Journal of Ryukan Coupleskirt, Expedition Leader 1st of Hematite 250
We arrived at the end of winter and the onset of spring. For now a thin coating of snow still held the earth hostage. We parked on an outcropping and took a look at our surroundings and to take in the view of our new home.
We weren't the only one there though. A group of large creatures circled overhead, giant birds with wings of black feathers. Imic said they were only Giant Crows. After consulting the Wiki Scrolls, I learned that they were not dangerous unless provoked, so I ordered no one to touch them. After a few minutes, the beasts went away. I hear that crows were deemed a bad omen in earlier times and I wonder if that still holds true today?
I order our two miners, both earth ponies and incredibly strong, to begin carving away our new home. I laid out a simple plan for temporary quarters till we could delve more securely.
The Three 3x3 rooms at the top are where our first workshops will go. That large room in the center will be our first stockpile. The crenelated room will become our first dormitory. Most would complain about sharing a room with 6 other ponies, but considering how we have spent the past year... I don't think anyone will complain. The tunnel leading down south towards that room there will be our farm. I used the surface to determine where there would be enough dirt to dig out a arm, and luckily there was one close to where we where digging our home.
While the miners where digging, I took notice of the trees. I asked Imic to come over and I asked if he knew of what variety the local flora was. He then pointed out several peach trees and a few walnut and pecan trees. I nodded and told him to go harvest as many as he could.
At the end of Granite, I took a moment to be proud of what we had accomplished here already. We had dug out the first rooms of our new home. For the first time in years, neigh, decades, I could see hope on the faces of my charge. They worked with passion. I was proud, but I knew what challenges awaited us. We could not hope to stay unnoticed forever. While we had Imic, a Pegasus Warrior of fame and his Silver Warhammer, I knew that even he was no match for a full invasion of the changelings. If we were to survive, we would need to tread carefully. The Zebras had long been allies of us in the days of old, and I hope that that old alliance and friendships can be rekindled...
But for now, I took a moment of solace and put the thoughts of the future away for just a moment. Just to see what our labors had wrought.
My elation was short lived however. As Kurol brought me some news about our new farms...
He explained that we didn't have the right seeds to plant underground. I asked him why he didn't tell me this sooner. He replied that he was just following orders and said that he thought I knew about the seeds. I sent him to build a farm outside and begin planting. I realized then that this leader business wasn't gonna be easy.
After another month I was brought a piece of most welcome good news.
Our farms were producing food. We all cheered and I ordered my private stocks of Dandelion Tea opened and served to all of us (partially because I now didn't have to be stingy with it anymore). With that small burst of life from the ground, we have reason for hope. We celebrated (probably a little too hard) that night.
As Spring comes to a close, I once again find myself looking upon what we have wrought here in Newmeadow (the lads decided upon a permanent name the night of the party). We have farms producing food. We almost have a complete Dining Hall, and we have managed to not die.
I also ordered a tunnel dug to the river side and ordered a small structure to be erected over a portion of the river so we can have fresh water even in the event of a siege (I pray to Celestia that never happens).
With the close of spring and the start of Summer, me and the lads will decide upon our next course of action.
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Currently Ponied People:
We still have three Earth Ponies and one Unicorn up for grabs.
[OOC: I love how each pony has in its description their cutie marks, that makes it easier for fan art]
Author
Topic: Newmeadow: A Community Pony Fort (An Anticlimactic End to a Fort) (Read 6269 times)