(https://i.imgur.com/VqFbaXU.jpg)
The Ageless Plane c. 250
I had the idea for a succession fortress game which decides its turns differently than the usual method of simply running through a numbered list of overseers. In this game, we will hold elections to decide who shall rule over the fortress for one year. Will these elections be a civil affair with the best dwarf for the job chosen? Will this quickly devolve into political backstabbing and the worst of dwarven nature coming out? Only time will tell.
Electoral Process:
–Named dwarves should declare themselves a member of a political party. You are free to start your own.
–At the end of each year, an election shall be held to decide the next year's overseer.
–Every dorfed individual is eligible to vote and is eligible to stand for election, though a certain number of turns must pass before one who has previously been elected overseer may serve again (this will be decided based on how many people we get to join the game).
–Each member of the voting population will cast a vote for whom he or she wants to be overseer, the winner being the dwarf with an absolute majority (over 50%) of the vote.
Because you will need over 50% of the vote to become overseer, it will be necessary to forge alliances and make deals to sway others to your cause. This can be done openly (ideally in the form of RPing to make the game more fun) or in backroom deals done via DMs.
Other Rules:
–You will have two weeks real time to bring the fort to the end of winter so that we can hold an election. Please inform us that you have begun so that we know you are taking your turn.
–In the event that you do not finish your turn, an election will be forced to appoint a new overseer to finish your year.
–This isn't really a rule as much as it is an encouragement, but you are free to role play as much as you want and it would be nice if we could get people posting in-character material even when it's not their turn. It helps a succession fort become a lot more fun and memorable and it helps when this game is based around political alliances and intrigue.
The Electors of Goldsilver:
- ChaosPotato ♂ (Diggers’ Party)
- Cnidaros ♀ (Independent)
- Eniteris II ♂ (Sparkly Unicorn Party)
- Fatcat ♀ (Sunlit Action Coalition)
- Imic ♂ (Stukist)
- LadyBrassroast ♀ (Independent)
- Lucky ♀ (Independent)
- Maximum Spin ♂ (Sunlit Action Coalition)
- Nephilim ♂ (Stukist)
- Noagga ♂ (Independent)
- Quantum Drop ♀ (Penitent Coalition)
- Radipon ♀ (United Soapmaking Advocates)
- Yung Boujee ♀ (Sparkly Unicorn Party)
Electoral History:
| Number | Election Year | Overseer | Party | Votes |
1 | 250 | Nephilim (Travis Bickle) | Stukist Party | short straw |
2 | 250 | fatcat | Planthomes-Sunny Coalition of Creatures | 5/7 (71%) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=177118.msg8188948#msg8188948) |
3 | 251 | Maximum Spin | Miners' and Farm Workers' United Action Party | 5/9 (56%) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=177118.msg8194841#msg8194841) |
4 | 252 | Eniteris (Radipon) | United Soapmaking Advocates | 4/7 (57%) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=177118.msg8199677#msg8199677) |
5 | 253 | fatcat | Planthomes-Minefarms Sunlit Action Coalition | 3/5 (60%) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=177118.msg8202518#msg8202518) |
6 | 254 | Nephilim (Travis Bickle) | Stukist Party | 6/8 (75%) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=177118.msg8215517#msg8215517) |
7 | 255 | Quantum Drop | The Penitent Coalition | 4/7 (57%) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=177118.msg8235011#msg8235011) |
8 | 256 | Tonnot | The Sparkly Unicorn Party | 4/7 (57%) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=177118.msg8249472#msg8249472) |
9 | 257 | Maximum Spin | Planthomes-Minefarms Sunlit Action Coalition | 5/6 (83%) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=177118.msg8259427#msg8259427) |
Active Political Parties:
Co-leaders: Maximum Spin & Fatcat
Ideology:
* Economic Policy *
1. Surface Foods: The fortress must supply as large of a portion of its food needs as possible from the surface. This includes harvesting whatever occasional plant might grow wild, and trading for every bag of surface plant seed that is brought, and planting them.
2. Surface Wood: Since the fortress is built on the edge of the mountains in a wasteland, there is no wood available outside of the caves. Rather than brave the hazards of the darkness, wood should only be bought from caravans.
3. Wood Avoidance: Wood is to only be used for beds or other construction purposes when absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it is to be stored, and only used for artifacts, and burning.
4. Surface Livestock: Although the mountains are not home for any edible plants for dwarves, they are rich in ground cover suitable for grazing livestock. They and the wasteland are also home to a variety of wild creatures, which may be captured and tamed to be of use to dwarvenkind. Because of these facts, grazers can be kept on the mountainsides except in times of great danger, and trap-lines should be employed heavily to add the livestock numbers.
5. Livestock Proliferation: A number of breeding pairs of all tamed creatures should be maintained at all times to provide a steady supply of meat, leather, and fat. All butcherable creatures are to treated this way if they can be tamed.
6. Free Trade: Trade is the lifeblood of civilization, and should be fostered in every possible way. Humans and dwarves are always welcome, and anything is fair game for purchase. Even subterranean products are welcome, because they decrease the mining needed in the fortress. Elves would be welcome, if they would only stop fighting the dwarves.
7. Material Substitution: Everything that can be made of surface materials is to be, but products of the underground are acceptable if there is no surface alternative.
8. Quarrying: Underground materials are to be acquired through open pit excavations rather than shaft mining, to retain the access to sunlight. Veins and deposits intersecting the quarry may be mined out, but any other side cuttings are strongly discouraged.
9. Pottery Production: Pottery is to be used heavily, due to clay being a quickly accessible material found in abundance on the surface. If practical, pots should be glazed to provide an alternative means of storing brewed drinks, to avoid the use of unburned wood, or the fortress’s sparse supply of metals.
* Foreign Policy *
1. Open Borders: Visiting elves, humans, and dwarves from the outside world are always welcome. Visiting goblins are to be tolerated, but treated with extreme suspicion.
2. Unyielding Defense: All demands from outside forces are to be bluntly refused, and all assaults are to be crushed to the last man, with no mercy.
3. Tit for Tat: Any hostile action or attack is to be returned to the perpetrators to the greatest of the fortress’s abilities.
* Military Policy *
1. Stable Force: Any standing army existing at the beginning of an overseer term should be neither reduced or increased, except in emergencies. Instead, it should be maintained at a constant strength, including replacing combat losses in the ranks.
2. Practical Uniforms: All uniform choices should be selected out of pragmatism, not out of personal preference or for appearances. (e.g. If the choice for helmet is between a beautiful copper piece, and a grungy but solid iron piece, the iron piece would win.)
* Religious Policy *
1. Equality: No dwarven god is greater than any other. Each deity and religion is to be provided with a suitable space for worship when there are no more pressing matters.
2. Lost Foreigners: Only dwarven gods are real gods. All other races are deluded or ignorant. The adherents to these false faiths are not to be punished, but pitied, and perhaps persuaded to leave their benighted beliefs. However, their gods are to be in no way honored or commemorated in the fortress.
* Art Policy *
1. Practicality over Beauty: Art is only to be created to meet official demands and requirements. At any other time, it is a waste of time that could be better spent on other projects.
2. Free Expression: When art must be created, it will be done with no restraint outside of religious concerns in what it depicts, and may be created from any materials.
* Construction Policy *
1. Ready Materials: Workshops and structures are to be made of the most readily available stone or wood. Metals are usually more useful for other purposes, but they may be used if there is no other place where they are needed.
2. Secure Living Space: Bedrooms and food storage are the only things the fortress should specifically design underground. They are to be built separate from the majority of the fortress, and in such a way to be secure from any disaster that comes. Dwarves deserve to be safe from outside threats.
3. Sunlit Spaces: Taverns, libraries, and other public meeting areas are to be built solely above ground. Even important internal locations such as dining rooms should be built outside in the glorious fresh air whenever possible.
* Artifact Policy *
1. Protection: Artifacts are to be placed in a location where no thief or miscreant has any chance of making off with them.
2. Practicality: If an artifact can be of practical use, whether as part of the fortress structure, or in the military, it may be used.
* Necromancer Policy *
1. No Undying Nobles: Necromancers may settle in the fortress, but may not hold any office, not even a minor one such as bookkeeper. If a dwarf already holding a petty position is cursed, they may keep their position, but may not be assigned any new office. Higher nobles that are cursed are to be removed from their position if possible.
2. Pity the Creature: Necromancer experiments are not as they are by choice, and are not evil. They are to be welcomed like any other race, although their connections suggest that they be scrutinized for their motives, and any connections to plots.
* Criminal Policy *
1. Extended Leniency: Almost any criminal can be reformed when given enough time and care. Convicted criminals are to chained or imprisoned for all but the most heinous crimes. Killing or maiming dwarves who could once again have become productive citizens is needlessly wasteful.
* Health Policy *
1. Full Restoration: Every injured dwarf is to be treated to the best of the fortress’s ability, to return them to their fullest usefulness as a citizen.
2. Cleanliness for Health: Personal hygiene, waste removal, and surface cleaning are to be undertaken to the extent necessary to avoid miasma and infections. Further actions are permissible if nothing else is more urgently needing workers.
* General Attitude *
Overseers are to be devoted first to the use of surface resources, and after this, to pragmatism in all things that do not conflict with their use of the surface.
Leader: Quantum Drop
Ideology:
Economic Policy:
Vanity is a distraction from His ideals. All crafts, furniture, etc. must use wood, stone, or dull metal – gold, gem, and the like is to be reserved for creations honouring Him and His subordinate deities.
SUSPENDED UNTIL IMPROVEMENT OF THE GENERAL POPULACE'S MORALE.
- Our fortress may be sullied by the goods of the faithless, but it shall be reluctantly so. We cannot trade with the Elven caravan, and trade with the Human caravan is under a strict limit as to how much can be purchased (to be determined later on). Trade with the Dwarven caravan can be done freely and without limit.
- At least
once per month once every four months, at least one livestock unit must be sacrificed in His name (the method must spill blood in some manner). In the event that livestock are required elsewhere or are wholly depleted, the sacrifice may be replaced by a captured prisoner of war.
Immigration Policies
- All Goblins, Kobolds, Necromancers (and any allies/thralls/experiments thereof), and similar creatures of the night must be destroyed with extreme violence and the corpses unceremoniously disposed of. Capture is permitted, so long as the creature is destroyed in some manner following this capture.
ADDENDUM: Elves and Birdfolk are to be slain on sight; any remains are to be left to rot, while any wooden items they carry are to be burned.
- Citizenship of Animal Peoples, Humans, etc. is allowed, as long as they are judged faithful by the High Priest(ess). Any Goblins desiring citizenship are to be rebuffed, with extreme prejudice.
- Nobles are parasites in the eyes of God and Man alike. With the exception of those vital for fortress function (such as priests, book-keepers, brokers, and doctors) all Nobles will meet with ‘unfortunate accidents’ when possible, lest their vanity, greed, and ignorance doom us all.
Military Policies:
- All military gear is to be forged of bronze or greater; while exceptions are made for artefact and masterwork gear, any non-compliant armour or weapons are to be smelted or traded away.
- Any citizens convicted of blasphemy, heresy, or general conspiracy against the Fortress are to be armed and assigned to the Caverns. They will pay their penance in blood – whether theirs, or that of the loathsome beasts that roam the depths. Should they fall in the pursuit of this duty, they are to be laid to rest with the honours afforded to a loyal citizen.
- The use of lethal traps over cage traps is encouraged, but not required. So long as it spills blood in His name, be it immediately or later, it is acceptable.
Art Policies
- All artwork must honour the tenants of Armok – they must feature blood, war, violence, or conflict in some manner. Any non-masterwork or artefact artwork that does not comply must be erased and re-carved to comply.
- At least one performer must be assigned to each temple at any given time, that we may retain the favour of the Gods. (Though this may be relaxed in the event of severe casualties or war.)
- Artefacts are to be considered gifts from the Divines, and with the exception of artefacts forged for war, all artefacts are to be displayed within a Temple dedicated to the deity/deities of Crafts. They are to be kept under guard at all times by at least one full squad, armed with the finest weapons and armour the fortress can produce. Conspiracy to, or the successful theft of, an artefact is to be punished as the Overseer’s party sees fit. In particularly egregious cases, the criminal is to be banished to the Caverns or executed in a manner chosen by the ruling Party.
Leader: Nephilim
Members: Imic
Deceased Members: Dan
Paramilitary Wing: Black Legion of King Stukos the Martyr
Ideology:
Since the founding of The Confining Clasps, the dwarves of The Ageless Plane have been ruled by the direct descendants of Queen Kol Somberarch. In the year 223, however, the fourth king, Stukos Spottedpaints, was overthrown in a coup led by Iden Chanceshot with the support of the Dwarven general and several members of the nobility. Thus, Iden became king and his descendants have ruled The Confining Clasps since, while King Stukos spent the rest of his days in prison.
The Stukist Party views the deposition of King Stukos Spottedpaints as an illegitimate and criminal act, and rejects the authority of all the kings since the Coup of 223. As they act in rebellion against the current leadership of the Dwarven capital, they are considered a criminal organization, though they manage to operate more openly in fortresses further from the capital. In the early years following the coup, Stukists advocated for the restoration of King Stukos to the throne. With Stukos’ death in 240, supporters declared their support for his sister, Baroness Vutok Oilytoe, proclaiming her the true queen of the dwarves.
Economic Policy:
– Viewing the current leadership of the capital as illegitimate, Stukists advocate maintaining distance and limiting trade until the true king can be restored.
– Trade with the capital is allowed, however should be limited to essentials to prevent making the capital rich.
– Offerings to the usurper king are absolutely forbidden.
– Being traditionalists, Stukists hold elves and their ways in contempt. While they will tolerate trade with elves, they will not tolerate elves being made residents of a fortress and will feel no obligation to fulfill diplomatic agreements made with elves.
– Humans are viewed as neutral parties by Stukists, who permit trade and amicable relations with them.
Military Policy:
– Stukists anticipate an armed revolution against the leadership of The Confining Clasps, and will raise up squads of paramilitaries in preparation.
– These paramilitaries act as enforcers for Stukist Party policies in fortresses controlled by Stukists.
Art Policy:
– Stukists sponsor art that depicts Stukist claimants to the throne.
– The current kings of The Confining Clasps and the participants in the Coup of 223 are always to be depicted negatively.
Leader: Radipon
Deceased Members: Eniteris
Ideology:
Economic Policy:
- Obtaining animals at any cost to keep fat rendering operations rolling, meaning strengthening of trade relations with the elves (for animals) and the trapping and slaughter of all accessible fauna.
- Applying the marvels of soap to all facets of dwarven living, from washing to construction, including facilities for bathing; an active well will be made available at any cost, and soap is to be used as construction material where applicable.
- Maximizing production of soap in order to stay clean
Military Policy:
- Combat is dirty work, therefore only a minimal active force is allowed and only for deployment against foes that have collectible fat.
- Invaders are to be trapped and kept in a "cleaning" facility. Their possessions are contaminated with germs and cannot be appropriated.
Art Policy:
- Soap constructions shall be erected to house and venerate our treasures. Then they will be clean. They must be clean. If it can't be cleaned it must be destroyed.
Leader: Yung Boujee
Former Leader: BoujeeTheAlan (deceased)
Members: Eniteris II
Ideology:
Economic Policy:
-Phasing out of non-shiny materials for crafts, furniture and constructions. Reasonable exemptions made for wooden beds.
- A gem window quota
- All livestock required to meet minimum standards of cuteness and/or majestic splendour. Ugly beasts will be subject to immediate slaughter or atom smashing.
-A dedication to fortress beautification
Immigration Policy:
- Visiting goblins, kobolds, necromancers, their experiments, undead, night creatures and other ugly races to be met with immediate violence.
- Animal person immigration rights to be handled on a case by case basis via a public referendum to decide whether they are aesthetically pleasing enough to deserve to live.
Defense Policy:
- As our prime representation abroad, our military must look the part. All non-artifact equipment must either be forged of precious metals silver or adamantine, or else decorated to satisfactory degree with appropriate materials.
- Citizens afflicted with particularly ugly scars or otherwise deformed to be exiled to the caverns where they will earn their right to a beautiful citizen's funeral by bringing death to the ugly troglydytic spawn of the deep.
Patronage of The Arts:
- Our craftsdworfs' superior craftsmanship deserves to be heralded before the whole world. The hiding away of artifacts is forbidden and all must be worn or displayed prominently in areas where they can awe and inspire locals and foreigners alike.
Leader: ChaosPotato
Ideology:
- Light is not a friend of dwarfkind. All crops must be subterranean.
- Subterranean materials should be used for clothing and construction as well. The less the fortress has to get from the surface, the better.
- Alcohol should be stored in nether-cap barrels if possible.
- EVERYTHING should be built underground, the deeper the better. If we breach the HFS, we're building things there.
- Important dwarves should be made immortal, so they can continue to help the fortress beyond their natural lifespan.
- All are welcome in the fortress, including necromancer experiments, as long as they're useful.
- If a dwarf goes into a strange mood, he/she must be provided with everything he/she needs to produce an artifact.
- Dig as deep as possible. We're not done until we hit the planet's core. Strike the Earth!
- Dwarves should spend as little time as possible on the surface. If dwarves aren't vomiting every time they see the sun, THINGS ARE NOT BEING DONE CORRECTLY.
Inactive Political Parties:
Former Leader: Zalthor (deceased)
Deceased Members: The Maggot
Ideology:
"Every Dwarf a King!"
The slogan of the Communal Party, and a view held deeply by it's members, the Party believes that the Earth, in all of its splendor, has enough for nothing less than the utmost luxury for anyone capable of exploiting it's riches; creatures such as the Dwarves.
Economic Policy:
– Rigourous exploitation of natural resources is commonplace under Party leadership; after all, riches are the birthright of those able to seize it
– Unrestricted trade, for, extravagant trade benefits all parties, most expecially the Dwarves
– The ultimate aim of the Party is to demonstrate the truth of their slogan "Every Dwarf a King". Therefore, there shall be nothing less than royal accommondations for every dwarf; all shall relish in the luxury of the Mountain
Military Policy:
– The wise know: with riches, come peral. Therefore, the Party decrees that a strong Proactive Defense is nescessary, where potentional threats shall be subjugated by Dwarven Might before they have a chance to strike
Culture Policy:
– Visitors Allowed; to dine with company is always a treat, and to be entertained by your very own guests, well, who can measure the pleasure?
– Residents discouraged; it is essential that any that wish to gorge upon the fruits of the Earth adopt of the ways of those that are able to fully appreciate their condition; all must adopt the culture and ways of the Dwarf
Defunct Political Parties:
Leader: Maximum Spin
Merged into: Planthomes-Minefarms Sunlit Action Coalition
Ideology: "To overthrow the tyranny of the woodcutters and artisans. Engravers are provisionally allowed but ON NOTICE."
Leader: Fatcat
Merged into: Planthomes-Minefarms Sunlit Action Coalition
Ideology:
* Economic Policy *
1. Surface Foods: The fortress must supply as large of a portion of its food needs as possible from the surface. This includes harvesting whatever occasional plant might grow wild, and trading for every bag of surface plant seed that is brought, and planting them.
2. Surface Wood: Since the fortress is built on the edge of the mountains in a wasteland, there is no wood available outside of the caves. Out of necessity, this source may be used, but any spare trade goods should be spent on wooden items to decrease the use of cave wood.
3. Surface Livestock: Although the mountains are not home for any edible plants for dwarves, they are rich in ground cover suitable for grazing livestock. They and the wasteland are also home to a variety of wild creatures, which may be captured and tamed to be of use to dwarvenkind. Because of these facts, grazers can be kept on the mountainsides except in times of great danger, and trap-lines should be employed heavily to add the livestock numbers.
4. Livestock Proliferation: A number of breeding pairs of all tamed creatures should be maintained at all times to provide a steady supply of meat, leather, and fat. All butcherable creatures are to treated this way if they can be tamed.
5. Free Trade: Trade is the lifeblood of civilization, and should be fostered in every possible way. Elves, humans, and dwarves are always welcome, and anything is fair game for purchase. Even subterranean products are welcome, because they decrease the mining needed in the fortress.
6. Material Substitution: Everything that can be made of surface materials is to be, but products of the underground are acceptable if there is no surface alternative.
* Foreign Policy *
1. Open Borders: Visiting elves, humans, and dwarves from the outside world are always welcome. Visiting goblins are to be tolerated, but treated with extreme suspicion.
2. Unyielding Defense: All demands from outside forces are to be bluntly refused, and all assaults are to be crushed to the last man, with no mercy.
3. Tit for Tat: Any hostile action or attack is to be returned to the perpetrators to the greatest of the fortress’s abilities.
* Military Policy *
1. Stable Force: Any standing army existing at the beginning of an overseer term should be neither reduced or increased, except in emergencies. Instead, it should be maintained at a constant strength, including replacing combat losses in the ranks.
2. Practical Uniforms: All uniform choices should be selected out of pragmatism, not out of personal preference or for appearances. (e.g. If the choice for helmet is between a beautiful copper piece, and a grungy but solid iron piece, the iron piece would win.)
* Religious Policy *
1. Equality: No dwarven god is greater than any other. Each deity and religion is to be provided with a suitable space for worship when there are no more pressing matters.
2. Lost Foreigners: Only dwarven gods are real gods. All other races are deluded or ignorant. The adherents to these false faiths are not to be punished, but pitied, and perhaps persuaded to leave their benighted beliefs. However, their gods are to be in no way honored or commemorated in the fortress.
* Art Policy *
1. Practicality over Beauty: Art is only to be created to meet official demands and requirements. At any other time, it is a waste of time that could be better spent on other projects.
2. Free Expression: When art must be created, it will be done with no restraint outside of religious concerns in what it depicts, and may be created from any materials.
* Construction Policy *
1. Ready Materials: Workshops and structures are to be made of the most readily available stone or wood. Metals are usually more useful for other purposes, but they may be used if there is no other place where they are needed.
2. Secure Living Space: Bedrooms and food storage are the only things the fortress should specifically design underground. They are to be built separate from the majority of the fortress, and in such a way to be secure from any disaster that comes. Dwarves deserve to be safe from outside threats.
3. Sunlit Spaces: Taverns, libraries, and other public meeting areas are to be built solely above ground. Even important internal locations such as dining rooms should be built outside in the glorious fresh air whenever possible.
* Artifact Policy *
1. Protection: Artifacts are to be placed in a location where no thief or miscreant has any chance of making off with them.
2. Practicality: If an artifact can be of practical use, whether as part of the fortress structure, or in the military, it may be used.
* Necromancer Policy *
1. No Undying Nobles: Necromancers may settle in the fortress, but may not hold any office, not even a minor one such as bookkeeper.
2. Pity the Creature: Necromancer experiments are not as they are by choice, and are not evil. They are to be welcomed like any other race, although their connections suggest that they be scrutinized for their motives, and any connections to plots.
* Criminal Policy *
1. Extended Leniency: Almost any criminal can be reformed when given enough time and care. Convicted criminals are to chained or imprisoned for all but the most heinous crimes. Killing or maiming dwarves who could once again have become productive citizens is needlessly wasteful.
* Health Policy *
1. Full Restoration: Every injured dwarf is to be treated to the best of the fortress’s ability, to return them to their fullest usefulness as a citizen.
2. Cleanliness for Health: Personal hygiene, waste removal, and surface cleaning are to be undertaken to the extent necessary to avoid miasma and infections. Further actions are permissible if nothing else is more urgently needing workers.
* General Attitude *
Overseers are to be devoted first to the use of surface resources, and after this, to pragmatism in all things that do not conflict with their use of the surface.
Other Groups & Entities:
Leader: Lucky
Politically supports Planthomes-Minefarms Sunlit Action Coalition
Ideology:
The Mountain Creed is not very fond with Worshippers of Armok for Armok is seen as the evil creator who only reveled in tormenting the dwarves by forcing them to sacrifice one of their people or he will create an earthquakes to spill the blood himself.. 6 lesser dwarven gods who were agents of Armok could not stand the cruelty any longer, so they rebel against Amork. The dwarves aided the 6 dwarven gods and Armok created an army of terrifying beast who's shapes, sizes and compositions varied from large koalas with horns and claws who breathe fire, to giant glob made from mud. The war against Amrok lasted for centuries until one day Armok was finally defeated and was imprisoned deep within the mountains and his army of beast fled into the. underground caverns where they roam their forgotten to time. Nökar the god life and death (before the demon lord corrupted him) was the closest to armok's power and was able to create life as well, so Nökar created a giant eagle who he named Doren, to trap Armok deep within the mountains so Armok may never rise again.
The Mountain Creed see themselves as the protector of dwarvenkind and must not let worshippers of Amrok to revive the evil creator. For if blood is spilled in the name of Armok then all life as we know it will plummet into the second of age of Armok.
Are you still accepting political party submissions (aka overseers)?
We're always accepting new dorfings, as the more votes there are the more interesting voting is going to be. You can make your own party or join someone else's if any of the current ones strike your fancy.
Journal of Nephilim, Provisional Overseer of Goldsilver
1st Felsite, 250—A month and a half have passed since the earth was first struck here. If our current pace is kept up, it will be quite a while until we have anything even resembling a proper Dwarven fortress. Our first tunnel goes westward into the mountains, south-southwest of where we stopped the wagon. Our miner seems skilled enough at her task, and Maximum Spin was eager to help despite his utter lack of skill with a pick. Right now only a few chambers within the rock have been dug, most of which are being used to store items once held in the wagon until more permanent storage can be arranged.
(https://i.imgur.com/5mL1zji.png)
The earth here seems to be rich with jelly opals. You can see a few exposed on the side of the mountain, and plenty were mined as the tunnel into the earth was dug. BoujeeTheAlan insisted on being allowed to begin cutting the gems immediately, and as there was no other work for him to do that would be much help at this early stage I gave him my approval. Meanwhile, fatcat got to work training a couple of our dogs, and they already look ready for a fight.
As I myself haven’t had much work to do other than lug goods from the wagon, I had the opportunity to get acquainted with our mason, Quantum Drop. She seems less than amused with Boujee and his love for gems, saying he displays “utter impiety.” I can respect her simplicity, especially since her dedication to stone is what’s giving us the much-needed chairs and tables for our dining room. I’m less amused, however, with her suggestions to sacrifice what little livestock we have. I’ll need to keep an eye on her.
I must also make note of a particular difficulty we face. Given the lack of trees in the area and that we didn’t bring any wood with us, we have no wood with which to make beds. We can tear apart the wagon for its wood, but there is nowhere near enough for all of us to have beds, especially when we can expect migrants to begin settling here soon. Most of us will have to get used to sleeping on the hard, stone floor.
Whether we have wood or not, migrants will start showing up soon, and once that happens I will need to start advocating for the cause. I am still not certain of my companions’ intentions; some of them may be allies yet, while others definitely have goals contrary to mine. If this fortress is to become a holdout for the party I will need to be extra careful to not let my guard down.
For the memory of King Stukos the Martyr and for the honor of Her Majesty Queen Vutok, I shall not fail.
The Stukist Party
Since the founding of The Confining Clasps, the dwarves of The Ageless Plane have been ruled by the direct descendants of Queen Kol Somberarch. In the year 223, however, the fourth king, Stukos Spottedpaints, was overthrown in a coup led by Iden Chanceshot with the support of the Dwarven general and several members of the nobility. Thus, Iden became king and his descendants have ruled The Confining Clasps since, while King Stukos spent the rest of his days in prison.
The Stukist Party views the deposition of King Stukos Spottedpaints as an illegitimate and criminal act, and rejects the authority of all the kings since the Coup of 223. As they act in rebellion against the current leadership of the Dwarven capital, they are considered a criminal organization, though they manage to operate more openly in fortresses further from the capital. In the early years following the coup, Stukists advocated for the restoration of King Stukos to the throne. With Stukos’ death in 240, supporters declared their support for his sister, Baroness Vutok Oilytoe, proclaiming her the true queen of the dwarves.
Economic Policy:
– Viewing the current leadership of the capital as illegitimate, Stukists advocate maintaining distance and limiting trade until the true king can be restored.
– Trade with the capital is allowed, however should be limited to essentials to prevent making the capital rich.
– Offerings to the usurper king are absolutely forbidden.
– Being traditionalists, Stukists hold elves and their ways in contempt. While they will tolerate trade with elves, they will not tolerate elves being made residents of a fortress and will feel no obligation to fulfill diplomatic agreements made with elves.
– Humans are viewed as neutral parties by Stukists, who permit trade and amicable relations with them.
Military Policy:
– Stukists anticipate an armed revolution against the leadership of The Confining Clasps, and will raise up squads of paramilitaries in preparation.
– These paramilitaries act as enforcers for Stukist Party policies in fortresses controlled by Stukists.
Art Policy:
– Stukists sponsor art that depicts Stukist claimants to the throne.
– The current kings of The Confining Clasps and the participants in the Coup of 223 are always to be depicted negatively.
(https://i.imgur.com/UsuH8Rb.png)
Symbol of the Stukist Party, depicting a crown behind prison bars.
Alright, I'll throw my hat into the political ring.
"Every Dwarf a King!"
The slogan of the Communal Party, and a view held deeply by it's members, the Party believes that the Earth, in all of its splendor, has enough for nothing less than the utmost luxury for anyone capable of exploiting it's riches; creatures such as the Dwarves.
Economic Policy:
– Rigourous exploitation of natural resources is commonplace under Party leadership; after all, riches are the birthright of those able to seize it
– Unrestricted trade, for, extravagant trade benefits all parties, most expecially the Dwarves
– The ultimate aim of the Party is to demonstrate the truth of their slogan "Every Dwarf a King". Therefore, there shall be nothing less than royal accommondations for every dwarf; all shall relish in the luxury of the Mountain
Military Policy:
– The wise know: with riches, come peral. Therefore, the Party decrees that a strong Proactive Defense is nescessary, where potentional threats shall be subjugated by Dwarven Might before they have a chance to strike
Culture Policy:
– Visitors Allowed; to dine with company is always a treat, and to be entertained by your very own guests, well, who can measure the pleasure?
– Residents discouraged; it is essential that any that wish to gorge upon the fruits of the Earth adopt of the ways of those that are able to fully appreciate their condition; all must adopt the culture and ways of the Dwarf
As soon as each ballot was placed in the pot, Nephilim took the pot and emptied its contents onto the table. He got to work unfolding each ballot and quickly counting the votes. After double-checking the results, which didn’t take long as there were only 8 ballots to check, he stood up before the rest of the dwarves.
“With one abstention, seven valid ballots were cast. For fatcat of Planthomes the Sunny Coalition of Creatures, five votes.”
Everyone looked at the victor, clearly pleased by the great showing of support she was able to garner. Even before the rest of the votes were announced, everyone knew that this was a definitive victory on her part.
“For Radipon of the United Soapmaking Advocates, two votes.”
Radipon seemed less than amused with the results, even though she could not have been that surprised given how many endorsements fatcat was able to receive. She sank into her chair and muttered something about “making them all clean” one day.
(https://i.imgur.com/vGidrgS.png)
“With these results,” Nephilim announced, “fatcat wins the election and shall be the overseer of Goldsilver starting tomorrow, on the 1st of Granite, 251. I congratulate my successor on her victory and wish her luck for next year.”
Congratulations to fatcat__25 for winning the first election. You can begin your turn as soon as you are able.
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Limestone 15th, 251
A caravan from the Mountainhome has arrived today. The outpost liaison also returned, with a great body of new information about the world. He showed me a map of the known world with our own civilization, and out enemies and allies marked in various colors.(https://i.imgur.com/MI38uZH.png)
The caravan leader and Ilral, the liaison also hammered out a deal for the next year of trading. I requested a little bit of wood, to negate the need to ever cut any more in the caverns if we need fuel, or anything else. I also requested animals of nearly every kind, and a selection of clothes, because we have very little means of making our own. I also requested a large supply of seed, so that we can actually grow some of the plants we need for clothing and drinks. The traders in turn supplied a list of the things that they would trade most generously for. (https://i.imgur.com/8WuWdg7.png)
The dwarf I tasked with patching up the damaged miners proved to be reasonably competent at the job, having both of them back on the job within a week or two, with no visible damage left.
I really wish there was more time to rest, and spend time with others here, but there will be time for that once there is no way for the next random marauder to simply walk in and upset all our endeavors.
@Travis Bickle, if you didn't notice, I redwarfed Boujee. You can update the parties as far as he is concerned now. I'm still trying to figure out how to handle Luckyowl's request, since there aren't any dwarves that exactly match his specifications. I sent him a possibility yesterday, but haven't heard back whether the dwarf is suitable.
Also, is my administration somehow noncontroversial, so that nobody is talking politics right now? Also, I hope my updates aren't too boring or businesslike. My natural writing style is unfortunately a little bit like that.
And another update:
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Sandstone 17th, 251
It has been a very productive month since I wrote in my journal last. The traders left about a week ago, after Nephilim grudgingly negotiated a decent trade deal with them. I do not understand his reluctance to do business with our fellow dwarves. He seemed more happy to work with the humans than with our own brethren. I purchased a wide collection of items, including literature, animals, wood, metal, and a large supply of seeds. This required the majority of our trade goods, but we should be fully capable of replenishing our supplies by next year's trading season.
The next layer of the mountain removal is about half done, and is providing a steady supply of dolomite for our construction projects. The wall continues to progress, but even with three masons working, we still are running short on cut stone blocks. I will have to order yet another workshop for the masons set up. I would prefer to not only have the fortress fully encircled by a wall by the end of the year, but to have proper fortifications to keep acrobatic marauders from climbing over the wall.
The largest development of the last month was the latest band of migrants brought word that our home is no longer considered a simple outpost, but a full town, deserving a mayor.(https://i.imgur.com/DSxDtTB.png)
I find myself increasingly… troubled. There is something in the air, a tension I have not felt in years. A feeling, of eyes upon my back and daggers glared at me from dark corners. And these thoughts that trouble me – these desires I feel the need to indulge -
(several lines scribbled out, often tearing through the page)
-nnot afford more distractions. My conversations with Nephilim are consuming my attention enough as it is, at a time when there are a million and one other tasks to focus on. His thirst must be slaked, opinions need to be swayed, my rhetoric still needs to become more palatable-
Yet… these insights I am gaining from the Overseer, this knowledge such a relationship has given – perhaps…
Damnation on my soul! I cannot afford to let my guard down, not now, at least; not until what I fear to be true is confirmed or denied. Something have arrived in this fort with ill-will in its heart, and I cannot sleep soundly until I know what it is.
It cannot be those heretics – even in this den of political vipers and obfuscating fools, they would stick out like a sore thumb in the same manner as I. Perhaps an agent of the Jester-King, sent into this pit of vipers to see if any threat arises to the Throne? Or something else, something with a far wider agenda on its mind?
I must keep my guard up. Changes must be made to my ‘party’s’ policies, if only for the sake of survival. But where to start?
These thoughts have been driving me half-mad over the past weeks, and I find I must give form to them. I know that the Mother Superior would be furious with me should I voice such opinion, but I find I must say it:
He is flawed.
He is a Creator as much as a Destroyer, and – despite what the Mother may preach – even Gods may have flaws.
If He was truly perfect, as the Scriptures claim, why could He be wounded so badly by His own creations? Why is His thirst as destructive as the wrath of the Enemy that we stand against?
Why, if I was chosen by Him to perform the most holy task imaginable, does the task before me cause my heart to knock ‘gainst my ribs, and cause my soul to taint with fear?
I am… aware of the irony in these statements. The local religious fanatic, forever screaming about heretics and blood sacrifices, expressing doubt in her God? I would be surprised if the fort did not believe these notes counterfeit, or laugh themselves half to death at the simple incongruity of these notes.
For now, at least, I must maintain appearances. Even the slightest word of my doubt reaching the Circle would see my throat cut in my sleep, in hopes that heretical blood may speed His wakening and the Time of Judgement. I must play this role, for I have no other choice.
…I did not intend to go into such… such detail. These must be put to the torch-
(Page ends in ragged scraps. Fire has destroyed or obscured anything below this point.)
who would waste such good piece of paper! They aren't cheap you know?!! This could've been a 1 page essay about pipes and their importance!...what a waste...
I know I’d like to see how the defensive wall and the mountain removal projects are progressing.
The people request screenshots! Very well, they will have them. These are the current state of the megaprojects. I'll try to have a full update sometime later.
The wall:
(https://i.imgur.com/iFs85cP.png)
The mountainside:
(https://i.imgur.com/n3wyIoP.png)
I didn't have image hosting set up until part of the way through the year, so I didn't have screenshots 'till then.
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Timber 25th, 251
I received a major shock today. I ran into Lucky at the fortress entrance, and stopped to discuss construction plans, but she brushed right past me and nearly ran down the main hall. Intrigued, I followed her. She ran to a craftsdwarf's workshop, and started frenetically rearranging the tools. When I asked what was going on, she pulled out a scrap of old tattered piece of paper, and sketched a number of things on it, handed it to me, and then waved me out.(https://i.imgur.com/baKgo5v.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/x81hgBf.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/xx21i7U.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZS7KwMt.png)
On an encouraging note, the last stones were laid in the ceiling of The Ape of Mists this week.
Inside:
(https://i.imgur.com/WHKjOrQ.png)
The roof:
(https://i.imgur.com/Zfbd2tC.png)
Edit:
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Opal 18th, 251
The mood that took Lucky quickly came to its fruition.
(https://i.imgur.com/yLqtjXH.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/6cWHXKu.png)
In other news, I have been strengthening the mining force, and have ordered a new pick made out of our one bar of copper for a miner that doesn't have a tool to dig with. It appears that I will not be able to complete the opening of the fortress within my term, but a good four layers have been removed above it. The great wall project also drags on seemingly indefinitely, as even four masons working full speed cannot provide enough cut stone for it. Because of this, there has been no choice but to build other things, most notably The Ape of Mists out of rough stone. A tiny bit has been spared for one vital project.
(https://i.imgur.com/VVAe7XJ.png)
A week ago, we had a different sort of major event.
(https://i.imgur.com/2nSg0lT.png)
Having no objections to any of the dwarven religions, I have started designing the pyramid that Lucky requested. It is unlikely to be completed for a long time, due to the lateness of the season, and the controversy surrounding her creed, but the foundations will be there when someone favorable to her goals becomes the overseer.
Hastily scrawled on:
Opal 19th, 251
I knew that we were not finishing the wall fast enough.
(https://i.imgur.com/hkyA3ZW.png)
I have to share the internet, so I didn't have a chance to upload last night. Here is the save.
Edit: And here is the rest of my updates.
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Opal 20th, 251
What a day. The cyclops charged right past the unfinished end of the wall, and slaughtered Vabok, a miner. It then went and stomped on a couple of our animals before the military could catch it. It then badly pounded one of the monster hunters, before finally succumbing to the efforts of our militia.
(https://i.imgur.com/bCnfzp1.png)
It was a terrifying day, but I suppose it could have been worse. The livestock distracting the monster was a blessing form the gods.
Granite 1st, 252,
Today, my term comes to an end, and very little that I set out to do is actually done. I am mentally exhausted from the daily concerns and complaints of the citizens, and from trying to design the structures that will define this fortress for years to come. The only thing I was able to complete that I promised was a more complete seal of the caverns.
(https://i.imgur.com/HBW9m5a.png)
The wall encircles about half of the fortress, but the production of blocks continues to drag on at a miserable pace.
(https://i.imgur.com/zndVbLG.png)
The mountainside has been slowly yielding to the picks of our miners, but two layers remain between the present level and the fortress.
(https://i.imgur.com/b9Q0T2d.png)
Currently, the most material is being poured into the temple that Lucky requested. It is a wonder that no other religion has requested a place to worship. Not that we have the dwarfpower to build anything else.
(https://i.imgur.com/TT3H22O.png)
The population has exploded over the last year, from the 8 dwarves that voted me into office this spring to 52 citizens, and 21 monster hunters.
(https://i.imgur.com/qsTkI2w.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/xJMkgWQ.png)
I must lay down my pen, now. The time has come for the elections. May the best dwarf win, and may they have the strength to run this place.
Once every dwarf had cast a ballot, the pot was emptied and the ballots were counted. Once one blank ballot was discarded, the remaining nine were grouped according to their candidate of choice. Once the count was double-checked, the results were announced:
"For Maximum Spin of the Miners' and Farm Workers' United Action Party, five votes."
“For Eniteris of the United Soapmaking Advocates, three votes.”
“For Radipon of the United Soapmaking Advocates, one vote.”
(https://i.imgur.com/JS8eu60.png)
Congratulations to Maximum Spin for his victory. He can begin is turn as soon as he is able.
A resident inherited a lordship from somewhere I have not heard of.
Would you mind posting some info about this noble?
Sure.
(http://adamo.network/tsen/dwarf/democracy/lord-sibrek-thoughts.png)
This is not really a place I would expect anyone in the fort to be familiar with unless they also came from there. Honestly, it's a mystery how we even found out about the succession. Perhaps it was so important to them that they sent a runner deep into enemy territory just to tell the guy who doesn't live there anymore that he's in charge.
After the short debate was finished, the nine dwarves deposited their ballots into the pot in the center of the room. Some did so quickly, clearly convinced by one side or the other; others did so only after long and hard consideration. With the nine slips of paper in the pot, Nephilim rose and emptied the contents onto one of the tables. Taking a cursory look through the ballots, he immediately withdrew two ballots and tossed them aside.
"Two abstentions," he said.
Quickly sorting the ballots into two categories depending on their candidate of choice, Nephilim had before him a stack of four and a stack of three. After checking once more that he had not miscounted, he addressed the rest of the dwarves.
"Winning with four votes: Eniteris of the United Soapmaking Advocates. In second: Quantum Drop of The Penitent Coalition.
(https://i.imgur.com/LMIqhWe.png)
"Eniteris is thus elected as the third overseer of Goldsilver. I must extend my congratulations to him for his victory, and I wish him the best in the coming year.
Personal Journal of Eniteris Coppermirrors
Granite 1, 253
After an evening of celebrations, I decide to take spend the time surveying the entire fortress, something that I have neglected to do until now, only hearing reports as they trickled in. I asked Maximum Spin if there was some sort of orientation packet that came with the position of Overseer, but he just shrugged and said "You're in charge now." So, I take my two feet and begin to do the rounds.
The Wall is grander in scope that I had initially anticipated; it sprawls nearly out of the mountains and into the plains beyond. A massive undertaking, yes, but also massively wasteful. No matter how much we wall in, we are only cowering in fear from those who attack from without. And it's also double walled. A waste.
(https://i.imgur.com/0M4CHQS.png)
Look at its grand majesty! Sure, it might be a waste of dwarfpower, but still. Beautiful.
Grand in scope, yes, but let me draw your attention over here for a moment.
(https://i.imgur.com/SqLKBJy.png)
I sketched this as quickly as I can. The smell is getting to me.
I don't understand everyone's reticence to strike the magma. From what I've heard of the caverns, it seems to be a fairly defensible position.
(https://i.imgur.com/OkfLFJz.png)
Compiled from multiple sources. Put up a few walls and nothing can get in.
But the other leaders' concerns about our military are well founded. Sure, Dan is doing a great job as militia commander, but I suspect its more of a sincure position rather than actually leading the militia. Instead, our military is clad in leather, and are marksdwarves have neither arms nor armor to speak of.
(https://i.imgur.com/WbzAePh.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/NT1MWrs.png)
As elected leader, it is my duty to whip this military into fighting shape.
Instead, we apparently have legions of monster hunters, all becoming more and more upset that they cannot prove their mettle in the caverns.
(https://i.imgur.com/dpFbtgf.png)
Additionally, a number of crime reports have been piling up, going unanswered.
(https://i.imgur.com/QItgfBv.png)
It's both a crime and a shame.
I appoint myself as Captain of the Guard and hand pick my Fortress Guard among the citizenry. Tulon, the militia captain of the Armories of Mortality, joins the guard as soon as she hears that I am recruiting, so I appoint a fisherdwarf to take over her old squad. We shall be clad in metal and ensure that justice is enforced.
(https://i.imgur.com/pt8oliO.png)
Any similarity of beliefs in the Guard is strictly coincidental.
The position of hammerer and dungeon master still need to be filled, but to prevent any appearance of impropriety I have made an open call for those to fill the positions. Any unilateral appointments at this point by myself may come across as suspicious, and that is something to be avoided. Perhaps Radipon would like to apply.
AN OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF HAMMERER AND DUNGEON MASTER
(https://i.imgur.com/UeF9Da8.png)
No experience necessary.
Submit applications to ENITERIS.
Speaking of Radipon, it turns out that an alliance between the Soap Makers and the Sparkly Unicorns was more than just political.
(https://i.imgur.com/FWHwB77.png)
Maybe it could worked out somehow.
While we're on the topic of the soapmakers, there's not a bar of soap in sight in this entire fortress! Not one! Thankfully, we appear to have enough lye and tallow for forty bars, with food to spare besides. Perhaps we can trade some of our food for some of the things that we need. I immediately order the construction of a Soapery, as I cannot stand to let this go by uncorrected.
(https://i.imgur.com/dKIdlbv.png)
Meager and insufficient, but it will have to do.
And for the final stop, I decide to take a stroll up to the pyramid I've heard so much about, under construction on the cliff overlooking Goldsilver. As I make my way up, I spot the lookout tower and the open-air guildhalls that have been accumulating so many complaints. I will have to dig them real accommodations within the mountains.
(https://i.imgur.com/XDCJsdG.png)
No handrails. There is no way I'm going up there myself, Rakust take me.
(https://i.imgur.com/pBPXXBk.png)
No wonder they grumble. They want a hall, not a field.
It's hard to miss the mining project being done on the cliff; you can see it from miles away. Why the former leaders decided to carve a human town out of a mountain I'm not sure, but it's almost complete, so it's not up to me to change their minds about it.
What is up to me, though, is this blatant display of favoritism that I spotted on my trek up the cliff. It appears that our former overseer, Maximum Spin, decided to use the hard dwarven labor of the citizenry to carve his own cliff-face apartment with fatcat! The nerve! The gall! And this is at a time where no other dwarf has a bed to call their own, let alone a bedroom! Clear embezzlement of fortress funds. I will have to take it up with the two of them privately to see what they have to say in their defense, before I condemn them publicly before everyone else.
(https://i.imgur.com/7Its4Zs.png)
Such a disgusting display. A Fat Cat and...a fatcat.
(https://i.imgur.com/iV10tDj.png)
As I make my way to the top of the cliff, I spot the unhappy slaves toiling away at the great project. It is great, yes, but the toll it takes on our workers is great as well. But do I have the authority to put a stop to this needless suffering? I do not know. But this would be a good place to construct a beacon of soap to cleanse the world of all that is unclean.
(https://i.imgur.com/IHs5JLz.png)
The former overseers treat them no better than slaves.
Wait a moment.
(https://i.imgur.com/M26fl4S.png)
DOLOMITE? THOSE MONSTERS! HOW COULD THEY WASTE SUCH A PRECIOUS RESOURCE!
(https://i.imgur.com/eGUBnsj.png)
Many blocks have already been made and stockpiled. Those can be used, but no more shall be created.
I must show them the value of flux, lest they continue to disbelieve. I must show them all. There is something I must do. We dig for magma.
(https://i.imgur.com/ymF7Sqq.png)
We breach the magma sea this season.
Soon, everything will be in place.
(https://i.imgur.com/9Rc7iIW.png)
Man, I shouldn't spend this much time on these posts. How does it look? Too many images? Too much editing? Not enough editing? Any suggestions for spoiler/nonspoiler images?
Would anyone mind if I used a tool for exiting text? It uses the same DF font, so it looks the exact same, just faster to edit/more ordered/more justified compared to images.
Granite 6, 253
Breaching the caverns was a great success! We have begun building a secure partition around the staircase, and our dwarves are retrieving valuable arms and armor and giving the bodies a proper burial. It pains me to take up the arms of the deceased, as it would be much better to cleanse them with magma first, but our military is in a sorry state, and we require every advantage we can get.
(https://i.imgur.com/RMjRJZc.png)
Nothing will come in or out without our knowledge.
Additionally, the old rumors were true! Tetrahedrite lines the walls of the caverns, which we can forge into preliminary arms and armor. The silver, too, can be used to make maces and warhammers, the best material for weapons of that kind. But first we must reach the magma.
This evening, I received word that our broker, Urist, had completed his great work, Lilarvesh, a giant vulture bone ring. I hadn't even noticed that she was missing, and when I stopped by to take a look at the work, the ring felt as if it had some sort of sinister aura. As if the hamster men in chrysoprase were moving somehow. Dancing, even.
(https://i.imgur.com/vUkvP4x.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/l3RDp3a.png)
Nevermind. It must be a trick of the light.
Granite 11, 253
Tragedy has struck! The troll in the caverns at first seemed docile, leaving our civilians alone, but Tulon, hothead that she is, decided to prove her worth by attacking the peaceful troll. I quickly enlisted the full might of the milita to back Tulon's foolish show, but it was too late; she was struck down. Foreststilled the troll was eventually struck down by Zaneg, the Trollslayer, but as we were taking the body away to be buried it appeared that Tulon was wielding a (cherry spear)!
(https://i.imgur.com/kHqtyBN.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/02bQPz6.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/9ILToEZ.png)
May Rakust take her.
Additionally, while all this ruckus was going on, Lucky decided to try to take on a giant olm by herself. Not her smartest idea, and we had to send the militia in to support her after dealing with the affair with the troll, and they managed to slay the beast, with Lucky escaping with only minor bruising. As our chief medical dwarf, it is imperative that she stays healthy, to treat the wounds of others.
(https://i.imgur.com/iFIAdWj.png)
Granite 17, 253
We have struck two more caverns on our way down, along with more tetrahedrite, and are in the process of building protecting walls. In morale news, we've had multiple tantrums with one serious injury; Shorast, a Woodcutter, is still resting in the hospital after being punched by one of our animal dissectors.
(https://i.imgur.com/4wbjJaQ.png)
He's getting better in the hospital/dormitory.
We've had trouble with one more troll, but the lord of our monster hunters was able to dispatch it quickly. Finally doing some real work around here.
(https://i.imgur.com/B5TsoMj.png)
Even silver would have saved Tulon. Alas.
(https://i.imgur.com/qiaJM2P.png)
I tell all the dwarves to drop everything, and retreat back to the stairs. We will abandon these caverns and lock the doors until our military is strong enough to deal with it.
I've spoken to both Maximum Spin and fatcat separately. fatcat pinned everything of M.S., and when I went to talk to M.S. he left in a huff. I have no recourse. He will be punished.
Granite 22, 253
Raw Adamantine! Praise the miners!
(https://i.imgur.com/UKsAYML.png)
Raw Adamantine! Praise the miners!
The first layer of the caverns has finally been evacuated; the last cleaners and a child who insisted on playing are finally back in, and the doors are now locked.
(https://i.imgur.com/6Vi3yOL.png)
For now.
Slate 1, 253
The second half of Granite was a mess.
On the bright side, we have discovered the great magma sea.
(https://i.imgur.com/wVX3sfz.png)
And more adamantine.
(https://i.imgur.com/r5V6WxJ.png)
Bet on red and won.
The reason why it took so long is another story.
Our soapery was finally constructed, and I immediately ordered the production of soap. But no sooner had those words left my lips, someone shouts.
(https://i.imgur.com/uSCME6h.png)
A dwarf was ranging outside the curtain wall, and was the one to shout out the cry. There was no hope to rescue her. I ordered the lever pulled to seal us in.
Except she comes running through the bridge, with the werelizard hot on her heels!
I panic for a moment, but she seemed to be running in the direction of our livestock. If she gets there in time, the werelizard could be distracted enough for her to make her escape
(https://i.imgur.com/i9L3tkr.png)
She is bitten!
(https://i.imgur.com/bgNbfw7.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/VzOFB1L.png)
Curse all friends of nature!
This cannot stand.
(https://i.imgur.com/VXu2v7M.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/h9w15F8.png)
The two bitten dwarves are quickly rushed to the hospital; although their wounds are slight, the chance of infection is high. We must keep them under tight observation until we are sure that they are infected, or not.
(https://i.imgur.com/pwVy8Lf.png)
Which also includes the woodcutter, who refused to leave his bed.
And we're out of drinks. Just when I needed one most.
PS: After thanking the mercenaries who killed the lizard personally, it turns out that the human lord is carrying an artifact copper shield.
(https://i.imgur.com/Cnxou1I.png)
A goblin name, by the sound of it.
(https://i.imgur.com/VfRVyCu.png)
Slate 10, 253
More migrants, none of them useful. Apparently we have enough miners that they've started unionizing, and are demanding a guildhall, so I tell them to go dig one out themselves. After all, that's what they're good for, right?
(https://i.imgur.com/K8sZy9P.png)
Slate 25, 253
We've completed the isolation chambers, and not a moment too soon! I could hear terrible lizard noises from within both chambers. We will not be opening those doors, not while I'm in charge.
(https://i.imgur.com/pxbwVVM.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Fp9RAKB.png)
May Rakust guide them.
Felsite 17, 253
The mayor has forgotten his demand of a tin bed in his dining room, which I always thought as absurd. If you put a bed in your dining room, it's no longer a dining room! And besides, who wants to sleep on a tin bed? And how do you expect us to get a tin bed?
Anyways, instead now he's demanding that we make anvils. Over my dead body. Any scrap of iron that we get is slated for steel, and any steel we have is going straight to the military. We have no bars for anvils. I will gladly beat up an innocent dwarf to prevent these metals from going to waste.
On the bright side, our magmaworks have been complete. It's just the barebones now, a smelter and a forge, but it is enough to start work. I request that all our spare tin and copper be smelted into workable bronze, and to start smelting our tetrahedrite ore. We will be armed and armored before the year is out.
(https://i.imgur.com/vYLsaPg.png)
Small for now, but we can expand it to meet our demand
(https://i.imgur.com/msPWboh.png)
The promise of a proper guildhall was enough to get them back to work.
In more tragic news, the body of Ast, a bone carver, was found yesterday by the river. Nobody knows why they passed, but their body is covered with a strange extract, frozen to the skin. Strange.
(https://i.imgur.com/oM1ScN3.png)
curiouser and curiouser
Felsite 26, 253
The lizard sounds returned today. They both appear to be alive and feisty, despite not being fed or watered for an entire month. But we cannot risk having them running lose in the fortress. I have nothing against the two of them, other than the fact that they turn into murderous crazed lizards once a month.
But the Farmers have finally stopped their bickering and decided to form the Sepia Hall. Thankfully, a previous overseer had already built their guildhall, so I merely had to spruce it up a bit in order to meet their standards.
But the first of Maximum Spin's personal punishments has been completed. It's time for the second one, and with the magma forges complete, it will only be a matter of time.
Personal Journal of Eniteris Coppermirrors
Hematite 14, 253
The humans have arrived, with things to trade. Our population currently stands at 133, and constantly running low on alcohol, because someone decided to build the stills on the far end of the fortress, away from our food stockpiles. I order the dwarves to bring all the trade goods we have, along with all the garbage littering the countryside.
(https://i.imgur.com/kOyUEKo.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/GPChKCY.png)
They're at the river because there's nothing to drink.
We've also finally taken action against the corpse pile and the elven treachery. We have forged our first bronze spears. Dwarves will never more fall due to substandard weaponry.
(https://i.imgur.com/aeZEBvD.png)
May the magma cleanse you of your sins.
Malachite 3, 253
More migrants! and along with them, the plague of kea-people have returned. The lack of roofs in our carved human town makes work difficult as dwarves carrying goods to the depot are constantly interrupted by their airborne screams of terror.
(https://i.imgur.com/QdcCE39.png)
The horror
Luckily, with the migrant wave came a legendary weaponsmith. We will make wonders!
(https://i.imgur.com/8gdSQqL.png)
Could have use his skill before we made those bronze spears.
Malachite 22, 253
I've gotten absolutely fed up with the kea-people interrupting our work. I order the production of bone crossbows to outfit our ranged militia, and one of our legendary boywers kindly obliges.
(https://i.imgur.com/Vx1d678.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/CJMLKUz.png)
We will not miss you. Next time.
But the morale situation has not improved. Many dwarves felt vengeful watching the kea people fly up above, and now even the mayor is throwing a tantrum, throwing punches at poor M.S., who only came to the office for a simple meeting.
(https://i.imgur.com/5bInEOt.png)
The punishment beatings are reserved for later.
You can always annul the results of the most recent mayoral election by executive overseer order and appoint loyal servant of the people Nephilim as acting-mayor of Goldsilver. :D
Thoughts plague me. I could solve the mayor's mandate and tantrums easily (especially since we now have magma). Oh Armok, is this what being drunk with power feels like?
Galena 15, 253
We've had a birth in the fortress, Cerol gave birth to a healthy baby girl. The morale has not yet improved. At least one Woodcutter has lost her mind entirely, running around the fortress speaking in tongues, and another planter has withdrawn, refusing all work. At least these are the quiet ones.
(https://i.imgur.com/p5a3hql.png)
But the commission is complete, and one evening, I announce the official opening of our justice system by unveiling a new statue in the dining room.
(https://i.imgur.com/IIC67pT.png)
Maximum Spin was charged with disorderly conduct, and sentenced to 29 days in the Tower.
And then I filed charges on the backlog of disorderly conduct and vandalism that had occurred in the past six months, so at least he wasn't alone.
(https://i.imgur.com/gKRt2rJ.png)
To the tower with them!
(https://i.imgur.com/e25AYQL.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ILNzbcu.png)
I designate the tower a hospital, so that the criminals can get proper medical treatment for their beatings. I'm not a monster. But justice must be done.
Personal Journal of Eniteris Coppermirrors
Limestone 8, 253
Kogask, one of the farmers, has claimed the mason's workshop and is running around the fortress collecting various items. I will keep out of their way.
(https://i.imgur.com/cVxag08.png)
Limestone 13, 253
The caravans from the mountainhomes have been spotted on the horizon, and I realize that there were no applications for the noble positions. Absolutely none. And we cannot face the mountainhomes with empty noble positions. I designate one of the hammerdwarves of the guard as the hammerer, and the first dwarf I see as dungeon master, who seems to be leaving pools of blood all over the place. This is perfectly fine.
(https://i.imgur.com/QVKxHmS.png)
This is fine.
(https://i.imgur.com/WbfiokY.png)
Bleeding is part of the dungeon masters' job description, trust me.
(https://i.imgur.com/MZzExip.png)
We want their bars, their gems, their drinks, their armor, their books, their bolts, their lye, and their cloth. Things that aren't being produced fast enough here.
Limestone 24, 253
Maximum Spin has served his sentence, so I bring him to my office.
(https://i.imgur.com/4eL3Y2O.png)
Guilt was written all across his face, but he refused.
The farmer finally finished their artifact; a slate floodgate, but I didn't have time to look it over before the reports came in.
(https://i.imgur.com/5ArPjM8.png)
Won't someone rid me of these troublesome pests?
Oh, and that depressed planter? Died of dehydration. Nothing we could do. But our crypts are filling up, so I order an expansion.
Sandstone 8, 253
We've slowly been whittling down the vulture populations, but apparently our dwarves have discovered a cyclops corpse just outside the gates. Strange.
(https://i.imgur.com/zDf4lXi.png)
It's huge!
(https://i.imgur.com/GquSNHk.png)
Praise Rakust.
A criminal has given birth to a baby in jail. I name him Megamind. Hopefully he'll contribute more to society than his mother.
And now someone killed a dog. Great. Throw them in the tower.
Migrants? WHY! Just more mouths to feed. Let them haul things to the depot and get distracted by vultures, I don't care, nothing matters, we're all going to die.
Sandstone 23, 253
(https://i.imgur.com/GZesA0k.png)
This is fine. That beating was nice. Exhilarating. Justice. I am fine. Everything is alright. Everything is under control. Nothing terrible has happened. Everything is okay. Everything is good. This is great. Everything is great. Alright.
So a criminal died after a severe beating, and the mayor's mandate was unfulfilled and someone was beaten, but those two are completely unrelated incidents, and symptoms of a functioning justice system. The fact that the mayor is now banning the export of rings after we may have traded them to the mountainhome is another concern entirely, but we'll cross that aquifer when we get to it.
And I've gotten the Artifacts of Paper to chase after the last freaking vulture.
(https://i.imgur.com/qvXs1Ae.png)
But it's good training, so I keep them at it.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ylq6L1K.png)
Just some historic events and the shield I use. That's not even a good rendition.
(https://i.imgur.com/k7P8bsj.png)
Adhesives, Star Charts, and Economics. I order them to be bound. Books should be bound, not left to rot in puddles of wine.
Timber 13, 253
A fisherdwarf knocked out our legendary weaponsmith. Luckily, the weaponsmith had no lasting injuries.
(https://i.imgur.com/gST9uKR.png)
Serves them right. Do not touch the important members of this fortress.
And apparently we got the missives that someone decided to found a settlement to our east.
(https://i.imgur.com/86zoMfs.png)
The name is highly suspicious. Do we send our infected there? Are they planning to infiltrate us with infected? I cannot tell, but this puts me at unease.
Also, it has come to my attention that the main lever to the drawbridge has been broken for quite a while. I trust the Guard to deal with any threat we might face, but I should, at the very least, let others know should they wish to fix this issue.
Timber 25, 253
Long after the caravan leaves, the outpost liason enters my office for a meeting. The mayor is...indisposed, so I speak in his stead.
(https://i.imgur.com/3BaCH0b.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/GalVpFK.png)
After all, there is only one who managed to turn around this entire fortress, who managed to reclaim the caverns, arm the military, construct the temples and guildhalls, libraries and hospitals, establish dwarven justice and punish those who would put their own position above that of the fortress, all in one year. There is only one dwarf worthy of nobility. And I will take that claim.
The trade deals run smoothly. We ask for bars of iron and tin (we are drowning in copper), as well as raw iron ore. And drinks. I will have to build a still in the middle of one of our food stockpiles.
(https://i.imgur.com/bWX0lOv.png)
Whatever, you get what you get. Trade goods are like hurricanes, you never know when or where they might strike.
(https://i.imgur.com/8P45U4R.png)
I hope they come back next year. With my nobility certificate
(https://i.imgur.com/tKrbqFS.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/z7CoMei.png)
Takes one look around and decides to go to sleep. I think the mayor is still in jail, not quite sure. He tends to spend most of his time there now.
But at this point, the Ownership of Avalanches is fully armed and armored in metal. We can move on cladding the Armories of Mortality in metal. And with the bars and ores we got from the mountainhomes, we can begin working on steel.
Personal Journal of Eniteris Coppermirrors
Moonstone 10, 253
(https://i.imgur.com/YbNzMAu.png)
I knew the elves were up to no good
I am praying the Shrine of Graves when I hear the call. I put my hand on the empty pedestal, and ask Rakust to bless us for the battle ahead.
(https://i.imgur.com/4xP7zf3.png)
I shall prevail.
I order our military to array out in front of the trade depot, and it is a a sight that Goldsilver will remember to the end of its days. The Ownership of Avalanches, clad in bronze and freshly-forged copper, glinting in the sunlight. The Artifacts of Paper follow behind, with their masterfully-crafted bone crossbows, ready to rain bolts upon the invaders. And the Armories of Mortality brings up the rear, ready to take care of any fallen foes.
A scouting bobcat comes through the walls, chasing one of our hunters on the way back in. The bobcat is immediately torn to shreds by our military. The elves beyond the wall stop their advance, and beyond the open bridge I can see the fear in their eyes.
We do not hide behind bridges. No more. We will meet you in face-to-face combat. And we will come to you.
The elves break and flee.
The dwarves of Goldsilver whoop and cheer, but I worry. The elves will be back, I am sure of it. But I may not be in charge during the next attack, and I've been hearing rumors of insurrection being whispered in the night, some who would prefer that we have no justice, no order. And although the citizens prefer to have a functioning justice system, those with power would prefer their friends to go unpunished. And I may not be here when the elves stage their next attack.
(https://i.imgur.com/XzGGTmo.png)
I can do no wrong.
Moonstone 26, 253
(https://i.imgur.com/f3nYiNE.png)
The came from our incinerator, but we drove them back easily.
The new hospital has been fully constructed, but the new traction bench came too late for one of injured dwarves.
(https://i.imgur.com/9atjt1h.png)
Why this was not set up sooner is a mystery to me.
(https://i.imgur.com/V7ZhiAg.png)
Our library is also beginning to attract visitors, and I accepted a petition to study here. And my work to elevate this realm continues to succeed; Ragdabble has been founded to the east. That's two hillocks that depend on my governance for their survival.
And a farmer has claimed a Craftsdwarf workshop for their own. I hope the fruits of their labor is particularly useful.
Opal 13, 253
I write this entry from the hospital, after being assaulted by one of the insurrectionists. They will be punished, of course, but for the time being I must rest.
(https://i.imgur.com/9Ewg6Wd.png)
After which I will rise.
On the way to the hospital, I was also attacked by one of the pet cats.
(https://i.imgur.com/NaGfQ3l.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Mk0SH3g.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/V1y3VQ5.png)
I had to defend myself
The farmer has completed their artifact; a giant mole bone floodgate.
(https://i.imgur.com/CI7vsPv.png)
I place it on the pedestal in the Shrine of Graves, as a thanks for the blessing of Rakust.
Another hillocks has been founded to the east, Minecloistered. Our cleanliness is spreading throughout the world!
And the mayor has decided that at good pastime would be punching cats. Back off to prison for you.
Opal 28, 253
(https://i.imgur.com/gPWPege.png)
I will need a crutch for the time being, but Lucky says that it will heal.
(https://i.imgur.com/7HzkBmJ.png)
But I have found their leader. A known criminal, a fisherdwarf who had took issue with the beating I administered last month.
(https://i.imgur.com/vz6CWhF.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/hLOOiWP.png)
We shall have no more problems from insurrectionists now.
Obsidian 24, 253
Another child has been born in this fortress at the beginning of the month, son of the broker, and Plungeposts has also been founded to the east.
But it is with a heavy heart that I must announce that our dear founder, Nephilim, was caught rabble-rousing. As much as I wish to turn a blind eye, as I did to his outburst back in autumn, there are too many witnesses, and an injured party.
(https://i.imgur.com/fCEzK85.png)
But it is only right that I administer the beating.
(https://i.imgur.com/MI6NLXt.png)
This is a punishment that can be administered by no one else. I must be justice.
Nephilim was in the library, reading, unaware of the punishment that was awaiting him. But the other patrons of the library feel the change in the air, and quickly file out.
(https://i.imgur.com/0kLUX6G.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/c9mr05F.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/dqbZfbv.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/DFiaw1x.png)
Only through this can we have justice.
Obsidian 28, 253
The end of the year has come, and with it comes election bells. My reign has been a successful one, with my crowning achievement being establishing a military worthy of the name Goldsilver. I've established a well for clean water, soap for cleanliness, and a hospital to care for our injured dwarves. I've expanded the crypts to ensure that all dwarves, regardless of criminal status, can be laid to rest. I've given the guilds their own guildhalls, as opposed to being forced to hold meetings in the rain. I've created temples and a library, making Goldsilver both an economic center and a seat of learning. Four hillocks now depend on Goldsilver for their survival.
I've cleaned the surface so that we no longer must endure the sight of decaying corpses, and no longer need to trip over fallen bolts and clothing. I've established safe passage to the caverns, to allow our monster slayers to practice their craft. I've begun the safe extraction and processing of the legendary metal, and have established our metalworking industry, currently in the process of reclaiming bolts for steel, to protect our great city.
I've cared for our nobles, carving out offices and dining rooms for each of them. I've expanded the number of beds for the citizenry, but I wish I had done more. And I have established justice, to ensure that anarchists and insurrectionists cannot run rampant amongst our law-abiding citizens. And I have exposed the corruption and punished the one Maximum Spin for abuse of office.
I have done much for Goldsilver. I have given it my all.
I just hope the others see it the same way.
But my years is over, and with a heavy heart I must step down. To do otherwise would be unthinkable. I hope our next leader will continue to keep Goldsilver safe.
May Rakust protect us.
[SAVE: GOLDSILVER 254] (https://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=15253)
OOC Break!
*cue end card music*
Where are they now:
(https://i.imgur.com/GHzqzgd.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1Mo85yY.png)
Maximum Spin has been under a great deal of stress over the long term, after being charged with embezzling funds, but still actively at work. Despite sharing a great bedroom with fatcat, he still feels lonely.
(https://i.imgur.com/7YkAjmM.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/lthrs5M.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vzLnB9y.png)
Dan is doing great. Although she gets frustrated by some things, there is enough work to keep her happy. This was a good year for insurance sales in Goldsliver.
(https://i.imgur.com/mvYeH6V.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YZhOcZq.png)
Quantum Drop is doing great. She's complains about minor things, but she knows that, in the grand scale, she has it pretty good. Still wishes for a bedroom though.
(https://i.imgur.com/qJVVwQ0.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/f28tWP1.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/kj6qALc.png)
fatcat is doing well, but she still feels separated from her family. Her relationship with Maximum Spin does not seem to be going well.
(https://i.imgur.com/iWAnlXF.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vKNqi8t.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/f8r2QPt.png)
Lucky is still hard at work in the hospital. She's under some stress, caring for her patients, but she finds meaning in her work, and praying to her gods.
(https://i.imgur.com/PfBimuv.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/3VGRotN.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Vw6eljK.png)
Radipon has been stressed recently, but work is satisfying, and, as the leader of the Sepia Hall, feels proud of her union.
(https://i.imgur.com/BzOQBsv.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/dUd8F9n.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/pSk2gs1.png)
Nephilim is currently resting his recent injuries in the hospital, being actively tended to by Lucky. He is ashamed that his cover was almost blown by a hotheaded fistfight, and vows to be more careful in the future.
(https://i.imgur.com/k1JpWLj.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/6HuO58S.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/kz2lS0w.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/FIgxLiO.png)
The Mayor feels guilty about the crimes he commits, but somehow never stops him from ending up in jail, where he still holds his meetings. Luckily, he is incredibly quick to heal, with only some lasting damage to his spine, meaning he can recover to perfect shape before the next beating. This doesn't stop his murders, though. He still has 142 days remaining in his sentence.
(https://i.imgur.com/uB1wg2t.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/JHY4Uae.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/sV56aHU.png)
Eniteris is tired, haggard and worn, but feels like he still needs to work more. He cannot sleep. As Captain of the Guard, some criminals have been killed under his beatings, and he lost his only friend after being blessed by Rakust. He still gives his all to Goldsilver.
(https://i.imgur.com/IEZRgUW.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/D9oe4oK.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/OBdBf1u.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/HP8u8Y0.png)
Oh! And I almost forgot
(https://i.imgur.com/LvJxitb.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/p1bWtlS.png)
They are still locked in the closet, and a little bit stressed about their situation. Maybe we should let them out to vote?
Other notes: Eniteris has not yet drunk the blood of another dwarf. I'm not sure why, maybe because he's still active military. Many mythologies say the final transformation only occurs after the first blood meal. Is he a vampire yet? Who knows?
"I intend to stand for election as the candidate for the Stukist Party. If elected I will immediately try Eniteris for treason, high crimes, and misdemeanors."
Eniteris stands, eyes wide with shock and hurt, but they quickly narrow.
"And on what will those charges be based upon? Or is this just because you regret your little tussle, and wish to be above the law, criminal? I process every case that comes across my desk, independent of who is being charged. Justice is blind, and no one is above the law.
I will submit myself to a tribunal if that is what you wish, but be warned about bending justice to your...political aims. And be wary about the seriousness of your accusations. After all, I was not the one who somehow managed to have an entire political party killed off during their reign."
[ETHIC:TREASON:PUNISH_CAPITAL]
[ETHIC:OATH_BREAKING:PUNISH_CAPITAL]
[ETHIC:THEFT:PUNISH_SERIOUS]
"Fatcat. Nephilim. Abstention. Fatcat. Abstention. Nephilim. Abstention."
Seven out of the eight votes cast had been read out. After setting the seventh vote on the table in the center where all the votes could be scrutinized by any dwarf who wished to do so, she reached her hand into the pot to withdraw the last vote which would break the tie one way or the other. Everyone in the room watched as Dan folded the ballot and ran her eyes across it. Without announcing the contents of the final vote, she placed in on the table, cleared her throat, and began to speak once again.
"The final vote is three for Fatcat and two for Nephilim; three abstaining. Fatcat is the winner."
(https://i.imgur.com/tO5inBp.png)
Note: The "other" vote was unassigned to any dwarf and was counted as an abstention. The proper percentages are 60% of the vote for Fatcat and 40% of the vote for Nephilim.
As an aside, I want to remind anyone who may happen to be lurking or who stumbles upon this thread that you can always request to be dorfed even if you do not want to actually run in any election and have a turn as overseer. I send ballots to everyone who has a living named dwarf in the game, and the more votes there are the more fun the game is.
Fatcat stands and bows.
"It is my honor to serve as overseer this year. I hope I can improve the conditions here somewhat, and fulfill the trust that a few of you placed in me. Now, I think it would be best to leave this election behind. It will not go down as the proudest moment in the history of Goldsilver. Nephilim, it was an honor to campaign against you. I hope there is never a reason for another election as acrimonious as this one. Now, I would request that you return to the hospital, so you can recover quickly, and return to normal life."
She again bows to the assembly, and motions to Max Spin to help lay down designs for living quarters.
EDIT: First update.
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldslver
Slate 1st, 254
Today marks one month since I was elected to my second term as overseer. I am beginning to see why normally level-headed dwarves like Maximum Spin are complaining of the stresses of daily life. Almost my first action as overseer was to hear complaints against one of the frustrated citizens.
(https://i.imgur.com/UAic3AY.png)
The mayor, currently imprisoned at the top of the tower, is close to snapping, and sunk into a deep depression shortly after my election. Eniteris followed him soon after. (https://i.imgur.com/mjDvPQv.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/jRKysrr.png)
I also have had the miners working on a large new excavation project in the artificial cliff. It is a new housing complex. I have designed... 28 rooms so far. Only a drop in the bucket compared to our population, but there is a lot of space still to be built up. Eniteris had actually begun a decent series of rooms underneath the library, but they cannot be sealed from the rest of the fortress, and have no direct access to food supplies. Hopefully this new construction will be secure and comfortable, in case the curtain wall ever fails us.
A few days ago, Lucky interrogated Eniteris about one of the cold disorderly conduct cases, and he admitted to being the perpetrator.(https://i.imgur.com/9otvXZ8.png)
Edit: Next update. Apologies for the slow pace.
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Felsite 20th, 254
Soon after the last time I wrote here, something encouraging happened.
(https://i.imgur.com/bKpwWUL.png)
The new arrivals were a motley bunch, as have been most arrivals here, but at least they were fresh, and ready for the struggle of turning Goldsilver into a monument to dwarven civilization. Other dwarves are flocking to the area, and with the recent promotion of our fortress to a barony, the new arrivals are directly integrating into the new province. (https://i.imgur.com/9el0vWd.png)
Around home, the first cells of the new prison are completed, and furnished, except for food supplies. Eniteris was the last dwarf imprisoned on the watchtower, and shortly after his release, Dumed, the only long term prisoner, was moved to one of the new cells. A speardwarf in the militia, and two farmers soon joined him in detainment, after throwing fits, and punching several people. One of the victims later died from his injuries. Due to his mentally unstable state, I removed Dumed from his office for a term to allow him time to spend praying and resting, and delegated his duties to a bowyer currently employed in the breweries. Not everyone is struggling mentally, however. Eniteris was badly haggard after his year as overseer, but during his month in prison, he recovered much of his calm.
(https://i.imgur.com/wYMmh7V.png)
He still struggles with stress, but is much improved. He may soon be fit to return to military duties.
The new dormitories are progressing, with all of the origonal plans, and some newer ones being fully excavated, and a large crew of masons smoothing the walls. The first rooms were furnished and claimed by those in need of rest about a week ago. Gates have also been constructed at all entrances to the new living quarters, and linked to a central lever by the main (currently empty) supplies room.
The latest news, which prompted me to sit down and write, is that Lucky's youngest child seems to have been struck by some maddening mood.
(https://i.imgur.com/xa1Y6Bm.png)
Clover appears want stone blocks and bones. Neither is particularly difficult to acquire here, particularly since I ordered a few of the dogs I didn't train for war butchered to bolster our sparse meat supplies. I hope the child can make the mother proud.
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Malachite 15th, 254
Nearly three months have passed since I last sat down and wrote here. Clover has finished a dog bone pick.
(https://i.imgur.com/pA7NL5q.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/7NHTfV5.png)
Otherwise, the main news of note is that the human traders arrived last month. It was a truly massive caravan.
(https://i.imgur.com/ROWmSvN.png)
Criminals continue to be prosecuted, and the prison is nearly full. Lucky keeps petitioning me to order several new cells constructed. There are currently two new cells being added on, with plans for several more in the near future. One of the convicts also recently gave a birth to a new baby.
(https://i.imgur.com/XzdxTpA.png)
Hopefully she can have a better record than her mother.
Nephilim also probably would not have made a good overseer this year. This morning, I received a report that he had cracked under his stress, and had punched a worker in the arm several times.
(https://i.imgur.com/Evuvo8d.png)
I was prompted to write this time by a miner telling me that everything in the planned main dormitory level has been fully excavated.
(https://i.imgur.com/wmsFA4L.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/PMAu2r1.png)
Also, I only remember Zalthor dying. He wasn't active for a while. I'll see if he wants a new dwarf, though.
Edit: Update
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Limestone 1st, 254
Today marks half way through the year. Already great strides have been made in improving the living conditions. New bedrooms continue to be constructed every few days, and there is a small stock of food and drink in the central hall of the new living space. The prison continues to expand, as well.
(https://i.imgur.com/8Jl4RCX.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/gk4GQis.png)
A few weeks ago, Domas, a surgeon completely went crazy and started screaming and thrashing around her cell.
(https://i.imgur.com/R7vE9Gb.png)
I ordered her cell locked, to keep her from harming anyone else, but I have my doubts that she will ever regain her senses.
The military also continues to train steadily, although none of them are particularly skilled yet. Lucky reported that she had missed part of a sparring session from sinking into depression.(https://i.imgur.com/RLTSJbB.png)
Limestone 11th, 254
The last two weeks have brought nothing but chaos and trouble. On the 2nd, someone shouted that they saw something coming.
(https://i.imgur.com/QTsdexY.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/4lE8X7X.png)
These brave civilians quickly died, being surrounded one by one by a swarm of beak dogs and trolls.
(https://i.imgur.com/VcffXDa.png)
Seeing this happening, Dan commented that she would be bankrupt if this continued, and also rushed up the cliff, to drive away the beasts attacking her clients. The militia later found her dead next to another dwarf with a broken back. She was surrounded by a massive pool of blood, and the corpse of a beak dog, which was completely shredded by vicious blows of a pick. The soldiers also encountered a number of other beak dogs which were maimed by similar wounds.
My orders to the military were to station themselves just outside of the pyramid, to keep any more attackers from climbing into the fortress. Meanwhile, the unfortunate trolls that had gotten in were punched to a bloody pulp by passing citizens. At one point, I watched one of the farmers knock a troll's teeth flying up into the air.
(https://i.imgur.com/WMoF40B.png)
To add to my worries, the soldiers reported a body of dwarves approaching, which turned out to be the caravan. The wagons turned back, with the main gate closed, but the pack animals proceeded toward the pyramid. Fearing that they would be caught and cut to pieces, I ordered the military to cover the approach.
To my surprise, the appearance of the traders disconcerted the goblins even more than it did me, and the retreated rapidly, even before the soldiers could reach them. We remain cautious, but it appears that the siege may be broken. Not it falls to us to honor our dead, and build new defenses to make up for the deficiencies that were brought to light. I must now go and prepare an expansion to the burial vault. There are only two coffins left open, and we will have several more of our friends to lay to rest.
OOC:
To vaporo and eniteris, let me know what your requests for new dwarves are. Both of your dwarves died trying to be heroes. I haven't counted our losses, but the attacking army lost 23 goblins and beasts. I feel that that was a pretty resounding defeat, despite everything.
Here is your dwarf, noagga. He is an adept cook.
(https://i.imgur.com/GvtmoY7.png)
RIP Eniteris and Dan. What happened to our military that was so expertly trained?
I would like to be dwarfed as the most useless dwarf possible, Eniteris II. If possible, assign me as a scholar in the library.
First of all, here is Eniteris II:
(https://i.imgur.com/gLi6pL6.png)
Second, the military was waiting for the goblins like the well trained soldiers they are at a station on top of the mountain. I was trying to fight the goblins entirely on my own terms, but the ambitious civilians like Eniteris were impatient to attack. From my (limited) experience, rushing out at invaders is a generally bad idea. Instead, my plan was to have the militia wait near the pyramid for the goblins to come to them, kill as many as possible, and then retreat inside to regroup if things turned sour. The problems were simply because I didn't count on dwarves not in the military being that individually aggressive. One of my side projects was to attempt to seal some ways dwarves could get out, so this wouldn't happen again.
Third, here is the save:
https://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=15297 (https://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=15297)
Fourth, the story update:
Journal of Fatcat, overseer of Goldsilver
Granite 1st, 245
I have not had time to write here in nearly half a year. Now it is the end of my tenure. Today, I will turn my authority over to whoever wins the election. The last five and a half months have been a constant struggle to move Goldsilver forward rather than back. Our home is a mess, but I hope I can say that I left it in a more livable state than it was at the start of the year.
The first order of business after the goblins left in Limestone was to satisfy the traders that came despite the invaders. They gave us a few bars of metal, barrels of drink, and other minor items in exchange for a barrel of food. They also had some requests for what we trade them next year. I took down a list of what they requested and offered to pay.(https://i.imgur.com/1xYTbei.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ElqwXRa.png)
I was curious about why the traders would pay so much for simple food, so I went over to one of the kitchens, to see what was being made. When I poked my head in, a cook was just taking something off of a fire. Whatever it was smelled amazing, and, curious about it, I asked if I could come in. The cook, apparently happy to have a spectator, motioned me to take a taste.(https://i.imgur.com/i1d8JvM.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vFqhuTb.png)
One of the medical team withdrew from society right at the end of the siege, and once there was some beak dog bone to work with, started work on his masterpiece. What he produced was a wonderful crown.(https://i.imgur.com/YP6b3jk.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/2e46FbO.png)
We received one strange report in the middle of fall.(https://i.imgur.com/aVM7z8h.png)
There have been multiple cases of crimes in recent months. The criminals have mainly been Dumed the mayor, Mistim, a legendary bone carver, and Zan, a farmer. None of them have had all of the cases against them prosecuted, but all of them have served jail time and received beatings over the last several months. Zan has been the most consistently troublesome. She is the dwarf that gave birth to a baby in prison early this year, and I hope she doesn't go completely crazy before the child can care for herself. Zan is most regularly charged with randomly punching people as they walk by.
Misitm has a massive criminal record reaching back almost as far as records go. Many of the cases have not been prosecuted, because he has been regularly producing masterwork carvings and other crafts. Recently, though, he landed in prison, after punching a minor offender to death, as well as attacking several other dwarves. Even he admitted to being horrified by his actions. (https://i.imgur.com/6W0MswX.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/2MnfPMv.png)
Nephilim and Lucky have both been regularly depressed. Neither of them has deteriorated any, mentally, but they haven't improved, either. Nephilim told me he wanted to learn to fight better, so I gave him the position of Captain of the Guard. Since then, he has been practicing with the militia, when he can drag himself out of his depression. He has been armed with the first adamantine sword, and cuts an impressive figure. The adamantine deposit has been explored slightly further, and I have requested several more swords made for the military.
Most of the population has been working on some construction projects. The first was to line the lower end of the curtain wall with fortifications.(https://i.imgur.com/DUpuhNa.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Bd6SPRE.png)
The ranger guildhall:
(https://i.imgur.com/J4EOqc8.png)
The craftsdwarf guildhall:
(https://i.imgur.com/URk2Cyl.png)
The metalsmith's guildhall:
(https://i.imgur.com/Hot0QzO.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/M0D8cxF.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/uILB8Ea.png)
Sorry about the wall of text. That is what comes of not writing anything for half the year.
Journal of Fatcat, Mason
Slate 18th, 255
Nephilim replaced Dumed as mayor a few days ago. In itself, I have no problem with that. I removed him from office several times during my term, when he was in prison for one reason or another. I do, however, have a problem with Nephilim's choice for a replacement. He chose Imic, another member of his party, and a miner, to serve as mayor. There are multiple problems with that. First of all, Imic has never received a single vote in mayoral elections before, and in no way represents the inhabitants of Goldsilver. When I replaced Dumed, it was always with the dwarf who came in second in the elections. Second, Imic has next to no skill at handling his new duties as mayor. He will not be very helpful to the citizens who come to present their problems to him. Last of all, he is a miner, and as mayor, will be unable to serve the fortress in his normal profession. He will be constantly interrupted by one problem or another needing his attention. Miners are one of the most vital portions of the workforce here in Goldsilver, and his reassignment will cause a noticeable drop in our overall productivity.
It has also come to my ears that everything that has gone wrong in the fortress, or displeases Nephilim, is being blamed specifically on me and my administration. While it may be true that I left a few loose ends that I should have cleaned up, my overseership has always seen more problems solved than created. Perhaps I should write a list of things I have done for the fortress, and request Nephilim to respond to it with what I have missed that have caused trouble, and with what he has done to actually improve this place.
A few days later, a poster is placed in the library:
Due to certain slanderous statements by the current administration that have reached my ears, casting my terms as overseer as the source of the fortress's troubles and faults, I will now endeavor to clear my name and reputation. I request that any reader who finds any inaccuracy in my statements bring their concerns to me, and I will attempt to correct myself. I also would ask our overseer, Nephilim, to supply an accurate list of his accomplishments during his times of leadership, and any actions of mine that have caused specific problems for our fortress. Signed, Fatcat
First term:
The trade depot wall:
Nephilim was unable to complete the wall around the trade depot in the first year of Goldsilver, leaving that task up to me. The trade depot was safely sealed from the outside world by the end of the year.
The first Guildhall:
Goldsilver's first guild was established during my first term. They requested a Guildhall, and were provided with one before the allotted time was up.
The Curtain Wall:
Wishing to provide a large outdoor area for future constructions that would be secure from invasions, I began construction of the great Curtain Wall. Due to a shortage of workers free to devote to that project, it was only partially completed by the end of the year, but was continued by Maximum Spin, my successor.
Mountainside removal:
The most maligned of my projects, the mountainside removal was originally proposed by Maximum Spin to provide work for the miners he represents. For me, it was a ready source of building materials which were in short supply due to the curtain wall. It itself is not the massive security risk that it's opponents claim, and only is a problem due to incomplete sections of the Curtain Wall.
Second Term:
The new prison:
At the beginning of my second term, the prison was at the top of the watchtower built into the Curtain Wall. I quickly decommissioned this hellish place of confinement, and began replacing it with proper personal cells for offenders. While I did not provide the full size of prison that was requested by the Captain of the Guard, there was still room to add several more cells to the building. These cells were well furnished, and an attempt was made to provide food and drink supplies for their inhabitants.
New Guildhalls:
I quickly discovered that there had been several petitions for guildhalls during my predecessor's terms that had been largely ignored. I received requests for several guildhalls during my term, and accepted all but the woodworker's petition. I was able to complete all but one of the requested halls, and prepare a space for the last one.
New housing:
Housing was a problem surprisingly untouched by my predecessors. The only housing was the dormitory built by Nephilim in the first year of Goldsilver, and a couple new bedrooms near the library that Eniteris I built near the end of his term. I set out to correct this, and, by the end of my year in office, had created enough rooms for a large part of our populous.
Sealing incomplete parts of the Curtain Wall:
The Goblin siege during my term revealed several places the Curtain Wall had not been properly completed. I had several of these places sealed, although a few, such as the place the Goblins got in this year, required much longer than the remainder of my term to finish.
The outer gate:
The arrival of Goblins also presented the problem of the outer gate. Eniteris I had removed the lever for the gate in a fit of remodeling, leaving the fortress open to any invader, even without the gaps in the wall. I was able to have the gate closed just as the goblins reached it.
Drink supplies:
At the start of my term, there was roughly 100 drinks in stock in the food supply room. By the end of my term, there were roughly a thousand. We are no longer in dire danger of running out of alcohol.
(https://i.imgur.com/ArO0JLu.png)
“A prosperous reign to Quantum Drop, the next overseer of Goldsilver!” announced Nephilim.
8th Granite, 256
(https://i.imgur.com/Pfjol9A.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/FsIVqiG.png)
A mere week and a day into the year, and already we have seen several deaths. Two of them were suicides – both of them had gone mad in the past, refusing any effort to make them eat or drink until the effects of such negligence caught up to them. Senseless though this waste of their gift of life may be, they will be buried, nonetheless.
More concerning are the reports of a murder in broad daylight: no warning, no sentence, simply a dwarf beating another into the ground until his head broke from a shield-blow. All throughout the fortress, there are similar signs of potential anarchy; violent tantrums, depressed citizens sulking in the shadows, and deranged dwarves stumbling about without care throughout the halls.
(https://i.imgur.com/DvjUkkA.png)
Even Nephilim, dear Nephilim, has been lashing out in frustration as of late – perhaps moreso than I feared. According to our sole true surgeon, one of the Axedwarves that died in the lower hospital today claimed with his last breath that Nephilim, of all dwarves, was the one that wounded him to this point.
(https://i.imgur.com/xPT8EM7.png)
It still nags at the back of my mind. No matter how much I tell myself that he misidentified his attacker, or that he was addled by the injuries to his spine, that damned suspicion will not go away, even as anarchy continues to spread: Fath Tobularban was recently murdered by one of those damned Human swordsmen, and some of the more unstable soldiers have begun to turn on one another in half-random bouts of madness.
At this rate, I fear that harsher measures must be enacted to curb this violence; Armok’s thirst must be slaked, but I refuse to let dwarven blood be that which does so. That Dumed’s blood-mad ways have cost us enough already.
For now, I have ordered that the corpse-pile in the main courtyard is to be disposed of – or, at the very least, removed to a place where it will not further affect the more unstable citizens – and have personally begun to prepare the necessary actions to exorcise a particularly troublesome spectre; it is high time that his soul goes to Him, and that he stops his constant haunting of the living.
12th Granite
Having spent the past few days speaking with the various personages of the fort, I have found a significant issue that requires immediate correction: several deities widely worshipped in Goldsilver lack even a single shrine to their name!
I doubt I need to elaborate on why this is such an issue. With the levels of stress and trauma our dwarves have been put through so far, more than a few have taken up faith in the gods as a means of coping – yet without any proper place to worship, communion with them is all but impossible, the distractions offered by the industry of the fort preventing even the most focused from doing so.
That changes today. Orders have been given to dig out and smooth several new areas alongside the extant temples, with decoration and engraving soon to follow – Nokor alone knows we need as many of the gods on our side as we can get.
Furthermore, considering the abundance of clay in the fortress grounds, consideration must be given to –
(https://i.imgur.com/dkZBBGS.png)
(The page abruptly terminates).
1st Slate
The spectre of the fallen dwarf has been exorcised from Goldsilver; in lieu of burying a body, we have been forced to erect an engraved memorial. Either way, he will be troubling his past acquaintances no more.
15th Slate
One of the Woodcutters went funny today. Locked himself in one of the workshops; won’t come out no matter what his friends do to try and draw him out. I’ve given orders to leave him for now, lest any intervention have some damaging consequence on this worker’s already-strained mind – we will simply have to wait and see what comes of this.
3rd Felsite
Damn those misbegotten half-breeds!
Those accursed kea-spawn have been harassing the workers in the courtyard, exploiting the open-air design to land and scare any dwarves attempting to pass by, then taking off before any measure of retribution can be levelled upon them! It has all but paralysed travel and work through the central courtyard of Goldsilver, with workers refusing to move through the area due to the risk of being attacked.
The Artefacts of Paper have been sent in, with orders to knock those feathered half-breeds out of the sky. Armok will have to be happy with their blood.
4th Felsite
(https://i.imgur.com/n9Y0zhe.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/LevOY7r.png)
I suppose it is appropriate, in a certain manner, that the dwarf tasked with handling our dead has fallen himself. How, I remain unsure – investigations must be made.
(https://i.imgur.com/6qaHnre.png)
Furthermore, there has arisen a great crashing and roaring from the walled-off sections of the caverns; whatever beast now lurks down there seems to be venting its wrath upon trees and whatever animals it can find alike. I will not deny it: with the state we are in at the moment, the prior Overseers were far more justified in sealing the caverns than I gave them credit for.
In slightly better news, the woodcutter from weeks ago has emerged from his workshop, bearing a slate crown:
(https://i.imgur.com/XnlslEG.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fylP0jj.png)
OOC: Okay, a run-down on the current state of the fort:
Stress-wise, we’re still suffering. At least a dozen dwarves are simultaneously tantruming, depressed, or oblivious at any given time, and the literal hundreds of supposed-to-be-pastured animals crowding into corridors three tiles (or one tile) wide seem to be partly responsible for the framerate being at 15-20. Half the population is either red or yellow-lining on stress, with about two in ‘harrowed’ territory and one having gone completely cuckoo.
The main gate has been drawn up for now, to prevent any more horrified/uneasy thoughts from seeing the dead hippies and goblins outside the walls. The masons, craftsdwarves, etc. are working to produce statues, chests, coffers, and trade goods to try and bump up their own happiness (by creating masterworks/satisfying 'acquire something' needs) and by kitting out the bedrooms of the fort. The less stressed workers are being assigned to dumping the corpses in the fort’s corridors down the nearest hole. The smoothing of the central courtyard’s stones continues, with the intent to have the more skilled Engravers work there once smoothed fully – hopefully, the masterwork/high quality arts they’ll come up with can help produce some positive thoughts.
All the party leaders bar Nephilim and Lucky (both red-lining, around 10,000 stress away from 'Harrowed') are yellow-lining on stress, with the exception of Fatcat. Considering that Nephilim's managed to accidentally two dwarves (the Axedwarf and the Undertaker), dealing with that’s a high priority.
I apologise for the slow speed of my update – IRL’s become rather unexpectedly hectic, and I’m trying to be careful with the fort so that I don’t accidentally cause stress to spiral further.
22nd Felsite
Insanity has taken another of Goldsilver’s citizens. A Mason, this time; refusing to eat or drink no matter what the doctors try. Regrettable.
28th Felsite
Orders have been given to butcher some of the less-useful animals: these Cavies in particular breed like rats, and many of these stray dogs and horses and peahens and – Nokor take them all! The corridor outside the temples of a fort is no place for such a patchwork menagerie, and the pastures we have are already filled with enough animals to choke every corridor in the walls of Goldsilver.
Of course, that is only part of the reason. The blood spilled in such actions shall keep Armok’s thirst slaked, if only for a few months.
6th Malachite
A Peasant has destroyed the Upper Dorm Bridge; smashed one of the mechanisms that allows us to raise and lower it, sending it crumbling into pieces shortly afterwards. Repairs are ongoing.
13th Malachite
(https://i.imgur.com/5dPDzzj.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vKtm4yW.png)
Lucky looked even worse than before by the time she entered Quantum’s office. The heavy, wrinkled lines on her face were even more pronounced, and her grey hairs had begun to outnumber the brown. She was cleaning some still-wet rusty smears off of her hands with a piece of torn cloth – going by the bleak look in her eyes and the way she half-slumped into the waiting chair, the news wasn’t good.
“Bomrek will pull through,” she began, without preamble. “But he’ll be bedbound for the next few weeks, at the minimum – damn near every bone in his hands and feet are broken, and we haven’t a single cast for lack of gypsum powder.” Her features relaxed slightly as she continued. “His nerves aren’t damaged, by Doren’s grace, so he’ll still be able to walk and work after his bones heal.”
“And the others?” Quantum demanded, long fingers curling about one another. She’d been working on the shop floor when the fight broke out, and was still thoroughly on edge.
“Master Cogzat came off the better, it seems; a few cuts and bruises, but nothing serious. Sobìrlikot, however…” A taut shake of the head, the grim, exhausted expression back in full force. Quantum merely closed her eyes for a moment before nodding her acknowledgement, gesturing with a hand to continue. A new soap-maker would be needed, but that could wait for the moment. “Ral Ustutharan’s broken one of his hands, but he’ll be fine given rest and good treatment.”
“An unfortunate loss. You and your staff did well.”
A sigh, Lucky slumping deeper into her chair.
“Not well enough.” She replied, sounding far, far older than she actually was. “When will this damnable nightmare come to an end?”
Quantum silently turned from the table, staring down into the courtyard.
“I don’t know, Lucky,” She murmured, eyes narrowing as she looked at the blood, the tantrums, the cluster of statues right in the very centre of the court. “I do not know at all.”
23rd Malachite
(https://i.imgur.com/ujJluq6.png)
I… am not entirely sure what seems to make this so interesting to my fellow dwarves. To me, it seems like little more than several vague figures, arranged from left to right, and yet those who have seen it are oddly enamoured with the sight – or at the very least, willing to praise it.
11th Galena
Tekkud, one of the axedwarves, seems to have grown attached to a steel battle axe. That he carries it at all hours is hardly surprising, considering the excellent craftsdwarfship of it – that he has begun to whisper sweet nothings to it, however, may be cause for concern…
15th Limestone
(https://i.imgur.com/6CXAqF3.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Qi3UPcG.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/bw4r0yG.png?1)
The caravan from the mountainhomes has arrived, bringing with it the Jester-King’s diplomat and a wealth of trade goods. Kel informs me that we have the ‘honour’ of being elevated in the eyes of the realm – and if what he picked up on was anything to go by, the ambassador rather broadly hinted that it would be a poor idea to try and refuse the Fool’s latest attempt to meddle in our affairs.
In terms of trade, the Mayor managed to keep us at arm’s length – steel bars and sand-bags were his main requests, if only to placate the ambassador. Neither of us saw much reason to ask for what Goldsilver may produce itself, after all.
4th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/GTCCv4f.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/HtvWXfb.png)
7th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/pioGm4F.png?1)
…I have been a fool.
So focused on the health of the fortress and my fellows citizens, so focused on looking inwards, that I forgot to look to defend against the outside.
I had thought that closing the pyramid and curtain wall’s bridges would be enough – that this dull-witted creature would lack the intellect to find other ways in. I was a fool, and we have paid the price.
The accursed creature leapt down into the courtyard! It landed amidst the stills, out in the open fields – almost crushing one of the haulers in its landing. Poor bastard didn’t last a minute against that monster before it had him on the ground, and I have little doubt that it would have taken more lives were it not for its base sadism. Its savagery and the sound of havoc summoned the fortress guard to battle – along with those forced to stand their ground and fight.
(https://i.imgur.com/L4553C0.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/RkLXiZH.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/oJh30XY.png)
Lucky’s supposed fortune almost ran out today. Not fatally so, thank the gods, but enough for that accursed beast to land a blow – it seemed almost single-mindedly fixated upon her, even as its limbs were hacked away – with one of its claw-like nails. She will never walk again without the aid of a crutch.
Damnation!
OOC: There's a bit near the back walls, where there's just enough land and not enough wall. The damn Cyclops was able to get onto the floor/wall-top, then jump right down into the courtyard - needless to say, that's getting fixed ASAP. Next update should be the last for my turn.
9th Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/v8mzifu.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/JGu26Ja.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fnuBdFE.png)
Kol has been sentenced to 50 Hammer strikes for the crime of murder.
22st Sandstone
(https://i.imgur.com/nrnvE5p.png)
Kol, rather unsurprisingly, did not survive his beating by the Hammerer. The loss of his skills is unfortunate, but an example needed to be set – murder cannot be allowed, not now, not with random acts of violence and breakdowns still the norm in the fortress.
3rd Timber
(https://i.imgur.com/Tj5Nobj.png)
+Official Order, Delivered to Goldsilver 3rd Timber 256+
The Dwarf responsible for ordering the crafting and installation of the finely-crafted statue of Captain Nephilim in the main courtyard – specifically, the one depicting him consuming his sword – is to report to my office at the earliest convenience. I want a word with you.
Quantum Drop, Overseer of Goldsilver and Leader of the Penitent Coalition, Timber 256.
8th Timber
(https://i.imgur.com/e8mcjuL.png)
The twisted form of the sepia-scaled fiend arose from concealment, tilting back its head and letting loose with a terrible, braying cry. From deeper within the fort, two other voices arose as if in reply; those close to the Werebeast Bridge flinched back at the awful cry, and the horrific hisses and snarls that followed from within the pit in which the long-condemned Yung Boujee and Arzesbomrek had been entombed.
(https://i.imgur.com/rcRI3qV.png)
Its cry emitted, the beast began to charge forward on all fours, hissing with hunger as Fikod Idendallith met its charge. Sepia eyes blazed with rabid fury as it clawed the air above his head; the creature twisted its form away from his first swipe, only for its right leg to be impaled as he reversed the stroke. Blood flowed freely as his blade embedded itself in the scale.
It thrust itself towards him again, butting its head into his chest like a bull; even with its movements slowed by the ruin of its leg, its sheer bulk was enough to send him to the ground. Its hot, stinking breath wafted over him as it reared up for a blow, the scent of rotting meat and miasma striking him as he thrust his fist into its softer underbelly.
The beast hissed in pain at the punch, and that was all the distraction that he needed. A dozen inches of finely-crafted, razor-sharp adamantine swept through the air, met the scales and meat of its neck, and carried on through.
(https://i.imgur.com/sUBksUV.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/lQzA4GY.png)
It was only later, once the bloodshed had died down and the corpse been dragged out of the road, that anyone would think to check upon the First-Bitten and her entombed comrade, and they would find only the ravaged corpse of a Werelizard – and its living, now-Dwarven comrade, pushed up against one of the walls, eyes wide in horror and fixed upon his still-bloody hands.
2nd Moonstone – 10th Moonstone.
(https://i.imgur.com/xWO65wf.png)
The foul greenskins never had any idea what they were up against. Goldsilver has seen off sieges of Elves, beasts of the night, and Goblins alike – and they thought a mere sixty soldiers would be enough to break us?
Though our Marksdwarves proved all but useless in targeting the Goblins, the melee squads proved far more effective: the main force, having massed before our gates, was eviscerated in short order by the combined action of the Constructive Kingdoms and the Armouries of Mortality without a single one having the chance to defile the soil of the fort; a flanking force aimed itself at the pyramid and the exposed sections of the wall.
They didn’t expect to meet the Black Legion head-on, of course. It was hardly worthy of being called a battle, or even a backroom brawl – though the Goblins outnumbered them by six or seven, Nephilim and his comrades slew them swiftly and brutally enough that they were left in chunks fit for those filthy Elves’ stewpots. Not a single Goblin escaped nor entered the fortress’ borders, and the wealth of iron and copper arms and armour their failed assault has provided us will prove most useful in the future.
7th Opal
(https://i.imgur.com/1PuKXoJ.png)
Medtob’s locked himself in one of the workshops, demanding plant cloth, logs, gems of all kinds, rock, and metal bars – all of which we have in abundance. Let’s hope that whatever he creates in this fugue state will be of some use.
11th Opal
(https://i.imgur.com/REYaHKb.png)
17th Opal
(https://i.imgur.com/Fa4bMGk.png)
Medtob emerged from the workshop today, carrying this:
(https://i.imgur.com/05cTwtx.png)
Quite impressive, I will not deny.
28th Obsidian
(https://i.imgur.com/0pTJ8V7.png)
Despite all my efforts this year, the recent siege seems to have re-ignited the issues of stress plaguing Goldsilver. Several dwarves have died in the past few weeks, even more have suffered breakdowns or depressions of one form or another. Many will recover, given time – and thank Nokor for that, for I doubt Goldsilver would survive were even half of those under such stress to lose their minds.
Imic fell into depression a week or two ago; Lucky, Nephilim, and a dozen others are faring little better. I have done all that I can. The meeting to decide the next Overseer comes in a few short hours; let us hope that whoever takes command next may do better than I.
OOC: No, I don’t know precisely why Yung Boujee and the First-Bitten suddenly went at each other under the full moon. They’d been perfectly fine through all the other full moon nights this year, so my guess is that one somehow changed slightly earlier than the other, causing an automatic ‘No Quarter’ combat level between them due to one still technically being a Dwarf at the time.
A note to the next overseer: there’s a whole mess of Goblin body parts up near the Pyramid entrance and on the main bridge, so you may want to clean those out by setting the ‘No longer cares about anything’ dwarves to hauling refuse and burial (they don’t get negative thoughts from dead bodies, at all). I’ve rigged up a couple of 2x2 atom smashers inside the curtain wall’s bridge area with dump zones right under them, and the magma sea garbage disposal zone has been deactivated for now.
Stress remains a major problem, with four harrowed, twenty-three haggard, and thirty-three stressed. The new version may do something about that, but it seems the bulk of the 'needs' to be fulfilled are
'see family/friends' and the like.
Finally, here’s the current states of the Overseers and Player dorfs:
(https://i.imgur.com/Hcnye5F.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/NLUeYXN.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/17TfD9X.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/BWTetHg.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/pbvE6QN.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/zWl1ZIG.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/RkD4NPw.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/hhCtfKs.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/NTzMrSc.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/bESbgLv.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/iK3Dq9l.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/nvKEr1E.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/ukxQ1Ar.png)
Save is here: https://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=15390 . Sorry for taking so long with the turn.
When all the dwarves assembled had concluded voting, the votes were counted and the results announced. Not counting abstentions, only seven votes were cast, with three voting for Maximum Spin and four voting for Tonnot. Thus, Tonnot became the newest overseer of Goldsilver.
(https://i.imgur.com/yAGGAZK.png)
"It seems," commented Nephilim, "that our brash newcomer has made enough of an impression to win for himself this position. I hope that he proves himself worthy of the job."
1st of Granite
I have been elected as the overseer. I likely nearly cost myself that election by loudly proclaiming my fealty to Iden, and it didn't seem that Nephilim caught the assassination plot I was insinuating, either. Well now that I have the people's trust in me, it is time to get things back in working order, starting with the crime that permeates every level of this filthy place. My first action was to sift through all of the cold cases and see if I could bring closure to those afflicted by random acts of violence. The easiest thing to get out of the way is to convict the dead of the crimes they've comitted. Nothing actually gets done, but the people that reported the crimes feel a bit of vindication at the very least. Hell, there was some dead dwarf on the roster noted as a murderer, who has been dead for about a month and still had pending crimes to be convicted of. Oh, if only all of the fortress' problems were this easy to deal with.
(https://i.imgur.com/J9e6KaM.png)
My second action was to make note of repeat offenders, and those who are too weak-willed to continue living within the stressful confines of these walls without constantly snapping. Many of those who are no longer able-bodied or of sound mind will be put into military squads and armed with whatever scraps we have laying about, and then pushed out of the gates in "retaliatory strikes" against the goblins and elves. In actuality this is an easy and productive form of banishment. I'll both conquer new lands for King Iden and rid myself of these people who would likely continue to be headaches in the future. As controversial as this is, I'm sure the citizenry will see things my way when things calm down in a few months. However, I cannot simply send away rival electors so easily without losing all credibility. Unfortunately, it just so happens that quite a few of these electors are exactly the type of problematic people I need to send away. Oh well, if I can't banish them then dwarven justice will take care of things eventually.
(https://i.imgur.com/cfCOmon.png)
Now, I just need to wait until they're used to swinging around swords and axes...
On the topic of justice, I need to find out what I'm going to do about these rebellious Stukists. I can only get by for so long by insinuating that I'm bringing the king here for an assassination plot. Eventually they're going to dig deeper and find out that I truly am a loyalist. I've already informed the Outpost Liasion about how dangerous the situation here is, but I'd bet that simpleton already lost my letters. It will be no easy task to rid myself of this traitorous "black legion" when they make up the entirety of the fortress guard. I'll have to play their game for now, at least until I can move against them without waking up to a knife in my throat.
(https://i.imgur.com/DHSeNqY.png)
It feels like the fortress might be paralyzed from the amount of corpses strewn all over the place. The lily-livered are too horrified to touch any of it, and there's well over 100 bodies to get rid of on the outer walls. Now, not only do I have to clean that mess up, someone's also been painting political slogans in the stockpiles. Also, did anyone realize that the fortress has an elephant? I only now found it after checking the animals roster, so I assigned it to be trained for war. Even if these mentally crippled loons can't hold a sword, a rampaging elephant will be sure to clear the goblins out of this fort that I've been eyeing!
8th of Granite
(https://i.imgur.com/29j6loO.png)
A ghost has arisen! I've been told that he was killed in 255, and his body was lost to the caverns. Did the previous overseer just not remember them?
14th of Granite
Kulet has been memorialized now, but one of the electors has slipped into a depression. It seems the trauma of losing her leg has finally caught up with her. Also the training of our Glamour Warriors has been slow, mostly because they're too broken to make it to the training area without throwing a tantrum and getting arrested, or moping around sobbing. Our king has also decided it proper to make us a county!
(https://imgur.com/S3SvJ4A.png)
(https://imgur.com/zazYEuW.png)
6th of Slate
New migrants. I've just sent the Glamour Warriors on their way to capture the goblin-occupied fort of Gristlehate. We've received 21 migrants, three teenagers, three warriors, and four more doctors. The rest were a mix of other jobs and plenty of dancers. They don't seem too excited about their welcomeing being a pile of corpses at the gate. Two new electors have been named as well. Someone calling themselves "Lurker" offered his support to the digger's party while raising a newly-claimed pick. This is good, I need more miners. The other elector, Spinnylights... Well she's one of the thirteen year old girls that just moved in. She's been helping with hauling duties but doesn't seem like she's skilled in anything at all yet, so I gave her a pickaxe and sent her to help Lurker in digging an expansion. Also I spoke too soon when I suggested that it was the corpses paralyizing the fortress. Some ugly vultures have been accosting us all month and the marksdwarfs have been of no assistance in taking them down!
(https://imgur.com/OM9jO50.png)
(https://imgur.com/LwzA2FC.png)
1st of Felsite
(https://imgur.com/nLlc2j9.png)
(https://imgur.com/CVwwI3W.png)
These cripples and madmen took the fort without a fight! Just as they deserved, those cowardly goblins were fed to the dogs! Well its a good thing I didn't immediately send the elephant to go with them, it could be saved for a better fight. Unfortunately they can't be accused of the crimes they comitted while they were leaving. One of the "Broken" I had sent had actually shattered and gone stark-raving mad right as he was leaving the fortress! Now he's just crawling around, babbling incoherently outside of the pyramid...
2nd of Felsite
(https://imgur.com/kGUfspp.png)
(https://imgur.com/zSzndu5.png)
An artifact bow has been created! This beautiful piece of bowery has been immediately assigned to our marksdwarf captain. Hopefully he'll shoot down many birds with it.
24th of Felsite
While preparing an elegant trap for our ugly underground neighbors, we dug through the top level of that adamantine pillar we found. A great boon for the trials to come. Further probing efforts will need to be made with great care, lest we are to suffer the same fate as the Mountain Halls of Leapedfigures.
Not a dwarf assembled was surprised by the results of the election. After a very short period of voting, the ballots which the electorate had bothered to cast at all were emptied out onto the table. Inside were five ballots marked for Maximum Spin and one with the name "Imic" messily etched on it.
(https://i.imgur.com/KDrhrs1.png)
The rest of 257 is in your hands, Maximum Spin. Hope we don't all go crazy and die.
you see on scribbled on many random walls in crayon an image:
(https://i.imgur.com/EbMp7VW.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/wGQufN7.png)
Thus, the first ballot failed to elect an overseer with over 50% of the vote.
At this point, the election will proceed into a second stage of campaigning before the second ballot is sent out. Any of the three candidates may withdraw or continue to try to court support. Other dwarves may either endorse candidates or throw their own hat into the ring.
after seeing the election results, pyer hops off the elector chair and draws on the ground:
(https://imgur.com/1weArbX.png)
then runs back to his seat and says "More reasons to vote for me!"
Perhaps swayed by her last minute appeal, the second ballot's vote is decidedly in Radipon's favor.
(https://i.imgur.com/kueZ5sP.png)
Radipon is thus elected the overseer of Goldsilver for the year 258.
1st Granite, 258
The elector lifted my arm in the air, and what passed for a crowd groaned with all the excitement of a freshly gelded draltha. That is what I saw upon regaining consciousness. Before that, I was prepared to retire for the day, about to nestle myself in Nguslu Ticklowness' latest, "Choose the Fortress".
(https://i.imgur.com/hO7hn5f.jpg)
I was hoping to find refuge from the fruits of my regrettable life decisions.
(https://i.imgur.com/BUHUfXz.jpg)
Instead, a sharp pain struck my forehead and the world around me went dark. In that interim, I had been elected overseer of Goldsilver, 258. Many ambitious heads had joined this fortress, and perhaps, having exhausted the collective patience, it finally fell to me, the last resort opposed only by the child who scribbled his name onto the ballot's master copy.
As I looked upon the indifferent crowd, a strange new exhilaration bubbled in my chest. My earlobes tingled as the terrible curiosity burned like a magma forge within my soul. Was this my chance? Could I wipe clean the slate, both proverbial and physical? What do these people need? How would we truly set ourselves apart from the bleak economic calculus of The Confining Clasps. It was time to reclaim the fortress, our fortress. The world would see us as something better than just Gold. We needed to be Gold and a little bit more. We needed to be Goldsilver.
(https://i.imgur.com/37Xg79g.jpg)
Overall, the facilities of the fort were adequate; all food, drink, and bedding was more or less seen to by to and I had no intention of interfering with that which flows. Outside, an Elven host was clattering against the walls, unable to penetrate the mighty stone. There was little of interest on the surface; vegetation was non-existent, and our relationship with the Elves was too soured to want to invite traders. It also didn't help that a Human Lord, Riloth Beemules, was busying himself taunting the attackers from a rampart. He kneeled for a prayer to Ilda Releasedlieves, futile arrow shots deflecting off his metal armament.
(https://i.imgur.com/abAMaME.jpg)
4th Granite, 258
The elves retreated, and the front gate was opened to collect the reusables. In this time, the work orders were reviewed. A few of the order processes were missing crucial workshops (chief among them were the Ashery and Mechanic's workshop), or they were locked off (all smelting and smithing). On top of that, skilled laborers had been tasked with hauling duties. They were soon emancipated from such menial work.
26th Granite, 258
It quickly became clear that my position would demand great thought, and in turn a place to do that thinking. Somewhere deep, somewhere clean.
(https://i.imgur.com/jSjZLo1.png)
6th Slate, 258
Migrants arrived, despite the danger. I didn't pay much attention to their aptitudes, but was certain they would be just as non-plussed as I at the rank and file of animals traveling to and from their unfenced pasture, tying up handlers ad nauseum. It explained why so little was getting done, and also illuminated the fact that there were just too many... alive. The unclaimed were marked for processing, and their pastures were walled in.
(https://i.imgur.com/OdhbE35.jpg)
5th Felsite
A fight broke out between a suturer, stonecrafter, and goblin dancer.
(https://i.imgur.com/wVt63vu.jpg)
The instigator was clear.
(https://i.imgur.com/SGTudKB.jpg)
He knew what he'd done, and wasted no time sequestering himself to the mines, far from the burning gaze of his peers.
(https://i.imgur.com/uctYFFU.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/OCnFf2O.jpg)
16th Hematite, 258
(https://i.imgur.com/AuL6Q9W.jpg)
A human caravan arrived, but the broker was too busy meditating on fortresses. And then meditating on every deity possible. It's time for a new broker, and to take out a lot of trash. The human merchants managed to catch a passerby who was versed in mercantile transactions. Needless to say, they left with a full backlog of tattered clothing whose fuel value alone would drive their kingdom's economy for a decade at least.
(https://i.imgur.com/7RPrGH7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5y2eBb9.jpg)
For the most part, the fort was setup to run itself.
(https://i.imgur.com/AjAG893.png)
The only problem is that while production orders made sense, the actuals logistics were gummed up by up excessively vague stockpiles, locked doors, and missing workshops. After 5 months of rooting through stocks and culling animals, productivity shot through the soil.
(https://i.imgur.com/MPupZQt.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZQnYuDh.jpg)
Yes. The machine that is Goldsilver only needed some grease, oil and/or tallow based grease. As soon as the giant monarch butterflies would leave us alone...
(https://i.imgur.com/UEMP2Yv.png)
15th of Galena, 258
Sor Usueslim's metallic howling echoed across the high caverns.
(https://i.imgur.com/dIa5fNz.png)
The larger subterranean wildlife was making marks on that... thing, which meant that they weren't dying instantly from the fumes boiling off its many facets. Most importantly, this raised our projected outcome of engagement from "instant death" to perhaps "slow death" or "universal mortal wounding".
(https://i.imgur.com/OGZDC0T.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Fsy9CHb.png)
20th of Galena, 258
The distribution of labor still had many spots to scrub out. From one such spot blew a plume of Miasma on the food processing floors. The cause arose from half the populace tied up in senseless hauling tasks for stockpiles whose only purpose appeared to be the creation of foot traffic. Abolished!
(https://i.imgur.com/H9nOx20.png)
And what was this?
(https://i.imgur.com/0uwKclP.png)
Once a source of ash, now a perverse bauble? I know not what Lucky saw in these... "crafts" but was hesitant to draw unneeded dissent. We quietly agreed to put moratorium on the operation until our next trade shipments.
(https://i.imgur.com/nZYKtdi.png)
27th of Galena, 258
Relieved of piling up ragged clothing and weathered armor, Morul the broken had a raging inspiration.
(https://i.imgur.com/gibLz9C.png)
She dashed for the stairwell, ignoring the murder scene created by Zon the miner, who had a different kind of raging inspiration: to strangle the mayor before popping his head like a prickle berry.
(https://i.imgur.com/ILkhgeZ.png)
Of course, our industrious citizens would waste no time repurposing his clothes; what was another mangled naked body anyway? Although they left his shoes as some form of respect.
(https://i.imgur.com/NDKQkhO.png)
(OOC: Trapped in a never-ending cycle of chasing announcements and reports. Send help!)
2nd Limestone, 258
A vile force of darkness has arrived...
(https://i.imgur.com/R1OoMOH.png)
..and it became readily apparent what they had walked into.
(https://i.imgur.com/tQTkqZ5.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vXF3jxZ.png)(https://i.imgur.com/OT5qyRP.png)
Noagga, the legendary cook, was the first to spot the attack.
(https://i.imgur.com/dtTRRxQ.png)
and they would pay for ripping those masterpiece mussel roasts from our people.
(https://i.imgur.com/6naydmW.png)
4th Limestone, 258
The goblins camped beyond the wall, sending in a few scouts. Those who could find their equipment were already in position, picking off bodies while their squadmates filed in.
(https://i.imgur.com/9YwMhj2.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/tNNKgGv.png)
5th Limestone, 258
The troops soon found their gear, and in good time. The goblin forces were steadily advancing toward the gate, compelled to file against the wall out of a strange fear of open spaces.
(https://i.imgur.com/vzoleQX.png)
The first contact was a sweep. Propelled by rage and a feeling of freshness that only rendered fat could provide, they mowed through the first line of goblins, paving our gates with a fresh coat of goblinite.
(https://i.imgur.com/PlaASXm.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/NR7Zrc8.png)
Their second wave was hardier. Preying on exhaustion, three fell.
(https://i.imgur.com/RVrF91D.png)
But Moldath and Tekkkud, an Axe Lord and Axedwarf respectively, stood strong. Atop a pile of dead goblins and beak dogs, weathering a hale of projectiles, they were ready for more, and more was ready for them.
(https://i.imgur.com/94YaxZb.png)
As the last large block of goblins filed in, Tekkud felt a second wind. The beak dogs, witnesses to this carnage, began to scatter in terror.
(https://i.imgur.com/dnkNnCT.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/XgiH3rn.png)
The goblin bodies continued to mount, and with a hammerdwarf and the militia commander arriving on the scene, their fate would be sealed. As long as the two fighters, over-exerted and collapsing, could hold out against the wall of goblin.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZstRHa8.png)
It wasn't enough. First Tekkud fell. Then Moldath. Then Cog. The militia commander arrived only in time to tally the costs of our fight. Only three attackers remained.
(https://i.imgur.com/tkppcrG.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/RnKlY0B.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/c1R5JL4.png)
8th of Limestone, 258
With the last straggler slain, the siege was broken. The goblins were made clean.
(https://i.imgur.com/SAIuomt.png)
Certainly the cost was grievous.
(https://i.imgur.com/0TbkjLD.png)
But we would press on, for we are Goldsilver.
(https://i.imgur.com/TB3NlI6.png)
20th of Moonstone, 258
Clearly sharpened on Elven bone.
(https://i.imgur.com/sqSy6lf.png)
12th of Opal, 258
Another ancient horror, in another cavern already closed off. I wasn't sure if it connected to the others by vertical shaft and was not about to test the hypothesis.
(https://i.imgur.com/NlxAZlC.png)
13th of Opal, 258
Another day, another strange mood.
(https://i.imgur.com/x3HBb0q.png)
He bolted for a crafting workshop, to which he dragged first a stone. Then another stone. And another. He really liked stone. Also pig tail cloth and a rough gem.
(https://i.imgur.com/7ZNNgRm.png)
All for naught. An expedition to breach the third cavern launched, but it's unclear whether they will make it or there is any tree to harvest.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ic6o6zO.png)
The exploratory shaft found nothing. My hand has been forced. Perhaps adamantine weaponry can slay the metal monstrosity.
(https://i.imgur.com/XZe7CtL.png)
19th of Obsidian, 258
The Cleaners and Viscera Detail were both in position and ready for battle. Behind them, a crack team of woodcutters hacked feverishly at the nearby mushroom trees. Kosoth was practically falling down the stairs when the first log hit the ground. However, the creature of metal would not move. It was docile.
(https://i.imgur.com/Zz7Zfdc.png)
24th of Obsidan, 258
At last his manic gathering finished. What would come out?
(https://i.imgur.com/05xCSy0.png)
28th of Obsidian, 258
(https://i.imgur.com/DCDITuu.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YiUo3MW.png)
A commemoration of our troubled history. It weighs in at 57600. A worthy artifact indeed.
1st of Hematite, 259
For most of a term, I fought tirelessly to clean up the inefficiencies and wastes in our daily workflow. Yet things still seemed slow. It was not that my measures were failing. In fact, they were a resounding success. It was only when the final touches were placed that I could finally grasp the undertaking our freed artisans had hidden from my view.
(https://i.imgur.com/Tvxy1Qo.png)
They told me it was to honor "an unerring commitment to excellence in leadership". It was no mere workshop annex. These were fully furnished quarters, replete with intricate carvings and adornments, for me. A mosaic of billon and dog soap covered the floor, which reflected a looming statuary of... myself?
(https://i.imgur.com/zmRsL7f.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/uLHx8FJ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/AdBIK0K.png)
Attached were ornate facilities for soap production, from wood furnace and ashery, to the soaping station itself. And it had even been running for months, filling a hidden stockpile destined to accompany my afterlife. The impression these people have of me is a little unsettling.
(https://i.imgur.com/TMo2tW5.png)
Of course I accepted it. But what I'd accomplished for Goldsilver were nominal gains at best. Nevermind two new coats of fresh blood and death all over the front door, or the starving animals, or that our caverns are domicile to a nigh unkillable metallic death-emitting forgotten beast. No, this was a step up from times past. And soon I will step down.
The fortunes of this fort fall once more to the mercy of the ballot. Who next will sway the people's attention? My victory was a shallow one. Virtually unopposed, I took the mantle of overseer. Against all odds, something good came of it (at least in the general public's view). Despite my vexations, I was certain of one thing: we were clean.
That worked for me too. Thanks!
I'll hopefully have an update out soon.
Edit: Update!
Felsite 6th, 259
Fatcat, Overseer of Goldsilver
Two months have elapsed since I last had time to write. I have been so busy that if I wait longer, I will begin forgetting what happened. As overseer, I know it is my duty to record the events of the fortress. The first major event was, while cleaning up ledges and overhangs, one of the workers broke off the rock he was standing on, and fell through the floor below him.
(https://i.imgur.com/r7D65bR.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/lgq68Yf.png)
Shortly afterwards, my orders to deal with ghosts began to bear fruit.
(https://i.imgur.com/hT7nEg0.png)
Since then, several other poltergeists have been similarly dealt with.
Pieces of good news have continued to come in.
(https://i.imgur.com/SxwcqBI.png)
A band of 26 migrants arrived, of all skills. Two have been drafted into the military, and the others have taken a place in the daily operations of fortress life. One of them has a commendable taste for war hammers and shields.
(https://i.imgur.com/sFzXpw5.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/3RftUPb.png)
They were welcomed, although their name gives no confidence in their abilities.
One more important party also arrived recently:
(https://i.imgur.com/4GoybfY.png)
I sent a messenger to call he and his wife back almost immediately after my election. He has now assumed the role of strand extractor.
The one piece of bad news is that somehow wildlife from the caves is entering the fortress. A troll spent a while interrupting traffic up and down the central staircase, until he was attacked by dogs, and put down by Zon, the mentally unstable miner.
(https://i.imgur.com/6nAzsB6.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/2r5tt00.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/zWOSZJT.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/D6aVrw0.png)
Meanwhile, progress has been made on Nephilim III's office. It is only lacking half of its roof, and furnishings.
(https://i.imgur.com/nlI57gM.png)
My largest project has been a massive cleanup of trash spread across the fortress. I have ordered several hundred wooden bolts and arrows thrown into the magma sea, and most of the inferior goblin armor and weapons melted. This way, we should have a large supply of metals to work with.
(https://i.imgur.com/MRxGxN7.png)
The last bit of news is that a dwarf came up to me to request a seat in the electorate. He said his name was Angular Momentum.
(https://i.imgur.com/hk4UIMc.png)
Fatcat, Overseer of Goldsilver
Two more months have come and gone. The rain from the mountains has ceased, and the farmers are busy planting what seeds they can get to grow. The time has mostly been drudgery for me, as I have to run all over the fortress to make sure the work on the walls continues apace. A few gaps have nearly been sealed, opening others for work. A second tower has begun to rise above the north of the fortress, much like the old tower in the south. Other construction projects also are continuing at a slower pace. The masons are being abysmally slow at cutting slate and gabbro for Nephilim III's roof, while the warehouse addition is beginning to be partitioned into rooms.
(https://i.imgur.com/HIexfAs.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YB14DQy.png)
Once the broker finally made his way to the depot, I instructed him to purchase all their metal, wood, cloth, sand, food, and books. The cooks, who have been turning out masterful meals could use some exciting new ingredients, and in my little bits of free time, I enjoy reading in the library. Some of the fish the humans brought were really strange.
(https://i.imgur.com/wQJbaSU.png)
At least they claimed they were fish, although I have a hard time believing them. There seems to be nothing there except a bit of watery slime. The titles of some of the books also sounded interesting, and definitely fitting for our library.
(https://i.imgur.com/2CpMBl5.png)
In return, they received bins upon bins of slightly worn clothing, which I'm told they will use and repurpose happily.
There have also been continued troubles with monsters both of the surface and the deeps. Shortly after I last wrote, I was told that a massive serpent was approaching the pyramid from the mountainside.
(https://i.imgur.com/cIUeQqB.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/kONOhEq.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/VSCavg2.png)
More recently, in the last few days, a few workers chased a cave crocodile into Radipon's hall, where I was forced to have an axedwarf dispatch it. Radipon will not be pleased.
(https://i.imgur.com/m3CfhxQ.png)
Over the last two months, Zon the miner has admitted committing nearly a dozen old crimes, and has punched visitors to his cell three times, earning himself a third of a year in prison beyond what he had already been sentenced to. I hope there is a way to bring his mind back to balance.
This is all of importance that has happened over the last two months.
Limestone 10th, 259
Fatcat, Overseer of Goldsilver
With the end of another two months comes good news.
(https://i.imgur.com/t9BVHyj.png)
The caravan form the mountainhome comes at the end of a stressful couple months. They started out well, with the cooks making good use of the food I bought off of the humans.
(https://i.imgur.com/W38F775.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vB0fpyn.png)
Shortly after these triumphs, Lurker reported seeing giant vultures circling high above the walls.
(https://i.imgur.com/dLeDGSv.png)
The appearance of these massive carrion eaters (slightly late, as all the goblins had already rotted) brought nearly all work in the fortress to a shuddering halt. One peasent, thinking to be a hero, climbed onto the curtain wall, and attacked one of the intruding monsters, only to trip dodging a swipe of its talons, and fall to his death right outside the main gate of the fortress.
(https://i.imgur.com/8bd4Y5V.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/RKJLFXI.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YKcsc7g.png)
Eventually, the last two vultures flew away, and life returned to normal shortly before the caravan arrived.
I'm still working on in the year, but I have something weird going on. Ever since one of the citizens tantrumed, toppled some things, and punched a few people, I have been getting all sorts of cancellation messages like the following.
(https://i.imgur.com/ouKhEeR.png)
The human mercenaries in the fort also killed the tantruming dwarf, as well as two other seemingly innocent dwarves, but haven't been reported for committing crimes. I haven't actually dealt with a proper loyalty cascade before, so are there any easy ways to stop this latest addition to the cancellation spam? Otherwise, I'll send out a few troublemakers to take another goblin fort, so I'm not plagued with this, too.
The announcements are bad enough already.
(https://i.imgur.com/KJC8K1p.png)
edit:
Sent the troublemakers out. No solution needed anymore.
edit2: Update!
Timber 15th, 259
Fatcat, Overseer of Goldsilver
If I thought the end of summer was stressful, the fall has been even more so. Everything started with a piece of excessive brutality by the Captain of the Guard. Administering a beating for the latest string of crimes Zon, the Lunatic Miner had admitted to, he put an end to any chance of reaching the bottom of any other incidents the poor fellow carried in his mind.
(https://i.imgur.com/oBTSYIQ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fSXROrg.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/rKpEZMl.png)
Additionally, the mayor was reelected, and Goldsilver was pronounced a county of the Confining Clasps.
And then chaos broke loose. It seemingly began with a simple tantrum.
(https://i.imgur.com/vuO1eLQ.png)
The criminal was quickly reported and convicted, but here the train of events grew muddy. Several other members of the fortress had apparently sworn loyalty to the first troublemaker, and in a few short altercations, three of the band were slain by the human mercenaries serving Goldsilver.
(https://i.imgur.com/HWDtQUI.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Gc6C2VN.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/bU542ga.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/5OpDfSL.png)
I picked a weak target right on the doorstep of the capitol of the Diamond Dread, and ordered them out.
(https://i.imgur.com/WuCsWn6.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/UtsbF6j.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/KOeHMec.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/V1cijxH.png)
The story did have a good ending, as a couple weeks later, a messenger brought back word that the rebels had redeemed themselves.
(https://i.imgur.com/Xuzx3SD.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/vhI2JjT.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/KVbt1E5.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/9UHrlcl.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/OePM9bw.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/U57wp3T.png)
Her masterwork was small, but beautiful, and will always serve as a testament to dwarven skill.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZJBH2eA.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/EgmMp9m.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/k7bJjPH.png)
Only a little over three months remain in my year, so I hope I can fully secure our defenses, and avoid leaving the next overseer the problem of finishing the task I began.
Granite 1st, 260
Fatcat, Overseer of Goldsilver
Today marks the end of my term as overseer. I can hardly consider it a success, as I have focused on a very few major projects, and have failed to complete any of them. The last 2 and a half months were calm finally, after the chaos of the preceding seasons. Only a very few events have broken the day to day regularity of fortress life. The first of them was another dwarf taken by a mood. She collected a vast list of items, and built a grand hatch cover.
(https://i.imgur.com/nwy0HGB.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/4jlW9sZ.png)
I offered to install the recently constructed artifact as a ready example of their purpose as a group, and they gratefully accepted.
One of the workers on the walls reported hearing loud noises on the north flank of the mountain. The military was sent to keep guard, and were confronted by the second werelizard of the year. It was dispatched as swiftly as the first. More damaging were the two tantrums near the end of the year. First Shorast, an unskilled laborer, and then Lucky, still mentally troubled from the crippling injury she suffered years ago, attacked other workers. I took it upon myself to interview Shorast, and descovered that he is a walking tragedy. His mother was the Founderslayer, who killed Nephilim, and his father also served in the military. Both of them died defending the fortress, as well as his uncle, and he even lost his only pet, although I cannot pinpoint the cause.
(https://i.imgur.com/YiWPoiL.png)
My accomplishments for this year are small. I set out to complete the Curtain Wall, but an entire level of stone remains to be added on the northern end. The southern side has been successfully sealed, however.
(https://i.imgur.com/oWgS10r.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/YRApsYP.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/C9cfUiR.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/r0K8rUO.png)
When I went to inform Eniteris II that an election was happening today, I found him deeply contemplating herbal remedies. When I finally got his attention, he told me a funny thing. He said that his mind had wandered a few times while he thought, and one of those times, it occurred to him that it seemed that the world had changed somehow in the last year. To him, it felt like the powers of nature had grown weaker, and, funnily enough, thinking about it, I agree.
(https://i.imgur.com/ygEQLqe.png)
The save is here:https://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=15563 (https://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=15563)
Let the campaigning commence!
I swear I didn't do it on purpose.
(https://i.imgur.com/JylNmsW.png)
I'll post how it goes tomorrow.