After processing the forms, I return "committee assessments" assigning nearly all of them to the partially-operational craftshop.


_{(many are downstairs in the quarry gathering supplies at the moment this picture was taken; but rest assured all workshops are at full production)}

As more shops come online, the rest of them will join in the effort. We must all work together if Gemclod is to survive.

From elsewhere in the fortress, I intercept reports of strange noises heard while digging the access hallway to Boing's new quarters. I must admit, for the first time I am not sure I have all the facts concerning Boing's rule. The access corridor passes by Vox Nihili's room, albeit one floor down, and I am concerned that Boing may have released a dangerous animal into the chamber in order to harm Vox. As such, I decide not to orchestrate an investigation inside the room until our military forces have been re-established. Whatever is in there will simply have to wait.



Excavation of Boing's quarters continues, although I wish I could actually be there to make it go faster. It is slow-going for now because the miners constantly halt their work and report that the surrounding stone is dangerously warm before wandering off to the great hall. At that point, it often takes several hours before a new work order can be issued through the proper channels. I persevere, and continue adjusting paperwork to require them to continue. Konpeito has joined Star Guarded in the project. They now apparently work in shifts. I can only assume they are eager to complete the dig.



From collating the various stockpile records, I believe of the swamp immediately outside the gates has been cleared of anything valuable. There are still a few corpses, and plenty of broken bolts and arrows, but beyond that, it seems we have taken into our possession that which was earned in blood. Still, the threat is out there. Now that the craftshop is well underway, I will attempt to induce reassembly of the majority of the military, and hopefully manage to add some new recruits in the process.

With the front gates cleared and the military forces soon to be reinstated, I have also anonymously proposed the construction of a road. It will at first be a small, meager road, but it will suffice. We must do all we can to encourage trade with our neighbors, and a road is an important step, a vast improvement over the trackless swamp we have presented the caravans with to date. The proposal suggests the road built of mudstone, as seems fitting for this fetid swamp we call home. This time, I didn't even have to help the vote along: it was agreed upon with genuine support.



I'm not sure how much longer I can stay down here. My companion and I are at our wits end. We must clear our path soon, such that we may reintegrate into society.

Bad Munki wrote :-

Daeren, male, woodcutter stonecrafter
fluppet, female, lye maker stonecrafter
Mystery Machine, female, trapper/tanner stonecrafter
Qvark, female, surgeon stonecrafter
frajaq, female, leatherworker stonecrafter
Anaxite, male, miner
2M_Gargantua, female, miner stonecrafter
C-BOX, female, child
RZApublican, male, furnace operator stonecrafter
Veinless, male, mechanic
Dire, female, trapper stonecrafter
Screaming Idiot, male, gem setter stonecrafter
targus6544, female, ranger
Cota Froise, male, woodcutter stonecrafter
Zahrkon, male, soap maker
Robert_Deadford, female, glassmaker stonecrafter
Deki, male, bowyer stonecrafter
PureRok, male, bone carver stonecrafter
judenhauer, female, dyer stonecrafter
Izzy, female, peasant stonecrafter
LunarTaffy, female, stonecrafter stonecrafter

Bad Munki wrote :-

M_Gargantua wrote :-

Journal of M_Gargantua

Hope had filled me when I found another group of dwarves. Headed into a swamp of all places but I have dealt with stranger. The last redoubt of the pallisades, gemclod, what a find.

We were greeted at the gatehouse by a grizzled, parralized warrior. He smiled at the mere thought of conversation, the depression on his face evaporating. He said his name was commatoes and that he had been resting at that spot since it was but a guard shack.

His perseverance inspired me. Maybe one day, Science Team could grant him movement again. A faint hope though. Our entire civilization wod have to recover first for such a research endeavor.

However my mood was soured by my enterance to the great hall. There was an advertisement.

Some lowlife had made an engraving for science team. An engraving! Such is a mockery of our once mighty order.

~~~

I'm back where I belong. Once again working stone not with a crude pick, but with fine instruments like a true artist. I shall tinker while I reaquire the finess required. Science Team will continue through me.

The work complex is also great for rumor. I've heard of missing and dead overseers, roundabout bureaucracy, labors in the depth. This is life surging through the fortress, civilization spiraling toward pinnacle. Possibly it's last.

The revolution will not be announced. But I can feel it stirring.

Leal wrote :-

Journal of Leal, Leatherworker

Among our newcomers there is one who claims to be talented in the art of leather. Yet he claims it is "elfin", preposterous! What *is* elfin are those who make clothes out of cloth, growing their little plants and weaving them into threads to make their clothes. What a good waste of beer! Now making clothes out of leather that is something else, we got to find an animal (willing or unwilling), kill it then peel its skin off so we may wear it. Only the most dwarvenly practices for the most dwarvenly attire!


And the ultimate disgrace to my trade, he has taken it upon himself to carve rocks! Let's see how well your rocks protect you from an orcish mace!

Bad Munki wrote :-

Behold, dwarven profiles!

Daeren, woodcutter


fluppet, lye maker


Mystery Machine, trapper/tanner


Qvark, surgeon


frajaq, leatherworker


Anaxite, miner


2M_Gargantua, miner


C-BOX, child


RZApublican, furnace operator


Veinless, mechanic


Dire, trapper


Screaming Idiot, gem setter


targus6544, ranger


Cota Froise, woodcutter


Zahrkon, soap maker


Robert_Deadford, glassmaker


Deki, bowyer


PureRok, bone carver


judenhauer, dyer


Izzy, peasant


LunarTaffy, stonecrafter