Grindoils: Histories of Jealously and Labour

[Cayden]

A lore in making, "Grindoils" tells tale of a dwarven colony, struggling to enforce their claims on a wild frontier amidst perils of famine, politics, manbeast spies and goblin raiders.

[Cayden]

This serenity lies to us; This land loves us no more than we love it.
We know our purpose will disrupt the harmony and we do not care.
We do this because the king demanded our expansion, and his wealth.
That is one reason, we'll send our tributes to placate the greed of another dwarf that we may be free to sate our own, a fresh unspoilt land ripe for industry.
I will do my best to scribe our actions, histories to send back to the mountainhome that they may know our deeds and praise us for it.
Our wagons roll to a halt. We have arrived and I hear the wolves howling.

[Cayden]

Spring, 126

Thunen
Ral Dalzatudil, ♂, Librarian
Melbil Zimzulban, ♂, Miner
Logem Lecadushrir, ♂, Miner
Datan Kadollisat, ♂, Stonemason
Sazir Rakustkoman, ♀, Lumberdwarf
Erith Nokimsterus, ♂, Farmer
Kubuk Okirodden, ♂, Engineer

[Cayden]

Ral Dalzatudil

2nd Granite
The rest of the company is already beginning to regret coming on this venture, we only just arrived and already I've handed out extensive orders on rooms to dig, trees to cut and walls to build. Fortunately this land seems peaceful and its weather tolerable, save a chilling wind that blows through now and then.
We labour in peace, a fox is prowling the tall grass a little south of us.

27th Granite
Our labour progresses well. The soil here is shallower than we anticipated and we hit rock early, which required only a minor adjustment to my designs, though Kubuk quarreled over that. Sazir has erected posts to mark the perimeter of the wall once we find hardier materials.
Both our miners report we are sitting right on top of rich veins of lignite and magnetite, news worth having a drink over if I do say so!

My only complaint is that the rock we have to work with is salty, and white... this material was later verified to be salt, as proven by experiments in composition and application to our steaks.

16th Felsite
The first floor's halls are complete, and not a moment too soon. Manbeasts in the form of horses were sighted to the south, they wore rags and carried crude spears of wood and I felt scorn for them. These loathesome savages know nothing of art.

Logem complained to me that he had not had a good night's sleep in weeks. We must construct a dorm for ourselves.
I told him to pour dirt into a pile and there is your bed, the farms and storeroom come first. Our wealth must be secured.

[Cayden]

Summer 126

Ral Dalzatudil

1st Hematite
Space has been hollowed between the halls and without permission, Sazir set up shop to craft beds. There is no arguing with a dwarf as grim as her, so we'll have to make do.
Truth be told I am starting to get tired of my dirt pile idea.

18th Hematite
Fortune graces us, no sooner are we done with the groundwork for agriculture do we spot a migration arriving on our doorstep.

Eight dwarves in total, we're definitely in need of the extra hands, they'll have to start work immediately if they want to stay here.



19th Hematite
Two dwarves each were assigned to assist in masonry, farming and furnace work. We have all this lignite sitting around doing nothing so we may as well put it to use.
One dwarf was assigned to kitchen work.
Lastly, as fortune would have it, one named Ablel Odalath is a veteran of the Tainted Silver mercenary company back in the mountainhome. Any who can swing a hammer with deadly force is a welcome addition to our colony.



25th Hematite
The manhorses were spotted again, closer this time.
I ordered all the commodities underground and kept out dogs above to guard the entrance to our burrow. While I had everyone gathered in one spot I called a quick meeting.
As the manhorses tread their hooves above us, none opposed my motion that the wall should be built as quickly as possible.
The miners will delve to find a sturdier material while we devote our effort to using what little metal we have found in order to craft more tools. Dwarves without tools have no value.

Our final motion was for the naming of our settlement. Everyone wrote down a name then put it in a hat.
The cats then stole the hat.
Then we stole it back.
The name drawn was Nerriduzol, "Grindoils", this name was met with unanimous approval.
We will build our walls tall and our halls deep, that all dwarves who come here will have wealth, security and gore to call their own.
Hail Grindoils.

[Angder]

*Fetches popcorn for the inevitable disaster "Fun" that will occur shortly* 

[Cayden]

Logem Lecadushrir

28th Hematite
Ral has no scruples abusing the lower dwarves. I am given only minutes to admire my work, I have a meal, then lie down for a nap few only a few minutes before he kicks me off the bed and orders me to keep digging the lower levels.
It's a bad omen, treating the ones with the picks in such harsh manner.

4th Malachite
A chestnut cat takes its naps in the halls we dig. Oh that infernal animal, it does not understand beds.

8th Malachite
"Your skills are welcome here." He told the dwarf. He carries a mark of silver crafted with purposeful scars.
"We shall give you a hammer, and armor, and you will build the fist of Nerriduzol, that we may lash out at the world when it lashes back."
I would like a nice hammer. It would be better served breaking rocks than breaking skulls of impudent manbeasts.
They are brittle creatures, put the knife in its breathing parts and watch the blood bubble up. There is no need to use a hammer when a dagger would have same effect.

16th Malachite
We have beds. We have no bedrooms. Ral has decreed that no private rooms shall be constructed this year, as we have many other halls that take priority.



24th Malachite
The smell of fresh alcohol wafts down from above. Ushat stuff mushrooms into a pot to mash and the smell makes my mouth water for its wort. Sweet mushroom wine.

6th Galena
I see the farms overflowing. Barrels are growing full of purple mushrooms, and more barrels are built. I have seen a great ram grazing on the leftovers of agriculture, I would eat were it not the beloved pet of the ones who work those fields.
Mushroom pie.
Mushroom stew.
Mushroom roast.
Baked mushroom with wine.
I am sick of mushroom.

17th Galena
The ram followed me into the salt tunnels tried to eat my shirt. Why Unib insists to keep this infernal beast as a pet I do not even pretend to understand.
She insisted I try befriending the animal, that it may have a more friendly disposition towards me.
I insisted that she take it to Ushat, that we may have mutton sausages for our meals. This made her glare at me in a way I did not like.

22nd Galena
Melbil has claimed to have found a Borax while tunneling.
I do not know what a Borax is, but Sazir has become obsessed with it. Possible sleeping aid?

29th Galena
Summer is leaving us, the savanna above grows frost like a weed and a rigorous season draws to an end.
With this pick I carve the future of this fortress. We will build until our foes hear their screaming dead carved in our walls.

[Cayden]

Autumn 126

Erith Nokimsterus

3rd Limestone
Why?
Why why why why why?
In the abscence of scouts, I am the eyes of the fortress. Several times the manbeasts with their menacing snouts and gangly limbs treated near the fools, they cannot match sharpened metal and taste for violence.
They have fled, and those that remain may regret their folly if the Red Lady wills it.
Even worse manbeasts have taken the place of the last one. Awful creatures shaped not like horses or wolves or lizards.

They are hideous.
Revolting repulsive disgusting vile wretched unclean diseased abominable.




Why why why why why do they keep me out here?!

[Cayden]

Datan Kadollisat

9th Limestone
Rall has granted us mercy and ordered us to dig for bedrooms. A room for every dwarf he says.
I peeked at the schematics while he was distracted by Erith's babble of manbeasts shaped like insects. I may question whatever else I wish about the meekling little bookworm, his eye for the Art cannot be denied.

Erith swears upon his beard the "louse men" lurk in the vile overgrowth above. Poor man does not know nature outside his mushroom garden.

14th Limestone
Helped friend Kubuk in carrying wood to the surface. He explained that supplies would come soon. Unless they know where to come, they will not trade, thus we must build in the open sun again.
The brightness plays tricks on my eyes. I see manbeasts shaped like insects.
Erith's dementia has infected me, clearly.

21st Limestone
Blessed architecture.


29th Limestone
Blessed comfort.

[Cayden]

Melbil Zimzulban

5th Sandstone
No respect for the Art!
I am given only minutes to admire my creation before Rall burst into my room and demanded work rooms be dug in the lower levels.
There is no gratitude for the careful beauty carved into these halls.

8th Sandstone



10th Sandstone
The first workroom is done, Rall has given noted praise to my design. I call it "Miserable Pit to Work In".


20th Sandstone
The pups dine on scraps in the sand pits above.
I joined them. We have no tables.

27th Sandstone
Rall has given us leave of the workrooms that we may carve a dining hall.
I would question the necessity of such extravagance in the face of survival, but I am swayed by fond memories of a grand table for eating I once had in the mountainhome.
It menaced with lead spikes.
Logem has volunteered to toil and I do not argue.

5th Timber
A pox on Logem! He has carved the dining hall into a blasphemous shape and called it an "Octagon"! I told it, squares are the Art, we must aspire to them that we may please our gods.


7th Timber
I have fixed Logem's mistake.
The "Octagon" haunts me still.

[Cayden]

Ablel Odalath

11th Timber
Dire times it is that a hammerdwarf is without his hammer and my petitions go ignored.
"The foundation must be secure" Rall has proclaimed. "Iron must be our skin and bones before it can be our fists and teeth, that we may lash out at the world that lashes back."
Scurry scurry like ants, industrious, but prone to destruction from the monsters in frozen green above.
They look like ants too.

13th Timber
A curious structure has been erected. It was Kubuk who built it and he laughs at my demands for an explanation.
Sazir left her ax out.
I will attempt interrogation tonight.


14th Timber
Mystery solved. Structure is mustering location for oncoming caravans. There was much rejoicing.


18th Timber
Utterly perplexing. These mountainborn dwarves bring us food, tools and weapons and we give this trinkets in return.
Kubuk's devices litter the offering table for their inspecting, they make their rounds and give each device a lick to determine quality and sutability for steak. Kubuk becomes flustered when they do this.

21st Timber
Something is not right. Sazir does not ferry meat and mushrooms like the rest of us, she takes her ax into the land and goes to the trees, coming back with a log in each hand. I know not what intentions she has that outweighs Rall's mandate for mushrooms and I must follow, watch, observe.

27th Timber
Mystery solved. Wood used to construct barrels.
Implications horrifying.