Excerpt from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.1 Hematite 80The first group has put away their tools for the next month. Their singing and shouts of relief are enough to make even me look forward to my turn next month. Minkot has taken advantage of her vacation to set up camp in one of the crafters’ shops, working on a toy. I’m certainly not going to complain if she wants to work on quota. But the yells that sometimes come out of there…it sounds like Dr. Urist is going to be busy patching up various cuts for the next month.
The carving knives are
supposed to be sharp, dagnabbit!
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2 Hematite 80Imic grabbed Lotu’s elbow. “Ye’ve gotta
do somethin’!”
“What’s the problem?”
This time?“They’ve taken over! That Lyra almost beheaded Udil with somethin’ she called a ‘punch’. Didn’ look like any punch I’ve ever seen.” Imic grumbled. “Ye’d think Mooney would’ve taught her the basics, at least.”
Lotu was confused. “Back up. Who’s taken over what?”
“The training area! The first shift. Those hopeless dwarves’ve taken over the training room.” As he spoke, Imic pulled Lotu along the hall and up the final ramp into the common area. “Look! See?”
Following the jabbing finger, Lotu spied several of the first vacation shift dwarves performing training drills. And even he could tell there was quite a bit more enthusiasm than ability or technique.
“The military is your domain. Whaddaya expect me to do?”
“Find them somewhere’s else!” Imic said, amazed that it wasn’t obvious. “They’re a threat to themselves and everyone ‘round them. D’you really want to find out what’ll happen if we’re attacked while the military are all hospitalized because of some untrained civilians?”
He has a point. Lotu thought unhappily. “I’ll find a place to put them. Meanwhile, maybe you and Mooney can show them a few things?”
“I’ve got enough on my plate, keepin’ up the patrols.” He shot Lotu a speaking look.
Lotu sighed. “Then have your boys get some live training for the summer. I’ll have found a useful place to put these folks by then.”
Imic threw his hands up. “Why do I even try?” He walked away, grumbling.
We’re never going to win our freedom at this rate.______________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.3 Hematite 80
A trio of kobold have shown up. Two of them were spotted through the glorified window.
A third actually had the balls to venture all the way into the entrance.
According to Besmar, who was on watch, a kobold has never taken to its heels quite so quickly. The entire pack of war animals was hot on its heels, and they chased it almost halfway to our borders, before finally loping home, looking very smug.
I don’t know what those thieves keep hoping to get, it isn’t as if there’s much of value in this place. We don’t even have rock walls, for Armok’s sake!
The military will need to be on alert. The presence of kobolds seems to correlate to annoying nuisances later in the season.
10 Hematite 80
I hope they brought metal stuff.
Just in case, I’ve ordered the wooden elven cages and the lowest-quality empty barrels moved to the depot, in addition to the worn clothing that has been abandoned all over the place.
12 Hematite 80As it turned out, a lot of the designated trade goods were already stacked in the depot, ready for the next caravan. Now I just have to wait for the last of the pack animals to arrive, and we’ll be able to finish the metal requirements.
17 Hematite 80Given our need for metal bars, I made trading this season a priority. I even hung out around the depot for several days until the traders were ready.
I bought all of their thread. Even though our cloth production seems to be outpacing our current needs, some variety in the form of yarn and silk can’t be a bad thing.
And I hit the jackpot. They brought 18 metal bars, which I immediately took off their hands. Lacking only three bars, I chose 6 spikes and corkscrews for melting, all iron and bronze. Given Armok’s Gift, they should provide a total of 9 bars, which will allow us to keep at least some of the steel.
The Pale Roads need better axes, not to mention some sort of armor. And NCommander has been badgering me about finding her some smithing work to do.
It’s nice being able to fulfill some requests, given everything working against us.
Before trading: After trading:
We did go over the limit, for the first time since we founded Finderboards. But once Mestthos starts melting the trap components, we should quickly fall back under before the humans even leave.
Corkscrews are expensive. Two of them were 1320☼ each! Thank the gods the other trap components were all under 600☼.
22 Hematite 80Every time I sit down for a meal at the dining table, or stop to talk to Dr. Urist in the library, or simply pass through the common area, I see at least a few of the first group of vacationers practicing their fighting skills.
I haven’t seen much, or rather any, improvement, though they all seem quite happy.
Imic has a very valid point. Now, where to put them?
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1 Malachite 80Lotu was dealing with a particularly stubborn section of the aquifer when Hematite slipped into Malachite. A momentary distraction, as he turned away from the partially dug channel, was rewarded with a particularly strong wave that knocked him off his feet.
By the time he had swum back to the surface and gotten to his feet on the ramp, “Oh, crud.”
He scanned the ground, wading through the sometimes thigh-high water. “Oh, #*@^$!”
It was lying at the bottom of the channel into which the water had swept him. “All of that time, no problem. I’ve gotten quite proficient at swimming, and never lost you. And now see where y’are.” He actually shook his fist. “Y’know I won’t be able to grab you unless I finish digging this out, right? ‘N’ that’s gonna take a while?”
“Are you talking to yourself, dear?”
Lotu’s ears went red. “Bad habit.”
“What happened?”
Lotu pointed.
Airith looped a comforting arm around her husband’s shoulders. “At least you know it’s not lost. And you still have the pick.” She gently turned him toward the ramp. “Now come on. Let’s enjoy this month!”
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Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.2 Malachite 80I really do plant to enjoy this month. Especially since Mestthos’s melting diligence has finished off the last of the quota.
That’s a load off my mind! I’m off to meditate a bit. Fortresses, yes. That’s a good topic.
6 Malachite 80First Shift spent most of their time on martial arts, but Second Shift seems to be of a more social nature.
We all seem to prefer either the temple or the library. I’ve started to get to know Sodel. He seems like an OK guy, even though he tends to lead any complaint that’s going. Maybe I can find a way to persuade him to work with me, instead of against me?
8 Malachite 80The merchants have begun their preparations for their departure, and Mestthos has dropped us back below the import cap.
New status:
That’s not something I want to make a habit of.
12 Malachite 80The humans have embarked on their journey. The Pale Roads escorted them as far as our borders. The guards didn’t think it necessary, but Imic takes his patrol duties seriously. After he explained at length about the monitor lizards, giant cats, and other possibly dangerous wildlife that stalks the jungle, the caravan guards did see sense.
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19 Malachite 80Lotu leaned back in his chair, a mug of Mooney’s Special Reserve rice beer in one hand.
This is the way things are supposed to be. He thought contentedly, watching the celebration.
Children played make believe, or with various toys, as the adults whooped it up with such games as dice, wrestling, and other stereotypically dwarven pastimes.
Olon and Logem were predictably boisterous, given that the festivities had been put on to celebrate their daughter Rovod’s Walking Day. They had taken advantage of their vacation to make sure it was done right.
Rovod was dressed in her parents’ cast-offs, which were way too big for her but managed to preserve her modesty just the same. Rovod had grabbed one of the mini-forges destined for Bomrek and was slamming it on the ground. Repeatedly.
Lotu smiled at the sight.
Looks like Bomrek’s shipment is going to be just a little the worse for wear. Good thing dwarven-made things don’t break easily.______________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.24 Malachite 80I’m enjoying the time off. This was an excellent idea, that I wish I had thought of sooner. Now, if only we can keep it up when dealing with full-out quota…
Well, there’s always hope.
27 Malachite 80Airith and I have been working on some long-rage plans this month. Once I’ve gotten to the stone layers of the aquifer, I’ll take some time to dig out some more living quarters. The children are growing up fast, and we’ll need the extra space eventually.
Also, the grazing animals will eventually eat their way through the current pasture, especially if they reproduce. So we’ve decided where to put a second pasture. I would love to make the exterior walls out of stone, but I’ll have to content myself with wood for now. Anything more would imply a prosperity that I would prefer to not to advertise.
Not that we are prosperous, far from it. But anything to bolster our case to Bomrek and King Dodok each year of how much we struggle to make quota.
Even if some years it isn’t difficult. Better to mislead than to brag.
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1 Galena 80Lotu hoisted his pick and headed back to the aquifer, feeling particularly refreshed after a month of “lolly-gagging”, as his mother used to say.
This really does need to be a thing.He whistled as jaunty tune as descended into the Hole.
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Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.2 Galena 80Second Shift has resumed work while Third Shift has started their vacation. Sodel is churning out yarn and cloth clothing, while Olon is making leather shoes and cloaks. It may be my imagination, but they seem to be working more efficiently after their time off.
And I’m hearing a lot fewer mumblings from various people.
10 Galena 80As expected, a flock of keas was sighted to the southeast. The Pillars of Ink have been waiting for this, and have charged up to the battlements to watch and defend.
26 Galena 80During the last two weeks, the marksdwarves have foiled countless kea attacks, permanently ending the depradations of six of them.
One corpse even now rests in the western drainage system.
27 Galena 80The turkeys have started to hatch, and I’ve ordered the poults caged until they grow into skin-able adults. Soon out leather production will start catching up to the cloth industry.
28 Galena 80Summer is over, fall is around the corner. With all of that time off, progress in the aquifer is slower than I would have liked.
However, I have high hopes that soon I’ll break through the western interior wall, at which point things should start to really speed up.
While we’re still living in a glorified hole in the ground, it won’t last much longer. And in any case, it’s home.
We’ll enclose the southeast quadrant for the grazers.
Once the new grazer pasture is finished, I’ll dig out the southeast tower for more living space. Hopefully by then I’ll be finished with the first aquifer level.
Unless if Bomrek's next set of requirements proves to be another backbreaking slog. Talk about a downer.
OOC:
what timezone are you in?
US Eastern, why?
Current character list:
Olin (Lyra) Coppertargets (carpenter) -> Lyra (alive)
Catten Fencedlearned (bowyer) (alive)
Zutthan Paddledact (thresher/spinner/shearer) (alive)
Lorbam Clawdike (bookkeeper/manager/woodcrafter) (alive)
Minkot Bannerthrone (planter) (alive)
Mebzuth Cudgelleaves (glassmaker) (alive)
Ast (Lotu) Sizzlediron (miner)-> Dame de la Licorne (alive)
Kadol (Airith) Helmflashed (architect/mason) -> TheImmortalRyukan (alive)
Sodel Stockadecharmed (weaver/clothier) (alive)
Erib Razordrinkers (butcher/tanner/planter) (alive)
Logem Laborgirders (gem cutter/woodcrafter) (alive)
Olon Worshipglazed (leatherworker) (alive)
Ushrir (NCommander) Anvildimples (woocrafter/animal trainer) -> NCommander (alive)
Vutok (Spriggans) Pleatsteels (wood burner) -> Spriggans (alive)
Ral Scalemerchant (brewer) (alive)
Uvash Toolsport (carpenter) (alive)
Mestthos Stafftown (furnace operator/papermaker) (alive)
Edzul Lanternnotched (cook) (alive)
Kogsak (Imic) Stokerblocked (axedwarf/woodcutter) -> Imic (alive)
Lokum Weaksilvers (hammer->axedwarf/woodcutter) (alive)
Udil Roomrouts (axedwarf/woodcutter) (alive)
Likot (Mooney) Tongsgirder (marksdwarf/herbalist) -> MoonyTheHuman (alive)
Besmar Minepink (marksdwarf/herbalist) (alive)
Ustuth Shieldfences (marksdwarf/herbalist) (alive)
Urist (Dr. Urist) Drilledhatchet (doctor/engineer) -> Gwolfski (alive)
Nil Goldenname (child) (alive)
Medtob Boatsmessiah (child) (alive)
Id Craftcrabs (child) (alive)
Tobul Cloisteredmoistened (child) (alive)
Litast Citystorm (child) (alive)
Solon Pageletter (child) (alive)
Stodir Hallesteems (child) (alive)
Endok Boltprairies (child) (alive)
Datan Paddledclutches (child) (alive)
Thikut Doorpattern (child) (alive)
Endok Glacierpaddle (child) (alive)
Rovod Claspedlearns (child) alive)
Tayldis (kobold thief)
Logem Echoworked (outpost liaison)
Dodok Charmedmirror (king)
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Topic: The Story of Atölasob (A Community Fort with an Export Challenge) (Read 62909 times)