Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Moonstone 5, 351I ran into the Outpost Liason that arrived with the caravan today. He was looking tired and irritated. Apparently he'd been trying to meet with Helmet to discuss trade agreements, but kept losing track of him as he ran around assaulting trees. I told him that Helmet is no longer the overseer, and that he could talk to me instead.
We held a meeting and he handed me a list of goods that the Mountainhomes were willing to pay well for:
I'm not quite sure what to make of it. Fish, ammo and backpacks as the highest priority? And special requests for legwear and footwear... My socks must have made an impression.
When he asked what we wanted in return, I knew just what to ask for. Alpacas! I'll get my alpacas, even if I have to wait a year! Ah, the garments I'll be able to create when I can get my hands on some alpaca wool... I can see them in my mind already...
I also told him to put a higher priority on Dwarven drinks. Fishybang was disappointed that we were only able to obtain a single barrel of ale. We concluded, and the Liason left just in time to catch the last wagon as it departed.
With the caravan gone and our other tasks complete, I've decided to commence work on the building of three more houses. As promised, Triaxx, Uristeamer and their daughter will have the first, and the other two will be determined by raffle on the twelfth.
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Moonstone 12, 351Yet another birth! This time, Sacha and Dariush have become the proud new owners of a baby boy named Dumed Marketfence. He's a bit on the small side, but has a healthy amount of hair on him. He looks like he'll do fine.
As for the housing raffle, the results are in. One of the two houses is going to Winter, and the other to Halt and his wife.
At the request of Triaxx, their home will be next to the butcher's workshop. Winter's house will be a just southeast of Infinity Weapon's and Halt's will be at the edge of town, across the road from Fishybang.
Speaking of the roads, they're beginning to degrade again. I'm having them re-cleared, but a more permanent solution would be best...
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Moonstone 28, 351Triaxx and Uristeamer's house is already complete, furnished and ready to live in.
The other two houses have the floors and basic structures laid, but the outer walls are still incomplete. Everyone's working remarkably quickly, so they too should be done within the next couple weeks.
I made a pair of dyed red cloaks for our Militia to add to their uniforms. They seem quite pleased with them, wearing them over their armor and swishing them around themselves as they patrol about town.
It feel good to finally be making clothes again, but between keeping the records, managing work orders and acting as overseer for the entire town, there's not been much time for it lately. We've accomplished a lot under my direction, and managed to avoid any major disasters... I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't pass on leadership sometime soon. I don't know who I'd choose... but the idea of having all that time free to spend on socks and trousers is so tempting. Hmm...
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Opal 7, 351What is with the animals around here?!
Fishybang was on his way to store some newly-caught fish, when he stumbled across this badger-monkey-raccoon....
thing snuffling around in the stockpiles. It had something long and shiny in its mouth, and as soon as it saw him it fled across the river before he could shout.
Do you know what the shiny thing was?
Of course it's the expensive gem-encrusted short sword we traded a dozen high-quality bracelets for barely a month ago. What else would it be?! Hahaha!
I've told the Militia and Hunters that if they see another one of those things, to shoot it on sight. We'll drive the damned whatever-they-ares to extinction.
It's on.
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Opal 15, 351The other two houses are now complete.
Just in time for the weather to turn miserable. The temperature's dropped enough that a layer of ice has covered the river and ponds, but it's still warm enough that we're getting icy-cold freezing rain instead of snow. Everyone's been getting soaked and frozen. I've had to put out a warning to stay off of the river ice, no matter how solid it looks. It's still thin, and I don't want any accidents.
I'm just glad that all three of the children now have a roof over their head, so they're safe from the inclimate weather.
I've crafted a rope out of rope reed to use in a proper brick well. However, when I spoke to Winter, who has the most architectural designing experience, he said we'll need a specialized mechanism in order to raise and lower it properly. I asked around and nobody here has any idea how to even begin building one. Apparently we're going to be stuck with our muddy hole in the ground for a while longer...
As a final note, as I was walking past Broken and Argonnek's house the other day, I happened to notice a rather high number of...dead hamsters littering the front step. Peeking inside, I saw Argonnek surrounded by a truly alarming number of cats.
To be honest, the place was starting to smell a bit weird... I told her that they'd be a lot more useful to everyone if they were guarding the food stockpiles from vermin, but she had no interest in letting them go. I finally convinced her by telling her I'd order the contruction of her two beehives immediately if she did.
...This is really starting to tire me out.
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Opal 28, 351The month of Opal has come and gone, and there's been no sign of migrants. Not even an abandoned campsite. It must be the poor weather preventing them from getting here. That must be it. I was so sure, after that caravan...
No, the weather's definitely the only possible explanation. Maybe they've just been delayed.
I was speaking to Wolfwood the other day. We've run out of dye again, so I wanted to ask her to keep an eye out for wild hide root and blade weed while she patrolled. The conversation turned to the fact that despite having an important role as protectors of the town, our proud militia has nowhere to sleep or train. She managed to convince me to build them a small barracks to live in on the edge of town. Seems fair. I'll start drawing plans up immediately.
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Obsidian 16, 351I've come to a final decision. I'm going to retire at the end of the month, so I can focus again on the important things: Making socks, drinking booze, staying alive and everything else. Once again keeping things fair for everyone, I've announced a lottery to decide who will succeed me as Overseer. Only those who wish to will be entered, and I'm vetoing anyone I don't think is capable (*cough* Helmet.) The drawing will take place on Granite 1, at which point I will no longer be the leader of New Murderfarmed.
The barracks are taking shape: The floor is layed and some of the outer walls are up. It will have a bedroom, a training room and an outdoor archery practice area. I don't know if it will be completed before I step down, but I'm sure whoever takes over will have no trouble seeing it through to the end.
The river has thawed and spring is quickly drawing near. I've given up hope of seeing any new migrants before I step down, but when they do arrive (and I know they will) I'll know it was my hard work that brought them here.
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Obsidian 22, 351Goblin child snatchers in New Murderfarmed!
What a disaster this might've been, so close to my retirement. Luckily, Halt's wife startled it while it was still on the outskirts of town, far away from any of the children. You'd think most dwarves without military training might be afraid of an armed goblin, wouldn't you? Not her! She reportedly stood her ground and gave the bastard such a glare that it immediately jumped in the river to escape.
I can only hope it drowned. I must say, Halt's certainly a lucky fellow.
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Obsidian 25, 351Arrgh! I'm such an idiot! Goblin snatchers
always work in pairs!
Nobody saw it happen, but Sacha just went home to find her house trashed and little Dumed nowhere to be found. I blame myself... I could've sent the militia to guard the children. Should've. Now Dumed is, well, doomed. How am I supposed to face his parents?
I'm filled with shame... This is a kind of responsibility I can't handle. The first of Granite can't come fast enough...
Journal of Flamey Paperlines, Obsidian 28, 351Well, this is it. My final entry before passing on leadership tomorrow.
The barracks are nearly finished, with only the roof and archery range still under construction.
We've come a long way since Granite of this year. Seven new houses, eight watchtowers and a barracks have been added, more than tripling the number of buildings. We've created socks, where before there was nothing. We had no deaths and only one injury. Until a couple days ago, no major tragedies. Overall, a quiet year of growth and prosperity. Unlike the original Murderfarmed, it seems we will not fall.
I'm including here a list of things I think the next overseer should attend to, though of course it's out of my hands:
1. Make sure the barracks are finished and properly set up
2. Build us a proper well
3. Replace our dirt roads with nicer, permanent ones
4. Make sure everyone has somewhere to sleep
5. Don't kill everyone.
My own clothes and those of a few other dwarves are started to wear thin, so I hope to begin producing clothes full-time from now on. Trouser, shirts, socks and cloaks... I'm looking forward to it.
I'm including on the last page a complete map of New Murderfarmed as it stands now, on the 28th of Obsidian, 351. I hope it will show how far we've come.
To whoever leads New Murderfarmed from now on...
Good luck!