Paintedbowels has become a thriving village. The resettlement continues and the budding population is putting strain on the food resources. The original settlers are almost all resting in the catacombs beneath the stones. Sadly, they cannot be given a proper burial, but at least they are honored. Their end was abrupt and painful: a forgotten beast broke through an improperly constructed barricade in the caverns and destroyed the fort with its deadly dust. The new 7 spent a great deal of time moving the bodies now scattered everywhere. Some skeletons still remain in deep reaches of the caverns, likely watched over by giant rats, antmen, and beasts strange and fierce.
Orc armies and goblin raiders wander the surface, occasionally picking off a stray dog or an unfortunate dwarf (3 soldiers, two legendary marksdwarves, and 5 civilians perished). The fortress gates and battlements provide only tentative protection from the elite foes and the fort military is fledgling at best. Training goes slowly, but the metalsmiths are finally crafting fine gear. Once the dwarves are better equipped, it will be time to retake the caverns. A cave crocodile ate 5 dwarves as they were building irrigation pumps in the cavern. On top of that, two forgotten beasts appeared and the project had to be temporarily abandoned. The entryways were blocked off in time, hopefully impenetrably. The beasts fancied an antman dinner and proceeded to destroy that small civilization. One of their spearmen fought for what must have been two seasons before succumbing to fatigue.
The presence of a curious structure was confirmed and the excavation of the temple exterior has begun! The dwarves have never seen such a construction, but heard tales of what lies beneath. The plan is to dig out a massive temple around it and present an offering. The offering will be led by the orc general currently held in a cage. Hopefully he will have a couple of hundred friends, patience permitting.