{picture}
As the ashen snow landed on top of frozen buildings and thunderous trains, men slept in desperate tents, while dwarven citizens burned out their fuming pits. All while rich aristocrats enjoyed the spoils of fattening gold and exotic machinery. But while their giant clock turned, to a tune unfamiliar, so did the earth tremble to the sound of maddening hunger deep within its earthly pits.
→→→→→Excerpt from the dwarf prophet Zaghar
Eve of Day 14
[My dear Dagna, what are you doing? You're going to be late!]
Hearing the sudden voice of his wife, Dagna rose from his bed and said with pride:
[Don't worry Frea! They can't fire me… after all, I'm the best and finding gold in our complex tunnel system! I would like to see them try to replace me!]
Looking into her husband loving eyes, Frea said:
[Just be careful dear, the city isn't as safe as it used to be…]
[I know… with all the refugees that came from the human towns and villages, the city has become more lawless. Sigh, just what was the city governor thinking allowing all these humans to come in just like that!] replied Dagna
[I wasn't talking about them… it's the tunnels I'm worried about… there's a rumor going on in that hospital that there's something down there…] replied Frea worryingly
[Ha! Dear, you worry too much! Those tunnels, even the old ones, are very well protected! They're probably just hearing construction noises.] replied Dagna with smile before saying:
[instead of worrying about me… I'm more worried about you! Be Careful when you head out for work… OK… the disappearance has reached six people now!]
[I know… I will avoid the humans on the way to work…] replied Frea with a downcast expression
Few hours later as the giant clock rang
[Hey Dagna! It's time to get that gold sniffing noise of yours to work!] yelled his boss
[yes sir... But is it me or does the sacred clock sound different today?] replied Dagna
[Don't worry about the dam clock! Dagna! Just get back to work! I'm sure the governor is looking into it as we speak!] replied the boss
[ damn… Dagna, you really pissed him off this time… you really need to stop arriving late! Isn't this your fourth time this week!] replied Dagna friend
[meh! What can I say… My wife is too good in bed! HA!] replied Dagna
[Ya…ya.. Show off! Can't you be at least a little bit considerate to us single bachelors!] replied his friend
[OH! Just calm down… Marko… I'm sure you'll find your other half someday.] replied Dagna as he pated Marko back
Seeing that his encouragement wasn't working, Dagna said:
[hey, look at the bright side, at least you got a date with this little lady right here!]
Now seeing Dagna slam his hand against the butt of the digging prowler, did put a little smile on Marko face.
But as Marko reached to turn on the machine, he saw the earth in front of him move slightly… with squinted eyes, Marko shrugs his shoulders and turns on the machine as his friend Dagna asked [why he was taking so long.]
But while ignoring his friend's inquiry, Marko started diving headfirst into the hardened soil mounds that were in his way! But as he tunneled through roots and the mud, the machine suddenly hit empty space! Confused he called Dagna over his comm
[Dagna! There is a problem!]
[with little Kate?] replied Dagna
[No, not the machine but with the earth ahead! The sensors are picking up what I think is empty space… but the good news is that they're also picking up gold signals throughout the space!] replied Marko with much excitement, for the day had just started and they had already found gold!
[This just has to be a new record] thought Marko lost in his stupor
But while he was lost in his excitement, Dagna had different thoughts:
[empty space…empty space… that should not be possible… this close to the surface]
But as the uneasy feeling was creeping deep inside Dagna gut, Marko punched through the space with much vigor! But the second the machine crossed that line; it was blasted with a black substance that ate away at the machine very treads! With cameras blinded and windshield darkened, Marko exited the machine, only to see it burning and melting below the plates!
Fearing the machine's safety more than his own, Marko rushed to check out the drill. But as his flash hit the edges of the drill in front, did he notice something freshly crushed beneath the drill razor teeth. Inspecting the fleshy sack, Marko flashed his light deep into the dark empty space, to reveal to his eyes the horror of hundreds of eggs! As the panic in his eye began to set in, he called to Dagna only to freeze uncontrollably to the sound of sketchy hissing and low murmurs!
As the dwarf backed away slowly, to the sound of horrific creatures, the black substance on the floor caught his feet! As the man fell back the light on his chest flashed onto the face of a blackish hellish creature that produces a soft green glow around its cranium! As their faces were inches away, the man fully expected to die right then and there! When he was suddenly dragged by his feet into that hellish black hole!
Dagna, hearing the tormented sounds of his coworker being dragged away, immediately slammed the emergency button inside the workstation cubicle. Causing little Kate to self-destruct! Collapsing the tunnels and flooding them with the cold sensation of the earth. But this single action spelled the doom for the dwarven city, they just didn't know it yet! For the fire caused by the self-detonation burns away dozens of eggs deep within the alien nest!
As Breder felt the loss of hundreds of his children ram his mind, did he say through squinted plated eyes:
[The cities of dwarfs! Watch as I burn you to the ground! I was going to save you for last... But now…. I'll have you watch as I sink your beloved clock that echoes through the ground with its awful tune beneath this cursed earth!]
As Breder looked in the direction of the dwarven metropolis from the bloody ruins of Aelmor, did his children surround him in all their glory! From ravagers to newly born drones, to the fastest of runners! As bloody snow fell from the sky, as the human fleeing fleet above the gray sky came crashing down!
{Ilzec! You have my consent! Send THEM out!} yelled Breder as he gazed up into the burning clouds above.
Meanwhile in the Elven village
While darken forest and weeping trees covered for the meek and the wary, stood a tall and firm beautiful woman. Whose sharp eyes peered into the waters of their spiritual pools, with pointy ears and bountiful breast did the seer stretch out her hands and said:
[The forest cries while clouds above bleed in sorrow, while the moon faces wane to hide its faces from the chilly winds that will blow from below!]
But while the woman pauses for a second as her eyes swirl in confusion…
[Ariel…] called out a voice from a simple elf dress in a white nightgown
Through the words of her name did the seer continue
[with eclipsing sun, the skies will burn as the waves rush from their spot! But as the waters of the earth rages and consume, the wind below will rise to steady the tide, only to fall if the eclipsing sun doesn't sacrifice its burning light!]
Seeing Ariel pause again the simple elf walked up to her only for Ariel's head to turn a full 360 degrees! With whiten eyes and a gorging mouth did Ariel yell in a voice not her own:
[A toll must be paid for a deal struck! Only backed in blood will one rise above the other! Should the blood not be paid, the world will drown in lasting sorrow!]
With prophetic words done, the spirit inside Ariel left her body to fall onto the cold tree roots above their spiritual pools. Rushing to her aid the simple elf said to herself:
[Oh! Goddess of the moon… why now… why did it have to be in my lifetime! That the evils of the world will stretch out their hands again! And this time… I'm afraid… afraid that the cost will be far greater than any other…]
Meanwhile back in the dwarven high court
[My king… the prophet Zaghar has died!] reported the man
[Umm... so it's time then… immediately STOP every project that isn't for military use! The god of forging will soon grace us with his prince… and when he does the fight for our very existence will begin!]
Meanwhile back in Bredale 14 days prior
[Now Ander… my dear Ander… I've already told you! But let me emphasize again I did not and would not cause a goblin "stampede" of any kind to attack your beloved jurisdiction!] said Augustine the third
[And I'm to believe you why? exactly… Because as far as I see it, you will benefit a lot now that I have to buy so many resources from your house! To help with disaster relief!] replied Ander while crushing the cigar in his hand
[Now, now Ander let me explain further, though as much as I would like to play with you by sending you an army of goblins to deal with. I had my own set of problems…] replied Augustine
[Oh! Please by all means! why don't you continue to "elaborate" Augustine] replied Ander seething
[hush now… dear Ander and listen, I've been too busy with my work concerning the star monster! Now before you say anything. My associates are busy studying the unknown crates we recovered from the fallen star! In the city of clockwork… which as you know is located in your territory! So, now think about it! why would I willingly jeopardize such important work just to mess with you?] replied Augustine with a cheeky smile
Annoyed at seeing his face, while also adding to the fact that he was studying dangerous unknown alien tech in his backyard enrages Ander to his core!
[You had your people study such dangerous things here! In my territory! Without notifying me first!] yelled Ander
[Yes… yes, I know you are very upset! But look at it from another perspective! You'll get first dibs on any new technologies the master craftsman of Farmor have to offer!] replied Augustine with hands wide open
After thinking things through for a moment Ander said:
[umm... Alright fine but I'm still not happy about this… anyway what's the name of your associate in the city?]
[I believe his name was… Aenward]