[Retconned due to computer dying.]
Journal of Ingish Crystalguarded, Captain of the Trueattic Guard, 1 ObsidianIt's been a strange day, journal. The expedition to Kingdomsabre returned while I was on duty today today, less Dastot Inkbolt, and demanded to be taken to the king looking as scared as if they'd seen the Blue Serpent itself. I took one of my lads and brought 'em down to the throne room, and when the king saw us he shooed me out. I don't dare to guess what they were talking on in there, but by the time the two from the expedition came out it was well past midnight. Then the royal guard told me to come on in after them. There was the king, with a big table set up behind his throne and maps all over it.
Something has been stirring up the goblins of the northeast, he said. There were reports by the few hunters and woodsmen who ventured that far that they were organizing. Some said a goblin warlord had united them, others a necromancer, and one even said a demon from Hell had come into the world and taken charge. Regardless, activity is increasing and Trueattic is completely unprepared to meet the threat. I've been given the honor of leading an expedition, taking two of my best men, a pile of Nanirasrathkogsak's precious supply of metal, and a collection of builders to this spot and secure the capital against goblin incursions.
It's not far, but the preparations to leave will likely take several days.
7 ObsidianWe leave today. I've taken two of my best speardwarves, Etur Leadseals and Solon Morninggalley. Two smiths went along, Mistem Paddlephrases and Asmel Gearedfame, to make the armor and weapons. Rounding it off are an old miner, Zasit Oilyvoices, the mason Cerol Holdgate, and myself. I've been 'encouraged' to avoid taking up arms, to ensure leadership remains intact, so it looks like I'll be picking up my old trade as a carpenter. We've packed ample food for the journey, but the farmers and other tradesmen will have to come later. Hopefully it lasts us.
Those two from the Kingdomsabre expedition slipped off in the night before, too. They'd been on leave until today, so nobody noticed they were gone until they didn't show up for their shifts. Where in Oggez's earth they got to is anybody's guess, but they were in a bad way after coming back. There's a hunter in the bar that swears up and down he saw them heading northwest, but even he admits it was dark and rainy outside. Probably saw a couple of gnomes and wants to impress everybody.
12 ObsidianWe've finally arrived at the site, and drank down the last of our travel flasks to commemorate the occasion. I'm glad I'll never have to dig that wagon out of a snowdrift again, but looking around the site things could be better.
We've brought the wagon to a stop on the north bank of a frozen over mountain brook, and wouldn't you know it took us longer to put this whole expedition together than it did to bring the wagon to our destination. If we were just on foot I'd say it wouldn't have taken even two days, but the snow made it slow going with the cart. The surveyors said there's no metal here, just like back at the capital, but at least there's plenty of trees about and they say there's enough clay in the soil here to use for ceramics. Etur says some of the trees are apricots and pears, so at least we won't go hungry and we've got some exotic drinks to look forward to when summer comes. But that's enough of that, it's time to strike the earth!
So there's that. If I remember right fortress sites aren't considered valid as far as spreading out hamlets and whatnot goes, so if Trueattic falls the civ is basically dead. The attacker of a site tends to win in worldgen battles, especially since the demons that run goblin civs tend to lead those attacks, but they also prefer to attack the nearest site, so I'll be in somewhat of a hurry to become rich enough for goblin ambush/sieges to stop them just bypassing my ineligible site. Hopefully the goblins are too weak this early on for having an all-copper militia with a limited supply of metal for replacing equipment to hinder me too much, but if that demon shows up I'm probably screwed.