((Don't be fooled by the cheerful sun! It is the enemy of all dwarfkind!
Posting up the rest of the first year. I really want to get to the Summer of 204. Some "fun" happens then.))
-Autumn-
1: Journal of Kel Razorblown, Expedition Leader11th Limestone, 203: A caravan has arrived, along with the liason. With our limited free time I’d had Stukos and Zefon make some crafts and mechanisms to send back to the mountain homes as tribute.
I’ve put down my pick in favor of getting more of the administrative work finished, as well as a few other projects. We’re busy working on the perimeter wall. The traders can wait for a while.
26th Limestone, 203: We’ve put a hold on constructing the wall until we finish with the traders. To my dismay they’ve brought no supplies. Rather, they brought supplies but expect us to pay. A small settlement such as this, pay for our basic necessities? Surely there was a miscommunication somewhere. I can’t believe anyone would try to profit so early in a dangerous expedition.
We could ill afford most of the caravan’s goods. I’ve written a formal complaint to the expedition’s financier. As it stands I’ve managed to negotiate for a pair of cheap maces (1 copper, 1 bronze) a spare copper pick, a copper crossbow, some food, a strip of cloth and a bit of leather. All at an exorbitant mark up.
I met with Thikut Puzzletowers, our liaison. It’s incredible how far our great realm has fallen. The Red Mansion’s first ever settlement liaison, Likot Boattreaties, dueled the titan Usle Yorage in the year 12! This dwarf is a far cry from our proud heritage. The sniveling grimeling had the gall to demand we manufacture a number of items for the next caravan. In return I’ve given him two lists: one of requests, the other of grievances. The latter was significantly larger than the former.
Kel meets the liaison
But I’m losing my composure. The Red Mansion needs us more than ever. This is an age in which there are no great and legendary heroes. This fortress will succeed even if I must die…even if we all must die. We will do whatever we must to establish ourselves here, whether we become heroes or corpses.
4: Journal of Vabok Dodoknecik, Farmer19th Sandstone, 203: Oh, Thob! Why have you forsaken me! I’m so sorry for what I did! I’d bring you back if you could! To be sentenced to come here is more torture than the hammering would have been. Kel stirred up a nest of troglodytes several months ago and now they’re slowly drawing closer. We’re doomed!
Vabok
I had a very nice meal lately.
1: Journal of Kel Razorblown, Expedition Leader25th Sandstone, 203: Vabok has been crying about the troglodytes for a week now. I’m worried as well, but her behavior is tiresome and it does nothing to help morale. What will all of these new immigrants think when one of their two primary planters is constantly weeping? Rovod’s eyes are always bloodshot too; I wonder if Vabok is starting to rub off on him? I’d hate to believe so.
I’m worried that we have immigrants here at all. We’re not even completely situated yet. Several necessary workshops haven’t been built; we have no stills, no kitchens, no dining area and insufficient stockpiles.
Furthermore, the migrants must have followed close on our heels to arrive here only nine months after we did. We need soldiers here, but we’ve received mostly farmers and peasants. I’ve written up a list of their names and professions, as well as what labors I expect them to perform in addition.
First immigrant wave
-Athel Farashnish: Male Milker (Farming, weaving, clothesmaking)
-Mathol Asizezum: Male peasant (Mining, masonry, stone detailing)
-Sibrek Ralukobok: Female brewer (Farming)
-Goden Arkimurdum: Female gem cutter (Masonry, stone detailing)
-Olin Nitigducim: Male peasent (Masonry, stone detailing…but likely military)
-Fath Cilobkin: Female woodcrafter
-Zefon Lelumasob: Male gem setter (Masonry, stone detailing)
-Sodel Kasmistem: Male peasant (unknown, likely military)
--His mule
-Dastot Akilshorast: Male miller (farming, brewing, cooking)
I’ll be taking up the pick again to clear out space for more bedrooms. I’ve heard a few complaints from the immigrants, but if they wanted beds then someone should have notified us of their arrival ahead of time.
I’d like to begin training one or more of these dwarves in military matters, but we simply can’t spare the labor yet.
8: Journal of Zefon Lelumasob, Immigrant26th Sandstone, 203: We’ve finally arrived at The Red Tower. It’s worse than we’d been told. I don’t even know where to begin. The messenger told us that there would be rooms ready for us when we’d arrived. I expected more out of the place than the small crew that came before us has managed. For that matter, why did they only send seven? This place is hell. There’s no work for a gem setter and I’ve been told to begin work on engraving. Feh. I’m bolting if I don’t see any improvement in the next year.
2: Journal of Datan Morulmokez, Woodworker14th Timber, 203: It’s nearly winter. Not that you’d know it from the heat.
Kel struck amethyst while mining out more bedrooms. I see her eyeing the cluster and I bet she’s looking to move into better quarters soon. The bitch. I know she’s in charge, but it bugs me that she’s gonna take liberties like that. Who the hell put her in charge anyway? I’m taking out my frustrations on the dead wood in the swamps. Armok help em’ all when we run out of trees.
-Winter-
1: Journal of Kel Razorblown, Expedition Leader24th Moonstone, 203:
The troglodytes are closer. From the front gate I saw one approach, sniff the air and run off. They’re small but we’re poorly armed and mostly untrained. I don’t like our chances against a direct attack.
Trog party
3: Journal of Olon Ezarmomuz, Woodworker12th Opal, 203: Been bored lately. I’ve snuck down to the marsh to chuck rocks at undead slugmen, but it gets kinda old after a while.
7: Journal of Rovod Nakuthmedtob, Farmer3rd Obsidian, 203: With the plump helmets out of season I got bored and wandered outside. I went out to the plateau, grabbed a rock to rest my head on and lay down to look at the stars. Olon was out there already doing Amug knows what. We got to talking. There were some cave swallowmen circling in the distance. I shared some longland grass and we got to talking.
Rovod and Olon name the cave swallowmen
“Hey Olon, you think the cave swallowmen are like us?”
“What?”
“I mean, like, do they have names? Do they think and dream and…and stuff?” I asked him.
“I s’pose.” Olon replied. “Like…that one” he pointed “That’s like, probably, called Zasit Laborfull.”
“Why?”
“Cause it’s all pregnant looking. Look at the belly on it.” He replied. Sure enough the thing did have bigger stomach. I always thought they laid eggs. Learn something new every day. A lone swallowman came to rest on a dead highwood near the chasm.
“So like, that one we could call, um, “Sigun Manortour” Cause like, it just toured the whole place.” I said.
“It did?” Olon asked.
“Blood! It passed right over us. Man, you’re out of it.” I laughed, and coughed and laughed. And then just laughed.
Olon pointed to another. “So maybe we’ll call that one “Zuglar Speartomes”
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“Cause…” He explained but I forget what excuse Olon had for it. It was something weird. He’s from Inkpillar. I’ve heard they have an odd sense of humor there.
“So that one.” I continued, “Is Tekkud Bridgeback because it’s back is all arched like a bridge.
“Bridgedpacked?” Olon shouted. He laughed tremendously.
“No, dwarf, “Bridgeback.” But he was still guffawing. Guess he didn’t hear me because now everyone’s calling it “Bridgedpacked,
“And that one” he nodded as his laughter died away. “Is Shorast Jailrelic, cuase it reminds me of why I’m here!” And he laughed even harder.
“Wait, what? Olon, what the blood does that even…”
We heard a loud crack. Not far off one of the cave swallowmen had flown smack into a tree. It took a good five minutes for Olon and I to stop cracking up.
“Ha! We’ll call that one “Erush Plankstops!” We paused a few minutes to catch our breath.
“What about that last one?” Olon asked.
“Um, I dunno. Shorast… Did Last?”
“What? Diedlashed?” Olon exclaims. I swear his hearing is bad. Nonetheless, everyone’s calling that swallowman by that name now.
We gave up after that, even though there were more around. The names have really caught on though.
Olon’s not a bad guy, even if he does get angry a bit easily. He just needs something to keep him calm.
1: Journal of Kel Razorblown, Expedition Leader28th Obsidian, 203: It is New Year’s Eve. I sit alone in my office filing through the stockpile records with only a cup of wine to keep me company. Here’s to the next year.
Spring is supposed to be a return to life of the things that winter has killed. I suspect that will not be the case here.