Pair of Arrows

Pop. 143, Late Summer of 353 (Year 102)

The Evils of Spray once again stepped up their attacks. Elite archers have become more common, with one killing Ezumi Freeoil and Ingish II Claspletter, granddaughter of Edem II, in the most recent siege.





A massive enemy host had gathered at the east wall. The East Watch, with a few soldiers from the North Watch, battled their way to the bowgob, while the rest of the military guarded the trade tunnels. Two more dwarves would've lost their lives, but the defenders finally broke through the enemy lines and slew the goblin squad leader.

Atis Blockadetempted and Vucar Gillhandle were rescued, though they each had a pair of arrows embedded in them.



Apparently, Vucar got sick of staying in the hospital and crawled his way out before his treatment was truly finished. He was brought back to the hospital, diagnosed again, then given a crutch.

Abduction

Pop. 160, Late Winter of 341 (Year 90)

Atis and Kosoth Blockadetempted lost their only son, Atis II, to a goblin snatcher.





The news shocked the fortress, as the last abduction of a child happened 80 years ago. Overconfidence was the root cause. Despite a goblin incursion, the order for all civilians to return to safety was never ordered. With siege after siege beaten back, the danger of quick goblin snatchers was overlooked just this once to tragic results.

Final Judgment

Pop. 161, Early Spring 341 (Year 90)

Atis the Vampire languished in prison for 7 years before an appropriate sentence was decided on. While some dwarves pointed out that she would be perfect for the position of bookkeeper and manager, the family of the vampire's victim, Morul Anguishedpages, saw nothing less than death as a satisfactory punishment. As one of the largest families of the fortress, second only to the Channeltree clan, there was little hope for a merciful outcome. The current mayor, Mosus II, had married into the Anguishedpages family and thus recused herself from the decision. Dishmab Shootwondered-Vesselbrain, heiress to the throne, made the final judgment and carried out the sentence with the legendary mace, Drumseer. The fact that the victim was only a child sealed Atis's fate.

Background Checks

Pop. 169, Winter of 334 (Fort Year 83)

The population of the Mountainhome has continued to surge. Migrants were welcomed with open arms and the usual background checks were completely forgotten about. Disaster struck when a toddler was found drained of blood in the middle of the kindergarten! There were no witnesses, but Urdim Channeltree, Captain of the Guard, immediately checked through the written histories of every recent migrant. He found inconsistencies with a spinner named Atis. She was arrested and jailed without food or water.

Seasons passed and when Atis showed no signs of hunger, it was confirmed that she was the vampire. The kingdom's previous vampire was executed on the spot, but most residents of Relicshield felt this was far too kind. The creature has been placed in a secure prison until such time as a fitting punishment has been devised.

Meanwhile, Zefon III of the noble Taxeddagger clan was recently inducted into the military. His great-grandfather, Phyllite I, was the a member of the Original Seven and was the Duke of Relicshield before it became the capital of the Ancient Gravel. The young soldier performed well during his first siege. Though surrounded by legendary soldiers who led the battle in a crimson tide, Zefon III managed to get a killing blow before all the goblins of the Evils of Spray were vanquished.

Another Slayer

Pop. 141, Winter of 309 (Year 58)

The duchy's miners and masons have been hard at work walling off the second cavern when Dusak the Murky Blisters, a forgotten beast of filth and grime, attacked. It breathed great globs of frozen spittle, but the legendary soldiers of Relicshield blocked or dodged each shot. The axedwarf, Cog Slingriddles, landed the killing blow, joining Goden II as a slayer of forgotten beasts. Though the monster was vanquished, other dangers made their mark.



A chance wild fire caught one miner, Geshud Graniteright, who perished before anyone could reach him :(. Fire snake vermin from the nearby magma pool were the most likely culprits, as no fire imps were nearby. A new route to the cavern's edge was mined out, giving the pool a wide berth.

Meanwhile, near the surface, more dwarves fell into strange moods. Atis Anguishedpages died of dehydration when unable to complete her construction and the same fate seemed likely for Ilral Treerooms. Fortunately, simple advice from Laularukyrumo, a visiting scholar from the Mountainhome, helped avoid further tragedy.