19th Malachite, 125, Mid-Summer
The Outpost
This place is horrible, Hel. You promised to lead us to a new, happier life. I trusted you. Mustawd trusted you!
Ah, my poor, poor Reinhardt. My heart is bleeding when you say these things. But I must ask you to have faith and be patient for a while longer.
My husband is breaking his back down there!
Shh. Someone's coming.
*approaches Helly* Sorry if I interrupted something.
No need to be sorry, good doctor Azira. If you're here to check my health condition, let me remind you, I'm a married dwarf, A HAR HAR HA, aaah.
Actually, I was curious why would anyone want to settle in Angèrith of all places. Don't get me wrong, everyone is happy to see new dwarven faces, and yet...
Suspicious, aren't you? Understandable. I'll be honest, we didn't intend to come here. We didn't even know this place existed until recently.
We were heading to Girderjoyous.
Have you heard of Girderjoyous, doctor Azira?
Can't say I have. Due to certain circumstances, I was isolated from the rest of the world for some years.
How so?
Reinhardt, dear! Where are your manners? I'm sure doctor Azira will tell his story once we earn his trust.
If you earn my trust, that is. Please go on.
On our way to Girderjoyous, we made a quick stop in Plankplunged. The taverns there are just too good to pass. We were having drinks, discussing which route to our destination should we take, when another dwarf overheard us talking. Forgot his name...
Urist McStoryteller.
Thank you, deary. Old dwarf interrupted our discussion with, how do I put it..? A rather descriptive speech on the topic of Girderjoyous. Long story short, Urist made us reconsider the rationale behind our decision to settle there. And when we asked for his suggestion of a better place to start a new life, he pointed us here, at Redlabored.
"Where all dwarves are equals, and everyone gets what they need."
The only thing we need is a chance to prove ourselves. Can we get one, doctor?
I am not the one to decide. But I'll be watching you.
Oh, stop it, you naughty dwarf. You're making me blush, A HAR HAR HAR
20th Malachite, 125, Mid-Summer
Dining Room
*enters the room* What's up? Why is everyone here?
Nowhere else to be. It's not like we have any actual work to do.
Wait, what? Kalin, what's wrong?
*sits in the corner of Dining Room, drinking ale from a barrel*
Forget about him, Sqeecoo. He had a fight with Grimwulf earlier today - the Kommissar is furious at our current situation.
Shouldn't we cut stone blocks?
Not before our miners dig a portion of Redlabored. Right now, there is not enough space to set up mason's workshops and storage for boulders and stone blocks.
Well, we could focus on cooking and brewing while we wait.
No ingredients left to cook or brew.
So, can't we do something? Anything?
I've made a drawbridge out of boredom.
Operated by a lever in the manager's office. Once you pull the lever, the bridge over here:
Is raised, preventing anyone from entering the outpost. A primitive way to ensure our safety in case we spot something nasty coming our way.
Are you saying we can seal ourselves inside the outpost? It's so cool!
Not yet. It seems you forgot the Kommissar ordered a staircase connecting the Passage of Memories with the outpost. This entry needs to be sealed as well.
I'll do it in a day or two. Taking my time to extend this feeling of being useful.
Nobody's doing labor in Redlabored. How ironic.
Such an ignominious interpretation of my spot among this cooperation is abstract.
I agree with whatever he said.
*admires the tables and chairs* My compliments, Merc. The craftsdwarship is of the highest quality.
Aye, I'm quite content with the end result.
As you should be. *palms the edges of the table* What you did with the wood here... Merciless. Merely touching this piece makes me feel your hatred for the trees you worked with. I am truly impressed.
Appreciate it, Helly. It's good to have someone capable of recognizing actual skill.
*stares at the table, trying hard to come up with something to say*
Benign.
... Thanks, I guess.
Will you excuse me for a moment? *takes a seat near Kalin* Got a minute, boss?
*burp*
*half-whispering* I can help you sort your problems out.
Fuck off.
You don't have to say anything or follow my advice. But there is no harm in lending your ear for a moment.
*mumbles* Every dwarf around 'ere wants to fuck mah brain out, I swear.
Look. You should really keep the dwarves busy. Why don't you give the order to cut trees around our surface fortress?
We'll need to clear it at some point, might as well do it now.
Eh. Enuff wood as it is. Dat stockpile is full anyways.
Make another stockpile.
It's a common mistake of every new dwarven settlement, to think you have "enough wood." When, in reality, you can never have enough. Trust me, once Grimwulf sets up the smithies, we'll need charcoal, a lot of it. We'll burn through that wood in no time. The ability to plan ahead is what separates a good manager from a bad one.
Plannin' my ass. What's da point? Got nuthin' to BRU. No booze - no werk, Redlabored be fucked.
Here is another tip from a somewhat experienced brewer. I can make booze from almost anything.
Can you bru Grimwulf?
That kind of alcohol would be too strong even for a dwarf, A HAR HAR HAR HAR, aaaahhh. We are in the middle of nowhere, Kalin. Have you been on the surface recently?
Nu. I've been drinkin' down 'ere.
Plants. Trees. Fruits. Grass. Everything up there can be used for brewing. And I happen to know that Sqeecoo has plenty of experience gathering useful plants. All she needs is an order.
Why da fug are ya tellin' me dis?
As I see it, you are a competent dwarf, clearly destined for greater things. Managing these poor workers is just not your level, Kalin. I hope that one day, when Redlabored grows, you will be appointed to a position more suitable for your... talents. The sheriff. Militia commander, maybe. When that day comes, Redlabored will elect a new manager to replace you. I'm sure you'll vote for a dwarf that is reliable, patient, and friendly. Someone you know you can trust. Someone resourceful.
Dat's a lotta words comin' from dat yuge mouth. Gotta think. *takes a sip from a barrel*
I'm always here for you. *pats Kalin's shoulder* All I ask in exchange is a small favor.
1st Limestone, 125, Early Autumn
Redlabored, 8 levels below ground
Hrrrrnnngg. My back is killing me.
*swings his pick, breaking the stone in front of him*
What day is it? I think it's Autumn already.
I'm talking to you.
*ignores Mustawd completely*
I'm not a big talker myself, but you? I know a numb dwarf who is noisier than you.
*thud, thud, thud*
Come on, Tindrli. Lower that pick for a damn moment. We've been down here for what, almost two months now? You haven't said a word.
Stay focused. *keeps swinging the pickaxe*
Oh, good. We had a talk. I assume we are friends now. *grabs his pickaxe* I wish my wife was like you. *thud* About the only good thing down here is *thud* not having that whining harlot nearby. *thud*
*has his pickaxe stuck in stone for a moment* Gneiss.
What's that?
This layer is part basalt, part gneiss.
Is it really the only topic you care about? Mining? What is wrong with you?
...
No dwarf in their right mind would volunteer for a miner's job. Sometimes it's assigned as a punishment for breaking the law, other times a dwarf has to do it for survival. But you..? It seems like you want to be here.
Stay focused.
Meanwhile
Kommissar's Private Quarters.
AWRIGHT, you barrel-huggin' alcoholics, I wanna hear your reports! NOW!
Autumn's here, and we're neither dead nor starving. Not even sober so far. I say it's a miracle in its own right.
No tanks to YOU! Where is mah BONAS, Grimbutt?!
Did you fix our alcohol shortage?
FUCK YES!
*staring at Azira*
I... have nothing to say, Kommissar. According to my records, we are well-stocked on alcohol for the time being.
Not only that but now we have a variety of different booze.
Same goes for our food stocks.
DAS RITE!
The amount of wood was nearly doubled last month.
Who said we need more wood?
'tis the result of clearing da ground for skull-fort cuntstrucshun.
Hrmpf. Fair enough.
NOW PAY UP!
Right after you tell me what I want to hear.
Da last kapitalist we hang shall be da one who sold us the rope.
Nice try. But I meant stone blocks. How many did we cut?
Enuff for a start.
Just give me the number, Kalin. You had the entire Summer to prove yourself.
Ei, I ain't got time ta keep count--
Zero. We don't have a single stone block yet — not even a mason's workshop.
NOBODY ASKED FOR YER FFFFFFFFFFFUCKIN' COMMENTS, AZIRA!!
Hold on. No blocks? No workshops?
Grim, are you aware of our current progress on Redlabored?
Of course. Kalin keeps me updated. I can only assume you are trying to prank me or sumthin'.
What exactly did he tell you?
SHUDDUP, YOU FUCKER!
The passageways were ready before the new migrants arrived. Mid-Summer, if I recall correctly.
Then I told him to dig out the stone industry area.
And start cutting stone blocks at once. He keeps telling me that things are going according to schedule.
That's not the most accurate way to put it. You see, due to some reassignments our mining progress slowed down to a halt.
What IN THE GODDAMN FUCKING HELL, Kalin?!
I GOT IT, OK? Relax.
While Tindrli worked together with Kalin, the digging was going pretty fast. But then Kalin decided to assign Mustawd instead of himself and, well, the result speaks for itself.
Both of ya DO NOT GEDDIT! Mustawd, dat worthless son of an elf, gonna b a gud miner in a few months. Soonar or later we'll get more picks, rite? Rite. AND THEN you'll b praisin' KALIN for training moar miners in advance!
I'm not buying that crap. The only reason you assigned Mustawd as a miner was because you wanted to slack from the job yourself.
WRONG, and also FUCK YOU sincerely, Azira! You know what separates a GUD MANAGER LIKE KALIN from an impotent like you? The ability to PLAN AHEAD!
The Outpost
20th Malachite, 125, Mid-Summer
Dining Room
20th Malachite, 125, Mid-Summer
Today Kalin ordered me to gather plants we can use for cooking and brewing. Which is shocking, really. Who would expect someone like Kalin to come up with a good idea like this?
21th Malachite, 125, Mid-Summer
It's like this land was blessed by Anir himself! So many fruits and berries around!
Can't wait for Helly to make something new and tasty. It's been forever since I had a chance to enjoy blackberry wine.
16th Galena, 125, Late Summer
It's been a while, diary. Don't have much time to write, not with all that work to do. Everyone is so busy!
I'd say Kalin is doing a great job. We are no longer low on drinks, every single dwarf has a task, and the only thing we're lacking is downtime. Yep, no happy faces here in Redlabored.
But we are dwarves, not some edgy humans. A dwarf can tolerate and endure for a long, long while before he finally breaks. We all know that sooner or later Redlabored will be constructed, complete with rooms, taverns, beautiful stone gardens, temples, museums. There is a bright future ahead of us.
All we have to do is be patient.
Today Kalin ordered me to gather plants we can use for cooking and brewing. Which is shocking, really. Who would expect someone like Kalin to come up with a good idea like this?
21th Malachite, 125, Mid-Summer
It's like this land was blessed by Anir himself! So many fruits and berries around!
Can't wait for Helly to make something new and tasty. It's been forever since I had a chance to enjoy blackberry wine.
16th Galena, 125, Late Summer
It's been a while, diary. Don't have much time to write, not with all that work to do. Everyone is so busy!
I'd say Kalin is doing a great job. We are no longer low on drinks, every single dwarf has a task, and the only thing we're lacking is downtime. Yep, no happy faces here in Redlabored.
But we are dwarves, not some edgy humans. A dwarf can tolerate and endure for a long, long while before he finally breaks. We all know that sooner or later Redlabored will be constructed, complete with rooms, taverns, beautiful stone gardens, temples, museums. There is a bright future ahead of us.
All we have to do is be patient.
1st Limestone, 125, Early Autumn
Redlabored, 8 levels below ground
Meanwhile
Kommissar's Private Quarters.
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