Chapter 83: From the journal of Stinthad Kekimtobul
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1st Granite, 1057, Early Spring
A new year has arrived! We celebrate its arrival by screaming at a bunch of vultures as they try and steal our plump helmets. These things just won't go away. It really sucks having them flying around screeching every hour of the day. Don't they ever sleep?
Well, aside from that things are actually going well. The military is keeping the caverns clear, work is progressing along as planned, and the hospital is empty! Not a single dwarf needs to be treated right now. The only real issue is that the forge masters keep running out of fuel, but I'm going to solve that problem soon.
See I've been doing a lot of research and found designs for magma forges. These forges can run indefinitely through the use of magma as a fuel source! The only downside to this is that the forge masters have to go deep underground to work. However considering how often they've been running out of fuel, I think it's worth it.
7th Granite, 1057, Early Spring
It's inevitable that eventually we will get a migrant who can use a crossbow, or perhaps one of the local residents can learn to do so. Either way, my plan to get at least one archer in Reveredtour will be carried out at some point. So I figure we might as well start preparing for it now.
Which is why I've ordered the construction of bolts. We're going to need plenty of ammunition and it's best to start producing it now rather than later and run the risk of running out at a critical moment.
See, I can use mandates to make stuff that's actually important! I don't just use it on what I want...though some more lay pewter statues sure would be nice. Damn, I wish I was allowed to make multiple mandates.
19th Granite, 1057, Early Spring
There's this huge column of adamantine sitting down in the caverns. It stretches all the way up to the ceiling, and probably goes a long way underground as well.
It's so pretty to look at...but at the same time I can't stand being around it. Every time I look at it my head starts to hurt, I hear all these weird screams and laughter, and sometimes I come close to passing out! I've never had that problem before, and the other dwarves don't seem to be bothered by the adamantine at all. In fact, a lot of them want me to dig some of it out, but I'm not sure about that. It just seems...wrong. I've got a bad feeling about it. The mere mention of the idea to Goden makes her furious, so it can't be a good idea anyways.
Though I will admit, the prospect of acquiring adamantine is quite tempting.
24th Granite, 1057, Early Spring
Excellent, a steady stream of iron bolts is already being produced. And now to ensure that we don't lose them, I have forbid the export of all bolts.
Granted we never sell bolts anyways, but it doesn't hurt to be careful. Now we just need to find a dwarf willing to use the crossbow. Hmm...hey, maybe there is something Vallorn can do that isn't hauling!
28th Granite, 1057, Early Spring
Despite our inability to kill them, the vultures seem to have flown off. I don't think they actually managed to get into the food stockpile this time either. I attribute this to the defensive walls that have been built to protect Reveredtour. Not only do they protect us from the goblins, but they also reduce the threat posed by the local wildlife!
6th Slate, 1057, Mid-Spring
I don't get these crundles. They always show up in huge groups and wander around aimlessly. They don't seem to be looking for food or trying to set up a nest. They just blunder through the caverns bothering the workers. The military cleans them up without a problem, but it's still irritating to always hear about a new crundle swarm showing up every month. I'd place some powerful guard animals down there to scare the crundles off, but they would just get killed when something powerful comes along. Like one of those weird forgotten beasts.
15th Slate, 1057, Mid-Spring
The diggers have almost finished excavating the chamber that will be used to build the magma forges. Some might think that working with magma is dangerous, especially given the...accidents. But I'm positive that won't happen again! See this doesn't even risk exposing the workers to magma flow. The chamber itself is located above the magma sea. In order to access the magma they need only carve a hole in the floor, some of which have already been dug. If these documents are correct, a magma forge need only be placed over exposed magma for it to function. Seems simple enough. What could possibly go wrong?
Nothing. Nothing could go wrong. I'm sure of this.
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