12th Hematite 206
Busy with the forge, but one of the look outs tell me the humans have sent a diplomat. I’ll have to deal with it; I just hope the miners don’t cave in the whole fort while I’m gone.
14th Hematite 206
Managed to drain the forge enough for the miners to get in. Unfortunately it’s not good news. There is no aquifer on the lower level. I’ve ordered the forge re-sealed, best to cut my losses until I can figure something else out.
15th Hematite
Working on expanding some areas in the lower levels to catch some drainage, I’m hoping to be able to lower the water level enough in the forges to wall off the problem area. But I’m not getting my hopes up. I am prepared to just seal the forge and move on.
10th Malachite 206
Broker won’t go to the depot. Almost a lesser concern, what with all the water.
14th Malachite 206
The possessed furnace operator was killed. He went berserk after his goods couldn’t be found. To be honest, I had forgotten about him. That’s two for two; hopefully the third dwarf to get a strange mood doesn’t end up filling a coffin.
15th Malachite 206
Broker went to the depot; he came away with enough booze and wood to make a flaming tree a mountain high. He said that might be a good idea. I suggested that we deal with the water problem before playing with fire.
We also scored a lot of metal bars, as well as a good supply of meat, nothing like a little variety to a dwarfs diet to add ten pounds straight to the hips.
We traded a bunch of clothing from our humming clothing industry as well as some goblin gear. When we asked them about the goblin gear, they said they had a rather rich collector that wanted the goblin equipment. I’m not one to complain, it mostly sits in inventory until it rots or is melted down, and with the forges as they are, the melted down may wait a bit.
16th Malachite 206
The drainage operations go better then I thought they would. The water level in the forge is almost down enough to build on. I just hope my dwarves can wall that small section faster then the water engulfs it… wait… I’ve had a idea.
17th Malachite 206
I think this could work, the wheels are in motion, we’ll see soon.
Monom, came and showed me the draft trade agreement with the humans, looks like we’re asking for wood, booze, and meat. I’m not sure about booze, because we have 1600 drinks worth now. I told him to lower it, and to ask for some metal bars that we haven’t hit in our mining yet. I told him to throw on a request for some cows, maybe we could get some cheese happening here, if we had a nice caged pair of cows.
20th Malachite 206
Monom tells me that the merchants were happy with the new agreement. They’re asking in return that we get them some leather water skins, headwear, goblets, windows (glass would be needed for that), metal idols, powders, and battle-axes. There was some other stuff, but it hardly seems worth mentioning.
27th Malachite 206
Miners are making good time. We safe from flooding the fortress, not though that was ever a real concern, and at this rate, we’ll have the forge back in no time. Give it another five days, tops, and I think we’ll have it.
4th Galena 206
Moment of truth time, dwarves are working on the retaining wall as we speak.
7th Galena 206
It worked! The forge is saved! Now, we just have to wait for it to drain, and then we’re back to work. I made use of a single floodgate and lever. I deconstructed the lever right after it was clear this worked, so the floodgate won’t open of its own accord.
Lowest three levels of the fort won’t be usable for a while. They’re… a bit damp.
We managed the last bit of drainage by punching a hole in the floor and draining the water from the aquifer into a reservoir below the forge so it couldn’t flood out our construction sites.
14th Galena 206
Meng Tenshedoslan is holding a party. Frankly, I think its well deserved. We all pulled through on this one.
26th Galena 206
Forge has cleared of water. It’s got a few stray puddles, but its down enough to rebuild the forges. I’ve order them all rebuilt. The placement may not match what they were originally, but I tried to make it as intuitive as possible.
I’m thinking of stationing the potash maker in there as well, if we ever get one, to facilitate our glass industry.
1st Limestone 206
It’s autumn. I don’t know that I’ll have time for my original idea to spruce up this hill, but I sure can try.
9th Limestone 206
The river is blood red… A blasted sturgeon claimed the life of one of our dwarfs. And he won’t even be able to get a burial, not so long as his body rests on the riverbed. Blasted fish!
14th Limestone 206
Caravan from the mountain homes has arrived! I’ve ordered our goods brought out to the depot. They should be quite impressed.
On a side note, I notice we haven’t had much in the way of goblin activity. I hope it stays that way, but I won’t be naïve about it.
15th Limestone 206
The Liaison got the grand tour today. He seemed to be somewhat impressed by all we’ve managed to achieve. I tactfully declined his request to see the forges though… its still a bit muddy down there; you wouldn’t believe the humidity!
He asked what we needed from the mountain homes. I’m not sure we are in die need of much anything. I gave a few offers, just so he doesn’t go away empty handed, such as dimple cup seeds for dye, but otherwise, not much. I did ask for some more meat though.
16Th Limestone 206
Monom came in positively glowing. He completed his trade with our fellow dwarves. He says he managed to get ride of most of our goblin goods and managed to grab two whole bins of giant cave spider silk. Our weavers will be able to make some mighty impressive goods out of that.
He also managed to get us a lot more meat and cheese. We are really doing good season. I’m ordering a new food stockpile dug out beside the dining hall.
21st Limestone 206
While the caravan was leaving, a Goblin ambush showed up. The guards made short work of the ambush, but the caravan did loose a trader. I hope this does not reflect poorly on us.
26th Limestone 206
We… have an elf skull totem in the storage room. Some how I’m not surprised. This is the fortress that built ‘elf spikers’
1st Sandstone 206
New month, and I’m noticing a distinct depression among some of the dwarves. With all the idle time they enjoyed before I came, they became very close nit. The death of the dwarf to the sturgeon is rippling more then I’d like to believe possible. The fish injured a cook too, I’m hoping he manages to heal though, we don’t need any more death.
12th Sandstone 206
Our friendly pike slaughtered a whole pack of monkeys. It now has a name. Purgedrill. I’m sure it will get along with the sturgeon Seigeship just fine.
4th Timber 206
First level of my hill enhancement project is complete. Working on the framework for the second level. I hope I can finish before spring, but I’m not sure I can.
11th Timber 206
I discovered a child is in possession of a room. A room with 92 coins as a rent. He’s better paid then some workers I know.
I made a statue garden next to the magma pipe’s top. If the hammerer hasn’t fallen in yet, then I don’t think the other dwarves will.
26th Timber
Wood seems to be a bit of a problem. A month or two ago, we had plenty. Hopefully some traders show up, or I’m going to have to go cut outside the wall.