Year 1; Summer: Microcline and Interior Design

Ast looked up at the statue, the center piece of the settlement.
 "This... really doesn't look like me. I'm pretty sure I have two eyes. I have two eyes, don't I, Calm?"
 "I don't know, I think it's a great likeness."
 "But I have two eyes."
 "Are you sure?"
Ast looked perplexed a moment, then lurched toward one of the barrels of ale. With a hefty grunt, he picked one up and wandered off to one of the caves Kol and Alast has carved out as makeshift bedrooms. Udib watched, and shook his head in despair. This was the dwarf in charge, the Great Leader, perplexed by the question of the number of eyes he was born with.
 "Kol, I think you've broken our Great Leader."
 "Oh, that's brightened my morning, thank you Udib." she said, with a broad smile. Moments later, Udib entered the sleeping quarters. Ast was asleep, barrel of ale next to him, half empty mug of ale balanced precariously on his belly. After a moments contemplation, Udib turned on his feet, across the cave and entered the second quarters, and flopped onto one of the beds, asleep.

*===========*

 "We've been digging out this big old rock for hours. Why?"
 "You want somewhere sturdier to sleep than a dug out cave, right? So get digging."
 "And when we're done, Kol?"
 "Then me and Ilral will get building. Udib requested the first building. He said if he's going to get anything done he needs an office."

 "And you've got this all planned out?"
 "I had Ilral draw up plans, look - A chair and table, with stairs leading up to a bedroom."

 "What's that thing square shaped thing on the left?"
 "Udib likes to tinker with precious rocks, I thought I'd build him a little workshop to play around in. Urist knows we need whatever we can to keep us sane around Ast."
 "We'd better get working then, the sooner we get that done, the sooner we all get such luxuries."
 "Don't worry Alath, I've already got put things in motion. Just a little longer."

*===========*

Udib scuffed his feet as he wandered from the communal bedroom to the bright outside. He rubbed his eyes, and as he opened them, Shorast stood in front of him.
 "Gah! Dulla-- oh, Shorast. Sorry. Hello."
 "I want to get some farming set up. We don't have much to eat or drink. There's a lake perfect for setting up an underground plump helmet farm."
 Udib nodded. "Really? I was sure we had enough."
As if by fate, Shorast turned and pointed at one of the two horses milling around the grotesque statue. One of them wobbled on its feet, then, stiff as a board, keeled over sideways and slumped onto the grass.

 "Oh. Yes, best set up a pasture for now. I'll get Ilral and Kol to help you get a farm and a brewery set up."
Shorast stopped and pointed into the distance.
 "Udib... what is that?"
Udib squinted, and then strode off to the hills edge. He turned with a stony look on his face.

 "There are dwarves here. Why are there dwarves here?"
Clambering their way up the hill were seven dwarves looking hungry and not altogether happy. The dwarf leading the group, an older female with chestnut hair, stopped upon spotting Udib. She hailed to her companions, and then strode towards Udib. The two met, face to face, faces perplexed, and in unison, spoke their minds.
 "What are you doing here?!"
The female pounded her chest once proudly, puffing out her chest.
 "We were sent on an important mission of exploration by the King! We were informed this place was deserted!"
Udib sighed.
 "Yes, we were told the same. Something is clearly not right. Is this your group? Where are your supplies?"
 "We were attacked by wolves. I managed to fend them some off, but there were too many of them. We had to abandon our wagon."
Udib stroked his double braided beard thoughtfully.
 "Hmm. Right, well, you'd better get up here then. We don't have much food but we're in the process of farming. Maybe some of your lot could help speed things up. I will warn you, the dwarf who calls himself our leader is a few rocks short of a boulder."
The female dwarf nodded. She always maintained a stern look.
 "Let me introduce you to my crew, the Ink of Aces. The shifty looking one there Domas; if you want anything crafted from metal then he's your dwarf. This is Geshud, he's good with a needle, he can stitch up your clothes or a wounded dwarf, and he's handy with a mace too. This is Inod, my right hand dwarf. She's a dab hand at farming and building, and she can craft something from practically anything. Reg here is a good scrapper and tanner. Ezum and Shem here... well they don't really do much of anything. She tells stories and he eats too much. My name is Kel. I tame armour with my hammer as well as I tame the wild beasts around here."
 "Excellent, excellent. You'll fit right in.We don't have too many beds at the moment, and we're in the middle of setting up homes of our own."
Udib led the dwarves back to the camp, introducing dwarf to dwarf. Ast was nowhere to be seen. Udib led Kel to the bedrooms, and found Ast still sound asleep, a handful of mugs scattered around the floor.
 "Ast! Get up!"
The Great Leader sat bolt upright. "I HAVE TWO EYES!"
He rubbed his two eyes, and looked at Kel and Udib.
 "Oh, Calm and... who are you?"
 "This is Kel. We have a lot to discuss."

[End of season notes]

Kol took forever to get the building done, and it was only when the migrants turned up that things started getting done. In getting Udib's house done I genuinly forgot I had to feed these guys, so I hastily dug out an area for the farm. I didn't realise that the area I dug out was all dolomite. No soil or clay. Arrggh! So I had to extend that and dig out a new area on the other side of the lake that had some clay ground.

The migrants took me by surprise in general. I didn't think any would show up this soon. There's barely anything sorted for the dwarves I do have, let alone another seven more, but it keeps things interested. I was pleasantly surprised with Inod, who has two levels in practically every form of craft. Next time, Udibs building should be done and some farming, but I'm going to have to step up my game if I'm going to keep these buggers alive. 

Year 1; Spring: Where Great Egos Roam

Ast began to stir and grumbled for booze. A waterskin was thrust in his hand and he began to drink. He looked around groggily. His eyes throbbed. The ox must have hit him again.

It was time to get these dwarves organised, time for... oh.

 “Calm, what’s going on?”

 “You were unconscious, so I took the liberty of getting everybody started.”

 “I don’t recall naming you Great Leader.”

 “And I don’t recall you being my mother or father. We couldn’t wait around for you to wake up.”

 “Fine. What’s going on then?”

 “Kol and Alath are mining out this cliff so we’ve somewhere dry to sleep and store the goods until we can get the stone huts up and ready. Vucar is cutting some trees so we can get a palisade up to keep the local wildlife out. Shorast and Ilral are gathering plants to be brewed. Our booze will only last so long, especially if you keep passing out.”

 “Those names mean nothing to me.”

 “Hope and Mole are mining. Dullard and Fuzz are plant gathering. And... whatshername? She’s woodcutting. Better?”

 “Much. What about those other two?”

 “Ast, we are the other two.”

 “Oh.”

 “I’m going to do a quick survey of the area. Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”

 “Your Great Leader is full of wisdom, of course I won’t do anything stupid.”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Two hours later...

Ast, as Great Leader, had to show his support and join in with the hard labour of his fellow dwarves. He stood atop a pile of precariously balanced logs and raised his arms to the sky.

 “Fellow dwarves, your Great Leader acknowledges your hard work!”

A grumble and a curse followed, and Ast clambered down from the logs.

 “That should be enough.”

Udib appeared next to Ast, making him jump. He was out of breath.

 “Ast, this is amazing, we’re surrounded by all sorts of materials and precious... oh. Ast, this doesn’t look good.

 “What?”

 “Look, over there...”

 “Oh, this doesn’t look good at all.”

 “I’ve never been too good at this whole distance thing. They’re walking away, right?”

 “Ast, they’re not walking away. It’s okay, they don’t seem to be coming any closer. No, no they’re going away now. Bloody hell.”

 “We’re going to have to keep an eye on them I think.”

 “Wait, Ast, what is that?”

 “What? Oh, this?”

 “It’s a statue, Calm. It’s a statue of me.”

 “It doesn’t look very much like you Ast, it looks quite hideous. Who did this?”

 “Hope. I asked her to make a beautiful rendition of her Great Leader.”

 “Uh-huh. Kol did this. Makes sense.”

 “Actually, Ast, I think it looks just like you. Keep up the good work.”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Late Spring...

“The Fuzz has been working on the palisade, and our goods are safely stored away inside.”

“Spring is coming to an end, Ast, now that we’re safely holed up in the cliffs, what is our next move?”

 “We need plenty of stone to set up our homes.”

 “I’ve checked out the nearby stone, a lot of it is full of useful metals or coals. However, there is a lot of microcline that we could easily use for the huts.”

 “Brilliant. Well you see that cliff over there?”

 “Yes?”

 “Take that down.”

 “Ast, it’s a very, very wide, very tall mass of rock. That’s going to take some time.”

 “That’s okay. I can supervise. Oh, we need to keep proper track of our goods. I’ve put you in charge of that.”

 “Your great leadership never ceases to amaze me, Ast.”

With that, Udib left, grumbling to himself. Ast looked upon the palisade.

 “Roadshoot. That’s not bad. Now where did I hear that?”

Ast absentmindedly scratched the back of his head then shrugged, carrying his thin frame over to the supply of Dwarven ale.

[End of Season Notes]

The Wolves seriously scared the crap out of me. I’d only done so much as chopped a few trees and dug a few holes and there was already a pack of five of them bearing down on me! Luckily they stopped nearby and wandered right off the map.

The other dwarves didn’t really get any screentime this season, mainly due to very little happening. Now the initial settling has been done, the real dwarf fortressing can start.

Embarking

Seven dwarves, ferried days away across the sea aboard a human transport ship, with a single mission given by their King.

 “You are the pioneers of my new empire. You will be the first successful settlers to leave the continent. Go forth, to the island uncharted – Opuorid – and spread the boundaries of this great kingdom.”

And so the seven dwarves, Kol the Mason; Ast the Butcher; Alath the Miner; Shorast the Farmer; Ilral the Architect; Udib the Geologist and Vucar the Woodcutter, set sail for Opuorid aboard an allied Human merchant ship, with supplies for one whole season. As they reached the shore and disembarked they bid thanks and farewell to the Human merchants. One by one the dwarves stepped down from the wagon and took stock of their surroundings.

Ast the Butcher found a sturdy rock and clambered on top of it, raising his arms and clapping his hands.

 “Attention, friends! Gather round. We have arrived in good health! Praise Os Egullilar for good fortune. Most of us are from many places in the kingdom, but we have been brought together for a great cause, to further our great empire! And with me as your great leader, we shall forge—“

Udib the Geologist, arms folded across his long, braided beard, grunted.

 “Great Leader?”

Ast clapped once more. The others looked at each other, confused.

 “Yes! I have been decreed by the king to lead you in our endeavour. Also, I’m not good with names, so by traditional tribal... er, tradition, I will be giving you new ones.”

Vucar the Woodcutter spoke boldly and clearly, and the dwarves turned to face her. “I don’t like this, and I don’t like you.”

Kol the Mason rested a reassuring hand on her fellow dwarf’s shoulder.

 “Now, now, let’s not be hasty. Let’s see where he goes with this.”

Ast was unshaken.

 “The king chose me as I am clearly the most qualified for the position.”

Shorast the Farmer cleared her throat. “Err, don’t mean t’be a pain, but where’s Alath gawn?”

Ast narrowed his eyes at the lady dwarf.

 “Ugh, dullard. I didn’t realise we had any dwarves from the commons here?”

Ilral the Architect pointed a hefty thumb at his chest. “I’m from the commons too, and I’m not the only one. Not very observant, are you, Great Leader?”

 “Oh, nothing escapes my vigilant eye!”

Udib smirked, “Nothing, you say?”

 “Nothing!”

Udib gestured to the forest opening.

 “How about our wagon?”

Ast’s arms dropped to his side as he gaped opened mouth at the muddy tracks leading into the forest. The oxen, and wagon, were gone.

 “Bugger.”

He stroked his beard nervously, and then bolted toward the forest.

 “Good one, Great Leader.” Kol said, burying her face in her hand, shaking her head.

*===========*

Ilral burst through the overgrowth and stopped, falling backwards onto his behind and breathing heavily.

 “Bloody hell, you lot d’n half run fast.”

He caught his breath, and sat up. The forest opened out to a clear grassy cliff top. As he walked and peered down, the cliff sloped downward to another small clearing, and further more to the very bottom, where lay the bend of a river.

The oxen and wagon had stopped, surrounded by three large rocky cliffs. Alath was stroking one of the oxen, the big beast huffing and grunting. Ast was flat on his back. Ilral wandered over and pointed to him.

 “What happened to our Great Leader?”

Kol smirked, “Took a kick from one of the oxen. He’s out cold.”

 “Good. What’s all this bloody lark about name changes and Great Leader?”

Vucar shook her head,

 “I don’t know why we all ended up here with this bloomin’ idiot.”

Udib crossed over to the group,

 “I think I may know, but I would like to see how our supposed Great Leader handles this. Quiet now, he’s stirring.”

Ast groaned and stirred. After a moment, he sat bolt upright, eyes wide.

 “Drink!”

Shorast took the waterskin of Dwarven mead from her belt and handed it to him. He gulped it down and passed the waterskin back. Sitting up, he half stumbled over to the group.

 “Right. What happened?”

 “You were trying to calm the ox down and—“

 “Okay. Onto business. Are our supplies okay?”

Alath riffled through the busted wagon.

 “Mostly intact. We’ve got some meat, some fish, some er... plants, I think? Plenty drink. Some buckets, some—“

 “Okay, that’s enough.”

Ast clambered atop the ruins of the wagon, balancing precariously atop a full barrel of drink. Kol nudged Shorast,

 “Why does he always have to stand on top of things?”

 “I reckon s’power thing that. You know, bigger’n everyone else n’that.”

Ast raised his hands.

 “And thus by tradition of the ancients, you shall be named—“

 “What if we don’t like the name?” Vucar cut in.

 “Well... it’s tough, isn’t it. So says your Great Leader!”

 “Well what if I don’t want a new name?”

 “And so... she shall be named ‘Whatshername!’”

 Vucar’s mouth dropped but no words escaped.

 “Shorast, you are a dullard, so your name will be!”

Shorast folded her arms indignantly. “Shall be what?”

 “Dullard. Ilral! Your mighty beard has earned the name The Fuzz!”

Ilral found himself stroking his mighty beard.

 “Alath, for your sneaky ways, you are the Mole.”

Alath waved his hands at Ast and glared at the other dwarves, begging for some sanity. They all stood perplexed. Udib laughed a full belly laugh, and wiped a tear from his eye,

 “Oh Ast, do you expect us to take any of this seriously? I think we have more pressing matters here.”

 “I am not Ast, I am Great Leader! You would do well to keep that in mind, Mr Calm.”

Udib’s shoulders dropped and his smile disappeared.

 “Kol, the brightest of us all, will be Hope! For she shall bear the children of our Empire! Many a night we sha—”

Ast was hit square in the face, falling backward onto the grass. Kol shook her fist and stepped off of the wagon. Ilral looked at Ast lying once more flat on his back, unconscious.

 “It wasn’t the ox that hit before, was it.”

Udib sighed.

 “Right, let’s get this stuff unpacked. I swear, if I had a crossbow, I would have shot myself on the road to the castle.”

Alath chuckled. “Heh, road shoot.”