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[sonerohi]

(( I'm not requesting a founder, but an immigrant in the second or third wave as Crush's nephew, Boink))

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

Year 7 Date unknown

I find that travel has been invigorating now that I've acclimated somewhat to the climate of this place. It's not so much the heat that's the problem.

It's the HUMIDITY.

But now that we've passed the lower jungles and have headed north things have begun to cool down. Occasionally we even get a whiff of salt-air that blows inland from the sea. But mostly we tramp through the moist climates that are necessary for us to cross. It's much easier and faster to travel without a wagon, and I'd definitely recommend it.

Except for the frequent spider attacks. We've been attacked by giant tarantulas nearly half a dozen times now, and Led has run out of bolts to use. On the bright side, I've gotten a little bit of practice in with this chunk of steel called a warhammer. It requires less finesse and more hitting of things, but you don't have to worry if your blade will get caught in their ribs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

It must be winter by now and we've come far enough north for there to be snow on the ground. We were attacked by a ravenous pack of wolves just yesterday and we're taking the time to augment our supplies with some fresh meat. And to process the skins at least somewhat to keep ourselves warm. We lack the supplies to do it properly, but it should keep us warm enough at night.

Led informs me that we're nearing the agreed meeting point. I can see a fog-covered mountain range off in the distance and we're to meet the others near they south-west corner of it, on a high promontory overlooking the valleys below. Occasionally a cold breeze will blow down from that direction and it brings with it a peculiar smell. Not a pleasant smell.

We've already seen flocks of geese and herons flying over us headed to slightly warmer climates but even here they seem to settle in the marshes in droves. If Led still had his crossbow and bolts it'd be a nice thing to have fresh meat again, but such is not the case. We can only hope that the others have sufficient supplies. Our are running short. They'd be enough for us to make it to Shellhelms if we needed to and could not find the others, but I hope that is not the case.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I've seen our new home, and by the glory of our godess, it is a pretty sight. Though somewhat barren on the hills the marshes below are fertile and the hills themselves show much promise in terms of mineral content. It is a wild and untamed land now, though I wonder if it has always been such.

I'll leave off now writing. We can see the small fire that has been raised on the cliffs above us and hopefully tomorrow we shall meet with the others. I'll sketch the area with what little light remains.



((It's about as inhospitable as I could find since I really wanted the savage areas and particularly the evil ones too. I've included only those features that are visible from the surface when we arrived. The underground lake has a three space wide opening onto a steep slope, and the Magma is underneath the sand layer, melting the snow. Technically I've found the bottomless pit, but that's only because I spotted a cave bee corpse in a hidden location. I assume it's a bug. Being able to see a dead bee eight layers underground I mean, not the bee itself. Of course that's a bug.

Oh, and if you haven't noticed... Led has claimed the whole mountain range as ours. My FPS isn't great at the moment, which is why I've got temp., weather and cave-ins off. I'll periodically turn them on to see if seasonal changes cause melting. It's a freezing biome so it's possible it'll only make a difference in the summer months. If that. Also, that's why I'm restricting the population of the place rather drastically.

Maybe if and when I find the other features and clear out the critters it'll improve and I can consider larger populations. But I wanted a really large sandbox for this place. Think Moria type large. And possibly Moria type evil... somewhere. heh.))

[sonerohi]

The whole frickin local map?!?!?! By Armok, you need to make a side fortress absolutely stocked with adventurer goodies.

[Maggarg - Eater of chicke]

Do I appear with Ragnar at a later date, or do I have to request a new dorf?

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

((Ok, this is the official opening of the Fortress. Two of the founders were claimed by me, namely Paulus and Led.



There are five spots open for cultists of Mondul. So here is what I need.

Preferred character name
Character alignment (Lawful neutral is a normal dwarf in my mind.)
Aspirations (optional. The more intricate or in depth the more I'll be able to include in the story line.)

I'll reserve one of the founding five for either Fre or Der Kartoffel should they want a founder. All others should be new.

Existing characters can and will be brought in with immigrant waves.

For the immigrants or non-founders please include all of the above in addition to

-Preferred job
-Whether you are a clan cultist, clan loyalist or outsider from another tribe.

As you can imagine from the information requested I've got some fun ideas for what to do story wise while I construct this megalithic fortress to Mondul. Factions within the cult are perfectly acceptable and I intend, at least at some future date, to work in an assassins guild (for lack of a better term).

So, again, the founding five that are open are:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Both intended to be Masons and will be in charge of the great wall, which our group is named after, The wall of zealots.


And the metalcrafter, jeweler (both currently practicing mining) and the food specialist. Unfortunately all female. The masons and cook are at this stage perfectly interchangeable, so if you'd like one of the masons and would prefer to cook just say so, or vice versa. (Fre, Der Kartoffel, this applies to whichever of you two responds first and would like one, if at all.)

I'll include a short environment setting post later today and leave this open for the weekend. I'm planning on having roughly 20-30 dwarves (pop cap at 20) for a long time.

Boink, you're in the first immigrant wave. Still need profession, alignment and loyalty. Maggarg I'm hoping to bring both you and Ragnar in at a later date, preferably as a married couple.))

[Maggarg - Eater of chicke]

'kay, sounds good.

[Frelock]

First off, wow.  Your writing is better than ever, Paulus.

I'd like Fre to come along with you.  She still has yet to re-gain her title, and I'd like to see her continue on to the end.

As to the other information you requested:
Alignment: True neutral (I think she's a little too wild to be lawful neutral, but chaotic doesn't fit in the whole order/chaos war, seeing as how she's on the order side)
Aspirations: Own a small tavern, and become an expert marksdwarf.  Killing that traitor Aardvark is optional.

By the way, how the heck did you get all 7 to worship the same god?

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

((Glad to have you Fre. To be honest, I love your character. Along with several of the others. I'm sure I can accomodate you on all counts, except perhaps regarding Aardvark. Unless Aardvark posts and says he wants in, he may stay at Onol Lened.

As far as them worshipping all the same deity? Miracles are possible (with MS paint). I've taken some liberties there of course. Technically Mondul isn't even a deity of our parent civilization. But she's the only dwarven deity related to death, so I went with it. Shall I assume that you're a cultist now, or a loyalist? If you want to be a loyalist I'll revert back to your original deity preferences.))

1st of Granite year 8 Spring

Even after six years or more of the unrelenting heat of the south it still felt like home to be surrounded by the icy winds and swirling snow of the north. Paulus looked up at the slope in front of them. They'd camped below the previous night, near the edge of what Led had claimed as their own territory, a vast section of land that even in a hundred years they'd not be able to fully utilize. In truth, he'd, somewhat presumptuously, proclaimed the entire mountain range of the Hungry Spine of Dung as theirs. It's not like anyone else wanted it anyways.

There was a reason we didn't travel on to the summit that night. It'd have taken most of the night anyways, but in the darkness it was nearly impossible to see the denizens of the hills themselves.

The undead.

From that distance though it was possible to make out features and I'd drawn up some mining designations and plans for Led using the back pages of my journal. He was the one in charge, and I was more than happy to let him assume that. In fact, neither Fre nor myself knew any of the others there, nor were they aware of exactly who we were. Something I think was for the best.

But in the dim morning light and with our frosty breaths being whipped behind us by the wind coming off the hills we ascended the steep slope to greet the others. They seemed genuinely happy to see Led, but a bit more surprised to see Fre and myself. The four of them seemed almost distrustful, though after the persecution Led informed us of, I suppose that was understandable.

Officially Led informed them that we were there to help ensure our mutual survival and told them little else. Picks were broken out as I examined the contents of the sparsely laden wagon.

It wasn't promising. They'd brought seed of various kinds for planting, but none seemed to know the process of farming. An anvil they'd brought as well, though no axe nor any way of obtaining fuel. And pitifully little food and drink. Oh, and a pair of chickens that one of them was apparently fond of, not to mention the mangy looking horse and scrawny pony.

Keeping us alive would be a harder task than I thought. And that wasn't factoring in the roaming dead. Regardless, it was time to strike the earth and get some work done.

[Frelock]

Probably a clan loyalist.  I never thought of Fre as being a very religious one.  She's all for the good of the clan, though.  Now lets go kick some undead arse!

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

Fre and Paulus were silent as the others chatted happily, despite the chill. When Led finally broke out the picks and informed two of his followers to grab picks and help they grudgingly complied. The three went to with a will digging into the slope just under the summit where Led had been told would be a good place.

It didn't take too long for Paulus to realize that the other two would have happily just sat around all day.

"Oi, you two lazy berks. Get to work."

One of them grunted, non-committally. "Ain't nothin' ta do, is there?"

Paulus' hand nearly flew to the hammer strapped on his back. "Well, then. Get some workshops built and start makin' blocks. We'll need 'em soon enough and I want a defensive wall built around the entrance to restrict passage."

Fre offered, "No point in waiting around for the space to be cleared. Can't put the food on rubble anyhow. So if it's not cleared you'll soon be eating rocks."

"Aye, Fre's right. And if you don't mind Fre, go ahead and do that as well, at least until the supplies can be stowed."

The three headed down to start making workshops with the stone, now carved from the summit. One of the masons could be heard grumling as she walked down, "Who, by the bloody stones, does he think he is?"

Paulus merely shook his head. Laziness would get them all killed. Grabbing up his buckler he unslung the heavy steel hammer from it's sheath on his back. It was a reassuring weight in his hands and he walked over to the edge of the slope, peering out into the white, looking intently for the shifting of snow that would indicate a shambling undead.

[Heron TSG]

Haven't read about the first fort yet, but here goes-

Name: Thesaurusaurus
Profession: Bookkeeper/manager
Loves: lizard pets.

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

((Ok... I've got the founders profiles modified to include you Fre, I'll post your updated profile here shortly. In play time I've gotten to autumn and even received my first group of migrants. Useless layabouts.

Sorry Maggarg and Ragnar, no couples came with the first wave.

I'll get Boink, Thesaurusaurus, Kolok and Der Kartoffel though.

I'll need to know everybody's preferred loyalty status. Clan loyalist or cultist? Population is a 16 so I'll probably only get another wave or two of migrants.))

Journal of High Priest, year 8

Paulus has convinced me of the benefits of recording happenings from these early years and I've acquired a journal from merchants, reluctant as they were to trade with us. I'll have to go backwards in time a little to include the events of the founding, but little enough truly noteworthy has happened so it should be short.

We've worked like mad these first couple months and though the rock is hard, my fellow believers and I have managed to carve out a fairly secure holding here in the tops of the mountain. With no gems or metals to work I've pressed our craftsdwarves into mining duty with me, at least until Paulus begins bringing me appropriate material to work myself. The others have been making blocks with the stone we clear. Paulus has hinted that we'll need every block we can make and that production of them should continue, but with the available space being rapidly consumed by them and the stacks of blocks reaching the ceiling in the corners of our cave I begin to wonder.

Unlike many of my followers, who I suspect may be using our beliefs as a method of self-enrichment or fulfilling darker desires I can understandably trust Paulus. Fre as well, though to a lesser extent, as she came to help but follows her own beliefs. Her personal nature is akin enough that I see no reason to complain though, and she has served Mondul well enough in the past, albeit unwittingly. In any case, Paulus informs me that he's working on the designs for a magnificent landmark and appropriate temple to Mondul to be erected here in the tops of the mountains. We shall see.

At first some of us, notably one of the masons, Thob, were skeptical about these apparent 'unbelievers' joining us. They've since warmed up to both Paulus and Fre, though perhaps it's more of a healthy respect rather than true friendship. Fre had noticed that the food supplies were low, too low to make it until fall when the caravans would arrive and began collecting fruits and tubers from the swamp below thawing in the warmish spring air. She'd brought back some wild strawberries, a considerable amount and Thob was fancying a snack. She headed over towards the berries but Fre interrupted her.

"Oi, don't touch those. They'll be needed later once they've sweetened up a bit and set for a while."

Thob angrily bit back. "You're no' the boss o' me. I kin eat 'em if ah want."

Out of nowhere a knife appeared in Fre's hand, gleaming faintly in the light reflected off the snow outside.

A voice cut through the quarrel in a second. The smell of death roiled into the room as Paulus entered, carrying a large nearly frozen corpse.

"None o' that. Fre, put the knife away please."

Grudgingly Fre complied, slipping it equally quickly into a sheath tucked into her back belt. Thob grinned, thinking she'd gotten the upper hand and headed for the strawberries.

"Thob, don't touch those berries."

The voice was quiet, and calm, a stark contrast to Thob.

"But ... but I'm hungry and they smell good. 's no reason I can't have 'em."

Paulus heaved the corpse off into the dump in the far corner before returning and looking at her, hammer still held in one hand.

"Yes, there is. If you eat them we'll have nothing to brew for drink."

She grunted and then walked away, smiling, fully intending on coming back later when no one was looking.

Paulus' voice came after her.

"And if you touch them later I'll personally break every bone in your hand. Our only water source is infested with undead, so you're welcome to take your chances then."

[sonerohi]

((Loyalist)).

[Paulus Fahlstrom]

cont'd from the Journal of Led, High Priest of Mondul

Where was I? Ah, yes, spring.

Anyways, I was much relieved when, just before the start of summer, Paulus informed me that I now had a large amount of material to work with. Apparently he'd been out hunting undead much of the time, removing those that roamed particularly close to our location. I was particularly pleased with his destruction of a group of zombie grave hounds.

The brutes are roughly four to four and a half feet tall at the shoulder and as zombies are rather ungainly. In life they're far more intelligent and trainable, however, and the symbolism of the name was not lost on me. For his service I've made him a fine set of armor to supplement his steel buckler and he's taken to wearing a grave hound bone armor. The helm in particular gives him a grim look that I feel Mondul approves of and using the bones of the abominations that cheated death temporarily is a very fitting use of such material.

I've grown concerned about the possibility of not receiving a trade caravan in the fall, but Paulus has assured me that they would come. I'm not completely sure how he knows as we've not been on best relations with the merchants and particularly with the nobles backing them. He told me I should prepare as vast a selection of trade goods as possible and, though I lament the use of bones as a source of merchantable material, it is mostly all we have. We lack fuel for metalworks and though we could trade raw materials this is not the best thing to do.

I've prayed for guidance and have received the following inspiration.

Bones may be used for trading or mundane things like bolts providing that they are from mundane sources. This includes food sources and domesticated animals.

Bones of the undead and our enemies are reserved for more fitting uses such as display or ornamentation of our fortress, but in particular may be used against the enemies in question.

And though I feel strongly about this I also feel it's appropriate this one time to make some goods using the bones of our enemies while we grow stronger. This commandment from Mondul has only just been handed down and not been made public and I feel she would approve the use of our bones to strengthen our position.

In that line I've begun crafting a variety of goods and have requested our other miners to hunt out all the exposed gemstones that they can find to adorn these creations with. If we're going to be trading bone crafts they will carry our mark and let the world know of Mondul's glory.

We've dug a main stair in the back of our little chamber with the intention of developing our fortress below. I understand little of the current design intentions but I'm sure Paulus has things planned out well. He does have plenty of thinking time while he's out hunting for bones.

Both he and Fre have likewise been searching out edible plants in the swamps below and come summer they've thawed enough for the lakes to melt. The water is frigid but refreshingly clear and many swans and other fowl throng the areas. Sections of the river to the south have even melted and it flows turgidly as much of it is shadowed by the peaks and remains ice-covered. This is a wild a beautiful land and I can see why Mondul would have us settle here.

I'll draw a bit of our little cave for future reference. Once we're firmly established and settled we may look back at how things used to be and rejoice in our success.

[Heron TSG]

hmm... I'd say either loyalist or cultist, whichever one would make him less enemies of the strong variety. Also, who is Mondul?