Intro
This is the 65th story in the Smallville Series and tells the tale of another early underground Dwarf settlement that expanded above ground. We again have gone back in time. In year 33 SVT Smallville's main river began to dry up. Expedition #7 went north to investigate. They founded the town of Lakeland (story 11) after discovering that a rock and mud slide had blocked the river thus altering most of the world's rivers, including the ones underground. Many underground residents were forced above ground in order to survive. The location of this story is in the northeast, west of Crystal Canyon of story 36.
The map seed 55987064 Valley, Small, Cold Mountain, Disasters Off, Med 6 elk,geese,bear
Mods activated for this map and load order are:
Map Changing and Starting Mods: Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, Cold Mountain Climate, Lush & Green, Settlers Deco, Maritime Riffles, New Flora Edit, Wildlife Starts
Tweak Mods: Better Stock Piles, Better Stock Pile Storage, Bigger Wheelbarrows, Dried Mushrooms, Fishing Dock +25%, Hunting, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative (Voeille), Override Winter Clothes, Rocks Respawn, Tiny Smoke, Woodcutter +3
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Nomads (Kid), override uneducated, Storage Crates, Jinxie Bitty Village, Kid Fairy Tale, Kid Forge of Dwarves (new, testing), Kid Granny Neighborhood, Kid Tiny v 3, Kid Tiny Downtown, Kid Workplace Village
Supporting Mods: Kid Animal Shed Plus (update, testing), Kid Deco Farm Animals, Kid Deco People, Kid Deco Plants, Kid Deco Wreaths, Kid Market Carts, Kid Market Foods, Kid Work Shop
Mod Note Kid Forge of Dwarves includes the Forge of Dwarves Caves which was released in the previous story, Whispering Pines story 64. No need to use both.
So weary traveler, you found us. It was bound to happen sooner or later. The river boatmen have done a good job of keeping our underground dwarf settlements a secret just like they did the elven settlement of Crystal Canyon just east of us. You didn't hear it from me. We dwarves have been trading all along the underground rivers for many many years. Our caves provided us with plenty of fish, bear meat, furs, and mushrooms. We traded furs and tools for grain and fruit until our river backed up and flooded a good portion of our caves before changing course completely. We were left with the choice of going deeper into the caves towards elven territory or the hobbit's Shire. We choose to go above ground. There was a river and a lot of trees and stone, we would build a Forge and trade tools for food like we always did.
Come sit by the fire, weary traveler and I'll tell you all about the Forge.
Yea, another one. I love these stories.
:)
Chapter 1
The men put a gate on the cave that led out from our underground settlement and they dug 2 tunnels leading out from our dwelling areas. They put gates on those cave openings also. We didn't want any bears in our underground dwelling areas. Six families volunteered to be the first ones to go above ground, mine was the first and we were put in charge. We found it very bright and had a hard time adjusting our vision especially on sunny days, but we came to appreciate the beauty and color of our new surroundings.
A storage cave was built by the entrance to our small valley. We gathered resources for the stockpile and built a woodcutter there too. We gathered branches, wild foods, and herbs. We would continue to bring up bear meat, fish, and mushrooms from below. A wood house was built for my sister and her family and another house for my husband, Rockett, and our family. My name is Lillicent. What? You heard the phrase rocket scientist before? Well, yes, that's what they call a dwarf who knows a lot about rocks, and my Rock is the best, that's how the phrase got started. Dwarves would rather build with stone or metal but wood was quicker to work with and we needed houses. Winter came early here above ground as it did in most northern and mountain towns. It snowed here already in autumn. Our underground settlement was a comfortable 55F degrees year round. Our cookfires took care of any dampness. We only came above ground for wood. You may not know, weary traveler, that the Dwarven race was created underground in the Halls of Darkness of Middle Earth by the great smith, Aule. It is not easy for dwarves to move above ground.
Two brothers, Kyrone and Conardo, who fished the big underground river now built a bait shop and boat rental above ground by the downed tree they used for fishing. We were going to have to use some of the fish to feed a pesky bear. One of our cave hibernators must have gone out before the gate was build and now could not get back in. We would lure him away with fish before he posed any real danger. We would continue to teach the children about the 3 bears, "don't feed papa bear", "don't wake mama bear", and "never ever hug baby bear".
Chapter 2
In early spring of year 2 there was still one family in the dwelling cave waiting for a house. The woodcutter moved his family out shortly before. We were still bringing tools and clothes up from the underground settlement but it was much colder up above and we needed warmer duds, it snowed in late spring. We dwarves are a hardy bunch but the temperature change was very noticeable. We built a place to make warm coats out of the furs we had in stock. We also built a school. A forge settlement would required educated workers to calculate trade deals and production totals.
The snow in late spring proved this climate was not so good for growing crops. Well, we dwarves were not farmers like the hobbits and we were not hunters and foragers like the elves but we had to increase our food supply until we were able to trade tools for food. We built an anvil workplace so we would not run out of tools before the forge was up and running. Inferior surface iron would be good enough for common tools. We collected what wild foods and herbs we could find, along with branches for firewood. We also set up a large roasting spit to stretch our supply of bear meat. The last family now had a home above ground but we knew there were more families dwelling deeper in the caves who would be needing to move above ground soon. It wasn't long before there were 14 more cave dwellers, 12 adults with 2 children, in the dwellings closest to the cave gates waiting for houses.
Chapter 3
Some of the older boys caught a few mountain goats and one of the families from the cave built a house and an animal pen. They dug up some wild grasses and planted a patch to grow feed for the goats. A feed store would store any extra hay that the patch produced. We would have goat's milk for the children, and perhaps a dairy to make cheese later on. More houses would be built nearby later in the year.
A family moved into the lighthouse that was built by the river. We still have not seen a riverboat. The last family that needed a house choose to be the official stone cutter for the town cemetery. Dwarves were masters of stone cutting, tool making, and mining but even so there were bound to be mining accidents and a cemetery was a must. It was snowing again by the time the fishing pier and fish market were completed down by the harbor. We hoped the trading post would be completed by spring.
Chapter 4
The trading post was finished by early spring and, like almost everything else the dwarves built, it was big. Our caves below ground were big and roomy and our houses above ground are big and roomy. My Rock says one day he'll build me an even bigger house with a rose garden in a castle. Our men might not be big and tall but they have big hearts and are very appreciate of their wives, especially if she can cook.
An overseer was built next to the trading post. I was teacher at the time and I took my 5 students there to learn how to keep inventory records and evaluate them. We had a few tools we could trade. We needed more bear meat and furs but the nearby group of bears moved away as soon as the hunters got close.
Mechele, the general goods merchant we knew, arrived in late spring. As always the river boatman was a good source of information. It was not only our river that changed but many others, above and below ground. There were shortages of food and tools almost everywhere. The boatmen were still trying to find alternate routes to get to their regular customers. He would try to bring us flour, apples, and potatoes. He couldn't say when that might be. We spent more time that year foraging for wild foods, Rock said I was like an elf. We gathered stone too and began to improve our roads.
Chapter 5
In early spring of year 5, a herd of elk was spotted across the stream to the south. We needed meat but the herd moved away before anyone could get there to hunt. Our overall health was down slightly, we needed a better diet. Hopefully that would improve, Mechele returned with apples and flour. We traded 40 iron tools for 160 apples and bags of flour. We would build a bakery to make herb bread.
It had just stopped snowing in late spring when 8 adults with 3 children came out of the dwelling caves and wanted to live with us above ground. They said there were still a lot of bears down below and they were getting more aggressive since there was less fish for them to eat. There would be more bear meat and furs as well as mushrooms and other supplies still to be brought up. They would stay in the dwelling caves until we had more firewood.
We were indeed short of firewood again even with 2 woodcutters. Now we had more laborers to gather branches and there were a lot of them in the small valley east of the caves. There was plenty of trees, stone, and inferior surface iron to be had also. We dug a tunnel for easier access to that area. Laborers reported to Rock that there were elk and bear spotted in that valley. We would have to watch that our children didn't wander off through the tunnel that was right by our house. Our son Corne was a student but our 2 girls, Laylan and Jane, were only ages 5 and 3.
Mechele returned in late winter with potatoes and more flour. He had trouble getting to us, the river was more turbulent and full of debris. The children would need closer watching near the river now too but I'm sure the parents have been doing that since even before Smallville's river became blocked. The good news was that Mechele would take some of our inferior iron in trade, the extra weight may help to slow down his riverboat in the faster moving water. The flour he brought would allow us to bake more herb bread. Our overall health had improved.
Chapter 6
It was another long cold winter and it was still snowing in early spring. The goats in the animal shed needed more grass, they had multiplied and needed another animal shed. Another shed was built along with a matching house and meadow forester. It snowed again in late spring so it was summer before 13 year old Vancesco from the dwelling cave got started planting the thatch to feed the goats. There were soon small tuffs of thatch coming up between the trees. Vancesco asked why we didn't have better axes, he would need to cut down some trees. The laborers would gather the thatch like they did herbs and wild foods. Weather permitting, they were gathering stone and surface iron.
A house for another cave family was built behind the new animal shed and a caretaker's house was built by the cemetery. The family would make sure the cemetery didn't get taken over by thatch.
Mechele, the merchant, was happy to take some of the iron but only had apples, no flour or potatoes. We traded iron for 300 apples. He said he hoped the heavy iron would help slow his riverboat. There had been a lot of snow farther north, the melting snow in late spring was followed by heavy rain in early summer and now the river was running fast and high. There were flooding problems down south of Smallville, there were more food shortages.
We increased our gathering of wild foods and herbs and when a group of bears got close, we sent 3 hunters. One of the 3 succeeded in adding more bear meat and furs to our store of supplies.
Chapter 7
In late winter, 2 herds of elk were sighted across the stream where the bears had been. We decided it was time we build a permanent hunting stand there. A house for 16-year-old, Brion, and a shed were built there too. The last family from the cave dwellings had a house built for them by the bakery. We were lucky that the river boatman had flour and potatoes when he came in early spring, we needed both. We were doing a lot of wild food gathering to keep our food supply stable.
We had a problem with our meadow forester and feed for the goats. The grass and thatch that was planted last year was coming up nicely but Brion said he will not cut more trees to make room to plant more thatch until we had better tools. There was now a tree fellow standing guard to protect the forest in Brion's work area. We should have known a tree fellow would show up and there was nothing we could do about it right now. We dare not hurt a tree fellow unless we wanted a whole army of them descending on us plus the elves. The elves have a strange attachment to trees and the trees to the elves. What we needed was better tools that would cause less pain and suffering to the trees we cut. Finely crafted tools could not be created overnight. First we would need a mine for high quality iron ore and a mine needed dwarf miners. We could not spare any of our food gatherers so we sent word to the underground settlement. There were soon 2 families with 2 adult children and 1 young child living in the upper cave dwellings. They would need houses.
The latest arrivals from the underground settlement brought the above ground settlement's population to 72, 38 adults, 8 students, and 26 young children. Another house was built by the hunting stand and 3 houses were built in the main part of town, 1 by the fishing tree, 1 across from the bakery, and 1 by the trading post. We gathered more branches for firewood but when we began to cut more trees in the area through the tunnel, we came across 3 more tree fellows protecting the forest. There was nothing we could do.
Kid Animal Shed Plus update has been released. There is now a thatch patch and a meadow forester. Deco grass and flowers included. Find info and link to download here:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3854.0
Chapter 8
In early spring of year 8, a 2nd tree fellow was spotted in the thatch meadow. There was another group of bears but our hunters now wanted to know if they should hunt them. The tree fellows not only protected the forest but the creatures in them as well. We were concerned for our hunters and for our laborers who had to cut trees but we were less concerned now for the children. Tree fellows apparently considered them wild creature too, there have been stories in the past of tree fellows protecting and rescuing young children from danger. We needed better tools.
Our first step towards that goal was to dig a large mine. We had only 2 miners, we could not spare more workers who were needed to gatherer firewood and wild foods. They were getting good at it. And of course there is none better at mining and tool making than dwarves. Our 2 miners were soon bringing up good quality iron ore, coal, stone, and crystals. We set aside 2 more areas as stockpiles and added more stone roads and started to replaced old dirt roads with stone.
By summer there were 5 tree fellows in the valley east of the caves. They seemed to be watching over the elk herd. The elves must have seen what was happening here by looking through one of their crystal balls because when Mechele returned to our trading post he had a gift for us. What? oh yes, crystal balls, you didn't hear that from me, weary traveler. Anyways, the elves sent us a few of their Elven bows with enchanted arrows that cause no pain. The elves have no direct control over the tree fellows but they wanted no trouble. There'd been trouble in the past with both tree fellows and with elves but dwarves, elves, hobbits, and humans had all been allies in the fight to save Middle Earth long ago.
We only traded for some wool that Mechele had, there were others who needed the food more than we did at the moment. We would collect more from the wild and stretch what we had by roasting meat and making mushroom soup. The dwarf miners would enjoy the soup while they waited for better tools. Mechele said there were other dwarf miners and tunnel diggers that needed better tools, they were working in exchange for food to take back to their settlements, both above and below ground. Life was sure simpler back in the caves.
Chapter 9
Uliseo built the soup kettle and gave it a test run. Many single young woman wanted the job to show off their cooking skills to the single young men but Veron living next door said she didn't want that kind of thing going on next door to her house. She said she would take over making the soup if Uliseo didn't want to do it, she had a toddler at home she could take care of at the same time.
That soup kettle needed firewood and the woodcutters needed logs. Better tools needed logs and better iron. We gathered as many downed branches as we could and cut a few trees at a time as far from the tree fellows as we could get. The first step to better tools was the large mine, the second step was the smelter we now built to make better quality iron from coal and iron ore. We moved more of the inferior surface iron and iron tools made from it to the trading post. We trading some of each for apples when the river boatman returned. Our overall health was again a little low.
Our dilemma was the logs. A forge forester required high quality dwarven axes for the workers, especially because of the presence of the tree fellows. Sharp precision-made dwarven axes would cause little if any pain and suffering to the tree being cut, sharp axes were faster and safer for the foresters to use. We needed wood to make the axes and axes to get the wood. There was room in the forge area for both the axe maker and the forge forester but first we would add the fishing tree to the stock pile - another piece broke off and fell into the river and it was no longer safe to fish from. A second fishing pier for 2 fisherman was built across the small stream. At the end of year 9 our food supply was as precarious as our wood supply.
Chapter 10
In Spring of year 10, 14 adults with 5 young children moved into the cave dwellings closest to the large gate. We put up a notice board to let them know what jobs were available. We needed another hunter, another fisherman, and another miner or 2. We needed laborers to gather branches, wild foods, and thatch. One of the newcomers said there were a lot more supplies down below than the remaining people would need. We added another worker to the large gate to bring more of those supplies above ground.
We needed at least 1 worker to start making dwarven axes and sharpening then to perfection at the grinder that was built on the river. The rapidly flowing river would turn the big water wheel that turned the smaller grinder wheel where the axes would be sharpened. High quality iron from iron ore, coal, and logs were taken to the grinder to produce the first 2 axes needed to complete the forge forester. Each of the 2 foresters would have a long-lasting dwarven axe to use to cut logs for the grinder. Trees that suffer little or no pain when cut produce stronger logs for tool handles and other uses. The axes can be taken back to the grinder for resharpening when needed, the dwarven axes were made to last a lifetime.
The forge forester was completed and trees were being planted in the small radius. Addition forge foresters could be built where logs were most needed and foresters would now be safe from the tree fellows. The new fishing pier was completed and had 2 fisherman. Two houses were built nearby for cave dwelling families. More houses were needed. Kayce was now busy making dwarven axes, we sturdy dwarven women were not just good cooks. The axes would be traded for food, they had a high value of 20 trade units. The river boatmen would see to it that they reached the dwarves that needed them. We badly needed food.
Chapter 11
By early spring of year 11 the newly planted trees were doing well and so was the grass for the goats, more thatch meant more goats milk. We built a small mine for coal next to the large mine, the large mine produced whatever the miners brought up. The river boatman said he would take the crystals in trade and see that the elves got them, they always needed more crystals. The coal from the small mine would ensure that we always had enough for the smelter and the grinder. If we wanted to make steel or hardened tools, like picks and shovels, we would have coal for the Forge too. We built the Forge close to the mines, smelter, and stockpile. Even our iron tools for our own use would now be higher quality, crafted by dwarves from smelted iron and precision cut logs.
Until those forge planted trees grew, we would still have to watch our log supply carefully and gather branches for firewood. Our supply of coats and food were also both very low. We now had more to trade but Mechele had little of what we wanted or needed due to shortages elsewhere. When he arrived in late spring, we traded for what apples and walnuts he had. We needed flour and wool. He had very expensive barley seeds. We dwarves weren't farmers and the climate wasn't good for farming but even a partial harvest would provide some needed grain.
We prepared an 11x11 crop field in the clearing on the other side of the small stream. We assigned 2 farmers but it was already too late in the season to plant. We could only hope for an early spring.
Oh, how I like that first picture! Those new trees look so promising. I love trees, you know that :)
:) Trees are good :) The Climate Cold Mountain may not be so good for crops but it sure makes the spring and fall trees look pretty :)
@Abandoned ;D ;D ;D Me and my wife are delighted with this tale of the land of the dwarves. We love the wood and stone buildings, the bright and new mines are fantastic, especially the wrought iron gate at the Trading Post. The Lighthouse building is very nice - an element of frosted glass has been added. by the way, is it possible to add frosted glass to other large buildings? or to cover a piece of roof? I came up with this idea as the roofs of these buildings were covered with snow, something like in the picture. My wife and I admire much to create a beautiful land of dwarves - thank you
@Abandoned i @ kid1293 for the beautiful buildings you both created , you can see them on as in a slow movie - if this mod comes out, it will be a handyman. I have one more idea if you can add a mysterious gate or tunnel - it would be a very nice thing - I think it could be applied to various fantastic lands? We only have Stargate! Maybe someone will write a story about how the banished got through this gate to the countries of other interesting creatures or aliens?
@Abandoned will you write a story about creatures from fairy tales like smurfs or fairies, it was nice to add a few buildings in the shape of a mushroom? Of course, about the elves,there are some in "Christmas Mod" , it would be interesting - the end of the series of a small edition about the countries that Hobbit traveled ,You write different stories about the Banished who travels through various interesting lands. I Respect and Regards
:)
@taniu Glad to hear both you and your wife are well. The lighthouse is from Kid Tiny Downtown mod. I don't know if that frosted glass is the same as on greenhouses but I would think it could be used on other buildings. The large gate leads to underground which could lead anywhere I suppose - I pretend it does but :) a magic portal is good idea . I will add to very long wish list -don't tell Kid. :-X Kid said I can tell you a secret :) We have actually started working on another mod called Fairy Garden. It will blend nicely with both elf mods, Kid Forest Deep and Kid Fairy Tale. :)
Chapter 12
By early spring we began building houses to get the families out of the cave dwellings and closer to the workplaces. The more we built the less wild foods and branches were close by to gather. Our log supply and food supply were low. We built another forge forester closer to the woodcutter and the 2 farmers headed to the new crop field to begin planting. It snowed in late spring. When the field was 90% ready to harvest we assigned a 3rd farmer and began an early harvest. It snowed even earlier that year, it was late summer. The harvest was completed however. It disappeared as soon as it got into storage, it never made it to the mill that was built near the field. People were hungry. The trader arrived too late with flour, potatoes, and wool. Lila, the worker, died of starvation followed by Eugenery, the student.
@Abandoned ;D ;D ;DIt's great news that you are still working together
@kid1293, that you will add something new to these mods, I'm looking forward to the story about elves, you have great talent, it's a pity that only here on this page you develop your talent? unless you are actually a writer? In my youth, I wrote poems for my daughter for fun. I can send you 1 touching poem about longing - I did not know that my daughter would cry over these words - if I translate it into English. Chapter 12 is sad :'(, but I think the dwarfs are tough and it'll all be fine. Greetings
:)
Chapter 13
We dwarves were struggling to stay alive above ground but we had little choice. In late spring we traded for apples, flour, and potatoes, and in summer we traded for more potatoes. Rock said he was beginning to feel like a hobbit. Michele said it was because of hobbits that he had the potatoes and apples to trade. We collected more wild foods. We had flour but were short of herbs for the herb bread. We were always short of logs so we were not making enough tools and axes for trade. Michele said he would take some of our stone in trade since our surface iron was almost gone now.
It snowed in early autumn but it was only a brief snow shower, it warmed up and the harvest was completed. This year 2 farmers grew 788 units of barley compared to the 620 units 3 farmers harvested the previous year. This year the barley went directly to the mill and we had more flour for the bakery and our food supply improved slightly.
For the most part, logs, firewood, and wild foods and herbs were far from our workers. We could see so many resources right across the river. Being short of logs we decided to build a stone bridge across the river so we could gather up some of those resources and cut some of the trees. There was more surface iron and stone we could trade for food. Things could only improve.
Chapter 14
Both forge foresters were now cutting trees so we had a few more tools and axes for trade. Another worker was assigned to the coal mine and another to the trading post. When the trader returned we were able to get more apples and walnuts than before. One of the forge foresters was planting trees on land used by the thatch forester. We thought the thatch patch was a bit more reliable since it did not require laborers to harvest the thatch when the meadow forester was busy planting. We built another thatch patch across the stream.
We needed meat and warm coats and it was brought to our attention that there was a group of bears a stone's throw away from the hunter tower but neither of the hunters was in sight. Rock tracked them down on this side of the river way over to the east where they ended up after tracking a herd of elk. They got no elk but Rock got their help in herding the small flock of mountain sheep back to town. A sheep shed was built near the hunting tower.
Our first frost was late that year, the barley harvest was complete but totaled only 608 units compared to 788 the previous year. Luckily the merchant returned with apples, walnuts, and potatoes, we did not need to trade for wool now. It snowed by the time the sheep shed was completed and a textile market cart was built by the tailor to bring needed items closer. There would be a few more warm duds to be had that winter.
Chapter 15
Those new warm duds were snatched up pretty quick and we were again short of clothes. We did have logs, firewood, and a bit of food left after another long cold winter so one could say that things have improved. In fact my Rock said it won't be long now before he starts building that castle and rose garden he promised me. He is such a sweetheart.
Rock and I and our oldest daughter were all hunting on the other side of the tunnel, we need leather and furs, not to mention more meat. Our second oldest daughter was still a student. Our son, Corne, finished school, became a teacher, and built a small house right across from us. He had a family of his own now and his wife, Princenza, just became teacher at the new school that was built across the stream by the sheep shed.
While we were hunting, Rock pointed out the area that the men were considering for the castle. A lot of trees would have to be cut. The tree fellows have not left the area even though we had elven bows and dwarven axes. All the more reason, Rock said, to have a castle with sturdy stone walls should any trouble suddenly arise. We still had a lot of work and stabilizing to do before such a project could begin.
Our attention turned to the other side of the river. We built another fishing pier, a hunter, and a gatherer. There were bears and elks sighted nearby and there was a large area to gather wild foods. When Mechele, the merchant, returned we traded for walnuts, potatoes, and apple. Our food supply had never been better. We also traded for a bit of leather and wool to back up our small supply until the new hunters started making a real difference. By the time the snow started falling again, we had a 2nd bridge crossing the river down to the south of town.
Chapter 16
By early spring of year 16 we had a forester work station build on the other side of the river reached by that new bridge. There were a number of elk and bear there but no tree fellows. We would add a workplace for 2 more foresters. Yes, it seemed the elk and bears were everywhere but where our hunters were. Our hunters missed a large herd of elk by the barley field where planting was delayed by a late spring snow. We needed more leather. The riverboat merchant had none when he came in spring but we traded for the usual apples, potatoes, and walnuts. Mechele came regularly now twice a year.
By summer we had 3 foresters working across the river, one of them was our daughter Jane. She had a house on this side of the bridge. Our daughter Laylan was married with a newborn and was the gatherer across the river where she and her family had a house. That summer, Rock and I had a newborn son we named Owen. We took turns hunting and watching the children. Our towns population was 133, 77 adults, 17 students, and 39 young children. There were adult children still living at home but most were only 13 or 14 years old so we would wait a year or 2 before building more houses.
It snowed again in late summer, Bessica and Carson hurried to harvest the barley but the count was only 620 units compared to 804 the year before. Nevertheless, our food supply was again better than ever before. All our supplies were good but our surplus of duds was still small but had improved. The tailor alternated between making warm coats from furs or leather and wool, we were usually short of 1 of the 3. Hunting was not as good as it should be but one day I did see a cute sight, a tree fellow was protecting a baby bear by keeping it from wandering farther away from mama bear and the others.
Chapter 17
By spring of year 17 we had a small forge quarry built by the mines, we would need a lot of stone to build a castle. Checking overseer inventory records we discovered we had a lot more coal than we did iron ore. The miners in the small mine would switch from mining coal to mining iron ore. A few mine carts were built by the mines and a market cart for coal and iron ore was built next to the smelter. We wanted to insure a steady supply of tools and axes for the trading post but the trader did not come that spring. Our food supply began to dwindle slowly. We collected wild foods and herbs.
It was early summer before work on the forge gates and walls began. We thought it best to protect the settlement in case building a castle caused trouble with the tree fellows. Two of the three closest to town moved farther away but one still remain. The tree fellows were too big to be able to enter the old tunnel or the forge gates. We have not seen them climb the hills or enter the small stream.
The barley harvest was completed and we gathered as much wild foods as we could before it snowed, the river boatman returned in early autumn. We again traded for apples and walnuts.
By the end of the year the wall was finished and we felt that the forge area of our settlement was adequately protected. No plans had yet been made for the castle itself.
Chapter 18
At the start of year 18, we still had 2 concern. Our supply of coats hinged on poor hunting in this area and the supply of thatch to feed the sheep that supplies us with wool. We added an extra worker to each of our thatch patches, if that did not help we would build another. When the river boatman arrived we traded for the leather that he had with him. Our food supply depended for the most part on the arrival of the riverboat merchant. We needed a larger surplus.
We built a gatherer's station by the main gate, there was wild foods in the forge forester's forest and more outside the gate. One tree fellow remained close to the wall now but he was no threat, the big fellow could not fit inside the gate. When work continued on the stone road the tree fellow retreat closer to where the baby bear protector still stood.
Meanwhile in the forge area 2 stone statues were created to honor our miners and quarry workers. One statue had a prominent place near the soup stand where those workers took their lunch breaks and the other statue had a place of honor in front of the Forge itself.
It was decided that the forge wall would become part of the castle wall. A corner tower was constructed and worked continued on the south wall. There would be a side gate with a road that would lead to the stone crossing. There was a considerable amount of stone that could be collected there. Work slowed at times because of summer storms that brought heavy rain and high winds. We had a lot of branches to gather. When Mechele returned later in the year with apples and potatoes he said the weather was even worse to the south of us.
Chapter 19
Year 18 ended with an outbreak of mumps. There were 10 cases before a hospital was built, 2 patients recovered immediately, the others were well by early spring. Our coat supply was still lower than we would have liked and our food supply was again dwindling. Rock and I both gave up hunting in the castle valley. He was busy supervising the mines and the castle construction and hunting just was not good. The tree fellows were now watching over the small herds, especially those with young ones. We saw the tree fellows with the elk in early spring and we saw them with the bears the previous autumn. We could not risk hurting one of the tree fellows. We would trade for leather and I would help the laborers gather more wild foods.
It was early summer before Mechele returned with food and news. The settlements of Springfield, O'Leary's Farm, and Newport all suffered damage from tornadoes in Spring. Some smaller settlements were wiped out. We were sad to hear that news but were surprised and happy he had as much food with him for trade considering how much bad weather there was last summer and fall. We traded for apples, walnuts, and barley but it made little difference to our surplus, our pantries had been pretty empty. He said the settlements that were rebuilding would be glad to have the tool and he would return as soon as he could with more food.
Worked stopped on the walls again because a small group of bears moved into the area we were trying to enclose. There were only a few small groups of animals on this side of our settlement now and we were very careful not to cut more trees than necessary and we used our dwarven axes to cut the ones we did. Our efforts were paying off, two of the tree fellows were seen headed for the pass through which they entered our valley.
Hunting continued with the elven bows and enchanted arrows, the hunting tower by the barley field doing only slightly better than the tower across the river.
By summer the bears moved on and work on the walls continued.
Chapter 20
At the beginning of year 20 our overall health was down a bit and to insure a steady supply of herbs to our baker, we built an herbalist work station not far from the stone bridge that led to the bakery. A small herd of elk were now grazing within the thatch forester's work area. We planted another thatch patch to feed the goats and sheep in the animal sheds. Goats milk for the children and wool for warm clothes were necessities.
Another gate was being built in the castle wall, this one leading in the direction of the cave tunnel. Wild foods could still be collected in that area and workers would have 2 entrances to the secure areas of our settlement. The walls were almost finished. It took all of spring, summer, and fall to completely enclose the Forge castle area.
Chapter 21
The first thing Rock wanted to know when the castle walls were complete was where do I want my new house. I said there was nothing wrong with the first house he built me when we came out of the caves. We had plenty of room yet it was warm and cozy. My sister lived next door and our eldest son and his family lived across the street. Our children still at home lived close to their friends and their school. We had a wild forest area through the tunnel and we were right outside the caves and could go often to check on the old folks who did not want to move. I did not want to move either. Rock said nothing only gave me a big bear hug.
The area south of the castle was untouched and likely to stay that way. A small stockpile was built right outside the south gate for downed branches or trees that were cut if they grew too close to the castle walls. Inside that gate a large two-story storage unit was build. Rock said it was time we had a meeting hall where we could meet with other townfolk to discuss the progress or problems of the town. A meeting hall was build and the dwarf craftsmanship was displayed when the builders used some of the crystals from our mine to add a beautiful colored crystal window to the structure. There would be a meeting to discuss other plans for the castle section of the Forge.
Chapter 22
There was a big turn out for the first town meeting. The main topic of discussion was the need for houses for young people still living at home with their parents, many of the young people were now of marriageable age. The Forge had 54 families but only 36 homes. Construction of houses began in early spring along the west wall of the castle. Young couples, ages 15-21, moved in as soon as each house was completed. One house was also built west of town across the river.
During the warmer months we collected herbs and branches several times. New houses needed firewood. We traded for apples, walnuts, and potatoes whenever Mechele came to the trading post. He came 3 times this year. We were again in need of leather but our supply of coats was still good.
By the end of the year 6 castle houses and a school were completed. Most of the houses already had a newborn. Our settlement was now thriving.
Chapter 23
By early spring of year 23, more construction was underway. A wood store and food store would ensure that castle residents had a supply of firewood and a variety of foods nearby. A daily news office was built so notes could be taken at the town meeting and then copied and given to those who did not attend the meeting. Many household now had infants and young children who could not be left home alone.
There was construction in other areas of town also. A tailor workshop was build behind the duds maker. We had a supply of down and flax that could be made into warm coats. We added a 3rd woodcutter to cut firewood.
There was a nice forest across the river now, the forge foresters were doing most of the tree cutting. The forest workplace for extra foresters was long gone now. But now the untouched forest across the river had a lot of wild foods and herbs that our baker needed for the herb bread. A workplace was set up for a herbalist and one for a gatherer. We would soon build awning covers over them and the tailor workplace too. A house was built at the edge of the forest by the bridge for the workers.
Our food, firewood, and clothing supplies continued to improve.
Are the walls hard to work with?
Expensive? Hard to fit?
:) The stone requirement was no problem. This map had a lot of surface stone plus I use the Increase CC and Rock Respawn mods. A big help was having the matching Forge wood houses to build at the start while stockpiling some stone and waiting to have workers for a quarry. The walls are not hard to work with at all, just a little extra attention needed when placing the corner towers to match up the wall walkways. I was disappointed that none of my bannies got up on the walls. I wonder if I could have built things a bit differently to encourage them to use the walkways. :-\ Maybe next time :)
I also have trouble getting the bannies to go up on the walls.
It looks like there has to be a lot of idle bannies for that to happen.
oh, well that explains it, I don't have many idle bannies. I keep them pretty busy ;D No play breaks ;D
Chapter 24
By late spring of year 24 we had a proper town hall built inside the castle walls. The overseer's inventory was very handy by the trading post and the notice board served its purpose of keeping cave dwellers informed but now we had detailed records of births, citizen statistics, housing, jobs, and production all in one place. Citizens were free to check for information whenever they wanted, if they wanted to know something they no longer had to find someone who might know the answer.
Citizens also liked the town meetings where they could have their concerns addressed immediately. The workers at the trading post said they often had trouble restocking trade goods before the river boatman came again. Another worker was assigned. The 3 woodcutters said the problem with the firewood supply was that the wood store worker took too many logs and they often did not have enough. A market cart for logs was built by the woodcutters and the wood store worker was reassigned there, there was enough firewood in the castle store.
Two more houses were built inside the castle walls, the teacher and her family moved into the one right next to the school. There were now 3 students in that school and soon there would be more. A small fenced playground with a slide and a swing was built next to the school.
There were always favorable comments about our town at the town meeting.
Chapter 25
Our food supply fluctuated a great deal throughout the year depending on when the river boatman came, when the first and last snowfalls came, when the mill ran out of barley, or the baker ran out of herbs. Gathering wild foods and feed for the goats depended on the distance that laborers had to travel. They reported at one of the town meetings that the gatherer huts were a great help so another one was built. This one was near the sheep shed and a new house was built next to it. Fourteen-year-old Briela often helped her grandmother, Bessica, gather the wild foods there. She liked the wildflowers that grew among the grass and thatch and decided she wanted a flower shop so others could grow the pretty flowers at home. Her shop was built inside the castle wall and it wasn't long before more pretty red flowers and pots of wild flowers began showing up around town.
We realized that almost all of the castle residents were laborers or builders and thus had a long way to travel when working. We decided more of the needed houses would be built in those far places like across the river. A herbalist workplace was built next to the gatherer where another worker was assigned. The road was extended farther back into the forest and a branch gatherer was built there to insure that the area had enough firewood close at hand. There were always small ways we could improve our efficiency.
Chapter 26
By spring of year 26 we had a gatherer for wild food and one for branches built just south of the castle across the small stream. Inside the castle walls there were more pretty red flowers growing. Folks that came to the spring town meeting were impressed and stopped at the flower shop to pick up some to take home.
A topic was discussed at that meeting that had been brought up before, when were we going to build an ale house. Rock and I agreed, the people have worked hard stabilizing our wood and food supplies, they deserved an ale or two after a hard days work. Our food supply included more apples now, the river boatman came at regular intervals with an ample supply of foods we needed. We traded for 2,000 apples in Spring. It was time we built an ale house. Construction began immediately. A good sized ale house with a big room filled with tables was finished by summer, a few tables were put outside. Another early snowfall had everyone enjoying their mug of ale inside. In early autumn we traded for 3,200 apples. Everyone agreed, we must never ever run out of ale.
Chapter 27
Work continued inside the castle walls. By summer of year 27 there were 3 more houses for young couples, and a house of healing. There were statues, benches, decorative wreaths, more flowers, and the rose garden that Rock had promised me. While we sat enjoying the sight and smell of the rose garden on a midsummer day, Rock had our daughter, who just moved out, and our 2 sons still living at home, plant rose bushes around our house and hang a heart shaped wreath upon our door. My Rock is such a sweetheart.
It does not seem that long ago that we first came out of the caves and Rock built that house. The old part of town by the caves is still very much the same with the meat roaster, the school, and the duds maker.
Chapter 28
The area through the tunnel is also still very much the same as it was and I still enjoy a walk in the undisturbed forest. No hunting has been done there for many years. The guardians of the forest are still there though, watchful as always. I think they miss the young children I use to bring on walks with me, they never minded when the children would chased the geese as they laughed and played. The tree fellows will have to wait a little longer to see a child at play, our latest boy, Norrie, was born that spring. My Rock is such a sweetheart.
The area south of the castle has also been left undisturbed, only a little food and branch gathering is being done there. South of town we hunt with elven bows and enchanted arrows and grow the barley we learned came from the hobbits. Wild foods and herbs are gathered in the forest there. Southwest of town across the river is another forest area, more trees were planted then were carefully cut with high quality tools. In the forest directly west of town across the river is the 2nd hunting and fishing area where more wild foods and branches are gathered.
The elves and tree fellows have taught us a lot about protecting the forest and wildlife, our town is surrounded by beautiful forests where families of geese, elk, and bears still thrive.
Chapter 29
Even the Forge area itself has 2 small areas of trees, carefully cut by the forge foresters with their precision-made grinder-sharpened dwarven axes. High quality tools are used by our dwarf miners in both the large and small mines. They bring up only the best crystals, stone, coal, and the iron ore that goes to the smelter next door to the mines. Dwarf miners are the best, despite the dangers none died in our mines, none were laid to rest in our small cemetery next to the forge stone quarry. Only Lila and Eugenery who died of starvation, Earldine who died in childbirth, and Karence the fisherwoman who died of old age are buried there. Karence was 42 when she and her family came out of the caves in year 2, she was 68 when she died.
Along the river were Karence used to fish are the trading post and overseer and of course the axe grinder. We've traded a lot of axes for apples, potatoes, and walnuts. We carried on the dwarf tradition of trading axes and tools for food, as always, dwarves make the best tools. Our town was named after The Forge itself.
@Abandoned :D ;D ;DBeautiful city, beautiful architecture. A fantastic story about the world of Middle-earth. I have a question - you are talking about elves, I think it would be good to add the famous elven baked goods here? Lembasy.Elfy invite you for cookies, bread, which they traditionally prepare for the journey. Travelers got Lembas from the elves wrapped in large leaves or in linen cloth. I even looked for a recipe for baking bread. That's him:
Lembas with almonds
2 cups of wheat flour
- a teaspoon of baking powder
- egg
- 1/3 cup of milk
- 3 tablespoons of honey
- a handful of almond flakes
Maybe you add this idea to your list? :-\ Regards
:) Thanks
@taniu and thanks for recipe. It is up to
@kid1293 to add products to mods but I will add this to my recipe box, Lembas look and sound delicious. :)
Chapter 30
So, weary traveler, there's not much left to say. We dwarves have done well here above ground. Thirty years ago, Rock and I came out of the caves with 18 others, 51 others from below joined us over the next 10 years for a total of 71. The Forge's population is now 222, 124 adults, 30 students, and 68 young children. We have plenty of everything we need for a good life here above ground. It is good to see the sky and the trees. As always, it is good to be a dwarf.
You're welcome to say with us longer, weary traveler, but I realize you want to be on your way. Safe travels and be careful traveling through the woods, especially at night.
The End
:) :) :)
:) :) :) ya, you know where that ending is leading to :) :) :)
Thanks for great mod, very nice indeed. Adding link to where to find info on The Forge of Dwarves release and link to download:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3915.0
Hmmmm another story on it's way. Yeeha...
:) yep, at least one more :)
:) One more story coming soon, and another after that. :)