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4th Hematite, 305, in which a bright sun Illuminates our Tower~The air begins to simmer, less a frigid blossom and now fully into prosperity. The dawn of our solstice approches, rising in the distance. We too shall rise to meet it, and with it the Up.
I feel the entire plebescite is aflutter with the summer breeze – a frazzled weaponsmith, far from functioning fluidly without fibre to fuel his forge, has begun muttering to himself in excitement! Yes, this Ineth is much like a respresentative of my inner ferocity; he is full of life and furiously working away at his station. I have great expectations for the fine fellow.
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22nd Hematite, 305, upon which I do my best to shroud my Horrendous Disappointment~I awakened to the sounds of rapture. Peering into the halls I saw Ineth, my favoured one, being hoisted in the air on the shoulders of many a dwarf. In his hands he held a magnificent iron sword.
“Smith!” I called; at the sound of my authority the silence blotted out the pleasant fervor. “What artifact has one such as yourself crafted in your hand there?”
“Bloody nice sword, boss!” he called back, widely grinning. The crowd cheered jovially.
“Indeed I see that! Of what substance is it? And pray tell me of the many marvellous images you have no doubt woven into its hilt!”
He blinked and looked down at the sword in his hand. “Just a piece ‘o iron, boss. What’s this about images?”
I sighed; truly no dwarf after I would ever comprehend such artistic flourishes. “Neveryoumind,” I grumbled. “Does this ‘just a sword’ carry a name?”
At this he again grinned. “Lobsterstrangle, boss! The Distinct Dweller!”
Odd, this dwarf. Nevertheless, a fine piece of craftsdwarfship. Perhaps one of Kogan or Lor could make use of this tool – I have heard they are something of legends at their wrestling these days.
Enough dallying. I must return to my work upon the Tower. Up waits for no dwarf to meet it.
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15th Malachite, in which we Strike against our foes of the Nether rift~I have constructed a marvellous plan to rid of us the chasmlings. First we shall dig to the rift; second we are to carve small slits within the walls, and thirdly our marksdwarf Ilral will begin firing upon them. Early today this plan was forwarded into action. It appears to be working marvellously thus far.
Many brutes and mole-y beasts have now fallen to Ilral’s aim. Unfortuitously, however, a cloud of purple haze seems to emit from the void unendingly.
I attempt to put it from my mind, but it now appears within my old dream. I know not what to make of this. And I swear I would have seen such a purpley cloud inside the Tower as well. O! mine eyes. What do I make of thee?
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1st Galena, on which I find Solace in a Young Youth~A youth, shaking ever so minutely, extended his noggin withinto my chambers. I turned, hearing such a sound. “Aye? What of you, boy?”
He trembled, momentarily trying to withdraw into the corridor before being pushed entirely into the room by unseen hands. The door was then pulled shut loudly. The boy stared at it brief, then turned his gaze to match mine. He was to talk, but found no voice.
“Speak up, there! I have little time for bequieted children.”
Finally words flowed out of the small fellow’s talking apparatus. “T-t-the other d-dwarves, they, they said, to tell you the humans… um, the humans are here.”
“Chas—”
“—and they’re already at the depot and it’s too late to chasm them,” he quickly finished.
I grew calm, though furious within. “Be it that way! Then we shall trade and take all they have to offer. What goods do we have with which to acquire their wares?”
He showed me a list of our stores. It was an impressive amount – surely there was no way we could trade all this! I ordered this youth to give the humans a whole assortment of cloths and buy them out. Especially the cheese. “Go!” I said. “Follow out my instructions, lad, and thou shalt have a place at my side as we rise towards the Up!”
Yes, indeed this boy was proving a useful aide. Perhaps his future assisting me will be illustrious. Especially with his keen eye for carrying out cheese-aligned orders.
The boy returned a host of minutes later, again worried; though I was quick to notice none had forced him within the doorway this time. “W-w-w… we have acquired cheese, lord,” he said modestly.
I sat up from my throne, exhilirated. “Boy! What is your name!”
He mumbled ‘Legon,’ though atwitter with stumbling and stuttering.
“Thou child Legon! You have earned your place in my glorious administration. Our partnership shall be known across the land beneath the Tower.”
He shrugged vaguely.
“Didst thou arrange for the humans to bring… more cheese?”
The youth Legon nervously scratched his arm. “The diplomat got ambushed by gawblins like basically right away. He’s totally dead.”
Damn! Aggravating indeed. Then there may well be no more cheese. I made note to stock the remains of our cheese stores in my personal quarters for ‘rationing.’
“Gawblins, hm?” I said, changing the topic. “And what of these gawblins now?”
“They beat up some marmots then walked into our cages.”
I stroked my not un-incredible beard. Perhaps these caged adversaries wouldst come in handy at a later time. I could sense adversary alighting within some dwarves as I now strolled the halls of the Tower – it may be prudent to prepare some way to rid myself of them.
“Acceptable,” I finally said. There was a vacuum hanging in the air for a brief few minutes. The boy Legon was waiting to be dismissed. A good lad. But I was troubled. Dare I share my deepest fears with this innocent youth…? “I… have this… dream,” I said finally, then quieted my mouth. No. I would not share it yet. But I needed him to help me. Not now, but soon. Help. Help.
It would not stop it did not stop it shall not stop. Help. It never… helphelphelphelphelp—
“—I have this one dream too sometimes,” the boy finally spake, freeing me from my thoughts. I fell back upon my throne, breathless, panting. He stared at me – could he think me mad? No. I trusted this youth. I would let him go onwards.
“Yes? What of it?” I replied.
“Well, I’m like… standing there… and then this dog flies out of nowhere and hits me in the face.”
I blinked. “You pick fights with canines during your slumbers?”
“Not like that, like, the whole body just smacks me.”
I pondered this. “Intriguing! Go. I shall hear more of this dogfighting at a later time.”
He left hurredly, perhaps to see about acquiring more cheese. I could only—
It grabbed me again there and there. again. again. again. the
dreamhelpme
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Writing like this gives me a headache. Ow.
Two more questions – First, I noticed Orb doesn’t have a dwarf, either. Any preference there? And the other thing is where was our old dump zone? I set up a new one into the river’s chasm, but I don’t think everything ends up down there. And Spoon; gonna use the latter suggestion but I think with good use of the tiny military I can keep the cancelspam down. We have two champion wrestlers and Ilral's an Elite Marksdwarf now! I think I'm gonna throw a third and fourth dwarf into wrestling soon.
Would’ve posted this yesterday but didn’t have internet. As it is, I’ve already played out the fall, so just need to type up and prepare that one, then there’s just winter. I'm sort of worried that my floor won't get ceiling'd before my turn's over but whatever. Whoever's next can probably finish it when they need to floor their floor.