User:Maunder/Coldclefts

History of Nekikgast (Coldclefts)

On embark, I was warned about saltwater and aquifer issues, even though I'm in the mountains and the site contains a river source.

Given some experience playing, I spent a lot of time scouting the site and deciding where to strike the earth first. I had begun with a DIY set of materials, although it turns out there is plenty of sedimentary rock for steel industry. I have been very quick to get things built:.

Year 551

Spring

• 6 Granite

A snow storm has come. Did someone say spring?

• 12 Granite

The weather has cleared. Yeesh.

• 13 Granite

Rakust has become a Miner.

• 26 Granite

You have struck limonite! A couple days later I struck hematite as well. This was accidental: I was avoiding the ores until mining skills could be further elevated, and built my first fortress sections in sandy clay loam and siltstone.

• 3 Slate

Feb has become a Woodworker.

• 11 Slate

It has started raining.

• 17 Slate

A good portion of the area remains snow covered, and the brook is still "ice wall", although its surface is mostly cleared of snow. The pond of 15 squares I selected as my initial cave farm irrigation source remains solid ice, but it should thaw within days. Coindicentally, I have just completed the preparations for the farm: a fortification at the transom, two rooms and two floodgates controlled by levers, sealed with doors. I even channeled before the fortification to let the water flow.

I've already built (in preliminary locations -- most will be moved later): a woodworking shop, still, masons shop, craftsdwarf shop, mechanics shop, smelter, metalsmithing forge, and a dormitory. Sizable storage piles for food and drink have been set up inside (moving them out of the snow), and a dining area is in progress nearby, as is more storage, so I can move the woodworking inside as well. All other buildings are already inside.

Six units of coke are ready for smelting some iron ore and making steel. I still need another unit of coal to complete two weapons, but as the miners skills are still a bit low I won't push it too fast. I could burn wood for it but don't feel the urgency to waste wood on it.

• 18 Slate

The weather has cleared.

• 10 Felsite

Wow did I speak too soon about the thawing. My irrigation source is still frozen. The land immediately south is clear, though. I have completed a trade depot, and moved the woodworkers shop inside along with a sizeable wood stockpile. Built a kitchen although there's not much to cook at this point. The dining area is small but functional. We've stuck lignite and other sedimentary rocks but I'm still trying to avoid anything useful (the miners are at Accomplished and Adept). I've smelted two steel bars, going to make one into a battle axe forthwith. The other will have to wait on some coal.

• 24 Felsite

The brook is now running, only a few blocks of it remain frozen. However, my little pond is still a solid block of ice. I certainly won't get my outdoor farm working until I've covered it up and enclosed it. But I really need the underground farm harvesting before winter hits. Dug down a bit to explore, found gems, gypsum, microcline, gold, and silver. The woodcrafter (cum Axedwarf) has not yet picked up the steel axe.

Summer

• 1 Hematite

It is now summer. My pond is still frozen solid. I've found some mica, along with orthoclase and cassiterite.

• 22 Hematite

saving.. 551d

• 23 Hematite

The snow has melted! Now I can see my frozen little pond. Surely the ice will melt before autumn. I was getting worried!

• 3rd Malachite

It's been raining for about 11 days. As the rain hits the ground, it turns to frost (a dusting of snow). Each morning, the frost melts. Today the rain finally stopped. When will the ground warm up enough for my pond to thaw? I'm planning on alternatives to my external farm area, because it stays snow covered for too long. We'll have to cover it with a roof.