Here's an update:
Diary of 'Nahkh' Lokoktost, Fourt Overseer.
1st Granite, 1054, Early Spring
An Overseer. Me.
Heh, suckers.
Apparently someone higher up decided I didn't have enough work in my hands, as they declared that I should be the next overseer to this Armok-forsaken place. Well, I'll be damned if I let this opportunity to slip by my hands. In the next few days I'll be conducting an overview of the fortress.
Mafolmondûl: An overview by 'Nahkh' Lokoktost, Fourth Overseer
Construction:
The initial construction has been set in motion, but is progressing slowly due to poor co-ordination. The amount of workers assigned is satisfactory, but the supply of suitable stone raises doubts. The whole fortress should, for preferance, be build entirely of obsidian, but as that seems impossible granite and gabbro will suffice. I will order the miners to begin construction of a large storeroom just off the chasm to both serve as a source of stone as well as a nearby stockpile for the blocks needed for construction.
Industry:
Currently our metalworkes are sitting idle with no working forges. I will attempt to correct this as soon as possible, however, the previous overseer clearly had no idea on how to design a safe magma forge. Not only would the current design flood in two or three places, but would allow magma-dwelling monsters free access to our forges.
Food supplies:
Currently our supplies rely heavily on plants grown outside the chasm, in violation of our divine mandate. It is vital that we move our farming to it's proper place the first chance we get. The booze supply is excellent, however. I must congratulate the previous overseers on that accord.
Defense:
Practically nonexistent. Most of our workshops and stockpiles are open to attack, any attack. We have a few traps at the main entrance, an that's it. No defensive fortifications whatsoever. We MUST address this issue before we all become goblin-food.
10th Granite, 1054, Early Spring
The elves. Why do thay bother coming here? I'm tempted to simply lock them in until they go stark raving mad and start eating their own legs. But nay, our noble mayor tells me we must be diplomatic.
I'll leave that to him, and get back to work.
We've constructed a temporary bridge from the base of the tower to the nearby wall, where we will be digging out more stone, as well as placing some masons' workshops there.
11th Granite, 1054, Early Spring
AMBUSH! Our farmers were attacked by a squad of macegoblins. Curse the damned elves for leading them right to us! I knew they were up to no good.
The goblin macemen were torn to shreds by our marksdwarves with no military or civilian casaulties.
The cheering troops were interrupted by the screams of a dwarven child, as a squad of goblin swordsmen cut him down.
Our marksdwarves quickly dispatched this new foe. One of them got as far as the traps laid out at the entrance. Of the two squads, a single goblin escaped.
A goblin snatcher showed up simultaneously in the above cliffs. I'm told the farmers organized a militia to drive it off.
I'm maintaining high alert until we've ascertained that there are no more goblins hiding nearbly.
Ha! The lone macegoblin who supposedly escaped up the cliffs met our farmer militia on the way down.
Looks like he didn't escape after all. But that is a hollow victory, as the whole fortress mourns the loss of Stinthäd Kilrudzar. He will receive a heros burial.
17th Granite, 1054, Early Spring
Another snatcher. Ducim Keskaltizöt, the metalsmith who found the little rat, literally tore him apart with his bare hands. Apparenly he was pretty upset with goblins and their strange attitude towards small children. Not that I blame him. I just have to remember not to pick a fight with him.
26th Granite, 1054, Early Spring
Our farmers' militia took down yet another goblin snatcher. What is it with goblins and dwarf children?
5th Slate, 1054, Mid-Spring
The mayor just finished his dealings with the elves. Apparently he was able to trade some trinkets for their entire supply of food and wood, as well as some reed cloth.
I don't know how he can stand being around those... freaks.
12th Slate, 1054, Mid-Spring
Damn it all. The area we've been excavating for granite turns out to be full of ortoclase. I suppose we could use it build a brick road ... hang on... yellow bricks? Maybe we should just chasm them.
13th Slate, 1054, Mid-Spring
Wonderful. A dungeon master has arrived. A bloody noble. Apparently he hasn't heard that the chasm has been entirely cleared already. Can't help but think this one might be a moron. Anyway, with him came a
slew of other immigrants.
1 Fisherdwarf
5 Peasants
1 Woodcrafter
1 Craftsdwarf
1 Blacksmith
1 Weaver
1 Bone carver
1 Engraver
1 Herbalist
1 Lye maker
1 Mechanic
1 Leatherworker
1 Bowyer
1 Fishery worker
1 Woodcutter
1 Planter
20 immigrants? Plus a noble? How are we going to feed all of them? Let alone house?
19th Felsite, 1054, Late Spring
It seems that Zasit Asënurvad, a clothier, has created an artifact. More specifically, a cave spider silk tunic he calls Ganadsuvas (The Special Luster, in the human tongue). A truly magnificent piece. It is encrusted with Black opal and encircled with bands of cave spider silk, granite and turle shell, made of midnight blue silk. He even managed to get menacing spikes of raccoon leather in it. It has an image of a broad cross in cave spider silk, and image of rats in rose gold and an image of a wave in bismuth. NPComplete tells me that it's worth around 77400 in coin. Not that we could possibly sell such craftdwarfship.
Immediately after hearing this the mayor decided to remove his previous ban on exporting silver objects and would rather ban the export of black bronze items. Sometimes I wonder if it's the job that makes dwarves go nutty or is it the nutty dwarves who flock to the job.
12th Hematite, 1054, Early Summer
A human merchant princess has arrived. I suppose we should be flattered. I'll ask the mayor to see if they have any picks. Or steel.
15th Hematite, 1054, Early Summer
If I've ever said anything bad about goblins, I take it back with apologies. We just traded goblin cave spider silk clothing to the humans for their ENTIRE CARAVAN. Even the expensive booze they sometimes carry. This calls for the greatest party ever!
Addendum: Party's cancelled. Goblins ambushed our cheesemaker. Sadly we couldn't get to him in time.
Our marksdwarves took the enemy down with little fuzz.
Another squad of goblins ambushed our weaver. During the fight the weaver and the squad leader fell down a dry pond. The goblins were still trying to get their noble leader up when our marksdwarves snuck up behind them.
8th Malachite, 1054, Mid-Summer
We received some new migrants today.
I've listed their professions here, as well as the task they've been assigned to.
1 Leatherworker -> Miner
1 Woodcrafter
1 Fish Cleaner
1 Woodworker -> Mason
1 Gem Cutter -> Miner
1 Peasant -> Mason
1 Fish Cleaner -> Mason
1 Peasant -> Mason
Our population is now 91.
23rd Galena, 1054, Late Summer
Work is progressing well. We've succesfully build the basic structure of the tower from bottom to top, our chasm-based farms are well underway (I hear we've already gathered crops from the first field!) and the magma forges are nearly complete. Complete, in fact, except for the actual magma. It certainly is taking it's time. We'll need to do something about the WAFD-project though. I doubt the fortress would collapse even if the supports are cut. We'll need to create something far more cunning.
10th Limestone, 1054, Early Autumn
The Dwarven caravan has arrived, along with the town liaison. The magma forges are finally in operation, and we're finally getting around setting around to fulfilling our noble mayors pick mandate.
I'll be back later with the conclusion.
Also, I'll add pics once I figure out how to get them online.
[ March 19, 2008: Message edited by: nahkh ]
Author
Topic: The Chasm-Challenge (Read 30627 times)