Note: All dates are invented. My records weren't that accurate.From the Journal of Chief Medical Dwarf Khoreas Ottosmeng, Slaughtergorges, 1st Granite, Year 6We have managed to carve out a stable, thriving community despite the harsh surroundings, and no thanks to our neighbours. Last year saw one goblin ambush after another. Add that to the bands of blizzard men, ice wolves, and undead roaming this glacier, and the magnitude of our success becomes apparent.
I'm not certain I can keep up with the injuries though... it takes enough of my attention diagnosing and dressing each incoming dwarf without also having to suture and set, nevermind performing surgery.
3rd Granite, Year 6While talking in the dining hall yesterday, I learned that Urist McMean II has left off building the arena. In fact, it seems that our mayor has given up directing anything at all, and instead spends his time lounging about his new domicile and making ludicrous demands. A few of the fellows suggested I take the position.
I declined, of course. I'm not exactly the mayor type. Still, it wouldn't hurt to suggest a few things next time I'm in the dining hall. Half the fortress is usually lounging there, eating or drinking or playing halatafl, and meanwhile Urist's half finished absurdity leaves us wide open to the caverns.
Oh, also, most of our livestock is starving. And we have two farm plots.
Oh right, I was going to make this brief.11th Granite, Year 6Excavation of the new fields is proceeding apace. Since the old well will be drained in this process, a new well is being constructed beside the fields.
12th Granite, Year 6Praise the miners! While excavating the new well, they channelled directly into the magma sea. Thankfully no one was hurt (or incinerated) and the errant channel was floored over. I've heard rumours that a mythical metal was also sighted inside the sea, but they are certainly unfounded.
14th Granite, Year 6Wondrous news! Here, in this frozen wasteland, two of my fellow dwarves have found love. Rakust Nitemrakust and Mafol Erushtitthal have been wed!
19th GraniteUrist McMean's "Management of Surplus Stone Project" is being dismantled as we speak. Not the arena. I mean the constructed floors he had built all over the main walkways, which are now impeding the expansion of our living spaces. Everyone joined in.
We shall tread upon the raw stone.
21st GraniteApparently there is a magma pool nearby. It was spotted during the well incident. The miners are now working on new magma foundry.
23rd GraniteOne of the miners reported seeing an enormous, terrifying humanoid form on the other side of the magma pool. He claims it was made of crystal glass, and had a wingspan 100 feet wide. Yes, wingspan. It was flying. Worse still, the air about it shimmered, like it was full of minute crystalline dust.
I've heard rumours of terrible, forgotten things living far below the ground. I fear we have stumbled on one at last.
... We are doomed.
25th GraniteOr not.
After hovering ominously on the far side of the magma pool, the forgotten thing turned around and wandered into an unexplored section of the caverns. We are safe. For now. I've "suggested" we redouble the effort to seal off part of the cavern, so we can farm and pasture our animals in relative safety.
Mid-SpringElves! I've never seen an elf before. Heard plenty about them of course, horrible things, most likely just to scare the children.
They aren't much to look at.
JohnnyDigs took a break from mining to deal with them. Afterwards he handed me a clay tablet with a list of what he had purchased. He muttered something about "never doing that again". Not sure if he meant trading with the elves or making an exhaustive list.
Clay tablet found with the journal.acacia logs x 20
cacao wood logs x 16
clay x 4
fisher berries (5) x 6
kapok logs x 7
mahogany logs x 12
mango wood logs x 11
palm logs x 11
pine logs x 7
rope reed fiber bag (blade weed seeds (20)) x 2
rope reed fiber bag (emerald dye (10)) x 3
rope reed fiber bag (fisher berry seeds (20))
rope reed fiber bag (longland flour (10)) x 3
rope reed fiber bag (longland grass seeds (20))
rope reed fiber bag (prickle berry seeds (20)) x 2
rope reed fiber bag (redroot dye (10)) (dump this dye!)
rope reed fiber bag (rope reed seeds (20)) x 2
rope reed fiber bag (sand) x 7
rope reed fiber bag x 12
rope reed fiber rope x 10
rope reed fiber thread x 10
willow logs x 14
wooden arrows (25) x 6
wooden barrel x 7
wooden barrel (fisher berry wine (25))
wooden barrel (longland beer (25)) x 3
wooden barrel (sewer brew (25))
wooden barrel (strawberry wine (25))
wooden bin (rope reed fiber cloth (10)) (3 dyed with redroot dye)
wooden bucket x 8
wooden buckler x 6
wooden cage x 5
wooden cage (tame jaguar, female)
wooden chest x 5
wooden crutch x 8
wooden shield x 2
wooden short sword x 4
wooden long sword
wooden bow x 3
wooden spear x 2
wooden splint x 7
wild strawberries (5) x 6
prickle berries (5) x 5
rat weed (5) x 7
SOLD: *dwarven wine roast* (53) (yeti meat + dwarven wine x 3) [2650]
SOLD: +pond grabber meat roast+ (19) [1368]
SOLD: *water buffalo cheese roast* (14) [1484]
SOLD: *dwarven wine roast* (29) [1566]
SOLD: *two-humped camel cheese roast* (17) [2108]
Late SpringGoblins! Another ambush! Quickly, raise the drawbridge! We can deal with them once the cavern is secure.
Later Spring Of course, the bridge was never actually raised. Most were captured in traps and then the last two ran off. Heh. I guess I was worried about nothing.
Still, 2 layers of traps and one bridge is not sufficient. I'll have to see if we can expand these defenses somehow.
25th FelsiteThe fields have been hollowed out, and the lakes are now draining into them. Soon we will have enough pasture for all our varied livestock,
and room for additional farms. All secured against invasion.
5th HematiteIce Wolves came out of nowhere. They've cornered one of our masons and are preventing us from retrieving the bodies and equipment from the last major ambush. The military is being recalcitrant.
7th HematiteThe mason died. The soldiers have finally arrived on the scene though, so no other lives should be claimed.
The elves have set off on their journey. Hmm. They're travelling through the caves. I hope they know what they are doing. We need their wood.
20th HematiteRakust Nitemrakust took on the aspect of the fey this morning. He has claimed a craftsdwarf's workshop and now is screaming for various items, among them silk cloth, which we have none of. Also bones... hmm. I thought we had more bones...
28th HematiteMigrants. Six of them.
An engineer
A miner (He will come in handy)
A mechanic
A thresher (be nice if we had something to thresh. No one thought to bring rock nuts.)
A bowyer
And a... a presser. Whoopdidoo. Hauling duty, now!
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I'll have to finish this later. Sincere apologies.