Winter 1055, in which Alegate delves too deep.
Maltose, Duke – The miners have taken all the godmetal they can safely take from the edge of the nearest adamantine spire. They have begun to dig probing tunnels in search of other spires, especially the base of that great spire that extends all the way to the deep caverns.
It is slow, dangerous work. If they accidentally breach the magma sea, all our deepest delvings may be flooded. If they move too quick, and hack blindly into the side of an adamantine spire…we know what the legends say are hidden within.
Argus, Broker – Commander Meng has named his steel shield “Bitebusted”. Other veterans are considering naming their own favorite gear. I never picked a favorite weapon. I like all of them.
Argus’ martial skills. He spends all his free time in the practice yard.
Thornbeard, Hunter – Another cold winter above ground. There was no snow, but the rivers froze on midwinter night, marking the anniversary of the loss of Commander Meng’s youngest child. May Zefon Yearlingfountains, goddess of children, protect her soul.
Maltose, Duke – In the coldest part of winter, we opened hell.
Okgush, the wife of Commander Meng, found the base of that great godmetal spire. She chipped away the bits that extended from the spire, then bored a probing hole to see if the spire was hollow. Not only was it hollow, the wall was as thin as parchment.
The peep hole into hell is made.
She had a moment to gaze into the underworld before the screams began. There was dark stone, vertices of purple light, and dark, boiling cloud. Pits dropped down into a red, glowing infinity.
Demons flew, climbed, and floated up the shaft to claw at the gap. They took many strange shapes. Here are some examples, with the names the dwarves gave them:
- Steam Spirit – a towering lizard composed of steam. It has four long, spiral horns and it squirms and fidgets.
- Devil of Cinders – an enormous tarantula composed of ash. It has wings and it has a bloated body. Beware its poisonous bite!
- Flaming Phantom – a towering sloth composed of flame. It has two long, spiral horns and it undulates rhythmically.
- Caddisfly Devil – an enormous scaly caddisfly. It has two long, straight horns and it appears to be emaciated. Its slate gray scales are oval-shaped and overlapping. Beware its fire!
The demons scrabbled at the peep hole but could not squeeze through. Okgush and the others fled. She says that she will never forget the sound of the claws and teeth scratching at the godmetal behind her as she ran. She whispered to me that she hears it all over again when she is alone.
I have ordered a stop to the godmetal digging for now. We already have enough ore to keep our adamantine extractors busy for years.
Fark, Chief Medical Dwarf – Gramma Aril, mother of Okgush and mother-in-law of Commander Meng, is trouble. She started that brawl in 1051 that put four dwarves in my hospital.
When Broker Argus carried her into the hospital today, my first thoughts were uncharitable. No one’s perfect. I may have said something like, “What did you do this time!?” or “No! That one can sew herself up!” There may have been some bad words in there somewhere. I forget exactly what I said, because then I noticed she was cradling a severed foot. Hers. Also, she had monster bites from head to toe. The toes that were left, that is.
That’s me. Mister sensitive. Sorry, Gramma Aril.
Argus, Broker – Gramma Aril took on a giant bat with her bare hands.
She found it in the main stairwell, 37 stories down, eating Alegate’s chief cook. It was as big as our grizzly bear, and covered with blood. But did she run? No, she attacked it with her fists.
A poet and a farmer tried to help, but the poet was killed, and the farmer was badly hurt. Gramma Aril was still trying to fight the thing when the soldiers showed up and killed the monster.
I handed Gramma Aril her foot and carried her up to the hospital. Someone else brought the farmer.
Fark, Chief Medical Dwarf – Gramma Aril will live, but she will need a crutch for the rest of her life. The farmer was lucker – he did not lose any extremities.
Now there are pale dwarves standing around outside the hospital talking about how much blood there is in the main stairwell. Dammit, will someone please clean that mess up? I can’t do everything myself.
Thornbeard, Scout – I found where the monsters are getting in. One of the mines, dug years ago, made a breach in the ceiling of the upper caverns. The miners put a slab over the breach, but it was possible for flying monsters to push up past the slab and get into the main stairwell.
The breach is being walled off now.
Maltose, Duke – We all need a holiday. Good thing the spring equinox is almost here. It is nearly time for a bath, and a celebration of Alegate’s founding! After all, The very word “morale” originally derives from the words “more ale” does it not? Our late cook’s assistants are roasting the giant bat, and the ring of goblinite statues around the fairgrounds has been completed.
It would be well for the soldiers to celebrate, as well, but Commander Meng has ordered all archers to remain in the towers, and has moved the heavy infantry from the deeper levels to the surface. After two years of attacks in the first week of spring, he is certain there will be an attack in the next week.