I'm a new player myself, so this should be interesting.
The embark site is as follows, and should be easy for newer players. The only possible danger is Wilderness vs. Calm.
(http://i.imgur.com/6hU2j.png)
The year is 5--the great historians have only just begun to record the great and numerous things that are happening in what little of the world they know to exist. Four prominent civilizations have sprung up--The crafty humans, the graceful elves, the industrious dwarves, and the ruthless goblins. These four civilizations are presently at peace, but with the aggressive manner of the goblins, who knows how long that will last?
The king of dwarves has ordered an expedition out to the Hill of Fire in the Skewered Land--a land rich in metallic ores and precious stones, sure to bring the kingdom riches. The group Akrulbembul, The Tin Mechanisms, is sent. The group consists of seven dwarves:
Minkot Medtobiden
(http://i.imgur.com/1K7Hb.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/5tn2p.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/VYWpK.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/YQ79T.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/2lvyy.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/HmHRl.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/PASm1.png)
How to play:
First of all, use the default tileset.
If you'd like to play, say a slot that you'd prefer. We'll start with seven slots, but more may be added. Each slot is one round, and a round is a full year of game time: from Spring to Spring. You are in charge of the fortress during your turn, tasked with running it, expanding it, and making it blossom. It would be incredibly rude to purposefully cause catastrophe for the next member in line.
Should something happen that wipes out the fortress, it's fair to redownload the save and have the -next- person in line take over.
While it's your turn, let us know what's going on! Post about major events with details and screenshots, be they funny or sad. Keep us informed as to your progress.
When the previous person's turn is up, you have three days to download, play, and report about your round. If for some reason you can't, play will pass to the next person in line. Any questions?
Dat order:
Fievreux - FINISHED
Tersr - FINISHED
Basque - FINISHED
Zanziik - FINISHED
Flandre - SKIPPED
CrustyPeanut - FINISHED
Shilo - IN PROGRESS
MilestoneTwo
Terkiey
A final note: This game is intended for people that are just getting into the swing of Dwarf Fortress. If you get stuck or need help, consult the wiki (http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/Main_Page) or ask here. The point is to have Fun.
Year 7:
(http://i.imgur.com/9fGcv.png)
Our caravan has suffered a long an exhausting trip from the kingdom of Kogan Ud. Our liquor and food supplies are dwindling, but we've reached our location--a location promised to be filled with valuable stones and metals. Right off the bat I can spot agates in the wall.
(http://i.imgur.com/uCJlG.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/D2Lmj.png)
---
27, Granite
We've been at it for a month and we still don't have shelter. We jointly decided to move to the other side of the river--building a bridge was a challenge in and of itself, but the water should protect us from invaders. The food it cost us will be replaced tenfold in security, even if the men are grumbling today...
27, Felsite
(http://i.imgur.com/GaCdp.png)
18, Hematite
(http://i.imgur.com/HfFhp.png)
I have never been more happy to see a purple spade.
24, Malachite
Migrants!
Not only are there more bodies to throw around, but there are more animals! An improvement from the two male yaks we brought with us.
(http://i.imgur.com/eOcSa.png)
8, Limestone
Lignite.
Glass industry, here we come.
(http://i.imgur.com/kTIZ9.png)
2, Timber
More migrants have arrived, bringing with them a couple more farmers. That'll help our food supplies stay high. Our miners struck lignite, and have been filling an underground storeroom with coke. A couple glass statues were made, but the majority of the fuel is being saved for when a major metal is struck. With the arrival of a craftsdwarf, we can start making rock and bone crafts that tradesmen will love.
(http://i.imgur.com/MY2KR.png)
23, Timber
Traders. ...But we have nothing to trade. A missed opportunity.
(http://i.imgur.com/4D4HS.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/uEVLA.png)
The first year is complete! A lot got done, but also a lot didn't.
The good:
Many things are built, and we have over 1000 units of various stones, ready to be used by masons.
We have a surplus of food and drink.
The mines beneath the fortress are rich in lignite, used to make coke at a net gain of one fuel per use.
A big dining room!
A bed for everyone.
No unhappy dwarves.
A small military with training weapons.
The bad:
Animals aren't breeding.
Few craftsdwarves.
No mechanics.
The ugly:
No metals.
No fisherdwarves.
No trappers.
Works in progress:
A drawbridge on a chasm over the river. The bridge is in place, all it needs is a lever to raise and lower it to keep out attackers.
Mines! Look below the fortress and you'll see.
What needs to be done:
Glass industry needs to get up and running.
Military needs to train.
Traps need to be made to keep goblins out.
Fish industry needs to get going!
The save file is in a new post--Tersr's turn is next!
(Thanks for the comments you guys, I appreciate them! CrustyPeanut, I've done every tileset in the Lazy Newbs Pack and the problem is Ironhand doesn't recognize some of the characters the original ASCII uses (if uses the empty square instead) and other tilesets use those characters for other things. It mostly just causes problems with text but might have other issues as well. Here's a shot of the text errors and the appearances of the different tilesets [I like Phoebus the best, but Ironhand is a good tileset too]:
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2r61bvo.jpg)
(http://i56.tinypic.com/1z3467p.jpg)
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2prtf8h.jpg)
Also a shout out to Roboboy33 for recommend tinypic.com for uploading screenshots, I've been using it and it works fine.
Like MilestoneTwo said, I've converted the graphics back and forth a ton of times and it doesn't hurt the save or anything, but you get the errors I've circled in the above screenshots (at least I do). Fievreux requested everyone play in the ASCII in the first post though, so I'm going to stick with that. Since I can't tell heads from tails with it the year will probably be much more "fun!"
I'll keep going over the fortress and see if I can understand what's going on at all and try to have another update ASAP. If anyone else wants to be dwarfed or has requests or anything please let me know. Thanks for putting up with me you guys! ^^
"The lack of alcohol has made you all forget what it means to be dwarfs! I'll get the military to whip you all into shape..."
(http://i55.tinypic.com/6e3vcg.jpg)
"...your entire military is 4 dwarfs?"
"Yes"
"In leather, not metal armor?"
"Yes"
"And only one of them is a properly trained Axedwarf?"
"Oh not at all, Erush uses an axe as well"
"It says here he's a cheese maker"
"His axe is made of Cheese!"
:'( "Well, I suppose we could always trade for some decent arms and armor with the next caravan..."
(http://i51.tinypic.com/96amb9.jpg)
"You made the depot inaccessible? HOW DID YOU EVEN MANAGE TO DO THAT?"
"You can't blame us for that one, the entire region has no wagon access!"
"BUT YOU CAME HERE ON A WAGON!"
(Seriously, I've never dealt with an inaccessible depot before. I have no idea how to fix this. No matter where I go on the map it says there's no wagon access)
"I have never in all of my years needed a drink more than I do now-and there's nothing to drink!"
(http://i52.tinypic.com/11l1zpu.jpg)
"You have brewable plants and you're cooking them instead?! What the hell is wrong with you dwarfs?!"
"Maybe some rat weed biscuits will cheer you up!"
"ARG! What else is wrong with this Fortress?!"
(http://i51.tinypic.com/34yzknt.jpg)
"You're using Marble for building?! Haven't you ever heard of Steel?!"
"Ha, why would we need steel? We have weapons made from the finest Wood!"
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2hr1z10.jpg)
"At least the stocks say we have plenty of armor"
"Yes, all of our warriors have their own pretty, pretty dresses"
(http://i54.tinypic.com/29fsffn.jpg)
"I guess they'll have to defend themselves with their...wait, are those shields made out of wood? Again with the wood! Why are you outfitting our warriors with wood?!"
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2aflrup.jpg)
"So they would be treemendous!" :P
"It's a miracle you all haven't been slaughtered! How can you live like this?!"
"One of us lives quite well"
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2czoavq.jpg)
"At least now I know what you were doing all last year instead of brewing drinks..."
(I apologize but I'm actually taking care of some sick family members and have still yet to unpause the game. There is a lot to be done and some of this stuff I don't know how to fix [namely the depot]. I will try to kick things into high gear when I actually get started, but I'm still trying to figure out the ASCII layout and there's no helpful notes or hotkeys [which I will be fixing right away for the next person]. One of the first things I plan to do is straighten out all the labors, here's a Dwarf Therapist screenshot if anyone wants to check it out [and you guys better want to check it out, it was very tedious to edit together right]:
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2eknbfc.jpg)
We have lots of dwarfs with everything on and Legendary dwarfs assigned doing non-Legendary things. ARG!
I will try to start playing and fixing everything ASAP. If anyone has advice [especially with the depot thing] or ideas I'd really appreciate hearing it and I'll try to accommodate people's opinions!)
Edit before posting: People posted while I was typing this. Thanks for being such great guys Fievreux and Zanziik. I'm sure I'll be okay with the ASCII, I just need to get used to it. The biggest issue was coming into the brand new fortress with it, since not only did I not understand what the symbols meant I had no idea what layout I was looking at either. Things are better now but there's a lot to fix and I want to make everything right for the next person.
Crustypeanut, I screenshoted switching the Craftdwarf to Rock Pots on repeat last update. I will probably never change it for the entire year. XD
It's finally time! I'm finally going to unpause this game and kick it into high gear! Ready? 1...2...3...Spacebar!
(http://picdit.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/705px-nuclear_fireball.jpg)
Seriously, I'm getting a hang of the ASCII and I've been making notes and hotkeys to help out. Finishing up all the prep work. I tried to wall off the caverns the keep our dwarfs safe but because of what's previously done the only way to do it is if dwarfs could walk on magma so I don't know if there will be any point to it. Speaking of magma:
(http://i53.tinypic.com/vxgkn9.jpg)
Our magma smelter can make the only kind of bronze that can't be used for weapons and armor. That means the only weaponized metals we have are copper and silver.
Also:
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2hgslys.jpg)
The only underground plantable seed we have besides plump Helmets is Sweet pods, and we have only five. I'm digging out a new farm for them so we'll be able to brew something besides wine. Those all and 3 stills should get us enough to drink I hope!
Honestly I've still been really nervous but I appreciate the feedback and I'm playing through as much of the year as possible today. Next update will include the action.
"Enough waiting around! I need a drink now dammit, we're digging out more stills! Strike the Earth!"
"We already did that"
"Strike it HARDER!"
(http://i52.tinypic.com/5bvj89.jpg)
"Yes! Finally my precious alcohol and I will be together again! Now all we need is to hurry and construct the...
(http://i52.tinypic.com/14brp12.jpg)
"RARGH! No Goblin will get between me and my alcohol!"
(Seriously, on the 3rd day. As far as I can tell he just spawned little right in the back entrance to the fortress too. So it looks like we get to test our brand new military way sooner than I intended. Go Oracular Daggers!)
(http://i51.tinypic.com/viinnl.jpg)
And how well did our new mighty military fare against this lone enemy intruder?
...
He ran away and they couldn't keep up. ::) Note to self: get those drawbridges up after the booze problem is fixed (and after I build a Mechanics workshop to actually do it.
And I'm truly sorry about taking so long to get into the actual action, but all the prep work was indeed worth it:
(http://i56.tinypic.com/670d1x.jpg)
It's been 4 days and we now have 2 Craftdwarf workshops constantly making rock pots, a new Jeweler's Workshop (deconstructed the old one and move it) and 2 Stills, 1 Kitchen, another Mason's Workshop and another Farm Plot going up. The miners are going down to clear out some of the area around the magma for more Magma Smelters, other Magma Furnaces and Magma Forges as soon as we find Iron.
I'll post more updates as stuff happens! Please let me know if anyone has any requests on what to see or anything else. Thanks again for putting up with me! ^^
Edit: Saw the new posts. XD Not a siege thank God, but imagine my face when a Goblin appears inside our fortress on Day 3.
Edit 2, Edit with a Vengeance: I noticed some of our Miners weren't mining despite me having spent several hours fixing all the labors for all of of dwarfs. Try to guess why, then check the spoiler.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/208tzzn.jpg)
To the Forge!
Crustypeanut strode into one of the few available offices of the fort. Earlier that day, while he was minding his own business cooking up a delightful meal of turtle biscuits, a dwarf strode in and told him that he had been elected 'Mayor' for the remainder of the year as the previous leader, a dwarf by the name of Basque, had contracted a case of Dwarfpox, and would be out of commission for a while.
Crustypeanut, the fort's chef, was not much of a leader. He lacked confidence in almost everything he did, and he wasn't very compromising with others. However, he had been elected Mayor in a quick vote, probably due to his popularity as the person who makes everyone dinner all the time. That job is second in popularity to only the brewer. The only reason one of them wasn't voted in is just that – two brewers to split the votes, which allowed the chef to take the win. Not that he was very happy about this.. but he would make do.
The first thing he did as mayor was try and sort everything out. Talking to his aide, a dwarf suspiciously known only as “The Therapist" who apparently couldn't been seen by anyone else, Crusty looked over the job list of the fort.
It was a mess.
Crusty was a stickler for perfection – he believed that specialization was the key for anything. It was how it went in the kitchens back at the Mountainhomes, and thus he would apply the same logic in a fort proper. As it stood, the job lists were way out of wack. A large number of dwarves had nearly every job assigned to them – there were dozens of dwarves with the masonry, wood burning, plant processing, soap making, mechanics, potash and lye making, animal training, and hauling jobs on, to name a few.
While he was fixing this, a dwarf rudely barged into his office, scaring the living crap out of him. “Mayor! A huge, flaming serpent is attacking!”
“What? No, those are just fire snakes.. they're always there in the magma tube.”
“No! This isn't one of those, this is a giant serpent! Made of fire! Its huuuuge!”
(http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4820/fireserpent.jpg)
The soldiers were ordered to organize and attack the beast.. the axedwarves Uvast and Sakzul were the first two to the scene, and although they were able to slice off it's fiery mandibles, they were struck down. The rest of the soldiers followed suit, and after a violent battle, the beast had been felled. A number of dwarves lost their lives in it's wake, including one of the two crossbowdwarves, Bimbul, a recruit by the name of Tirist, and finally another recruit by the name of Tersr. Before Tersr died however, he had felled the great beast, then was consumed by fire shortly after.
Only one of the surviving soldiers had any type of injury. The lone swordsdwarf, Lokum, had the fat burnt off from her lower body. This didn't bother her much at all, and she resumed training.
As for the caves from which the beast entered, much of it was consumed by fire. Many plants and precious webs were burnt to a crisp, though the fort proper was spared such a fate. The fires lasted a better part of a month before dying off.
While this battle raged, numerous other things were happening. The elven traders came, nearly at the end of spring. The broker was told to seize anything and everything of value, including a mountain of cloth, some booze, fruits and berries, cages, a horse, barrels and buckets, some shields, and various medical supplies. The elves left with barely the clothes on their backs. If they were dwarf-sized, they wouldn't have even left with that.
Another thing that occurred was a wedding, of all things. It was between one of the farmers and a carpenter; a wedding reception was organized in celebration.
Goblin thieves were also running amok, and two children were taken in the night. Crusty reminded himself to request a pair of breeding dogs next time the dwarven caravan was here, so he could get guards stationed at the entrances. A third child was taken a few days later.
(http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/4088/announcements.jpg)
25th Felsite, Year 9, Late Spring
Crustypeanut observed a rather odd doorway. There was a large sign on it that said “DO NOT OPEN”, and it was locked. He asked his therapist about it, and while doing so he looked like he was talking to thin air to the other dwarves. Did they elect a madman? Only time would tell.
It seems, the door that was locked, was the door to the well. There was another door upstairs just above it that led to the exact same well, also locked. While looking at the blueprints, Crusty noticed that if one of these two doors were to be either opened or destroyed, it would be catastrophic. The ENTIRE fort would be flooded, as the well got it's water directly from the river. He commissioned walls to be built to seal the doors permanently.
(http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/6152/wellza.jpg)
2nd Hematite, Year 9, Early Summer
Excavation finally began of the new fort proper. The entrance would be moved to the other side of the river, where a tunnel was to be built leading down far below, even past the first caverns. A large layer of marble was found, and the fort proper was to be built in solid marble. A large team of dwarves were sent to begin excavations after the rudimentary bridge was built. A proper bridge, made of solid gold, would be built later, along with a paved road of the same material.
This fort would be highly organized and would consist of only the finest materials and craftsdwarfship.
(http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/554/newfortentrance.jpg)
(http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/2986/newfort.jpg)
14th Hematite, Year 9, Early Summer
A hammerdwarf threw a tantrum today. He was unhappy due to one of his friends dying in the recent forgotten beast attack. Luckily, nobody was hurt, and all he did was throw a single object and yell obscenities in the caverns, before calming down and going back to training.
21st Hematite, Year 9, Early Summer
Dangit.
The fort proper had finally been reached, and was being excavated. Though the layer had plenty of marble, it also contained a large amount of cobaltite.. the fort wouldn't be as uniform as he had hoped, but he'd make it work nonetheless.
(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5213/newfort2.jpg)
Looking over the Kitchen menus, Crusty had noticed that plump helmets were set to 'cook' and NOT brew. Knowing we had been low on alcohol in the past, he changed this, and told the brewers to brew anything and everything they could get their hands on.
10th Malachite, Year 9, Mid Summer
With the new dining hall finished being excavated, a number of golden chairs, tables, and statues were commissioned to be forged. This dining hall would be fit for kings! It would certainly keep the moral of the fort up to dine in such a magnificent hall.
23rd Malachite, Year 9, Mid Summer
New migrants today.. ten in total. Most of them useless.. except for a single legendary Armorer that came. He will be put to good use, once we can start getting our metalsmithing up and running.
17th Galena, Year 9, Late Summer
Curse them! The Goblins are here! Sixteen goblin axemen, lead by a goblin pikeman. Upon hearing that they had come to besiege us, Crusty ordered the gates closed, and the guard to move into position. Anyone caught outside when the gates were closed would be met with a swift and brutal death.
(http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/1694/goblinsg.jpg)
After closing the gates, Crusty realized something. The new fort! It wasn't protected by the gates! There were our miners down there! He decided to open the western gate, forcing the intruders into a narrow corridor where our lone marksman, Fievreux, could rain death upon them, and would allow our smaller number of melee dwarves a better chance at survival. Plus, the goblins would have to contend with the small number of traps we had laid.
A child, caught outside playing with his pet puppy, was brutally butchered by a pair of axemen. The puppy got away safely. Nearby, the fort's leatherworker was locked in his small wooden hut that he had claimed after the death of it's previous owner. The goblins were right outside, but they were unable to beat down the door.
(http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8125/lolfl.jpg)
Doing armok-knows what, when he should've been inside forging, the newly migrated legendary Armorsmith was caught outside with his pants down, and was struck down after a short run. Another dwarf, a hauler, jumped into the river to safe himself from a goblin, and promptly drowned. Dwarves don't float very well, it seems.
Not long after, the goblin pikeman, leading the charge, charged into the fort, where the fort's commander, Kogsak, armed with a steel battle axe, promptly dismembered the unsuspecting goblin. The rest of the goblins, at watching their fearless commander get butchered, fled in terror. Except for one, who got caught in a cage.
Crustypeanut's aide, the Therapist, told him that they were down to 83 dwarves, and that a small number of them were not very happy with their lot. He suggested a sacrifice into the magma pipe, but since the unhappy ones were the military dwarves, Crusty decided that for now, he wouldn't do such a thing, although preparations were to be made to do so, just in case.
The Therapist also mentioned that one dwarf in particular, a useless, unskilled dwarf, was rambling on about some project, and had taken over a craftsdwarfshop, where the stonemasons were making pots. He had been gathering nothing but wood so far. The Therapist suggested finding a way to preserve this precious wood, rather than having it go to waste in a useless goblet, or other such object. However, with the present layout of the fort, causing an 'unfortunate accident' to the individual in question would greatly risk the fort being flooded by water. Even the Therapist couldn't come up with a quick solution, so the matter was dropped.
28th Galena, Year 9, Late Summer
Platinum! We had struck more platinum, and thus plans were made to see if there was anymore in this area.
Also, one of the axedwarves, Sibrek, gave birth to twins! This almost makes up for the loss of life we had in the recent siege. Hopefully, with her taking her babies into battle, they won't become meatshields and perish before they could become useful.
5th Limestone, Year 9, Early Autumn
The useless dwarf finally began construction of his mysterious artifact, after taking quite some time to gather the materials. The list is rather extensive, and includes 7 different wooden logs, two gold bars, two stones of lignite, and two pieces of rope reed cloth, the stuff we stole from the elves. What he will make, is still up to debate.
9th Limestone, Year 9, Early Autumn
….For a wooden amulet, that's sure one dwarfy artifact. Worth 88,000 Dwarfbucks, the Fungiwood Amulet “Steelgully” was a magnificent piece of art. Not only that, it fully references TWO of our previous artifacts, and one of the dwarves that made them.
(http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/535/artifactc.jpg)
28th Limestone, Year 9, Early Autumn
A boy! Fievreux had given birth to a healthy, fully bearded boy while out hunting today. Luckily, it was no where near any animals at the time.
17th Sandstone, Year 9, Mid Autumn
More immigrants.. woo.. my Therapist says we're up to 93 dwarves. This group didn't have anyone in particular who were skilled, so they were drafted as haulers.
23rd Sandstone, Year 9, Mid Autumn
After noticing no leatherworking was being done, Crusty went up to the log cabin where the leatherworker, Monom, had taken up residence. After finding the door locked from the outside, he unlocked it and went inside..
The leatherworker was on his bed, dead. By the looks of it, he had died of thirst. Someone had locked the door on him, probably during the siege, and had forgotten to let him out.
And so, another death has caused this cabin to become abandoned..
26th Sandstone, Year 9, Mid Autumn
Om nom nom nom
One of the herbalists was munching on a plump helmet while deep the caverns, and all of a sudden, a crash from behind startles her. Looking behind her, she freezes for a moment at the sight:
(http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/3842/forgottenbeast.jpg)
And then proceeds to flee in terror.
Hearing her screams, the military was dispatched to take care of the beast. The axedwarf Sibrek is first on the scene, BOTH babies in arms and proceeds to fight the beast.
(http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/20/wtfcgp.jpg)
(http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/758/wtf2rs.jpg)
Not long after the fight begins, both Sibrek and her children lay dead in a pool of their blood. The commander arrives shortly after, only to lose both his right foot and right hand to the beast. One of the hammer dwarves, known for his tantruming earlier, arrives to finish off the beast as it attempts to kill the Kogsak, the commander.
14th Timber, Year 9, Late Autumn
Caravans here! Bringing out all our assorted crafted goods, we traded for a boat load of useful things: metal weapons and armor of various types and qualities, a few extra anvils, a large amount of alcohol, although we have plenty, and assorted other things. It was an amazing haul, totaling roughly 14,000 dwarfbucks.
Not long after that, another person went into a strange mood, this time a mason. Using lignite as a base, and using the only pig iron bar that I just traded, and other materials, he began construction.
13th Moonstone, Year 9, Early Winter
A lignite statue of one of the forgotten beasts we killed? Its worth 33,000 dwarf bucks though, so its nothing to be ashamed of. Hopefully it will never catch on fire, else it would be an ever-burning statue. Actually, that sounds pretty bad ass.
(http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/7528/artifact2g.jpg)
10th Opal, Year 9, Mid Winter
Another forgotten beast came.. this time a large tick. Surprisingly enough, one of the new, unskilled recruits was able to kill the beast with his silver warhammer. He was uninjured during the fight. (Lol he was only using a leather robe, wooden shield, and his silver warhammer. He's dabbling in all military skills.)
2nd Obsidian, Year 9, Late Winter
A.. baby has risen as a ghost, and is haunting the fortress. We really need to get some coffins made.. I've already designated the tombs and such to be dug out, but its going to take a while.
(http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/6403/babyghost.jpg)
11th Obsidian, Year 9, Late Winter
A giant has come! One of the hammerdwarfs, Ast, fought with it for nearly a day before being overwhelmed. The other hammerdwarf came to his rescue and finished the beast. Ast is alive, but majorly wounded, and him recovering will be nothing short of a miracle.
14th Obisidan, Year 9, Late Winter
Ast has died, suffocated. No one came to pick him up, and he died where he fell during combat. He will be entombed and given highest honors for his noble sacrifice.
1st Granite, Year 10, Early Spring
Crustypeanut stood up from his desk, aching from sitting there too long. It was finally over. Though thick and thin, he had led the fort to where it stood now – prospering with booze, food, and a beautiful solid gold bridge. Though lives were lost, there was also new life – babies were born, marriages occurred, migrants came. The fortress of Echopaged lived on. And so, Crustypeanut gave a curt nod to The Therapist, who helped him along the way, and left his office. Whoever the next mayor to be elected would be.. they would inherit a fine fortress. As for Crusty, he went back to kitchen, to prepare a fine pig cheese roast.
(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8931/cheeseroast.jpg)
The Therapist, as he was known, was not merely a figment of the dwarf's imagination.. but something more.. something.. real.. as to what.. we may never know. For now.. he faded away.. knowing he would return someday.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not a bad year, got a lot of digging done.. found more platinum, gold, native copper.. got a ton of flux stone mined.. etc etc.
The solid gold bridge, fortifications, and paved road, using Stonesense:
(http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1493/solidgold.jpg)
The nobles' quarters and the tombs:
(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5904/plannings.jpg)
The Apartments, before being dug out:
(http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2513/apartments.jpg)
The entire fort proper, taken at the end of my reign:
(http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/139/entirefort.jpg)
The status screen:
(http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9287/stockst.jpg)
The Save:
http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=4732
Starting my turn now, this post will be edited to hold my first update. Thanks for the patience in letting me get settled before starting! Most of my forts don't last to this age so bear with me, it's rather new-ish to me, too.
EDIT:
Did the fire serpent FB remind anybody else of Volvagia from OoT?
Yes! Badass boss. The Gorons are so dwarfy that I'm surprised they don't just rob Link of the clothes off his back and dump him in the magma pit.
IC:
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 1st Granite, 10
This is the first of what I presume will be several entries in this personal journal. Exactly three years ago, I struck the earth at Sarekmorul in the Hills of Fire with six others and began crafting a dream which today is embraced by eighty seven. Echopaged now houses the largest number of dwarves in a single place on the face of Strasp Ebno, and I have been appointed by my Order as Bishop of Sarekmorul.
The Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush is a religious order dedicated to that zombie hoary marmot who is goddess of mountains, disease, death, war, and fortresses.
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2lkf9k2.jpg)
I have dedicated my life to fulfilling the demands of Our Most Hoary Lady, and for each day of these fateful three years I have been troubled by the lack of devotion to Her power. We have seen fortresses overrun by mad goblin hordes, plagues decimate entire populations, how is it that even among my noble co-founders there can be such complete neglect of the Zombie Goddess of Death?
I intend, given my new position as the ranking cleric in Echopaged, to openly declare our adoration for and reverence of the Goddess of Fortresses. Sarekmorul will not, under my guidance, be allowed to suffer from divine vengeance. We will be noted across the world not just for our legendary (and disturbingly elfish) oaken cups and fungiwood amulets, but for our prodigious devotion to Her glory.
The fortress is left to me in a state of flux. Crustypeanut, a cook who took on the burden of temporary leadership toward the end of last year, has endowed us with an exciting future and an impressively large but as yet unfurnished fortress. He was preceded by the no-less important Basque, who did much to organize the fortress after the chaotic mishmash engendered by our haste in the first two years. Our stocks are full once more; the dire Days of Sobriety are happily forgotten.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2jeo7jq.png)
We do however face a lack of variety in our drink, particularly suffering from a serious shortage of dwarven ale, of which I am particularly fond. Our desperation lead us to rely heavily upon the prolific plump helmet, but Ertal knows that a fortress cannot be considered wealthy while drinking dwarven wine alone, and I intend to rectify this. In our time of plenty we can afford to stray from the mundane.
Our military has had success in the past, valiantly killing four beasts forgotten to time, and the last giantess who walked upon our world.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/f1mr85.png)
However, they are under equipped for lack of iron, and have suffered heavy casualties in battle because of it. Something must be done, either iron must be found or bought and steel forged, or another material must be substituted. Our Most Hoary Goddess of War will not look favorably upon a fortress which lets its military charge into battle unarmored. The organization of the military must also be reevaluated, as forethought and preparation for any eventuality are never a poor investment of time. Notes in particular from Basque on the previous organization of the military ought to serve me well in doing this in a logical manner.
The new fortress, majestic and worthy of the largest population of dwarves on Strasp Ebno, is, however, somewhat strangely planned. While Basque took the time to carefully note the purpose of every lever in the old fortress, Crustypeanut seems not to have left any notes for me on the mechanics of the fortress. There are levers whose purpose evades me:
(http://i53.tinypic.com/msoxhu.png)
Rooms whose aesthetics are horrible (Armok, the yellow of Orthoclase) and whose uses are not apparent:
(http://i51.tinypic.com/289haah.png)
And perhaps worst of all, the fortress' catacombs are accessible from a mere hallway when they ought to be incorporated into and accessible only from a proper Temple of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush the Goddess of Death. It is no small wonder that the fortress is haunted by three lost dwarves.
(http://i54.tinypic.com/xnw9e0.png)
I shall make their exorcism the highest of priorities.
I am aware that even the best laid plans are subject to disaster. I am not so naive as to believe that the goblin hordes will not visit sieges upon us once more, or that more beasts do not lie forgotten in the depths. But I have unyielding faith in Our Most Hoary Lady to shepherd Sarekmorul to glory, and I have for years watched quietly as our fortress progressed. Now I am made responsible for our temporal and spiritual livelihood, and this entry serves as the basis of what I intend to do over the next four seasons. Enough planning for tonight.
My goddess demands prayer.
--------------------
OOC: Just a first entry, I didn't end up playing, but I've spent a ton of time in the Legends Viewer trying to make this post quality. Hope you all enjoy the angle I've chosen to write from, time for dinner and I'll get playing and have an update tonight! Thanks again for your patience.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 2nd Granite, 10
I have laid out plans, though they are long term, for our fortress' Great Temple of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush. The plans are extravagant, but no expense can be spared for Our Most Hoary Lady.
(http://i52.tinypic.com/zv3gx4.png)
The Undercroft is largely inherited from Crustypeanut's designs, though the communal burial grounds has been moved to a central location for symmetry, which all dwarves know is of the utmost importance to the gods.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/6p198m.png)
The midlevel of the Great Temple is not designed to be traveled by dwarves, but instead will serve as the magmaducts for the upper level.
(http://i53.tinypic.com/zt6jk8.png)
The upper level will handle the day to day business of the Great Temple and serve as the embodiment of our adoration for Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush. The entirety of the Great Temple will be furnished with statues of the highest quality, and other aesthetic pieces which will grant the dwarves of Sarekmorul with the sense of awe which the gods inspire in all of us.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 3rd Granite, 10
I asked Crustypeanut for some indication of his intention with both the unidentified lever and the orthoclase room. He clarified that the lever controls the golden bridge used to enter the new fortress (as I suspected, since there is nothing else in the new fortress to which a lever can be connected) and the room was intended as a new hospital, complete with a well. I contemplated the issue of bringing water to the well and decided to dig a vast aqueduct to bring water from the river without flooding the fortress.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/35c54w6.png)
The aquaduct begins here by drawing water from the river...
(http://i55.tinypic.com/24mt5p3.png)
And the aquaduct ends here, after a 58 z-level drop, with the well just above the channel terminus at the bottom right. Important to note is the regulator tile, which is offset diagonally from the rest of the aquaduct. By forcing water to flow through a diagonal, the pressure exerted from the 58 z-levels above will be negated and the aquaduct will not flood the fortress.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 4th Granite, 10
While digging the aqueduct, I struck another vein of gold.
(http://i56.tinypic.com/11ijzx0.png)
The plans for the well will be revised to allow us to dig out the precious metal. Perhaps this ore will be used to fill the Great Temple with statues.
The butcheries in the old fort are festering with a rancorous miasma, the byproduct of rotten animal parts.
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2ai0hdy.jpg)
I have designated a large area alongside the golden road to serve as a refuse pile. Lustrous beauty beside horrible decay. Such is the way of life.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 8th Granite, 10
A minerdwarf slipped into the aquaduct and fell 47 z-levels to his death, may Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush rest his soul. We cannot reach the body, and so he must be memorialized on a slab at the earliest convenience. His body may contaminate the well. This is most unfortunate...
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 11th Granite, 10
Decided to dig the miner's body out of the well. His remains cannot be permitted to contaminate the well.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 4th Slate, 10
(http://i51.tinypic.com/18i5p3.png)
20 new dwarves have joined us in Sarekmorul, putting us at over 100 souls for the first time in history. Among their number are three medics, an excellent minerdwarf, and several smiths of various experience.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 28th Slate, 10
(http://i53.tinypic.com/5mlt9x.jpg)
Two of my co-founders have given birth to a boy. This is a joyous occasion!
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 2nd Felsite, 10
I have dispatched the Oracular Daggers to deal with an infestation of Rhesus Macaques at the front gate. The monkeys are terrorizing any who pass by them, causing an untold disturbance in the mechanics of the fortress.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 12th Felsite, 10
(http://i52.tinypic.com/259emaw.png)
One of the ghosts haunting the fortress has been put to rest, his corpse has been moved into a coffin in the catacombs. May he join Our Most Hoary Lady of Death in the afterlife.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 13th Felsite, 10
An elfish caravan has arrived Enina Edinu, probably bearing useless cloth and the like. We'll evaluate what they've brought before deciding their fate...
The elfish trader wouldn't take a 260☼ profit, so I seized the items I wanted. Some medical supplies, wood, drinks, and a cheetah, a wolf, a tiger, and a cougar, because fuck it. The elfish trader left in a fit, which is the only manner in which an elf should leave a mountain home alive.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 18th Felsite, 10
Another ghost has been put to rest, leaving only one to haunt our halls.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 20th Felsite, 10
The last ghost of Sarekmorul has been laid to rest.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 1st Hematite, 10
The spring has ended and summer has arrived. With the change in seasons, we see progress on the Great Temple and near completion of the well. All ghosts have been laid to rest and no hostiles have been encountered, by the blessing of Our Most Hoary Goddess of Fortresses, Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush. I am proud to have accomplished as much as I have and I intend to continue my work in the name of the Goddess. For now I must cease writing, duty calls.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 12th Hematite, 10
The fortress suffers from a ridiculous amount of idle workers, because of previous specialization efforts. Hauling requires no specialization, and coupled with the enormous size of the new fort, the lack of haulers under the current system can mean waits of days on end for the construction of buildings, the smoothing of floors, etc. I will be overhauling the system and giving idle dwarves more duties.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 17th Hematite, 10
Fievreux has been elected Mayor of Sarekmorul and I am working closely with her to coordinate the running of the fortress.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 22nd Hematite, 10
We have struck the river wall and released water into the aquaduct. It is working its way now to the well. Many are lined deep underground, waiting for the chance to clean themselves in the newly available water.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 5th Malachite, 10
Fievreux has banned the export of rope reed goods from the fortress. Fine by me, we mostly just steal rope reed from the elves anyway.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 8th Malachite, 10
The well is full and 12 migrants have arrived, among them three stonesmiths, a high master weaponsmith, two children and several haulers. Our population stands at 119.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 2nd Galena, 10
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2iad2mw.png)
Tirist Okirreg has struck into the magmapipe and released the magma that will fill the upper level of the Great Temple with Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush's glory. Praise the miners!
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 8th Galena, 10
(http://i51.tinypic.com/1z6boef.png)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/35ip2yh.png)
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 12th Galena, 10
A human caravan from Tokdaanthath has arrived. Fievreux has gone to meet with their traders. We desperately require iron to melt to begin crafting steel armor and weapons.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 22nd Galena, 10
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2zi1082.png)
Another birth gives us a population of 120. Praise to Armok.
Fievreux has concluded trading with the humans. She purchased every piece of iron from them possible, but it was not much. The items will be designated for melting and converted to iron bars.
I wish to take a moment to detail a dream which I experienced last night, and which I hope does not prove to be prophetic.
In the dream, Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush visited me and Her glory was beautiful and terrible. I covered my eyes as soon as she entered my vision, for Her visage is too much for any mortal to comprehend. When I had prostrated myself before Her, She reached forward with her celestial paw and touched my hand, and the ecstasy of the contact sent me into a fit wherein I saw the military of Sarekmorul, naked and unarmed, slaughtered atop the Golden Bridge of Crustypeanut by a goblin horde outfitted in iron and glinting in the fading sun. In an instant the vision changed, showing me the innards of the fortress which we have worked so hard to create. Fires raged deep within, workshops and apartments stood ransacked and bloodied, corpses of children lined the floor. Above the bodies stood beasts terrible in their power, forgotten to myth and legend.
Without steel a dwarf is underequipped to face the devastation that She visits upon us as frequent challenges. I fear that this dream means that Sarekmorul shall be ironless, and thus, steelless. We MUST think of something to deal with this potentiality.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 24th Galena, 10
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2nqqf7k.png)
Work on the mysterious construction has finally begun... We had all the materials needed, it just took time to gather them from across the large fortress.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 28th Galena, 10
(http://i52.tinypic.com/59vhjt.png)
*sigh*
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 1st Limestone, 10
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2rzz52b.png)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2z9iirp.png)
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 12th Moonstone, 10
(http://i56.tinypic.com/zv69ee.png)
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 20th Moonstone, 10
The moody stonesmith has still not begun construction of his artifact for want of thread, though we have pig tail cloth thread available for him...
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 8th Opal, 10
Fievreux has had a daughter with Eral Shorastmorul, their second child.
(http://i53.tinypic.com/amxl5x.png)
She has also mandated the creation of three rope reed fiber items... This could be bad...
In other news, the moody dwarf stands ominously in his claimed craftshop day and night, complaining of thirst but refusing to leave until he gets thread. Where are the elves when you need them?
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 17th Opal, 10
(http://i54.tinypic.com/10zblmv.png)
And so it begins... May Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush join us in vanquishing this beast, and may my dream not prove prophetic...
OOC:
SHIT. Question. Are people against me using dfhack to clean the map of blood once we kill this badboy, because the game is bugged in its cleaning system, or should I roll with it and hope to hell we don't get a plague from his blood?
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 22nd Opal, 10
The beast's blood has indeed proved itself noxious, causing numbness, blindness, nausea, and serious bruising to all body parts of those who come in contact with the vile liquid.
(http://i53.tinypic.com/1o911d.png)
Though this is the recruit who suffered the worst damage of the survivors of the battle, few of those wounds are battle related, and are actually the result of some unknown syndrome.
OOC: FUCK.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 23rd Opal, 10
Doren has suffocated in his own bile. May our Most Hoary Lady have mercy upon him.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 26rd Opal, 10
Kogsak, commander of our military, has suffocated as well, succumbed to the syndrome. How many others will die before the Forgotten Beast's deadly blood is cleaned from our halls?
OOC: FUCKFUCKFUCK.
A child who ran through the beast's blood not long after the battle has also suffocated because of the syndrome. It appears that the disease bruises the lungs and causes those infected to become unable to breath. Asen, the child, was diagnosed by one of our medics but nothing could be done.
OOC: :'(
On the positive side, it appears that no more cases are immediately obvious... Perhaps we have gone through the worst of the disease...
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 28th Opal, 10
The stonesmith who began a mood has gone berserk. The military is called into action once more...
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2dili1j.png)
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 3rd Obsidion, 10
The stonesmith has been struck down in an epic duel with Fievreux and her newborn baby. Fievreux dealt the killing blow.
Journal of 'Zanziik' Asobushul, Order of Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, 1st Granite, 10
The fortress has survived one year under my rule.
Barely.
In that time, we have completed the Great Temple to Guthsak Igathotung Dok Nuglush, drawn a well to a new hospital, defeated a forgotten beast, and grown our numbers to 127.
(http://i54.tinypic.com/intoj7.png)
(http://i56.tinypic.com/b8okmw.png)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/jg42h1.png)
Uploading save...
Come now, really?
(http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/559/pic1oh.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/810/pic1oh.png/)
?? Unknown, Year ??, Unknown
Darkness.
No.. not darkness.. empty blackness.. there's nothing there.. nothing here.
Where am I?
Who am I?
I see nothing.. hear nothing.. wait.. what is that?
A head? No.. a beard? With eyes? And a nose? And ears?
Why is a beard talking to me? What is it saying? I can't understand it...
Who am I?
What am I doing here? Where is here?
I can't hear anything.
The beard is still talking.. saying something.. its looking down now. At what? A table? No.. not just a table..
Razirtir Nudensuvas.. is that my name? Or the table's? I don't know.. who am I? What am I? I can't see my feet.. all I can see is a beard. My beard? I have a beard? Its not the same beard that was talking to me. Its still over there.. talking to me.. over where? Where is there?
Razirtir Nudensuvas. I keep hearing that name.. I know what it means.. but not why. Teethdangled the Regal Luster. Is that my name? Or is that the table's? Silly name, either way.. the table.. did I make that? No.. I don't know how to make something like that.. or do I? Since when? Who am I? I couldn't have made it.. the beard is still looking at it. It looks impressed.. it keeps looking at it.. talking.. what is it saying? Is it talking about the table? Or the person who made it? Was that me? Who am I again?
I can see something.. the beard.. it has arms.. and legs.. its hands are pointing at the table. Why is it picking it up? Where is it taking it? Where is it taking my table? My table? Is that mine.. did I make that?
I can see my surroundings now.. I have arms and legs too.. and a beard. My beard? Its smaller than the other beard.. but I am not a beard. Am I? No.. I am a dwarf. I am? What is my name? Razirtir Nudensuvas? I don't know.. but I'll use that name for now. I can't remember it.
The table? Where did it take it?
Cathedral? Its taking it to the cathedral? We have a cathedral? There are more of us? More beards, or more dwarves? Us? I'm part of a group? Yes.. Echopaged.. the name of the fortress, or the group? The fortress.. Echopaged the Fortress.. The Tin Mechanisms.. that's the group.. why would you make mechanisms out of tin? I don't know.. I don't know these kinds of things.
My table! They're taking it to the cathedral? Putting it at the head of a group of tables? Gold tables? It's made of platinum.. far more beautiful than the others. It's spikes of platinum and obsidian are nice too. Did I make that? Can I keep it?
There are beards... dwarves.. beards.. dwarves with beards? Yes.. dwarves with beards.. wait, there are dwarves without beards? They're running around the fortress, the beards. Many of them are yelling, screaming, and fighting. Why are they mad? Why is that one beard punching them? It is wearing armor on it's limbs.. not it's beard though. Its punching them.. no one is punching it back. It is punishing them? Looks like it. Tersr III. Is that the beard's name? Yes.. I think it is.. how do I know this? I shouldn't get in it's way. It just punched a beard's face in.. its not moving anymore. I'll avoid that beard.
Beard? The beard who took my table? Its back? Its talking again.. mayor? Its talking about a mayor? Am I the mayor? The beard.. it has boobs.. its a she? She's a bishop? Of where? The cathedral? Duh.. what else would she be a bishop of? Zanziik? Thats not a woman's name.. but.. it might be a beard's name..
I don't know. But it looks like I'm mayor.
Mayor? What happened to the last mayor?
Insane? Naked? He's running around naked and insane? Why? Where are his clothes? Why is he insane?
I don't know. But at least the beard's covering most of it up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The artifact:
(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/8434/artifact3.jpg)
Mayor. I'm the mayor. Fort's a mess. Last mayor went insane, Captain of the Guard took his place temporarily. Been administering beatings left and right for tantrums. Killed three directly, a few others died from injuries in the hospital. A medic went berserk. So did a hauler. And a smith. Number of others are insane, either naked or attempting suicide. The rest are either tantruming or on the verge of it.
Except me. I'm happy. I don't know why. I think its my table. I love that table.
18th Hematite, Year 11, Early Summer
More tantrums.. more insane ones.. the Bishop killed a berserk with her pick. Then began tantruming. Again. Beards are dying left and right. At this rate, we won't live to see the end of the year. I should get some food into my room.
28th Hematite, Year 11, Early Summer
(What was written on this page is unknown, as it is smeared with blood and ink – presumably the owner's.)
----------------------------------------------------------------
(http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/5900/tantrums.jpg)
TOTAL ANARCHY OMG
Though, if they're using a crutch, its still the latter.
(http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3964/crutchwalker.jpg)
Edit: Theres.. just so much chaos.. blood.. murder.. I... I don't know what to say.. I think this might be on a Boatmurdered level of carnage, minus the fire, magma, and elephants.
P.S.: Tersr, you're nuts man. NUTS.
(http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9299/tersriii.jpg)
That scream, along with the chilling laughter of a maniac that followed, could be heard throughout the fortress, and it made hairs stand on end. Zanziik, Bishop of Sarekmorul, had finally cracked and went into a berserker rage.
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7680/berserkv.jpg)
With her trusty copper pick in one hand, and her faith to the Most Hoary Lady in the other, she went on a rampage that left eleven dwarves dead and half as many animals dead. Tersr III, Abysslanced the Cyclone, Scourge of Dwarfkind, who had by then killed literally a dozen dwarves through punishment, had intercepted her while she was chasing a child, and the following battle lasted over a month. Tersr III had both of his hands and lower arms lopped off by her copper pick, but still stead fast and attacked his with tooth and foot. Zanziik herself had sustained various injuries to her body and legs, but still raged on.
(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1189/duels.jpg)
After having knocked Tersr III unconscious at least half a dozen times, a tantruming miner by the name of Asmel Gusiltad came from behind and bashed his pick into the raging bishop's brain, instantly ending the rage of the 'crusading' avatar of the Zombie Hoary Marmot of War and Death.
Days later, Asmel went on his own rampage, killing four before being struck down by a fellow miner, Thob, who had killed a number of trolls and two berserking dwarves beforehand. All while carrying her young child with her.
Sitting in his bed, happy as can be, Tersr III, Scourge of Dwarfkind, passed away peacefully a few days later from infection, due to injuries sustained while defending his rightful place as the dwarf who's killed more of his fellows than any single dwarf in the fort. He was replaced by Tersr IV as Captain of the Guard.
In early Autumn, the current mayor, Admiral Ackbar, went berserk from frustration at trying to keep the fort together. His reign of terror lasted a mere hours, as the first person he came across – a legendary woodcutter – struck him down without breaking a sweat using his trusty bismuth bronze axe.
The gates were barred. No entry, no exit. They were either stuck outside, or stuck inside. Outside were the goblins.. the trolls... and the beasts. Inside, there was the blood.. the screams.. the food.. and the laughter of maniacs. Inside, was insanity. Inside, was death. Outside, was murder. Outside, was death. Death, it seemed, was everywhere. Either by goblin or by dwarf, it reached it's cold, bloodied hands to everyone. Was it the doings of the Most Hoary Lady? Was it that, as punishment for insulting her bishop, this had happened? Did she, the Zombie Hoary Marmot Goddess of War, Death, Disease, Mountains, and Fortresses, send this plague of chaos, violence, and unreason to the fortress of Echopaged? Were we all to die at her hands? Were we to share the same fate as the fabled Boatmurdered of legend? Were we to fail, as had many before us? Were we to be logged in the annals of history as simply another fortress to fall?
No.. we weren't. For there was a small hope.. hope in the form of a lone dwarf, locked away in deep inside the fortress with enough food and alcohol to last him years. He was a newcomer.. he didn't know anyone.. no one knew him.. when the chaos started, he gathered himself a stockpile of supplies and locked himself away. He told one person, the only person who he had talked to in the fortress, to wall up the door after him, so no berserking or tantruming person could get in. They did just that.
While the carnage ensued outside, he was alone inside. He liked it that way. He could only barely hear the faint murmur of screams, cries, and maniacal laughter through the thick stone wall, all while sipping on some delicious strawberry wine and munching on some roast. What kind of roast? He had no idea.
Months later.. near the end of the year, the neighbors showed up for Goblin Christmas. They even brought Santa Clause the Clown. Much FUN will ensue.
(http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8720/wearescrewed.jpg)
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Well.. um.. that was an.. interesting year.. sorry about the relatively few screenshots, not much got built at all.. just some underground farms, nothing speshul to look at.. but.. wow.. DAMN YOU HOARY MARMOT LADY!
We're down to 51 dwarves. Yup. 51. About two thirds of the fort died in more ways than one. Most of it was caused by themselves. Got lots.. LOTS.. of coffins.. not everyone's buried yet. Plenty of hauntings.. none violent YET. In all my time playing Dwarf Fortress.. I had never seen such a large tantrum spiral.. so much insanity.. murder.. was very fun. Kinda burnt itself out though.. And as for the Christmas friends, we're completely sealed off, so unless Santa decides to go down our chimney well, we should be fine. I hope.
P.S.: Flandre, Fievreux, Tersr I, II, and III, Zanziik I and II, and Crustypeanut are all dead. Fievreux died in the goblin attack.. Flandre.. not sure about you. Probably in the spiral somewhere. *Shrugs*
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Save will be posted soon.
(http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8720/wearescrewed.jpg)
How many gobbos is that?!?!?
I count 83 and 1 clown.
Oh dear. Haha. Shouldn't have insulted the Bishop, Crustypeanut!
EDIT: Woops. And 7 trolls engaged in one hell of an orgy.
The 7 trolls are new ones that came with the siege. The previous orgy trolls finished their stuff and went into the old fort, where some of the people were getting a few left over beds.. I massacred them with the miner-militia.
Edit: Before I post the save, here are the stocks:
(http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4162/stocks2.jpg)
That lone axedwarf? Tersr IV, the Captain of the Guard. Only killed a few dwarves so far.. he's still getting into his groove.
This is a set of masterpiece yak leather records. All craftsdwarfship is of the highest quality. On the item is a part of the history of Echopaged the dwarven fortress in elven ink. On the item is an image of dwarves in elven ink. The dwarves are traveling. The image relates to the founding of Echopaged by The Tin Mechanisms of The Boats of Will in 7. On the item is a heavily burned image of dwarves and unidentifiable figures. The dwarves appear to be making a plaintive gesture.
Preachedwinds, Human University, 107
“Ah! Inod! Come in, come in. Professor Foundedcrafts has told me much of your accomplishments.”
The student strode into the room and took a moment to absorb the various archaeological oddities lining the wall before speaking to their owner. “Professor Ritestrange. It’s good to finally meet you. Raresh speaks highly of you as well. I understand you’ve procured an artifact of some value?”
Ritestrange thought for a moment. “I don’t know about procured, that seems a little too…legitimate. But yes, I’ve found something very interesting. How familiar would you say you are with dwarves?”
Inod frowned. “Dwarves? I have no love for dwarves.”
With a laugh, Ritestrange glanced pointedly at the pale band on Inod’s otherwise well-sunned right hand. The gesture wasn’t lost on Inod.
“How did you—“
“—know about that? It takes a special kind of arrogance to attempt to drink a dwarf under the table, Inod.”
Chastened, Inod’s frown intensified. That ring had been a family heirloom.
The professor waved away the inconsequential matter before continuing. “I’ve managed to procure a series of volumes written by one of the overseers of Echopaged, the first great dwarven outpost in this land. They contain a year of its history, which is an absolutely fascinating glance into the dwarven psyche, as well as an excellent source of historical fact.”
Ritestrange retreated into a back room and after a minute or so returned with a thick sheaf of square leather sheets, each nearly three feet long and slightly more than half of that wide. “You’ll notice that every sheet is perfectly cut into a golden rectangle,” he commented. “Dwarves are very particular about these things.”
Despite himself, Inod leaned forward. Anything related to the earliest times would be sure to hold his attention, and this was no different. “Where did you find these?”
“I happen to be very good friends with a dwarven historian named Bomrek Pickarched. I challenged him to a contest of wits—a much better idea than a drinking contest.”
Inod ignored the remark. “What was the contest?”
Ritestrange grinned. “Tic-tac-toe. Dwarves are absolutely hopeless at it.”
5 Granite 12
I am not a conventional dwarf.
I am not so xenophobic, for one thing. I write these words using elven ink on leather cured using human techniques—In the Mountainhome, some dwarves would consider this alone to be grand treason, and I would be strung up by my figgin and put on display. The reason, indeed, I am out here in the Grand Experiment, as I have come to call it, is for my so-called “elf-loving” ways.
She was short and had a beard! It was too dark to see her ears! How in Zod's name was I supposed to know?
I also think I am far more practical than most of my kin. It's for this reason that I've made the decision to accept the responsibility of overseer, meaning that the personal journal I keep will become the fortress' official record for a time.
The date is 5th Granite--the time has gotten away from me since I stepped up as overseer, and the assumption of my new responsibilities has left me with little time for chronicling.
(http://i.imgur.com/HKKGa.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/TF8nq.png)
The goblins are still banging on the gates and destroying things at the old fort out of spite.
(http://i.imgur.com/BUniS.png)
Some of the dwarves claim to hear the screams of Zanziik II. Something about Molenarok and the downfall of dwarfkind. Such superstitions are another belief I do not share with my brethren, but the stress of frontier life has odd effects on the mind. I have ordered a memorial slab made, if only to settle their fears.
Despite the ghosts and goblins, life goes on in Echopaged, as it has for quite some time now. I have one major project I'd like finished before the year is out, however. An old friend of mine who was good with mechanisms from the Mountainhomes had a saying.
(http://i.imgur.com/gIJXw.png)
"How am I going to stop some big bad motherhubbard from tearing me a structurally superfluous new behind?
The answer--use a ballista.
And if that don't work? Use more ballista."
Short I know, but it sort of establishes what's going on. I'll do some real playing later, or possibly tomorrow. Interestingly, just about everydorf is feeling pretty good about the situation (which I tried to reflect in the writings of my as-yet-unidentified overseer.) I have to agree with them, honestly--the goblins can't get in and we've got loads of supplies to last. Yeah, any migrants are going to have their throats torn out, but screw them, we don't need them anyway. As long as nobody starts falling apart from all the FB blood lying around we'll be fine through my year for certain, and we've got enough resources to pursue a project like ballista-building.
As for the actual writing, I can reference fewer things if people find it distracting.
24 Granite 12
Things appear to be worse than I originally thought. The fortress has more inexplicable things within it than goblins without it. Through either the Madness of 10-11 or the goblins or the terrors of the underground that occasionally visit, we've lost our manager. I grabbed a random hauler and asked him if he wanted to be our new manager/broker/bookkeeper. He jumped at the chance, but I realized that nowhere in the fortress could I find a space that would work for him, since what was apparently intended to be a dining hall looked like there'd just been a particularly raucous party.
(http://i.imgur.com/YLndv.png)
Note the random seed sitting on a statue. Inexplicable thing #27 or so, I've lost track.
I set up a table and chair in that space and told him it was his for his duties, and he scrambled off to do it right away.
The bedrooms are another mystery. The actual spaces are nice enough, smoothed and reasonable large, but each room has exactly one bed, and nothing else. Not even a door.
(http://i.imgur.com/o5yxe.png)
Not only that, but we only had enough doors for about half the rooms. I've ordered doors made to cover the rest, as well as cabinets and coffers to increase the value of the rooms a bit. At some point, I may consider engraving them, but I'm guessing anything produced by our legendary engravers won't be particularly pleasant, given the history of this fortress.
I had a look at the temple in the east wing today. Impressive, to be sure, but why the dining hall in here seems to be the only one, especially considering how far it is from the bedrooms and any food stockpiles is beyond me. And then there's the catacombs below. The main room is macabre and sombering, but some of the side rooms have more oddities.
(http://i.imgur.com/4U40W.png)
Yes, those are clothes. That's a bit of an issue with Phoebus.
Why, precisely, these two occupied sarcophagi are surrounded by discarded clothes I'm not sure I want to know.
Speaking of apparent necrophilia, there's also a dead dwarf in a locked room with caged goblins and one bed (which isn't actually his).
(http://i.imgur.com/elSmv.png)
I have no words.
But even that is not nearly as unfortunate as the state of our military. Exactly half of it is possessed, for one thing, and for another thing it consists of precisely two people.
(http://i.imgur.com/QVGGB.png)
Notice that we have two soldiers and three squads. Okay, then.
I've drafted about two-thirds of the migrant workforce into the military. I believe their assignment to smooth most of the fortress was intended as some sort of training regimen, but we really don't have time to wait for it to come to fruition at this point. The military also lacks what I would consider a proper barracks, so I set one up near the mechanical automated training machine that sticks out into the hallway.
(http://i.imgur.com/lE1zS.png)
The top section is an archery range, the bottom is the barracks proper. You can see the one-tile Danger Room too.
5 Slate 12
There's a series of rooms up one level that also has the lever to the main gate. Were we not in a siege, I would have it moved to somewhere where more dwarves frequent, or possibly into the Survivor's room, making him a Lever Puller.
(http://i.imgur.com/Xh8a1.png)
The only reason those two dwarves are in there is because I told them to smooth everything.
However I have no interest in putting the bridge down even briefly, given that Goblin Santa and his little helpers are still throwing things around. I have to wonder if the abundance of things to smash over in the old fortress is encouraging them to stay.
11 Slate 12
We have a massive backlog of people who need memorializing or burial.
(http://i.imgur.com/mts1C.png)
The previous overseer told the masons to make as many coffins as they could, but now we have a surplus.
(http://i.imgur.com/vHgjE.png)
Hey, at least if everybody in the fortress somehow ends up cut into four pieces we'll have enough coffins to bury the individual bits.
But other than the laborious business of remembering the dead, things proceed fairly efficiently.
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I went ahead and dorfed myself as the only dwarf with engineering skill in the fortress. He's really skinny and tall for a dwarf IIRC, so he works as the intellectual "radical" I'm trying to write (but not doing very well, because a lot of this nuts-and-bolts running-the-fortress sort of stuff doesn't lend itself to character development well.) Not a very eventful post, I know. The trolls smashed a green glass statue, that's probably the most interesting thing that happened. Maybe the next few months will be better.
I'm hoping to stick to one update a day, but I won't promise anything in case I jinx it.