1st Granite, 1057
I, NPComplete, son of NPComplete, begin this journal on my way to Mafolmondul, the shining beacon of Dwarf civilisation my father worked so hard to found. Growing up as a young dwarf, I eagerly awaited his letters, telling me of his careful organization of his six companions. I drew sketches of Chambergrave....it's Obsidian walls and halls gleaming softly within the cavern, suspended eerily above an opening into the very bowels of the earth.
After a few years, however, the letters stopped. Dad must have gotten so busy running things that he could no longer find the time to write. I trained hard, however, and practiced my studies so that I could one day join him. Today is that day, my arrival at Mafolmondul.
2nd Granite, 1057
I've arrived. No sign of Dad, he must be busy somewhere.
'Fleacircus' the dwarf that greeted me showed me my 'position', apparently I've been assigned a seat already. I asked him why I needed a seat, and why the seat needed padded shoulder harnesses, but he was too busy to go into it.
5th Granite, 1057
They're insane. They're all insane. They plan to ride this thing down into the chasm! Time to find Dad and get out of here!
10th Granite, 1057
I've found him. Down on level 134. Second row, third coffin from the right.
He's dead. I can't believe he's dead. How am I going to tell mother? How am I going to go on?
12th Granite, 1057
Make the wine, drink the wine, plant the spawn, grow the plump helmet, pick the plump helmet, make the wine, drin the wine, plnt the spnaw, gro the plum helmet, drink the plump hemlet, pant the wine, make te pick th plump wine....
14th Granite, 1057
After a long talk with 'Fleacircus' I've changed my mind on the whole subject. It's genius, we all get in the spire, and leave the cursed, pain-filled, sun-drenched surface behind.
'Dwarves get in the chasm,
the spire holds the town,
sing a song, pull the switch
we all fall down!'
I'm closing off the bridge into the courtyard, and stationing guards on the surface while continuing construction on the living quarters.
16th Granite, 1057
Snugglebear needs an office if he's going to order people around. no time for anything good, he gets a table and chair near the masonry.
The elves just arrived, but I'm not opening the bridge, they can just sit out there.
There was a fire imp inside when the bridge was shut, I'm rounding up a few dwarves to go deal with it.
17th Granite, 1057
The imp is dead, let's get the elves in here and see if they have any wood.
18th Granite, 1057
Well, something must have had blood on it, because the elves left in a huff. I decided against just taking the wood, we don't need a war on our hands.
ALso, they've asked us not to chop down more than 100 trees. I've agreed, but .... well, we've got a mission you know.
Some goblins have showed up, I'm going to seal the bridge again as soon as the elves are out.
19th Granite, 1057
It was close, one injured dwarf but the goblins are sealed out. Hey, did someone make a bridge that retracts!!??? Gah.
Also, the elf diplomat is left inside. Well, he should have moved faster now shouldn't he?
9th Slate, 1057
Fabulous news, some more ballast has arrived in the form of about 20 migrants. They were shocked to hear about the full magnitude of our plans, but the bridge has been raised. They'll come around.
16th Felsite, 1057
The first habitation level is almost complete, and ready for the installation of doors and beds. We're out of wood. If I can get together enough lumberjacks and soldiers to be sure of safety I might mount a logging expedition to the tops of the cliffs, but I may just trade for wood.
11th Hematite, 1057
Some humans showed up and their wagons bypassed the site because I didn't get the bridge down in time. Pansies!
Let's see what the others have.
14th Hematite, 1057
Fabulous, a bunch of wood and booze. We don't need the booze, but we'll take it anyway. An ambush showed up just as trading was ending, and catches a fisherdwarf unawares. On well, plenty more where he came from!
24th Hematite, 1057
A total of 6 died in the ambush. A sad toll. Well, actually we'll just stuff them in some more coffins next to Dad, and wave goodbye as we plummet past.
Hmm, this raises an interesting point. Should the honoured dead be allowed places within the spire for our journey? Do we have the space?
6th Galena, 1057
It's been quiet. Maybe...too quiet. The occasional goblin snatcher has fallen to the guards by the bridge, but apart from that we've just been working on the second habitation level, mining out some more rock, and smelting the ore that has been piling up.
There has been some progress on the military, mostly more bolts, and some weapons and armor.
24th Galena, 1057
The finishing touches are being put on the second level of bedrooms. Just need more beds now. I'll start on a third level, but probably won't complete it before the end of the year.
15th Limestone, 1057
A siege! Looks like two squads of goblins. They can't harm the project. The bridge is being retracted.
17th Limestone, 1057
We lost most of a squad of marksdwarves in a fight at the gate, but managed to keep the main force of goblins at bay until the level could be pulled. It's ok. We can train more. The project must continue!
9th Sandstone, 1057
There was a small cave-in. Three fatalities, but no serious damage to the Spire. One of the dead was lucky. He fell into the chasm. Was this because of the cave-in, or could he simply not wait any longer?
15th Sandstone, 1057
We're almost out of blocks. I think I'll task some more masons with blockmaking, rather than sully the spire with rough tiles.
8th Moonstone, 1057
The third level is basically complete. Second and third levels still need beds (well...let's call them what they are...acceleration couches!)
1st Obsidian, 1057
I've ordered my row of engravings, let's see what they make for me.
Hmm, some clouds. Won't be seeing many of those where we're going.
More clouds. Ditto.
Some knifefish. What the hell made him think of knifefish?
Dwarves. Nice.
Weapon racks. Hmm, this Sodel Zonaval guy is weird. Glad we have him around.
21st Obsidian, 1057
The third level of living quarters is complete. With this act I hang up my Overseer's whip and turn the fortress over to an old friend of my fathers. Good luck, Snugglebear! See you all at the Core.
Author
Topic: The Chasm-Challenge (Read 31047 times)