02 Moonstone 86“Airith? Airith! Where’re ye takin’ Ryukan? Airith!”
I really hope she remembers to feed the baby!______________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader. 13 Moonstone 86I’ve been finding reasons to pass by the masonry every day, but I haven’t yet heard Ryukan crying. So it would seem that Airith isn’t completely lost to the rest of the world. But, she has been running around gathering a number of things.
Well, my beloved does have good taste. I wonder what this latest project of hers is?
17 Moonstone 86Isn’t my wife something!
And it’s worth over 80,000
☼!
Huh, maybe I can use this to make the cavern entrance, instead of constantly constructing/deconstructing that wall. I just need to get it linked to a lever.
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22 Moonstone 86Once again, the dwarf took advantage of his secret door-opening mechanism. Slipping out, he trod the now-familiar path to his hidden alcove. Reaching it, he was faced with a slab of rock which, to any other dwarf, would appear to have fallen during one of the mythical earthquakes which were said to be frequent when the world was born, but that no living creature had ever experienced.
The dwarf knew better, however. He had installed that slab for a single purpose, and he used it now. Carefully setting out his items on it, he sat and chanted.
After more hours, he finally rose, and packed up his altar.
He slipped back through the wall, but something about the cavern's stillness was different. For creatures that happened to be sensitive to such things, there was a sense that it might almost be…waiting.
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Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.02 Opal 86
Mud? Pshaw! That’s going to be even easy than the glass/gem monsters. The poison? Not what I wanted to hear. But, neither of the other ‘dangerous’ attacks proved to be any concern. I’m sure Imic has trained his soldiers well, and that he should be able to deal with this easily enough.
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06 Opal 86Udil was eager for battle, and raced down the Central Spire to the cavern entry. He reached it at the same time as the glorified gob of mud, and started laying about with his axe.
“Ye ain’t gettin’ up these stairs. No sirree! Not on my watch!”
He hacked off one of the feet, slowing the monster’s forward progress, just as Rigòth and Sky arrived to lend a hand.
In retaliation, the monster breathed out a noxious cloud of fumes that seemed to cling to everything it touched, including Udil and Rigòth.
Just then, a bolt flew past the dwarves, burying itself deeply into the monster’s body. The jiggling glob of mud seemed to shiver, then visibly trembled, before finally collapsing into a harmless pile of wet dirt, with a final exhalation of toxic fumes.
The dwarves turned to see Orda standing at the top of the ramp, crossbow still in the firing position. At the identical looks on their faces, he shrugged. “What? You do realize you’d slowed it down for me, right?”
Udil coughed suddenly. “Yeah, right.”
Then Rigòth coughed. “Let’s get out of here. I need some fresh air.”
Of one mind, the four moved away from the unbreathable air. It would take time for the fumes to dissipate.
On their way up, Orda turned a thought over and over, barely noticing that the coughing seemed to be increasing, rather than decreasing, as they moved away from the latest corpse.
Why don’t these dwarves use metal bolts? Surely they realize silver is highly superior to bone when dealing with actual fighting. Halfway back to the soil layers, he came to a decision.
I’ll talk to Mooney about it. At the least, it’ll make them aware that there’s a better option.07 Opal 86And what comes? MUD! Don’t the Ancient Ones understand? I need something that will stand up to steel!The dwarf fumed as he worked.
Then again, that coughing… Maybe the Ancient Ones are subtler than I gave them credit for.______________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.08 Opal 86Orda, Rigòth and Udil have been infected with beast poison & gone to the hospital, but somehow so far Sky seems fine. I quickly designated two more beds for them.
Dr. Urist has gone to tend them. I fear for their lives, but which will kill them, the poison? Or our good ‘doctor’?
I need to add a proper hospital room to the digging list.
10 Opal 86Our three brave defenders are rotting away! Dr. Urist isn’t holding out much hope that any of them will survive, but has started with Rigòth, as the youngest of the afflicted.
Sarvesh, Aban, Sky, and Spriggans are spending all of their time in the temple, praying to every deity known to dwarf, and the rest of us are not far behind. This is the first serious illness in the village, and our morale is suffering as a result.
12 Opal 86Apparently Orda was easy to deal with. Dr. Urist took a single day, and cleared him for duty. She’s back at Rigòth’s side now, excising rotten tissue.
Orda is surprised he’s well again. I can understand that.
14 Opal 86Some of our prayers have been answered, for Rigòth rose from his bed today and stumbled toward the equipment bins, though with both eyes mangled beyond recognition, I have no idea how he can see. Maybe he’s smelling them, instead?
That boy really is tough, but I’m sure Sarvesh and Aban are relieved that their son is better.
Dr. Urist has now turned her attention to Udil, who is the most seriously ill.
15 Opal 86Thank Armok I never got rid of that gypsum powder we imported so many years ago! Udil seems to need a cast on every single part of his body.
20 Opal 86Amid all the worry over Udil’s continuing sequestration, a little joy is a precious gift.
Airith and I celebrated quietly away from the others. Sky and Spriggans don’t need our good fortune rubbed in their faces as they agonize over their firstborn.
22 Opal 86Dr. Urist has made it quite clear that we need to keep a lot more gypsum plaster on hand. She used both bags of the stuff, and all of our splints to stabilize Udil’s injuries. She even had the carpenters rush through a couple of extra ones, because we didn’t have enough.
And somehow, through all of that, Udil is still with us.
I’m amazed.
23 Opal 86
We can use another marksdwarf when the keas come calling, so I’ve sent her over to Mooney for equipping and training.
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24 Opal 86Dr. Urist studied the partially-filled vial carefully. The stuff degraded fairly quickly, and salvaging even this much had required quite a bit of ingenuity, and the sacrifice of one of her best pairs of gloves.
Still, this may be the missing ingredient I’ve been looking for.Pulling a sheet of paper closer, she got to work.
26 Opal 86How is it possible? Three of them were sickened with forgotten beast poison, and all three recovered! Couldn’t even one of them have died?Sitting in his little alcove, the dwarf wasn’t chanting this time. Instead, his elbows were propped against the slab of rock and his head was resting on his folded hands.
Then again, I’ve heard that Dr. Urist spent a lot of time during the earlier years studying poisons. And she clearly figured something out from all of her tests. I’m going to have to neutralize her if I want poison to be an option. And I happen to like that dwarf. She’s not afraid of pushing boundaries. And that’s exactly what’s making her a Problem.______________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.04 Obsidian 86Udil is finally hobbling around the village, after almost a month confined to bed. Sky and Spriggans both heaved a great breath of relief and went back to work. But that boy is now wearing every single splint we have. How can he even move? And, like Rigòth, his entire body seems to be one massive scar.
Imic is of the firm opinion that it serves him right for insisting on using a copper axe ‘just like his pop.’
I need to get Aban to melt that down.
07 Obsidian 86After digging out the new hospital room, complete with a water source, courtesy of the aquifer, I went to check on Ingish again. Of course, he was on yet another drink break, but he has made some visible progress.
And the spores from caverns are spreading into the new areas, so by the time Ingish finishes, at least one of the pastures should be ready for occupation by grazers.
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11 Obsidian 86Having used up all of the current giant porcupine teeth, Rith headed out to get some logs for Spriggans. She was well away from the safety of the palisade when a terrible scream rose from the jungle. A flash of movement erupted into a monitor lizard at full charge, headed straight for her.
Fortunately Besmar, who was gathering plants nearby, also charged in her direction. Firing his single bolt, he then converted his crossbow into a hammer and started bashing the oversize lizard. Her eyes widening in memory, Rith plunged her hand into her pocket and pulled out her own weapon. Pounding with a vengeance, the *large green glass gem* proved harder than the lizard’s head.
The resulting mess was rather awe-inspiring.
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Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.12 Obsidian 86
It turns out, that male giant camel I bought in the spring? It's actually a female. So we’ll show even more progress than I hoped but…how did I miss that? I mean, once you look, it’s obvious she’s missing something.
I must still have been in a fog of new fatherhood. Yeah, I’ll go with that.
20 Obsidian 86After over a year of working with them, Sigun seems rather more confident with capuchins now.
25 Obsidian 86Once we finish with the pastures, we’ll be ready to liberate some more iron from the aquifer-bearing layers.
All we’re waiting for now is for Nil to smooth the walls, so that they don’t leak and we can see where to dig.
28 Obsidian 86A new year is about to start, and the sand is going in the wrong direction!
I’m going to buy flour from the humans, though it’ll definitely put us over the import cap. But, what matters is that we’re under it after the dwarven traders leave, right? And with the monsters in the cavern, Us and Idur are nervous about venturing into the caverns to fish from the lake. They’ll only go if they have a squad as bodyguards.
Well, fortunately that’s easy to arrange these days. And Dr. Urist is finally connecting the lever to our new floodgate door, which will make access much easier.
OOC: I was really expecting to lose at least one of the three (my last encounter with a FB spewing "poisonous vapors" ended up killing nine dwarves, because they got infections before they could be cleaned with soap), and I don't know how Orda didn't get an infection (as I don't have a soap factory set up yet).Current character list:
ùshrir (NCommander) Anvildimples (woodcrafter/animal trainer/weaponsmith) -> NCommander (alive)
Vutok (Spriggans) Pleatsteels (wood burner) -> Spriggans (alive)
Ral Scalemerchant (brewer/cook) (alive)
Uvash Toolsport (carpenter) (alive)
Mestthos Stafftown (furnace operator/papermaker) (alive)
Edzul Lanternnotched (cook) (alive)
Lorbam Clawdike (bookkeeper/manager/woodcrafter) (alive)
Akrul Glazeletter (manager) (alive)
Feb Blockadeunion (tanner) (alive)
Sigun Pulledroof (animal trainer) (alive)
Olin (Lyra) Coppertargets (carpenter) -> Lyra (alive)
Catten Fencedlearned (furnace operator) (alive)
Zutthan Paddledact (thresher/spinner/shearer) (alive)
Minkot Bannerthrone (planter) (alive)
Mebzuth Cudgelleaves (glassmaker) (alive)
Äs (Another) Mirrorstockade (mason) -> ☼Another☼ (alive)
Tun Staffpacked (fish cleaner) (alive)
Rith Vesselglaze (bone carver) (alive)
Nil Goldenname (engraver) (alive)
Ast (Lotu) Sizzlediron (miner)-> Dame de la Licorne (alive)
Kadôl (Airith) Helmflashed (architect/mason) -> TheImmortalRyukan (alive)
Sodel Stockadecharmed (weaver/clothier) (alive)
Erib Razordrinkers (butcher) (alive)
Logem Laborgirders (gem cutter/woodcrafter) (alive)
Olon Worshipglazed (leatherworker) (alive)
Sarvesh Mirrorsling (shearer/spinner) (alive)
Aban Ransackedmansions (carpenter) (alive)
Kogsak (Imic) Stokerblocked (axedwarf/woodcutter) -> Imic (alive)
Udil Roomrouts (axedwarf/woodcutter) (alive)
Rigòth Tinchant (axedwarf/woodcutter) (alive)
Cawcul Polishedautumns (human axeman/woodcutter) (alive)
Xetan Anguishedgarnished (human axeman/mercenary) (alive)
Likot (Mooney) Tongsgirder (marksdwarf/herbalist) -> MoonyTheHuman (alive)
Besmar Minepink (marksdwarf/herbalist) (alive)
Ustuth Shieldfences (marksdwarf/herbalist) (alive)
Orda Sizzledbulbs (human crossbowman/herbalist) (alive)
Medtob Boatsmessiah (marksdwarf/herbalist) (alive)
Lokum (Sky) Weaksilvers (hammerdwarf) -> Skyclimber (alive)
Ino Talllistens (human hammerwoman/mercenary) (alive)
Geño Oracleclimax (human swordswoman/mercenary) (alive)
Gel Hoofshower (human lasher/mercenary) (alive)
Rigòth Dikepage (speardwarf/mercenary) (alive)
Urist (Dr. Urist) Drilledhatchet (doctor/engineer) -> Gwolfski (alive)
Udil Lockedringed (dwarf poet/planter) (alive)
Us Authoredglazed (fish cleaner) (alive)
Idur Skunkpartners (fisherman) (alive)
Vucar Labordrinker (dwarf poet) (alive)
Mafol Appearedrocks (dwarf bard) (alive)
Rith Castlemoistness (dwarf poet/baroness consort) (alive)
Towhot Wavyhollow (human bard) (alive)
Ciko Clangorges (human bard) (alive)
Sahthet Helpedcages (human dancer) (alive)
Sath Violentcrescent (human poet) (alive)
Masami (elf poet) (alive)
Lulo (elf poet) (alive)
Cequova (elf poet) (alive)
Oda (elf poet) (alive)
Momuz Tradevault (dwarf poet) (alive)
Perad Faithrumor (human poet) (alive)
Kivish Bentglazes (dwarf bard) (alive)
Id Craftcrabs (child) (alive)
Tobul Cloisteredmoistened (child) (alive)
Litast Citystorm (child) (alive)
Solon Pageletter (child) (alive)
Stodir Hallesteems (child) (alive)
Endok Boltprairies (child) (alive)
Datan Paddledclutches (child) (alive)
Thîkut Doorpattern (child) (alive)
Edëm Glacierpaddle (child) (alive)
Rovod Claspedlearns (child) (alive)
Goden Keytooth (child) (alive)
Litast Factionmountains (child) (alive)
Avuz Loverknife (child) (alive)
Lokum Tangledattics (child) (alive)
Ingish Blockadesound (child) (alive)
Rakust Worktangle (child) (alive)
ïteb Craftsstood (child) (alive)
ònul Girdersnarl (child) (alive)
Led Ringropes (Bob) (child) -> Timeless Bob (alive)
Cilob Cloisterportals (Ryukan) (child) -> TheImmortalRyukan (alive)
Shorast Dotcudgel (baby) (alive)
Sigun Goldburied (baby) (alive)
Tayldis (kobold thief) (dead, cause of death: elf, d.81)
Logem Echoworked (outpost liaison) (alive)
Dodok Charmedmirror (king) (alive)
Doren Geniusnet (queen consort) (alive)
Bomrek Whiptrailed (Swordgangs leader) (alive)
Meng Baldarrow (Swordgangs trader/Bomrek’s assistant) (alive)
Dastot Brimsrelics (dwarven caravan lead trader) (dead, cause of death: dwarven hammering, d. 83)
The Master (alive)
Deities -> This links to the most recent post containing our deities.
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Topic: The Story of Atölasob (A Community Fort with an Export Challenge) (Read 60362 times)