Kalugog is sitting in the dining room, but instead of eating, she is scribbling notes on a scroll. Her handwriting is blocky and crude, but easily readable.
I am trying to keep track of time, but this outpost of ours is so cold that I can't even tell what month it is half the time. Given the long days, summer seems to be the logical answer, but beyond that...
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that perhaps the greatest of the dwarves living in Icemachines, Sphala the mason, is also one of the faithful of Asёn Gemmined. I know that the god of metal has shown favour upon this humble settlement from the very beginning - already we have access to both Gold and Adamantite, some of the rarest and most valuable metals there are. True enough, the scriptures say that the gods used Adamantite to seal the essence of doom and chaos beneath the world itself. However, dwarves who treat such legends with due respect and are careful in their mining have often benefited greatly, with several full sets of armour made of this most hallowed gift of Asёn Gemmined the Tin Iron of Crystal. Profanemachines does not have a very devout populace - even the capitol lacks a dedicated temple district and a mad architect or engineer with novel ideas on water-wheel generators or magma-based defensive weaponry is so often given more respect than the most hallowed high priest.
During a training session, Hatebeard smacked her poor recruit around so hard she nearly caved his skull in. He is still suffering from the concussion, the poor soul. Despite what the name implies, Hatebeard is not a bad sort though - her idea of an ideal warrior is a bit barbaric and she sometimes talks to herself, but who but the gods can claim to be without flaws? If the new recruit is to grow tough, he must learn to take blows, not just land them. Of course, writing this as I am implies that I too need to learn to receive hits without faltering or caring, not something I am all that good at admittedly.
Late summer, or early autumn. I really can't tell yet. Still growing accustomed to the climate. There were some human traders recently. However they found us, I have no clue - our entrance is nothing more than a the top of a staircase. At least this low profile has kept goblins away from us.
Some new dwarves came in yesterday. I haven't even met most of them. Hopefully, there are more passable recruits among them. I want our military to be ready. I've heard that there are dreadful fish people, cave-humans and even trolls in the depths. If nothing else, we should at least prepare to clear enough of them out to build more structures nearer the carverns, where access to all valuables should be easy.
Again, Kalugog is writing. The first scroll is nearly filled with text. She looks a bit more disheveled and tired than usual.
A goblin! It is now late autumn, or possibly winter. We had our first goblin sighting and, shamefully, could not kill the thing. Most of us had training weapons. I must admit that even if I had a proper sharp steel spear, I would not have caught that damn thing. That scout will return with more of that accursed people soon.
Also of note is the fact that we have a new artefact. Istamromlam is a gabbro throne fit for at least a baron, created by a dwarf who claims to have no memory of the event. Was it divine guidance, or the trick of some fell beast who wishes to use us as playthings? Arzun took it for himself. Given the engraving of Icemachines' founding being the centrepiece of this artefact, he is the logical owner.
As for Arzun, he is trading with merchants from the mountainhomes. The trade goods are mostly stonework, but we are sending out enough food to please. He is still being worryingly insolent towards them though - with our population increasing I am not sure we can survive off just one subterranean farm and what few beasts wander into Peregar's sights, let alone feed the entire northern part of our nation.
Speaking of stonework, I feel I should ask that statues of Asёn Gemmined not be exported if we can afford to keep them. He has shown this fort a lot of favour insofar. To not show thanks could well lead to our tools rusting away. This is not something I should do immediately though. First I should discuss the idea with my fellow faithful, especially Sphala - most of the statues we have made insofar are her works, so her choice matters more here than anyone's except perhaps Arzun. If we eventually get a Wise Master, a temple built on the surface straight above the adamantite would surely keep the god's favour upon us.
OOC: Thank you. Should I post my in character posts in spoilers, as not to clutter the thread? I do like the depiction of Possession, by the way.
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Topic: Icemachines, saving the world from starvation [SUCCESSION_FORT][NEED_OVERSEERS] (Read 33980 times)