Editing Bloodline:Ironhold Year 1052B

Astonishing! Despite my very recent arrival, I have been named administrator of Ironhold! When I asked the previous administrator how I was chosen -- whether it was for my attention to detail in gear-shaping or my negotiating skills, he shrugged and said something about my having been the first person to leave the room once the meeting started.

Astonishing! Despite my very recent arrival, I have been named administrator of Ironhold! When I asked the previous administrator how I was chosen -- whether it was for my attention to detail in gear-shaping or my negotiating skills, he shrugged and said something about my having been the first person to leave the room once the meeting started.

We also need some more farmland. What, we're farming nothing but plump helmets? No wonder we're out of rum. A fishery would be nice, too, since I've choked on enough fish bones for a full lifetime.

We also need some more farmland. What, we're farming nothing but plump helmets? No wonder we're out of rum. A fishery would be nice, too, since I've choked on enough fish bones for a full lifetime.

Apparently mountain goats are not considered threats by our war dogs, as there is now one of these fine creatures wandering about in our housing. I sent a miner to go strike it down. Its blood is now dirtying the lovely clean walls. The fight itself nearly disturbed my perfectly arranged pieces of stone spoil! Oh, the dwarfmanity!

Apparently mountain goats are not considered threats by our war dogs, as there is now one of these fine creatures wandering about in our housing. I sent a miner to go strike it down. Its blood is now dirtying the lovely clean walls. The fight itself nearly disturbed my perfectly arranged pieces of stone spoil! Oh, the dwarfmanity!

I've had to inform our only craftsdwarf that yes, we do want him to make bone bolts.  

I've had to inform our only craftsdwarf that yes, we do want him to make bone bolts.  

Hooray, elves. Hope they brought wood.

Hooray, elves. Hope they brought wood.

I've commissioned our first sword-trap at the main entrance, just out of sight of the elves. Hopefully it will work on idiot goats, too.

I've commissioned our first sword-trap at the main entrance, just out of sight of the elves. Hopefully it will work on idiot goats, too.

Well, the elves are good for something -- sun berries! We've purchased those, along with the rest of their brewable stock and their fabric. We should now have enough cloth to outfit most of us quite well. I'm unconvinced on the subject of dyes, though.

Well, the elves are good for something -- sun berries! We've purchased those, along with the rest of their brewable stock and their fabric. We should now have enough cloth to outfit most of us quite well. I'm unconvinced on the subject of dyes, though.

No, I don't know why our hunter is sleeping in the river.  

No, I don't know why our hunter is sleeping in the river.  

Miners, will you hurry up? We have migrants already...

Miners, will you hurry up? We have migrants already...

The barracks has been set up and is ready for business. Slowly but surely we're making more swords and setting them up at the entrances to our hold, but all things take time. Whenever I can jab one of our miners hard enough, they remember to start hollowing out the lower level for more bedrooms, but they always seem to find something else to do. For heaven's sake, how hard is it to do your job? I'm going to start knocking heads together when they start doing anything else...

The barracks has been set up and is ready for business. Slowly but surely we're making more swords and setting them up at the entrances to our hold, but all things take time. Whenever I can jab one of our miners hard enough, they remember to start hollowing out the lower level for more bedrooms, but they always seem to find something else to do. For heaven's sake, how hard is it to do your job? I'm going to start knocking heads together when they start doing anything else...

And now we have a fishery! Finally I won't be eating the heads of the lungfish. The cats should be pleased.

And now we have a fishery! Finally I won't be eating the heads of the lungfish. The cats should be pleased.

All other digging being finished, the miners are now working on the next level of bedrooms. I hope they are as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of the fortress... they certainly are bigger. I'm also setting up a well, and we'll see how that works.

All other digging being finished, the miners are now working on the next level of bedrooms. I hope they are as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of the fortress... they certainly are bigger. I'm also setting up a well, and we'll see how that works.

Disaster! Our favorite hunter, poor Urdim, has been struck down by a ferocious jaguar. The creature has actually torn his poor head off and left it lying by the river. This is not, I think, the way he would have wanted to die. I'm mobilizing our soldiers -- perhaps they can take the creature down. Now that it has the taste of dwarf-blood in its mouth there's no telling what it might do...

Disaster! Our favorite hunter, poor Urdim, has been struck down by a ferocious jaguar. The creature has actually torn his poor head off and left it lying by the river. This is not, I think, the way he would have wanted to die. I'm mobilizing our soldiers -- perhaps they can take the creature down. Now that it has the taste of dwarf-blood in its mouth there's no telling what it might do...

Apparently the soldiers got sleepy.  

Apparently the soldiers got sleepy.  

Soldiers are still sleeping and the humans have come to trade. They're within easy sight of the jaguar, too. This should be interesting.  

Soldiers are still sleeping and the humans have come to trade. They're within easy sight of the jaguar, too. This should be interesting.  

Apparently the traders took a separate route. They're at the depot. Clever dicks.  

Apparently the traders took a separate route. They're at the depot. Clever dicks.  

The soldiers are at last out! ...And the jaguar has wandered off. There will be no vengeance for our dead. Well, at least they should make short work of the goblin, armed and armoured as they now are.  

The soldiers are at last out! ...And the jaguar has wandered off. There will be no vengeance for our dead. Well, at least they should make short work of the goblin, armed and armoured as they now are.  

They finally got out there. Aban reports having waved her sword ferociously, which seemed to wake the goblin up enough for it to run away.

They finally got out there. Aban reports having waved her sword ferociously, which seemed to wake the goblin up enough for it to run away.

Brilliant. I tell them to go back and spar unarmed and they drop their nice swords right where they were. Someone is going to have to go carry them back, and it's not going to be me.

Brilliant. I tell them to go back and spar unarmed and they drop their nice swords right where they were. Someone is going to have to go carry them back, and it's not going to be me.

Another snatcher! Or possibly just the same one. Who can tell with goblins? He was unfortunate enough to run into one of my engravers. The creature got a chisel someplace rather sensitive.  

Another snatcher! Or possibly just the same one. Who can tell with goblins? He was unfortunate enough to run into one of my engravers. The creature got a chisel someplace rather sensitive.  

Perhaps putting the tombs past the residences was not the best idea. One of the children took a bit of a turn when he saw Dodik carrying the hunter's rotting head under his arm on the way to the tomb.  

Perhaps putting the tombs past the residences was not the best idea. One of the children took a bit of a turn when he saw Dodik carrying the hunter's rotting head under his arm on the way to the tomb.  

Our broker is still sleeping. Some trade would maybe be nice. Where are those damned copper bars? I've gone out to have a word with our furnace operator, Kadol Roughnesscobras. She's been hauling things. Constantly. I smacked her in the head with one of her own logs and sent her back inside.  

Our broker is still sleeping. Some trade would maybe be nice. Where are those damned copper bars? I've gone out to have a word with our furnace operator, Kadol Roughnesscobras. She's been hauling things. Constantly. I smacked her in the head with one of her own logs and sent her back inside.  

Our broker wakes up and immediately starts smoothing floors. As much as I like a smooth floor, no. I ordered her out and she gave me a little sniff before stalking out...and off to go mining. I had to wrench the pick out of her hand before she would consent to go talk to the human representative... yes, all to the good, but could we start trading? Armok!

Our broker wakes up and immediately starts smoothing floors. As much as I like a smooth floor, no. I ordered her out and she gave me a little sniff before stalking out...and off to go mining. I had to wrench the pick out of her hand before she would consent to go talk to the human representative... yes, all to the good, but could we start trading? Armok!

Finally we're trading! I immediately go for every metal bar in the caravan. Hopefully one of them will be what Erith wants...

Finally we're trading! I immediately go for every metal bar in the caravan. Hopefully one of them will be what Erith wants...

Medtob comes to tell me we've struck Realgar. I told her if it doesn't melt I'm not interested.  

Medtob comes to tell me we've struck Realgar. I told her if it doesn't melt I'm not interested.  

I remember seeing some native aluminum jutting out from one of the cliffs. I'm sending a miner up.  

I remember seeing some native aluminum jutting out from one of the cliffs. I'm sending a miner up.  

"We've struck Garnierite!"

"We've struck Garnierite!"

Bronze bars go unnoticed. Ozzie Oresmelter's Beginning Guide to Metal indicates that Garnierite makes nickel. We can only hope.  

Bronze bars go unnoticed. Ozzie Oresmelter's Beginning Guide to Metal indicates that Garnierite makes nickel. We can only hope.  

"We have pig tails? Pig tails we haven't turned into cloth? Why did nobody tell me?"

"We have pig tails? Pig tails we haven't turned into cloth? Why did nobody tell me?"

Nickel has no effect, unless Erith is picky about the order she gets things. We're preparing for the worst.  

Nickel has no effect, unless Erith is picky about the order she gets things. We're preparing for the worst.  

Thread has been acquired. Cloth time.  

Thread has been acquired. Cloth time.  

The pig tail cloth goes unnoticed. Unless we find some silk lying about that nobody remembers not having made something out of, we're sunk.  

The pig tail cloth goes unnoticed. Unless we find some silk lying about that nobody remembers not having made something out of, we're sunk.  

Kivish the miner has reported a great pit going deep into the earth. That's odd. There's silk in it. I've told him to start looking for metal, too. The gremlin on the ledge across from where we struck is bothering him, but not nearly so much as I'm bothered by what I can see three troglodytes doing near the bottom. Eugh.  

Kivish the miner has reported a great pit going deep into the earth. That's odd. There's silk in it. I've told him to start looking for metal, too. The gremlin on the ledge across from where we struck is bothering him, but not nearly so much as I'm bothered by what I can see three troglodytes doing near the bottom. Eugh.  

The batman didn't bother Kivish once I told him his pick has more than one use. Batman bits on the walls now. I wish our weaver wasn't sleeping. I'm recruiting Edem the leatherworker to go out and try his hand at a loom. He looks a little depressed about the idea.  

The batman didn't bother Kivish once I told him his pick has more than one use. Batman bits on the walls now. I wish our weaver wasn't sleeping. I'm recruiting Edem the leatherworker to go out and try his hand at a loom. He looks a little depressed about the idea.  

He goes to sleep instead. Oh Kivish...

He goes to sleep instead. Oh Kivish...

Where did the silk go? Rrgh. There's more further down. I'm sending Kivish after it.  

Where did the silk go? Rrgh. There's more further down. I'm sending Kivish after it.  

...too late, as it happens. There goes Erith, babbling and insane, before we could lock the doors. Hopefully her husband won't notice.  

...too late, as it happens. There goes Erith, babbling and insane, before we could lock the doors. Hopefully her husband won't notice.  

Crazy and pregnant. That makes some sense. Erith's baby has the sense to crawl away from its mother. She just stares at it. Edzul seems terribly pleased to be a father, just.. not so much noticing his wife's wailing, or picking up the baby for that matter.

Crazy and pregnant. That makes some sense. Erith's baby has the sense to crawl away from its mother. She just stares at it. Edzul seems terribly pleased to be a father, just.. not so much noticing his wife's wailing, or picking up the baby for that matter.

One of the children -- like I can tell them apart -- came up to tell me the warthog that lives in the dry pool just had piglets.  

One of the children -- like I can tell them apart -- came up to tell me the warthog that lives in the dry pool just had piglets.  

Amost the planter was down in the chasm for some reason. Now she's absolutely terrified of everything she sees down there. She's even scared to go for the door. I told her to stand up for herself...

Amost the planter was down in the chasm for some reason. Now she's absolutely terrified of everything she sees down there. She's even scared to go for the door. I told her to stand up for herself...

Annoyed with everyone spazzing out about the idiot gremlin, I sent Kivish out to give the creature what for. He dug through the wall and leapt out at the creature from behind.

Annoyed with everyone spazzing out about the idiot gremlin, I sent Kivish out to give the creature what for. He dug through the wall and leapt out at the creature from behind.

That was bloody quick. He looked like hell when he got out of that fight, but Kivish is up and indulging his new weaving hobby.  

That was bloody quick. He looked like hell when he got out of that fight, but Kivish is up and indulging his new weaving hobby.  

The soldiers are making quick work of the warthogs, I'll give them that.

The soldiers are making quick work of the warthogs, I'll give them that.

They've finally cornered the tiger! It clawed Aban pretty badly before they put it down, but it was a flash of obsidian swords that didn't take long to finish. Everyone's all sticky now.  

They've finally cornered the tiger! It clawed Aban pretty badly before they put it down, but it was a flash of obsidian swords that didn't take long to finish. Everyone's all sticky now.  

The caravan has arrived. I'm not sure what we really need, though; we're doing reasonably well.

The caravan has arrived. I'm not sure what we really need, though; we're doing reasonably well.

Elephant calves now.  

Elephant calves now.  

Kivish has given the baby some water, at least, but she's still on the hunt for food. We have our puppies growing up now... perhaps it's time to build a kennel? I'll put it next to the barracks.  

Kivish has given the baby some water, at least, but she's still on the hunt for food. We have our puppies growing up now... perhaps it's time to build a kennel? I'll put it next to the barracks.  

Erith finally succumbed. Perhaps now that Edzul realizes she's not going to come back and care for their child he will begin to act as more of a father. I hope Sarvesh gives him some comfort.

Erith finally succumbed. Perhaps now that Edzul realizes she's not going to come back and care for their child he will begin to act as more of a father. I hope Sarvesh gives him some comfort.

Things begin to return to something like normality. I've commissioned a dyeshop. Someone fed the baby. Children are washing the goblin and dwarf blood off the walls. Bits and pieces are getting into the tombs. Life goes on.  

Things begin to return to something like normality. I've commissioned a dyeshop. Someone fed the baby. Children are washing the goblin and dwarf blood off the walls. Bits and pieces are getting into the tombs. Life goes on.  

Apparently another thief from the goblins came for our belongings. I know this because he's impaled on one of the weapon traps. I'm setting up extra traps at the main entrances and walls around the upstairs exit.  

Apparently another thief from the goblins came for our belongings. I know this because he's impaled on one of the weapon traps. I'm setting up extra traps at the main entrances and walls around the upstairs exit.  

Why are the traders still here? They said they were leaving...

Why are the traders still here? They said they were leaving...

The floor is wet in a few places now from people dumping water on the baby. Apparently it drinks acceptably well this way.  

The floor is wet in a few places now from people dumping water on the baby. Apparently it drinks acceptably well this way.  

What the hell. The miller is possessed.

What the hell. The miller is possessed.

I knew this place was cursed. What the hell is a miller going to make? He's claimed a craftsdwarf's workshop. I guess that's encouraging. And now... realgar. A good bit of it, but it seems to be all he needs, and he's gone to work.  

I knew this place was cursed. What the hell is a miller going to make? He's claimed a craftsdwarf's workshop. I guess that's encouraging. And now... realgar. A good bit of it, but it seems to be all he needs, and he's gone to work.  

It's finished. "Mornedhaunts, the Ripper of Dangers." A spiked coffee mug made of red stone.

It's finished. "Mornedhaunts, the Ripper of Dangers." A spiked coffee mug made of red stone.

Winter has set in, and the fortress simply bustles. We seem to have too much planting, astonishingly enough, so perhaps we should curtail a bit next year in order to make the best use of our harvests.

Winter has set in, and the fortress simply bustles. We seem to have too much planting, astonishingly enough, so perhaps we should curtail a bit next year in order to make the best use of our harvests.

It barely seems relevant anymore to note another kobold thief trying to break in.  

It barely seems relevant anymore to note another kobold thief trying to break in.  

Our gem setter has encrused a sock.  

Our gem setter has encrused a sock.  

Another goblin thief impaled on the back door. What does that make? Five goblin thieves. Two kobold ones. You'd think they would get the message. I guess we're just going to make more goblin bone bolts. Meanwhile, I've designated all the unwearable goblin armor and the unwieldable goblin arms to be melted, if it melts. We should be swimming in iron quite soon.

Another goblin thief impaled on the back door. What does that make? Five goblin thieves. Two kobold ones. You'd think they would get the message. I guess we're just going to make more goblin bone bolts. Meanwhile, I've designated all the unwearable goblin armor and the unwieldable goblin arms to be melted, if it melts. We should be swimming in iron quite soon.

Logem, Vucar's son, appears to be hoarding clothing in his bedroom. I believe it is his father's. I don't know what to make of this. It's spread all over. Is this just some strange teenaged thing?

Logem, Vucar's son, appears to be hoarding clothing in his bedroom. I believe it is his father's. I don't know what to make of this. It's spread all over. Is this just some strange teenaged thing?

Four days before I am to give up my rule of this place and a leatherworker goes bibbledy. It seems he knows what he wants, at least. Good thing we bought all that leather from the caravan, eh?

Four days before I am to give up my rule of this place and a leatherworker goes bibbledy. It seems he knows what he wants, at least. Good thing we bought all that leather from the caravan, eh?

This had better be some wicked pants.

This had better be some wicked pants.

And so my time here is over. I cannot say that my time here has been easy or that my administration has been perfect, but I daresay I have had my hand in making Ironhold a more stable place. That said, I will be glad to get back to smoothing floors full time...

And so my time here is over. I cannot say that my time here has been easy or that my administration has been perfect, but I daresay I have had my hand in making Ironhold a more stable place. That said, I will be glad to get back to smoothing floors full time...

Were I present for longer, I would ask a legacy be left. The tombs of our dead ought to commemorate them. Perhaps I shall begin to engrave those walls, and those of the dining room as well, so that children to come will know the history of their home.  

Were I present for longer, I would ask a legacy be left. The tombs of our dead ought to commemorate them. Perhaps I shall begin to engrave those walls, and those of the dining room as well, so that children to come will know the history of their home.  

We have plenty of food, a good few dwarves -- but not too many -- and lots and lots of metal and armor and weapons and things to sell. The fortress seems, for the moment, stable.

We have plenty of food, a good few dwarves -- but not too many -- and lots and lots of metal and armor and weapons and things to sell. The fortress seems, for the moment, stable.

Well, there's all those dead dwarfs. There's also not much ore and we haven't done much prospecting. We still don't have magma up, either.

Well, there's all those dead dwarfs. There's also not much ore and we haven't done much prospecting. We still don't have magma up, either.