1st Slate, 368
Dear Master Wardedhawks,
As per your instructions, graves have been dug and the bodies buried. Is this usual practice for elves? I thought they just left the bodies to decay.
We have set up a small shelter within Strapnights itself, just at the uppermost level to save time while we work at levelling out the ground. Work on the foundations should be complete within the month, whereupon work on the lower rooms can begin.
Kind regards,
-Rane Wipedsnack, Foreman
The Wealthy Labours
P.S. One of the men swore he saw a giant eagle the other day. Is there something we should know about?
14th Slate, 368
Miss Wipedsnack,
No, it is not usual practice, but they happen to be friends. I say friends, I mean misguided fools who died trying to steal my glory, but it amounts to the same thing. They died in battle, so they get burials. Deal with it.
When you can, seal off the lower regions of Strapnight. There are at least trolls down there and you don't need the hassle, believe me.
-Rakust Wardedhawks
P.S. Also, a month? We're barely two months into the project and you're already over-running! Get to it, woman.
P.P.S. Yes, there's a few eagle nests nearby. Just keep out of their way and you'll be fine. They're not that tough.
1st Haematite, 368
Dear Master Wardedhawks,
Work has begun in earnest on the lower levels. The walls and base chert flooring is complete, with second floor/roof work underway. Once the initial rooms are done, we'll move into the servants' quarters and out of the cave.
Speaking of the cave, we've heard footsteps down there, and when Ido went to investigate he could have sworn he saw nail marks on the walls. You said there were trolls down there, right? Are they likely to be a problem?
Kind regards,
-Rane Wipedsnack, Foreman
The Wealthy Labours
18th Haematite, 368
Miss Wipedsnack,
Seal off the lower caverns immediately and begin constructing basic defences. I suggest some sort of basic axe or rock-fall trap. They are not difficult to make and will most probably save your life and my property.
Furthermore, additional labour is now en-route, as the Guild representatives have taken sufficient bribes to sanction their travel papers. I swear, if I have to suffer one more gods-damned bureaucratic mishap, I will take someone's eye out, have it cast in glass and use it as a paperweight.
-Rakust Wardedhawks
25th Haematite, 368
Dear Master Wardedhawks,
I am somewhat concerned about the safety of my crew. We were led to understand that trolls would not venture near the surface, yet there was definitely one in the section tentatively reserved for a wine cellar. As per your suggestion, fall traps are being looked into, but if we had been aware of this we would have required a danger pay clause.
The additional labourers have arrived, though not materials. We are close to exhausting the local trees, as this was never a particularly wooded area in the first place. I strongly advise arrangements be made for further lumber to be delivered to the site or we will have to continue work in the local stone.
The cook amongst the labourers is particularly welcome, though I am dismayed to learn that only a party of four was available to travel. We are going to need considerably more hands to finish this work on schedule.
Given the state of available food, the cook and miller have both been assigned to developing the vegetable garden months ahead of schedule. We need to eat here, especially with these new mouths.
Kind regards,
-Rane Wipedsnack, Foreman
The Wealthy Labours