I dug into legends mode to find some background information about Boardstrap. (Yes, the first thing I found out was that the fortress is NOT named Broadstrap, but Boardstrap, so please accept a few more errors in the current screenshots.) This was really amazing to dig into this 'random' history as so much of it makes sense when (selected) pieces put together, so please enjoy the following writeup.
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Historical background.To understand Boardstrap we must first understand the world 'The Windy Planets' and the dwarven clans.
When the world was made dwarves emerged from the mountains in the west. There are no records of dwaves in the corrupted mountains to the east.
Six clans founded their homes in the foothills and all but one prospered:
To the East: Alåthikud "Boltsreigns". The Everseeing Wheels. The clan was from the beginning of time target for raids by giants and cyclops, and the last dwarf was killed in year 20 by the Giantess Ela Goldenstrong.
On the Northside, - West to East:
Adkûbuk "Sunslanced", The Guild of Watches. Mostly known for their cult dedicated to Nikot Clashclouts the Eagle of Puke. A skeletal dwarf deity for war, death, disease, deformity.
Uroltun "Closedoor", The Skinny Mirrors. Little is known of this fortress that closed its doors to the world. Persistent rumors will have that the current ruler has dropped the traditional worship to the goddess of healing and has started a cult for "Ol Bristlehatchets the Prime Cyclone", - a bronze colossus associated with war and strength.
Tulonzon "Roadhelm", The Long Sabre. Reigned by a childless king.
Melbilkûbuk "Tomelance", The Noble Fortification.
To the south: Nirèrith "Onelabors". The Armory of Fancying
The last two fortresses will be pivotal in the history of Boardstrap.
A thousand years later:
The dark fortress Bemdak "Werepaddled" had been home for evil since the beginning of time where the lizard monster 'Uktang Luridstarved the Lone Belches' had killed the founder and proclaimed itself a diety of mist, disease, deformaty and death. More than a thousand years old it is still ruler of The Citadel of Ruthnessless, The Malignant Tower and The Bad Castle as the indestructible towers were called.
From this hell hole more dark towers was founded: Snamozsnuk "Hatredrelic", Xasnosngokang "Royalcurses", Zangukutsmob "Fortunemenaced", Zodstouksos "Steelstole" and Agakurar "Puzzlingmaligned". The last known for their clan of child snatchers "The Systemic Seduction".
The dwarven clan in Nirèrith had though all time dominated the trade with the elves and humans. This had not always been an easy task with relentless goblins to the west and a very expansive elven counterpart, and a full sized war with the elves had just reached a peace in 1043 after the gates to Nirèrith itself had been under siege. (When the historians are asked for the reason for this conflict they will switch between the answers 'Truthfulness' and 'Treatment of plants'. My humble guess is that claims on lumber limits were involved.)
The outpost Eshtânduthal "Smithworthy" was built as forward base by Nirèrith, but was burned to the ground by the Elves in 842. The dwarven liaison Tholtig Leadmirrored was buried alive under the ruins by the elf Evala Birdpets, - may this atrocity never be forgotten.
The queen of Nirèrith is "Rakust Actrag the Volcano of Routing" (b.949, Reign Began: 987). This warrior queen had personnally brought down 8 elves in the wars and her dragon worshipping consort "Ast Rinseoiled the Circular Limb" had brought the end to another 10 elves himselves. (Yes, many limericks have been made based on his name, and yes, they have 7 kids and more are expected.)
Melbilkûbuk had always been a struggeling fort in the poor north eastern branch of the mountain range. It had been the target of cyclops through history, where the first king "Rimtar Picklancers" was killed in year 9 by the self proclaimed deity, the cyclops Ud Gorgeaged. His daughter "Urvad Taxedmansion" was in turn killed in year 14 by the cyclops Sluslu Dashedtwinkled. (Sluslu was a self proclaimed deity with 873 recorded kills when a hammerdwarf stopped him for good in Boardstrap.)
So kings and queens were getting beaten by cyclops through, and the former queen of Melbilkûbuk "Érith Circlelens" was true to tradition attacked by the old nemesis Ud Gorgeaged, but survived. She died childless in 1045 and into history wanders "Kikrost Containedink".
Kikrost Containedink was born in 948 to a job as a simple wood burner as the child of the fishery worker "Led Granitestilled" and the ranger "Ducim Ragmurders" and married to the fishery worker "Catten Certainbronze". Few pages would have been written on her if it wasn't for the cyclops attack in 986. The vile monsters attacked her home and her husband was thorn apart by the cyclops "Usle Raysrobust". Another cyclops "Anòva Coalcopper" attacked Kikrost son "Alåth Stakebrush", killed him and advanced on the daughter "Urvad Bridgetattoos". But in flew a screaming Kikrost with burning logs in her hand to fend of the one-eyed gigant. She dodged its attack and forced it to flee and though saved her last surviving child.
This story of bravery made was told again and again in Melbilkûbuk, so when it was time to elect a new queen Kikrost was put on the throne.
But Kikrost was not at ease. The daughter was married and alive, but the old nemesis "Ud Gorgeaged" had killed the husband before the bloodline was secured. Seeing how the clan would never grow with the hordes of cyclops in the noth east she hatched a plan: The rival fortress of Nirèrith to the south was still licking their wounds after the war with the elves, so as silent as her diety she sent 7 trusted dwaves to the south of the mountain to create diplomatic relations with the elves and hopefully a fort where the clan could eventually move if the cyclops assaults continued.
This fort became Boardstrap, placed on the edge of the stream 'The Tubes of Conflicts', between the sinister shrubland 'The Blind Naughty Prairie' and the Calm 'Forest of Vises'.
The founding clan took the name 'The Mines of Escorting' to reflect their dwarven origin and their commitment to aid any peaceful traveller in their region. It should be noted that 3 cyclops have attacked Boardstrap, but all have been killed. Among these is "Anòva Coalcopper", the bane of the queen's son.
As a reaction to this Nirèrith rebuilt Eshtânduthal, so the rival queens now each have an outpost on the edge of the elven forests.
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A theological note. The known deities in Boardstrap are:
Comníth Flowermeadow the Meditations of Noiselessness: silence
Dasël Mellowflower the Consideration of Stilling: consolation
Shetbêth Riddlemirrors the Scintillating Sparks: the moon, the night
Sholid the Armored Berries: food, oaths, laws, order
Kol the Luxurious Treasure of Wanderers: wealth, trade
Erib Earthsilvers: minerals, jewels
Etur the Bronze Spines: mountains
Äs: metals
Kat Topscratches: fortresses, war
Os: murder
Mithmis: depravity
Shagul the Legendary Brilliance: thralldom
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Topic: Boardstrap, - Thermal borehole (HMM5 style) (Read 17233 times)