Bloodline:Dathaecamo(userpay)

Prelude

For the legends of Dathaecamo
The story of the fort Zanegshelret
I am Imush Taronsolon, this is my story

“Imush Taronsolon come forth.” The instructor called out. Nervously, I stood up from the line of my fellow classmates and walked up to the podium. “Let this be proof of your talents,” He began as he handed me a scroll, “and training that you underwent at this academy. May it be a proper accounting of oneself and may you ever prosper in your endeavors. You have succeeded where many have flattered and may your future represent that, congratulations.” I walked back to my seat stunned, was the scroll red? As I sat down I looked at it again. Yes it was, different from the usual tan scrolls. Breaking the wax seal, displaying the pick and sword emblem of the school, I peered at the writing. Flabbergasted I read how I placed third in my class, 86 dwarves total, and the glowing complements of my instructors. It further described how easily I took to challenges, my excellent mining abilities, told about my well designed fortress plan, everything. I sat back and the rest of the graduation ceremony went by in a blur. One of the dwarves next to me nudged me bringing me back to the ceremony. “Special announcement.” He muttered. I thanked him and turned my attention back to the dwarf on stage, noticing another dwarf that hadn’t been there before. “Would the following students please report to room E-5.” The instructor rattled off five names ending with mine. “Class, you are dismissed.” With a huzza the graduates began filing towards the exits eager for a night of drinking and partying, and more drinking. I struggled through the crowd to the corridor and walked to the classroom. Five dwarves were already there, however, I was the first of my classmates. One by one they filed in with the headmaster bringing up the rear of the students. He looked over us with pride. “I have gathered you here today to give you a chance to jump start the rest of your lives. Each of these dwarves I have with me has a proposition for each of you. Starting your own forts, a privilege allowed to few.” I again was stunned. I had aspired to this but never expected to reach this point, the leader of an expedition. Some of my fellow classmates had surprised expressions as well, though one had an arrogant look. Never liked that smug bastard anyway. We gradually split up as the expedition assigners would choose a dwarf and take them to other classrooms. Mine led me to the classroom next door. “I’m Dastot, a member of the explorers guild. I’ve had my eye on you for awhile now, that fort plan of yours was interesting.” “Th-thank you sir.” I stuttered out. He just smiled and drew me over to a portfolio for my briefing. Two hours later I left smiling, making a mental checklist of who and what to bring.

A month later We are finally on the road to our location. With me I have five of my friends from the academy. Stukos Koganlar a miner and leatherworker, Lir Fikodetes our carpender and wood cutter, Alath Asomamgoz our mason, Mish Udiblashed our metalsmith, and Obok Gethkib our farmer, cook, and brewer. We also had another assigned to us, a fellow named Zan Likotgamil. His specialty is glass work but he is more or less a jack of all trades when it comes to crafting. We will have to see how this turns out.

Year 1

Spring, 228

1st Granite We have finally arrived at our destination and it is gorgeous. A mountain edge rises up out of a thick forest with minerals lavishly exposed to the open air. Looking around we found a small cave that contained a lava pool but we didn’t hang around because we heard the giggling of fire imps, nasty little bastards from what I hear. That lava will be very useful though because we saw many caravans worth of magnetite exposed that will provide us with more than enough iron to see us through the coming year, never mind what is not exposed and underground. I must go for we have much work to do.

21st Granite Work is going slow but the tunnels are progressing. We have beds and a place to sleep in, we nearly have farming areas dug out and a workshop area and adjoining stockpiles are next on the list. Must go, still to much to do.

22nd Felsite Everyone was on edge about a fire imp that wandered out of its lava pool and was hanging around on the other side of the cliff face we’ve been working on. I went over to check it out when it attacked. The damn thing tried to scratch me but I managed to side step and knocked it out with my pick, after that I took my time lining up my pick with its head. Damn thing won’t be bothering us anymore.

1st Hematite Taking a break from mining I stand outside and feel the warm air that heralds summer. Food storage is now dug out, as well as most of our stockpile rooms. Right now Stukos and I are working on the dining room while Obok is working of our first fresh barrels of alcohol for awhile. We were getting close to running out but we won’t go thirsty for a long time yet.

11th Hematite Most of the primary digging is done. Our primary focus is getting loose stone out from the needed areas and bedrooms dug out. The workshop area is a bit more haphazard then I would have liked but you must deal with what you are given, we needed the work done. In other news a kobold thief tried to get in but Alath spotted the bugger, to bad the dogs aren’t trained to fight well yet.

21st Hematite Winy yells and barks sound from near the trade depot. Rushing to the spot I found the mangled and torn body of another kobold thief that had been killed by our two dogs. Only one of them had been injured thankfully, a shallow slice on its front right leg. Maybe I was too hasty in my initial judgment of the dogs. Smirking I began cleaning up the body parts the fighting had left behind and haul them outside to the refuse pile.

Summer, 228

1st Malachite While hauling stones to the dump I stopped as I remembered something important. There was no clear path for the Autumn caravan! Huridly I dropped my stone and went to find Lir. Spotting him in the food stockpile I walked over to him and told him what needed to be done. He grumbled a bit saying something about being on break but he roused himself from his drinking and set to the task.

21st Malachite The path is now clear, winding around a set of pools. Unfortunately we have not the dwarf power to build a road but that shall come later, right now we need to focus on digging out the rooms for us and the immigrants we will doubtless be receiving soon. Hopefully the caravan won’t be put off by the uninspiring silty clay we had to dig through first before we struck rock. That clay will have to be built over down the line.

11th Galena Summer is nearing its end and along with that the digging for the rooms. We are nearly digging our own cozy little rooms and the general space saving bedrooms for other dwarves, we even have a set of larges rooms dug out for a noble.

Autumn, 228

1st Limestone The leaves are turning on the trees outside and the breeze has taken a cool bite to it. Autumn be upon us. I’m sure that the dwarven caravan will come soon with some needed supplies.

10th Limestone “The caravan!” Zan called out rushing back from hauling rubbish outside. “The caravan is not more than a few days journey out!” The dwarves gave a resounding cheer and hustled off to bring the trade goods, mostly grey gneiss mugs, to the depot. Smiling I rushed off to help. Later I fell asleep wondering what surprises the caravan might bring.

16th Limestone I met with the traders today who are in a good mood. I haggled with them, inexperienced admittedly, but I feel that we got a good deal. We got a few ropes, more food, a caged dog, some alcohol, and a bag of cave wheat seeds. Afterwards I bid the traders good bye and noticed the liaison waiting off to the side, I’m about to meet with him in the dinning room as we haven’t carved out an office for me yet.

19th Limestone One of the caravan guards poked his head into the dinning room where the liaison and I were discussing trade terms. “Just letting you know two kobold thieves showed up.” He said. “What happened to them?” I asked concerned, there were still goods strewn about and I was worried that it might have gotten away. The guard grinned. “What do ye think happened?” He said laughing as he waved the bloody bolt he was carrying. “Your dogs got both of them in the end though. We’ve taken to calling the lad Casathadena and the lass Snogingstongun.” Watchlens, I thought, a good name for the male though Lanterngill? An odd name for anything but I suppose it references the light that revels the hidden. “Thank you, you may go.” The guard left laughing about stupid kobolds. “You really don’t think the kobold would have gotten away from the guards did you?” Sodel, the Liaison, asked. I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. “Well this is my big chance and I was afraid of having our reputation tarnished so soon.” I replied. The liaison waved a meaty hand. “Don’t concern yourself about it, we should get back to these records.” And the meeting continued.

8th Sandstone The others have been muttering about another fire imp that has decided to play outside its lava, nearer than the last. I went over the hill and crept up one side. I peeked over and saw its back towards me, totally oblivious to my presence. With a roar I leapt over and smashed its leg so hard that when it fell it cut its right arm open and was knock out. It was an easy matter to smash its head in like the last one.

10th Sandstone While working to expand the bedrooms we stumbled upon a magnetite cluster. From what I’ve learned these clusters are quite large and with the chalk we’ve recently found we can make steel. I will have to accelerate our work for forges but mining out this cluster takes precedent. Also the caravan and Liaison have left. I bid them a fond farewell and they promised to tell others all about our fort. To be honest I’m not sure if that is a good thing.

21st Timber Smashing through the last pillar of magnetite I grinned at Stukos. “We’re finally done.” I gasped as sweat beaded off me from the exertion of the days mining. “Aye, good job.” She replied leaning on her pick exusted as well. “Shall we get a drink before working on the magma workshop area?” “Sounds like a good idea to me.” I said as I hoisted my pick to my shoulder. When we reached the top I called out to Nish. “Oi get some temporary metalsmithing going in the workshop area while we work on the magma workshop area. We need a few things before we connect the magma.” “I’ll get it done.” He hurried off.

Winter, 228

9th Moonstone We’re digging around to find some bauxite for use with the magma. If we don’t build the safety system out of the right materials then we could have a big problem on our hands.

12th Moonstone Dogs found three more kobold thieves and killed them.

10th Opal A horrible stench filled the air near the trade depot. Apparently everyone was to busy hauling stone to actually finish cleaning up the dead kobolds… Needless to say we finished cleaning that filth up pretty quickly. 25th Opal Preparations for the magma are almost done and I’ve designated many trees to be cut down for our empty wood stockpile.

14th Obsidian Two fire imps stumbled into the stone-fall traps and died. We could have been in huge trouble there since no one saw them coming.

27th Obsidian I have taken care of the last fire imp that we know of. I did a similar tactic from last time. Now we can use the lava in peace.

Year 2

Spring, 229

10th Granite “Is everything ready?” I call out to Nish and Zan. “Aye, everything is sealed up tight.” Nish answered. “We probably don’t even need to worry using the floodgate in the first place. I shrugged as I reach for the bauxite lever, one of the few materials safe for magma related things, and rested my hand on it. “Pulling!” I shouted and gave the lever a tug. With a whir of mechanisms the lever smoothly followed my hand. We rushed down a level to the magma workshop area and pulled the stone covering a peephole aside. We were greeted by the sight of the magma slowly passing the bauxite floodgate after going through the iron grate designed to keep any magma dwelling creatures out. “I’ll keep an eye on things here.” Nish said clapping me on the shoulder. “It will take awhile for the magma to get to the right level. Nodding I relinquished the peephole to him and went about the other tasks that needed my attention.

11th Granite Elven traders were seen on the horizon. I don’t think they will have much that will be of use but I’m not going to let my follow dwarf’s opinions on these tree folk influence me.

16th Granite “Hello!” I called out to the elven traders as I walked to the trade depot. One turned to greet me while the other continued to unload their donkeys. “Greetings. I am Mawada and my companion is Idala.” She said bowing. “And I am Imush.” I signaled the other dwarves and they began hauling our trade goods to the depot. Mawada studied the dwarves. “Forgive me for asking but has something happened recently? I know that this is a new fort but I thought there are usually more dwarves this far in.” “No, we have not suffered any mishaps. Well other than the annoyance of some fire imps from the near by lava pool but those are gone, three of them by my own pick.” I showed her the slightly melted point of my pickax. She raised an eyebrow. “Well, do you mind if we have a tour of your fort?” Surprised but not to be ungracious I answered. “Of course.” And so I lead them through our complex showing them the farm, our workshops, the bed rooms, and the huge room of mined out magnetite which had barely been disturbed. “But this means that trees would be cut down.” She looked at me. “We do not take kindly to such things as that.” “Ah.” I raised my finger. “But I saved the most important for last, you forget that level we passed on the way down here. I brought here to the magma workshop area and gave them a glimpse through our peekhole to the magma. The magma in the tunnels would soon be high enough to use. “By using the magma we cut down fewer trees and thus preserve our forests for longer than many forts.” I explained to them. Mawada turned to me. “Truly you have thought of everything.” She exclaimed, face beaming. “I’m sorry for having doubted you.” I waved my hands before me. “No need to apologies.” “Still I am amazed that only seven dwarves were able to make this much progress.” “Aye, most forts can’t get stable forge works set up until the second or third year.” I said shuffling my feet unused to such praise. “’e graduated at the top of his class to at the academy.” Lir called out. “”e is a masterplaner that one.” “Well I must say congratulations on that. But now we should be down to matters that concern both our profits.” As we walked back I was glad that my bear covered my blush. In the end we traded for a few different seed bags, a few bloated tubers, a bin of cloth, a barrel of pickle berry wine, two cages, and a few old logs of wood.

7th Slate The lava tunnels are finally nearly full and as such I gave the order to close the floodgate. Once we finished the current logging operation we will start up the forge works. In other news the elves have left in good spirits, I’m sure that we will have favorable trading next we meet.

1st Slate I have begun the arduous task of updating our stockpile records. We are more or less waiting for immigrants to arrive so this seems the perfect time to do it while there is a lull. The magma workshops have been set up and soon we will have metal bars rolling off the production line.

9th Felsite Finally, some immigrants have been spotted to the east. We will finally get some much needed help.

12th Felsite As the last dwarf comes in I end the count at 25 dwarves. I’m ecstatic; we have needed a lot of help around here. However now I have the task of figuring out who needs to become military. I do not like the idea of having to assign such a task yet to make sure we are protected it must be done. We also have begun digging towards a lignite vein, an important fuel source that will be quite useful.

15th Felsite I have finished the difficult task of assigning dwarves. I had them assemble in the dinging room and gave them the news. Thankfully most took it in stride. Unfortunately we won’t have a good amount of steel for weapons and armor for another season.

Summer, 229

2nd Hematite The lignite vein has been dug out with at least 50 units dug out.

16th Hematite A human caravan was sighted and I’m embarrassed to say that we haven’t been making any gods for trading. We still have some of the loots from the failed kobold thieves but little else. I’ve taken Zan off lignite processing to work on crafts.

4th Malachite I finally got to trade with the humans today. They were rather irritated about being ignored for so long but when I explained our situation they became friendly again. I managed to trade for some much needed bags, a bin of leather, food, and some alcohol.

27th Malachite Our workload I so great that I’ve taken two squads off duty to help out.

Autumn, 229

8th Limestone Work has been processing well, the lignite has been process and we’re in the middle of filling up our wood stockpiles again. Thing is Lir started acting strangely, skipping about babbling about creating something. I’ve heard of such things moods they call them, supposedly sent by the gods. But I’ve also heard about the consequences of a failed mood…

9th Limestone Seems that we have all the materials that Lir needed, he only grabbed 2 logs. I just hope that he will come out alright.

11th Limestone Lir has come out of the workshop tired, but alive. He made a beautifully carved oaken floodgate called Thabumondin, or Gulffaded.

14th Limestone The dwarven caravan has been spotted on the horizon. We’ll get a warm reception ready for them. In other news we are almost ready to start mass producing iron and our wood stockpile is half full.

15th Limestone We traded for some alcohol, bags, a bin of jaguar leather that we ordered, and food. Later that night we had a feast to celebrate how far the fort has come and invited the caravan.

21st Sandstone Migrants were spotted coming from the east, I will have to take a break and meet with them when they arrive.

23rd Sandstone It’s a small group this time, only 10. Among them were another marksdwarf and another metal crafter, I plan on releasing some of the peasants and have these two fill the spots. On the bright side we now have another mason, a much needed job, and he can engrave as well. I look forward to seeing our halls smoothed out and eventually engraved. In the end we now have 42 dwarves living here, quite a bustling place this has become in less than two years.

Winter, 229

12th Moonstone Smelting operations have been slowed down in order to allow us to perfect our traps. Zan is busy making serrated disks, very sharp little buggers, in order to make some weapon traps.

21st Moostone Recently a goblin snatcher was caught in a cage trap yet that trap was never reloaded, partially because Alath and I were to busy working on the weapon traps to bother. However apparently many more have been trying to get in because we keep finding the same stone-fall trap triggered, it seems as often as we refill it its triggered. I have now corrected the error of the cage trap and the weapon traps proceed.

19th Opal Defenses are nearly done and Zan has been assigned back to working the forges. Once we can get the first round of pig iron made we can make steel and start making some weapons and armor.

26th Obsidian Kobuk, one of our squad leaders, has given birth to a healthy baby girl. I hope that the child will go use as such things are uncertain for a military dwarf and I can’t spare her at this point. In other news steel bars are finally being produced and a training regimen is being written up.

Year 3

Spring, 230

1st Granite Three years… It has been three trying years since we have started this fort and it is a peaceful place. As if to commemorate it Iton, another squad leader, has been taken by a similar mood as Lir was before. I hope things turn out as well as before.

3rd Granite After rushing about and singing Iton has begun work on whatever it is she is making. She grabbed a few units of stone, an uncut lace agate, and some of our imported jaguar leather and claimed the craftdwarf workshop. This should turn out ok.

5th Granite This could be disastrous. Somehow Iton was pregnant and has given birth to a baby girl but she is not herself and won’t take care of the baby. I can only hope that this artifact is finished soon.

7th Granite Finally Iton has finished her artifact and was reunited with her child. The artifact in question was a beautiful gneiss bracelet with an image of a fairy and an image of itself… At any rate the name is quite lengthy this time Thocitallith Ganadmosos, or the Spikesriddles the Special Tragedies. I suppose it refer to the spikes of various materials on the bracelet as well as the near tragedy that could have happed of the baby had died while Iton was not herself.

9th Granite The elven traders have been spotted on the horizon and we will make a warm reception for them. But I must say there have been quite a few notable events lately.

10th Granite I passed by the carpenter workshop recently to see Lir working furiously on my most recent work order. I was amazed how in the space of a few minutes he whittled a log down into a well made pipe section. I guess that fey mood he had really left its mark on him.

13th Granite Alas the elven traders were not the same as the last one and were quite unfriendly. Unfortunately all they brought this time was many bins of cloth and a few berries. As a friendly gesture I gave them a gift of leather shoes that we had made to get rid of the leather that wasn’t jaguar, they seemed to like them. While I was busy two snatchers were caught in the cage traps and another tested our weapon traps for us. Two more were sighted but ran off.

20th Granite Whist working on the stockpile records I heard screaming coming from outside my office. Rushing out I found dwarves running away from the entrance in a panic. I grabbed one of the nearby stationed soilders. “What the hells going on?” I demanded. “A goblin ambush was found, a member caught in a cage trap and the others not too far behind.” I cursed knowing this would be a trying test. “Keep everyone inside and don’t let anyone go after whatever gets dropped out there. Get the other squads over here and stay around the bend, let them come to us.” He nodded and rushed off to obey my orders. I went to the bend and peaked around. I saw the cage sitting there with an enraged goblin thrashing about inside and saw the mangled mess of a goblin, a spear goblin if the nearby spear was an indication, in a mangled mess in a weapon trap. I watched breathlessly as four goblins, wrestlers I think, came around the corner into the entrance. One stepped into the same weapon trap as the spear goblin. The trap jammed. Smiling, another goblin stepped over the trap and was promptly diced in the second row of weapon traps while the other was killed from a trap in the middle. After waiting for a few minutes I called out. “Looks safe.” Cattan, a hunter put into the military, rushed out for a quick check and confirmed it. The whole ambush was dead. Grimly we set about the task of cleaning up the mess and resetting the traps knowing we may not be so lucky in the future.

2nd Slate The clean up is over and the prisoner we captured was a mace goblin. This in addition to the three baby snatchers we captured means that work on the death chamber should probably be accelerated.

9th Slate While the elves were leaving a large group of immigrants were spotted coming from the north. Later, meeting with them I was handed a note from the mountainhome that we were prosperous enough to be a village and have all the rights accordingly. Thus it fell on me to be the first mayor, not that I wasn’t doing the same stuff anyway, and now I’ll have to pick a Captain of the guard and form a fortress guard. Gah to much happening at once.

16th Slate Minor panic when we realized the wells we had dug were overflowing. Stukos and I are hard at work creating relief channels for this.

15th Slate Training regiment starts today. While weapons and armor are readied the military will be working out on a line of screw pumps to build their stamina.

24th Felsite Urist, a mason, has giving birth to a boy.

Summer, 230

2nd Hematite Word has reached me in the mines that Cattan seems to have become possessed. I hope that for his and everyone’s sake he will be ok.

8th Hematite Coming out of the mines for a break I see Cattan stumble out of the craft shop, tired but alive. His artifact is an alder scepter and decorated with 6 different materials, this is easily our most material consuming and valuable artifact so far.

15th Hematite Even when constantly working people like me enough to reelect me for mayor, truly I am grateful. Also the human caravan was sighted, I’ll have to take a even longer break to meet with them.

17th Hematite Thanks to those goblin attacks we have a lot of valuable silk items to trade away, though where they get it is beyond me. So I traded for wood, rope, alcohol, bags, dye, jaguar leather, and most of their food.

Autumn, 230

5th Limestone One of our recruits in training, Sodel, was taken by a fey mood. I don’t like how all these moods seem to interrupt important things.

9th Limestone Sodel made a pretty turtle bone ring though I’m not sure how he was able to fit everything that he did on it.

10th Limestone The dwarven caravan was spotted on the horizon today. I’ll need to halt work temporarily to get ready.

16th Limestone I met with the caravan today. I requested that we not get anymore immigrants for awhile as we need to be able to put more defenses in place before we can accept more. The head merchant seemed to understand. We traded for a few bins of silk and jaguar leather, food, pearlash, and charcoal. As we talked a kobold tried to steal but was easily thwarted by the caravan guards and a few recruits.

12th Timber Shorast, one of our armorers, gave birth to a baby girl today. Also steel production is going great with armor soon to come.

Winter, 230

1st Moonstone Looks like this will be a quiet winter for us. Not much to do besides attempting to get our troops trained at this point.

12th Moonstone Two snatchers tried to get into our fort today. Two more for our caged prisoner stockpile. One got to the weapon traps, 1 more chopped body to transport. I also mandated that we make some turtle shell items to make sure people were working and to have goods for the next caravan.

16th Moonstone “AMBUSH!” Tosid, a peasant who was hauling the goblin snatcher carcasses to the refuse pile, screeched as he barreled down the hallway. He tripped as he went down the ramps and I caught him before he hit the ground. “What happened?” I asked urgently. “I-I was ha-hauling the goblin bodies to the r-refuse pile when I was confronted right in front of the hall to the fort by six goblins. I don’t know how but I got past them and got in here before they could catch me.” Hearing the sounds of the traps going off I rose and clapped him on the soldier. “Good work, go grab some alcohol to calm your nerves.” Tosid ran off. I peaked over the lip of the ramps just in time to see the last two goblins rush stupidly into the traps and literally fall apart. Making a head count, the best I could do with body parts sworn about the place, I found that all the goblins were accounted for with four dead and two captured. “Ok boys the goblins are taken care of but be careful, there may be more ambushes about.” I called back to the anxious dwarves behind me and we got to work. Even Tosid came back out and helped.

18th Opal Well looks like the projects that needed mass hauling are done for now. For the time being work will focus on cleaning up all the excess stone that’s lying around while steel is being produced.

1st Obsidian We’ve constructed another death room with the purpose of allowing people to train on the goblin prisoners. I myself tested it today facing off with a goblin snatcher. When the gate opened it seemed surprised because it barley did anything when I stepped forward and impaled its head with my pick. In hindsight I probably should have gotten some armor first…

14th Obsidian We’ve begun to look for more fuel for our forges since we’re out of any kind of coal, and we don’t want to use trees to make charcoal.

Year 4

Spring, 231

8th Granite Efforts to find fuel haven’t gone well. We’ve dug to some exposed veins on the side of the mountain but one turned out to be only wall deep and another only produced a few units of fuel.

16th Granite The elven traders have been seen coming from the south. Hopefully they will have some food we can make into meals.

18th Granite Well they did have some plants we bought but all they had otherwise was cloth. I think I’m starting to see why my fellow dwarves see the elves as useless.

19th Granite As I was heading to by room I was bowled over by Astesh, the blacksmith, who was muttering about plans and took no noticed of me or anyone else in his way. He claimed the magma forge and took two iron bars, a turtle shell, and some brown zircons. This should prove to be a useful artifact. While I was following him someone came up and told me of three snatchers that were caught in cage traps and of the three kobold thieves that Mosus found, while working on the road, who fled when found. Then he said that four snatchers that died in the same weapon trap! How stupid are these goblins?

22nd Granite We are ambushed by a human! We were about to clean the traps when someone noticed a few weapons out of place for snatchers. We waited and were rewarded by the sight of a human leading an ambush of goblins!

27rd Granite “What’s the situation right now?” I asked Catten who was watching over the entrance. “Ok so far, the ambush that we sighted reached the traps and is dead.” We listened to the sounds of screams and our traps scything through bodies. “Though I think there’s more than one.” He stated. A human yell rang out amongst the clang of a cage trap. We hurried to the ramps and saw the goblins that were with him had abandoned their leader and ran away, one failing to miss a trap and dieing. “Did you recognize the emblem of those to humans?” I asked Catten gesturing to the two humans in the cage traps. “Quite honestly no I don’t. They aren’t the ones that we trade with though I can’t imagine how they got past the weapon traps when they weren’t jammed. “That’s it. One more line of cage traps, it seems like it’s the only failsafe against these damn ambushes and snatchers.” Catten cleared his throat for my attention. “At any rate it seems safe to let people out now. Armok knows that giant pile of goblins corpses is stinking already. “Right then, go at it.” Dwarves rushed around us eager to be done with the gruesome task.

10th Slate As I was conversing with Catten over improving the defenses a we heard a clamor in the entryway. Going up the ramps we were greeted by the sight of a well dressed dwarf striding right towards us. “Hail! The names Cerol.” He called out. “Where can I find the mayor here?” “This be him.” Catten said pointing t me. “What do you require?” I asked. “I was sent here to be your dungeon master by the explorers commission, even the queen is starting to become interested.” We stared dumbfounded at Cerol. The queen herself was eyeing us! “Well that’s explains why we got someone when we asked for new people.” I said. “Welcome aboard.” “Aye thanks.” He turned an eye towards the clean up. “You had a little goblin problem eh?” “Not so much goblin as human.” He turned back to me with a puzzled look. “We had a series of goblin snatchers try, being the key word, to get in and as we were about to clean up we found weapons that had to be from an ambush. There may have been three ambushes but the two that we know of were lead by humans, their currently sitting in the prisoner stockpile.” “We got this emblem off them but we don’t know who it’s from.” Catten said handing a piece of cloth with a crown on it. Cerol traced a finger along the design. “Well, this looks like it’s from the Pesor Aslu group.” “The Confederacies of Circling?” I asked remembering tidbits from the meetings with Dastot. “I thought we weren’t involved in any trouble with them.” “Aye, that be so. They’re probably not too happy with us trading with Kenomanthath like we have been.” “Pah!” Catten snorted. “The ‘Future Confederation’ indeed. Pespr Aslu probably doesn’t like the upstarts to begin with.” “Anyway,” I said. “we have rooms dug out for you but we still need to furnish them.” Cerol waved a hand. “Bah no big deal, I’ll just go get acquainted with the forges while I wait.” Cerol walked off and Catten and I resumed our conversation.

12th Slate Apparently Astesh finished his artifact during the ambushes, it’s an iron armor stand titled Mosuslertesh Merirminbaz. I think this will be an excellent center piece in the dungeon master’s new rooms. I also noticed that it was the dungeon master himself working to make the furniture at the forge, if that’s not irony I don’t know what is.

25th Slate I mandated the making of some electrum items today. Bim, a metal crafter, immediately grabbed a bar of electrum and made a ring, an earring, and an amulet. I do so like electrum.

22nd Felsite I was presented with the first suit of steel armor we have made today. I traced a figure over the shining curves awed, proud of how far we have come. Promising to put it to good use I put on the suit and went to the goblin sparring chamber to deal some dwarven justice on the ugly green skins. Suffice to say the three goblin snatchers I faced all looked like a wall I’ve just mined out, they didn’t even put up a decent fight. I went in dealing justice and I came back out named by my peers. Icumdumat Toral, the Virtuous Roughness of Law. I ordered armor production put up in full. Summer, 231

12th Hematite Not much to talk about. Armor production is going well though I’m not sure if we have enough steel for the whole military, guess that means more digging for fuel.

17th Hematite Word has reached me in the mines that the human caravan was sighted. I ordered goods brought to the trade depot and told them I’ll be there shortly. Indecently I was reelected again.

19th Hematite I stood by the trade depot talking to the merchants that had arrived so far when the shout went up. “Ambush!” “Catten!” I roared. “Get people off the pumps and make some squads. I want you guys equipped with what we have and outside on the double!” One of the traders stumbled in trying to pull his burdened donkey faster. “Report.” The head merchant told him. “An Ambush was spotted coming from the north west, sir.” “And I’m willing to bet there’s more than one.” I muttered, Catten came running up. “I’ve got my squad with crossbows, another squad with crossbows and a third squad with swords besides those that are on standby.” “Ok I want your squad and the sword squad covering the traders to the south, get the other crossbow squad to engage the ambush coming from the north west and guarding the entrance, the last two squads I want to stay in here for defense.” I ordered. “Sir!” Catten saluted and ran off to give the orders. “I hope this turns out all right.” I said. The head merchant put his hand on my shoulder. “Regardless I’m thankful that you’re going through this trouble.” A half an hour later Catten came to report. “The first was taken care of easily and became a complete route when the caravan guards became involved, not that any got away. A second ambush headed by a human was found trying to surprise the caravan line and was promptly put down.” “Headed by a human!? What’s the meaning of this?” The head merchant demanded. “Pespr Aslu.” I said. “We believe they do not like the fact that you trade with us, or want to raid our fort. To our knowledge they do not have bad relations with our clan. We also have two human prisoners from previous ambushes.” “Well that does complicate things.” The merchant pondered for a moment. “We’ll have to cut our route short and head back to our capital when we’re done here.” “Well then lets get to trading…” In the end we traded for the things we had ordered last time, pearlash, charcoal, wood, jaguar leather, most of their food and drink, dogs, and many iron bolts. We gave a lot to them in return to make up for the situation they had ended up in as well.

19th Malachite The human caravan is getting ready to go and clean up continues. However, Stukos and I are haven’t a grand stroke of luck finding two lignite veins and one coal vein. This will definitely keep us going for awhile.

21st Malachite The caravan has left under the cover of our own military keeping watch as our dwarves continue to clean the battlefield.

7th Galena The cleanup of the battlefield is done, or at least we’ll let nature wash the bloodstains away. We’re still very busy trying to organize everything though.

Autumn, 231

1st Limestone Another recruit seems to have been possessed again. I seriously don’t know why the gods taunt us like so. At any rate Kobuk seems happy with his two bars of iron and lump of chalk.

3rd Limestone Kobuk has made himself an iron scepter that he’s mighty proud of. It is a nice piece of work but we’re to busy to dwell on such things right now. As it is I have a large stack of papers needing my signature.

10th Limestone The dwarven caravan has been spotted coming from the east. I’ll get the military on standby just in case.

15th Limestone Apparently the even the mountainhome has heard of our exploits this past season. The merchants greeted us very warmly as they set up. We traded for more pearlash, charcoal, steel, wood, dogs, alcohol, food, and jaguar leather. Some might say I’m obsessed with the jaguar leather but I really just want the leather armor that our military will wear under their steel to be the same rather than from a bunch of different animals. We gave them great deals and sent offerings back to our queen, I hope the gifts are well received. Later tonight we will be having parties celebrating with our fellow dwarf brothers.

8th Timber We have developed a system for a one lever throw defense that will help us out tremendously if invaders manage to get through the initial traps. Basically we put some dog cages just in front of our last line of cage traps and link it to a lever, when that lever is pulled war dogs will pour out onto the invaders. This has the added affect of reducing some of the bustle of 24th Timber We’ve enlarged the trade depot area to allow us to be able to respond better to any invaders coming around the bend.

Winter, 231

4th Moonstone I’ve decided to set up a sort of zoo in our meeting area. The centerpiece? The human prisoners of Pesor Aslu.

17th Moonstone Word of a series of snatchers in the traps has come to me. I ordered that no one go outside incase its anything like the situations we have had before with ambushes following.

18th Moonstone Apparently I was right, an ambush showed up today and was decimated in the traps. This trend worries me. We don’t seem to catch any worthwhile prisoners, only snatchers, in the cage traps while the ambushers have a chance to bypass the traps as a result. I guess it’s a good thing we have more than one line of cage traps, even if they are behind the weapon traps. I thin everyone will be staying inside until some of the bodies have rotted to expose the bone.

19th Moonstone At least one more ambush judging by the noise.

20th Moonstone A lookout told me that there was one survivor to the ambush yesterday that keep falling unconscious, I sent Catten’s squad out to finish it.

21st Moonstone I stood by the trade depot overseeing the reconstruction when I heard Catten’s squad approach. I turned around to welcome him but his serious expression made me stop. “There was another fucking ambush out there that found us when we came out of the hall.” He said, every word measured and clipped. “None of us were injured but they got me two dogs the bastards.” He began stomping off. “Oh and we got that one bugger you sent us to get.” Catten called over his shoulder. I looked to Catten’s comrades. “The dogs were both named.” One offered. “But we found the remains of an elite bowman, we think it might be Nguslu.” I sighed and rubbed the bridge of my nose. “At any rate good work. Go ahead and take a break, just keep an eye on Catten for me.” I waved the waiting dwarves forward to clean up the mess in the hallway and turned back to the construction.

22nd Opal One of the children has decided to organize a party at our fledgling zoo. I think they want a better chance to make fun of our human prisoners.

4th Obsidian Armor production for our main force has nearly reached its zenith. Soon we will make weapons then start on other projects with our precious steel. I also have realized there has been a grave over look of a decent map of this place. I’ve been working hard over these last few days and will bring out the map on the turning of the year.

23rd Obsidian I decided to vent a bit more on goblin prisoners so I’ve had some cages rigged in the sparring chamber. As I stood there the lever was pulled and cages opened, standing against me was a goblin snatcher, a goblin swordsman, and a goblin wrestler. Immediately I leapt for the snatcher rendering its head into pulp with one well placed strike and stunned the swordsman with a blow to the leg on the back swing. It fell and I made sure to put my pick in its chest to kill it. The wrestler, having tried the door to no avail, came at me but I caught it with a roundhouse swing of my pick and struck it right next to its spine. It doubled over in pain making my next strike off center and land on its right arm spinning it away. I followed and put it out of its misery with a well place strike to the chest. Having the door unlocked I strode out with a smile on my face and went back to work after taking off my armor.