Slowpoke, here's You 2.0:* * *AutumnThe season begins with a draltha getting into the underground farm and killing a dog. The sudden loss of her pet drives Sinthad to insanity.
Examining the list of survivors, the situation is grim indeed.
There are 12 adult dwarves to get work done. We cannot survive another assault like the last one, and we need to secure our food in case we need to hole up for a while. Retractable gates must be our next priority. All work is to be shut down until further notice.
The new duty roster:
Cheddarius and Sinthad: Miners. Cheddar's already a legend in her field.
Kosoth, Meng, Meng, and Urist: Masons/Architects. They will be responsible for building our walls and drawbridges.
Erib: Mechanic. The best one we have, and that isn't saying much.
Eztuzt: Smithy. If anyone can produce for us the arms we need, it's him.
Kubuk and Reg: Farmers, brewers, and butchers.
Urdim and Litast: Soldiers. If they ever get out of bed.
Monom and Monom: Haulers.
For my part, I will put my veterinarian skills to the ultimate test and play the role of fort doctor. I'm the closest thing we have to one, now that Kagus is gone.
I walked outside today to see Monom being beaten by a troglodyte. I grabbed him and ran for my life and his. Fortunately for us, the rest of the fort joined in to attack the monster, saving both of us. This narrowly avoided tragedy has brought us closer together.
Cheddarius has taken it upon herself to train some of our many dogs into fearsome war beasts. It's a great idea, as we need protection and we don't have the dwarfpower to maintain a constant vigil ourselves.
In the meantime, Eztuzt has been whipping up some nice combat gear.
Nice work, Eztuzt.
Sinthad died somehow. No surprise there. Also, we finished building a temporary wall, so that the outside cannot hurt us anymore.
Of all of us, I feel the worst for the children. There are seven of them here, all of them orphans. They've been helping the adults run things any way they can, harvesting crops and taking down old constructions, but I just feel so sad for them. They don't get to have the childhood they deserve. I spoke with one at length yesterday.
His father died long ago, and his mother was one of the casualties of the last goblin siege. He claims to be speaking with her ghost, and says she wants him to plant a tree in her name and hang our dead from it. I... I simply walked away, speechless.
A number of strange creatures have appeared on the surface within our walls. I have no idea where they came from. They haven't made any aggressive moves, but they have been making everyone nervous.
I told Monom to stay in bed. Now he's dead. Why doesn't anyone listen to me? Litast died in the night as well, from wounds he sustained about six months ago. I guess he had no fight left. Perhaps it is for the best. He owned seven cats, and we can use the bones.
Functioning drawbridges have been built by the entrance.
And more strange creatures are appearing. Where are they all coming from?
There are about seven of those things we've started calling 'elk birds.' They just appeared there one day. Inside our walls. I've tried to establish where they are appearing from without success.
Wonderful news! The diplomat has arrived. I hope he...
Well, I guess he saw all he needed to see. Not that I'd stick around to talk, if I were him. At least the merchants don't appear dissuaded, and so we beckon them over as we bring everything of value that we have to the trade depot. I tell the children to bring down part of the wall to let the traders through.
Let it be known that Cavebrands fully endorses child labor.
An elk bird is caught in our defense traps, and one of the dogs is eating it alive. This seems to have caused a commotion in the ranks of the elk bird, and they have begun making threatening movements against us. I fear it will not be long before things turn violent.
I was right. The caravan guards attacked the elk birds as soon as they saw the frightening beasts. I now know what screaming elk birds sound like. They sound like dying babies. I know what those sound like. Only at Cavebrands could I learn such a sound and then hear that same exact sound later come from a chorus of monstrous ostrich deer.
Erib takes one look at the massacre and never smiles again, for the rest of her life.
Once it's all over, we trade. We acquired the usual. Cow cheese, plump helmets, barrels of blue jay blood. Gotta have the blue jay blood. The traders couldn't wait to leave. I'm amazed they stayed as long as they did. I don't think we'll be getting any new migrants anytime soon.
Winter is upon us.
Moonstone
Erib and Urdim died on the same sad day. Erib threw herself into the walls until she died, and Urdim succumbed to infection after the surgery I performed on him. It had to be done -- his nose had been smashed into his face -- but I feel responsible nonetheless.
A child had an ale party with some animals and a dead body. After I saw that I cried a little.
OpalWork continues around the fortress. Life is hard, but we manage, for the children, if not for ourselves. At least Kosoth seems happy, if she isn't completely mad.
More menacing creatures have been seen within our walls.
Kubuk interrupted my dinner by raving about a two-fingered, white-skinned, eyeless giant chasing her while she was picking mushrooms underground. If it weren't for all the strange sightings lately, I would question her sanity. Instead, I've sent Urist to investigate.
Looks like the dogs found it. I better lock the hatch to the underground, just to be on the safe side.
There, that should keep us-
Oh schist.
Thank Adil for Urist and Eztuzt for his superior equipment.
Obsidian
The goblins have returned, but they will not have a single dwarf this day.
The goblins fall upon the bulls we have chained up outside the outer gate. Most of the cattle are slain, but some goblins fall as well. The bulls' unwitting sacrifice gave us time to bring the gate up, keeping the goblins safely outside. We can ignore them indefinitely, if we wanted to.
It will be spring soon. Not a day too soon, I should think. I've come down with a really terrible cough and I could really use some warmer air. I'm going to take a walk underground to the hot spring and see if I can't relax. I just pray that I don't get lost.
* * *
Later...
* * *
Okay everyone, that's a wrap for my turn. It's been real Fun working with such fine, commendable dwarves.
Here is the save, along with a letter to the next overseer. The fortress is sort of almost just about safe, for the moment, anyway. There is plenty of food and drink, no need to worry about that. Better yet, everyone's mood has (for the most part) stabilized. Of course, there's no telling what could set them off, so be gentle with them. Here's a list of the survivors.
That's all of them. Hats off to you, Eztuzt, and good luck. You will need it. And read the notes!
Save File: http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=2235
edit: whoops, wrong end status pic. fixed.
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Topic: Cavebrands (Read 68587 times)