Journal of King Penguin
Bene Elim wrote :-
Journal of King Penguin
Summer 273 - Hidden Encampment 4
At last, we have a sign.
Word has reached me of a Fortress safe from the arrogant. A Fortress where the Palisade lives on. A Fortress called Kadolan. Gemclod.
Gemclod lies in the far North, in a wasteland called the 'Swamp of Malodours'. Not a traditional Fortress location, but perhaps such unpredictability assists their survival. I am, however, troubled by this news. We did not get word by liason, but rather from the corpse of a Kobold. Still, the report seems genuine, and I cannot ignore this. If the palisade lives on, then I am bound as King to join them.
The Arrogant have been coming closer and closer to my camp and I fear the window of safe departure is closing fast. We shall make our preparations and leave at sundown. Kudust as our guide, I hope to arrive before Winter, but I fear the Arrogant ones will cause delays.
Late Autumn 273 - Western Forests
We Grieve this day the loss of Morul Cloisteredportals, the last surviving citizen of OakenTrade. He gave his life that we may live, leading Elven scouts on a false trail to protect his King and Kin. He will be fondly remembered. Gods take him to the Platinum Hall and may his cup never run dry.
We number now a mere dozen and with the loss of this good soldier it becomes more unlikely that we will survive. Already we are months delayed and our supplies are running thin.
Opal 15th 273 - Unknown Northern Wetlands
The last few weeks have been harrowing. Good Dwarves lost, not to battle, but to the perils of the land we cross. Unib was claimed by the bog, Thickut fell from a precipice as we left the mountains, and Urist was taken by the waters, her lucky rock proving not so lucky.
The nine of us forge ahead. It seems our goal is well named, our noses are certainly leading the way. As fetid as these wetlands are, the scent blowing down the river is far worse. We met a human caravan a few weeks ago who spoke of 'the swamp dwarves' and their bloodstained bunker. It seems Gemclod may well exist, and we are certainly on the right path.
It is an odd thing to found a fortress in a swamp. Tradition dictates that Dwarves live in the mountains, where stone meets sky and the blood of the earth rises high. Yet Gemclod is beneath the swamp, where the Lore says aquifers and Greenskins are found. Were these Dwarves lucky, or were they mad?
Obsidian 31st 273 - The Swamp of Malodours
Tomorrow I shall achieve what no king has managed for nigh on a century: I shall enter the second year of my reign.
It is fitting, as tomorrow we arrive as Gemclod, and I shall at last wear the Steel crown of the Mountainhome.
We camp tonight a way downstream of the fortress. In the distance, through the haze, we can see a structure rising into the sky. Truly is seems we have found a new home. We have seen no sign of the Arrogant in weeks, and tomorrow we shall drink our fill in the great halls of Gemclod.
Thob and Zan have departed, taking with them most of our supplies. They have been tasked with seeking out any other Palisade Dwarves that yet live and sending them to the new Mountainhome. All the Famous Palisade will gather here. From this great fortress we shall launch our campaign to reclaim our lands from the foul Arrogant.