Journal of Yeol I, Legendary Armorer and Emperor of All Dwarves
15th Timber 268
The liaison arrived to Gemclod proper today. Of course she was eager to meet with with Gemclod's representative, so I pointed her in Boing's direction. However it seems that Boing no longer had the authority to deal with diplomats.
I told the diplomat she might want to make herself comfortable as she's probably going to be here for a while. Making CommaToes baron of Gemclod is the best decision I've ever made.
17th Timber 268
A giant mole emerged from the Stairs of Certain Doom.
It was quickly put down. I'm really starting to wonder why the previous overseers even bothered walling off the caverns.
19th Timber 268
Finally, some actual doom. I sent some squads down in the caverns today, and as soon as nimby opened the door, she was greeted by this:
Bad Munki screamed about Cona this time, so that's what it's called. Let's see what this one can do. If nothing else, nimby uses a warhammer so it shouldn't be over too quickly.
(Archiver's note: copypasting Sirocco's illustration for reference:)
Unfortunately, by the time reinforcements arrived and someone opened the door, Cona had been thoroughly tenderized.
And not only was nimby perfectly fine, but apprently there were also bite marks on Cona.
What the hell? Beating it to death with a warhammer wasn't enough of a challenge for you nimby? Felt the need to show off?
Oh yeah, and the moment someone opened the door nimby delivered the killing blow. There was a big cloud of steam or gas or something too, but according to nimby, Cona did that the whole battle and it didn't do anything. I guess that's a good thing for Warm Body and Zahrkon who opened the door. And nimby too. Who, again, doesn't have so much as a bruise or a scratch.
Those "creatures from the depth" or whatever you call 'em are just for show, methinks.
21st Timber 268
Y'know what? I'm bored, and I've just about had it with the banging on the forge door. Whatever's on the other side is gonna get cut to tiny pieces. I told the Crystals of Legend they have two days to prepare.
23rd Timber 268
Today was the day.
(Archiver's note: remember Keihao?)
Veinless, Dire, 2M_Gargantua and M. c. P. assembled, more than enough to take whatever is on the other side. I was watching from a distance since I was curious about what had made that racket for the past nine months while I was trying to work. The door was opened.
It was a worm. A big worm, that for more than nine months had been banging on the door with its, well, not head, but its front end. Yeah, big fucking deal, we've just slaughtered ancient things that have seen the birth of the world. And now this? An overgrown worm?
At least that's what I think I said. It might have taken offense, which I guess was sort of justified, but what it did next was completely uncalled for. I might have been a bit insensitive there, but look, doing that kind of shit isn't going to help its cause. We could have had talked about it like adults, but it had to go and make things hard.
So yeah, it threw 2M_Gargantua in the air with a big cloud of dust that also caught Dire.
It then flew up and started circling the cavern, not doing anything.
It seemed to be waiting for something.
At that point 2M_Gargantua and Dire, unlike M. c. P. who by then had also entered the cavern, weren't taunting the worm to come down and fight.
The door was immediately locked under threat of getting thrown into the elfcinerator.
M. c. P. is still on the other side, apparently unharmed seeing as he'd banging on the door and begging to be let in, but that door is staying locked unless the worm is killed, and a lengthy quarantine period goes by.
The worm is still flying overhead too, from what he's screaming. It'll tire eventually, I'm sure.
I'm kind of pissed about the three adamantine axes we've lost to this, though.
Bobbin Threadbare wrote :-
My bucet frend is a baron! He told me today the overseeer sayed he was the baron now so he is. I asked him wy and he sayed it is becus he is so kw cwy
"Mama! How do I spell 'quiet?'"
"With a 'Q,' dear."
qwyit. So now I am trying to be qwyit and may be the overseeer will say I am a baron. I woud lik to be a baron. Then dwarfs woud lisen to me and get me mor sweet meets and cats. I lik cats. Then after the bucet baron sayed this some on came in with a nother bucet for him so I hid behind the bucets. I only told Penguingo abowt him and no on els. Penguingo stil don't beleev me becuz she says only a hed fits in a bucet. Silly Penguingo! The bucet baron hids UNDER the bucets lik I did! Hes very nice and lets me eet his left overs.
markus_cz wrote :-
Talking about forgotten beasts, I believe we've missed this. The random number generator once again nailed it:
M.c.P wrote :-
An Excerpt from the Work Journal of M.c.P
Day XX
Another glorious day in this dwarf's army! Well, perhaps not so glorious. The close of fall is a very wet time of year, and my squad's patrols are all the more miserable for it. My squad, yes, I don't care what 2M_Gargantua and Dire have to say about it, the Crystals of Legend has one warrior good enough to fight the Arrogant Ones, and that's me. Don't rightly know why I didn't get into the military before I came to Gemclod. Fish aren't nearly as interesting to gut. Well, so I hear. I haven't honestly fought anything outside our training sessions.
Day XO
So, Overseer YeOldeButcher is tasking the military with clearing out the caverns! And so far, we've no casualties! Looks like we're the next squad up to task, the other two seem excited. I hope I'm the one to add a forgotten beast as the first notch on my axe.
Day XY
The squad and I are stationed in the forges at the moment, YeOldeButcher wants the civilians to clear the area before we open the door. Seemed kind of impatient, but its understandable. The Gemclod army is strong, but that's no reason for laziness! There's been a knocking at the forge door the caverns though. I remember it since I first got here, but I don't think I've ever been bothered by it. Dire seems nervous, I personally can't understand why. I guess I should feel nervous too, we don't really know whats behind the door.
Here's the messenger, the forges are clear. Time to kill a Beast.
Day OX
My name is M.c.P. Formerly a fish cleaner, now a young soldier in the Gemclod army. These are possibly my last words. If the great worm in the caverns has not been slain, I urge you, beware its deadly dust, seal the door this journal lies next to and never open it again.
Dire and 2M_Gargantua, my squadmates in the Crystals of Legend, are dead. The creature killed them with some dust that paralyzed their functions. I was seconds after them through the door, just behind enough to miss the fumes. Dire fell staring at me, muscles rigid and tense, twisting his face into a gruesome rictus. Every part of his body became like granite, except his eyes that pleaded with me to help somehow, to rescue him. I couldn't. Before too long, something broke behind his eyes and I knew he and 2M_Gargantua were dead.
The beast flew away after breathing on the two dwarfs. I don't know why. I can still see it now, circling the cavern. It has to know I'm here, it HAS to. Even while I write this I expect it to suddenly descend to the forge doors and rend me limb from limb. Sirab help me but I've never felt so powerless in my life.
Shortly after my squadmates died I tried to get back into the fortress. To safety. The door was locked though. I thought I heard voices, so I shouted to be let in. I think they knew I was the only one left, though. The door didn't open. That was hours ago, I've since shouted myself hoarse. In a way I can agree with their decision. I'm just one dwarf after all, and not a particularly skilled one. I just, I never though I'd be on this side of the door.
Day OO I don't fucking know
I've been crying. First time in a while, actually. I'm starting to get sober and my nails have been chewed to pieces and I'm crying like a baby. I don't know if the smelters can hear me. If they can, they certainly haven't opened the door. The Crystals of Legend, the Crystal of Legend lies here like some sacrifice to the deeps. Dire and 2M_Gargantua would have loved to see me like this. Queen Bitch of Gemclod, I would hear them say behind their backs. Because I railed them to keep up practices. Because I didn't care about their lives outside of our training and patrols. I used to pretend not to care about it. Seeing Dire stare at me now, I'd give up Longland beer just to hear them mock me again.
The worm still circles overhead. I just wish he would kill me.
I couldn't be bothered to look up Dire and 2M_Gargantua's traits, so I just winged it. YeOlde, do you have any idea how I got out of the caverns? I've never heard of Dwarves opening a Forbidden Door, but I guess there I am, stationed in the forges. Do you think I found another way out of the caverns?