Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Malachite 27th, 251
What a crazy summer. First the humans arrived to trade, and almost as soon as they set up at the depot, a flock of gigantic vultures flew in, probably hoping to steal out of their packs. We caught and killed one of them, but the rest hardly left for a moment for the next couple weeks. Whenever anyone went near the fortress entrance the giant birds would swoop at them, and chase them either back into the tunnels, or up the mountainside. The avian interference set back our construction projects quite a bit, but we were able to makes some small trades with the humans. The great wall around the fortress is slowly progressing, as well as the mountainside removal efforts. Much more progress is being made on the farmers' guildhall, which has nearly complete walls, and much of the floor is also in place. Only the roof remains to be built.
A draw bridge has been built closing off the entrance to the caverns, and I have ordered a row of cage traps built in front of it, for when we are finally capable of retrieving items left in the depths, to stop creatures from entering the fortress with the gates down.
Dan and one of the other miners were working together on a project, and I don't know what happened, but somehow both of them managed to get one of their hands broken. Dan of course sent off for his industrial accident insurance payment, and has been talking up how great his company's policies are with even greater energy than normal. They have been both off of work since then, and I have been trying to find time to properly patch up their hands, but haven't had any time, so I asked one of the peasants to do that work instead. She seems to be quiet and studious, and to be better suited to some occupation other than simple construction work.
Yesterday, one of the other poorly skilled dwarves rushed into the craftsdwarf's shop and started shouting for wood, bone, and metal. We should have some of all of those, so he ought to be successful in whatever he is doing.
I have been spending what little free time this fortress affords me with Maximum Spin. He is not the most talkative dwarf in the fortress, but he is very clever, and we share a lot of the same ideas. We get along quite well, despite his lack of social skills. It seems that Nephilim and Quantum Drop have been spending time together, as well. Not that there is much time for anything but construction.
Now I had best get back to work, if I am to complete anything this year.
Galina 11th, 251
Zasit finished his masterwork today. It is a wooden crown decorated with bone and metal. Maximum Spin isn't impressed.