Showing posts with label Meng. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meng. Show all posts

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Channeltree Surprise

Pop. 145, Early Autumn of 355 (Year 104)

To the surprise and delight of the fortress, Urdim Channeltree's widow, Meng, gave birth to a baby boy 7 months after her husband's death. Sakzul's birth was a glimmer of hope after his father's tragic death.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Dragon Legacy

Pop. 165, Early Winter of 339 (Year 88)

The Dragon Etog Ngobsulo Slakga Zangu has come! A gigantic reptilian creature. It is magical and can breath fire. These monsters can live for thousands of years.

A new dragon was captured! Not only that, but it was discovered that Etog has strong connections to three of the four dragons that perished during the Rampage of Tob. He is the former mate of Ibmat, the fortress's first dragon, the father of Slusa, the youngest adult dragon, and the son of Istrath, Relicshield's largest dragon.





Meng II Lanterngaze-Channeltree has her work cut out for her in training Etog. Hopefully she and Etog will live up to the fine legacy left behind by Meng Roughwhips and his dragons.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Return to the Caverns

Pop. 167, Late Spring 338 (Year 87)

With more forgotten beasts entering the lower reaches, it was decided to bring Ibmat's two oldest hatchlings into service earlier than originally planned. Several of the best warriors of Relicshield ventured into the Second Cavern to hold back any forgotten beasts that might approach before the dragons were ready. Two forgotten beasts rushed the reopened area, but were quickly dealt with.

The Forgotten Beast Zitha Siga Sedast has come! A gigantic quadruped composed of steam. It has a stubby horn and it undulates rhythmically.

Zitha was no match for Stakud II Roughwhips-Lanterngaze, daughter of the legendary dragon trainer, Meng Roughwhips.



The Forgotten Beast Kosmza Sodorosnong has come! An enormous three-eyed mosquito. It has a long, straight horn and it undulates rhythmically. Beware its hunger for warm blood!

Deler, patriarch of of the Anguishedpages family, slew the next creature to emerge. Though known for his prowess with the sword, Deler defeated Koz with a shield strike.



Friday, December 6, 2013

Meng and His Dragons

Pop. 169, Late Summer of 336 (Year 85)

Perhaps Meng Roughwhips was prescient. Soon after he appointed an apprentice to help with dragon training, a forgotten beast even mightier than Engror Crypthate ventured into the Second Cavern.

The Forgotten Beast Tob Omsostacnu has come! A gigantic sauropod with external ribs. It has large mandibles and it undulates rhythmically. Its dark violet scales are large and close-set. Beware its deadly dust!

The four largest dragons of Relicshield took on the monster, but its deadly dust and frozen extract proved to be a match for dragon fire. Istrath, Ibmat, Slusa, and Mistrum all perished, but before they died, they took the forgotten beast with them. Meng Roughwhips refused to abandon the wounded dragons during the battle and died alongside them :(. Thirteen dragon hatchlings remain, but the two eldest have nearly thirty years before they reach adulthood. For now, the Second Cavern has been abandoned. Once the brood of Ibmat reaches 51 years of age, the dragons of Relicshield will return to the underworld to do battle!

A New Apprentice

Relicshield, pop. 170, Early Spring of 336 (Year 85)

The legendary dragon trainer Meng Roughwhips has worked alone for over a decade. His first apprentice was his daughter-in-law Nish Anguishedpages-Roughwhips, but she died during the Tantrum Spiral of 323. At 114 years of age, Meng knew it was time to find a new apprentice to pass on his skills. Many dwarves clamored for the position and the chance to work with the fortress's dragons, but only one was chosen. Meng found the perfect candidate in Meng II Channeltree-Lanterngaze, an unrelated 33-year-old dwarf with no prior experience, but high potential. As prep work for working with the dragons, Meng II was tasked with training a new generation of war grizzlies. With the plague of stunted growth a thing of the past, war grizzlies have returned to service as trade network guards.

Monday, July 8, 2013

25 Down

Pop. 75, Autumn of 325 (Year 74)

The Evils of Spray returned in force, hoping to take advantage of the Mountainhome's weakened state. The goblins were sorely disappointed. One untrained reservist was killed in battle, but the invaders were crushed and scattered.

Meng the dragon trainer survived the loss of his left leg due to the ghost attack. Despite hobbling on crutches, he still commands the respect of Relicshield's dragons. All four adults are now masterfully trained.

25 forgotten beasts have thus far failed to breach the Mountainhome's defenses. The majority of them have been blasted away by dragonfire, but twice a twisted creature so horrifying arrived that the dragon hatchlings cowered in fear and refused to attack. The hatchlings were brought back to the Dragon Den on the surface. As expected, the adult dragons are far more aggressive, so now Slusa and Istrath guard the second cavern's entrance.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Bembul's Revenge

Pop. 76, Autumn of 324 (Year 73)

The ghost of Bembul Earthennourishes, the dwarf who started Relicshield's tantrum spiral appeared. The apparition attacked Meng the dragon trainer, tearing off his left leg :(! A slab is being engraved to put this foul spectre to rest!

Slow Recovery

Pop. 73, Spring of 324 (Year 73)

Kol II and Ilral Treerooms welcomed their son, Shorast, into the world, the first child born since the unrest of the previous year. The last of the riots have finally died down, with all citizens at least content. Meng Roughwhips stepped down as mayor to once again devote time to the dragons of Relicshield. The new mayor, Mosus II Anguishedpages, has proven quite popular with her lack of demands and mandates. With no other nobles at the moment, the legendary weaponsmith has become the de facto leader of the Ancient Gravel. Dishmab Shootwondered-Vesselbrain, the heiress apparent, has deferred her ascension to queen until the capital has fully recovered.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Trouble Brewing

Pop. 134, Spring of 323 (Fortress Year 72)

Tragedy struck throughout the fortress when 2 well-liked citizens, Mayor Onol Lanterngaze and Ingiz Neutraloiled, passed away from old age. With the deaths so soon after the loss of Dewboy II Lanterngaze to troglodytes, Bembul Earthennourishes went insane and was promptly slain by nearby soldiers. The majority of the fortress became quite upset at these developments, forcing the nobility to halt all major projects. Dragon tamer Meng Roughwhips was elected as interim mayor during this troubled time. Time will tell if he can help King Urist and Duke Phyllite calm the masses before riots break out.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Whip It Good

Pop. 129, Spring of 317 (Year 66)

Construction of the magma-powered Deep Forge complex was completed, finally achieving energy independence for the fortress! Meanwhile, Nish Roughwhips tamed her first dragon. Along with her father, Meng Roughwhips, the number of Relicshield's tamed dragons has been increased to 9. The remaining 3 adult dragons Ibmat, Istrath, and Slusa have remained trained and relatively docile, but it's likely all three will always have a touch of the wild.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The Forgotten Trio

Pop. 132, Summer of 315 (Year 64)

Several children came of age this year, including Nish Roughwhips, daughter of Meng the dragon trainer. It was no surprise that she decided to follow her father's footsteps. Surely a blessing from Armok, another dragon emerged from the wilds soon after!

The Dragon Slusa Ongongxosna has come! A gigantic reptilian creature. It is magical and can breath fire. These monsters can live for thousands of years.

The dragon was lured into the trade tunnels, but a meddling goblin snatcher distracted it. The snatcher was caught in a cage trap, while the dragon stopped directly in front of another trap. The beast just stared at the captured goblin and refused to come further. The newly promoted Commander, Olivine Scalygranite tried to lure the beast closer, but the beast paid her no heed. Finally, the marksdwarf Litast Twinkledurns volunteered. Armed with the artifact chestnut crossbow, "Mountaindeclined the Heroic Evaporation," he took up position then shot a single bolt at the dragon. Slusa immediately turned from the caged goblin to attack, immediately setting off the next cage trap.

The youngest adult dragon in the fortress at 76 years of age, Slusa took easily to dragon trainer Meng's instructions, becoming expertly trained in a single session. With the initial training out of the way, Nish took over as trainer for the Mountainhome's newest dragon. With a second male in the dragon pit, the fortress could breath easier when committing the 500 year old Istrath to battle.

Meanwhile, in the caverns three forgotten beasts arrived in quick succession. After the terrible losses inflicted by Engror, the fortress was on alert.

The Forgotten Beast Oson Tostrasmaspest has come! A gigantic beakless swan. It has a pair of spindly antennae and it has a gaunt appearance. Its pale pink feathers are patchy. Beware its deadly spittle!

The Forgotten Beast Leto has come! A huge one-eyed swift. It has two short horns and it squirms and fidgets. Its teal feathers are long and sparse. Beware its poisonous vapors!

The Forgotten Beast Utes has come! A towering three-eyed ankylosaurid. It has thin wings of stretched skin and it belches and croaks. Its indigo scales are large and close-set. Beware its webs!

Oson slipped past the cave-in trap due to a terrible oversight with hatches :-[. Luckily the beast was far weaker than Engror. Oson was quickly surrounded by the squad on cavern duty and slain by the axedwarf Mosus Graniteright.

Leto was more of a challenge. By this point, several dragon hatchlings had been brought to the cavern entrance and placed behind fortifications. However, the forgotten beast's poisonous vapors seemed to confound the dragons. They refused to breathe fire and did their best to keep their distance. Perhaps Leto understood the potential for dragonfire, so it kept its distance, too. Luckily the stare-off had Leto positioned directly under the cave-in trap and the creature's fate was sealed.

The little dragons of Relicshield had no such qualms when facing Utes. Once the winged ankylosaurid came within range, the hatchlings let loose with jets of flame. Not even a corpse was left when the smoke dissipated.

http://mkv25.net/dfma/movie-2557-forgottenbeastvsdragonhatchlings

This is a well-crafted gabbro memorial to Utes.
The slab reads "In memory of Utes / Melted in The Rampage of the forgotten beast Utes in Relicshield in the year 315".

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Taste of Fire

Late Autumn of 312 (Year 61)

After much debate between Duke Phyllite and Meng Roughwhips the Dragon Trainer, Relicshield fielded a dragon in battle for the first time! Edem II volunteered to be the dragon's battlemaster and led mighty Istrath forth. The Evils of Spray received their first taste of dragon fire and soon fled!

Watch Istrath in action!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Combo Squads

Pop. 121, Spring of 299 (Year 48)

After considerable equipment allocation and scheduling issues, the duchy's melee and ranged squads have now been combined to impressive effect. While the melee troops create an advancing shield wall, blocking enemy bolts and arrows, the ranged soldiers quickly incapacitate foes if not outright killing them. The combined barracks and archery ranges have also greatly increased training frequency, with two marksdwarves just shy of legendary status and others well on their way.



The increased mobility of ranged troops has been a great boon. For decades, wagons were barred from Relicshield due to security concerns. While those from the humans are still under consideration, this year marked the return of the full Mountainhome caravan.

Ibmat the Dragon's training has progressed well, reaching expertly trained status. Her trainer, Meng Roughwhips, happened to be the most naturally inclined to such work (thank you Dwarf Therapist attribute-occupation calculator). Even before becoming a dragon trainer, he already had the title "The Planes of Taming."

Meanwhile, Edem II, after years of stunted growth, has been making up for lost time, with 92 kills to his name :D.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Sour Silver

Pop. 79, Mid-Winter of 275 (Year 24)

Momuz Anguishedpages had just turned 12 and joined the military as a budding axedwarf. Unfortunately, the giant Etog Searchtorch decided to attack the fortress on that very day. The teen dwarf stood his ground as the massive enemy's footsteps shook the very earth. Momuz swung his axe, but missed and received a fist the size of a boulder in return. The blow was powerful enough to lift the dwarf off his feet and he sailed several yards through the air to land in a heap. At that moment, the legendary swordsdwarf, Meng Roughwhips arrived and promptly slashed the giant in the back of the head. The attack knocked the giant unconscious, and in three more cuts, Etog Searchtorch was no more. Sadly, the giant's single strike broke Momuz's upper spine. He lost the ability to breathe and died soon after :(.

Later that same winter, the goblins sieged Relicshield, but they sorely underestimated the dwarves. The single goblin strike team was mostly destroyed, with the survivors scattered to the four winds.

Newlywed Olon II Treerooms fell into a strange mood and created Zunekral Avog, The Sour Silver of Dredging, a white stork bone shield.



The artifact was immediately given to Commander Sphalerite, and none to soon!

The Forgotten Beast Lerdi Eslulost has come! A great cardinal with external ribs. It has a curling trunk and it has a bloated body. Beware its webs!

Unlike the first Forgotten Beast, there was no time to use the cave-in trap. Lerdi Menaceterrors was bearing down on the civilians working on the cavern wall project. Armed with his new shield, Sphalerite rushed at the beast, trying to buy time for the workers to flee to safety. But no, Lerdi would not let them escape so easily! It spewed a mass of sticky filaments that covered all nearby. Several civilians were caught, unable to break free. Sphalerite, stronger than the average dwarf, ripped and slashed at the webs covering him, then attacked. More and more webbing covered him and he was pinned to the ground as the beast attacked.

With the alarm sounded, more soldiers soon joined the battle. The axedwarf Goden II Claspletter managed to maneuver behind Lerdi and began to hack into its exposed back. With the other soldiers keeping it busy, Goden II managed to cut the beast completely in two! The foul creature spurted its last web, then fell to the ground. The only injuries were a broken hip for Commander Sphalerite and a broken ankle for Lokum Letterplait-Meshpapers the metalsmith.