Oh, goodness. I think I started a running gag with journals missing the end of the page.
I'm overly pleased by this.
Taken from the journal of "Z", Fortress Reclaimer
10th of Obsidian: Me and the boys just got back home after finishing up another rough reclaim.
I swear, the number of times I've seen a tantrum spiral destroy everything...
Anyway, as I'm taking off my pack and heading down to the food stockpile for a good meal and a stiff dozen drinks, some Armok damned messenger runs up with news of another dead fortress. I tell him I'll gather the lads and head out again soon enough, if that's what Armok plans for me, and that was that.
12th of Obsidian: Apparently the message was from much higher up then I thought, and as much as I'm willing to go up against the nobles for my freedom, I prefer my skull unhammered. I've let everyone know we're on the move again, and anyone who values life and freedom should get ready to head out again ASAP.
15th of Obsidian: Loath as I am to admit it, it's nice to be away from the oppressive structure of the Mountainhomes. I looked over the plans for the fortress we're to reclaim after we loaded up the cart. It's a hole in an ice sheet, Armok damn them for unreasonable. Still, it can't be that bad compared to some. Our supplies are plentiful, our arms strong, and our beards thick.
17th of Obsidian: We lost the cart and pack animals yesterday. The axles both snapped at once, and they proved themselves irreparable. We've shouldered what we can, and gathered the pack animals. Hopefully, this will be enough.
22nd of Obsidian: We've reached the fringes of the ice shelf. Night creatures attacked several times, and we lost several good dwarfs, and far too many supplies, in the ensuing chaos.
Those of us that survived have traveled as quickly as we could, resting little. We've suffered for it, though, and we've been forced to eat the beasts of burden for sustenance, which isn't so bad. One of our fellow reclaimers once told me a tale in which he had no recourse but to eat his minstrels to sustain himself. Thank Armok's bloody beard for that small mercy, at least. I'd have gone berserk long since if I'd had to put up with minstrels as well.
25th of Obsidian: After trekking through this frozen wasteland for the last few days, I arrived. At first, I couldn't be sure, as it rose above a gash in the ice like a lump of frozen rock. However, as I neared, the icy winds calmed, revealing sheer, perfectly carved walls of ice overlooking a deep chasm, apparently a moat of sorts, clear signs of dwarf workings. When I drew close, the drawbridge lowered, ponderously clanking down, and though the icy construction is beautiful to behold, the fact that this is supposedly an empty fortress is more then alittle disconcerting. As well, the fact that I recently lost the last of my companions to frostbite, though he wrapped himself well within his beard, has left me miserable and disconsolate.
28th of Obsidian: The fortress itself is labyrinthine and difficult to traverse. At times it seems to be carved into the shape of some eldritch geometry of sorts, one which hurts to think upon overlong. Indeed, the second thing I stumbled upon were graves. Row upon row of them, lining the walls. Each had an unfortunate inhabitant, and I believed many more should lie alone and forgotten. Imagine my surprise when, instead of bloodsoaked walls and corpse strewn halls, I found a small but determined group of dwarfs struggling to survive. When questioned on their lack of regular contact with the mountainhomes, they shrugged and returned to a seemingly endless sea of tasks to complete
1st of Granite: I've decided to stay and aid in the restoration of this fortress, acting as overseer, as this is not so dissimilar to my previous (and now pointless) directive. Whether it was due to my decision, or some external source, Nil Stakudthack organized a party at one of the many tables. It seems an empty and hollow gesture, but one which lifted the spirits of everyone present.
2nd of Granite: I've finally managed to understand much of the design of this fortress, and I've learned that we lack many things, including: space for food, a reliable source of lumber, offices and other private areas for our "noble" leaders, and a designated mining space to carve out. There's plenty of loose animals as well, and several goblins in cages. I'm not sure what to do with the goblins, but the animals have been marked for slaughter, for the most part. I've checked the water source, and I realise that, though one of the previous overseers was insightful in channeling out an area from the deep cavern to bring us a secure source of water, the lack of a well was more trouble then it was worth. I'll have one dug out soon enough. I was grateful, however, for one thing. We have reliable magma furnaces, burning deep beneath the ground. Not only does this supply an endless energy source for those crafts that require open flame, but it heats the fortress from within, reducing the sharp bite of the cold from above.
10th of Granite: Two of the stray ewes have given birth, and I've adjusted the list of animals to be slaughtered to compensate. Several constructions were also cancelled today, though I've no idea why.
I also recently discovered the mass grave just north east of the fortress. It seems to have been the center of a large cave in, though I have no idea why so many dwarfs were present in the room when so many tons of ice crashed downward. I worry about hauntings, and will try to have a hallway dug to them when the miners get some free time, so as to better be able to put them at peace.
11th of Granite: It's been a constant issue, and unfortunately, I've no idea how to address it. Many of the others have complained of being unable to store their owned items. A constant stream of complaints and requests for aid have come from the others, and it bothers me no end.
19th of Granite: work has continued, slowly. Several of the dwarfs here are afflicted with serious wounds, and I've put the most seriously injured on permanent break, until his wounds recover even slightly. If he hasn't shown signs of improvement by the time summer arrives, I'll disregard his complaints of his wounds. In unrelated news, Goden Dumatshigos has become a Miner, which is good. Another skilled set of hands carving away the rubble can only speed the improvement of the fortress, and hopefully, draw more migrants, which we desperately need.
27th of Granite: Armok damn them for digging so slowly. One of the unburied dwarfs, I'm not sure where his corpse lies, has become a ghost. Edem Edulmafol, the ghostly wrestler, proceeded to topple a Microcline Throne. Non-vital, to be sure, but it's none too pleasant to see, and I wish those of us that are still alive to remain unbothered by such disturbing sights.
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Topic: Cudgelpriests - Glacier Succession Fortress! (Year 4, need more overseers!) (Read 12593 times)