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[skeightmachine]

Hey GRead. Great story you have so far. I think this is the only community fortress I have been following that actually has a purpose and a great back story to go along with it.

The characters, such as my dwarf Trask, already have a nice profile from the screen shots you had posted and I would love to see how they flesh out over time.

Trask from what I understand has a very calm demeanor, has a strong sense of duty and likes thrills. Since he loves maces he should be a great mace dwarf someday. Also, he should have Kimberlite stone furniture if you ever find it and be covered in rope reed cloth.

Thanks for the great story so far and I look forward to the many chapters ahead.

[GRead]

Interlude
From the notes of Sir Ian Watson the third, concerning the Dwarven Caravan of the Dimpled Tour

I have just concluded my trading with the caravan from the mountainhomes, and I must say I am a bit disappointed with them. Despite their desire for us to establish a military stronghold here, they brought little in the way of armaments or armour, instead bringing mostly food supplies and anvils, of all things. We allready have an anvil! I suppose we could always build more forges, but I don't foresee their use.

In light of these circumstances I have again traded the gourmet cooking of Head-Chef Dozmud for greater quantities of basic supplies. He has more time than we have food so I'm sure he'll be delighted to cook them up again. There was also some leather exchanged. We were even able to obtain the meat and leather of a whole bluefin tuna! I am sure the Captain will be pleased, he seems to be the sort for poetic vengeance.

I was talking with the traders; they say we should be expecting more immigrants any day now. Given the change in our circumstances I am sure Barnabus will be pleased to have extra working bodies.

[GRead]

Captains Log, 16th of Limestone, 1052

With the recent change in our situation here it has become important to further reinforce our position. I have been consulting with Runesinger about the design and architecture of a seaside fortress. As impressive a Mason as he is, he does not seem to know much about architecture; I may need to find a way to get him some practice.

With the improvement of our fortifications and the solidifying of our hold will also come the need for greater firepower. I have been asking around and was directed to a young lass by the name of Rockhelm.

She seems a bit defeatist, but I have been assured that she would be the perfect candidate to begin assemblage of siege equipment for the fortress' defense.

Everyone is still riding on high emotions, I hope they can maintain that energy. It may be awhile before we're really ready for anything.

[GRead]

Captains Log, 5th of Timber, 1052

Kobolds!

The first was spotted by a Mason working on the walls, who noticed it moments before it lodged its dagger in his hand and took off. I ordered the lads to the surface. I figure if there's danger about they can stop beating each other up and start putting those skills to use on actual threats.
McPie found the second one at the north gate. One of the boys told me McPie found it by putting it in a headlock and popping its head off. I don't doubt the events, but something tells me he's got their order mixed up. That one might have taken one too many blows to the head, I think we should be careful about giving him a real weapon.

It makes no sense; we're a remote settlement with almost nothing of worth in what is most probably one of the deadliest regions of this world. The only thing more surprising than this Kobold attack is that they managed to get here alive in the first place. Then again, maybe I'm not giving them enough credit... they *are* sneaky little bastards after all.

[GRead]

Captain Log, 6th of Timber, 1052

A Giant Jaguar appeared today, or rather, the skeleton of one did. It walks in time with a herd of the cursed elephants, and there's a sinister gleam of intelligence in its dead eyes. It reminds me of Lithrushbufut, the Demonic Elephant that haunted the cliffs our first months here.

I recognize this one from the markings on its skull. It is Boatswail the Conqueror, or Koganunos Sog in the old tongue.
His intentions are clear, But the same natural barriers that confounded his allies  block him as well. Perhaps in time we will be able to hunt him down and end his reign, but for now we must conserve our strength and build our power.

[GRead]

Captains Log, 14th Moonstone, 1052

The Farmer, Dokast Bubnusvabok has been taken by the same strange madness that has befallen several of us so far. He has sealed himself into a workshop with three turtle shells and works feverishly. We will have to wait and see what his results are...

Captains Log,

Dokast has completed his creation, a turtle shell... animal trap. Sir Ian values it at 4800, but it strikes me as being a bit much. I suspect him of inflating the price. It is rather high quality though, menacing with spikes of turtle shell, and with an image on it of five pointed stars. also in turtle shell.

I'm beginning to suspect that he was faking all along, and really just wants a turtle for a pet.

[Mephansteras]

One day, while speaking with the captain about long-term plans for the fort Runesinger looks over the land.

"You know, captain, if we're going to set up a real fort here we should probably think about putting in some proper roads. We could build them in small sections to help manage the work better. But I really think we should make a bit more of a mark on this land. You know, let it know we're here to stay."

"What do you think?"

[GRead]

Captains log, 10th Opal, 1052

I was in a meeting with Runesinger today, discussing the merits of constructing roads along the beach and through the forest, when Tragedy struck us for the first time.

I should be thankful we have lasted so long without death, and that when it has struck us it was only a single life lost, but I cannot help but think how needless it was.

Trask's unit was on patrol when a skeletal fish attacked them from the water. It was a common skate, nothing more, but it did manage to grapple with Huarch and give him a black eye. They had managed to badly batter it when it retreated to the waves and, unthinking, the Wrestler Ustuth Olonsosad leapt in after it.

She didn't know how to swim.

In the water it was a different fight, and they tell me she was literally torn to pieces, just out of their reach and beyond their help. With her death, they dubbed it Stizashkud, or 'kindleslick', and vowed revenge.

It didn't take long, for again the creature erupted from the waves for more and Bob, enraged at his friends death, tore the beast to pieces.

I believe this encounter highlights an important flaw in our soldiers training regimen, especially important given our mission and location. As soon as possible, we will begin swimming lessons for the troops.

[GRead]

Captains Log, 8th of Granite, 1053

It is a new year, though the calendar we are used to means little in this place. Progress is steady on the seawall, and Rockhelm is beginning work on her siege engines, after spending a great deal of time working out on a pump.

The new training program for our military goes slowly. We were building a small obstacle course for them, but on the first trial run they absolutely refused to go into the water.
--
"Damnit Trask!" Barnabus roared. "Get your men in that bloody water or I'll throw you all in myself!"
The Dwarf quavered slightly, but held to his position firmly. "look, Cap'n, I'm sorry but, well, it's water. we can't just jump in like this. It's, well, you know, cold."
"Cold? COLD!? It's bloody boiling in here!"
"Yeah well..." he mumbled some more.
"Fine, fine. We'll figure something else out. We are fighting undead fish here though, so mark my words, you will learn how to swim. I will not have more of my men die because they jumped into the ocean after a bloody guppy! am I clear!?"
There was a quietly mumbled chorus of consent, and Barnabus stormed off.
--
I think greater methods of coercion will be required. A dunk tank maybe...
They tell me that the water filters are nearly ready. Something about carbon filters, fine mesh screening, and a small distillery... I don't care how they do it, just so long as we have a drinkable reserve of water. We've got plenty of booze, but that may not last forever; it is imperative to have a backup supply.

[Kagus]

Find a number that is divisible by both four and seven, such as 28.  Dig a dry pit that has an area which is the amount of times 4 goes into your number (in this case, 7 times and thus 7 tiles of space), and then create a pit up above  it with a floodgate.  This second pit should have an area equal to the number of times seven goes into your number (in this case, 4 times and thus 4 tiles).  Fill the second pit completely with water, and then open the floodgate.

It won't be perfect, as some water will be left behind on ground tiles, as well as a small amount that is destroyed by evaporation during spreading.  You may want to have one extra tile in your source pond to accommodate that, as I don't think a few scattered tiles of 5/7 will cause that much damage to the dwarves.  Or, to be on the safe side, leave it out so that it will be full of tiles between 3/7 and 4/7.  Marginally less swim training, but it's a bit safer in case someone panics.

This isn't the best solution, as I am admittedly not that great with mathematics.  However, it should just be a relatively simple method of calculating the dispersal of several 7/7 tiles of water into a dry space, to make things relatively simple.

[GRead]

haha, an excellent idea that I hadn't really thought of; I was just planning on tossing them into the ocean with a retractable bridge and letting them scramble for the up ramp. less micromanagement if I can get them to do it voluntarily though...

[GRead]

Captains Log, 22nd Granite, 1053

It looks like the elves were good on their word after all; a Caravan has just arrived bearing goods from their forests. Goods that, for the most part, we don't need... But goods nonetheless. They are perhaps rightfully hesitant, given recent animosities between our peoples, but I have no intention of violating our pact. There are things more important than new feuds.

They unfortunately did not leave much space on their animals; we have only been able to trade them a small handful of mechanisms in exchange for some seeds and a wooden practice sword.

Work progresses elsewhere, slowly but steadily. We have begun work on an area for forges and smelters, with the possibility of glass furnaces as well. I have also been entertaining plans for a perpetual waterfall; beneath the forest there is an aquifer that runs just below the earth, yet beneath the ocean there is one the runs far deeper. I suspect if we linked the two, the ocean would absorb from the one and create a pleasant mist without the need for mechanisms and pumps. It would be perfect for a subterranean dining area.

But I am getting ahead of myself; defense first. The elephants draw nearer every day and I fear they may find a way inside.

[GRead]

Captains log, 23rd of Granite, 1053

Happy news for a change!
Kaleems wife, Dakost, has given birth to a baby girl! Apparently they are as surprised as the rest of us, not even they had surmised that she was pregnant. They have named her 'Doren Rungakgeshud', or Doren Skunkfortress. Aptly named I should say.

[GRead]

Captains log, 25th of Granite, 1053

We are under attack!

They are headed this way fast, and they will reach our gates in little time. I have assembled those of us who could be roused to defend the settlement; There is not enough time to wait for the heavy sleepers.
They are only bluefish, so I am confident we will handle them, even though we are short both Huarch and Dart.

[GRead]

The pack of fish flew above the pebbled beach with startling speed, approaching the main gates and then passing through in a flash.

A second flash came from above, and suddenly Sir Ian was in their midst, pinning the lead fish to the earth with his pick. They immediately set upon him, biting and tearing in vain, yet managing to hold his ferocious onslaught at bay.

Another pair of flashes brought Barnabus and Imp upon them as well; blades flying in metal blurs as axe and sword carved a swath through the undead monsters.

The wrestlers barely had time to reach the fight before it was over, though it was Trask who laid the final blow. Even as Captain Barnabus sent a bluefish hurtling 75 feet into the cliffside, Trask lunged into the fray, grabbing a hold of one of the fish. He heaved mightily and, despite its struggles, its head was soon separated from its shoulders.

Barnabus took a moment to survey the carnage. Sir Ian had some minor cuts on his leg, but other than that their victory was flawless.

There was a moment of cheering.
"Alright lads, there's probably more where that came from, so let's get back to work and be ready for them."