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[Kaelem Gaen]

Woo! I'm a daddy! Rat Weed cigars for all... oh wait... hmm maybe should try and find something a bit more mild...

[GRead]

Captains Log, 20th of Slate, 1053

Work is nearly complete on the magma tunnels which will carry the molten rock safely away from the pipe for us to use in our forges. I have been assured that it is 100% safe. Soon we will be able to begin smelting operations and get our military suited up for war.

All that's left is to clear the tunnels of valuable ores and gems; we encountered several while digging them out. Then they will allow us to punch through the surface above and tap individual pockets at our leisure, without needing to worry about missteps sending our workers plummeting into the liquid rock.

[GRead]

Captains Log, 5th of Felsite, 1053

Looks like those 'reinforcements' are here at last.

They neglected to tell me, however, that by 'reinforcements' they meant 'barely skilled migrants'. I'm sure they are good dwarves and we'll begin training them immediately, but it is disheartening to see their condition. Is this the best the mountainhomes can send us?

I met one who stood out, very cheerful fellow, says he's always dreamed of being a glassmaker. He calls himself Loess MacDrumlin.

There are 22 others. I suppose what we did not get in quality we certainly got in quantity.
1 Soaper
1 Furnace Operator
1 Glassmaker
1 Siege Operator
1 Potash Maker
1 Mechanic
1 Animal Trainer
2 Wood Cutters
3 Fishers
2 Clothiers
2 Children
6 Peasants

I can't say I approve of parents bringing their children here, but they're already here and chances are it would be more dangerous to send them back.

[GRead]

Captains Log, 20th of Felsite, 1053

Ingish, the hunter from last year, decided it would be a wonderful idea to go onto the plateau to stalk the elephants up there. He was intercepted by a zombie tiger however, and had to abort the hunt; he was lucky to have come back alive at all. I have expressly forbidden anyone from any 'hunting' in the future; these are highly intelligent creatures who are clearly in league with the undead, and any attempts to hunt them will, I fear, only result in further ambushes.

We opened up the magma line today, and even now it is pouring from the pipe and into our containment tunnels. Or I should say oozing; Runesinger actually took me into the bloody tunnels to show me. I thought it was daft at the time but the boy was right; a dwarf could crawl faster than that stuff. This unfortunately means it will take some time before the tunnels have filled and our forging operations can begin. In the meantime we are collecting the materials necessary to begin construction so that as soon as the tunnels are full our operation can get underway.

[Kagira]

I'll take that woodcutter job! It'll take more than a few walking corpses in the forest to stop me from cutting it down. Also, free axe!

[GRead]

Captains Log, 2nd Hematite

One of the migrants, a Siege Operator, has had another of these strange possessions that have been going around. He was strangely secretive, despite his doing all his work in a workshop situated in the middle of a crowded corridor.

Come to think of it, why haven't I had that removed yet?

Anyway, he created some bone greaves. He'd never dealt with bone before so I had to ask him, who not metal greaves?

I guess he just likes bone.

They're rather nice, but they're still bone... all the craftsmanship in the world can't account for that.

Captains Log, 7th Hematite, 1053

Given the current situation that we are in, namely, that of our backpacklessness, I have banned the export of backpacks. I don't know why I feel inclined to do this, as they are hardly a heavily traded commodity, but alas, I simply feel moved.

Captains Log, 17th Hematite, 1053

Apparently the people are extremely upset that I have banned the export of backpacks, and have requested that there be a civilian mayor to handle civic duties while I lead the more militaristic aspects of the fort.

They have elected 'Asmel', the leatherworker, to be their new mayor. He is a dimwitted buffoon who would prefer to sit in an office all day and nap to ever doing any work, so perhaps this post will suit him fine. His first act as mayor was to lift the export ban on backpacks. His second act has been to demand a solid gold table for his dining room. A dining room, I hasten to add, he does not have and should not be expecting to get any time soon.
How am I supposed to wage war on the undead while I have to take care of this gaggle of bumbling babies?

One of the woodcutters has asked me why we're not cutting wood; her name is Kagira, and she seems intent on slicing through the forest of zealots regardless of, as she put it, 'any walking corpses'.

I tried to remind her that the corpses in question here are elephants, but it seems she doesn't quite comprehend just what twelve tonnes of rotten flesh can do to a dwarf.
I hope she doesn't find out.

[GRead]

Captains Log, 18th Hematite, 1053

Human Traders have arrived and Sir Ian is again dealing with them; we are looking to unload some of our unused mechanisms, as well as excess food and crafts. They brought wood, barrels, booze, and meat. We hope to acquire most of what is useful.

Dart has been practicing with the his crossbow excessively lately, and it shows; He is clearly the best shot amongst us. His skill will be an asset in the days to come.

Captains Log, 24th Hematite, 1053

Runesinger brought me to the forges today; the light in them was flickering on and off. It took some explaining, but apparently it is an indicator of the magma levels; our tunnels are gradually filling and should be high enough to begin operations soon.

Captains log, 2nd Malachite, 1053

It has been nearly a week now, but the magma forges are finally fully operational. I have instructed the furnace operator and several of the peasants to begin work immediately, smelting the Hematite and Limonite we have recently excavated. We will begin prospecting for coal shortly, so we can begin steel production.

Captains log, 4th Malachite, 1053

More bloody kobolds! though they suffered for their foolishness; after being spotted at our gates they attempted to flee, but ran straight into the tusks of our hated foe.
This place must drive people mad. Kobolds risking their lives for some bone trinkets, and now our own people! Several wished to loot the Kobolds of their daggers and what little clothing they wear. I informed them this was madness: the elephants continued to wait in the woods, and any attempts to extricate the corpses would only result in more death.
I do not mind dead kobolds. Dead Dwarves must be avoided, however.

[GRead]

Captains log, 25th of Galena, 1053

Talc talc and more talc! It's all we seem to find in our search for fuel. With all the trees in the vicinity dead, and none growing, charcoal will hardly be a sustainable solution to our smelting needs, yet the earth refuses to yield its resources easily. We will endure, however.

Mafol, the clothier, came to me fretting about her pet kitten; it appeared to have wandered outside of the fortress and had attracted the attentions of a zombie elephant. At her behest I lowered the drawbridge to allow the poor creature back inside; unfortunately, it had allready neared the drawbridge and was crushed when it fell. She was very upset but seems to be holding together. We raised the drawbridge again afterwards, to be certain the elephants remain outside while we remain in.

[GRead]

Captains Log, 3rd Limestone, 1053

The Zombie elephants lurk right outside of our walls still. I had resolved to make them pay dearly for the trouble they have caused us, and had issued Dart and Ingish to the battlements to rain bolts down upon them. Unfortunately the devils seem to be impervious to the crossbows' effects. Despite becoming walking pincushions, the rotting devils show no sign of slowing. Indeed, I could swear they have even regenerated a good portion of the damage already dealt them!

Still, Dart says it is better practice than shooting at targets. they seem to be playing a game involving piercing the creatures rotten organs. I don't know the specifics of it, but Dart tells me the pancreas is worth 50 points, while the heart, due to its size, is only worth 10. I am comforted to have such able marksdwarves who can hit the very organs of our foes. Even if those organs are withered and useless.

Dart has taken to referring to himself as 'elite' now, and given his performance so far it seems to be accurate.

[Jamini]

Dart: "You forgot the multiplier for hitting more than one organ at once captain! You get double points for hitting both lungs. Triple points for hitting the heart and a lung. Quintuple for hitting both lungs. And Decimental for hitting the heart, lungs, and third left pinky toe. "

[Kagus]

"Tha toe's no' an organ ye daft git!  I know, I once tried te make a toe sausage, and it were a right foul thing.  I 'ad to get the cabin boy te clean up tha mess."

"Nu where'd I put that kidney..."

[GRead]

Captains log, 25th of limestone, 1053

I should have been a cook!

The dwarven caravan arrived today, bringing with them goods for trade and more diplomacy nonsense with the capitol. We offloaded many practice mechanisms on them, as we have no use for so many of the things, but the curious bit is what really sold them; Dozmud cooked them a good 20 portions of masterful leopard roast and they valued it at 20800! that's worth more than Rithlutuvar, Rodimbal, and Tusungdeleth combined!

In return we got quite a few ingredients with which Dozmud can prepare yet more masterful meals, more barrels, more booze, and small amounts of coal, lignite and charcoal. It's not allot, but it will allow us to begin steel production. I dare not allow them to face the ivory horrors of the forest without good steel armour.

[GRead]

Captains log, 4th Sandstone, 1053

The Diplomat, Rith, has finished her negotiations with the new mayor. I understand he handled it poorly, a fairly accurate hallmark of his performance as a whole. She stopped in to see me earlier; King Dodok had another letter for me, as well as several blueprints, diagrams, and a handful of old tomes. I have taken a quick look at them; they seem to be references for various known undead types, and tacticas gathered from various locations known to have successfully dealt with undead threats. There is a rather thorough one regarding a tundra fortress which is of great interest, though I cannot recall the name at the moment. I looked through the usual places and found his usual pithy additive. Seems he wants us to generate as much research as possible on the undead while we're here. He believes the locations large array of highly dangerous undead hold a wealth of knowledge for battling them in the future.

I intend to humour him on the subject, though really, everyone knows the best solution to undead is hitting them with a hammer until they stop moving, and then hitting them some more just to be certain.

[GRead]

Captains log, 11th Sandstone, 1053

The Glassmaker, Ingiz Ecemdishmab, has become peculiarly secretive. He keeps sketching pictures of a traditional glass furnace, unlike the ones powered by magma which we keep.

Given the forces at work here, we may have to construct one just to be safe.

Captains log, 18th Sandstone, 1053

After much agonizing over the architecture of the thing, we have created a rather pleasant glass furnace. Ingiz immediately seized it and collected some items to make his creation; Rough Sunstones, Obsidian Blocks, Conglomerate Blocks, and Turtle Bone. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with...

We have also managed to find Coal! We can finally start taking all this dolomite and iron and start making steel out of it. We should be ready to equip our dwarves with good armour and weaponry within the year.

Captains log, 22nd Sandstone, 1053

The glassmakers construction is complete: a sunstone window named Nurshervakist, or 'Waddlelaces'. Sir Ian prices it at 14400, and it is a rather spectacular window, encrusted with obsidian, decorated with turtle bone, and menacing with spikes of conglomerate. The focus of the piece seems to be an image of Faktomem, the Iron low boot made by our armourer.

Curious, though: for all that fuss over a furnace, the item does not actually contain any glass.

[GRead]

Captains log, 7th Timber, 1053

I have been approached with an idea for harvesting obsidian from the magma vent. Runesinger tells me that we can use the natural aquifers in the region as a source of water to quench the obsidian; on hardening, he says it will form into useable obsidian. I am familiar with the principle, but hadn't really considered it. However, as the aquifer pierces all the way down to the forges, opening it up and sealing it with a floodgate should be no problem.

Captains log, 14th Timber, 1053

That idiot Mayor continues to cause problems. Insistent on showing his 'devotion to the well-being of the community' he butted in on the Obsidian pit construction. Specifically, he took the job of installing the flood gate upon himself.

He installed it from the wrong side. So now the floodgate is up and he's banging on the other side for us to let him out. Of course it will take our mechanics sometime to hook it up to the mechanisms for it to open. Stupid fool will probably be stuck for a few days now.

I wouldn't really mind if he'd just shut up about it and wait for us to get him out.

Captains Log, 15th Timber, 1053

The mechanics tell me the mayor botched the Gate installation and they can't get to the mechanisms from this side, we'll have to rip the whole thing out and start all over again. He seems to have gotten it sealed in there pretty good, so it's going to take a team of dwarves the better part of the day to get it unstuck and out of there. It's grown quiet on the otherside. As much as I detest that dwarf I have to feel a little sorry for him; hope we can get him out of there.