Aluudon [DF]

Thriggle's Log: 8th Timber, 251, Late Autumn - Farm Report

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Dear Diary,

I've decided we need to expand the farms to account for our growing population.



I've noticed since piercing the magma cavern that mosses and fungi from the depths have begun to grow throughout our outpost, wherever their spores can find purchase. This is primarily limited to the sandy upper reaches, for now.

In other news, I've been dissatisfied with the design of the caravan entrance. The non-Euclidean ramps may keep land-bound critters from stumbling into our outpost, but it provides no defense against those duckling-gobbling buzzards.

So I have a cunning plan! The buzzards will likely take the shortest path to get into our wonderful home, so unless they soar in directly from the West, they'll probably stay close to the north or south walls. If we make the path a bit wider, we can line those walls with traps!



In addition, we can still put traps in front of the entrance, so long as we give the caravans a way to navigate under them.

Thriggle's Log: 13th Timber, 251, Late Autumn - Care-a-van

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Spoiler Dear Diary,

We finished constructing the ramps for the expanded caravan entrance just in time.

The supply caravan has arrived!



To my surprise, the caravan was accompanied by Ushrir Ustmeng, the well-known liaison to the mountainhomes.



He's probably surprised to find us out in this desert, but I'm sure we can convince him that our efforts here have not been in vain.

I've scheduled a meeting with Ushrir, and in the meantime I've asked Palamedes to figure out what dispensable goods we have that are most valuable so we can bring them up to the depot.

Once he tells me which goods are valuable, I'm going to tell him his services as a broker will no longer be needed, since it's more important that we get someone persuasive up there to the depot. We need to set our best foot forward if we really want to convince more merchants to make the dangerous trek through boglin and human territory to our desert outpost.



I think Naut will be our best choice. I considered Kadol, but she admits that she has a large deficit of willpower. I also considered Vucar the woodcutter, but told me he can't help but be candid and sincere in his dealings with others.

But Naut is friendly, confident, and rippling with muscles… clearly the best dwarf to be representing Oldboots to the world!

16th Timber, 251, Late Autumn - Taking a Gander at the Paperwork

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Dear Diary,

I'm scheduled to meet with Ushrir today. Just have to go over the list of trade goods that Naut brought me from Palamedes and make sure everything is in order.

Yeah, everything looks goo-



Goose?



GOOSE?!



GOOOOOOOSE!

Thriggle's Log: 17th Timber, 251, Late Autumn - ...

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Spoiler

The page is stained with rum and tears.

Thriggle's Log: 18th Timber, 251, Late Autumn - Merchant Troubles

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Dear Diary,

Lost my composure for a little bit there, but I'm back in control again. My strong leadership was required when a disaster struck the incoming supply caravan.



The idiots had somehow managed to get the reins of their horses tangled up in the scaffolding of a partially constructed wall, becoming hopelessly entwined with the column.

I sorted out the mess, getting the masons on the job immediately, then remembered that I was supposed to be meeting with Ushrir. The Mystery of Goose's Murder would have to wait.



He asked what I wanted and I listed out all the usual necessities, such as ducklings, giant slug meat, and kangaroo cheese.

He said they don't have any slug meat (giant or otherwise) or kangaroo cheese at the mountainhomes, and that they only deal in adult ducks and drakes.

I was of course appalled, but I asked if he perhaps had a list of the apparently limited goods that can be provided. He unfurled a lengthy scroll of tightly-space writing. Upon closer inspection, each line enumerated potential trade goods, from the mundane to the absurd (prepared honey bee brain?!). Ushrir asked that I indicate a priority next to each trade good.

Whatever.

I hope Naut has had better luck with the merchants.

Thriggle's Log: 23rd Timber, 251, Late Autumn - Trade Concludes

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Spoiler
Dear Diary,

It turns out that Ushrir is a creep. He won't stop following me.

I mean, I get that I'm pretty attractive, with my concave nose bridge, my narrow ears, and my somewhat tall, somewhat broad head. But this guy is just obsessive!



It's not gonna happen, Ushrir!



After much needless and sickening conversation he was finally willing to get down to real business.



He said that what people really want back in the mountainhomes are goblets, figurines, and cut gems. Crowns and leather waterskins are pretty popular too.

It all sounds a bit fancier than I would expect, but perhaps my perceptions have been colored after roughing it out in this desert for almost a year.



So long, Ushrir! Don't let the large, serrated bronze disc hit you on the way out!