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[Paulus Fahlstrom]

3rd of Galena

One of our recent additions, the bowyer Asmel, was apparently possessed while engaging in drink. We're not sure if it was the spirits themselves or if some other form of spirit is at work, but until we had a bowyer workshop made next to the siegehall nothing was done but shouting, and lots of it.

Several reasonably cheap materials were claimed and the result was vastly more impressive than the material involved. Fre I suspect, may wish to spend more time in the practice ranges. It too shall go in the barracks as an inspiration for our marksdwarves. Both of them. One of them being Fre.

Of particular interest to me was the carving of the ascension of King Tosid to the throne. A nice piece that, and I now begin to suspect that further preparations for the future shall have to be made.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

28th of Galena

We've had our first natural birth here in Onol Lened. Olin, the engraver that has been working with Ragnar and myself gave birth to a girl. She was quite proud of her new daughter and I wouldn't be half surprised if an engraving of the child shows up somewhere. I for one would find it amusing.

In addition I've been working on the water channel for the newly designed well room. It is turning out to be a good location for it as I've run across a small deposit of Platinum in the olivine just below and to the east of the waterfall itself. Further excavations along the channel unearthed clusters of moss agate and white chalcedony. The well room itself is near the magnetite deposit we haven't bothered to excavate entirely. (Our stores are still full of it despite running the forges non-stop.) Near the center of the room we discovered the beginnings of a kaolinite vein that we've begun unearthing as well and have already discovered another small cluster of Celestrium and a pocket of light yellow diamonds.

Some of the recent migrants are referring to the areas beneath the fort proper as the diamond mines of Onol Lened. Ironically, Dorenemal would be a much more appropriate name for this place than it was at our prior home. I've included a rough sketch of the dining hall and unfinished (cluttered) barracks below.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

16th of Limestone

Our liason and caravan arrived today from Shellhelms. The liason went to meet with Crush while I waited at the depot for the traders. I had already ordered a variety of goods brought to the depot for trade and bins were in the process of being dropped off when the lead wagon with the head merchant arrived. He looked relieved to be inside and out of the sun when all of a sudden his demeanor changed and his face darkened.

Turning to me he spat on the ground.

"Nay, we'll not trade with ye while ye keep vermin like THAT around." He guestured towards, to my surprise, Tholtig, who was carrying a bin of crafts into the depot at that moment.

Turning to the others in the caravan he shook his head.

"Turn back, lads. We'll not stop here this year."

And with that the caravan simply turned around and left.

I stood there in amazement, and Tholtig came up beside me.

"I'm sorry Paulus. Truly I am. Had I known that my presence here would cause such a disturbance I'd have gone elsewhere. Kogan be damned though, he is stubborn dwarf."

His speech shook me out of my reverie. "Kogan?"

"Aye, the head 'merchant' there if you will. He was a farmer back at Dorenemal if you'll recall. Fell into favor with the Queen and her lot of nobles, though from what I hear it cost him his pet."

"What's that got to do with you and not wanting to trade."

"'s a good question indeed. I knew he had a grudge against Led and myself, on account of us defying the Queens orders and establishing the worship of Mondul. I fear, now, that things haven't fared well for Led and the others though."

"And he'd not trade with us, simply because you're here?"

"Aye, he might at that. Particularly so if the nobles have stepped up their persecution of us and ours. It'd be viewed as a loyalist sentiment and likely to curry favor with the nobility."

"That's absolute rot."

"Indeed, but little enough can be done about it. I can pack my things and go if you'd like. Too late this year, but perhaps next year they'd be back."

"No, you're kin as much as the rest of us. I'll not see you tossed out on account of your beliefs."

He nodded and went to go return the bin he'd carried down.

And in my heart I cursed the stupidity of dwarves.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

28th of Sandstone

We've received yet another group of migrants. This group strangely enough claims to be from Shellhelms itself rather than from the fatherland. Apparently with the exodus the city has become rather crowded. With Nobles as well as dwarves. I shudder to think what that would be like, particularly with poor accomodations.

There were even two families, as well as a few old clannies that simply got on the wrong ship. A thresher and his wife (peasant). An Animal trainer and her husband and daughter. (also peasant) A peasant, Fisher, planter and armorer (now furnace operator) came as well. They were apparently accompanied by an axedwarf with the name of Bomrek. She claims to have been in Scott's Suicidal Squad as it's been jokingly referred to. At least for a time. She transferred out, and became a freelancer after her tour of duty was up, and when she heard the group was headed down she offered to provide escort.

Oh, and for the record, six females, four males. Better than 2:1 odds I suppose. Our lodgings are beginning to be full and I fear we'll have to dig some new quarters out soon, but first things first. Drainage for the well. Storage for military gear off the barracks. Installation of siege weapons down the hall. Rooms for the future. We've got a lot to keep us busy this fall and winter.

And for some strange reason Crush has mandated the production of two items made of Pegasus bone. I'm afraid we'll have to disappoint him, there isn't any left. Maybe I'll see if Fre is available to do some hunting.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

19th of Moonstone

We've had our first dangerous encounter today. I suppose we have been overdue. Nearly three years without any serious altercation more than rampant thieving. Or at least rampant attempts at thieving.

One of our military in training ran afoul of a goblin thief while hauling in a log. He immeadiately pounced on it but was unable to subdue it. Both took injuries, the recruit's were more serious and he was forced to break off the attempt and let the thief flee. Our marksdwarf, Zasit was above ground on patrol at the time and responded but with insufficient time to catch the thief. The recruit is currently bedridden while he recovers.

More seriously, Datan, our weaver stumbled across a goblin raiding party. A group of five, with three crossbow goblins, a wrestler and led by a swordsgoblin. He took off sprinting as soon as he came across them and managed to outdistance the ranged enemies before getting injured. The swordsgoblin in hot pursuit. The other lagged behind somewhat and Zasit, who was still out patrolling came to help, while Kolok suited up. He managed to get off a half dozen shots, injuring the wrestler that advanced on him before taking a bolt in the chest, and another in the leg. He went down and the goblins continued firing at him for some time. We suspect he died shortly thereafter.

Kolok came upon the four goblins from behind, as they had their backs to our entrance and charged the nearest crossbow goblin, taking it's leg of in the first swipe. The wrestler engaged him but fared no better, losing both arms, one at the shoulder and the other at the elbow to the enraged woodcutter. The goblins gave back as well though and a bolt took Kolok in the stomach, and in the wrist, but he shrugged off the damage as soon as the small wave of nausea passed and finished off the two in front of him.

Whirling on the remaining two he charged again, doing his best to dodge bolts flying thickly through the air. His first swing decapitated the closest goblin and the other decided to cut his losses and fled swiftly to the north. The leader had already departed when he saw his squad cut apart.

For his valor in combat Kolok has been titled Kolok Teshkadmeng Orshetmes or, Kolok the Cremated Creature of Confidence. Talk about alliteration.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

((HFS Surprise, no it's not what you think... yet.))

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

21st of Obsidian

Paulus ran his hand across his forehead, removing a few beads of sweat that were threatening to start moving down into his eyes. The action left a smear of dirt from one side of his head to the other.

The well itself had been dug out beneath the large room that was being cleared of rubble. It had been a relatively simple matter of mining out each floor and then channelling around the outside but for a single square. He'd then collapsed the uppermost layer onto the rest, clearing the entire shaft in a massive cloud of dust and stone. Apparently two dwarves standing directly above the shaft had been knocked to the floor and momentarily stunned by the deliberate excavation.

It left significant piles of rubble at the bottom that he wanted removed as well, but he began the drainage shaft regardless. Ragnar and he had been taking it in turns, digging through the hard granite of the lower crusts. Before him the wall crumbled, revealing a glint of a metal vein in the dim light of the mine. Galena. Well, they wouldn't want for silver here.

Swinging again he continued deeper, moving inexorably towards the chasm where he would allow the water to drain into the formless depths below. He estimated some distance remained when to his surprise his pick caught and penetrated into a pocket of air. The stone crumbled before him and to his horror he saw a ghoulish room, lit by fires, the smell of sulfur washing back at him through the hole. A single figure ran at him and in the dim light he could make out the general appearance of an avar, male. The creatures lips were cracked and bleeding, and spittle formed around his mouth, flecking his clothing, which hung on his frame in tatters. The madness in his eyes gave him a despairing look as the dwarf stumbled back into the safety of the tunnel.

It was only moments before he regained his wits and began filling the shaft with rubble and stone, blocking passage entirely. Soon the area had been sealed off, but the madness within only seemed to have passed without into the dwarf. In the flicker of a single lamp he stood, cracking his back. Gripping his pick he turned, swiftly and exited the mines, heading quickly to the smithies.

There he found Aardvark, Oddbodd, and Pete, along with others. His actions seemed abrupt, as if he'd come to a sudden decision and he began barking out orders.

"Aardvark, I want you to get working on suits of High steel plate, as many as we have metal for."

Unperturbed the armorer merely nodded and went upstairs to begin his true work. Well over a hundred bars of the hardened steel lay in neat rows in the bins upstairs and he grabbed three, hauling them below to forge out his first suit of high steel plate.

"Pete, Oddbodd, I want the celestrium smelted into Anurite, and the remainder to be made into Celestrial steel. At once." Oddbodd nodded, but Pete gave him a curious look.

"We've only got enough for about four bars of Anurite. And maybe half a dozen of Celestrial Steel. Are you sure you want to do this now?"

Paulus turned towards her in silence and nodded.

Loudly he said. "Yes, it's time." and more softly, almost to himself, "It's time we take the war to them."

And again addressing Pete, "When you're done Pete, I want you to make a battle axe out of Anurite, and another out of Celestrial steel, as well as a mace. The rest of the Anurite have Aardvark forge into shields. The rest of the steel I want you to make bolts with. I'll be upstairs with the others, training."

He turned and swiftly stalked off. It was long past time to get into military shape again, and the recruits were nearly ready as well. Time to form their new military. He only hoped that they would have enough time to get ready.

((Broke into a Peculiar chamber and sealed it immeadiately. Adamantine discovered. I must be mistaken in my belief that the secret chambers were protected by a wall of adamantine. I thought I'd fine some of that and not break through in a place where there wasn't any. It's a very large room, seven stories high in all. I'll not provide too many details until later, and will do it all in story.))

[sonerohi]

It's clobberin time!

[Maggarg - Eater of chicke]

Oh, if only we had that repeating *cat bone cannonball* gun.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

((A few more amusing engravings for your viewing pleasure this weekend.))



((I'll give you three guesses for what we do with Chestnuts and cats here...))

[sonerohi]

The mournful fires would've been better for the chestnut engraving.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

15th of Granite

Ragnar knocked lightly on Paulus' door before entering. She was almost surprised to find him at his desk rather than elsewhere, and almost hesitated.

"Come in Ragnar. I've been meaning to talk to you."

"Good. I've got a piece ta say to ye as well."

He nodded, almost wearily.

"Very well, but me first, or I'll forget entirely. We're stopping progress on the drainage shaft for the well system for now. I don't want anyone going down there."

"Ah thought you'd be sayin' something like that."

That caught him by surprise and he turned to look at her with one eyebrow raised.

"Don't be daft, lad. The rest of us are neither stupid nor blind. We see what's going on."

"Oh, then tell me, Ragnar, what's going on."

"Seems ta us that you're in over your head."

"US?"

"Aye. Look, we ken ye well enough by now ta know that when you do things it means somethin. Ye came here, 'inspired' by a vision and none of us doubted ye. At least none as knew ye. Despite this being in the middle of a vast stretch o' nothin' and far from our home. We dinna doubt you've some terrible purpose for it.

Ye've dug in rather than expand topside, which is not like you, you're rushing projects, getting things mapped out but not finished. Like you're both looking for something but not finding it and like you intend to not be here to finish it yourself. So you leave your imprint and plans but let others finish it. That too is not like ye. It bespeaks haste.

Third, and most recently, you've abandoned a project which would be a simple matter to finish for the likes of us, and instead have focused on martial defense, spending hours sparring in the barracks rather than working. All well and good, but again, not like ye."

Paulus growled slightly. "Get ta the point then."

"My point is this. We, your friends, know yer up ta somethin'. Somethin' that has you worried. We want in."

He was silent for a long time as Ragnar stared defiantly at him.

"Are ye sure ye want ta know then? You're committed to helping and not hindering?"

"Aye. Me and the others'll do what we can ta help."

"Which others?"

Ragnar gave an exasperated sigh. "You know, me, Fre, Aardvark, Kolok even Crush, Pete and Oddbodd have noticed the change in ye and want to know what's going on."

"Very well, I suppose you do deserve ta know. Call them together here. We'll meet in half an hour, and keep it quiet. I don't want the general populace ta know what's going on."

Half an hour later they were gathered in silence in Paulus' room. He was pacing near his table as they came and stood, there being seating for only one, and that was not being used. They stood expectantly as he searched for the words. Finally he spoke.

"I suppose you all deserve the truth. But I must have your promise that you'll not hinder what it is I have to do. Ye don't have to agree with me, nor go along, but you do have to promise not to go against it. Do I have your agreement?"

There seemed to be some trepidation, mostly on the part of Crush, Pete and Oddbodd, who were relative newcomers, but all agreed and he soon continued.

"Very well then. I'll tell you this. We are at war."

There was some consternation among them. No other civilization had yet openly proclaimed a war, they were all too busy rebuilding the shattered remains of their homes and people.

"I know, but this I'll tell ye too. It was we who began this latest period of strife. When we went to Dorenemal we plunged our nation into war with the goblins, and though it was not our deliberate choice to do so, it happened nonetheless. And we were winning that war, if there is truly such a thing as winning a war. The goblins were desparate and they long sought for a way to gain advantage against us. In doing so they awoke, nay unleashed, a great evil that had been fettered for nigh over a thousand years.

It was this ... thing, this god of chaos, that caused the world to break, unleashing the undying fight between order and chaos again. So, in a way, we too are responsible for the sundering of the world."

Pete had gone somewhat pale but Paulus continued.

"Our gods participate in this fight, and have sent me, sorry, us, here to strike a blow against our common enemies. Here in this very spot, long ago, the war was fought, and the scales were tilted in favor of chaos when one of their lieutenants struck a mighty blow against an orderly god, direly wounding him. This lieutenant, and many of his forces, were counter-attacked and imprisoned. Imprisoned in the very stone beneath our feet.

How was this accomplished? A vast meteor of molten starmetal, of adamantine, had been prepared and struck them as they fought. The lieutenants power was sufficient to ensure his survival, and apparently that of others around him, but they were encased far beneath the earth.

We have struck that very adamantine, and broken through into the chamber where those who were imprisoned have been kept alive by fell magic."

He paused to let that sentance sink in. Several eyes lit up at the mention of adamantine, but no one spoke.

"I came across that chamber nearly two weeks ago, digging the drainage shaft, and sealed it up again as fast as I could. Nothing came out, nor did I see any enemies, per se. But this much I also know, we cannot use the adamantine against them. It is within the chamber and we cannot get at it, except through it.

For this reason I've asked you, Aardvark, and you Pete and Oddbodd to work the celestrium into alloys. We will need great weapons and armor if we are to defeat the enemy that dwells within these walls. And we'll need to train again. It has been too long since we've been honed for combat and I fear we've become somewhat sloppy in our military ways.

So, let me say this. We prepare for war now. Not against some mortal enemy, nor against our hated foes, the goblins. But against something far more terrible. We prepare to fight a demon, a lord of the pit. I have reason to believe that his power has been weakened by time and the effort it takes to maintain life trapped in stone, but he will be an adversary beyond our wildest imaginings. A being who helped creat the collossi used in wars of ages past, a being who forged great demonic weapons powerful enough to wound gods. That is who we prepare to fight.

Of Aardvark, Pete and Oddbodd, I would ask rather that you prepare the means for us to do so, rather than to join me below, but the rest of you are welcome, should you wish it.

So now, now that you know the truth and the path I have committed myself to. Who will join me?"

[sonerohi]

Ye need my mace

(bonus points to whoever continues in LoTR fashion, fellowship crafting scene).

[Frelock]

You'll always have my crossbow, Paulus.  Consider your back safe.

(And you better bet Fre considers Aardvark as a serpent of tightness, the unfaithful snake, lying around with those tight-bearded, no good, love-stealing...)

[Maggarg - Eater of chicke]

You can bet that Oddbodd is truly bricking it now.
An eccentric mechanic/metalcrafter who lives on crumpets is not perhaps the most obvious demonslayer.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

17th of Granite

The sound of metal hitting metal echoed through the halls as Inod, the pump operator made her way up to the barracks. She looked on in jealousy as the dwarves sparred, putting nicks and dings in the newly crafted high steel armor that had been churning from the forges. There wasn't enough yet to fully armor all the dwarves in training for the military, and she was getting tired of training, day in and day out, without even getting to use armor or weapons.

The sight of others practicing only increased her frustration, but she knew she could wait. They had the material, she'd been hauling magnetite ore up to the supply room only hours before, during a much needed break. Shaking her head she called out to the pair sparring.

"Oi, Paulus, Crush!"

She repeated it again louder as the pair separated, mace and sword lowering as they faced her and removed helms. Paulus approached, grim and sweat streaked.

"What?"

"Traders. The elves have arrived and are in the depot below wantin' ta trade."

"Bah, I can't be bothered by them now. The only useful thing they seem to bring is wood and bins. You take care of it. Just have some bins of crafts brought down and exchange what they have for as little as you can manage to give them."

"Me?" She seemed taken aback.

Paulus hardly heard and had already replaced his helmet, sword now out and darting back and forth as Crush replaced his own headpiece.

"Just get it done. See that they don't get any funny ideas either."

She turned and headed back down to the main hall. As always it was a massive bustle of activity, dwarves coming to and fro. A squad of five marksmen in training she called over and stationed between the depot and the exit, just in case and had bins hauled down. She never imagined that life would change so much since she had arrived. Here she was, a daughter of farmers, a thresher herself, trading with elves and being trained for the military by the likes of Ragnar, armored by Aardvark and sparring, perhaps, at some future time with Paulus.

Life at her old home of Sazirkeb had been relaxed. Routine had long since been established and everything was settled. Farmers only had to do their own jobs, and could relax when their labors were not otherwise needed. Here was different, and though the fortress was only three years old, already it was obtaining that sprawling nature and bustle of much older places. Only the frenetic pace set by their labor manager was vastly different.

No one had time to rest.

((Heh, thanks for the comments all. The LoTR scene would work well enough I suppose, except we're all dwarves. So "you've got my bow, and my crossbow and my axe and my axe, and my axe and my axe" isn't quite the same. lol.

Still, it should be interesting. I'd like us to get enough training to be able to use the artifact weapons and stuff, which may take a little while. Legendary isn't required but it does take a bit. Fre is probably the closest, then Ragnar and myself who started with some martial skills. Kolok, I'm afraid you're stuck at a lower training level due to injury but I'll do what I can to compensate. As it is, I've no idea what modifications Mayday has put into the pits, so I'm taking this carefully.

Metalworkers are getting overtime like crazy. The smelters are busy non-stop since it takes so much to make High steel. (Magnetite>Ironx2, Iron>Pig Iron, Wood>Charcoal x2, Pig Iron/Iron> Steel, Steel> High Steel) It's quite the lengthy process and I've got five magma smelters running full steam. We had over 100 bars waiting to be turned into armor and so Aardvark is now busy as well, and Pete's working on the alloys, with Oddbodd helping prepare defenses below, that and smelting.))