Let's get started.
-----
From the journal of Goldendagger Pasthandles
Obsidian 7, 4
I live by a few rules. I make them up as I go along, but always follow them; that way I learn from my mistakes.
One of my more recent rules was "Never disrespect an elf who can survive being eaten by a giant river shark." I formulated this rule after an elf I was traveling with (say what you want, they're good shots with a bow and not afraid to get their hands dirty) took the axe from one of my recently-deceased comrades, leaped in to the water, got eaten...and hacked his way out of the gullet a moment later.
This rule did not end well.
The elf got killed by a mad ogre a couple weeks thereafter, a week ago. The ogre had a giant meat hook that tore his head right off! Well, his companions said that in order to properly respect his spirit, we had to eat him. Unthinkable as it was, it was more so to ignore a rule I had made. (Plus, rations were low.)
After that, of course, one other dwarf that saw me reported me. I fear that in honoring the one elf I could truly respect, I may have doomed myself to executuion, or worse--exile.
Obsidian 9, 4
I think I had a sympathetic judge. Instead of being killed or exiled, I am to lead a group of dwarves and keep them in line. I am also the mason, and a proficient one at that.
I should list the others in this group (The Holy Fiend...?), as well.
Seven dwarves, three dogs, a cat, a turkey, two poison worms (I am assured that they are only dangerous to those that provoke them...I am not sure I believe this, but whatever), a water buffalo, and a yak.
Also present are:
Steelmines Kisstome, a proficient miner and engraver. He seems like a wimpy loner.
Imboker Treatyspring, the manager and bookkeeper, and a proficient leatherworker. He seems on the edge and cautious--a bit paranoid, maybe? I don't blame him.
Conan Metalblaze, the broker, a novice woodcutter, and a proficient stonecrafter. He wants to be in the military, but this will not happen. Between his importance and his weakness...no.
Speaking of the militia, the militia commander is "G" Sabreruled. He uses two axes in combat, a style that seems wasteful and dangerous...but whatever, i don't have a lot of choice, and maybe he will fight better this way. G is also a tanner, and is very musical. He sings all sorts of battle songs, which ought to put some fear into the hearts of the enemies we will face.
Ashton Graspcloister, the militia second-in-command and the butcher, seems more reasonable, fighting with a hammer. She is creative and even more musical that "G." Also notable, she prefers cave dragon meat...this could be problematic...
Finally, we have DocHeimer (one word) Dwelledsmiths, an adequate carpenter and diagnostician, competetant mechanic, and novice surgeon, wound dresser, and archetect. He seems a little slow when you first know him, but he's nice and intelligent. Thank Sirab Zasid! I would not like to trust my life with some stupid, cruel person.
Granite 1, 5
We have arrived.
The site is near the mouth of a "minor" river, but it is about 40 feet across, which makes it fairly major in my book. The surface is also sunk slightly beneath the ground's surface. So far, good!
Imboker lacks an office as of now, but he says we have:
3 bronze axes, a bronze war hammer, and a bronze pick (apparently, no copper could be spared for our voyage...beaurocrats)
Three alder buckets
Three silk and one wool bag, containing seeds
About 20 each of chopped yak liver, cave lobster, plump helmets, pyrelings, cave ale*, cave rum*, and whisp ale
*Wou;d they call it "dwarven [whatever]?
Six each of pyreling and plump helmet spawn, rock nuts, and pig tail seeds.
I told them where to drag the grazers to, and chose a good site for the future courtyard area, and off we went, starting a hole in the ground called home...Armorsouls.
-----
On a side note, the elf thing was based off of one of my D&D adventurers, who died yesterday after having an ogre with some kind of nasty hook took his head off. He did, indeed, survive being eaten by a dire shark, but it was by
wild shaping into a scrag and clawing and biting his way out. That was his third near-death experience, and the coolest thing I have ever done in a non-DF game, even if he was almost killed by party members thereafter.
Hopefully, another update will occur soon. Thoughts on fortress management? Want to claim a migrant?