5th of Galena, year 106Our justice system has gained the first victim. The jeweler, who was locked down there some time ago due tax collector's mandate, died to thirst. It seems that everybody forgot to bring water. Dohon ordered some prisoners to haul the corpse away and clean the cell before it can be used again.
19th of Galena, year 106Human caravan arrived our fortress. But unlike previous times they were accompanied by diplomat as well. What's with all the diplomats suddenly? First gnolls and now humans?
Well, the man came just to make sure the relations between us and them stays peaceful. According to the diplomat they have already heard about the incident between us and the gnoll diplomat, though how they know about it wasn't told. Well, even though we don't do much trading with humans we will stay peaceful, at least for now.
Speaking of trading, we only bought some metal bars from the caravan. They just didn't have anything worth of buying, or at least nothing we can't produce ourselves in case of need. Why waste our crafts for humans if we can give those to our kingdom?
10th of Sandstone, year 106The Siege Breaker is ready!
The last pieces of mechanisms were installed today, and finally the marvelous construction is finished.
So, what this thing actually contains? Well, we have this huge walled area in the middle, connected to western entrance with another access from west side. The idea is that the attackers must get through the area, and when they are inside the floodgates at each side will be closed, preventing the escape.
Next we have this channel to provide magma from the crater. The magma is moved by five pumps constructed from iron. Right next to it there is also draining channel for magma, which will direct the flow back to the crater.
Then we have the water source in south. Only one pump will get the water from the pond, which hasn't been connected to rive yet but will be soon. The plan is to mostly use magma, and water only if there is something we really want to safe, like the stuff brought by elven caravan.
Finally we have the water drainage, taking all the water to river.
Everything is controlled by levers, as each part of the Breaker has own controlling lever. This way we have total control of what happens. Of course the pumps are still operating the power of dwarf, but we have plenty of spare prisoner to operate those so that's not a problem.
11th of Sandstone, year 106One of our children has produced a stone figurine.
The main image of the figurine related to foundation of one of the outpost over ten years ago. An outpost which was never heard again.
Now, the strange thing is that no children should be allowed to enter workshops unless specifically told to get something from them. Why was this child working in one is way above my understanding, and especially why he was allowed to continue his work? I think that's something Dohon must find out.
11th of Timber, year 106The testing of Siege Breaker was success! Of course there was no siege to test it to but at least the system holds, there is no leaks anywhere. The area was filled with water and now we are going to drain it.
15th of Timber, year 106We made a horrible discovery today. As the water level was lowering inside the central area of Siege Breaker we spotted a body.
Stronghammer ordered the western floodgates to be opened immediately so that the water will drain out faster. We don't know whose body it is but I have my fears. After all I haven't seen our tax collector for a while.
16th of Timber, year 106The Siege Breaker is not empty yet but we have been able to identify the corpse. It was just as feared, the body belonged to our tax collector Logem Tongshailed. We have no clues how he ended up in there, though Channellashed was first to demand official inspection of the incident.
What made things worse was that the caravan and liaison from mountain home came today. It's not a good way to greet liaison with front yard buzzing with noisy dwarves wanting to see a dead body floating inside our Siege Breaker.
23rd of Timber, year 106It appears that the liaison ain't happy to our situation. Not happy at all, in fact she was quite angry during the meeting. But lets start from the beginning.
So, the caravan and liaison came and our front yard was crowded with noisy dwarves. Of course this raised some questions on the liaison's mind, especially since there was that enormous constructions. Well, Stronghammer was quick to take the control, leading the caravan to depot and the liaison to the office.
First thing Stronghammer did was the trading. Lots of metal was bought as well as dozens stack of high quality bolts. All of this cost us well over twenty-thousand bucks worth of crafts, which on the other hand was just a small portion of our stores.
Next it was time meet the liaison. I was, as usual, invited to the meeting as well as Dohon and Channellashed. At first the liaison didn't understand the reason why the last two were invited, as usually it were just Stronghammer and me. After Stronghammer explained the situation to her the hell broke loose.
"You say WHAT HAPPENED?! Your tax collector has been found dead? And you belief it was murder?" She was really pissed of.
"Yes, we believe it was murder though we because the corpse is still inside the construction. But we will find out what happened." Stronghammer spoke like he was trying to apologize. And I think it fooled the liaison. But not me. I know he is just happy that the tax collector was removed. I have no proof but I wouldn't be surprised he had something to do with the death. And if he does then I suspect Dohon can't figure out what happened. Or he can but he won't give out the information due his support towards Stronghammer. Yes, I know that Dohon supports Stronghammer. Who knows, perhaps it was Dohon himself behind the whole thing?
"You better do that before next year. It is not a good thing to let your personnel be murdered without consequences. I believe the king wouldn't like about that."
And so the topic of dead tax collector ended, though not for good, as the truth behind the incident was still mystery to most of us.