Smallhands: Year 164.Spring=Journal of Reg Pickcrab=
(definitely not 12000 bees in a trench coat)
We I arrived in Smallhands in Malachite of last year.
We I have managed to pass as a dwarf for the duration. Our costume appears to bee effective in convincing dwarves that we are also a single dwarf. It has been so effective that I have been elected Overseer. I do not know what this role entails, but I was promised by the tavern drone that it is of great power and importance.
As the new queen of this
hive fort we will see it prosper and produce a lot of
honey crafts.
The other drones have reported that the hive is secure from
bears undead. However, the part of the fortress which looks like a large horned beetle is climbable. It is also open to flying invaders, such as hornets.
A dwarf has told me it is supposed to be a type of cup.
I asked a dwarf to update me on the honey production. They led me to this pile of refuse that they called "crafts" and said, "Probably in there, somewhere" then they shrugged and walked away, dripping sweat. Is the sweatiness of these dwarves a sign of respect?
No longer trusting the opinions of the
fort drones dwarves, we decided to check rooms out ourselves. It seems that a collection of food is near the lowest level of the caverns. Curious why the dwarves would want to keep these emergency supplies so far from the rest. I believe we should clean this up and prepare it for winter.
The hive seems to be full of parasites - many of which rub themselves against the doors in a way that I find very displeasing. I walked up to a dwarf and said, "Hello, I feel sweaty. What are these parasites?"
She said, "Ugly blighters, I know, but they make a good meal and they're good watch dogs if you put 'em in the right place."
"Why haven't you gathered in a group around them and vibrated your bodies to kill them?"
"Oh, we've been slaughtering 'em, but these are just newborns! Not much meat on 'em yet. Don't you worry, I'll cook them when they're ready!" She then walked down the hall and up the stairs in a move we interpreted as an invitation.
"Why are these dogs wet?"
"Dunno, really. Sort of just like it that way, I guess."
We can hear the rumble of fluids passing through the walls. I can also hear the distant screams of a flaming skinless alligator. There are many caged creatures and many creatures who are not caged but built into the walls themselves. This is pleasing to us, as the hive is secure.
The local bee population is on an all-time low. In fact, several worker drones are carrying empty hives back to the refuse piles of the hive. This is unacceptable for a harmonious hive.
Several of the dwarves seem sweaty, which is good, if I understand it correctly. They also seem stressed and unsatisfied, though. By The Lost, most of them have had their wings fall off. We'll seek to remedy this right away. I will also look for more flowers and plants to ensure a greater health for the hive. For now, there is a lot of cleaning up to do.