1st Granite, 2016, Grevenis - Overseer?With a new year comes a new job. Zefon Cleansprings, he of rebirth, has rebirthed me in the form of an Overseer.
AquiziTC was in the throes of a lazy booze-based mutiny. Many complained of booze shortage, and I was one. But the booze returned, and I was satisfied. Others were not. The unscrupulous carpenter(are trees not for elves?) cried out for his removal, and I was chosen for my dwarvenly traits.
I believe the old overseer thought I had been taken by a mood and created a wondrous artifact. In truth I was in a ruined state and I was bored with mining for that day. I thought my brothers and sisters would laugh as I did in my drunken ramblings at the idea of a limonite quern. Can a dwarf imagine it? A quern of limonite?
Such jokes as these are my favorites.
Instead I was so trashed that others believed me to be in quite a state. They asked me what the quern was called, and in my laughter at such a question mentioned something of tattoos and pearls. I cannot recall the significance of these remarks at this time, but apparently it became the name of my "wondrous creation." If I were ever to grow infirm and unable to mine, I could perhaps create humorous querns for a living.
But instead, I am to be the overseer of this fortress. If nothing else, it will be a good reason for more drinks in my gullet.
Despite certain failings, AquiziTC was a goodly overseer, and I count him as a friend. His floorplan for the dining hall and living area is pleasing to the dwarvenly notions of construction.
In my post-binge examination of the area, I note that there is an extra office available across the hall from the book-keeping room. I also note that there is a great quantity of limonite lying about the fortress, and a great quantity of lazy dwarves faffing about. My first act as Overseer shall be an order for a great quantity of Limonite to be moved to the depths, to be stockpiled by the forges and used for iron forging. My second act shall be the declaration of a dwarf as "Manager". I have heard of these dwarves in the mountainhome, who would organize work orders for the overseers. I have no interest in running about telling people to make chairs. Leave that to this "manager."
I run my finger down the listing of dwarves.
"Hmm. Me. No, that won't do."
"Already the book-keeper."
"A right old fool, good mostly for breaking rocks..."
"Too angry..."
"Too useful..."
"Ah! Now this one is not useful at all! Dishmab! Dishmaaaaab!"
Dishmab is an old dwarf, one of a terrible name, and a talent for nothing but fishing. While he is indeed a great fisherman, this is in my opinion an entirely useless profession. One could simply mine out below a lake and drain all the water through a grate to catch every fish at once. Why throw string at fishes and waste scrumptious worms?
I alert him to his approaching change in profession. He alerts me that henceforth, he shall be known as "Bartantalus." There is no need for a quarrel about this. It is a better name than Dishmab. He seems agreeable about a new career. There is nought to fish anyway. I order some dwarves passing in the hallway to get the office in shape so managing can begin.
There is some hustling and bustling, and a dwarf I have not taken note of yet approaches me nervously, saying her name is "Bleaktea".
"Overseer sir, I don't want to be tellin' you how to do your job, but you know, the dwarves back in the mountainhomes considered me to be legendary at the art of stonecraftin', and there hasn't been any orders so I was just..."
"Get to it then, no need to blather to me about it!"
Mousy type. I suppose she only now worked up the courage to tell folks of her legendary status. We will make good trade with fine stone goods.
I end my first journal on this day, I need now to get these dwarves working in order, and examine the fort to find areas for improvement.