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The elves are here again. You know, I think it's funny how they come every year, compliment us on our ethical works, and leave with almost every good they brought. The only thing I think we've purchased from them is their wood, which is the one thing they won't ever accept back. hah. It's particularly ironic because of the masterworks in wood we have. The first one is an alder earring we've named "Musicviolence the Rope of Crucifying". Maybe they didn't like the name, so some other migrant made "Mythkisses the Solitary Grave" thinking they might like that more. Nope, no interest whatsoever. That was was even encircled with bands of larch and bismuth. Oh well.

Everything is going just fine otherwise. My bedroom is definitely worth bragging about - by far the best I've ever seen. But even with how awesome our dining room is, I keep having trouble finding a table to eat at. Sure, all the tables are nice, but they're all always taken. It's all those new dwarves!

 Malimbar came to me recently and said "you know, I just glanced at your books and you're doing wonderfully as our broker!". I was very proud. I think I'm becoming a pretty skilled marksdwarf as well, as I've been getting some practice in my free time.

Heck, the only thing that has annoyed me recently is the flies - we have a lot of flies in this fort and at some point we should probably do something about that.

I haven't talked much to Flamestrider recently - we've both been so busy. But he came to me in the dining room a while ago and winked across the room. When I have free time and he doesn't I just go visit Vucar in the pasture. All her calf's have been sent to other areas to eat grass, but I'm starting to worry about the grass in general in our fot. It's getting pretty sandy up here.

Nothing new, well except I actually had work! With the unnamed dwarves, as I've taken to calling them, I've had a pretty good supply of charcoal. After making enough bronze (or similar) swords for the military, I smelted as much galena as I could. We ran out of charcoal, and they've been slow on making more, but I don't think we're hurting too much on that. I have no idea what to do with all the lead, but that's someone elses problem now. For the silver, I plan to make silver warhammers at some point, and store them for whenever someone decides they want to move off of swords. I would make silver swords, but I'm pretty sure those aren't very useful. Too soft you see.

MrWillsauce was expecting some work, but so far he's had none. Doesn't seem to be bothering him though, he's gone right ahead and polished his glassworkers workshop anyway, whatever they call it. A glass furnace? Sure, he polished it.

 With these projects they set up above ground, I feel like I'm almost blind these days. It's so bright up there! But you know what? it doesn't matter. The work is amazing, and I feel like I kind've own the fort in a way. I've built so much of it. I have orders for work to last me a good several months ahead too. Something about the dining rooms - seirously we got two of them, how much dining room do they want? Well, probably enough to seat everyone, and we got over 50 now. ha, alright, you got it fort. One awesome fort coming right up.

 I'm still working on figuring out this whole meed thing. I can't seem to brew it at all. That, and people keep taking it to cook. I let them for two reasons. On one hand the higher ups have decreed it good for cooking. On the other I get nothing but rotten fungi-covered honey when I try to brew it. I might have to abandon this whole meed idea. I'm just not... getting it.

Oh well though, my bedroom, the dining rooms, my wife... all amazing. Couldn't be in higher spirits all things considered. 

So much work, so much dwarven glory, so much excitment! I keep having these ideas of new ways to weave cloth and sew dresses. Seems everyone likes the dresses I make, I mean Malimbar just took one himself! I've also been toying with leather recently. Apparently they had quite a stockpile that they had no idea what to do with. I made a bunch of waterskins and backpacks for the military, so they shouldn't be wanting for them any time soon. Now, concerning those backpacks... I can do so much better. If I reinforce the corners and double up on the bottom part... and maybe sew in a pigtail image of... yeah, lotsof ideas for those.

The wife gave birth to a new boy recently, bringing us up to 5 children! can't say anything could bother me these days!

I specifically told the outpost liason for only a few new migrants. We're up to a population of 52 now! At this rate they'll soon be setting up a mayor. Well, I'd take it if it means I get to keep control, but this is just going to get out of hand.

And then they brought pets! adopting a few of our stray kittens is one thing... but piglets? I will not have that in my fort. I'm telling them that they have to stay outside the fort at all times.

Everything else is going wonderfully of course, so it's hard to stay mad.

People are starting to complain about my water buffalo eating so much grass. Their pasture is currently more sand than it is grass. I've asked the farmers to pull up the shrubs just in case they were preventing any grass growth. What can I say though,Vucar and her mate are fertile, and they only have three calfs. I've asked Malimbar about extending the walls to ensure we have more grass for them, so they don't eat all of it.

The new guy Ralgreth Smith has started making some bone bolts by the way. It's been great, because I've gone to practice quite a few times now. All that's left is finishing some trade with the humans. We got some pigtail bags again to trade, and in an emergency we got some pretty high calorie quarry bush roasts. What do we need? I suppose we need some wood, and metals are always in demand.

 We have a military now of sorts - and they're training with wooden elvish swords. It's a shame really. I'll get to working on some weapons as soon as we h ave metal - but it's really hillarious how little we ever have. I'm not complaining though - living the high life with so little work to do is fine by me and my family!

I'm always busy in this place! righ now with all the migrants we've been smoothing out the floor below where beds go. When we finished that, we're smoothing out the walls and the rest of the floor as well - it's going really well. We have the second dining room furnished, a new mini barracks, and I can't say things could really go that much better. It's been awesome.

 We now have 9 bee hives, and they're all producing wonderfully right now. We even have a bit of honey for cooking. I don't trust it for brewing yet, but maybe a future batch.

I've also been talking to some of the migrants. They're not bad dwarves.

No wonder they accepted my offer of being a craftsdwarf, I've been busy! Weaving, clothesmaking, stonecrafting, bonecarving - I've beend doing it all! And they treat me pretty well here for it. Sure, the booze selection is pretty grim, but the dining room and bedrooms are amazing!

The family is enjoying this as well. My daughter Reg Tombportal (and her husband) are enjoying their arrangments as well. Apparently everyone loves the dining room in particular. It's pretty nice.

Well, we got another wave of migrants. Amariithnar says we're up to a population of 30. I'm starting to get the distinc impression of too much work, having to determine where to put these people. Really, I need someone to be manager. I'll consider that later though, as it's quite a task.

Personal profiles should be underway soon, as I asked each to fill out the same profile records that everyone else had to do before being assigned any job here. I've talked with a couple of them, but I have no real opinion on their usefulness yet.

What I do know is that some of them will soon be starting a military. Heck, we may even be giving them weapons and possibly even armor. It is a longshot of course.

Let's see, not much else has happened. My bedroom still rocks, though the noise from constructing a new dining room and smoothing out migrant rooms is making me sleep a little uneasily.

you'll never guess who I got caught up with! ok, you might, seeing as you're a journal, but it's Flamestrider! His wavy hair, neatly combed sideburns, he's really attractive. And he listens so well! True, He is really socially awkward (yesterday I saw him talking about how awesome shoes are. Not his shoes, just... shoes), and I really question his memory. But you know what? he's amazing.

Not much else is going on - they keep building things and they keep waking other dwarves up, but that doesn't concern me too much. They made some nice mechanisms recently too - made by Flamestrider no less. Now we can actually close that bridge I designed! It's very nice. We make a good pair I think - I design the things to be build, he builds them, and everyone is happy.
- Amariithynar

Lokum 'MrsWillsauce Cagesmith,
Dishmab 'MrWillsauce' Emeraldmachines
Kadol 'LittleWillsauce' Pullytribes (7th child, only one at the fort)

Oh, we're so happy recently. Now that the dining room is so amazing, the bedroom is so amazing, and everything is so amazing. LittleWillsauce has taken an interest in cats, which I think is cute. He's adopted 4 of them already. I think he named them obok, olon, logem, and Dastot. Quite impressive for a 1 year old dwarf.

Soon work will start again too - it's just a matter of getting some charcoal and more metal. We have the current problem of basically none of each. I've recommended digging for magma, but I was overruled so far. I'll petition again sometime soon.

I could not be happier! everything is going so much better than I ever thought it would. Good drinks, legendary dining rooms, fine tables good work... what could be better? I know exactly what could be better! a wonderful lass to spend it with!

I asked Amariithynar to share a drink recently, and we hit it off. I love her brass eyes, and her lips are so... full. Don't even get me started on her hair.

And then the way she acts! it's amazing. I caught her winking quite a few times during that drink we had, and when I called her out on it she just stiffened up. I don't see her quite as often as I'd like, but we're both busy people. And you almost never catch her just sitting around, she's just so active!

You know the only thing that could make this better? buying some new shoes. Or chickens. Maybe if I get some free time I should go free the chickens.

Life could not be better I swear. Talked to the wife, ate in a wonderful dining room, spent time admiring everything about my bedroom, it's all good. I'm really not one for writing everything that goes on, and quite frankly not a whole lot is going on, so I'm not sure what to write. Life is slow, and that's a good thing.

The Caravan should be leaving soon, so I'll take this opportunity to write me next journal. I must say I'm impressed with how well the fort is coming along now. Sure, I hear in the mountainhomes stories of those that have visions much more grand, but we aren't doing too bad here. The biggest problem we're having right now is a lack of dining tables - and that should be fixed soon.

I'm debating on who to select for the military. I suppose I could throw in the ones that haven't come to me yet and standing up for themselves (hint hint). I still call them worthless peasants myself, I think it's funny.

I've been busy recently with the duties assigned. They have my steel crossbow ready, and I just negotiated for some ammo from the caravan, so that should be happening soon

speaking of the caravan, we got some more great stuff. I only traded some cloth, and ended up getting not only ammo, but another bar of steal, a couple of chickens (Malimbar ordered them last year), and a mate for my water buffalo. Malimbar says I can't name him though, in case we have to butcher him later. I'm not happy about that possibility.
 
The archery targets are moved by the way. We had to make room for Uthric's bees, and he didn't like the idea of bolts being fired near their nest. I'm just happy he got them into the hive. We had a problem with the peasant farmers not being able to gather the bees properly. I did tell them you should just let one person handle that.

I had to go outside recently to bring cloth to the Depot, and the sun really irritated my eyes. The crossbow is finally finished, and MrWillsauce keeps talking about how wonderful everything is. I'm not sure what to think about all this, so I mostly just spend my time in the bedroom.

MrsWillsauce has been pretty happy today, so moods are very high. I think this whole new life of fantastic beds, good work, and fine drink is getting to all of us. It's nice. On the work front, I was told to train the dogs. I didn't really care to do so, but on the other hand I was perfectly happy to. There hasn't been a lot of demand for glass since I got the job.

I've been really busy lately, as the demand for stonework is higher then I've ever seen it. I'm working on doors today, and soon I'll be making more tables and chairs for the dining room. Oh yeah, we have a dining room, which I'll have to smoth out. All this work is causing quite a ruckus, and I haven't been sleeping very well because of it. Just a couple of days ago I was sleeping on the floor though, and now I have a bed, so I guess I should count myself lucky.

We have bees, I made some jugs, we're soon going to have mead. I'm still helping out with the building stuff every now and then, but it's not too bad. On the other side, I wasn't asked to train the dogs, which I think is a bit weird. I love dogs, and I'm pretty sure MrWillsauce doesn't care about them at all.

In the last couple days I have been bombarded with people asking to see me. Apparently they saw the immediate increase in stature of MsWillsauce and wanted similar treatment. we now have Thob, Dishmab, and Morul all asking for inclusion into what they call the favorite-child state. Sure. I named them "Flamestrider", "MrWillsauce", and "Uthric", respectively, and given them jobs which I found reasonable for them to take. About time some of them decided to step up to actual work.

as for what's new - we've started construction on the wall outside now, and hopefully by the end of the year we'll have a way to seal off our fort in a time of trouble. Also, we had a marriage between a couple of the people who didn't come to me. I'm told their names are Zefon Kodoronul and Morul Zonmuban. I've heard complaints over the lack of a dining room because of this... and a lack of chairs... and a lack of tables - I guess we'll work on that at some point this year as well. Speakinf of which, I also just learned of another person that is married (though I don't know for how long): Morul, otherwise known as "Uthric", is marrid to Zefon. How interesting. These people are getting more fun and worthwhile every day!

Oh... what else is new. No idea. I'm digging more workshop areas - I've passed on all masonry duties, and I've taken up a bit more in my passion of storytelling - jewelry (I love the green glass), and I'm currently learning the clothesmaking trade, now that I might have the time. Heh.

Fort is going pretty good. I love my bedroom for sure, now that it's all smoothed out. It's very nice really. They're also building the wall outside, and I hear the elves are coming soon - they might have some longland beer. I look forward to working out a good deal with them - we have some more goods to trade this time around than last time I played broker.

Oh, and Vucar is enjoying the new weather.

Well, I'm done with the whole weaving labor. Other people liked those bags I made, and I really liked the pigtail fabric that I made them with. But Malimbar says I need to go back to the weaponsmithing job I asked for. I didn't realize I asked for that. Though it would be nice to make something out of Adamantine I guess a weapon sounds good enough. Now I gotta work with steel though - and we only got one bar. hm.

I told them what was possible, and by Ottem Safetybulwark, they proved me right. We simply talk to the leader, and he started treating people better. Well, not EVERYONE, but everyone that talked to him. he's not a buy guy really - very friendly. I think he actually likes people - just waits for them to talk to him. He also has a habit of telling stories - I like that. I tell stories too sometimes. MrsWillsauce tells me not to all the time. Oh well.

Anyways, i asked to be a glassmaker, and he said "yes sir, you're our glassmaker now". Sweet!

Yup, I got exactly the job I said I wanted - a builder. I was given full responsibility actually over the construction of the walls outside, which I believe Amariithynar first thought of. She's the head architect. We also have Uthric saying that he wants to help with teh wall - something about building his be hives or some such. Doesn't matter he's helping.

I'm married! to Zefon Dawnmirror. She's pretty darn amazing! I had to comb my short sideburns and my mustache just for the occasion. We didn't have a decent place to have a ceremony, but oh well. Then, to top off my week, I talked to the leader and now he's letting me start my own bee farm! The catch is that I need to help build "what's necessary" - IE the hive, the walls of the fort, and so forth. I can do that.

I've been building that roof-area for the water buffalo. It's a bit weird, but I like the idea. It shows ingenuity. Or something. We got more migrants, which I said hello to and haven't paid attention to sense. Heck, I don't really even know their names (it's almost as if no one with a soul has claimed them, hint hint).

The only other thing of note is that the dogs are breeding, and the caravan from the mountainhomes came. they're still here actually, I really should get back to meeting the liaison.

I've been pretty happy lately. I have a great pet, a very good bedroom, a fine table in my office, a decent job, and a small group of friends. I'm currently busy aiding in the design of the shelter for Vucar. That water buffalo is going to be cold when the show hits the ground, that's for sure. Can you believe that Malimbar wanted to just put a roof over their heads... connected by nothing but the staircase leading up to it? Nonsense, there will be proper supports under it, and I'm designing every one.

At work, I negotiated a bit of a trade with the outpost. I traded some of our original embark stuff (seriously, why did we just select the standard outpost package? it's full of things we don't use), along with about 40 quarry bush roasts. We had extra, and I know those at the mountain homes love those roasts. We got a good sum for it - meat, wood, a bit of green glass for the expedition leader, a water-buffalo dress for myself, and a bar of steel for future planning. I hear too many stories about steel shortages in forts to turn down a good deal.

These 7 dwarves I have been given are doing alright. Amariithynar has become a friend, and has voluntarily taken on the roles of bookkeeper and architect - she's be very useful. All the other peasants I assigned to building farms and such in the area I dug out. We're next to a brook which was frozen when I arrived. I dug a reservoir for water to gather next winter, so we should be able to last just fine come next season.

I also dug out a couple of workshop areas, and am currently working on the bedroom areas. More useful dwarves will of course get first pick, which is why Myself and Amariithynar get first pick. Nothing else to report

- Melbil

You know, when I first was assigned to this place, I had my reservations. I didn't know any of these other dwarves, and I told the count just that. But I also told him that I would do exactly as I'm told, so here I am. I've made friends with most of the dwarves now, and I think they're all pretty fond of me too. I also took it upon myself to get some sort of economy going here - the leader doesn't seem to care much for the small details.

I wonder why he's leader sometimes to be honest, but he's working hard for sure. He already carved and smoothed out a little spot for me to get the stockpiles in order (and wow, they were a mess), and completed the set with a slate table and chair. He also asked me to design the trade depot, and see if I could build some barrels and such out of some of the local trees. There aren't many trees here, but I did as I was asked. I also made a couple of beds, as sleeping on sand gets old fast. Then I asked for a few stone blocks to be carved, and I designed a trade depot. the first design I didn't approve of though, so I redesigned it a few meters away. It's waiting to be built right now, whenever Malimbar gets around to it.

- Amariithynar