17th of Hematite of the year 251
A caravan has arrived from the homelands, pure humans visiting us for once. Unfortunately, we have thus far been unable to produce much of value in terms of crafts, having not yet started either the planned winery or the production of arms and armour. We had hoped to purchase an anvil from this caravan, to allow us to begin our metal industry properly, but this Caravan, along with all others, have not yet brought one, leaving us somewhat stranded. Tiring of our poverty, we have set to work constructing the great tower that shall mark our fortification, and digging a small quarry to prospect for local metals. Our industry will begin to blossom soon, or so I hope.
22nd Malachite,
Glorious day! Today we have produced our very first barrel of Nolocstral Wine! Not only have we produced this ambrosia, bitter as it may be, but Medi has awoken from her prayers, and after several hours of hard labour, our miner, Enasm, a sturdy one to be sure, freed her from the riverbed. She has returned stoicly to her work, uninjured by the months of meditation. Along with all that good news, two new peasants, a dyer and a weaver have arrived, telling us that now they have cleared the path, there will be more to come. Their talents will be put to use once our textile industry begins, but for the mean time they are tasked with the construction of a wall to encircle our small village, to keep what little prosperity we have safe. Along with this, Unasm has been digging another quarry, this one down to the stone. He has met with dolomite, a stone I am told that is renowned for containing silver and gold!
We may be unable to produce weapons and arms without an anvil, but I shall surely be the richest Caravan Mistress in the Kingdom! I can see it now, in the years to come, drinking this first year's vintage from a goblet of solid gold, a scepter of silver in one hand, looking out from the great tower that will be my abode. I cannot wait.
10th of Galena,
The Lady is smiling on me, for I did not have to wait long. What ore did we strike, you ask? Silver? Gold? Nay, I tell you, something greater! Raw, Pure Platinum! The most glorious metal known! I had Unasm bring me a nugget of the glorious metal, and I am captivated by it's shimmering glory. It is truly perfect. Silver pales in comparison. I have orderred the construction of a smithing complex to refine this ore into ingots for sale. I shall be rich indeed.
10th of Sandstone
Life is plodding along simply enough. The peasants continue to slowly get through their work, Medi remains trapped on the wrong side of the river, though a bridge is being built to get her back. More platinum has been found, but the smithy hasn't yet been completed. Rye Beer seems to have replaced wine by popularity, as we now possess several barrels full to the brim with the thick, warming substance. Along with it, the steady stream of eggs have provided all manner of foods for us, along with the local trees which produce almonds and apricots plentifully. A few new migrants have arrived, and their housing adds another order to the backlog of construction orders that need to be filled. I have constructed a dining room in the tower, and all now have at the very least their own cup and bowl for food and drink.