-7- [Dashedarrows] (2) And not a single Fuck-Up was given

At a glance, this fortress was in a sorry state. Just 6 able-bodied dwarves, only one of which was from the original expedition. Not much to work with at all. Let's hope no more deaths occur this next year.

Spring, 252:

The first thing I did was set about building a ceiling over our above-ground perimeter. Though dwarves should get some sunlight on occasion, the persistent keas are forcing us to retreat underground. I don't know how we'll get the ceiling done with only a handful of dwarves, but if this wall is anything to go by, we've got a hardworking bunch here. For the time being, the keas have busied themselves with flying off with the used crossbow bolts of our hunter.

It is now the beginning of Slate, and we have the good fortune of welcoming an astonishing 18 migrants! Our fortress now contains 23 hardworking dwarves, and 6 children. Things are looking up!

In late spring, an elven caravan arrived. Useless to us, as the fortress was built in a forested area, and we can get our own wood. Let's just hope that the elves don't notice the trade depot is made out of larch, and is located about 4 meters from the wood stockpile.

Summer:

The first day of summer, and a metalcrafter, Kadol Rerraserush, has withdrawn from society, hiding in his bedroom. We built him a metalsmith's forge, which he promptly claimed, and requested metal bars, of which we have none. This might not end well.

With the farmers, hunters, and fishers all bringing in enough food, and our fort safe for the moment, it's time to think of the future. We need to dig deeper, find some decent metals, and create a military. I have no experience with the latter, so I opt for digging. Our miners unearth a few ores and gems here and there, nothing substantial, but hopefully enough to satisfy Kadol's strange mood. A hastily built smelter, provided fuel by a hastily built wood furnace, is busy smelting galena as the days quickly pass.

As the month of Hematite draws to a close, 13 more migrants arrive at our fortress, bringing the total up to 42 dwarves. Shortly after, the first galena bar is smelted, resulting in 1 lead and 1 silver bar. Kadol picks up the silver bar, and with that begins to construct a silver figurine. Interestingly enough, it depicts a necromancer becoming queen of The West Lances, the civilization our dwarves are from.

With that fiasco over with, I continue digging up gems and ore, and resume construction of the roof, which I'm reminded of by these bothersome birds.

Autumn:

On the 20th of Limestone, the ceiling above our fort was completed, sealing us off from any unwanted flying pests. A couple of kobold thieves were caught skulking around the front gate, and retreated before taking anything. Tosid Berurmim withdraws from society, and makes a galena mechanism. Nothing particularly interesting happened until mid autumn, when we hit an underground cavern, and a "downward passage". I quickly sealed off the cavern and have yet to explore further.

On the 2nd of Timber, 12 migrants arrived, giving a total of 56 dwarves. (There have been a few childbirths). The rest of autumn went by without incident.

Winter:

The dwarven liason arrived, and I requested ores of iron, as we have not had any luck finding any. Just north of our fortress, by the river, the forest ends and the ground is solid rock. Perhaps one will have more luck mining for precious metals there, but my time with this fortress grows short. In my last few months here, I built a hospital, complete with well, fully furnished bedrooms for all dwarves, and made a lot of booze.

2 strange moods, breaching a cavern, and filling a well, yet I still somehow avoided any major fuck-ups. Sorry about the mess, that's 7 workshops cluttered into a tiny room for one dwarf's mood.