Okay, here are a few diary entries chronicling the beginning of a lone dwarf's journey into the wilderness, as envisioned for a Dwarf Fortress style experience:
Entry 1 - The Forge's Embers Fade
Date: Deepwinter, Year 271
The clang of the hammer no longer rings so loud. For weeks, I’ve worked tirelessly, not on arming the hold or crafting grand works, but on preparing my exodus. The council, bless their rigid beards, have deemed me… eccentric. "Lacking in communal spirit," they called me. Perhaps they are right, but the mountains have always whispered secrets I cannot hear within these stone halls. So, I gather my tools, my meager provisions, and a heart filled with a strange blend of excitement and dread. I've packed two leather backpacks, sturdy enough for the journey. One’s filled with dried plump helmets, a few salted fish, and hardtack, enough food for a couple of weeks. The other has essential tools: picks, a small shovel, an axe-head, a saw, a hammer, some nails, and a waterskin. I've also got a bedroll, some sturdy rope, and a flint & steel for fire. Finally, my trusty iron warhammer, a reminder of the life I leave behind. The guard at the gate gave me a strange look, but their silence spoke volumes. It is time.
Entry 2 - Whispers of the Wind
Date: Midwinter, Year 271
The tunnel air grows colder. Stepping out into the open was like being reborn -- disorienting, yet exhilarating. A chill wind cut through my beard, but it brought with it the scent of pine and earth, not stale stone and molten metal. I’ve traveled for two days now, following a game trail that seems to lead down to the valley floor. I’ve stopped each noon to check the soil - mostly loamy clay, but occasionally rich with mineral hints. I found a patch of iron ore near a rocky outcrop, nothing spectacular, but a good omen. Tonight, I made a small fire, ate a hardtack biscuit and a piece of dried flesh, and spread my bedroll under a towering pine. The stars are incredibly bright here, not dimmed by the forge’s glow. I miss the familiar rumble of the deep earth, but the silence of the wild has a peculiar charm. I must sleep. I need every ounce of strength for the arduous work ahead.
Entry 3 - The Valley Beckons
Date: Midwinter, Year 271
I’ve descended into the valley. It’s beautiful. A narrow stream meanders through it, flanked by gentle slopes covered in thick grass. I spent the morning prospecting near the stream. There are signs of hematite, not a huge seam, but enough for a start. The area directly around the stream is too damp for building, I need to find a place that is both close to water and on fairly firm ground. The western slope, close to a small cave entrance, seems perfect. It's a rocky area, with good drainage. The cave will provide some initial shelter while I get my bearings. It’s also high enough to avoid any flash floods. I’ll begin clearing the area tomorrow. I'll need to first level the ground and clear out the cave entrance. There is work to be done.
Entry 4 - A Foundation Takes Root
Date: Late Winter, Year 271
The past week has been grueling. I’ve spent the days clearing the western slope. Rocks, tall grass, and some small trees had to be removed. My hands are covered in blisters and my back aches - no, it screams. The cave entrance is clear and ready for my first attempt at a small dwelling. I have been using my pick to chip away a niche in the side of the cave, large enough for my bedroll. The thought of sleeping inside tonight gives me motivation. I've gathered some large stones and stacked them to create a small wall at the entrance, just to keep out the worst of the weather. To be practical, I know that I need to plan my food production. I will need to find land suitable for farming. I have seeds already in a small leather bag in my pack - plump helmets, of course. I must make this my home now. There’s no going back.
Entry 5 - The Rhythm of Survival
Date: Early Spring, Year 272
The snow has finally melted, and the land is beginning to stir. The days are long now, and mostly are spent working. I've expanded my cave opening, and added a small wooden roof constructed from branches I hacked from the nearby forest. I’ve started a small vegetable patch near the stream, a bit muddy, but hopefully, the plump helmets and pig tails will sprout in time. Food is still a concern, as my supplies dwindle. The fishing is poor, so I have been setting simple traps for rabbits. Some of the wild berries here look edible, I’ll have to cautiously try them. My nights are spent sharpening the tools, or doing some simple carving. I sleep the sleep of the exhausted, waking before dawn to the sound of the birdsong. I am not a hero, or a great leader, just a dwarf trying to carve out a life in the wild. I’m not sure if I’m happy, scared, or just determined. But I am persistent. I continue to build, to plan, to learn, and to endure.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Okay, here are some diary entries from a lone dwarf, Grond, struggling to establish a solo fortress in the year 272, split into seasons:
Year 272 - The Obsidian Crags
Spring
Day 1, Early Spring
The pickaxe feels heavy in my hand, but the rock here is promising. Obsidian, they called it. Dark and strong. I've chosen a small cleft in the mountainside, away from the main paths. This is my start. My supply cart rests just outside, packed with the essentials: a week's worth of dried meat and hardtack, a small cask of ale, some tools, seeds, and a few planks of wood. First order of business: excavate a small chamber to sleep in. The sun is already setting, so I worked quickly. A simple dugout will have to do for tonight. The damp chill of the rock is unwelcome, but I’m too tired to care. I need to build a proper bed soon.
Day 7, Late Spring
The first week has been a trial. I've managed to carve out a small living space and a storage room. My bed is still just a straw mat on the floor, but it's an improvement over the cold stone. I've started a small farm plot just outside the entrance, with the plump helmets I brought. The soil isn’t ideal, but hopefully they’ll take. The ale is almost gone, I’ll need a source of drink soon. Today, I found a vein of copper – not very valuable, but it’ll be something to work with. Time to start a forge. This obsidian dust is covering everything, I sneeze every five minutes.
Day 14, Late Spring
The copper has been a boon. I’ve forged a simple but functional axe and pickaxe. This makes digging and chopping wood much faster. I managed to fell a couple of trees, and now have enough wood to build some proper furniture. I'll construct a sturdy bed and a dining table, and some proper doors for my rooms. The farm is still small, but the plump helmets have sprouted. Maybe I won’t die of starvation after all. I also built a basic stone workshop, to keep the dust out of my bedroom and storage area.
Summer
Day 1, Early Summer
The heat is stifling. I’ve been lucky to find a small underground stream which lets me keep a small supply of water. I built a crude well around it that should protect the water from contamination. Every day I bring water up and store it in barrels made from wood. The plump helmets are growing well, and will be ready for harvest soon. I spent most of my time expanding my living and storage spaces. I built a small kitchen area. I need to get to work on that forge soon, so I can make metal tools.
Day 15, Mid Summer
The heat is exhausting. I’m spending most of the daylight hours underground, working in the cool darkness. I’ve made a small armory room, where I keep my tools and weapons. I also made a rudimentary lever system to close the main entrance, just in case. My back hurts from all this digging. I’ve built a stone oven and can now cook the plump helmets that I harvested. I managed to catch some fish from the underground stream. It’s a welcome change from dried meat.
Day 28, Late Summer
Things are stable. The plump helmet harvest is enough. The fish keep me going. I’ve expanded my living space and built some workshops. The forge is up and running, but I desperately need fuel. My wood stock is diminishing quickly. I have discovered some small veins of coal. This will help greatly with the forge. I have started to work further into the rock face and am planning to add a proper workshop for metal work.
Autumn
Day 2, Early Autumn
The air is cooler now, and it makes the work less grueling. I’ve spent the last few days mining coal. With a decent supply I made some steel tools - pickaxes and axe heads and a shovel. This will speed up all my work. I need more space for stockpiles, but I’m hesitant to dig too far without making more supports. I still sleep in a bed made from straw. I will need to make one with some wood in it.
Day 16, Mid Autumn
The days are shorter now. The farm isn't producing as much. It's a good job I managed to store a decent supply of food from the summer. I have also started to brew some beer with the plump helmets, which I hope will last me through the winter. I have started to cut down rock pillars to use as supports. I also built some beds out of wood, and a dining table worthy of a King. The forge and workshops are humming along nicely, and I’m starting to consider making some armor. I need to find some iron soon. I've expanded the storage rooms, adding a dedicated butchering area and a brewery.
Day 29, Late Autumn
The feeling of isolation is starting to weigh on me. I talk to myself a lot. I wish there was another dwarf here. I’ve finished brewing another batch of beer, and have stockpiled enough coal to last through the winter. The main entrance is now reinforced with stone gates. I spent time inspecting the rock face and believe I’ve located some iron. I’ll start mining tomorrow. The days are cold and I miss the sun.
Winter
Day 10, Early Winter
The cold is biting. Snow has started to fall which prevents me from spending too much time outside the fortress. The entrance has become cold and windy, and I have to be very careful when I open it. I’ve mined a decent amount of iron and started smelting it. I need to make a set of iron armor. The underground streams are still flowing, but they're much colder. I’m brewing more beer and trying to use all the food I have stored slowly.
Day 22, Mid Winter
Winter is a lonely affair. The work is a slow grind and the daylight is short. I've forged myself a basic set of iron armor. It feels heavy and bulky, but at least it should keep me safe. I spend most of my days either mining, smelting, or crafting. I made a small training area, with dummies so I can keep fit and active, and practice with my battle hammer. I found a small vein of gems, thankfully deep under the rock so they are out of reach of bandits.
Day 30, Late Winter
The winter is almost over. I look forward to the warmer weather. The stocks are low, but stable. I’m constantly having to maintain my tools and equipment. I haven’t seen any other living creature for months. I've started to plan out the next stage of my fortress development. I will need to build a proper dining hall and a place to sleep that isn’t in a stone cell. I am tired of the silence and the dark. I look forward to spring. I dream of seeing another dwarf.
This is just the beginning. Grond’s solo fortress is still in its infancy. There will be many challenges to come, but for now, he has survived his first year alone.
