24 Granite 551
We been keepin' a sharp eye, boot fortunately they never ga' close enoof ta scent oos. We ha'e ta take the spot nearest th' wagon as a startin' point wit' those dingos sniffin' aboot to the north. Given th' choice between chalk, slate, an' clay - an 'onest dwarf'll take the strongest woon. So we doog in t' tha east.
We ha'e spent th' last three weeks diggin' in an' settin' oop th' trade depot. Got th' booze safely off th' wagons first, an' everythin' else come second. A dwarf 'as to 'ave 'is priorities straight, eh? The lakes to the sou'east finally thawed today, boot the river still be frozen o'er.
19 Slate 551
We been carvin' oot space for th' essentials: a proper dining 'all to fill wit' valiant dwarves, a kitchen wot fer makin' booze, and soom farms. Wit' sooch a short growin' season in these chilly parts, I reckon we'll need th' food soon. Who am I foolin'? Fresh crops means I can start brewin' a fresh batch o' booze. An' of all bleedin' things, I made m'self a noo frien' today.
Yer joost as cute as a fresh vein of copper, aren't ye? I ha'e privately named th' little rascal "Mr. Fuzzybum". Of course th' little bleeder promply brought me nine dead rats as a sign oov either affection or total disdain. At least 'e's doin' 'is joob a keepin' th' place free o' vermin. Boot tha' reminds me - we need a safe place fer dumpin' waste, so I ha'e taken th' liberty oov sealin' oof a large area topside froom th' farms fer refuse.
13 Felsite 551
Keepin' th' wagon yaks undergroond 'as taken a tool on th' poor beggars - they be starvin' t' death. Boot honestly? I wooz done wit' 'em as soon as we dismantled th' wagon. Ploos, I ha'e always wondered wot yak tastes like. So we put 'em oop on th' choppin' block. Bam!
Weren't even a breedin' pair. Bloody useless, but good eatin'. Althoo, I'm startin' ta get me an idea as to why th' good king ha' sent oos 'ere...
Bloody place is absolutely rotten wit' gemstoons. Last thing I thought we'd need on this trip is a flippin' jeweler.I guess we'll joost pack 'em in crates fer now until we can give 'em a proper treatment. It's a bit thin on th' cassiterite, soo bronze might be 'ard to coom by, boot plenty o' tetrahedrite to goo around. "Copper be better than noofin'" me Da always said.
ps - I joost noticed the river ha'e thawed oot. Probably been flowin' fer a while an' we been so busy I missed it. I should start keepin' an eye on wot sort of wildlife we've got in th' area...don' want any surprises now. I'll ha'e ta take me a few 'nature walks' in th' next few weeks and 'ave meself a looksee.
10 Malachite 551
We've doog out rooms fer ourselves an' furnished 'em proper. We may be a wee little fortlet, boot 'at's noo reason to live like savages. I been keepin' me a "nature journal" of late. All of th' animals ha'e been 'armless since the giant dingoo sightin', an' we ha'en't seen woon o' them since Granite. Flocks o' ravens all o'er th' place, possums roonin' aboot, nothin' th' least bit terrifyin'.
I joost 'ad to open me filthy mouth on that woon, din' I? Bugger all. I'm goon back doon below afore I get meself joomped by another bloody badger.
11 Malachite 551
Woon o' th' lasses woke me up today wit' th' news. Got soom migrants coomin' over from th' east. Smack my gob an' call me Punchy - we ha'en't been here even 'alf a year an' already we goot some newcomers? Of th' six, Olon appears to be a firecracker oov a stonecarver. As it's gettin' late in th' season, I've sent 'im to work doon below in the shops bangin' out trinkets for th' caravan in th' fall. I'm nae goin' throo another winter wit'ou' an anvil an' I aim sure ta swap for woon come fall. Boot ta be fair, we can use th' extra 'ands aroond 'ere wot wit' luggin' stoof back an' fort' aroond th' fortress. Welcome to Cudgelquakes, lads - where th' population is noo a lucky 13.
Which reminds me...that weird ol' tower that we passed on th' way 'ere gave me the squirrely creeps an' we're as 'elpless as the last cask of ale in a thirsty fortress. I reckon it best ta spend th' rest of the moonth settin' oop a few modest defenses.