So I would like to join this crazy band, name: Jagmeister -- Occupation: Priest or Librarian or Janitor (Otherwise, whatever works.)
You'll be added to the next batch!
Speaking of, the stories of Threegems & Cerol Silverbolt have either come to an end or moved beyond our direct control. Please consider adopting another dwarf! Let me know if you have any particular requests, as usual.
Dwarves already there, as well as new dwarves, are up for grabs!
Part 10 -- Threegems the murderer and Cerol Silverbolt the traitor
6th of Slate, Year 403
A crafter has graced us with a mighty shield made of... What? It's made of giant olm leather?
Well... okay.
More importantly, a wave of migrants has arrived. In light of our growing population, a substantial... set of changes have occurred.
We've expelled ALL the dwarves whome were on the verge of going insane -- if they're not happy here, they can be unhappy elsewhere (excepting special named, dwarves, of course -- they can cause all the trouble they way).
Additionally, everyone has been given a job. Idle hands were contributing to unhappines -- a crafting dwarf is a happy dwarf, afterall.
Our manifests still sort dwarves by their skills, but as they adapt to their new roles, we'll start to see a more organized village in the records.
Key to this reorganization was assigning dwarves to particular jobs in the temples, tavern, and library. We have a variety of dwarves serving ale, singing songs, praising the gods, and discussing important scientific topics (informed by our copious manuals concerning interesting things like "beakers" and "adhesives").
15th of Slate, Year 403
The mayor and militia have seen it fit to assess the world, and our place in it, and in doing so, have found an interesting nearby enemy.
"Portalwhipped," according to the occasional visiting scholar, is an evil tower inhabited by all sort of evil creatures, most practicing necromancy. It's also rumored to be the location of a vast library, containing a number of texts which might be of interest to our scholars.
Given that our troops are still training, we thought it best to send Cerol Silverbolt, Mercenary Extraordinaire out to snatch a few of them. Hopefully she brings back something of use.
26th of Slate, Year 403
Cerol has not returned after almost two weeks -- we're forced to assume she's either dead, or being held captive.
We'll need to consider a rescue operation. The militia is drawing up plans, but I'm not privy to them.
1st of Felsite, Year 403
Today was a
foul day. Goblins were spotted on the horizon -- a small force, like the traitor dwarves. No doubt testing our defenses.
We've closed the gate...
And moved the civilians into the stronghold.
7th of Felsite, Year 403
The militia in training has been sent out! They were given a week to clad themselves in the stolen gear of the traitor dwarves (who are now caged in the dungeons), and didn't hesitate a moment to run out of the gates.
We've managed to capture several of the goblins already, though the others are still lurking. The militia is advancing carefully, such that battle doesn't take place too close to the river.
Fortunately (but really, super unfortunately), one of the goblins bumbled into the final cage trap. This startled the rest, and they retreated -- crying.
The siege is broken! And now we've more
iron gear to steal!
13th of Hematite, Year 403
The miners have started to extract the adamantine. We're going to work carefully, and it's unlikely we'll be able to recover much.
Hopefully enough for a helmet, or a single sword.
28th of Hematite, Year 403
The fortress is running much more efficiently given the new social order. The Mayor's idea to expel dwarves has paid off -- we lost several crafters, but everyone seems to be happier with a specific role, and not having to worry about crazy dwarves.
Threegems continues to be a problem -- she managed to punch a dwarf so hard in the lungs he later suffocated.
Tally, Smudgefist, and Tritus are likewise problematic. There's a dead look in their eyes -- they seem to be malcontent with the comforts of this place. They're often telling stories of the "good old days" of slogging through the mud, building each house brick by brick. They're prone to fits of rage and depression.
On a less severe note, we're planning to move all the mugs to the stronghold! Right now the dwarves march all the way to the gates where finished goods are kept, and march all the way back for a drink. INEFFICIENT!
25th of Malachite, Year 403
We've started work on a roof that will cover the stone-processing area, outside the mines. It will keep the rain off the stoneworker's heads, as well as provide a platform to build more houses atop of.
We've also constructed what the mechanics call a "danger room." It's hard to tell from the illustration included, but it's a hallway lined with training spears that shoot in and out of the floor, intended to train military dwarves.
Their lack of armor is problematic, so the room's been retired. Someone will have to scrub all the blood off the walls.
14th of Galena, Year 403
One of our crafters has made a rather fancy crown! We thought at first it would be for one of the important dwarves, but I take it Sibrek fancies themselves a monarch themselves. Hrmph.
25th of Galena, Year 403
Two days ago the decision was made to attempt to rescue Cerol Silverbolt -- it's been many months, but our militia finally feels it's ready to take on the necromantic menace. They've been told to openly attack, and to focus on rescue.
The dwarves returned -- the battle was fierce, but the plan was a failure.
It's said that Tally came up with a cunning attack plan, and outsmarted the necromancers. The dwarves killed 10, including 9 necromancers!
It's said that Asob
ripped the tongue out of one of their mouths before killing him -- no doubt to stop him from casting foul magic.
In the end, however, they were set upon by 21 zombie humans. They were forced to retreat, leaving Stakud Shinearthen behind.
The good news is that Cerol was nowhere to be seen -- they apparently found her cell, and it was empty. (and she's no longer on the prisoner list).
We're not certain what to make of that.
We'll likely regroup and try again.
27th of Galena, Year 403
Captain Tally's tantrums are growing more frequent. He's a competent fighter. Let's hope he doesn't lose control.
29th of Galena, Year 403
We're continuing to send raiding parties to the tower -- we lose a dwarf here and there, but we're chipping away at their defenses.
6th of Limestone, Year 403
Today was... a complex day.
Threegems has finally lost her mind -- she was meeting with the mayor, to cry on his shoulder. When the meeting was over, she followed him into his bedroom, where she found him sleeping.
Threegems beat the mayor to death! *GASP*
The battle was horrific, but we've gone ahead and locked her in for now. The militia is out attacking the tower, so we can't deal with a crazy dwarf. For the time being, she'll stay confined with the corpse of the mayor.
A new mayor has been elected -- a relatively recent migrant named Tekkud Enasmelbil. He seems rather pleased at the election results.
11th of Limestone, Year 403
The new mayor doesn't seemed bothered by his situation -- he continues to hold meetings in his office, and comes and goes as if nothing horrible is hiding behind those two doors.
16th of Limestone, Year 403The militia returned today, with harrowing news:
Smudgefist, and a collection of his dwarves, were -captured-. Perhaps more terrible, is news of CEROL SILVERBOLT, THE TRAITOR:
Several months after her capture, Cerol managed to escape captivity, and became the leader of the group of necromancers -- their so-called Chieftress!
This will not go unpunished!
However, there are domestic affairs to tend to. The militia will rest, and then deal with Threegems and the mutilated mayor.
18th of Limestone, Year 403The militia was sent to deal with Threegems, today. It went quickly, but the mess was... well... messy.
It's said that Tritus did the killing -- although he normally wrestles, he decided to pick up a steel mace. No doubt he wanted to send Threegems as quickly as possible.
We must now look to the future -- it's time to rescue Smudgfist, and to
murder Cerol Silverbolt.
