Overseer's Log: Day 1
We've arrived at a location called Metaltrees by the queen. A bit odd, and rather uncreative given the the presence of metal and trees here, but I digress. It seems to be a reasonably friendly location. We saw some dingo men on the way in, but the unicorns we brought with should do admirably in defending us.
Overseer's Log: Day 14
Things are calm. We've got crops in the ground and walls are just beginning to go up. We accidentally built the trade depot too close, so we had to move it out a bit. That way, we can seal the entrance if need be, though I don't think this bridge will do in hindsight. . .
Day 90
Still pretty peaceful around here. The fort is beginning to take shape and I've designed a system for storing our raw wood the heartsingers have been hard at work creating. I've borrowed a dwarven technique called "quantum stockpiling" using these things, sort of like wheelbarrows with no handles, called "minecarts." I only know the design, though; every dwarf I asked about it when I visited the fortresses either shrugged, mumbled something unintelligible, or reacted as if I asked about some horrible secret and shushed me almost violently. Regardless, the logs will be much easier to access this way, and it will free up much-needed floor space.
Day 102
Four migrants arrived today. I don't know what the glazer, gem setter, and wax worker expected, but they can always be taught to sing wood. The ranger though, he might be useful. He says he's only a novice though, so into the woodsinger corps he goes.
Day 167
The outer wall is nearly done. I've created another high-density stockpile for the crafts that I've ordered created. When the dwarves stop by in autumn, we should be able to purchase valuable goods from them, including picks. I've spent a small amount of time creating sketches indicating our current status.
We haven't created much, but we should be able to get some supplies come autumn.
I made sure to request falcons and rabbits before we left. Falcons are excellent at hunting vermin, and some of my shorter friends have told me not to trust cats. I can see where they're coming from; you can't find them anywhere except in dwarven fortresses. That's not natural. They also told me that rabbits have good leather. How one makes an entire quiver from the hide of one rabbit is beyond me, but I've seen it done.
The walls are nearly complete. We had to move the farms over; the soil simply wasn't good enough to grow crops in on the mountain side of the area. I plan to have the workshops moved down here after a time; we need to build higher first, though, and get enough of these "quantum stockpiles" set up to store all of our goods.
I took a quick census while I was singing. The entire outpost needs to stop by the shrines to pick up wood, so it's fairy effective for now.
(Apologies for the derpy dates, I don't watch the calendar closely.)
Day 210
It's been quiet and we've finally completed the exterior wall.
Construction has begun on the second floor.
4
Day 216
A dwarven caravan arrived today! I sold some of our crafts for one of those cats, in case we can't keep the falcons inside. I also purchased a "pickaxe." I'm told they're used to strike the earth, instead of enemies. I don't understand it, but they say it's essential for a fortress. It's not like these earrings were doing us much good, anyway. One of the carpenters said he thought he know what to do, though, so he went outside and started doing said striking.
Day 237
We found out that stone can be used to make mechanisms. The bridge can now be raised with an ingenious system the dwarves showed us before they left. (I've been told I talk to them too much.) All you have to do is throw the lever over by the stairs. We also found some coal and hematite. We can sing wood out of a heart; I wonder if you could get anything out of stone. . . ?
Day 248
Three new migrants. A bowyer, a planter, and a bone doctor, all welcome additions to our settlement. I'm assigning the planter to look into singing stones in his spare time. Hopefully, his research will keep the doctor idle. The bowyer will also learn to sing weapons and armor, which we will eventually need. A giant wolverine kit and a giant badger cub also tagged along. They should be helpful in tearing any invaders to bits.
Day 270
Winter is upon us. Things remain slow, though I've made a few changes that should accelerate the construction of the second floor. Namely, I told a few of the woodsingers to do nothing but shape the wood into blocks and construct things with said blocks.
Day 365
It appears that this is my last day overseeing this outpost. The winter was very quiet. We saw some giant keas fly by, but thankfully the winged menace passed us by. The roof is about 35% finished, and I've told our bowyer to get some practice. I was also told that a message from the queen arrived stating that I was suspected of sympathizing with dwarves. I'm not a dwarf-lover! I simply find their culture interesting! Regardless, I must step down, though if the next overseer needs advice, he must only look to his Advisor.