Part 80: Sirocco: Update 15

Sirocco's Year: Part Fifteen

The sun was rising, just peeking over the mountains to the east when the mayor strolled up to the gazebo. I was lying in a hammock I'd tied between two of the pillars and enjoying a fine dwarven cocktail with a pink umbrella. Life was good. But, as ever, the fortress' needs outweighed my own!

'Oi! Sirocco! I need you to sign this paperwork, the mason's guild are gettin' angsty again.'

I chugged the last of my cocktail and accepted the form. I read it. Then I read it again. Then I turned it over to see if there was anything written on the back.

'All it says is "Build eleven stone things".'

'It's Goosekrieg. He's been riling them up again, saying there's not enough masonry work being commissioned and it's hurting the fortress... workers have rights... that kinda stuff. He even mentioned something called... unions.'

'What's that?'

'I dunno but it sounded...' he shivered - and not because of the cold. '... evil.'

I shuddered involuntarily. It sounded quite undwarvenly somehow.

'Thanks, Bob. I'll get right on that.'

Bobthethurd doffed his cap, vomited on a banister, and left. It's become a bit of a tradition, ha ha ha!

Which brings us to today, diary! I've commissioned eleven stone coffins to be constructed - we'll probably need them at some point, though I remain optimistic that that will wait for a day long from now. As I write by the flickering torchlight, I believe my year of rule has changed me somewhat - but for the better. I think I'm a little wiser, a little stronger, a little more experienced and savvy. Yeah.

I can hear the howls of monsters outside. But while Syrupleaf stands proud and Armok smiles upon us they cannot harm us. I think it will be a good winter.