By the end of 42, Dwarves had mined two more spans of the vein and founded a Hall of Records where they would store tablets and books—adding a gold-plated ladder just because they could.
Mayor Zefon issued a mandate prohibiting the export of silk goods, aiming to lure more settlers with the promise of silk available only in Asteshdatan. It seemed to work: the population increased to at an all time high of 7 extended families, and thanks to the scribes working in the Hall, an accurate census became possible.
On the 1st of Obsidian, 42, it was written down that Asteshdatan is home to 144 dwarves; one gross, as one of the scribes noted on the margin.
The spring of 43 was marked with the invention of the crossbow, brainchild of Kilrud "Diamondwork" Dorenducim, first prototype fashioned by Urist, son of Ustuth. For sure this was the beginning of a golden age.
***
Out in the goblin corner, things were much more "fun". In 41, most of the leaks causing slow flooding of the area have been removed, and king Azstrog dispatched a troop along with some peons to set up a permanent mining outpost below the gold vein. The Citadel felt less crowded now; out of sight, out of mind.
This was fairly common during that era: goblin colonies were largely independent, but they had to pay tribute in whatever they mined, in order to get supplies and reinforcements from the Citadel. Skilled craftsmen, be they peons or free goblins, were forbidden from moving to the colonies, ensuring that the King controlled the flow of supplies. Conversely, ambitious goblin warriors who might be a threat to the king's rule were often the first to be picked for new colony expeditions.
In 42, goblin miners at last reached the gem cave, a colossal geode lined with many different gems on the inside. Awestruck by their discovery, they celebrated with a sacrifice to the gods of Chaos, before sending word back to the king as they started excavating more of the wondrous cave.
However, their camp was soon beset by Usnos Namo, "The Eel of Decay", a crested, skeletal husk of a snake, easily mistaken for undead. It ravaged the ranks of the miners before the warriors moved in, battering it with a hail of thrown spears and clubs. After a vicious battle, the forgotten beast was hacked apart, but all who received so much as a scratch were lost to the horror of its flesh-eating venom. Such was its strength that their very bodies decayed to bleached bones in a matter of hours.
News of this had reached Azstrog in the autumn. The King was ever so optimistic, as despite setbacks, his new kingdom prospered. He decided more sacrifices should be made to please the dark patrons of the goblins, and by his order several slaves were interred live in an ornate tomb lined with gold.
When winter came, Azstrog took his warriors to personally lead a hunting party. Equipped with nets, spear-throwers and the best trollhide armor the underworld had to offer, they ventured far into the upper tunnels, seeking to find and slay or capture more beasts of old.
By the end of winter, they returned with a beast in a cage. Dangspunngu, "Horridlurk", they called it. A skinless blob with long, thin arms, covered in filth. Its noxious secretions dissolved iron, so the cage had to be gold-plated, which was only fitting for a trophy of this magnitude. The cage (with a secure release mechanism) was placed below the peon warrens, to intimidate them into obedience.
What could possibly go wrong?
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Topic: Oldlands: Age of Dwarves (Read 32287 times)