Part 5: In which the incompetent mayor of Mastertea gets little done, bosses halflings around, launches a temerarious attack, gets a soldier killed, and drives a chef mad
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From the Journal of Gnorm
12th Hematite, 552
I have finally dug out an area for that hound to be trained. If we are to brave the deeper, darker crevices of the world, we'll need larger support.
14th Hematite, 552
I have officially ended my ban on the export of boxes and bags. We don't even have enough of them that we would give them up!
19th Hematite, 552
The elves have finally begun to leave, and the walking tree is lagging behind. Now is my chance, I have ordered the captain to take her squad and to finish it quickly and quietly.
20th Hematite, 552
Things seem to be going well for our troops.
21st Hematite, 552
The tree can only last so much longer.
22nd Hematite, 552
The tree-like beast has taken a victim! Evil Etherealhame, the wife of the captain's only other subordinate, now lies dead on the ground.
Nearby, the widower axeman lies down tending to his broken and smashed arm. Tragic as this event is, I am positive that the captain shall make the beast pay. As of now, she has only a scratch as a wound of battle.
23rd Hematite, 552
Amid the intense fighting between halfling and beast, our brewer has given birth to triplets. Her children are Peace Fairyevil, Son Hazyflax, and Red Blackcozy. I swear, they shall be sleep in bed made of tree lord carrion!
Supplementary Entry
As I was finishing my last entry, our cook just gave birth to twins. Their names are Pumpkin Oafguardian and Champion Dragonwry.
25th Hematite, 552
One of our cooks seems to be acting quite strange lately; I'll be sure to keep an eye on her.
She just now barged into our (rarely used) bowyer's shop and claimed it as her own. I'll be interested to see what she does next.
26th Hematite, 552
I was forced to withdraw our two remaining soldiers from the battlefield today. Soon afterward, the tree lord coward began to flee, likely back to its home civilization. It has become clear to me that the sentient trees are strong enough to face the meteoric iron hatchet. I'll need something stronger.
1st Malachite, 552
I have designated a small area in the dormitory to serve as a temporary hospital for our wounded soldiers.
The cook that claimed the workshop is demanding that she be provided with silk cloth. I've already informed her that we have not the means to obtain such a cloth, yet she continues to scream all day and all night.
I'm having proper burial rites prepared for our fallen warrior. One who has died in battle such as she must entombed in the caverns, as will I, when the time comes.
4th Malachite, 552
I have ordered another "crude anvil" to be cast, thus that we may have things with which we shall trade once another caravan arrives.
14th Malachite, 552
I have ordered my craftsmen to create for our settlement a small number of boxes and bags. These containers shall enhance the way that we in store our items in Mastertea!
17th Malachite, 552
The training has paid off. We now have a vicious war hound to tear apart any intruders from the land or from the cavern!
23rd Malachite, 552
Another wave of migrants has arrived. I'm starting to realize how desperately we need actual buildings. The migrants are:
1 Animal Caretaker
1 Woodworker
1 Tanner
1 Bowyer
2 Mechanics
1 Shearer
1 Woodcrafter
1 Woodcutter
1 Lye Maker
1 Weaver
There are now 48 citizens in Mastertea, and I feel that now is the time to put them to use.
4th Galena, 552
I've decided that, in order to lighten the mood, an amulet must be created at once!
7th Galena, 552
Our fallen comrade has been entombed within the earth at last. The engravings are fairly standard specimens of halfling art, being mainly of plants and gourds.
When her husband's time comes, I will do all in my power to ensure that he is buried next to her.
13th Galena, 552
Another forested caravan has arrived; I'll not attack this one.
Meanwhile, the cook that demanded silk has now gone absolutely mad! She is running wildly about whilst screaming. I fear for her and her future.
17th Galena, 552
Our halfling caravan and liaison has arrived. As always, I think that I'll trade with this one instead.
19th Galena, 552
I'll not waste much ink in over my meeting; as always it was uneventful. I have put in a request for more types of metal.
27th Galena, 552
The season is coming to an end, and, come next season, I shall trade with our parent civilization.
I have started a new military squad while the other one is recovering in the hospital. This one, as of now, shall not be used in any attempts against the tree lords.
There is much to do next season, but I am determined to get it all done.