Krysmphoenix wrote :-

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the fort
The dwarves were all drinking, without any a sort.
After all, when living beneath the great halls,
Who could hope to truly see when the sun falls?

The children each played on trumpets of stone,
Deep noises echoing with every breath blown.
The rest of the fortress was ready to feast,
In honor of slaying the forgotten beast.

Markus and Leperfish, in the council room,
Play checkers next to the mushrooms in bloom.
Vox and old Boing glare over the table,
Others prepared should things be unstable.

Emperor Yeol moved with footsteps quite soft,
Watching the dwarves from his private loft.
Yeol then left with a barrel of food,
Ready to hide should the fortress be screwed.

M.c.P. stumbles, with squinty eyes shifting,
Her lack of trust aimed at all the dwarves drifting.
She would not eat the food that laid on her plate,
Thoughts of her comrades would fill her with hate.

Krysmphoenix stayed by the table Atolkon,
Hanging a stocking for the children now gone.
Wishing for Gregen and Tag Plastic were well,
That they may find peace on this very Noel.

Sirocco came in carrying a large piano,
Left behind by elves beyond winter's snow.
Someone tapped loudly with the tip of their lance,
The noise casting all voices into silence.

M.c.P. and Krysmphoenix, together they rose,
The children waiting to play like young little pros.
A piece of light glittered off of Sirocco's ring,
As the dwarves stood ready, ready to sing.



Then Bad Munki rushed in screaming from the roof,
Of creatures that flew on the air with a hoof.
"I've come from the towers, come from the wall.
There is something there. Be quick, and hurry all!"

The marksdwarves rushed up with their crossbows a'ready,
Ready to fire, whether Beast, foe, or teddy.
Under the pale light that shone from the moon,
Was a large bag, labeled with only a rune.

The symbol was one that all dwarves knew at sight,
Yet the dwarves stood away from the large sack that night.
The mark was the symbol of Gemclod, their home,
The fortress made legend in every tome.

"It's a trap, from goblins." Spoke the champion Minty,
"Or the Arrogant Ones, behind every tree."
With Severeancient at his side, he crept to the sack,
And with a single swing, cast into the night so black.

The sack landed in lava, glowing deeply dark red,
And it began to burn, castling light widespread.
In the sack they saw toys and gifts meant for all,
One for every single dwarf that lived in the hall.

In the distance they heard the sound of his sleigh,
As the fat jolly man continued his way.
And they heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight.
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

It's Christmas Time in Gemclod

Sirocco wrote :-

It's Christmas Time In Gemclod

Key: G
Metre: 2/2
Overseer: Bad Munki

Yeah, funny thing about this piece. Even though Bad Munki's name isn't in the title, nor is he mentioned or referenced in the lyrics, nor, indeed, is the song even about him... this was intended and written as his theme. He's supposed to be the singer, so I guess that counts? It wasn't something I really noticed until later. Sorry, Munki!

This piece was fun to write. Beginning of December, feeling a bit festive, and then suddenly the thought hit me - I should write a Christmas song for Gemclod. Once I had thought that there was no way I could unthink it. So I put in a brass section for a few bars a la Yellow Submarine and some tubular bells at the end. I was going to have sleigh bells in there too, but the synth ones just sounded too awful for me to include.

The lyrics came about because I was trying to figure out how to make a Christmas song gel with the world of Gemclod and then I thought maybe Bad Munki could have one of his visions of Father Christmas coming - but maybe he wouldn't understand what he was seeing? The scene I wrote for this was going to end with a description of the dwarves running around in panic, fires blazing, tables overturned, etc. but for whatever reason I decided against it.

MortuusLupus wrote :-

Someone told me Overseer YeOld was angry about something. I hadn't really noticed, but I guess the direct approach wasn't the best. I'll just add that to the list of things my therapist was wrong about doing. Anyway, it's Autumn now, so the holidays'll be on us soon enough. I have something for the whole fortress to enjoy, we can all gather around it together and have a great time. It's a Gutsmas Tree!



Armok has blessed us with so many different things to use as decorations, but since this is my first year here I'll just stick with a traditional design. The intestinal garlands are my favorite. If you put them on right away you get a good week or two of bloating and color changing before they burst, signalling the start of the seasonal festivities. Oh what a wonderful time of the year!

Chariot wrote :-

Twas the night 'fore Uristmas, and all through the fort
Many creatures were stirring, most of them short;
The axes were wielded by dwarves with great care,
In worry that grimlings would soon swarm them there;
Nobody was nestled all snug in a bed,
Since they had no more logs, Comma nearly is dead;

Leperfish and Marcus, (Apocadall wears a dress!),
Had just finished up with a long game of chess -
When up on the surface, there arose such a clatter,
Leperfish ran right over, to see what was the matter.
Up to the surface he ran like a flash,
Screaming about who he'd kick in the ass.

The sunlight reflecting off the sand was red,
Made it look like a battle, with everyone dead;
When, what with his booze-clouded eyes did he see,
But Shorter Than Some, (and a forgotten tree...),
With a grin on his face, his language turned crude,
Leperfish knew he'd been caught by a Mood.

To the nearest workshop Shorter Than Some did rise,
And he screamed at the top of his lungs for supplies:
"Beak dog bones, Beak dog bones, Beak dog bones to me!"
Causing all of those dwarves who were nearby to flee;
To the depths of the fort, to the top of the wall,
If he wanted bones then he could have them all!



...and that's where I got bored.