-This is a cow leather bound journal. It is decorated with bands of bauxite and studded with brass. It is decorated with kestrel feathers. On the front cover is an image of an enclosed helm over crossed spears in billon. On the front cover is the phrase "Journal of Splint Silverypeaces."
There are several pages of entries pertaining to excitement over enlisting in his homeland's army, of various celebrations, a minecart accident killing his mother's pet cat, and a dwarf named "Sarge," upon whom he swears revenge for cutting a rope during a training exercise, killing four members of his training squad.-12-15-200Word's come down from he higher ups that The Monarch has decided to build a Border Fortress against the great enemy, and that I've been selected as part of the guard detail along with someone from another trainee squad. We're competent enough I guess, but I told Lieutenant Bannerspear that sending us was a bit... Well, retarded, to be perfectly honest, and asked if the General's been drinking enough lately.
She just told me that all she was told was to deliver the paperwork to me and the other guy.
12-16-200Met the leader of the expedition. Has a big ol' Overseer's Logbook stuffed in a satchel. Not the most imposing sort, but since this isn't
quite a military force, one can't really ask for a better leader than someone who looks somewhat cowardly.
12-26-200Too many. Banshee raid party I think, though it may have just been some hunters out and about. Jeff said something about "bad vibes from this place" where we almost ran into them. Muttered something about the Fortress Guard back in the capital too, but I didn't catch it. Seems the man has a knack for knowing when bad things are due to happen, even if he seems a bit out of it most of the time. Could just be a tad clumsy though.
1-1-201Was asleep in the Wagon when the axle gave out. According to the maps, we
seem to be where we need to be. Might be off by a few miles or so though. No matter, we have ready access to the blood of the earth, which will make all our lives a million times easier.
The leader of our little mission is digging into the hillside right now, says something about the sky is giving him the creeps, and honestly? I'm inclined to agree. The damn sky has felt wrong since we entered the swamp a few weeks back.
1-24-201Fuck. This. Place.
The sky seemed to come down like... Like some kind of fog bank. I didn't want to take any chances, and I told everyone to get the fuck inside and to forget anything else.
I... Whatever happened to those chimps, I pray never happens to a dwarf, because there was something deeply, deeply wrong with them after it rolled over them.
2-7-201Can't say I care for Mr Frog's architectural skills. Winding tunnels make for slower wagon transit, and slower wagon transit means less time to trade. Not my place to judge right now though.
2-28-201Slate's been thankfully quiet. Close calls with the cloud, but at least we have something resembling farms and a still. Plump Helmets aren't great, but the things are a staple food for a reason I guess...
3-28-201The cloud caught more animals. Dingoes this time. What in the hell is in that cloud that causes life to turn into some bloated raging mockery of creation?
4-5-201Been watching the dogs. They seem to stay apart long enough for them both to rest, but as soon as the sun comes up? Fucking monster goes right back to chasing the normal one.
4-20-201We seem to be slowing getting something passable dug out here! Thanks mainly to the diligent efforts of our fine dig team. Things feel a tad cramped, but it's better than contending with The Cloud topside.
5-6-201Parrots caught in The Cloud. damn things convulsed, bloated, turned on the unexposed ones... Ugh. Thank the gods those things stayed parrot-sized.
5-15-201Migrants. Asked them why they came here and they said they'd heard of a frontier settlement where there'd be plentiful work. Someone lied to these people, but with all the refugees we met on the way here, can't say I'm shocked. Coulda sworn some head a military bearing about them though...
6-2-201Thank the gods Mr Frog finished the disposal tunnel, those damned draft animals that starved last month started fouling up the place. You know, I'm sort of glad they died that way. Slow and horrible, but would dying in a body they don't recognize anymore be better?
... Sweet Vumom, did I just empathize with a fucking horse and a water buffalo? What the fuck is wrong with me, that shit's Elf talk!
6-20-201Mr Frog almost freaked when he saw people milling around the old wagon. It's my own fault, I'm in charge of these people's safety and I didn't say anything about the wagon not being safe to socialize near, being open to The Cloud and all...
6-28-201Pups born. According to the old tales, the humble war hound is the greatest embodiment of loyalty the dwarven people could ask for. Follow us to the ends of the earth, to the darkest depths, fight and die for us, and ask only for a little food and water in return. Fresh meat for the grinder, but loyal meat all the same. I just wish we could make them stronger...
7-1-201Might have been a little too... Vivid describing what would happen if we didn't get proper kit and somewhere to train soon for our eventual militia. Everybody besides Mikethete sort of stared, and not in a good way.
Most definitely was too vivid. Shouldn't have taken the teachings to Vumom to heart so much...
7-6-201MOTHER OF THE ALL-MAKER MAKE THE HANGOVER STOP.
7-24-201I don't know how the fuck the dig teammanaged it, but they missed the caverns.
Head still pounding off and on.
Just want a mug of fucking water.
7-25-201Finally have a barracks. Started training with Mikethete. She's fairly handy with a spear!
8-2-201The Cloud came again. No wildlife caught this time.
8-17-201Migrants. Two married couples: Pisskop and her Husband ImagoDeo, and Wolf and his wife Lizzy. I swear, ImagoDeo sounds very familiar...
8-25-201Rakust is dead. At least judging by the screams and lack of a body she is. Should have said something... Safer breach procedure... Ugh...
Rakust's demise seems to be weighing heavily on Mr Frog. Can't say I blame him, those screams were... Well, those screams were fucking ghastly.
12-28-201That's it. Several months since my last entry. Mr Frog is losing his shit, and I can't let him lead anymore. Tradition dictates Overseers serve one year stretches anyway, so if he complains I'll make quite sure he understands that.
1-1-202Mr Frog's willingness to turn over command so quickly was... A little unnerving. No matter. Time to go to work. Will be a year before I likely return to this journal.
-There is, of course, a year long gap.-1-1-203If a disaster strikes, I will not be surprised in the slightest. Jef (he seems to insist it's spelled with one f, sort of how Mr frog is insistent there's no period after the Mr,) found the Overseer Log. Went pale when he showed it to me, but I'm not going to say a thing to him on that front.
So far he's abused his posting to build a pointless manor (which I hope the next overseer confiscates from him,) and waste silver on coins. The copper and gold though I can't really complain about. Not like we really need it. Maybe we can trick someone into bringing the coins to His Gaudiness? Bet that'd piss him off when some merchant tells him the coins were cheap knock-offs.
It'd serve that pompous git right for sending us this far away from the mountains.
Jef
has had the good thought to put the clay whatshisname bought to use, so there's that, but I dunno if there's anyone who knows how to properly work a kiln. Ah well, I'm sure he can find someone to do it with some decency.
I wonder if any of the stuff would get a tin glaze? That'd be nice to see...
1-2-203Well, he seems to be getting neglected industries going some. I admit I didn't quite devote as much time to commercial projects as I should have... We need someone to cut and set gems in our products, could do with more craftsdwarves to work stone, wood, or bone (be it for stuff to sell or to make training ammo for The Tan Caves,) and any clay items
need to get a good glaze! Even if it isn't tin.
Plus we'll need ash to make lye anyway, since the hospital need soap for its use and we need some for general fortress use too. Should have a good sum of fat to make soap from, if people don't mind smelling like buffalo steak. I'll have to look and ask Noel to run those numbers by Jef.
1-25-203Jef's certainly done a good job with getting the industrial aspects of the fort more fully up and running! I was a little annoyed that he replaced the bridge I had set up, but I have to admit, the new gold depot does look pretty kick ass...
I'm definitely going to see if I can talk him into plating the walls with gold just as a big "fuck you" to all the poor forts.
... Or maybe build a giant gold middle finger? That'd be pretty funny. Even a stone or lead one would be for that matter.
For the first time in ages, a journal for a succession fort!
Seems Jef's whole criminal "mastermind" thing might have some foundation on his good intuition (any good criminal needs that!) Actually pretty glad I wrote this crap, since I'm trying to dust off some cobwebs for a community game.