Front entrance to my fortress. Besides being hella foreboding to oncoming sieges from outside, inside foes face the perfect killing fields for my champions to enjoy. No goblin has ever made it through this entrance (not true for other entrances).
(http://i36.tinypic.com/ruzewh.jpg)
Cross section of the most recent layout for FlareChannel. Indoor lake surrounds most workshops, and supplies a currently inactive waterfall (fps reasons). Magma is also directed throughout the fortress workshops, powering a fairly massive magma-fueled industry.
(http://i38.tinypic.com/fvftw9.jpg)
Biggest wall addition since last time. I always hated how this part of my fort was relatively poorly defended, especially after constructing the front gate. So that is now fixed, all that has to be done over here is finishing the tower above the bottomless pit. What you see behind the wall on the left is the housing structure.
(http://i36.tinypic.com/hrbw48.jpg)
Inside look at housing structure. What you see are the balconies each room is equipped with. Inside are 5x5, 2-story tall rooms (spacious!) with full furnishings. Enough for a family to be comfortable.
(http://i34.tinypic.com/25q7keq.jpg)
The top Sun Diagram mosaic above the Temple to Armok. Made out of marble, gold, obsidian, and trifle pewter. Took forever. Mostly in digging away the mountain then dealing with all the rocks that left behind.
(http://i37.tinypic.com/14e8ks8.jpg)
View at the Temple to Armok from the side. The inner pyramid is made from Obsidian and Bauxite, and is surrounded by the 8 pillars of the outer temple.
(http://i33.tinypic.com/2ev59oi.jpg)
Side view of my new prison. Copper bridges, lava moat, water reservoir inside, and separate levels for different degrees of war criminals. The top houses the traitorous garbage dwarf who became a local leader of the goblin enemies, as well as the dragon he will soon by facing now that the Colosseum is complete.
(http://i37.tinypic.com/2ngfts3.jpg)
Speaking of the Colosseum...
Mostly marble. The inner fighting ring is pure steel. Steel hatches cover the ramps onto the inner floor, as well as cover the lava pits on the inside. A lever in the nobles tower on the right side can activate all of these.
(http://i37.tinypic.com/21j4qrt.jpg)
Better view of Colosseum mosaic wall, from the view of incoming prisoners to the cells below.
(http://i33.tinypic.com/if5pus.jpg)
Best view of the throne room I could find. Again, outside walls are marble, but inside is made from various rare rocks and precious metals. Above (not seen) is the green glass dome allowing an eerie light to be cast down as diplomatic meetings take place.
(http://i34.tinypic.com/2hgwuth.jpg)
Inside North entrance to fortress. Basically serves as the main travel corridor and houses all the major workshops. To the right of this you can see the lower part of the spiral tower which connects all the major z-levels.
(http://i34.tinypic.com/i6vw3m.jpg)
This is an overview of the FlareChannel, giving (for the first time) a sort of "ahhhhh, done" feel to the way things look. Looks completely different than I had first planned, or even planned 50 years in.
(http://i36.tinypic.com/34rd1c5.jpg)
For contrast, this is an overview of what I started with, way back in year 301. Pretty nifty starting location. I had planned to have little towers popping up out of the mountain here and there, each with a different purpose. That was in August 2008 -.-
(http://i34.tinypic.com/r8cbav.jpg)
As a prequel to my favorite story of FlareChannel, I'll fill in with the history of Giant Eagles in this fortress. Ever since I noticed the elves brought, occasionally, Giant Eagles with them, it had been a goal to purchase a breeding pair to populate FlareChannel with. After decades of trying to do so, I eventually got a male and female pair within their respective lifetimes, and the first natural-born clutch of baby eaglets was hatched.
Ever since, they have gracefully adorned the halls of my fortress. They tend to hang around the meeting area, but occasionally one can still see them flying elsewhere.
Occasionally they back up military dwarves in taking down and nearby enemy
(http://i37.tinypic.com/igennp.jpg)
Or even venturing out into the sky to spread their wings a bit, and perhaps scan the landscape for any suspicious enemies approaching.
(http://i33.tinypic.com/2zoghlt.jpg)
One eagle even decided to stand guard over the glass dome above the throne room. Why, we will never know. He could have easily flown away, and yet he did not. He stayed steadfast until his dying day, years later. Some say he was standing guard over the weak, watching constantly for those who would prey on lone dwarves. Some say he chose to perch up there, knowing that upon mid-day, when the diplomat would meet to discuss trade agreements, his giant shadow would projected onto the throne room floor. Nothing helps convince a lone human to heed your subtle warnings than what appears to be a 100-foot eagle waiting above.
(http://i36.tinypic.com/30xabeq.jpg)
***NOTE***
I played no part in the events that play out below, except for toggling Catten as a recruit once. This story is recorded as the best interpretation of events that will, likely, remain a mystery forever. Most of what happens I can't even begin to guess as to how it could have. It seems impossible unless there is secret coding going on for Dwarf Fortress, or features I don't know about. Regardless, I was as surprised as anyone else at the series of events that follow
***********
The Fable of Catten and the Eagle
Our story begins 100 years after the first hatchlings wandered the
halls of Flarechannel. In the past, giant eagles have been creatures
of their own, almost never befriended by dwarves and only then when a
rare dwarf who can sympathize with the beasts is born. They are a
species of creature who, in the wild, feast upon the sweet
alchohol-infused flesh of Dwarves for fun. This is their legacy, and
every dwarf is well aware of it.
However, Catten and the Eagle are unique. Catten is a dwarf who prides
himself in his skills, and due to this has developed three legendary
skills in Masonry, Weaving, and Clothing, not to mention a good number
of additional skills across the board.
(http://i34.tinypic.com/2mcsjo4.jpg)
Perhaps he had even earned his smugness, having created an artifact in his youth
(http://i34.tinypic.com/etfkab.jpg)
He was a prime woodsman in the
forest clearing which led to war with the Elves. Truly he is a dwarf
of pride. When it came to the local Giant Eagles, Catten had
absolutely no opinion on the beasts. It is well known that dwarves
must enjoy a creature to be motivated enough to tame it as their own,
but Catten couldn't care less about the masses of feathers, claws, and
beaks which flew among the halls and towers.
(http://i38.tinypic.com/2zqha90.jpg)
But sometimes fate doesn't ask us for our preferences or wishes, and
it was such in the case of Catten. Recently born in Flarechannel was
one unspectacular Giant Eagle. She was a little larger and hardier
than most hatchlings as one always is, but nothing any dwarves were
suprised by. Yet already destiny had woven a fate which bound this
eagle with threads stronger than steel. As soon as she grew past
childhood, this eagle should have waited for a suitable master to come
along (which happened so very rarely). She did not. She went out and
found one. Catten. This had never happened before in the
FlareChannel's history. Catten may not have cared one bit about her,
but that didn't stop her from picking him as the dwarf she would stand
guard over against all dangers. And thus began the story of unrequited
love between dwarf and eagle.
At first, it was merely one of the many mysteries of the fortress.
Other dwarves would stop and stare and Catten hurriedly passed between
jobs. Collect spider silk, weave thread, make clothes, gather rock,
construct blocks, make mechanisms, gather plants, plant seeds, finish
a few oddjobs. Catten was no stranger to the busy day, and had no time
to entertain a foolish eagle that mistook him for her master. What did
he care? Dwarves work, and drink, and kill things if possible. Dwarves
don't sit around entertaining delusional creatures, especially not
those who have been known to slaughter dwarves by the dozen. A less
determined eagle would have long since left Catten to his duties, but
not this one. The eagle knew that one day, Catten would find himself
in trouble. She would have to be there to protect him. His disinterest
was not such a crime that it justified leaving him to the horror which
lay in his future.
(http://i35.tinypic.com/epf121.jpg)
And like this, a decade passes.
The year is 505. Catten, now an old man, still rushes from task to
task with the persistence of a dwarf half his age. He now finds
himself clad in the finest silk of his own making. Even after all
these years, he occasionally turns to pick up a piece of silk or rock
and catches the outline of an eagle faithfully waiting nearby. Catten
is by no means an unpleasant dwarf to be around, but nonetheless even
he scoffs at the foolhardy behavior of his eagle follower. Assuredly
there are more important things to be doing than following an old man
who can take care of himself! A dark raincloud loomed on the horizon
and Catten retreated back into his workshops, to once again shut out
the world in the endless stream of garments he produced now.
The next day, disaster strikes.
For the first time in countless years, death incarnate approaches
FlareChannel. Alarms sound, and the military scrambles into action.
From the south, smoke rises and a scout gives the report nervously. A
dragon has once again taken its eyes to Flarechannel. This time, it is
Tusnung Heatedgilds the Spark of Warmth. Luckily, all dwarves are
safely inside the walls not even a dragon can pass, and the military
assembles on the main bridge, some who have not seen such a beast
stand fearful. In the eyes of others one can see the gleaming of
latent bloodlust in their veins. You can smell it in the air.
As the final few warriors catch up to the group, a single order sends
them down the spiral tower to intercept the dragon, which is finishing
up slaughtering a lone human pikeman who straggled to long after the
caravan left. But the dragon doesn't head to the fortress proper. He
heads East. The military still pursues, perplexed at the change of
focus of the beast. When they realize the dragon's target, shivers run
up their spines. It has been decades since a dwarf has been lost to an
enemy. Catten Shoraster is the lone dwarf who ignored common sense and
remained outside. Stubbornness does come with old age, but this was
insane! Only Catten would be so lost in his work that he would miss
the alarm bells. The military would have no way to catch up with the
dragon in time.
(http://i38.tinypic.com/16bzh44.jpg)
By now Catten had realized what followed him to the silken-laden
hills. The screams of the human as he was ripped limb from limb made
sure to that. As unemotional as he is when he works, Catten pulls out
his axe and prepares to die as any dwarf would choose - fighting
rather than running, even if it means death.
But Catten is not alone in his choice. The eagle has also accepted her
fate.
(http://i38.tinypic.com/2zecc4m.jpg)
Its likely she had accepted it 12 years before when she chose
Catten to protect. Destiny had ensured she would be in the right place
and the right time. Diving between the dragon and Catten, the eagle
attacks with a ferocity that echos through the legends of all dwarven
lore. Spending years around the dwarves and seeing many battles had
taught the eagle a thing or two. Like the champions of FlareChannel,
the eagle dived fearlessly, directly into the dragon, knocking them
both to the ground in a stunned daze. Now that the dragon had lost its
footing and fallen down a ramp, the eagle knew it had to act quick.
Driven by determination that any dwarf would respect, it rose before
the dragon could and attacked it on the one place they were in equal
footing - the eyes. In a second the eagle had ripped both eyes from
the dragon's face. Rare is the sound of a dragon screaming in agony
heard and all dwarves shuddered at the piercing wail. Still the eagle
attacked, destroying piece after piece of the dragon's head until
eventually it was able to reach the brain through the now mutilated
face, which was promptly mangled.
A wounded, blind, insane dragon is still a beast to be feared, and
Catten finally realized - that eagle was the closest thing to a family
he ever had. If he left it to die, then what would he have left?
Pride? Masterful silk clothes? He had never met a wife, and he was too
old now. His bloodline would die with him. Perhaps this was why Catten
drove himself out of the real world and into has work. The rare
happiness Catten felt was when he got a rare chance to help another.
He had always valued the dwarven spirit in them. But now, he was
seeing the dwarven spirit in a mere eagle. No, not mere eagle. His
friend.
Catten rushed in, wielding his trusty axe that had felt the sturdy
skin of countless trees. No stranger to the swing, Catten and the
Eagle slowly took down the dragon, working together to keep each other
safe from any injury. By the time the military had finally caught up,
it was already over.
(http://i35.tinypic.com/34otxc2.jpg)
Catten and the eagle both died a few years later, peacefully in
Dwarven terms. They were buried together, and immortalized in the very
spirit of FlareChannel. From that day fourth, eagles were no
convenient guests, or bothersome birds that were looked down upon as
inferior. No, from that day fourth they were guardians and embodiment
of the spirit of FlareChannel.
(http://i35.tinypic.com/erj2c8.jpg)
(http://i37.tinypic.com/2rc3axg.jpg)
(http://i37.tinypic.com/264suo4.jpg)
And what of Catten and the Eagle in their final years? They still went
everywhere together, and Catten looked back at her with a smile of
comfort instead of disgust. But much of these details are lost in
history. What is known, however, is that during the finishing of the
Temple to Armok, Catten's clothes were mysteriously found on the roof,
where no path could have possibly led. Additional constructions had to
be built just to retrieve them. Some say it was magic, or the joke of
some dwarven child. Still, others say that every now and then, on a
rare night when others were asleep, Catten would climb aboard his old
friend, strip naked, and fly around the towers, admiring the view that
no other dwarf was ever privileged to see - laughing as he had only as
a child, without a care in the world.
(http://i34.tinypic.com/315daoh.jpg)
(http://i33.tinypic.com/33z3fk0.jpg)
(http://i37.tinypic.com/2u9k7px.jpg)
(http://i37.tinypic.com/25tgpx0.jpg)
A recorded representation of the heart-touching battle for friendship
http://mkv25.net/dfma/movie-1769-fableofcattenandeagle