The journal of Vodrilus IV Medtoblitast
11th Malachite
The horror! A child has been mol- no, he was only battered by an evil spirit, I hear. He lost his right leg.
I talked with the boy, but he said that everything was rather peachy. He says he has always wanted to learn how to use a crutch. What is he drinking?
This time, it was a ghostly ranger... I ordered a slab engraved immediately. We'll see how many will die before that.
12th Malachite
I've got it! The project, the Catapult, my predecessors' notes! It all makes perfect sense now! I've got to... (The script turns from shaky to unintelligible, continuing for several lines, apparently until the quill broke.)
13th
I don't know what came over me, but it must have been some fit of madness. Now I'm back to digging some tetrahedrite to calm myself. There is something evil surrounding us, permeating the air, a smell that is not a smell, a silent scream, inaudible. The Catapult has something to do with it, but it cannot possibly be the source of this evil. Or can it? My head spins every time I try to think about it. Oh, I must sto-
13th Malachite
A drifting cloud of evil smoke breaks the hum-drum of constant, back-breaking work. Oh, the horrors that haunt the surroundings...
Also, a gray langur woman was seen (through the secret peepholes), stealing a huge silver sword from amongst the topside mess. She (it?) will probably get away with it, I think. It makes no real difference; the surface is cursed.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b67/Vodrilus/32_looter.png15th Malachite
And now the troll corpses are rotting, and in the memorial hall, of all places. The stench is unbelievable. Why isn't this job finished already?
17th Malachite
Another ghost. Slabs.
19th Malachite
There is a waxworker lingering around the place where the trolls breached our fortress. There, I ordered a solid wall of masonry to be built to seal that entrance until I see fit to reopen it. Is the dwarf part of some conspiracy? Perhaps he seeks to pry loose the brickwork once left unseen. I'm wathcing that one.
1st Galena
The work is gruelingly slow due to the high number of incapacitated workers. Still, we push on through, for we will emerge victorious over our enemy.
5th Galena
The possessed dwarf is no longer possessed. As the (evil?) spirit left him, he lost his will to live. Just as well. I'll order the wall to be struck down, so he can go toss himself into the searing sea.
6th Galena
The spectral ranger is content with his memorial, and has now stopped bothering us.
9th Galena
Just saw a miner with rivulets of blood trickling from his mouth... I think it's best to pretend that I didn't see it. What are they doing in those mine shafts? Have they formed some sort of a cult?
Found another sloppy engraving: Another Catapult. Is this what they are aiming for? To destroy the Catapult? If so, why?
15th Galena
Another ambush. Couldn't help but laugh when I heard more reports about the goblins trying to kill the undying rabbit. Ha ha ha.
20th Galena
Lokum the Mason died of dehydration while hospitalized. Apparently no-one noticed her before it was too late. We commit her body to the red-hot sea of rock.
25th Galena
Another dead in the hospital! Athel the Peasant, this time. He also was never given water. I would have thought the others might have been more vigilant after the first one!
25th Galena
I am now certain. There is a sinister plot advancing in the shadows. Why? Because this morning I woke up with an empty bucket by my side. That is clearly a sign meant for me. But what does it mean? It is the project. It must be the project.
I will not cave in to such threats. More than ever, I am determined to see the project through; I must not fail. The spikes have all been installed now, and so are the hatches. The linking is still not ready, but by winter it will surely be done.
26th Galena
I have a new weapon. As there are two cold murders, I may pin the blame on anyone. That way, I can lock them up, no matter who they are.
The problem still stands: Who are they?
1st Limestone
We are still doing rather well, even if our numbers have once more dwindled.
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Whew! So much for the summer.
I'll be heading out beyond the reach of the 'net until Friday. I'll probably finish up my turn by then, one way or the other, and post the autumn and the winter, along with the save, on Friday.