Bloodline:Girdertrampled/Chapter 5:

The diary of Annals "yes that is my name; why are you sniggering?"

1st Granite, 1056

Well! This will be a change! As senior officer in charge of accounting at my fortress, Eralsanreb, The Safe Mechanism, I never thought I would find myself in charge of a young wilderness outpost! How exciting! I must admit I was filled with trepidation when the commander of Eralsanreb first told me that I had been chosen for the position, but when I voiced my concerns to him he said: "Annals, you are the only dwarf I am not worried about sending." A departure party was thrown in my honor, though for some reason the dwarves insisted on beginning it after I left. An old fortress tradition, I suppose.

5th Granite, 1056

After a hard journey I arrive at my destination. There seems to be some smoke hanging over the area, but--GOOD ARMOK WHAT IS THIS PLACE!

6th Granite, 1056

After some much needed bed rest, I'm in a fit state to write again. This place is horrible. Everything outside is burning, and the inside of the fortess is not better. There is smoke and miasma everywhere. The dwarves, though they insist they are happy, are borderline insane--as they have every right to be with three quarters of the fortress violently dead. Their hollow eyes haunt me. The fortress is filled with petty nobles who do nothing but bicker over the prices of goods. The fortress guard refuses to take my orders: at best they ignore me, at worse they are downright rude.

The fortress itself looks like a cross between a graveyard and a garbage dump: bodies lie in the hall rotting and burning and items are dropped wherever convenient at the time. The one thing that sums up the fortress is a stockpile that lies to the north of the workshop area. A festering pit, it holds whatever the dwarves care to throw in it, with no pretence of order or efficiency.
File:Girdertan2.gif
Oh dear. Oh Armok. I'm not sure if I can do this. I feel my throat closing up! My hands are trembling! I can't! I can't!

1st Slate, 1056

Well, I'm up and about again, and ready to take control of the fortress. The first priority is to get a new entrance dug so that incoming immigrants won't have to walk through fire to get into the fortress. I start digging towards the south; the fire doesn't seem to be spreading there much. Thankfully, the bodies in the halls are no longer on fire, and are ready to be cleared up.
File:Girdertan3.gif
I also start the construction of a new Trade Depot.

15 Slate, 1056

Well! Elves have arrived. Perhaps they will carry some useful supplies. The Trade Depot has been built, and I'm sure I can rely on my fellow dwarves to pull together and haul as many items as possible to be exchanged.
File:Girdertf4.gif Ah. Well, they've been through a lot. Understanding goes further than harsh words, as I always told the Captain of the Guard back in Eralsanreb. Eventually, they do begin hauling, and manage to get the small stock of stone items to the depot. Trading can begin!

Oh dear. Someone must have brought something decorated with leather. What to do what to do? This trade must happen.

Ah well. One does what one must. The elves left in a hurry, but I'm sure they'll understand in time. Fortunately, they don't seem to be taking any action ag--

Ah. Well. It would seem that crime doesn't pay. Haha.

To be continued...