The Last Fortress
Moyoanenu, "The Mythical Planets"
Year 1050 after the creation of the world
The dwarves of the Noiseless Machines lay long dead. It has been nearly a millenia since the last one lived - the relentless attacks of titan and forgotten beast, and eight wars with the elves of the Flute of Crowding, finally led the last dwarf fortress to fall in the year 177.
In recent years, the titans and beasts descended upon the elves as well, and now the Flute of Crowding has been reduced to a single forest retreat in the northwestern reaches of the world. Their population, based on a census of the retreat, is a mere 317.
The four dwarven deities - As Wambranded, goddess of earth and volcanoes, Sazir Yellowgilt, god of jewels, wealth, and trade, The Fenced Shells, goddess of fortresses, and Solon the Intense Theater, god of revelry, decided that now was the time to rebuild.
The newly created party of seven was sent to the Jungle of Shoving. There, they would recreate their dwarven civilization and once again worship their gods.
On the 15th of Granite, 1050, the party of seven, known as the Swords of Recreation, arrived at the site of their new fortress, Erithnirkun, "Labortrials".
There would indeed be many trials ahead of them, and only by their own labor would this, the new dawn of the dwarven race, continue.
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Contents
Labortrials, Year 1050 (below)
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15th Granite, 1050
Official Expedition Log
Today Limul Glovedwave was elected queen of the Noiseless Machines. May her dynasty be long and prosperous!
Today construction began on the first level of the fortress. The stockpile and meeting area must be completed post-haste, the supplies dragged inside, and the fortress sealed behind us with a stone wall.
25th Granite, 1050
With the preliminary work now complete, our next objective is to dig down to the stone layer and begin crafting certain goods.
We shall also set up a farm in order to feed our party of seven.
27th Granite, 1050
We have struck obsidian.
9th Slate, 1050
We have built a Mason's Workshop to begin work on the furniture for the queen's chambers.
5th Felsite, 1050
We have built various other workshops to contribute to work on the queen's chambers.
(Note: The queen's chambers are the most urgent matter because of the acknowledged insanity of the nobility. If their mandates are not met within a certain period, they go insane. And we cannot afford to lose even a single dwarf now.)
8th Felsite, 1050
We struck native copper today. It isn't immediately useful to us, since we have no fuel to run a forge anyway, but it might be in the future. Some of it was mined, and the veins will be sealed by doors in the final chamber design.
1st Hematite, 1050
Work has already begun on smoothing the queen's chambers, and progress continues on the furniture. The fortress is stable for now, with a food supply of plump helmets and a drink supply of dwarven wine.
Some new stockpiles shall be constructed on the top level of the fortress, since the existing stockpile has been filled.
2nd Malachite, 1050
Still smoothing and engraving the royal bedroom, throne room, dining room, and mausoleum.
22nd Malachite, 1050
Four migrants arrived today - more dwarves created by our gods. A hole in the wall will be opened for them, and closed behind them.
1st Limestone, 1050
We've started production on statues to increase the values of the rooms.
14th Sandstone, 1050
Migrants arrive once more, and for the last time, according to them. The wall will be opened for them and closed behind them.
19th Sandstone, 1050
The population is now 21. From now on, it will grow naturally, by a cycle of birth and death. Eventually, one hopes, we will have enough dwarves to retake this world as our own.
For now, we hide here, and regrow our strength.
11th Timber, 1050
With most of the work on the queen's chambers completed, we shall begin setting up a larger farming area.
13th Timber, 1050
Abel the Dyer has been possessed. He will begin his mysterious construction soon. The only material he is using is bone.
16th Timber, 1050
The farming area has been completed.
1st Moonstone, 1050
We shall briefly open the wall once more in order to go outside and chop down a large number of trees for their wood.
Construction of a large dormitory has been planned.
6nd Moonstone, 1050
A small militia armed with obsidian short swords has been planned, designed to maintain order if necessary.
9th Moonstone, 1050
A mason was found dead of dehydration. We do not understand why this happened, and the loss is tragic, especially when the population is this low.
We shall begin construction of a graveyard on the level below the royal chambers.
25th Moonstone, 1050
It is apparently possible to make a bed out of bone.
7th Opal, 1050
The wall blocking the entrance has been opened, and trees designated to be cut.
10th Obsidian, 1050
We patched up large holes that appeared in the roof of the fortress. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to cut the trees directly above us.
1st Granite, 1051
Here is the fortress so far.
Level 1, workshops, stockpiles, and barracks.
Level 2, farms, stockpiles, and dormitory.
Level 3, the royal chambers.
Level 4, the graveyard and stone mines.