Early Winter 78, TheaterknowledgeThe cloaked and hooded figure entered the little-used room in which Dastot waited.
“And?”
“Finderboards met the entire quota this fall.”
The newcomer hissed. “What?”
Dastot shrugged. There really was nothing else to say.
The other paced back and forth several times, before turning back to Dastot with a swirl of the cape around the feet.
“This next quota, is it possible?”
Dastot slowly shook his head, a smug little smirk playing around his lips. “Bomrek’s asked for rock mugs.”
The other made an impatient gesture. “Any settlement of seven can make rock mugs!”
Dastot kept shaking his head. “Finderboards has an aquifer. A deep one, apparently, from the geology. They haven’t even finished getting through the soil layer. They won’t be able to get enough rock before we return in the fall. This quota will once again be incomplete.”
“Indeed.” Satisfaction oozed from the word. “Very well. Dismisssed.”
Dastot lost no time checking that the corridor was empty, before slipping away, relieved.
That one…gives me the creepiest feeling. ______________________________________________________________________________
1 Moonstone 78 “Mebzuth!” Dr. Urist entered the glassworks.
“One moment.” Mebzuth spoke absently, focused on the glass he was carefully melting. Several minutes later, he finally removed the sheet of glass and slid it into the nearby tub of water to cool.
Only then did he glance up to register Dr. Urist’s impatient shifting from foot to foot. “What?”
“I’ve found a solution to the rock mug problem. But, before I tell Lotu, I wanted to make sure you could make 141 glass goblets, in addition to the 188 windows.”
“Glass goblets? For rock?”
“Yes! Obsidian is rock, right? Well, it’s also a kind of glass! So, if obsidian is actually glass, then glass is a kind of rock. See?”
“Seems to me you’re reaching,”
“Maybe, but it’s closer to rock than wood. Can you manage?”
Mebzuth looked around thoughtfully. He had already completed nineteen windows, and some corkscrews to trade with the elves.
Let’s see. One bag of sand per window, that’s 169 jobs. I can probably make three goblets per sand bag, that’s another…forty-seven jobs. So a total of 216 jobs. I have six months, so I need to do thirty-six jobs a month. And I still need to make those corkscrews Lotu wants on hand to trade to the elves.“It’ll be tight.” He said. “I can do it, if I get an extra pair of hands and other people to collect the sand. And Spriggans will probably need an assistant for the charcoal.”
Dr. Urist nodded. “All right. That’s what I’ll tell him.”
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Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.2 Moonstone 78It wouldn’t be a new season without another kobold showing up. They never get close, so we’ve learned to ignore them.
I’ve asked Airith to build an extra glassworks and another wood furnace, in accordance with Dr. Urist’s suggestion. If we really can make enough glass, then that’s one less woodcrafter that we need, and I can turn my attention to other priorities.
Now to figure out who to juggle once Airith has finished those buildings.
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5 Moonstone 78“Ah, Lotu.”
Lotu was surprised to see the liaison still around, and said as much.
“Oh, I wanted to spend some quality time with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At any rate, I was packing up to head back to Theaterknowledge, and realized I never gave you this.” Echoworked held out a letter, sealed with the royal insignia.
Uh-oh.Automatically wishing Echoworked a good journey, Lotu headed for the pumps on the sublevel. He needed privacy to deal with what he was sure was bad news.
Sliding his thumbnail beneath the wax, he opened the letter.
Attention: Lotu Sizzlediron
It has come to my attention that Finderboards has failed in its duty to fill a second supply shipment. Not only that, but over 40% of the required goods were lacking. This caused a severe loss of focus and distraction which resulted in the production of substandard spears. Should this happen again, I will have no option but to replace you as the expedition leader of Finderboards in favor of a more capable administrator. You have been warned.
Signed: His Majesty by the Grace of Armok, King Dodok Charmedmirror, CheesemakerLotu leaned his head back against the sand wall.
At least this year’s quota was complete.______________________________________________________________________________
Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.17 Moonstone 78The second wood furnace is finished, and Edzul has been reassigned from the fields to charcoal duty, under Spriggans’s supervision. Mebzuth will soon have more charcoal than he can use.
26 Moonstone 78The second glassworks is done.
Since everyone already has a job, I’ve ordered that it only be used to collect sand. Hopefully that will free up enough time for Mebzuth to complete the goblets and windows.
Thank goodness Sodel is making more bags than we can use, though our cloth reserves are dropping. At least the paper production seems to be working well.
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20 Opal 78Lorbam and Lotu sat in Lorbam’s office, going over Finderboards’ monthly status.
“One last thing.” Lorbam said, checking his list. “We have all the paper we need to fulfill quota.”
“Already?” Lotu was amazed, having expected the paper to take longer.
“Hmm-mmm.”
“That means Zutthan and Mestthos can be assigned to other things!”
Like glassmaking!Checking that they had finished discussing all the items on Lorbam’s list, Lotu headed off to inform them of their new assignments.
27 Opal 78“I’m outta’ sand!” Mebzuth called down to Lotu’s current digging spot.
“What?” Lotu pulled himself up to sit on the top of the ramp. “There’s sand all around, how can you be out?” As he spoke he waved at the yellow sand surrounding them.
“No bags t’collect it.”
“I thought Sodel had made plenty.”
“He’s been makin’ clothes, not bags. And nice ‘uns, too.” Sodel fingered the sleeve of his new dress, which Lotu had to admit was very well-made, indeed.
With a sigh, he got to his feet and headed off to deal with the latest crisis.
Arriving at the clothiers’, he found Sodel putting the finishing touches on a pair of mittens. “What’s up with the bag situation?”
“No cloth. All of the plant fiber is going to paper-making, and several others were complaining about wearing tattered rags that barely even fit the description of ‘clothing’. I decided to do something about it, and used up all of the traded cloth.”
Lotu took a deep breath, and let it out slowly through his nose. “And you couldn’t tell Zutthan that you needed him to make some thread?”
“
You put him on glassmaking duty and forbade him from threshing.” Sodel pointed out acidly.
“Fine. He’ll go back to the farmer’s workshop. Just make more bags.”
Lotu walked out, oblivious to the glare Sodel shot at his back.
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Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.12 Obsidian 78Glassmaking continues, more slowly than I’d like, since Mestthos and Mebzuth have to keep interrupting their work to wait for others to collect more sand. As a result, I’ve ordered a third glassworks built. Mestthos and Mebzuth will each have their own, and the third will be used exclusively for sand collection.
18 Obsidian 78The final walls for the aquifer attack are in place.
All that remains is to remove the wall into the pumping tower, so the water has someplace to go. Once that’s done, I’ll get some volunteers to man the extra pump while I dig out enough of the deepest soil level to actually work from when tackling the stone aquifer.
Progress may be slow, but it is happening. And it’s happening without anyone beyond these walls being aware.
28 Obsidian 78Winter is at its end, and we are doing well.
I’ve ordered Mebzuth to stop making any glass items other than those required for the quota, as we have enough corkscrews and used silk clothing to trade for anything we want from the elves.
Current character list:
Ast (Lotu) Sizzlediron (miner)-> Dame de la Licorne (alive)
Olin (Lyra) Coppertargets (carpenter) -> Lyra (alive)
Ushrir (NCommander) Anvildimples (woocrafter/animal trainer) -> NCommander (alive)
Kadol (Airith) Helmflashed (architect/mason) -> TheImmortalRyukan (alive)
Urist (Dr. Urist) Drilledhatchet (doctor/engineer) -> Gwolfski (alive)
Likot (Mooney) Tongsgirder (marksdwarf/herbalist) -> MoonyTheHuman (alive)
Kogsak (Imic) Stokerblocked (axedwarf/woodcutter) -> Imic (alive)
Sodel Stockadecharmed (weaver/clothier) (alive)
Erib Razordrinkers (butcher/tanner/planter) (alive)
Vutok (Spriggans) Pleatsteels (wood burner) -> Spriggans (alive)
Lokum Weaksilvers (hammer->axedwarf/woodcutter) (alive)
Udil Roomrouts (axedwarf/woodcutter) (alive)
Minkot Bannerthrone (planter) (alive)
Mebzuth Cudgelleaves (glassmaker) (alive)
Logem Laborgirders (gem cutter/woodcrafter) (alive)
Olon Worshipglazed (leatherworker) (alive)
Ustuth Shieldfences (marksdwarf/herbalist) (alive)
Uvash Toolsport (carpenter) (alive)
Mestthos Stafftown (furnace operator) (alive)
Lorbam Clawdike (bookkeeper/manager/woodcrafter) (alive)
Ral Scalemerchant (brewer) (alive)
Nil Goldenname (child) (alive)
Medtob Boatsmessiah (child) (alive)
Besmar Minepink (marksdwarf/herbalist) (alive)
Catten Fencedlearned (bowyer) (alive)
Zutthan Paddledact (thresher/spinner/shearer) (alive)
Edzul Lanternnotched (potash maker/wood burner) (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 (baby) (alive)
Tayldis (kobold thief)
Logem Echoworked (outpost liaison)
Dodok Charmedmirror (king)