[As promised, an update. I doubt I'll follow through but I may get another shorty out today. Largely all filler below.]
18th Granite, 210Seems Markerlight is out of the hospital I went to check on him and his hand injury when I had a free moment and he was gone. I've inspected the expansion of the clover as well since I was out, and all has progressed nicely.
I've found Simon has a smaller apartment and would like the chest he made relocated into it. Not sure why he even has it, but it's probably just a holdover from his time before election. Honestly, he's served so well I guess he can retain it. Besides, he did make the chest himself so why not let him keep it.
19th Granite, 210Notification of Talvi making some new masterworks have been reaching me. She seems to have become more dedicated to her varying crafts since she was released from prison. She... She doesn't seem to talk much anymore. It's worrying, and a far cry for her usual self. I asked Terrahex about it, and he didn't seem to want to comment on the matter, only mumbling something about a book he's been translating having something to do with it.
20th Granite, 210Why can we not stablize our animal population? It seems like for every one we kill (wether by spawn or butcher,) two more are born. Unrelated, the armory now has some semblance of organization to it since that massive bin order I made weeks ago. Now if only I could get those disaster areas we call general storage in order, but that'd take clear cutting the forests surrounding the fortress and we just don't have the dwarf-power for such an operation; need for materials aside, the forests are also helping us by restrianing movement of the enemies who seek to assail us and make the caravans arrive along designated routes. Our indoor groves can only provide so much for us though...
I've also been informed my shrine to my beloved is complete. I've requested four statues be made to adorn it and I've also been inquiring about Corai's office table. I asked around amongst our stoneworkers and Brass said he'd get to it after he finishes with a statue he's working on.
I've been hearing something... Whispers... I don't know what is, and I keep finding these deranged, and I sincerly hope simply sobriety-induced scrawlings in my journal. The Whispers speak of some terrible force, one seeking to destroy our home, kill our people... Is it the demons? The fell monster that dwell below?
Or is something getting into the air again? Draconik said he was fiddling with some chemical or another and that the results were seeping into the air. I asked him about when I saw him and he says it shouldn't be causing anything of the sort.
21st Granite, 210Either.... Either her voice is quite real, or I am going quite mad. I know she is both interred and memorialized, but I hear her calling to me. Warning me. Driving me forward, or more accurately, downward...
Stova, are you the one whispering to me? I always suspected the hum of my hammer was you... Have I been right all this time? Are you the one I saw in the shrine?
[
For the explaination of my stupid idea, click below.I found the concept of the fortress gaining ghostly protectors for that big event in the Vanya storyline rather humorous and equal parts awesome and sad, as it makes it seem like the inhabitants are of such loyalty and dedication even death won't stop them from protecting their homes, forsaking passing on (or returning from beyond) to do so.
Plus it would potentially be what gives rise to the possible rumors mentioned in one of my older story entries of ghosts of the fortress' dead still protecting the ruins.
I dunno, just a thought.]