===+ Journal of the Undying Overseer – Spring 162 +===1st HematiteSummer is here, let’s take a short look at the fort’s current situation.
Our stocks are quite extensive, aside from a slightly low drink stockpile. I’ll have Sigun write up an order to resume brewing. We have more food than we know what to do with, mostly in the form of months-old omelettes. Our fields have been sitting fallow for quite some time. A previous overseer seems to have gone a bit nuts with pig tail production and we have hundreds of the things just sitting around.
My animal culling efforts have been largely successful. We still have some excess critters running around, but most have been limited to a manageable number. Hopefully the blackbirds start laying soon so they can completely replace our more mundane birds.
The dwarven population still exceeds the limits set in place by our original charter. As a consequence, no children are being born and no new migrants are coming in. However, we now have the perfect opportunity to correct that. I am sending Rovod, his lover, Libash, and five other dwarves that are redundant to our needs out to seize Glorygullies. This gives some of the dissatisfied dwarves a fresh start and gives us an outpost that can keep an eye on the elves. I did my best to avoid breaking up close relationships, but this will likely still be a controversial decision. Even so, I think it is for the best. With them gone, the child ban can be lifted, and that is sure to raise our hopes for the future.
Unfortunately, that won’t deal with all of our problem dwarves. Some of them are too integrated into our fortress to send away so easily. With Rovod gone, Auze will be the worst off. He was showing some small improvement for a while, but his campout by the corpse pile has erased that progress. The corpses have been disposed of but the trauma they caused remains. I’ve scheduled him some carpentry work in the hopes that he’ll be able to lose himself in his craft
11th HematiteThe human caravan has arrived. I’m sure they’ll our appreciate our copious amounts of slightly bloodstained human-sized clothing.
Ah, the humans bring good news! Our colonists reached Glorygullies safely and claimed it in our name! I’m sure they’ll be able to turn the burned-out tree houses into something a dwarf can call home.
Apparently Edem has claimed leadership of the new colony. Good on him I say. Definitely the best head on him out of that particular group.
15th HematiteAuze threw another tantrum and punched a hole in one of the turkeys.
Somehow it survived, but he needs to get his anger under control before he does something more permanent.
17th Hematite
It seems that the homeland also had expansionistic ambitions. A new hillocks has been founded west of us. Its position neatly cuts off the southern goblin settlements and surrounds the eastern edge of the necromancers’ domain.
19th HematiteApparently, some of our dwarves have been freaking out over seeing the discarded teeth of that human ghoul. Come on, I know thinking about death is unpleasant, but get some perspective! It’s bad enough we can’t do anything on the surface without you getting scared off by buzzards every ten seconds!
At least our archers are finally getting some practice.
24th MalachiteI’m sending the Raptors and Inquisitors out on a small raid against the goblin pits of Stablevile. It’s the smallest remaining goblin settlement and they’ve been given orders to avoid combat if possible. Hopefully this way their captains can gain command experience in relative safety.
2nd GalenaThe soldiers have returned, bringing with them several tame beak dogs! These beasts may not be quite as large as the giant blackbirds, but they lay more eggs and those multi-coloured pelts could make some quite unique garments.
Unfortunately, while they learned some things about sneaking around goblins, they didn’t learn much about fighting them. It seems that they’ll need live combat missions to improve their tactics.
But for now, I turn my attention to another project, deep within the fortress.
A small arena, setup for two teams of combatants. And above it, a gallery for spectators to view the fight or archers to fire from a safe position. Since the Swamp Hunters have decided static targets are too dull to practice with, this should be a bit more engaging for them.
The first competitors are our slab-bearing zombie giant and a goblin swordsman that was captured in some invasion years ago. Interestingly, the goblin wears custom made steel armour rather than the usual scrap. He couldn’t have gotten that from the goblin pits. The only explanation is that he must be one of the necromancers’ living servants! Well goblin, what do you think now that you face your master’s handiwork? I’ll let you keep your equipment, but I don’t think it will avail you much.
A decent performance, but brute strength wins this day. Archers, you may now begin your practice.
15th GalenaFolly… folly and sheer, blind hubris.
After the successful beak dog rustling, I thought our soldiers would be safe to attempt an open attack against Stablevile. They were told to use their judgment and break off if things seemed too dangerous. But one mistake was all it took to turn near total victory into a tragic defeat.
According to Deduk, sole surviving member of the Crystal Inquisition, the battle began in fantastic terms. Chief inquisitor Deler was able to use knowledge gained from the first raid to great effect and they effortlessly slew several defending goblins and trolls. The success emboldened them, and they pushed deeper into the pits, far past the areas they had scouted. Their mad rush allowed the remaining trolls to surround them, waiting for their chance. Finally realizing her mistake, Deler froze up, and the trolls charged in to take advantage of the confusion. Nil and Obok fell before anyone knew what was happening. As they fell, Deler snapped out of her stupor and called out the order to retreat, but the trolls had already cut off their escape. Two of them sprung from ambush and took down Deler and Iton. Their deaths bought the others the chance to get away.
What has happened to the mighty warriors who breached the hidden vault and slew the divine protectors within? Only two remain, Solon and Mestthos. We have lost the last of our legendary swordsdwarves.
The Crystal Inquisition is no more. Deduk has been welcomed into the GraveWardens, now swollen to nine members.
The Rainbow Raptors now belong to Solon. In time, I know she will return them to glory. For their surviving members, I have commissioned a special gift to commemorate their service.
We must now take time for mourning and reflection. We have no bodies to bury, but the names and deeds of the fallen will be recorded in the Silent Halls.
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Topic: Smallhands - nearly 40 years and still tiny! (Read 411667 times)