Bloodline:Ironhold Year 1052A

Year 1052, Universe A, of the fortress Datankegeth, also known as Ironhold. The Diary of Urdim "ilmmad" Sibrekuthir, a peasant...

What I Got Myself Into

My life is not in its best place right now. My parents finally kick me out of my house. "You need to do something with your life," they tell me. "We hear there's a group of adventurers moving out to a new fortress, Ironhelm or something like that. But son, you need to leave. Find a wife, get a job." So, with their words still ringing in my ears, I packed my bags and left for the nearest wagon station. Met a bunch of smiling faces, who descended upon me like rats to a scrap. "Going to Ironhold, friend?" "Ready to start a new life?"

Sure, why not. Let's go to Ironhold. Can't be that bad.

And it isn't. Sure, don't have any friends, no well-defined job, or any real skills. I'm the hunter, which is probably why we don't have any meat in storage. Life was fine.

Until the ruler, Sigun, drops the bomb on me:

"I can't take this. I need to spend less time ruling an more time farming. From now on, you're in charge."

Yeah, great idea Sigun. Maybe, just maybe this wouldn't be a terrible sentence, but only if a few changes were made to this fort. First of all, we have shit for security, and I say that without a hint of hyperbole. A few mangy dogs are tied up outside the main entrance, hounds which do nothing but lick themselves and chase their tails for hours on end. The only way they'll notice an intruder is if he's covered in scraps of meat. And the workshops, where do I start on the workshops?

Look, I see what my predecessor was going for here, and for now the workshops work great. The problem is, we have no dedicated stockpiles for input and output of workshops. The large stockpile is close enough for now, but in the future, when we have (hopefully) dedicated workers, we will need a main work area with dedicated stockpiles and the like. Maybe I can convince the miners to help me with this.

We also have a great river to work with, but from what I've heard our last ruler was somewhat of an aquaphobe. So if I get nothing else done this year, I hope to at least have some well system in place. This should give our mechanic a use, because I think he's unhappy eternally smoothing floors.

So begins my term as ruler of Ironhold. Osram be with me.

Granite

1st

So I've been talking to some of the farmers, and apparently they're growing only plump helmets! Next rotation will include a load of Quarry Bushes...Provided we have the means of production, our food stores could double within months. We do have 900+ eats already, but to fair most of it is seeds. I've been meaning to tell the bookkeeper to stop including those when she counts the stocks.

Also, there's a goat in the fortress, but I'm on my writing break! I've been told it's been interrupting people's sleep. Maybe I could stop to hunt it...

10th

I am victorious! I managed to catch the goat in the dormitories, where it had been wreaking tame havoc on the populace! After a long chase, I cornered it and proceeded to rip off its limbs and punt it a good 10 feet. There's no kill like overkill! We'll be eating good tonight.

18th

Just traded some crafts to the elves in exchange for wooden items. I may not agree with the elves' staunch business terms, but right now we are in a wood shortage, so it's better to buy wood than use it for practice weapons and cages. I also bought a few exotic alcohols, for the boys.

Slate

1st

As the plump helmets begin to bloom, a few small projects are underway in Ironhold. I've done a bit to increase defense, with doors(gasp) added to one entrance, and a long path through a bunch of traps guarding the others. More will come. I'm also beginning an expandable irrigation project, which will begin with a main reservoir, with a well drawing from this source. Four or more floodgates will lead into empty rooms, which can be used to expand the system for irrigation, power, or whatever.

5th

Just laid the plans for a magma delivery system that will supply magma to various forges and smelters. By the end of the year, I expect it to be fully mined out and full of magma.

7th

Elephant broke my goddamn arm. Those things are vicious.

13th

I'm told migrants have arrived, pity I can't get up and greet them. I'm told I'll need to rest for at least a month, maybe more. It least I can still draw out plans with my good arm, but I don't think I'll ever experience the thrill of the hunt again. I wasn't too good, anyway.

14th

Roll call puts our new population at 37, meaning we had 22 immigrants. I've got time; might as well review their skills and assign them appropriate jobs.

Also, miners working on the magma ditch uncovered a chasm. Truth to be told, we aren't very well armed now, so I've ordered it to be closed off immediately. Later rulers can deal with it.

17th

I thought I had the chasm sealed off, but apparently there is a gap, because batmen are harassing my miners. One miner acted quickly, making short work of the creatures. I had the chasm sealed off for good.

Felsite

5th

Talked to Sigun today, whose been asking people to call him "hmxmoss" lately. Anyway, he asked me how I've been contributing to The Great Obsidian Eatery. I hadn't, so I set up a few chairs and tables there for him, just to make him happy...

Recently I remembered about my water project, which stopped so I could work on the magma project. Now both are being worked on, as well as my secret project.

18th

My route to the magma wasn't good enough; getting the magma into the newly dug tunnel will be a challenge.

21st

So close to completion of magma project. The next challenge is finding a way to get the miners out alive.

Hematite

2nd

Summer is on us.

I remember, when I first arrived in Ironhold, Sigun would always talk about the elephants. The ones to the north. It was even worse when he was drunk. "L-let me tell youuu about elephantzz," he would slur, ale in one hand and onion in the other. "They'll kill you dead, all of usss will be dead, dead, dead." He really was worried about our purportedly lethal neighbors to the north. Well, his fears should now be assuaged. Our ranger managed to shoot an elephant in its heart, depositing gallons of elephant blood into pools as the animal ran to its death. Rather ridiculously, it ran 21 tiles(meta) before dying.

9th

Broke the final barrier between the volcano and the magma tunnels. It should fill entirely by late summer.

18th

Human wagons arrived, and we traded a multitude of obsidian goods for an anvil, some armor, and a few logs. The trader wouldn't take a profit over under 1500, but we can produce these little kitschy stone goods with little effort anyway. The magma is about 40% through the tunnel, and I've set up the workshops which will use it.

20th

The arm healed! I said I wouldn't earlier, but right now I'm hunting again! Of course, I'm being a bit overshadowed by the ranger who keeps getting hits to the heart on the roving elephants.

23rd

Back in bed, this time with a broken leg. No more hunting for me after I heal.

Malachite

11th

So a lungfish, which the saltier dwarves tell me is a fish that spends the dry season in a self-created sac, has somehow managed to move into our fortress and is rolling around on its own accord.

In other news, the magma is close to filling the troughs. About a month, maybe two left until we have magma-powered forges and such.

15th

Edzul Ducimnamash took to a strange mood earlier, grabbing a piece of leather and confining himself to our leathershop. Well, the fruits of his labor have been produced; masterwork leather armor. I have our new legendary leatherworked making us some masterwork leather trade goods now.

22nd

Ran out of leather for Edzul to work with. I think our ranger also ran out of ammunition, so I'll need to get on that too. But we should have a few hides waiting to be tanned around here, the hunter is still pulling in quite a haul. Assigned three peasants to join the army and started their training in the small barracks. Also, the magma is at the entrance to the area under the forges, only a few more feet need to be filled. We'll still need to wait for it to reach a suitable depth before using the forges though. We'll also need tome good ores to use.

25th

The reservoir I had dug out months ago has since ground to a halt, as three rocks block key points for floodgate building. But no matter how much I try, my dwarves will not remove these rocks. It's actually quite frustrating, seeing as, had I not broken my leg, I could do it myself...

Galena

4th

Erith Uristarek, a clothier, just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.

8th

For some reason, a bunch of miasma will occasionally clog up the chasm. Probably some beastie killing a weakling down there...Savages. Magma is coming along well.

12th

Even though the traders left a long time ago, the human liaison just got around to finalizing export/import agreements. Here is what they want next year, for my successor:

25th

I've decided to set up an archer at the chasm, to train his skill. I've got the bonecarver whipping up some bolts now, but what we really need is some metal. I should probably have someone start prospecting for ores, but right now finding any iron ores will be a shot in the dark.

Limestone

10th

Dwarven traders just arrived, with their caravans included. Hopefully they will have good product; I have a ton of exportable goods. The magma has fully filled the troughs, now all it needs to do is get deeper. I found the problem with the reservoir, and it is near completion. I want to finish quickly so it fills before the river freezes. I will post full updates on everything I've changed soon.

12th

Last year the dwarven trades we are friendly with asked us for prepared food, offering more than double the normal price. Well, on year and a few masterpiece dinners later, here is what two meals are worth to the traders:

A trade of about 45000 monies took place, and we ended up with more cloth than we will need for the next year, some leather, some various spirits, and a lot of steel armor and a few iron weapons. About half the steel armor is rather high quality.

15th

The sole archer we have right now is standing at the chasm, shooting at creatures scores of feet below him. So far he's managed to lay waste to the beasties below and burn through about 100 arrows.

Sandstone

3rd

Dwarven liaison just told us what to make for next year:

Also, a well is being built now, and the reservoir is full, but muddy.

21st

Well is done. First sputters of activity were sighted at the magma forges, if only for a few seconds.

Timber

6th

Migrants!

Populations stands at 46.

Moonstone

1st

Winter is here! Just thought I'd write about what's going on in the fortress. The magma has reached a usable level, so we can begin the metal production process. However, the only ore we have now is copper. Then again, there is a high chance of iron around here somewhere, as it usually shows up among rhyolite, which our reservoir is carved out of! Also, All entrances are trapped, and our craftsman turns out masterpiece products every time he gets to work. Our food stores stand at 1500, almost double what we had when I came into power.

Obsidian

24th

As my term draws to an end, the dwarves struggle to finish my defense set up. Food is at ~1700. Full writeup due at the end of my term.

The Final Writeup

Ironhold is in a pretty good place right now. We have a good amount of food, magma where we need it, and water at the ready for future development. I started to set up defenses, with traps and a ballista at the ready. My tomb is in place and adequately engraved. And the fortress itself is 47 strong, which I consider a success, considering I came into power with only 15 sturdy dwarves to work with. I've even begun a military, although as it stands now it is rather weak. We also have a good amount of material to export - our Master Cook cranks out masterpieces every so often, if given enough ingredients, and our stonecrafter is a masterpiece machine! We've been asked to export backpacks, and we have a Legendary Leathercrafter and a ton of leather, so I see this fort remaining profitable and prosperous for years to come.

Some things for my successor: First of all, complete my defense system. The final bridge is being built - once it is done, please link it to the lever in the meting point in the axis of the workshop floor. When this lever is pulled, the bridges covering the pit below will raise, forming walls that block the stairway and doors of that entrance. This forces invaders to walk through a long, zig-zag corridor full of traps I need you to place, while being fired upon by the ballista.

The water reservoir has three floodgates blocking off areas you can expand into. The controls are in a + shaped room 2 or three floors up. The position of the levers corresponds to their respective gates. Also, if you need to expand the magma, just dig channels, and then floor over unneeded magma.

It was a good year for...

• Food! More specifically, tons of it. At last check, we have 1678. Which is enough to sustain at least 80 dwarves.
• Money! We have good exports. To my successor - keep the Master Cook cooking, and keep our best stonecrafter crafting. If you can, set up a gem-encrusting operation. Also, start on making backpacks.
• Magma and water! We've got the supply worked out, now it's up to my successor to find uses.
• Workshops! We seem to have enough, and goods are being made fast and in good quality.
• Children! Our sturdy wives are birthing them, and they seem to take a liking to work.
• Victory of dwarves over 4 legged creatures! Our lone hunter decided to kill almost every living thing in the northern savanna. This includes elephants.

It was a bad year for

• Booze... We need more. Current count is 171 units.
• Stockpiles... They are badly organized and need rethinking. Also, we are out of room for food, and need more barrels.
• Wood... Cut more, we always need more.
• Urdim "ilmmad" Sibrekuthir... I broke limbs twice, but I'm up for spring. Please don't make me hunt again. Draft me if you must, I'm wearing steel chain.
• Bedding, etc... I managed to carve out enough rooms for almost everyone, but we still need more, as well as beds and coffers for everyone.
• Sigun "hmxmoss" Avuzgeshud... He still needs a tomb, to signify his importance in developing this fortress. Or, when he dies, he could be tossed into the magma. His choice, really.

Best of Luck

I wish the greatest luck upon my successors. If I am ever selected to rule again, I know I will be in command of the greatest fortress in the land! Remember to build yourselves great tombs!