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[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Ninth Scroll

Early spring had come.  The dwarfs were planting the seeds, making wooden barrels and rock pots, and cooking meals to put in the barrels and pots. 

And fishing.  The sea was always available during the four seasons.  Brother Tobul seemed to enjoy fishing.  Outside of the rain.  Which annoyed everyone.

Underground quarry bushes and plump helmets were to be planted while on the surface they would be planting blackberries.

Mother ordered a loom and clothier's shop to be built in the mining area.  Bags were needed.  And maybe clothing soon.

It was also decided to make TWO more stoneworker's workshop.  And a jewler's workshop was also built when uncut gems were dug up.

On the 8th of Slate the first underground home was finished.  Mother entered it.  The first room was a study.  With a stone table, throne, and a statue of herself surrounded by spiders.  It had been smoothed out and the floor engraved.  To the right was a doorway, still missing a door, which headed into a bedroom with a bed, stone cabinet and a coffer.  To the left was a dining room, attached to the study, with a stone table and a throne.  All hers. 

Each dwarf would receive such a home.  Including a statue of themselves.  That way drunk dwarfs would know if they entered the wrong home.  It might not keep them out of other people's homes but at least they would know they were in the wrong place!

She tried out the bed for a short nap. When she woke up she found Brother Zas standing over her bed with his axe.  She ran for it and he chased her.  In the end he just wanted to yell at her.  Not murder her in her bed.

The next home went to Sister Solon.  Her bedroom in the barn had been the last made.  She had waited a long time to have a dry place to sleep and store her things.  So Mother wanted to make up for her wait by making sure she received the second home.   

The need for rock had increased over the first year and three more dwarfs were given picks to increase those who mined to six dwarfs.  But this meant other jobs went undone.

By late spring things were becoming a little more civilized.  But all the rain!

The Mother ordered a special statue for the tavern.  She was not sure that The Mountainous Tongue was something that could be translated into art. 

And where were the otters?

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Tenth Scroll

Summer came.  And so did the summer rains.  Which seemed to even annoy the pigs.  Stupid pigs.  If they stayed inside they won't get wet!

On the other hand Mother Dishmab enjoyed eating in her very good dining room and felt satisfied after having a meeting in her nice office.  Yes, once every one had such rooms they would all be happy.  Well, happier.

It was also decided to make six, small, underground temples.  Adding the surface one that would make a total of seven for just ten dwarfs.  That seemed more than enough.

Then on the 11th of Hematite a caravan of otter folk from Scholarloaf started to arrive.  Mother tried to decide what to export and what the Broker should import.  What did they need?  What did they have?!?!

The otters had some guards and pack horses.  Not a lot but maybe they had something worth trading for?

Mother decided to send one cut gems.  Why not? The briolette cut moss opal  she picked to trade was worth about 1000 credits.  But the otters said it was only valued at 200!   Jerks.

As the outpost had enough food and drink the Mother and the Broker looked over the otters' goods to see if there was anything they wanted.  Not needed but wanted.

They bought a scroll for 100.  And there was three rolls of llama wool cloth they also grabbed.  Glove Cupcalmed the Merchant seemed pleased with the profit.

Funny enough the otters didn't like the rain either.  Didn't they like water?  Why move to the coast in such great numbers if you didn't like rain all the time?

Mother ordered cloaks, as many as could be made and the dwarfs seemed happy with the brand new cloaks made from the cloth weaved at the loom and bought from the otters.  Brand new cloaks!  They had something to put over their worn and aging clothing.  Clothing that was always wet.  Sadly the cloaks were not water proof.

And the first batch of dwarven hardtack had come out of the oven!  Oh...wow, really hard on the teeth.  But still it would last for centuries!

One small temple was finished on the 10th of Galena and given to Doren Mineddiamonds the Steel of Irons.  It was called the Chapel of Mountains.  A deity of minerals.  Mother ordered a statue be made of the deity at once!  If she remembered right Doren took the form of a female dwarf.

Things had slowed down what with all the digging and smoothing and detail work on the floors of the homes.  Funny enough somebody mixed up the order on the deity statue and made a statue about a historial event nobody seemed to know about.  Some dwarf and another dwarf refusing that dwarf.   Blah, blah, blah.  Maybe they could sell it to the next traders?

Then fall came with the autumn showers.  Sigh.  Well, at least the new rooms were coming along, there was plenty to eat or drink, gems were being cut, and they were starting on the stone floor of the grand library. It would all be stone.  From the walls to the tables to the bookcases.  With statues of the important figures in history.  Maybe if they could find sand they would make windows?

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Eleventh Scroll

It was early autumn of the year 1985 and Mother Dishmab decided to check the stocks and storage.  But instead of asking Brother Kogsak, the bookkeeper, for the information she decided to walk through the outpost and check things out herself. 

There were barrels and pot full of blueberry and apricot wine, foxtail millet beer, peach cider and other many types of booze. 

There were many types of pies, roasts, loafs, casseroles, dwarven hardtack, buns, chowder, and dumplings.  But a few items were rotten.  She ordered that the farmers stop working in the fields and that Brother Tobul stop fishing.  They needed to cook and store the produce they had now.

This would also allow more dwarf hours for other labors. 

She also noticed the dust covered iron anvil.  Maybe soon they would need it but not now.

The underground pens had baby chicks and piglets along with their parents.  While the pasture on the surfacce had goat kids and their parents.  Plus a one-humped camel, a horse, and a yak bull.   So there was plenty of milk, eggs, and wool to collect.  And soon meat that didn't come out of the waters.

The barn also had a room on the third floor she planned to turn into a tiny hospital.  Also the roof would be only partly covered.  There she planned to put a barrack.  Where those with military skills could train out in the open.  While the equipment would be protected.

Still, those projects would take time.  As did preparing the underground homes and the grand library.

She visited the hives.  They were buzzing away and seemed to be overflowing with honey.  She wondered what mead would taste like?

Also, once again, somebody made a statue of Kivish, a totally unknown dwarf, instead of Doren for the first true temple.  Why? 

She ordered another statue of Doren be created.  Well, not another one.  A first one to be fair.

As she waited, on the 11th of Limestone, the caravan from Goden Ishlum was spotted.  As was the liaison Domas Eribnirmek.  Even from a distance her grouchy face could be seen.  Of course she was pissed off by the rain.

Mother ordered the unwanted statues to the Depot along with two smaller uncut gems.

The meeting with Domas was formal and a tad uncomfortable.  The liaison really didn't wish to be here.  Even if she was NOW meeting Mother in her dry and well made office deep underground.  Surely she must have been impressed? 

She wasn't.

Mother really didn't wish for any imports.  She just hoped the traders had come with the spiders.

The liaison requested ammunition.  Mother frowned at this.  Maybe they would take wooden bolts?

As the meeting went on Sister Erib, the Broker, took her time to move to the depot after gathering some almonds and getting a drink.

They had brought spiderhounds!  Male spiderhounds were small and cheaper than the females.  But they were pricy and Broker received permission to add a few more larger uncut gems to the outpost's offer.  This gave her about 590 credits to work with.

Two males and two females were bought.  It was decided they would be placed in a underground pen deep in the mines.  To keep them safe and dry.  It was doubtful giant spiders liked the rain any more than dwarfs.

The Mother decided to cancal some repeat jobs so the dwarfs focus on getting some projects finished.  For example Solon finally got her statue delivered to her study.  As did Kogsak.  This would make preparing the dwarfs' homes so much easier!

While this was happening the House of Bridging, the new hospital, was given over to the new Chief Medical Dwarf, Mother.  The only person who had any skills to run a hospital. 

By mid autumn the livestock had given birth to many babies though the spiders were still waiting to be transfered to their underground pen.  The food and drink was more than enough to last them a few years.  Now they could focus on other things.  Important projects to bring them fame and help them enjoy life.

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Twelveth Scroll

The hospital was almost finished.  Mother was made the doctor while Brother Kogsak was made the bone doctor. 

And the tavern finally got its statue outside its door.  It was....interesting.  A mountain devouring a drink.  It was well crafted but made out of limestone.  So not very valuable.  It kind of looked scary.  And it was hard to look at.  Hurt the eyes. 

Mother noticed Brother Zas at the outside temple.  Seems he had been meditating on minerals.  He asked her when the barracks would be ready.  Many of those with military skills were looking forward to drilling again.

And they finally made a statue of Doren Mineddiamonds.  At least they got the image correct this time.  A female dwarf.

Three more temples were ready.  One was given to The Early (also known as Ed), one was dedicated to Persuade, and the last was given to Heavenly Sheen.  Of course, statues were ordered for each temple.

Ed, or the Early, was the deity of children, shown as a male dwarf.  The Heavenly Sheen is the deity of the sky, the moon, and balance.  It looked like a female badger woman.  And Persuade is the deity of victory and, of course, is a female badger woman.

The winter came and the rains stayed.  The eggs had hatched and a bunch of baby chicks were running about the underground tunnels and chambers.  They were so many that they were hard to collect and place them back into their pen.

And one of the statues ordered was, once again, the wrong image.  What is WRONG with the workers?   Is this some kind of slow-down?  They were ordered to make the Persuade again and they made the same statue of a fox man and a goblin.  In fact they made it wrong a third time.  Does nobody know who Persuade is? 

At least by the 26th somebody got the statue right on the fourth try.  I guess the other mistakes will be traded away.  Also they finally brought in the poor spiders!(1)

It seems being trapped in a cage in the rain annoyed them also but them seem happier underground.  They can be trained to help in hunts.  So if the dwarfs ever break into some underground caves the spiders can hunt with them.  And at least caves will be dry!

So, now They needed to find a way to make glass.  They needed sand and lots of wood to make into charcoal.  So much planning for one library.

On the 5th of Opal the waters froze and the mill stopped.  But the outpost have lots of food, many of the dwarfs lived underground, and the floor of the first floor of the library is almost over.  It will house the bookcases and the three statues.  The plan was to make a second floor with windows to help bring in natural light.  The second floor would be the public study area with tables and chairs. 

All is as planned.  But why is it still raining?

----------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note:
1.  I figured a image of the spiders would be welcome.

They are so cute!

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Thirteenth Scroll

Mid-winter was somewhat boring.  Much of the list of jobs had been cancelled but for certain labors that NEEDED to be done to keep the outpost functioning.

On the 15th of Opal it stopped raining.  And started snowing. 

On the 27th of Opal the ice cracked and the rivers melted.  And the dwarfs finally milked the male spiders for silk.  Then the male spiders ran outside.  Why?  They hated the rain.  Silly spiders.  But at least the dwarfs were able to make a few silk trousers and toss off their old pants.  Ewww....

Now silk was available at least.  And the barracks were being finished.  And the walls of the first floor of the library were being put into place.  And nest boxes were placed in the mining area for the female spiders.  More spiders were needed!

And winter ended.  And spring came.  With slightly warmer rain.  The outside livestock were wet ALL the time and not very happy.

The Mother decided that in summer and fall the plots underground would grow pig tails.  At least during the year 1985.  And the plots on the surface would grow strawberries and blueberries those seasons.  Clothing and booze.  They had plenty of food.  Now they could focus on the library.

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Fourteenth Scroll

The 11th of Grante, during the early spring, of the year 1986 it was still raining.  Like it had been doing during the first two years.

Still, the honey was being squezed out of the honeycombs.  The honey would be made into mead and the pressed wax into crafts. 

And the three statues were now in the library.  One statue of Mother, one statue of Queen Kib Riddledink who was the first Queen of the Rope of Nuts, and one of Queen Zan Intenserims who was the badger woman who was the current Ruler of the Rope of Nuts.

Mother also ordered wooden and stone crafts be produced.  People seemed to want stuff.  Seemed they became sad when they could not collect stuff.  They needed stuff for their new rooms. 

Mother also made sure wooden bolts were being made.  Which reminded her - they needed a military squad.  She decided to make one - all ten dwarfs, including herself, would train during the middle month of winter.  In other words everybody would train in Opal. 

She decided on picking Sister Kogsak as the Commander.  They had NO military skills BUT had some skills with tactics and leadership.   Hopefully they learned quickly on how to handle weapons. 

Also Tobul pointed out to Mother that he was a SHE.  How embrassing.  Seems Tobul looked kind of boyish and nobody asked.  Oh well....

Of course there wasn't enough shields or armor.  And she wasn't even sure they should train with real weapons at first.   Maybe just melee and learn how to dodge?  Naaaa....real weapons were more dwarfy.

And the Gladness of Trading was created!

Mother also ordered cage traps be set out for the wild turkeys.  If they could be captured they could be tamed and added to the livestock.

Mother was told, on the 13th of Felsite, that Sister Mosus had decided to carry out individual combat training in the barracks.  The female soldier had grabbed a copper war hammer as her weapon and a cedar buckler.  Seems she REALLY missed training.  What could you do?

Summer came and the rains stayed.  The first floor of the library was not yet finished but the dwarfs, for some reason, were already working on the second floor.  The windows were be inserted into the east and west walls of that floor.  To let in the light.  The Mother was thinking about green glass blocks for the roof.  To allow light in during high noon.

Four animal traps were made and Mother ordered them placed in a line along the northern border of the outpost.  Near the livestock.  The turkeys seemed to enjoy spooking them.  So it seemed a good area to place them.

Food was still going rotten but not as much as before.  The female spiders were STILL waiting for nests but at least six of the citizens had underground residents.  And pigs roamed the outpost.  They just didn't seem to understand doors or how to stay inside.

[Salmeuk]

And pigs roamed the outpost.  They just didn't seem to understand doors

this game really needs doggie doors, or animal gates.

looking forward to more journals

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Fifteenth Scroll

Early summer brought summer rains.  Which was the same as spring rains and fall rains and winter rains.   

And for some reason Sister Solon was wearing a apricot wood crown.  Weird.

On the 16th of Hematite the otter caravan from Scholarloaf had arrive.  Mother sent two cut gems to the Depot along with two mechanisms.  PLUS 15 goat cheese roasts that were valued around 1000 credits!

As they really had much of their needs met the Broker was told to pick stuff like more cloth or weeapons or books or stuff that the dwards WANTED.

With about 1378 credits to work with the Broker, Sister Erib had to be picky.  She asked Farm Drivespring, the male otter merchant, about what he had for the Grand Library.

"You have a library?" asked the otter.

"Over there," said the Broker.  "It is still a work in progress."

Sister Erib picked out a silver short sword, a bismuth bronze halberd, and two cloth bins.  This gave the traders a good 620 profit. 

The Broker pointed out to Mother that the traders DID have two books and Mother gave her permission to trade more food for both books.  3000 credits worth of hen egg pies were brought to the Trade Depot.

So Sister Erib bought two codexs, a scroll, and some sheets.  Plus four rolls of thread, 25 bronze bolts for local future hunters/warriors, two more bins of cloth, and eight empty bags. 

Mother also ordered a Tanner and Butcher shop be built.  Soon there would be enough chickens and pigs for meat and leather.  Not that they really needed the meals.  Unless they kept trading the better dishes?

And one of the female spiders gave live birth to baby spiders.  It seems they don't need nest boxes.  Two females and a male.   So cute! 

Mother also noticed that some of the silk milked from the male spiders was turned into chitin.  Basically spider cheese.  Weird.  Could they sell that?   They offered it to the otters.  As a gift.  It was only worth 10 credits anyway.  The otters took it to give to their own leader.

Then the Broker remembered the three statues they didn't want but Mother shot down that idea.

"Save the statues for the traders from our civilization," remarked Mother.  "Along with the wooden ammo we should have a good amount of credits."

Then another female baby spider was born.  So cute!  Both mother spiders seemed very happy.

On the 10th of Malachite the otters started to pack to prepare to leave.

The bookcases for the library were finished as were half the green windows. 

Then autumn came.  And the rain kept going.

----------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note:

Baby spiders!

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Sixteenth Scroll

It seems the otters had barely left when, on the 7th of Limestone the caravan from Goden Ishlum appeared.  And with them was the outpost liaison Domas Gorgedefense.  Who was already grouchy.  She REALLY disliked coming to the Abbey of Memory.

Mother told the Broker to take the three unwanted statues to the Depot and three uncut gems and whatever dishes the outpost could get the most money for.  And anything that the dwarfs had tossed off - like old pants.  And, of course, the wooden ammo was ordered to the Depot.

As the dwarfs carried all the items to the Trade Depot Mother met with the grumpy Domas.  Who was covered in water.  But to be fair - everything was covered in water. 

Mother wanted books but was smart enough not to ask for them.  That would just push up the price.

Seems Domas wanted them to export goblets.  As they now had sand and a glass industry the Mother agreed to this.  They would need a LOT more charcoal and sand but had all year to create the green glass goblets.

Back at the Trade Depot the Broker had over 9000 credits worth of goods to work with.  She was very pleased.  She of course bought up the one codex, the three scrolls, and all the sheets they had on their pack animals.  She also bought three quivers, all the thread and yarn, all the plump helmets, two trousers, one pair of iron chain leggings, 25 bismuth bronze bolts, all their leather and cloth, all their mittens, gloves, gauntlets, a steel cap, a shield, a tunic, a coat, and a leather armor.  Giving the traders at least 3000 credits in profit.

Sadly, the pack animals could not carry so much, so the status were removed to see if they could handle the remaining exports.  That worked and still gave the traders a nice profit.

Mother ordered a leather workshop and a dyer be built.  Leather armor would be nice.

It was also decided to make a barn to keep the above ground livestock dry and protected.  Now they would have to call the old "barn" something else.  A guest house?  After all they would all end up moving out of it. 

In fact all the bedrooms on the second and third floor of the "barn" were now assigned to the tavern.  Just in case any visitors showed up and needed a room to rent.  The dwarfs who had lived on those floors now had proper underground chambers.

By late fall the traders and the grumpy Domas had left.

When winter came the Mother ordered one of the sows and one of the boars butchered.  Not that they needed the meat.  If the inventory was correct there were over 1300 meals and over 1400 drinks.  In fact it was likely they could easily live on fishing and gathering if they wanted too.  There WAS only ten of them.

In fact Mother had become somewhat fat.  In fact VERY fat.  Maybe she and the other were having too good a life?  Some military during the middle of winter might do them some good.

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Seventeenth Scroll

It was winter but the rain still came down and the rivers still flowed.

When Opal came the dwarfs went to train.  And train.  And train.  Seems the war hammers were mostly the choice of weapon by the dwarfs.  Though a few liked the axe.  And Sister Solon seemed to prefer a bronze mace.

And the rivers froze.  Which meant the water wheels came to a halt.

By the 8th of Opal many of the dwarfs are already tired from all the training.  After only eight days!
 
Oh.  Seems Mother has armed herself with the silver short sword.  Interesting.  Maybe she was worried about the undead.  Or she just wanted to stand out.

And the snow had come as they continue to drill and drill and drill.  At one point nine of the ten were all training together.  Grunting, sweating, and growing tired.  Sister Solon had decided to go worship in the temple to Ed.  Nobody tried to stop her.  She was getting good with the mace.

At one point near the end of the month all ten were training together.  And the snow was replaced by rain. 

Late winter came and the dwarfs went back to their normal duties.  Working on the library, building the walls of the barn for the livestock, and working on their own private chambers.

Then spring came.  Mother would go to look at the library.  The half built walls.  The wet statues.  The bookcases which were still empty.  Soon.  Soon.

----------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note:

I noticed three of the dwarfs seem to be holding their weapons in their left hands.  They seem to be left-handed.  Cool.

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Eighteenth Scroll

Spring had come.  But the fields were left unused.  Pig tails would be grown in the underground plots during summer and autumn.  Mother hoped to increase the resources for a clothing industry.  Nobody wanted to run around nude in the rain.  Even though they kept tossing off their pants. 

Mother was also pondering expanding on the number of citizens.  Ten were too few.  Even cutting down on the labor was not enough.  At this rate it could take a decade to finish the library!

Of course more citizens meant more homes and more food was needed and more clothing.  And more jobs needed to be done.  So maybe not....ten dwarfs would have to do.  Unless there were future visitors with interesting skills.  Though outside of the traders and the one official there had been no visitors to the tavern or the tiny temples.  Well, shrines.  Maybe they would get some once the library was finished?

Then summer came.  But the rain stayed.  And they would have to be ready for the otters soon!  They had some wooden ammo left.  And a few uncut gems.

[callisto8413]

Dwarf Fortress - Red Earth

Nineteenth Scroll

With the otters traders appearing the Broker was told to take two cut gems and any valuable dishes from the food stockpiles and kitchen.  Including some hardtrack casserole.  Good for testing the teeth.  And the last of the wooden bolts.

Mother wasn't really impressed by the caravan.  Four otter folks, a mule and a llama loaded down with a few bags wasn't really that impressive.  But maybe the few items they had would be worth bartering for?

Sadly all they had was food.  Plants, cheese, fish, nothing the dwarfs needed.  The outpost already had 1200 meals available and over 2000 drinks.  The one thing they didn't NEED was more food!

So the Broker gave them 4975 credits worth of food as a gift.  They seemed VERY happy and agreed to give it to their leader. 

Mother wondered how much of it would be numbled on before it reached their leader.

They left on the 15th of Malachite, mid summer, and the dwarfs went back to working hard in the workshops.

One of the wild turkeys died from being attacked by a spiderhound.  The baby spider became adults and looked more like their fathers.  Even the female.

Early autumn came and the work on the library had barely advanced.  Mother was becoming worried.  Maybe a adjustment of the dwarfs jobs?