28th of Obsidian, 135: Happy 10 Years you Lucky Sods!
I'm writing this mostly drunk now. Its the last year of 135, and tomorrow marks the new year. This ALSO marks the 10 years of being here in this frozen wasteland. I remember the first day we started. I was just a herbalist toting a copper sword. Splint was a sparring buddy of mine and we both ended up being tagged to come along by this fool miner. She promised us fortunes beyond our wildest dreams. That was so many years ago, even longer before our entire time here. All I know is that we left when we were all young and full of youth. Now we're all over the age of 70 except our children and a very select few who are nearing it. I remember when we journeyed for years to find this place, and so many times we got lost and eventually, we made it here. Some people said they might be joining us here, but I don't know if they ever did. Or maybe they did and they're the ones who are here with us all. Like Karkov and Cmega3.
I remember the first day we arrived here. The snow was up to our knees and we couldn't find anything until everything defrosted. O remember we carved out a big chunk of the mountain just to house our workshops. Then after a basic lodging was carved out, we moved in, and I began my training with Splint. Our only protection then was copper mail. Then thieves came and we routed them, killing about two. That was not long after Sarrak joined up with Chucker into our army. Then, they practiced with the kobold's knives, becoming great forces to be reckoned with. I remember when Chucker received his wound on his hand, which still bears that nasty scar. I remember when our woodworker died and Sarrak took her axe, which she still wields to this day. Some say she carries the soul of the woodworker. Others say the thought of vengeance comes over her when she battles. Then the woodcutter died from her stubborn pride. Then the metal crafter died, butchered by the goblin swordsmen.
I remember when the fool died when I first started keeping record of this. I hope that fool is with Armok now, making us all suffer by having her old ways still kept with us... Like that damned trap wall. It works like a charm, but its a little too effective. I remember when we started domesticating our animals, carrying a large number of skunks, wolves, eagles and anything you can think of. We then started butchewring them. And that makes me remember the food and drink problem we had for the longest time. We would starve for days until we butchered an animal we caught (if we were lucky) or if we found some vermin to feed on. The latter was more common. I remember the long building of the new barracks, and how many years it took to build.
And I remember the time where we thought.... Where we thought we were abandoned by our ancestors and the montainhomes... And how much pain everyone felt when we learned of the fate of our people... All wiped out by Jotun and goblins... I remember the time when I fell in love and married my wife. And I remember when Timeless Bob was born. And I remember the day when I stood outside for the last time, holding my son in my arms and announcing he would become the King of his generation, because he was the first and only who would have seen the light of the sun and felt its grand radiance. We worship a sun goddess here, but none of the little ones, excluding Timeless Bob, knows what the sun is. I told them, one day, when they grow up, they will know what its like to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin... To see light that will only leave during the night.
Most of all, I remember the sun, and its greatness. I remember how it felt to betouched by warmth before the coldnesss of the underground was left, sealing us here for many years.
So happy frigging birthday to you Dragonlord, the Ancient Bloody Age of Artifice. Happy frigging birthday to the Kingdom of Steel. And happy frigging birthday to our 10th year of settlin
<the ink goes off the page, possibly hinting that Highmax passed out or dropped his book. Possibly the former>