«translated from Human»«Trade Report, Hematite 22nd
from the desk of Seba Lettershoved, Broker of Air City
to Más Spindrill, Overseer
I am pleased to report that trade with the merchants from the Large Empires has been concluded with only minor difficulties. Air City is now richer by a number of exciting treasures; in particular, your personal request for books in the Human language to equip the new library has been fulfilled. Much food and raw materials are now ours as well. Unfortunately, the merchants refused to accept the goods we had presented in exchange, despite my assurances as to their value, and the man leading the caravan, one Irka Sensespaged, to my insurmountable fury, had the gall to call me a "dwarf" when I suggested he extend us a fair credit between fellow humans. Naturally, I made it clear that this offense would not be met with equanimity, and demanded that they leave our depot immediately and return with a better attitude next year to receive just payment for the merchandise I had purchased.»
The Proclamations of Más Famostrul, Human Overseer (a·m·255)
6 Malachite:
Citizens are reminded once again that climbing of all trees around the city is strictly prohibited. Yet another senseless tragedy has been caused by the arboreal menace: the death of local fisherman Kanil Vaultlures, a recent immigrant and wife of fisherman Vispol Churchslings. Remember: trees cannot feel love or empathy, and know only pettiness and spite. Do not be fooled by their seductive advances.
10 Malachite:
Perhaps my previous edict was unclear. I woke up this morning to reports that six of you morons had wedged yourself into an apricot tree in some sort of advanced-level slapstick routine. Masons have already been dispatched to build an escape staircase; please be advised that, the next time I hear about something like this, I may well choose to leave you up there.
11 Malachite:
Well, that didn't take long. Please join me in preëmptively eulogizing the pump operator Imo Oarwaxed. He died as he lived: stuck in a tree. Well, he hasn't yet, but I'm sure as hell not going to bother sending anyone to get him down. I guess I won't actively punish anyone for doing so, though.
11 Malachite (bis):
Quenir Lakesshoot, herbalist, just climbed a tree right in front of me. I hope she CHOKES ON IT. You assholes want to live in trees? Fine. You guys can build yourselves a treehouse up there. We'll call it Idiot City.
«attn: Ucim "JS" Jadesmith, Head of the Air City Department of Tourism
on 17 Malachite a·m·255
The anterior façade of» Akkuus Tunul «has just been completed; please compile a pamphlet to introduce the world to this exciting new tourist attraction!
Best regards,
Más Spindrill, Human Overseer»
Diary of
MelbilNithim Laboredstrapped, Human Miner
entry for Malachite Twenty-Fourth, annus mundi Two Hundred and Fifty-Five
The nine of us have finally arrived in the fabled City of Air! Everything is so bright and sunny here, it's even better than I could have imagined. Almost as soon as I stepped within city limits, the overseer was there to welcome me. He taught me my true, Human name, Nithim! It's the human equivalent to my old dwarf name, and I'm so excited to start using it! I heard that they're building a library filled with Human books, so I guess I'm finally going to get to learn the Human language here. It won't be long before these entries are written in the true language of my soul!
«Records of the City of Air, annus mundi 255 (excerpted)
as compiled by Thora Diamondeast, Clerk
Galena the Fourth: one (1) mica earring, artefact quality, by Nganiz Roastedcudgels. Estimated value approximately 60,000☼. See attached description.»
Minutes of meeting, 255-07-17, with Tekkud Beardedtreaties, Dwarven liaison
(Rákfil Reignedmirrored, Mayor, Glazier)
- requests by Air City: wood, iron/steel bars, stone and stone blocks (preferred microcline, orthoclase, cobaltite per order of Overseer), weapons and armor, sheep (special request by the aquovnushrat from Aquov-Lad-Dair), milk, various cavern plant products, silk, fuel and ashery products, plaster, and lime
- requests by the Charcoal Wheel: musical instruments (135%), plants (196%), amulets (210%), anvils (170%), toys (149%), splints (164%), cut gems (126%), powder (137%), earrings (164%), and cheese (185%)
«Trade Report, Limestone 25th
from the desk of Seba Lettershoved, Broker of Air City
to Más Spindrill, Overseer
I have concluded trade with the perfidious dwarves. Many miscellaneous objects were pleasantly exchanged on both sides. Unfortunately, the dwarves ultimately balked at trading us any food, animals, weapons, or anything else particularly useful, but I kindly forgave them, since their stubborn nature is obviously derived from awareness of their own inferiority, and also since a small number of items seems to have gone unaccountably missing from their wagons in the confusion and may or may not turn up in our stockpiles later.»
Diary of
MelbilNithim Laboredstrapped, Human Miner
entry for Limestone Twenty-Seventh, annus mundi Two Hundred and Fifty-Five
Another party of migrants as arrived! We aren't the newcomers anymore. Not that anyone treated us that way, of course! These twelve new arrivals will soon discover, just as we did, the welcoming nature of the Humans of Air City. I have heard that the party was led by a woodcutter, Mim Pureconstructs, who came along with his wife Ulco Steelfeed. Apparently, their daughter came to Air City several years ago but tragically died before my time, and the orphan Perom whom I've seen around is her son. Perhaps Ulco and Mim came to meet their grandson?
The Proclamations of Más Famostrul, Human Overseer (a·m·255)
14 Sandstone:
Though construction remains ongoing, the Treasury of Spears, Library of Air City, is now open. Admission is free to all citizens. I hope to see all of you there.
There, that seems like a sound place to stop. I'm still playing, but I realised it was inching closer to 17 hours since I promised updates soon. Anyway, two points: A) I swear I'm not a bad trader, our broker just has no social skills; B) no, really, the dwarven liaison's name is Beardedtreaties. Let that one sink in.
Ucim "JS" Jadesmith, Head of the Air City Department of Tourism, has been contacted regarding the tourist attraction.