Journal of Catalyst, Elven Studies MajorAs we enjoyed some of the truly excellent cheeses left by the late Strategia in our stockpile, "Keltiknight" haltingly began to tell me something he had been keeping secret. Apparently he and Katsuun had played a little joke on me, during our trip - you see, he was really Katsuun, and the now deceased "Katsuun" was indeed Keltiknight. For obvious reasons, he felt it was a big awkward to bring this up now.
Ninja rename! Katsuun has the next turn, after all, wanted him to have a dwarf. You'll see why.We are hard at work constructing fortifications around the tower, a solid wall to block us in, made from the only material available - goblin bone. The chaos still rages all around us. We stay close to the tower as much as possible for the sake of safety, but we have all been stricken by a strange sort of confusion, even myself. Perhaps I have been taxing my abilities too hard, trying to not only read, but direct so many, amidst this madness. Even though I know there are important things to do, I find myself wandering off, enjoying mist baths, or acquiring lovely new pig tail fiber dresses. I cannot focus, and I accomplish little. It is as if the madness that has infected so many still gnaws at the minds of the rest of us.
Several more have died. First, Sprout was too weak to dig his way out of his tiny stone prison, and gave in to thirst. Then, Aik met the goblins as they came over the bridge, and was soon cut down for his trouble. LordSlowpoke, the poor foolish child, made it out of my sight and ran straight into them as well. Several more followed, falling to the goblins one by one. At the very least, the distraction they provided managed to keep the goblins confined to the courtyard long enough for Tupu to arrive.
Tupu made short work of several goblins. I tried not to view his mind too carefully, but what I saw... looked like this. It seems Tupu did not bring any weapons to the battle. This might seem like poor preparation, but I saw his mind. He wanted them to suffer. I never thought I would see a dwarf tear off a goblin's head with his teeth.
The most disturbing part? I think he was doing it because he was HUNGRY. He singlehandedly mopped up the few goblins who had made it into the courtyard, and then when I sent him off for a meal, and to pick up the masterwork silver hammer and adamantine helm dropped by Aik, he succumbed to infection. Rest in peace Tupu - another great hero of Failcannon.
The others were not so glorious - many of the dwarves in the hospital finally succumbed to dehydration:
Things were looking grim indeed, and I decided what must be done. We had finally managed to accomplish a few important tasks. Ledi was unconscious at the edge of the Dwarven Diving Board waiting for the lever to be pulled.
(
WHY will no one pull that lever!?)
Lupusater finally died - I felt him slip away peacefully from the world, without a scratch despite the long beating, DuckThatQuacks gave him. Apparently exhausted, I was easily able to egg Duck into retiring to the luxurious new bedroom I assigned him - and as planned. the doors locked securely behind him. But now there's a most odd smell coming from within.
We also managed to seal the main gate, but not before eight trolls made their way in. Fortunately, they had stopped to destroy the trade depot before going further (its always the Trade Depot in this place, isn't it?) Deciding that desperate times require desperate measures, I made my way to it. There was a lever... one I swore never to pull unless all else seemed doomed. The label said "Never Ever." I entered, steeled my resolve, and then I did it. I threw the Never-Ever-Lever.
In my defense, I didn't know what would happen. I had hoped perhaps it would collapse the entire courtyard, killing me, yes, but taking the trolls with me. The fort would be safe then - but no. A wall dropped, and our imprisoned Ettin, worked into a fury by the near-constant spear-pokings it had endured under Aik, charged out at me roaring, and chased me all the way back into my tower, and cornered me in my bedroom. Not knowing what else to do, I bellowed and took a swing at it! This surprised the beast just enough for me to dash past it and get away.
The beast lay in wait in my apartments until Karakzon, apparently wishing to meet with me, blundered past - whereupon it charged out again and chased Karakzon all the way back to the main courtyard again. Let him be remembered as a hero - though he inflicted but one small wound on the Ettin in the process, he did exactly the right thing. He ran to the trade depot, and there he stopped and made his stand. Though he perished soon, the Ettin caught sight of the trolls. His rage was not spent, and immediately he laid about him - wreaking havoc on the invaders.
There's too much of this to show all of it. Here's a small sample.At this moment I decided to go make a nice calf-skull totem. I had the nagging feeling this was NOT the urgent thing I needed to be doing, but, nonetheless. I felt... compelled. Something was off, in my mind, and I couldn't say what exactly. But as so many times before, I found I was not myself.
Suddenly, I became aware of new minds in my vicinity. Migrants! At last! Just four... no... three. But nonetheless, new, sane dwarves!
Unfortunately they will need to stay outside the gate until it is safe to open once again. The Ettin did a fine job on the trolls, but finally the last two, bruised and battered, managed to put it down. They are in a remote corner of our halls, now. Just sitting there. I decided to unleash DuckThatQuacks on them, but on his way to get his axe he ran across the fallen body of Megaman3321, and laid into him once again. He had been laying in the hallway, conscious but immobile, waiting for someone to bring him a crutch. I was actually coming with one myself, when I saw Duck beating him. Needless to say, I fled. I am no fighter.
Many more gave in to thirst - First Flagrarus finally expired. Somewhere in a stockpile deep below I felt his light wink out, followed shortly by Xenos. The last of the demon-possessed insurrectionists are Ledi and DuckThatQuacks - she's still unconscious at the edge of the diving board waiting for someone to pull the damn lever. Why will no one pull it!? Katsuun and I both have tried, and we both get distracted and wander off as soon as we get close. I am starting to thing the presence of the demon-queen is muddling our heads, to protect her servants. Most disturbing.
I wish I could use my abilities to banish her influence - but her powers are magical, infernal in nature. My abilities are something else. The elves say they flow from nature - as worthless an explanation as any the elves give. For many decades I studied the elves and their traditions, to better understand my talent, as much as I loathed the experience. They always insisted that it was not magic, however it might appear. And it seems they were right. Led's powers were still not something I could comprehend, any more than any other mortal mind.
At long last, Duck finished choking the life from Megaman3321, and has stalked off to deal with the two trolls. He never did pick up his axe, yet he's doing admirably nonetheless! It guess beating on two immortal, unconscious people for months on end is the best training.
I have decided it is important that Katsuun and I arm and equip ourselves. We have been wandering the winding corridors of the fortress looking for suitable equipment. So far I have selected an adamantine short sword for myself. It sits by my side now, as I write tonight's entry. Though I have been unable to focus on finding any armor, this sword... it called to me. It cut through my muddied thoughts and...
spoke to me. I felt its presence in my mind, like a dull roar of incomprehensible voices... yet somehow comforting. It sounded a bit like this (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3NZ-fXeNTw)
"YOU WILL SERVE THE QUEEN NOW"
For the record - I have no idea how this happened. Catalyst wasn't anywhere NEAR a fight of any kind.
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So. This will be interesting. :-D I think we've survived the seige, and... maybe the cascade too? It remains to be seen if we can actually get the migrants inside - and if we can deal with the remaining insurrectionists. So long as Ledi doesn't wake up, and Duck (hopefully) is finished off by the trolls, there shouldn't be any big danger...Of course, if they kill off the migrants, perhaps the rebels could take over the fort. That achieves peace, too 
It's 12th Malachite now. Hopefully at this point play will go a bit faster since the crises are not QUITE so ridiculously pressing. Another update tomorrow evening - in the meantime first 3 people to speak up and claim their dorfs get them - reward for paying attention to the thread. It seems like the only reasonable way to do it right now.
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Topic: FailCannon: No Rest for the Wicked (or anyone else) (Succession: Battlefailed 2) (Read 899780 times)