It's surprising how much can get done when distractions are minimal, as well as having adequate supply and minimal tasks. We have streamlined production, gathering, and harvesting, and even installation to a clockwork motion. In no way has anything gone wrong, aside a sneaky imp or 2, and maybe a giant bat. Those things were barely a bead of sweat off the brow to our workers. They were so pre-occupied with their work, they just bat them away and they died on the spot. I love my team.
I think what particularly surprises me the most is how there are no interruptions involving any local ambushers. No kobolds, no goblins, nada. I think they finally see our project for what it really is, now it has shape. Looking upon this bastard makes me anxious to fly my brains out. Cid, you magnificent bastard, this is the best thing you have ever produced. I guess all that training was to prepare me for your biggest challenge as well. It's one thing to design it, it's a hell of alot different actually building it. But the experience is a whole other beast; and I believe I finally managed to tame it. Getting word that the mechanism triggers have been finished being installed, I'm going to start working on the props come next season.
Some accursed elves came along to curse us with their presence. Oddly enough, I think the many hundreds of dwarven souls aboard this ship had other plans. I have never felt so secure trading with these bastards. Usually we'd be besieged by now. Not this time, and amazingly enough as well, We only needed to trade a single article of chain mail, and we got everything we needed from them. Of course, food and booze, and a few more trap components (namely cages), and a barrel or 2, and some seeds.
The tomb for the dead is getting a frame built in so that designing an emblem atop it should be far less effort. And it seems one of our clothiers have turned fey. A Monom Shorastatol (Wirefind). They're just gathering lots of silk, regular spider silk. Oh, some migrants have come along from the north. Although the invaders of last time escaped that way, I got no word of their whereabouts, which is good. These are some brave... 19 migrants. They have balls to come here, and this late into the game. Seeing as they're mostly peasants, and we're short on competent military and glassmakers, guess what their job is? The rest of us are fine working on mechanisms and building. Speaking of which, the north entrance is finally set, so now we have a backup doorway to guarantee safety better.
To simplify our progress, here's what we have done:
We have finished adding railings to Deck IV, and sealed the skipper's quarters. Deck V has been installed and secured into place. All we need to do now is furnish it with the backup bridge, and install the backup Chenjesu and windows. In the meantime, we;re putting a roof over it, installing the gold statues dedicated to the bravest leaders that dedicated their lives into the project (including thyself). We already have 'Cid' installed in place, we're in the process of tossing 'Setzer' in place as well. We still have 'Balthier' to install, for his effort to make it as far as he did, and then I will be last. "What about the silver figurehead?". That? That, my friend is of the goddess 'Risen the Tin Silver, of the Steel of Counseling'. She is in the form of a female dwarf, and she is associated with the earth. What more appropriate way to observe her beauty eh? BTW, that was one hell of a coincidence we had that, and the statue appears female huh? Just like her. At least, the spirit of the creator of the statue confirms that was what they intended. Beauty.
Anyway, this season couldn't have been any better unless we had no casualties...
We didn't? HUZZAH!!!!
Casualties: 0 dwarves... 0 DWARVES?!?! HUZZAH!!!!
Migrants: 19 Brave Dwarves
Black Omen?--Chief (Pyro)Technician, Weaponsmith, Kel "Lucca" Stigazkadol