Cats, cats everywhere and not a dog to guardNot a single dog survives in Axefather, but how about cats? Oh, I'd say we've no particular shortage of cats.
Every time a feline gives birth, which happens about once a month, we have to cage the kittens ... or see them find owners, which means even more breeders scampering about. We may be dodging claws in the corridors but, hey, at least we'll never run out of meat.
Early Moonstone:
It is winter. My focus now to to (finally!) get some proper spans over both the cave river and the chasm, projects which has already involved more delay than does my temper good. But that frustration is nothing compared to the fury I feel when hapless Zuglar manages to louse it up again. This time, he drops a bridge right out from under Ezem Hornpainted, who falls wailing into the bottomless chasm. We all mourn our first loss of the year.
I order a sign put around Zuglar's neck and instruct him to clean refuse until further notice.
Kogan the Herbalist finds some dimple cups, which means beautiful nightnight blue clothes and tapestries someday.
Vispol Armarmors has begun a mysterious construction! What wondrous object will he make out of cat leather, moonstone blocks, aquamarine, acacia logs, turtle bones, crystal glass, and hematite?
Axefather's major and trade representative have been escalating their mandates and now also demands of late. But they're also getting a little more reasonable about the specifics. I indulge the mayor's demand for a marble cabinet largely because a much more important dwarf is also going to get marble furniture and it was easy to make one more item.
Our miner-catapult operators are getting very good at their job.
10th Moonstone:
Vispol creates a cat leather right glove and, inspired by powers beyond my ken, is now a legendary leatherworker. He runs up to me, asks for an immediate meeting in my office, and there presents a plan: To make kitten leather armor for the fighting dwarves of Axefather!
Up-Armoring the troops
It doesn't take me very long to agree. We're ... not short of kittens. What we ARE short of is anyone who can make decent metal armor or even smelt any great quantity of steel or iron. Realistically, by the end of this year, I have three choices: Kit up a few dwarves in heavy low-quality steel armor; kit out some more dwarves in heavy low-quality bronzewear; or churn out high-quality leather armor. Vispol tells me that, for half the weight, what he provides will offer almost as much protection as plain iron armor ... and our solders can layer on ironmongery on top of leather later. That seals the deal. The kittens die.
I also ask for more shell armor to complement his future output.
Mid-Moonstone:
Our miners earlier found a second iron deposit at a distance of 160 from the central corridor and now locate the first coal bed seam in this mountain. It's almost at the northern edge and we're likely to be using charcoal for our coking needs indefinitely.
The main span over the cave river is completed at last! Clad in sparkling clear glass and walled for safety, this monument to dwarven artistry delights eye and mind alike. A hard-quaffing toast - no, a dozen toasts - for Aargh the builder!
Marksdwarves Rimtar and Thimeth tackle a lone ogre troubling workers outdoors. Incaution allows the ogre to close the range and grapple Rimtar, who gives better than he gets and even manages to walk off the field. Which is more than the ogre can say!
The kittens are getting motivated. Their latest victim is Udib. Once you reach down to pet it and say "Oh, how cute!", it's all over. Next thing you know that feline'll be sitting on a cushion with her bringing it food.