Virtual Caveman

Wow, thanks for the historical context! They really are a nice accent, maybe I'll incorporate some ashlar blocks in the corners of some buildings. Brick looks so nice but can take so long to accumulate enough to build any sizeable structure

Testing a new theory today. My scattered interests bring about a lack of time spent properly dedicated to smithing an improvement to my defenses. With knowledge of the purification and smithing of iron, here I dive into this cave with salvaged bronze batting. The skill with which this armor was made certainly made its repairing easy - even obvious. But the defenses satisfactory for a common guard of that Archive culture prove insufficient against the augmented terrors that lie in the bowels near site 7-A. For now, peripheral exploration will suffice as supplementary to my research, until time provides an opportunity for less busy hands. Despite my feverish attempts to discover more about the cryptobiology of these unnatural troglobites, the lump in my throat as I begin my descent never shrinks. Amidst a nearby sidelong branch of the cave were small quarters featuring one bed, one set of plateware, a chest with scattered bones and unused torches, and old clothes and tools that indicated the former resident was a surgeon, or some other sort of doctor. Perhaps they had a kid to take care of down here as well, as a single childs toy rested in a cabinet by the bed. Perhaps an heirloom. A long blown out lantern lay by the door, of brass construction. Further down the main cave this iron vein was formed in lies a relatively long passage submerged in water. Previously, I had only brought torches as my source of light, leaving that portion unexplored. As luck would have it, this lantern can survive a brief submersion without extinguishing. No need to have bothered; past one small cave-in, only a dead end awaited me. I don't know of many other unexplored portions of this cave. One section is unknown, however. Upon my first descent beyond the vein of iron, when I was first ambushed by the scurrying of that albino shiver, I ran forward and stumbled into the ruin and discovered translocator number 7. Having to repair it and thus it featuring no known pair, it was designated Translocator 7-A. Since then I have done my best to document the peculiarities present. What I first felt descending the rope ladder down here, however, was not documented. It felt unhelpful, irrelevant, an obvious reaction to being chased in a dark corridor far from topside sunlight. But I know I was being watched. More than watched, observed. Never once did I stop to look behind me. -VC 05July02

Dwarf to dwarf, nice job kin. You can chisel a damn fine home

Your year 2 is kicking mine in the ass haha, I may be at the same tech level but you certainly have size on my base. Looks great! Like something I'd find in valheim

I have such a soft spot for those kinds of buildings, basilicas I think? They look so nice and especially with towers! Nice job!

With the white stone corners, it reminds me of a lot of old buildings here in new england!

- I head out in this heavy storm. That cavern, it calls to me. I do my daily errands to prepare for winter, I smelt the ores, I carve wooden gears. But in every darkness, every time I strike an iron I see those creatures in the blur behind the spark... Night approaches and I've packed 2 fresh pies for the journey. Still, my armor hasn't yet been improved. I only discovered that place by following a mineshaft just beyond my burgeoning iron mine. Two birds one stone, as it were. 02July02 - Should be enough iron to last me a short while. The more I think on it, the more I could use of just about every mineral I keep around. Never mind, good to keep busy. Continuing down the ladder to the deeper parts of the cave, I followed my safe passage to the observation area. Looking over the stone fence - no light, all previous torches extinguished. To be expected, its been a few days since I was last down here. I actually don't know how long... -regardless, I am getting distracted. Looking to continue observation, light was needed. Searching and finding no entities to be found, I quickly ran out to place a few torches around. Not 4 steps in and I hear a bow being drawn - a hiss from the dark beyond. I place two torches on the floor and pivot right back to my shoddy scrap gate. A shiver alerts that it is following me and I quickly miss the gate handle, fumble and grasp it, and run inside. Closing it behind me, I pass through the second set of larger gates into the ruin, having placed multiple gates to ensure my panicked retreats have as many doors to slam as possible. Turning the corner into the observation area, the haunch of an albino shiver riddled with iron spikes disappeared back into the corridor it came from. Thunder roars from the storm above ground. This place unnerves me. The sawblade shiver returned, flesh white as chalk. All the noise attracted more company. A menagerie of failed experiments. Courage took me, with no small part stupidity, and I decided to run for it; dashing out the gates, I grabbed a torch and went to look beyond the darkness. Stone passed me as I heard no less than 3 beasts follow in pursuit, and yet I saw nothing. Beyond the stone incline the encircles my observation area is a visually ordinary system of caves. A saltpetre deposit lines one section. How can it be so usual? There must be more, deeper. This iron is getting heavy. 03July02

Site 7-A: - Exploring the tunnels near translocator 7-A, there appears to be a section of caves that refuses to be lit by the fire of my torches. From its maw crawls new monstrosities - a shiver with a bell affixed to its head, numerous corrupt and tainted drifters, and bowtorns that limp with hunks of iron bolted to them. Perhaps I should fence the area off to allow unmolested access to the translocator. -01Mar02 ADDENDUM: No access to the tunnels beyond the entrance to the ruins should be allowed. Multiple anomolous creatures were observed, with much higher than average activity than what should be expected. New access tunnel will be mined. - Site 7-A now additionally functions as an observation site for the anomalies present in the deep caves. Caution: observation not satisfactorily protected from bowtorn attacks. -02Mar02 - While conducting observations, a corrupt drifter approached to attack. Seemingly normal, it was engaged from behind a stone fence where it hit me - just once in the abdomen - and nearly killed me in an instant. Left with but a sliver of life, I retreated into the chamber. My armor is failing me, I must improve it. -02Mar02 - Anomolous creatures so far observed: Albino shiver, sawblade afixed to face; bellhead shiver; bowtorn with heavily modified body - appears more dangerous; drifters with two heads, or split heads; sawblade locusts, as seen in other cave systems.