14th Granite, Year 121

  Another season turns, and the snow falls heavy upon the mountain. Winter grips us, but the fires in the forge and the heart of the fortress burn bright. The caverns below are, for now, blessedly quiet. We have been fortunate in that regard. Most of our days are spent in training, honing our skills with axe and hammer, shield and crossbow. The memory of the Spikedback Horror, though its flesh and bone are now serving a more practical purpose, remains a sharp reminder. We must be ever vigilant, ever stronger. We cannot allow ourselves to be caught unprepared again.

  The processing of the beast was… thorough. The bone was dense, and even our strongest smiths struggled at times to work it. But now a few of our warriors bear armour reinforced with its plating, and some of our axes have been tipped with its wicked barbs. A macabre touch, perhaps, but if it ensures our survival, then so be it. In respect and warning, we have enshrined some of its most formidable bones within our small museum. A reminder to all and any who visit, of the dangers below. I suspect it will not be the last such reminder we will need.

  29th Obsidian, Year 121

  The miners delve deeper, their picks ringing against the stone, a constant heartbeat in the depths. We have sealed off a few new caverns, for now. There is no need to risk venturing into unknown depths before the new year when it is time to explore again. While we've uncovered some copper and small traces of galena, nothing truly rare has yet been discovered. Still, even the most common mineral has its use in the hands of a skilled dwarf. It is the labour and craft that matters more than the materials themselves, as the elder dwarves are fond of saying. I find myself agreeing more and more as I get older. Perhaps it is the weight of time that does that to a dwarf.

  Training continues, though the winter makes it difficult to maintain motivation. I have been spending more time myself in the training hall. I feel the need to keep myself sharp. There is an underlying sense that we have become soft, the time of peace has lasted a long time and I worry we may not be ready if another major threat appears.

  11th Limestone, Year 122

  A strange thing has occurred. A dwarf by the name of Kogan, a bone carver usually reliable and diligent, has fallen into a strange mood. He stalked the fortress for days, looking at all the materials we have. He finally approached me, his eyes burning with an odd light. He demanded certain materials... gems, some of our finest metal bars, even some of the Spikedback bone we kept for repairs. At first, I was wary, but he was persistent. There was a fervor about him that made me reconsider. I gave him the materials he requested, partially out of curiosity, and partially in hope of seeing what this mood might produce. There is a risk of course. Such moods can be dangerous.

  He has taken to a workshop, barring the door, and letting us know that we should not interrupt. The clanging and grinding from behind the door has been nigh constant for the past few days. I don't know if I am excited or anxious to see the outcome. The whispers amongst the others are that this will be a great artifact, something that will make our fortress renowned. I hope so. We could use something to help bolster our spirits after the long winter.

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  17th Limestone, Year 122

  The artifact is finished. Kogan emerged from the workshop, pale and exhausted, but with a look of triumph. He presented his work, and… I must admit, I was speechless. It is a Bone Amulet, named "The Spiked Spine of the Mountain" . It is crafted from the Spikedback's bone, intricately carved and inlaid with shimmering gems. The metal is wrapped around it. All of this is done so precisely and skillfully. The craftsmanship is beyond anything I have seen before. I know that the descriptions to others may not describe the sheer master skill of the creation.

  Kogan is now exhausted but is smiling a small, rare smile. It is now placed in our treasury at the request of the others, who seem to view it as a valuable and important piece of our fortress history.

  I tried to look impressed, I truly did. I puffed out my chest and gave a hearty “Well done, lad!” and clapped him on the back hard enough to rattle his teeth. But inside? Inside, I was bellowing at the sky. A hammer! A fine, strong hammer! Or even a shield, Armok’s teeth, a shield that would make the goblins tremble. But no. A bone amulet. What use is that to a dwarf, I ask you? What use? I can’t even… Ugh. I’m going to the tavern. I need a drink.

  Day 15 of Granite, Year 122

  Still mulling over this bloody amulet. They're all parading it around like it's the second coming of the Anvil of the Gods. Urgran keeps looking at me, beaming, like I’m some sort of elder sage who can unlock the secrets of its bone-y origins. I try to smile back. I give him a nod. I even complimented the fine craftsmanship– which is technically true, for a bone…thing. But inside, my soul is groaning like a mine shaft about to collapse.

  It’s not that I’m jealous, mind you. Well… maybe a little. But it’s more than that. It’s the principle of it. We’re dwarves! We build! We forge! We make things that can crush rock and split skulls! Not… trinkets to hang around some soft-skinned trader’s neck. I’ve seen the old records. Dwarves have made axes that sing, spears that drink blood, armor that can turn a dragon's flame. And Kogan makes a… sigh. I’m going back to the forge. I’ll make something useful. Something with steel.

  Day 22 of Granite, Year 122

  The “Spiked Spine” was involved in that mess in the caverns. Don't get me wrong, I wasn’t expecting to see Kogan wading into the fray, wearing the thing like he's some kind of bone-clad hero. But he did, and... well, it seems the thing is, in its own, unhelpful way, pretty tough. A few cave spiders tried to bite him, and bounced right off it. Apparently, it also glows in the dark a little, which was handy. He seems to think it saved him from something nasty lurking under a rock…

  Still, a hammer could have bashed those spiders. A shield would have kept his beard clean. The amulet… Well, at least the spiders didn't chew it. But what else is it good for? He says he feels a “connection” to it now, a certain… something-or-other. Honestly, he's starting to get a bit… precious about it. I offered to polish it for him today. I just wanted to feel the bone in my hands. He almost had a heart attack. I better leave it alone for a bit, before the poor lad starts thinking "The Spiked Spine" is his long-lost sibling.