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Toressak Flatfall

I am a father of three, a humble miner and a loyal husband come illness, trouble, or poverty... This words, by Vulcan, they are as heavy as my grandfather adamantine pickaxe. I don't know if we can make it. If don't know if I want us to make it. Look at us, look at me, look at my wife.

She has not eaten a single thing for days just so that our child could. Now she is quietly waiting death in her bed, so pale, so frail when she was as round as a barrel. And she has even started coughing but I can't find any doctor. Anyway how am I going to pay them, they only hire people to sabotage the forge before the enemy can take it.

And I still need to get us out of here. I have to. I just need to get back from the coals mines, if only I could pass those thugs.

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Harmoline Nobleforged

I am the daughter of the famous engineer Nobleforged. I am a genius, a prodigy in metallurgy and mechanics I will change the world. I am the only one who can, t-that's why I have to get out, right? There's no way I can't come aboard the airships. There has to be airships, right?

My father he... even if he was old he was enlisted in the guards to defend the fortress. His mighty steam mechas are crushing enemy's crude trebuchet. Haha! A trebuchet, no trebuchets, no a thousand trebuchets. ! Why am I laughing? That's bad. I have to save his work. To get onboard a airship.

Uh? Me? Of course, I must get out to. And if there is no airship I can build them. If only these vandals let me get back to my father.

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Conrad Noakesburrow

I am a hobbit, and I am NOT a thief. Why does when a hobbit work for dwarfs he always HAS to be a thief? Is it racism? Can I sue someone and get some money of it? Ok, I came here to trade my expertise in counterfeit money for Ingothide&Son but that does not make me a thief.

That damn bastard of Ingothide said the trip to the fortress was my first travel expenditure to lure me in but since I did not sign anything I started with a debt to my employer. If he escapes from the fortress, he is going to harass my family about that debt I still owe him. I have to make sure he never leaves... or something else.

Well, only if I manage to get out of the jails. I am not a thief, but I was hungry, ok? Why is it such a big deal to borrow a loaf of bread?

>>3955938
>Toressak Flatfall

>>3955938
>Toressak Flatfall

>>3956006
>Toressak Flatfall

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>>3956006
>>3956008
>>3956028
First Week of the Siege

When I was young, I wanted to be a soldier and pilot a steam mecha or work at the forge and make them. But I am too weak and stupid for both. I remember vividly how I threw my toys in the iron pits out of desperation. I was going to be a miner, like my father and like his father. Then, they discovered Iceburst stone and many coal miners reconverted in iron vertical digging. Suspended in the void to mine the pits, it's a dangerous job but the pay is good.

Nomalin, my beautiful wife, she says I don't need to be a jeweller or a stone cutter to be a good father and feed us. I put coal in our stove and wheat in our pantry. Sometimes she can get us goat butter or cheese, so our kids can grow strong. At every birthday, without fail, she gathers enough sugar to make a cake. I don't know how she does it, pure magic. Every Sunday, we stop by the market after the temple. If I have enough money left, I buy a rabbit for dinner. I like Sunday nights before going back to work. It's cramped in our little apartment but this little hole is my happiness.

Such is life in the Fortress.

My eldest, Dorafra, she is old enough to get married or work in the mines. I argue all the time with Nomalin about that. She says that having a daughter is a misfortune since she can't mine more than me. I want her to go to school but even her says this is a waste of time. So, I decided to feed her well, make her all plump and round so that a better family will accept her as a bride. The youngest, Novina, is also a girl after all, so we put all our hopes in Vozmoul, my only son.

Such is life in the Fortress.

I went to the public baths with Vozmoul and presented him to my contacts in the guilds. They said they didn't want to take an illiterate apprentice. Moreover, he is too young to work in an enclosed space. I only let him do what he wants because sometimes he comes back from the market, a huge grin on his face and an egg in his pocket. That little rascal, he will show them all. He even barely dodged the conscription. Thank Vulcan. Running under enemy fire to bring Iceburst stone to the mecha during a battle? He would have loved it.

And then the first trebuchet hit the mountain. At first, we thought it was another canon firing on the enemy camp besieging us. But the rumour spread. I ventured deeper in the market, almost to the warehouse area. Soldiers were guarding the stocks and a clouds of dust poured out of the entry with every loud bang. We were under siege, but we will endure.

This is our Fortress.

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>>3956098
Second Week of the Siege

Look who's laughing now. All these proud blacksmiths are coming back to the coal veins. I also heard the canons detonations are too loud for the Guild Offices near the Gate. I like this. This is the best fun I had in years. We are even receiving a wheat ration from the guards. With the provisions we already had it was like Vulcmass.

I don't really get why everybody is stocking coal so much, though. We use everything I can come back with to bake more cakes and breads for the kids. Maybe this will help Nomalin get better too. My only fear is that all these new miners completely deplete the coal vein. My wife told me that can't be, because Vulcan gave us and infinite amount of resources to thrive.

Maybe this is the work of Vulcan. Now everyone has the same living conditions as us, low wage workers. I know we will not have rabbit this weekend, but that would not be the first time we skip our tradition. The kids are becoming more turbulent because of their last intake of sugar, let's hope Vozmoul will not do something irresponsible.

His mother health is getting worse each passing day. She is bedridden all day and only get up to prepare food. Like a ghost haunting our house. Since money has no more value, I can trade a few things in our homes but the most valuable stuff we have left is my pickaxe. Both a weapon and a vital tool to feed my family.

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>>3956100
Third Week of the Siege

Cold. It's too cold. I was yelling at everyone, someone must have left a window open. Then I realized the radiator was off. I asked the neighboor, I actually asked all the neighboors and only one opened his door to tell me it was the same. They even told me I was stupid to ask since we have central heating.

It doesn't matter. We will just burn the coal I dig up from the mine to warm ourselves. The kids were quite depressed knowing that we will only feed on wheat grain now that all our stock of sugar, cheese and milk was depleted. I told them it happened before so they just have to be strong. However it never happened with a malfunctionning heater.

I fear for Nomalin health. Dorafra begged to come with me, saying she could at least help me to carry the coal. And if Vozmoul can take care of his mother and his little sister, I will have to consider it. On my way back from the coal vein I stumbled accross a group of armed youngsters guarding the vein.

Now, I have to pass through this local militia. A bunch of armed youngsters, the Boars. How can I get out?
>trade my freedom in exchange of my adamantine pickaxe
>beg for passage, I will work, I will help you, I will do whatever it takes
>I am a simple father! I can appeal to their feelings
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3956102
>I am a simple father! I can appeal to their feelings

failing that, try

>beg for passage, I will work, I will help you, I will do whatever it takes

>>3956102
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)
Try to hide and sneak past them. They won't listen to reason.

>>3956102

>I am a simple father! I can appeal to their feelings

It seems pickaxe murder may be in our future
Anything for sick wife really.

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>>3956195
>>3956197
>>3956216
You haul your bag of coal in the most pathetic way imaginable with the adamantine pickaxe on a shoulder, ready just in case. You never thought that the bearer of such a magnificent tool would have to play yhe victim to appeal to beardless youngsters. Your ancestors look at you in disdain and you feel the weight of your shame crushing your exhausted body after hours of mining.

The oldest of the three thugs, a redhead with beard looking like a patch of pubes asks his companions to surround you. However, you moved so quietly in the tunnel from the coal vein that you now have a more advantageous position: back on a wall.

roll 1d6 to appeal to their feelings

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3956225
Feels bad man

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3956225

>>3956225

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>3956285
>>3956225
Sry phone, let's try that again

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>>3956259
>>3956260
>>3956286
>6

Your pleads are enough to soften the young ones' hearts. Their fathers died during the first week of the siege at the Gate and now they are the man of their family. At first drunk of this lawless situation, they slowly came back to their sense and set their priority straight. Some, like the two henchmen are still looking for new way entertain themselves, but the boss understand your situation. He let you pass with a final warning.

"This is our territory now, gramp. Understood? If you want back it will cost you one Mystical Stone."

Slightly humiliated, you get back to your habitation building. A three-story-high complex carved in a gigantic cave wall. Upon hearing your arrival, the eldest, Dorafra, rushes downstairs to relieve you from the task of hauling the bag of coal. The incident with the thugs, having only minor repercussions on your mental health, you manage to pull a smile. Once back in your cramped apartment, the two little kids, Novina and Vozmoul, take immediately possession of the bag. For a brief moment you imagine yourself as the white bearded Toy Master bringing joy to children on Vulcmass eve. But the bag only contains coal, vital to heat your home but it's not food.

"Daddy, where is today's meal? I'm hungry."
"Can I go to the market, Dad? I'm sure I can find food in the abandoned stalls."

Only Dorafra is moving, tossing coal in the stove on which some dirty water is boiling. Novina is sobbing on your chest and Vozmoul is already preparing for his raid to the market. You can hear the lamentations of your wife waking up from on of your only two beds. She painfully stands up, coughs and takes a mortar and pestle to resume wheat milling.

"Welcome back dear. Today's meal will be ready soon. I'm making flatbread."

This cannot go on. The next ration distribution is for tonight and you will need everyone to line up to receive as many rations as possible, but that also means you home will be left unattended. To brighten the mood, Dorafra spill some water on your home's Mystical Stone, it radiates light in the room, calming the children. The table is ready, you just have to wait for your wife to cook the flatbreads on the stove.

What's your priority for this afternoon?
>I have to find food before the ration distribution
>I need a doctor for my wife and a way to pay him
>I have to find a way out of the Fortress
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3956288
>I have to find food before the ration distribution
If we get enough food, we could use the extras to barter with a doctor. When Dorafra's better getting out and running will be viable.

>>3956288
>I have to find food before the ration distribution

Do we find Mystical Stones during mining?

>>3956288
>>I have to find food before the ration distribution

we get food, but to use as currency, for a doctor and a way out

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>>3956293
>>3956295
>>3956314
After the children turn, your eldest daughter offers to eat after you since you are probably starving after this morning mining. Digging up coal takes you half a day, with a chance to find a diamond one out of six times. Some digs up coal to fuel their stove, other hoping to find diamonds to trade. After all, bank notes are useless. The real game, however, is Mystical Stone, which is presumably mined deeper in the coal veins.

Anyway, your objective is to find more food and for that you have several options for this afternoon. First of course, always eager to help, but even more eager to get out of the apartment, Vozmoul want to scout alone for food. Then, you can always steal food in the warehouse, in abandoned homes, maybe beg the nobles. Finally, you have to decide if Dorafra can help you or if she should stay at home to help her mother. About that doctor then, you ponder gulping a hot loose flatbread, if you can barter food for medicine then maybe you can barter something else for food, maybe you can ask the neighbours.

>steal food in the warehouse area
>loot for food in abandoned homes
>beg the nobles for food
>ask the neighbours

also
>let Dorafra accompany you or send her to do another of the aforementioned tasks
>let Vozmoul scavenge alone for food in the market

>>3956330
>>loot for food in abandoned homes
>let Vozmoul scavenge alone for food in the market

the eldest takes care of her mother, make sure she rests

>>3956334
Support.

>>3956334
>>3956356
roll 2d6

Rolled 3, 2 = 5 (2d6)

>>3956369

Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d6)

>>3956369

Rolled 4, 1 = 5 (2d6)

>>3956369

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>>3956372
>>3956388
>>3956389
>4 for Torresak : 1 day worth of wheat grains for everyone
>1 for Vozmoul : nothing

After a scanty meal, the youngest succumbs to slumber, digestion being too much for her to handle. Vozmoul took your silence for approbation and went on his to find something to eat, let's hope he will be back for the ration distribution. You tell Dorafra to take care of her mother, being the one who collect the water on the wet walls of the building she will help her to wash herself.

The street is the giant cavern is dimly lit, with the lantern almost all destroyed for their Mystical Stones. You went to a building carved in a pillar in front of your house. You can only find few grains of wheat scattered here and there in the corners and under the furnitures, enough to make a flatbread for everyone for one meal. Occupants have vanished, leaving only blood on the stone staircase. You fail to understand how a fight between civilians could go to such extent, until... Until you walk to the upper floor where dwarfs are hanging by their feet, throat slit.

Brain and body exhausted you can only react instinctively and rush back home. You slip on the last march and cover yourself in blood. Trying to catch your breath, your mind subconsciously tries to distance you from a detail you saw on those bodies. Like a ghost haunting your memory, something so horrifying you would rather forget it.

>remember
>remain ignorant

Vozmoul is just behind you in your building staircase. Not only did he come back empty-handed but it looks like he is wounded. A bright red cut on his leg. But at last, he didn't make any bad encouter like you. Once everyone is safe in the apartment, you have to prepare for the ration gathering. Seeing you covered in blood makes your wife faints and the little Novina cries.

Ration gathering, each person showing get one week of wheat grains
>bring Novina (little girl)
>bring Vozmoul (boy, wounded)
>bring Dorafra (girl)
>bring Nomalin (woman, ill)

>>3956392
>Ration gathering, each person showing get one week of wheat grains
>>bring Novina (little girl)
>>bring Vozmoul (boy, wounded)
>>bring Dorafra (girl)
>>bring Nomalin (woman, ill)
If that was not clear enough, you choose who goes with you to the ration distribution and you can choose as many as you want. Not choosing someone will be considered as a vote for this person to stay at home.

>>3956392
>remember
We have to remember, damn it. We have to know what we're running away from.
>bring Novina (little girl)
>bring Vozmoul (boy, wounded)
>bring Dorafra (girl)
Nomalin should stay at home so she doesn't exert herself.

>>3956392
>>bring Novina (little girl)
>>bring Vozmoul (boy, wounded)
>>bring Dorafra (girl)

>remember

>>3956399
the food we found will be enough for 5 days to Nomalin anyway and she has to rest

>>3956399
>>3956397
+1

>>3956399
>>3956397
Support

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>>3956397
>>3956399
>>3956401
>>3956404
>>3956407
There's no time to dress the boy's wound. You tell Dorafra to carry the crying little girl and pull Vozmoul by the hand, leaving the unconscious Nomalin on her bed, alone.

A loud repeated banging echoes through the gigantic cavern. The guards have arrived, they came across the Forge carrying something more precious than gold. The royal granary wheat. Queues are already stretching from the doors to the cars and local militia including the Boars are closely watching everyone so that no incident occurs. There seem to have been a shift in power, a tacit agreement between the thugs and the soldiers.

For the most part they are women and children, men or just a bunch of injured or old failed soldiers like you, unable to fight. Witnessing these healthy mounted warriors delivering food is almost unbearable to certain. A woman is adressing a royal guard.

"Give us the boars pulling your cars!"
"Foolish nonsense. They are the king's royal stable."
"It's not like your are charging anyone, we are all trapped here."
"Silence or I fire a round in the crowd."

And without a second of reflection, people silently murder the one who dared to anger the guard. It's hopeless, everyone is going to quietly walk toward their death if the path is lit, even more if there are marks to make it gradual. And everyone knew this was the last mark. The royal granary are empty but nobody wants to admit it.

Once back home, the "night" is coming and thankfully Nomalin did not die choking on her phlegm will being unconscious. However, Vozmoul wound has become worse and Novina is wetting herself. It seems that being forced to go outside just after seeing you covered in blood has traumatized her. At least you have 8 days worth of wheat grains and some coal until the next morning. Like usual, you all skip the dinner in order to last longer.

How to spend the night
>Dorafra on watch first
>Toressak on watch first

This encounter today has really challenged your common sense. You are not a soldier and the only corpse you ever saw... Well, vertical digging means once someone falls, his body is lost, so you actually never saw a dead body. But there was something strange about those corpses. Something that should not be there. Or maybe something that should have been. When you finally manage to pull off that splinter in your mind, you remember. Some of them were dismembered, some even had... bit marks.

What's your priority for tomorrow morning?
>I have to find more food
>I need a doctor for my wife and a way to pay him
>I have to find a way out of the Fortress
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3956417
>>Toressak on watch first

>I have to find more food

The fortress's food supply will run out eventually, we need to hoard enough to last us when it does.

>>3956417
>Dorafra on watch first
Whoever did this (goblins? the worker's quarters are closest to the goblin caves) probably attacks when people are fast asleep, so we should take the second watch when they're most likely to come out.
>I need a doctor for my wife and a way to pay him
We have extra food to pay a doctor with, so let's get to one as quickly as we can.

>>3956417
>8 days worth of wheat grains
*7 days for 4 since Nomalin couldn't go=28 meals
plus 1 day for everyoe with the bag you found=5 meals
total if divided evenly=33meals/5=6 days where everyone eats+3meals

sorry, math is hard

>>3956417
>>Toressak on watch first
>I need a doctor for my wife and a way to pay him


get our daughter to look after the kid's injury while we change the youngest

>>3956432
change to this actually

>>3956417
>Toressak on watch first
>I need a doctor for my wife and a way to pay him

>>3956417

>Dorafra on watch first

Second watch is more dangerous.

>I need a doctor for my wife and a way to pay him

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>>3956420
>>3956432
>>3956442
>>3956446
>>3956448
>Dorafra on watch first
>I need a doctor for my wife and a way to pay him

You have Dorafra treat the boy's injury while you take care of the youngest. Novina is babbling incoherent words, crying and begging you to not get out. You manage to calm her a little and put her to sleep with fresh clothes after a quick wash-up. Vozmoul's wound is too big to have him move out of the house informs your daughter. He needs at least two days to rest.

Without your eldest daughter you wonder where you would have ended. You need to protect her, hence you let her first watch since it's the less dangerous. Nightmares fill your night, you dream about your past job, hanging on a line to mine iron when suddenly you end up hanging from your feet, defenceless against a creature crawling on the wall with a giant mouth. You burst out of your sleep.

HAAAAAAAA! DAAAAAAD!

Dorafra woke you up in the worst part of your dream and your shout covers hers, you end up scaring her when you are actually both the slave of fear. This primal exchange ends when you finally notice a continuous banging on the door.

Please... Fooooood... Please...

Slow guttural sounds, that vaguely reminds you of words, sync up with the banging. There are two voices but you can't really tell how many people are banging on the door. Meanwhile, Novina is slwoly waking up because of this commotion and Vozmoul is searching for a knife, trembling with both fear and excitement. Nomalin, still unconscious.

>open the door and prepare your pickaxe
>"we don't have any food, get out"
>play dead and don't answer
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3956470
>play dead and don't answer

Reach for the pickaxe and be prepared to defend the entrance

Tell the oldest to grab the youngest so she doesn't have to witness this

>>3956470
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)
Prepare your pickaxe and open the door just a little bit to get a better look.

>>3956474
Supporting this.

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>>3956474
>>3956477
>>3956481
The people pleading for food at your door keep slamming and begging. You almost mistake them for the Undeads of the legends you hear at the tavern from itinerant minstrels. The passes and their resolve shatters against your silence. Dorafra is hugging tightly her little sister while your young son is ready at your with a kitchen knife, trying to mimic your courage with your pickaxe. The young boy shaking turn into spasms, he lets the knife falls running back to his big sister.

The beggars leave only to resume their annoying pleads next door, and then the next door and so on... Dorafra shift ends with the 3AM bell, and she collapses from mental fatigue with the two kids in her embrace near the stove. You try to stay awake as much as you can for your shift but your exhausting nightmare, the stress from tonight encounter and the exhaustion from your strict flatbread regimen get you knock down before the 4AM bell.

Morning comes with all the Mystical Stone of the cavern's lantern being lit by droplet of water. At least, this system is still working, not like central heating. It's time to focus you sleep deprived mind on finding a doctor for your wife.

>ask neighbours
>go to the Nobles Mmansions for a doctor
>scavenge the Market for apothecary remedy
>scavenge the Guilds for magical potion

also, what should you bring with you?
>bring your pickaxe
>bring 10 meals worth of wheat
>bring 20 meals worth of wheat
>bring 30 meals worth of wheat
>bring your home's only light source:mystical stone

>>3956519
>scavenge the Guilds for magical potion
>bring your pickaxe

Things will get ugly

>>3956528
support, probably the quickest and cheapest way

>>3956532
If we gotta kill a fool for meds we gonna kill a fool for meds, ain't leaving wife behind without a fight.

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>>3956528
>>3956532
>>3956560
You don't know a lot of things about magic or science, but the tales from the taverns extol the virtues of magical potions. Heroes who could have succumbed to fatal injury just drank a potion, and they were ready to slay anything. What's a lung disease to something that can cure a dragon's bite?

Without any coal left, Dorafra anticipates and soaks enough wheat grain for today's lunch. She even takes the time to crush your portion and fill a small recipient. You can eat those wheat flakes anytime now, but it's going to take some time to digest.

"Have safe trip dad."

The day after ration distribution is always quiet. Everybody had their fill, except the one too weak to walk to the guards. Maybe the people who slammed your door last night were just starving people, who knows? So, your journey to the Guilds cavern is however quite peaceful, until you get near the Nobles Mansions. Huge houses built from the ground and not carved in the walls, sometimes with a garden lit by a huge Mystical Stone. However, it seems that even here people were killing for those so you hardly found any.

"You, please help me ! HEEEEEELP ME!"

The pleads came from some sort of gallows where apparently a child is being forcefully held by a bunch of hooded executioners who looks more like cultists. They were approaching a red-hot iron pipe from his head.

"Let the fire of Vulcan purify you from your sins"
"I did not steal that bread. I did not. I did not. I did not..."
"Filthy hobbit. All hobbits are thieves. Now, repent."

>not my problem
>stop right there

>>3956564
>stop right there

Because its useful to have a thief as ally, specially in times like these and we are exacly going somewhere to steal right now
And of course he is a thief, all hobits are thiefs, but lets pretend he's not for now

>>3956564
>>not my problem

>>3956564
>not my problem

no need to ruffle fellow dwarves' feathers

>>3956588
>>3956591
Aren't you being ahort sighted? This guys steals stuff, we need to steal stuff, he can help us get meds for wife

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>>3956573
>>3956588
>>3956591
It will be over soon.

The hooded man say while nonchalantly forcing the red-hot iron on the Hobbit's forehead. Popping noises of his flesh being burnt fills the cave with a peculiar smell. Something you almost forgot and that your stomach reminds you with a horrifying shame. For moment, just for a moment, you thought "that smells good". You feel your sanity slowly crumbling.

Hey you, the bypasser.
Me? This is not my problem. Continue what your are doing.
I'm just warning you. This the Sons of Vulcan territory. No stealing.
How far is your territory.
All the market. And also, we confiscate every Mystical Stones and Iceburst Stones.
... Why?
Can't you see? They are cursed stones. Only our forge should light the darkness, that's in the holy scriptures.
What about Iceburst Stones?
D-Don't ask too many questions. Now get out.

It was a strange exchange, but fanatics seem to control this part of the Fortress. You believe in Vulcan teachings but not to that extent. You are just a normal dwarf who goes to the temple every Sunday. Maybe these people are not as zealous as you and just use Vulcan as a pretext to gather special stones... The hobbit is left on the gallows with his third degree burn on the forehead, he is not going anywhere.

You approach the Guild area where statues representing each profession are sculpted in the stalagmites. It's much easier than you thought to find the suitable buildings. After all, you don't know how to read. However, you are absolutely sure that healing potions are red, just like in the stories.

Where to loot healing potions at minimum risk
>Adventurer's Guild
>Alchemist's Guild
>Tamer's Guild
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3956658
Healers guild if there is one. If there isn't then

>Alchemist guild
While the adventurers guild might have more of them it also probably has adventurers, unless all this buildings are vacant, in that case
>Adventurers guild

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>>3956691
You look for a Healers Guild but can't find any. For various reasons, including the Dwarfs' warrior tradition and the influence of Gnomes alchemists the healing profession is not very welcome in a Dwarven Fortress. So you fall back on your second choice, the Alchemist Guild.

The office seems abandoned at first glance, but every window is barricaded. It's been so long since you have last seen wood. Everything has been thrown in the stove when central heating malfunctioned. You position your pickaxe to pull apart the plank from the entrance before being interrupted by the noise of shattering glass behind you. Someone threw a bottle at you and now a foul smell fills the air, forcing you to retreat. From the rooftop, a Gnome with long thin moustaches warns you.

"Get away from my property."
"I need a healing potion."
"And I need the philosphal stone. We all want something, now get out."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"This was a stink bomb but I have something more explosive for you."

This is not looking good, you can't enter the building without getting under the angry Gnome shelling.
>trade for a potion (currently in your possession:adamantine pickaxe, 33 meals worth of wheat grain)
>beg for a potion, anything I can do for you I will do it
>"My wife is about to die!" appeal to emotions
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3956915

>beg for a potion, anything I can do for you I will do it

See if we can trade it for some service or quest or something.
Lastly offer to trade for food, if he is taking care of his property so much it means he can't go to the food line

>>3956915
>>trade for a potion (currently in your possession:adamantine pickaxe, 33 meals worth of wheat grain)

Start our bartering at 10 meals worth, see what he thinks.

>>3956915
>>beg for a potion, anything I can do for you I will do it
>trade for a potion (currently in your possession:adamantine pickaxe, 33 meals worth of wheat grain)

a service or food, start very low in case he needs it

ask if he has them before negotiating

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>>3956919
>>3957137
>>3957245
"Yesterday there was a ration distribution."
"So what?"
"If you protect your store like that, you didn't get your fill, right?"
"You think I didn't trade with the guards? Everybody wants my healing potions, dream potions even fear reduction potions."
"How much? I can offer you 10 meals worth of wheat."
"Are you kidding me? I already have plenty. Find me meat and we will have a deal."
"What else can I do for you?"
"My son, go to the front see if he is still alive."
"I have to bring him back?"
"No, he was not drafter he enlisted on his own will. He serves on the fourth Battery, ask him the recipe for Aqua Vitalis. That way I will no you are not lying."
"And if he is dead?"
"Whatever, figure it out, now get lost before I blow you up."

And now you have to find a Gnome at the Gate or find meat. On the first glance, finding meat appears to be simplest task and you could even keep some for you. However, you have no idea of where to get some. Maybe you will have to scavenge abandoned homes risking a bad encounter, beg the nobles or maybe find how your neighbours get their meat but it means turning back. Or you can keep moving forward and steal in the warehouse. Also, you remember about what that women in the crowd said about the royal cavalry, maybe you can sneak in the stables...

The midway bells rings and your stomach rumbles, in the end, it all boils down to three options.
>kill a boar in the royal stables and bring back meat
>keep moving forward to the front-line and find the Gnome's son
>go back home and decide how to find meat there

Also, eat your soaked wheat flakes now? It will be pretty indigestible since you did not cook it and slow you down a little, but no energy means you will feel weak.
>yes
>no

>>3957961
>keep moving forward to the front-line and find the Gnome's son
>yes

>>3957961
>>keep moving forward to the front-line and find the Gnome's son
>yes

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>>3957997
>>3958025
You chew on the poor ration and adjust the adamantine pickaxe on your shoulder feeling that energy boost. It's a long way to the Gate, almost as long as the distance your already travelled to get here. If all goes well you will arrive just in time to see a sunset. It's been so long since you last saw the sky. Why do Dwarf have to live underground already?

The path until the Banks area is well lit and clean from any feces people just threw out of their windows in the dormitories. Here and there, some stalagmite have been sculpted and completed in beautiful columns decorated with gold. Pipes are less apparent and the Mystical Stones lanterns more magnificent. It truly is the Banks area. On your right, you can spot the large Warehouse cavern, and endless disposal of giant pillars that could be, depending on the situation, flooded with gold, wheat, coal...

Something bothers as you approach the Barracks, only the Warehouse is guarded, why? Aren't they afraid of thieves? When the siege will end, the king will need all the Fortress gold to rebuild it.

"No! Please! No that! No that!"

In a dark corner, three persons are fighting. Actually it's two persons pinning another on the wall. The pleads come from a woman.

"Silence woman."
"No, please. I will repair your steam engines, I will repair the canons, Please no."
"We don't need any engineer. Be useful like nature intended you to be."
"HEEEEELP YOU. HELP ME."

How good was the smell of burned flesh, you will never forget the intense shame you felt. And now you fell so low that you are just going to ignore a damsel in distress? The choice is all yours, but you will have to live with the consequences.
>not my problem
>stop right there
(I recommand you to write-in to boost Torressak determination or help him rationalize)

>>3958061
>stop right there
Saving a damsel is the most heroic thing a dwarf can do

>>3958061
>stop right there

>>3958061
>stop right there

>>3958073
>>3958075
>>3958092
You are a dwarf, you remember. The trump card in the adventurers tales, strength and resilience personified, of course you have to do it. What's more heroic than saving a damsel in distress. You were weak before but it's time for redemption.

"Hey you. Stop what you are doing."

You take the pickaxe in both hands. One of the assailant is putting back his pants, still offering his unprotected spine to you? His companion firmly holds the female Dwarf by the wrist, angrily looking at you for interupting whatever they were about to do.

>attack one of them
>let's talk

>>3958113
>attack one of them
Talk is cheap, act while they're unprepared

>>3958113
>let's talk
Is this what we have become? Savages who rape and kill each other?

>>3958113
>Attack
Talk is cheap.

>>3958113
>attack one of them
Do it as gruesome as possible to scare the others

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>>3958126
>>3958128
>>3958221
>>3958225
You chose to resort to violence, the most universal language in the universe. Your pickaxe is ready, it only needs a target to unleash your wrath. Your legs are shaking a little, just like your son last night. The adrenaline rushes in your veins, your post meal energy surge is at its apex. While you are still not realizing the terrible thing you are about to do, it's time to take someone else life.

>attack the one holding the woman
>attack the one turning his back on you
>actually, just swing the pickaxe while shouting to scare them
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

And how to make the best use of your adamantine pickaxe?
>downard strike
>horizontal slash

And where precisely do you hit?
>head
>torso
>guts

>>3958238
>>attack the one turning his back on you
Likeliest kill, and will make enemy count -1
>>downard strike
Come on, it's a pickaxe not a sword.
>>>head
Aim for the head but as long as we hit it's okay.

I think this is the best sequence.

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>>3958243
It's easier to aim at someone turning his back on you but it feels so... unheroic. Any illusions you had about being a good person by taking this fight collapse with your opponent body hitting the cavern floor.

The pickaxe pierced his skull, splattering clear red liquid on your face. You lose your balance and almost fall with him. The tool is stuck but it's not like it was trapped between a Dwarf's sturdy thoracic bones. One down. The other aggressor stares widely at his companion head spilling out blood and a mess of brain, hairs and little skull parts.

"B-Big Boss will hear about it."

Scared, he runs to the forge. You think about going after him for a moment but the very indigestible meal you had makes you unable to sprint. You just want to rest and forget about what you have done.

"...I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry..."

The woman you just saved tries to stand on her shaking legs while repeating the same phrase, like a broken phonograph. Then, it's happening again. A sense of incoming danger, or maybe something more abstract like a ghost haunting a dark place of your mind, struggling to make itself noticed. You have to get out of here, but you don't know why exactly.

>continue to the front line
>continue to the front line and force the woman to come with you
>stay here to talk with the woman or loot the corpse

>>3958279
>continue to the front line and force the woman to come with you
TIME TO GET OUT

>>3958279
>>continue to the front line and force the woman to come with you

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>>3958288
>>3958291
You forcefully grab the woman by her wrist, putting back your blood stained pickaxe on your other shoulder and rush toward the Barracks. You saved someone. It's the only thing you have done and the only thing you want to remember.

This woman is wearing a typical long dress with traces of oil and coal, it's actually more like a working outfit with a very rough textile. Her aggressor called her an engineer, no wonder her wrist feels so thick and her forearm so plump. She is a well-fed person, not an aristocrat but definitely upper class.

"Who goes there?"

You hear coming from a barricade after the surprisingly empty Barracks area. A soldier with a helmet too big for his head and no even a single hair on his beard is pointing his heavy halberd through the pile of rubble. It's a child, only a few years older than your son.

"What's that blood on your face? Release the woman and drop your weapon."

Is this the front-line? You can almost feel fresh air caressing your blood covered face. The smell of pine trees, the singing of the birds, the smell of ashes and a never ending brawl background. Suddenly the mountain shakes, something hit the Gate, something very big, instantly followed by a canon detonation. Yes, this is the front-line.

>I saved this person. Here, I'm dropping the pickaxe
>I need to speak to your superior
>I just want to know if you have a Gnome alchemist
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3958296
>I saved this person. Here, I'm dropping the pickaxe
>I need to speak to your superior

>>3958296
>>I saved this person. Here, I'm dropping the pickaxe
>>I need to speak to your superior

>>3958296

>I saved this person. Here, I'm dropping the pickaxe
Not so much drop but just put it away in our belt or wherever it stays when we are not holding it.
>I just want to know if you have a Gnome alchemist

His father is worried and sent me to get some news if he's alive or dead.

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>>3958300
>>3958331
>>3958334
You try to explain that the woman is not your captive while lowering the pickaxe. The instant it touches the ground, the child soldier surges from the barricade moving pushing you back with his threatening halberd. You can't do anything bu step back.

"Wait, I need to speak to yo-"
"Get back to your home and leave that weapon here."

In spite of his goofy looking attire, the child soldier was very serious about stabbing your guts with his halberd. With your pickaxe out of reach, your options are limited. However, he is a lot less intimidating than anyone you have come across until now, maybe just more dangerous which in itself feels contradictory. Some part of you can't really process the thought of a child's killing intent but it's very real.

"Don't kill him"

The woman you saved finally get out of her state of shock. She kneels in front of you to protect you from the halberd spike. The child takes one step back.

"It's me. Harmolin. I come here every week to see my father. Don't you remember me?"
"Ah, the lady with the food basket. So? Where is the food this time?
"Yes, here. Can I bring it to my father now?"

She offers a neatly tied package, the child soldier open it with one hand. It's full of ham which makes the child drools and lower his guard. Seeing meat for the first time in days clouds your judgment and this occasion to take down the child will not present itself again.

>seize the halberd
>steal the ham and run away
>wait patiently for his decision

>>3958339

>grab our pickaxe back and be a few feet away while the discuss

I forgot to add
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3958342
This.

Mention that we need to see someone inside too and if the kid won't let us pass see if she can grab that note fron the alchemist son for us.

Guys, depending on how grateful she is we could ask to bring our sick family to her house, she must have better and safer installations and we could say that we can escort her whenever she wants to see her father as an exchange.

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>>3958342
>>3958350
The adamantine pickaxe is just right at your foot now, you take it back but this only frighten the child soldier who drop the ham package n the dirty floor. Seeing her precious meat wasted Harmolin let out an indescribable shrieking. She quickly jumps on it, dusting off every slice.

"How dare. You don't know what I have been through to get this for my father."

The child soldier already fell back to the barricade as fast as a well tamed animal but the commotion was loud enough to attract the attention of a grey bearded Dwarf officer with an eyepatch and his share of scars. He pats the boy's shoulder to signal him to stand down and relax. The boy treated him with a deference, more than a superior he was a god, a god of war. Exactly the type of Dwarf you hear about in the legends and operas, who could beat off a dozen of people like even slay a dragon with a single warhammer. If this was a game, he would definitely be the character to choose. But you are Torresak, humble miner.

"Why are you disturbing my rear-line? You better lower that pickaxe before I gauge your eyes with it."

You are not a soldier, not a fighter, the only thing you can do is surrender or die right here. You comply.

"That's better. Now state your business. You don't look like these bunch of rats trying to flee the Fortress."
"I'm here for a Gnome alchemist, his father sent me to check if he is alive. I need to talk to him."
"What about you Harmolin? Didn't I tell you to not come back, your father is... wait do you know how to repair a steam mecha?"
"Yes! Yes, I can. Let me see my father please."
"Hmm... Repair our steam mecha first and we will see."

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>>3958389
He signals to the child soldier to resume his guard duty with hand gesture and have both of you follow him. The ceiling crumbles with each impact on the Fortress. You have never been so close to the exit. On your right, giant arrowslits let the sunrise project blades of light on the wall, but there is no more canons.

"Where are all the canon? Last time I came here there was at last two batteries."
"Broken. We may have more firepower, but for each trebuchet we take down a dozen are built during the night. It's like fighting an hydra."
"But I heard a canon firing when coming here."
"That's where we are going."

Finally, the exit. The pin trees are projecting threatening shadows on the mountain due to the low sun rays, almost like fangs. High clouds of smoke rise from the forest, rocks launched through the enemy's trebuchets pierce the black smoke and sometimes land on the nearly destroyed Gate. Only on giant statue remain of a Dwarf kneeling down. What an appropriate image for the Fortress.

"Here. The mecha and my main weapon officer. Hey, Ronwin, someone is here for you."
"But... The mecha... you..."
"Yes, we mounted the last canon on it. Beautiful, ain't it?"
"They can't hit us if we move after every shot."
"My father did not build mechas for that. You are supposed to attack them, attack!"
"Ah yes... I would like to do that. A valiant charge, sending a dozen of corps flying with each punch... But what you are currently seeing is our last mecha... Now get to work, miss Nobleforged."

You approach the Gnome. He looks nothing like his grumpy father, almost jovial in the way he repairs the canon. Before stating the true purpose of your visit, maybe you can ask something about the situation.

Pick 2 (TWO) and only 2 (TWO)
>what's wrong with the mecha
>why are you not charging?
>what are you doing here?
>is there a way out of this hell?
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3958392
>what's wrong with the mecha
>why are you not charging?

>>3958392
>why are you not charging?
to see the situation
>>is there a way out of this hell?
and to see if there is apossible way out

>>3958392

>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)
>How's the war going, Can we win it?

>how can we get out of this

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>>3958394
>>3958412
>>3958417
>what's wrong with the mecha
>how can we get out of this

Is it broken?

You inquire about the state of the mighty mecha. Operated by three Dwarf, it can beat down a troll bare handed or send orcs flying with a single punch. However, the arms are now attached to the canon, making the whole vehicle a walking artillery battery. The Gnome joyously oblige to your request and detail a list of technicals difficulties you don't really understand. Even for someone who wanted to be mecha pilot that's too far. It's very humbling to see a Gnome stealing your childhood dream. So close and so far.

"... so to sum it up, we don't have enough pressure going to the arms so it is better used as mobile artillery"
"I... I see... Can you do something about it?"
"Not really. Actually it is getting quite slow recently, and we nearly got hit by a projectile. I hope Harmoline can repair the legs but the steam engine needs a little more punch if we ever wan to use the arms."
"What do you mean?"
"Like, I don't know... Iceburst Stones instead of coal. Say, mister, what's your business here anyway?"
"One more question please."

You then ask about any possible escape route from the Fortress, maybe an hidden passage. What about the rumour on the nobles escaping by airship.

"Hahaha... You don't believe that crap, right?"
"W-What's so funny?"
"I mean, you realise how much Mystical Stone you had need to lift up these many people? Stop joking around."
"I suppose you can't escape from here either."
"Well, it's not like the ennemy is going to let us pass through. However..."
"Yes?"
"I heard the commander talking about three secrets passages. The Lava Castle guarded by a dragon, the deepest part of the Mystical Stone Cave guarded by a Titan and of course through the maze of the Goblin tunnels."
"This... You realise these are legends we tell the children here."
"I... I'm not a child, ok? I'm a Gnome, now what do you want exactly?"

Getting all you could from the alchemist you reveal your true intent. You talk about his father wanting a proof of him being alive. A proof he gives you with the formula of an obscure potion. On her side, Harmoline finished the reparation.

"What do you mean my father is dead? It... It can't be."
"I'm sorry Harmolin, it did not make it through. He was very old and..."
"That's nonsense. I went through the Brotherhood of Battle territory to bring him a basket of every week. How did he died?"
"Starvation..."
"A-A-Again with the nonsense. H-Ho-How would he have died of starvation if I fed him every week? He even had a lot of friends who cared for him. I always see them rushing to him when I bring him the basket."

She wants to give the meat to the commander and ask him to deliver it to her father. The commander seems reluctant.

>keep the meat, Harmolin should accept the truth, the soldiers were stealing her father's food
>give away the meat, it's better if she believes her father is still alive and defending the Fortress

>>3958451

>keep the meat, Harmolin should accept the truth, the soldiers were stealing her father's food

She probably will die if she tries to come here again to deluver food, its better to face the truth, tell her to hide the meat and she can come with us for safety.

>>3958451
>>keep the meat, Harmolin should accept the truth, the soldiers were stealing her father's food

>>3958451

>keep the meat, Harmolin should accept the truth, the soldiers were stealing her father's food

>>3958451
>keep the meat, Harmolin should accept the truth, the soldiers were stealing her father's food
She has to face the facts.

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>>3958458
>>3958459
>>3958460
>>3958466
"Harmolin. He is dead. Don't you understand? They stole his food every time."

The Dwarf collapses. Something has broken inside her, and she lets out and intense scream as she realizes the reality she has been avoiding until now until she enters a catatonic state. Now all limp and docile, like a doll, you can take the meat package for you and promise to bring her to safety. If only it was as easy to repair minds as it was to repair mechas. Before sending you back, the commander has a request for you.

"Listen fella. You are a capable one, I can see that."
"Thank you commander, by the way. What's your name?"
"Commander Warmbasher... Just Hungrar. Ranks do not mean anything now."
"So, what's your request, com... Hungrar?"
"Our artillery got almost wiped out except for the canon on our mecha. But we also have a lot of smaller canons that have to be installed by hands. However... my men are too scared to mount them."
"I don't blame them."
"If you can get your hands on a phonograph cylinder of the defender of Morghul I could manage to make them fire a round or two. That or some Iceburst Stone for our mecha. I will be in your debt."

One hand you can send all these soldiers to death in a last stand, one the other you can sacrifice the last mecha of the Fortress because who knows what he will do with it once it is fully repaired. You led Harmolin by hand out of the Gate. Maybe this was the last time you saw a glimpse of sunlight. The 7PM bells rings. One day has passed and there's still plenty of things to do, if only you ate something more digestible.

>pass through the now hostile territory of the militia you challenged by saving Harmolin and go back home before midnight
>go back to the Alchemist Guild to inform the Gnome father and get a healing potion
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3958474
>go back to the Alchemist Guild to inform the Gnome father and get a healing potion
We should get help for our wife before anything else. Then we can go to find a phonograph.

>>3958474

>go back to the Alchemist Guild to inform the Gnome father and get a healing potion

Get that potion
Describe her illness to the alchemist and see if he has anything that can help waifu
Bring the engie along

>>3958479
>>3958485
On your way back to the Alchemist Guild you find no traces of the corpse from before. Uh? A corpse? Why there should have been a corpse here? Your memory is fuzzy, you only remember that you helped Harmolin here and somehow it angered the local militia. Speaking of them...

"Hey! We are coming for you maggot."

A bunch of angry mobs are pursuing you and Harmolin. You think about carrying her on your back but that would be problematic with your pickaxe. If you do so, you will probably end up exhausted right at the Gnome's door. She really doesn't want to run no matter how hard you pull her. Or you can hide in the Banks area.

>hide in the Banks area until they get bored
>run to the Alchemist Guild, carrying Harmolin
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3958503

>run to the Alchemist Guild, carrying Harmolin

We can probably trade for a tonic there with that ham

Godsdammit this dudes

>>3958503
>hide in the Banks area until they get bored
There's no way we can outrun them while we're carrying a woman and an adamantium pickaxe, and of we somehow did manage it we'd only bring trouble to the doctor's house.

>>3958503
>hide in the Banks area until they get bored

>>3958503
>run to the Alchemist Guild, carrying Harmolin
Just until we are off their territory, gotta get to the alchemist and the wife quick

>>3958507
>There's no way we can outrun
I implied you could but with consequences

>>3958523
And the consequence for hiding is wasting time I imagine, precious precious time

>>3958503

>run to the Alchemist Guild, carrying Harmolin

>>3958503
>run to the Alchemist Guild, carrying Harmolin

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>>3958505
>>3958507
>>3958515
>>3958516
>>3958580
>>3958613
>>3958503
After and intense run with this woman on your back you can see the Gnome on his rooftop hailing at you. Not even the plump lady flabby arms around your neck can distract you from your objective. If only she could properly grip you, you wouldn't have to lean forward and force her weight on you. It's time to burn the last calories left in you. Dashing like a madman, you slam on the heavy door of the Alchemist Guild.

"Get out of my property."

The Gnome shouts to your pursuers while throwing some bottle that explodes with a flash and a loud bang. You fall to the ground, exhausted.

"Your son... Your son is alive."
"Aqua Vitalis recipe. Now."

He threatens you, his arm ready to launch one of his potion on your head. You tell him the recipe only his son was supposed to know, then he slowly lowers his projectile with each ingredient you mention. He even manages to pull a shy smile before coming back to his usual grumpy attitude, but his eyes look more relaxed now.

"Why do you need my potion anyway?"
"My wife? She is sick."
"Sick?... Wait, describe the symptoms."
"Uh... She is coughing..."
"Wet or dry cough. No, that's obvious... Is there any solid things in her phlegm?"
"Yes... I think."
"You dumb anvil head. You are trying to cure tuberculosis with an healing potion?"
"What? Is that bad?"
"Use your, you stupid Dwarf. My potions are for adventurer who got severely wounded in combat. It will cure her necrosed lungs but it will not destroy the disease."
"How is that a bad thing?"
"She will appear better for a few days only before it gets worse, a lot worse."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"I'm an alchemist, not a doctor. Now get out of my property."

The midnight bells rings and the Mystical Stones light fades away. The cavern slowly falls into total darkness. Also, you are exhausted. There's no way you are going to carry Harmolin back and you don't even have the strengh to pull her, not even mentioning holding your pickaxe. If only you had some food left. Wait, you actually have but you know the Gnome would willingly trade for meat. You can also buy another healing potion, just in case. You currently have 6 slices of ham, enough meals for everyone for on day, including Harmolin.

>exchange meat for a potion to help you regain your home before morning
>exchange meat for another healing potion just in case
>exchange meat for a a potion to help Harmolin get out of her catatonic state
>exchange meat for a different potion, write-in
>no exchange

If you choose not to take the potion to regain strengh, where to stay?
>"I am a father too. Let me stay in your house just for one night."
>exchange meat for a place to stay
>find an abandoned Guild Office with no interest for looters
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3958623
>>exchange meat for a potion to help you regain your home before morning
and try to bargain for
>exchange meat for a a potion to help Harmolin get out of her catatonic state

it is ham we are talking about and helping her out of the catatonic state could jelp us get more ham, so try for the two potions

>>3958637
seconding

>>3958623
>exchange meat for a potion to help you regain your home before morning
>exchange meat for a a potion to help Harmolin get out of her catatonic state

>>3958650
>>3958648
>>3958637
Additionally ask if he knows any doctor, we will do anything to save our wife.

If he asks who the girl id tell him she was going to be raped and we decided to help, but after hearing that her father died she stayed like this, the ham we are giving him was destined to her father

Maybe all these plyghts a the fact that we did him a favor just now will soften him a little bit

Poor dwarf can't catch a break, one disaster after the other

>>3958637
>>3958648
>>3958650
>>3958667
I need you to roll 2d6
First one to see if the bargain for an additionnal potion worked
>>3958662 I will take that into account as bonus for the roll
Second one for night encounters when going back home

Rolled 4, 4 = 8 (2d6)

>>3958670

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d6)

>>3958670

Rolled 1, 4 = 5 (2d6)

>>3958670

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>>3958674
>>3958680
>>3958682
>1,4
You explain to him that the girl was going to be raped and you saved here, hence her catatonic state. The poor girl just wanted to give food to her father and now that he is dead, you are using it to save her. You launch the package on the rooftop asking for the two potions. How tragic.

"I don't care. Here, take that and get out."

The ever-grumpy old Gnome tosses a bottle that shatters at your feet, emboldening vapours submerges your senses and you feel like you could move mountains. The bargain failed, and he doesn't want to discuss further, you will have to find a doctor by yourself.

Placing Harmolin on your back once more, you find your way in the darkness, crossing peacefully the territory of the Sons of Vulcan (since you don't carry any special stones). You just pass near the gallows where the Hobbit is groaning in pain from his third degree burn, reminding you of your cowardice. However... You are a hero. You saved a damsel in distress. Ok, you had to take her precious ham to save her and somehow you angered a militia. But you are a hero, right? At least you will be able to say that to your family.

The 6AM bells rings as you finally arrives at your doorstep. Your knees ruined and legs burning. You wonder about the effect of a potion that forces you to use muscles without energy, is it a good thing? And you have not rested for 24 hours. Maybe after a good nap it will be alright. So you approach your hand from the doorknob... Where is the doorknob?

"Dad! You are alive?"
"What's going on here?"
"Dorafra, you're injured?"
"Dad... I thought... I thought you died. Why did you not come back before the night?"

Your eldest has an arm in a makeshift sling. The strongest person in your household, both body and mind, is now crying on your shoulder. Apparently a lot of things happened while you were absent.

"It's the neighbours... They said you will not come back. That if I wanted protection I had to give them half of our wheat."
"What's left?"
"We only have enough for 15 meal left. That's enough for 3 days. Less if you count your friend."
"What about you? Are you alright? Is anyone injured?"
"It's just a sprain... They hold me down real hard when they stole our food... But Vozmoul, his injury he had before you left... I had to wash it with dirty water since we had no more coal and it got infected. Now he has a fever."

There's plenty of things to do, but for now you are completely drained, mentally and physically. So you collapse on the ground...

>>3958728
Once you will wake up, there will be a lot of things to do. First to eat, then decide if you want to give the potion to your wife regardless of the alchemist's warning. Then find a doctor for both Vozmoul and your wife. Finally, get Harmolin out of her catatonic state. But most importantly kill your neighbour for having injured your daughter and stealing half of your food. And also eventually find coal to boil water.

Obviously, being a good father, you put aside all side quests. They are irrelevant for now, so what is your top priority (after eating)?
>find a doctor in the Nobles Mansions
>the problem with your neighbours
>find coal to boil water in order to clean injuries and make better meals
>take care of Harmolin

You can also decide to send your eldest on one of the less important aforementioned objective
>send Dorafra do something
>no, she stays here

About the healing potion
>give it to your wife
>let's wait for now

>>3958731
>find a doctor in the Nobles Mansions
Goddamnit. We have to go find a guy right now.
>no, she stays here
It's not safe for a girl now.
>give it to your wife

>>3958731
>doctor

>stay inside

>don't give.

>>3958731
>the problem with your neighbours
>no, she stays here
>let's wait for now

Lets kill him and take our things back, and his special stone and coal will come in handy too

>>3958750
I change to neighbor, he is too close and is a threat

>>3958731
>>the problem with your neighbours
>no, she stays here
>let's wait for now

Fucking nigger, I bet our neighbour is a half-hobbit

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>>3958750
>>3958753
>>3958759
>>3958761
You sleep until midday. It took Dorafra six hours with her injured harm to reduce wheat grains into flakes using a mortar and pestle. She is dressing the table, trying her best to hide her sobbing, as if everything was normal. Your son and wife bedridden, the woman you saved staring blankly at her meal, there is, so to speak, only you and your two daughters alive.

Chewing on the dry non-soaked flakes you find yourself dreaming about those flatbreads your wife made just yesterday. Anyway, if you keep eating like that, you only have food left for one day, so you think the best course of action is to take care of your neighbour and take back what's yours... and maybe more. The pain in your knees from yesterday marathon feels like a thousand needles, you wonder if you can continue to walk like that.

"While you were absent they offered new jobs."
"I don't want you to get out for now."
"But... People are going to hunt giants rats just before the Iron Pits... that's still meat..."
"Look at your harm. How are you going to hunt giant rats anyway? Who did that, Dorafra? I'm going to make them pay."
"Boulderfoot... A family of three, only one daughter, the... the same age as Novina."

She points on the little girl chewing her meal as if trying to find an excuse for them. It was the father who raided your home. You remember the fat Boulderfoot. He pulled a contract on a drunken noble and now he gets enough annuities to live the easy life, jobless but in the workers homes. Someone who shone only once in his life. Too fat to work or get drafted. The worst parasite imaginable.

What's the best way to deal with him?
>charge head on right now with your pickaxe
>ask the Boars militia to get rid of him
>ask the Sons of Vulcan militia to get rid of him
>maybe you can convince some neighbours to gang up on him but you will have to share whatever you find
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3958795
>maybe you can convince some neighbours to gang up on him but you will have to share whatever you find
They should be easiest to convince. Also, Barefoot should probably have enough food to go around

>>3958795
>charge head on right now with your pickaxe
1 fat fuck vs 1 angry father with a pickaxe let's go

>>3958795

>charge head on right now with your pickaxe

Our food with interest

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>>3958805
>>3958818
>>3958856
Fueled by anger you climb one step after the other, not wanting to wake up the pain in your knees. Your adamantine pickaxe is ready, so this fat leech will get what he deserves. Dorafra was told to guard your home, but she is still busy trying to feed her mother, her little brother and maybe that weird woman you brought back.

Facing the door of Boulderfoot you kick it open only to find the little family feasting on wheat porridges, a warm stove in the room and a piece of salted meat on the table. The fat Dwarf is still on his seat, crumbs and stain in his beard, his greasy fingers holding a slice of dried meat. He did not realize yet what is coming for him, but his wife did, and she instinctively hugged her little daughter, shielding her from your wrath.

Are you a murderer?
>yes
>no

>>3958880
>no
This is simply karma, all we'll do is break his arms. An eye for an eye

>>3958880
>no
Just knock him out cold with the pommel of our pickaxe (is that even a thing?), then explain to his wife and daughter why we are here.

>>3958880
>>no

beat him with our hands
grab food, meat and coal(it will be useful tot rade with the doctor) and say that this is to pay for what he did to our daughter

>>3958880
>>no

>>3958880
>>no
But take our food back.

Fuck, this is the edgiest quest I ever played.

>>3958880
>yes
Plant that pickaxe in his eye, we need that meat for another potion and the rest of the food

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>>3958882
>>3958902
>>3958910
>>3959154
>>3959202
>>3959939
A lot of thoughts are swirling around in your mind. Should you break his arms, knock him down, calmly explains things, take everything, just what he stole from you. A darkest part of your mine even whisper to you how to make his death as gruesome as possible by gouging his eye, an eye for an eye, right? But you decide to let him live. After all, you live in a community and your neighbours will hear about this. However, that means you will have to live with a potential threat next door.

While you were deciding on his fate, the mountain of fat took a kitchen knife in his hand. It's useless, you still have the advantage, so you use the reach of your tool to break his nose with the eye of your pickaxe. You hear his skull creaks and a flow of blood starts cascading on his beard as he falls and let go of the knife.

"Dorresag you... I brodegded your daugders."
"Never approach my home, you fat turd or I will come again for you."
"You abandoned you home."
"You broke my daughter arm and stole our food like a lowly fat goblin."
"I habe a bamily do feed do."

He said that as if it could justify anything but you know better. You are a righteous hero who saved a woman, you risked your life to find a cure for white death and the commander of the Fortress guards even gave you a quest. That's right, you are like a hero from the legends. Are you a hero?

You look at his provisions and wonder what you can take back.
>take his Mystical Stone
>take 1 day worth of coal
>take wheat grains, 14 meals equivalent (what he stole from you)
>take all wheat grains, 30 meals equivalent
>take salted meat, 12 slices

>>3959978
>>take 1 day worth of coal
>>take wheat grains, 14 meals equivalent (what he stole from you)
He broke an arm, we broke his nose.
We could use the coal a lot more than we could so the food, we have around 20 meals back at home regardless. Need the coal much more, but taking both of these options seems even enough to me. Likely won't draw any ire upon us, if we take everything, he sure as shit will be vengeful, or others will hear about it and do as he did.
If OP will only allow one choice, then my vote goes toward the coal.

>>3959997
>20 meals back at home regardless
*8
After the ration distribution, all the family had a meal, so you had 28 left of your 33. During the night, he stole half of the remaining rations, so you had 14 left and he took 14. Then you had a meal for lunch with your family plus Harmoline, so you only have 8 left.

>will only allow one choice
You can take as much as you want

>>3960004
>8
What? did we not get the meat Harmoline brought? My mistake. I took that into account.

>>3960037
Should clarify. I realize we gave meat to the gnome alchemist, but I had assumed that it was 1-2 units of what we had. Not all of it.

>>3960040
yes, it was everything for a potion (all 6 slices)

>>3960004
Support

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>>3959997
You judge that it's enough to only what he stole from, plus a well due compensation for your daughter sprained shoulder. Coal and wheat bag on your back you step back out of Boulderfoot's house until you are in the staircase. Other neighbours have gathered and discuss what you have just done.

"I saw Boulderfoot break Flatfall's door."
"Yes, this fat bastard go what he deserved."
Way to go Torresak, don't let yourself be intimidated."
"Didn't he take more than what Boulderfoot stole from him."
"Who is going to protect the building if Boulderfoot is defeated so easily."

Meet the neighbours. A young woman living alone, a old grandpa dwarfs and another dwarf about your age. There's maybe another neighbour who condemned his door and never left the building since the first week and the wife of the grandpa, too old to climb down the stairs. You clarify the situation, confirming the accusation on the thief, however they are afraid of this shift of power. Indeed, the man you broke the nose of was apparently ruling the community like a despotic barron but it somehow maintained order.

"Can we come to you if there is a problem, Torresak?"
"Please come with me to hunt giant rats, we will share meat with everyone."
"Did you find a way out of the Fortress?"

Are you a leader?
>yes
>no

Dorafra will use the coal to boil some water and wash Vozmoul wound, maybe the warm stove will help your family feel better. Especially your wife who lost the strength to cough and switched to a slow reduced breath, always smiling with her pale face like everything was alright. Only two problems left and it's only 3PM bell ring.

>take care of Harmoline, it's best to have her come back to her sense with this threat
>go seek a doctor for your wife, you can't waste anytime now

>>3960249

>take care of Harmoline, it's best to have her come back to her sense with this threat
She is an engineer and probably well off, if she has a home she may have medicine or at least know someone who does and we will need someone taking care of our kids when we leave after the doctor

>yes but I need to take care of my wife now

>

>>3960249
>>yes
Rise above, we're gonna rise above.
>>go seek a doctor for your wife, you can't waste anytime now
Cutting it close.

>>3960249
>yes
We are a man of the fortress. We look out for our fellow dwarves and they do the same for us.

>go seek a doctor for your wife, you can't waste anytime now
We can worry about Harmoline later.

>>3960282
>>3960306
before we hurry out and since we said yes ask the neighbors f they know how to treat wife
the older ones must have seen the disiese before

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>>3960255
>>3960282
>>3960306
>>3960325
"I have to take care of my wife but I won't let you down just as you won't let me down, I know."

The message was clearly understood. You house is safe as long as you act as their leader, how long it will take for your newly acquired responsibilities to contradict with your family interest, only time will tell. However, this is also a chance to rise above, become something more than a mere miner.

"What's the problem with your wife, Torresak?"
"She is coughing and has got very weak."
"Oh it's the White Death. May Vulcan protect her."
"Poor woman. The best you can do is feed her well."
"I heard opium could save her."
"No, she has to take a bath in the elven forest."
"I heard that bloodletting and enemas will do."

This is getting you nowhere. They all have their own superstitions on how to cure the disease. It's better to find a real doctor. You know there must be one in the Nobles Mansions, their house are very noticeable. Getting him here and paying him for medicine will prove to be the most difficult. First, the area is controlled by the Sons of Vulcans, so smuggling a Mystical Stone will be impossible. Then, a round trip will get you back home just before the "night" so you don't have any time to waste.

What should you bring with you?
>bring your pickaxe
>bring 10 meals worth of wheat
>bring 20 meals worth of wheat
>bring the healing potion
>bring your home's only light source:mystical stone

Also, considering yesterday unforseen detour, should you bring any meal with you?
>take flatbread, wait one hour for Dorafra to bake one
>just take crushed wheat, pretty indigestible
>no, you are fine, promise Dorafra you will get back before "night"

Anything else you would like you family to do while you are absent?
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3960359
>>bring your pickaxe
>>bring the healing potion
The nobles will probably not be interested in wheat, nor the healing potion. I imagine they are sitting pretty. The pick has proven it's worth before already, but could make a valuable bargaining chip if all else fails, though I'd prefer to keep it.
>>no, you are fine, promise Dorafra you will get back before "night"
It's close enough already, things are looking bleak. Should make the use of all the time we can to see if opportunity rears it's head on the trip there.

>>3960359
>>just take crushed wheat, pretty indigestible
>bring the healing potion
>bring your pickaxe

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>>3960367
>>3960387
It's time to head for the Nobles Mansions. You don't bother bringing a Mystical Stones to trade for a doctor since you know it will be confiscated and smuggling is not one of your skills. If only you could find someone who could, like a master thief, a hobbit master thief... You also bring youur pickaxe and the healing potion, even if a man of science will show little to none interest to some magical item it's more useful to have it on you.

Dorafra watches anxiously as you gear up for this evening, she fears that you will abandon all of you once again. You are torn about asking for a meal or maintaining the illusion that you will be home soon enough? You trust you first intuition and exit the building.

"Have a safe trip, dad."

Outside, the cave has changed a lot since you were absent. People are throwing their garbage out of their window because the sewer system is not working any more. It just looks like a human city, absolutely disgusting. Some small groups are gathering around fire where they throw everything they can, books, doors, furnitures, tools... There's only 3 days left before the rations runs out. Some even started to hunt giant rats for food.

"Please help me..."

The Hobbit still cuffed in the pillory does not look well. His forehead burn is covered in pus, and he probably has not eaten since you met him.

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>>3960536
As you progress toward the upper district of the Fortress, fire are replaced by dying trees, scavenger by the militia patrols and street are still clean. If it was not for the unattended gardens this place would not be far from what it originally was. You pass a few check ups and find yourself a doctor's house, someone is already answering your calls.

"Hey! Is anyone here?"
"What is it? No Mystical Stones. Already confiscated."
"No, I'm not here fo-"
"Beggar? No. Too well armed. Probably looter. By the way no more medicine here."
"No, I don't want to stea-"
"Militia too close. Highly unlikely. Asking for a doctor but no wounds. Intriguing."

The Dwarven Doctor is... thrilled by your visit. A beardless Dwarf with tiny glasses that he just can't stop adjusting. He said he had no medicine in his cabinet but you just can't give up like that.

"My wife is sick. She's coughing a lo-"
"Blood in her sputum?"
"Ye-"
"Tuberculosis. Commonly called White Death by proles."
"Y-Yes... Can y-"
"Great news! Follow me mister."

The enigmatic doctor invites you in his house. Walls are covered in bookshelves, the floor is littered with papers and some empty shelves have been broken. For a well off Dwarf, his house sure is lacking Mystical Stones, but you remember he said they were taken. Did the Sons of Vulcans also steal the medicine? You don't want to fight them, you already have another militia as an enemy. The doctor leads you to a courtyard where all sort of plants are growing... or more likely withering since there's no light.

"Behold, mister. Regina Noctis Aura."
"It's a plant."
"Very perceptive for a prole. I like that."
"Th-"
"Also called Ama Ahnvae Kess by the elves. It grows in their forest and only blooms once a month under the full moon. It's spores are highly toxic and I found out that this toxin could neutralize tuberculosis just like an antidote fight a poison."
"That's marvellous!"
"If only... The patients have a 53% survival rate because the toxin necrose the tissues. If only I could find a way to heal the damaged tissues as the toxin fight the disease. Also!... I don't have any Mystical Stone to imitate a full moon light so it will never bloom again."

That's problematic. You found a cure for the White Death and not only it is experimental and could kill your wife but you also have to find Mystical Stones to collect the medicine.

How can you bring a Mystical Stone to the plant?
>carry the plant back home, this will take some time since it's quite big
>maybe you can find a way to smuggle a Mystical Stone here
>write-in
How can you improve the survival rate?
>you have to collect lot of healthy food for your wife to fight the necrosis
>confront the Sons of Vulcan to find more medicine to fight the necrosis
>write-in
Should you go home for now?
>yes
>no

>>3960537
Additional question to doctor: Would health potion help? If yes how and when we should apply it.

We would need to put our wife in separate room

>>3960537
>>3960537
>>carry the plant back home, this will take some time since it's quite big

>write-in
WE can improve using the healing potion, but just to make sure ask the doctor if a healing potion would improve her chances of surviviong the necrosis

>ask him if he has anything to treat burns
we will go streight to our wife from here but after we drop the medicine on her we could try to help that halfling so we can use his skills

>yes

>>3960555
>we could try to help that halfling so we can use his skills
Supporting this. Nice thinking. He will likely be less receptive to helping us than he would have if we had stepped in after he was initially branded, but he might still be thankful enough to be willing to help us. Maybe he could steal medicine from the Sons of Vulcan? Not a good idea to blatantly rise up and come to blows with them just yet. If at all, so the halfling would make a good proxy. If not, we could potentially liberate a Mystical Stone from an abandoned dwelling or something, and maybe offer it to the Sons for disposal in exchange for medicine.
>>3960553
If it won't help her recovery any, we could give it to the halfling assuming we could free him.

>>3960555
>>3960537
oh, and invite the doctor to our neighborhood, its poor but we have light from the stones and he could help treat the people there since we will soon go giant rat hunting for food

and if he carry the plant we would go faster even if he brings all the food he has with him

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>>3960553
>>3960555
>>3960565
>>3960572
The 6PM bell rings, it's time to head back home and keep your promise to Dorafra. You try to pick the pot of the plant, it's too heavy for one person alone. Maybe a strength potion will do the trick or have another Dwarf help you. Well, not the doctor but maybe a neighbour. If that fails you can risk helping the Hobbit and have him smuggle the Mystical Stone here. You failed to help him but treating his grave injury will surely change his mind.

"Do you have anything to treat bur-"
"The Hobbit? Third degree burn. Amputation recommanded."
"But they marked him on his forehead."
"Amputation problematic... Balm to cover the burn. Incision to evacuate pus. Life expectancy: one or two days."
"Ouch... I didn't think it was this bad."
"Yes. Miracle needed."
"Ah speaking of miracle, I have this healing potion. Could this help my wife if she received your experimental treatment?"

For the first time, the strange doctor did not interrupt you. He stares at the potion adjusting his glasses, processing a train of emotions you can't really keep track of.

"Using magic. Combine Science and Magic? Renouncing to the oath of a doctor."
"Y-Yeah..."
"Unconventional. I like that. Use it one day after the toxin injection. Expect condition to get worse meanwhile."
"Not before?"
"Aaaah... Bunch of Nobles spend fortunes on healing potions. Get better instantly. Lung necrosis cured. Then disease strike back even harder. Expensive lifestyle. Dangerous for other."
"Why don't you come with me, doc?"
"Ah! Never. Too much work. Come back when you are ready."

Without any delay, the doctor sits right on the floor, with his papers. This rises many questions, but you have a community to take care of. Tomorrow you will have to decide how to carry the plant or if you want to save the Hobbit. You let the busy doctor continue his work and open the door. On your way back you find the Hobbit unconscious but still breathing. The doctor said he will only last one or two days like that.

It's now the 9PM bell turn to ring. You climb the stairs with this pain that won't go away in your knees. Dorafra jumps at your neck like a little girl, she is so happy to see you and you kept your promise. Vozmoul fever has gone away now that his wound is clean and there is a lit stove in your home, he is playing with Novina. Nomalin, your wife, has a better position on the bed with a cushion of clothes under her back. Apparently the old couple came to give some advice to help her breath but they say she has not much time left. Harmoline is still motionless staring blankly at the stove.

How to spend the night
>Dorafra on watch first
>Toressak on watch first
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

(Optionnal) With the night you fall into deep thinking and speculations.
What do you feel about how the king is handling the situation?
Who do you think is besieging the Fortress?
What's the deal with airships and Mystical Stones?

>>3960643
>(Optionnal) With the night you fall into deep thinking and speculations.
This is to help me write the story and help you explore some aspects of the Fortress.

>>3960643
>>Dorafra on watch first

>try to talk with Hermoline while we are on watch, it will keep us awake and maybe we can snap her out of her stuppor


What do you feel about how the king is handling the situation?
I hope he has some sort of escape plan or passage because we are not faring well
Who do you think is besieging the Fortress?
must be those dam n humans, ingenious enough to use trebuchets and greedy enough to want the mountain to themselves
What's the deal with airships and Mystical Stones?
they said it would be needed a ridiculous amount, and even if an airship sails it will be shot down by the forces outside

>>3960643
>>Toressak on watch first

>>Who do you think is besieging the Fortress?
Couldn't be goblins, if it was them, why not attack from the goblin caves. Or who knows if they could even manufacture trebuchets? Elves? Unlikely, why even besiege the Dwarves? and if the opposing army making trebuchets nightly as mentioned earlier, I doubt the Elves would be keen on the use of wood like that. Orcs and trebuchets don't mix. Couldn't be them. They got the horde thing going on it seems, but I doubt there are many Orcish siege engineers in this setting.
Must be humans behind it. Yup. Maybe another race in league with them, but I'm going to rule out Elves due to the consumption of trees angle.
>>What do you feel about how the king is handling the situation. Poorly. Likely pretty stressed by now, but still living the good life compared to the masses. It's chaos within the fortress, the nobles must have a plan or some way they'll get out of here, or kill themselves. Toressak rises to accept the new mantle.

>>3960643

>Dorafra on watch first
As always we get the shit watch

>invading

The humans are the most likely, maybe with the help of some gnome engineers or something

>the king
He could hardly be doing a worse job, militias on the street and no guard to be seens, the people starve and he has his boars at the stable? What are the boars eating? Wheat that could go to the people?
>>3960656
I like trying to help the engineer while we are awake.

Come morning we should find someone to help us carry the plant.

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>>3960656
>>3960673
>>3960712
With the 2AM bell, you wake up from a dreamless sleep. It's been so long, maybe seeing the end of the tunnel helped you clear your thoughts. Dorafra informs you that no real incident occurred during her watch. Actually, Boulderfinger's wife showed up apologize. She suspects that the woman was actually checking if you were out. You sit on a chair in front of Harmoline, just by the warm stove. Helping someone going through mourning, is not something you are really used to. Miners are strong people, they know lives only hang by a thread, literally.

>silently hold Harmoline hands
>talk about her father
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3960727
>hold her hand
>talk to her
He would want you to be strong lass, you have to come back, he was there defending our home and you need to be strong so we can survive this

Lend her a shoulder to cry if she needs it.

>>3960727
Supporting >>3960734.

>>3960727
>>talk about her father
Voting to just roll with this. Other option is too lewd.

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>>3960734
>>3960740
>>3960759
The warmth of your big worker's hand spread to he, you feel her reacting slightly to the touch. You deliver an inspiring speech, calling on the memory of her father and the supposed feeling he had for her. However, you feel her hold loosen, and she lets go of your hand. Upper classes are hard to understand. Didn't her father loved her as much as you love your children?

The morning comes but Harmoline is still lost in the dark. It's time to elaborate a plan to acquire the doctor's toxin. You need to move his plant to your home or smuggle a Mystical Stone to him. You concluded that the best way to do this is to find someone to help you carry the pot or rescue the Hobbit thief. Both of these methods need even more planning.

If you choose to carry back the plant to your home
>ask a neighbour to help you carry the plant
>find meat to buy a strength potion from the alchemist

If you choose to rescue the Gnome with your healing potion
>scavenge for a Mystical Stone for the Sons of Vulcan to free him
>try to bypass the Sons of Vulcan patrols and free him

"HAAAAAAA"

Someone is screaming downstairs. You rush to the staircase but people from the building were already coming to you, their leader, for advice. They found a Dwarven arm with bite marks on the first flour. You remember the house of horror, just across the street, that gave you nightmares. There is also another Dwarf who keeps asking you to help him hunt giant rats.

What about your duty as a leader?
>I'm hunting rat this morning
>I'm going to investigate the house of horrors this morning
>It can wait this afternoon, I have to save my wife

>>3960769
>>I'm hunting rat this morning

>>3960769
>>scavenge for a Mystical Stone for the Sons of Vulcan to free him
Safer option. Would rather go into a potentially dangerous area once rather than lose an ally and piss off a faction that controls the only other route to the eastern portion of the fortress. We piss them off, and we'll have a fight on our hands, or will be completely cut off here.

>>3960769
>>It can wait this afternoon, I have to save my wife
>>3960784
Other option slipped my mind. My vote goes to this. Hunting rat would get us points with the neighbors, but people are at risk of dying here.

>>3960769
>ask a neighbour to help you carry the plant
Say that if he helps us carry the plant pot we will help him hunt, how is that?


>It can wait this afternoon, I have to save my wife

>>3960787
On the way there we can try to free the halfling and leave him at the doctor, but only if no one is around

>>3960769
What if we hunt rat, give rat to gnome, bypass vulcans.
If we were to fail we drink the steroid potion before or after and we bring the pain

>>3960787
Supporting

>>3960769
>>ask a neighbour to help you carry the plant

>try to bypass the Sons of Vulcan patrols and free him
but don't use the healing potion on him, we need that one for our wife

offer the hunter to help us in exchange for helping him hunt, he helps us carry and we help them hunt

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>>3960775
>>3960784
>>3960785
>>3960787
>>3960788
>>3960792
>>3960799
>>3960801
2 votes to hunt
1 vote to scavenge
4 votes to go for medicine

You consider hunting giant rat for a while, it would get you meat and have a neighbour on your side, plus it's always better to thin the parasite numbers. However, lives are at stakes right now, so you choose to focus on getting back to the doctor. Actually, you could propose the one who asked you to go rat hunting to help you carry the pot. Maybe on the way there you could free the hobbit but there's no way you are going to waste a healing potion for that.

"I will take care of this later. Please understand, I have to bring back medicine for my wife."
"W-We have to prepare for tonight. There's a Dwarf eating creature roaming in the streets."
"Hey, you the hunter. If you help me carry medicine from the Nobles Mansion to my house I will hunt with you."
"Gladly, sir!"

This went surprisingly well. While preparing for today's expedition, you wonder how you are going to bypass the militia and free their captive. The poor halfling is at a pillory with a severe degree burn and is unconscious. You will have to carry him to the doctor and also break his chains.

What should you bring with you?
>bring your pickaxe
>bring 10 meals worth of wheat
>bring 20 meals worth of wheat

Since Dorafra calmed down a bit you can bring a meal without having her to worry and say it's just in case
>take flatbread, wait one hour for Dorafra to bake one
>just take crushed wheat, pretty indigestible

>>3960828
>>bring your pickaxe
>>don't bother taking food
bringing crushed wheat will not be filling or give us a burst of energy. The flatbread would be a waste of time to cook, it would be optimal to take nothing, and not waste a meal's worth of grain that won't really do much. Don't even think we ate the wheat we brought along the last excursion into the fortress.

>>3960828
>>bring your pickaxe
>take flatbread, wait one hour for Dorafra to bake one

>>3960828

>take flatbread, wait one hour for Dorafra to bake one
We will do some lifting and we'll need the strenght, one hour is nothing.
I remember the crushed things slowed us down too and this time we may need to run if we grab the halfling so we better be prepared.

>>3960859
And our trusty pickaxe.

Tell our daughter to hold Hermolin's hand while we are out, that seemed to confort her, but tell her to speak nothing, just confort the lass.

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>>3960853
>>3960854
>>3960859
>>3960861
Dorafra happily takes one hour to make you a flatbred, it could always be useful. The young hunter is waiting at your door step admiring your daughter cooking skill. He is staring a little too much to your taste. You only have 22 meal worth of wheat grains left, including the flatbread, that's enough for three days including today's lunch. He is not going to get his hands on you hard earned wheat. Or maybe he was not looking at the food?

"Dorafra, please take care of the poor lass. Hold her hands, that will confort her."
"Alright. Have a safe trip, dad."

You are now used to the road heading to the Nobles Mansions, the difference with the Workers Homes is always striking. It's cleaner, brighter, better and... there's now people hanging to the dead trees. You can't read the sign around their neck but recognize a religious symbol. The young Dwarf you brought with you feel very uncomfortable and cling to his spear. The pillory doctor's house is not far from the pillory where the Hobbit agonizing. Drool mixed with blood hang from his mouth to his hairy feet, there's even a vampire bat biting his shoulder, but he is still breathing. He won't last another day.

There's no patrol on sight, you only have two tools to free him. The pillory is held tight by a lock, there's no more bound on the prisoner.

Which tool do you use?
>use pickaxe
>use spear

And how to use it?
>hit the lock until it breaks
>break the hinge
>break the wood
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3960878
>use pickaxe

Iits what it's made for

>break the hinge
of if it's easier, the wood around the hinge so it comes loose

>>3960878
Pick behind the hinge and then leverage it free like you would using a hammer to pull out a nail

>>3960878
>use pickaxe
>break the hinge

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>>3960938
>>3960915
>>3960891
"I-Is this what we are going to bring home, sir?"
"No, I just need to free him, because... that's what I do. I help people"

You use your adamantine pickaxe to pull the hinge using the flat of the tool in a leverage. It comes out with a creaking noise from the wood, not this unmistakable clear sound when adamantine meet iron. You actually have to chase away the bat with your hand since it was not frightened at all. His body is all limp, like a slime and you can carry him easily like a child. This uncanny feeling hits you hard, did you really have to let it go this far? Did he not deserve a healing potion?

"Hey doctor, open up. I have a patient for you."
"Oh. Practical work. Worse than anticipated."
"Can you treat him?"
"Memory loss? Could be an effect of malnutrition. I said there's no medicine here."
"Can you do something?"
"Alleviate suffering. But, what the point?... Put him her."

Rescuing someone does not necessary means saving someone. The doctor help you position him in a comfy sofa and treat first his pressure ulcer caused by several days of stress position. He then applies a fresh wet on his forehead cloth after cutting some abscess around the necrosed flesh.

The doctor then details the procedure. Droplets of water on a Mystical Stone won't do, you will have to immerse it completely in water. This will of course destroy the stone, but the plant will bloom under its light and toxic spores disperse in the air. You will have to do this in an enclosed space, let her breath for one hour. This will get very ugly, she might drown in her own blood and you will have to administer a healing potion one day after the toxin was introduced. You will be tempted to give it sooner and you can but she will absolutely need another one day after the toxin was introduced, he emphasizes that point.

Any last question before leaving with the plant?
>If they took your medicine and food, what do you eat?
>What are you actually working on?
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3960981
>If they took your medicine and food, what do you eat?

>>3960981
>What are you actually working on?

>>3960981
>If they took your medicine and food, what do you eat?

Also, we will be hunting for meat, so we might get another potion, ask him to try and keep him alive

>>3961018
No guarantees tho

Calling it now, if the doc is cannibalizing dead patients sk him for a piece to trade with the asshole alchemist lol

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>>3961001
>>3961010
>>3961018

"Uh... Doc, what do you eat exactly? You are not canib-"
"Haha... saccharum officinarum. Dwarfs only know of sugar from beetroot. Ignorants. Didn't bother taking my sugar canes. Lucky."
"You have been eaten sugar this whole time?"
"Insightful."
"No wonder you are this excited... About your work."
"Yes. Compiling my work. So much knowledge to save."
"To save? You know a way out?"
"100kg per nobles, 50kg for commoners if you can pay the price. Foolish people asking for amputations. 50kg of papers is all I need."

The doctor turned back to his papers, carefully selecting the most precious pages of his notes, summarizing them with the tiniest possible handwriting. You fail to get more from him and only say aloud your wish to see the Hobbit live until you can help him.

Transporting the plant with the hunter proved quite easy, if you were at your peak physical condition you could have done that alone in on day with several pauses. You manage to get home for lunch and everyone is happy seeing you so early. You really made a good decision. Even Harmoline turns her head to your direction, the light in her eyes is nowhere to be found, but she reacted. Apparently the intense teasing of Novina and Vozmoul helped her forget about her father. The hunter is waiting for you in his apartment and you still have to cure your wife.

After the lunch
>go hunting, a long afternoon to find giant rats
>cure your wife, lot of things to prepare and a patient to watch

Maybe you can entrust Dorafra with something withing the community
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3961048

>go hunting, a long afternoon to find giant rats
Pay our debt and help her in the evening

>>3961048
>>go hunting, a long afternoon to find giant rats

>>3961084
>>3961088
rolld a 1d6 to hunt

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3961116
You don't use crit overrides on a d6 right qm?

Rolled 3, 5 = 8 (2d6)

>>3961116

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3961136
Goddammit

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3961116

>>3961143
Rats for everyone!

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>>3961173
>>3961143
>>3961141
>>3961136
>>3961129
The hunter takes you to back alley where multiple tunnels have been dug in the cavern wall. You both joke comparing this to a giant whack-a-mole, except that giant rats have teeth. He spread some wheat grains on the ground and you wait behind a pile of rubbish. The stench covers your smell and you don't have to wait long before a bunch of giant rats get out of their holes. He charges with his spear, carefully avoiding the guts and directly stabbing the rat in the eye. You imitate him and make your pickaxe falls down on rodent skull.

You both acquire the equivalent of 6 slices of meat, from the thighs. Surprisingly for the hunter, they are much different from the deers, he used to hunt in the Elven forest with his dad. The thighs are the only large enough muscle to bother collecting, a good thing you did not spill their guts. The young man thank you for protecting his rear, he looks like a good person.

The 6PM bell rings and you have to arrange everything to for the treatment. However, the task is pretty straightforward. Everyone leaves your home except you, Dorafra and your wife. Your daughter caulk every potential leak while you prepare a recipient of water. After dropping the Mystical Stone in the bucket of water, it shines just like the doctor said and the flowers blooms, letting out a green cloud of spore. You both exit your room as fast as you can and wait for one hour on the doorstep with everyone and the food.

It's now 7PM and the apartment has been cleared from any toxin. Nomalin does not look any different, but the doctor said she could get worse. Without coal and a Mystical Stone, you will have to face your darkest night.

How to spend the night (this include monitoring Nomalin)
>Dorafra on watch first
>Toressak on watch first
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3961191
Does the hunter live alone?


>Dorafra on watch first
Focus on making sure wife breathes ok, both of us, keep her from chocking and keep her airways unobstructed.
Let the daughter get the first watch since the second will be more frightening to her due to wife being worse

>>3961191
>Dorafra on watch first

>>3961212
support

>>3961212
Supporting.

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>>3961225
>>3961219
>>3961218
>>3961212
You wake up to the dim light of outside lanterns, without any fire or Mysrical Stone inside, it's almost total darkness. Dorafra says the first shift was calm, Novina was very scared of the dark and wet herself, Vozmoul tried to make her laugh to help her and, surprisingly, Harmoline smiled. You take her place at your wife bedside, the healing potion in one hand, the pickaxe in another. Time passes with each painful breath of Nomalin piercing your heart, every cough is startling you as if it was her last. It must have been even tougher on your daughter.

"HEEEEELP ME. HELP ME."

It's the Dwarf woman on the first floor. You have been ignoring the house of horrors for too long and even with the clear sign of imminent threat you delayed the investigation. It's probably the same creature coming back and you have no idea what to expect. Dorafra wakes up after a restless sleep.

>go downstairs
>stay near your wife
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3961238
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)
Alert the community! Tell your son, to rouse the neighbors, and then go downstairs! Have our two daughters stay inside. Don't open the door unless it's 3 knocks.

>>3961238

>go downstairs

Wake daughter with a shout and tell her to take care of mother

>>3961247
this

>>3961247
+1

>>3961265
>>3961264
>>3961247
>>3961245
Dorafra takes back the potion and replace you near her mother. You tell Vozmoul to alter the neighbours, but you can already tell that he is going to ignore Boulderfinger, and it's pointless to count on the old couple. This leaves you and the hunter who is already rushing downstairs ahead of you.

The woman who called for help is sitting on the ground, continuously screaming. Its far from hysteria, something in her brain was broken. Like you in the house across the street, she saw and unspeakable horror, something that should not be. Even when you try to tell her to calm down. You start to hear your children crying and Boulderfinger's daughter too, but the creature whatever it was is gone leaving only the woman with a leg partially eaten.

How do you calm her?
>knock her out
>let her scream
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

What about the creature?
>go outside after "it"
>stay in the building
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

"DAD?! DAD, COME HOME!"

Dorafra is calling panicked. You have to take an important decision, your wife health or your home safety. Maybe the time has come to trust your daughter on certain matters.

Rush back home
>yes
>no

>>3961288
>>no
We chose leadership. Protect the flock.

>>3961288
>let her scream

>go outside after "it"

>no

>>3961288
>>let her scream
>>go outside after "it"
>no

>>3961288

Shout to our daughter

"I'm ok, don't give the potion yet, stay calm.!"

>let her scream


>go outside after "it"

see if hunter boy is around

>>3961288
>let her scream
>go outside after "it"
>no

>>3961315
>>3961311
>>3961309
>>3961302
>>3961296
You try to shout something to your daughter but with the woman screaming and the children crying you don't know if she heard everything. With the hunter you go after the creature outside, leaving the woman to scream until she passes out or bleed out.

Immediately after passing through the exit, you confirm that it's a biped, but quickly lose its sight in the darkness between the lanterns' light. It was not going back to the house of horrors, if it even came out of here in the first place.

Since you trimmed the number of rats in the neighbourhood, you don't have to fear getting attacked by rodent and go deeper into the night. The hunter has found a trail of blood leading to a back alley where people throw their garbage.

>follow the blood trail
>go home
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

>>3961332
>>follow the blood trail
came this far. might as well continue. cautiously.

>>3961332
>>follow the blood trail

>>3961332
>follow the blood trail

>>3961332
>>follow the blood trail

>>3961332
>follow the blood trail
also....bleed out? she saw the creature on the other house, she was not injured right?

>>3961346
>>3961344
>>3961341
>>3961338
>>3961337
Closely following the blood trail, the hunter is on his guard, he knows a beast is the most dangerous when injured. Wait... It was not injured. And it was intelligent enough to hang people by their feet, it's nothing like an animal. What if it was actually playing with you? You feel a shadow looming over your back and the second after the bite of a knife in your shoulder. You fell in a trap.

The hunter turns around, thrusting his spear and chase away the creature hiding in the darkness. You are need bleeding a lot but your movement are restrained. You have to get back home. If you don't stop your companion he is going to run after the creature in the darkness.

>stop him
>let him continue

>>3961379
>stop him

>>3961379

>stop him

Its a trap, stop, the thing is i telligent

guys, tomorrow we can propose a new policy, we sleep in the same house at night, that way we stand together, if we are separated it can pick us off one by one

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>>3961393
>>3961388
>>3961432
Back home, the old couple is trying to stop the haemorrhage of the woman whose leg has been partially eaten, but her agitation is making things worse. On top of that, the fat Boulderfinger is laughing at you from his doorstep. This is a total disaster, except for your family who is happy enough to see you come back, even leaning on the hunter shoulder. There's Dorafra, Novina, Vozmoul and... Nomalin! No, there's also Harmoline!

"Hey, sir, I... I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I should have realized sooner it was not a beast."
"Who could have thought. Was that a Goblin? I never saw one."
"I don't think so... The knife in your shoulder. It's..."
"Spit it out. What's wrong?"
"It's a Dwarven hunting knife..."

The first floor is a mess, but after a few hours you all managed to stop the woman's bleeding after a considerable blood lost and remove the knife from your shoulder. You won't be able to use your pickaxe well and you should find clean water to wash that wound, which means coal to boil dirty water. You climb the stairs to reunite with your family, you forgot how beautiful Nomalin smile was when it was not to hide pain. Whatever the doctor said about not giving her the potion immediately, you just want to rest.

Both Dorafra and Nomalin are preparing the meal
>use the 6 slices of meat for everyone
>no better keep them for trading

You can finally talk with Harmoline, what do you want to ask?
>do you have a place to stay?
>do you have resources to share?
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

What should be your new first priority considering you cannot properly use your pickaxe?
>the creature, it must be dealt with
>you have no light source or fuel for the stove, you need coal
>you have to heal your wound
>you have to save the hobbit on the verge of death
>you have to find another healing potion for Nomalin
>write-in (write-in are always available but I may or may not choose them)

Have one person of your household do one of the aforementioned lesser priority task
>Nomalin (wife, in remission)
>Harmolin (engineer)
>Dorafra (daughter, sprained shoulder)
>Vozmoul (son)