Editing User talk:Kalon

== Meshring ==

== Spring, 187 ==

''1st Granite, 187. Strike the earth!''
The miners be praised, we've arrived. The queen, Likot Roofact, insisted that our party set out ahead of the tide, for the glory of Nil Egath "The Hammer of Jungles", and we barely made it. Although her rule has been but 40 scant years, we will do her bidding.

The sight of our new home is before us, and our expedition leader has called a halt to the wagon. We have named this spot Zithisathel, "Meshring", and we will devote our lives so that it's name enters our legends forever. Across all of The Domain of Cyclones, we shall settle The Special Land and bring civilisation to The Branded Hills around us.

They claim we were specially selected - seven dwarves, a few supplies, some pack animals and a stretch of virgin earth ahead of us.

I, '''Eruch Uvarral''' and '''Mistem Rutodral''' are our miners - some say we are kindred, some say we are obsessed, but no dwarf can deny that each of us carries the glint in our eyes of hunger for the mineral riches this land will yield to us.
'''Ingish Ustuthimesh''' and '''Vucar Sodelthosbut''', skilled with their axes, will fell any trees we may need - for our forges, should we not be blessed with coal, or at the least for our bedding. We have managed to bring some small store of wood, but this will not last.
Our food will come from '''Ducim Zasildom''', our resident food lover. Hunting it, skinning it, then cooking it, she also fills the position of our esteemed brewer. Essential!
'''Zon Mosusreg''' will form the basis of our metal industry, which will hopefully be in place before the winter, gods be praised. He will process metal or stone with the same efficiency.
And finally, '''Melbil Bomrekotil''', our doctor. She impressed us all with her displays of marksmanship hunting for food on the journey, wagering shots with Ducim and Zon, although none drew too far ahead.

The temperate shrubland we have stopped in is flat - a blessing and a curse - and the climate cool. Upon our arrival at the founding site, we can see four middling pools, frozen over following the harsh winter, and a few small puddles. The brook, Webspoons, is at the far north easterly extent of our range. It, too, is frozen, however we hope to see it thaw with the coming warmer months. Birch, ash, chestnut and the odd willow scatter the landscape, and the grass gives way to the odd exposed patch of black sand or dolomite boulder. Ducim, always looking for comfort food, laments that only two hives of bees can be seen. As yet we have not seen another living thing in the area, making our three hunters wary of the quiet - ''too quiet''.

''1st Granite, 187, second entry.''
I have ordered us underground immediately. The black sand soil immediately below our feet will crumble before Mistem and myself, while the others chop some trees to supplement our stock of wood. Given the weather, I will leave the wagon assembled, whole, as a beacon for incoming caravans, should they arrive. A short tunnel, a curve to the left, and a hollow for the future trade depot. A small space will be cleaved for a general stockpile, but even in the darkness of the soil, it is too close to the surface for my liking. ''We will dig.''

''3rd Granite, 187.''
The first chambers have been dug in the black sand, and the first staircase. All water remains frozen, although a groundhog has been sighted by the hunters. Unfortunately, we are too busy hauling the wagon supplies to the chamber behind our future trade depot. Below the black sand lies more sand - blood red and soft, we shall set up temporary rooms here. Mistem dug a staircase down through this shifting floor, only to rush back with important news - we have struck dolomite - which will prove useful for more permanent buildings, but importantly, embedded within the rock was limonite! Iron will be ours - and ''with luck, steel''.

''8th Granite, 187.''
A creaking groan, unearthly loud, caused us a moment of fear and pause - the ice has cracked and thawed. Busy in our endeavours, and with our animals in pastures well clear of the ice, no drownings occurred. With the water flowing, we shall endavour to set up a well at some point, as time without water may put the prosperity of Meshring at risk. In our endavours, we may become wounded, and the treatement of such wounds when there is only ice would be ''a terrible blow''.

''9th Granite, 187.''
Progress on the main manufacturing chamber progresses swiftly in the soft sand. "Bedrooms", barely worthy of the name, are dug. And our hunters have claimed their first kill - the groundhog lies punctured by 8 silver bolts. A turkey hen has taken three bolts, and will perish soon. Unfortunately, we lack the facilities to skin or process the animals, and we scramble to build the butcher's shop and kitchen to handle our bounty. Should we get them constructed in time, a leatherworks would also be a welcome sight to provide us with the waterskins and backpacks that our military will need. Still reflecting on the luck of finding limonite so close, ''we shall not want for crossbow bolts''.

''16th Granite, 187.''
We have a kitchen and butcher's shop, however they were unfortunately not completed in time to allow the groundhog or turkey hen to be processed. A lone turkey gobbler remains on the surface, but our attention must turn to sustainability - a fine mushroom farm needs to be set up, but in the sand we shall not want for space to grow ''many juicy, delicious plump helmets''.

''10th Slate, 187.''
How time flies. A kitchen, still, leatherworks, butchery and tannery are all up and running, and our dining room has some thrones and tables. Turkeys are more abundant - the warmer weather must be favourable for them in this area. A few have fallen and now supplement our food stocks. Speaking of food, our first farm is planted, and we all we wait with bated breath for the first crop of home-grown plump helmets to brew. Our main manufacturing hall is excavated and we've put in plans for wood furnaces, smelters and the first metalsmith's forge. With iron at easy grasp, we will be able to build another forge, should the Mountainhome decide to send us another metalworker. ''We can see our own prosperity''.

== Summer, 187 ==

''1st Hematite, 187, Summer.''
The cool of spring gives way for the heat of summer. A cougar has taken to prowl above ground - a wall may be necessary for the pasture. We each have fully furnished rooms, the dolomite beneath the main floor yielding to our mason's hammer and chisel. Our first batches of plump helmets have been harvested and brewed in to beer, while the meat from the turkeys has been processed in to lavish meals, fit for, well, if not a queen, then at least seven dwarves of dedicated temperament. Our clutter has been reduced with the production of a number of wooden bins, and we shall erect the trade depot tomorrow. A few iron crafts will see ''sufficient wealth to trade for what we need''.

''28 Malachite, 187, the first wave of migration.''
Our first batch of migrants have arrvied. A bonecarver, miller, fish dissector, herbalist, peasant and of bloody course, a soap maker. Meshring's population now numbers 13. They are put to work building the final stretches of our dolomite palisade. It is extensive, meaning that we are now low on raw dolomite. A stockpile of blocks has been created, so we are hardly in dire need, but the miners should clear some more rock for us. It helps that we can now move all stockpiles below the manufacturing hall. ''With labour comes profit''.

== Autumn, 187 ==
''1st Limestone, 187, Autumn.''
The heady, warm days of summer have flown by and our thoughts turn to stockpiling food and booze ahead of the cold of winter like a common chipmunk. Our palisade is complete, with only portals for access to be fitted. Lacking a mechanic as yet, we are reliant on simple doors rather than stout drawbridges as should be proper. Two beehives are inside the walls, and we have started watchtowers on the extermities. ''We shall not be caught unawares''.

''26th Limestone, 187, we have breached a cavern!''
Our miners, seeking the precious flux needed to turn iron in to steel, dug deeper in to the ground. Confident that 5 levels would be "perfecty safe", they rushed back to me declaring that they have discovered a large underground cavern, and, worse luck, have spotted a downard passageway. I will not stand idly by and watch our hard work be put at risk, so I have ordered the passage to be walled up. No freakish mutant will catch me napping and eat my face. ''The price of eternal freedom is eternal vigilance''.

''21st Sandstone, 187, magma!''
We are barely 30 levels below the surface and already we have hit semi-molten rock. Lava is near - our miners are wary of striking the warm stone. I have asked for areas to be excavated, seeking a way around the blood of the earth, but to no avail. The rumors of ''adamantine'' remain just that, ''rumor''.

''25th Sandstone, 187, the second wave of migration.''
Our population has swelled to 20, with fresh migrants. I have assigned them to furnace operation, as we are still without steel, but we may as well prepare for the discovery of flux with ''an abundance of iron''.

''13th Timber, 187, the liaison has arrived.''
Degel Isonnil, the liaison from the Mountainhome, has arrived, along with a caravan. I have asked for wood, ammunition and leather, and traded a few excess iron trap components for the small array of farm animals and mismatched weapons the traders carried. Until we have steel, ''a rag-tag bunch of dwarves we shall remain''. 

''28th Timber, 187, the cold is approaching.''
I failed to notice that one of the cats and a bitch gave birth back in the month Galena. Rather than risk my dwarves giving themselves to flights of fancy, I have ordered the kittens... ''processed'' and the puppies kept "manageable" in a <s>cage</s>suitable kennel. I have also been told that the large, open cavern has been excavated, for cave trees to grow in. With winter approaching, the less time we spend above ground, the better. ''The cold will kill us all''.

== Winter, 187 ==

''3rd Moonstone, 187, a recluse in our midst.''
'''Tholtig Ormorul''', a "mechanic" in title only since he dabbled in a few mechanisms, elevating himself above peasantry, dropped his load of quartzite he was hauling from the depths of the mountain, muttering to himself he has has a brilliant, life-changing idea. He rushed to the mechanics workshop, itself gathering rock dust and spores from disuse, and immediately grabbed at a block of hewn quartzite. Holding it aloft, he turned it in his hands and muttered something before running off to the stone pile, returning with a fist-sized chunk of dolomite. He laboured for barely a few hours before returning with a creation, nay ''construction'' so mysterious, so simple, we marvel at the artistry in someone so... banal. He gathered us together, and revealed '''Desorkamut''', "The Entrancing Ripper" - a mechanism of purest quartzite. Taking the block of quartz, this one-time peasant found the core of true beauty in the stone, and applying menacing spikes of dolomite, has created something that can only be thought of as an artifact. Nothing any of our twenty-strong band of dwarves has seen anything so practical, simple, yet full of potential. Tholtig seems changed, now. No longer without purpose, no longer dragging around that tattered sock that people laughed about behind his back, we see the vacant, glassy look in his eyes as ''a genius at work''.

== Spring, 188 ==
''1st Granite, 188, the temperature finally starts to rise''.
The winter was cold and bitter but survivable. We have used the time that the brook is frozen to construct a completely dwarfmade aqueduct to a new well. Our resident mechanic created a masterpiece mechanism for the well out of silver bars brought by the traders from the Mountainhome, a worthy use for the material. We await the thawing of the river to see the small reservoir fill. A cat has again given birth to kittens. Again these will be ''processed''.

''7th Slate, 188, the third wave of immigrants''.
Strange voices were heard from beyond the palisade and we see a swarm of migrants headed our way. Nearly doubling our population, EIGHTEEN eaters have headed to Meshring - our fame must be growing. Few of the migrants had useful skills, and the mix of skills is... troubling. Two surgeons, an animal trainer, small animal dissector, bowyer, potter... It is as if the Mountainhome expects injuries and handicrafts! Two particular migrants, however, had a glaze over their eyes that couldn't be attiributed to any source. Their hands were pale, bluish, almost... metallic, and both have troubling coughs, deep and wet and prolonged. When questioned, they mutter somthing about "the mountain's nerves', working their hands rhythmically, and all who have heard this can swear they've heard indwarven screams in the distance and the smell of brimstone. I believe they may have handled ''adamantine''...

''9th Slate, 188, a craftsdwarf recedes from society''.
'''Mistem Munestetur''', one of our dabbling stonecrafters, was in the middle of a chat in the dining hall, lounging next to the lever that we have installed using '''Desorkamut''', when he simply stood up and walked away. I was taken aback, especially when she pushed in to the craftsdwarf's workshop with two stones of quartzite in her hands. She seems inspired, and is working furiously. ''The very rock seems full of inspiration''.

''14th Slate, 188, jewellery or art?''.
Mistem Munestetur emerged from the manufacturing hall today cradling something in her arms. When pressed, she ordered everyone to the dining hall, to line the walls and stay back. She dragged a table to the centre of the hall and carefully placed a speck on the table. Craning to see, gasps passed all who saw what it was - from two large stones, Mistem had chiselled, scraped and polished the quartzite to a tiny, ornate shape, encircled it with another piece of quartzite and laid delicately carved hanging rings, also of quartzite. Beaming like a proud mother, she announced that he had created '''Nunurilir''', "Crevicejoy". Her skill with the chisel means that she could, ''single handedly, provide for the wealth of this fortress''.

''15th Felsite, 188, a caravan approaches''.
Our lookouts rushed back today, shouting that a caravan approaches. Rather than the stout, hardy wagon that we were used to, this one was slender, dainty, ''elvish''. Phah. We traded a single spare iron trap component that was gathering dust and cave spider cobwebs for their supply of wood, foreign liquor, a handful of buckets and a few bags of sand. The trap component was worth more than what we received, but it was so insignificant to us that the glee in the trader's eye makes me sick. Elves. Can't live with them, ''can't chop them down like tress.''

== Summer, 188 ==
''7th Malachite, 188, the fourth wave of migration''.
Thirteen wandrering souls were spotted by our lookouts today. We now number a respectable 52 dwarves, but the distribution of skills is a little... odd. We have two high master cheese makers, and two high master spinners, despite having neither a dairy industry nor loom. I am looking at detailing a huge cavern to be cleared, with the aims of becoming enitrely self sufficient if sealed in - ''I do not wish to be caught unawares.''

''7th Galena, 188''.
The huge cavern is complete. I had a chain gang of useless peasants, cheese makers, spinners and the like hollow it out, and already the spores released from the caverns are working their magic. Like some unholy beast unfurling from the very sand, we see misshapen shrubs and stubby saplings of trees, familiar to us but malformed to the eyes of humans, spring forth from the sand. Given time, no reliance on the surface will be necessary. Then, ''I shall rest.''

== Autumn, 188 ==
''3rd Limestone, 188, strange affairs with poultry''.
'''Ducim Zasildom''', our cook, was helping settle a new keet that arrived with the last migrants in to a comfortable nest box when she suddenly started screaming. Needless to say, we have a few more eggs now than originally expected! She abandoned the poor guineafowl and rushed to a craftdwarf's workshop. A pale blue glow seemed to be coming from behind her eyes. ''Creepy.''

''8th Limestone, 188, snatcher!''
A strange yowling was heard from the dining hall today, and on investigation a cat had been kicked by a stunted humanoid, warty, ugly, leathery skin. A goblin thief had come, carrying a sack, and a mean glint in its eye. A piecemeal militia grabbed some gear and headed up the main corridor, but the miscreant fled before a stray dog in the pasture. This only emphasises the need to replace the portals with bridges... ''This may be the sign of something... ominous.''

''13th Limestone, 188''.
Ducim Zasildom has been toiling for ten days, screaming, muttering and gibbering about alder, moonstone, dolomite and chestnut. She emerged, confused, as if she cannot remember the last week and a half. In her hands, she looks blankly and bursts out, "Oh! This is... '''Bemtun Leganodgub'''", amazed that her hands has created "Flutedoor the Mirthful Mob", an alder crown of masterful craftsmanship. We pressed her to create a copy, but it appears that she truly doesn't remember anything. ''Amnesia, goblins. I worry.''

''10th Sandstone, 188''.
I have ordered a little exploratory mining as we still lack the flux stone required to turn our iron in to steel. On a side note, the poultry we have amassed for egg laying are starting to fight - I have witnessed disturbing events - never before have I seen (nor would I want to again) a poult eneter a bezerk rage against a guineacock child. It is disturbing, and the animals are unsettling me ''Feathers... Feathers and blood everywhere.''

''24th Sandstone, 188 - a day to live in praise!''
Mistem Rutodral, the miner working on the exploratory mine, screamed. Expecting another queer turn and moody dwarf, we were surprised to hear that it was in joy. A new cavern had been breached, but this was not the cause of the elation, but Mistem, breathless and sweaty, announced that he had spotted a blue hue that he had only heard of whispered in legend - ''ADAMANTINE! PRAISE THE MINERS!''

''15th Timber, 188''.
The traders and Mountainhome liaison arrived today. We asked only for wood, coke, charcoal. We have not been blessed with coal, and although we have found the magma sea, we have yet to tap it. We traded the stone crafts that were encrusted with lesser gems and took all their wood and useful items. We remain vigilant, but the presence of adamantine has brought a hush over Meshring. The first strands have been wrought, and the first wafers are being struck as I write. ''Soon.''

== Winter, 188 ==
''1st Moonstone, 188''.
The river has frozen again, but we have our reservoir and well. Our food supplies are bolstered, so we shall not want. Our bees have produced a batch of honey, which I have ordered made in to mead to commemorate the discovery of adamantine. ''Remember these days!''

''21st Moonstone, 188''.
The bloody cats gave birth again. ''No kittens allowed!''

''10th Opal, 188 - our population increases''.
'''Kadol Etestolin''', the presser has given birth to a darling baby boy. His beard was the longest seen on a baby for some time! She and her husband, '''Edem Oslantosid''', have named their son '''Azmel Takuzthingiz'''. We have organized a party at the granite table in the dining hall to celebrate. ''Congratulations!''

''11th Opal, 188 - can't write for long''.
'''''DISASTER LOOMS!''''' The Forgotten Beast Rurast Gedorozor has come! A towering three-eyed thrips. It has a square shell and it undulates rhythmically. Its pumpkin exoskeleton is rough and cracked. Beware its deadly blood!

''27th Opal, 188''.
Our doom waits below, but life must continue. After a year and a half of longing glances over many barrels of dwarven beer, two beards were wiped clean of brewed plump helmet foam and love was professed. Two of our original seven pioneers have declared their undying love for one another and it makes a dwarf proud to see it happen to two such stout individuals. The woodcutter '''Ingish Ustuthimesh''' and the manager (doctor) '''Melbil Bomrekotil''' have married. Congratulations! They have decided to forego any formal celebrations.

== Spring, 189 ==

''1st Granite, 189''.
The beginning of the third year of Meshring sees us in a tenuous but positive position. Although we have an ''Uninvited Guest'' brooding below, we are secure. The well was barely drained of any of its water, and we look forward to the brook being unfrozen. We have alcohol and food aplenty, and await the first batch of subterranean trees to be harvested. I have ordered the drawbridges lowered around our palisade for some fresh air, but this respite will be brief, as ''complacency breeds laziness.''

''4th Granite, 189 - more bloody kittens''.
The yowling of a cat giving birth was unbearable today. I immediately ordered the kittens ''cared for'' but even my immediate reaction was not fast enough. '''Rovod Edemimik''', a stonecrafter, turned all gooey-eyed and gushing over one of the spawn. The '''caring''' order was promptly shouted down by a very irate Rovod, brandishing a chisel. This problem will have to be stopped, but ''I fear it is too late.''

''17th Granite, 189 - Earth's blood!''
Today our miners came to me, caked in stone chips and smelling of brimstone. I knew their news from their eyes - we had found a great magma sea! With the area bereft of coal, I immediately ordered a suitable series of chambers to be dug for a mighty pump stack. My foresight of establishing a secondary mining corps has an opportunity to pay off! Soon, the blood of the Earth shall ''yield to my power!''

''22nd Granite, 189''.
After some time closeted to design the stack, digging is well underway. One small hiccup is that a cavern is in the way, but a wall shall shore up the gap. Interestingly, neither valuable ores nor gems have been discovered in the digging. It is as if the very earth ''knows our discovery of adamantine and trembles.''

''25th Granite, 189 - Calamity!''
The "gap" I was so confident in will be our doom. '''I've killed us all.''' The great Beast Rurast Gedorozor sensed the opening and is charging this way. '''Vucar Sodelthosbut''', a woodcrafter, was already on his way to erect the wall. All we can do is pray he finishes in time, but ''I fear the end of days is upon us.''

''25th Granite, 189, second entry''.
Vucar was finishing the final parts of the wall when Rurast toppled its construction. He is the dwarf in the deepest part of the mountain, so hope remains - ''for the rest of us''. I have ordered an immediate halt to the stack but there are miners and helpers a scant four levels above its pumpkin carapace. A new wall is to be built at an access corridor, and may Armok have mercy on those who will be trapped behind it.

''25th Granite, 189, third entry''.
Vucar has fallen. Taking multiple kicks, Vucar became immediately enraged, to no avail as one fell blow from the Beast tore his upper spine nervous tissue. Amazingly Vucar survived, only to be bodily bowled over by the Beast. Further devestating attacks to the spine followed, and the Beast bit and latched on to Vucar's right arm. Beyond all expectations he manages to punch the Beast but barely fazes it, only moments before his arm was torn from his socket, blood spraying everywhere. With the red mist of battle over his eyes, Vucar swings his left arm again and again at the Beast, buying the other dwarves valuable seconds while it dodges his pitiful advances. The Beast quickly tired of the show of bravado from a dwarf with no fear, biting Vucar firmly on the upper body, tossing him around like a rag doll and ultimately opening up his major arteries. A final flurry of kicks to Vucar's head saw teeth mangled and sent flying, befor blood loss mercifully claimed him. ''May Armok remember him.''<br />
The access corridor wall was also toppled as the Beast surged upwards, but thankfully the dwarves building it took flight ahead of the destruction. The brave doctor, Melbil Bomrekotil, was working frantically to shore up the mortar but the Beast fell upon her. Bravely brandishing shield and war hammer, she had her body ravaged. Her left foot and right hand were torn off during the struggle and again, the many limbs of Rurast pummelled the spines of its victims. A third (and final?) wall is to be built, right at the entry to the downward staircase, and if breached, ''we will all be doomed.'' The secondary wall has failed. 

''26th Granite, 189 - saftey? Posession!''
The third and final wall is complete. The beast has halted its assault from below for the moment. During its torment, Ingish Ustuthimesh became possessed with a dangerous glint to his eyes. He has claimed the carpenter's workshop. ''We await our fate.''

''3rd Slate, 189''.
With our immediate demise averted, another pump stack is to be built. A council of our best architects were conscripted and the plans checked by no less that 10 different dwarves. No gaps in this plan. Ingish Ustuthimesh has emerged, similarly blinking with confusion, walking with an item of immense beauty. '''Serkibtad''', "The Random Matches" is an alder splint, studded with adamantine and menaces with spikes of dolomite. On the item is an image of a dwarf in alder. ''Beauty.''

''25th Slate, 189''.
The pump stack framework is done, and work has commenced on blocks and pipe sections for... '''''WAIT!''''' Oh no! The Forgotten Beast Oda has come! A huge three-eyed sauropod. It has thin wings of stretched skin and it undulates rhythmically. Its emeerald scales are oval-shaped and close-set. Beware its poisonous sting!

''26th Slate, 189 - the fifth wave of migration''.
Twenty four brave souls have arrived. ''They know not the horrors that await them.''

''19th Felsite, 189''.
An elven caravan has arrived, with cages that are filled with wonderous animals. We look forward to trading our trinkets for their ''nature-loving wares.''

''20th Felsite, 189 - Ambush!''
An ambush! Curse them! Five viscious, trained goblins - four wielding swords and one a spear - have been spotted. Too late! three are within the palisade! I ordered the external bridges sealed to prevent the others from entering but calamity struck swiftly. Erithadag, the animal trainer, was working to train up a batch of war dogs. He fled from the goblins and was on a bridge when it raised. He was thrown bodily from it and crushed to death. Distraught at a close friend being killed, Dobar Kuletselor, a metalcrafter, was running to help and cut down where he stood. I ordered everyone inside and rallied the militia but things were chaos in the heat of battle. The poorly trained and poorly armed militia did their best but a speardwarf and macedwarf were cut down, and a second macedwarf bled to death from his wounds. One goblin paid for this with its life, but the remaining two goblins rushed to attack the main corridor. They were quickly caged by the ring of defences. Five brave dwarves will be interred in our burial chamber. Four war dogs also perished, along with the stray dog that was in training, a cat and an alpaca. We retreat to honour our dead, regroup, and lick our wounds. ''These flithy swine will pay dearly.''

''25th Felstie, 189''.
The elven traders may be our salvation - they have brought a jaguar, a giant leopard, a giant badger, two grizzly bears, a cougar and a honey badger in cages. These have been purchased and will be trained where possible or at worst penned to provide ''a deterrant to any further foolhardy attackers.''

== Summer 189 ==
''3rd Felsite, 189, death and rebirth''.
After a tragic few months, some good news came today - Urdim Igamkdaol has given birth to a baby girl. ''The wheel turns and begins anew.''