Wadedgalley 190 - The Decline

[This fort was an experiment in using burrows to have two separate forts operating at once. The Survivor's Diary is written such. The Diary of the Others is formatted like this]

1st Entry: The king sent us here on a personal mission. Claims have been made about the abundance of resources in this area and it is up to us to harvest them in the name of the Mountainholmes! We spotted a few skeletal animals on the way in. I've ordered a small safe hovel carved in the soft clay until we can defend ourselves a little better.

[Having dealt with skeletons in other forts, I know the best thing to do is get sealed up underground]

The dwarves dig a shelter under the watchful eye of the guard

2nd Entry: I'm not sure what day it is, we were ambushed by those sneaky skeletal animals. Four of our number perished in the battle, and another died from suffocation due to a smashed lung. The two of us have managed strike rock and have begun creating a shelter.

[The dwarves were attacked by ~3 Skeletal Animals. Having brought several hammers with I set them to defend themselves. The Camels routed after losing one of their number, but 5 dwarves had already been slain]

3rd Entry: We need to dig quickly. I'm going outside to scavenger one more pick from our fallen friends. Let us pray nothing horrid has happened to their corpses.

4th Entry: I didnt make it to the pick. There are now two Giant Desert Scorpions lurking outside our fortress.

[Only two dwarves and one pick left at this point. Thought I'd need another from outside. Decided against it]

5th Entry: The other dwarf entombed in here is concerning me. He does no work, either babbling or sitting in corners. I sent him to install a door so we can reclaim more equipment but he refused. I never even knew his name. Perhaps it is best if I put him out of his misery. 

[The unnamed one goes insane. Lucky he drops the only pick, otherwise it would be traded for a hammer. Lokum is the name of the last dwarf]

6th Entry: The dogs are looking at me strangly. There is plenty of food around why do they look hungry? I decapitated the leader of their wicked pack with my mining pick. I've almost constructed a safehouse to keep the drooling idiot away from me. 

[Lokums mood is very bad, so he had a tantrum and put his pick through the eye of a nearby dog. This calmed him down quite a lot]

7th Entry: After taking care of a few more dogs I'm sure the pack wont attack me. I've barricaded myself in my room and will enscribe my journal on the walls. I have enough food and drink for several seasons. I hope help comes soon.

[Another tantrum sees a few more dogs dead. His first room is finished]

8th Entry: I left to fetch more food. The body of the unknown dwarf was outside my door. He had starved to death. I will give him a proper burial. 

[Finally the insane dwarf dies of starvation. No more risks as Lokum is locked inside with several years of food supplies]

9th Entry: The remaining dogs have caved to my superior will! I've also been hearing sounds from outside. Could it be migrants? rescue party? 

[Had Lokum train all the dogs to be Wardogs, migrants arrive outside]

2nd Limestone 190: When we arrived here in Wadedgalley we were expecting a thriving outpost. What we found was no such thing. It has been a whole season now and already I wish I never came here. Oh! If only things wernt so bad back in the holmes! The five of us arrived to find the caravan raided and the bodies of the founders scattered around the land. There was signs of battle. While we were burying the dead we saw the assailants. Huge Camels whoes flesh had since been flayed and were now only bones! We hid in the tomb that we had constructed. I dont beleive we have been spotted. Now we shall delve lodgings and await rescue.
[Wanted to keep unhappy thoughts down so I built a Masons Workshop, 5 Coffins, a Hatch and hollowed out a small tomb. The migrants just managed to get inside with a little food before the Camels returned]

Camel on Patrol. Normally in packs of 3 or more.

10th Entry: My Manor is almost complete. I'm sick of sleeping with all those dogs but they are faithful. I shall dig them each a room in the manor! Food supplies are running low, soon I shall have to leave the safety of my bedroom to secure more supplies. I can hear those beasts digging nearby. Pray they do not find me! 

[Lokum has finished engraving his room and filling it with furniture. His mood is improving. At this point I don't want the groups mixing as Lokum is perfectly safe and will keep the fort alive (as a torturer would keep his charge alive)]

3rd Sandstone 190: We are running out of food. We spoke with a caravan leader who said he will be visiting in the winter. Perhaps if we can create a secure exit we can get a ride out of here. We have nothing to trade. If he will not let us leave I do not know what we will do! 

26th Sandstone 190: The Dishmebs have completed the entrane and I've sent someone to build a draw bridge. They also said they found a way to channel water from the river to an underground farming area. We may be saved yet!

9th Timber 190: Breakthrough! The bridge and exit tunnel are complete. The Dishmebs are heading up there now to open it up. Praise be! We just ate the last of our food and drink. 

[Amazing how fast 5 dwarves can create a "full functional" fort. Irrigation mechanisms and a secure exit are completed. Pity they only had enough food for 1 dwarf and a bag of seed. If they survive the next bit they can grow enough food to survive indefinitely]

10th Timber 190: They have returned. Our diggers came running back inside and brought the bridge up immediately. Not wanting to make them recount their horrors I snuck up to the exit. The screams! Clearly others have arrived and now I wish they hadent! This is all my fault. The farm is now our only hope.
[The two other migration waves have been sitting on the surface unable to dig for several months. Just as the entrance is opened they are ambushed by skeletons and wiped out]

11th Entry: I've ventured outside to collect more food from the stores. I will fill my larder until I cannot close the doors! I heard others being welcomed to this place and have given up all hope of rescue. Perhaps there is a way down. 

[Lokum goes upstairs to bring in some extra food. At the same time the new migrants are being butchered]

16th Timber 190: I sat listening to the screams of the dieing for days, unable to do anything. But then I heard the bells of the traders coming. I hope they bring what we need and are willing to hand it over freely. Ive ordered the bridge to be lowered. 

[TRADERS! I probably should be focusing on the farms, but I would really like to get all those goods inside the fort *evil grin*]

25th Timber 190: A battle raged outside. The merchants guards fourt valiantly and suceeded! While they gave their lives, the merchants made it inside. I ordered the bridge up just in case the still living guards didnt make it back alive. We have scavenged some clothes from the tombs to trade just enough food to stave off hunger. But the traders have so much... and are unwilling to trade for the rocks we have.... 

[The traders make it, but their guards die after being locked outside with the creatures *second evil grin*.]

WHY WONT YOU TAKE OUR ROCKS!?!

2nd Moonstone 190: Im refusing to let the merchants leave. Somehow one of the Migrants got through the gate. Nevermind that, now we ournumber the merchants 2-1 and they are unarmed....

[Oh it seems your guards are outside, how coincidental.....*greedy eyes*]

Setting the Militia to attack the merchants. They cannot escape!

23rd Moonstone 190: There is noone left. We took everything from the merchants but they injured several of our number. The last dwarf was killed trying to knock down a donkey that had become spooked during the fighting. This will be my last entry. If you find this diary please leave this place as soon as possible. 

[Awwww maaan.. The merchants went down no problems but their pack animals became enraged and fought back. Just Lokum left now until new migrants arrive. I hope they bring a pick as the drawbridge is up]

12th Entry: The constant noise from outside seems to have died down. Hopefully the beasts have given up looking for me. Ive secured the door again. My friends are multiplying even tho I still havent given them each their own room. My spirits are good.

13th Entry: I have a new friend. He came to my Manor last night and wouldnt stop babbling until I got out of bed. I have no idea how he got in here but he said his name is Zulban Ralsheget. He seems quite a nice chap.

14th Entry: Another friend arrives. His name is Meng Rikkirshorast.

Lokums Den complete with dogs and ghosts. The mess outside is what's left of the old fort.

15th Entry: Ive finished the rooms for my friends. When I awaken tomorrow I shall show them! 

[Plenty of ghosts hanging out in Lokums Manor. I had not seen what they can do so I didn't bother getting rid of them.]