Earthshields - 264 Early Winter by monkeyfetus

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Points of Interest

• Δ 151. Top of the waterfall

  ( 264 Early Winter to onwards )
  The picturesque waterfall of Earthshields crashes into the river gorge below. The falls claim the lives of all who foolishly attempt to cross the swift shallows by the precipice, invaders and animals alike - monkeyfetus

• Δ 149. The Old "Fortress"

  ( 264 Early Winter to onwards )
  Cage traps line the entrance to the old fortress.
  
  This tiny room once housed the entire population of Earthshields, including workshops, sleeping quarters, farms, and stockpiles for food, booze, and lumber. Now abandoned, it houses an overgrown pet cemetary stocked with all the coffins too shoddily constructed to house the noble dwarves of Earthshields.
  
  A wooden bridge once spanned the gorge here, where the fortress was to be expanded. Progress was halted by the discovery of an aquifer in the layer below. - monkeyfetus

• Δ 146. Archery Range and Gymnasium
  Above the barracks sits an archery range, where Earthshields' marksdwarves practice with bone bolts.
  
  Beside the archery range is the dwarven gymnasium. Off-duty members of the militia train here by manually working the screw pumps. The reasons are three: Firstly, the stout labor trains the dwarves' strength and endurance for combat. Secondly, their skill in pump operation eliminates negative thoughts that otherwise unskilled peasants would recieve during their months of leave, having been temporarily relieved of the only work they have talent for. Thirdly, the shared title of pump operator aids in the identification of off-duty militia dwarves, allowing them to be grouped together in the records and list of population. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 146. Barracks Bridge

  ( 264 Early Winter to onwards )
  A bridge across the winding hall connects the two sides of the outer fortress, allowing for passage even when the hall is sealed off. During a siege, marksdwarves are stationed on this bridge, where they may fire at enemies passing below.
  
  A lever placed here controls the nearby bridge. In the event the barracks is taken by the enemy, the lever may be pulled to retract the bridge and seal off the living quarters. - monkeyfetus

• Δ 145. Dining Hall and Cavern Stairway
  A bridge across the famous winding hall of Earthshields leads to the grand dining hall, featuring smooth marble pillars and seats for 76 dwarves. The far side of the dining hall remains empty for now, set aside for the tables of royalty. - monkeyfetus
• ¶ 145. Entrance and Barracks
  The grand hall carves a winding path two stories high through Earthshields. Engraved here in the marble walls is the history of the fortress: Images of the founding of Earthshields; of coffins, the symbol of its parent civilization, The Sly Rack; of visiting merchants; and of invading goblins and trolls struck down or knocked from the cliffs to a watery grave.
  
  In the event of a siege, the drawbridge to the left, at the entrance to the housing area, can be pulled up to form a stone wall, denying access to invading forces
  
  To the right, the barracks holds three squads of dwarves training near constantly. Frequent, costly attacks by the goblins mean soldiers rarely reach mastery with their weapons before falling in battle - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Grave of Kivish Girderpowers [Story Inside]
  Here, among the fallen dwarves of Earthshields, lies Kivish Girderpowers, Hammerdwarf. In the year 255, during what the invading goblins would call Entustetosp, "The Brutal Siege" of Earthshields, the militia was stationed at the bridge and waited to be met by the goblin forces. One tardy recruit was caught just outside the barracks on the way to collect his equipment, and was set upon by the invaders. The milita was ordered to hold position; it was too late for the recuit. As the goblins continued to lash at the incapacitated but still conscious recruit, one dwarf, Kivish Girderpowers, broke ranks and charged alone down the hall to aid his fallen comrade. The captain shouted after him to hold, but Kivish payed him no heed. Kivish met the first goblin and felled him with a single blow. Three hammerstrikes later, another goblin fell. And another. Inspired by his heroism, the remainder of the militia charged forward to his aid, and together they routed the goblin force. Nine months later he would be dismembered by a goblin swordsman. Here, he is memorialized with a statue depicting him striking down the goblin Nguslu Malignedthorns during his famous charge. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Hospital
  The hospital sits in a central location, and has its own well for washing and giving water to patients. Adjoining the hospital is a closet stocked with soap and an access stairway for the well. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Housing Area and bridge
  Here in the housing area, dwarves fortunate enough to have a room facing the gorge are given clear glass windows to admire the view of the river.
  
  A marble bridge connects the housing area to the heart of the fortress. The bridge is lined with glass windows, but the roof is kept uncovered to allow fresh air and prevent cave adaptation. In the event of a siege, a glass roof can be extended over the bridge to shield civilains from any goblin bowmen on the cliffs above. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Stockpiles
  Two levels of stockpiles sit here, between the workshops and the trade depot - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. The Great Bridge [Story Inside]
  The great bridge of Earthshields spans the gorge beside the waterfall. In the event of a siege, the bridge can be raised, to the peril of anyone crossing it at the time. In one notable event, a young dwarf girl by the name of Etur wandered onto the bridge just as it was to be raised. The bridge was raised with such celerity that the child was flung six stories into the air, only to land safely on the cliff above, where she fell unconscious. After the goblins were repelled, she was safely collected and brought to the hospital, whereupon it was discovered she had suffered only a broken hand from her miraculous misadventure.
  
  Behind the great bridge sits another row of cage traps, designed to capture errant bird-men who on occasion fly into the fortress from the cliffs above. Captured animal peoples are then released outside the entrance of the fortress. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Throne room and Graveyard
  Earthshields winding hall descends a level here to avoid an aquifer, before splitting in two. Straight ahead is what will become the King's Throne room, while the path veering left leads to the trade depot and food stockpiles. Turning right leads to the graveyard - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Tigerman
  Here sits one of Earthshields two resident Tigermen. They rely on a steady supply of raw meat from the butcher, and do not consume alcohol or use the wells, preferring instead to descend the well access stairs and lap water directly from the source. When not eating or sleeping, they prefer to hang out in the dining hall and converse with the children.
  
  The Dining room itself features smooth marble pillars and seats for 76 dwarves. The far side of the dining hall remains empty for now, set aside for the tables of royalty.
  
  - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Waterfall and Animal room
  The winding hall of Earthshields passes behind the waterfall before spanning the river gorge. The room on the opposite side of the hall houses the animal training and breeding operations of the fortress. This includes a breeding stable of Giant Hyenas, Giant Tortoises, and Giant Monitor Lizards, as well as a captured Roc, who was tragically crippled in a goblin ambush. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Workshops - Butchery, Leather, and Bone.
  Here, animals are slaughtered at the butcher. Their meat and fat is hauled next-door to the kitchens, while their hides remain here to be tanned and made into leather goods. Their bones are made into bolts, for marksdwarves to practice, while skulls, shells, horns, and other bits are made into crafts for trading.
  - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Workshops - Food and Drink
  This room is focused on the production of food and booze. The farms, seeds, and raw food stockpiles are located here beside the kitchens and stills. The soap making operation is also located here. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Workshops - Stone and gems
  Here, work is done with stone and gems. Masonry, gem cutting, stone-crafting, and mechanics all have their place here. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 145. Workshops - Wood, Metal, and Glass
  In this room, wood is converted to charcoal at the wood burner's workshop, then used to fuel the metalworking and glassmaking operations. The carpenter's workshop is also located here. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 144. Food and Alchohol stockpiles
  Here, below the dining hall, are the stockpiles of prepared food and drink. Cats patrol this room for vermin, and in the center is a well. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 144. Grave of Tulon Allastulon [Story Inside]
  Here lies Tulon Allastulon: Speardwarf, Militia Captain, and Grandmother. Born: 98 Died: 263. Tulon's final years were filled with hardship.
  
  Tulon's husband died of age-related causes just a year prior to her immigration. Their adult son, Urdim Tradecovers, was shot in the chest during a goblin ambush the year they arrived at Earthshields. Though he was taken to hospital, the inexperienced and understaffed doctors failed to recognize the gravity of his injuries. As he lay awaiting diagnosis, blood seeped into his lung where the silver arrow protruded from his chest, collapsing his lung and slowly suffocating him. Urdim would not live to see his only son, Id Shockmountains born. Mercifully, neither would he live to hear of his nine-year-old daughter's abduction by the same vile goblins which slew her father. Wracked by grief, his wife, Zon, would spend much of the next year shouting at the mayor. Going to his office ostensibly to complain about the lack of a proper dining hall, Zon's protests would inevitably devolve into a tearful lament for her lost husband and daughter, and the uncertain future of her unborn child.
  
  For Tulon, however, the summer of 254 would hold her darkest days. Tulon's eight year old son, Lor, the second of her two children, was playing on the hill above the fortress one late spring day, when he found himself surrounded by a group of creatures he'd never seen before: kobolds. Though no larger than he, the creatures were armed with spears, and moments later, the child's cry of help was cut short with a crude silver spear. For months thereafter Tulon seemed on the edge of madness with grief and despair, but she emerged from the darkness with determination redoubled. Two years later she made captain of her squad, a position she held for seven years until her death. Despite her hardship, Tulon was one of a lucky few in Earthshields to die peacefully of old age, at the end of a long life well lived. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 144. Jail
  Below the barracks sits the jail. Dwarven inmates are secured by iron chains, and given access to food, drink, bed, and a dining table. Currently, only two of the 20 cells have been properly equipped, and none have yet found use. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 144. Skeleton pile
  A field of skeletons lies outside the entrance to the fortress. This display of over 100 goblin corpses has not deterred the invaders, and so plans are underway to move the refuse pile underground, where the bones may be incinerated in the newly discovered magma pool. A minecart track is currently under construction for this purpose. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 144. Trade Depot
  At the end of the winding hall is the trade depot. Goods are brought from the nearby stockpiles for trade with merchants. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 144. Waterfall Memorial [Story Inside]
  In this alcove at the base of the waterfall, behind the shimmering curtain of water, sit memorials to dwarves lost in the river. The entrance to this area is guarded with cage traps after an unfortunate incident in which a wild Giant Hyena fell over the waterfall's edge and landed almost entirely unharmed at the fall's base. The creature then traveled up the stairs and into the main hall, where it savaged a thresher, tearing him limb from limb. The hyena was captured, shortly after which it found itself facing dwarven justice. The beast was thrown into The Pit where, like the thresher, it was ripped to pieces by a creature much larger and nastier than itself. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 144. Workshops - Clothing
  This room houses the clothesmaking operations of Eathshields. Here, plants are processed for fibers, plant fibers and spidersilk are spun into thread, thread is woven into cloth and silk, cloth and silk are dyed, and finally made into clothing to replace the tattered garments worn out during the day to day operations of Earthshields. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 143. The Riverbed [Story Inside]
  The riverbed is strewn with skeletons of dwarves, goblins, merchants, and animals alike. Many are those who were taken over the falls by the current trying to cross and died on impact or drowned shortly thereafter. Others are those who fell or were knocked off cliffs and bridges during combat.
  
  One year, the arrival of the dwarven merchant caravan was immediately followed by a goblin siege. The caravan came from the north, while the goblin invaders arrived from the East, Southeast, and Southwest. The slow moving wagons of the caravan were easily intercepted, and despite the best efforts of the merchants' mercenary guards, the caravan was lost. All but one merchant and his donkey were slaughtered by the invaders before reaching the safety of Earthshield's hall. The military had sallied out to aid the merchants, leaving the entry hall undefended, so the lever to raise the bridge was pulled. But there was a problem: the merchant had turned back.The dwarf, having lost all his comrades and the majority of his goods, had abandoned the prospect of trading, intent on returning home with whatever goods remained on the donkey's back. As he stepped over the seam connecting the two great drawbridges, guiding his donkey behind him, the reins were suddenly jerked from his hand and the donkey let out a terrible squeal. The merchant spun around to find the drawbridge he had been standing on not six seconds prior fully raised and clicking into place in its upright position. The donkey sailed through the air, tumbling and spilling its cargo. Rings, bracelets, barrels of booze, a peacock, clothing, a screaming donkey, and a yowling cat; all of these flew through the air and plummetted into the river below. The merchant dwarf stood in shock as the injured donkey thrashed about in the water, then grew still. His friends slaughtered, the wagons destroyed, and now, all that remained catapulted into the river. Finally, with resigned determination, the dwarf marched away, out of Earthshield's grand hall, and began the long lonely journey back to the Mountain-home. - monkeyfetus
• Δ 142. The Pit
  One level below the jail is a holding area for captured invaders. Goblin prisoners are stripped of their weapons and dropped through floor hatches into The Pit, here, where they are set upon by a septet of Giant Monitor Lizards amid a pile of corpses, dismembered limbs, and a slurry of blood. - monkeyfetus

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Earthshields

• 264 Early Winter [R]

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Map details:

• Fortress Name: Earthshields
• Map Year: 264 Early Winter
• Author: monkeyfetus
• Submitted by: monkeyfetus
• Date Added: 16/07/2014