[Clay]

FurryOldLobster has been posting his RimWorld story on Discord.
I have his permission to copy that story onto the forums to save them.


Everything below was written by FurryOldLobster on the Claytonia Discord.

[Clay]

Sami's Journal – Entry 001
Otterclaw Dominion, Holtwater Haven
Year 5500, Day 8 of Septober, Fall

When I was a kid, I dreamt of flying among the stars. I trained, fought, and earned my Ace wings before most of my squadmates could even grow a proper beard. I thought I had my future locked in—fighter pilot, hero of the fleet, medals, glory, maybe even a book deal one day.

Instead, I'm here. On some unmapped rock, wearing a bowler hat, and trying to convince a group of stubborn survivors that we are, in fact, not going to die in the next week.

It's strange. I never imagined myself as a leader, and yet; but when the crash dust settled and everyone looked around for someone to be in charge, it was my name they called. Maybe because I'm the only one who smiles. Or maybe because I still believe we can turn this place into something real.

Holtwater Haven isn't much yet. We have walls, and we've carved our way into a mountain - something that actually feels defensible. A squeaky windmill powers twin batteries, and despite the occasional strike from raiders, we're not starving—Mila is an absolute miracle worker in the kitchen. If it weren't for the wolves pacing the perimeter, I'd almost call our meals comfortable.

The first two major breakthroughs were easy choices:

Batteries – Power storage. The heart of any real colony.
Beer – For morale, of course. And to make sure Niklas doesn't kill someone.

Now, we're aiming for Geothermal Energy. A limitless power source, a perfectly paved path to the future. Sure, I could've gone for something smaller, easier - but if I've learned anything from the fleet, it's that big risks lead to big rewards.

But there's one problem we can't ignore anymore: Winter is coming.

The wind's already colder in the mornings, and the nights stretch longer. The mountain offers some shelter, but we don't have nearly enough warm clothing for everyone. Niklas is already complaining. Food won't be an issue, but keeping warm? That's something we should've been working on weeks ago. I don't want to tell the others yet, but if we don't get proper heating before the first frost, all the optimism in the world won't stop us from freezing to death in our sleep.  I've instructed Mila to plant a field of cotton for textiles.  Maybe we can sneak a partial harvest....

Mila thinks I'm too optimistic for my own good. Niklas grumbles that I'm a dreamer with no patience for the details. But that's fine. Someone has to believe in this place. Someone has to see it not just as another failed colony, but as a home worth fighting for.

Now, if only I could convince the damn wolves outside the perimeter that we aren't on the menu.

Sam "Sami" Wisa
(Leader of Otterclaw Dominion, former Ace Pilot, current idiot in a bowler hat trying to build a future.)

https://discord.com/channels/176131741243670528/1198048237744029836/1352448343149645974
https://discord.com/channels/176131741243670528/1198048237744029836/1352448330097229987

[Clay]

Sami's Journal – Entry 002
Otterclaw Dominion, Holtwater Haven
Year 5500, Day 12 of Septober, Fall

I don't believe in omens. Not really. But if I did, today would be the kind that makes you start digging a grave just to get ahead of the inevitable.

It started with an eclipse. The sky went dark, and the temperature dropped. No big deal—we don't rely on solar. Our squeaky windmill and geothermal generator kept us running. I figured we'd ride it out.

Niklas and I were south of Holtwater, hunting a group of deer. A clean shot had just dropped a doe when the sky split open with fire. A flashstorm tore through the dry brush, and within seconds, flames were racing across the ground. We stomped at them, trying to contain the spread, but lightning struck again. And again.

A dozen strikes later, we had no choice. The fire was too fast, too relentless. We grabbed the doe and ran.

Then came the solar flare.

Not the kind that messes with the sun, no—this one just fried everything electronic. No heat. No light. The fire outside wasn't the only thing we had to worry about. If temperatures dropped too much, we'd freeze in our own beds.

And as if the world wasn't finished kicking us while we were down, a psychic drone started hammering our skulls. Only the men felt it—me, Niklas, and Ricky. I don't know if that makes it better or worse. Mila and Raven were fine, which meant they had to pick up the slack while the three of us fought off a creeping, relentless headache and the rising urge to snap.

We held on. Power came back at 2200. I thought maybe—just maybe—that was the end of it. But the fire was still there, still creeping toward Holtwater Haven.

We can't stop it. Only rain can. But the sky is dry. The air is still. Tomorrow, we could wake up to find our home surrounded by flames.

I don't believe in omens. But if I did... I'd say we're screwed.

— Sami
https://discord.com/channels/176131741243670528/1198048237744029836/1352724699653734433

[Clay]

Sami's Journal – Entry 004
Otterclaw Dominion, Holtwater Haven
Year 5500, Decembary 7

Winter is relentless. The days blend together in a haze of cold, sickness, and survival.

On the first, the plague came for us. Mila, Raven, and Niklas fell ill, their fevers burning hot against the freezing air. We did what we could—rationed medicine, kept them warm, and hoped. By the third, all had developed immunity, but Raven remained unresponsive, lost in exhaustion. When they finally woke on the fourth, it wasn't relief that greeted us, but madness. The withdrawal hit hard, sending them stumbling aimlessly through the colony, muttering to no one. We couldn't do much but wait for the storm in their mind to pass.

On the fifth, a shift—a new face, a new set of hands. Meagoque, once a prisoner, now one of us. A miner, a researcher, a builder. Another mouth to feed, but a welcome addition.

And now, this morning, we find ourselves on the edge of something far worse. While hunting at dawn, I spotted movement to the east. A raiding party—the largest we've seen. They're still out there, watching, waiting. Maybe we have time to prepare. Maybe not.

The cold remains. The wind howls. The fires flicker.

We are still here.

For now.

-Sami

https://discord.com/channels/176131741243670528/1198048237744029836/1353043999866490981

[Clay]

Sami's Journal – Entry 005
Otterclaw Dominion, Holtwater Haven
Year 5501, Aprimay 1

Winter came harder than we anticipated. We knew it would be tough, but nothing could've really prepared us for how brutal it would be. The crops froze over—just like I feared—and there's no sign they'll be coming back anytime soon. For weeks now, we've been living on whatever we had left in storage, but even that's starting to run low. I never thought I'd see the day we'd have to resort to eating a handful of livestock, but here we are. Things are starting to feel a little... desperate.

Niklas, Mila, and I had long talks about how we'd survive if the crops didn't come back. We knew we had to be ready to change course. But it's hard—mentally and physically—to keep pushing forward when everything around us is frozen, silent, and so damn cold. I've spent so many nights lying awake in the dark, listening to the howling wind outside, wondering how we're going to make it to spring.

But today—today, things are finally looking up.  The geothermal system's deep hum indicates it's running at its full potential, and I have a feeling it'll do wonders for us. Our windmill's been holding steady, but with geothermal fully operational, we won't be relying on the whim of the weather anymore. It feels like a little bit of light after the long, long winter. We may have no crops, but the future's looking a lot brighter now.

The colony feels different with new faces, too. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the two people who've helped keep things running—Niklas and Mila:
[4:02 PM]FurryOldLobster: Niklas, 25, our colony's only hunter, has proven to be more than just a shooter. I've always known him as a dedicated, hardworking man with a talent for getting things done. As a child, he was recruited as a mercenary—tough work, but it shaped him into the man he is today. He found his calling as a ranger, defending against poachers, but it's his passion for the hunt that keeps our food supply steady. Though his chemical fascination can sometimes be a liability, he's kept himself grounded. His work ethic is something to admire, and despite his low intelligence, there's something about him that makes me trust his instincts. He's always ready to get out there and do whatever it takes to help us survive. We wouldn't have made it through these last few months without him—his dedication is unmatched.

Then there's Mila, 52, our healer and cook—probably the person we owe the most to at this point. Mila's history as a jungle child means she knows how to make do with what she has, and she's managed to keep us all healthy and fed. Her great memory has served her well—she's constantly learning more and more about medicine, always finding new ways to help us.

Her unexpected past as an online aromatherapist might raise some eyebrows, but honestly, I don't care what she did before. She knows her stuff when it comes to medicine. She's saved our lives more times than I can count, and we wouldn't be here if not for her. Her ability to cook—well, that's an added bonus. We've been scraping by with what little we have, but when she's in the kitchen, even the barest of ingredients somehow turn into something filling and warm. Her skills in planting are starting to show promise, though we're still dependent on her medical expertise more than anything.

Between Niklas, Mila, and the rest of the colony, we've managed to keep going. We've made it through the worst of the cold. But I can't lie—it's been a struggle. There were days when I thought we might not make it through. But now, with the geothermal in place and a little luck on our side, we can finally start looking forward to spring.

We're not out of the woods yet, but for the first time in a while, I'm beginning to think we just might have a shot at making this colony work.

https://discord.com/channels/176131741243670528/1198048237744029836/1353821349919064174
https://discord.com/channels/176131741243670528/1198048237744029836/1353821377316257793

[furryoldlobster]

Sami's Journal – Entry 006
Otterclaw Dominion, Holtwater Haven
Year 5501, Aprimay 12 (...part 1)

What a nightmare today has been. I can't even begin to process it all, but I'll do my best to put it down on paper before my mind unravels completely.

We were out hunting—Niklas and I, just like any other day. I was focused on the trail, trusting Niklas to keep watch and guide us toward the next meal for the colony. But when we returned to the Haven, we found... chaos. A Boomalope, one of those damn beasts that explode on contact, had somehow found its way inside. It wasn't just any mad frenzy; it was a disaster.

The poor creature must've been drawn in by the scent of food or perhaps a bit of curiosity. It found its way into the storage room, and in its panic, it must've struck something—something that set it off.

When I arrived back at the colony, I was met with the sight of my pregnant fiancée, Alboio, lying in a crumpled heap, severely injured by the hooves of the Boomalope. She'd been incapacitated by the beast's furious thrashing, leaving her vulnerable. My heart dropped into my stomach as I rushed over to her side. She's so resilient, though. Even through all the pain, I saw the strength in her eyes. I could hardly breathe.

But then Mila stepped in. She's always been a beacon of calm in the storm, and today, she kept her composure as she worked tirelessly to stabilize Alboio. I don't know what we'd have done without her. Mila's done wonders, tending to Alboio's wounds, doing everything she could to minimize the damage. She'll pull through—she has to.

As if that wasn't enough, Ricky and Meagoque somehow managed to corrall the beast into a trap to keep it from causing more destruction. That part of it... well, they did what they could, but the fire it caused almost turned everything to ash. The resulting flames could have consumed the whole of Holtwater Haven. It felt like the world was crashing down on us in that moment—one more blow in a year of endless struggles.

But we couldn't let it go. We worked fast, hands shaking with adrenaline, but we put the fire out before it could spread. The damage was minimal. Thank the stars for that.

Now, here we are, waiting. Ricky—poor Ricky—was badly hurt during the explosion, both by the blast and from the beast's hooves. He's tough, but I can see the damage it's done to him. His wounds are bad, but we're hopeful he'll recover. His grit has never been in question.

Alboio... my love... I can see her fighting to stay conscious, but she needs rest. She's always been there for me, and I won't let her down now. She deserves peace and quiet to heal. I just wish I could've been here sooner.

So now we wait. I'll keep vigil by her side, as will the others. We'll get through this together, like we always do. But I can't help but feel that we're getting a little too accustomed to the chaos. I'm not sure how much more any of us can take.

[furryoldlobster]

Sami's Journal – Entry 007
Otterclaw Dominion, Holtwater Haven
Year 5501, Aprimay 12 (part 2)

Hell Fell from the Sky.

It wasn't a raid from the tree line. It wasn't a warning shot in the distance.

They fell from the damn sky.

Drop pods - six of them - screaming through the air, slamming into the ground like thunderclaps. And of all places, every one came straight down on Niklas' sleeping quarters.

The impact sent wood splintering, steel twisting, and Niklas scrambling to escape. He managed to dive out just in time, unscathed - but his entire room was destroyed. His bed, his favorite torch, his personal stash, even the small shelf he kept his prized rifle cartridges on. Gone.

The bandits tore through the wreckage, pushing into our perimeter, and in an instant, we had another fight on our hands.

The Breach

The outer wall was breached, leaving Holtwater Haven exposed. The bandits wasted no time—they followed the natural curve of our base, rushing for the front entrance.

We had almost no traps left. The Boomalope explosion had destroyed most of them. All that remained were our barricades, but they would have to be enough.

Niklas, Meagoque, and I dug in—our only option was to make our stand at the front, where the raiders would have to funnel through one at a time. The advantage was slim, but we took it.

Niklas was already in a shooting frenzy. His rifle was an extension of himself - his aim perfect, his shots precise. The first bandit barely made it two steps past the breach before Niklas put them down.

Then another. Then another.

One by one, they fell.

The last three saw what was happening. Saw the bodies. Saw Niklas' dead-eyed focus and the barricades that stood between them and victory. And they ran.

...but we let them go. Our people needed tending.

The Aftermath

Niklas has nothing left of his old room. The walls were scattered debris, the roof caved in. He's pretending like he doesn't care, but I can see it in his face. The only thing he saved was his rifle - and maybe that's the only thing he ever really needed.

The outer wall is still broken. We'll have to repair it fast before something worse takes advantage of the weakness. The colony itself is intact, but barely.

Ricky is still resting. Alboio too. Mila is exhausted from tending to everyone, but she hasn't complained once. She never does.

For now, Holtwater Haven still stands. Battered, but standing.

I don't know how many more of these days we can take. But I do know one thing.

Niklas isn't sleeping on the ground. Not in my colony.

Tomorrow, we rebuild.

[furryoldlobster]

Sami's Journal – Entry 008
Otterclaw Dominion, Holtwater Haven
Year 5501, Septober 12

A few exciting events, but mostly steady growth. The Haven is strong, and it's starting to feel less like survival and more like home.

Winter approaches. The 12th of Septober. The air is colder, the days shorter. We've been harvesting the last of our crops—every bit of food we can gather before the deep frost sets in. But this time, we're ready.

The new crop setup is already in place. South of the base, on the richest soil we have, we've planted:

Rice (quick yields for emergencies)

Corn (long-term food security)

Devilstrand (for real protection, if we live long enough to see it)

Healroot (because we've had enough injuries to know better)

To the west, on poorer soil, we've planted potatoes and hay—a long-term investment for food and animal fodder. The harvest is still far off, but if all goes well, this setup could last us for years.

A Look Back—Events of the Last Season
Aprimay 15 – The Birth of Wick
He's here. Our son. Wick.

Alboio fought through hell to bring him into this world. There were complications—a major illness that nearly took him from us. But he is his mother's son. He fought. Survived. And after weeks of care and tending, the sickness finally broke.

He's strong. He's ours.

Septober 9 – A Wedding, at Last
We finally did it. Alboio and I were married.

There was no grand ceremony—no feast, no priest, no luxury. Just our people, our home, and the life we've built. We celebrated the only way we could: a quiet night, a warm fire, and the knowledge that no matter what happens, we have each other.

Septober 11 – Another Animal, Another Attack
It's almost a running joke at this point—why does every predator in the wild hunt Alboio?

This time, it was a wolf. Tracked her across the plains, closing in for the kill.

But Luxe, our newest recruit, was ready. She raised her shotgun, took aim, and ended the threat before it could lay a single claw on my wife.

I don't know much about Luxe's past, but she's a damn fine shot. We'll need that, soon enough.

Septober 12 – The Largest Raid Yet
Ten raiders.

They came at dawn, armed and ready. But so were we.

The traps, the sandbags, the funnel of fire—it all worked. The enemy fell, one by one, caught in the crossfire before they even had a chance to breach our defenses. It wasn't even a fight.

We thought about capturing one of them. Interrogating. Recruiting. But with winter coming, another mouth to feed could have been a mistake. So we let them die where they fell.

Looking Ahead
Holtwater Haven is prepared.

The walls are strong. The stockpiles are full. We have food, we have power, and for the first time... we have a future.

And yet, something lingers.

Winter is always the hardest test.

Let's see if this one finally breaks us.

[furryoldlobster]

Sami's Journal – Entry 009
Otterclaw Dominion, Holtwater Haven
Year 5501, 1st of Winter

We enter Winter in a state of strength.

Last year, we clawed our way through the cold, desperate and thin, gnawing on whatever meat we could butcher. This year? The freezer is full - rice, potatoes, and plenty of meat from recent hunts and lucky scavenges. We even managed to prep preserved survival meals for leaner times.

We've split our power grids, creating two independent battery systems - if one crashes, the other survives. That lesson was paid for in frostbite and darkness. Not this time. We even got lucky with some traders and unlocked schematics for gas-blowback weapons. The machining table holds its weight every day. 

The double outer wall is finally done. The gap between them now serves as a walkway and fallback path, should enemies breach the first line. Not exactly a castle, but it's clever. It gives us options. Options mean survival.

And yet... I'm uneasy.

Every day grows more still. Colder. Quieter. Even the animals have stopped their migration early this year. The air is so still it's like the world is holding its breath.

Then today, Ricky came in from the eastern shaft, eyes wide and knuckles white. Said he heard scratching in the stone. Something deep, something low. I reminded him gently that he's been leaning a little too hard on smokeleaf and beer lately. Ricky was adamant, "It wasn't in my head, Sami. It was behind the wall."

He hasn't gone back to that tunnel since.

I'm not one for ghost stories. But it's Winter now, and I know this: when you spend long enough out here, in the snow and the silence... something always comes.

Whether it's raiders, beasts, or the dark inside our own minds—something always comes.

We'll be ready. We have to be.