User:Dark T Zeratul/TreatyflamesPart1

JOURNAL OF ONUL OTHOSHEM OF THE TWINKLING SPEARS OF BECORROVOD EXPEDITION LEADER OF ILRALKESHAN, THE FORTRESS OF TREATYFLAMES

First of Granite, 206

At last, we have arrived at the site of our new home, at the edge of the Forest of Calm in the shadow of the peaks of the Beak of Direction. I must admit, it's nothing like I was expecting from the information we received from the Becorrovod officials. The flowing water is little more than a brook, and the lush vegetation consists mainly of shrubs and bushes. Rather than a fertile valley, it appears to be a desolate gulch. Still, there is no turning back now, and we must make the best of what we have: two miners, one woodworker, three farmers, a bookkeeper, a dog, two oxen, an anvil, an axe, two picks, five seeds, and whatever food and ale we managed to avoid consuming on the journey through the wilderness.

...By Rimtar's ever-long beard, we are all going to die out here. I know it.

Second of Granite, 206

Perhaps the situation is not as hopeless as I had feared. I have consulted with our miners, Reg Morulothos and Sazir Idenodom, and I believe we have come up with a viable construction plan for our fortress. It will take a long time, but I am determined to survive, if only to spite those thrice-damned officials back in Becorrovod.

Twenty-First of Granite, 206

The first phase of the digging is complete! We've managed to survive for three weeks now, and despite the initial hopelessness of the situation spirits remain high. Our next task will be digging downwards to begin work on the fortress proper, while also shoring up the supports in the entry hall. That sandy clay loam just doesn't look very sturdy; we'll need to get some proper stone in there. And all those rocks just litering the ground... It simply won't do at all! There is much to do, but if things remain as they are we just might live long enough to succeed.

Second of Slate, 206

We TRIED to begin construction of the trade depot today. Apparently, Tulon Abodlikot doesn't like where I planned to place the Depot. Something about it being too close to "the edge," whatever THAT is. Personally, I think our herbalist has been spending a little too much time with some of his "private stash," if you know what I mean. Unfortunately our tow farmers, Sakzul Stinthadgen and Dishmab Delervush, agreed with him, and said they didn't want their farms so close to those dirty trade goods. I finally relented, but Reg and Sazir were definitey not happy about the extra work. Barely a month in and already we're fighting amongst ourselves. What's next? Rampaging elephants?

Seventeenth of Slate, 206

Well, my room is mostly finished. The walls and floor still need to be smoothed out, but I have a door, and I have a bed, and I've put in an order for a desk and a chair for my office. The rest of the dwarves aren't happy that I'm the only one with a bed, but until that fool carpenter Rimtar Amostduthnur gets around to making some more they're just going to be out of luck.

They've dug out most of the space for the farm, as well as the first few chambers of the fortress, but they still haven't even started on the new room for the depot. The miners are probably still pissed about that. I'd pay them, but first we need that depot finished so we can trade for some money when the caravan arrives in autumn. Hm, come to think of it, I don't think we actually have anything to trade. I should get someone started on making some of those trinkets and baubles that are all the rage back in Becorrovod.

In other news, Reg has just informed me we struck sapphire while digging out the clothing storage room. This just might turn out to be a good day afterall.

Nineteenth of Felsite, 206

At last, the depot is done! No, Reg and Sazir didn't do it. I got sick of it not being done a MONTH AND A HALF after I ordered the construction and did it myself. On top of that, the sapphire vein ran out, there are still rocks and uncarved stone in our entry hall, and it's been raining for two weeks. At least our farmers didn't waste any time planting plump helmet spawns once the farming cavern was dug out. Oh, and our exalted carpenter? In the two months since I set him to work on making beds, he's made three. Three! In case he hasn't noticed, there are SEVEN of us. I do hope this attitude of his doesn't persist, or we are never going to get anything done around here.