((The following scene was written when Telgin first was planning this game. Takes place before the expedition begins.))
Patina Dream's Interview
A slim unicorn mare walks the streets of a strange city alone. Her coat is orangish-brown, her flat mane long, colored a mix of dark green highlighted by a lighter shade. Around each foreleg a bracelet of jade and gold (or at least gold plating), and on her head, pierced by her horn, a circlet of sorts, made from the same materials, she was clearly from a well off family, or at least wanted to appear as such. Her oversize ears sport a single golden earring. Her cutie mark shows a compass and square.
The little lost mare has a piece of parchment in her hoof, and overloaded saddle bags weighing her down. She looks around at the strange signs, of a strange city, then back to her paper, then back again. She wanders about for a long time, before she comes to what she believes is the correct place. She approaches the building, and after a few deep calming breathers (which do little to actually calm her nerves) she knocks a hoof against the door.
The knocks are answered by a young adult griffon with lavender feathers. He adjusts his glasses and asks, “Yes? Can I help you?”
The little pony looks up at the griffin, “Um… Are you Mr. Hookbill? I’m here about the job. Am...am I at the right place?” She timidly holds up the parchment it has a quickly scribbled note.
Go to [ADDRESS TO THIS LOCATION]
Ask for Hookbill
[DIRECTIONS]His eyes flick down to the paper and he nods slowly. “Ah, yes. No, Ms. Hookbill is right this way.” He steps back and beckons her inside.
The little mare enters, “Ms. …? Oh...yes...”
She proceeds to follow the griffin or go wherever he instructs her to go.
Back inside, he leads her past a small waiting area to some back offices. He knocks at a door and pokes his head inside. “Ms. Hookbill? You have another interviewee.”
“Alright, send them in.”
He steps back and waves her over. “You can go on in.”
The unicorn mare enters the office, looking around, she then locks her gaze on the griffin, “H..hello Ms. Hookbill, my name is Patina Dreams, it is very nice to meet you.”
On the far side of the desk is a young griffoness with peach colored feathers and dull red fur. She wears little aside from a simple silver chain necklace, and a wide banded silver bracelet on her right foreleg. Though she’s dressed in a fairly mundane fashion, the office sports a few luxuries, including what appear to be antique griffon hand weapons on the wall, maps and a rack of scrolls. The griffon smiles warmly and stands to offer her claw for a shake. “Hello Patina. I see you’re following up on our little offer?”
Patina Dreams nods, offering her hoof to be shaken by the claw, “Y..yes. I… I am very interested in working for you, if you will have me, Mist… Miss Hookbill.” Despite her stuttering her words sound rehearsed.
“Very good, glad to hear it,” Isolde says as she lets go of the pony’s hoof and returns to her seat. “Have a seat then and let’s talk about that. What sorts of skills might you be bringing along on our little expedition?”
Patina slides her heavy saddlebags down off her back onto the floor, before taking a seat on her side of the desk, “Um… Well… I… uh… I’ve studied architecture at King Saddle University in Saddle Arabia. So… I can certainly help with setting up your structures… but, um… mostly, I think of myself as… as an artist. I can work with stone, or metal, and make whatever you need, functional or decorative. Tools, chains, nails, any sort of craft you might want or need. Given the resources, I can make it.”
“Oh, an artist? I can appreciate fine art when I see it.” Isolde adjusts a finely detailed glass paperweight on her desk. “As you might appreciate, we’ll have a bit more use for architecture upfront of course, but there’s nothing wrong with a little artistic touch to that. What do you work with? Wood? Stone?”
“For...for my art I mostly use stone or metal, preferable copper or bronze…” she blushes a bit, but uses her magic to pulls a small bronze figurine of a unicorn soldier from her bag, and set it on the desk. “Here… is a sample of what I can do…Um… but when it comes to designing buildings I can work with whatever we have… I’m not very experienced in actually putting those plans into physical structures, I’ve never really done carpentry… but I won’t shy away from hard work!”
The griffon inspects the little figurine without going so far as picking it up. “Oh, this is very nice work. We do hope to make this a profitable settlement soon, so I’m certain you’ll have plenty of work to do like this, if you’re interested. Still, architecture is going to be the big thing I’m looking for right now.” She smiles. “That’s not something you can really bring to show off in an interview of course, but can you tell me anything about the sorts of things you’ve helped with or designed?”
“Hmm, well… uh… that were actually built after? Really just houses… a shop or two… I of course studied and designed larger, more impressive structures as part of my training… but nothing that ever made it past those drawings…”
“Design work for contracts like that is a really competitive business, I know.” Isolde adjusts her feathered pony tail and says, “The good news at least is that for the immediate future we’d be needing domestic work anyway. Houses for sure, but also shops and similar buildings soon enough. A trade hub isn’t much good without all of that.”
Patina nods, "Y...yes, it's a v...very competitive industry. I...I I'm afraid my... um... references, are all in Arabic, but I ASSURE you that I can do the job. Whatever you need Miss Hookbill."
The griffon smiles and scratches her beak. “I might not be able to make too much sense of them then, but if you don’t mind I’d like to take any references you have anyway.” She digs a notepad out of a drawer and grabs a quill. “Any names or places we could check up with?”
"Uh, y...yes. Yes." She reaches for her bags with her magic, pulling out a piece of rolled up parchment and floating it to Isolde, "H... Here are list of ponies I've... I've studied or w...worked under."
The list is short, but then she is a young mare, in a career requiring a lot of education, so a lot of experience shouldn't have been expected. The locations included next to the names all are very very far away, in major cities of Saddle Arabia.
The topmost name, Golden Compass, is tied to King Saddle University.
Her interviewer jots down the references and sets her pad aside. “Alright then, we’ll see what we can do about these. In the meantime, are you going to be staying in the city? We’re probably going to have a few more takers over the next couple of days, and after that we’ll make our decisions.”
"I...I have a room at an inn here in town for a few more days at least. It...I would appreciate knowing if I get the job or not as soon as possible when the decision is made. If that is airtight with you... I'm living at the Blue Bell Inn.." Patina explains.
“Of course, I understand,” Isolde replies, jotting down the name of the inn too. “I’m not sure how many more candidates we’ll have, but we should have an answer for you soon, one way or another. The day after tomorrow at the latest, I’d imagine.”
Patina smiles softly, and bows her head, "Thank you Miss Hookbill."
The griffon reflects the smile. “And thank you for showing interest in our offer.” She leans back and asks, “So, if you have a minute and don’t mind answering, did you have any particular reason for wanting to travel out in the middle of nowhere and take these risks? You are familiar with what we’re aiming to do, right?”
Patina’s smile fades, “Oh… Yes. I… I understand what we are doing. I… I don’t know all the details, b...but we are building a new settlement somewhere… right? I… I really need this job Miss Hookbill, b...but I understand it won’t be easy.”
“That’s the big picture, yes.” Isolde points a thumb back toward the map on the wall behind her, where a number of trade routes are marked in color and where they cross is circled. “Over the last few years trade has picked up a lot on the southern trail, especially between the ponies and griffons. The company is funding new settlements near where the routes meet, hoping that we’ll be able to capitalize a bit and help out the traders at the same time. Win-win for everyone.
“Of course, it takes years to set up something like a fort or town. Years of hard work. It’s good that you’re interested and enthusiastic about it, because that’s what it’s going to take once we get out there. If you’re not put off by that or the fact that it could be a few years of relative lack of comforts and seeing your family, then we can definitely use someone like that.”
She nods, “I understand, and y...yes, I still want to work for you. If you will take me, Miss Hookbill.”
“Good. Great. Glad to hear that.” Isolde smiles again. “I hope you understand that I can’t tell you anything for sure today, but you’ll probably be hearing from us. It sounds like you know what you’re talking about, and we almost can’t have too many workers with your sorts of skills.” She lays her palms out on the desk and asks, “Was there anything else you wanted to talk about? Any questions or concerns?”
“If… If I do get the job, when will we be setting out from here?” Patina questions.
“That’s a good question, but not something we have a firm answer on yet.” Isolde thumbs through a few sheets for effect as she says, “Organizing this has a lot of unknowns in it, and we’re still waiting to hear back from one of our suppliers. In all probability it’s going to be about three weeks from now before we set out.” She grins. “But don’t worry, if we bring you on then we’ll cover any living expenses for you until then.”
Patina Dreams smiles, “Oh thank you! I was worried about that I’ve only got enough… I’m sorry, I shouldn’t talk about that Miss Hookbill, um, I… I don’t really have any other questions.”
Isolde nods and smiles back. “Alright then. Well, it was nice meeting you, Ms. Dreams. If you do have any further questions, we’ll be here, and if not, we’ll be in touch with you very soon.”
Patina stands up, and lowers her head, “Thank you Miss Hookbill, I hope to hear from you again soon.”
Patina levitates her heavy bags back onto her back, she is visibly weighed down by the weight.
Isolde stands and offers her claw again. “And thank you for stopping by. We’ll be in touch.”
Patina offers her hoof again to be shaken, “Have a good day Miss Hookbill.”
And Patina makes her way out of the office, and, she hopes, safely back to her room at the inn.
As she departs, Isolde takes her notes to her receptionist. “Egon, file this away for her, would you? If you get a chance and somehow can, maybe follow up on a few of these references.”
He takes the notes and scans them quickly. “Saddle Arabia? Hmm, I’ll see what I can do. Did she look promising?”
“She did. Unless we have three prodigies walk through the door by tomorrow I think she has the job. Go ahead and start on her paperwork for it, please.”
He slides the sheet over and grabs a quill. “Right away, ma’am.”
Patina Dream's Diary ((1 Week before departure))
I got word from Ms. Mistress Isolde today! She's taking me in! I still need to pack, and it'll be awhile before we set out, but this is the chance I need. I'm sorry I couldn't do better for them all, but I trust Mistress Isolde will take care of us. I do feel a bit bad about lying to her, but I'm still glad she took my word about the experience I said I had... I'm confident I can do the work, but I never did finish that internship.
Patina Dream's Diary ((Departure))
We set out today. I met the rest of the people I'll be working with from now on. Some of them seemed nice. I didn't know there would be zebra on the trip though. That one... Kiune, or Kiume, or Kumi... I don't know how it should be spelled, but he's scary... I hope I can stay out of his way!
The other zebra is a mare, she's not as scary at least... but she rhymes everything she says. I don't know how she does it... How does she think that fast? She must be really smart, or really crazy. Shooting Star said it was probably the former, since Mistress Isolde wouldn't hire a crazy pony.
Oh yeah, Shooting Star is a blue pegasus mare. She's an army scout or something I think. Carried a crossbow. I was on the far side of the wagon from that big zebra, trying to avoid his attention, and she flew down behind and startled me. We talked for awhile after that though, she's really friendly.
Patina Dream's Diary 15th Granite, 222
We arrived at our destination today. Mistress Isolde had us all get right to work. Even pitched a hoof claw in herself. It's so cold here though. I don't know how the others stand it. Some of them were even PLAYING with the snow. Bleh. And if I find out who threw that snowball at me, there will be hell to pay! Never thought I'd miss the summers back home. Can't wait till we get a forge built for me to work at. Till then, I guess I Jack Pine, Rosewood, and I need to get to working on a proper shelter for everyponybody.
Patina's diary is entirely written in her native language. Any sneaky theives wanting to steal a peak would need to translate it, to see anything more than her doodles which litter every page.
((It feels so good to be back in a community fort again! The following takes place before the expedition left for Shadytrails.))
Tunda's interview
Holding the paper from the town's board in her mouth, Tunda glances over the small building in front of her with curiosity and more than a touch of wanderlust. The itinerant soul has felt this coming for some time now. The town has been kind to the zebra mare, providing her with new experiences, new friends to share them with, and importantly: new stories to tell to those she meets in her next home. And the idea of that, of thinking of the next place she'll live before she's left the current one is natural to the mare. Her goodbyes have been made, something she's grown practiced at, and ponies have been promised that they'll be remembered and visited if she can help it. With all of her arrangements made, Tunda walks to the door and raps on it, then sits back on her haunches to wait.
A short pause is rewarded with the door gliding open to reveal a lavender feathered griffon. He adjusts his glasses and appraises the zebra momentarily. “Yes ma’am, how can I help you?”
She gives him a warm smile, moves the paper to her tunic, and holds out a hoof. "Hello. If I may be so bold, are you the griffon they call Isolde?"
Mild amusement plays across his face as he accepts the hoof for a shake. “No, but I can point you the right way. Miss Hookbill is just inside. I’m her assistant, Egon Proudfeathers.” He steps back and gestures for her to come in. “Right this way.”
"Tunda. And I'm pleased to meet you, my feathered friend." Tunda steps inside after him, and explains, "I saw the call for hooves and thought I should attend."
“Ah, very good. Yes, we’re looking for many qualified people of all sorts. Just a moment.” He steps back toward a door and gives a little knock before peeking inside. “Ms. Hookbill, there’s another candidate here to see you.” He nods at some unheard response and turns back to Tunda. “You can go in, Ms. Hookbill will see you now.”
Tunda nods and goes into the room, smiling still for the griffon inside. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Isolde. On the job offer, I admit I'm already sold."
The peach and pink griffon smiles back and stands, offering her claw to shake. “And it’s good to meet you, miss…?”
"Tunda," the zebra answers, holding out her hoof.
Isolde shakes the hoof once firmly and waves a palm to a chair positioned in front of her desk. “Have a seat and let’s talk. You’re here about the fliers we’ve put up? About the upcoming expedition? What sorts of skills do you have? What sort of position are you looking to fill?”
She takes a seat as offered, settling comfortably on her haunches, then clears her throat. "I have many talents, accrued across a life. Foremost among them, I can tend the land. I'm afraid if you need soldiers, I'll be no use in strife. Though if you have need of farmers, my assistance would be grand."
The griffoness nods quickly. “Oh, a farmer? Yes, we can definitely use someone for that. We’re going to take some guards too, of course, but they’re little good if we don’t have any food. We can’t rely on supply caravans throughout the year, so we’ll have to grow or find as much as we can.” She tilts her head. “How much experience do you have? We’ll need to grow a large variety of things and might have access to some unusual foreign crops. The destination isn’t quite set yet, so I can’t tell you what specifically right now.”
Tunda waves a hoof, dismissing the concerns. "In my travels I've come across many a plant. Give me seeds to grow, and I promise you'll find few I can't," she assures.
“Good, good. Where all have you worked then? Private farms? Did you own one yourself or work for a larger farm?”
"No, never land of my own, but various plots where many crops were grown. I've worked with ponies, zebras, and griffons as well. All left me adept with enough skill to sell."
Isolde smiles again and nods. “Excellent, that’s the breadth I was hoping for. We could be working with supplies from almost anyone.” She pulls a notebook over and jots a few things down. “Do you have any experience with working with animals too? I’m not sure yet what all we’ll be bringing with us, but we’ll probably have some for wool and milk.”
"Shearing and milking are things I can do, but I'm more used to green, growing things, it's true. But I can always adapt and learn. Going along on this expedition is something for which I yearn,” Tunda tells her with an air of sincerity.
The griffon notes a few more things down. “That’s okay. We may have someone else who is more experienced with that. Just having a dedicated farmer will be a huge help though.” She looks up to Tunda. “I’m glad you’re so enthusiastic about this. Is there any particular reason you’re so anxious to join us? I just want to be sure that you understand that we’ll probably be away from any significant contact with your friends and family for a long time. It may be years before you see them again, and likely many months before you can even write.”
If the prospect bothers the serene-seeming mare, it doesn't show. "I understand if I'll be out-of-contact for some time, and I promise it's something I find fine. So long as there are new people to meet, I find my adjustment to a new home is neat."
Isolde nods and makes an approving noise. “Alright, that’s a good outlook to have.” She holds an open palm toward the zebra. “Do you have any questions or concerns for me? Are you familiar with what we’re setting out to do?”
“We’re setting out to found a colony, yes? I understand the idea, though there’s one thing I must address,” the chocolate-striped mare tiles her head curiously as she asks, “You said the destination ‘wasn’t quite set’? Do you know in general where we’ll be going yet?”
“That’s a good question, and the answer is that we’ve got some good candidates.” Isolde slides her chair aside to give Tunda a better view of the map behind her. The griffoness points to a few circled locations on the map. “We’ve got a few candidate locations picked out, mostly along the southern trail. We’re hoping to set up somewhere close to where a lot of merchant caravans cross trails or travel. It’s good business for us and them.”
Tunda stands and moves closer to the desk, to lean over it and look at the map. She doesn’t spend very much time examining it before she’s apparently satisfied. “Trade is good for a small outpost, and being out there gives us room to breathe,” Tunda contentedly comments. “Now for what I’d like to know most: when must I be ready to leave?”
“Also something we’re not positive about yet, but… in a couple of weeks at most. Are you staying in the city?”
Tunda nods. "I am, yes, and my home is not far. But I'm ready to leave whenever you are."
“Alright then, can you give me your address? I hope you understand that we’re not going to give out definitive yesses today, but there’s a very good chance that we’ll want you aboard.” Isolde grabs her quill and finds space on her growing sheet of notes.
"Twenty-three Gemstone Lane," Tunda recites, looking pleased. "I look forward to being on the road again."
Isolde nods as she writes. “Twenty-three Gemstone Lane, got it.” She looks back up with another smile. “That’s good to hear. It takes a certain caliber of person to want to go out on the frontier like this. We should be making our decisions within a few days, so expect to hear something one way or another soon. Did you have anything else you wanted to ask?”
Tunda takes a moment to visibly consider, but shakes her head, setting her braided, dark-brown and white mane moving. "No, I have no questions Miss Isolde. Thank you for welcoming me into the fold."
“You’re welcome, and thank you for expressing interest in our little business venture. We’ll be in contact soon.” Isolde stands and offers her claw to shake again.
Uncurling and standing as well, Tunda offers her hoof to be shaken in turn. "Until we meet again, in good health remain."
“Thank you, and the same to you,” Isolde replies.
The zebra takes her leave, giving her farewell to the secretary as well on the way out. She makes her way back home, humming as she trots.
Tunda's Journal, 15th Granite, 222
There once was a bird called Isolde,
Who had an idea quite bold.
She took some ponies and a wagon,
Which we all took turns draggin'
If only she'd said it'd be cold!
Oh, a good limerick is always fun. Else it isn't much of one at all. After taking stock of the seeds again, I should tell it to our brave leader, but I'll save some of the other ones until I know her better, hehe. I will need to talk to her regardless, to find out what she needs me to grow in this snowy place.
Not that anyone will hear me complain about the weather, oh no. It has been too long since I've wandered down this way. The forest looks like some lovely backdrop from some tales I know, and the snow gave some of the ponies an excuse to show their playful side after that long trip. Though I don't think I'll tell that timid mare who it was that decided to include her in the snowball fight. I am sure she'll come out of her shell soon, once we have the basics in place.
Now for those seeds, and then my favorite part of travel: sitting around the campfire. Maybe today I can ask Kiume about why he left our land, if he did at all. Or that interesting stallion with the leathery wings. Silver Rush? He must have a story, oh yes.
Pine Jack's interview
The brown coated and green maned unicorn looked down at his letter with a haggard sigh, adjusting the travel bag on his back. he does not even to take a glance at the city signs, as he’s been to this building many, many times before. Survivor of more than many a campaign in the past six years.
Like the others, he gives a broad, loud knock and asks for a certain young griffon.
Egon, her younger assistant, answers the door and immediately recognizes the stallion. “Ah, yes, one moment.” He vanishes briefly and when he returns he waves for Jack to come in. “Go on back, Ms. Hookbill is ready for you.”
Pine Jack gives a brief nod and growls out a “Thanks kid.” with a raspy voice that’s been graveled by whisky for a long time. He walks in, looks around, and then finally stares down the diminutive creature before him.
“Howdy Bub, you wanted to see me?” He asks her.
Isolde sits back and gives him a little smirk. “Howdy, Jack.” She motions to the chair across from her. “Have a seat if you want. Yeah, the company is looking for some hard workers again if you’re interested. A little different than the last few jobs we’ve had you do though.”
“Well, you know I’m always up for more work. What’s it this time? More logging down in the savannah and they need a’nother Foreman on the frontier? ‘Bout time I got a promotion to management.” He says, craning his neck up and down, positively lax and unprofessional.
“Close,” Isolde answers. “Actually, if you’re eager to head out on the trail this might be the perfect opportunity for you. We’re not setting up a logging operation specifically, but we’re planning on establishing a trading post down by the southern trade routes. We’re getting some teams together and are going to need as much help of your kind as we can get.”
Jack scratches the long unkempt hair on the bottom of his chin. “Trading post, huh? Gonna be some place warm this time ‘round, I hope?”
“Ah, heh… well, we’re not entirely certain about the location yet, but anywhere that far down tends to get a bit cold during the winters. Should be warm during the summers anyway.” She glances at her map again for effect. “That wouldn’t be a deal breaker, would it?”
“Isolde you’re bust’in me here, the last six months you’ve had me logging down in freezing south lakes!” He His nostrils flare a bit, looking at the ceiling. Looking a back down he seems a little more placid about it. “Well, a job’s a job, isn't it? So, you’ll be the one leading this little expedition?”
She gives a little smile. “That’s how it’s looking right now, yes. I hope that won’t be a deal breaker?”
“Not at all, as long as you don’t micromanage me sweetheart. The most experienced boss, the most inexperienced boss ... logging is logging. Mind me when I say a tree is going to go crashing through a house without some careful foresight and give me some breathable timetables when you ask me to clear out a whole forest and I’ll be your chummy best buddy.”
She gives him a little chuckle and nod. “Don’t worry, I understand how important it is to give people breathing room to get things done. If you’re interested though, I’d be glad to have you on board. I should caution you though that this is probably going to take a few years, and you probably won’t be in much contact with anyone for at least six months or so.”
“I’m the sort that finds it easy to get their affairs on order ....” Jack says, scratching his neck with a hoof. “I’d be ready to go in ten days, that fast enough for you?”
She nods. “We’re not planning to set out for at least two weeks, so that should be plenty fine. You’ll be in the city until then, right?”
“Yeah.” He then gives an inquisitive look. “Since I already got this job ‘cause of my experience, and this is all a formality, mind if I turn this interview around a bit an’ ask: Why you leaving town? Just curious.” He rolls his hoof in a gesture. “I mean, city office jobs don’t just fall of trees ...”
Isolde taps a talon on her desk. “That’s a fair question. It’s true: this is a pretty comfortable position, but I’ve been thinking that maybe I should aspire to a bit more than just signing papers all day here, you know? Besides, this is a fast track to getting a bit of pull in the company.” She gives a little half-hearted chuckle. “Supposedly.”
“Good a reason as any. Lots of responsibility, but worth it ...” He gives a sardonic grin. “Know I couldn't hack it. Glad to not be in your horseshoes, for sure. Er. Paws. Or what have you.”
She smiles again. “And likewise. I’m not much for physical labor.” She pats the desk. “The job doesn’t really allow for it, you see.”
“Whelp, if that don’t sound like job security I don’t know what does. Guess I’ll come back in two weeks and give your assistant over there a ring?”
Isolde pulls out a quill to jot something down. “Well, since we’re not too sure when we’re going to head off we’ll be sending out messages for everyone when the time comes. You can certainly stop by any time and ask how things are coming along though. If I’m not here then Egon should be.”
“Sounds like a plan. Nice seeing you again, by the by.” He starts to get up. “I need to sign anything, non-disclosures, exclusivity contracts, soul bindin’, ilk like that, or am I free to get my affairs in order?”
She gives a little wave of her claw. “No need to sign anything today, but when we call you back in there will be a few things to read and sign. No soul binding since our necromancer moved on to greener pastures, but there will be a contract.” She smirks a little.
He gives a chuckle. “Right. Take care Isolde.” He gives a curt nod and takes his leave, and then gives a friendly nod to Egon as he exits the building.
After he is a good distance away, and his polite and professional demeanor is no longer needed, he takes a flask of whiskey out of his shirt pocket, and gives a friendly nod to it for a good productive day, and takes a swig.
Foreman’s Log:
Jack Pine
Assignment: Shadytrails
Date: 15th of Granite, 22
Well, ask and ye shall receive, Isolde told us of a frozen barren alpine patch of nothing, lo and behold, here it is! Guess I should should still be happy. Who wouldn't be after fighting for a spot in the cart and off the ground for weeks on end.
Gotta love contracts. Can spend over a hundred pages telling you what you can an can’t do, yet can neglect to tell ya that you co-worker might be godsforsaken blood suckin’ bat creature with a manure eating grin. If he starts requesting we all start eating more citrus and sugar out of the blue while smacking his lips an fang tips I’m lodging a formal complaint.
Date: 18th of Granite
Scarfie was watching me work all day. Just, staring with leerish eyes all. Day. Long. I guess I’d normally find such a thing flattering, if not for the underslung crossbow sagging beneath her barrel. For such an indecipherable reason, such thing suddenly becomes unnerving. I wonder why that could possibly be ...
Helped Rosewood cut forty logs into planks. By hoof. A sawmill would be greatly appreciated. Nobody had the forethought to bring a pair of gears from home though I guess. No big problem, let everyone take their fine time an pace.”
Date: 19th of Granite
Shortstack makes some damn good pancakes.
Date: 21nd of Granite
Well, the month is coming to a close, but even with all the generous help from Rosewood, it looks like I’m not going to hit the quotas needed for us to live in shelter some time this year. I’ve heard that in situation like this, colonies could slum it out in chipped out caves for at least a while. with the latest news from bats, that don’t sound like an option either.
I could cut even more trees down all day if I mark them in the night, at least for the next ten days I suppose ... It’s the only way I’m seeing getting enough lumber for Rosewood’s ‘little shopping list’ here .... Honestly what does she have planned for ‘a gigantic wooden corkscrew’ anyway?
Maybe I don’t want to know ....
Gunther's Log: Entry 1
We have newly arrived at what we are planning on calling Shadytrails. I will admit that it's a much colder region then I would have liked to embark on a caravan towards but under the circumstances beggars cannot be choosers. I consider myself quite fortunate that the rather beautiful Isolde was willing to take me on for my medical skill set despite my inability to meet her for a proper interview. Alas, as I mentioned in the letter that I sent alongside my credentials that two of my patients had started to spiral out into a dangerous situation and I couldn't afford the time to meet her in person without fear of losing my patients in my absence. Regretfully even that was not truly enough and only one of the two survived long enough to become stable and have a hope of recovery.
Yes, a new beginning might be for the best.
I haven't really taken the time to get to know those that I am traveling with all that well. Isolde is busy keeping things going and spirits up so apart from a few short but sweet conversations here and there I haven't really had the chance to get to know her better. The cold weather and the fact that we are setting ourselves up in pretty much the middle of nowhere puts me in to much of a survivalist mindset a little to much to really want to get close to the pony members of our little group; It's hard to make friends with someone when you can't help but think of them as emergency rations.
Speaking of, I have had the chance to meet our Zebra military commander and swordspony. I'm kind of hoping that whatever kills him leaves enough of him to cook up; He looks like he would be a good base for a pretty solid stew.
Oh well. Hopefully we'll get our new home and base of operations up and running properly before we have to resort to such measures. Maybe once we have a proper roof over our heads I'll be able to talk with Isolde and get to know her beyond the pretty face.
Gunther's Log: Entry 2
I will be the first to admit that my skills have been put on the back burner for the time being. Well it does make me feel like my only skill is to be used as cheap labor I do understand that at such an early stage this is a relatively good sign. After all, with our numbers as low as they are an injury would be devastating to our efforts.
Isolde has taken notice of my plight and as proven to be as quick witted and intelligent as she is beautiful. She is considering giving my mind something to do by either giving me some clerical duties to perform or taking the time to examine some herbs. Out of the two I would rather take on the clerical duties for the time being but if none of the Emergency Foods have the skills to tell the difference between what plants are food, what are medical and what will kill them if they eat it then I will just have to take one for the team so we don't all die because someone thought that Nightshade looked like a wonderful side dish.
Written in his native language. Only Isolde would be able to read it.
Silver Rush's Journal, 15th Granite, 222
It's biting cold out here, but I'm still loving it. Not really all that different than the winters back in Hackamore Basin. I think the chilled air, hanging icicles and gray skies really add to the beauty of this place, even if I know it's all probably just temporary. Not that it matters much to me personally: hacking away at stone builds up internal heat pretty quick! This is perfect weather for a campfire too, an excellent opportunity to chew the fat with some of my travelling companions. I wonder how well they've been holding up against the cold? I've brought extra coats and sweaters if anypony needs them. That tiny unicorn named Patina looks like she might need it more than the others.
Now that I see all these griffons and zebras in person, I'm really starting to appreciate just how huge they are! Or maybe it's just because I'm so used to being around earth ponies all the time. I'm sure I'll learn eventually. In the meantime, I gotta get to making friends: nothing's better at boosting morale!
I'm also pretty stoked to start adding to my mineral collection. Wonder what sorts of exotic ore might turn up?
Kiume's Journal, Departure
Most would feel a sense of loss on leaving their homeland for new grounds, but we've always been a migratory species; we like to get around. My family presented me with a brand new sword on the eve of the journey, but it was a reserved affair compared to the scenes I saw from some of the pony clans. In any case, the taste of a new hilt and the promise of a great future ahead of us was more than enough to keep me eager to see where the trail lead. If I have any cause for trepidation, though, it would be that another zebra – a mare – also accompanied the expedition. It could be that I've spent too long among the other species of the world, but there's just something about speaking in rhyme that makes me crazy if it goes on all the time. If I can't convince her to stop, I fear my mind will surely pop.
