User:Urist2000/Spearcavern

Spearcavern: The Hunter's Shrine is an ongoing video series authored by Kruggsmash. It is notable for its focus on storytelling and high production value. Notably in the countless hand-drawn images depicting the main characters and events accompanied by selected and condensed gameplay footage.

Spearcavern tells the story of The Garrish Pillars, a party of dwarfs who embarked next to an ancient shrine guarded by Rofa the marsh titan to hunt monsters for glory in the caverns below.

16 episodes have been published since August 2023.

Synopsis

Deep within the Swamp of Brightness a freshwater marsh lies a primordial shrine constructed by unknown powers before time. Its origins and purpose are unknown, but most scholars agree it is most likely dedicated to Rofa a three-eyed stegosaurid marsh titan occupying it.

Establishing the fort Lokumkor Zugoblolokkokun Obok (Spearcavern, The Grand Granite Shirne of Pillars) in the year 116 a little north of the shrine. Led by Kivish "Tinny" Akrulzuntîr a competent speardwarf driven by their will to carve out a space for herself in history. A first fortress aka Spaercaven ### was dug out to provide shelter and basic industry while starting to dig a proper fort and explore the depths. along with this undertaking came an ambitious dog breeding program. Along with some trapping for giant wild animals on the surface. The first ores been smelted and spears and armor forged from iron and steel.

Soon a tunnel to the caverns was dug out. To provide the dwarves with a spot to rest far from the main fortress, The Cobalt Room was created. A spacious tavern. Exploring the caverns, the dwarves set their eyes on a string of gem clusters they came across in the depth. It was Tinny’s job to open cluster after cluster encountering magma, water and finally an explosion of sorts at their respective cores. After a brief period of rest, it was decided to mine more of the clusters. Since the explosions seem to be manageable. When Tinny cracked open the next cluster a terrible scream was heard throughout the depths. A horse demon rose from the core and chased her through the caverns. Tinny barely made it out alive while the demon took on some serpent man. The exploration of the caverns came to a halt.

By the beginning of the second year, a human caravan from The Oceanic Realm far to the northwest arrived. This seemed to be first contact and ended in a profitable trade. Leaving the humans with some sub-par ballista parts. Those being a byproduct of Gutter setting up a ballista to train with. The same year the new fort aka spearcaven proper been dug out.

With Gutter becoming a skilled siege operator a row of ballistas with steel arrows been installed in the tunnel leading to the caverns. Loaded with steel arrows, they stood ready to kill off the demon lurking once he got baited in. But the mighty bolds failed to strike the creatures, and the dwarves had to retreat from the caverns once more in the face of their elaborate scheme failing.

Despite their goal of becoming legendary monster slayers by the beginning of their third year the inhabitants of Spaercavern had killed nothing but one giant alligator. It was time to start military training. The Crab was soon put to the task to complete seven sets of steel armor. Running the whole industry took the seven all the spare time left. But Spearcavern was only preparing.

By mid-winter of 120 the seven stood ready. Trained in full steel they moved towrads the demon beneath. In a quick but fierce battle it was killed by Tinny. Finally opening up the caverns for further exploration. Once more the dwarves turned to the gem clusters, started cracking them almost instantly. This time giving away a unique treasure: A whip made from twinkling metal named Enonsinur Batow Idil what is the human tongue for Citystandard (The Trade of Ropes). To determine who would obtain the right to wield this amazing weapon a gem cutting contest was hold. As all seven came out with a 200 worth gem a giant rat was brought in as the juror. Ultimately choosing Boogie as the winner.

Merriage Tinny and Boogie Vesifa the forgotten beast; pop killed it Queen Bee became the sole engraver

Meta Story

Spearcavern is the third fort set in the world of Athira Etha. It was funded after Nokortorad and it's successor Northbridge.

Spearcavern lies a few days of travel north of Northbridge. The mainlands of the Lancer of Oiling scattered through the Fancy Tooth Mountains, lies another three days of travel to the south from there. At the start of Spearcavern the homelands came under attack by both the elves from The Tame Canyon and the goblins of The Circular Terror.

Notable Chracters

• Kivish "Tinny" Akrulzuntîr, expedition leader, married Boggy in early 121,

• Mörul "Pop" Saziringel, miner, a bit overconfident, has problems with interpersonal relationships, killed the forgotten beast Vesifa

• Lokum "The Crab" Abalzaneg, manger and armorsmith, lover of queen bee and within a year in a polyamorus relationship that included wisp

• Zan "Queen Bee" Solozasmel, Lover with the Crab who later entered in a polyamorous relationship with Wisp.

• Thîkut "Boggy" Dorenlushôn, Cook & Brewer, husband of Tinny, in the winter of 120 he won a gem cutting contest judged by a giant rat.

• Ber "Wisp" Regtat, weaponsmith, always speaks in a whispered voice. Entered a polyamorous relationship with The Crab and was therefore a metamour of Queen Bee.

• Kogan "Gutter" Ushatosus , chief medical dwarf and broker

Trivia

The series started on a biweekly release schedule. Over time it developed towards a more relaxed release cycle with new episodes popping up whenever Krugsmassh feels like they are ready. Since episode ### alternating with a second series that covers a story from Caves of Qud another Kitfox game.

To find more FUN embarks he used DFHack to identify promising setups and put a voting out to his patrons. They decided on the shirne as the location of choice.

Episode List

Caption text

#	Title
1	Spearcavern 1: The Hunter's Shrine
2	Spearcavern 2: Free and Clear
3	Spearcavern 3: Feasts Near Beasts
4	Spearcavern 4: Going Down, Fighting
5	Spearcavern 5: Twinkling Treasures
6	Example
7	Example
8	Example
9	Example
10	Example
11	Example
12	Example
13	Example
14	Example
15	Example
16	Example