Part IV: Don't Be a HeroThe farmer stumbled out of the workshop, dazed as if just aroused from sleep. He had sealed himself away earlier that month, possessed by an unknown force and filled with a drive to create. With the materials he used, he created an artifact of mighty craftsdwarfship, worthy of Demongate's name. Unfortunately, no-one in the fortress had any legitimate use for this artifact, as it was just an amulet.
"Overseer! A group of migrants has just come within range of the fortress. What do you wish to do with them?"
"I'll have them assigned to masonry and engravings. There ain't enough workers in those fields to refurbish the Miner's Guild after that beast attack before next year. These new workers sure are a welcome asset, and they'll free up some other workers to make those windows that the duke is always mandating."
Torvald stood in the deepest section of the fortress, looking at the mysterious structure in front of him. In his hand was a small ledger on which he kept detailed notes on spears, mechanisms, mine-carts, and traps. Above him, workers toiled vigorously, smoothing rock surfaces, building bridges, and carving tracks into the ground. He walked into the structure itself and began to examine the upright spears that lined the hallways. Many of them still did not have any mechanisms attached, and would therefore be useless in the event of an emergency. Torvald began to take notes on the situation, but he was interrupted by a sudden voice coming from behind him.
"Working on something, Torvald?" the voice asked.
Torvald dropped his notes and pen and spun to face the new dwarf. He saw the familiar face of one from Evening Prayer Group, and in his hand was a crossbow pointed right at Torvald.
"Mister Tarmid!" cried Torvald, "this is certainly a surprise!"
"What are you doing in here?" he asked bluntly.
"Just wanted to see how the traps were going with my own eyes."
Tarmid began to relax and lowered his crossbow.
"You really shouldn't be wandering down here without the committee's approval, and why exactly are you so concerned about the traps?"
"Just felt like there must be something pretty dangerous down here with so many traps."
"The traps are to keep it secure from beasts and invaders, nothing more and nothing less. I would rather that you not wander about in here. Also, why have you authorized work in the old Miner's Guild."
"Well sir, seeing as the Miner's Guild is now inactive, I have decided to refurbish the old base to form my own company: DWEORH. I've begun setting some track to connect my headquarters to the fortress proper, so that it'll be easier to move mechanisms and weapons to the traps."
"Torvald, I will not stop you from placing more traps. I do, however, have an issue of you being in this structure without our approval. I'm going to be placing some restrictions on where you're to be, and until further notice the committee will have you more closely monitored."
"I'm afraid that I just don't——"
"You don't need to understand or to like this, but it's just something you're going to have to deal with."
Tarmid paused for a moment, then added: "Your sister was a good dwarf, but she was careless, and that ended in her death. We act for your safety as well as the safety of the fortress. Good day."
"Vlad! the human law-giver is here!"
"Ugh! Is it another one of the veird fish-monsters?"
"Looks like an ordinary woman from here."
"Vell, fine! Just don't expect Vlad to put on nice suit or anything."
The goblin war-cries could be heard from the hill near the fortress. Just a small squad of mace-wielding goblins, led by one with a crossbow; no problem for Demongate.
"All right lads!" yelled Thane to her squad. "We'll show these bastards a proper welcome!"
She and her squad rushed out of the fortress and up to the hill, where their enemies were busying themselves with the torture of a nearby cat. Thane ran ahead of the rest of the squad, her mighty hammer in her hand.
"Oi! captain! Wait up for the rest of us!" cried the rest of her squad, but they could not calm her blood-lust. When she reached the hill, the goblin leader had already seen her coming. With a cruel grin, he aimed his crossbow, and let loose the quarrel. Thane could see it coming as she reached out to swat it. She watched it as it passed beneath her hand and plunged into the flesh and muscle of her leg. She let out a shriek of pain as she collapsed to the ground, no longer able to stand.
The goblins began to strike at the crippled dwarf, but she refused to be struck by their blows. She dodged, blocked, and fought back with fury. When the rest of her squad arrived, the goblins were already too focused on Thane to notice. Every goblin lost his life during the ensuing battle.
Torvald watched as a fisherdwarf carried the captain down from the hill on his back. He smirked slightly and muttered to himself: "That's what you get for acting like a hero."
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Topic: Demongate: Wrapping up the Loose Ends. (Read 672844 times)