Members of the Channels of Melting, past and present:
(http://i.imgur.com/MszgJUF.jpg)
The founding seven, from left to right:
Thoryane -- Expedition leader and increasingly bloodthirsty axe-wielder. Called the monster slayer. Died to an undead siege (year 5)
Taupe -- Field supervisor, in charge of plants and pets both. First overseer of Murderflood.
Flame -- Mason and engineer, create wonders out of stone, both simple and elaborate. Died to the werebear Vuohijumula (year 1).
Triaxx -- Heroic miner, who held his own against a werebear, saving the fortress. Second overseer of Murderflood. Melted by taking a nap in front of a magma flow he just unleashed. (year 3)
Zuglarkun -- Carpenter and architect of the fort. If you see it, she probably designed it. Died to an infected wound, caused by unknown forces. (year 1)
Gwolfsky -- Former pirate who fled from most early fights. Occasionally murders some of his fellow dwarves when possessed by some ghost. Can no longer stand.
Ghills -- Also known as Dwarf Aeris; heals and support the party. Also makes booze and cookies. Died to her infection during a chaotic moment. (year 1)
Other named dwarves:
First year migrants
Sarrak -- Metalworker turned soldier, great at dodging blows.
Haerdalas -- Veteran warrior and ranger. Foot severed by a werebear attack. Mauled by a different werebear. Don't bring a crutch to a claw fight. (year 3)
Sethatos -- Seasoned ranger, and bookkeeper of the Channels of Meltings. Struck down by the werebear Vuohijumula (year 1)
Vuohijumula -- Humble engraver turned werebeast. Survived two months before turning on the fort and killing several. Put out of his misery by the monster slayer Thoryane. (year 1)
Second year migrants
Vouhi-Pera -- We hardly knew ye. Distant cousin of the soldier-turned-scourge Vuohijumula. This is why you don't visit caverns full of giant toad corpses on your own. (year 2)
BlitzGamer -- Resident crossbow maker who somehow got on Triaxx's bad side. Turned cook after a terrible accident. Spawns a new child every year.
Nujux (Dumbestdorf) -- A simple-minded woodcutter. Fails to see why his chosen trade isn't useful in a desert.
CrAzY UrIsT (crazyabe) -- Resident doctor. Fourth time's the charm? Claims that surgery is best performed using a sword.
Sanctume -- Military volunteer. Resident armorer. Went missing mysteriously (year 3)
Zuglarkun the Second -- Claims to be the reincarnation of the founding architect, which is exactly how reincarnation doesn't work. Went mad after entering a mood while no cloth was available... (year 3)
Third year migrants
Zuglarkun III -- Stop using this name. Mauled to death by a werebear after two weeks. (year 3)
Sir Humphrey Cactusson (Urist McKiwi) -- Third overseer of Murderflood. Also, an actual cactus.
VuohiParta -- Highly competent miller and farmer, member of the secretive and elusive Vuohi dynasty.
TriaxxII -- Engraver, working on smoothing and decorating the underground complex left by his namesake.
HaerdalasII -- Wife of TriaxxII, and active militiadwarf. Mother of 16 fucking children !?! Daughter of the current outpost liason. Slayer of many zombies.
Fourth year migrants
Lord Asmoth -- Noble impersonator, and fourth overseer of Murderflood.
Dwarfing requests:
--Zuglarkun (again):
Requesting to be dorfed as Imush Kubukonul. Enable building designer and diagnostician labors (since he finds helping others rewarding) please. Also, I know its nigh impossible, but try to keep the bugger out of trouble. :P
--PyroTechno
--De:
Can I have a dwarf? I can't remember if I asked or not. I don't have a preference, just a spare dwarf. Maybe the one with the llama... though llamas kind of scare me come to think of it. I guess that could be a point of dramatic tension in my dwarf's life.
Reserving this space for pictures, world history.
Planning to do a year by year picture series to trace how the fort evolves over time, as well as delving deeper into Legends mode to highlight interesting developments, Geo-political history as well as other interesting tidbits for story and flavor reasons.
The Dwarven Pantheon of The Stirred Irons
(https://i.imgur.com/bY3jDqX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5DYb4hw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mAcqkrA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UB3dqrm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1NT5nVq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nM0X3C1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HF03Pgj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PQHB4D7.jpg)
Personages of The Stirred Irons
(contains spoilers from Legends mode!)
Queen:
(https://i.imgur.com/R9NfnNS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qZaAcfV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/z7JAR9T.jpg)
Deceased:
(https://i.imgur.com/v98hA7n.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PxsS70s.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kkVNC6t.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7Kf3suL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FKYNVVe.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DO12ai1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bYhW4R0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xsBB3c2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WaltDjm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lVnQfYX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fYJtxsm.jpg)
The Lay of the Land
Ecamo Cadeni, The Universe of Destiny (as pronounced in the Elvish)
(https://i.imgur.com/OlnKQVj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gj9pNxb.jpg)
Our Neighbours
(contains spoilers from Legends mode!)
I Kemozo I
Located in The Desert of Dreams, just to the north of the expanse of tropical grasslands called The Still Hill, lies the ominous tower of Kemozo, Inchedfaction.
(https://i.imgur.com/nIpc62n.jpg)
Inchedfaction was established in 50 and is known to be the home of a coterie of necromancers. The leader of this coterie and founder of Inchedfaction, Thomo Waxedfluke was known as the former first lady of The Wooden Band, a group from The Heroic Kingdom.
(https://i.imgur.com/6LZLRbC.jpg)
After leaving her post in Decenthares, Thomo claimed the Borax Slab, Mindfulmonk the Prophecy-Number of Meditating and was guided by Idur to settle in The Desert of Dreams, where a powerful force deep beneath the sands swells with unfathomable energies that resonated with her own dark powers. Along with her apprentices, she dedicates her life to further research and scholarship in the profound mysteries that lay hidden beneath The Desert of Dreams.
• Chikus •
The kobolds of Chikus mainly operate out of Uzlershedim, better known as The Factional Shadow. The cave is rumored to be located somewhere in the vicinity of the mountain range called The Grasping Beak, that lies between The Cunning Hills and The Steppe of Poisons.
(https://i.imgur.com/yvH5GqH.jpg)
The skulking vermin of Chikus are best known for the Black Market they run called Floshangis, which is where they peddle their ill-gotten goods at.
(https://i.imgur.com/FkHYGSd.jpg)
Π π Snang Ose π Π
Situated in between the northern reaches of the Desert of Dreams and the temperate grasslands of the Scraped Hills, lies the Dark Fortress Umungsnodub, Birdplague. There lies the ancient seat of power of Mato Amxuos Ngerxungosta - Mato Seducelies the Wicked Witch, master of the goblins of Snang Ose, The Thief of Curls.
(https://i.imgur.com/z9MOKn2.jpg)
According to fragments of ancient forbidden texts that only a select few could decipher, Mato entered a covenant with Oma the Skulls of Froth, a human goddess of blight, disease, death, murder and trade. A secret ritual was conducted in the deepest vault of Birdplague, Cradlewaste; to conjure a gateway that would anchor the underworld to the surface world and free the ancient white lizard Mato. Thus, Mato the murderous would serve as an avatar for Oma, aiding the goddess in extirpating all life upon the surface world.
Little is known about the goblins of Snang Ose, except that their insidious plans have been constantly postponed and interrupted by the exceedingly deadly fauna of the region. Perhaps they are biding their time, or perhaps the green skinned servants of Mato are simply grossly incompetent. Nobody really knows, and few care to find out, for all who have set foot into that shunned region, report that a lurking malice that gnaws at the senses dwells therein.
(https://i.imgur.com/zoEXsjq.jpg)
#ć Usmenbehal ć#
Located in the furthest reaches of the uncharted west, nestled within the tropical grasslands of The Royal Hill, lies the quaint hamlet Mutheatra, Campdashed; home of the humans of Usmenbehal, The Heroic Kingdom.
(https://i.imgur.com/68PPJd5.jpg)
The humans of Usmenbehal have discreetly carved out a sizable kingdom in the west, largely isolated from the wars in the eastern and middle kingdoms of the Universe of Destiny. However, that does not mean that they are strangers to conflict. They have been steadily battling against the encroaching elves of The Skunk of Speaking to their southeast for many generations now, and have even scored a major victory against them in recent times.
The humans of Usmenbehal are prominent worshipers of a Sun god, Thudu, the Awe-sinpiring Perfection. Other notable deities include Indur the Insightful Tome, a god that is associated with death, writing, scholarship and wisdom as well as Angir the Incinerated Assault, god of revenge. There are also 2 other lesser known deities, Shedoshsporro, The Umber Rains, god of rainbows and Bathru Scrapeddent, god of the night, stars, dreams and nightmares. Curiously enough, they are generally worshiped by the elven populace that have been recently integrated into the human society of Usmenbehal. Some of these elves have even managed to rise up the ranks to serve as war leaders.
Rumor has it that many of the earliest leaders of Usmenbehal have decided to pursue the ineffable secrets of life and death, and now reside in a tower to the northeast of the Campdashed...
(https://i.imgur.com/7IR5ZW8.jpg)
¶ î Alu Inó î ¶
Upon the western borders of our land, lies a thick forested region where the dákenur** dwell. If you traveled due northwest from the capital of The Stirred Irons - Asobazuz, across these vast forests, you'll eventually find yourself in a strange region with towering trees that reached up to the very skies, obscuring even the sun itself. Welcome to Apasipili - Nutsglimmers. The seat of power of the dákenur of Alu Inó - The Water of Excavation.
** dákenur, or the treehug(gers) as pronounced in the dwarvish tongue.
(https://i.imgur.com/tFPfbHf.jpg)
Among all the denizens of Ecamo Cadeni - The Universe of Destiny, The elves of The Water of Excavation are by far the most prosperous and most populous. It is the largest civilization with lands and holdings spanning a fifth of the entire region.
According to the historians of The Stirred Irons, the elves of The Water of Excavation occupied the lands bordering to the west of our sphere of influence in the early years. But rapid expansion plans in the next century caused such a boom in their holdings that within a short span of 40 years, their sphere of influence had spread far eastwards. Not only encompassing our own lands, but far exceeding our own sphere of influence in the southeast.
(https://i.imgur.com/kfPl8Gn.jpg?2)
Ω Edandatan Ω - The Stirred Irons
(contains spoilers from Legends mode!)
μ Atu Lon μ - The Fly of Subordinates
(https://i.imgur.com/fOWxFK3.jpg)
Located on an intersection between a terrifying tundra known as the Lurid Blizzard, a freezing glacier called the Frost of Satin and the perpetually frozen mountain range named The Wall of Perplexing, lies the ruins of the former mountainhome of the dwarves of the Stirred Irons, Asobazuz - BoardSomber. Boardsomber is a natural stronghold, that is connected to the rest of its colonies to the north via the great dwarven road; The Spread Way.
(https://i.imgur.com/HIzHrOA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oSyvjt5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/FBW0Tmq.jpg)
Despite its formidable natural defenses, the Capital of BoardSomber, The Emerald Gorge fell to the unrelenting wrath of the Immortality of Battles during the late spring of 205, where it was pillaged and turned into the abode of a bunch of goblin bandits. Thereafter, a new government was installed and the goblins named it Atu Lon, The Fly of Subordinates.
(https://i.imgur.com/n8aWolo.jpg)
Ω Usânlĺluth Ω - Murderflood
(https://i.imgur.com/dktV7Zp.jpg)
And here we are, Murderflood. Straddling a strategic position between 3 large population clusters to our North East, South West and South East. Who are these mysterious neighbors of ours? Stay tuned to find out!
(https://i.imgur.com/ZwPYMvq.jpg)
☼Gallery☼ Updated 4th Aug 2017
(https://i.imgur.com/EbwRTcy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uZQQWoe.jpg)
Workshops
(https://i.imgur.com/24Sk861.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GPhIzEV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ffUkzJS.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/l5PxHcF.jpg)
Catacombs
(https://i.imgur.com/HGGmYvy.jpg)
Asmoth's tower and prisons.
(https://i.imgur.com/gSs2xL5.jpg)
The main complex
(https://i.imgur.com/gXAJdvL.jpg)
Flame II's contraption and forges
(https://i.imgur.com/75wiYdf.jpg)
Idar Gulnas
(https://i.imgur.com/o3ENcNL.jpg)
Mama dikes
(https://i.imgur.com/ZRZcB3p.jpg)
Magma forge cistern
(https://i.imgur.com/DWxGGa0.jpg)
Temple of the bear
(https://i.imgur.com/4NAQ5ZN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vzdAsvA.jpg)
Gwolfsky's bunker and the overseer tower
(https://i.imgur.com/CZGDliE.jpg)
The new magma forges
(https://i.imgur.com/1vzKovK.jpg)
The magma dike
(https://i.imgur.com/6fYrZO8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/X7ezqfZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5bmk6mZ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cJ5DTry.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/yAayNa9.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/4kjDunW.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/kvUxCfi.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/E6Ev90U.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/iDhhXO4.png)
The trap corridor
(https://i.imgur.com/SNhiegz.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/EVE7s3S.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/9hDPVBL.gif)
(http://i.imgur.com/MD8CV49.gif)
The brass tower
(https://i.imgur.com/1FuPMNi.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Xhj2xbE.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/wDK0jQZ.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/APFl6Be.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/NW2xCTj.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/svPlPWE.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/7K2wGek.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/6UJnrLn.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/13cPtJ7.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/rKJ8OFq.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/wHWUI0m.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/aGD581A.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/bM6rCyN.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/xpLizoC.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/n2eHZ1Y.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/bqZ4stn.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/XDSg0pd.png)
«Overseer Logs and Journals» Updated! 2nd Aug 2017
Taupe - Year 200
Prelude (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6481999#msg6481999)
Log 1 - Fear under the sun (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6483775#msg6483775)
Log 2 - Bloodlust under the sun (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6490176#msg6490176)
Log 3 - It was a mitten! (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6494457#msg6494457)
Log 4 - Under the moonlight (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6496883#msg6496883)
Triaxx2 - Year 201
Log 1 - An epic hangover (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6526282#msg6526282)
Log 2 - I can't tell the date (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6529295#msg6529295)
Log 3 - A clockwork miner (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6534462#msg6534462)
Dumbestdorf's grimy note (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6536707#msg6536707)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 1 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6537400#msg6537400)
Log 4 - A few good dorfs (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6538914#msg6538914)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 2 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6539020#msg6539020)
Log 5 - That's not really a good sign (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6541788#msg6541788)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 3 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6542109#msg6542109)
Log 6 - Silver, Beasts and a drunk overseer (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6542345#msg6542345)
Urist McKiwi - Year 202
Log 1 - Sir Humphrey Cactusson, Cactus (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6547511#msg6547511)
Taupe takes us on a tour of the fortress (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6543565#msg6543565)
Triaxx retorts accusations of booze hoarding (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6543995#msg6543995)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 4 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6544479#msg6544479)
Log 2 - Werebear and the three dwarves (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6551540#msg6551540)
Overheard conversation of Nil "Zuglarkun II" Cityhollows (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6546054#msg6546054)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 5 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6546541#msg6546541)
Log 3 - Dike construction (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6553202#msg6553202)
Events at Boardsomber Part 1 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6553739#msg6553739)
Events at Boardsomber Part 2 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6553762#msg6553762)
Log 4 - The culling (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6563546#msg6563546)
Log 5 - I don't want to set the world on fire (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6565583#msg6565583)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 6 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6566492#msg6566492)
Deus Asmoth - Year 203
Log 1 - Lady Asmoth arrives (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6568068#msg6568068)
Taupe welcomes the new noble to Murderflood (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6568449#msg6568449)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 7 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6568511#msg6568511)
Log 2 - Bomrek Reverefortress has gone insane (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6569583#msg6569583)
Log 3 - The arrival of humans (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6571060#msg6571060)
Log 4 - Living in style (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6573575#msg6573575)
Log 5 - There is a new Sheriff in town (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6576606#msg6576606)
Log 6 - a vile force of darkness has arrived (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6579133#msg6579133)
Log 7 - New Murderflood (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6581192#msg6581192)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 8 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6581252#msg6581252)
Regarding the conflicts between elves and humans (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6581664#msg6581664)
Log 8 - The never ending problems of the upper class (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6582317#msg6582317)
Zuglarkun IV brings tidings from the east (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6586760#msg6586760)
TheFlame52 - Year 204
Log 1 - Can we use bridges to save lives? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6594750#msg6594750)
Zuglarkun - Year 205
Log 1 - The quest for magma (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6601629#msg6601629)
Log 2 - The battle of Idar Gulnas (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6604667#msg6604667)
Log 3 - Chronicles of tumult and construction (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6607633#msg6607633)
Vouhiparta's impression of Saló Saviourdawn (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6608058#msg6608058)
Log 4 - Birth and renewal in the Desert of Dreams (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6612572#msg6612572)
Log 5 - Foundation of magma and fire (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6618169#msg6618169)
Azula takes a lesson in power and politics (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6620119#msg6620119)
Gwolfski - Year 206 (spring)
Log 1 - He came, he saw, he dug a private bunker. (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6645834#msg6645834)
Vuohijumala - Year 206 (summer - winter)
Log 1 - Begin your day with a mug of confusion (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6660058#msg6660058)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 9 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6664312#msg6664312)
Log 2 - Who oversees the overseers? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6668662#msg6668662)
Log 3 - The Baron lottery (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6686214#msg6686214)
Asmoth's journal (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6687010#msg6687010)
Log 4 - The temple of the bear (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6697232#msg6697232)
DuckThatQuacks - Year 207
In an alternate reality where Haerdalas was overseer (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6749772#msg6749772)
The Fall of Boardsomber: Part 1 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6760869#msg6760869)
Log 1 - Bid to rule (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6775669#msg6775669)
Log 2 - Overview of our situation (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6775705#msg6775705)
Log 3 - Overseer by candlenight (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6778955#msg6778955)
Log 4 - The lingering peril (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6779585#msg6779585)
Asmoth's Journal 2 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6780344#msg6780344)
The Fall of Boardsomber: Part 2 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6783191#msg6783191)
Log 5 - A promotion for Ilral (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6793525#msg6793525)
Log 6 - The art of Usânlĺluth (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6793569#msg6793569)
Log 7 - Tales of slaughter and heroism (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6794195#msg6794195)
Triaxx2 - Year 208
Log 1 - The 'future' ghost of Triaxx past (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6797714#msg6797714)
Log 2 - 'Stealing' from the elves (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6800424#msg6800424)
Log 3 - A surprising lack of rock (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6804961#msg6804961)
Log 4 - Time Travelling Triaxx (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6806230#msg6806230)
Log 5 - How to fall a Cactusson (with a thrust to the head) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6810071#msg6810071)
Log 6 - Doors on Ramp (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6811336#msg6811336)
The Fall of Boardsomber: Part 3 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6812816#msg6812816)
Log 7 - Pigtail problems (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6814586#msg6814586)
Log 8 - A grave blender (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6820151#msg6820151)
Log 9 - Free the jimmies! (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6820677#msg6820677)
UristMcKiwi - Year 209
Log 1 - Furniture based therapy (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6823097#msg6823097)
Log 2 - Everyone <3's giant kakapos (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6823351#msg6823351)
Log 3 - Glass titans (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6824248#msg6824248) and bone crowns (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6824248#msg6824248)
Log 4 - The plan to deal with the undead infestation (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6830229#msg6830229)
Log 5 - Zombie fish passing through! (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6840326#msg6840326)
Log 6 - Cloudcuckoolander went "cuckoo!" (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6846678#msg6846678)
The battle that never was (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6849984#msg6849984)
Log 7 - Enemy at the gates (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6859425#msg6859425)
Log 8 - Giant echindas demand your respect (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6912335#msg6912335)
Log 9 - I don't think a miner is gonna outrun it (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6912917#msg6912917)
TheFlame52 - Year 210 New!
Log 1 - Urist cancels nothing is happening: Interrupted by titans (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6919529#msg6919529)
Log 2 - Urist cancels nothing is happening: Interrupted by vile mist + vile force of darkness (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6921776#msg6921776)
Log 3 - Urist cancels nothing is happening: Interrupted by werebear (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6922289#msg6922289)
Vuohijumala - Year 211 New!
Log 1 - Everything is better with bears (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6942775#msg6942775)
Log 2 - Lost world found, kea eggs stolen (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6949899#msg6949899)
Log 3 - Operation airlock (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6960213#msg6960213)
Log 4 - How can a dinosaur with small hands climb, also meet Firelances (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg6980414#msg6980414)
Triaxx2 - Year 212 New!
Log 1 - Trap Corridor (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7048689#msg7048689)
Log 2 - It deconstructs the block, or it gets the HOSE! (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7050102#msg7050102)
Log 3 - Ishlum Raluklam has come, Ishlum Raluklam has been overcome (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7051843#msg7051843)
Log 4 - Vuohiparta claims adamantium wafer (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7053879#msg7053879)
Log 5 - Arming the trap corridor (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7054925#msg7054925)
Log 6 - Zagodiggal, "Griptraps" an adamantine what? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7059264#msg7059264)
Log 7 - Trouble tantrums and a siege (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7060538#msg7060538)
Log 8 - Tales of a dwarven charge (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7065525#msg7065525)
Log 9 - The fortress continues, uninterrupted (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7067819#msg7067819)
Log 10 - The fortress continues: interrupted by a towering hairy tarantula (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7073647#msg7073647)
Zuglarkun - Year 213 New!
Log 1 - Awaiting the breach (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7098126#msg7098126)
Log 2 - Making preparations (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7104253#msg7104253)
Log 3 - Expedition into the bowels of Murderflood (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7112658#msg7112658)
Log 4 - Stockpile ALL the logs (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7113889#msg7113889)
TheFlame52 - Year 214 New!
Log 1 - The mountain titan has co- IT ISN'T EVEN SLATE YET (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7113307#msg7113307)
Log 2 - Zombies falling down a bunch of holes into the magma sea (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7114668#msg7114668)
Log 3 - Godspeed, Abe Osman, you beautiful bastard (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7117037#msg7117037)
Log 4 - FB syndromes, a brass tower and a dead broker (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7120861#msg7120861)
Log 5 - I know its a bad idea to unleash hell on the zombies, but I really want to (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7127810#msg7127810)
Log 6 - 'Skeleton' isn't even a word anymore, just a sound (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7129207#msg7129207)
Log 7 - Did I mention that we have idlers? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7133510#msg7133510)
QuQuasar - Year 215 New!
Quasar's Dream 1 - Day one zombies - by QuQuasar (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7134765#msg7134765)
Quasar's Dream 2 - We need to kill Zuglarkun, AGAIN (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7136373#msg7136373)
Quasar's Dream 3 - Giant war keas. Will they war? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7137882#msg7137882)
Quasar's Dream 4 - Running gags will run (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7139293#msg7139293)
Blitz Gamer's travel log 10 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7139823#msg7139823)
did we mention we have snapping turtles? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7141707#msg7141707)
Log 1 - Redux, references, resort (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7144636#msg7144636)
Log 2 - We dwarves have a natural sense of balance (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7146042#msg7146042)
Log 3 - You can party when when we're burnin' under a lake of magma (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7147585#msg7147585)
Log 4 - A date with slate (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7148798#msg7148798)
This is why we built a magma cleaning device (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7148800#msg7148800)
Log 5 - Our magma dike is made out of 20% molten crundle meat (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7150122#msg7150122)
Log 6 - Everyone pump for your lives! (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7150948#msg7150948)
Log 7 - A mystery unraveled (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7151040#msg7151040)
Log 8 - Magma = MLRC^2 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7151459#msg7151459)
QuQuasar - Year 216 New!
Log 1 - Proper dwarves ought to burn properly (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7165855#msg7165855)
Log 2 - Parties; the natural enemy of mega constructions (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7167278#msg7167278)
family trees or list of victims? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7168528#msg7168528)
Log 3 - Burning to death weaponized, its a thing now (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7168562#msg7168562)
The cowards knew this day would come (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7169174#msg7169174)
Log 4 - They be offing themselves now to escape the coming deluge (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7170574#msg7170574)
Log 5 - Fresh blood (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7170914#msg7170914)
Log 6 - Usurper or Savior? (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7172265#msg7172265)
Log 7 - Outnumbered 3 to 1 by coffins (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7174819#msg7174819)
Log 8 - Pull the lever Y/N (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7178469#msg7178469)
Triaxx2 - Year 217 New!
Log 1 - Apocalypse postponed (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7203272#msg7203272)
Log 1 - More minions have arrived (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7204800#msg7204800)
Log 1 - Decorations (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7205568#msg7205568)
Log 1 - More depressed dwarves (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7206566#msg7206566)
Log 1 - Ho hum (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7209052#msg7209052)
Log 1 - You require more housing (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7219099#msg7219099)
Log 1 - Green glass portals (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7221715#msg7221715)
Log 1 - Flame has claimed a magma forge (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7223003#msg7223003)
Log 1 - I shall name you "Disappointment" (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7225045#msg7225045)
Log 1 - Grizzly bears are also spider man (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7226644#msg7226644)
Taetrius - Year 218 New!
Log 1 - Where titans and woodcutters both like water (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7248151#msg7248151) New!
Log 2 - Summer holidays in Murderflood (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7255777#msg7255777)
Log 3 - No falling leaves in the desert, all that red is blood (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7258914#msg7258914)
Log 4 - To escape cold, magma bath is the new killing (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7259735#msg7259735)
The end times be upon us! (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7270857#msg7270857)
Gwolfski - Year 219 New!
Log 1 - Thob McPumpdwarf vacated (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7317448#msg7317448)
Log 1 - Volcano in progress (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7321184#msg7321184)
YE COWARDS CANNOT STOP ME FOREVER (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7337272#msg7337272)
Log 1 - Half finished Volcano (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=152870.msg7337768#msg7337768)
Prelude -- Strike the earth!
The last landmark they passed was a necromancer tower, eight days of walk to the east. Kemozo, Zuglarkun called it. A cursed place, no doubt, which thankfully could no longer be seen on the horizon. The desert of dream spread in all directions, masses of black sand under the burning sun. Why the monarchs had sent them here of all places was beyond his knowledge. Of their purpose, however, he had been dutifully informed. To create a dwarven wonder of a city, shining under the blazing sun, with spires iof steel and gems and gold. Magma would fill the dikes and moats and aqueducs of the city, creatings canals and waterfalls that flooded the entire landscape with Armok's very own blood. A marvel of technology, engineering and architecture. A monument to the gods themselves, even.
He just wished they hadn't chosen this desert.
''Hey Zuglarkun, what's the lake called again? He asked their architect, who handled the maps.
-The Ungodly Waters.
-Well that's... ominous.
-That's what the higher ups wanted. So that's where we'll be settling.''
She paused for a moment, her face sweating and burning under the sunlight. zuglarkun took her map out, looked around, and contemplated the landscape. In front of them laid a massive body of water, seemingly tame and ordinary. ''Maybe that's just a name. Many places have overblown names'', he told himself.
(http://i.imgur.com/T0kjSEv.png)
''Yup, Zuglarkun said, that's definitely the place.'' She pointed at a 4x4 area along the lake's eastern bank, where the endless black sand dunes turned into sandy silt clay. The lake itself seemed to know this was a special place, for it pointed inland at this very spot, creating a small, misformed bay.
(http://i.imgur.com/jiDXEdE.jpg)
The wagon stopped, and he went to tend to the horse and bull, both struggling under the sunlight.
(http://i.imgur.com/C3jaqq3.jpg)
The seven of them cheered, glad to know that their long, intense journey had finally come to an end. Ghills had been chosen for this task, creating their group and calling it the Channels of Melting. The rest of them had followed, as they were all long term acquaintances. The caravan came with standart tools, but each of them insisted on a few extra items. They also discussed heavily during the journey, all of them agreeing that if they were to settle a new fortress, they might as well get overblown titles themselves.
(http://i.imgur.com/WEOIK2a.jpg)
Two picks, as well as two axes. He himself asked for some animals, for food. Gwolfsky suggested dogs, for he admired them for their loyalty. Two cats completed the group, along with the two wagon animals. deserts were unwelcoming, so they had packed large numbers of drinks and dried meat. Extra plump helmet spawns were his suggestion, in case the dreadful heat caused damage to the crops. Ghills suggested fresh fruits and vegetable, which she'd turn into booze or meals in last resort. they also packed large numbers of clay and microcline, so the mason and potter could get to work straight away.
(http://i.imgur.com/Zcp7d2c.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/1LBMBbE.jpg)
Ghills Vigordikes was their expedition leader, which the civilisation leader chose on account of her name. apparently dikes had a mythical signification to the creators of this project, and such a name would bring fortune and good luck to this endeavor. Taupe wondered how much of this operation was actually powered by sheer faith and hope, considering they'd been dispatched to the Desert of Dreams.
Regardless of the reasons, Ghills was a qualified dwarf by all account. She was a skilled cook and brewer, as well as a novice doctor in many diciplines. Come good or ill luck, she would be there to keep them in top shape. As such, she was called their Lifeline. She got along well with most of them, but somehow, she bears a grudge against the mercenary dispatched for their protection. When asked if this would be a problem in the future, she said that ''she was doing fine''.
(http://i.imgur.com/NVHNaEa.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/UICyLP8.jpg)
Triaxx Castlespire was their miner, and also liked to cut the gems he found while digging. He had a sharp mind and a loyal spirit, although he could be sloppy at times. He wasn't the strongest or tallest of fellas, but at least he was smart enough to dig a tunnel without collapsing anything, which was more than most miners could boast of. They probably wouldn't need to create large chambers and monuments underground, but finding riches and gems within the earth would be a great asset to the wealth and style of this ambitious fortress. As the first and only pick user of their group, triaxx claimed the position of Chief Miner. all new miners would have to report to him and his beautiful, well-groomed beard.
(http://i.imgur.com/hqskdJF.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/dpH3gzi.jpg)
Zuglarkun Kindlewhips was a shred and creative architect, with an iron will and a great aspiration for craftdwarfship. While her spatial awareness was sometimes questionable, she was a great potter and building designer. People soon learned not to question her poor spatial sense as she read the map, as ''She has trouble controlling her temper''. She took the title of Master Builder, with her knowledge of both architecture and pottery. Like Ghills, she had basic medical training, to make sure they didn't all die in this desert...
(http://i.imgur.com/nXMf3qp.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/gE6avqW.jpg)
Flame Shoveclasp was a scrawny dwarf with hints of grey in his beard, despite being only eighty-five. Underneath his strange look and weak build, he was a durable worker with a gnawk for mechanic and masonry. He cared not for art or beauty, focusing instead on efficiency and purpose, which made him a Grand Engineer indeed. His expertise with gears, pillars, blocks and pumps would be essential to the grand project that brought them all the way here.
Flame was not exactly a social dwarf, instead focusing on his designs and ideas, keeping to himself. ''I have been considering Egul Judgesytem'' He replied rudly, when asked what he was thinking about during their travels, for he also liked to muse on the divines...
(http://i.imgur.com/aNSOwqp.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/MEjNQ4L.jpg)
Gwolfsky Brandhalls was a rugged pirate, altho he insisted that he was just a simple fisherdwarf who liked to secretly train with an axe and murder everything he found. due to his reckless desire to fight sea creatures, he brought six dogs with them. As soon as he learned of a mysterious lake near the settling location, he was onboard. As they traveled, zuglarkun began to mention strange, terrifying stories about the Ungodly waters. Gwolfsky was feeling less confident now. ''W... Worried? Do I look worried?'' he bluffed when confronted about this. He thinks honor and dicipline and traditions are dumb; Gwolfsky is too school for school. he was a mighty axedwarf, and the Slayer of the Sea.
(http://i.imgur.com/L1uyMsB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/lBjEISB.jpg)
His name was Taupe Arrowsoul, and altho he was a simple farmer, he was glad to travel along his friends. Oh how he loved to celebrate ''artisans, their materials and the tools to shape them!'' He wasn't the strongest or sharpest dwarf in the mountainhomes, but he was dedicated, tireless and healthy. He had to be. How else were his friends to remain fed if he didn't work as hard as he could? Such was his lot; to tackle the menial tasks so that gifted dwarves could create wonders. His job was to tend the fields, feed the animals, train and breed them. People suggested that he be called the Fields Supervisor, which he kind of liked.
(http://i.imgur.com/X7lnrwd.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/qojyt04.jpg)
Thoryane Glazedfaith was their axe-for-hire, a mercenary dispatched to protect them during the journey. Gwolfsky insisted she comes along, as she reminded him of an old buddy, Thorin, altho this one was actually a girl. ''She likes axes, axes are awesome!'' He insisted. Ghills did not like her one bit, and the feeling was mutual. the expedition leader said that any mercenary that didn't come with a decent suit of armor was useless to them. Still, despite this animosity, Thoryane was fond of a lot of them, and was glad to finally have people to call her own. ''How great it is to be surrounded by family!'' she conffessed one night, around the campfire. Despite her proffession, she seemed rather creative, eloquent and wise. Sometimes, she said, she wish she'd pursued a more artistic lifestyle. Perhaps this new life will give her the chance she seeks... For started, she took the title of Proud Defender, which sounded more noble than mercenary.
(http://i.imgur.com/MszgJUF.jpg)
Those were the seven dwarves that came to the Desert of dreams. The Channels of Melting, meant to create a beautiful, blazing masterpiece of a fortress. Many nights were spent around the campfire, discussing the name of the fortress. They had finally agreed on a speficic name.
Murderflood.
''Strike the earth'', Ghills said, as was the dwarven tradition. It was the early days of Granite...
(http://i.imgur.com/uy81La7.jpg)
Yet as they prepared to settle this new dwarven outpost, something sinister and unholy lurked in the southern plains. Amidst the black sandy hills, the denizens of the Ungodly Water spied on our heroes. Was Murderflood to be known for the blazing channels dreamed by the dwarves? Or would it be ironically remembered for the horrors that poured from the lake?
* * * * * * * * * *
So, I was really hoping for some variation for the hair and skin color. Turns out, our civilisation is made of fucking inbreds, because every single founder has brown skin and russet hair. The dwarves were drawn in order they appear on the unit list, starting with Zuglarkun. This resulted in... increasingly improbable and cartoonish hairdos to keep everyone somewhat distinct. Most of them have suits that match their profession, or clothing colors they enjoy. Zuglarkun tho, was first designed while holding the big map, so her clothes are the color that architects and administrators are dressed in the Phoebus tileset, aka purple noble-ish clothes. That's why she has a purple robe. Her strange, tomboyish expression, as well as Gwolsfky's rugged looks, make them my two favorites. Flame, you look like a fucking mess, but that's how RNG works I guess. Ghills is accidentally Dwarf Aeris.
There were no males left when I reached the sessword/axe. Nobody claimed her, but Urist sounded retarded amidst the other names, so I took Gwolfsky's suggestion and feminized the name.
I'm not sure how we'll survive this otter, but we have 20 clay units and about 30 microcline builders, which we can use for a quick wall or turn into blocks, depending on how fast we need to get shit done to avoid annihilation. The dogs should act as a breedable source of food if we need to bunker up and can't farm much, but they could also be trained for war if case be. I'm just terrified of them dying and turning into zombie dogs, as Thoryane is no Milla Jovovich.
Spring should be played, illustrated and posted thorough the next day, assuming I can get up early and keep my mind focused on the task.
If you really, really hate something about your character design, just drop me a line and I'll try to change that organically in the next updates.
First Spring -- Fear under the sun
A monstruous creature is spotted on the horizon. Above us, to the south, a terrifying, animated otter corpse skulks around. It is only a matter of time before it spots our settlement. We must ask quickly. I turn toward Ghills, and ask her what we should do.
''Actually, why don't you take charge as overseer?
-Me? But I'm just a farmer! You are our leader!
-Yeah, hum, I believe in you! Don't you have a book in the wagon that could help us?''
Ghills unwillingness to take over command of the group is strange, but I have been chosen. I follow our cook's advice, and browse through our wares. We can salvage this. Nothing has died or gone missing yet. The year is still young.
(http://i.imgur.com/tMRhhLt.jpg)
There it is! An old, dusty tome from a strange fortress named Bonepillars. It details the strange adventures of a group of dwarves besieged by zombies on all side, the moment they arrive to their destination. thankfully, QuQuasar the dwarf explains a few steps that may help us survive! We will need a bunker, and quickly! The book details the construction of a two story high wall, but I doubt zombie otters can actually climb.
(http://i.imgur.com/4aaLEzv.jpg)
I designate a safety perimeter around our wagon, where I pasture our various animals, so that they don't wander off and attract the otter's attention. I tell Triaxx to grab a pick and start excavating a small room underneat us, with enough space to build a workshop. There shall be a staircase down at each corner of the wagon. Everyone else, start building a wall around this 5x5 area! And don't go outside the safety perimeter.
(http://i.imgur.com/NBt9WnB.jpg)
I leave a note so that people know we are under danger. Then I tell Gwolfsky to deconstruct the wagon. We'll need the wooden logs.
(http://i.imgur.com/rjX6yfe.jpg)
We start with the southern section of the wall, creating a large mass of microcline boulders to block the view. The Otter haven't seen us yet. It wanders the hill right next to us, sometimes too close for comfort. Legends speak of theOtters, an ancient race of undead creatures that once plagued dwarfkind. They say the dwarves built a giant wall to keep them at bay, and then hid underground, resulting in the Long Night. They even have to join forces with the dreadful children of the forest, the elves, to defeat these monsters.
I can hardly believe my eyes! The Otters have been gone for eight thousand years, legends say... Yet there it is, a monstrous corpse animated by foul winter heat magic, it's eyes burning a pale blue green glow... Thankfully, this one looks rather decomposed, and can't move too far. What I fear tho, is that the lake may reanimate the things that the Otter kills. Every creature that we leave outside will soon die and join the ranks of the dead. A chilling thought.
(http://i.imgur.com/tChCs6t.jpg)
Atop a rare, magnificient Highwood tree, a fleet of Giant Wren chill on the branches. for nopw they seem safe, but if they were do die, the Otters would have an unstoppable army of flying corpses.
(http://i.imgur.com/EKnjRjV.jpg)
The Otter stalks the bird. More giant wrens reach the tree. I do not like this at all. I turn to my friends, and tell them ''A wall won't be enough. We will need a roof, a sealed one.''
(http://i.imgur.com/Y95tvnu.jpg)
After two days, the Otter jumps into the Ungodly Waters, and begins floating around. Our wall is mostly finished, and this may be the only chance we have of acquiring some wood. I tell Gwolfsy to grab his axe and bring back some logs while the way is clear. A wood stockpile is designated around the mason workshop.
(http://i.imgur.com/Uagn5mZ.jpg)
Gwolfsky is happy to oblige. He hasn't been doing much since he arrived, and he's itching to kick things.
(http://i.imgur.com/zm0ZToI.jpg)
Meanwhile, my efforts to train our dogs for war have been fruitful. By unleashing my inner fury, I've demonstrated the dogs how to be fierce and scary.
(http://i.imgur.com/A89d6Fr.jpg)
Mostly it involves screaming a lot and showing your teeth.
(http://i.imgur.com/eNuxoML.jpg)
Gwolfsky is back with some wood. Our carpenter Zuglarkun gets to work, and complete our first wooden item, a door. At last, our little dwelling can be sealed from the exterior. While it is still safe to venture out, tho, I send Triaxx to remove the ramps near our wall. don't want anything to just walk atop our fort, do we?
(http://i.imgur.com/uiV2smH.jpg)
Look that's a sand staircase what do you want from me.
With the wall finished, Flame the mason and engineer begins to carve what's left of our respectable stash of microcline into blocks, which we'll need to create a roof. Two of the ground staircase down are replaced with microcline up/down stairs, allowing us to access the roof. Flame begins work on two rock floor hatches, which we'll use to complete our defences and seal the roof from potential air dangers.
(http://i.imgur.com/xPKqV30.jpg)
Actually, it seems the Otter has left for now. More will come, I'm sure, but for now we have a few days of tranquility, which I want to make use of. I tell Gwolfsky to kick down each boulder of the wall, one by one, and replace them with freshly-carved microcline blocks. By retrieving the raw stone and carving it, we'll be able to get about 72 extra blocks at the end of the day.
(http://i.imgur.com/KunSkFk.jpg)
With construction complete, and our lives secure for now, it is time for each of us to jump into our respective tasks. Triaxx begins carving the rest of the preliminary hideout. The first basement is nothing but a staircase with some wood piles and a mason workshop. We dare not extend the floor farther then the upper walls, in case a flyer or a falling object rolled down the ceiling, and created a cave in. A hole leading into the fortress from outside the wall would obviously be bad.
The following floor is carved the same way as the mason floor, except that a 3x3 area expands in each direction, leaving room for 4 workshops, and some storage in the middle. I designate another wood stockpile, and tell Gwolfsky to bring a second tree inside. He grumbles, and call his loyal wardog to his side, before venturing outside.
The 3rd basement is to be dug like the second, but this time Triaxx hits Ryolite. Or whatever it is called. Look, I'm a farmer. Zuglarkun is pleased, as this means she'll have more materials for workshops, bridges and furniture.
(http://i.imgur.com/qbENpxw.jpg)
The second basement is put to use. Wood in the middle, prompting Gwolfsjky to begin hauling. This is our only safe sand layer, so I call dibs on two of the 4 alcoves. Ghills claims the northern one, and begins to build a kitchen. Zuglarkun has already used the western corner to build a carpenter workshop, which was crucial for the door. I begin moving some non-grazing animals inside, to avoid infighting due to low space, then it's plump helmet planting time, baby!
(http://i.imgur.com/3p7fMmB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/2FpVbmL.jpg)
Gwolfsky comes in, visibly troubled.
''Guys, something is up and as a fucking pirate innocent fisherdwarf I can tell you this is not supposed to happen.''
(http://i.imgur.com/4senNUT.jpg)
Indeed, a strange mist is forming over the Ungodly Water. Whatever the effects, we better stay away. I activate the Danger Mode alert once more, and everyone rushes inside. Clearly, that's another reason to build a tight roof. Before long, the body of water has come alive, obscured by a tangible, opaque and moving mass of mist. The whole thing is incredibly unsettling. It is as if the water was alive, pulsing with strange movements, poking around with lifelike tendrils of vapor and thick fog. Do the Otters come when the fog sets, or is the fog created by the Otters?
''Gwolfsky, I doubt we'll be able to get some fishing done anytime soon. Please use those blocks to build a ceiling.''
I remember one of the important rules about our project. ''Floor before roof, always''. Trees are devilish creatures, and can destabilize the nature of reality itself when growing indoors. We'll need to floor over the sandy dune. Thankfully, Gwolfsky has retrieved large amounts of log from the two trees he fell, which should be enough to power a small pottery industry. We'll need a Kiln for Zuglarkun, and Thoryane can take a shot at wood burning. ''Hey, Triaxx, how's that digging going? we need more room for workshops!''
(http://i.imgur.com/d6Z7zWi.jpg)
''Mate, I've struck native copper, how sweet is that?
-Pretty much! say, once you are done with all the digging, mind trying to smelt it? We have no metalworkers right now
-Yeah whatever.''
That's all the more reasons to kickstart that charcoal businessQ
(http://i.imgur.com/2T3J0qa.jpg)
While her nemesis is busy building a wood furnace, Ghills comes to me and explains why she hates Thoryane so much. ''I was told I'd be the expedition leader, but that was a lie! A horrible lie to get me and my friends onboard! secretly the leader was at the bottom of the list, not the top. They've named Thoryane as the official leader, because a cook is not impressive enough, while a millitary figure commands respect!''
I think for a moment. I'm not the smartest of the bunch, but sometimes I get some good ideas.
''What if... what if we simply all declared ourself nobles? then Thoryane wouldn't be special anymore!
-That.. that would work, I guess'' said Ghills.
(http://i.imgur.com/wljA8is.jpg)
Gwolfsky asks for a title, but then we explain that being a noble means playing by the rules, to which he replies ''No thanks then'' and head upstairs to kick something and train with his axe. Thoryane becomes militia commander, as expected. Ghills acts as Chief Medical dwarf. Because farming also involves a lot of trading and appraising, I'm to be our broker for now. Zuglarkun will act as manager, for she is smart and organized. Flame likes to keep to himself, so he'll be our bookkeeper. Triaxx doesn't get a title, but I explain that as our chief miner, jeweler and blacksmith, he's already the most dwarven person on earth, so he doesn't really need an impressive title on top of that.
(http://i.imgur.com/u4Thooc.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/yXomXBV.jpg)
Zuglarkun is done building beds, chairs and a table. The thirs floor now includes a dorm/barrack, as well as four chairs surrounding a single table, creating the most claustrophobic meeting area, dinning hall and office space ever known to dwarfkind. Still, it's not like we'll actually be spending time at our desks for now anyway.
(http://i.imgur.com/Mx0sESF.jpg)
Across the room, Zuglarkun is melting our clay stockpile into earthenware bricks, using the charcoal provided by Thoryane, using the wood chopped down by Gwolfsky. Teamwork, yay! The others are busy building the roof.
(http://i.imgur.com/XXG5NEP.jpg)
Gwolfsky is on the roof when he spots some new creatures. a flock of ravens, and a tiercel peregrine. ''What's up with this place and fucking birds?'' he moans ''I can't fucking fish birds!''
(http://i.imgur.com/YK7OsD1.jpg)
Flame finishes some bookwork, and announces that we now have about 100 drinks stockpiled. Our food stockpile isn't increasing much, but at least it'll taste better now that Ghills has finished a few prepared meals.
(http://i.imgur.com/eU6EShe.jpg)
Can you tell I'm fucking tired of this for today?
''We've got lobster cakes and rat cakes!'' she announces gleefully, coming out of the kitchen.
Then comes the annoyed voice of Gwolfsky once more.
(http://i.imgur.com/3PZ8W2e.jpg)
''Guys, something is happening! It's the mist again!
-Is it over the lake?
-Yeah it's not leaving the water... but...
-Then just close the door and stay inside, we'll be fine.
-No, you gotta see this!''
The man is insisting, so we just give up and head to the roof. We watch as the northern bay comes to unlife, animated by strange tendrils of mist. A sight we've already beheld, but an impressive and awe-inspiring one nonetheless. Until we notice it.
''Oh dear EGul Judgesystem, have mercy on our souls...'' whispers Flame, as he watches the dark, hulkering shadow rising from the sea.
(http://i.imgur.com/dlhk2u5.jpg)
First Summer -- Bloodlust under the sun
Gwolfsky hasn't been doing much woodcutting. In fact, after cutting down two trees he's refused any orders to chop any more of them. He cannot fish, either, because this lake is evil and the only thing to catch are undead, foul otters, seeking only the death of all dwarves. He haven't even got to fight, because the fort does not have any kind of gear or armor for now...Needless to say, he hasn't been doing much of what he likes to do. Or what he's good at.
He has, however, been building a roof.
(http://i.imgur.com/FrpoiyP.jpg)
''It's finished! At last!'' he yells, as he completes the last block tile, seconds before the mist-infused creature reaches the fortress. Not a second too soon. The hatches are forbidden, and the fortress avoids a terrible, bloody fate. The beast knocks on the roof, tries the hatches, attempts to smash the door, but the masonry and carpenting of the Channels of Melting prevail. The sailor takes a good look at his tools, and declares ''I think I need to switch my fishing rod for a crossbow!!''
Thoryane grabs a few logs, and burn them, providing fuel for our temporary metalworker, Triaxx the Chief Miner. ''I'll see what I can do''
(http://i.imgur.com/kHnao1o.jpg)
The tierce peregrin, even in his new unholy and life-opposing state, is still a deadly predator, and a mighty hunter. Many small creatures can evade the sight of dwarves. The mighty bird of prey stalking the Desert of Dreams cannot be so easily fooled. A kobold thief is spotted.
(http://i.imgur.com/7pPHYeL.jpg)
I cannot describe how boned we would have been, had this kobold reached the door and unlocked it. In a strange twist of fate, he will be our salvation rather than our doom. The vile mist husk gives chase, diving graciously from the sky. Kobolds are pretty fast. It is a close pursuit. in the end, the thief manages to escape the region unscathed, and the deadly bird follows him deeper into the black dunes. Doubtless, he will die all the same once exhaustion or luck run dry for him. To us, it means the area is clear of danger.
(http://i.imgur.com/nSBNyp3.jpg)
This is the perfect opportunity to gather things from outside. I know now for sure, sooner or later we'll be besieged by more undead, or more vile husk creatures. We'll need every ressource we can acquire from outside once that happens. I've spotted a few nearby whip vines, which can be used for brewing. Better get as many as i can. I tell the woodcutters to get some more trees down. They refuse, and simply ignore my idea. Hum, okay...
(http://i.imgur.com/lLHcp3D.jpg)
I tell our idlers to make themselves useful, and move our clay downstairs. Someone dropped a block in the doorway earlier, and I can,t have that happen at a critical moment. I've been moving things from the wagon remains in the basement, as to free our only surface building. As the floor is emptied, Gwolfsky starts to use the stoneware bricks, and creates a nice, soft and cozy flooring. Flame starts to work on a few extra chairs.
(http://i.imgur.com/T8L4aaG.jpg)
I panic for a moment when I spot a tierce peregrine on the horizon, but then calm down as I notice it is an untainted one. A few camels are spotted in the distance, but I,m unwilling to have them hunted. We don't know if they'll be revived by the lake.
It is time for an experiment...
(http://i.imgur.com/GfsIZwo.jpg)
Triaxx leaves the fort a moment, and grabs his pick. Next to the fortress, a pit is channeled. It is connected midway to the fortress by a small tunnel, and again at the bottom to let our miner out. Our engineer Zuglarkun grabs some microcline and builds some mechanisms, and designs two bridges. One seals the pit tight on the surface, the other locks the hatch leading to the inner dumping area (the midway tunnel) The area at the bottom is simply walled off. We can now dump corpses in this small pit, and seal it if something nasty comes back from the dead. The bridges should stop even flyers. A war dog is injured by falling rock chunks, but he will live.
(http://i.imgur.com/dZ4wTDF.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZV3oIYm.jpg)
Not a moment too soon! A new kobold appears, and i immediately tells our two axe-wielders to murder it.
(http://i.imgur.com/Mi9EhD8.jpg)
Gwolfsky is messy and can't find his gear (all one item of it) so Thoryane ventures outside on her own. the kobold isn't exactly smart, so he runs toward the bay and gets cut off by the water. the millitary commander of Murderflood catches up, and simply cloves his head asunder with her copper axe, which... eww.
(http://i.imgur.com/aKW28Ia.jpg)
The creature has died very close to the lake. I'm scared. Everyone inside, quick! The corpse doesn't seem to move at first. I order it dumped in the pit. It falls to the bottom, where it seems to remain, inert. Well at least we have a good way of discarding corpses. Even if the lake's will cannot touch our dead, I'm told a few necromancers from the tower could still use them as weapons. It's better to have the corpses safely locked in a pit, than lying on our front door.
(http://i.imgur.com/qjDLAHh.jpg)
Ah, and the wagon area is finally finished! We now have a new table, and four more chairs. Everyone gets an office now, even if they don't need one. A few barrels of food and booze are placed around, making this a claustrophobic yet somewhat cozy meeting area. The stoneware brick floor and the finely carves microcline walls and roof are pleasing to my eyes.
(http://i.imgur.com/AtJHcWb.jpg)
''Tis done, lads!'' triaxx says, as he returns from the forge with his first creations, a set of two copper crossbows. Triaxx starts to give us a bunch of facts about those weapons, like their value and heat points. The more important thing is that they are made of solid metal, and could be used to shatter a undead's skull in an emergency. Gwolfsky grabs one, and head to the craftdwarf workshop where he decides to learn bolt-crafting on the fly. Thoryan grabs the second one, and adds the weapons to their uniforms.
''Make two copper shields next, and then two breastplates if we have the copper, the commander requests.
-'Fraid we don't for now, but if I expand one of the levels to create small stockpiles, i can get more I'm sure, and rhyolite!
-Please do so!
(http://i.imgur.com/9Dp5n0b.jpg)
As our first two copper shields come out of the forge, a monstruous creature is spotted near the entrance. It doesn't seem too tough or dangerous, but Ghills and i refuse to go outside as long as it lives.
(http://i.imgur.com/l78pUSr.jpg)
Thoryane grabs her axe and shield, and charges her new foe. Gwolfsky is... less enthusiastic about the order. He instead run far away in the opposite direction, and then hides behind the fort. He stays there for most of the day, cowering.
(http://i.imgur.com/JngQ8On.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/FRDpws1.jpg)
Once he notices that the beast is unconscious, he comes out of hiding and bravely joins the fight, bruising the creature as much as he can. You'd think metal could do more against a slug, but you'd be wrong. the soldiers are tired, hungry and burning from the desert heat. They collapse regularly, only to get up and continue carving the beast with their inefficient copper axes. After 4 days, the creature finally bleeds out and die. Ghills wants to butcher it, but she hasn't finished the butcher shop because a rhyolite boulder blocks the room and nobody will move it. We just toss the slug in the pit instead.
(http://i.imgur.com/RzHCueP.jpg)
A week after the slug incident, a group of migrants make their appearance. Eight of them, along with some pets. They are glad to finally reach our settlement, after such a hot and perilous journey. There are now 15 of us, and I know food and drinks will soon be sparse. Room as well. I take some time to question the newcomers, and learn about their skills and personalities: (people waiting for dwarfing, make your pick)
(http://i.imgur.com/AkotGIG.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/bZby0f0.jpg)
Datan Theathertongues the blacksmith knows a bit about cooking and farming. He's strong and tough, and knows a bit about combat, which could come in handy here. We'll need more fuel and ores before we can make proper use of his profession. He complains that his wife had to stay home. That may be in her best interest, buddy...
(http://i.imgur.com/LMxeP8y.jpg)
As soon as I mention the undead problem, Datan comes back on his words, and announces that he lied. He in fact has no actual combat training and would make a terrible soldier.
(http://i.imgur.com/qlpEBk7.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/DRc09Xc.jpg)
Erith Boatsmatched says he's okay-ish at shearing, and that's about it. He has a strong mind, and seems interesting enough, but sometimes he seems a bit confused. I guess he'll be hauling bricks and blocks for the time being.
(http://i.imgur.com/3uppE5o.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/zRA7456.jpg)
Medtop Mirrorlash knows how to make armor, which is great because we definitely need copper breastplate and helmets for our axe-folks. I greet the old, wise dwarf warmly.
(http://i.imgur.com/9Yvhevi.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/UkDfgIT.jpg)
Zefon Tributetheaters is an old, specialised farmer. You'll be my assistant from now on. We'll need to keep all those friends of yours fed, one way or another.
(http://i.imgur.com/wr8J9Ey.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/voHOeSB.jpg)
Iden Windtongs says she has burned wood once and could do it again. Thoryane is furious at this, and complains that it's the only skill she's managed to pick up so far. I tell the commander to go kill something to unwind. Or cut more wod. Because we have no more wood, making this debate pointless.
(http://i.imgur.com/GfaUN71.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/7iDDY8z.jpg)
Her husband is called Iden Granitejade, and he's a hamlet doctor, tending to wounds and broking bones, or helping around the farm. I tell him he'll be Ghills' assistant once we get room for a hospital. After a week or two, we start refering to the couple as ''the Idens''. Apparently they have 14 children.
(http://i.imgur.com/7wugD6t.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Hy5AQwD.jpg)
Old Bomrek Paddlesyrups works with plants, gathering them, threshing them, or turning them into dye. For now she'll be on whip vines duty outside.
(http://i.imgur.com/aN3C0q2.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZW2fTfQ.jpg)
Nil Cittyhollows is an old fishing lady who doesn't seem all that well in the head. I tell her not to go near the water, but she doesn't seem to remember my warning after a few minutes. I tell Gwolfsky to keep her inside at all cost. I tell nil to stay inside and hum..., clean Gwolfsky's crossbow or anything. Ideally in the basement. Under a table.
(http://i.imgur.com/nDCHnDz.jpg)
I gather everyone in the fortress, and Zuglarkun takes out a large blueprint for the new building she designed. Because we have many idlers, not many ressources, and zero free space, we'll be expanding the bunker while there are no monsters outside. I tell Triaxx to go mining, to uncover more Rhyolite. We'll need tons of it, and extra storage can't hurt. Still, our priority is to expand on the surface. Flame will be building as many blocks as he can. I tell him to grab any migrant he deems worthy of being his apprentice, and build a second mason workshop. Ghills will be using old Bomrek's gatherings to keep us supplied with booze, while I'll be keeping our farms running.
The new bunker will have two phases. The first will be to expand the entrance, so that we may build two sets of farms for surface crops. As soon as we can get our hands on some seeds, I'll have Zefon plow the fields. This second entrance can also act as an extra layer of protection. If something gets in through the front door now, they won't be right inside the fort. Once this entrance is complet and we have enough blocks stockpiled, we'll be wuickly adding a new floor above both the old and new section, providing use with two rooms we can use. then the hatches will be swiftly relocated one floor above, and locked once more. We'll be vulnerable while working on this project so speed and efficiency will be key.
(http://i.imgur.com/WSwMbB6.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/wqcapuY.jpg)
Thoryane unleashes her frustration on a giant echidna. The creature is tough and large, but the fight is still fairly once sided. Our expedition leader has become quite a competent fighter, after she faced the giant slug last month. We usually need her for construction and hauling, as dwarfpower is still low around here; most of her combat experience comes from live combat with giant animals. despite the giant echidna entering a furious rage, Thoryane is able to tear it down to bits after a moment, without suffering any real damage.
(http://i.imgur.com/sHimSWP.jpg)
Gwolfsky hardly has any time to join her fights now. As she spots a desert tortoise, she runs outside without her armor. She enters the fight with a flying punch so mighty it shatters the tortoise's paw into gorey bits. Then a powerful axe swing cuts the beast's head clean, and send it flying several urists into the air, before landing far away on a dune. She returns, whistling a happy song.
''Gwolsfky, you sure you don't wanna help her...?
-Nah man, I gotta keep this senile old lady from fishing, very important.''
(http://i.imgur.com/6YMwkbQ.jpg)
Before summer is over, a new cloud of mist forms over the lake. I look at the sky and spot something potentially dangerous, a murder or crows is taking to the sky as this happens! I hurry the builders to double their efforts and install the hatches.
(http://i.imgur.com/VMo1IEU.jpg)
Armok is good, and gave the ravens some sense of self-preservation. They narrowly escape the tendrils of the Ungodly Waters, and fly southward to safety.
(http://i.imgur.com/E212x5d.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/RKXpd0f.jpg)
The members of the Channels of Melting won't take any chance, tho. Their life is at sake. The second the mist appears, they cancel their normal tasks to help with the construction. Within a short time, there are now four bunker rooms where there once was one.
It's unclear what they'll use these rooms for yet. Maybe move stockpiles, dorms or workshops to the surface? In any case, we will need many, many more buildings and houses like this one before Murderflood can be called a proper settlement. Still, this is a step in the right direction. As summer gives way to fall, I reflect on what we've accomplished so far... and also on the challenges still ahead. Various kind of undead and monsters lurk in the region. soon, the microcline bunker will reflect the sunlight across the desert, attracting migrants and invaders alike. Each new room comes at great risk and effort. Our food and drink sources are shaky at best. the caraan will be here soon, yet we lack the ressources to do any actual trading. I share my thoughts with my fellow dwarves.
''Let us remain ever vigilant and warry of the dangers to come, but also proud of what we have created together!''
* * * * * *
So I wanted to post this on Saturday, but something very annoying happened. Friday night, I fell asleep at a friend's house after an event. Someone lifted my sleepy ass back home, but didnt think to check if i had my glasses on me. I just got them back today, and spent a day and a half unable top see shit. That meant no art, and also no writing.
In the next update, we'll be scraping the farm expension project because we have no seed, and need the 5x5 area for a depot. Hard choices will be made: what to trade, what to keep, and what to get? First autumn -- Bargains under the sun oh god why should be up on Wednesday. I have a lot of things to catch up, what with being blind for a day and a half, so early surprise updates are unlikely. Winter will be up on thursday, unless like three titans and a meteor shower happen.
In the meantime, dear readers, why don't you browse over those 8 new dwarves and choose one you like for your dorfing? Dumbestdorf, I checked with therapist, and despite having several old ladies, we have no dwarf who are actually dumb, or woodcutters. Tell me if you want one of them anyway, or prefer to wait for the next waves...
EDIT: the starting seven dwarves have been added to the front page. They have a short description, following the group picture. Feel free to tantrum if you hate your description or really, really want to see the character profiles in there somewhere.
First Fall -- It was a mitten!
The celebration for our new building are cut short for many reasons. First of all, while we have blackberry seeds, it seems that none of them can grow in a desert biome. Second of all, the dwarven caravan is on its way, and we have neither trade goods nor Depot. i send Triaxx to expand the basement, order a few idlers to floor over our new ground building, and then tell them to build a Depot there. it's not like we'll be planting anything there soon, mostly because...
Well, there are the whip vines, but ghills hasn't been cooking or brewing recently. We aren't getting our whip wine seeds from her. Zuglarkun isn't using the new wood we got to make tons of bed either. Neither can explain to me what happened, but something definitely happened.
(http://i.imgur.com/d53Z1h7.jpg)
Zuglarkun was hit by a myasterious object falling down the stairs. Nobody will claim responsibility for this incident. Her leg and arm were both pulverized by the incident, leaving her in a terrible state. we need water, and we need a doctor. Fast.
(http://i.imgur.com/DbgEHtf.jpg)
Ghills sadly suffered something similar. we don,t know what attacked her, but her leg and arm were also smashed to bits. She was also stabbed in the stomach from behind, presumably by what i can only assume to be a mysterious, white-haired dude with a katana at this point.
Could it be the lake's influence at work, setting events in motion as to doom us all with subtlety? After all, we brought two doctors with us, and both of them were neutralised within two seasons... I ask our migrant bone doctor and suturer to take over the role of doctor for now. we'll still need water... but the lake is haunted.
(http://i.imgur.com/XBd7Gxp.jpg)
Thankfully, Triaxx has a plan. If he digs a small trench towar the fort, we'll have easy access to fresh water, while avoiding the evil influence of the Ungodly Waters. I'm unkeen to bringing water so close to the fort, but we have no choice right now. If the area is safe, then maybe we'll be able to keep our fisherdwarves busy, and get some food from it at the same time.
(http://i.imgur.com/eVqSxEC.jpg)
I restrict traffic down in the trench, so that people don,t go in there and die when the water starts flowing. Triaxx is done soon enough, and within a few hours, a small stream is flowing toward our bunker. Our chief Miner carries the much required bucket of water back to the fort himself. I tell Gwolfsky and his apprentice that it is ok to fish now.
(http://i.imgur.com/R1b4M5z.jpg)
''What, you want me to chop trees?
-No senile old fool, I said fish freely!
-Ok lemme get my axe young Gwolfsky!''
And thus old Nil became our main woodcutter. We now have a steady influx of wood, which keep the idlers busy. I've ordered a few stone crafts carried to the depot, and the kitchen has been moved above our new dinning hall, leaving room on basement 2 for a new farm plot. my apprentice is planting plump helmet spawns as we speak. Our wood furnace is running again, and some copper armor is being made by our new armorsmith.
(http://i.imgur.com/XEn85AB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4kQApoA.jpg)
Time to acquire some more goods! My bargaining skills aren't that high, but when the traders start asking for our prepared food barrels on top of the deal, I remember to be fierce as a war dog, and say no. Rawr. In the end I grab some more plump helmets, some cheese and a few fruits, which can become food or drinks in time of need. not much, but we should be able to survive for now. at least, as far as supplies are concerned.
In addition to the caravan traders and single guard, the mountainhomes also sent a liason agent, who is all too eager to meet with our expedition leader, Thoryane. I kindly tell him where to find her.
(http://i.imgur.com/iz8sLoJ.jpg)
The liason starts discussing with our leader. She dismisses his questions. he starts getting insistent.
(http://i.imgur.com/WzxsiIf.jpg)
The discussion quickly goes nowhere. thoryane is busy. The outpost liason just fills in random numbers and says he wants armors and prepared food next season, then departs.
(http://i.imgur.com/WMrzzIr.jpg)
The caravaneers grab the few goods they carried to the depot (We have no weapon access right now) and get on their way quickly. they've heard bad things about this place. As soon as they exit the region, a strange thing occurs: countless yellow flowers start growing everywhere across the desert! how beautiful. As a farmer and herbalist, I know these to be pebble plant flowers...
(http://i.imgur.com/141maWd.jpg)
To the northeast, a few migrants made their way to Murderflood. They leave the clay fields and enter the black sand dunes, now covered with yellow plants. A horse and a dog accompany these migrants. they are:
(http://i.imgur.com/tuzEThl.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/79At41y.jpg)
Zefon Heathercrafts, a keen woodcutter and hunter. I make good note of his crossbow skills, as we may need to station people atop the bunker soon.
(http://i.imgur.com/RQReYOH.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/R9InA3Y.jpg)
Melbil Mirrorchanted, an elderly fisherdwarf who survived to 154. I command his elderness and experience, but can't help and wonder why the mountainhomes are sending us nothing but aged dwarves and old fisherdwarves. Are they secretly using this outpost to dispose of their elders? Or maybe I'm too paranoid, and only seasoned dwarves dare to make the trip. I must applaud the lack of children at the moment. This place is unfit for youngsters...
(http://i.imgur.com/6bQ8xp2.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/PimR5GR.jpg)
Next is Kogan Lancehelped, another confused old man. This one claims to be an engraver, so I set him on smoothing the temporary living floor right away. I'm sick of hitting rock pebbles and sharp corners every day.
(http://i.imgur.com/XzwKT5P.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/uEYBlJW.jpg)
Sazir Squirtedoild is a fisherdwarf much like Gowlfsky, who once received rudimentary battle training. Once we have the gear to enlarge our militia, I'll definitely consider her...
(http://i.imgur.com/tiEYvgr.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/6cvSuqB.jpg)
Her husband Dastot Perfectrag is definitely a valuable dwarf. Not only is he a fighter comparable in skill to our own leader, but he's also a great record-keeper and one of the most charismatic dwarf I've met. his highest skill is great consoler. While he won't tell much about it, I can feel he's lost one too many companions in the wars. (definitely dwarfing material here folks)
(http://i.imgur.com/3F6uyPC.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/TffJ6fm.jpg)
Oddom Shipfeast is yet another elderly dwarfwoman. She'll be working the fields with me if I need an extra hand, and her brewing experience means we have someone to take over Ghills' duties until she heals.
(http://i.imgur.com/QBya4DG.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/uKzlejK.jpg)
Despite his advanced age, Olin Booklobsters is a remarkable person, a great hunter, and a seasoned soldier. He also has... twenty-one children? He and his wife Oddom Shipfeast sure have been busy.
(http://i.imgur.com/iZPvEe1.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/8f4sLan.jpg)
Finally, Zas Markmirrored is the youngest migrant this fortress as seen, at 46 years old. As an herbalist, I send her to grab a few plants outside, and tell her she'll be helping with construction projects in her free times.
This brings our total numbers to 23 dwarves, stacked into a very small area indeed. At least we have some people fishing, a brewer, and some plants being gathered to that effect. With now three farm plots of plump helmets, we won't be getting anything fancy, but at least we'll be fed. I ominate a replacement carpenter for Zuglarkun. We'll need more beds, and I want to turn the upper 6x5 room into a good dorm. Nil is getting wood, someone is burning it, and our metalworkers are slowly outfitting Thoryane and Gwolfsky with copper equipment. Once they are done, I tell our staff to create a few more copper crossbows, and some spears and swords for our newcomers. At least three of them would make decent soldiers, if given the chance.
For the time being, tho, they'll be working on construction. I designate a new area in front of the entrance. 4 tiles long, with wings of 6 units on each side. we'll add a ceiling and a second floor soon enough, making this our official barrack, with room for sparring, equipment storage, and more. Everyone who doesn't have a job, get on that project.
I'm expecting good results, but as soon as the migrants check in and are dispatched to their respective tasks, disaster strike on many front!
(http://i.imgur.com/MPv57bQ.jpg)
Poor old Iden Granitejade tried to build a tanner workshop in one of the corner spaces, while thirsty and sleepy. He blocked himself in due to poor logistics, fell asleep, and never woke up. Everyone was upstairs greeting the migrants so we never noticed. that's now our third doctor that has succumbed to foul play. Ghills and Zuglarkun's condition are only getting worse!
(http://i.imgur.com/IXJj5nA.jpg)
Also, for reasons I cannot possibly understand, someone carried an eagle and a horse's corpse on the roof and left them there. Why. Oh why. Now they are rotten, unbutcherable, and i must order them dumped.
On the plus side, opening the upper dump bridge and then raising the inner bridge creates an accidental corpse atomiser. The bodies fall on the lower bridge, which obliterates them against the wall when raising. Very, very useful indeed! And gory... speaking of gory, the greatest problem is about to show up, a strange creature that has been stalking the migrants for a few days now. Now that they are distracted, the beast feels the urge. The moon calls.
(http://i.imgur.com/086jK7G.jpg)
Nako Usbuluspuz, a simple peasant most of the month, turns into a terrifying beast on full moons. His weak naked body wretches and convulses in the dark, twisting him into a towering killing machine, with sharp, metal-slicing claws and a pair of unnatural green eyes. he is carnage incarnate, and the new migrants have inadvertantly led him to Murderflood...
(http://i.imgur.com/P7VVG1Q.jpg)
Melbil Mirrorchanted, the oldest fisherdwarf in the nation, is by the fishing channel when the beast strikes. his body is old and frail. he had no chance.
(http://i.imgur.com/Svfv8zR.jpg)
Within instant, the river runs red with torn cloth, blood and remains. His screams echo through the desert, and people are called inside.
''Hey Google, werebeasts aren't building destroyer, right?
-Boy oh boy, are you not gonna love this search result.''
Needless to say, we are unprepared to seal the entrance from such a creature. It is too strong, too fast, too unforeseen. The civilians cower inside as i call our soldiers to work. Only their might and timely response can save this settlement now...
''Where's Thoryane anyway?''
(http://i.imgur.com/ChefIqQ.jpg)
''Oh she's sort of asleep right now. She won't get out of her bed
-FUCKING DECONSTRUCT HER MOTHERFUCKING BED!!!''
At least we have Gwolfsky.
(http://i.imgur.com/KuKflLq.jpg)
''Hey where's Gwolfsky anyway?
-Oh he legged it the second her heard the screams. He's very very fast.
-!!!''
(http://i.imgur.com/glhWZ8A.jpg)
The situation is dire. A bipedal bear, twice as tall and strong as any normal bear, powered by a frustrated god, is assaulting our bunker, shattering our door into bits. Our best hope of fighting it won't fucking wake up, and her sidekick left his post to run away, and save his own skin. Now we are stuck inside, and the beast is advancing at tremendous speed. Nako evilacrid the Rains of Disemboweling is upon us. There is nobody to stop it...
''Yes there is!'' announces Triaxx.
(http://i.imgur.com/5JHAuzx.jpg)
Nako the monster barges into the new construction side. a few dwarves are flung left and right, some of them mauled. before it can enact more bloodshed, a small, bearded creature with a pick charges, unwilling to give the beast any more footing into our base. Werebear versus miner, you'd think the fight would be fairly one-sided, but triaxx is strong and fit as any dwarf can claim to be. a flurry of claws and teeth try to engulf him, but he parries most of the shot effortlessly with his pick, dodging left and right as needed. ''It's no more deadly and sudden as a cave-in'' he thinks to himself. ''You know how to deal with cave-ins!''
At some point triaxx is mauled in the head. moments later the beast charges him, and he loses his ground. But he gets back up. He must get back up. Blood dripping from his head and legs, he keeps denying the beast access to the bunker. The old rangers use this time to grab crossbows and some bolt. They start firing back at the monster. The battle rages on for a moment. Werebears have many strenghts. Raw power, toughness, swiftness, size... all of these things favor them. but time? Time is a werebeast's bane. By holding his ground and blocking most of the beast's atack for two days, Triaxx the miner has saved the fort.
The blood moon is over. Nako the werebear turns back into a friendly peasant, naked as a molerat. He has been in this situation before. He tries to act cool.
''Sup people? goes Nako.
-Fucking kill him!'' replies the whole fortress.
(http://i.imgur.com/Pfevx4n.jpg)
Thoryane gets out of her bed at fucking last. Once he sees the fight is over, Gwolfsky returns to the fort, and joins her. Great timing, guys, you missed nothing. They pursue and strike at the peasant for days, but the dude is quick, and nimble. Everyone runs around for a week, until Nako finally makes an escape deeper into the desert.
He will be back. We must be ready. I start to count the bodies, and check the wounds...
(http://i.imgur.com/vegX4Wz.jpg)
Zuglarkun is found dead in the dinning room. As soon as the beast attacked, everyone pakicked, and no water was brought to her. Ghills is unconscious, and our other doctor died shortly after, so it,s unclear if our Master Builder died from her wounds, or from lack of water. Only a slab will reveal the truth.
Melbil Mirrorchanted is found in several pieces near the fishing spot, brining the death count to two. That actually seems to be all of them, thanks to Triaxx's heroic stand. Many dwarves were injured during the fight tho. I ask everyone the details of their encounter. I've heard the tales about werebeasts. I explain the situation to them. we must know for sure who was injured. we cannot take any chance. With our three doctors dead or out of commission, I have to take everyone's word for it.
(http://i.imgur.com/ljOJNr5.jpg)
Six dwarves come forward, claiming they were directly involved in the fight. I take their testimony. Thoryane and Gwolsfky return, without a corpse.
(http://i.imgur.com/QG8bLAx.jpg)
''So bad news is, I didn't get him'' admits the millitary commander. ''Bastard was too fast, couldn't get a good swing at him, only shield bashes and crossbow whips''
(http://i.imgur.com/lIwe4RW.jpg)
''Well, I managed to get one of his teeth!'' boasts Gwolsfky, ignoring any remark about his earlier escape. He shows the small, ivory trophy to his friends.
(http://i.imgur.com/YEHhxnj.jpg)
''Big deal'' says Olin Booklobsters. ''I also managed to knock off a tooth with my crossbow, but unlike you i was there in the real fight, helping Triaxx'' The ranger swears he only fired steel bolts at the monster, who dodged most of them with rolls (?). Triaxx confirms that the crossbowdwarf wasn't injured in any way.
(http://i.imgur.com/woNECjx.jpg)
Senile old Nil says she also took part in the fight. ''I tried to slap that little scoundrel, but I kept missing. Little rascal was way too short'' I ask her if she actually was attacked by the werebear creature. ''A furniture? why yes dear i was near a dining table recently, this could be bliss!''. Her responses are not very helpful, but I honestly assume that if the werebear got a hold of her, she'd be in many pieces.
(http://i.imgur.com/bulVqlh.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/QjVQJWN.jpg)
Young Zas the herbalist's story doesn't make a whole lot of sense. but then again she'd been unconscious and vomitting quite a lot, so that could explain it. ''Beast kept slapping me around with a silk mitten. Just slappin' me with it. Slap slap slap slap! almost destroyed my guts with da mitten i tell ya! Thing never bit or clawed me tho, i swear!'' Her left ear is a mess, and she is covered in her own barf from head to toe. Yeah, hum, I<m still not gonna take a chance on this one, sorry.
(http://i.imgur.com/WPwVmjD.jpg)
''I swear it only bruised me with its paw once, I blocked all of the other attacks with my bronze battle axe!'' Sorry, Zefon the woodworker, we cannot take such a risk. You have been injured.
(http://i.imgur.com/M4ojZPF.jpg)
''Yeah sure, he got one of my teeth off with a claw attack, but the rest of the time the beast was only slapping me around with a mitten I swear!'' Nice try, blacksmith Datan.
(http://i.imgur.com/cYms2wQ.jpg)
Our engraver Zefon is covered in bruises and scratches. He too tries to blame the wounds on mitten slaps, and even add a silk shoe in the mix. People, we cannot take any chances, those of you who were injured must be locked up. Stop making shit up like this, you are endangering the whole fort by lying!
(http://i.imgur.com/RZwVgi2.jpg)
It is too late. Everyone is now going with the mitten defence to avoid the lock-up. They are so foolish.
(http://i.imgur.com/gO5VEzy.jpg)
They can't even agreeif this was a mitten or a shoe or even a cloak. I should not have done this publicly.
(http://i.imgur.com/EWCA16h.jpg)
At least I can trust war veteran Dastot Perfectrag. He says he was attacked once but roleld away using his soldier training. his body doesn't bear a single scratch. I guess that's why they call him Perfectrag. He tried to catch the peasant-sized Nako after the big fight, but to no avail.
(http://i.imgur.com/9W2POXM.jpg)
Flame's apprentice Bomrek tried to also tackle the peasant with a body slam, but failed miserably. Nice effort tho. ''Oh I was also there against the werebear. Yaknow, doing stuff.''
(http://i.imgur.com/SsJX5LL.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ACcZS6e.jpg)
Kogan the engraver can't answer my questions right now, but I don't need him to. His feet was biten off, from what I can tell. Definitely wasn't no mitten that did that.
(http://i.imgur.com/vsP6YBz.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/hjaMm8Z.jpg)
''Alright folks, lots of ya ain't coming clean like I'd like'' announces Triaxx. ''Almost a shame I defended such a bunch of story-makers, but oh well. We gonna be digging some cells down here, cause the next full moon is kinda soon. Everyone who got in the fight, mitten or nat, gonna be locked up. grab a pick, I'll show you how it's done!!''
(http://i.imgur.com/5VzWDtN.jpg)
Triaxx leads the ball. He was wise enough to create a few spare picks himself, in case of accident. Or.. emergencies like this one. They should have enough rooms to seal everyone in, if they act quickly. his head still hurts from the fight. Blood flows on his side, and into his magnificent beard. He knows all too well that if someone's gonna turn, it's gonna be him...
Fuck yeah, can't wait to read that!
I haven't finished reading through Ardentdikes, so I only got the gist of the story. But here's what I have so far - though it might be a tad long I'm afraid.
Aeons have past, though the land is reformed by the whims of Armok, Urist McDuck still lies forever sealed away beneath the burning sands, eternally slumbering - dreaming of a day of reckoning where even death may die. His by now pent up hatred for dwarven kind has seeped into the very lands and up through the very lake, in a spume of ungodly fumes - the manifestation of his hatred. These tendrils of malevolence seek to ensnare any living being within distance and warp them into an agent of McDucks will - to further spill the blood of dwarven kind. Each bloody sacrifice sating his thirst for our blood and bringing him ever closer to his eventual reawakening.
The all-knowing Queen, a distant descendant of McKiwi V - had long sought out the very site of this abomination, for as long as the possibility of McDuck rising again exists, all of dwarven kind is doomed to the resurfacing of the evils that had befallen upon Ardentdikes and Moltenchannels. To ensure the safety of future generations, she has sent us to claim this site - the Desert of Dreams, far away from dwarven lands. For she knows that the defenses that have been set in place to prevent his awakening are gradually weakening due to the lake and the vile machinations of the profane necromancers that reside close by. We are to construct a fortress that will act as a seal to damper further efforts at his revival. This is the story of our ordeal. This is the story of Murderflood. Strike the Earth!
Thoughts? Comments?
First Winter -- Under the moonlight
The fortress is in panic, obviously, but in the middle of the chaos a few dwarves announce that they'l be using their old army nicknames from now on.
(http://i.imgur.com/CHKP9eA.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/iF074tF.jpg)
Our seasoned ranger and bookkeeper now asks to be called ''Sethatos'' Perfectrag. He says the thrill of battle reminded him of his old fighting days, and he wants to honor his previous squadmates by using the name they once bestowed upon him.
(http://i.imgur.com/OVFbz4y.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Qccag6e.jpg)
The same goes for our marksdwarf extraordinaire, ''Haerdalas'' Booklobsters. Both have been assigned to train under Thoryane, in due time.
(http://i.imgur.com/eCNDLEC.jpg)
Before we can designate a proper barrack however, there is work to be done. Life-depending work. I've told everyone to give up on any single job they have.
(http://i.imgur.com/4VQpNyM.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Iy5G8A0.jpg)
The possibly infected dwarves have been each assigned a squad, then a cell. Once they get in there, we'll be able to seal everyone up.
(http://i.imgur.com/WSMV2ru.jpg)
The critical day is close on the calendar. Some of the dwarves reported to their containment facilities. Few of them have been locked up, tho, because a kobold just appeared in the entrance! The soldiers just dropped their weapons to get some building done, so I order them to do a 180 and go fight instead.
(http://i.imgur.com/yd3vLzV.jpg)
Another kobold. Uh-oh...
(http://i.imgur.com/kZon70s.jpg)
Normally I would ignore these kobolds and let them steal what they want, but their presence is disrupting workers, which prevent people from feeding and helping Ghills. She dies in the chaos. Another doctor bites the dust in Murderflood. Ghills was much beloved. People start panicking and being horrified.
(http://i.imgur.com/8Xbk1PP.jpg)
On the slightly plus side, Gwolfsky finally tackled his first opponent, crushing one of the kobold's head in with his copper crossbow.
(http://i.imgur.com/zP8fsHU.jpg)
As soon as he spots the engraver Kogan wandering outside, pale and missing a foot, he knows shit is about tio hit the fan and run back inside. The dwarves now have a small extension to the frontdoor, allowing a block to be placed, sealing the entrance. More dwarves fail to report to their containment job, because they are too injured. Some of those who do fail to be locked inside, because of the general disorganisation.
(http://i.imgur.com/Vo8vsMy.jpg)
Too late. Kogan turns into a Werebeast! A new gigantic bear wanders the countryside. In a strange twist of fate, none of the other 7 injured turn. even Triaxx remains a dwarf. he's a bit disapointed really. He failed to leave the dinning area, so nobody else is disappointed.
(http://i.imgur.com/xFOfyu9.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/6SRuJGu.jpg)
The werebear gets a hold of the second kobold. The little bugger managed to outrun our soldiers, but there is no escape from the rapetrain.
(http://i.imgur.com/fCIrPMR.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/G1Y5eih.jpg)
Then, silence outside. the screams have stopped. Thefamiliar voice of a dwarf calls outside. ''Let me in, I'm healed!'' The engraver is now a fully-fledged lycanthrope, turning into a werebear every full moon. He gets the title of werebear, lest anyone forgets his true nature. Because he is now a new dwarf, and joins his own squad, our time-bomb decides on a new name, to imitate our previous soldiers. ''Call me ''Vuohijumala'' from now on!''
(http://i.imgur.com/C7OrOhp.jpg)
It seems that somehow, the previous werebear tried to sneak around the countryside once more, but slipped into the channel created by Triaxx. He drowned there, still weakened by his previous encounter with our soldiers. It seems that once the beast had served its purpose, the Ungodly Waters claimed it back...
(http://i.imgur.com/bdg8LdS.jpg)
Now, speaking of dead, terrible things. I needed a place to put coffins and slabs for our deceased, and this was the only area available. However, as soon as the bodies got hauled, I realised something: If necromancers lay siege to the fort, then our own dead will march against us. Solution? A zombie blender. Two big bridges now seal the graveyard on each side, effectively acting as an unbreakable barrier to outsiders. Any zombies raising from their graves will be stuck in there. bonus point? Pulling the lever on repeat will crush the zombies one by one as they wander into the middle of the room. Until then, our fallen may rest in peace. I would strongly suggest that we expand any graveyards to the side of this building, to reuse the middle device and keep the fort lockable.
(http://i.imgur.com/3L9q1CB.jpg)
Here's where you can find the associated lever. I noted the effect of the other two as well, and appropriate ( N )otes have been left for each lever. Keep shit tight, people, we'll have a lot of levers before this fort is done.
(http://i.imgur.com/5lTLyi2.jpg)
The fully-healed and regenerated Vuohijumula stumbles upon his previous, discarded foot. That' just weird. The remains and unamed corpses are tossed into the dumping shaft.
(http://i.imgur.com/QhQ5EXJ.jpg)
The area above the graveyard/crusher is being floor, and will receive a ceiling shortly after. It will give us some room for a better dinning hall, with 8 tables and 16 chairs. The middle upper area is now a barrack/weapon stockpile, where our 4 regular soldiers are hard at work. The communal dorm/hospital is still downstairs, but at least we have 6 beds in there now, enough for our current numbers. The hospital is poorly outfitted, I,ve ordered somebody to give soap-making a try. We'll need that sooner than later. At least our food supplies are satisfying. Whip vine produce alcohol, and butchering giant monsters gives us decent amounts of meat.
(http://i.imgur.com/OYE8ukt.jpg)
Another month goes by, and another. The werebeast is safely contained inside his cell.
(http://i.imgur.com/VQCXG6e.jpg)
Victims of the previous creature have been properly memorialised. RIP, old friends.
(http://i.imgur.com/alpmf42.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/romiasx.jpg)
Most of our copper is being smelted by Triaxx, and then turned into full copper armor suits for our soldiers. As a result, this metalworker doesn't get to use the forge at all. They've knocked one of his tooth down, and he seeks revenge. The newly named ''Sarrak'' Theathertongues asks to join our forces, and his request is granted. A fifth suit of armor is ordered.
(http://i.imgur.com/yC7epcJ.jpg)
During their first real field operation, the newly-buffed Considerations of Armories must defend the fortress from a prowling giant leopard. Lieutenant Heardalas suffers some injuries against the beast, but manages to bash the creature's head with his hammer. He was also the one to hunt and kill 4 camels earlier this month, providing more meat to Murderflood.
(http://i.imgur.com/7i4BmDc.jpg)
His injuries won't stop him from single-handedly destroying a honey badger later that week.
(http://i.imgur.com/b931HR1.jpg)
Triaxx turns part of the containment level into a small mining operation, as we need more rhyolite.
(http://i.imgur.com/9saMebE.jpg)
The masons use the stone well. Soon another part of the fortress is complete. They begin working on tables and chairs for the dinning hall. The fort now looks like a big hammer too!
(http://i.imgur.com/OB7rblL.jpg)
But on the 28th of the last month, everything changes. Vuohijumula goes to his cell, but refuses to leave the entrance. The mason in charge of sealing him in abandon his task, and doesn't report the problem until it is too late. On the very last day of the year, a beast growls in the bowels of Murderflood, thirsty for blood. The dwarves around me are unprepared for what follows. Chaos erupts once more. I order Vuohijumula to be put down, hoping the army can take care of him without dying...
(http://i.imgur.com/JMyt80R.jpg)
Thoryane is the one to put the creature to rest, preventing further damage to our settlement. With a few blows, she weakens the creature, before swinging her axe at its head. It goes a bit like this:
(http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8f6m4hEG--/18dxwv82y6lx4jpg.jpg)
The beast is slain, but at what cost? Although Thoryane's skills and *copper gear* managed to protect her from any injury, others were not so skilled or lucky.
(http://i.imgur.com/gGt9COA.jpg)
Haerdalas, weakened by the giant leopard, loses a foot to the werebear.
(http://i.imgur.com/ibpUALx.jpg)
Sarrak, despite being the youngest recruit, deftly dodged every hit from his foe. Good job!
(http://i.imgur.com/kEH1IjG.jpg)
Zas, previously an herbalist, became a miner after withnessing Triaxx's heroic stance. This time around, he doesn't get injured, and even injure one of the beast's lungs, tipping the scales of the battle.
(http://i.imgur.com/6QDmnfc.jpg)
Bomrek suffers terrible injury. If Flame's apprentice lives, he'll probably turn into a monster, or be crippled for life.
(http://i.imgur.com/m1VrUoi.jpg)
Say what you like about Gwolsfky, a full year of running away has made him a great dodger. His speed and armor protected him from harm.
(http://i.imgur.com/SxivwbN.jpg)
Sethatos tried his best, but his old age had made him frail. In the end, the werebear tore him to pieces.
(http://i.imgur.com/FLj8iVf.jpg)
Medtob has been biten. If he lives, his existence could take a very, very different turn. His armorer career is uncertain at best now...
(http://i.imgur.com/6GyET6D.jpg)
Our brewer Oddom was also struck down... A tragedy no doubt.
(http://i.imgur.com/N0Ux4PD.jpg)
So was our wood burner, Iden. May she find the soul of her similarly-named husband and live happy in the afterlife.
(http://i.imgur.com/ZpE9HyZ.jpg)
Zefon the carpenter, who took after Zuglarkun, has also fallen victim to the rampaging monster.
(http://i.imgur.com/3fwttqQ.jpg)
The greatest tragedy of all has to be Flame's death. Another founder bites the dust.
(http://i.imgur.com/JCyKZUJ.jpg)
Our numbers are now thirteen. Many of those have been crippled by the first werebeast attack, and three of us are suspected of turning into werebears themselves on the next full moon. I've ordered the three potentially dangerous dwarves into Vuohijumula's old squad, and renamed it appropriately. I shall now resign as overseer, as the year is over and my failures as leader have cost us greatly. Too many of my friends have died this year. I shall return to the fields, and hope I can one day find my peace of mind.
Deep inside, I know I won't. There is something evil here, something sentient, and malevolent. This was only the beginning.
(http://i.imgur.com/ZGbTe4U.jpg)
A little reminder. Don't miss the 25th of granite.
* * * * * * * * * *
The save is here: http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11123 (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11123)
The last update had no picture. Sorry about that, deadlines and such. A few words on the turn list: I've registered everyone who asked for a turn, placing newcomers on a first-come-first served basis. For members of the original Murderflood, the names are currently organised by who first signed up for the original thread, like over a year ago. If we go with this system (system A), then technically Ghills is next in line as he was on top of the initial list. However, back before the save was dumped, Urist McKiwi was next in line, so If we pick up from there (system B) then he's next. Finally, Zuglarkun's been a huge help co-maintaining the frontpage, generating the worlds, and overall pushing this reboot forward. In a sense, it would really be a dick move not giving him the next turn, (System C), unless he's busy at the moment. It was always sort of implied that either of us would be kickstarting the new fort...
Feel free to voice your opinion about how we'll tyranically manage the turn orders from now on. There are a lot of people in line, this is a reboot, and no matter what we choose, someone is getting screwed over. We just need to find the way that makes it not my fault when that happens. the most convenient and fair for you guys.
PS: The frontpage now has more detailed information on dwarves, past and present. This include their notable deeds and roles, as well as the way they died. so far the founders and the named dwarves have been added, I'm not sure if I'll do a full list of the random dwarves, because that would be pointless and very impractical once the turn is no longer in my hands.
Hey, it's been two years since we moved to this strange and unwelcoming desert. A lot has happened in that crazy amount of time, I tell ya! Let's take a tour of the fortress, shall we?
(http://i.imgur.com/etLYwn2.jpg)
Starting at the bottom, the second cavern layer, blocked by a wall and slowly filling with corpses and fire and burning corpses.
(http://i.imgur.com/T7lHy7E.jpg)
One layer above, we have two highwood door and a weapon trap protecting us from whatever undead lurks down below. Safe.
(http://i.imgur.com/jcbbJNj.jpg)
Right above that, a long row of rooms being excavated. Triaxx sure loves his digging.
(http://i.imgur.com/loMzHCb.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/jBhq4Fg.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/FTFBuns.jpg)
Then, above the empty 3x3 rooms, we have three layers of interconnected workshop areas. Can also be used for storage by putting the appropriate materials above or below a given station, I suppose.
(http://i.imgur.com/fXbArqF.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/r3aZowj.jpg)
A bookkeeper office and some coffin rows. A few of them are made of ''unidentified material''. What the hell.
(http://i.imgur.com/43q6mfZ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/3umTS5l.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Wz6ZWua.jpg)
Above this, we reach the older fortress. the mine/werebear containment facility, then the founding workshops, and the tightly packed living areas.
(http://i.imgur.com/HrMFAdn.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZCJQrSx.jpg)
And above that, the various improvements to... Wait. Triaxx did not expand the surface facilities? Damn miners! Even the chairs have not been placed next to the dinning table I installed. :/
(http://i.imgur.com/uowqtaa.jpg)
That sure would explain why the expedition leader is entirely furious against Triaxx.
(http://i.imgur.com/sysMhvE.jpg)
It seems that 18 dwarves have died in Murderflood so far, which is half the current population. I'm not sure this survival rate will attract many new migrants, but that may work our way until we can expand the fortress further.
(http://i.imgur.com/zh2tDSW.jpg)
Here are the current residents of the fortress. Maybe some of you will want to claim them as your own. Let's take a look at a few of the already named ones, especially our newcomers.
(http://i.imgur.com/MQSIj4B.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/iFyjKCB.jpg)
Monster Slayer Thoryane is turning out to be an exceptional dwarf, both physically and mentally. Her various dabbling in many administration tasks sure sharpened her already superior attributes. she makes a damn fine commander and founder, I'll tell you that.
(http://i.imgur.com/62eUFx2.jpg)
Gwolfsky is trying to catch up on the melee side, and took part in a fight against a non-neutralised opponent this year, earning himself a troglodyte kill. He also has the most friends in the fortress from what I can see, no doubt because of his rugged eyepatch.
(http://i.imgur.com/xTqbiqo.jpg)
Here's our newest doctor, miraculously alive thus far.
(http://i.imgur.com/D2P5pb7.jpg)
And his travelling companion the armorsmith Sanctume.
(http://i.imgur.com/Jd7ZuaI.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/3eRYv2k.jpg)
Haerdalas is somehow still alive, despite the latest overseer's claims. He's still missing a foot, but he's learned to use a crutch by now.
(http://i.imgur.com/sGI11VT.jpg)
This lady claims to be Zuglarkun's reincarnation, even tho she is clearly 90-ish years old.
(http://i.imgur.com/FIIaQdv.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/zTU3gVx.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/adOFewv.jpg)
Here's Blitz Gamer, who has suffered some severe injuries recently. thankfully, his days are brightened by his newborn son Onget Ridership.
(http://i.imgur.com/MSXvTl1.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/0utjsIV.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/VSqKixj.jpg)
Sarrak and some of his friends are still alive and kicking, taking part in cavern raids and monster hunts whenever they can. Here are their tallied kills.
(http://i.imgur.com/h7jzr5I.jpg)
And finally, here's Nujux our misguided woodcutter. He likes to say his own name a lot.
Now, you can say a lot of things about Triaxx. That he failed to expand the surface fortress, or spent all his term digging random rooms, or didn't get along with most of the newcomers. While somewhat true, these allegations i can get by. He's an old friend and I can forgive him many things. But there's one thing you don't do. Not to dwarves.
(http://i.imgur.com/EkbP2Me.jpg)
You don't fucking abscond to your underground complex with all the booze.
(Also as someone who went through 3 dead dwarves and 5 incarnations in 20 years (one was a rename) on Moltenchannels, I must congratulate you on managing to be on your third dwarf by the summer of Year 3.)
At this rate, I almost hope he chooses something like a cheese-maker or a milker, so we don't lose an important worker within the month :p
Close, but not quite. I'll like Fikod Serlolok the siege engineer please, and enable building designer labors for her while you're at it thanks. Could you also post her details including skills?
At the rate my characters are going, you'll be able to track the age of the fortress just by looking at how many Zuglarkuns are dead.
Ok, I'm playing along while uploading.....here's your stats:
(http://i.imgur.com/13ymezU.png)
Not a bad mix, but definitely something to work on over time.
(http://i.imgur.com/N26JBdf.png)
Ah. Well.....ok. Let's get everyone inside and.......
Oh.
Ah.......This is a bit embarrassing but......um.......
Zuglarkun....who would you like your fourth incarnation to be?
I think everyone who got inside before the gates shut was un-injured. Pretty much everyone who got hit was maimed to the point where they couldn't get in OR was too far away when the door was closed. I chucked all three of them in a squad and told them to fight to the death while the archers formed up. We lost Zuggles the third, Haerdalas, a kitten, and our administrator (who had the misfortune to be between the werebear and the weapon trap I installed in the entrance when the werebear came barreling through there). Werebear got away. All in all, not bad....he spawned super-close to the entrance, so it could have gone a lot worse. The kitten and Haerdalas really did surprisingly well. Zuglarkun died horribly but got a few punches in before the inevitable. We need some archer stations set up to just pepper this dude with arrows the next time he shows up.
Edit: Oh, and while it was painful and prolonged (although at least you weren't thrown into a weapons trap), Zuglarkun III's death was a bit quicker than the last one at least. And happened after....ooh....at least a week after II starved to death somewhere.
I'll write this up in-character later. I just got a bit waylaid by the werebear attack. But things are going reasonably well under the leadership of Sir Humphrey Cactusson.
Throne room of Obok Abanstukos, Queen of the Stirred Irons
(https://i.imgur.com/FmcO6fv.jpg)
"Summon Dodók Thîkutushil to the court!" Bellowed Obok.
"Your majesty." Dodók knelt on one knee and humbled himself before the queen of the Stirred Irons.
"You may rise, General Bookice. Tell me, how are the expeditions coming along?"
"You mean the 3 expeditions to reclaim our ancestral lands?"
(https://i.imgur.com/pZVeA5d.jpg)
"Yes. I've yet to hear a proper report."
"I apologize for the tardiness your majesty. We are facing troubles on many fronts, chiefly due to the sudden assault by the goblins, and news has been late to arrive. I've just received the reports, and I'm afraid the expeditions are not faring all that well."
"Please elaborate general."
"Well..." Dodók muttered as he drew up the battle reports.
"I'm afraid that the expedition to reclaim Masteredtomb has met with opposition, and the site has fallen into the clutches of the goblins."
(https://i.imgur.com/1JBjgLX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QDFazPC.jpg)
"Not all is lost however, The Shield of Winds were able to successfully deter the goblin menace."
(https://i.imgur.com/RXx9CYn.jpg)
"The Fountain of Fainting were able to hold their own as well."
(https://i.imgur.com/kJ07eRx.jpg)
"This is most troubling news. I would have thought that despite the lack of mutual contact, the fact that we did not interfere in their battles nor get embroiled in their affairs these few decades would have left us as on neutral relations. Seems like they disagree with that notion."
"Yes your majesty, they did not take kindly to our terms in that last treaty we had drawn up." said Dodók as he submitted the summary of the battle reports to the queen.
(https://i.imgur.com/m7JfvYl.jpg)
Dodók continued, "I had hoped that their prolonged campaigning would eventually wear down their own forces and keep them in check. I doubt we can stand by as neutral bystanders any longer, hoping to sit on the sidelines and reap the benefits from their battles of attrition.
Judging from the scale of the recent invasions, they must have been planning this ever since Samambesmar - "The Courageous Pulley" fell under their clutches in 77. The goblins sacked all their cities and put them under goblin rule. It is a pity, for if we had allied with Samambesmar back then, they would have served us well as a threat on their flank. Unfortunately, these things have come to pass, and I've heard that their former king lies forsaken in the wastelands, trying to eke out a living, while hoping to raise his shattered kingdom from the ashes of defeat. Fortunately, unlike them, we have not been slack in our preparations all these many years, and we have mustered up quite a force to reckon with ourselves."
"Yes..." murmured the queen. "The very same forces that are now arrayed against a foe that has emerged ever the stronger from their battles, and have finally decided to turn their gazes and spear points towards us."
-----
Silence fell upon both queen and her general, their minds deep in troubling thoughts.
-----
"Tell me," her voice cut across the vast silence of the wide halls of Asobazuz. "how are conditions out there on the walls?"
"We are holding up at the moment your majesty." Replied the general.
(https://i.imgur.com/NfuYp9K.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hYv3OkM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/H1AolL2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/smh91Tt.jpg)
"Can we turn the situation around? Go on the counteroffensive perhaps?" Pondered the old queen.
"We have yet to muster our full forces your majesty. Their sudden many pronged attack has left us reeling and cut us off from our many outposts and baronies."
(https://i.imgur.com/X1CU26l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2t95aRZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zdiOV7M.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/y6LBWss.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kfGzQW7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/OUEmq3j.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YPQduef.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/W5hzMS1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/P3V5jzh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XftZplI.jpg)
"I am certain that they had waited all this time for us to stumble first, waiting for an opportunity for us to thin our forces here. The expeditions we launched for the glory of Armok on the bicentennial of our founding gave them exactly that window of attack that they've been waiting for, and we sent out all the young and abled to retake those ruins." Dodók ventured.
"Yes, I'm afraid that decision may have been somewhat of an overreach... You mentioned 3 expeditions general, what of the fourth? The expedition to found a new outpost - what did they call it again?" The queen mused.
"Erm..." The general stumbled in his words.
"Allow me to answer that question your majesty..."
-----
Footsteps sounded in the hall. Eyes turned to look upon the new figure that had walked in on their conversation.
-----
Out of the shadows, stepped forth Dôbar Pearshoots, outpost liaison of the Stirred Irons.
The new migrants included a noble, or so he heard. Taupe, fields supervisor and first overseer of murderflood, figured it fell upon him to give the horse-rider a tour of the place he helped create. It had been three years now since they arrived to the desert, and the fortress had changed, yet somehow remained the same...
(http://i.imgur.com/Wsq4QOb.jpg)
''Greeting to ye, sir person noble dude!
-Hum, hi, responded Lord Asmoth. I am Lord Asmoth, he explained redundantly.
-Well, me I'm Taupe. The fields are somewhat dull during the end of winter, so I figured I'd give you a tour of da place!''
They were on the northern gate, where a set of bridges allowed access to the fortress area by going over a large, unfilled dyke.
''The cactus had that built, but he couldn't finish it before resigning.
-The...cactus?
-Aye, Sir Humphrey Cactusson, pretty damn funny dude. Also, he's a cactus.
-...''
(http://i.imgur.com/IgfPs3a.jpg)
''To the south you can see our trade depot, away from the fortress. That way if the merchants turn into monsters or zombies we don,t get eaten right away.
-Does that... happen often?
-Well, no, just once a year. we would have moved otherwise, ha!''
(http://i.imgur.com/O5S4QBj.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4uQw8wG.jpg)
''Anyway, there are more dykes and walls to the south, as well as a tower. You can get a pretty nice view of our awesome fortress from there.
-Isn't that just a one-story high building?
-Well, yeah but... it's atop a dune, so it counts as almost a two-story building, which is as tall as Murderflood itself!''
(http://i.imgur.com/LSkSxt7.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/h4eBvoo.jpg)
''Ah, this is the fortress. There are more bedrooms and tables than there used to be. It's pretty comfy now, assuming you enjoy microcline blowing apart your eyeballs while you stare at it, and awful temmperatures.
-Who was dumb enough to bring such bright, shiny stones to create a desert outpost anyway?
-Oh that was me! I got a nice deal on 'em on embark, heh.''
The noble was too amazed by such a display of wealth to comment on the fortress. In fact, his high charisma allowed him to make a joke about the situation:
''So where's the fortress proper?
-Ahahah, you nobles are so funny.''
(http://i.imgur.com/trm7blh.jpg)
''Anyway, you got the annexes below. first the new, enlarged farms. The cactus made them, he was such a great overseer.
-...The cactus, right.
-Yup, he's one of my favorite ex-overseers right now.
-Out of...?
-Well, three, but one of them is me, and Triaxx sort of melted recently so he hasn't come back yet. So really right now, it's just me and the cactus overseeing da place.
-That... sure explains a lot.''
(http://i.imgur.com/JfBu0Er.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/kvse1kz.jpg)
''Speaking of sir Humphrey Cactusson, he had this wonderful tomb built for himself, as well as some new rooms to store stuff.''
Lord Asmoth appeared disturbed by the frequent mentions of the cactus. No doubt, the sight of this tomb reminded him that even a wise and spikey overseer was doomed to die at some point.
''Ah, don't worry, Lord mister. Cacti can live for very, very long, he won't be using this tomb soon, ahah!''
(http://i.imgur.com/l63Akkq.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ye3gyCD.jpg)
''Oh, and here we have triaxx's legacy. The workshops are finished and people are smoothing them right now. those bedrooms below, they were never put to use, thanks to everyone dying horribly so many times. we managed to do with just the surface bedrooms thanks to that.''
(http://i.imgur.com/yv0p5w3.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/bDklKiS.jpg)
''And finally here we have the caverns, sealed for the moment. We have sort of a little forgotten beast problem at the moment.
-Classical.
-Down below is where triaxx melted. I wouldn't go there for now, if I was you. We have sort of a little magma leak problem at the moment.''
(http://i.imgur.com/YT7dkjo.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/qQy6Zvb.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/DwjJZzA.jpg)
''Here, let's just go back, I'll introduce you to the folks above. and the pets. we have many dogs that could be trained, just sayin'. (The farmer showed his teeth at this point, demonstrating the FIERCENESS required to train animals.) We also have many other animals and undead but I won't introduce you to them, ah!''
(http://i.imgur.com/QNX4Gt0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/NAncuMP.jpg)
''This is Nujux, our woodcutter. He doesn't cut many trees.
-Gee, I wonder why.
-Oh that's because we're in the desert, sir.
-Why yes I--
-But don't worry, he spends his time making many friends!''
(http://i.imgur.com/NmE0FVR.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/OxF5BME.jpg)
''OH HI TRIAXX II! That's TriaxxII, taking over the duties of his namesake and smoothing the workshops. He's married to HaedalasII, we'll see her later.''
(http://i.imgur.com/ryMv2cj.jpg)
''I'm sure sir Humphrey is around here, helping with the art, but I doubt we'll see him. He's so small and sneaky.
-what... what kind of cacti is he anyway?
-Oh, a fully grown saguaro rib, m'lord.''
(http://i.imgur.com/CW1bMNz.jpg)
''This is our doctor, Crazy Urist. I have a hard time pronouncing it correctly. He's a pretty good butcher.
-And as a doctor?
-Ahahahahah! Let's move on.''
(http://i.imgur.com/Eqr2D48.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/nrYl9Kt.jpg)
''This guy over there is BlitzGamer. He's weird, sometimes he say stuff that makes no sense.
-Right.
-Anyway I blame it on his newest child, a young daughter. He asked for his other kid to be renamed to whatever, but the last overseer refused, and so did triaxx. As you know, only Overseers can validate name changes for local resident. That's dwarven law.''
(http://i.imgur.com/AgyxAzF.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/iQYOFOD.jpg)
''Who's that?
-Oh that's... a new dude. Vuohiparta or something. Don't really know him much. He must be new.
-Isn't he harvesting plants right now?
-Ya, looks like it.
-And.. aren't you the fields supervisor?
-Oh yes, yes I am.
-But you don't know who that guy is.
-Nah.
-...Let's move on.''
(http://i.imgur.com/pzVqj59.jpg)
''Oh by the way, I have a horse, do you want to see my--
-Absolutely not.''
(http://i.imgur.com/qVuNIgN.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/JVGWWpJ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/zLs6QwR.jpg)
''Oh, by the way, gotta warn you about Gwolfsky. he's gone pretty damn insane recently, and attacks people at random. he's killed more dwarves than werebears so far.
-Wereb--
-Oh hey look it's Thoryane HI THORYANE!''
(http://i.imgur.com/555UHbm.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Si1LMmZ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/CDRllg8.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/30rqKgg.jpg)
''And that guy, there, that's Sarrak. He's been in the military since almost the start, and joined willingly. One of the few who actually enrolled on their own, instead of being drafted to repel werebears trashing the fortress.
-Wereb--
-OH LOOK! He's training with Haerdalas II
-I want to go back to the wereb--
-I know what you're asking. Who the hell is HaerdalasII?
-No I'm more preoccupied by the wer--
-Well, she's that girl I told you about earlier, the wife of Triaxx II.
-But about that--
-Ok, gotta train the dogs now, bye!
-...''
Regarding the conflicts between elves and humansA brief excerpt from the book(https://i.imgur.com/h6AbknR.jpg)
Unlike the goblins and elves, us humans are born of mortal stock. Although the remains of our mortal husks may return to nourish the earth, our spirits live on even after death - much like the stunted folk with whom we share many of our customs and beliefs regarding the dead.
In human society, proper respects paid to the dead are also indications of piety and humans believe that such actions will result in the spirits conferring their ancestral blessings upon their mortal descendants, helping to steer them away from misfortune. Failing to properly venerate your ancestors results in the opposite - the cursing of the living with misfortune and misery. Because of this belief, the humans greatly revere their dead, building grand tombs to honor their dead, such as-
(https://i.imgur.com/m2cnve4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/n0s5llj.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0DWqKPe.jpg)
These tombs were erected to honor their fallen brethren, and humans do not take kindly to having their dead brethren defiled or even eaten before they could even pay proper respects. Such forlorn souls are cutoff from their proper place in the afterlife and are condemned to an eternity of wandering, unless they are properly memorialized. But most importantly, proper veneration of the dead is essential so that the dead remain dead and have no cause to haunt the living. Improper burials and the like cause great problems as the forlorn spirits have a propensity to negatively influence the lives of the yet living in a great number of different ways.
It is no wonder that the humans of The Heroic Kingdom have been quite aghast at the conduct of their neighbors, the elves of The Skunk of Speaking. As of this writing, their current ruler - a fellow called Rosmic Alliedfire, has ruled from Campdashed as lord since 156. Rosmic has taken up the anti-elf stance that has been propagated since the wars of 48, having since killed 6 elves with his own hands in The Hills of Twinkling.
This was not always the case though. Given proper segregation, the separate ways of elves and of men should nary interfere with each other. Alas, it was not to be. As I recall, it all started in 48, when the elves began the wanton expansion of their territories northwestwards, occupying all the lands south of the streams that flowed into The Lake of Amazements. Shortly afterwards, the elves began to expand further north, occupying lands north of the great lake, bringing them into direct contact with the humans of the heroic kingdom.
There are few remaining today that remember how the war began, but all surviving accounts point to a dispute over the the elvish custom of devouring the bodies of sapient beings that sparked the conflict that was "The War of Disembowelment"
(https://i.imgur.com/BGak7rm.jpg)
I should know, I was there.
(https://i.imgur.com/YU2vHGQ.jpg)
Shortly after these events, I joined the Laborious Mines and was inducted into the teachings of Indur the Insightful Tome, where I was able to learn the secrets of life and death. With that, my life as a ignorant human was put behind me, and I removed myself to Inchedfaction to devote myself to study the dark mysteries of the afterlife. Still, I had not completely put my past life behind me, as I continued to keep tabs on the growing conflict that had engulfed The Heroic Kingdom.
The conflict continued to rage on and off over the years,
(https://i.imgur.com/yqrCj4p.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DhCXkDw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pW3aIqL.jpg)
eventually culminating in the takeover of several elvish sites in 136, the slaying of their high council of elven rulers and the enslavement and subsequent integration of elf prisoners into human society.
(https://i.imgur.com/4qMa3C8.jpg)
A new elven queen, Ririli Willglimmer, was chosen for her diplomatic ability and her more "positive outlook" towards the humans. Thus the great human and elf wars were ended, but not quite.
The humans enacted vengeance by proceeding to construct their own temples on these conquered elvish lands.
(https://i.imgur.com/2qGNU1g.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GnbcgV3.jpg)
And to add insult to injury, they then built their own catacombs to house their own dead under these temples.
(https://i.imgur.com/JxkffF4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BwjLE3u.jpg)
Eventually, many of the former elvish prisoners would relocate to these catacombs, driven to banditry in order to eke out a living under human law.
The humans and elves have since sat at peace to this day, though relations have been tenuous at best, and a spark of hostility might one day renew the flame of conflict and once again engulf both civilizations in the furnace of war.
-----Prologue-----
I was shaken by the events of last year, the foul creatures tried to kill me on the 2nd Opal 204, but I was lucky that I only escaped with a broken left arm.
(https://i.imgur.com/4StarY4.jpg)
Its healed now, and I guess I should be thankful of all that has transpired, given how everyone that has taken the 'Zuglarkun' title was killed already. How ironic that the rescuer would in turn need to be rescued?
(https://i.imgur.com/FEOYUSh.jpg)
I believe that I narrowly escaped certain doom. I remember being accosted in the caves by a foul gremlin corpse that had risen and unfortunately I was caught unawares. I was trying to rescue some of our fellows that had been caught down there, but little did I know what foul horrors lurk in the depths. Now I know that the dead have risen and are prowling the depths. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I left home, and now I know. I dreaded the prospect of having to fight off the undead and quite frankly I would rather just run away from it all. Recently, Flame II conjured up a device that would rid us of this foul infestation. But I do not know if it will hold up. They just keep coming and there is no sign that things will let up anytime soon.
In light of this dreadful discovery, Taupe gathered several of the more noteworthy dwarves together. He had only one thing to say.
(https://i.imgur.com/uZ3ZQKx.jpg)
After much discussion, it was agreed upon that we would need to find some way to deal with the undead. We did not have much in the way of military might so perhaps dwarven ingenuity would be the way to go? Gwolfsky quickly pointed out that when in doubt, just use magma. Flame II concurred with this notion, pointing to the strange device he had made and how effective it was against the undead. Most agreed with this solution, though not all.
Some of the other dwarves felt that we could drive the undead away, and they remained optimistic about our chances.
(https://i.imgur.com/KbHXWju.jpg)
While others were more realistic in their outlook.
(https://i.imgur.com/M3UKpHm.jpg)
I turned to TriaxxII, "What do you think?"
(https://i.imgur.com/yCzaZGk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0S8YRc9.jpg)
Taupe turned to me and asked if I was up for the challenge. He explained that they had lost their chief planner early on, and needed someone with expertise in engineering to pull it off. Though I had come at the behest of the elders, I was but a lowly mechanic, what could I achieve?
Though at times I fancied myself as a rather capable military advisor.
(https://i.imgur.com/uoLfEfe.jpg)
It was a difficult decision to make. But Zan, wise beyond her years, offered a nugget of wisdom.
(https://i.imgur.com/mnxvY2d.jpg)
Thus it was that I took up the mantle of Overseer.
-----Year 205 - The quest for magma-----
1st Granite 205
I quickly set my plans into motion. But immediately it became apparent that there were many hurdles to overcome. I was notified by the manager that we lacked the magma safe rock to construct the magma drain and flood system I devised. After a quick survey of the rock quarries, I ordered all the obsidian blocks used for the magma dikes to be cannibalized. I ordered workers to replace them with common granite blocks afterward.
That was not the only problem though, there was too little sand available though we were in the middle of a desert with sand all around us. I ordered more sand to be gathered, no excuse not to have sand. We will need sand for glass components for the pump stack device.
Another quick survey of the stock records provided by the bookkeeper showed that we did not have any soap at all, though we have all the necessary materials. I setup a bucket and lye only stockpile in the stockpile caches, taking care to forbid any lye from being stored in our other food stockpiles. We will need more wood for ash though. Speaking of which, it is a waste to use scarce wood for the bridge. I'm having it dismantled. I will put up a new bridge afterwards.
Another quick glance at the records and I could tell that too much silver and copper was being melted. The coffers overflowing, and we had little need of silver. I stopped the furnaces from melting silver ore, focusing on melting the spoils of war we captured last year instead. Especially the iron. Meanwhile I have Flame II put his skills to good use. I put up an order for 10 of each masterwork silver maces and silver warhammers. I put Pyrotechno on armorsmithing duty to churn out some copper shields and other various armors. I was also notified that bolts in the lake were marked for melting. I shook my head in dismay at the furnace operators. I explained to them that if they wanted to melt those so badly, they could swim out to the lake and get it themselves. I forbid all the bolts and the one mosquito man corpse in the lake.
2nd Granite 205
Flame II immediately set out to work and quickly produced results, making a masterpiece silver mace!
(https://i.imgur.com/n40Ysrp.jpg)
Edem, the resident mace lord hurriedly reserves the weapon and snatches it up immediately.
(https://i.imgur.com/O0iSjmX.jpg)
I didn't notice it before, but the magma forges and smelters all have open air holes in them that lead down to the magma. What if something comes up from the magma depths? This is most unsafe.
Meanwhile, FlameII just keeps churning out those masterworks. I do admire his attitude and excellent craftdwarfship.
(https://i.imgur.com/m3X7UY7.jpg)
5th Granite 205
I made alterations to the military uniforms. Full metal melee, full steel melee and full steel crossbows. With all the orders going about, this will keep everyone busy for awhile. In the meantime, I will have time to do some geographical surveying.
10th Granite 205
I had taken the time to scout ahead and ascertain the position to build the pumpstack with none or hopefully minimal disturbance to the caverns. I could hear the undead shambling about all the time in the lower depths as I went about my surveying, it was terrifying. I showed Taupe the schematics of the magma pumpstack design I had drawn up. It includes a safety system for maintenance which includes a drainage system to drain away the magma if the situation calls for it. I got the miners to start working on it right away.
In the meanwhile, the wooden bridge was dismantled. I'll have granite one up to replace it soon.
12th Granite 205
(https://i.imgur.com/dkH5KRc.jpg)
I was notified of unhappy dwarves in our midst. I would be unhappy too if I had to deal with the undead and hauling stinking corpses that befouled my clothes. I removed refuse hauling duties from the most stress prone dwarves in hopes that it will improve their disposition. I also made alterations to the refuse system. The new one will be deep in the bowels of the fort, away from sneaky corpse raisers.
16th Granite 205
(https://i.imgur.com/Ai8NVsU.jpg)
An elven caravan from Alu Inó has arrived. Since the bridge is still under construction, they came in from the northeast entrance.
There are so many dogs loitering about on the trade depot, and they are happily fornicating away. Awww how sweet, its like an animal shelter more than a trade depot. I order all of them gelded.
22nd Granite 205
This puppy surprise is the gift that just keeps on giving.
(https://i.imgur.com/Vy6zAks.jpg)
I suspect this recent outburst was caused by the elves and their fabled 'animal touch'. Damn elves, no good could ever come from those treehuggers, but we shall suffer their presence, we have much need of wood.
26th Granite 205
Some migrants arrive, trudging over the chalky northern wastes.
(https://i.imgur.com/mKCKOed.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DKskzWE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IS5uQGP.jpg)
They are quickly ushered into the relative safety of the fort, though Momuz gave one look around and remarked why the dwarves all seem so glum around here.
28th Granite 205
Meng Umeravuz, Thresher dropped the item he was hauling to the trade depot and quickly made for the fortress, a strange look in his eyes.
(https://i.imgur.com/MpdKSEy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7jjA3Ut.jpg)
1st Slate 205
Meng claims a mechanics workshop and begins frantically gathering materials from around the fortress.
(https://i.imgur.com/bMJt8Le.jpg)
2nd Slate 205
Doren bestows the name Elikbakust - The Single Urges upon his plum wood shield.
(https://i.imgur.com/keaiKwt.jpg)
6th Slate 205
Meng has begun work on a mysterious construction.
(https://i.imgur.com/IvmKgZd.jpg)
7th Slate 205
Orders for the 10 masterwork silver warhammers and silver maces are fulfilled. I'll get Flame II to work on some masterwork copper crossbows next.
8th Slate 205
We traded a whole bunch of old, foreign and unusable clothing for plenty of wood, fruits and some caged animals because i want the featherwood cages they are housed in, not because I intend to keep these useless animals around. What with the dog outbreak and all. Damn dogs!
In the meantime, the new morgue has been excavated. This will hopefully prevent the more squeamish among us from having a nervous breakdown every time they pass by some corpse or body part.
(https://i.imgur.com/pQXm6Dk.jpg)
I dropped in to see how the military were holding up. Shorast has been praying to Cog Standknight in hopes of being bestowed with his blessings in combat. He remarked that military trances are when a dwarf is touched by the gods upon the field of combat, and he was hoping to boost his chances. I tilted my head to the side and gave him an odd look, but I left him to his own devices.
(https://i.imgur.com/4WGkXkQ.jpg)
De approaches me and suddenly starts demanding an animal companion to be assigned to him. He specifically asks for the grizzly bear. I ask if he will reconsider, since in my experience animals do not fare well in martial combat unless they have superior numbers.
(https://i.imgur.com/q89khtu.jpg)
Well then, at De's request, I had the animal trained and assigned the war grizzly to him. As I approached the marksdwarf quarters, I spied a dwarf in a makeshift cactus costume shooting out 'cactus needles' at a nearby archery target.
(https://i.imgur.com/XiH70Tr.jpg)
We have a odd collection of folks around here.
11th Slate 205
Meng has created Urdimmeng Öseek Uker - Towerlashed the Councils of Waving, a slate mechanisms. Nice, I could make good use of that.
(https://i.imgur.com/E7xBA6j.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IDcmS1j.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WevkvQe.jpg)
I order some magma dike walls to be put up on the southeast and northwest end. I know getting in the vicinity of the lake is dangerous. But it is a risk we'll have to take.
(https://i.imgur.com/QDpvkVQ.jpg)
18th Slate 205
Litast is throwing a tantrum. I gave her a quick once over as a practicing medical professional, and the prognosis is bad.
(https://i.imgur.com/XHqF1A7.jpg)
When I asked if she perhaps needed some help in coping with her stress, she stubbornly replied she was better off dealing with it alone. I fear for the worse.
(https://i.imgur.com/OQsYaUK.jpg)
Well, looks like the naming fad is continuing to circulate among the military dwarves.
(https://i.imgur.com/PJwmW8l.jpg)
20th Slate 205
Troubling news. The mayor came up to me and reported that the dwarves have found Kib the shearers corpse.
(https://i.imgur.com/ryaxgNy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ReDSvUl.jpg)
There had been no indications of any fights or confrontations recently, and no one reported anything unusual. Is there some unseen malign influence at work here? Perhaps this is the foul work of that 'Magdark' that the elders spoke of.
28th Slate 205
Since we have some extra hands about, and there is too much trash lying about in the moat, i order it all temporarily dumped somewhere more convenient for access.
2nd Felsite 205
Lately, I've been busy reconstructing the bridge that I ordered cannibalized for its wood. Bloody dogs keep getting in the damn way. I renamed the place 'Idar Gulnas'.
(https://i.imgur.com/j6xQjRe.jpg)
We have some spare wood now, which I've allocated towards constructing some buckets and ash (for soap production). Building up a surplus will be key I feel.
(https://i.imgur.com/PedpDvx.jpg)
I fear that we will need to be self sufficient before long, I order more pigtails planted. Cloth is running low. Drinks are in a better state than it was in the beginning of the year but it can still be improved. We are still short on magma safe rock though. The only types naturally occurring in these parts is obsidian. I will have to place orders with the caravan. Also, the farm plots are way too large for our farmers to manage. I suppose I will be cutting back on some of these before long, but I will let them run for a season or two just to see how its being handled.
5th Felsite 205
Looks like the bridge will be done soon. Good, I will need to make some adjustments to the northeast bridge access in order to fit the re-designed moat.
11th Felsite 205
Miners are busy at work clearing out a cistern from which we can extract magma safely, and some obsidian to boot!
(https://i.imgur.com/dsNmzze.jpg)
25th Felsite 205
Was notified of unburied dwarf corpses left in the cavern. With all the undead shambling about the caverns, we will not be able to retrieve without great risk. I am most impressed with the makeshift device that Flame II had devised to deal with walking corpses. Most ingenious. But what if corpses fly or do not dodge? What if corpses can leap across 1 tile gaps? I decide to wait till later to put it to the test.
Summer has arrived on the calendar.
-----The Battle of Idar Gulnas-----
2nd Hematite 205
I have been observing the weather pattern these past few weeks, and just as I had anticipated, some rain was due to come. Towering storm clouds had begun rolling in from the east. Maybe some cooling rain would be welcome here in this sweltering heat. As I gazed out eastwards at the rising of the sun, I noticed a gathering of silhouettes slowly coming into view, above the sand dunes just beyond the horizon.
(https://i.imgur.com/7Qex2X3.jpg)
I squinted my eyes, trying to make out any details, when a flag bearing an image of finger lime trees came into view.
"Finger lime trees? Now where have I seen that before?" I thought to myself.
Suddenly, the blaring of horns rent the air, and a cacophony of snarls and heckles rose to meet it. This was followed by a rumbling of drums that came to a stop as the figures halted and came into view.
(https://i.imgur.com/D9dChvC.jpg)
Goblins swarmed in from the plateau directly east of our main entrance. As they closed in on our position, I was able to have a better look at their ranks.
(https://i.imgur.com/3Ur9rCg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WhaBezF.jpg)
By the looks of things, most of these invaders are newly recruited into the fighting ranks, they march in a disorderly fashion and lack even proper armaments. Nonetheless, we shall face them head on. I order the military to be mustered at the main gate.
As they approached, a war chant rang out among the goblin ranks.
"Bunok zusmusm anot! Tokxe odgas osku! Ngosla udung mak! Ustol oda udu guspű! Ĺd ösna ed ngomstu ozlu! Umuz! Umuz!", they bayed and shrieked as they charged forward.
The goblins fire several errant shots as they approach, and the war dogs charge forth to intercept them.
(https://i.imgur.com/vpdf9pc.jpg)
"Hold!" I exclaimed as I looked at our motley group. Several of the military look like they are spoiling for a fight.
"Patience! An opening will soon reveal itself. For now we wait!"
The war dogs engage, but hardly make even a dent in their numbers as the goblins continue to pour in. From my vantage point, I count about 50 heads, and more are appearing over the sand dunes. Several trolls and goblins break away from the main group, overcome by the terror of the war hounds.
(https://i.imgur.com/Bbi0bgL.jpg)
"Strategist! The dogs are getting slaughtered out there! Shouldn't we reinforce them?"
(https://i.imgur.com/jp5fxS3.jpg)
"We need to buy time for us to muster our full forces." I retorted. But inwardly, I wanted to say that that was the whole point, to get the damn dogs slaughtered.
I notice that several dogs and goblins have fallen off the ledge and are fighting out in the empty moat beneath.
(https://i.imgur.com/dbVUghA.jpg)
I make a mental note not to engage foes on the bridge when the magma moat is filled. I send a small detachment of 3 dwarves, the light dikes and the cobalt charms to deal with them from the northeast pass. The war bear of De tags along far behind. Several of the farmers take a peek at all the commotion as they go about their business.
(https://i.imgur.com/sAWt1nQ.jpg)
3rd Hematite 205
The rain had begun to drizzle down from the skies, when I spot an opening in their ranks. The goblin vanguard had pushed themselves too far forward, and now a gap appears between them and the main force that is still hanging behind on the plateau.
"There's the opening! Now everyone charge!" I hollered. The dwarves rush forward, eager to engage.
Edem the Macelord, Besmar the Swordmaster and Solon our Military Commander comprise the vanguard, crashing into the goblin ranks on Idar Gulnas. Edem enters a martial trance as they break into the goblin ranks.
(https://i.imgur.com/2jWurZL.jpg)
Using the war dogs to wear down the vanguard was a good idea, they are exhausted from having to fight off the dogs and are in no condition to face off against fresh troops with good gear to boot. They are swept away in an instant. Two birds with one stone!
Atir the warbear, being a great climber and all, manages to find a slope to climb down and engages one of the goblins down in the moat.
(https://i.imgur.com/TIceGan.jpg)
Looks like the marksdwarves do not have any ammunition, they charge headlong into battle before I could stop them. Obok Kolkir, one of the marksdwarves dodges a flurry of blows and falls down into the empty moat where a crowd of goblins await. He is quickly overwhelmed and beaten unconscious.
(https://i.imgur.com/LkhxBDd.jpg)
Sibrek quickly jumps over the ledge and tries to fight them off. Obok quickly succumbs to asphyxiation, choked to death by a goblin wrestler.
(https://i.imgur.com/dTWCtIz.jpg)
(http://blob:https://imgur.com/ab75c723-70a7-4bbe-b72f-aa9633be5327)
Meanwhile, Sibrek finds himself in trouble but holds his own against several foes.
(https://i.imgur.com/JrADOgW.jpg)
Sarrak clambers over the ledge clumsily to aid him and ends up stunned on the floor. He shakes away the disorientation and enters a martial trance, lashing out at several nearby foes.
(https://i.imgur.com/L7o79py.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/OQPTOlP.jpg)
Meanwhile, the main force has managed to put away the trolls that have gathered on the bridge. Solon enters a martial trance as more trolls appear to take their place.
(https://i.imgur.com/jLYNDbE.jpg)
Stukos and Tosid are knocked off the bridge, and quickly join their companions down below. They make short work of the remaining goblins and trolls that lurk below. Looks like the situation is under control there. The goblins are quickly being routed topside on the east end. I bark out orders over the din to De and the others at the northeast end to take and hold the northeast side to prevent any goblins from escaping in that direction. Likot and Bomrek enter a martial trance as the military push forward in our rout of the remaining invading forces.
(https://i.imgur.com/Lxz48Jk.jpg)
4th Hematite 205
De finally comes up from the north east pass and chases the remaining cowardly troll right back on the plateau, slaying him. De mops up, killing the remaining goblin that had been detained by a pair of surviving war dogs.
(https://i.imgur.com/OMHZaEy.jpg)
I quickly left the spot I was surveying the battle from to retrieve the corpse of Obok, who was the only dwarf to have fallen in battle. I felt responsible as I had stupidly sent in the marksdwarves without ammo. I blame myself for being not much of a decision maker.
(https://i.imgur.com/kqjYG5k.jpg)
(http://blob:https://imgur.com/4c048bac-eb55-4086-961e-59491f1cb323)
As I strode onto the battlefield, I counted the casualties.
(https://i.imgur.com/VTilLxm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WavkUAA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2LewVxu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EHOcwdY.jpg)
The broken bodies of 21 trolls and 45 goblins lay dead on the sand dunes of the Desert of Dreams, where dreams and aspirations go to perish.
-----Chronicles of Tumult and Construction-----
4th Hematite 205
I don't really feel anything other than a grim sense of satisfaction at a scheme well pulled off. There are very few dogs left, but there are still many puppies around that need to be gelded. Curse these wretched curs!
As I made my way back to the fortress towing Obok's corpse, I heard a commotion coming from the depths of the main building.
(https://i.imgur.com/DNo5lsI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3e9zTKO.jpg)
Atir gets smacked around somewhat but receives only bruises. After regaining her composure, she becomes very pissed off and stomps off to see Asmoth and report the troublemaker.
(https://i.imgur.com/zbacQ4Y.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/otjyLFv.jpg)
But that was only the beginning of our troubles. Litast grabs hold of a gander and waves it around. Then she punches Urist the brewer in the hand, and picks on a poor stray alpaca, smacking it around the head.
(https://i.imgur.com/N3mPxi0.jpg)
5th Hematite 205
Litast is starting another fistfight!
(https://i.imgur.com/QQI1VNe.jpg)
Risen the Chief Medical Dwarf is the target this time. Atir who only got attacked just yesterday, decides to be a good Samaritan and help Risen to the hospital. Risen is pretty furious though. She wants to report Litast for trying to sabotage the fortress.
(https://i.imgur.com/aECknCM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IFwxS3v.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9mXFuoO.jpg)
There were many eye witnesses to that last fight, and they all go seeking Asmoth for justice. Looks like Asmoth is going to have her hands full. This is just horrible and totally unproductive, well at least you can say that they are responsible citizens that care about the safety of their homes.
(https://i.imgur.com/Nb1sjzF.jpg)
Even as they make their way to Asmoth's quarters, Litast manages to find another victim. She throws a pig tail fiber glove at Collin and tries to smack him around, but Collin manages to flee. She tries to give chase, but the child is fast and runs away screaming for help.
(https://i.imgur.com/oUVHdNm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/EyoAOsz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GwaTrFV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/D4mrXU4.jpg)
Litast finally manages to calm down after that long chase and immediately starts regretting everything that has transpired. She feels guilty but I doubt that will ease her pain. Hopefully this will be the end of her episode, but I fear more is to come. What a wretched way to pass the days!
(https://i.imgur.com/M8OWQnb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IvfMCgv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/76qQNb8.jpg)
With all this malingering going on, I'm forced to take the military off training to assist with the corpse hauling. We cannot have the corpses disrupt trading this season.
Meanwhile, the mayor has her hands full trying to cope with all the complaints coming in.
(http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a580/JunHagane/Murderflood%20II/Summer%20205/Zefon%20is%20fed%20up%20with%20everything_zps1iftiy8r.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/T1qtML2.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KC83Otv.jpg)
Once she is done with Logem, she takes a break in her office, munching on some biscuits only for Litast to barge in and start crying all over her while she tries to relax. I'm afraid she will not get any chance for some peace and quiet for quite awhile yet.
(https://i.imgur.com/Kzi0Wmw.jpg)
Gwolfsky comes up to me and requests to be elevated to the nobility, he looks earnest so I quickly went to check the records. Sadly I had to inform him that we have not reached the proper requisites to even be considered a barony. Taupe manages to catch wind of all this and stomps in admonishing Gwolfsky harshly, all the while glancing over at the direction of the Captain of the Guard's tower and remarking aloud,
"We have enough scheming dwarves as it is, we certainly don't need another."
Pyrotechno passes by all the commotion, hauling some copper bars to be made into shields and mail shirts and shakes his head in disapproval.
(https://i.imgur.com/re47JZz.jpg)
Well after all that commotion, at least we were able to get some work done, relocating all the damn corpses further underground and out of sight.
(https://i.imgur.com/3fycynL.jpg)
16th Hematite 205
A human caravan from Usmenbehal has arrived. We spotted them coming in from the southwest corner.
(https://i.imgur.com/eMRTKEj.jpg)
Conditions look to be rather safe for trading, only the dog corpses are left on the bridge and plateau. I order all the various spoils of war lying about to be hauled to the trade depot for trading. The caravan slowly meanders its way across the southeast edge. I hope they are not spooked by the dog corpses, we sorely need their goods and services.
(https://i.imgur.com/YnoaeYK.jpg)
17th Hematite 205
Edzul Ellestolin has been re-elected as mayor. Meanwhile, Litast has been moping all over the damn place. I have absolutely no faith she will make any sort of recovery whatsoever but I'll withhold convicting her for the 6 counts of disorderly conduct and 1 count of vandalism out of pity.
(https://i.imgur.com/yIG6LHZ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Yhq0nl9.jpg)
23rd Hematite 205
Adil Lokumistbar has grown to become a peasant.
(https://i.imgur.com/NJ1l79c.jpg)
He seems competent enough to hold a spot in the military, but since we need farmers badly, I'll let him pick up some skill as a farmer, before drafting the little runt.
2nd Malachite 205
We traded for some clay, wood, glass, sand, cloth, leather, food and iron supplies to melt down. I traded away the wooden crossbows and shields cause eugh, those materials remind me of elves.
5th Malachite 205
The natural fauna of the Desert of Dreams can be beautiful and rather deadly at the same time. A Giant Gila Monster was lounging about on the eastern plateau, and was disrupting hauling by scaring away the haulers. But Shorast and Haerdalas II came to the rescue. Meanwhile, a herd of Ibex saunter about nonchalantly in the chalky wastelands to the northeast. They are majestic creatures, but unless they want to be made into biscuits I'll prefer if they stayed away from the dikes.
10th Malachite 205
Urdim Udisturdim has risen and is haunting the fortress! This is most unpleasant. There is no record of his remains being found. I wonder how he died?
(https://i.imgur.com/tzYrNa1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/N9lp0SJ.jpg)
14th Malachite 205
The ghost of Urdim has been put to rest. Turns out he died from traps. Huh. These shoddy trap makers don't know how to set the triggers properly, I'll have to screen the defenses for faulty engineering.
(https://i.imgur.com/rbF16JK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/u1EnFc0.jpg)
16th Malachite 205
We have attracted a grand total of 0 migrants this season. Not surprising given the state of affairs here, though I seriously doubt it could be any better out there. I heard rumors that we are currently at war with not one but two goblin civilizations. With the trading wrapped up, the human merchants departed on their way. I bid them bring more supplies next year and we'll have a healthy profit waiting for them.
19th Malachite 205
Not much to report, there is much work to be done. Though I heard Edem has grown attached to his ☼silver mace☼.
(https://i.imgur.com/zIwOUeC.jpg)
21st Malachite 205
(https://i.imgur.com/Bzg2XQw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/b68HxAE.jpg)
A rumbling noise is heard over the wastes as an enormous one-eyed rhinoceros beetle comes into view over the north eastern wastelands. It begins harassing the herd of Ibex in the northeast. Seeing as its distracted, I take the opportunity to muster the military.
(https://i.imgur.com/M0mt4Zd.jpg)
After mauling the ibex, it begins chasing ostriches, so I sent the military out in a spread formation to attempt to surround the beast.
(https://i.imgur.com/KhxXNuy.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BY3oFrC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HalDlk3.jpg)
I wonder how everyone feels about beetle roasts?
(https://i.imgur.com/fCbzta8.jpg)
11th Galena 205
In some freak accident, Mudmen have somehow destroyed the locked door leading to Flame II's contraption. How could they have managed to break the door down? I lock the remaining door before the commotion draws any more unwanted attention from the undead denizens of the depths.
(https://i.imgur.com/NsL10IR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WuQTjKp.jpg)
16th Galena 205
I've been busy as of late, personally overseeing the construction of the magma pumpstack. Things are going according to schedule, I might have magma pumping into our dikes before the end of the year.
(https://i.imgur.com/zTt3pdz.jpg)
Most of the fortress is preoccupied with putting up the outer walls of the magma dike, having finished up most of the hauling duties.
(https://i.imgur.com/fwY2x77.jpg)
But I have good news to break! Miners that have been delving in search of a spot for the magma drain have found another vein of adamantine!
(https://i.imgur.com/GYpXLJs.jpg)
We have also found hematite veins, but they are buried deep beneath the magma and it would be difficult to extricate them at the moment. Disappointing, but its better than nothing at all.
(https://i.imgur.com/fiiclRa.jpg)
As for the magma drain, it looks like the original design will have to be amended somewhat, but it is no big deal. The fortress has been busy this entire month trying to haul all the crap that has been left outside, and now that it is done we can focus on other important tasks.
(https://i.imgur.com/c01k6wR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SdZZvBU.jpg)
25th Galena 205
The other walls of the magma dike are complete! I order all the dog, goblin and troll corpses that have been lying about to be dumped.
Autumn has arrived on the calendar.
-----Birth and Renewal in the Desert of Dreams-----
1st Limestone 205
(https://i.imgur.com/PFFvCyT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AD97I4i.jpg)
7th Limestone 205
There has been some delay in the planning, some adjustments were needed. I've discovered that some of the mechanical components were not magma safe, so they will need to be dismantled and rebuilt. Looks like I will have to forgo using granite for the levers. Thankfully things have not gone along too far, so the situation is reversible.
(https://i.imgur.com/bYOqADY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dKsxJEG.jpg)
I was tasked with finding clay by Taupe so we could make bricks and pots. But I've observed that the clay that is on the surface is not usable for such purposes. The only usable clay I have found lies down in the bottom of the lake, near the northern regions.
(https://i.imgur.com/3KtyqEQ.jpg)
I'll discuss this further with the miners and determine a good location for digging.
Because of the location of the magma dike, the previous well that drew water from the lake will become unusable. I have taken this into account in my calculations and I will be making plans to dig out another cistern to draw out water from the caverns instead. I've had an ominous feeling about the lake for sometime now, and I'll rather we stay away from it entirely if possible.
11th Limestone 205
The miners have struck a clay deposit near the northern edge. As the prospecting pointed out, we had to dig down to find it. A clay collection point has been made to utilize this resource, and soon we'll have clay pots to accommodate our growing food stocks.
(https://i.imgur.com/pb2s5mB.jpg)
Recently there has been much discussion among the populace regarding proper living conditions, or rather the lack of them. I don't understand how this is the case, I've refurnished the empty rooms in the main building as personal bedrooms and allocated them to the populace though there are many who still lack their own rooms. I've even stocked up on soap supplies to improve our hospital. No matter, I'll task Blitz Gamer with cooking more lavish meals in hopes that that will stifle the complaints.
(https://i.imgur.com/UVAqskC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zqQ5RO6.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/btZRVmD.jpg)
Though it seems some of us have instead chosen to take advantage of the situation to pilfer some soap, ridding themselves of the dirt and grime that has been accumulating on their bodies for these past few years. Looks like I'll need to order more soap made.
(https://i.imgur.com/BPDF4Wq.jpg)
12th Limestone 205
Our scouts report that some figures have been spotted approaching our position from the south.
(https://i.imgur.com/QVLKeEZ.jpg)
Seems like the merchants from Edandatan have arrived with the trade caravan in tow. The dwarves crowd around the main gate to get a better look at the spectacle. An aged looking dwarf separates himself from the convoy and introduces himself as,
(https://i.imgur.com/veIEp6E.jpg)
A surprised gasp comes from within the crowd. Haerdalas II is surprised to see her father accompanying the trade caravan and makes her way past the crowd to see him.
(https://i.imgur.com/d1cxCe7.jpg)
"Father! Where have you been! I was worried, you and the rest of our family were supposed to have met up with us here at Murderflood after I had set out with my husband first. It's been years now, so I had thought you were all..."
"I'm sorry to have had you worry for this old dwarf. But as you can see, I've been alright. How have you been my daughter?"
(https://i.imgur.com/4y6mneS.jpg)
I leave them to their little family reunion so that they will have some time for bonding.
16th Limestone 205
I make my way up the tower to await Vucar at the mayors office. I'm expecting some news to arrive. The three of us sit down to discuss matters.
(https://i.imgur.com/SOKC0co.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8yryBwN.jpg)
The atmosphere was tense as we gathered for discussion.
"How bad is the situation out there in the east?" I enquired.
(https://i.imgur.com/oYWiZLN.jpg)
We sat in silence for a moment to let is soak in. Looks like there's been a major shift in the balance of power out east. I excused myself and left the mayors office so that I could be alone to take it all in, and I bade the mayor place a large order of goods with Vucar. These mainly comprise of wood, leather, various cloth, weapon grade metal ores and bars as well as various colored magma safe stone. I also bade him order some steel anvils, battle axes, picks and musical instruments for melting, along with some gypsum plaster, some fire clay and rare yellow diamonds if she could.
With that out of the way, discussions moved on towards forging a trade agreement between the two.
(https://i.imgur.com/44H3iEQ.jpg)
Before he left, Vucar approached me discreetly with a package that he was tasked to hand to me by a former acquaintance. He whispered that it was for my eyes only and of the utmost importance. I thanked him and we bid farewell to Vucar as he strode off into the distance.
(https://i.imgur.com/87YWQX3.jpg)
I knew the situation was dire, but I'm still struggling to cope with the reality of it all. My guild mates in the mechanic's association here gave some words of advice in hopes that it'll help cheer me up a little.
(https://i.imgur.com/zf6CvCf.jpg)
21st Limestone 205
I've heard that Kogsak and Zuglar have grown to become dwarf children. I congratulated them on their first birthday, and wished them well.
Meanwhile, I've observed that Adil the Glassmaker has been behaving rather peculiarly lately.
(https://i.imgur.com/UVx8nvz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4apHcyD.jpg)
22nd Limestone 205
Adil shuts himself within a magma glass furnace and begins sketching frantically on the walls. Ugh, not more vandalism please, I've had quite enough of that with Litast already. I don't need another trouble maker.
(https://i.imgur.com/qlvOaxU.jpg)
I made some minor adjustments to the food stockpiles, removing the seeds from the main food stockpile and separating them into several stockpiles around the farms for easy access. That way, we'll be able to keep track of what we are short of with a mere glance, and the farmers would not need to run back and forth to retrieve the seeds for planting.
27th Limestone 205
Adil has stopped scrawling on the walls and has instead begun working secretly on something.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ha3KLH6.jpg)
The mayor has been thoroughly preoccupied with tending to the various complainers that have sprung up. As she is the broker, I have not been able to get any trade conducted. Being frustrated with the situation, I held a recruitment drive to appoint a new broker.
(https://i.imgur.com/Srkl9Yi.jpg)
"You seem competent, but I'll rather we be straightforward. Besides, how would I know if you were not lying to our own kind instead? Next!"
(https://i.imgur.com/Kv1JcgS.jpg)
"I think you are applying for the wrong position. Military barracks are down the hall. Next!"
(https://i.imgur.com/CaBWagc.jpg)
"Now that attitude just won't do. Next!"
(https://i.imgur.com/wVfHcE7.jpg)
"Well, go be important somewhere else. Next!"
(https://i.imgur.com/7PJtJBX.jpg)
"Why yes you seem perfectly suited for the job, except that you are way too young for work. Come back in 10 years time. Next!"
(https://i.imgur.com/y7RryIq.jpg)
"You seem like a prudent and efficient person, but I don't know..."
*pokes head out of office*
"Are there any more candidates?"
"... Right then."
*goes back to office*
"You're hired! Welcome on board!"
With the power vested in me, I appoint Nujux as broker. I hope all goes well.
3rd Sandstone 205
The magma drainage system for the magma dike has been constructed. But there remains much work to do before the magma pump stack is fully operational.
(https://i.imgur.com/8QdZDrm.jpg)
4th Sandstone 205
First time broker Nujux made a successful trade despite being inexperienced. Must be the copious amounts of prepared meals and old clothing we prepared for trading. He still hasn't picked up the art of appraising yet, though I suppose he will learn on the job soon enough. We now have the steel and iron supplies we need, as well as a replenishment of food and drink stocks, a bunch of wood, clay and even barrels.
Down in the forges, Adil triumphantly emerges from the magma glass furnace towing a green glass floodgate, Mokezsokan Bukčtlolor, Cagephrased the Quick Letter.
(https://i.imgur.com/TPI4ge0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZjGTN41.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8BSdt06.jpg)
Plain looking, but I suppose it might come in handy.
Up on the surface, my suspicions about the lake were confirmed.
(https://i.imgur.com/uoWjvw0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NWAA2aX.jpg)
5th Sandstone 205
The vile mist has subsided, it wasn't able to drift inwards beyond the dike walls for which I am glad. I'll have the scouts pay more attention to the lake just in case. Meanwhile, Pyrotechno has been making a good amount of wondrous silver statues. I ordered a couple of them placed at the front gates, so that all the visitors that come by may admire his handiwork.
6th Sandstone 205
I've finalized the layout plans for a new well that draws water from the caverns. Now that I've seen the foul mist that emanates from the lake from time to time, I trust it even less and I would not hazard any of us approaching it. There's no telling what the mist might do or what is going to wash up in your drink.
Also, with consideration of the amount of magma that will need to be moved, and the possibility that the magma will dry up long before filling the magma dikes, I've designated some floodgates so we can periodically flood the magma dike in stages. Thankfully we have enough obsidian now from excavating the magma cistern that constructing the parts for these won't be much of a problem. I'll get started on these right away.
(https://i.imgur.com/KqTRijb.jpg)
13th Sandstone 205
(https://i.imgur.com/D7wgK8i.jpg)
A patter of rain drops from the skies. The desert comes to life as white baby toe flowers and yellow pebble plant flowers react to the moisture, coming to bloom. I'm much encouraged by the sight. It just goes to show that life endures and flourishes despite the harsh conditions of the desert; a fine example for us to follow. The flowers bloom especially densely in the needle grass. I'm no nature sympathizer, but even I am a little moved at this sudden transformation of a bleak and barren landscape.
The merchants take this moment to leave, amidst the blooming fields of flowers. What a send off party.
(https://i.imgur.com/jQJzgeq.jpg)
15th Sandstone 205
Scouts have alerted me that another vile cloud of mist has drifted nearby.
(https://i.imgur.com/FvMHcyK.jpg)
I put the scouts on high alert as the mist drifts close by to the new spot for the well where a lot of hauling is going on. But for now, the mist is content lingering beyond the reach of the magma dike walls. Well, enough observation for now. I must hurry and expedite the building of the magma pump stack!
21st Sandstone 205
The water cistern is being excavated and floored over. Sadly, the flowers have ceased blooming. Their fleeting moment of glory has now past, and the desert sands return to a mundane drab grey. But their moment of glory will come again!
(https://i.imgur.com/DyEelIr.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hrzgL1n.jpg)
25th Sandstone 205
Dodok Udosimush Ghostly Weaver has risen and is haunting the fortress!
(https://i.imgur.com/dyH2KNs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7UECid0.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YtOU3Vm.jpg)
Perusing the fortress records, I determined that Dodok perished in the ill-fated caverns expedition a year ago. I can still see what remains of her corpse just beyond the walls and I'm afraid it will not be retrievable anytime soon. I'll just have to have her memorialized for now.
1st Timber 205
Much like Urist, I've been growing nervous and anxious as of late. Seems like it is as I feared, we might be the last of our kind, stuck here in this forsaken wasteland.
(https://i.imgur.com/B6NLJLD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KOwydeJ.jpg)
Is everyone else dead out there? Could it be that we narrowly eluded disaster by moving out to this out of the way place? Did the old queen know all along that it would turn out this way? Was this part of her plan?
3rd Timber 205
As if in response to the lack of migrants, the fortress is suddenly awash with new arrivals. Thob has given birth to a boy, Ablel Alathrigoth.
(https://i.imgur.com/GBgiDsV.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RvJzCnQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vedHb6N.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uQ2Ww11.jpg)
Congratulations! Looks like Ablel will be a good candidate for being a military dwarf many years down the line, as he dreams of becoming a legendary warrior.
4th Timber 205
Great news! We have managed to find flux deposits!
(https://i.imgur.com/FZBfi96.jpg)
Turns out its located at the north east side of the chalky plains, buried beneath all the sandy clay. The miners came upon this discovery while digging for a drainage pipe for the new well. I'll order the miners to mine these deposits out once we are done with the magma dike and well preparations.
7th Timber 205
Preparations are almost ready for the magma cistern to be filled.
(https://i.imgur.com/MwpFLRu.jpg)
I've ordered the miners to chip away at the walls obstructing the magma flow into the cistern. I can't help but feel excited at the prospect of having magma at our disposal to do with as we will.
(https://i.imgur.com/LceDcMb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GydVXV1.jpg)
10th Timber 205
With a pull of the lever, glorious magma begins flowing into the magma cistern. *fist pump* The design is a success!
(https://i.imgur.com/GJthXyY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JjPbuVh.jpg)
11th Timber 205
More newcomers arrive in the form of new births; Bomrek has given birth to a baby girl.
(https://i.imgur.com/KDmwyjw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gdDRrdm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kyCg5ex.jpg)
Congratulations are in order! Likot Armorquests seems to be another good military candidate.
14th Timber 205
Dodok, Ghostly Weaver has been put to rest. Sleep well, one of these days we shall avenge your death.
(https://i.imgur.com/uwXZKcd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/l6RxMu7.jpg)
25th Timber 205
More children are born into the fort. Tobul Unibinod, the Hunter has given birth to a boy!
(https://i.imgur.com/TMWVfgh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VBcqoUG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nLeCoIb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/yKNQTpp.jpg)
So many baby showers going on! When it rains, it pours. Obok Tradeshowers seems to be a suitable military candidate, being able to handle stress. With the hauling duties mostly done, I send a small portion of the fortress to prime the magma pumps.
Meanwhile, everyone else will be flooring over the water cisterns to prevent tree growth from clogging up the cistern.
(https://i.imgur.com/6Tx0VGR.jpg)
28th Timber 205
The magma pump stack has been completed.
(https://i.imgur.com/HtWfcnb.jpg)
Though there has been much talk among the populace of what else we can put it to use for, I choose to focus on the practical side of the matter. Its good enough that we even have it as a tool to use at our disposal, so let's not spoil the occasion with talks of fancy self destruct devices and what not. I know it is hard to suppress our dwarfish desires, but there is no need to rush. After all, we're still pretty well off for now.
(https://i.imgur.com/hOx9ui2.jpg)
All that is left is for the magma dike separator to be linked up. Litast the troublemaker takes up the job to render the magma pump stack operational.
(https://i.imgur.com/x9gEppX.jpg)
I had chosen her to do the honors, for this will be her chance at redemption for all the trouble she had caused these past few seasons. I hope she does not betray my trust in her by throwing a tantrum in the lever room and rendering all our hard work moot. Right Litast?
(https://i.imgur.com/Kh3xFgW.jpg)
Winter has arrived on the calendar.
-----Foundation of Magma and Fire-----
1st Moonstone 205
I feel a change in the air. Winter comes in the Desert of Dreams, though it is different here than in the frozen lands to the east where I come from. The relentless sun continues to blaze overhead, though the dryness of the air is relieved by the arrival of sporadic seasonal monsoon rains.
No, perhaps it is more accurate to say that this feeling of change comes from the progress we have made. This past year, I've been busy trying to lay a stable foundation for the Channels of Melting; a foundation fueled by magma and the fires of industry. With the magma pump stack fully operational, the power of dwarven engineering is at our grasp. But it is not enough, I have to look towards bolstering other areas that I deem are still weak. A day of reckoning is on the horizon, and we will need all that we can muster to withstand it.
But for now we shall put another foot forward.
With magma cremation possible, the old refuse pit on the surface has been rendered obsolete. I'm having it dismantled and the pit floored over. The levers will also have to go.
5th Moonstone 205
The lake may have its share of horrible secrets, but nothing will come of it if we only avoid it in fear. We have to force it to yield its bounty by delving deep. Already our miners are hard at work excavating the flux deposits beneath the lake.
(https://i.imgur.com/CF2Oqb0.jpg)
Conveniently, the flux deposits utilize the same route as the clay collection. Soon we shall strike down our foes with cold unyielding dwarven steel. I've commissioned a full implement of steel weaponry to replace the old stores. I can already hear some of the veterans protesting, arguing that the old gear is still serviceable. Bah! Their foolish sentiments cloud their thinking. In time, they will come to appreciate these new weapons as much as the old.
(https://i.imgur.com/yyzqw2h.jpg)
11th Moonstone 205
Still, we have to pay the price for progress. Tantrums abound as more infighting goes on. Zon! Zon! Was my show of clemency futile? I am already regretting my decision to spare Litast. Her wretched ways are getting to be a nuisance.
(https://i.imgur.com/bUemug1.jpg)
13th Moonstone 205
Most of the flooring orders for the well have been completed. We now have enough manpower freed up to operate the magma pumpstack. We don't have any elven or goblin captives for the ritual ceremonial sacrifices, so I have instead prepared 3 dogs and a keg of dwarven rum to appease the gods.
(http://i.imgur.com/zuJs8bv.gif)
Excellent, everything is going according to plan.
(https://i.imgur.com/qrXoswG.jpg)
19th Moonstone 205
With the magma dikes filling, I order the water cisterns in the caverns to be filled.
(https://i.imgur.com/FsG55Nu.jpg)
3rd Opal 205
A newly forged set of steel weaponry has been handed out to our veterans to replace their old ones. 4 ☼steel swords☼, 2 ☼steel battle axes☼ and 2 ☼steel spears☼. More will come in the days to follow.
14th Opal 205
With the southern magma dike nearing full capacity, I ordered the rest of the inner magma dike walls to be completed so we can proceed with filling the other sections.
(https://i.imgur.com/gjgQfJn.jpg)
17th Opal 205
The magma dike is filling along nicely and soon we should be able to switch to another section to fill.
(https://i.imgur.com/33XTmLm.jpg)
26th Opal 205
The inner dike walls are complete, as well as construction for the well. I order the water to be brought up into into the new well cistern.
(https://i.imgur.com/syYWr2J.jpg)
3rd Obsidian 205
The 1st magma dike section is filled, so I decide to let everyone take a break. Time to see to moving the forges above ground. I've decided to dismantle one of the farming areas and use it as a magma cistern for the forges. This should speed up future melting efforts by quite a bit.
(https://i.imgur.com/aspcheK.jpg)
12th Obsidian 205
I have reports from our furnace operators that some odd rumblings were heard down in the cavern layers, they report that it was different from the usual shambling of feet by the undead. Meanwhile, preparations are complete to fill the forge cistern.
(https://i.imgur.com/FOll2et.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TL0jMAJ.jpg)
While waiting for the forges to fill to capacity, I took the time to have a look around the fortress.
(https://i.imgur.com/f8VCe2f.jpg)
Wandering the halls, I came upon engravings of the symbols of our civilization and government. Ah yes, I'm reminded that I'm no longer a part of Lînemenur. This place is home now.
(https://i.imgur.com/FEJUprs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/of80Inx.jpg)
I pondered over that last engraving 'The Destined Work' for a while, as my thoughts began to coalesce. Yes, perhaps all this was preordained. Perhaps Boardsomber was destined to fall, and we are destined to succeed it. I continued on, poring over another engraving depicting the settling of this land, and I'm reminded of all the hardships we had to endure to get to this point. There was still a long way to go before we could succeed Boardsomber as the mountainhome.
(https://i.imgur.com/jZbOcAf.jpg)
Next I came into a hall where the statues of our pioneers were arranged tastefully. I took a good look at all their faces, and sighed in melancholy as I was reminded of our fragility and our mortality. Two remain out of the original seven. In the tough times ahead, could they be counted on to lead us?
(https://i.imgur.com/3SfhAMa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TfQ7l9v.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JRqNLRk.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/k3eCby4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dhGkSCw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NouYNCa.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/aNb7Mt6.jpg)
I moved on to the next hall and as I gazed at the statues arranged there, a sense of foreboding came over me. Averting my gaze, I quickly moved on.
(https://i.imgur.com/1KxYQUN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/z3ru4jx.jpg)
I moved on and as I looked at the statues, I'm reminded that our progress has come at a cost. Many lives were put to the grinder, trampled upon in order for us to secure a foothold here in the Desert of Dreams.
(https://i.imgur.com/8AMk27Y.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NjJpUAp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pUdls2Z.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/g9HdmX0.jpg)
I moved on from the hall, feeling solemn and rather disturbed.
(https://i.imgur.com/udrq6Gt.jpg)
I made my way to the unfinished temple complex, housing the shrines of the various deities here. I made a quick prayer to the various deities enshrined here, but I could not find my own patron deities; Zan and Cog. Most ominous, are my kind not welcome here? I gazed at the statues of the other deities and implored them for guidance instead.
(https://i.imgur.com/HCwda8e.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RuvR0Yz.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MK9fORm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MK9fORm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/i7Q5JoH.jpg)
I am humbled but I remain optimistic. Through perseverance and sacrifice we have managed to triumph over adversity.
(https://i.imgur.com/mzk54qU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XrT7118.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kPaQ97a.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XhBMlV3.jpg)
We shall not falter, for this is only the laying of a foundation. There will be more challenges ahead,
(https://i.imgur.com/ebRKyok.jpg)
24th Obsidian 205
Litast was spotted inside the forge chambers that were still filling with magma. I have no idea how she got there, but I have a bad feeling about this.
(https://i.imgur.com/CCp20US.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zz94f7J.jpg)
I don't know if I can act quickly enough to save the wretch, as there is still danger of magma overflow. Despite these interruptions, I've begun the procedure to fill another section of the magma dike.
(https://i.imgur.com/V1ktMUr.jpg)
My term as overseer draws to a close as I make my way up to the mayor's office to submit the overseer logbook.
(https://i.imgur.com/YV3QJ2J.jpg)
Maybe now I'll have the time to pore over the package that the outpost liaison handed me last season? I signed off on the official documents, as I watched the mayor interview the next prospective overseer.
(https://i.imgur.com/mb2lQia.jpg)
Spring has arrived on the calendar.
SAVE IS HERE: Click Me! (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11281)
(Same as the previous link)
"Again," I say, watching Azula from behind my desk. She was standing with her hands clasped behind her back, with no sign of annoyance in spite of her being quizzed on the political upheaval for the past two hours. She had a lot of promise.
"Our general is Tirist Shoremanors," she said, her voice full of interest in spite of the boredom in her eyes. "Appointed to the position in the late Spring of 205 by the newly elected queen, Zasit Woundblue. Originally from Boardsomber, she moved to Veilmanor in 200 and was there during the Bloody Assault of 201. Aside from that, she has no military experience that we know of, so it’s unclear why she was appointed to the position. We do know that she is the sister of Zuglarkun III, granddaughter of Haerdalas I and niece of Crazy Urist, but there’s no reason to believe that this affected her appointment.”
(http://i.imgur.com/wPVpGUI.png)
I nod, glancing at notes in front of me.
(http://i.imgur.com/zF0pdhu.png)
“Now the queen,” I prompt, running my fingers through my hair and pulling it back into a tight ponytail. I’d considered cutting it off altogether to avoid having to stuff it down the back of my neck in battle, but it was considered unfashionable by visiting nobles. Nobles were even stupider than peasants sometimes. Most times to be honest. It was why I’d gotten as far as I had.
Azula closes her eyes briefly, then recites: “Zasit Woundblue became queen after Obok Constructrazor’s death in 205. She was originally from Scribedglaze, moving to Brandgears at the age of fourteen in 72 to become a ranger, then a mercenary almost thirty years later. She worked as a sellsword for just over a hundred years, though she doesn’t seem to have taken part in any battles during this time. In 203, Zasit became the outpost liaison of the Stirred Irons, using this influence to become the mayor of Brandgears later that year. Even though the title was essentially an empty honour after the conquering of Brandgears by the Thief of Curls that same year, the position allowed Zassit to be a viable candidate and eventually secure the monarchy.”
(http://i.imgur.com/kci5SbC.png)
“Good. Could any other factors have aided her in that achievement?”
“She’s a member of a cult that worships the Shigós Washedrawness the Plain Gill of Mosses, but we don’t know whether they wield enough influence to act as a kingmaker. Given the amount of damage that the titan has done over the years, it would be foolish to discount it as a factor, though.”
(http://i.imgur.com/RK77F69.png)
“Of course,” I nod. “You’re tired, aren’t you?”
Azula hesitates for a moment. She’s probably wondering if this is a trap of some sort, but decides to go with honesty anyway. “Yes. I don’t see why this is all so important. And Morgan doesn’t have to do it!”
“She will when she’s older. I want you two to be able to get whatever you want, and the best way to get people to give you what you want is to know what they want. And to know what they want, you have to understand them. For example, I’ll let you go play if you tell me who could inherit the throne should our queen suffer an unfortunate accident.”
The girl sucks her lower lip, thinking. “She has three living children,” she says eventually. “The eldest, Vucar Urgewheels, seems to be a reasonable heir. He has three living children though only one, Haerdalas II, is a viable inheritor of the crown since the other two were abducted by goblins as children. Zasit’s also appointed him as the outpost liaison when she became mayor of Boardsomber, which means she either trusts him or wants him to get more experience in dealing with the political realm. Illral Mirrorsqueeze might be her choice in spite of being younger, since he also worships Shígos. Her third child was abducted in infancy.
(http://i.imgur.com/StGAG8f.png)
“Besides children, she has three living siblings. Tekkud Landglazed is her elder, but his wife got abducted by a gloom man, so people think he’s cursed. Then there’s Humphrey Cactusson, but I’d rule him out by reason of insanity. He’d be the best choice from our point of view though, since he lives here and insane people are easy to manipulate. Vutok Lancedcoal seems like her most likely choice behind Vucar, since Zasit’s appointed her as our diplomat. It’s possible that Vutok is her first choice as well, since she chose Vucar as her replacement when she became a mayor rather than a royal. She might not have had anything bigger in mind for him at the time.”
(http://i.imgur.com/Vk3kqg8.png)
I smile, impressed at her memory. “Well done. You can go, but make sure to look after your sister-” I continue talking over the groaning “- and stay away from the walls! I can’t have you getting turned into a dwarf roast after all the work you've done!”
Leaning back in my chair, I listen as her footsteps fade away down the stairs. Haerdalas and Humphrey both had children living in the fortress. It might be worth giving Azula a few days free from studying as long as she made sure to talk to them. Powerful friends were useful after all, especially if you were their friend before they were powerful... Even if the throne ended up beyond her reach, Azula was certainly turning into a girl that would be able to accomplish a lot with the friendship of a royal.
OOC: Most of our nobility seems to be related to the queen now for whatever reason. Possibly nepotism, possibly coincidence. I like to think that Zasit is a power hungry usurper like me.
THE GREAT UPDATE
Notable happenings
1. The goblin siege. T'was quite a large siege, over a unit page of goblins and trolls, in a 1troll:1goblin ratio. Nevertheles, the stout military took care of them quickly.
2. Water reactors. Two new water reactors have been constructed, with minor accidents(flooding). Jumpstarting thme will be tricky, but they should provide enough power. Documention:1st reactor(http://i.imgur.com/9Gg5Ez9.png?1)(http://i.imgur.com/RVPezcO.png)
2nd reactor(http://i.imgur.com/wm6cuNu.png?1)(http://i.imgur.com/GHmJEUW.png)
connection stuff(http://i.imgur.com/PIQvz72.png?1)
the axles arent complete yet.
3. My artifact. Lo and behold, for this is Esrelidash Zilirshasad Gidtur, The Bestest Amour Stand Ever!!! And it's made of microcline, too!(http://i.imgur.com/sr68Ypt.png)
4. The great pants Manufacture. Yes, you heard right, mass production of pants! Reason? We
were out of stock!
5 We have exactly one aboveground tree!(http://i.imgur.com/RSttWaL.png)
6 New forge area! Perhaps try walling it off?(http://i.imgur.com/VD3Rgh6.png)
7 Marksdwarf towers over entrance(sorta)(http://i.imgur.com/2IIjrHu.png)
less important stuff
[/font]
1 LAG! I repeat, LAG!!!!
2 Elves came. Traded some shit away for other shit.
3 Isn't our doormat splendid? (http://i.imgur.com/P31i7YW.png)
4 Dug some tunnels towards candy.
5 Deconstructed north bridge, as trolls got in (http://i.imgur.com/vqzUtCf.png)
Very important stuff!
[/font]
1 I have a private tower with an escape system and a secret hideaway!
look at this:(http://i.imgur.com/hYWbw1f.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/yxs5ChX.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/6YvOOka.png)
DONT look at this. Only to be opened when my person and their family have to be evacuated!head down this hach and the stairs in the support and downwards(http://i.imgur.com/3nXEOVo.png?1)(http://i.imgur.com/QEkwuOO.png)
emergency shelter area:(http://i.imgur.com/0rS5vMn.png)
well:(http://i.imgur.com/w3mM8Nj.png)
SAVE: http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11380
i only manged to play up to summer :'(
Thanks all for encouraging words! Sorry I couldn't post the report yesterday. I literally passed out in the evening, as I haven't been sleeping well lately. But here it is:
The Summer update!
------
The Murderflood Overseer Diary
Vuohiparta
203
------
3rd of Hematite
It us just a couple of days since I was appointed as the new overseer of Murderlood, after the premature retirement of Gwolfski. I am to remain in this position until next summer. I began writing this diary, as I've understood it's important to record what events have happened, and what plans have been carried out. And if any doom would fall upon us, at least someone would have a chance to discover what happened. There's a feeling of uncertainty in the air, as the news from the world outside our fort have been troubling lately..
I am not completely sure why the hardy folk here would have me, a miller and now farmer, appointed as an overseer, but I respect their wish and try to do my best to preserve our fortress. I came here as a total stranger, but I feel I've gotten close to some of the people here.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/friends2_zpso1hdkt1i.jpg)
I've drawn some construction plans now. I felt that, now that I am the overseer, it would be imperative to SEE OVER the fort. We do have some tall structures here, but they are mostly claimed by some of our previous overseers. Instead, I'm going to order something every overseer can use, if they wish so. I'm going to order the construction of.. an overseer tower!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/overseertowerfoundation_zpsrcrqrwli.jpg)
The northern bridges need rebuilding too, as they were disassembled after some trolls came through during the last siege. I think a few traps around them will be necessary.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/missing%20bridge_zpserarzy2m.jpg)
I've also heard we've unearthed some of this curious metal called "adamantine". I've never seen it before in my years, but I have heard legends of it. We also appear to have dwarves, who can process these things into a more usable form. I'm planning to set up strand extraction in the bear-containment halls. I'm also encouraging the miners to dig up more adamantine.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/adaman_zpslcp1zphc.jpg)
We're also running out of clothes, so something must be done about it. Apparently, we don't have much material for clothes-making though..
I've also began planning out a construction, which I dare not reveal until it's ready.
I personally think a year would more than suffice to achieve all this. There should be enough time for some other projects as well. Speaking of time, it indeed feels like every day passes slower and slower nowadays. Is it the reakktor, as some claim? Or is it all just in our heads? Nevertheless, I've felt that there's been too much time for thoughts lately.. I have to say I feel anxious about the future. We've been attacked many times already, by goblins, by titans, by the DEAD. We also had this bloody incident involving dwarfs-turned-bears, in which tragically, one of my kin was apparently killed. I believe there's not many of us left.. I haven't yet revealed the reason why we hide our identities. For now, it is for the best. There was one other of us too, he was brutally slaughtered by a giant dead toad in the caverns. Yes, the cursed lake which lies next to us causes foul things to begin roaming down in the depths.. I'm also starting to feel the burden of my years. Sometimes I just cannot stop myself from thinking the fragility of life..
5th
Construction has begun well. Sarvesh tried to haul a block across our water-filled ditch. He dropped it in the ditch and left it there. I lectured him about efficiency. I hope he got the message.
6th
Litast, the nutcase, came across with a blank stare. She didn't quite get what I tried to say to her and just continued stumbling around, like if she was lost. I heard that's quite everything she does nowadays, so I let her carry on.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/litastbeinglitast_zpsmgc5zjea.jpg)
8th
I inspected some of the statues we have waiting in the stockpiles. Some were grim, some quite peculiar. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a confused cactus before in my life.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/history_zpspzls3h7d.jpg~original)
(It seems the picture got corrupted a bit for some reason, sorry for that)
10th
Strand extraction has finally begun!
15th
Litast comes before me in the dining hall and shouts: "Humies!" Ah, so the human caravan has been sighted. And they are by the dozens. I hastily ordered some bins with finished goods and Nujux, our broker, to the depot.
20th
It took quite long for the humans to finish unloading goods. But as they did, Nujux decided to go on a conveniently timed break.
24th
The new overseer tower is starting to look very good. The northern bridges on the other hand remain unbuilt, even though I gave the order ages ago. I tried to find out to whom the task had been assigned. Then I saw someone crawling in the distance, making his way to the bridges. Gwolfski. I immediately went to him and relieved him from all physical labor. Paralyzed dwarves doing construction is not efficient at all! He insisted me to allow him finish his task, so I let him. Determined in spirit, even without functioning legs.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/gwolfsky_zpsgjxp2qnb.jpg)
26th
Our broker Nujux finishes his break. The humans stand and loiter aimlessly around the depot. Nujux goes to bed. The caravan waits.
27th
Due to having only free time, Gwolfski arranged a party at his private bunker. I heard Taupe was the only one who attended. Is this how the relationships of overseers end up being?
28th
Nujux comes out of his quarters. Then Nujux goes on a break again. It think he isn't really fond of humans.
---
4th of Malachite
Nujux arrives at depot. Trading can FINALLY begin. I personally come to marvel at the massive amount of goods the humans brought! Bought leather and cloth to make pants. The situation is nearing critical, as some are already complaining they don't have any clothes anymore.. Bought some different varieties of beer and wine which I believe we don't have. It should cheer people up. Also loads of prepared organs and intestines from exotic animals. Why not? I want to know how a jaguar brain tastes like. And intestines are an important part of cuisine in the place I come from.
Apparently the humans thought we are bathing in wood, so they didn't bring any with them.. Nujux said he double checked the goods. I decided to do the same, just to make sure he wasn't just being lazy.. But no. Not a single twig. And apparently they don't want to sell their wagons for furniture industry. At the moment I proposed that, it felt like the wagons themselves began all staring at me, in a way only a piece of wood on wheels can do. At the end, I threw some of our worn clothing as our offer to the traders and they seemed to be perfectly pleased with the trade. Odd folk.
I've also put a few memorial slabs of some random goblins and a titan on our entrance. This is to show everyone what happens to invaders. Hopefully they stay away.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/slabety%20slab_zpsm6cc3cao.jpg)
6th
The second bridge at the northern gate is still unfinished. There's again someone crawling very determinedly out of our southern entrance. It's one of our Bomreks, an engraver.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"Oh, hello. I'm just going to finish up that bridge on the other entrance"
YET AGAIN a cripple doing bridge construction. On the other side of the fort. Who hands out these orders?! I relieve her too from physical labour, yet she really wants to finish her task. Fine then, off you go.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/cripples_zps3adh9orv.jpg)
25th
It seems I didn't pay enough attention to what has been dug near surface. A little channeling job done to our water canal punctured a.. hole?, connecting to another.. ?hole? below it. Now everything is flooding down to yet another hole?? with doors. The canal is drying, at least partly. I should have checked.. Time to build pumps.
-
13th of Galena
Case Litast has been walking into walls again, but now she doesn't speak anything to anyone anymore. That's quite much the only event we've had in these past couple of weeks. Except that there's a lot of mud now near our water canal. But the tower is nearly built! To be honest, I didn't expect it get done so quickly. Sometimes I feel proud to be a dwarf.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/nomigrants_zpsu5ya1xhd.jpg)
*Meanwhile, at the middle of nowhere in complete solitude, a badger got enraged at no-one in particular*
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/badger_zps2djwndld.jpg)
17th Galena
I heard a sudden clamour from the outside. Tragedy! Atír, one of our gem cutters, fell from the top of the tower! There's blood everywhere! At least his death was swift.. And one of our miners, Zas, was below him apparently. She too lost balance and fell. Her left arm is looking very bad, but her injuries seem not to be too critical. She might actually survive. Apparently they were both removing stairs used for construction, and it ended in this.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/gemcutterdies_zpsgerqcjdj.jpg)
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/hurtminer_zpssxa5lddr.jpg)
How fleeting life is.. This cannot bode well. I must continue the other project as swift as possible. I cannot help but think that this would've not happened if I hadn't ordered that tower built.. Was this actually my fault?
18th
Now the wildlife attacks! A badger bruised our two pump operators Bomrek and Thob at the southern entrance! Bomrek ended up punching the thing in the head. The result was, well.. messy. Why hasn't anyone married her yet? Can this sudden wildlife attack be yet another omen?
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/badgerattack_zpseiahveym.jpg)
20th
Zas walked by herself to the hospital, as no one came to recover her. She shows true resilience.
25th
Îton Gusiladil began speaking in tongues and claimed a clothier's shop! I wonder what will come out of it.. Also, I hear our first adamantine wafer is on it's way to a smelter. This is getting exciting!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/possesd_zps7cgmdj3t.jpg)
28th
Tomorrow marks the beginning of autumn. The summer was quite uneventful, except for the tragic death of Atír.. But the good thing is that Zas has already gotten out of hospital and is doing quite fine. Her arm doesn't yet function as well as normal, but she can do dwarven labour without problems. Buildings have mainly progressed very swiftly. The overseer tower is practically complete, it just needs furnituring. The other project is doing fine also. Adamantine will eventually be put to use. We also have a mill now! For what is a miller without a mill? It also became quite apparent that we need to build a decent roof on our main building.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/windmill_zps66dlxvdo.jpg)
I can say that I feel optimistic about the future, although some of the past events keep troubling me. Just hopefully there are no storm clouds coming our way..
-----
Phew, it turned out to take quite longer than I thought it would. And yeah, I think I should decrease the amount of screenshots. The editing and linking alone was way too time consuming.. I have a fort of which I planned to make a story out of at some point. But now every time I look at the amount of screenshots I've taken of it makes me forget about even thinking of writing anything at all :D I also tend to take screenshots just for fun and they are all in the same folder, which was a terrible mistake. Thankfully I understood to make a new folder for Murderflood's pictures..
No migrants again.. It's getting a bit worrying. Those messages shouldn't be caused by the population cap, should they?
Behold!
The Autumn Update-----
Continuation to Vuohiparta's overseer diary
Murderflood
206
1st of Limestone
Autumn is here. New sets of plans shall be put into motion. The northern bridge is quite defenceless, so we must improve the situation. We'll begin with a few traps.
Zuglarkun made a few suggestions. He reminded me of the dike. Yes, magma pumping shall continue after all major construction has been finished. He also pointed out that we have a large pool of lava which was meant to be utilized as another magma forge area. I approve the plan for a new forge area construction. We do have two other forge areas already, one in the caverns and one on the surface. I don't think the cavern forge is even used anymore. We'll make the new forge for our most talented smiths!
Also, this fellow Blitz Gamer came to me. He's been working on strand extraction, but he feels he should be the one making weapons out of adamantine. I asked him about his previous experience and skills in metalcrafting, and turns out he's dabbling at best..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/blitzstats_zpsysikxg8e.png)
I reminded him of his present occupation and emphasised the importance of it. Then he offered me a roast he had made:
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/blitzroast_zpslthf4mkj.jpg)
..which tasted wonderful! I guess I could give him permission to at least train himself in smithing, now that we are going to have lots of forges. I asked him what was in the food. Giant tick, crundle and reacher bits. Wait, haven't all those cave creatures been a bit rotten recently?
4th
There's a baby gone missing. Someone recalled Bomrek shouting at one point during the ditch pumping operation (with the result of flooding the area) that she couldn't find her baby. She continued working as normal, so everyone made the assumption that everything is fine.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/missingbaby_zpsfkkpyndd.jpg)
6th
Litast is really losing it quite often. Maybe we should improve her living conditions?
9th
Someone spotted a cloud of foul mist rising from the lake. It doesn't seem to be coming at our direction however.
11th
Another mist cloud appeared nowhere near anything. There are giant ravens flying around our fort, but they don't seem to move towards the lake. I hope they never will.. And there's figures in the distance. The dwarven caravan! And our liaison is seen running away from a giant thing.. which looks like a louse. It also flees in terror.
12th
Gwolfski told he almost had a heart attack, as the giant louse apparently scaled our walls and entered his bunker. The weapon traps made it burst. There's all sorts of louse slime and ichor all around. Maybe we should build traps on every door entrance, just in case..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/louse_zpswa1cnd0y.jpg)
14th
Our liaison, Vucar, offers us to be made a barony! This sounds great! Although, I don't know who would be suitable. Vucar says he is in a hurry and a decision should be made quite quickly. I open the latest fort census records, close my eyes and randomly point a name with my finger. Ilral, pump operator and a marskdwarf, you shall be made baron!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/BARON_zpszpgzmiuc.jpg)
Vucar tells me the world is the same as ever. The mountainhome wants desperately to buy goblets from us. I tell him we need at least leather and wood. Trade agreements are signed.
15th
Barony established. Ilral came to me and made it clear that her living quarters are not suitable for someone of her importance. She also wants an office, her own dining room, and a tomb. Fine, I'll try to figure something out.. The last pack animal has arrived at the depot and Nujux hurriedly finishes his drink and starts making his way towards the depot. I hope he doesn't get lost. There's also a foul stench around the unrevealed construction.. Something rots.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/rottingbaby_zpsnohjkczv.jpg)
16th
Thob finally found Likot, the missing baby. He saw the body from top of the unnamed construction, drowned in one of the water-filled holes near the ditch.. That's where the stench was coming from.. Apparently the baby's mother, Bomrek, is not moved at all. She actually denies that her baby is dead.
"Thob saw the body! It's your child!"
"It's not! I know he's around playing somewhere. Stop wasting my time! Unless I see her dead, she's not dead!"
"Come! I can show you!"
"No! I will not abandon my task! Now scram before I punch your head in!"
"Aye, mam.."
18th
Nujux is at the depot. Earlier than ever before. Now we have WOOD. Also bags. Bought more leather. Apparently the mountainhome only has polar bear and yeti leather nowadays. Has it always been so? Got rid of all our worn clothing and a few not so valuable gems. Our possessed clothier gets finally some leather for his needs also.
20th
The overseer tower is finally finished! Someone had decided to postpone hauling a couple pieces of furniture for an indefinite amount of time, so finalizing took longer than it should have. But now, it's done! And just by sheer coincidence, it happens to also be the tallest building on Murderflood!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/overseertowerfinal_zpsfztkpwva.jpg)
The tower has connections to the dike walls from 1st floor, and to the New Murderflood-building from 5th floor. The 13th floor is dedicated for overseers who wish to live there during their watch. And as you can see, I built a humble abode for myself on the 14th floor. Some haulers DEMANDED I take those two silver statues, so I didn't say no. It would've been a long way back. There's also a contraption in my room for personal purposes. I have to remember to mark that lever as inadvisable to pull.. The bottom floor isn't floored yet, in case someone wants to dig a hole there and drop goblins in it from the top or something. You can also see the new baron quarters being built on top of New Murderflood.
28th
Limestone's last day. No major events so far. Everyone is quite much concentrating on construction.
-
3rd of Sandstone
Îton Gusidalil has begun a mysterious construction! People say he has gathered a lot of blocks and llama cloth. Also some gems and bones. Sounds.. nice.
6th
Just when I thought we were having things nicely here and my mind had somewhat begun to set aside constant fear, wilderness spews out another foul beast upon us! An eyeless bison with leathery wings has been spotted near our southern entrance. Someone even saw it spewing webs! Armok, have mercy!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/sheeeeit_zpsytec1b0k.jpg)
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/titanhascome_zpsiwmxhjsx.jpg)
As I got over from the initial mind numbing terror, I summoned our militia commanders. A battle plan was made. As a direct attack against the creature would be very hazardous due to it spitting webs, we are planning to trap it! I fear nothing can save our caravan. The beast will quickly reach them. We will have to sacrifice them to ensure our survival..
When the beast has itself occupied on the depot, we'll raise all the bridges. Then, our marksdwarves can take shots at it from the battlements. Sadly we don't have magma in the entrance dike section yet, but I'll order it be pumped immediately. Everyone nodded. We have to be able to act quick.
The beast starts moving straight towards the southern entrance. As soon as the few who have been hauling things from the depot get off the inner bridge, a lever is pulled.. Ahem, the lever is pulled. What, the merchants are almost dead already?!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/dathoof_zpsxugligpu.jpg)
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/titankill_zpsfa5preh9.jpg)
The creature is also seen biting heads off! SOMEONE PULL THE LEVER ALREADY! ..then a mason finally comes to save the day. The bridges go up. Actually the titan has taken many nasty looking hits. The few remaining merchants might be able to get through this. There's a marksdwarf persistently shooting the creature.
8th
Even after fierce resistance, the titan emerges victorius. It has taken many gruesome wounds. Our marksdwarves don't seem to be able to get to a good shooting position from the battlements, so a change in location must be done.
Îton comes to us in the midst of all the chaos and shows us the thing he has been working on. It's.. a hood. It does have some empowering images on it. Good work, Îton!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/artifact_zpssapmj2qp.jpg)
"We'll be leaving soon", says one of the few merchants who managed to run away to the fortress. Fine. Go if you wish to DIE.
The titan lies against the depot wall. It's having trouble breathing. Then I hear one of the marksdwarves ask:
"Hey, did anyone remember to bring any bolts?"
This can't be happening.
11th
Everything is at standstill. The red-haired nasty winged bison monster just stands there. Something must be done. We must get rid of it. A new plan is made. We are going to lure the creature in. We have some dwarves ready to take the first blow. The creature will propably shoot web at them. At the same time, three squads will flank the thing and will hopefully evade the webs. Everyone is preparing mentally for the worst.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/plaan_zpskq6umqf0.jpg)
12th
The inner bridge is lowered, but the beast doesn't seem to like the idea of moving anywhere. We need a lure. And a lure walks right in. "We're not going to wait any longer. We're leaving!", says one of the last merchants. I command the second bridge to be lowered. We won't stop you.
14th
The merchant has decided not to move anywhere. We'll wait.
16th
The merchant has gathered himself. Yes, you must do it. It is for the best. He starts his journey towards the southern gate. Suddenly we all realize that the titan has disappeared when we all looked away! A groan is heard from the dike.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/stupidtitan_zps7ned5ngk.jpg)
Release. The. Magma.
17th
Îton is dead. He went to the depot and somehow fell into the dike. Just one bite and his head flew a thousand yards.. And to make matters worse, the titan just climbed out of the dike back to the depot. Now it's chasing the merchant's horse. It's coming in. Prepare yourselves!
18th
Quithe, the hill titan is dead. It is done. Our baroness is dead, as is her husband. Some of our finest warriors lie motionless in blood.. Flame II, one of our finest smiths has also perished. There's so much death.. Again. The battle plan worked, although the forces met with the titan just before the ramps which would've allowed flanking from the north. The squads positioned south managed to evade the webs and surrounded the beast. And what a beating it took.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/ohmylord_zpsuoxr4nyr.jpg)
No one is quite sure who gave the last blow, as it propably bled to death. But it is generally accepted, that De killed the beast.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/dekills_zps1aqboa8v.jpg)
De is looking pale. The beast ripped his other foot off. But he'll live. I heard that the doctor just gave him a crutch and let him go.
The slowly moving magma engulfs Îton's body in the dike, which then bursts into flames. Îton, why did you go there? On the other hand, did I remember to specifically order no one to enter the outer perimeter? Would the titan just have held his position in the dike if Îton had stayed in? Did I fail again?
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/messydepot_zpsaavi2nzi.jpg)
All the debris that has fallen in the dike creates a huge amount of smoke and mist. Hot air can be seen floating and vibrating all around the trade depot. If the titan would've stood there now, it would have roasted alive. But I let it in. If ever, I wish I could turn back time..
19th
Rest in Dacite, victims of nature's savage fury
17-18th of Galena
206
Îton Gusiladil, Carpenter
Asën Eshtânusen, Mace Lord
Doren Črithnoram, baron consort
Mebtob Kíddirasën, Spearmaster
Solon Ětdůndomas, Hammer Lord
Tobul Unibinod, Leatherworker
'Flame II', Metalsmith
-
Quithe Lulorifafa Idare Zepave, the Eyeless Bane of Dwarves
-
3rd of Timber
It has started raining. We sure don't get rain a lot here.. Ĺblel has also grown up a bit. He's now a child. It's nice to hear something that's not always related to death.
10th
A horrible scream resembling a neigh echoes from the dike walls. It's a caravan horse that had fallen in the dike. A pillar of smoke rises. The helpless neighing intensifies. Everyone hears it. Then it stops, gradually. Finally, there's the smell of burning flesh and hair. There's a certain look on many faces around here. I think we are all trying hard not to end up like Litast.
12th
Lava has reached all ends of the dike portion we are filling. Now we'll have to wait for it to rise. All construction is progressing very slowly now that everyone is pumping.
15th
Obok has also grown up. He doesn't seem to be affected by anything at all. It's what this place does.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/nihilobok_zpsro3vttht.jpg)
17th
I order a halt in pumping, as everyone is going on breaks unrhytmically, which just keeps stopping the magma flow. We'll get back to it. Our pumping force walks back in a line, passing all the dead bodies still lying in our courtyard as there were no people around to place them to rest. I can sense so many little pieces of sanity flying away from many weary minds.
19th
"Hey! If there are no merchants around here, doesn't it mean there's loads of free stuff lying in our depot?"
Yes, there is. Fine. Go.
...
"Now, who's a good badger? Who's a good bad.. Ow! Hey! *groaning*"
Another badger with a head bashed in, now by Meng from our militia. Pyrotechno ran away from the site the moment the badger showed it's teeth. Maybe he was the wisest of them all. Everything that lives around here seems to want us dead.
22nd
Our graveyard is full. It's true. All those rows of coffins are already filled. "Gladly", we have a large surplus of coffins. There's a coffin for all of us.. There's one for me too.. waiting...
28th
This horrible autumn is coming to it's end.. Right now at this day, we have two construction projects almost finished. Here's the new forge area:
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/newforge_zpsi3wt59my.jpg)
There's some room for expansion, although I like to look at all that magma.
The yet unrevealed construction is also done. It just needs that final statue. We'll be filling the dike again soon.
We lost almost ten fine dwarves during this season.. The caravan from the mountainhome was totally annihilated, save a couple of horses. The newly appointed baroness is already dead too. I fear this might not be taken lightly at the capital. And it's been quite a long time since we even got migrants..
They can't just abandon us here, can they?
Winter is coming.
-----
Another pile of bodies! I wonder what's next. I think I can make it through winter with relative ease, unless there's yet another attack. There's not so much construction left to do, so I'll propably concentrate more on filling the dike. It was also interesting to notice that my laptop can run Murderflood at 20FPS, compared to my desktop which reached only 12..
The Winter Update
-----
Continuation to Vuohiparta's overseer diary
206
2nd of Moonstone
At least this early winter begins with positive news. Our most important construction is done. May I present you:
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/beartemplefinal_zpswd5mumro.png)
The ground floor has an image of a bear paw in bronze and silver. One of our Thob's dared to claim, that it doesn't actually resemble a bear paw at all! I bet he can't even draw a square.. Right now, the ground floor serves as a temporary refuge for all the animals we rescued from the titan carnage. In the future, when we hopefully get more bears, this shall be their sacred ground. Upstairs, there's a room for someone willing to take care of the temple and it's residents. There's also a statue of Zon, our God of Mercy. There are some other statues too, which depict our history with bears. I hope this building will grant us both divine, and ursidaean favor, thus protecting us from evil. Did I tell you that bridge is completely made of silver?
There's not much construction left to do. The northern gate defenses need finishing. After that, we'll continue with magma pumping.
I guess we also have an empty tower now ready. It was meant for the now deceased baroness and her husband. I really can't figure out much use for it now..
3rd
We've run out of raw adamantine. I order the miners down to mine us some more. There should be a fair amount left.
5th
There's yet more curious creatures found roaming the desert. Persons with the heads of an ibex. Such deformities of nature.. Are they coming in peace?
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/ibexpeople_zpsc4kiitir.png)
14th
We now have a siege workshop too in the former werebear containment rooms. I think a few ballistae at our main entrance could help preventing future titan/goblin/undead/badger carnages. As we have a fairly long entrance, our siege engineers can take a few shots without being immediately exposed to danger.
18th
Magma pumping continues. It's progressing slowly, though.
22th
The northern entrance has been improved! There's a barracks ready for an entrance guard now, some traps, and a device I baptised as.. "The Great Mill"
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/themillll_zpshkrtw4vn.png)
Instead of grain, this thing mills and grinds the flesh and bones of our enemies! It must be used with caution though, as it does the same for everything else too.. There's also an obsidian bridge/floodgate on the northern dike wall, in case we need a magma bath in the future. Levers can be found inside our first building.
24th
A cry of rage was heard echoing in the cavern tunnels. Litast threw a tantrum. Luckily, she was not near anything important and merely tossed some stones around the cavern walls.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/litasttantruming_zpskhmzcupo.png)
25th
It seems we have uncovered quite much every bit of adamantine that can be safely extracted. The vein goes deeper, but there's also a lot of magma down there. Digging would require extreme caution.. There's some adamantine also in the cavern walls, but I fear we are not ready to open another cave entrance yet.. I think we'll do fine with the amount we've uncovered for now.
27th
Am I losing my mind? I gasped in fear, as Ilral, our dead baroness walked right into my tower room. Except that she wasn't dead. Not even reanimated. She was standing there in flesh and blood. Alive.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!? YOU STILL KEEP TELLING PEOPLE THAT I'M DEAD!", she shouted.
"But.. I.. thought you are dead!", I replied.
"Uh-huh. And I suppose that's why my quarters still haven't been finished!"
"But I don't understand! I saw you die!"
She looked straight into my eyes. There was a brief moment of awkward silence.
"I think you're losing it. I'm seriously starting to doubt your capability to act as an overseer."
"What?"
"You're senile. Already. You're what, 120?"
"No, I'm.. Why hasn't anyone told me you're not dead?!"
"Because you never leave this stupid tower anymore!"
"That's not true! I've still been around in the fields. Why haven't I seen YOU?
"Because I've been inside my tow.. Hey, it's not MY responsibility to make sure you're awake and aware of who's ALIVE and who's not! It's your's only! You are the overseer! And I, as the baroness of Murderflood, DEMAND that you order my quarters finished AT THIS. VERY. MOMENT!"
"Of course, of course. Listen, I'm deeply sorry about this.."
"You're sorry."
"Yes?"
"You think you can get away with this just by saying you're sorry?"
"Uhh.. yes. You have my sincere apologies. I'll also make sure your quarters will be ready as fast as possible."
She took another stare at me. Then she turned around, walked away and slammed the door.
I saw her die! Or did I? At least I seriously thought I saw. I took a look at my previous entries, particularly the memorial list of the casualties of that last titan attack.
Her name wasn't in it. I recorded every death! At least I think I did! I'm not sure about anything anymore.. But if I didn't write her name on it, how didn't it occur to me that she isn't dead then? And now that I think of it.. I can't clearly recall how she died.
That's it. I must be going insane.
28th
I called Ushat, one of my friends from the fields to go through all my records and check they are all correct..
"I can't find any other errors here. Only the one we know about already", he said.
"Alright. Say, did you know she was alive?"
"Umm. No. I've also been busy at the fields. You should know. But I heard some knew and decided not to tell you about it. Just to see how long it goes until you figure out the truth.."
"Oh.. This is so embarrassing.."
"Hey, we all make mistakes, don't we?"
"My mistakes are getting numerous already.."
-
5th of Opal
I've lost my morale to work. What's the point in anything if one's limping around with one foot in the grave already? My mind has not been well lately.. I'll propably die without even remembering my name! Although, I fear this place has it's own agonizing death between some horrid creature's jaws reserved just for me.. I've seen so much death! So many variations of death! I wish I could've prevented it all.. There have been no signs of my relatives either, at least not here. I cannot be the only one left..?
6th
One of the dead merchants has risen as a ghost! I can see that we have slabs, but our engravers keep saying there's none available for engraving.. I touch one of the unengraved slabs, just to make sure I'm not imagining them either! They are indeed real. I can't really understand what's going on here..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/gooust_zpsrwzbqtld.png)
11th
It seems everyone assumed touching the bodies inside the depot area is forbidden. I immediately give order to lay all the dead merchants to rest.
16th
More ghosts arise, but they won't be around very long. We have already buried about a half of the deceased. I witness one ghost disappear from sight. I wonder where all our souls go after memorialisation. One of the merchant ghosts seemed to act like he'd be waiting a broker to arrive. They seem to remember who they were before.. Then he disappeared from sight also. To me it looked like a second death..
Two bodies were buried in magma, so we can never retrieve them.
17th
We now have two adamantine mail shirts. I am called to admire their beauty. I hope they will protect our brave warriors from mortal wounding. The other one of them is quite exceptional. Alas, I hear our smiths aren't yet on the level this kind of quality would be guaranteed every time they make an item. We need to train them more.
23rd
Some bird men have been spotted flying above our fort. We'd be in trouble if a cloud of mist would appear now..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/WRENPEOPLES_zps2nnjoav0.png)
-
4th of Obsidian
Led Kadolamnek, four, is having a mood. She claimed a craftsdwarf's workshop.
5th
I've got myself together a bit. Ballista construction at our main entrance has now been initialized.
8th
Led has began her work. It seems she didn't have any problems at finding everything she needs.
12th
Led has finished her work already. It's a gila monster bone gauntlet. No one is quite sure if it's truly useful, but she's going to have a bright future ahead as a bone carver. We certainly won't be running out of bones, hah!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/gilamosnstnost_zpsivgxdsnk.png)
One of those wren people flew straight into our new traps. They seem effective enough. Serves them right, as they've been scaring our animals.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/wrendead_zpsxojga2m2.png)
22nd
Some workshop/stockpile linkages are now removed. It seems they were the reason our engravers claimed there's no slabs available. I'm not sure about the logic here, but now we can finally memorialize the remaining dead.
26th
Slabs are being carried to our memorial hall. I believe my job here is done.
28th
It is the end of winter. Tomorrow, we all shall thankfully witness a new year. At this very day, the last merchant ghost was put to rest.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/goumlystrest_zpscsblires.png)
My ghosts on the other hand, will propably never rest.. Today, I will announce to everyone that I will retire. I will not continue through spring as an overseer. I do not have it in me anymore. I'm just glad this season was quite uneventful.
I have some notes written here for next overseer. The other ballista at our entrance is not constructed yet. It'll need orientation adjustments after it's ready. Some ballista arrows should be already on the making.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/ballistae_zpsskm6fujp.png)
The entrance magma dike section isn't thoroughly filled yet. I think it should be done before continuing with the next section. We also have a nice load of adamantine. Our smiths need training, but I guess we can make a couple more items of it just in case.
Speaking of smiths, Limul, furnace operator and a smith of all trades has taken the identity of "Flame III". Her smithing skills show promise.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/flameiii_zpsrdkg4x95.png)
And lastly, this is now the end of my journey as an overseer of Murderflood. I only hope my actions as the overseer have not doomed us. They certainly have doomed me. At least we can now pray for some salvation. May Zon and the Great Bear shelter our poor souls, for this place is truly cursed.
End of Vuohiparta's overseer diary.
-----
Here's the save: http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11570
It was a quiet winter overall. And yeah, the baroness wasn't dead after all! I seriously thought she died. And listed the bodies and still assumed she's dead. It was only when I took a look at the 'nobles'-screen that I noticed she's still alive. I never saw her around either! And there's been no mandates so far. It seems we are fortunate to have a baron without item preferences. The titan encounter was quite intense, so I guess I read "baron consort" as "baron" at some point.
And sorry my turn as a whole went a little overdue. But I'd like to take another turn (if you're going to let me, that is :D)! Hopefully I won't get ill next time. Would've been nice to play through spring.
Btw, I think we should forge a couple of adamantine swords and spears. The titan attack would've propably been way less lethal if there would've been some adamantine gear around..
Journal of Haerdalas II, Overseer of Murderflood.
1st Granite, 207.
I have spent most of the past day checking over our supplies. Food is plentiful, and as far as I can tell there are no imminent shortages.
In these trying times, we must increasingly trust in the strength of our warriors to defend us. With so many of the old mountainhomes falling, it is crucial our men and women at arms are given nothing but the best equipment. Our stocks of adamantine are ok for now, but more must be found if we are to fully outfit the troops. As such, I have ordered several mine shafts to be opened towards new veins of the precious metal.
In other news, I believe it time to restart the magma pumping operation – the current extent of the dikes are nearly filled, but we need more magma if the dikes are to be finished. Unfortunately, many of the architects of the original pump system are no longer with us, or just hiding away somewhere in the fort. As such, we shall have to brave the blind activation of many levers….
Studying the axles, I believe this is the lever to start the power generator running.
(http://s22.postimg.org/6pxmjbqe9/Murderflood_1.png)
3rd Granite, 207
It would appear I was incorrect. Upon pulling the lever, nothing appears to have happened. No power is being generated. I shall try pulling the other lever in the generator room.
4th Granite, 207
(http://s22.postimg.org/jk09qet7l/Murderflood_2.png)
What? Mere days into my rule, we are beset by foes.
Goblins. They pour over the horizon. More every moment. I order the bridge closed until we can get a better idea of their numbers, and gather the men near the gate.
The count stops at 41 Goblins, but several are mere recruits. They think this will be enough to stop US?
(http://s22.postimg.org/owp44jh41/Murderflood_3.png)
I prepare the ballista, and get ready to lower the bridge.
The first arrow misses. I am uncertain there will be time to reload for another shot. I worry about sending the men to fight on the bridge, what with the magma underneath and all. Hmm. I may have made a small mistake here….
A goblin charges across ahead of his friends, and falls into a trap.
There is muttering from the men. They want to fight! Still, I hesitate, ordering the bridges raised. Perhaps we can split the goblins up and defeat them in smaller groups?
It seems my hesitation was too much for Zazit Abantenshed. The hammerlord swears, then charges off to face the Goblins alone. That I cannot allow. May Armok be with us…
CHARGE!
Bolts fly in both directions as the marksmen on the wall fire down. Zazit still stands alone as the rest of us run to catch up. It doesn’t matter. Two times her hammer falls, two times goblin skulls are crushed. She charges across the bridge, a one-dwarf Goblin nightmare, dodging bolts and axes.
The other Goblins quickly surround the Hammerlord, but she continues fighting on. Another goblin falls.
And then bridge raises. Zazit, along with half a dozen goblins, goes flying into the air. Those of us just turning the corner stare in horror at her flight. I…. I forgot to rescind the order to raise the bridge. This is my fault.
As bodies and objects fall around us to plunge into the magma, it seems the bloodlust is just too much for some of us. I have already ordered the bridge lowered again, so we might face our foes properly as we should have done right away. Tosid briefly totters near the edge, apparently debating the merits of running across the Lava. (he was actually standing on top of the lava, briefly, before returning to the bridge. Didn’t get a screenshot, I’m afraid.)
Zazit falls, punging into the lava. He does not rise…. At some point, in the confusion, it seems the Mace Lord Edam Endokurroth has also fallen into the magma. Who thought magma dikes were a good idea, again? Oh, and there goes Mace Lord Stukos Giginshorast as well.
Everything has gone to hell. All is chaos. I have no idea what is happening anymore. Half the men seem to have wandered off, the other half are spread out randomly, with some sitting in the main building, SPARRING. Don’t they know there’s a war on? One guy remains near the bridge with the remaining half of the goblin army. I order another charge, though Armok knows how many people will even hear it.
(http://s22.postimg.org/lr4iebyht/Murderflood_5.png)
(The dorfs in and around the building on the left are most of the military, who wanders off to SPAR for some reason. In the center, a lone Dwarf stands against the horde without flinching. Clouds of vapour arise from goblins and dwarves that fell into the lava earlier.)
Finally, a proper charge is mounted. The remaining Goblins on the bridge are slaughtered. Now all that remains are a few stragglers to the north. I order them cut down, but they flee before anyone can approach them.
What a disaster…
(I had the men fairly far back initially in an attempt to prevent them seeing a goblin and charge out too early…. I kinda wanted to use the Ballista more, otherwise I would have just declared a charge right away. SHOULD have done that. It seems I was simultaneously too close and too far, seeing as Zazit still charged, but I was also unable to get the rest of the men to back him up in any reasonable time frame. Alas, hindsight is 20/20.)
As far as I can tell, apart from the three who fell into Magma, none of our dwarves were even so much as scratched. The brave Militia captain who stood alone on the bridge during the latter half of the fight appears to be missing a foot, but I cannot see anything about him losing it in the battle reports. I guess it was a prior wound?
A couple of war-bears wandered too close and got cut to pieces, but such is life.)
10th Granite 207
The other lever in the generator room has been pulled, but still nothing is happening. I am starting to think I may be missing something obvious, but none of the levers in the lever room are labelled as affecting the generator….
In other news, another vein of Adamantine has been reached. Mining is furtive and careful, as Magma is, of course, very close, but we should be able to get a decent amount from it. Anyway, now things are nice and peaceful, let’s
(http://s22.postimg.org/9vi89j90h/Murderflood_6.png)
I…. What? WHAT TREES? This is a DESERT!
Still, with the mountainhomes falling to the Goblins, and our own recent decrease in numbers, it’s probably best to try to not insult the tree hugging pansies Elves too much.
Anyway, as I was saying, now we have peace, it is best to start preparing for war. We need more soldiers, and better equipment. Sadly, it seems all the best armoursmiths have fallen in recent years, so we are a little lacking in the finer stuff. I guess we can solve both problems by getting someone to make some gear to tide our new recruits over. Now, who would make a good recruit?
(This is as far as I got with the writeup before the virus fucked things over. For some reason, the software doesnt want to embed the images, so I hope links are enough for now.)
The Fall of Boardsomber: Part 1
Zuglarkun IV's Journal:
As I sat in my quarters, I unwrapped the package that Vucar left for me. Nestled in the plain wrapping was what appeared to be a series of journals stamped in the insignia of The Stirred Irons. I flipped open the first of these journals and began to read.
Mayor's Log: Early Spring 205
The siege had taken its toll. The goblins have whittled down our numbers until we few are left, though there weren't all that many of us to begin with. The situation had gotten so dire that the Queen herself has taken arms to join the defenders in the front lines.
Well, she wasn't the only reluctant participant. She had also insisted that Edëm Arrowrhymed The Old Maw of Gifting; our goblin diplomat, don a suit of armor and join her in the front lines.
"Since your witless tongue has proven ineffective in the defense of our mountainhome, perhaps your idle hands would serve us in better stead." She spoke as she made the ruling. She had it figured that it was mainly his fault that the negotiations fell through, so he had to atone in some way for this mess that he had caused.
(https://i.imgur.com/p9tIfYK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vbbJU7Q.jpg)
It is still snowing heavily outside, and to make matters worse, frozen elf blood had begun to blow in from the Lurid Blizzard.
(https://i.imgur.com/bLFWLtS.jpg)
An uneasy silence creeps over the the Frost of Satin. As the day breaks, the snowdrifts begin to subside
(https://i.imgur.com/MNMoEft.jpg)
and I hear movements in the distance though I cannot see properly through this damned fog. As the fog begins to clear, I begin to vaguely make out the goblin camps arrayed outside our walls, well outside of the range of our crossbows. Not that it made any difference, we did not have enough dwarfpower to provide adequate firepower support. We have been enduring the siege these past few weeks in tense anticipation, but still no attack came.
(https://i.imgur.com/d60Iooc.jpg)
I saw Dodók emerge from the tunnels, striding out onto the trade depot, observing the enemy movements and formations with his keen eyes and attuned senses. Well, I am no military dwarf so they all look like rabble to me from this distance, but Dodók assured me that the goblins were arrayed in battle formations; its just that goblin battle formations look nothing like dwarf battle formations.
He said it didn't make any difference, since everyone charges headlong into death in the heat of battle anyway. Dodók then mentioned briefly that the goblins were taking turns to besiege us, "highly unusual behavior." he added. He pointed out that the goblins that were driven off last year during "The Sieges of Tormenting" belonged to the tribe known as The Thief of Curls. "We've only seen them once before that, during The Siege of Knives I reckon. The insignia they bore on their armor was different." he said.
It seems that the ones that had come this season were our old enemies, The Immortality of Battles. By my count, we've been besieged 16 times already by these particular goblins, and they just kept coming regardless of their losses. This is now the 3rd straight year that we've been besieged, and of our 20 defenders since the beginning, we were now reduced to 9 able bodied defenders that yet stood tall, well tall for dwarven standards anyway.
"I've heard rumors of disagreements among the different tribes of goblins, that they have taken to fighting among themselves over the ruins of sites they've plundered in recent times." Dodók mentioned.
(https://i.imgur.com/se5QU2a.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bWLJ5HN.jpg)
"Heck, I've even heard that not two but three goblin tribes have taken issue with us."
(https://i.imgur.com/f5Xugdl.jpg)
As the fog faded, he warned me to stay a safe distance away, which I fully plan to do. I may have fought a few battles in my day, but I sense my chances of survival would be slim. Most of the military are all embattled veterans. Well, with all the fighting going on since the siege, if they weren't battle hardened before, they sure as hell are now. Even the Queen has managed to rack up a considerable number of kills. Heck, even frail ole Edëm has some kills to his name.
It was midday when the battle broke out. Fearing the glare of the sun, the defenders took shelter within the trade depot bunker. The goblins piled into the sole entryway to the south as the defenders of Boardsomber formed a line of defense and fought for position. A dwarf that was leading this troop of goblins struck a heavy blow at Ilral Slicktrade the Strikes of Dominating our military commander, blowing away his guard. It then lowered its shoulder and charged at Ilral, causing them both to tumble backwards as more goblins stepped over the threshold to join the fray.
Ilral fought hard against the swelling tide of goblins but could not fend them all off, getting further and further isolated. Meanwhile, the rest of our forces were too occupied with forcing the goblins back to notice the breach on their flank.
Sensing that the situation was dire, Obok whom was the closest to Ilral went over to reinforce his position.
"The line is breached! To me defenders of Boardsomber!" cried the Queen as she left her position and cleaved her way forward to try to stem the tide.
Meanwhile, Ilral desperately tried to fight back, but he was surrounded and weary from fighting off all these foes, whereas the new goblin forces were on fresh legs and their ranks were swelling by the moment. Sensing the tide had turned, their dwarf leader took a mighty leap over Ilral - and with a dull clang, cleaved Ilral's head and helm asunder.
Momentarily distracted by the clamor of the goblins to her side, the Queen took a charge to the gut and tumbled backward. Just at that moment, a hulking human leapt into position behind the Queen. But the Queen had noticed it in time, throwing a wild back swing at her assailant with her axe, which the human parried, hurling them both off balance. She was now on dangerous ground, cut off from the rest of the dwarves by the hulking human that stood in her way.
"We have to help the Queen!" yelled Momuz Gorgejails the Trustworthy Band of Responsibilites as she tried to fight her way to the Queen's compromised position, striking down one of those dwarves that had turned to goblin ways.
Dodók, Zuntir, Zasit and îton formed a wedge and tried to fight their way towards the Queen, striking down many foes in the process, whilst Inod and Edëm retreated to the bunker and defended the entryway from the approaching foes. Inod Clenchedtongs the Silky Brush broke cover and shot down another turned dwarf that had tried to take advantage of the chaos to circle behind and flank the rest of the dwarves. Unfortunately, Inod was caught out of position and she fell under the sword of yet another turned dwarf as Edëm tried desperately to hold the rest at bay. îton and Dodók turned back to try to contain the breach, cutting a swathe of carnage towards Edëm as the others pressed on.
Meanwhile, Obok continued to fight back as the goblins swarmed all around her, the Queen and the hulking human squared off, back and forth they went as they exchanged blow after blow, but neither were able to gain ground on the other. But then a goblin manages to sneak up behind her and drove a spear into the back of the Queen's calf.
"Gahhh!" The queen cried out as she buckled to the ground in pain.
The goblins surged forward. But the queen threw a wild back swing that narrowly missed their feet. The goblins hesitated for a moment before pressing forward. The Queen took another wild swing at them to deter them from approaching, but she received a stab to the back by the human that was looming behind her. Momuz, Zuntir and Zasit redoubled their efforts, but it was too late, the human Bosa Nightmarestoker lifted his two handed sword and drove it down onto the fallen Queen. So ended Obok Constructrazor the Trampled Symmetry of Pools, proud Queen of The Stirred Irons.
Momuz, Zuntir and Zasit were stirred into a fit of rage as they rushed forward to avenge the Queen. Zuntir pulled out his crossbow, taking down Bosa with a shot to the head.,while Momuz and Zasit went to defend the Queen's body from desecration but they were met by many goblin blades and were forced into a rout. Momuz was cut down in the ensuing chaos. Sensing that the situation was hopeless, Dodók signaled the rest to retreat into the fortress, while he sank into a battle trance as he desperately tried to hold the hordes back singlehandedly. Five times was his sword raised as it shone in the midday sun, and each time it fell an attacker was struck down. But the goblins were heedless of their losses and would not be deterred, and at last he was driven back and fled into the tunnels below as the goblin hordes overran his position. The outer defenses were breached.
Thus ended (https://i.imgur.com/LuJtLFo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/U1p5Vbm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1WEeDDD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sIrTyI1.jpg)
Journal of Meng ‘Duck’ Bristledcrypts, Future Overseer of Murderflood
Hot damn! As of today I am now the youngest-ever overseer of Murderflood!
(http://i.imgur.com/vvulQqL.png)

Even though I’m not legally an adult yet I do turn twelve this year and so I think I am totally mature enough to run this place. And I’ve got a ton of ideas!
But because I am a mature kid almost young adult I’m going to do this right. Let’s start with an overview of our situation.
(http://i.imgur.com/X17zANT.png)

We’re not in dire need of anything it looks like! That means I can’t dramatically save everybody by single-handedly striking out into the wilderness to recover a lost supply caravan while fighting goblins and mist-creatures but I suppose that on the whole it’s better that we have enough food.
I also ought to review the fortress from top to bottom. That’s something a responsible overseer does.
(http://i.imgur.com/z7r9hV6.png)

Hm… the ground level looks a little confusing. But at least the magma dike is mostly full!
Unlike most forts, we’ve got a fair amount of above-ground construction
(http://i.imgur.com/yeTzeJw.png)

Looks like there’s some redundancy here. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing! It means we have spares!
(http://i.imgur.com/WyUaIXB.png)

Not much going on here. Gwolfski sure has a lot of gem windows.
(http://i.imgur.com/gqSlTyS.png)

This level seems pretty sensible!
(http://i.imgur.com/FFiY6Y0.png)

The hospital here seems much nicer than the one on the ground level. Maybe we should dismantle that one. I mean I hate to be the overseer that closes hospitals but I really think we just need the one and I have to be willing to make Tough Decisions for the good of the fortress.
(http://i.imgur.com/YG8TyaP.png)

The pile of blocks makes sense, but that seems like an out of the way location for a millstone.
(http://i.imgur.com/1mTJtQz.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/SdqtVuX.png)

Honestly, the Baronial Spire seems a bit sparse, especially compared to Gwolfski’s rooms.
(http://i.imgur.com/6HuJl6g.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/YfNeNHb.png)
q
(http://i.imgur.com/DZndOQ1.png)

Vuohiparta’s Tower isn’t quite as opulent as Gwolfski’s chambers are, but it goes really really high up! I wonder if the tower sways in the breeze ever. That’d be pretty disconcerting I’d think.
Well, that’s it for everything above ground. Let’s look at what we’ve dug under the surface.
(http://i.imgur.com/kSaROkb.png)

This level is very sandy so I’m not surprised we haven’t done much with it.
(http://i.imgur.com/RkSFp33.png)

That big axle delivers power to the magma pumps. There isn’t really anything else here.
(http://i.imgur.com/OIqoRQI.png)

I think that underground lake must be dwarf-made!
(http://i.imgur.com/GglEuYI.png)

Those gigantic reactors are brilliant! The spinning wheels lift water up, and then when the water dumps back down it pushes the wheels, causing them to spin, which lifts more water, continuing the cycle perpetually!
(http://i.imgur.com/HY8cDt8.png)

These are just some stockpiles and a few workshops that have nothing to do with those stockpiles.
(http://i.imgur.com/LzkDZa2.png)

We recently struck adamantine (praise the miners!), and this is where we process it.
(http://i.imgur.com/iR5QV7c.png)

This level is basically just a giant cemetery. Hopefully we won’t ever fill it up.
(http://i.imgur.com/EsatmC5.png)

This level has a lot of potential, I think.
(http://i.imgur.com/hKTliwv.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/jE5S7Nv.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/BRT1lOg.png)

Workshops and stockpiles, with plenty of room to expand!
(http://i.imgur.com/eqWQkHK.png)

On this level, you can see how our advanced exploratory mining techniques worked.
(http://i.imgur.com/ye5y0le.png)

This level is kind of empty and drafty, but I think we could make some very nice memorials to particularly heroic dwarves down here.
There’s nothing interesting on the next few levels, but eventually we hit the caverns.
(http://i.imgur.com/yNJKfzX.png)

A lot of monsters try to get in through the caverns so we need some deadly traps.
(http://i.imgur.com/4wWtFdS.png)

This seems like an awful long way to haul dead goblins. Maybe we should just toss them in the magma in the future.
(http://i.imgur.com/tz3bpri.png)

You can get into the caverns from here, but they’re full of zombie gorlaks. Also, none of those magma forges works.
(http://i.imgur.com/Pb1HXXT.png)

And this is the very bottom of our fort! It’s where we get the magma for the dikes.
So that’s the fort! Unfortunately it is now past my bedtime and mom is yelling at me to go to bed. She says that I may be an overseer now but I’m still a child and I have to do what she says. I can’t wait until I turn twelve.
Journal of Meng ‘Duck’ Bristledcrypts, Overseer of Murderflood
1 Granite, 207:
Well, now that it is morning I am officially the overseer and can start giving orders!
First, I am regretfully closing down the old hospital. It is crowded and dirty and in a hallway that people walk through all the time and we have a much nicer hospital several levels up and I wouldn’t want any sick dwarves getting confused!
Second, I’m ordering Zulgarkun’s magma works cleaned up and expanded. That open pit of magma is very dangerous.
(http://i.imgur.com/DolPxx3.png)

We’ll cover it up, and then we’ll be able to build more forges and furnaces AND it’ll be safer!
Since it’s spring time, we’re expecting elves to show up to trade, and we don’t have a trade depot! I’ve ordered that remedied.
In the meantime I’m going to go looking for the levers that release the gates that are preventing the rest of the dike from filling with magma. There’s really not much point to having a dike I think if it isn’t full of magma so this will be a personal priority.
2 Granite, 207:
Looking at our stockpiles, we appear to have plenty of iron and flux stone, so I’ve ordered the production of a whole bunch of steel!
3 Granite, 207:
Everybody is just carrying things around! I want them to work the forges and build the trade depot and expand the magma works but they keep telling me that they’re “Storing items in stockpiles”! I thought they’d be able to tell what was important and what wasn’t on they’re own but I think I’m going to have to give very detailed orders to each and every dwarf about what he or she should do. I guess this is just one of those Burdens of Leadership that I’m always reading about.
4 Granite, 207:
I was up all night (don’t tell mom! I was working by candlelight under the covers so she’d think I was sleeping), but I came up with a plan to organize all the workers. It’s not perfect but I think it should cover most of the things we need done in this place!
There are 101 dwarves living here, but 21 are children and aren’t allowed to work even if they are the overseer. Another 22 are in the militia and can’t be relied upon to do regular labor (we’ll get to them later). So I’ve divided up the remaining 58 dwarves as follows:
2 Brewers
1 Cook
1 Clothesmaker
1 Weaver
1 Carpenter
3 Masons
4 Furnace operators
1 Weaponsmith
1 Armorsmith
5 Growers
3 Farmers, who do pressing, plant processing, etc. — everything but planting
3 Miners, with two of them cross-trained as mechanics
2 Full-Time Doctors
5 Construction workers, who will do architecture, construction, and deconstruction
20 Teamsters who will just haul stuff around
5 Garbagedwarves, who will haul refuse and only refuse
The 22 militiadwarves will be assigned to furnace operating, strand extracting, and hauling when they are off-duty.
Anyway there are a couple of gaps in those labor assignments but these cover our priorities and when I turn twelve this Hematite I’ll be able to help out.
Anyway even though I stayed up all night I’m totally not tired! I’m not! I’m going to go hand out the new assi—
(http://i.imgur.com/rrOlkhp.png)

Eep!
5 Granite, 207:
A good leader does not panic. When a siege comes, a good leader sends out the militia and the only reason a good leader does not join the defense herself is because her mom won’t let her. That is the only reason. Not because she is scared.
(http://i.imgur.com/TQEJbXn.png)

7 Granite, 207:
The militia are assembled outside the fort and they are closing with the goblins!
(http://i.imgur.com/hnS5XK5.png)

They’re fighting! I can’t watch!
8 Granite, 207:
The militia sure do work fast! I, um, blinked, and missed the whole battle! Now there’s just a red smear across the landscape where the goblin army used to be.
(http://i.imgur.com/F4kFN6j.png)

With the danger passed, I can finally get around to handing out those new labor assignments. I think they’ll really streamline our operations and give us synergy and stuff.
9 Granite, 207:
It turns out there was an elf diplomat hanging around here! I didn’t even notice him until he started screaming at the baroness.
(http://i.imgur.com/nu25FwK.png)

How did we disrespect the trees? What trees? There’s only one tree here, and we didn’t cut it down!
10 Granite, 207:
I’ve ordered the tree cut down. We need the wood, and the elves are angry at us anyway.
Also, the goblin siege left us with a lot of unsightly corpses. I’ve ordered the construction of a garbage chute that leads straight into the magma dike for trash disposal.
15 Granite, 207:
My reorganization is paying off! Today we finished building our new trade depot!
(http://i.imgur.com/1QPmLy3.png)

16 Granite, 207:
Looks like the trade depot got finished just in time!
(http://i.imgur.com/0sVgkJp.png)

19 Granite, 207:
Everybody run for your lives!
(http://i.imgur.com/VQGDtLY.png)

20 Granite, 207:
The mist cloud dissipated before it reached the fort so we’re all okay. Also I was only under the bed because I was looking for a sock that I thought I lost under there.
22 Granite, 207:
Sarrak apparently really likes his shield.
(http://i.imgur.com/re0n6Ns.png)

It means “The Robust Reverence.” I’m not totally sure how that makes sense but I can’t question the alliteration.
23 Granite, 207:
I finally found the levers to flood the rest of the dike! I can’t believe I missed them — they were in a whole room full of levers that I’d just never noticed.
(http://i.imgur.com/IrPGJ7r.png)

Magma is now pouring into the rest of the dike. I’m a little concerned that it won’t be deep enough, though. I’m going to see if I can get the reactor going to run the pump stack.
24 Granite, 207:
The elves didn’t have much to offer, but we did get some fruit in exchange for old clothes.
1 Slate, 207:
Well, I had to pull seven different levers and build gears and axles in two places, but I got the reactor going! It’s powering the pump stack now! It’ll be a while I think but eventually the entire dike should be completely full of magma!
(http://i.imgur.com/RW0pkft.png)

2 Slate, 207:
We need more coal for our steel production. I’ve ordered some wood burned into charcoal, but we don’t have enough wood to really meet our needs. I’m looking into making a tree farm. How hard could it be?
5 Slate, 207:
Looks like De wants to name his shield, too.
(http://i.imgur.com/BLNllPp.png)

The name means “Plaitedcrews”
18 Slate, 207:
(http://i.imgur.com/euGIg3S.png)

It’s been kind of a long time since we’ve had new migrants to the fortress. Maybe we need some sort of outreach program?
5 Felsite, 207:
The improvements to the magma works are done! There are a lot more smelters AND a glass furnace AND a kiln AND some stockpiles! And it’s all safe and nobody will fall into the magma!
(http://i.imgur.com/HWswuU2.png)

11 Felsite, 207:
(http://i.imgur.com/P8PXMOn.png)

One of the construction workers suddenly declared that he had better things to do than building the garbage chute. He grabbed two rocks and barricade himself in a mason’s workshop.
16 Felsite, 207:
Despite Sazir’s slacking, we managed to finish the garbage chute. Now we can dump corpses into the magma to be rid of them.
(http://i.imgur.com/u9aldHr.png)

22 Felsite, 207:
Sazir emerged from his workshop today, inviting everybody to come look at his work.
(http://i.imgur.com/dri4XkO.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/0kK5t2e.png)

It’s a nice statue, but did he have to commemorate that time when we had a human king?
24 Felsite, 207:
We’ll, we’ve got nice big tree farm dug out. Now all we have to do is wait for trees to grow!
(http://i.imgur.com/2FkkaOF.png)

The Fall of Boardsomber: Part 2
Mayor's Log: Mid spring 205
(https://i.imgur.com/WR8zSaa.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZLvDzoc.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZBVZf22.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/6rAELjo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BKBmUqO.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/1wKRqlM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vhubxbf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZuoEuuY.jpg)
We have been holding out in the inner chambers for days now. It has been suspiciously quiet ever since they've seized the workshop levels. The few of us remaining have managed to hide ourselves away, barricading ourselves in
(https://i.imgur.com/pXv74KP.jpg)
in the lowest part of the fortress via a locked hatch. I hope that we are not discovered.
The situation appears to be quite grim, food supplies are dwindling and we are almost out of booze as our main food stores are located in the workshop levels. I fear we will be forced to subsist on vermin if things go south, already I see the blank look of hunger on some as they stared at the rats scurrying by.
"Its all your fault Edem!"
"I don't want any of your stinking kind anywhere near me!"
"I knew never to trust a goblin!" Bickering ensued as dwarves driven mad with hunger and despair took turns laying the blame at poor Edëm who had bore the brunt of scrutiny for his spectacular failure at diplomatic negotiations.
The situation only came under control when Dodók came over to separate the others. Weak with hunger, they knew not to challenge the goblin general who had been doing better than the rest of us since he did not need to partake of refreshment. There are a few who resented him, but all respected his skill in combat and prowess at arms. Begrudgingly, they let the matter slide and sauntered off elsewhere.
This disparity in the treatment of Dodók and Edëm symbolized how our dwarven multiculturalism functioned, and how this stigma against "outsiders" came about. Our goblin and human comrades were held as role models; of what proper dwarven education could lead "foreign" individuals to become in dwarven society. However, this particular brand of multiculturalism was a doubled edged sword that magnified their every deed or misdeed, and so it became particularly easy to associate their mistakes with their race even though they were assimilated and raised as fully fledged dwarves.
Perhaps my brief time of being integrated into goblin society gave me the perspective to be able to sympathize with Edëm's plight, instead of treating him like how the other dwarves did. I was kidnapped as a young beardling, though I managed to escape afterwards, so I had an inkling of how goblin society functioned. Upward mobility in goblin society meant taking out the fella above you in hierarchy and holding everyone else down, so only the strong can wrest power. This "meritocratic" approach sidestepped the issues of nobility inherent in dwarven society, plus goblins aren't so bad to be around once you realign your moral compass and overlook the whole "will kill you without batting an eye for no rhyme or reason" thing they've got going on.
The two goblin nobles took turns patrolling the upper levels in the event of an ambush, while the rest of us waited for impending doom to fall.
Disaster almost befell. The goblin invaders had disguised their turned dwarves and humans in the gear of our fallen comrades to scout out our defenses. Fortunately, their blood stained attire made them stand out from our citizens whom had never participated in any battles. Edëm was the first to encounter them and was also the first to see through their ruse, noticing that their accents and mannerisms were suspiciously like the goblins that he long had dealings with in his diplomatic sojourns. It was he that devised a plan to lure them into a false sense of security before turning our weapons on them. They were led into an ambush in the throne room and none were left to tell the tale.
(https://i.imgur.com/kTfGdvQ.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/XoIaW0W.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XtK3mb8.jpg)
We managed to buy some reprieve as the goblin leaders were left awaiting further news from their spies whom they must have assumed were successful in their infiltration efforts. Of course, no one credited Edëm for managing to save us from certain disaster.
Taking advantage of the lull, we retook the workshops and bedroom quarters, but the goblins had destroyed our kitchens and food production facilities.
(https://i.imgur.com/M1AwIgq.jpg)
They was an eerie silence hanging over the normally bustling workshops, it seems the goblins had rounded up all the food as well as the civilians and carted them off. We did not manage to find much left over, only a pile of plump helmets, so we had little choice but to subsist off the water deposits in the caverns. The military went scavenging for food in the open caverns, managing to slaughter a pair of pond grabbers. We greedily feasted on their grubby innards and staved off starvation for another day.
In the search of the upper levels for food, Zasit encountered survivors hidden away in an alcove in the bedroom quarters.
(https://i.imgur.com/iWB6TYw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/X2lgnQo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fWPVkaf.jpg)
Uzol Sandalcraft and Nil Portalcrews were stricken in fear, so it took some coaxing (with food) to get them to abandon their hideaway. But they refused to speak of their ordeal or indeed, of anything at all.
Meanwhile up on the surface...
"What is taking them so long!?" Barked Lebes; a hulking man-sized goblin that led the invading forces of The Immortality of Battles.
"I do not know supreme leader, perhaps they encountered resistance?" remarked one of the goblin attendants.
"What!?" Bellowed Lebes over the din of the goblins greedily splitting the spoils of war among themselves.
"I can't- AHHHHHH!!!! SHUT- UP- THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU!" Snapped Lebes as he hurled a spear at the nearest reveler, skewering the poor bastard. The nearby goblins scattered away in fear of Lebes fury.
"Hyeee!" groveled the goblin attendant in fear.
"YOU- GO FETCH ME NGEBZO VTILEROAR AND HIS NASTY BOYS- BEFORE- I- BLOW MY TOP!" Snarled Lebes as he grabbed hold of the goblin attendant and shaked him around mercilessly.
Since that was a pretty uneventful season, I thought I’d present some of the more notable works of art that can be found in Murderflood.
The early years of the fortress are a popular subject for artists. The ups and downs of Thorayne’s career are the subject of several statues and engravings:
(http://i.imgur.com/Fchih6i.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/Vo57r4A.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/ygWBVeJ.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/KJRrX1e.png)

Thorayne’s martial exploits are also popular.
(http://i.imgur.com/3rdQi2O.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/OzrDjUj.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/pViwlZA.png)

Vuohijumala is also featured in several statues and engravings, including one in which he appears together with Thorayne.
(http://i.imgur.com/o2vcaI3.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZnqHyf7.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/JOArBlt.png)

Murderflood’s artists have also been fascinated with CrAzY UriST, who appears in a disproportionate number of works.
(http://i.imgur.com/VFSTJg7.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/T0hzsPA.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/WifmoWT.png)
The dwarves of Murderflood have a great fear of shellfish, and it is reflected in their art. Even mighty warriors are depicted cowering in the face of the molluscan hordes.
(http://i.imgur.com/C3ZO2oy.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/amdGxcl.png)

The tragic history of the Zuglarkun clan is another popular subject.
(http://i.imgur.com/zPuUkVH.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/aeziVdH.png)

Several other famous dwarves are depicted in art, albeit less frequently.
(http://i.imgur.com/HsTD7yI.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/xOBAjRo.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/b578EaI.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/zuiMFw8.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/ke5QTju.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/QM8CAq2.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/bEjjl0D.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/rzD4i39.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/zIGdXAS.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/5dRWtkc.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/fEcyS5d.png)
Although there are no books at Murderflood, the dwarves know of several famous works.
(http://i.imgur.com/mxf5Pxg.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZCHoybP.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/7YziSvY.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/8AvRcIx.png)

And finally, there is one work that commemorates the effectiveness of the dwarves’ Universal Problem-Solver:
(http://i.imgur.com/DECcw4e.png)

Journal of Meng ‘Duck’ Bristledcrypts, Overseer of Murderflood
1 Moonstone, 207:
Winter is com—

(http://i.imgur.com/FWzHCnA.png)
Oh, um, I guess winter is here already. Anyway winter is not a fighting season (too cold) so things should be pretty quiet.
2 Moonstone, 207:

(http://i.imgur.com/ef1lb2k.png)
Huh? They’re attacking in winter? Can they do that?
3 Moonstone, 207:
The goblins have arrived uncomfortably close to our gates.
(http://i.imgur.com/yGhNCZA.png)

The militia is rushing out to meet them.
(http://i.imgur.com/rNHHFSP.png)

4 Moonstone, 207:
(http://i.imgur.com/Jl41jbP.png)

That’ll teach the goblins to attack us in winter. The militia is returning to the fort with no losses.
5 Moonstone, 207:
Tulon started gibbering nonsensically today.
(http://i.imgur.com/7gbcq1Z.png)

She’s gone and claimed the same workshop Unib used last season. I hope she makes something more interesting than a bone crown decorated with bone.
6 Moonstone, 207:
(http://i.imgur.com/E7kqLcC.png)

I didn’t think there were any unnamed shields left in the fortress, but it looks like there was at least one. Aban has taken to calling it “Humorurged.” I think at this point all the soldiers have named their shields.
11 Obsidian, 207:
(http://i.imgur.com/scujuq9.png)

Turns out I was wrong. Zasit still hadn’t named her shield. She is now calling it “The Vision of Evaporating.”
12 Obsidian, 207:
I checked in on Tulon in her workshop today, and she’s just sitting there next to a pile of bones and gems. She keeps drawing pictures of trees — maybe this means she needs some wood to make whatever it is she’s got planned? We don’t have any logs available, but I’ve ordered one of the axles on the magma pump stack disassembled. Tulon can use that.
13 Obsidian, 207:
The instant the axle was disassembled, Tulon burst out of the workshop, grabbed the wood, and took it back down to the workshop. She’s started working on something.
(http://i.imgur.com/sIiiNe4.png)

16 Obsidian, 207:
Now that she’s named her shield, Zasit decided it was only fair that she name her warhammer as well.
(http://i.imgur.com/dBBklxC.png)

She’s calling it “Murkypears”.
17 Obsidian, 207:
We’re in deep trouble.
(http://i.imgur.com/Z6X0qFP.png)

It’s huge but everyone thought it was just a normal giant porcupine and nobody realized what it really was until it fell upon the dwarves outside the gate!
(http://i.imgur.com/iJ7lrMP.png)

The militia is racing out to meet it but it’s already killed two dwarves! This is terrible!
18 Obsidian, 207:
If no other dwarves are killed by that monster, it will be because of the heroism of Zefon Lekgusil. She’s been facing it down with nothing more than her bare hands, keeping it occupied while other dwarves flee.
(http://i.imgur.com/DoFq3bq.png)

The militia has finally arrived, and Sarrak just drove his hammer through its head, so that should be it.
(http://i.imgur.com/P86JRU1.png)

19 Obsidian, 207:
Mostib preserve us, it’s still alive! It’s got Zefon!
(http://i.imgur.com/ihN5UHv.png)

Oh no! It got her leg!
(http://i.imgur.com/v8J1DD8.png)

…I am seriously impressed with Zefon. The porcupine bit her leg off, but instead of giving up she’s doing her best to return the favor.
20 Obsidian, 207:
Haerdalas II finally finished off the porcupine by cutting it in half. We rushed Zefon and another wounded dwarf to the hospital but they had to wait for the doctor to finish treating Sir Humphrey.
(http://i.imgur.com/6yWdyI0.png)

Apparently while the rest of the militia was taking on the porcupine he was getting his fingers smashed in an altercation with another dwarf.
(http://i.imgur.com/t5evyXn.png)

21 Obsidian, 207:
Tulon emerged from her workshop today bearing an impressive-looking spear.
(http://i.imgur.com/jZXfZ1X.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/FTnWbyD.png)

1 Granite, 208:
(http://i.imgur.com/uJ43CoV.png)

Well, it’s been a year now so my term as overseer is up. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t turn twelve and become a legal adult (I’ve been eleven for over a year now!) but otherwise I think things have gone pretty well!
(http://i.imgur.com/cpQRkS6.png)

We’ve got mountains of supplies, our militia is an unstoppable juggernaut of destruction, and our dike is completely full of magma!
As a reward for my devoted service, I’ve given myself a private dining room and bedroom.
(http://i.imgur.com/FYcWX8u.png) (http://i.imgur.com/7goz61n.png)

Anyway, I am as of this moment officially relinquishing my position as overseer! If anybody needs me, I'll be in my dining room, admiring the view through the clear glass floor panels.
The save can be found here: http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11748
The game was running at about 15 FPS most of the time, but periodically it would drop to 0-1 FPS and stay there until I saved and quit, then reopened the save.
The Fall of Boardsomber: Part 3
Mayor's Log: Late Spring 205
I awoke all alone in the darkness.
I tried to move my limbs but found myself bound in what appeared to be a sack. A dull throb resounded in my head, as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. I did not know how long I had been unconscious, only that I was still alive.
As I looked around, I noticed there were several pools of blood not far from where I laid, and what appeared to be several large amorphous shapes on the floor. I took a closer look, and shuddered as the shapes came into focus; limbs, torsos and unidentifiable lumps of meat. I struggled again to no avail, so I tried feebly to cry for help.
It was Zuntîr that found me, still tied up in the nasty smelling troll hide sack. I sat there in the dark and dank halls trying to shake off the after effects of a nasty blow to the head, while Zuntîr stooped down to untie my bonds.
I was carried back to the workshop complex where Edëm was busy trying to staunch the bleeding wounds of our dwarven defenders on a dining room table turned into a makeshift operating table. Zuntîr placed me on a bed that they had hauled down from the bedroom complex. Zasit was being worked on by Edëm; he was unconscious and it looked like he took several heinous wounds to his upper body. Edëm was trying hard not to let him bleed out, but he wasn’t very good at it though, fumbling several times with only his dabbling levels in medical skills. From his pale facade I could tell things did not bode well for Zasit, but still he held on.
Dodók was up and about but his right hand was heavily bandaged, îton was resting on a nearby bed and his left leg was thickly bandaged.
Zuntîr filled me in on what had occurred as he went about dressing my wounds. Only then did I realize that I was lucky to have survived unscathed from
(https://i.imgur.com/H6LWFCW.jpg)
Apparently, the humans came bounding down the spiral stairway and-
(https://i.imgur.com/tGt2Nvl.jpg)
while we we're still searching for supplies in the abandoned halls. Apparently this was when I got knocked out and placed in a sack. Zasit whom had been keeping guard near the stairwell only managed to give off a warning cry before being set upon by the humans. Zuntîr and îton whom were nearby when Zasit cried out came running and Zuntîr loosed all his bolts at the vile humans, managing to keep them off Zasit momentarily. îton engaged the humans in mortal combat but was quickly outnumbered. By the time Edëm and Dodók came around to see what was happening, îton was desperately trying to fend off the attackers while Zasit was unconscious on the floor.
Dodók and Edëm managed to finish off the humans but not without cost. In the process, Dodók had taken a nasty cut to his right hand that had severed several nerves - impairing his ability to grasp, while îton had suffered a broken leg.
Uzol and Nil had run off at the first warning of danger, but have since returned and have been tasked with rummaging the empty bedrooms for any medical supplies that we can use. But the situation just seems hopeless.
"How long could we hope to hold out as wretched as we were?"
Those were my last thoughts as I succumbed to fatigue and let the pleasant oblivion of sleep wash over me.
...
*thump*
...
...Half-conscious, I sensed the dull throb in my head-
*Thump*
...getting louder-
*THUMP*
I woke up with a jolt, that was no throbbing I was hearing, that was-
then came the sounds of screaming and combat.
Earlier on...
Lebes had come trudging down the stairs with a band of goblins at his heels, upon noticing the hacked up remains of the humans he gave an exasperated moan,
"Imbeciles, must I do everything myself?" he muttered under his breath.
Zuntîr had heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching from the stairwell, so he braced himself against the wall, hoping to take the assailant by surprise. He had long since run out of ammunition, so he could only wield his crossbow like a bludgeon. He tried to remain calm and focused his attention on listening for the assailants approach.
As the goblin turned the corner, Zuntîr hollered and charged with crossbow in hand, but Lebes was quick to respond. He parried the blow, side stepped to the left and beheaded the baron of Ochredips with a swift stab of the spear.
Still drowsy, I started in sudden trepidation. I wasn't the only one that had noticed the disturbance next door. The other dwarves scrambled to their feet warily, uncertain of what to expect. That was when an object was thrown into the room and rolled into our view.
It was the severed head of Zuntîr Cobaltwatches the Worthy Guile of Jaws.
That gave us all quite a shock and while our attention was focused on the head, the hulking form of Lebes came charging out of the shadows. The menace of the goblin was great, and everyone backed away from this new threat.
Zasit struggled to stand as Lebes loomed over him. He attempted to raise his weapon and block the coming blow but the goblin did not afford him the opportunity and skewered him from below. With a sharp swing, the goblin dislodged its spear and down fell the limp body of Zasit Milehelm the Speechless Girders, finally succumbing to his many wounds.
I scrambled to my feet as Lebes drove a weaponless Dodók to the corner. But a bud of courage blossomed within îton whom had been frozen in fear before and he charged at Lebes knocking the goblin aside. Dodók took the opportunity to grab a copper shield lying close by and charged into combat. îton tried to fight back against Lebes, but alas the agile goblin was too much for the limping baron of Postfortresses. He took several stabs to the torso and crumpled to the floor in a heap. So ended the îton Swordochre the Mellow Plaits.
As I fled from the room in fear, I stumbled onto Edëm, Uzol and Nil, whom had returned from their search of the rooms with buckets of water in hand. Noticing the battle underway, Edëm gave a yell and charged into battle while Uzol and Nil cowered in fear.
"No! Stay back! You are no match for- this- ARGH!!! This monster!" Barked Dodók as he darted around Lebes, trying to bash with his shield, taking a wound to the shoulder in the process.
"General!" Cried Edëm as he gritted his teeth in anger.
"Hurry and run! He came alone! Now's your- GAH! Chance!" Cried Dodók as he tried to keep Lebes occupied buying time for us to escape only to take even more wounds in the process.
"Alone?" Sneered Lebes in derision as he pinned Dodók's left shoulder to the wall with his spear. He snapped his fingers and at once, a trio of goblins swarmed into the room, with more still lurking in the shadows.
"Are you crazy!? You're in no shape to fight, you'll die alone down here without my help!" And with that said, Edëm motioned that we should leave, before charging into the fray himself.
"Hurry this way!" said Nil as he grabbed my shoulder, the first words I've heard out of his mouth. Uzol was already ahead of us, motioning that we should follow.
I gave a last glance back; Dodók had crumpled to the floor in exhaustion and I winced as Lebes raised his spear and delivered the death blow to Dodók Bookice the Curled Duty of Foot. Edëm was wailing like a madman, but he was kept from advancing by the other goblin lackeys. I tore my eyes from the carnage and fled distraught, into the gloom.
That was the last we saw of Edëm Arrowrhymed the Old Maw of Gifting.
(https://i.imgur.com/Z0bPbLo.jpg)
The three of us barricaded ourselves in one of the bedrooms while the goblins made a search of the maze like rooms. That was when Uzol and Nil revealed to me that they had been busy digging a secret passageway to the surface in one of the bedrooms, but it was still unfinished when we found them. Now they hoped to finish the mining and escape. It was a race against time and it won't be long now before we were caught.
As we hit the ice layer indicating we had reached the glacier above, we heard a faint commotion from below.
"General Lebes! I think we've found the dwarves! This room is locked!"
We dug faster as the goblins thumped on the door, and as the straining door finally gave way and broke, daylight! I'd never thought I'd been so happy to see the sun, but we were not out of the woods yet.
We had emerged to the southeast of the fortress, near the elf blood snow drifts. With a swish of the bucket, Uzol and Nil splashed the contents of their buckets at the passageway we had just emerged from. The water instantly froze over the passageway, barring the goblins from following in our wake, and not a moment sooner. We heard the goblins attempt to breach the ice to no avail, but a commotion begun to sound from the direction of the fortress, we would not be let off the hook so easily.
"Mayor Dobar! You must escape and bring the news of our fall to our other settlements! They must be warned!" Cried Uzol.
"It is futile, many of the other settlements have already fallen into the clutches of the goblins!" I replied. I must admit, I had given up on the prospect of surviving at that point.
"Not so, for as long as a remnant of us still stands, we can hope to rebuild and later return and reclaim our homeland. Head west beyond the mountains, we will cover your escape!" Said Nil as he laid a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Go! Do not let our sacrifice be in vain!" Yelled Uzol over the wail of the wind.
Shirking cowardice for courage, Uzol and Nil started off in the direction of the Trade depot. Seeing that they could not be dissuaded, I turned to leave. With a heavy heart, I fled into the mountains, as a snowstorm descended upon Boardsomber, obscuring the direction of my trail.
(https://i.imgur.com/h9yOdVN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RIQZEtU.jpg)
Epilogue
I gradually made my way westwards, then northwards in search of refuge. Along the way, I passed by many of the (https://i.imgur.com/56Lqfaq.jpg)
of our former fortresses. I shielded my eyes and pressed on, wondering if we will meet the same fate that befell that other dwarf kingdom? What was it? I can't-
*The journal entry ends abruptly here, stained with traces of vomit*
*There is a letter placed among the pages here*
I knew little of what transpired after I succumbed to my despair and fatigue, only that I was rescued when a passing caravan came across my unconscious body as I lay by the roadside.
I am recuperating, and have since learned much of what is going on in these lands. Murderflood, once the jewel of the former Queen's eye has been largely left unscathed by the wake of the goblin invasion, largely due to it being founded far from the proximity where the goblins of The Immortality of Battles operate. I remembered visiting there once, it was still a shoddy town, but I've heard that it has thrived in the meantime. I hope I am not misguided in placing my hopes there.
If you are reading this overseer, then I know the merchants have safely reached your borders and I can rest knowing my duty as last survivor of Boardsomber has been fulfilled. I now beseech you to stand tall and act as a shining beacon for all of dwarf kind! If you can manage to do so, perhaps we shall rise again and reclaim our ancestral lands. But beware of the imminent peril of the goblins marching on our lands now! Built what defenses you can and prepare for the worst! You must survive and carry on our legacy! Once I am fully healed, I will search for a way into your lands.
May our fortunes rise and fall together!
Yours Sincerely,
Dôbar Pearshoots
Mayor and last survivor of Boardsomber.
At the secret meeting of past overseers:
Vuohiparta: "A WEREBEAR ATTACKING US? AGAIN?? ARE YOU SURE?"
Flame III: "Yes, Stukos has been bashing it with a mace for a while now"
Vuohiparta: "But how?! What have we done wrong?? We even built a temple for the bears!"
Taupe: "Dunno. Gwoflski, you're next on the overseer list. Are you ready to take on the challenge?"
Gwolfski: "Uh, may I pass it this time? Let this fellow handle this for now."
Gwolfski points at Vuohiparta.
Gwolski: "He's the one managing the bear cult and all. I think it's him who should try to get on with the bears. I'll do my best to clean up the mess afterwards"
Taupe: "Fine, that sounds reasonable. Vuohiparta, the bear is all yours, along with the responsibility of all consequences we might face because of this attack. Good luck, and don't get yourself killed!"
Vuohiparta: "But.."
Gwolfski: "Sorry, mate."
-----
Spring update
Vuohiparta's Overseer Diary
Murderflood
211
1st of Granite
So, I am yet again in charge of Murderflood. And at the very first day of my second year as an overseer, I am to face my failures. A werebear has indeed attacked our fortress, even though I tried to do my best to appease the Bear God during my first period as an overseer. Why are we facing His wrath now?
We'll have to come back to that later, as Stukos, one of our most talented macedwarves, is fighting the beast. Alone.
Others from his squad arrive at the scene, only to find a dead werebear and a gem setter. Shift done!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/werebearcrop_zpstb17ujto.jpg)
Stukos has run out of breath, but otherwise she seems to have survived the encounter without a single scratch. This is most fortunate. Perhaps it was just a mere warning from the Divine Björn to get us abandon our false ways before a greater doom befalls us. Maybe I should take a look at the temple..
3rd
More wildlife encounters. This time, three mantisperson were wound climbing the wall of Asmoth's tower. They appear harmless, but our people are afraid of them. I order our marksdwarves to shoot the bloody things down.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/mantises_zps8psyz6hl.jpg)
Unfortunately, our anti-air capabilities are quite unadequate. No-one managed to score a single hit, so the idea was abandoned. The creatures scattered though, so they are no longer interrupting work. We even managed to catch one somehow. No-one is quite sure what to do with him, though.
4th
Another bear containment area is built, just in case. It is right underneath the temple. Some other arrangements in the temple area are also to be done.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/bearcontaintment_zpswygt1wkr.jpg)
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/adamantines_zpspjutronf.jpg)
Some adamantine had also been left unmined. This is what we could safely extract for now. There's more down the spire, but no-one really knows what might lurk beyond the depths of earth..
6th
The temple is now cleared of all random animals littering up the place. I should have known better and ordered all the animals out before handing over overseership to others. Also, all our Sacred Bears were nowhere to be found upon inspecting the place. They should've been in the temple all along! I can now understand why the Omnipotent Ursus sent us another werebear. This kind of negligence just isn't tolerable.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/owl_zpskcrgqcnd.jpg)
A barn owl is fiercely guarding a nest box someone had placed in the corner. She refuses to leave the place, as she has laid some eggs already. Fine, you can stay for now. The canals have also been floored, which is something we have to accept for now..
10th
The earth shook near the first cavern layer. A new beast had entered the undead-festered caverns!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/suckerfromdacoasts_zpsldljnvon.jpg)
Some of our people were excited, and hoped the beast would clear a way for us to to "finish the airlock". What's an airlock?
11th
More dwarves gathered around the small holes in the cavern walls and peeked upon the fight of two colossal creatures. An undead sauropod vs. a giant armadillo!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/ripsuckerfromdacoasts_zpsg0o2at5z.jpg)
Such a dissappointment. The armadillo just spew some dust around him. The sauropod mauled and choked the creature in less than a minute. Well, back to work then. I am explained the idea of the airlock. It is supposed to help us get rid of the undead in the caverns. That undead sauropod really scares me off. I wouldn't want to let it anywhere near our fortress. Nevertheless, a pickaxe is given to a random pump operator. He shall be the one to breach into the caverns once the time comes.
14th
Elves are once again found loitering around, and an elven diplomat invades the personal elf-free space of our duchess. They want to set up a tree cap again. Yeah, I remember we had a tree here some years ago.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/elves_zpsgudotczv.png)
He also brings some disturbing news from the elven lands. Apparently, goblins aren't only the bane of our people. This is certainly worrisome..
15th
Nujux gets to the depot. On time!
16th
For some reason, the elves don't like bringing any wood with them. Or any other items of value. I do check the animal cages. Let's see, a dingo. A giant mosquito. And a breeding pair of Giant Keas.
They are now ours.
27th
Supposedly, the lever with a huge load of mechanisms is the one which controls the airlock spikes. It is marked now.
----
1st of Slate
There's an idea brewing in my mind. We really don't have the dwarfpower to sacrifice if a siege, or a beast would yet again arrive. We must have ways to dispose threats without putting our people in danger.
A bunker full of magma could be nice. Blueprints are drawn.
6th
Flame has been down lately. Apparently, some of his masterworks had been melted. We have loads of items designated for melting, how should I have known there are masterworks among them? But hey, there's also something positive happening right now. The Keas have laid eggs.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/soitbegins_zpsb68q4veu.jpg)
13th
An unknown force possessed Duck. He then claimed a mason's workshop and started gathering stones, along with cat and pig leather..
20th
Duck has finished his work. It is a floodgate!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/floodgate_zpsfnhugmxl.jpg)
24th
The artifact floodgate is placed at the end of the airlock. If a hostile creature gets that far, it will be swayed by the sheer brilliance of the floodgate, halting it's advance.
27th
Glazier Tulon threw a tantrum, threw some gloves at Nujux, and McKiwi was kind enough to shower Tulon with arrows in exchange. If he survives, we'll have yet another cripple crawling around..
Wait, someone just said he's dead.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/tantrum_zpsu8jf9ttv.png)
Apparently Bomrek decapitated him while he was being dragged to the hospital. Yeah, it's that Bomrek who bursted a wolverine head into gore with a single punch. I'm just wondering if it was a good idea to rotate the military and give more weapons to psychopaths a bit hot-tempered individuals..
-----
11th of Felsite
It is harder and harder to concentrate on overseeing. Time seems to pass by so slowly. I feel there's too much time for thoughts. Dark and depressing thoughts. I feel more and more engulfed by them.
As we still have much adamantine wafers lying around, I order some adamantine weapons made. At least we'll be able to take down any beasts these lands will throw at us.
12th
It is most pleasant to see, that our weaponsmith is more than competent.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/yesss_zpsp6ter8cl.jpg)
Forge more, please.
22nd
Nothing is really happening lately, which might actually be quite good just for the sake of our mental well-being. Slowly, but surely, more and more people are starting to show sings of anxiety.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/demfeels_zpsnpuotyh9.jpg)
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/demfeels2_zpsrabg3kj2.jpg)
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/flame_zpsbpia1vwn.jpg)
As we have constructed many statues, I order them placed all around our fortress. They just might give someone something positive to think about. At least for a second.
28th
And so, we have reached the end of spring without any more incidents. Some preparations for using the air-lock have been made. Also, our magma-defence bunker is getting ready. Otherwise, it's been quiet. If I recall correctly, a terrible tragedy has always followed times of peace here in Murderflood. We still have no migrants. Sometimes I can't help but think, we are all here but trapped, only waiting for our inevitable demise..
Perhaps, I should go and take a look at the statues again.
-----
So yeah, here's spring. I'm also abandoning constant overwatch of the game and letting it run on the background more. It takes quite a long time to finish a season. I was just wondering, should we try to attract our queen to settle in Murderflood? At least we could get some extra dwarves, assuming the queen and her entourage is alive somewhere.
Summer Update!
Continuation to Vuohiparta's overseer diary
Murderflood
211
-----
2nd of Hematite
What is a nice way to start your day, and a new season? Counting the people living in our coffins! So far, we have gathered around 70 dead dwarves in our catacombs. There's a odd merchant here and there, but the majority are our fortress residents. I just cannot keep myself from wondering how large the amount will get..
7th
The first magma bunker has been built on our entrance. The concept seems simple and effective, so another one is immediately ordered to be built.
9th
A human diplomat arrives.
11th
Human diplomat: The world is the same as ever
*Leaves*
Why aren't the goblins bothering humans?
12th
Another dinosaur-beast arrives at the first cavern level:
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/stasno_zpstt3hhkm1.jpg)
Is he a worthy challenger? May he be the one to defeat the undead sauropod plaguing us? We might be able to tell, if the creature would just stop swimming aimlessly at that pool..
13th
The human caravan has arrived. Numerous wagons and animals make their way to our depot.
17th
The keas had laid eggs, and naturally someone stole them immediately! No kea eggs shall be cooked in this fortress! That is an order!
18th
The human merchants don't seem to possess anything interesting. We actually have it quite good here in Murderflood. The only thing we lack is wood, and so do the humans..
23rd
A peek at the first cavern level reveals something disappointing. Stasno is slowly getting his ass kicked by reanimated gorlaks and their hands.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/stasno2_zpsuydynhfm.jpg)
28th
Our cavern peekers now spotted something quite disturbing.. Stasno is killed, by ANOTHER UNDEAD theropod from forgotten legends. This creature is located some distance away to the southwest of our planned airlock entrances.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/dinowars_zpsx6i6xjr3.jpg)
With all these dino-wars going on, no-one is quite sure if they want to go anywhere near the caverns.. I'm not sure if I have it in me to try the airlock.
-----
5th of Malachite
We appear to have some buildings that look like they've left unfinished. No-one quite knows the purpose of some of them, but one seems to have new living quarters in it. I order some dwarves to finish them. Artistic approaches are permitted.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/buildings_zpshbolcynp.jpg)
8th
I took a look at the Kea nesting grounds. The Keas had laid new eggs, but someone was again already carrying the said eggs away. STOP STEALING THE DAMN KEA EGGS!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/eggs_zpsgsw79nvq.jpg)
We need to build a dwarf-free space for our birds.
11th
Nomal has gone quite oblivious.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/nomal_zpstefs56zn.jpg)
Someone said he's been a bit down lately.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/nomal2_zpssdyuffd2.jpg)
At least he is not trying to assault anyone.
18th
Here's another attempt at canal draining/grate placement. The temple feng-shui is suffering from the lack of visible water.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/canals_zpszibcihn7.jpg)
Why did we even bother? Well, we do have fine mud now.
25th
Rith has become depressed. Sadly, this was quite expected *(his feelings can be seen in the previous update)*
-----
1st of Galena
The second magma bunker is ready! I was a bit worried if draining magma straight from the dike would lower the magma level inside the dike, but so far the said dike looks quite untouched. Splendid! The advantage from draining from the dike is that we only need one pump (and pump operator) per bunker to fill them. The pumps are a bit vulnerable to trolls and other creatures that like to destroy things, but I don't think it matters too much. Anything that destroys these pumps while the bunker is full will get a valuable lesson in life. The levers for both bunkers can be found inside the hammer-shaped building. It's a place that can be accessed quite quickly if the need comes.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/magmabunkers_zpsbhu9djww.jpg)
5th
A Kea shack has been built. No dwarf is allowed to enter for now.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/keashack_zpspoblbjhu.jpg)
You can also see Taupe training our giant desert tortoise. He's been doing it for weeks now. The tortoise is repeatedly crawling it's way to the nest boxes and back to Taupe. Someone said the creature looks like it wants to lay eggs, but it also seems to want to finish his training.
Oh please, someone topple the nest box already.
9th
As suggested by Triaxx, we now have dwarves given with the responsibility of Kea training:
Imic, Keamaster
Taupe, Keablaster
They were the ones to volunteer for Kea training duties. They both are also our only capable trainers. Blitz also came in my office and offered yet another fine roast. He wanted again to persuade me to let him forge weapons. Apparently, other overseers had not given him enough smithing duties, so his skill is still dabbling. I give him access to a forge where he can work. A spare weaponsmith wouldn't be a bad idea. The problem is though, that Blitz has also been drafted to our military, so he propably doesn't have too much time to invest in smithing. But when he has the time, he's allowed to do whatever he wishes with our stockpiles of copper.
13th
Nomal is feeling down now. He's crawling on the dike walls and looking gloomily through the fortifications at the magma below. Is he going to do it? Don't do it..
17th
Azula has been possessed! She claimed a craftsdwarf's workshop.
21st
This is what the airlock looks like now. There are some animal baits ready to be slaughtered by a herbivore dinosaur. Some lever linkages were constructed, and all the bridges should be working now. We're trying to mentally prepare our pump operator. We don't really have too many people to be sacrificed, so it would be great if he made it alive.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/airlock_zpshapzcmuo.jpg)
22nd
Rith is throwing a tantrum. Luckily, he calmed down quickly and no-one was decapitated now. Someone asked if he should be convicted for assault. I guessed it could be a good idea. I tried to ask someone about our options for conviction, but an enthusiastic military-dwarf took him away, without me even knowing how long the sentence would be! Well, I guess they'll let him out someday. If we're still alive by then..... ....
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/prisoner_zpsovvifz6d.jpg)
27th
Azula has created a scepter. It's quite valuable actually.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/scepter_zpsap9h3uac.jpg)
28th
Autumn is here. No disasters were found striking us this time. I believe whether using the airlock or not, will be the biggest question we have in the next season.
It's also nice to see we have a mayor who's doing fine, and doesn't have a problem being yelled and cried at.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/mayor_zpsftfagv0n.jpg)
-----
Here's the update! And sorry for the delay. Blasted real-life responsibilities.. Autumn is now in progress. Now what do you think, shall we try out the airlock?
Oh, one of those. I love those. You forgot fluid's flow on diagonals didn't you?
You'll see, you'll see...
Anyways, it's time for..
Autumn Update
-----
Vuohiparta's overseer diary
Murderflood
211
-----
4th of Limestone
We begin autumn by assigning new building projects. As we've seen how simple the concept of magma-towers are, we shall build another pair of them. This time on the northern entrance. As there's a difference in elevation on our north entrance, the towers will be slightly different. Now we actually need only one bridge per tower for magma release.
We also shall build some special rooms for some of our.. "special" persons, with the purpose of cheering them up a bit. I'm not sure how much it'll help, though. I fear some of us have already gone beyond reach..
10th
A dwarven caravan arrives! Maybe we'll finally get some wood!
11th
Nomal is throwing a tantrum and at the same time, Tulon is haunting the fortress! Besides, we have buried Tulon! What is this?
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/taumlnrt_zpsui5nqvno.jpg)
12th
Nomal is on a rampage. First, he punches a marksdwarf, who quite surprisingly maintains his temper. Then Nomal steps up to a honey badger and cripples it with a well aimed punch to the spine. Then he proceeds to the mayors office, where our liaison is also headed..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/taumlnrt2_zpsxy0u6zoz.jpg)
13th
No news from the dwarven realm. I'm not sure if it's a good, or a bad thing.
The liaison and mayor are having a conversation while actually being in different rooms. The liaison is in the mayor's office with Nomal, while our mayor is in the next room. Nomal doesn't seem to want to punch anyone in the face anymore, even though our mayor seemingly assumed otherwise. The situation seems to be under control again.
14th
Trading commences. Yet again, there's no wood. I request some of it to be brought on the next caravan visit.
18th
A smell of burning flesh and dwarf hair permeates the air. Likot, our administrator/militia captain fell. Into the dike. He was building a floor next to a bridge closing one of the planned mainteinance routes to the northern magma towers. There are several different eye-witness stories of what happened. Some said Likot had just finished the floor, but somehow it collapsed right in front of him. They said he tried to prevent it by grabbing the falling floor. Some others say that he was just placing some stone bars on the edge of the bridge, but forgot to let his hands go of the said bars, thus somersaulting into the dike. Whatever the reason, a huge pillar of smoke was spewn out from the dike, striking two people on the entrance bridge and knocking them unconscious. Fortunately, the only injuries they received were the ones they got from dropping stone bars they were hauling to their feet.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/death_zpsfrezvvys.jpg)
..am I the only overseer here whose building projects end up in needless deaths?
(PRO TIP: Never try to connect a floor to a bridge, unless the floor is connected to another floor/wall..)
20th
Nomal has calmed down, but is still punching people. Something has to be done now. I order him convicted. Some time in jail should give him some better ideas for his life.
Also, a bunch of people followed our captain of the guard far away from the safety of our fortress to report crime.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/crime_zpscfuuhlwe.jpg)
What if a siege would've arrived? Or vile mist? All the corpses and items are marked for dumping, but I don't think we'll ever get all this stuff hauled away.
26th
Rith, our previous jailbird has seemingly been just released, and he's depressed again.
Now that I think about it, it's actually quite easy to relate to him..
-----
1st of Sandstone
Oh, Armok.. Nomal has been punched to death. I thought the guards were going to sent him in jail, but instead they sentenced a beating! He took a couple of hits, and then his head bursted open..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/beatingofnomal_zpsf7lykrku.jpg)
..which gives me rather grim thoughts. We can handle commoners throwing tantrums, but what if our military-dwarves began punching people? Some of them have been training for so long, that they've developed triceps on their faces.. I believe we just had a prime example here.
I'm also letting all crimes go unpunished again. It's better that way.
2nd
The Keas aren't nesting. They seem to be much happier with chewing pieces off their nest boxes. Come on birds, get on with it already!
3rd
The Operation Airlock is soon ready to begin. Pump operator Bembul has been assigned to the levers controlling the airlock bridges. Ral has also been told to get ready, and make his way to the airlock entrance.
8th
Finally, we have Kea eggs. And they are safe from dwarven egg-thieves. Perfect.
(Oh, btw. Keas aren't trainable for war, which is sad. Should we do some.. magic?)
14th
Ral doesn't wan't to do it. Every time we tell him to go to the airlock entrance, he just freezes and wants to have a meeting with the mayor. We keep telling him he's the chosen one, and timeless glory awaits him in the future. He's not really buying it. (For some reason, assigning him to a burrow wouldn't work. He just stopped doing anything at all, until unassigned from the burrow.)
We also have a giant salt person roaming around the caverns. His name is Oszit.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/oszit_zps5wjwaw41.jpg)
No one is really betting for him to make a stand against the undead dinosaurs.
17th
Ral went to sleep and is now on break. We did give him a dig job with very obscure instructions. If he gets it right, he should find himself digging at the cavern airlock entrance without even being aware it's THAT cavern airlock wall. We'll see.
18th
Ral is finally making his way below. He's going to do it.
19th - 21st
Ral is digging, while Bembul is ready to turn levers on command.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/cavernbreach_zpsuni2upov.jpg)
---
Ral breaches the cavern wall. Nothing happens. The great beast nearby doesn't seem to detect anything. Ral then decides to knock down another part of the wall down and leave. And nothing happens.
..until KOSMZĹ, the other undead beast suddenly arrives out of nowhere! Animals try flee in terror, but they are slaughtered immediately. Now the other beast also seems to understand something is going on, and it comes closer to the airlock.
A brave war dog lures Kosmzĺ further into the airlock. Kosmzĺ punches him, and he flies next to the spike room entrance. Kosmzĺ follows..
Bembul is seemingly in such joy, that he tries to constantly arrange parties in the lever room. Don't forget you have a job there!
Kosmzĺ rushes into the spike room, and destroys every living creature out there. Now there's a dog lying in the corner, unconscious. And surprisingly, the beast doesn't do a thing. The dog bleeds out, and the foul undead creature stands where our baits were. Right there, where we don't have spikes..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/kosmzaring%20cometh_zpsuq5nnh3d.jpg)
22nd
The situation in the airlock is quite stuck. The undead seem only to move when they detect something they can kill. Kosmzĺ isn't on the spikes. The other beast has also parked himself on our airlock entrance, but it seems to be doing nothing at all.
24th
Until someone gets a good idea how to lure Kosmzĺ into the spikes, we're forgetting about the airlock for now. As the undead in the caverns won't move anywhere without a bait, getting them to the airlock will be very difficult. We might have to try something else in the future.
-----
1st of Timber
Rith is oblivious. Nothing new, unfortunately.
6th
There's been something weird going on with the militias. For some reason, almost no squad had a room assigned for training. That has to be fixed immediately. Also, I've changed the training schedules a bit, so that we have more workforce available at all times.
Also, the other pair of magma towers has been finished! Or actually, they might resemble kettles more than towers. Along with a new and shining ballista, our northern entrance should be much more defendable now. We also don't have to keep the northern bridges perpetually closed anymore.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/moartowers_zpsyolliy2v.jpg)
The magma tower design is a bit different now. Instead of just flooding, the magma now splashes into the ground, hopefully spreading it immediately all around the area of impact. It would be nice to test these things first, just to see how the magma acts once it's been released. But it's magma, so it's also quite risky. Better wait for an invasion. I'd also advise future overseers not to open both towers at once, unless the magma doesn't flow well.
8th
There's a definite reek of putrefaction in the airlock. I also have an idea. We could dig a hole in the airlock roof and drop some animals there, just to lure that Dino of Death into the spikes.
17th
For some reason, the miners don't want to finish the airlock pitting hole. I guess they are just busy. Rith is also throwing a tantrum!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/tantruminrith_zpsqr6zd1yf.jpg)
24th
Right, our miners somehow built stairs leading downwards. While they were one level higher. And that's why they couldn't reach the dig site anymore.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/miner_zpsi8motajt.jpg)
I really don't understand how it is even possible, but it's fixed now. The pit is ready, and a reindeer has been assigned to be dropped.
Asmoth is also taken by a mood! And he claimed a forge!
25th
Digging the hole in the airlock roof seems to have lured Kosmzĺ on the spike traps! Turn the lever!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/spears_zpsee4oyfhj.jpg)
The spears do some damage, but they don't seem to be able to hit any vital areas. I'm not sure if we can kill it this way.. Nevertheless, Bembul can keep repeating the lever. At least we'll cripple the beast, as it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
26th
Look at this! Asmoth has taken some adamantine for his work!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/adamantinesforge_zpsq44ybbwk.jpg)
Suddenly everyone wants to take a peek at what he's doing.
28th
We've finished autumn. Winter is coming. We lost a couple of good dwarves this season, but no grave disaster struck us. I've also been feeling much better lately. I guess some months in military duty have given my life much more variation. Less time to think, and brood in death. Maybe I haven't lost all my hope in this place.
"HOO BOY! SOMEONE BETTER COME DOWN HERE QUICK!"
Who's that? Wasn't it Meng? I believe he was taking the reindeer into the airlock pit. What is it this time...
(Winter Suffering and death is upon you.)
-----
Here's the autumn update. Something is coming at us. Details on the next update, as the discovery was made precisely at the 1st of Moonstone. BUT YOU'RE FREE TO TAKE GUESSES WHAT IT IS.
Oh boy.
The great undead theropod made it's way up the stairs. It reeked of death.
So, this is it, thought Meng.
A rain of blood showered on her as the beast ripped the reindeer bait to shreds. Then Kosmzĺ, the horror from below, locked it's hollow gaze upon Meng.
The beast attacks. Meng swiftly evades. She finally realizes the true horror of the situation. She's fighting this thing all alone.
She raises her crossbow. She remembers undead creatures must be hit in the head in order to put them down. This might be her only chance.
The arrow is launched. It hits Kosmzĺ in it's lower body.
The beast keeps pummeling Meng. She just manages to block it's fierce attacks. There's no time to reload.
Kosmzĺ grabs her arm. Meng barely blocks another attack. Then she briefly sees the flash of sharp talons.
-----
The Winter Update
-----
Continuation to Vuohiparta's overseer diary
Murderflood
211
-----
1st of Moonstone
This is not happening! Kosmzĺ somehow climbed out of the airlock!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/FUCK_zpstowumesi.jpg)
How is this even possible? How can a gigantic dinosaur with small hands somehow climb out of the airlock?!
Meng and the reindeer are dead. A general alarm is signaled and all squads are rushed in to the scene. I also need to suit up.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/Mengdies_zpswdslrbpf.jpg)
The squads gather on the stairway entrance. Kosmzĺ seems not to be aware of anyone yet. Maybe we could wait this out and build a wall around the stairway?
Wait, someone is seen walking towards Kosmzĺ. It's Asmoth! He's been out searching for gems for his work of art! I fear we might have to charge the beast before it sees Asmoth..
..oh. The horrid creature just saw us. It's closing in! Charge!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/thebattleisfight_zpss3tpjlyt.jpg)
Marksdwarves open an impressive barrage at Kosmzĺ, but to no avail unfortunately. Our garbagedwarf Deduk, one of our freshest rookies, is the first to engage the beast in melee.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/garb1_zpsfdvces7t.jpg)
More people join the fight. Zan, one of our marksdwarves is brutally decapitated. He actually flies to the rooms above through stairs. What a grim sight..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/zandead_zpsytjavkeh.jpg)
Everyone's bashing Kosmzĺ now.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/haerd_zpsb04cry1z.jpg)
We do have one advantage over Kosmzĺ. We are way faster, and skilled in evasion and blocking. For every hit Kosmzĺ attempts, there's many times more warriors retaliating. Now the beast lost it's hand. And now another.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/battlelog_zpsfxmnvzuh.jpg)
And then, our garbagedwarf Deduk hits Koszmĺ in the head with her silver mace. It makes a very nasty sound. Kosmzĺ collapses on the ground. It was Deduk's first notable kill.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/garb2_zpsfmail0lq.jpg)
What a fine victory. We lost only two dwarves. But what a horrible way to start a season.. I can yet again only blame myself for this..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/victory_zpsoxi0vqgf.jpg)
The weapons I saw in the fight were mostly made of steel or silver. Didn't I order many adamantine weapons made? Where are they? This requires an inspection!
2nd
The cavern stairway is now getting walled. The airlock is also shut for now.
3rd
I am now finalizing military rotations. We shall only keep one squad active for now, as our military severely affects our production and hauling. Also, every adamantine weapon is in use. The warriors wielding them just weren't mostly there when the undead theropod attacked..
4th
Someone spotted a pile of salt in the airlock on the spike traps upon routine inspection. That's a bit weird. I wonder where it came from?
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/oszitdies_zpsxtt2ucse.jpg)
6th
Zaneg has grown to adulthood now! We give blessings to him. And then we draft him to the military.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/peasantzaneg_zpspmehu9wc.jpg)
7th
Rith is depressed again. It seems the statue therapy isn't working very well. At least he's not throwing things around this time..
9th
Everyone is partying, even though we have much work to do. Well, we did manage to survive the onslaught of Kosmzĺ. I guess we could celebrate it a bit. I just am not in the mood for it..
12th
Asmoth has began his construction!
16th
Asmoth forged.. an ADAMANTINE SHORT SWORD! He is now truly a legendary weaponsmith!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/adamantinesword_zpsmslziic1.png)
The desert sun made the blade shine beatifully. This sword is truly our light in these times of darkness. It also bears concrete evidence of the mighty foes fallen by our valiant heroes.
We must give it to someone truly worthy.
17th
Some discussions were had conserning the fate of the legendary sword forged by Asmoth. We named several worthy dwarves, but Asmoth gave a cold stare every time someone else than him was considered to obtain the sword. And in the end, the only right to do was to give the sword to Asmoth. He's the one who forged it after all. And his skills in fighting with swords are also generally considered to be legendary. He's also slain dozens of foes and is one of the most experienced soldiers alive around here.
The name of Asmoth and his sword are to be remembered forever in history. He shall be the protector of Murderflood.
Also, one of our older artifacts seem to possess an image of the sword.. even though the sword didn't even exist back then!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/what_zpschnfgepc.jpg)
What is this sorcery?
24th
A badger steps in our traps and dies on top of another badger corpse.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/badgers_zpsq0eq4pd5.jpg)
-----
1st of Opal
Rith threw a tantrum! Luckily he didn't do anything. I'm getting worried about the fact that this is happening quite constantly nowadays..
8th
This is how the cavern stairway looks now.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/cavern_zpsouvh0qgu.jpg)
14th
Azula is now an adult! She is very strong, but our squads are quite full. She shall make clothes for the time being! Congratulations!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/azula_zpsepi1f7kd.jpg)
18th
Young Zaneg went out to haul something and saw the bodies on our front yard for the first time ever. He's utterly devastated. I honestly wasn't aware how oblivious the children have been to the horrors we have faced..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/zaneggoesout2_zps1dpfe2yr.jpg)
19th
We're building something. It's looking nice.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/mystery_zpsnau6pufb.jpg)
20th
Two reindeers gave birth. We do have quite many reindeer around here already..
Also, there's been a Kea training breakthrough. Keas are quite capable and ferocius animals, but surprisingly no-one has ever thought about the possibility of train them for war.. until now! Keamasters Taupe and Imic of Murderflood shall be the brave pioneers of the project. We are training only the male for now. We don't want to disturb the female, who is still incubating the eggs.
24th
Rith is tantruming again. Now he's back to punching people. We must convict him, whatever the sentence! Apparently he'll be put to chains.
25th
Rith is throwing his clothes around while being dragged to custody. He then punched a bear and Sibrek when she was dragging him away. Sibrek is in our military and has a will of steel. She panicked.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/unbreakablesibrek_zps6tcntcng.jpg)
26th
Rith finally calms down after punching a cat. Sibrek has again taken hold of him and is dragging him to the prisoner tower. We'll finally have some peace here for now.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/rithonrampage_zpszzrgjdx3.jpg)
Rith has actually been having more positive thoughts lately.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/rithstats_zpszljbliaq.jpg)
He's also finally found some friends.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/rithstats2_zpsawjecvf4.jpg)
Yet, he's tantruming all the time. Is there anything at all we can do?
-----
2nd of Obsidian
Bomrek, our captain of the guard, is actually lacking proper rooms and equipment. That shall be fixed. His office will be on the lower part of the overseer tower.
4th
The ghost of Tulon is still hanging around here. She doesn't seem to have forgotten his past life as she's still moving around the places she used to go to when alive. Is she truly dead then? I'd consider her blessed. She's not bound to her mortal body anymore. Nothing can do her harm. Ever again.
They say some seek forbidden knowledge to prevent aging and death. What if they've been wrong all this time? What if death itself, is the ultimate way to achieve immortality..?
5th
We've built a random tower, and it is quite ready! We shall use parts of it as a zoo and put our caged creatures there. There's also a pit on top of it. We can try it out and watch what happens to a reindeer when it's pushed over the edge.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/tower_zps1cumhg61.jpg)
10th
Rith Urdimkogan has been found dead! Apparently she fell.. from nowhere! There's blood on the bottom of our newest tower though..
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/mysteriousstuff_zpsxensiuvz.jpg)
What is going on?
11th
The tower pit works.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/deadreindeer_zpsjgo5bvvu.jpg)
18th
Dumat was found carrying loads of cloth with him while she was ordered to be stationed. She never gave an answer why she was hauling them.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/wat_zpsmxznt3ok.jpg)
20th
Our giant desert tortoise became wild again! It also forgot how to get around traps and triggered quite plenty of them.. It's still alive, but not sure for how long. Someone should go and put it out of misery..
25th
More reindeer are dropped from the tower, as they keep multiplying like rabbits! The male kea is still waiting for his war training to happen, as Taupe and Imic seem to be very busy. We also still have these mantis persons flying around. They seem to look like they're trying to leave this place, but for some reason they just cannot. It's as if something doesn't allow it for them. This desert truly creeps me out..
28th
The winter has passed now. I'm grateful we didn't have to suffer any other attacks after the rampage of the undead beast Kosmzĺ. I'm not sure how I would've held up. We also noticed Zas has been pulling the airlock spike lever on repeat for.. quite a long time already!
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/zashahah_zpsqktcljvn.jpg)
No-one actually told her to stop..
We also managed to finish some of the buildings around here. We have the tower, and there's now two new barracks just in case we're going to need them. But now, I am once again finishing my duties as an overseer.
On far away realms, snow is slowly starting to melt. Spring finally arrives. New life shall sprout.
(http://i650.photobucket.com/albums/uu226/Vuohijumala/mosquito_zpst2rwc4bt.jpg)
And our giant mosquito dies. The cycle is complete.
-----
Here's the link to the save: http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=12003
Once again, sorry this took longer than it should have. But yeah, now my turn is done! I'm a bit surprised how peaceful this year was in general. I guess we also should have three little keas wandering around fairly soon. I think we should avoid training the female kea until the chicks have hatched. It might ruin the whole thing as training nesting creatures tends to bug them out.
"Hey Zuggles you dead?"
I rubbed my eyes as I rose from my bed wearily. It was Taupe.
"I have some things to speak with you about."
Well, I tried to gather my senses, sweeping away the webs of wooziness that still lay draped over my consciousness. Taupe informed me that the mantle of leadership had come back around to me. Huh.
(https://i.imgur.com/ymLwr0s.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/dk3fHq4.png)
Its been years since I've last lead the fortress, years of waiting and trying to grasp what the hell is going on with this place. Bereft of purpose after learning of the fall of the capital, I have been indulging my sense of powerlessness and despair by throwing myself at work day after day after day. Well no longer. The mantle of power has come around, and I plan to seize it with both hands!
Unfortunately, seizing the mantle of overseership is like trying to fish for carp. Once you catch it, it tends to slip away from your grasp. But worse of all, it might take the opportunity to bite your face off.
1st Granite
I had plans. Plans within plans. But I needed the might of the Usânlĺluth military to carry out these plans of mine. Thus it was my first priority to make an inspection of the military, to make sure the foundation of my plans would not go awry.
(https://i.imgur.com/gQrMHtV.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/lHh94mh.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/zYTzGeH.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Soufgeu.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/xxN18bQ.png)
Well whoever did the weapon assignments did not do a good job I fear. I understand the sentiment of utilizing our shiny new adamantine spears for combat, but you'll have to get rid of the previous weapon assignment first. As a result, the new recruits are hardly adequate in their spear training. I fear I will have to revert them back to their original weapons which they are more skilled at.
Asmoth on the other hand had a different sort of problem.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZoZv0Zc.png)
He had 2 sets of mailshirts on; a steel one and an adamantine one. I tried to convince him that one was enough and that other dwarves needed the armor, but he insisted on staying the course. Those damn nobles. I don't even have much of any clothes! Got to get the manager to make more clothes for the crossbow dwarves.
It seems our chief medical dwarf was also not involved in any capacity with diagnosis or anything. I insisted she take up a starter course from Logem, the only other qualified doctor here in Usânlĺluth. I sent Zas on a mission.
(https://i.imgur.com/S8ajh3j.png)
There were some weird designations in place.
(https://i.imgur.com/vLxXt3e.png)
5th Granite
(https://i.imgur.com/mZ8sxQC.png)
Hmmm... Tosid has been behaving oddly recently.
(https://i.imgur.com/PKEMmH0.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/J18kTUH.png)
Tosid Athelcudist has claimed a jeweller's workshop. He hauls a fire opal into the shop and begins secretively working on his magnum opus.
(https://i.imgur.com/oxhPEc1.png)
Try you as might Tosid, but nothing escapes from the all seeing overseers eye!
6th Granite
(https://i.imgur.com/pIn8xnd.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YZZKCfE.png)
Zefon Lekgusil has filled the pond area as instructed. Inadvertently making an obsidian wall that blocks off the magma from draining out of the forge area.
(https://i.imgur.com/vjQxjKQ.png)
Praise Armok! That building flaw had been bothering me for awhile, now the moat can drain and it will not affect the forge operations one bit. Later on, I ordered the reindeer butchered for meat, they were steadily growing in number, besides the place stinks of reindeer musk.
Meanwhile, corpse hauling continued.
(https://i.imgur.com/h1xf234.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fMm4rAt.png)
Yeah, we don't think much of the worth of silver apparently. Some of the corpses I recognize from my turn at overseer years ago. Sigun the hauly-dwarf works hard at the task, alone. At least he goes about his task earnestly.
(https://i.imgur.com/xN1nSAM.png)
No mercy for corpses!
Meanwhile, the work orders kept piling up.
(https://i.imgur.com/lvRV2rz.png)
I named myself manager because Haerdalas II is simply neglecting filling in work orders in order to train.
(https://i.imgur.com/iF3vv4v.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vFdJRLK.png)
You tell them Adil! Can't take your eye of a single thing otherwise nothing ever gets done around here.
Further inspection of the fortress reveals some glaring building flaws. As a result, I walled off Gwolfsky's personal well.
(https://i.imgur.com/hEXhzuR.png)
It opens up into the caverns and can prove to be a strategic liability to our defenses should some critter discover the path and try to fly or climb up through the well. Besides, it will encourage everyone to use the wells i made on the surface (that nobody managed to figure out how to operate after all these years). Speaking of which...
(https://i.imgur.com/hFh0yFp.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/CaDiTGb.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/rdNjE3W.png)
There. Communal property over personal property! Stop living and behaving like humans you dwarven dregs!
(https://i.imgur.com/HuM3G7O.png)
See! The well works!
I plan to assault the third caverns soon(I won't bother with the second caverns as we already have traps in place there), so I've ordered Imic to construct the iron gates at the breaching point so we can at least retreat and regroup lest we are overwhelmed.
(https://i.imgur.com/m4x2zBu.png)
I rearranged the training rosters so that the inexperienced militia are given priority to train over the elites. We'll need all the training we can get for these greenhorns before we commence the assault on the caverns.
10th Granite
(https://i.imgur.com/qPSbQZo.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1p9OFTw.png)
Tosid Athelcudist Ralmeb Arkoth has created ikthaglashed, Squeezeprophet! A fire opal crown, worth 36,000☼!
(https://i.imgur.com/v9dWGS5.png)
On further inspection, it appeared rather plain looking, but still fit for royalty.
(https://i.imgur.com/Mu7vBxC.png)
A day later, and Endok Kikrostlun has grown to become a dwarven child!
(https://i.imgur.com/7xQjBT2.png)
Endok is now a year old, the sixth child of Thob Nunursolon, engineer and Sarvesh Atheldolil, doctor. Already the poor child is getting used to tragedy.
(https://i.imgur.com/I2LAvS8.png)
Time to get indoctrinated into the ways of Usânlĺluth you pup!
14th Granite
(https://i.imgur.com/rdktM0T.png)
An elven caravan has arrived from Alu Inó. Those damn elves, taking their own sweet time making their way from the southwest on their pack animals. They better have brought something worthwhile to trade!
(https://i.imgur.com/uHlsjs8.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/JDrDCx2.png)
The elf diplomat arrives from the northeast, how they navigate their way through these treacherous wastelands is something I'll never know nor something that they would reveal to us.
17th Granite
The merchants have arrived and are unloading their goods.
Well, there wasn't much of anything worth in their stocks. Whatever. There was trash I needed to get rid off anyway that they would gladly accept. Trash for trash! I got the military to get off their collective asses to help with the hauling, which meant hunting down the last assigned barracks we have and disabling it and removing everyone from their training schedules.
"Everyone hauls! No exceptions!"
22nd Granite
(https://i.imgur.com/w4VTANH.png)
The elf diplomat convenes a meeting with the duchess.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ntc7qHL.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/PbIyPjq.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/J0jzpMr.png)
Yeah more tree talk nonsense. We granted them an audience. We don't even have 115 trees to chop down, unless we breach the caverns successfully, so yeah why not? Dumb elves.
(https://i.imgur.com/R3TBKkt.png)
Well, that was to be expected.
(https://i.imgur.com/XtNbRB9.png)
23rd Granite
(https://i.imgur.com/Xi4aBYW.png)
The Fortress attracted no migrants these season. Whoop dee doo daa why am I not surprised?
5th Slate
(https://i.imgur.com/jmmCQly.png)
A giant desert tortoise wandered into our death traps. It did not survive.
9th Slate
(https://i.imgur.com/ekSxuxi.png)
The merchants have announced that they are leaving soon. Damn it, there's still lots more trash to haul. I urged Nujux to conduct trade before the merchants scampered off.
(https://i.imgur.com/8rM2Of2.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/FZTxQ5K.png)
Nujux traded for a bunch of fruits trash, another grizzly bear, a giant moose cow (which was bloody expensive), a giant tiercel peregrine, a great horned owl, a wolf and a male giant snapping turtle. I don't know why we keep getting more animals when we already have the magnificent giant kea.
(https://i.imgur.com/JnDBwk7.png)
Hmmm got to do something about that.
13th Slate
(https://i.imgur.com/FI8C91T.png)
The merchants have left, along with all our trash upon their pack animals. Thankfully, most of the litter on the surface has been cleared now, all that is left is to dump these skeletons and corpses.
(https://i.imgur.com/pg0UHEX.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/LNhZsXp.png)
Thob Nunursolon gave birth to boy, Zulban Istbareral.
(https://i.imgur.com/vMl41oA.png)
I can't complain really, the couple are single handedly keeping our population numbers afloat and may be integral to the survival of the fortress as long as this migrant drought continues.
I tasked Blitz gamer with cooking all the reindeer meat we got from slaughtering. After much grumbling about not wanting to cook anymore, he gave up protesting and went to work. When I asked him about how it was all coming along, he replied rather sarcastically that, "this is a masterpiece. I am very SATISFIED."
(https://i.imgur.com/dFcHjOU.png)
Well. Life goes on in the fortress.
5th Felsite
(http://i.imgur.com/UdXKcLX.gif)
You would think years spent here would have acclimated me to the sight of the vile mist emanating from the lake, but that is not the case. It is a most unnatural event, and when you observe the mist close up (No get back you dope! Not that closely!), you'll find it alarming to note that the mist seems to have a life of its own, at times flowing against the direction of the wind. I am certainly glad we have erected a barrier around us.
But what is more disturbing is the realization that certain forms of life aren't at all affected by the vile mist's husking properties. Like for example the equally disturbing flying lung fish that not only defies gravity but the effects of the vile mist. Truly a formidable opponent.
(https://i.imgur.com/Dl1BkmI.png)
The alert goes up and another swathe of vile mist is sighted, near the haulers. On the northeast coastline.
(https://i.imgur.com/pnWGY6j.png)
Well Fuck. This can't be good. I order the items that they were assigned to dump to be forbidden.
Welp that did not help one bit, the haulers are already hauling the corpses merrily with nary a care in the world. Let's just hope that nothing goes wrong. I hold my breath in anticipation...
(http://i.imgur.com/HCpRXjU.gif)
10th Felsite
Well so much for that. Surprisingly, nothing untoward happened.
In other news, the "unknown material" tables were filled in by normal tables.
(https://i.imgur.com/5m9ZwOi.png)
It was then that someone spotted a ghostly apparition flying above us.
(https://i.imgur.com/LvSLiNL.png)
Some one identified the ghast as Tulon Daroslitast, Ghostly Teamster.
Consulting the records, it was revealed that Tulon was struck down by the desert titan An Onshenurus Telingamud a few years back.
(https://i.imgur.com/s6tbcss.png)
Yeap I spot his corpse in the moat surrounding the bear temple. As i watched Tulon flitting about, I was alarmed at the appearance of yet another ghost; Likot Endokerith Erush Etost, ghostly administrator.
(https://i.imgur.com/aQBLmiL.png)
Likot died in year 211 as per the records. Worse yet, was the new arrival that I did not notice...
(https://i.imgur.com/J2Hv2ek.png)
Well no danger from that front yet. I was content to let the monstrosity stew in the evil lake. Meanwhiile, I searched the slab stockpiles and sure enough, there was a slab for Tulon already engraved and good to go.
(https://i.imgur.com/1NWk4Wc.png)
Unfortunately, Likot did not have a slab and his corpse was largely neglected all these years.
(https://i.imgur.com/KSaNz7L.png)
I order a slab engraved for the poor dwarf.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ow7Wtdq.png)
Soon enough, Tulon was put to rest.
16th Felsite
(https://i.imgur.com/lugRkT3.png)
The traps were cleaned and the corpses above ground were all incinerated. I sensed that it was time. I could not tarry any longer. I activated the entire military and sent them down to the third caverns where the iron gates were. We were about to breach the third caverns and will need all the firepower to deal with the named gorlak and any undead that would block or interfere with the clearing of the entryway. We cannot take the risk of undead swarming in to the fortress.
Speaking of undead...
(https://i.imgur.com/GeDka3S.png)
R.I.P. Likot.
(https://i.imgur.com/lSOUiWJ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/3XX4vuy.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/9O0pJyq.png)
As Duck went to clear the path for the breach, Otngebistra the gorlak came stumbling into the tunnels.
(https://i.imgur.com/SisLCXf.png)
The Amazons dealt with the foe swiftly, dismembering it into many tiny pieces. A Molemarian corpse wandering nearby was also destroyed.
20th Felsite
Disaster averted! Massive chaos ensued as dwarves attempted to breach the safe perimeter in order to dump corpses or bury loved ones. Thinking quickly on my feet, i activated the burrows alert, forcing everyone back inside. I then extended the burrows til the perimeter wall, which was not fully dug out at the moment. The military took care of any unruly corpses wandering nearby as Duck came to clear out the mess.
(https://i.imgur.com/niCDxxf.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/8k1KvcJ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/cdC21Az.png)
It was only through the heat of battle that I realized many of the newly drafted dwarves did not have appropriate weapons. Will have to postphone the invasion until we can get them all up to speed. Hmmm... the fortress records indicate that we should have enough...
(https://i.imgur.com/b7RJGDN.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/BxMVE5Q.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/zKEOJpf.png)
GWOLFSKY!!!!!!!! DAMN YOU MEDDLING NOBLES!
Well, no matter with the initial breach secured, we decided to retreat and regroup. Already more corpses had sensed the smell of dwarven flesh and were shambling towards the gateway.
(https://i.imgur.com/7Hi7zPI.png)
I ordered the lever to be pulled.
(https://i.imgur.com/E0KmSx3.png)
We are safe. For now.
Further examination of the military reveals more inconsistencies that I overlooked.
(https://i.imgur.com/QXge7wo.png)
Zefon (crippled) was discharged from the military. He'll be a liability on the battlefield and we needed his hands working on the forges or the fields more than whatever feeble contribution he could muster on the military front.
27th Felsite
Some of the orders for the leather armor were completed. It feels good to finally not be naked. Also, Imic is marshalling the giant keas for war.
(https://i.imgur.com/NJNNnVN.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1JRC7MC.png)
Summer has arrived on the calendar.
EDIT: I may have gone way overboard on the pictures.
EDIT: Derp. Forgot about existence of spoiler tags. Fixed now.
1st Hematite
Our steel supplies were running out. Though we have a few iron ores left and plenty of iron bars. We were constrained by our pig iron stores. Worse still, were our dwindling logs supplies meaning we had little to replenish our charcoal stores. But worse still was the flux. I set miners to this task immediately.
(https://i.imgur.com/FDLNSWp.png)
4th Hematite
(https://i.imgur.com/GnDU06T.png)
I've tasked Pyrotechno with forging more armor to make up for the deficit. Immediately, he has went ahead and made a masterpiece steel mailshirt.
(https://i.imgur.com/EBkakTz.png)
A thief! Wait what? A thief? Now? I haven't seen those fellas since...
(https://i.imgur.com/BTJTQ1p.png)
Yeah you better run!
Asmoth makes a trio of masterpiece steel battle axes for the cobalt charms. And... now it looks like we've run out of steel. Great, have to get the smelters working on the double.
12th hematite
(https://i.imgur.com/ymP6E9d.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fwxPB4k.png)
A human diplomat from Usmenbehal has announced his arrival.
16th Hematite
The human diplomat Eri convenes with our duchess for a little 'chit chat' they call it. I listened in, but there really wasn't much news of note. So this is what humans deem as politics eh? Sitting around and doing a bunch of nothing. Hah!
(https://i.imgur.com/apDvgAw.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/I9ILtSN.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/sxZdCjp.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ar5X0mh.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/GkhHFpQ.png)
17th Hematite
(https://i.imgur.com/7H0IktA.png)
The human caravan from Usmenbehal has arrived, hot on the diplomat's heels, and Edzul has once again been re-elected, the lucky bastard.
(https://i.imgur.com/RL0ltll.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1OZTkeO.png)
I've received a most curious report from the watchers. Erm, the rain (at least I hope its the rain) seems to have caused the lava moat to spout off bursts of steam clouds. Is this normal? The moat is not gonna erupt on us or anything is it?
(http://i.imgur.com/0Dwk8gE.gif)
4th Malachite
(https://i.imgur.com/JDWtJkd.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/NrGmdBg.png)
As if in synchronization with the bubbling lava, a cloud of vile mist has been spotted emerging from the lake!
9th Malachite
(https://i.imgur.com/duXMSvp.png)
Yeah yeah no migrants. What's else is new?
12th Malachite
(https://i.imgur.com/JAuvMwn.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/lM80XDI.png)
More vile mist. The lake seems to be in upheaval, almost desperate it seems, trying futilely to hinder my plans.
(https://i.imgur.com/aKNQ8zY.png)
We traded away the rest of our trash for more iron goods to melt down. The rest of this grown elvish stuff that is untradeable? We're gonna incinerate it.
19th Malachite
(https://i.imgur.com/CoxARRx.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/KXroXLA.png)
By Armok's damp beard, the sudden appearance of this the Ruthlessness of Terror had me worried there, but the forgotten beast has wandered off in the sealed second caverns, so I don't think we ought to worry about it for now.
(https://i.imgur.com/gggj3hZ.png)
Well, Nuwetha has gone ahead and engaged in combat with the undead population down there, I guess we ought to cheer it on for thinning the crowd there. But it will be troublesome if it dies and reanimates.
(https://i.imgur.com/M9ZLyA5.png)
Nuwetha isn't looking so good at the moment, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Most likely the result of being covered in vile forgotten beast extract, its taken out several undead though, so all is good.
(https://i.imgur.com/TnJyTLM.png)
26th Malachite
(https://i.imgur.com/y2SUI6w.png)
Doctor Sarvesh has taken on a honey badger! The dumb beardling chased down and tussled with the honey badger before passing out from exhaustion. Weak fool! You underestimate your own prowess!
(https://i.imgur.com/sT0e87t.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/FwOLI3m.png)
Well, I guess not. I guess that's taken care of itself. Good thing you didn't get yourself killed.
(https://i.imgur.com/xrLwBMc.png)
28th Malachite
(https://i.imgur.com/C5R69ow.png)
Nuwetha has died from its wounds. Seems like overexposure to forgotten beast extract. That's the main reason why I am not risking an expedition down there and I'm instead tackling on the relatively safer third caverns first. Besides that, the presence of undead pond grabbers makes an expedition down there, problematic.
1st Galena
(https://i.imgur.com/qZmKXP8.png)
Who was it that ordered the dumping of this ammo bin of copper? Its full of bolts! Oh boy, Flame is going to be mad!
8th Galena
(https://i.imgur.com/Wg5bPxR.png)
Kivish Lokumsebir has given birth to a boy, Erush Oakendike.
(https://i.imgur.com/GLTbwD7.png)
"Strong fella this one is", I made a mental note to myself. "Good candidate to be drafted if he makes it to adulthood."
19th Galena
(http://i.imgur.com/UUxonMJ.png?1)
More vile mist... Will it ever relent? Oh who am I kidding, the mist has been kept at bay by our superior lava technology. We have nary a thing to worry about as long as we do not venture close to the accursed shoreline.
21st Galena
Urist Idtost and Taupe were not getting on in their training, being novice or dabbling in skill. Considering the impending circumstances, I removed them from their original squads and drafted them into a new spear squad along with Azula. At least they will get to use the adamantine spears and this will keep them out of trouble for now, for they won't be utilized in the upcoming battle. After checking each and every military dwarf, I'm fairly satisfied with the state of armament we have. The breach will be scheduled in the next month, once we get all this grown elven trash incinerated.
(http://i.imgur.com/RdPVrXx.png?1)
7th Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/bgphytl.png)
Morgan amlitast has come of age! Congratulations, we needed more workers especially since we were lacking a woodcutter, so grab an axe! You will be joining Nujux!
10th Limestone
"Come I've been expecting all of you." I beckoned to the dwarves that had came.
Though their faces were haggard, I could tell from their keen eyes that a smoldering fire had been lit in them. As they gathered around impatiently awaiting my word, I could sense that they were eager for battle.
The military captains gathered around the granite table and I laid out my plans for the breach to the third caverns.
"This is what we know of the layout of the caverns so far..."
(https://i.imgur.com/PpjzKJX.png)
"To the north of our breach position, is this- (I struggled momentarily to find the words to describe the landscape) -creeping eye plateau, infested with undead creeping eyes!" I motioned with my hands making exaggerated circling motions in the air. No one budged an urist.
"So once we breach the perimeter, this will be our first objective to secure." The captains gathered around fiddled with their beards and gave a slight nodding motion.
"The rest of the ranged squads will stay behind along with one melee squad to deal with any undead planning to flank us from the sides. "
"From what we know-" I continued.
"-directly to the north of the plateau, hidden from direct line of sight on top of q spore tree canopy is Spugac Simo's rotten corpse."
(https://i.imgur.com/sfAtzsJ.png)
"I caution all of you to avoid engaging this foe until all our numbers are gathered in full force. A flock of hungry head corpses are gathered behind it so be on the look out for them."
(https://i.imgur.com/HSoF5b8.png)
"To the south of our position, lies territories unknown to us. I will leave it to you all how to deal with the situation as you see fit, but I urge you all to stick together. It would be dangerous getting stranded and isolated in the winding tunnels taking on foes one at a time. We'll need to stick together and engage their forces with superior numbers to avoid losses, there is no telling what else lies beyond the darkness."
"We shall set off before the break of dawn tomorrow. May Armok bless the length of your beards!"
All the squads were activated, except for the fledgling fortunate lances. They were left to train on their own volition.
(https://i.imgur.com/ruDxY9t.png)
11th Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/A1iD2RF.png)
With a clank, the iron gates were opened. Sarrak our commander was the first to sprint out of the gates, making a beeline for the gorlak corpse straight ahead.
(https://i.imgur.com/5O54WXw.png)
Kivish the marksdwarf (carrying erush her baby) were right behind along with De, erith, Goden and Imic. The undead corpse was quickly dealt with. We regrouped while erith wandered off somewhere with Atir the war grizzly bear.
(https://i.imgur.com/1gBwAPv.png)
Next up, came the rutherer corpse from our left flank. It withstood our punishment before backing off somewhat. Meanwhile, Onol, De and Aban raced off to the north to deal with the steady stream of corpses coming from creeping eye plateau. After the undead rutherer was dealt with, I took a risk and sent all the melee squads northwards to cut a swathe through the undead on creeping eye plateau, and to establish a foothold on the open ground there. I tweaked the alerts to allow retrieval of corpses of erith Dakonkulet, Aban Tekkudthak, Dodok Udosimush and Mestthos Keltithleth, as well as to allow the miners to open up the narrow tunnels near the entrance a little. We don't have much time too waste.
Oh no, a rutherer corpse was spotted from the left slopes; a blind spot in our defences. I ordered the squads to circle back.
(https://i.imgur.com/6s4VzhU.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/sKKxj5t.png)
Too late! Blitzgamer, De, Bomrek Headexecutioner and three others rushed forward to creeping eye plateau, while the rest heeded the call and circled back around to deal with the rutherer corpse approaching from the left flank. Bomrek enters a martial trance and takes on a horde of the undead fiends all on his own.
(https://i.imgur.com/WjtrgLg.png)
Once the rutherer was dealt with, the rest of the squads save the Snarling Knives and the crossbow dwarves were given the green light to forge ahead to creeping eye plateau. The knives were stationed back to prevent any blind side attacks from our flanks. Our marksdwarves report that there are another two rutherer corpses approaching from the south.
14th Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/77jjUE5.png)
Creeping eye plateau was decimated utterly. Undead body parts littered the ground in abandon, as the squads trod over the remains, keeping an eye out for further undead threats. I gave orders to regroup and march down southwards to flank from behind the undead approaching us from the left side.
15th Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/7Zjedgr.png)
The outpost liaison and carvan from Edandatan have arrived. Damn it, I don't need a diversion now. The scouts warn that one of the rutherer corpses is dangerously close now... and engagement!
(https://i.imgur.com/YlrDeoK.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/iRfZcWQ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/WSloXyp.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/hXgOJc0.png)
The crossbowdwarves let loose a hail of bolts while Triaxx II and hammerlords Shorast and Thob beat the undead rutherer down. Kivish decides to ignore my orders and instead circles around with Erush in one arm and flanks the rutherer from behind.
Meanwhile, the other 3 squads have completed the circle around and come down on the rutherer from the left hill, meanwhile a magma crab appears from the trap area and proceeds to smack Adil around with a glob of magma, searing off his nose and parts of his upper body and face.
(https://i.imgur.com/0xaIIpf.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/GcdhNr1.png)
The hammer dwarves converge on the magma crabs position and smack it back, while more crabs emerge from the molten depths below.
(https://i.imgur.com/IusS5oc.png)
Adil retreats to recuperate, trailing a long trail of blood behind him, while the hammer dwarves guard the vent. The rest of the melee troops have gone in deep.
17th Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/ICgyZ4r.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YII7Z6b.png)
Zas Lisdonul, Teamster is taken by a fey mood and has taken over a mason workshop. Meanwhile, we have smoked Spugac Simo's undead corpse from the treetops and are engaging it in battle.
(https://i.imgur.com/U3yBrEZ.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/fl9Fjnw.png?1)
The undead forgotten beast is impressive in its efforts, soaking up wounds like a sponge, but ultimately it is futile and is buried under a hail of blows.
(https://i.imgur.com/A1a8K12.png?2)
(https://i.imgur.com/7CsbSFm.png?1)
18th Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/qKTnKZ4.png?1)
Spugac Simo is dead (again),
(https://i.imgur.com/p7UaIxy.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/Kps2xhe.png?1)
but so it Adil Lokumistbar, Axedwarf whom bled to death on the surface before ever reaching the hospital for medical attention. R.I.P. Adil, you will be missed.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of the brief reprieve, the haulers quickly reclaimed the corpses of our citizens for burial.
(https://i.imgur.com/xID7HLX.png?1)
22nd Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/gkuwlK6.png?1)
The military went exploring the unrevealed southwest corner in full force. They came across numerous bugbat and hungryhead corpses, but nothing they couldn't handle.
(https://i.imgur.com/eSCz1AE.png?1)
Thob has grown attached to her silver war hammer, whilst vile mist fumes on the surface, swirling around for victims but ultimately impotent against the bulwark of our magma dikes.
23rd Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/TZ8V7Wo.png?1)
The keen eyes and ears of Imic alerted us to a passage far above us.
(https://i.imgur.com/YH9Yu7i.png?1)
Up it went.
(https://i.imgur.com/CellnuZ.png?1)
Beyond even the topmost reaches of the treetops.
(https://i.imgur.com/4sDAhoD.png?1)
And further still...
(https://i.imgur.com/DCsoRvr.png?1)
Til it reached the bottom most layer of the second caverns.
(https://i.imgur.com/bmQMAVi.png?1)
Where to the north...
(https://i.imgur.com/6u2P3wL.png?1)
Awaited an assembly of countless eyes and limbs twisted in a mockery of life.
Imic speculates that the echoes in that particular part of the caverns suggests that there is more space above. I surmise that it probably connects the second and 3rd caverns, no wonder there seemed to be less undead here in the 3rd than I remembered. They must have migrated upwards. I motioned for 2 squads to stay on alert below.
Besides that passage, everything seems clear in the 3rd caverns. Just a bunch of gorlak corpses behind passages sealed by trees left. I took the marksdwarves off stationing to help with the hauling. I also turned off the alert. Coast is clear. For now. But there is still the second cavern to tackle, and the worrying upper passage that links the 3rd cavern to the 2nd.
(https://i.imgur.com/AZljj52.png?1)
Meanwhile, Nujux bought out most of the caravan with our pricy prepared food courtesy of Blitzgamer. We procured steel, iron goods to melt down, more food cause why not, as well as bins of cloth.
26th Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/ndB7Xsc.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/nkLEpiC.png?1)
Zas Lisedonul has gathered everything he needed and is working furiously at a mysterious construction.
We now know a few facts about Giant hamster training. Also another Thob has started the naming train again, growing attached to a copper crossbow.
(https://i.imgur.com/KM4C82u.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/xakVoTj.png?1)
3rd Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/2Unpw9k.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/jEQyWHq.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/lMtU2BE.png?1)
Zas Lisedonul has created Kastolrukalonget, a rhyolite door!
The emancipated eerie turquoise sounds uncannily like the lake of evil we have here, but why emancipated? Unless...
(https://i.imgur.com/7KGZWmH.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/6wFYYSg.png?1)
My train of thought was broken by a reeking cloud of miasma that had arisen from the countless corpses we stood on. Copious amounts of miasma are rising from the corpses and its clouding everything over in a purple fog of disgustingness.
(https://i.imgur.com/SIwKG0I.png?1)
Well fuck you vile mist, we have plenty of miasma already, we don't need your damn husking mist now!
(https://i.imgur.com/2ANuPeY.png?1)
Mebzuth (successfully checked in to hospital), has been able to rest and recuperate.
7th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/Zzun14m.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/xyxN27j.png?1)
We negotiated with the outpost liaison for large amounts of iron ore, charcoal, steel and iron supplies, some lye, flux stones and other stuff.
(https://i.imgur.com/cnbUOKv.png?1)
Of course, there is no news from the dwarves. Not that I expected any. I looked over the trade agreement, making note to procure these stocks next autumn.
(https://i.imgur.com/1IeOA0P.png?1)
Finally we bid Vucar farewell.
(https://i.imgur.com/lbhRnFW.png?1)
8th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/cZs4MKd.png?1)
I know. Stop reminding me we have done nothing to attract migrants. I'm working on it!
13th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/pyIvyLM.png?1)
We have begun logging operations in the third caverns. The Eternal Boulders are on standby below the yawning chasm that connects the third caverns to the second in case of any mishaps. Undead are continuing to spawn sporadically from the garbled mess of limbs and bodies that lay strewn all over the third caverns. We must stay alert lest any unforeseen troubles arise.
14th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/ur7EZVb.png?1)
Spugac Simo's neck (why a neck of all things?) has resurrected and is causing trouble down in the breach. Thankfully the macedwarfs stationed there have got the situation covered.
19th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/u2y0ZHt.png?1)
The merchants from Edandatan have embarked on their long journey, and reports also say that a cloud of vile mist has drifted over the lake along with Crazy Urist has growing attached to a silver war hammer.
22nd Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/1tlmOy8.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/AojsE1T.png?1)
Dumping corpses is a dangerous venture, especially dealing with the heavier corpses that are prone to kick up clouds of magma mist. I've taken the precaution to dump the heavier corpses first, while I oversee the operations personally in order to prevent magma accidents.
(https://i.imgur.com/4AqOh9h.png?1)
Meanwhile, I've designated more trees for felling. At this point, I couldn't care less about the agreement we made with the elves earlier this year. I needed to secure a cache of logs for all the effort we made to secure the caverns. We have been without a sizable amount of logs for years! Also the giant keas aren't giving us fertilized eggs, though the giant snapping turtles are. I wonder if one of the pair is sterile?
25th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/u5jAIEO.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/qZit8HF.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/lbgxKzd.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZaPSltE.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/mqqilWd.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/vRusTjp.png?1)
a cave-in occured due to tree logging. Nujux and Morgan were knocked unconsciousness by the impact of the cave-in. Thankfully they only suffered bruises, nothing serious. At the rate we are going, the elves will be mad with us next year for willfully breaking agreements, not that I care of course.
Its a flurry of activity down in the third caverns, with all the logging and hoarding of wood, as well as the hauling and incineration of offending corpses that have been down there for decades.
7th Timber
With the third caverns more or less secured, I turned my attention to other matters.
(https://i.imgur.com/9h6IO0P.png?1)
Like these adamantine deposits in the third caverns that we did not mine out in fear of breaching the caverns.
(https://i.imgur.com/wZlyjqE.png?1)
Why no of course not dear Taupe! Why would we be celebrating? There is lots more work to do! *quickly hides mug of dwarven wine*
9th Timber
(https://i.imgur.com/LqQmIvD.png?1)
Vesh Gedor has come! I've sent the Snarling Knives in as backup to the Eternal Boulders (which are currently stationed in the third caverns for occurrences just like this one).
(https://i.imgur.com/xSzwyjX.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/8d1nwc0.png?1)
OH GREAT. Werebear Wimad Palathxidel has come! Fuck you RNG! What is with this place and bears? The beast clambers over the black sand dunes just west to the trade depot entrance (which is conspiciously open because of trade) Damn it. No one nearby to reinforce. Oh wait, there's De melting stuff near the forges. Time to activate Asmoth's Amazons and the Cobalt Charms (this is the reason why you have many squads and not one).
(https://i.imgur.com/f2n4j71.png?1)
De and administrator Fikod Nokimken whom had been conveniently nearby, rush to the defense of the fortress while a wolf attempts to hold off the Werebear.
(https://i.imgur.com/p7zyfen.png?1)
Meanwhile, Vesh Gedor the Dust of Evil flys over our entire formation that are being hindered by the rock formations. The Dust of Evil lands smack dab in the middle of the group, right next to militia captain Tosid. Tosid kicks the Beast in the foot, before bashing the beast in the body with Mamotakir, plaitedreward her silver mace.
(https://i.imgur.com/og7AOs7.png?1)
On the surface, De opens the fight with an explosive punch to the toe of the werebear, proceeding into a rapid combo with a shield bash with Mamotginet, plaitedcrews and a strike from her feather wood crutch. "I know Kisat Dur!", bellows De. She then dodges a charge and lays it in with a wild swing of her steel battle axe followed by a backhanded shield swipe for the follow through.
(https://i.imgur.com/xkpJ9hQ.png?1)
The Werebear falls over at the ferocity of the onslaught.
(https://i.imgur.com/UeCL4C8.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/Tv0H7JI.png?1)
Fikod joins in the battle and lops off a leg with a swing of his steel battle axe. The Werebear is quickly overwhelmed, turning pale and shouting, "I've been injured badly. I cannot find hope."
(https://i.imgur.com/IP3Vsj3.png?1)
Meanwhile, Vesh is getting beaten down badly by Tosid and the rest of the hammerdwarves, whom have yet to fully converge on its position.
The fight had devolved to a close in scuffle at that point, with lots of biting and punching going on.
On the surface, De dealt the killing blow to Wimad Diamondpoints the human werebear (well technically it wasn't, Wimad was bleeding out badly), with a shield bash.
(https://i.imgur.com/tHhjpzu.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/GlntBEA.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/MxB7i4K.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/Mbb2Ebk.png?1)
Down below, Vesh Gedor was enraged at all enemies as the hammer and mace dwarves converged on its position.
(https://i.imgur.com/6sZ1Wz7.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/TOYIuEO.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/19TZpc1.png?1)
It was badly beaten in everywhere, revealing the deadliness of a flurry of mace and hammmer blows by well versed dwarves. Eventually it succumbed to its wounds, as Thob dealt it its death blow with a well placed hammer strike to the skull, caving in its brain.
(https://i.imgur.com/lVdst4p.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/vRELB9q.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/vukZVpQ.png?1)
The beast keeled over and was no more.
"Is it dead?" Remarked one of the mace dwarves.
(https://i.imgur.com/LwbEthy.png?1)
12th Timber
(https://i.imgur.com/ALotMw1.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/BjezeIg.png?1)
Deduk has grown attached to a silver mace, and has subsequently bestowed the name of Isanvagish upon it.
15th Timber
(https://i.imgur.com/2Rt95td.png?1)
Aban Zikeldumat Tileshvetek Lid, one of our administrators has given birth to a girl, Zuglar Uristkalur.
(https://i.imgur.com/Lnnizl7.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/Up5n9bJ.png)
We made some rather disturbing or should we say odd discoveries. One of which are these unusable slopes, sticking to the upper walls of the caverns. Taupe reassures me its just the remains of mushroom cap trees and is purely harmless. But I am not quite convinced, what if the damn thing falls over and destroys something? Then there is the... blood. Or rather... ah well see for yourself.
(https://i.imgur.com/SGX7RWr.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ARfrGBL.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/zXZAwTC.png)
I mean I'm not sure what exactly that is, its just seeping out of the ground. Though I vaguely recalled some faint memories from the clan elders warning me of corruption by a certain mad dark or something. I thought that was bad enough but apparently there was worse out there.
(https://i.imgur.com/9Dv0Ic1.png?2)
The sheer redundancy is horrifying.
16th Timber
(https://i.imgur.com/FcIPIm7.png?1)
I've taken the advice of some of our associates and taken measures to seal of part of the caverns against future threats.
(https://i.imgur.com/CKVF37b.png)
Elsewhere, the scouts have reported that a herd of one-humped camels wander the surface. A rare sighting of native wildlife! Let's hope the vile mist does not get to them.
18th Timber
(https://i.imgur.com/kImiMuV.png?1)
The haulers report that we have managed to recover an adequate amount of adamantine into our stores.
(https://i.imgur.com/2jbitxE.png?1)
(https://i.imgur.com/Gigp1AL.png)
Vesh Gedor's corpse is being hauled and dumped into the magma sea in order to prevent shenanigans like Spugac Simo's neck rising from the dead and bothering us again.
21st Timber
Crazy Urist has grown attached to a copper shield!
(https://i.imgur.com/v4va1KI.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/uEm776v.png)
a day later, Imic has reported that octuplets have hatched! Giant snapping turtles! but alas, nothing from the giant keas. I'm pretty sure that we will not be getting Giant War Keas like some of us have so fervently wanted.
(https://i.imgur.com/WBPRuny.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/FQhs0ZJ.png)
Overseer Zuglarkun's Log:
Things that happened during Winter:
1. Things
ALRIGHT ALRIGHT, I'll do a proper entry.
1st Moonstone
(https://i.imgur.com/s05Z3bZ.png)
Been stockpiling logs. All the logs. I think its because I'm approaching maturity as a dwarf that my discontent against elves has grown proportionately, I don't know. But we've been deprived of ways to anger the elves for far too long, so I'm making up for lost time.
7th Moonstone
(https://i.imgur.com/AVOsmaP.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/rWgf2IL.png)
Stray giant snapping turtle decaplets have hatched.
18th Moonstone
(https://i.imgur.com/ETQwzLq.png)
I've sent ezum and the rest of the mechanics to finish up the levers that secure the gate perimeter in the third caverns. There is one to the southwest, one to the northwest and one to the northeast.
(https://i.imgur.com/HfB0m4i.png)
24th Moonstone
(https://i.imgur.com/mXoxfMK.png)
Azula has completed her journey to the maddark side preliminary training and has become a speardwarf.
4th Opal
(https://i.imgur.com/nt4gKES.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/SijZdP4.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/y6o2JOY.png)
Edzul Ganrimtar, furnace operator has become possessed! She has claimed a leatherworks on the farming level. What new marvels of dwarven technology will she produce?
The mayor reports that we have went well over the lumber limits and is worried about the repercussions. Well, I told him to sod off. Fuck the lumber limits. Also, fuck the elves.
(https://i.imgur.com/k2Nuj9n.png)
9th Opal
(https://i.imgur.com/fvyVDh8.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/7cZEhjX.png)
Litast Limulkovest has grown to become a peasant. Collin has also grown to become a peasant. Yay workforce! Edzul has began a mysterious construction.
The third caverns has been partially sealed off. Most if not all parts of the reanimating part of the cavern has been sealed off (from the fortress not the borders), with access using gates via 3 separate routes. I argued against totally sealing off those sections of the caverns, as it would not help matters. The land itself reanimates the dead, instead of the dead reappearing on the edge of the map. Hence, controlling traffic there and allowing access would be better than outright dismissal of the use of the caverns.
14th Opal
(https://i.imgur.com/r7xn9DO.png)
Fath Kolanil has grown to become a stonecrafter. Lots of kids growing up this year.
17th Opal
(https://i.imgur.com/87JWFfX.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/MkrD9OQ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/e6bF72h.png)
Edzul Ganrimtar has created Othlestetol, scorchedpass, a tall reindeer leather helm! Urist Mckiwi insisted on donning the artifact despite there being better candidates. Well nobles will be nobles. I let the matter be.
(https://i.imgur.com/HDhxFlG.png)
Fun fact: I didn't know creeping eye eyelids counted as hides.
16th Opal
(https://i.imgur.com/5jiLGXf.png)
Decided to mine more sweet adamantine.
15th Obsidian
(https://i.imgur.com/Ud3oy5G.png)
In commemoration of our efforts in securing the third caverns. I've asked the metalcrafters to craft a series of coins.
19th Obsidian
(https://i.imgur.com/03vgEGO.png)
Urist Mckiwi has bestowed his steel crossbow with the name of itdunduz! It don't do's? Sounds like the nobles to me!
22nd Obsidian
More vile mist? I think its been established that dwarf technology > vile mist.
(https://i.imgur.com/aOnIxdf.png)
A crundle neck has shown up, disrupting our dumping on the southwest plateau. Unfortunately it is situated high up on the plateau and is out of reach of our crossbows and weapons. I've asked the miners to dig a route up top in order to reach it.
25th Obsidian
Yeah yeah, go away attention whore vile mist. Nobody cares about you.
(https://i.imgur.com/S0Sz3hY.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/8V7SnbB.png)
Thob Nunursolon, Mechanic has given birth to a girl, Erib Boltsblot (say that 10 times quickly).
(https://i.imgur.com/uPFCljY.png)
I think you'll fit in right here with us Erib.
1st Granite
My reign is over. Whatever. More importantly let's all have a look at the commemorative coins I've minted!
Hmmm nothing interesting... oh wait.
(https://i.imgur.com/lIKzVQF.png)
the old queen
(https://i.imgur.com/hHkGFIS.png)
and the new queen
(https://i.imgur.com/vuqMwwx.png)
Murderflood endures.
But the question is, will we ever be Mountainhome?
Yar! There be a cave crocodile corpse in the wrong end of the trap corridor! Dammit, haven’t ye lot replaced the cavern 1 door yet? Don’t ye knew there be beasties out there?
(http://i.imgur.com/JlUm2Ag.png)
Wait, what’s it attackingdown there? There shouldn’t be any dwarves in the trap corridor... oh no.
(http://i.imgur.com/kmzfvSB.png)
Not me dizzy little falcons! I liked them! Ye bastard! Ye absolute bastard! I’ll kill ye! Someone, anyone, get down there and murder that thing in the face!
(http://i.imgur.com/Dr2T0h9.png)
Me falcons... oh me poor little falcons...
(http://i.imgur.com/VsDBVAo.png)
Okay, that does it. Enough be enough. I be havin’ it with these motherfukkin’ undead in these motherfuckkin’ caverns.
BOMREK! ASMOTH! GIT YER FRIENDS! YE BE GOING ON A TRIP!
(http://i.imgur.com/4vNR9w5.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/lg5i6oW.png)
Bomrek: “Waiiit... hold up, everyone. Do you hear that?”
Besmar: “I hear it. Sounds like a lot of them. It’s gonna be a heck of a fight.”
Bomrek: “...maybe not. Listen carefully. Does it sound like they’re getting closer?”
(http://i.imgur.com/Po4aAvg.png)
Besmar: “Why are they coming now and not before?”
Bomrek: “Dunno, but it suits me. Everyone stay back. If they’re gonna throw themselves on the traps for us, let them. There’ll be plenty to fight further out in the caverns, so there’s no point in taking risks this early in the game.”
(some time and at least a dozen zombies later)
Quasar: "What do ye lot think ye be doin’ standing around in the trap corridor?"
Bomrek: “We were just waiting for them to-"
Quasar: "Be ye dwarves or not? Get in there an’ kill those bastards, ye worthless cowards!"
Bomrek: “[sigh] Yes overseer. Let’s move out. By the books, people! At least two dwarves to every beast, keep an eye on your six, and don’t get cocky. Just because it looks harmless and funny doesn’t mean it is. Remember what happened to McKiwi!”
(http://i.imgur.com/byZWhOQ.png)
After clearing the local area, the crew carefully push into the caverns. It doesn’t take long before the smaller beasties give way to a bigger worry: another undead Draltha. This one is stuck up a tree, in the same place it was the last time we were down here. The branches of the tree appear to be growing through its torso, immobilising it in the air. The big corpse be moanin’ and groanin’ at the dwarves as they approach.
The original plan be to get a woodcutter in to fell the tree so they can engage it on the ground, but Bomrek notices how close the beast is to the ground. It’d be a shame to waste an opportunity to strike the beast down while it be helpless in the air. Perhaps, if he can be standin’ on someone’s shoulders...
(http://i.imgur.com/AH4fUbR.png)
“Nicely done, boss.”
The crew pushed deeper, revealing the terrain and zombies at the northern end of the caverns. At the northern border another monster came into sight: once a blind cave ogre, now something far worse.
(http://i.imgur.com/PPs4aE8.png)
Luckily, or unluckily depending on ye’re view, the beast be trapped atop a mushroom in the middle of the lake.
Amongst the land-dwelling beasts be reachers, dozens of crundles and a giant rat... dangerous beasts in their own right, perhaps not to the level of blind cave ogres or undead forgotten beasts, but terrifying in their undead state nonetheless. There be many of them, and it was only a matter of time before someone’s luck ran thin. Sure enough...
(http://i.imgur.com/sTa8p3c.png)
The legendary weapon lords of Murderflood closed ranks around their injured companion as the unholy horde closed in from the darkness...
(http://i.imgur.com/GRe4BkO.png)
After a while, the fighting all blurs together into one big melee, a tale of swords swung, heads severed and crundles crushed. Admist the fighting Atir regained consciousness, got to his feet and began the long walk to the hospital, freeing his companions to push further in.
A few soldiers actions that be worthy of noting for the record:
(http://i.imgur.com/mH1FyUX.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/QvwAVxJ.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/5NmdKtl.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/eqYB9wM.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/7y4BLkl.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/4FE8CGJ.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/sEeaMlh.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/k6Pi1om.png)
Ultimately, everything they could reach died. Everything that got up, died again. Even the tree-dwelling draltha's head, which revived and tried to sneak into fortress while nobody was looking, met a comical end...
(http://i.imgur.com/tPg5rmL.png)
When all was said and done, when the last rotting crundle head was skewered, the second cavern system once again belonged to the dwarves of Murderflood. My dizzy falcon babies be avenged.
(http://i.imgur.com/RbtvN9D.png)
The remaining undead are all denizens of the underground lake, and appear content to leave us be. Or they just can't climb/swim out. Regardless, only two of them seem particularly dangerous: Gluttonfray the eyeless crocodile, and Cryptequals the blind cave ogre.
It would perhaps be advisable to tempt these two out from the lake if possible, so we can fight them on our own terms rather than waiting for them to rouse. I'll be considering it, but first things first...
Quasar: “Yar, ye there! Yes, ye, the hauly-dwarf. Tell me, ‘as anyone in this fortress made any fancy artifact doors? Ye know the sort, right?”
Sigun: “Oh, uh... yes, overseer. Two, I believe.”
Quasar: “Two artifact doors? That be excellent news! Do ye know where they’re bein’ used? I’ll bet the duchess or one of the former overseers be layin’ claim to ‘em, right?”
Sigun: “Um no, overseer. As far as I know, they’re still in the stockpiles.”
Quasar: “Still in the... well that be... stupid, but handy. Did ye’ know that artifact doors be imbued with the strength of Armok ‘imself?”
Sigun: “Uuuuhhh... no, overseer, I didn’t. Look, I really need to be... hauling... or something...”
Quasar: “Aye, not many dwarves know that, but it be true. Nay, listen up, ye’ go an’ get both those doors installed at the cavern entrances, aye?”
Sigun: “Err... okay, then, overseer. I guess I’ll do that.”
(http://i.imgur.com/Cg5EUeg.png)
Okay, now it's time ta be doin' something about that thar forgotten beast corpse.
(http://i.imgur.com/1wh62VR.png)
‘e’s too close to the entrance fer my tastes, but ‘e just sits there in the lake so we can’t just kill ‘im and be done with it. I be worried he’ll slip in and kill us all when we not be lookin’: our traps’ll keep everyone else out, but I have a sneakin' suspicious they won't be much use against ‘im.
Quasar: “Ye there, miner. Wassyername, “Goose”?”
Duck: ““Duck”, overseer.”
Quasar: “Aye, that’s what I said. I need ye to carve a tunnel in cavern 2, for totally reasonable reasons that have nothin' to do with usin' ye as bait for a hideous undead abomination. Here, take these plans.”
(http://i.imgur.com/9aJynpg.png)
Duck: “Looks simple enough. Okay, I’ll take care of it.”
Quasar: “Excellent. Bomrek, I want ye lot to go down and station yourselves... actually, ye’d know better than I about tactics an' stuff, so work out where ye want ta fight a beastie an' do it, right?”
Bomrek: “Yes overseer. Squad, to me! We’re going back in!”
(http://i.imgur.com/BBMIYHs.png)
Duck: “AAAAARGGGHH! There’s a great big zombie cave crocodile in here! WHY DIDN’T ANYBODY TELL ME?”
(http://i.imgur.com/tbe6a1Q.png)
Quasar: "Damn it, the beastie hasn’t moved! Ye’ scumbag of a duck, ye were supposed to lure it back to the militia! Get back in there and start lurin'!"
Duck: "What? NO!"
Quasar: "Ye'd better or I'll 'ave ye beaten fer violation of production order!"
Duck: "What does that even mean?!"
Quasar: "It means shut up an obey, that's what it means!"
Duck: "Why can't we just drop the roof on it's head?!"
Quasar: [silence]
Duck: "There's gotta be a reason we can't... I mean, you wouldn't have sent me in there if we could just drop something on it... right?"
Quasar: [silence]
Duck: "... you fucker."
Quasar: "Okay! We be havin' a new plan!"
(http://i.imgur.com/pbwgrCL.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/ikGCBmd.png)
Time ta' die, Gluttonfray. Ye be havin' a date with destiny, an' by "destiny" I mean two tons of slate, an by "date" I mean squishing.
(http://i.imgur.com/Z2LurEn.png)
Budda-BOOOOOOOM!
(http://i.imgur.com/CZDUKi9.png)
Fare the well, noble beastie. We hardly knew ye, and now ye are a pancake.
(http://i.imgur.com/TMa71wu.png)
Yar, me magnum opus be nearin’ completion. We be buildin’ the final levels of the cistern as I write this, and the magma spigot be half complete. Most of the pump stack be in place, made of magma-proof glass of course, and I’ve anchored every pump to the structure with a wooden axle so it won’t be easy to destroy.
There still be much to do. We still have have to finalise the last few levels, add the mechanical workings, and of course, fill the cistern. It be an exciting time ta’ be a dwarf of murderflood!
(http://i.imgur.com/qbXr6kk.png)
Diary found in a tomb, Murderflood
My name is Taetrius Alathrigoth, I was born in Murderflood in 3rd Timber 205, two years after my parents settled in this new dwarven outpost.
At this time the fortress was dealing with undeads and goblins under the rule of Zuglarkun, and was yet to be protected by its mighty dyke. I noticed two child born in the fortress were named zuglar, among which one of my sisters. Father hinted it was a tribute. Now Zuglarkun (I heard there was several of them during the fort first years) is long dead, the dyke is filled, and I reached adulthood in a fortress that endures in spite of the numerous lives taken by its hostile location, goblins invasions and quite a few work accidents.
The Deadtrollslayer TriaxII, mighty champion of our fortress, resigned from the overseer position that spring, and I happened to be chosen as his successor by convoluted consequences of dwarven law. See, my mother Thob was supposed to replace the overseer, but she died against the vile beast "Allas submergedshores" last summer. Her corpse is still rotting somewhere in the caverns. The precedence brought Murderflood council to propose as overseer my father, then my eldest sister Čzum, or my brother Zaneg, or even my one year senior sister Zuglar, but all had reasons to refuse. Father is still mourning and has to raise my 5 younger brothers and sisters, Čzum is withdrawn since the dead of her lover five years ago, Zaneg is a dork much more interested in its martial prowess in Asmoth Amazons than in the day-to-day burden of an overseer, and Zuglar has only eyes for her new boyfriend these days and said she couldn't be bothered.
Being the next suitable candidate, I became overseer at 13, without any experience to rely on. I never knew why, but I was banned last year from all task except the burying of our deads (OOC, the little guy had all jobs forbidden except burial, which is why I chose him to be dwarfed). I suppose this is a hint of what the council expect me to do: guive proper funerals to our too many lost ones. Thus I hereby declare myself as the Gravekeeper of the fortress. When Ia was younger I dreamt of being a warrior like mother, but this task appears even more honorable.
One thing bothers me: I was raised as a proper dwarf, and spent my youth away from the taint of the sun; as an overseer I will have to overcome my disgust and go to the surface to supervise work, and it might be embarrassing for others to see their new leader puking.
Spring 218 - where titans and woodcutters both like water
9th Granite, 218
I always found appaling the way dwarves of the Channel of Melting deal with our deads, all the most since Mother's dead. Most of them seem to consider them at best as a nuisance, not different from a cattle carcass or a goblin corpse. Something to get rid of to avoid miasma, and to leave rotting when it appears inconvenient or dangerous to recover it.
As of today, we have more than a dozen dead or missing dwarves who didn't recieve proper burial:
- soldiers who died fighting the vile beast from the dawn of time lie abandonned in the trap corridor in first cavern level ('Urist McKiwi', Rakust).
- My mother's body is nowhere to be found.
- We lost several woodcutters in the first caverns, and a melancholic dwarf ('CrAzY UrIsT' I gess) disappeared a while ago, lying somewhere in a remote corridor.
(http://i.imgur.com/osvSr67.png?2) (http://i.imgur.com/ZrJdmVn.png?2)
- At least three corpses lie in the second cavern level, on the way to the iron bridge that defend our western flank. One corps is even rotting right in our main stair, for Armok's sake!
(http://i.imgur.com/4GFB7KA.png?1)
- We have two resident ghosts, kept captive in this world by our neglect: Vukar the bucketmaker and Urist McKiwi. The former is around from some time now, and his pranks made him a friend for children like myself.
(http://i.imgur.com/GQpwrPh.png?1)
I'll make sure this will change: we already have quite a huge necropolis, and loads of spare coffins and burial slabs. My first act as an overseer will be to order the necropolis expansion,to show dwarves and gods we care about our lost ones. That is what make us different than filthy goblins, who let them lie where they fall, or nasty elves who are so degenerate they eat them.
As I was holdong a meeting with engineers about the necropolis layout, a dwarf came to say an Elven diplomat was spotted. I ordered Asmoth Amazons to go to the main entrance, not to protect the elf but to ensure he brought no thief, ambush or spy with him.
10th Granite218
Seven dwarves in a row came to me this morning to complain about badly worn clothes: they visibly don't mind neither the vomit that cakes the courtyard, nor blood and rotting remains lying in the main stair, but a little hole in their socks bring neverending complaints to the overseer. That's sauys a lot about average dwarf priorities and hygiene.
They have a point though, and I ordrered our clothing workshops to go to work.
In the evening, I found in our records that we have only one convict in jail, a recidivist nicknamed 'Trouble'. It appears he was seized with a mood while serving his term, and is now melancholic for notbeing able to obey his urge.I don't think we will set him free, as his jails is probably the only thing that keeps him from wandering in the depths to die...
11th Granite, 218
The ghostly bucketmaker toppled a silver statue of the militia captain Vuohijumala; did he act out of revenge? Was his death caused by the captain? I think I recall something about a tragic fate for this dwarf, I must look into the archives later when I get time to spare.
(http://i.imgur.com/MmZ4APV.png?1)
One dwarf came to tell me that a woodcutter is missing. I feel it might be linked with reports about corpse feeding the fish in the cavern lakes; if I am right it might be tricky to recover the body.
As the mists from the Ungodly waters have the power to turn the deads in walking abominations seeking to destroy life, to be a proper Gravekeeper I should learn the art of putting to rest the mist husks. I thus decided to joint the Cobalt Charms sparring sessions to learn the art of the axe.
As I need to learn fast, I ordered them to train mor vigorously; I think the captain 'D' was pleased, as some of his men are not competent enough to his eyes. Truth be told, they still are miles away from our crosbowmen squads, with half of each squad barely knowing how to hold their weapon... Mother would have been disappointed by this laxist attitude.
12th Granite, 218
The elf diplomat (the jerk) asked us not to cut more than 118 trees; I agreed, as I don't think these haughty buggers know what happens underground, and all our wood comes from the caverns.
(http://i.imgur.com/fGEteXe.png?1)
Today 'Urist MkKiwi' was at last put down to rest in his grave, as people started to clean the trap corridor. His ghost will be able to join the afterlife, as he should have done seasons ago.
13th Granite, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/oHZyImv.png?1)
The Elven caravan from Alu Ino has been sighted by a sentinel; The order of the cactus, in spite of their questionable training, was ordered to man the main entrance fortifications, as elves could attract something nasty.
I had to run through the whole fortress to find the mayor, who is our broker, and discuss with him about what we could sell to the pointy ears, and what to hope from them.
He said he intended to sell them our stock of smelly troll fur socks from past sieges, as elves seemed happyto buy them. what can they do with those socks? tea bags?
14th Granite, 218
Today I went outside for the first time for years, to join the Cobalt Charms training session. As soon as I reached the dreadful fresh air I felt sick. Perhaps it was vertigo caused by the lack of ceiling, or the cruel bite of the sun.
The stench of vomit that cakes the whole courtyard, melted with reindeer and giant snapping turtles butchery remains rotting in the refuse stockpile, didn't help. I needed all my willpower to keep my (masterfully cooked) last meal.
15th Granite, 218
This morning I went to the trade depot island to inspect what the elves brought with them, and couldn't help thinking the state of the place does not do justice to a mighty dwarven fortress as Murderflood.
The depot area is stained by blood and vomit, and manure produced by draft animals and horses and mules pastured in the island is accumulating.
The place needs to be cleaned, but water is unusable due to the proximity of the dyke. Perhaps we should use magma...
Also, good news: (http://i.imgur.com/Y80OEhK.png?1)
16th Granite, 218
Our bookkeeper and legendary sworddwarf from Asmoth's Amazons, 'HaerdalasII', came to tell me he just found 'CrAzY UrIsT's corpse within the cat vault.
(http://i.imgur.com/dXQcu0d.png?1)
No wonder nobody found him here before, the smell of that place can mask even a rotting corpse.
I went to recover the mangled corpse: several soft parts were missing, probably eaten by the cats, and one of them was curled within the dessicated chest of the mad dwarf. Must have been here for months. I kicked the animals and carried the cadaver to its burial chamber: that dwarf was an important member of the fortress council before madnes seized him, which is why he had his own tomb.
I must take dispositions to have mine carved, just in case... How stupid would it be to have a Gravekeeper without his own grave?
18th Granite, 218
I was informed that one of our woodcutters found Urdim's tools next to eastern first cave lake, and spotted a corpse in the water.
So I was right about him: I'll send someone inspect the other lakes to know how many corpses were lost to the water, and try to make plans to recover them.
19th Granite, 218
Mother's corpse was at last brought to her last home in the necropolis. I don't really know where we found her, or worse why her remains were not identified sooner. I saw father cry tonight.
20th Granite, 218
Seeking for a giant war falcon in 2nd cavern, 'Haerdalas II' found the corpse of Fikod Idlashed, curled in a damp corridor beyond the trap maze. He appears to have the knack to find lost bodies, perhaps it's an archivist thing? I should learn it to be a proper Gravekeeper.
A cloud of vile mist appeared on top of the Crucible, as young dwarves call the main magma tank above the main stairs; we are lucky it did not appear at ground level!
(http://i.imgur.com/qvC4Gm6.png?1)
23th Granite, 218
Work as an overseer is time consuming: between training sessions, supervision of necropolis digging and endless sollicitations by various dwarves, I was not able to take notes for two days. Especially since I had to run after the mayor.
While he was supposed to trade with the elves, the fool went to sleep (out of his room, it would have been too easy to find him), took a very long breakfast and is now... picking equipment. Is he cosplaying as a flower to attract goodwill from the treehuggers?
I feel I bear the sun and outside air better, training sessions really helped me to overcome that weakness. My brother is pissed off I did'nt choose his squad to train, but I didn't consider relevant to usurp the position of a competent squad member. Moreover, Mother always told me axes were better than swords against the unliving, and I intend to learn the best way to defeat those abominations. I find deeply disturbing the fact that we keep one of these monsters in the main dining room, even if he was a figure for the fortress. But at least that thing is a good way to remind everyone of the threat of Ungodly Waters.
One of our horses gave birth to a foal! Perhaps with enough horses we could deal with our chronical lack of leather.
26th Granite, 218
After a day spent reading previous overseers notes and battle reports, I ordered only seasoned warriors would be tasked for corpses recovery. Most of our lost corpses are in the caverns, and the place is dangerous: at soldiers can hold their ground if they are attacked, and hopefully survive long enough for help to come.
27th Granite, 218
the clothier Goden Menshigos organized a party at the grat dining room. I guess he is proud to display his brand new masterwork socks...
We bought the elves caged animals, among which a gigantic panda and a grizzly bear, all the clothes and food they came with and a lot of splints and crutches - those are useful given our casualty rate, and our wood will be better used as bins and boxes to store our goods.
1st Slate, 218
The first day of the month a dwarf started to act strangely, mumbling curious names and walking as a puppet dragged by strings, extremely weird. He claimed a craftdwarf workshop in the main workshop level and startesd collecting materials.
4th Slate, 218
Another woodworker disappeared near the first cavern lake; it appears he tried to cut a submerged tree and drowned. Ithink we will try to drain these lakes to recover the poor suckers.
(http://i.imgur.com/SlZI4XL.png?1)
Upper right corner; miasma are from the late Urdim. We have a third underwater woodcutter in north lake, trickier to recover
OOC: Some previous overseer ordered to cut submerged trees, I think the dwarves drowned trying to obey, acting as lemmings (except less cute. And far more smelly)
5th Slate, 218
As the fortress surroundings appear peaceful, I think it is time to recover our lost comrades in the caverns. I sent Asmoth amazons in the third cavern to assist the recovery: there is at last four corpses here, among which Vukar the bucketmaker who fell right next to the iron bridge used to seal access to western tunnels. The soldiers quickly found another corpse in a cramped passage.
(http://i.imgur.com/CsJ2sK3.png?1) (http://i.imgur.com/jv6dQWI.png?1)
8th Slate, 218
a tribe of falcon peregrin men is circling above the fortress, frightening our cattle. The crossbowdwarves ran to the towers but they don't appear to shoot at them: do they fear collateral damage from falling bolts, or birdmen retaliation?
(http://i.imgur.com/Vbb6Pz1.png?1)
Another ghostly woodcutter was spotted: these caverns are dangerous, and corpses are still without a proper burial.
I ordered to start the digging of drainage tunnels for the two eastern lakes in the first cave, which will be connected to adamantine spires access tunnels. I think we can kill two birds with one stone, using the water from lakes to obsidianize the spires to gain access to more adamantine.
However, one of the corpses fell into a lake fed by an underground stream: to drain it we will have to plug the stream, which can be done by precise use of magma. A lot of work to do.
9th Slate, 218
It has been one month since I became an overseer. Father says most dwarves are happy so far: no dangerous jobs, no huge projects, and no attacks are cheered.
14th Slate, 218
I think I found a nice, safe and dwarfy solution to stream plugging issues: we will build a track network to carry magma by carts, and have them drop it in pits specifically dug to reach targetted locations.
The elegance of this design is that minecarts carry finite quantities of magma, avoiding potential issues we could have using pump-fed magma pipes. Moreover, one or two work days by engravers would allow to bring magma anywhere on the network level by correcting junctions, allowing to use the carts for other purposes (arson, pest control...).
The tracks will be designed at -12 level, as the place already has free radial corridors and a lot of space.
By the way, the keamaster threw another party in the main dining room. Seems he does not have much success though.
(http://i.imgur.com/YONEi8l.png?1)
18th Slate, 218
Migrants have arrived from the mountainhome (or refugees camps, they weren't clear about that). We have a new brewer, a butcher, a jeweller, a bowyer, and a trader with notions of swordsmanship.
More important, a bone doctor and a surgeon arrived with them, both highly competent. Murderflood really needed men of the art, and our soldiers are delighted to know their wounds would probably be treated more efficiently now that true professionnals are here.
22th Slate, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/JjK5gi1.png?1)
Olin Tabarsigund finished his artefact. A fungiwood crown. Nice... And we had to sacrifice a mule for that?
24th Slate, 218
I just noticed the previous overseer ordered the whole 1st cavern to be cut: I sent a squad down here in case of attack, we can't afford to lose our woodcutters again.
26th Slate, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/EtckCpT.png?1)
A strange and terrifying hiss echoed through the caverns: a forgotten beast m! I ordered everyone except the military to fall back to the fortress. I'm glad I sent some troops down there, they will be able to escort civilians back to the fortress.
27th Slate, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/F3Tl38b.png?1)
The beast was spotted by a woodworker: it's a pink lidless lizard, incredibly tall and bloated. The beast is running for the entrance, and Shem Zontimshur the woodcutter might not be fast enough to cross the portal.
The Snarling Knives are running: will they reach the door on time?
28th Slate, 218
The beast is dead: the steel spikes protecting Kastolrukalonget tore her flesh, and the Sterling Knives made an easy work of her. With crippled legs, lung and guts punctured, she didn't manage to hit a single dwarf.
(http://i.imgur.com/9zGurDz.png?1)
First in the melee, 'TriaxxII' made the killing blow, sending the lizard head right on the door. He told me later that he moved way before the order to charge as he was thirsty and wanted to refill his waterskin...
4th Felsite, 218
At last I start to understand the use of some levers, especially those linked to the third caverns. How can they work, transmitting commands without any connexion through air and rock, I wonder...
Do mechanics use the help of dwarven spirits to carry the signal between mechanisms? Is that why mechanisms can only be made from true dwarfish materials, stones and metals?
6th Felsite, 218
Falcon peregrin tribe still disturbs work; we seriously need some proper archery towers to deal with flying nuisance above the fortress... The brass tower above the depot has the proper height, but is outside the dyke.
Perhaps we will have time to work later this year, for now the priority is work to seal some parts of first cavern to avoid further beast intrusions.
(http://i.imgur.com/KFosJ7z.png?1)
Armok be damned! A titan was seen at our southwestern border! Close the main bridge!
8th Felsite, 218
the beast disappeared in the lake; snetinels said it looks like a giant flat worm with glodenrod scales: they also said it looks austere, but I have difficulties to understand how what is basically a giant flat snail can look, or be, austere...
I sent horses from trade depot island to the main farm, and prepared our troops to kill the beast. Ballista is loaded and ready, crossbowdwarves on the walls, and warriors gathered on each side of the inner bridge. Prepare to extend the main bridge!
(http://i.imgur.com/yMDaX9M.png?1)
Moira threw a party at the main dining room. Does she think it's really a good time for that?
13th Felsite, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/n2OzaQQ.png?1)
In the opaque waters of the Ungodly waters, the sand titan lurked in the lake bed, driven by an unextingible thirst of destruction. With senses unknown to men or dwarves, the beast felt the presence of a threat deep in the lake, something deeply unnatural that was defiling its territory.
The giant worm swam through the troubled water, invisible in the darknes of the cursed lake. Suddenly he felt its ennemy was in front of him and charged. His opponent jumped, barely dodging the scaly mass, and tried to grab it with its bony hands.
With unnatural speed, the titan curled on itself and tore a finger from the hand trying to grab him. No blood spread in the water: the corpse had long lost its last drop, and the unholy power of the mist was all that kept a parody of life in its rotting flesh. The unliving human, once a monster feared by humans and now a half forgotten waste from the dwarven fort, prepared for the next attack...
18th Felsite, 218
We have too much things to do, and too little people to do them. We are working on every front, building a wall in the first caverns, enlarging stockpiles, building pillars for a future green glass tower opposite to the main entrance, engraving tracks...
I could release the military from their duty, but the titan is still somewhere out there and we could need them at every instant.
20th Felsite, 218
A hunter saw the titan kill a giant echidna on the northern shore, before diving again in the lake. The ungodly water were already dangerous, now they are truly haunted by a monster!
24th Felsite, 218
The forgotten beast killed by TriaxxII is rotting in the cavern, poisoning the damp air with its atrocious smell, and everybody is too busy to move it. On a more positive side, we just retrieved the last corpse we found in the caverns, and work on the necropolis goes smoothly.
28th Felsite, 218
As summer comes the titan stays still deep in the lake, and don't seem decided to attack us. Murderflood has another dangerous resident: rumours also talk about undeads in second caverns.
(http://i.imgur.com/WEtopLr.png?1)
left corner, quite far from the shore, appears to move from time to time
-----
Sorry for the delay, I didn't realize writing a narrative was so long (English is not my native language, which doesn't help...). As for the fort I am past midsummer now, working on a way to raise the dyke without flooding the fort with magma.
And here comes the summer update, wonderful for its uneventfulness.
Summer holidays in Murderflood
1st Hematite, 218
Summer has arrived. I felt I didn't get much exercise with the Cobalt Charms lately, and I found the cause: the squad was ordered to train only two at a time, and the axelords tend to monopolize training sessions to maintain their skills. I changed the orders to have 3/5 of the squad working at a time, so as to be at least competent in axewielding before the end of the year.
As I was going trough military rosters, I also gave orders to our crossbowmen to resume training. 'Collin', the militia captain of The Order of Cactus, observed it was probably useless as we don't have convenient archery towers to defend the entrance. Another thing to work on...
7th Hematite, 218
One of the teamsters, Stukosh Dodokidash, decided during a sparring session to name his axe "Ninurkudar", The Escorted Immortal. Strange indeed... To be fair, it's a beautiful piece of craftdawrfship, forged by the noble vice-captain 'Asmoth', and it took no less than fifteen lives, among which seven trolls and the forgotten beast Oxut Echoedmaze. Worthy of a name I guess, but how did Stukosh choose this one?
10th Hematite, 218
I ordered to start stripping the inner wall of its fortifications. Since the raise of the dyke, they weren't even that useful, and I think we might need more magma in the future...
(http://i.imgur.com/Hyyv9oH.png?2)
I'll have them replaced by walls: a little more work will be necessary to deal with various lava pools in the courtyard, and with those green glass pumps sitting on the inner walls for no obvious reason. A shame the engineers did not label the mechanisms to know how they are controlled...
13th Hematite, 218
A human diplomat from Usmenbehal arrived. Let's see what he wants.
14th Hematite, 218
And here comes the human caravan! I had a 'discussion' with the mayor yesterday, hope this time he will barter with merchants without interruptions, as such a lack of respect could have political consequences. As far as he only infuriates the elves it is not really a problem, but we rely on humans and the mountainhome for leather and iron, and we need to keep good relations with our trading partners.
15th Hematite, 218
I was told 'Vuolipartha' got attached to his steel shield, and started a fistfight when one of his squad mates picked it up by mistake. I can understand that if that particular shield have saved his life before, he knows it is effective and wants to keep it. But when other soldiers said he got "attached" to it, they hinted it was not only the wish to have the best equipment that drove him, but a more dubious attitude, bordering fetichism. It was clear it disgust them, and I find it quite disturbing myself.
21st Hematite, 218
The mayor came to tell me he just finished trading with the humans. He acquired all their metal bars, most of their cloth and food and a few horses, using worn cloth and bone crafts as trade goods.
I asked him to buy horses so we could breed livestock, to cope with our lack of leather. The human had none to trade, and each time we need it for tantruming dwarves I have to reduce further our dwindling herd.
I asked a human what they do with our old rags, to be so glad to buy them: paper, he says. What a stange idea...
1st Malachite, 218
We are digging a water cistern to recieve water from first cavern lakes, and act as a buffer between the sink and water tunnels we will use to cast the spires into obsidian.
(http://i.imgur.com/zwpf6OT.png?1)
I also ordered a wall to be built above magma sea, to act as a "template" and limit water spreading. With luck no magma crab or fire imp will disturb the work.
5th Malachite, 218
We got two more migrants, bringing our population to 108. They are useful people, one working as a Metalcrafter/weaver/glassmaker, and the other as Engraver/mason/mechanic.
I was frightened the titan would attack them, as they came next to the Ungodly Waters, but they did not see him (OOC: they came by south border, next to the lake, with the titan only 2-3 tiles away. Either the water is opaque or the titan is really lazy)
6th Malachite, 218
The summer rain came. The weather was already really hot, but falling rain turns into steam in the dyke, making the courtyard an open sky sauna.
(http://i.imgur.com/hqEReNx.png?1)
We are hall boiling alive, and our engineeers fear the pebbles produced by water drops falling into lava might one day fill some parts of the dyke, or jam mechanisms. THey say a solution might be to raise the dyke, or to introduce current in the lava. At least the former appears achievable: raising the dyke is our new priority. Among many others. And we already lack dwarfpower.
14th Malachite, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/UFOJMvB.png?1)
Another party. I think they are celebrating the end of the rain, but I don't have time to attend. I just realized I made a huge mistake designing our future magma delivery system.
Foolishly, I thought the most obvious way to fill minecarts was pouring magma from above. When limited tests proved that they needed to be submerged I designed an airlock of a sort using iron gates, but I realized afterward that device could not be fully automated. So back to the drawing board, now trying to work with a magma trench. The wasted dwarven labor makes me shameful.
16th Malachite, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/k696Ekz.png?1)
The dwarf claimed a magma glass furnace, and is now gathering materials to obey the voices in his head, he says. I try to avoid him, as he makes me nervous with his wild eyes and his drooling gibberish. The worst thing are the quacks that randomly erupt in his mouth; I don't know why but they give me goosebumps.
20th Malachite, 218
Ral Zunthirrash, one of our best miners, appears to suffer a great deal of stress lately. I discharged her of all works except mining, as she seemed quite suceptible to break.
(http://i.imgur.com/rOnckpa.png?1)
26th Malachite, 218
From his mad rantings, workers in the furnace deduced the possessed dwarf needs leather to finish his work. Why in Armok's name did the human bring none?
Another reindeer must be slaughtered. If the autumn caravan brings no leather it might get difficult to satisfy dwarven moods, or even basic needs in the fortress.
3rd Galena, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/DpJy3yh.png?1)
A party again. I hate how they delay the work - the necropolis is only half-finished- but at least the populations seems happy.
6th Galena, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/yDLlYfZ.png?2)
I fear the lack of exercise brings strange thoughts and desires into our military. That disproportionate attachment to their gear becomes distubing...
7th Galena, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/bzO7tNR.png?2)
Oops! I totally forgot I bought that beast from the elves. As it looks like a bear, I assumed it could survive in the pen. I was wrong. On the plus side, its skin will make a nice leather piece.
18th Galena, 218
The possessed dwarf revealed his creation - a goblin statue, commemorating the fall of Visedmirrors. The artwork is impressive, but the subject depressing. I don't know where we will put that thing, as I don't think we have a historical gallery.
(http://i.imgur.com/CEULvAe.png?1)
Good news today though: the head executionner managed to pierce the cavern lake bottom and to escape unscathed. We will begin to fill the reservoir as soon as we recover the last boulders from excavation site.
(http://i.imgur.com/wLWXHDQ.png?1)
20th Galena, 218
In order to raise the dyke, we need to plug various holes feeding magma cisterns, as they could overflow when we will pour magma. Here is the first try: a makeshift water pit, filled from above by buckets, will be breached to obsidianize the magma channel.
(http://i.imgur.com/nY9LBHQ.png?1) (http://i.imgur.com/PZCOz6E.png?1)
Z0 Z+1
25th Galena, 218
The operation was a success!
(http://i.imgur.com/nvyxQ1c.png?1)
We have another inner pool to secure, the wall to complete and a lot of work on the fortress entrances to be able to raise the dike. I don't know if I will be able to see the term of it as overseer.
______________
And that is the end of summer update. As nothing happened, it was difficult to write anything substantial.
I will finish Autumn this evening: for the moment we had a goblin siege and another FB, of the webbing variety this time, which might be dangerous. Expect an autumn update tomorrow evening, and I'll do what I can to have the year finished by Friday (narrative might be late though).
Here is the autumn update.
Autumn 218 - no falling leaves in the desert, all that red is blood
2nd Limestone, 218
Autumn had just started when a dwarf ran into me, panicked. He was working on the new green glass tower when he spotted a plume of smoke from the south:
(http://i.imgur.com/Jj6Ch84.png?1)
Goblins! Curse them! I ordered all squad to equip and gather at the doors. Meanwhile, I ran to the tower to have a better look, taking with me the head executionner for is military insight.
We looked at the horde, which I thought quite impressive in numbers...
(http://i.imgur.com/cOkFMEz.png?1)
But veterans told me most goblins were raw recruits, bearing no mark of distinction and poor equipment. Moreover, they had few range weapons. They would be no match for our seasoned warriors.
(http://i.imgur.com/BFSGqOG.png?1)
I pondered our options: we could wait them in courtyard and decimate them there, but I feared the battle could move back to the outer bridge, and my squadmate Solon Unibalath had warned me of the dangers of fighting next to the magma dyke. In the heat of battle, it is quite easy to stumble, and risk a fiery death. I could not take this risk, so I decided we will fight under our walls. I grabbed my axe and prepared to discover what war means first hand.
4th Limestone, 218
We are victorious.
We ran past our bridge, dispatched in a wirlwind of blades trolls sent as forefront, and plunged deeply in goblins'ranks! The flood on murder had truly possessed us.
(http://i.imgur.com/RF544vm.png?1)
A few moments later, the ground was covered by goblis corpse: we had won and dispatched every single one of them, without any casualty in our ranks!
(http://i.imgur.com/JyXNrp1.png?1)
Half a dozen soldiers were wounded, and our war grizzly held to life by a thread after engaging a couple of goblin spearmen, but none died afterward thanks to our medical teams.
I made my axe swing, and hit one or two of them, but our hardened warriors were so effective I could not score a kill. Their martial prowess bolster my dream of mastering fighting skills one day. I feel humbled as an experienceless overseer to be trusted by such dwarves.
8th Limestone, 218
After that violent episode, return to daily overseer tasks was soothing. I was told minted coins were piled in a corner of our forges, so I put in place a small vault deep into our catacombs. The room is well hidden, can easily be sealed and adds to the symetry of that level.
I also ordered to recover some goblins and troll junk: we might need the metal, and at worst we could use some goblin clothes for the more ragged of our dwarves. After all, half wore stolen dwarven clothes, we can take them back. To victors the spoils.
9th Limestone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/22foocS.png?1)
Victory party yesterday in the dining room. The soldiers made toast after toast, and I gladly joined them, which might have been a mistake. Next morning was horrible, I felt like a gong was ringing in my head and my mouth had been used as a cat litter. What sort of elf piss did they gave me to drink?
11th Limestone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/9NMxp16.png?1)
Today at sunset, a dark, boiling mist raised from the Ungodly waters and crept to our walls, thinning as it reached the shore.
(http://i.imgur.com/m3uMwjJ.png?1)
It was as if the lake tried to reach the battleground, hungered by the numerous corpses lying on burning sands. But it failed: Murderflood stands in the way, and will not let the curse spread further.
I am tempted to dry the lake, or to encase it into obsidian, to put an end to the husk threat and perhaps to the mist. But we don't really know if the husks are 'birthed' by the water, or by the mud in the lake, or by more sinister things: draining the lake or covering it could have unfortunate consequences. The best thing to do is to keep any dying creature from falling into the water, and to avoid any contact with the mist.
15th Limestone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/pg2pRU2.png?1)
News from the mountainhomes, at last. We will trade them our craft and most famous food, as we can't sell stinking rags to fellow dwarves. We need metal, especially iron, and leather. I told the mayor to insist on the subject with the liaison.
17th Limestone, 218
'Duck' Lekmomuz, who was in first cavern to dig the second lake drain, reported he noticed several holes in the ground in areas cleared of trees, which appear to communicate with deeper passages. I went to inspect the cave and discovered a serious hole in our defenses: not only did the deepest part of the cavern communicate with the dangerous second layer, but similar holes give direct access to our main stair from the caverns. I don't dare to imagin what would have happened if that grat lizard had found the breach.
I tried to have the bridge communicating with dangerous tunnels closed, but a whole tour of fortress lever rooms left me perplexed: the bridge is equipped with mechanisms, but no lever appears to command it. I thus ordered the holes to be plugged using fungiwood and spare stones: It might not hold the most powerful beasts, but it will make difficult for them to go through it and they may chose an easier path.
(http://i.imgur.com/F9nPFtM.png?1)
1st cave bottom communicating with 2nd cavern layer. Fungiwood plugs above red dots: who ordered to cut trees here?
18th Limestone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/5sQy4zP.png?1)
Another beast was heard in the second cavern lake: its loud droning echoes clearly through our deepest tunnels, and undeads we know roam these caves are silent. I am glad I noticed the breaches in time. For the moment we may be safe from that horror.
20th Limestone, 218
I just had a weird moment at the training room today: I was practicing a swing our captain taught me a week ago when the axelord Bomrek Misrakurt started what looked like a demonstration on how to properly bite an enemy to death!
He used dried plump helmets to illustrate his point, and it is true he displayed quite a powerful jaw, leaving deep bite marks in hard as wood mushrooms. But to use it in actual fight, to tear a stinky troll nose or a goblin's throat? It appears messy, undignified and less effective than an axe swing or even a punch. I thought he was kidding, but as hardened squad members listened religiously without even a smile, I must admit the tactic is real. Fighting might be quite dirtier and messier than I thought...
(http://i.imgur.com/Mn8QUKf.png?1)
Dwarves are marvellous, charming people: bite training, how cute!
22nd Limestone, 218
We started draining our first cavern lake into the cistern today. Between discussions with engineers about the flow, filling time and pressure control, hearing reports from scouts monitoring the forgotten beast movements and scaffholding building for inner walls, I totally missed the new migrant who arrived today, and I am to busy to greet him. I asked the manager to deal with him, hopefully the guy won't mind.
26th Limestone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/wBx21GI.png?1)
'Duck' decided to throw a party, I don't even know why. I was busy supervising work on our magma delivery system: rollers are being put into place, and soon we will try it with an empty minecart. If only engravers could work quicker on tracks!
28th Limestone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/xx5PQ1z.png?1)
A terrible sound, like a huge chalk on a blackboard, echoed through the caverns this evening: Another forgotten beast! I ordered everyone to stay inside, at least until we locate the creature and assess the threat.
Problem is, someone just told me 'Duck', slightly inebriated, decided to go recover a caged giant cave swallow in the caverns to roast it: I had the gongs rung to alert everyone, Ihope he will hear it and manage to reach our door in time.
1st Sandstone, 218
Unfortunately, the beast found 'Duck' before he could reach the door: obstinate as always, he refused to let go the cage, even if it slowed him. A gigantik, winged blob apparently ade of salt crashed into him, releasing a huge cloud of dust which burned vegetation in the whole tunnel, as a severe frost could. We could see noting of the fight through the dust, but we heard suddenly heard a loud droning: the second beast, which we thought locked in second caverns, had joined the fight!
(http://i.imgur.com/fUcpC12.png?1)
Salt blob is one level above, within the dust two tiles from 'Duck': with all that dust I never managed to take a screenshot where it was visible, poor 'Duck' must have lived a nightmare...
We heard a liquid noise, then screams, and all of a sudden the huge lacewing stormed through our gate! Fortunately, someone shut it down quickly enough to pin the beast to the ground, and our crossbowmen rushed to the fight. They were in an instant covered by sticky webs the beast hurled in prodigious quantities, impeding movement and nearly forbidding anyone to take a shot.
(http://i.imgur.com/cY1d0zN.png?1)
6th Sandstone, 218
It was a painful attrition fight, betwean the beast spitting webs and our crossbowmen trying to reach it through the storm, most bolts being caught mid-air or deflected into a wall. Our soldiers hold their ground despite hunger, thirst and exhaustion, always struggling with sticky webs to stand, load their crossbow and fire. I organized a chain to bring them waterskins and ammo, throwing them in the stairs to avoid being caught. The third day, reports came that the beast was rotting alive; a terrible stench moved up through main stairs, carried by hot, damp air from the caves sucked by the half-closed door. We supposed that rotting was caused by the dust the other beast spread, and felt fortunate we did not have to fight it and risk contamination - except poor 'Duck', of course, but I think he died before the horrible plague stroke him.
The fourth day, I nearly came to blows with Sigun Geshudetas, because of this:
(http://i.imgur.com/n9DVyA5.png?1)
Our soldiers were risking their life to protect the fortress, and that stupid dwarf wanted to party! I had to repress the urge to give him an 'accident-prone' task: like deconstruction a wall holding magma, or fishing in the lake. Father told me to let him be, as a party would at least boast morale in the fortress: he was true of course, but I felt bad for our heroic soldiers.
At least on the sixth day the beast died. We don't know if it was a bolt or the plague that put an endto its life. Soldiers went to sleep at last, execept one recruit we had to carry to his bed: he had spent the fight in the frontline, with the creature flaying its antennas and horrible mandibles at arms length, and was left deeply traumatized by the experience.
(http://i.imgur.com/zP5tUJi.png?1)
Last victim of the fight was one of our giant peregrine war falcons: he tried to fly through the gate, got caught in the webs and set up the dagger trap behind the door.
We recovered the corpses and gave a decent burial to 'Duck', whose mangled corpse we found less than ten steps from the entrance. Sometimes death take us with salute at hand.
(http://i.imgur.com/SvVgGP1.png?1)
18th Sandstone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/9NMxp16.png?1)
Again, the cursed lake plagues us with its mist. I begin to think the mist might be an omen that death and horror are to come: in spring, the mist raised above the fortress less than ten days before a woodcutter drowned. We had no mist in summer, and nobody died. A month ago the mist raised again ,and three days later the feathered lace worm came. I thought it reacted to death, but it is as though there is something under this lake that KNOWS when death and suffering will come, and the mist raises in anticipation.
Are the beasts pushed toward us by the same curse that creates the mist? Is there an intelligence behind these events, toying with us and plotting our demise? I fear so, and old stories heard in my youth, about fortresses lost to a monster that could see through the veil of times, now bring terrifying prospects...
23rd Sandstone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/9NMxp16.png?1)
Another vile mist was spotted on the lake. I read again the previous entry and I think I may have erred, as nothing hinted at a threat those last days. Work is going smoothly: the green glass tower is raising quickly and scaffholding are nearly done, allowing us to raise the inner wall. Ewerything appears to be calm, and our crossbowmen, motivated by the fight with the beast, are training diligently.
(http://i.imgur.com/2oUswBG.png?1)
Thrice cursed be this damned lake! Another creature was spotted in the deepest cavern. This time it is a snail with curly hair (a grotesque sight indeed), which appears to kill everything that comes near, as bats, rats and cave toads fall to the ground in its vicinity. I personally closed the cavern door, and decided to wait the beast in first cavern guard room.
26th Sandstone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/GB2xjiS.png?1)
I was told 'Quasar' organized a party to celebrate his last work. I didn't join, waiting for the beast to come to our doors. Even the good news about lake draining, going well enough to allow us to recover our deads by winter, could not bring me to move: I wait for the last threat to Murderflood, and I will not move till I see it dead!
27th Sandstone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/iaUQzJT.png?1)
I don't even care about his stupid fetichism, the beast is near, I feel it! I will go to the lever. Whatever entity sends it, it will be disappointed.
(http://i.imgur.com/5Hh914W.png?1)
28th Sandstone, 218
The beast is dead, a steel spike through the heart: we will let its body rot, as a reminder of the fate deep dwellers will receive. Apparently the beast managed to bypass the walls we built in those caves: further work will be needed to perfect that, but not during my term. I have enough to do.
1st Timber, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/bphTzab.png?1)
He claimed a mason's workshop: he behave quite differently than the last mooding dwarves, acting in a less sinister way. I hope he will build something useful.
6th Timber, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/PyMNFwz.png?1)
And another one. I think the horrors under our feet and the permanent threat of the lake bring us to cherish anything that bring us the slightest feeling of safety.
We are besieged by evil, and we try to use whatever we can to remain sane. For them, it is attachment to weapons; for me, my duty to the deads and as an overseer. Hope it will be enough to endure, and resist the malevolent entity from the lake.
8th Timber, 218
We finished necessary scaffholding on the walls, and built a new iron bridge as a fllodgate to control future dyke filling. I ordered the bridge linked to the lever which already commands the bridge under this one. We also had to move the wall of that room a few meters back, to ensure we will have a full four steps wide dyke.
(http://i.imgur.com/RERju3Z.png?1)
9th Timber, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/obNIMU8.png?1)
I was glad to see 'Collin' was noot capricious about the materials to build his work of art. I have enough to do to be bothered with this kind of things.
I had to dismantle gear assemblies powering a pump group on southern wall, as we could not build the wall with it in the way. I wonder what is the purpose of those pumps. They are built to draw magma from the dyke and pour it in the courtyard. Previous overseers documents are not clear about that, but I found mentions to a "doom lever", probably the copper one in the dungeon. I think it commands the crucible, and is designed to flood the fortress in magma should the worst occur. This suicidal device tells a lot about our fortress mentality. I will have the pump linked to this lever.
11th Timber, 218
The minecart system is online! First try sent the cart bumping in the cave wall, as the track was not completed, but it speed indicates it will work nicely even when full of magma. I will add a switch of a sort to control the release of the carts, then try the device with the trench filled.
Note for self: clearly indicate to dwarves they don't have to touch the carts once in the system, one of them kept trying to take the test cart back to the stockpile...
13th Timber, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/OMXQjdX.png?1)
The artefact is completed - a rhyolite table. Will do nicely in our dining room.
(http://i.imgur.com/jfJ8hLc.png?1)
I am quite overburdened these days, work must be done quicker if we want to finish before spring. I will probably leave fewer notes for the next weeks, as I must be ready before mid-winter to prepare the next overseer term.
16th Timber, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/behCKcJ.png?1)
A glimpse of poetry tonight; fireflies came to dance above the fortress, surrounding the glass tower. Their reflects on glass walls made it appear that lignts were dancing into and through the glass, illuminating night as dancing stars. A soothing sight for weary dwarves, working all day long to endure one more year in this doomed place.
________
This closes the autumn report, nothing worthy of note occured before winter. I will post winter report separately.
I have an issue with DFFD: I signed in, but did'nt receive activation email.
I know from bay12 forum experience that it can take some time, any idea how long until I can dump the save there? Or another file deposit solution to suggest?
And finally winter.
Winter 218 - To escape cold, magma bath is the new killing
1st Moonstone, 218
The last days of autumn have been busy, but productive. We managed to reach important steps in several projects, and other works are going quite well.
First, preparation for the raise of the dyke is going well: we will have finished the inner wall before spring, replacing old fortifications with walls and putting new bridges to control magma flow.
(http://i.imgur.com/Fv3QTP3.png?1)
Four of the five magma gates were doubled, and we started work to make depot island magma proof: the goal is to flank outer entrance with raising bridges, to be able in case of emergency to empty the dyke through our main entrance (without burning our trade depot, of course!).
The necropolis extension I started when I became overseer is slowly being smoothed: future vaults were built along the west corridor, to recieve our heroes and important characters. Some corridors filled with coffins for our population and pets were added, and a tomb, bedroom and training room were carved in the middle as my future abode as Gravekeeper, and eventually for assistants as well.
(http://i.imgur.com/0c6OdCv.png?1)
I am proud to know my term will have been useful for posterity, as our deads will now have a place prepared for them to lie with dignity. No more corpses abandonned in our corridors, no more heroes kept under anonymous rock lids, or worse makeshift commemorative slabs. I wonder if I should relocate all burying places of the fortress in the necropolis, as we have room enough, or if I should entomb our late heroes in proper mausoleums, as several rest anonymously among coffin rows.
I don't feel I have the right to choose by myself what to do on such a subject: I'll ask to the Council, and let the final decision to our future overseer. Of course as the Gravekeeper it will be my duty to celebrate the fallen ones, and I will do what I can for them. If the council decides to regroup burial grounds, I will help; for now, my burden as overseer forbid any action in this domain.
Our new magma minecart delivery system has passed brightly its testing phase: tracks are finished and the system was linked to the fortress main power axis using an old shaft.
(http://i.imgur.com/lIItbeS.png?1)
It powers three rollers:
- at west, a medium speed roller will recover empty minecarts. It is also used as a drop point for new minecarts entering the system (OOC: affecting a minecart to the hauling route, then forbidding the cart when it leaves the roller to avoid haulers trying to recover it on tracks).
- at south, the trench which will be filled with magma is equipped with iron rollers, to drag filling minecarts trough the magma and push them out of the trench.
- at east, the roller gives the main impulsion to send filled minecarts to their destination.
We will put a gate to switch off the system by blocking filled minecarts on east roller: when the gate will oppen minecarts will automatically be sent to their destination, pour magma there and come back for a refill, cycling until the gate is closed again.
An effective and elegant system, I think. First test with the blood of Armok will soon start, trying to isolate first cavern lake from underground streams in order to drain it and recover our fallen comrades.
(http://i.imgur.com/QIEJ6EU.png?1)
People are so proud of our work that the head executionner proposed a party to celebrate winter: I gladly accepted, as we all need relief. Besides, I really need good laugh, as I spent too much of the last month lost in dark thoughts and undefined but growing concerns. The mist, the beasts, possessed dwarves acting madly, the quacks... It becomes harder to admit those are only coincidences, that nothing, or nobody, is covertly playing a cruel game with us. Perhaps wine and songs will chase those ghosts...
3rd Moonstone, 218
The fortress was calm and worked slower last day, possibly because of hangover. I slept quite well, even though I woke up discovering I had confused coffin for bed. But stone is barely harder than wood for a dwarf back after all, and the coffin sides made me feel quite safe, so I guess my good sleep is understandable.
(http://i.imgur.com/8msagsz.png?1)
Late in the morning, a soldier came to say me they spotted a kobold: that stupid creature fled as soon as she was spotted. Was she afraid by our steel-clad soldiers, or by rotting corpses littering the sand around our walls?
7th Moonstone, 218
Today is a great day: at last, water level in the cavern lake is low enough to allow us to recover the drowned corps of the woodcutter who disappeared last year. I ordered to open the drain of the second lake, and by the end of the year we should have recovered bodies of neraly all our lost brothers.
12th Moonstone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/PlSEVZF.png?1)
Whatever entity, be it a god or an ungodly abomination, is playing with our fate, I hate it! Just as I was glad we entombed the woodcutter corpse, an horrible beast reached first cavern right next to the lake, and quickly devoured Thob Lokumbomrek, a woodcutter who had decided to work in the caverns for the first time in months!
(http://i.imgur.com/flhH8jp.png?1)
See the ghost in upper right corner? that's the third dead woodcutter in that image. A cursed place indeed...
I am sure that aberration will die on our traps, as usual, but it had the time to maim a dwarf again. I am furious, against the monster, fate, my own failure to protect our people, but mainly against the one I am sure now is playing a sadistic, deadly game with us, killing lone dwarves in the caverns, sending waves after waves of abominations, messing with our minds. I hate him, I despise him, I would give everything to kill him - but I don't knowhow to reach him, I don't know if he can be killed, I don't even have a proof he exists!!!
18th Moonstone, 218
The beast was difficult to kil, its square shell hard to pierce for our spike traps, but after numerous strikes it finally fell, and we are able to recover the mutilated body of our friend. He lied in the moss, half-eaten by rats, his hand still holding his axe.
(http://i.imgur.com/tyCFlFB.png?1)
People say woodcutters are doomed in Murderflood, as none seems to survive long. I have the feeling I could hear an hysterical cackling raising from the depths: fear, hopelessness, are they funny for you monster? I hate you, but I won't give up! We will recover each of our deads, and you will have nothing more to laugh about!
21st Moonstone, 218
We need to drain the second lake to recover Urdim Lolotikon corpse, and the reservoir is nearly full: I guess it is time to release water in the tunnels and prepare to cast obsidian. We will wait the tunnels fill a little to pour water at the level below.
(http://i.imgur.com/7PO7eNV.png?1)
28th Moonstone, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/bdHGN4n.png?1)
Another party, our booze stockpile is thinning. I ordered to produce some more, and more clothes, some dwarves still wear rags. I blame the dwarves who decided to stock whole bins of clothes in their room, sometimes covering the ground, and for one or two going as far as using their tomb as dressing room. Do they have no shame to keep so much for themselves when others have nothing? Some of them are council members, so I can't really do anything, but disapprove and move on. But this kind of thing shows there is something wrong in our fortress - silliness is common ,lazyness, greed and violence unpunished... I went through the judicial record and found some offenses were committed by one of our captains! I fear the place that was chosen for our home has changed us, corrupted us, its evil influence weakening our morality and sanity. And I don't know how to fight it. I feel lost, dejected, useless. But what part of these feelings are mine, and what is caused by that corruption twisting my thoughts? How can I know? What can I do?
5th Opale, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/F36rzJ9.png?1)
That horrible mist raised again from the lake: I wish I had never left the underground, where I did not see that terrible omen: I would not have feared another accident as I do now; the Ungodly waters are waiting for someone to die, I know it. I ran through our entire security system, asking guards to be vigilant, controling each trap and lever. People were surprised and thought I was being weird, but they don't know as I do what could happen. I will not tell them to preserve their minds from the awful truth: I must bear this burden alone.
6th Opale, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/F36rzJ9.png?1)
Again! This time it will be serious. Who will die? I ordered the caverns closed, the bridge raised, all dangerous work stopped: I told people I thought a day off was necessary, so they did not complain. I verified each potential vulnerability again and again, while giving construction orders and going through our stocks; I noticed the metalsmiths built fifty iron mechanisms when I asked only fifteen: I suppose we could always melt them. I am exhausted. I'll sleep again in my coffin tonight, hoping it will help me to escape anxiety...
7th Opale, 218
I slept quite well again, and could go to work again without fearing a catastrophe each time someone calls me.
Our project for lake water was a success! We managed to encase into obsidian the first submerged level of sough-eastern adamantine spire without major accident.
(http://i.imgur.com/fZKejbD.png?1)
It appears water flow created instable obsidian boulders, sending magma waves through the magma sea and a few chaotic blocks in the mining zone. However, that adamantine is now available for safe mining. I gave orders to do so. It will be possible to reach deeper levels by widening obsidian 'cover', then channeling into it to reveal magma around adamantine for obsidianization. The legendary metal will be ours, to forge weapons and armors of legend! With those, we will hold hell itself at bay, and perhaps find and destroy the source of the lake curse.
To be continued... For worse, of course!
10th Opale, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/Ucslkro.png?1)
Here comes the readed announce. I knew something bad would occur since that terrible mist rose. I was so busy monitoring everything I did not notice Fikod was missing our squad training. We looked everywhere, I even went to the caverns to find him, but it is as if he vanished in thin air. People are afraid: if one of our mightiest warriors can disappear like that, no one is protected. I feel panic and despair rising in the fortress, and in my heart. I could not find others solution to calm them than urging everyone to work harder - people have less time to think when they are exhausted. But a feww dwarves looked at me weirdly tonight.
11th Opale, 218
I had a strange nightmare tonight: I remembered an old discussion I had with the axelord Solon Unibalath, the lost Fikod being present: Solon taught me that fighting near any kind of pool, but especially a magma moat, was hazardous. "In the heat of battle", he said, "it is quite easy to stumble and risk a fiery death. And I wish this fate to no one". Then entered the nightmare: the two soldiers burst into flames, their copper shields melting to the heat, and a wave of burning blood raised to submerge me. I was woken up by pain, as my elbow hit the coffin side. Had I been in bed, I would have fallen to the ground. That dream had shaken me, and it was far worse when captain 'D' came to warn me:
(http://i.imgur.com/qDrBJHV.png?1)
I felt as caught in a landslide as I realized I already KNEW; after the nightmare, I was somehow sure Solon was dead, and all my efforts to reject that baseless belief had not worked. And now I knew my premonition was true. I had to ensure what other things in this nightmare were true: so I ordered a dike inspection to look for hints of our lost warriors.
(http://i.imgur.com/sRdDpuw.png?1)
A pool of molten copper was spotted in the eastern dike, right under the Cobalt Charms barracks. It seems Solon and Fikod fell to their death, burnt in the dike. However I don't understand how such a fate was even possible: there is no way to go atop the wall in this part of the dike, and we isnpected carefully the casern wall without even finding place to pass a needle between blocks. As it is impossible to imagin two steel clad warriors climbing the wall during a sparring session, we have no explanation about what happened. I am convinced the occult force bent to our demise is somehow responsible for that, but I did not tell anyone, fearing they would think I lost my mind. Captain 'D' was storngly affected by the loss of two friends, but he ordered to resume training in a stern demonstration fo dwarven resolve. However, he drew a chalk line ten feet from the wall, saying that part was off limits for sparring. I found this cautious, and so did the captain of the Snarling Knives whose barrack is at first floor. I hope this will avoid any other loss, but how can you proect anyone of a power able to push two seasoned, steel-clad fighter through a stone wall without leaving a mark?
(http://i.imgur.com/1B8V36q.png?1)
Dodge teleport bug, I'm afraid. I hope reducing barrack area is enough to avoid this
I shut myself in my room to think about the meaning of that dream. After hours pondering if it was inspired by the creature behind the mist, to taunt and torture me, I concluded that as doubt around our soldiers fate would have created more fears than their impossible demise did, the entity would have prefered us not to know. I think, I hope, that the dream was inspired by the dead spirits themselves, acting one last time to protect their fortress as they did countless time while alive. It appears my connection to our deads as the gravekeeper, and perhaps my links to my squadmates, made me the ideal medium for their message. This task I chose when I became overseer might be far more important for our fortress than I thought: besides securing our lost ones repose, I will have to listen to their wills. I was right to have my quarters built in our necropolis: living among the deads will strenghten my links to them.
19th Opale, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/3fy3BqD.png?1)
A horse died in our animal pen: I once again forgot to order it released. I really don't have the knack for animal care, I should delegate it to someone more competent. Did not we have someone who called himself the Keamaster?
(http://i.imgur.com/VndwyOR.png?1)
Apparently, some don't really care about animal and dwarves deaths, partying even during mourning. I don't know if I must cheer it as a proof of strong dwarven spirit, or fear it as a testimony of our loss of any honour or decency, under the influence of that horrible lake and the one hiding below.
26th Opale, 218
First run for our magma delivery system today; we put pressure plates on the track to open and close the hatch securing the chute, and the cart made effortlessly its first delivery.
(http://i.imgur.com/3WbcGwW.png?1)
The chute nicely brought the magma to target, isolating the lake from underground streams by an impervious obsidian plug.
(http://i.imgur.com/6htSlzG.png?1)
However, for more offensive applications of the device, we might need to use several carts to carry magma and raise the delivery rate: for such use, pressure plates will not work, so I ordered them replaced by a lever next to the hatch. It kind of limits the automated part, but it appears a good alternative. In the future it might be appropriate to move all the levers in a dedicated control room, but proximity was needed for conception.
(http://i.imgur.com/dBbOJrx.png?1)
One of our sworddwarves gave a name to his sword today: I suppose it is less disturbing than "growing attached" to it, whatever this implies...
1st Obsidian, 218
As the last month of the year starts, I got myself out of Cobalt Charms. It is sad to leave the squad after a year of common life and the recent loss of two squadmates, but I must prepare my resignation as overseer and my future life as the gravekeeper. I asked the herbalist Lňr Ibeshkilrud to replace me in the rank: I know he doesn't really like to fight, but he is tough and knows how to wield the axe. Some must make sacrifices for the good of the fortress, I wasn't keen on being overseer myself. I created a new "squad" of a sort, responsible for the necropolis protection and recovery of our fallen ones. For now I am the only member: if I spot someone with deep connexion with deads, I will propose him to take his weapon of choice and join the Grave Keeepers in the necropolis barrack.
9th Obsidian, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/gRnSLwL.png?1)
A party again, this time to celebrate the clear glass command I ordered - as glassmakers are quite weary of green glass block production. We need it to build our main entrance outer bridges: the sight of magma through the glass will strike visitors in awe, and warn trespassers of their imminent fate. We just need to replace the old granite gridge, as it will not bear magma temperature when submerged.
14th Obsidian, 218
The sand titan attacked! After a year lurking in the Ungodly waters he ran to our main entrance before any sentinel could spot him. Fortunately, we had just disassembled the old granit bridge and were building a stong, magma-safe slate pavement, so the beast couldn't reach the fortress itself. Then it demonstrated the extent of its stupidity, as it destroyed the pump feeding northern magma bunker, and got caught by subsequent magma flood. Our soldiers, who were preparing to fight in depot island, cheered. I guess they were glad that this time the blood of Armok had stricken an ennemy, not a dwarf.
(http://i.imgur.com/0eyfe2x.png?1)
Notice the clear glass bridges which will be raised to contain magma.
A steel bridge will allow to close depot island if we need to empty the dyke in the countriside
17th Obsidian, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/HuKweHT.png?1)
Another guy got attached to his shield, I don't even care.
I ordered northern spire to be obsidianized (OOC: I deemed it NE spire, since I usually find them roughly evenly distributed on the map, so there might be another spire in the hidden north-west corner of the map) The tricky part is that for safety concerns, I did not carve a lateral evacuation to the magma sea, so we must stop the flow before the cavern is filled if we want to recover adamantine.
(http://i.imgur.com/hQxvyEf.png?1)
Still in progress at the end of the year (picture fom Obsidian 28th), don't forget to close! The note indicates a raw adamantine block cast into obsidian.
I am more and more absorbed by the work I started to prepare my future work, a census of all deads in Murderflood, their history and how they met their fate. If we don't properly honnor our deads, would we truly be dwarves?
21st Obsidian, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/2MsO4ev.png?1)
Today I put to rest another drowned corpse. I will finish my term before being able to recover the last one, but everything will be in place to drain the first cavern lake he was drowned in, since the obsidian plug isolate it from water sources. It just need a little digging and time to drain it.
26th Obsdian, 218
(http://i.imgur.com/9HLZqrA.png?1)
Bomrek organized a party to celebrate the end of my term as an overseer. I was moved, and I hope next overseer will be listened, guided and obeyed as well as I was. I will leave hom my notes, charts of the additions my term gave to Murderflood and notes about things that are yet to complete.
However I will keep for myself my conviction about the vile entity behind the forgotten beasts attacks, the loss of our fighters and probably even our woodcutters curse. The one wo creeps deep under the lake, his corruption commanding to the mists, his influence corrupting the water and raising the deads. The one whose mind possessed several dwarves and tried to force them to madness by asking for scarce materials. The one who is the bane of dwarven civilization, a monster born dwarf, who Hell itself could not kill, and who will one day walk again in the surface world, bringing apocalypse. I know you are there, Urist McDuck, and I will do everything I can to twart your devious schemes!
28th Obsidian, 218
Documents left to the future overseer:
Control room for caverns/magma sea
(http://i.imgur.com/L7hCTGa.png?1)
Here are commands for all third caverns and magma-sea related business:
- The 'D' lever in bottom right corner controls bridges to open/close the lake drains (two for the moment)
- 'W' lever just above commands the bridge isolating the reservoir from tunnels feeding the spires
- The three couples of 'W' and 'A' levers command respectively Water pouring and Access for each of the three spires
- other levers are older, but A level in the left opens the iron bridge giving access to water tunnels, so if you want to flood the fortress bottom...
Necropolis plans (huge)
(http://i.imgur.com/oOcmGmw.png?1)
(http://i.imgur.com/Ztok5Z2.png?1)
The main work of the year: smoothing and furniture arrange to be done; we have scores of coffins to add in the galeries
South to the memorial plaza are the tomb/room of the Grave keeper and adjacent training room
Main entrance and green glass tower
(http://i.imgur.com/cz8Cnq3.png?1)(http://i.imgur.com/0KlimMn.png?1)
Here is revised entrance: clear glass bridges will hold magma, steel bridge allows to seal the island from outer bridge. Levers are in the green glass tower, and color-coded for your convenience
Magma bunkers and entrance need revision before raising the dyke, the titan was kind enough to deconstruct the north one.
Green glass tower needs work to finish the summit. Left a note there
Magma delivery system
(http://i.imgur.com/YRYzHn4.png?1)
Already described delivery engine. The door controlled by north lever release three magma-filled minecarts at top speed. I don't know if the fourth one can go out of the dyke itself or needs bumping, since I wasn't able to build a roller on the ramp (I should read the wiki more carefully). Other levers command trench Emptiing (left) and Filling (right)
(http://i.imgur.com/cU97JtO.png?1)
Delivery zone: a track stop with lowest friction dump north any passing minecart, which arrive from the right. Lever is here to open the hatch, as a pest control security.
The door acts as a switch to send minecarts in the western branch when opened. The chute needs a final work, as there are dead crundles down there I did'nt want to breach without troops around. Using this kind of switch other branches could easily be built, as long as the path is not too long initial rollers should be sufficient (till 400 tiles perhaps?)
PS: looking at the picture, left track crossing is NSE when it should be SE track, and I don't know where empty minecarts could go: could someone correct this?
Northern entrance: there is work to do there, a dike gate is to build and the entrance is absolutely not magma safe. The bunkers also need a rework.
As a note, it seems we have a magma pool under the courtyard. It is possible this one could spread magma everywhere when we will raise the dyke because of pump-induced pressure ...
And here is the save: http://dffd.bay12games.com/download.php?id=12559&f=Murderflood+219.rar