Gateheaven
A low-slung entrance of microcline dug into the side of a red sand hillside, Gateheaven represents this dwarven civilization's last attempt at overcoming the horrible elves and disgusting, smelly humans, who have attemped to wipe us bearded ones from the face of the earth far too many times.
1st Hematite, 153
The hydra lays dead by the stream, killed by a pick to the face, in typical dwarven fashion. This drama was simply too much for the last overseer, who was unfortunately eaten by the hydra during the course of the fight. Thus overseer-ship has fallen to me, Salmeuk, Militia Captain and Legendary Cook.
I took a full walkabout of Gateheaven to assess the state of the fortress. From the surface to the cool stone below, a wide ramp spirals.
In one of the rooms I discovered a statue of myself, in steel. It celebrates that one time I cooked a really good roast plump helmet. There was also a statue of a leech, in steel... I am somewhat concerned about the priorities of our smiths.
So too I noticed our fighters were sparring in the middle of our tavern.. I told them to go fight their fights in a barren room just to the north.
And so on and so on I went, adjust this and that detail of all the various bureaucratic systems that keep this place afloat.
3rd Hematite
NO FISHING IT TAKES TOO LONG STOP IT THEY DONT EVEN TASTE THAT GOOD
4th Hematite
Two new performers were invited to live amongst the citizens of Gateheaven. This fresh blood will help energize the locals into getting stuff done.......... thats the dream anyways
6th Hematite
A vile force of darkness has arrived, seeking a parley. I do not know how to talk to goblins without wanting to smush them so this will not be happening.
The squads were assembled topside: The Razors of Rewarding, The Gloved Communions and The Geared Gales.
The dwarven fighters waited patiently as the goblin army approached across the stream. Then, the fight began with a charge by 'Moira' Ringtools, who entered a martial trance almost immediately.
Dwarven steel severed iron armored limbs as the two forces clashed. A ghostly poet watched, hovering in the midst of the carnage, reminiscing of the time when he also had blood that might be spilled.
It was over quickly and the remaining goblins fled towards the northern hills.
After this fight, it was decided to give the military a short break from violence, and employ them in various hauling tasks.
13th Hematite
Further exploration began, with the miners being tasked to search for caverns.
One day later, we struck a pocket of stale air, and soon discovered a voluminous space beneath the stairs, full of thick spiders web, yet lacking all fungus or vegetation.
As we breached the cavern and carved a staircase into one of the sturdier stalactites, foul smelling diminutive creatures scrambled up from the muddy darkness and attacked our dwarves. TROGSSSSSSSS
21st Hematite
A gigantic pit was discovered, leading to the second cavern layer, and raw emeralds were spotted glistening on the cave wall.
27th Hematite
This fortress has it all. Iron, Coke, plenty of water in the form of a deep aquifer, and yet, we have no bins. NO BINS.
15th Malachite
The haulers are complaining about the great weight of the iron ore, so a large number of iron wheelbarrows have been commissioned.
19th Malachite
The soliders returned to their training schedules today.
1st Galena
A gremlin was spotted in the hallways, creepin'
9th Galena
Asmel the Poet was washing herself by the stream, thinking about her beloved cousin, when a strange mood came upon her. She rushed towards the workshops and claimed a
craftsshop.
Eight days later Asmel emerged with a magnetite puzzlebox Adthedak Arust Kebul, "Sunsclan the Bowl of Sparkling".
This is a magnetite puzzlebox. All craftsdwarfship is of the highest quality. It is encrusted with round rose quartz cabochons. This object menaces with spikes of magnetite. On the item is an image of a cranberry wine in iron.
other fortress artifacts include:
Kinkatdir Ubar Dakost, "Masteredglimmer the Lull of Floors," a sardonyx window. On the image is an image of The Roof of Dourness the magnetite hatch cover in sardonyx.
Telkebon, "The Most Odor," a frilly sheep wool skirt. It is decorated with sheep wool and encircled with bands of baguette cut schorls. it is made from sheep wool cloth. This object menaces with spikes of llama wool and ostrich leather.
Cilob Gomom, "The Roof of Dourness," a magnetite hatch cover. It is encircled with bands of round magnetite cabochons. This object is adorned with hanging rings of magnetite.
Beruldesis, "Bastionsnarls," an artifact steel battleaxe. It is encircled with bands of horse bone and tunnel tube. This object menaces with spikes of olivine. On the item is an image of The Knowledge of Animals And The Climate the savanna titan parchment scroll in calcite.
A steel statue was commissioned of all the overseers, as well as the dead hydra Stratabkun Smospe, "Breachdrum the Certain."
12th Limestone
The dwarven traders arrived today, with their massive pack elephants marching over the northern hillside.
We traded assorted spare armor and clothing for logs, anvils, beer and cheese.
For next year, we requested bins of leather, wood, anvils, weapons, gemstones, fish and meat and cheeses, and anything else of curiosity they might want to bring.
5th Sandstone
A wild gorlak was spotted in the caverns.
6th Sandstone
A ghostly 'Neblime' has been put to rest.
17th Sandstone
The guildhalls, one for the farmers and one for the miners, will be expanded to allow for more statues.
24th Sandstone
The squads were called off training again, to haul corpses down into the burial chambers. Or for the goblin invaders, leave them out to dessicate in the hot desert sun.
25th Sandstone
A giant theropod with lidless eyes has arrived - "Fevil" - It has a short trunk and it undulates rhythmically. It has long, broad pearl-colored feathers and breathes fire.
Poor Bibiloco, out in the muddy caverns to collect the left foot of a dead elk bird, as dwarves are wont to do, encounters Fevil.
This is certainly a surprise.
Meanwhile, the lever is pulled early and multiple dwarves are left outside to fend for themselves.
For some reason the elephant traders are down there as well.
Bobiloco:"I'm not panicking." this is spoken as her right hand is exploded
Fevil continues its deadly pace towards the remaining stranded dwarves, "Dorfmangler" and "Unlucky".
The gorlak watches from the shadows.
But then, Fevil notices this small creature that is entirely a torso-less head. It is summarily punted, flaming, into the dark void.
9th Timber
Kesperan fell into the well's cistern during the excavation process. Luckily they managed to escape. That's why we leave a staircase!
3rd Moonstone
The well is finished, fed by aquifers from the soil above. There is a pressure plate attached to a floodgate should the cistern overfill.
5th Moonstone
Sigun the poet went moody, grabbing a single piece of chalk.
Later that day, the elves attacked, ambushing dwarves near the surface. This would be disastrous if not for the fact they were equipped with only grown-wood weaponry.
The first death was a kitten, caught out by the herb gardens. Evil evil creatures.
Dumathoin charged from the entrance towards the elves, dodging arrows, and quickly beheading the first elf in one shot with her steel pick.
But there were tens, maybe hundreds of elves. And war tigers appeared, leaping from behind enemy lines into the fray.
Yet, our dwarves are faster than even this elven war tiger, and Banak severs the creatures head in one fell swing.
Three dwarves enter a martial trance, hacking limbs and heads, and blood quickly pools at their feet. The elven horde continues to charge from the south, and yet more dwarven reinforcements approach from the tunnels.
Bruenor, in a fit of bravery, splits from the group and charges the fresh elven fighters. Bruenor wields the named steel pick Rabvakist, "Glowlace," with a tenacious grip.
It was at this moment the goblin war party arrived, seeking a parley.
There are elves upon elves upon elves. The fighting goes on for entire days without breaking, just brutal violence. Leopards and tigers and horses fall to the axedwarves.
Then, the elven war elephants appeared, lumbering over the horizon towards the front.
The quick-thinking 'Sigrunna' kicks one of the elephants in the head, knocking it unconcious.
Yet, the dwarves are mortal, and as their trances faded, over-exertion set in. First to be affected was the same 'Sigrunna'. Unfortunately this was during her fight with a second war elephant.
She dodged away, killing a leopard with a quick slash, and turned to fight. Her first swing landed the pick deep into the elephant's guts, yet the weapon became stuck.
The elephants tusk bore down upon 'Sigrunna', slamming into her steel helm and breaking her neck and spine.
'Bruenor', witnessing this atrocity, attacked with renewed ferocity and charged the trio of war elephants who now threatened to turn 'Sigrunna' into a fine dwarf pulp.
But it was too late, and the heroic 'Sigrunna' was stomped to pieces by eslome Rainymine the elven war elephant.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the battle, 'Salmeuk' engages a duo of elephants by fighting on the run. A lucky hit with his steel pick severs one of their tusks. Soon, he is rescued by the rallying squad.
The horde was unending.. further trampling elephants were seen fording the stream, charging us.
What's this? Bruenor caught out alone, holding the microcline bridge, still wielding the pick Glowlace, killing elephant after elephant. Yet more remain, and leopards too.
To the north, the waiting goblins broke their truce and murdered one of our wrestlers. They remained passive, so this was clearly a signal: they could descend at any time and destroy the entire fortress. But instead they were enjoying the show, of dwarves against elves, against elephants.
'Bruenor' quickly duels, then kills, two bull elephants on the bridge, then charges forward to attack the leopards.
Elsewhere, "Kella" bleeds out after suffering grievous wounding from a tiger's jaws.
The fighting is then over, but the dwarves are not finished - the northern siege awaits a parley.
This parley comes in the form of a dwarven shield charge and surprise attack, which catches the foolish invaders and begins the fight with great advantage.
This battle was won, and the dwarves celebrated and returned to the tunnels, except for 'Snail Mail' who spotted a lone remaining mercenary dwarf. It was here that a heavy bolt struck 'Snail Mail' in the neck and dropped them to the ground. They continued their push towards the mercenary but it was too grievous a wound and eventually they succumbed to blood loss.
With three dead, this series of battles were truly hard fought. Yet I can't help but wonder at how many elves, tigers and elephants fell to the pick of 'Bruenor' and others, and how hopeless it seemed at times during the fighting. Over 10 days passed during these engagements.
16th Moonstone
The siege cleanup commenced with multiple butcheries and tanneries built up near the pile of animal corpses. The elephants in particular would make for good cuts of meat, if we were to salvage them in time.