Notes from glowing engravings on a rough ice block wall.It's cold. Very cold. Or was, actually. For some reason, I seem to have lost contact with my body but I can't tell if I'm dead or not. It's very strange. All I can remember is a hellish face and never-ending screams coming from all around me. It gives me the shivers. But I've seen death before and I know what it feels like being dead. At first it all goes dark and you feel the cold hand of fate embracing you, but it's not the end. Some people believe you'll end up somewhere with your gods or are sentenced to eternal damnation, others think it all ends with the touch of the bony hand of death, but in reality you'll feel the tingling sensation in your body, as though waking up from a long sleep. But this time it's different. It doesn't feel like all the other deaths I've experienced. I feel like I'm lost.
I've died many times before and came back. However, I'm unsure how that works. My last death occurred far away from this world. A fort called Timelances. My body was quite different back then as well. But I was a miner and a damn good one, too. "Last of our kind" was something that a few of my fellow dwarven brethren called us. It was hard for me to understand how that was possible, given that I had no recollection of it. Although, it does explain why we received neither caravans nor migrants in all those lonely years. Not even elves or humans. Only a couple of kobolds and goblins were spotted outside the blood red kaolinite entrance, every once in a blue moon. But something happened, I don't know what. I simply woke up in a completely new world, in some town. Gone was Timelances, gone was my fellow miner colleague. Was I dreaming the whole time?
In front of me lies The Fatal Ice, my tomb I guess. I was nothing but a mere miner again, minding my own business, not really paying attention to the fat cats. Except for Satori, of course. She must've used the cats for they were quite mesmerizing. Perhaps I should have paid more attention to my own wit than I did to the cats. It might have saved me from this limbo. Then again, I don't blame her. Well, maybe a little. But the real hammer should fall upon the Queen. Yes, that narcissistic low brow, shot out from the worst of the worst of the nobility, all of whom most likely wanted me to get here if only to keep me from opening my mouth, from spilling the mouldy beans which have been lurking in their false seat of power for as long as anyone can remember. They probably even knew what was lurking underneath Fatal Ice all along, but refused to tell us due to the damaging information in my mind. I'll get them for this. One day, Queen, I'll get you for this. I must find out how to get my physical form back one way or another.
1st Granite
It seems I can interact with the environment. Somewhat, at least. A small section of the outdoor wall will serve as a good place to write some sort of journal, though I'm uncertain how well it will keep its shape in the current situation. There were a lot more dwarves last time I checked. Maybe that hellish fiend got to them, or maybe the hulking beasts down below. In any case, we don't have the dwarfpower to handle the band of Kobolds hanging around the outskirts. The walls will keep them away, for now.
Speaking of architecture, who in Armok's name was responsible for planning this place? It's a total mess! There's also vomit EVERYWHERE. Seriously, picture your mind having to wade through knee-deep piles of vomit. I'm not sure what happened, but this needs to be dealt with somehow. Who's in charge here? Of course, they can't hear me. Maybe I can affect the mind of one of those useless drunkards to follow my orders? Shouldn't be too hard, given their perpetually drunken state.
Thankfully, they've been smart enough to stock up on supplies after what I'm guessing must've been one big fiery bloodbath full of vomit. I'll need these to attract more bums from town. Maybe improve our reputation. That will require a lot of work though. Perhaps combine it with the enormous amount of caged prisoners and animals. I need to plan further...
***
I don't care if Grendal said she won't be continuing her role as leader of this fort. You'll obey my orders. That's right, you're mine now. At least until my plans have been carried out. My eyes caught the sight of what appeared to be a hospital in disarray, what with all those rocks there and no patients. Especially considering Shem is lying in bed all busted up. A diplomat's hanging around on top, but I'm not letting him out until I'm certain the Kobolds won't threaten the security of this fort.
I also noticed the wacky pumping system and the lack of large enough farms that won't turn back at us with some disfigured lizard made out of soil. New farms are a top priority. Secondly, there is a lack of a proper dining hall. I'm sure the dwarves are fed up with sitting on barrels, gulping in mouldy weeds and berries with no proper dwarven wine. So I've designated a new farm area to be dug out, and a new pump station, too. Satori's the only one with enough experience in mining so her medical tasks have been taken over by Besmar.
4th Granite
Exilo seems to be kind enough to start cleaning up some of the mess but she keeps screaming about getting blood smears and vomit in hard-to-reach places. Well maybe if you didn't roll around in it like a frolicking pig, then you wouldn't be in your current predicament, now would you, dear noble manager? Stop yapping and get rubbing those floors. They won't clean themselves, you know.
14th Granite
Grendal, stop making booze! We have enough to last us ten years and Exilo needs help dumping all those boulders from the new farm area! No, you don't need to clean yourself again. Get your hairy back and frozen beard down there, now! She's not listening.
18th Granite
What- How- Where did this miasma come from? Did someone forget to designate a refuse stockpile? Or has the Queen sent spies? I need to investigate. And everyone's going mental with those cage traps. Fine, go make a bunch cages to satisfy your cage-needs.
20th Granite
The new pump is fully functional, we just need to clear the area and punch a hole into the lakebed. Then flood the entire area for a nice patch of mud.
23rd Granite
Shem is getting worse every day it seems. While she hasn't had a diagnosis yet, the dwarves claim she still has major bleeding and is quite faint. I fear she won't make it through this year.
24th Granite
Oh now you've decided to talk Mistrum Sedmerossu? Now of all days. By Urist's beard, what have you been doing these last months? No doubt spying on us, looking for a trace of me. Well, you won't find any! I doubt you'll be able to detect my control of Grendal.
11th Slate
I must say, there's something about these dwarves that really goes on my nerves. I don't know what, but it's most likely their habit of slacking around while there's a ton of hauling to be done. Oh look, a snowstorm.
14th Slate
MIGRANTS!!!! At last! And there are males as well! But there are still Kobolds out there! Noo! And the bridge is still retracted! This won't end well.
15th Slate
They are PELTING those migrants with a billion arrows. And no one's willing to lower the bridge.
16th Slate
Thank Armok, the Kobolds have left! Someone pull that lever before the next ambush arrives!
17th Slate
Get out of my face, human. Well, Grendal's face. You know what I mean! Can't you see I'm trying to let some new genetic material into the fort so we don't have to inbreed through spores. "Pleasant place"? Obviously a spy. Yes, get out of here. Now.
18th Slate
A peasant has been taken by a fey mood! And he's outside freezing to death. Why isn't the bridge lowered yet, Grendal? Answer me, please.
It also seems another peasant who received several mortal wounds has decided to take a nap. In a snowstorm. He gave up that quickly, huh? Really shows the kind of image this fort gives to the outside world.
20th Slate
Ast has claimed a craftdwarf's workshop. He better make something expensive. We really need the boost. I think some of the migrants are contemplating on whether or not they should enter the fort. They've been standing there in the snow planning suicide for all I know. At least it's comforting to know that the town has the decency to send 4 dwarves with medical skills. One of them is a high master wound dresser and suturer! Besmar, you're off hospital duty. The newcomers should start working on the 4 wounded dwarves lying in the beds and snow.
I've also formed The Scorching Attics, our new militia defence force led by Tun, the hunter.
Something has to be done with this zombie polar bear. It's filling the entire stockpile with miasma.
21st Slate
Looks like the migrants outside decided to join up with the rest of us. That, or just use our facilities to warm themselves. Then go back to their shenanigans.
It appears to me that all of our magma smelters are not fully built. This needs to be rectified. I've sent down our newly acquired armorer to fix this, right away.
24th Slate
Ast has begun a mysterious construction! Hurry, the suspense is killing me.
Still no signs of recovery for Shem. She's suffering from moderate blood loss now, too.
1st Felsite
And it seems Ast has finished his construction; a dog bone grate, worth 1200 bucks. Yay. It doesn't even have any engravings or bands of anything. Not even spikes. It's just a simple grate that got rocketed to legendary status. The gods are mocking me.
5th Felsite
Is there some sort of disease running in the deer herd? Tun told me he saw half of them throwing up. That must explain the enormous amount of vomit on the surface.
As the farm nears completion, I've initiated the construction of the new dining hall. It's going to take a while until it's finished, though.
14th Felsite
Farms are up and running, ready to pump out dwarven shrooms and wheat for delicious booze and will provide us with cloth and dye for our industry. We may never need to depend on the elves again!
18th Felsite
Elves are here. We have no real need for these elves right now as our stockpiles are quite full. I'm thinking of screwing around with them, however, we aren't ready for a full-scale war with only 4 militiadwarves. Of course, having merchants means kobolds or goblins are around, or so I've heard.
20th Felsite
It doesn't matter to me if someone will feel a bit upset when I convert most of the empty space in the mass graveyard into temporary stockpiles for weapons, armor and ammo that has been left in the trade depot. There's also a new furniture stockpile as the previous one is crammed with thousands of mechanisms. Someone must've been preparing for a fully fledged war. With traps.
22nd Felsite
I knew it. A kobold master thief was spotted by the Wood Burner. Keep an eye out for more thieves and invaders, Bomrek.
Blast! The wood burner thought it was a good idea to cross the bridge as it retracted. Now he's lying unconscious in the moat with a broken arm and a bunch of internal bruises. And he's nauseous.
WHEN KOBOLDS ARE IN THE VICINITY.
I got Grendal to take a peek at the trade depot. The elves have BEARS. GRIZZLY BEARS. Get some trade items over there!
26th Felsite
Thief! A thief has stolen 35 steel bolts! Not sure if it was ours, but there are thieves around nonetheless! And an iron battle axe was stolen. Time to move in the militia. Grendal, you know what to do. I'm starting to think the thief's stealing from the battlefield, though. Clever bastard.
27th Felsite
And more thefts. Sigh.
30th Felsite
Summer's approaching and I feel like I've accomplished a lot as nothing more than a mere spirit thingy. Not sure what. One thing's certain, though. Grendal is starting to nag. See, she's been asking a lot of questions. A lot of them. So I feel like switching. I've learned during my time here to control myself, maybe even create a long-time possession of one of the dwarves. This Cog, a mechanic around here, does have quite a weak mind. I figure I might be able fully take control of him, if only to get away from Grendal. I just hope this will work. And then I can get back to work and back to finding a way to get revenge on the Queen. Yes... Revenge...
Exilo has an infection.
OOC: Yes, I'm aware I pulled the "Ghost"-card, but it was made to tie this story into a lot of the "lore" of the original character. I also haven't named any dwarves other than those mentioned in the story. So here's your chance to pick a dwarf to be dorfed from the list.
FREE DWARVES:
Inod Mengottan - Carpenter
Eshtan Asasavuz - Bowyer (Infection)
Likot Abanvush - Engraver Dorfed
Tun Ushatlolok - Hunter/Militia Commander Dorfed
Zasit Cattendakon - Armorer Dorfed
Kadol Keshgoden – Gem Setter
Besmar Tekkudshetbeth - Leatherworker (Infection)
Ast Idenigam - Bone Carver
Erush Uzolesmul - Bone Carver
Dumed Ralsefol - Glassmaker
Ushrir Dishmabunal - Cheese Maker
Shem Onuledim - Milker (wounded [for life?])
Tirist Tegirablel - Milker
Kib Eralborik - Thresher/Metalsmith
Udib Isakmistem - Dyer/Military
Nil Zefonstukos - Planter
Thob Vathsithsazir - Planter/Military
Bomrek Sazirigath - Wood Burner
Kogan Tiristkalan - Trader/Military Dorfed
Kosoth Tolunetur - Chief Medical Dwarf
Zefon Aranrakust - Diagnoser
Ezum Tishisonul - Suturer
Morul Onulstukos - Suturer
Zaneg Melbiltomem - Peasant (wounded)
Obok Shammanavuz - Peasant
Status of the fort:
I have exams coming up, so the next update will be up either tomorrow or on Friday.