Knowing that tales of any wealth that we have created may not have reached the outside world yet, we race to produce goods that the elves can at least see and carry back stories of. Goron carves crossbows out of the bones of all the animals he’s killed. He’s gotten a little better at it. We set up 3 more carpentry shops outside the walls for temporary use to make lots of furniture. Thankfully, Kith is less stubborn about allowing others to use these new shops. Of course, he knows that when summer comes we won’t be able to use them again until autumn. I also set up a new craftsdwarf workshop outside for myself to continue to produce bolts. My own skill hasn’t grown any since the fall, but I’m hopeful it will soon. The inside craftsdwarf shop is being used by Rice, who is carving horrid sculptures out of the skulls of dead animals. I was going to say something to him about that being my shop, but when I saw the look on his face while he was working with the skulls, I thought better of it.
Monk, our milker, wants an all glass room. Ever since he got here, he’s nagging me to give him one. I told him that none of the more important dwarves, which is everyone, can be spared to work on it. So he went off on his own and built some furnaces for himself. Twiggy and Sysice, eager for the opportunity to practice a task at least a little related to metal work, make some charcoal for him. We get a smelter set up and melt down those daggers the kobolds left behind.
Never have I been so tempted. But I’m under orders from her majesty, and these bars must be made into goods for the Mountainhome. They’ve stated they need handwear most direly, so Sysice will at least be able to practice his armorsmithing. For maybe a day.
As Goron runs out of bones, he returns to hunting. We’ve become somewhat horrified at how tough these elephants seem to be, and how long they can last with a bolt through the heart.
Even with the punctured heart, Goron put 6 more bolts into it, just to be safe. He knows better than I, I’m sure. But I’m growing concerned at what might happen if the elephants decide to take revenge for their fallen.
Meanwhile, Sysice is so happy about making gauntlets that he’s organized a party over it. Once again, I have not been invited.
Summer arrives, and our defences have not been rebuilt yet. There are a few tiles left to be constructed in the labyrinth, then construction of The Project in its new location must begin. I am concerned, but the others don’t seem too worried. Sysice’s party continues.
Goron, apparently not satisfied with only hunting one kind of dangerous animal, has brought us a lion. It looks tasty. I am growing disturbed at how much he seems to be enjoying it though.
I think I better keep an eye on him.