I update when i can..

24th of Limestone. 52.

We’ve fixed the holes the cave-in left. Of all the dwarfs in the fort Rovod took it especially hard. She was a close friend of Zas as she was, like Zas, a part of the founding seven. Even more so because she is a miner like Zas and was able to become a legendary miner herself. They were a incredible team. and got most of our projects dug out.

Rovod is also the commander of the squad. Even though she was sad and was in mourning for a week. She was able to come out of it and she’s fine now.

We’ve nearly completed our projects. Now would be a good time to show our work.

A couple of more things to add:

Mistish, a clothier turned miner was caught in the cave-in, as stated before. luckily he only received a broke leg. We all pray that he recovers.

Finally, I was distracted by the loss of Zas and I didn’t jot this down before but before the cave-in a woodcutter named Zefon went out to chop wood one day but then he suddenly appeared in our fort, muttering to himself with a crazed look. Several of the dwarfs that migrated here said that they have seen this before: He was possessed. He took over the bowyer’s shop and took some gems, wood, and kept on muttering about bricks and blocks. We got some blocks churned out for him (after the tragedy) and he went to work. About a week later he came back perfectly fine, with a blowgun. He called it “Bootroar”, which got some laughs. Some how he managed to get a image of a goddess receiving praise, a human killing a elf and a diamond on it. “Maybe this is Zas communicating to us?” He said to me in a whisper. I just smiled and whispered back “No. She was alive when you were possessed.”.

We all still miss her deeply.

Zul Chamberjustice

Well not a Eulogy.

Y’see Zas’ journey did not end in that collapse.

She.., her soul, was transferred to a pocket dimension. It’s a overseer duty to greet them at this time. So I traveled to the pocket dimension taking the guise of a male dwarf. What follows is what happened and the conversation that we had.

*She looks around, she sees nothing but darkness. She confused, in awe, from the looks of things slightly scared.*

“Ms. Zas?”

*She jumps, startled*

“W-who are you?”

“Hmmm. I suppose I am a guide of sorts.”

“….are-are you death?”

*She’s definitely scared, I laugh*

“Ha Ha! No, no, no, death has already come and left.”

“So… I’m…”

“Correct.”

*Her face is twisting, she’s trying to figure out what to make of this.*

“Now I know there’s a few things you’d like to do namely: Get mad, Cry, Panic. But you got to realize 2 things. First, no amount of any of those can make this better. And second, You have no reason to do so in the first place as you died a honorable death!”

“Honorable?” She says in disbelief “What is so honorable dieing from a cave-in?”

“Ahh, So you do remember… Anyway you died trying to to improve the fort, giving all those there a better chance of surviving. You died a legend for your awesome digging skill, and you died a hero, using your talent to help others. I ask you, is that an honorable way to go?”

*She thinks on it for a spell, then with her head held high, she nods*

“Good, I’m glad you agree.”

“So…. What now?”

“AH! That’s the question isn’t it? Well There are a few people I’d like you to meet.”

*I nod behind her, she looks and gasps, there is a door that wasn’t there before. I walk to the door, put my hand on the handle and turn to her*

“You want to meet them?”

*Perhaps out of curiosity or wonder…*

“Yes”

*I grin and open the door, revealing a bright light. Amazed, she walks into the room. I follow and close the door behind me. I can tell she’s dumbstruck, her eyes dart everywhere for in the room there are nothing but dwarfs. It’s like she stepped into a great hall. Everywhere she looked she saw a dwarf’s face beaming back. She knew that these were the dwarfs who came and died before her.*

“As you died a hero..”, I said “You deserve a hero’s welcome!”

*And at those words, clapping. Only a mere few at first but more joined in. Soon the whole room was booming in applause. Cheers could be heard from everywhere. A few dwarfs even got up to shake her hand and welcome her. I hold up my hands, and the cheering and applause dies down.*

“So..”

”..So?” She responds.

“They wait for you to tell your story.”

*She nods, and begins. She describes her childhood, her friends and family. She describes how she got into digging, and how her father was proud of her when he found out. She described the circumstances that led her to embarking to the eventual Tradecombat. She describes the good times and bad times she had through out her life. And finally she describes her death. After she was done she took a deep breath. She looked to me, expectant.*

“Anything you want to add?” I asked.

“Yes.” And she turned to address the room, “Please send your thoughts and prayers to my fellow dwarfs still in the fort. May Armok bless and guide them! LONG LIVE TRADECOMBAT!”

*The room erupts..*

“LONG LIVE TRADECOMBAT!!”

Cheers were heard and mugs were banged against each other, drained, and filled anew. Several dwarfs approached her, welcoming her and giving her a mug full of the heavenly brew that the room was drinking. She happily joined them. But I didn’t drink. I saw a chance and left them to their celebration. Her friends were in need. Her speech reminded me of that. I had duties to preform and a fortress to guide. Her wish for help for her friends would not go unheard.

Killcrone, Overseer

I didn’t mean to post that… Thought tumblr wasn’t posting these… next one comes Wednesday… You’ll like it I promise ;D

4th of Limestone. 52.

These past few weeks have been both good and bad. These are odd times for Tradecombat I hope that we can pull through.

Let’s start with the happy news.

One of the migrants was a High master hunter. Bim learned a lot from him and they have been pulling in kills ever since. With the abundant wildlife out there we won’t have much to worry about in terms of food!

The Human’s caravan stopped by and we took the opportunity to unload most of our haul from the elves on to them. in return: picks, armor, donkeys and horses. we can rest easier now that most of what we need right now is taken care of… but we still need to prepare for the dwarf caravan that will come soon if we are to profit from these times.

The bedrooms and stockpile extensions are nearly complete, and it is with that, that I must report the sad news… Yesterday the miners were digging out a nook for a above ground farm. We had decided to knock out the top so that when we put up the wall, we can dump water in and reap the benefits.

That’s when tragedy struck. The ground to be knocked out collapsed. Mishtim, who is also a clothier, got out of the way just in time. Unfortunately Zas, our miner, did not make it out.

When the collapse happened she fell through 4 floors down to the bedrooms, when the dust cleared, she just lay there, lifeless
.
Zas Ushilatas was a good soul. She sometimes overindulged but had a beautiful imagination. Her focus and modesty made her popular, adding to the fact that she loved talking with others. She was one of the original seven who founded this fort. The effort and drive that she put in digging this place out made her a legendary digger. Her skill with a pick was almost godly. Some say that they saw her break open a block of Limestone in mere seconds!

This is a sad day. A great miner/thinker/woman has left this world.

May Armok protect her journey to the nethers.

26th of Malachite. 52.

Today after his hunt, Bim (The fortress’ baby) came back with a joyous mood… and a kill.

“I KILLED A FOX! I KILLED A FOX!”

“Congratulations! Now get some more!”

“Right away sir!”

And with that he was off again. It’s good to see production and vindication in one blow. I suppose that is the story of this fort: When hardship strikes us, we strike back. Long live Tradecombat!

I think that slaughter of the elves WAS a good call now. We have loads of goods to trade to the mountainhomes.

Finally, A new set of migrants have arrived. Maybe we can get more progress done. Our bedroom project has hit a standstill. Mostly because of other projects. A extension of the stockpiles, a above ground farm, and a kennel!

I hope to see the completion of those projects soon.

Rul Chamberjustice

7th of Hematite. 52.

By Armok’s teeth! We had just done our deals with the elves. I didn’t like that there had been no enemies so I had Rovod, the commander, recruit more dwarfs and station outside the fort. He had done so and all was well, but then, with no warning he had his squad murder the elves! I had it out with him but ultimately he WAS right about one thing: our fort is trying to survive, we need all the supplies we can. I just hope he doesn’t do this with the humans, or more importantly TO THE TRADE DWARFS.

Rul Chamberjustice

30th of Falsetite. 52.

Shorast is a strange woman. she was always on about bones and their uses. I tried talking to her about it, how bones won’t fetch much no matter how ye use them but she wouldn’t listen. She said that she got “inspired” to show me wrong, took some bones and locked herself in the crafts shop. We didn’t hear from hear for a week. Then suddenly shop sprang from the shop triumphant. She called it “The leopard of noses”. It was a remarkable gantlet that was made by, ironically, horse bones. I thought to point this out to her be quickly thought better of it. Who knows what or who’s bones she’ll use next time.

In other news A trade caravan came from the elves. Careful not to try and trade them any wood items, dumped our lot of mug on them. In return, A fox, a elk and a BEAR. Tame of course. I simply HAVE to get the kennels up very soon. I’ve always wanted a war bear!!!

Rul Chamberjustice.

26th of Slate. 52.

My life got more complicated.

To start all was well with 16 dwarfs, then quite a few migrants came. 20 of them. we only had 20 rooms to start so ye can imagine my panic… I set about ordering rooms to be dug out below, and a hospital near the food supply as shown:

Later, our hunter came to me bawling.

“What’s the matter with ye?”

“I-i-th-the-deer…”

*SLAP*

“Get it together man! Now, tell me clearly. What Happened?”

“I w-was hunting, and, I found this deer, right? So I shot it…”

“Okay…. Then what?”

“Th-the deer got hit in the guts and started vomiting, I was g-gonna shoot it again but I ran out of bolts.”

“…Is that all?…”

“No. I come back and I find the same deer. I shoot and shoot and shoot.”

“uh-huh Didja kill it?”

*sob*

*SLAP* “ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION WILL YE?”

“N-n-n-no… I ran outta bolts again and when I came back it was gone!!! I’m such a failure!!!” *sobbing*

I was about to slap him again but I’d be risking my only hunter getting knocked out… so I comforted him and told him to try again and he’ll get better. He lightened up and went on his way.

…I hope I don’t have to change his diaper as well…

Rul Chamberjustice

Overseer’s note: Despite the sobbing, the above story is actually, unfortunately true.

Year 51 has ended.

The outpost did really well for it’s first year. Here is the recap of pictures. In better quality!

Lord Armok is content with my work telling me that I will improve in time. Others have been looking at my reports as well. I haven’t heard much but I am pleased that others are taking notice!

2nd years are always harder than the first. I hope that these dwarfs continue to prosper!!!

Killcrone, Overseer