We have another visitor in the 3rd cavern layer:
19th Obsidan2 new petitions:
Alu Temptedrays, a human wishes to reside here to eradicate monsters. At least he's not a bard.
Obok Peltgate, a dwarfen scholar also wishes to study here - excellent!
I've accepted both. We may need to add another bedroom floor in the tavern soon.
1st Granite, 257A sad start to the year, Medtob Dodokotin, Planter and Ast Unibald, Potash Maker both died from old age.
I've put off our new year party for a few days as I have a few preperations to make. I'd also like to see Medtob and Ast safely interred in our new mausoleum before the party.
14th GraniteThe elf diplomat arrived today - no doubt to discuss our tree felling quota.
Yes, 112 trees maximum - I believe we felled 12 last year?
20th GraniteFikod Edemrimtar, Potash Maker has been found dead from dehydration. Damn it. Another dwarf lost to Meloncholy.
21st GraniteDespite the recent deaths, the atmosphere in the tavern is cheerful as the delayed new year party gets into it's full swing.
"Fellow citizens of Rithmesir!" Urvad is standing by the tavern window, next to a lever which was installed shortly after the tavern opened.
An expectant hush falls over the assembled dwarfs, they have seen the work that has been completed in the trade district and know what the strict orders to stay out of the district mean.
"I'm sure you are all keen to see the results of many years of work on the trade district from our miners and mechanics. I'll let the results speak for themselves. Everyone make sure your drink is not resting on a solid surface! He throws the lever.
For a moment there is silence, broken only by a series of very faint cracks from the roof of the cavern far above and the sound of rushing air displaced by large falling objects.
The noise which follows is not heard so much as experienced. Those visitors who did not heed Urvads warning are drenched as the shock transmited through the rock and the tables sends their mugs (along with the visitors themselves) bouncing into the air. Everyone who can crowds around the windows to view the scene in the cavern.
There follow numerous loud crashes as boulders, thrown around by the collapse, ricochet around the cavern. After a particularly hard impact on the window next to him, Urvad turns to the Doctor (who is also the master glassmaker) next to him. "Good work on these windows by the way".
He notices several dwarfs near the door looking rather worried and gestures to them "Don't worry, I gave strict instructions to clear the work site today"
One of them winces and gestures at the front doors of the tavern "It's just I'm pretty sure Uzol walked out the door a moment ago".
They all look out at the boiling cloud of dust. "Erm, guys, I think there's blood on this window."
Uzol is indeed found outside, thankfully alive but with blood splashed all around him from terrible injuries to his legs.
"Stand back!" shouts the doctor, as she goes to her knees beside him and start examining the battered dwarf.
Uzols eyes briefly open and he stares out into the cavern. "That was... Incredible" he mutters, then passes out again.
Uzol was found in that largish patch of blood in the top left. Oops.
Urvads diaryWell I got quite an earful from the Doctor. I think her words are best summed up as "Next time, lock the damn tavern doors. YOU IDIOT!", but she used a lot more words. Very loudly. Some of which I had to look up.
Unfortunately Uzol is not the only casualty. One of our visitors, Daze Adothdamso, a visiting Axewoman, got wind of what was going on. Along with another visitor, she decided to watch from a ledge from the north
of the cavern, thinking they would be clear of whatever happened and get a great view. They were wrong, at least about the former. Her companion will be fine once he regains consciousness. Daze however, is in a very bad way.
Some of our livestock also had unfortunate encounters with rocks bouncing through there pasture. Debris was thrown further than I'd expected. A pet rabbit also wandered into the cavern, it may survive (is the spleen important?)
In spite of the injuries, the second phase of the trade district is done! Next priority is to get the new entrance to the surface completed so we can give the goblins a proper dwarfish welcome next time they drop by. We also need to drop a soil layer to support surface plants, open the cavern roof up to the sky (then glaze it over of course) and carve and engrave the barracks and depot. Should keep us busy for the next few years.
Another scholar - Dodok Heavycobalt, has elected to join our library.
I dropped by the new hospital visiting to check on Uzol and was surprised to see Kosoth Squaretheaters (who I'd recently seen him sentenced to 57 days in prison for 5 counts of disorderly conduct) in traction with his ankle in plaster. He refused to say how it happened.
I was even more surprised when Litast, one of our elite marks-dwarfs (and fortress guards) walked past me and to beat the immobilized dwarf. I'd thought he was just sentenced to jail? Besides, beating him when
he's locked into a traction bench does seem a bit much.
OOC - I have no idea why Kosoth has a broken ankle, or why he just got beaten. I'm sure his sentence was just prison (and we have 4 cells assigned to justice and free). It appears that visitors ignore traffic designations. Useful to know that. Yes, I'm an idiot and should have locked the tavern doors!