The following has been carved meticulously into a large hunk of wood.
1st Granite: Overseer's Log.
Well, it seems the previous Overseer has, well, stepped down, I suppose one would say. It's very irregular. Traditionally, the only way one stops handling a fort would be either replaced by a noble, or die. Mostly the latter. Kohaku has done neither of these. He stormed into the Dining Hall while I and a few others were on break, and announced that he was done leading us. Not that I'd paid close attention (as I am a lowly hauler), but I'd thought he'd been doing a fair job. On the other hand, he was mumbling about "Sanity scores..." and "The dogs are d's, d's..." So maybe this isn't all bad.
Soon after, the others began discussing some sort of 'rotation system' to deal with the issues of "over-exertion-by-command". I'm not sure what that means. When all was said and done, I'd been chosen to lead us for the next year. I'm not entirely certain of the merits of their decision.
In any case, this log is being written for several reasons. Firstly: In the event that some unfortunate accident should befall me, I would like that this log be sent back to my parents. Perhaps knowing that their son was Overseer of a fortress (Even a doomed hole like this), would give them some happy thoughts.
Secondly: Despite what others may think, I intend to always proceed with Rinsewinds reputation and safety in mind. We have already harnessed the blood of Armok, so building this fort into a mighty outpost should not be too difficult. I hope.
Thirdly: That I might notice if my sanity, like predecessor, begins to slip.
Moving forward. As my first order of business, I ordered the construction of a Jeweler's Workshop, as a Got It00 Archspoon had been doing not much of anything. When I asked Got about his job, I was informed his specialty was gem working. After checking the records, it appeared we didn't have one, so I told him to make one. I also ordered quite a lot of additional gold and gems mined out. I also assigned the making of crafts for next year's caravan, as well as the smelting of tetrahedrite ore. I'm hoping for silver, but I'm sure we can find a use for the vast amounts of copper I expect.
I've also ordered the surfaces in the Dining Room to be smoothed. The statues are nice, of course. But engravings are where the money is, so to speak.
Really, my goal will be to improve living conditions for all the dwarves sent to this outpost. We may have been sent out here to die in the wilderness, but, if we work hard enough, the Mountainhomes may one day recognize our talents and intelligence, and bring us back into the fold.
I'm a slightly bemused by the vertical nature of this fortress, as in the mountainhomes, even across multiple floors, sprawl generally went outward, rather than up and down. Still, I am sure that I'll be able to adapt.
Blade Master.