Obsidian 1, 1051
I've decided to use the dwarven system of months, as far as I can remember, since they can be accurately measured by this nifty sundial thing that I bought from the dwarves. So what if I don't remember all of the months right? I also also was reccomended to write more formally, since this journal is going to be the only form of record for a while. I also also also decided to do a more detailed survey of the area.
I discovered some interesting things. For one thing, an interesting type of reddish, grainy soil.
Apparently it can be used as clay.
[Sidenote: Just another of the nifty, weird little things I added. Plastic grains are a type of soil, clay in fact, and can be fired into plastic, a “metal” that can be forged into most things and is comparable to copper but lighter. That concludes this update's edition of “Weird Mods,” by GreatWyrmGold.]
Also, in a nearby pond I see some frozen water along one edge, clinging to a strange bluish rock.
[Sidenote: According to the z-stone menu, ice crystals are normal stone. It probably has a low fixed temperature.]
Also also, we have white sand, and some sort of swimming wyvern, which is identified to me as a plesioth, is swimming in the river. Three actually, and a sea lamprey. I hope it's friendly...
Probably not. My luck's not that good. And then I have to deal with the plesioloths...
I start planning our fortress by having Purplepanthers dig into the side of the hilltop, to make sand-collecting, potterring, and probably some other furnacey areas. Also a temporary dorm. I also also choose a spot to put our food and a protective cat, and start chopping down trees since there's no managing or bookkeeping to do. I also also also have Das Coastbud, a lady who slipped past my notice last time despite being among the most gigantic felynes I have ever seen (brewer, cook, herblist: You know the type) start gathering plants. Unfortunately, one of the plesioloths has decided that it would be fun to get angry and spit at Coastbud. Make that two of them. I go to help...
(KEY: The brown C is Das, the yellow one Zurko, and the two red !'s enraged plesioloths. The third is chillin' down the river.)
...but decide to follow Coastbud and turn tail. “He who doesn't fight but runs away/Lives for at least another day.” I hope they let her live and go to cut trees...then they split up, one against each of us! So far, the spit water has only hit Das, bruising her, but if one of them closes to melee range...holy shit. And then the other five too, possibly.
Then the one following me wanders off, no longer enraged, allowing me to chop down a tree. Maybe this plesioloth episode will have a happy ending after all.
Bruised lung and liver, with the third plesioloth after you isn't so bad, right? It's better than being captured by goblins, that's for sure.
Obsidian 2, 1051
Today, plesioloth spit at me, but it glanced away, so I kept hacking at that pesky maple until I was done, then ran...to a healthy-looking oak. And ignored Das running past me, because damn it, a tree should be CUT DOWN. Then I noticed the angry plesioloth behind her...
[Wow, these guys are worse than carp or even alligators. They're like giant badgers who can spit at you to get your attention, and swim. Tetcishrat, you have the record for Fastest Dwarf Kill in any game I have played.]
Biggest mistake of my life, except maybe joining this goddamn caravan. No time to complain about that, I need to write my will before I die from that head-wound the fucking plesioloth gave me.
The Last Will and
Testi Testu Tes Fuck this, I leave everything at home to my wife, except for a microcline coffer I have in my room at the Woodworker's Guild, which is to be delivered to Dankis, two houes down the block, with a note reading “For Project Wyvernhearted.” My few belongings here...my axe goes to the fort, my clothes to buy needed supplies, and my favorite, aptonoth-shell-studded obsidian Wyverns' Bones dice to Dancedpearl, this journal to Ulde, and my position as Expedition Leader to Das, to enjoy for what time she has left.
[Seriously, when Zurko died, Das became expedition leader. Don't ask me to explain.]
Finally, a secret to help everyone here avoid peril: In the deep, my militia found a danger worse even than these plesioloths. They are easy to identify, if you know how. To star(bloodstains obscure a couple words; Wyvernsheart is presumed to have died at this point.)
(The following section is written in a more precise, yet strangely much more irregular, handwriting.)
Granite 1-Arrival. Plans. Plesioloths angered at our existance.
Granite 2-Wyvernsheart killed by a plesioloth (thereafter named Breakkillers) who was trying to squeeze between him and a tree.
Granite 3-Plesioloths attack Das in melee. She passes out, then is killed by a lucky headshot by another plesioloth's spit. Plesioloth dubbed Furnaceshut by Dancedpearl. Plesioloths calm down, hopefully for good. Dancedpearl, having had the second-most votes when we chose our leader, is chosen to replace Wyvernsheart.
Granite 4-The last food, the barrel of goose meat, is hauled to the stockpile. Purplepanthers reaches the odd grainy soil and compares the shade of her fur to the soil, evidently deciding to use it to supplement her original supply of dye. A few workshops' sites chosen.
Granite 5-A meeting is held.
(The handwriting changes again, this time into neat script, mostly Felyne but with bits of Dwarvish and other languages sprinkled in.)
Journal of Bini Dancedpearl, current expedition leader of The Sabre of Fear, the settlers of Dawnstone
Granite 5, Year 1 of Dawnstone
Today was a momentous occasion. We actually had a meeting. They will be irregularly held from hre on out, once every few days until we are rescued or die. I also convinced Ripevessels to let me use this journal after he copied the notes on various devices out of the back (this entry was actually written on the 6th). In addition, we agreed on a few measures:
1. By the warning of our first leader's last words, unless it be necessary for survival itself, we will not dig much below the surface. We will build our home out of soil and some of this interesting clayey stuff, and some of the upper layers of rock, and maybe dig deeper mines, but we will NOT live deep down underground.
2. We are ashamed of it, but the area over by where Das and Wyvernsheart died will be abandoned.
3. A replacement axe, made of wood if needed, will be commissioned unless Wyvernsheart's axe can be retrieved before then.
4. Pinetreasure will take over woodcutting operations for the present time, and Ripevessels will become our herbalist.
5. Basementsubmerge will be allowed to try out a new process he came up with, involving something about growing wood.
[Random Note: Just one of the misc. reactions I gave them.]
6. ASAP, the original ideas for furnaces will be followed and I will start potterring shortly thereafter, fuel permitting.
We may pass other measures later, but for now, that is the extent of our Executive Decisions.
(various irrelevant passages deleted)
Granite 9, 1051
While Pinetreasure was chopping at a tree with the axe he made, Furnaceshut got enraged at his presence...
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Nice cliffhanger, neh? Find out what happens next...Tomorrow!