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5th Opal, 132 (Mid-Winter)

Gogira has been laid to rest in the catacombs beneath the fortress.





All efforts since her death have been bent towards the security of the fortress: work on the outer walls has progressed and a moat has been dug and filled. The blacksmiths are busy creating massive axe blades and serrated discs for use in traps, and a Pit'O'Doom has been constructed beneath the entrance hallway.









All else has been quiet. Hopefully this winter will pass smoothly.

25th Timber, 132 (Late Autumn)

Truly, today is a sad day for all of Asobiden. For one of our own has fallen, murdered by the filthy goblin savages that lurk to the north.

Early in the morning our workers on the surface reported a small force of goblin soldiers approaching Asobiden from the Northwest. It appears as though our prosperous fortress has become too large and wealthy to continue ignoring. I immediately ordered a lockdown of the fortress and the activation of our entrance traps to deal with the scum. Gogira, however, insisted on attacking the goblins and defeating them in close combat by strength of arms. Her recent victories over the kobold thieves and Furries had left her confident, and eager to engage the foe.





We exchanged words, and she left. The account of the ensuing battle between her and the goblin menace came to me second-hand through the dwarven caraven guards camped outside our entrance.



Gogira charged the unwashed beasts with a mighty dwarven battlecry, hefting her bronze battleaxe to the skies. She tore into the goblin soldiers with unparalled ferocity, fighting with axe, fist, and even teeth. The enemy faltered under her relentless attack, losing morale and body parts alike.







Alas, Gogira's dwarven warrior mentality left her unaware of the depths to which goblins could stoop to gain the upper hand. While she was dealing with the unlucky goblin swordsman, his comrade snuck up behind her and began stabbing mercilessly with his pike.









Gogira quickly wilted under the goblins' combined savagery, succumbing to her numerous wounds.









The caravan guards cleaned up the remainder of the goblins, but Gogira remained fallen. The goblin scum could not even manage to die valiantly: one of the swordsman broke ranks and fled upon seeing the rest of his squad cut down.









I have commissioned a fine tomb to be made for our fallen hero, so that she can rest in peace beneath the feet of her brethren. I have also ordered the completion of the outer walls and production of full steel armour and weapons: this morning's attacks will not be the last. On this day the goblin nation has made itself an eternal enemy in the dwarves of Asobiden.

[didn't actually convey information]

Does technical jargon count? Lots of professions use acronyms excessively, but often it's necessary shorthand.

For example, most computer/network services are acronym'ed not to confuse outsiders, but because otherwise conversations would take forever. "HTTP" and DNS" are much easier to say than "Hypertext Transport Protocol" and "Domain Name Service".

Where is the line drawn between valid acronyms and "obscuring" jargon?

Notice that the difference is that the first set of statements didn't actually convey information, and the second set did.  We can form a hypothesis here, and that is that humans will give you factual information and package it in factual statements.  Humans will also feed you bullshit, and will package it in words that don't actually say anything, but sound as if they do.

All jargon, I think, is based on this principle.

Ah, got it. Thanks.

Does technical jargon count? Lots of professions use acronyms excessively, but often it's necessary shorthand.

For example, most computer/network services are acronym'ed not to confuse outsiders, but because otherwise conversations would take forever. "HTTP" and DNS" are much easier to say than "Hypertext Transport Protocol" and "Domain Name Service".

Where is the line drawn between valid acronyms and "obscuring" jargon?

Found some old Abnormail documents/images I had created but never sent. Figured I'd post them here.

Rated for up to 2000 lbs.

http://www.darwinaerospace.com/burritobomber

Bump

http://www.kongregate.com/games/Kongregate/super-duck-punch

7th Galena, 132 (Late Summer)

Nigel has requested the use of some of the adamantine, in hopes of understanding the strange mood that overtook her lover. Her skill as a master craftsdwarf is unparalleled, so I have granted her request and moved some adamantine up to the stores near her workshop.







She quickly gets to work, and within a day has crafted some of the finest artifacts any of us have ever seen.








She has kept the adamantine scepter for "personal use". Who knows what that could mean.

30th Malachite, 132 (Mid-Summer)

After five long days, Cainad has finally emerged from his sanctuary. He clutches a stone figurine in his hand at all times now, and frequently seeks the wisdom of the Good Reverend in private. Whatever happened down in the depths of the magma forges and the adamantine, it seems to have spurred some kind of religious epiphany in the stoic miner.





He refuses to discuss what led him to such a state, and seems extremely reluctant to return to the depths of the earth. I ask him what he saw down there in the adamantine, and he merely shakes his head, speaking only a single word.



"Ashes."

25th Malachite, 132 (Mid-Summer)

Cainad returned from surveying the adamantine earlier tonight, uncharacteristically silent. He refused to acknowledge anyone as he strode through the fortress, not even stopping for his lover Nigel's famous "Mushroom Burger" (raw mushroom on a mushroom bun, garnished with mushrooms). He immediately claimed one of the craftsdwarves workshops, slamming the doors behind him and allowing no-one in. Despite herself, I can see that Nigel is worried. She has heard the stories of the adamantine madness.









If I press your ear to the door, and tune out the sounds of the fortress, I can just barely make out the sound of ritualistic chanting, along with the steady chip-chip-chip of a crafting chisel.

[TWO BY TWOA HELLISH VIEWFOUR BY FOURAND NOT ONE MORE]

Ancient Dwarven writings found in the ruins of Ast Murtk, one of the oldest Dwarven fortresses in Sil Unol

TWO BY TWO
A HELLISH VIEW
FOUR BY FOUR
AND NOT ONE MORE

11th Malachite, 132 (Mid-Summer)

I've ordered the EXTREMELY CAREFUL excavation of the stone around the adamantine vein on the lower levels, so that we can determine the width and depth of the vein. The value of the lustrous metal in unquestioned, and Asobiden needs wealth in order to fuel our economy and attract new migrants. The shining surface of the adamantine stirs feelings of dread within me, but (I cannot deny it) also feelings of desire. I must have it.