The orcs were yet another group to add to the growing list of groups that didn't like the band.
Given Ronja's a step above a bandit-queen, it's not like anyone can be blamed for being skeptical, but they'll quite definitively need to go make some friends the moment they're done scrambling to put together a working fortress.

With a find that good, the search had been called off a bit early so they could catch their breath back at base and still have a full week for the actual gathering.
Their toolset isn't perfect, in this case mostly lacking the right selection of 'finer' tools; They can cut beams to size to get supports up, and with some effort might even get the rope-ladder down into the caves to not saw itself to pieces against the coarse rock wall. But any cracked handles, chipped edges, or general maintenance of tools and constructions, would need to be done using improvised tools: Hammers a tad heavier than is called for, nails that are too thick, sharpening stones that leave scratch-marks, and so on. And other fine work too, but most of that's not needed when mining, generally speaking.
So the general rule is 'don't bloody break the bloody tools' and anyone too careless doesn't get to use any that are considered particularly good (like the pick that still had the leather grip, so it's not as uncomfortable to hold, or the sharpest of the wood-saws)
The actual mining's fairly by-the-book, and they even have their memories of the 'professional' mine (the one with the special copper ore) to copy from if they're not sure how things are done.
Plus, while 'higher education' isn't really their style, the workers have been given at least a basic instruction on the differences between the rock-types based on the 'idiot's guide to geology' the 'spies' put together (in our terms, sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. They, being unlikely to have figured out the exact origins of all rock-types, no doubt call it something else, and certainly would not know igneous extrusive (cooled on the surface) versus igneous intrusive (cooled not on the surface). And the workers, even after the lesson, probably just call them 'soft, medium, and hard' rocks (maybe with an additional 'dust-like') though that's probably misleading.)
In other words, they should (hopefully) not be surprised if some rock's more prone to crumbling and other rock's harder to break apart, and the particularly bright ones might even warn the others if they see a change as they dig into the walls.

Name	Start	Action	Target	End	Notes
Ronja	H8	Assist Wild Minds	G8	H8	Riding the donkey
Birk	H8	Assist Wild Minds	G8	H8
Wild Minds	H8	Gather Resource(Gold)	G8	H8
Fairhairs	H8	Assist Wild Minds	G8	H8

Returning to the mountains, you have little trouble relocating the cave.  The work progresses quickly, and soon you have a plentiful harvest of gems, nuggets, and other shiny objects.  As you pile them-up, you quickly weigh-down your donkey who groans at the weight and pressure.

[ Your Usurpation achieves an Astounding Success in Harvesting the Grand Gold Node (G8)! ]
[ You gain 2 Leveling XP. ]
[ You gain 2 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Digger. ]
[ You return with 16 Gold. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:08, Mon 26 Oct 2015.

Wild Minds: Level 6->7, Defense 3->4
Fairhairs: Digger 2->4 (1+1=2xp), Level 6->7, Offense 3->4
Gold 2->18
End of Month:
Midas x1: Gold 18->22
Upkeep: Gold 22->12, Food 5->3

Begin [Week 1, Month 4, Year 1]








[ Intelligence Network: +10 Scout (find a CP) or Explore (I8). ]
[ You are more likely to draw quest or skill/trainer opportunities this month from Exploring. ]

The two 'heads' of the band look over what's left after the workers have gotten their cut.
"There's more left than I expected." Ronja says, "Not a lot more, but I expected to give away about half and this seems more like twice what we gave the others (so, about two thirds of the total). Think I could get the rest of the materials in trade?"
Birk pulls at his shoulders as he looks it over, then says "Maybe. Probably. You'd be cutting it close though; You won't have any spare in case the price's raised. But go ahead, all the hard work's done with the mine, I can handle the rest myself. It's ours (well, kinda) for once, so there's half the usual work (no need to guard) and like I said the hard work's done - One person can easily do half the work of two."
With Ronja rolling her eyes and Birk grinning at his last comment, they head off towards their respective rooms.

Birk had been more or less right; Not much more needs to be done beyond continuing the digging.
He'll probably need to make some 'executive decisions', if someone screws up or otherwise is less than competent, but if nothing comes up the plan's just 'do what we discussed last week, and if you forgot what that was then ask me in private so you don't show everyone you're an idiot (I'll still laugh at you, though)'

The biggest obstacle for Ronja will probably be explaining where she got the trade-goods.
Malachite stuff, sure, it's not something someone like her would usually have, but it's not strange enough to raise suspicion.
But this time she'll be showing up with what essentially looks like part (or, one might say, a 'cut') of the contents of a noble's safe.
Sure, she got it mostly-legitimately (as in, she didn't own the land, sure, but if she had it'd been legitimate) but she'll just have to hope they're too hungry for the profit to accuse her of banditry.
That and getting back the funds later since they'll need a lot more money in the future, but the others are already working on that.

Name	Start	Action	Target	End	Notes
Ronja	H8	Trade	I6 (Shamerius)	H8	Bringing donkey, Intent: Buying 24 wood for 12 gold. Should also improve trade, but if not it doesn't change anything.
Birk	H8	Assist Wild Minds	G8	H8
Wild Minds	H8	Gather Resource(Gold)	G8	H8
Fairhairs	H8	Assist Wild Minds	G8	H8

As Ronja entered Shamerius, she found it bustling with life and fun.  Apparently a small fair and festival had begun in light of recent trade that had moved through the area.

Seeing Ronja's unladen donkey, merchants and townsfolk are more than happy to engage in long discussions to see you secure their goods.  Soon a few of the leading merchants work-out deals and begin to weigh coins on scales as they begin to plan for the influx of coin into their little place.

Taking a look-about, you see the orchards and gardens of Shamerius being plucked for an early harvest, with numerous and many-more rows beyond being tilled to prepare for more.

[ Ronja achieves a Significant Success in Conducting Diplomacy at Shamerius (I6)! ]
[ You gain 1 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Negotiator. ]
[ This was sufficient to raise your Attitude Status to Friendly. ]
[ Upon arrival you realize this CP had grown to Village-size since your last visit. ]
They are BUYING Iron at Reviled status.
They are SELLING Lumber at Sub-Par status.
[ If you return on subsequent visits, you may be able to recruit Elf Units. ]

[ Birk, the Wild Minds, and the Fairhairs achieve an Astounding Success in Harvesting from the Grand Gold Node (G8). ]
[ You gain 2 Leveling XP. ]
[ You gain 2 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Digger. ]
[ They return with 20 Gold. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:01, Tue 03 Nov 2015.

Ronja: Negotiator 2->3 (1xp)
Wild Minds: Level 7->8, Offense 3->4
Fairhairs: Level 7->8, Defense 2->3, Digger 4->6 (1+1=2xp)
Loot: Gold 12->32
Buy 24 wood for 12 gold: Wood 6->30, Gold 32->20

Begin [Week 2, Month 4, Year 1]

CT = Crafter's Tools
Fo = Foodstuffs







[ Intelligence Network: +10 Scout (find a CP) or Explore (I8). ]
[ You are more likely to draw quest or skill/trainer opportunities this month from Exploring. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:00, Tue 03 Nov 2015.

Assuming everything goes to plan, the new beds should be set up in one of the rooms meant for 'entertaining guests' away from whatever would be going on in the main hall.
Unlike the other 'renovation projects', it's not next to the 'Rift'; It's collapsed, probably from the earth-quake you'd expect to happen when a 'berg' splits, but at least there's no way to roll over in your sleep and fall into the abyss.

Having both leaders hanging around to oversee it probably won't be needed, but on the upside the lower work-load on each should mean more time to look for ways to improve their methods.
In particular, the workers are still far too reliant on having the leaders; Left to themselves, the workers end up fighting over supplies left where work needs to be done, some people working off the wrong plan (such as if they forgot a last-minute change or such), and other 'clashes'.

Name	Start	Action	Target	End	Notes
Ronja	H8	Assist Wild Minds	H8	H8	Donkey, just because.
Birk	H8	Assist Wild Minds	H8	H8
Wild Minds	H8	Construct Living Quarters	H8	H8	Intent: Building a Living Quarters, obviously. Discounts aren't that important (xp or surprise benefits would be more interesting) though still useful I suppose. Should cost 30 lumber, I think.
Fairhairs	H8	Assist Wild Minds	H8	H8

The work was arduous and painful.  Carving-out the new spaces was tedious as best.  As you direct The Fairhairs to relocate excess debris, the Wild Minds spend nearly the entire first day sifting rotted wood from good lumber.

After reviewing plans and blueprints, Ronja and Birk finally settle on a design for the Barracks that works with the existing landscape.

[ Your Usurpation succeeds in Constructing a New Barracks. ]
[ Thanks to your Scholar and Human bonuses - you gain 1 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Mason. ]
[ You saved 3 Lumber, consuming only 27 Lumber. ]

Lumber 30->3
Living Quarters accounted for
Ronja: Mason 3->4 (1xp)

Begin [Week 3, Month 4, Year 1]

CT = Crafter's Tools
Fo = Foodstuffs







[ Intelligence Network: +10 Scout (find a CP) or Explore (I8). ]
[ You are more likely to draw quest or skill/trainer opportunities this month from Exploring. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:33, Wed 04 Nov 2015.

With the new beds ready but empty, Ronja heads out to get some more workers.
She (together with Birk, before he gets too busy with his own task) briefly consider trying to convince some of Shamerius' people to sign up, but even with their latest growth they still don't seem big enough to support a good pool of strong yet unemployed people.
While there is Moracku right at the base of the mountain, she still sets out for the much longer trip back up to where she hired the Fairhairs (where hopefully people will be less able to shadow her back).
This time, she should (in theory) already know at least one place to find men (the adventurer's guild she went to last time)

But while their economy is finally starting to get back on its feet, their magical pursuits have fallen quite far behind.
And the only civilized race they've found other than human or elf, are the grumpy mountain-orcs.
So while one leader heads off to hire more workers, the other (Birk) takes the twenty pseudo-bandits with their ten sets of spyglasses and goes looking for some swamp-dwellers.
After all, everyone knows goblins are the true masters of magic.
The 'spies' already have fairly good guesses as to where the biggest civilization in the area would be.

Name	Start	Action	Target	End	Notes
Ronja	H8	Conduct Diplomacy	D4(Havenin)	H8	Taking Donkey. Might also trade, if permitted, but finding workers (Ideally either Elves or Humans) is priority 1
Birk	H8	Assist Wild Minds	I8	H8
Wild Minds	H8	Scout	I8	H8	Intent: Finding a CP (Ideally Goblin and/or magic-focused) Don't forget: +10 to finding a CP there
Fairhairs	H8	Assist Wild Minds	I8	H8	If it matters, they swap their spyglasses for one of the WMs' tools, but it shouldn't matter which unit holds them.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:11, Wed 04 Nov 2015.

Finding the quaint little village of Horka was no difficult feat.  Navigating the treacherous trenches, ditches, ravines, however; proves to be quite dangerous and time-consuming.  As you enter the apparently well-guarded village, you are taken by surprise at the numerous Orcs and Goblins sharpening piles of weapons and battering shields back into shape.

Horka is a strange village, how they survive in the swamps is beyond your ken.

[ Ronja achieves a Significant Success in conducting Diplomacy with Havenin (D4). ]
[ You gain 1 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Negotiator. ]
[ You find an advanced Unit of Elves available for recruitment.  They are level 1, with 1 Skill XP. ]
[ Due to the world event, they will have 1 additional Skill XP. ]
[ Other standard Units are available. ]
They are selling Armor (Type 3) and Lumber at the Preferred (Pfd) rate.

[ Birk, the Wild Minds, and the Fairhairs achieve an Astounding Success in Scouting (I8). ]
[ You gain 2 Leveling XP. ]
[ You gain 2 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Scout or Spy. ]
[ You discover a CP:
]
Because you brought a Leader with you on your first visit, you receive a free diplomacy check.  Because your leader's race does not match with the residents of Horka (I7), the starting attitude status is Hostile.
[ You achieve a partial success in conducting Diplomacy with Horka.  This is insufficient to improve your Attitude Status. ]
[ You find an Exceptional Food Node.  It has an estimated 3 uses remaining. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:58, Fri 06 Nov 2015.

Yes hire elves: Gold 20->10, Gold Upkeep 10->15, Food Upkeep 2->3
New Elves: Named 'Leaf Cloaks' since they're too lazy to name themselves, Speed F->VF, Outmanouver 0->2
Wild Minds: Level 8->9, Strength 3->4, Scout 9*->10!
Fairhairs: Level 8->9, Strength 2->3
Birk: Scout 0->1

Begin [Week 4, Month 4, Year 1]

CT = Crafter's Tools
Fo = Foodstuffs

SH = Shields
St = Stone

MW = Melee Weapons
SH = Shields
Fo = Foodstuffs
DoC = Donkey and Cart
A1 = Armor (Type 1)
A2 = Armor (Type 2)
OT = Construction Tools


SG = Spyglass



[ Intelligence Network: +10 Scout (find a CP) or Explore (I8). ]
[ You are more likely to draw quest or skill/trainer opportunities this month from Exploring. ]

[LOL to the Leaf Cloaks and the name =) ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:22, Thu 12 Nov 2015.

The newbies could probably use some time working with some who have been around a bit longer, to make sure they get 'integrated' rather than isolating themselves into their own circle.
Mind, it's not like anyone spends that much time working outside of their ten-man unit, but at least it'd be good to keep a single 'work-culture' in the fort.
And it just so happens that there's a job for a bunch of people at once: Getting the rest of the valuables from the mine.
There's not as much need to reinforce things anymore, as they won't bother coming back again; If it can hold for a week, it'll be fine.
At the end, they will break or yank out whatever supports are easily accessible from a safe location, see if they can get the place to collapse; No point leaving signs of an unlicensed mine.

The humans could probably have helped out somewhat too, but twenty workers all stuffed into a single cavern's probably already pushing what is safe, even if not all are working mining-duty all at once.
Instead, they can go look around the plains, see if there's some wild plants they can gather up.
A proper trip to get food can happen next month, but it wouldn't hurt to get a bit extra.
Even if they find no food, there's bound to also be plenty of scrap left by the wayside - things fallen off the back of wagons and then gone unnoticed by people who aren't the expert scouts they are and/or haven't got spyglasses to scout much more area at a time.

Name	Start	Action	Target	End	Notes
Ronja	H8	Assist Fairhairs	G8	H8	Taking the donkey
Birk	H8	Assist Fairhairs	G8	H8
Wild Minds	H8	Scout Location	F7	H8	Intent: Finding a Cache (ideally food). Swapped tools with the Fairhairs.
Fairhairs	H8	Gather Resource (Gold, Grand)	G8	H8	Swapped tools with the Wild Minds.
Leaf Cloaks	H8	Assist Fairhairs	G8	H8

Ronja and Birk team-up once-more, this time bringing the newly recruited Leaf Cloaks.  The work moves handily, despite the Leaf Cloaks' relative inexperience, they manage to throw their collective weight into the task at hand, and manage to clear a large and loose section of dirt.  The agile and flowing movements of the crew makes quick-work of sifting through the dirt to find the heavy nuggets of yellow beauty.

[ Ronja, Birk, the Fairhairs, and the Leaf Cloaks achieves an Astounding Success in Harvesting from the Grand Gold Node in (G8)! ]
[ You gain 2 Leveling XP. ]
[ You gain 2 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Digger. ]
[ You return with 25 Gold. ]

[ The Wild Minds achieves a Significant Success in Scouting (F7). ]
[ You gain 1 Leveling XP, which must be assigned to the Wild Minds. ]
[ Thanks to the Human Bonus, you gain 2 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Spy or Scout. ]
[ You discover a Medium Cache containing:
4 x Gold
2 x Foodstuffs
1 x Shields.
]
[ You discover a Normal Food Node.  It has an estimated 2 uses remaining. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:47, Tue 10 Nov 2015.

Loot:
Gold 10->35->39
Food 3->5
Shields equipped to Wild Minds

Upkeep:
Gold 39->24, 24->28 (Midas)
Food 5->2

Leaf Cloaks: Level 1->3, Defense 1->2, Max Tools 1->2
Fairhairs: Digger 6->8

Wild Minds: Spy 0->2

Begin [Week 1, Month 5, Year 1]

CT = Crafter's Tools, Fo = Foodstuffs

SH = Shields, St = Stone

MW = Melee Weapons, SH = Shields, Fo = Foodstuffs, DoC = Donkey and Cart

A1 = Armor (Type 1), A2 = Armor (Type 2), OT = Construction Tools


SG = Spyglass



[ Intelligence Network:  +10% to Scouting (Find a CP) or Exploring (H7).]
[ You are more likely to find Special Opportunities. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:23, Thu 12 Nov 2015.

It might have been a waste of time to send anyone out for food last time, given this week's food-run might end up bringing back more food than they've got space for.
Still, they've not got the food they'd need for another month and 'all the food they've room for' is probably plenty food for now.
What's not mentioned, because it's good manners not to talk about the scary thing when everyone's worried, is that no one wants to hang around the mountain when it's shaking like this; They've spent half a year living next to proof that earth-quakes can literally split mountains, they'd really rather not be present if that happens again elsewhere.
So Ronja grabs all twenty non-Birk elves and head out to do some cover-of-day (given a lot of swamp-dwellers are probably nocturnal) raids on the local flora and/or fauna.
Chances are nothing'll be readily edible, but as long as they butcher any animals (rather than dumping them whole into a stew or something), throw out anything that looks 'weird', and give everything a long and hot boil, it should end up fine.
Most swamps are just really wet, after all - the 'dark death-traps smelling of death and decay' style swamps, while iconic, are notable because they're rare (and generally aren't going to happen in terrain like this)

Since the task is already fairly likely to be 'too successful', the ones who can be sent elsewhere (Birk and the Wild Minds. Ronja too, technically, but someone's gotta watch the workers) are sent elsewhere.
Birk's off to see if he can find any travelers or vagabonds of useful talent along the paths to and from the elven village.
Ideally an elf (or human), to help prevent inter-group conflict, given what they've seen of the discrimination elsewhere.
It's a fairly unlikely task, since he's relying on pure fate with no reason to expect any to be around (well, perhaps not pure fate; knowing the right questions to ask and the right signs to watch for does help) but he might at least stumble across something else, if not what he's looking for.
The Wild Minds, meanwhile, are just sent out again to look for more loose valuables.
In particular, if they could track down some ruined structures or other loose stone, the fort only needs a small amount more to do some work on improving the stockpiles.

Leveling XP not applied to Wild Minds last time: Wild Minds level 9->9*

Name	Start	Action	Target	End	Notes
Ronja	H8	Assist Fairhairs	I7	H8
Birk	H8	Explore	I6	H8	Riding Donkey. Intent: Finding an Elven (or Human) Extra
Wild Minds	H8	Scout Location	H9	H8	SMS-Boosted Intent: Finding a cache, ideally stone
Fairhairs	H8	Gather Resource (Food, Exceptional)	I7	H8	[Narrator Edit: fixed]
Leaf Cloaks	H8	Assist the Fairhairs	I7	H8

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:24, Thu 12 Nov 2015.

As Birk strolled-out into the eastern forests, he remarked-upon the beauty of the excellent and fertile reaches of the trees.  Having been well-fed and nurtured by the eastern rivers; it was easy to see why many would settle and log here.

Stumbling across a large patrol of Elves, they entreat you for aid.  They are in need of some warriors to help cover a gap in their defensive perimeter, whilst their less-prepared and equipped villagers harvest and maintain the farms and orchards.

[ Ronja, the Fairhairs, and the Leaf Cloaks succeed in Harvesting from the Exceptional Food Node (I7). ]
[ You discover 8 Foodstuffs. ]

[ Birk succeeds in Exploring (I6). ]
[ You receive an interesting militia offer:
Loan 1 x Unit for 1 Week. Eliminate Upkeep of that Unit + 1 Unit of your Choice for the Month.
]

[ The Wild Minds achieves a Significant Success in Scouting (H9). ]
[ You gain 1 Leveling XP, which must be assigned to the Wild Minds. ]
[ You gain 1 Skill XP, which must be assigned as Scout or Spy. ]
[ You discover a Medium Cache:
12 x Stone
1 x Crafter's Tools.
]
[ You discover a Normal Stone Node.  It has an estimated 3 uses remaining. ]

Food 2->9, lumber dumped to make room, remaining 1 food wasted (no space)
Yes to loan: Will repeat it in next week's action post, but 'Loan away Leaf Cloaks, eliminate upkeep of them (the Leaf Cloaks) and the Wild Minds'.
Wild Minds Level 9*->10, Speed M->F Spy 2->3
Stone 8->20
Crafter's Tools equipped to the Wild Minds

Begin [Week 2, Month 5, Year 1]




[ Decide to Loan Unit or Not. ]

[ Intelligence Network:  +10% to Scouting (Find a CP) or Exploring (H7).]
[ You are more likely to find Special Opportunities. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:23, Wed 18 Nov 2015.

The food that didn't fit into the proper storage had been stacked in whatever corners and hallways that weren't used at the moment.
And, predictably, they then went from there to the ground, abyss, or just underfoot of people walking around, given the mountain's still giving the occasional shake this week.
They figure if they change the shelves to be more quake-proof (mainly just adding ledges, but it does also mean they need to be sturdier and they have to account for force applied in directions other than 'towards the ground') and start actually putting everything in crates or bags (rather than leaving the 'bigger' pieces lying around because it's easier/faster) it'd help prevent this in the future.
Plus, with all the new stone, they can just straight-out build/rebuild some more stone walls to get more space.

While more workers would get the job done faster, so far the weekly scheduling has worked well, and one week's plenty even with just twelve people working.
So, the Wild Minds are sent back out on their own, to look for more goods.
This time it's to the eastern rivers; It's not entirely certain what they'll find there, but hopefully some interesting things have washed up along the shores.

Name	Start	Action	Target	End	Notes
Ronja	H8	Assist the Fairhairs	H8	H8	Donkey, I guess
Birk	H8	Assist the Fairhairs	H8	H8
Wild Minds	H8	Scout Location	J8	H8	Intent: Specify first result as a cache, ideally equipment (armor'd be great, as would ranged weapons), though gold's good too
Fairhairs	H8	Renovate Storage Room	H8	H8
Leaf Cloaks	H8	Being Lent	N/A	H8	These are being lent out, as per the special event, in order to eliminate the upkeep of them (the Leaf Cloaks) and the Wild Minds