if the mysterious woman has laughed maniacally at the end, instead of fading into complete silence.
‘I miss you, Gar.’ She mumbled to herself...
~~~~~
Agent Kitten Biscuit and his frien... partne.... Colleague, Agent Sunshine, were travelling along with a minor Migration Wave towards Murderwheel. It was a boring and tedious journey, and this time he had to put up with his co-worker.
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ImageShack.us‘Are we there yet?’ Agent Sunshine has asked.
‘Does this look like a volcano to you? Now shut up, I need to think.’ Kitten Biscuit was not happy with this assignment. He was sent, once again, to take the position of Overseer. Last time he got a pretty big reprimand for acting on his own volition and returning with a report that stated the place was useless and needed a complete purge by the army. Now he was stuck, he could not return, his orders were clear on that, and he had that idiot, Sunshine, as his second in command.
Kitten Biscuit has never disobeyed a direct order before, last mission stated clearly he should assess the situation first, and so he did. This time he was very close to that.
‘You know, Kolkeskal, this is not the way you should treat your co-workers. If I wouldn’t know you I would say you are a very rude person.’ Sunshine seemed unmoved by the behaviour of the other agent. His Uncle made sure he got his first big assignment in one of the more interesting parts of the world.
‘Don’t use my real name, Othobaztong, or I will
start being unpleasant’ Kitten Biscuit frowned as his name was mentioned. He liked it, sure, but there are some things Agents should not do, and one of them is not using the Nicknames given by the Command.
‘And you can mention mine? That is utterly unfair.’ Sunshine’s smile faded a little.
‘Alright, I will not use your name if you promise not to use mine. Deal?’ Kolkeskal was nearing his limit.
‘Deal.’ His co-worker happily responded. Murderwheel was still miles away...
~~~~~
‘Calm down, Gar. Nothing will hurt you. You need a long night sleep, that’s all. And some booze.’ Chief Medical Dwarf was trying to figure out what exactly happened to the Sheriff. Apart from that sudden outburst he seemed fine and fit for duty, if a bit overworked.
~~~~~
Finally, FINALLY, on 8th of Malachite 17 Kolkeskal and Othobaztong arrived at their destination, only to find lava blocking the entrance, once again. Using the method tested previously they have pole-vaulted over the molten rock. Hopefully no goblins, kobolds or elves saw that.
‘Who is in charge here?’ Kitten Biscuit has assumed SOMEBODY would claim the position by now.
‘Nobody, we just all get together and decide what to do.... Closest one I think would be Flame.’ Peasant concluded after Kolkeskal looked sternly at him.
‘Lead the way.’ Kitten Biscuit was getting REALLY tired of all this shit.
~~~~~
Flame was much less than amused at all this as well. Some two random dwarves turned up on the doorstep to his home, and demanded full control and absolute compliance of the local government.
‘And who are you, again?’ He asked, simply out of spite. He had a very long day.
‘We are His Majesties Agents. We showed you all the documents.’ Kolkeskal was not fond of this... Flame... either.
‘Alright, alright. Here are the keys to the gates and the C.H.E.E.S.E.M.A.K.E.R. Have fun.’ Flame was resigned, all the paper work checked out, he even asked Zurko about it, and there was nothing he could do. Besides, the Fortress could only benefit from having someone clearly in charge, at least they will know who to blame if they all get eaten by Yaks or something.
~~~~~
‘You want to tell me, Agent Plump Helmet, that you did not interrogate ANY of the captive elves or goblins?’ This was ridiculous, Kolkeskal thought to himself, Plump Helmet was an Agent after all, and yet he did not do any basic work around here.
‘I neer got around to it, no. I will help if you want me to.’ Zurko seemed completely un-ashamed about his lazyness.
‘Yes, yes we would like you to help us with it. Get any traction bench..’
‘We don’t have any.’ Zurko interjected.
‘Or blacksmithing equipment you can muster and follow us.’ Kolkeskal concluded without missing a beat.
~~~~~
An Elven captive was tied to a pole in the middle of the one of the unused rooms.
‘So tell me, my elven friend, what is it that you are hiding?’ KOlkeskal was speaking softly. He felt no need to yell to intimidate his captives. That only served to make one’s throat rough.
‘I don’t know what you are talking about! Let me go! I am a trader and I have diplomatic immunity!’ Elf was furious, berserk almost.
‘Do you, now?’ Kolkeskal was disinterested. He heard that line many times before. ‘Let me tell you something, I find no pleasure in torture. I am perfectly happy with you telling me all you know without any physical or mental pain inflicted on you. My colleagues however...’ His gesture encompassed both Zurko and Sunshine.’ Do not feel as restricted in those matters. In fact Agents Sunshine enjoys his job quite a bit.’ Sunshine was humming a joyful melody while preparing equipment borrowed from one of the Armour-smiths, who run around gathering materials as if she was possessed. ‘Would you rather make me happy, or him ecstatic?’ Kitten Biscuit allowed the question to sink in for a second.
‘I really know nothing!’ Elf started to lose his attitude. It was not enough for Kolkeskal however. He did not like to torture his prisoners, but he disliked repeating himself even more.
‘Have fun, Agent Sunshine. Agent Plump Helmet, make sure the prisoner still can talk when I return. I need to speak with the miners about excavating us some proper working space. I should be back in around an hour.’ Kolkeskal has left the room as the elf started to shriek in fear.
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ImageShack.us After he returned the prisoner has told him everything he knew, and quite a few things he did not know as well. Only worthwhile thing they got out of the elf, before he expired, was knowledge how to make proper arrows.
~~~~~
Meanwhile Flame was trying out the unfinished Danger Room, with surprisingly good results.
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