23rd of Sandstone, year 103Another group of prisoners arrived to the fortress today, escorted by one guard and one personnel. Our population grew by eight dwarves, which is only a good thing.
The personnel who came with prisoners today was immediately appointed to the position of bookkeeper. I'm a bit annoyed by that, as that position was promised to student. Oh well, he wouldn't have been able to accept the position in several years anyway, so perhaps this is best for us. When he has grown up enough perhaps there will be another position open. I pray for Armok that it will be so.
7th of Timber, year 103We have had some expansions finished here in Evercage. First of all our food storage is now bigger, as we literally ran out of room to store all the food supplies and alcohol we had.
Next we have our own prison complex built inside one of the exhausted iron veins deep inside the fortress. Ten jails with iron chains has been constructed in request of Dohon. I discussed with him earlier today and he stated that the jails are meant to serve as crowd control in case of possible unrest. I don't blame him from taking our security seriously, though I hope the jails will be used rarely.
14th of Timbe, year 103Stronghammer decided that it was time to give Rar some subordinates. Three guards were assigned under his command. At the same time the order was given for his squad to use iron axes instead of bronze ones, which should increase their potential in battle.
Stronghammer also assigned four unemployed prisoners to work as additional miners. Four copper picks were created for this, and the first task given to them was to mine out huge storage for bolts just inside the entrance, next to the stairs leading up in the walls. When this storage is completed our archers doesn't have to run all the way to the old stockpiles just to grab new set of bolts during the fights.
18th of Timber, year 103The annual caravan from mountain home arrived today. And right behind them came a small goblin ambush squad!
The caravan and the liaison reached the fortress safely, though unfortunately one of the caravan guards was slain by the goblin arrows.
Stronghammer gave a strict order than nobody should venture outside while the goblins are there. Instead of rushing to meet them we should let them to come here, and be slain by traps and our archers. It sounds like a good plan to me, and even Dohon agreed with it. So, until the goblins are dealt, the poor guard won't be buried properly.
23rd of Timber, year 103The clash with the goblins is over. Unfortunately three of our prisoners decided not to follow the orders, and thus were killed by the goblins. In top of that there were more than one squad ambushing us, two squads tried to enter our fortress from east and one from west. During the mayhem Stronghammer was forced to send Rar and his squad outside, and so the battle didn't go as planned.
The result was that, fortunately, the goblins were either slayed or driven away. But while we were victorious two of our soldiers were founded as well as two prisoners. The doctors are busy with tending the wounded right now so we don't have any information of how serious the wounds are. Let's hope that both of the soldiers are able to return to duty sooner or later.
While the battle took place Stronghammer did some trading negotiations with the caravan. For hefty sum, payed in crafts, he bought alcohol, metal bars, cages, empty barrels, bolts and anvils. But even though it cost us quite sum of bucks I noticed that our trading goods storage was much emptier. Yes, we have more than enough trading goods to buy more or less everything we want from caravans.
13th of Moonstone, year 103The caravan left today while the liaison stayed. The cleaning after the battle still continues, though all the dead have been buried. Stronghammer even ordered the construction of small burial chamber for all the outsiders who dies here and who are worth of being buried. The chamber is just north from the stairs, on the same floor as the personal burial chambers for all the guards, personnel and priests.
Both of the wounded prisoners have been released from the hospital, as their wounds weren't too serious. The two guards are different matter, and even though both should survive it's unknown if they are capable of rejoining the military ever again. One has badly wounded leg and the other has some problems with motor nerves. Doctors promised to do everything they can to make them able to fight again, though the situation looks rather bad at the moment.
28th of Moonstone, year 103Both guards are out from the hospital. While they are able to join the military it begs to question whether they are actually useful in battle. The one with bad leg is unable to stand properly and the other is unable to use left hand. Well, it's not actually my problem, though I heard the discussion between Stronghammer, Rar and Dohon about moving those two guards to work under Dohon. It would mean clean work for them, and not much chances of seeing actual battle.
I have one positive thing to report as well. The storage for ammunition is ready and the expansion of furniture stockpile has begun. It's good to see some progression here.
20th of Obsidian, year 103The vikings are here! And they have come to slaughter us!
Stronghammer ordered a complete lock down and the bridges were raised to prevent the vikings to enter our fortress. Good thing we spotted the invaders before it was too late, though now we are kinda stuck here until the invaders decide that it's not worth of wasting time to camp outside Evercage.
22nd of Obsidian, year 103Stupid primals, they don't apparently understand that there is no way to enter our fortress. As they have gathered outside our fortress they are easy targets to our archers. And in the meanwhile rest of us can continue more or less normal live, except that we have no business outside.
One of our smiths also finished some kind of secret project today. The result was battle axe, made from tin. Tin axe? No sane dwarf would use such a weak weapon in battle. Perhaps it's supposed to be ornamental weapon? Still I don't see any worth in such thing.
24th of Obsidian, Year 103Apparently the vikings weren't as stupid as I first thought. After few of them were killed by traps they seemed to notice that there was no way to get inside and that they were only easy targets to our archers, and so the whole siege force decided to flee. Stronghammer still insists that the lock down should last rest of the year, which is only few days, to make sure no more surprises wait outside.
The report also came that our wealth has reached the one million bucks milestone. Are we really that rich? I can't believe this! But I trust our bookkeeper so it must be correct.