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[Vactor]

of course what many people have forgotten is that the entire story started out as a reworking of a story of a retelling of another story as HF kindly pointed out in the last line.  When i first started reading i initially thought it was in reference to ayn rand's "atlas shrugged" until i noticed johnny fountainspring and realized the intermediary reference.

Of course all of this has nothing to do with HF's awesome storytelling.

[Zako]

Are you going to make the people who wanted military dwarves part of a recruitment spree?

Cause i LOVE ur thinking! 

It can also be the perfect cover for my guy too now that i think about it, excellent thinking to cover multiple bases man!

[Kuli]

Somehow I thought it might be a Catch-22 reference, but it had been a while since I read the book and Gantolandon answered before I bothered to go dig out my copy.

Why does this feel like one of the ciphers?  "Figure out what all the references are...or bad things will happen!"

[ricemastah]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I'm still loving the story Heavy Flak!

[Heavy Flak]

From the files of Aryn Estetar

The plebs from Stukos Matul arrived for their yearly dealings and trade.  My peasants were in a tizz, happy to reunite with old friends and occasionally old family. 

I was given camel shit for an offering.  Aside from a few garnets, two ricks of wood, and a wagon loaded with salted meats, they gave me nothing.  NOTHING!  What am I to do with barrels stuffed with poorly threaded cloth, and rotten leather scraps?  They didn't even bring a single drop of ale with them, instead - instead - deciding that as traders, they would gorge themselves on our supply.

They're being evicted in the morning for their insolence.  Who do they think they are, hmm?  I'm Aryn Estetar!  I'm the King of this country.  With our size, our status, our innumerable wealth, I'm in charge here.  And these idiots offer me broken trinkets and cloth, and a pittance of meat? 

In my anger, I made the mistake of tangling with Likot over her mandate for more lead tubings for her mask.  I was thrown out of her office by Sergeant Pepper, the large dwarf laughing like a loon when I hit the wall.  I took it out on Dojango, sending him up to the kitchens to make biscuits en masse.  Let's see how your masterful sensibilities like a scuttlecooks work, you braying ass.

***

OOC: Nothing major happens because, damn it, these hauling issues are near crippling!  I have a whole fortress full of dropped food and stone, and armor scattering the wastes.  As soon as it's updated, we'll actually get somewhere. 

Also, the time frame for the remaining named Dwarves is: Either when children grow up, Dwarf Companion gets fixed, or immigrants arrive.  Whichever of those three happens first.

[Maggarg - Eater of chicke]

I just read through the two weeks that I missed.
Once again, top quality.

[Heavy Flak]

The events of the 10th of Granite, 1064
...

Akroma pulled a piece of weathered parchment from inside his sleeve, unrolling it atop the coffin.  One end he weighted down with the single candle, the other he held with his hand.  Scrawled on the sheet was the lettering found on the back of their robes:
BAAAB AAABB BAAAA ABBAB AAAAA BABBA AAAAB AABBA AAAAB AAAAA ABABA ABBBA AAAAB

Inked under it, in Akroma's steady hand, was this:
SOON I WILL RISE
...

It JUST dawned on me that I never said that Crypto 7 had been completely finished way back on July 1^st.  I don't have the name handy, but the point is - one of the very first things said about this cryptogram is the possibility that there were more than one answer.  I never responded to keep up airs of mystery and then promptly forgot about the whole thing until I was making dinner tonight.

So, in the act of fairness, here's how to get to the true solution.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Using the first solution that I gave you - "YOU HAVE BEAT ME" - you can find out some of the letters.

Y BAAAB    O AAABB     U BAAAA     H ABBAB    A AAAAA   
V BABBA     E AAAAB    B AABBA    T ABABA     M ABBBA

Next, you need to break the TRUE message out of the old one.  Here's the first line from the cryptogram:
BAAAB

Notice it has two font faces.  Trebuchet MS (letter groups BA, and AB) and Georgia (Single A in the middle). 

Whatever is written in the Trebuchet font is a Letter A, whatever is in Georgia is a letter B.

From there, it's spade work; converting from one grouping to a second, applying the letters already found (the meager number I had supplied), and then working the rest out for yourself:  SOON I WILL RISE

And with my memory jogged, there's your second solution to the last Cryptogram. 

[Heavy Flak]

The Events of the 27^th of Limestone

Jools paced outside of one of the locked barracks door, his dark suit wrinkled and dusty.  He looked drawn, and sweat kept dotting on his forehead, forcing him to dab it away with a plain white handkerchief.  He's been pacing the hallway for nearly twenty hours now.  For the last few, Varen and Merkil had sat on the floor, their backs against the wall as they kept the Stoneworker company. 

"Did you see Captain Fillwhip?" Merkil asked, a wide grin on his face.
"Did I?  Ohh, that made my day like nothing else has," Varen said, laughing hard.  "Remember when he was all, 'What's with all that screaming!' and then he kicked the door open?"
"Yeah... and he sees Kib laying there, legs up, trying to get this baby out of her, and he vomits all over the hallway and makes a run for the stairs."

Even Jools stopped, chuckling.  "Yeah.  What a horses ass."

There was a faint sound at the door, and the soldiers hopped to their feet, Jools turning expectantly towards it.  It opened, and out stepped Butcher Gateclap - doubling as the fortresses midwife.  She held a small baby cradled in her arms, smooth and bald except for the wisps of stubble on it's chin and cheeks.  "It's a girl!" Midwife Gateclap announced proudly.

Jools seemed crestfallen, but only for a moment.  "I'm a father, again!"  Varen smiled, and gave him a pat on the back as he rushed over to take hold of his daughter, cradling her in his arms. 

"Got a name picked out yet?" Merkil asked.
"Yeah... I think we'll name her Asob."
"There there, that's enough..." Midwife Gateclap said.  She took the child gently into her arms, "You're wife will want to nurse her soon, and she's going to be wanting to go back out on patrol after that.  We best get her back in side.  Congratulations." She said, smiling.

[Heavy Flak]

Glacies Leadgir of Stockes and Suplies - Sandstone 16, 1064

Bolts used: Over five dozen have been used by Master Sparrow in his apprenticeship with Rolland of of Monom Ros.  His aim is improving, but our newest acquire has yet to grant him use of more than a training 'bow found in the back of the barracks.

Quarry Work:  An additional 840 stones have been generated in this past month alone by our miners in the quarry.  These stones are a constant headache.  Perhaps I'll speak with Aryn about postponing this project and scuttling a few.

Babies: Two children have been born, one to Mr. and Mrs. Machinescalded, the other to Mr. and Mrs. Ragmerchants.  In sadder news, The Duke's wife has had another miscarraige.  The men talk, as they always do, that this was on purpose because the child would be a girl and not the son he hoped for.  Talk like that should be quashed as quickly as possible.

Leader board:  As a way to improve troop morale, this month Stravitch instituted a kill-tally.  He then promptly took a nap.  Sulari has jumped to the top in short fashion, in less than 28 days re-killing a sixteen in the newest surge of zombie camels.   Quite the impressive number, and one that is expected to grow in short order.

[Jools]

Woohoo! I'm a father again!

[Xofrevlis]

XofRevlis, Artist cancels being productive: New Dwarf Fortress version.

I haven't even started on the second drawing I was planning, but I did a character sketch one night while I was having trouble sleeping. (and proceeded to procrastinate on finishing it too)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

An attempt at Kuli this time. I say attempt because I'm not sure if I think it fits Kuli.
But I'll throw this out there and see what others think about it.

Also, seeing all these references I completely missed, I think I need to read more. The only one I got was the Metal Gear Solid reference with Snake. 

[Kuli]

Nice, although personally I imagine him with a relatively short beard.  I approve of the skull cap since I imagined him wearing something similar.

Look forward to my own rendition of Kuli the dwarf as soon as I have access to a scanner.

[Xofrevlis]

Nice, although personally I imagine him with a relatively short beard.  I approve of the skull cap since I imagined him wearing something similar.

Look forward to my own rendition of Kuli the dwarf as soon as I have access to a scanner.

Ahh, I over thought it a bit then. I started out with a short beard, but decided to to make it longer to reflect his standing in the community.

Can't wait to see you rendition though.

[Heavy Flak]

Good work, Xofrevlis!  When I first looked at it, I thought Kuli's extended arm was a little too long, but after having some coffee and waking up it dawned on me that was an illusion created by the big sleeve. 

I also like the queue his hair's been put in. 

[Kuli]

I just saw your post in Bug Reports, Heavy Flak.  Oh god, the Dread Camels have turned invisible!    We're doomed!