From the Journal of Saint, Military Governor of Murdermachines, Master of the Void-Wraiths, and Templar of Armok.
GRANITE 21, YEAR OF ARMOK 252
Twenty-four dwarves. Twenty-four thirsty, hungry, seedless, boozeless, useless immigrants. What drew them here, I wonder? The stories of our wide and spacious hallways empty of Rum? The chance to be possessed by the denizens of the Void? The beautifully forested prairies that we intend to defoliate in the name of industry?
Whatever the reason, they came, and we have only 3 ales left.
When the blighters got to the front door of the fort, I asked how many of them knew how to hold an axe. Three raised their hands, and they're now Squad Three, along with a dwarf who really wasn't good for much else besides stabbing. The rest, I split up into three major camps: They Who Brew, They Who Grow, and They Who Carve Rock Pots. There was also a dwarf who told me, "Boss, if it's related to wood, I can handle it." Considering he provided his own axe, I figured why not. Prosnorkulus can have a friend to talk to out there besides his damn axe.
I've also sent a few dwarves out to do some seed-gathering above ground. I don't like it, but even such an elvish activity as open-air farming is preferable to drinking stagnant lake water.
GRANITE 23, YEAR OF ARMOK 252
I have discovered why nobody has drank the last of the ale yet. It wasn't out of a sense of civic duty, like I'd assumed. No, the dwarves here are too basic for such urges as "patriotism" or "selflessness" to motivate them. The last 3 ales have remained undrunk and kept on-record because
ANIMARYTAK THE LAST OVERSEER HAS BEEN HOGGING ALL THE BOOZE FOR HIMSELF IN HIS OFFICE!He's been holed up in his bloody office since I announced the rationing system I came up with, "updating the records" for days on end! Now, though...now I know.
I know what the bastard is up to.
I
know.
GRANITE 25, YEAR OF ARMOK 252
OH WHAT THE ARMOK IS IT NOW?!?!
Some armorer named Bim something-or-other has gone and angered the spirit world. Armok help her if she demands I build a forge. I am
not setting up a new industry in a time of bloody crisis just so some disembodied gnome or whatever can bang some garbage can lids together.
GRANITE 26, YEAR OF BATTLE 252
You know what? I'm sick of this fucking world again. Soon as I can, I'm buggering off back to the Void where the rightful overseer went and dragging his sorry essence back out here to run this shithole. Cold empty nothingness may be boring, but at least it isn't actively trying to fuck me over.
I took both squads out so we can end this little apeshit. While SanDiego and I fired arrows in at the bastard, the Fearbringer brought honor to his name and some extra rum rations for himself by charging in and hacking at it from behind. When SanDiego ran out of bolts, he added his meager strength in as well.
OOC: This is page three of the report, and the one that sums it up nicely. The Fearbringer is a berserker.The ending was a truly glorious flurry of blows, until the Fearbringer's many blows brought low the foul werebeast. Truly, this was a fight that will be sung about once we get a proper mead hall...and some mead, maybe.
My only regret is that we were too late to save Krosan.
Truly, one does not know how much they will be missed until they are gone. Even though his spirit has only fled to places easily retrievable, his loss hit us hard - for if he could fall, what other child of the Void could follow?
Perhaps Armok will be pleased with this sacrifice of blood? Perhaps the great Blood God will show favor on us poor, benighted beings, and grant us the nectar of the gods, the holiest of all alcohols - the blood-wine of the Golden Table? Surely, Krosan's death and the Were-Ape's defeat were not in vain?
Where are you, Armok?
~~~
Well, that was an interesting month of Granite. Considering the Fearbringer's performance in combat and the sudden vacancy left by the militia commander's untimely strangling, I think he might be seeing a promotion in his future.
No dwarfings right now, sorry everyone
I'll compile a list and check the new suckers for worthy ones next update.