1st Sandstone, 126
We have nearly pumped the river dry. The eastern section froze over shortly after we started pumping, so we have pulled all we can for now. Although it has made fishing easier, you can just walk up to the fish and pick them up.
We also found seven dwarves picking prickleberries to the south. At first, they were defensive of their precious hoard of tiny berries. They said that if you held them in your mouth for long enough, they would ferment. Only one dwarf was available for speaking the others just nodded with their cheeks full. I didn't want to imagine how long they had those berries in their mouth. I told that that we weren't interested in stealing their hoard and that we had a fully functional farmland for both above- and below-ground crops. That sold them over.
I didn't mention that although we had fully functional farms they weren't functioning. We still didn't have a seed to save out lives with. I assigned a few of the newbies to be masons as we put a roof over the farms, no need to get attacked by eagles while harvesting longland grass.
I also tweaked the water pump and placed a fortification behind it. That way if some creature came out of the water and destroyed it, it still wouldn't be able to enter the fortress.
-A. Urntin
12th Timber, 126
As I was "getting to know" one Stinthad Crushedrack a bit better, I was alerted that traders had been found as well as a liaison from our kin the in the mountains. I quickly straightened my clothing and began taking the few stone crafts that we had to the tradepost. No one knew how to appraise such items so I gave it a go.
Sadly, those merchant bastards dared to come to us without a drop of booze! Don't they know that we are starving and dehydrated and that eventually, sobriety would drive us all mad? After regaining my composure, I agreed to trade for seeds and some foodstuffs. After another round of scrounging up everything that we could possibly sale, we also purchased a llama, a bulldog, a pig and a bag or two. I told them that if they ever make it back our way, they should bring seeds, sheep, turkeys, mastiffs (big angry dogs), possibly a cat, and gypsum plaster. The merchant also mentioned something called a "golden goose." I could only imagine that it was some type of money trap but it would be interesting to see one none the less.
They also mentioned a few other pockets of civilization here and there. People trying to eek out an existence in this cruel world. It was heartening news for my fellows here at Laststand.
I left them to muse over the rock crafts, gears, beds, and whatever else was thrown in there. I then ordered a dwarf named Lokum to brew up some spirits, everyone could use a drink to celebrate surviving until winter.
-A. Urntin
1st Moonstone, 126
Snowstorms, terrible snowstorms, this is how we'll most likely spend the next four to five months. The work has to continue though for the year is almost over. I order a beekeeping area to be set up and lay down some blueprints for a jail and a tomb. I thought is was a great area to put the catacombs around the hospital, so when someone dies during surgery, it would be a short hauling trip to the coffin. No one else thought that my idea was very nifty so I left the plan unimplemented for now.
I'm also going to reorganize that workers based on race, but I have to do it slowly so that no one notices. I don't want some type of mutiny on my hands because people think I'm a racist, it's just that shroom dwarves are great at farming, steel dwarves were built for war and domple dwarves...everyone has their own special place. I'll set up the training schedule for the military and draw up a few training uniforms. Mark out a barrow for keeping everyone inside and put some doors up. Maybe some traps.
-A. Urntin
25th Obsidian, 126
I was told to go and rest after stumbling. I had done so much in the past few months that I was exhausted. I did everything stated before as well as appoint a militia commander and chief medical dwarf. I also did some bookkeeping so that we would have adequate records of stocks. The farms are ready to go depending on seed and season (if we ever get more seeds) and some stockpile have been arranged. I'm going to spend my last few days of this year making a few mechanisms. Maybe I'll go visit Stinthad, I love watching that miner swing that pick.
Also, the snowstorms have been non-stop. I'm hating this snow.
-Aria Urntin
That ends my year right there. Here are a few things that I simply didn't have time to do.
Please, refill the well in the summer. The river is only fully thawed for that one season
Dig out more areas
Any exploratory mining
Beds (oops)
military stuff
traps
make a refuse pile
secure the pasture
more workshops
There are plenty of notes sitting around, they should explain my ideas for layout.