Journal of Bad Munki
11th Limestone - 17th Limestone, 266
"Dwarves Love War"
The recruitment notice was a huge success. We had enough volunteers to fill both The Gilded Men and The Knives of Domination. Near the end of the recruitment drive, the soap maker Zahrkon, who was clearly (and often vocally) dissatisfied with his assignment as a craftsdwarf, wandered into the barracks and demanded to be signed up. The other squads were already full, but Teledahn offered to start a new squad. Or rather, to complete a squad. I will be the first to admit that military matters are not my strong point, so I don't know if perhaps his squad members were among those killed under Boing's rule, or if the squad was always a unit of one. In any event, it is now a unit of two. Teledahn told me they are calling themselves "The New Paints." Seems appropriate enough.
What surprised everyone was the last recruit for the Gilded Men. Most of the new squad members were present, getting equipped and such. All of a sudden, right out of nowhere, in walks Vox Nihili with a whip. Everyone stared, slackjawed, as he simply stated, "This where I go to sign up?" Someone nodded, so he got in line. I asked him where he had been, my voice surely full of incredulity, and his answer was merely, "My room, why?" I told him the doors had been locked for some time and nobody had known where he had gone. We had thought he must surely have been murdered by outsiders, or worse. He merely shrugged. "But if the doors were locked, how did you get out?" I asked. "Well, Iw as doing some engraving to pass the time and I guess I accidentally dug my way out. I guess I came out in some tunnel off the great hall? That's new."
We're all dying to ask him more questions, be he seems remarkably disinterested in the whole thing. I guess I can identify with not wanting to be questioned about my sudden return...still not sure what I'll come up with about that. Maybe I'll talk to Vox and see if he can offer any guidance. In any event, our three new squads are assembled and have already begun training.
Near the Great Dump, as I have begun to call it due to its proximity to the Great Hall, LunarTaffy has finished her construction. I'm not really sure what she's trying to accomplish with such a creation, what with creating an homage to an enemy of gemclod, but if it inspires us all to work harder, so be it.
Immediately after completing the amulet, she returned to the craftshop, and continued her work there. Since Boing has left the craftshop, LunarTaffy seems to have taken up the competition with life_source. This will only end well for our trade opportunities.
I find myself often standing on the ramparts these days, wondering what my future with this fortress really is. I worry for its future, but more and more and also worry that I am not the one to direct it. The dwarves of Gemclod did not deserve to be deceived the way they were, even Boing. Perhaps especially Boing. She was already paranoid enough, and I'm sure I did nothing to help that.
Speaking of Boing, I finally saw her today, while self-contemplating from the ramparts. It seems she has taken an interest in the road out of the swamp. I saw her working on it, and with two of her children, Chariot and brute_force. As I watched, I saw Penguingo go running out to her. He appeared to tell her something, and then she sent him running back to the fortress. What an odd family.
As I watched, however, pleased that she seemed to be occupying herself and her children were well, I suddenly felt a flash of pain, radiating out from the back of my head, red filling my vision. I had been struck from behind! As I fell to my hands and knees, my vision swam and I was unable to turn to see who had struck me. I could have sworn I heard a horrible hissing noise, as if the creature was trying to talk, but simply lacked the skills.
When I came to, I quickly heaved myself up on the ramparts. Looking about, trying to get my bearings, I spotted Boing, still at work. It was then that I saw an awful sight. An elf emerged quietly from the brush. Her back was turned to the child sitting on the ground immediately behind, and she was completely unaware. The elf was a paragon of stealth. I tried to shout, but I don't think she could hear me. The elf snuck up, snatched the infant Chariot, and began to run away with the child in hand! And Boing must have been completely distracted, because as the elf went running off, Boing turned and began jogging the other direction, towards who-knows-what goal she had in mind!