Excerpts from the journal of Eldin00, Duke of Crewedgears
18th Timber, 133-
As Gwolfski’s “successor” can no longer continue, it falls upon myself to again take a more active hand in the overseeing of our fortress. We appear to have prospered since I last set aside the day-to-day administration. Our population has risen to 231 dwarves, and my previous work to get adamantine and steel production moving has paid off well, as we now have an abundance of steel bars and adamantine wafers. And steel and adamantine arms and armor have been produced, though it appears someone let smiths of moderate skill work with the blue metal.
We have adequate food supplies, but it appears that our previous overseer has allowed the fortress to run completely out of booze!
I check, and we have plenty of brewable items, and we have functional stills. So it seems that the problem is simply that nobody thought to order any drinks to be brewed. I immediately order that booze be produced continuously at 2 stills until further notice, lest a dwarf be forced to endure *shudder* sobriety….
I note that we have forgotten beasts lurking in the caverns. Fortunately, the caverns are presently secured, so we can deal with them if and when we choose. (assuming, that is, that I can work out which levers operate the various bridges).
With the magma forges and smelters fully up and running, we no longer need the conventional forges. I order them dismantled. I also order space to be dug for additional magma forging operations.
Someone appears to have begun building a system for bringing magma to the surface via minecarts… but apparently with the intent of building an artificial magma lake in the archery range, rather than trying to move the magma industry closer to the surface. The system does not appear to currently be operational, and no instructions on its use or construction can be found.
8th Moonstone, 133-
It seems that one of our previous overseers saw fit to leave a portion of the fortress open for access to the river, just below the waterfall. This section is now flooding. I’ve ordered walls built in an attempt to stem the flow of water.
The flood also found it’s way down to the zoo and one of the dining rooms. I’ve fobidden the doors to the flooding hallway, and ordered an airlock built in an attempt to prevent the flood from spreading any further in this direction.
8th Opal, 133-
What is being called the second great flood of Crewedgears is now contained. Due to some dwarves preferring to throw parties over building walls and doors, we lost more hallways than I originally had hoped, and some unused bedrooms. We will also need to dig some new access tunnels to the zoo, but the majority of the fortress now should be safe from this latest flood. Investigations of what has caused the river to overflow its banks are underway, but I suspect it to be one of Gwolfski’s water projects. Unfortunately, the child Erush Zulbanenseb was washed into deep water and drowned.
21st Opal, 133-
The cause of the flooding has been confirmed. The river was blocked by floodgates to the north of the fortress. This blockage left the inflow from the waterfall nowhere to drain to, raising the river level until it overflowed into the fortress. I’ve ordered a lever constructed and linked to these floodgates, so that they can be opened to release the excess water. Hopefully, the flooded sections can be reclaimed.
The cause of the flooding:
28th Obsidian, 133-
The Gem Cutter Mebzuth Aludtobul made a crown out of red spinel today.
It’s rather a nice crown, but I do wish she had crafted something more useful.
On other topics, now that the floodgates blocking the river have been opened, the waters are beginning to recede.The upper of the 2 flooded levels should clear out enough to begin building pumps to clear the lower level within a few months. Additionally, I have decided that what this place needs is a grand keep up in the courtyard. I’ve ordered that production of stone blocks begin in earnest, and will begin on the keep itself once block supplies have reached sufficient levels.
9th Granite, 134-
Elven merchants arrived today. I’ll try to trade with them just so that our broker can perhaps learn a thing or two about actually brokering (one can only hope).
27th Slate, 134-
Another forgotten beast has arrived in the mostly flooded cavern. Maybe this one will come close enough to land that our soldiers can kill it?
Also, work is progressing on our grand keep. I hope to have parts of it ready for occupation by the end of the year.
19th Felsite, 134-
Yet another monstrosity has entered the caverns beneath our fortress.
The upper flooded level has mostly dried out now. It’s still a bit muddy, but otherwise, should be usable. I’ve ordered the construction of a pumping station to begin the task of draining the lower of the 2 flooded levels.
12th Hematite, 134-
Alåth Èrithidek the bone carver has created a magnificent floodgate from the bones of a blue peafowl.
18th Hematite, 134-
The beasts just keep coming. At this rate, we shan’t likely reclaim the caverns anytime soon.
21st Malachite, 134-
All parts of the fortress which were lost to the 2nd great flood of Crewedgears are now, while still somewhat damp, fully accessible again. And I have walled off the river access through which the floodwaters entered in the first place, so we should be safe from that particular source of flooding in the future, at least. I’ve ordered the retaining walls deconstructed and some of the doors unsealed to facilitate further cleanup and reclamation efforts.
12th Sandstone, 134-
Construction on the grand keep is coming along nicely.
20th Sandstone, 134-
Our mayor, Fath Dallithkûbuk, fell to her death today in a construction accident. Apparently, she felt that the very staircase she was deconstructing was an appropriate place to stand while doing the job. Hopefully her replacement, Obok Vetekiden, will prove to be a more reasonable sort.
2nd Timber, 134-
It seems there is no end to the accursed beasts which plague our caverns.
5th Moonstone, 134-
I find it strange that no caravan from the mountainhomes visited us this year. I wonder if some tragedy befel them?
In happier news, Stodir Amugaban the carpenter created an animal trap of legendary quality today.
10th Obsidian, 134-
As we enter the deepest part of winter, the burden of managing the day-to-day running of the fortress begins to weigh upon me. I feel it is time to step aside, and allow another to assume that responsibility. The grand keep, while not yet finished, has taken form enough to allow another to finalize the details. It shall be my legacy.
As I step aside, our population has grown to 239 dwarves, we possess fabulous wealth, and our stockpiles are full to bursting with excellent quality food and drink. Truly, this is a fortress that any dwarf would be proud to call home.