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[Pie Maker]

Introduction

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My name is Nil Swifttoast. Once, I had been a common peasant, working in the plump helmet farms beneath the mountains to earn my daily barrel of ale. Life was good; the walls were strong and there was no shortage of food or drink. Despite this, I had grown tired of my monotonous way of life. It seemed to me that all I ever did was planted seeds and harvested crops all day, stopping only to eat, drink and sleep. I craved for something bigger than that- I craved for a life of excitement and adventure! I longed to see what lay beyond the dull walls of the fortress. Learning of my ambitions, my peers called me a fool, some mockingly compared me to the hated elves whilst others marked me off as insane. Eventually I made up my mind. I sold all that I had, bought myself an adventurer’s kit, complete with a new steel sword and shield and set off with the earliest trade caravan I could join, eager to experience the new world.

A few years later
Part 1

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25th of Slate, 1101

Today, I finally reached Mindfulring, a small town of Omon Woge. I did not plan on settling there, me being a wandering dwarf and all, but nevertheless I decided to stop at a nearby inn to have a chat with the locals. There, I found a group of men huddled in a corner, whispering quickly to each other, each one with a fearful look etched upon his face. I heard one of them say something about a murder and blood, but, he stopped, having noticed me approaching them. The men glared suspiciously at me, when one of them noticed the sword strapped to my back. He must have taken me to be a warrior, for he turned upon me and told me about a vampire who had been preying on the village, asking me to slay it. I was taken aback, for, although I had served as a guard to trading caravans for some time, killing things was not my hobby. However, glancing at the fearful men, I accepted, more out of pity than valour.

I found the man they described in the town’s keep. I was surprised to find that the man was a priest, but I nevertheless spoke an ancient verse to reveal a vampire’s true identity, and so it was revealed. The vampire immediately murdered the nearest priest. Whilst he was busy cutting another poor man to pieces, I took five strides towards him and promptly cut him in half. Ah, steel. The sharpness of this sword sometimes surprises even me.


I reported my success to the men at the inn, and was about to continue on my way, when someone asked me to clear out the dungeons of a few shady characters that had found refuge there. I obliged, and found the dungeon infested with kobolds. The slaughter that followed actually served as a great source of experience for me! By the time I was done, I was already an accomplished swordsdwarf and skilled shield user.


Incidentally, one of the humans later asked me whether dwarves really are heartless. I left the answer up to him to decide.

26th of Slate 1101
The people back in Mindfulring actually asked me to clean out their sewers of vampires. Hah! I may be a dwarf, but, by Armok’s beard, there is no way I am going down there. If they want to kill those vampires so badly, they can send their own men down there. Or flood the tunnels with magma or make them cave in on themselves.

I left Mindfurling and travelled north, with no fixed destination in mind. Eventually, the sun started to set, so I made a beeline for the nearest town, Duskbeasts. I was too late.

Now, dwarves are in no way possessed by fear of darkness. They live deep underground, with little to no natural light, so day and night mean little to a dwarf. Up in the Overlands however, the shift between day and night is far more noticeable. To a tired, wary adventurer, whose minds are constantly filled with pictures of terrifying beasts who would like nothing more than to tear the adventurer to shreds, the darkness is incredibly traumatic. Every shadow around you seems to take the form of your greatest fears. For an adventurer travelling alone, with no one to console him and tell him that the shadows are simply a figment of his overactive imagination, these shadow creatures become so real to him, that he actually believes that they are real and can hurt him. This is merely the work of a tired, scared brain and should be ignored.

Unless, of course, those shadows actually are actually punching you so hard that they break your toe, in which case you are facing bogeymen, the bane of young adventurers, and should run as fast and as far as you can. Which, of course, were precisely what I encountered on that dark, terrifying night. The shadows rose and shifted around me, moulding into shapes that resembled creatures form my worst nightmares. I ran, lashing out wildly whenever one of the shadows seemed to get to close to me. However, run as I might, I could never escape them. I feared for my life, and knew that once I stopped running it would be all over. Suddenly, I felt my mind sharpen and my senses heighten, adrenaline flowing through me. I had entered the legendary martial trance of dwarfkind, the final defense that kicks in when a dwarf finds himself surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered. 

Grabbing my sword firmly, I slashed at the nearest bogeyman, severing his head right off. The shadow fell limply to the ground, and did not rise again. Then the realisation hit me. These were nothing more than physical beings, using fear against their prey. They could be killed. Laughing maniacally, I turned to face the horde, and sliced through each and every one of them, using my heightened senses to accurately sever off their heads. Eventually, the cackling stopped completely and I left the trance. The bogeymen were dead.


I continued walking towards town, and slept through the rest of the night in the first inn I found. 

[Bralbaard]

Bogeyman.. my adventurers usually do very poorly against them, so I never travel at night. Seems like you started quite close to the museum, that's good news

Something interesting I found out - villagers count as "animals" that multiply when you have adventurers that settle at previously abandoned forts based in villages using "embark everywhere" then are reclaimed.  The types of villagers genned are random, but each time there's a new population of "unnamed" villagers when I bring a new adventurer by.  I wonder if this "bug" could be used to repopulate cities and whatnot in our game?

Interesting.. I wonder if those are really new citizens or if they are drawn from the civilisations existing pool of citizens. I know there are several maps around where people have civs close to extinction, this could be tested on such a map. If this works it could be used on dwarven civilisations,their populations will have decreased by quite a bit because of all the fortresses we have build. I do not know if we really have any civs close to extinction though..

[notquitethere]

An enterprising murderer adventurer could make a civilisation close to extinction...

[Trungdle]

11 p.m. Had nothing to do and went to the internet. Visited Toady's blog and found out about the Map making site. Seen a post there with link to this thread. It's 5:58 AM now, and the feeling when I reached the last page and realized that there was nothing left to read was unexplainable.
I dont want to join since I know that I am suck at game playing but the story is just thrilling and addicting.
Thank you guys for all of the glorious adventures.
Thank for all the efforts that have been made.
I cried at some parts. No joke.
Now I need some sleep.
P/s: made an account just to say that. value my world. *burning devil eyes revealed*

[zooeyglass]

Can't say it better than the poster above. PTW, thank you all so very much.

[Bralbaard]

An enterprising murderer adventurer could make a civilisation close to extinction...

From what I understand from the current state of the game he couldn't. (Non historical) citizens are simply respawned after the adventurer returns to the same site, even after he killed them.

I have however heard of players making their parent civilisation go extinct during fortress mode play, after too many migrants were lost to whatever fortresses lose citizens to. I don't know how it works exactly, but it can happen, and the fortress it happens to won't receive any other migrants. Birth would be the only method for population growth.

[Vgray]

Really? I thought it just went back to pulling non-historical migrants out of thin air...

[Bralbaard]

*searches*
This post amongst others clearly states this, sadly I don't have any hard data to support it except for others saying it is possible.
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=52208.msg2872616#msg2872616

[Pie Maker]

Part 2

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27th of Slate
Before leaving Duskbeasts, I chatted with the locals telling them my story. Impressed, they bestowed upon me the title “the Colourless Complexities.”

Amongst the listeners was an old siege operator called Esmi Froggulf. He pulled me aside and begged me to let him join me, telling me about the days when he also wandered the wilds. Seeing no reason to let down the man’s wish, I accepted. I had obtained my first companion.

I pondered on where I should go next. Esmi suggested that we go visit a museum that had opened in Dinnerwandered. Agreeing that it seemed like a good idea, we decided to set off immediately.

Nothing especially interesting happened along the way, except that we recruited a crossbowman called Thina and got ambushed by dinner a cheetah.

We arrived at Dinnerwandered in the evening. The place seemed to be nearly abandoned and was mostly falling to ruin. The museum, however was still in pretty good shape. As we entered, we were greeted by a hammerman. The guard showed us around the place, explaining each exhibit’s story. He told us that anyone was allowed to submit significant items to the museum. There and then I decided that I would venture out into the world again to find an object worthy of display in this museum. On our way out, I picked up a book that had caught my eye. It was titled “Immortality in the time of my Ancestors.” I opened it and began reading.

The tome was filled with strange glyphs that I had never seen before. They twisted and changed shape perpetually, taking on a new meaning every time. I watched, entranced by the shifting shapes. Knowledge seemed to seep into me from the book, although I could not possibly have been able to understand the writing. In the space of a second, I discovered my purpose in the universe and the secrets of life and death. I discovered that I need not sustain myself with food or drink, or waste my life in slumber. Even the ale that had once been so precious me was unnecessary now.

I left the museum that day a different dwarf.

30th of Slate

I have been travelling east, towards the mountains, with the hope that I will finally be able to find armour that fits me. Today, I reached the town of Ruthlessmob. It was completely abandoned, save for a few goblins in the dungeons, which I slaughtered. The strangest thing about this place, however was not the fact that it was devoid of life, but the architecture of the houses, which were constructed of smooth shale and whose doors were made of a material that I could not identify. Something was amiss-despite taking the appearance of a human town, this was definitely not human architecture…and since when do humans build in evil regions? No, this was the work of goblins, I am sure of it.


1st of Felcite
We were ambushed by a small band of goblins today. Both of my companions were harmed, but I survived without a scratch.

After the battle, I noticed a terrible creature glaring at me in the distance. It was an elephant, sworn enemy of all dwarves! I charged at it, as is decreed in the code of honour of all dwarves, and, after a glorious battle, slaughtered it. I then butchered it and kept its skull.

Later that day, we were ambushed by the Poisoned floods, another band of goblins. In the ensuing battle, we killed their chieftess. Unfortunately, Thina, the Crossbowman did not make it out alive.

Part 3-The Exploration of Islandpaddle

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2nd of Felsite
I made it to the Islandpaddle, a dwarven fortress built over a volcano. After some searching, I found an old wagon, still containing several items such as anvils and medical supplies. I had a bad feeling that this fortress had not lasted long.

I finally found the entrance.

Was greeted by a human zombie, who ignored me but made straight for Esmi. For Esmi’s sake, I struck down vombie. Fearing that necromancy was abound in this place, I grabbed the corpse and threw it straight into the lava, where it sank and boiled.

I explored the rest of the fort, but to my disappointment, there was actually very little to see. Unless there was a secret entrance that I missed, the fort merely consisted of a single z-level, with the food production zone based in the south section, and a single magma kiln near the volcano, with a mechanic’s workshop nearby.


There was also a most curious gabbro bridge suspended over lava with a lever next to it. My first guess is that it served as a form of garbage disposal, most likely for corpses if necromancers had invaded. However, when I pulled the lever, nothing happened. Or at least nothing that I could observe…

[Eric Blank]

I remember that place. I once reclaimed it whilst playing around with the save. My dorfs didn't last long.

[TheFlame52]

You are so screwed, becoming a necromancer so soon. Haven't you read the exploits of the other adventurers?

[Argonnek]

Actually, I did a bit of testing with a few adventurers. Necromancy does NOT stop attribute growth. Even when I was playing my turn for the museum, the day and a half that I spent swimming still improved my strength and agility.

[Eric Blank]

According to raw exports they DO have the "NO_PHYS_ATT_GAIN:NO_PHYS_ATT_RUST" line in their definition. If you're still gaining attributes, then that's a bug.

[Pie Maker]

Indeed, I am still gaining attributes (and I once had an adventurer whose attributes I maxed out after becoming a necromacer). But that doesn't matter anymore. My adventure so far has been a huge success. I am now invincible, or at least the closest I'll ever be to invincibility. I'll post the update later today.

[Pie Maker]

Part 4:Goblins

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3rd of Felsite 1101
Reached the hamlet of Jackflinger this morning but we found it completely abandoned with each house in ruins, fields overgrown with weeds and not a soul in sight.

Travelled southeast and reched a hamlet called “Rootedmonsters”
I was shocked to find it inhabited by goblins, and what’s more….they were friendly goblins, at least in the sense that they did not attempt to kill me on sight. However, they refused to speak to me when I attempted to start a conversation with them, and continued glaring at me instead.

The houses resembled those in Ruthlessmob, with smooth shale walls and doors made of an unkown material.

However the goblins suddenly decided that they were tired of our prescence, and struck Emsi as we were about to leave, killing him.

I watched, stricken with grief, as the lifeless body of my closest ally, fell to the ground. A sudden rage took over me, and I began slashing my sword around like a madman, felling goblins everywhere. It was only when every goblin in the room was dead, that I knelt beside Emsi, in respect to the warrior. Strange letters suddenly sprang into my mind. They were the twisted, ever-changing glyphs from the book of life and death. They began to form strings of words, then strange incomprehensible sentences that I found myself chanting, almost involuntarily. With a sudden gesture from my right hand, Emsi’s corpse suddenly shuddered, and rose. I watched as the undead man turned towards me, his expressionless eyes staring back at me from the abyss.

Under my command, we slaughtered every goblin we could find in the accursed hamlet. It was a sight to behold, limbs flying everywhere, and skulls being crushed under my elephant skull. Such was the carnage, that when Emsi fell, I could not find him amongst the piles of corpses.

4th of Felsite 1101
After the slaughter, I travelled south, and came upon Belldishes, the strangest human fortress I have ever seen, in shape.

It was, as all the other fortresses had been, abandoned, or so I thought. I was just about to leave when I heard muffled voices coming from the dungeons. Upon further inspection, I found two goblin prisoners locked inside.

They begged me to free them, and, pitying the starving creatures, I did. They now travel with me as my new companions.

-Later that day-
I have been travelling north, with the intent of returning to Dinnerwandered, having found no armour suitable for me on this side of the country.
One of the goblin prisoners was killed by a zombie giant hyena along the way. Some time later, the other goblin was killed by a herd of zombie impala men. Poor thing.

Part 5:A Strange Encounter

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5th of Felsite 1101
Something incredible and horrific has just happened. I was simply walking towards the Sable Pits, a known lair, to sleep there for the night, when suddenly:

The demon began throwing fireballs everywhere, setting the world ablaze. As he was busy killing a zombie barn owl, I ran for my life. The black fiend killed the undead owl and began moving swiftly towards me.

An eerie mist suddenly enveloped me. Then and there, I felt myself die. Yet, I did not leave. I was still there, an empty shell of a dwarf, staring at the terrifying demon approaching me. Then, the twisting glyphs appeared in my mind’s eye. I, as a necromancer, had already animated and controlled several dead creatures. What was to stop me from controlling myself? A husk I had become, yet I was not completely mindless.

I turned towards the fiend, and it immediately kicked me and broke my legs. I, now one of the walking dead, felt no pain and simply stood up again. Grabbing the hilt of my sword, I slashed one of the black fiend’s legs, tearing what I took to be a ligament, and, realising it was organic, stabbed it in the head. I shall remember the horrifying screams that came from the demon as he fell for the rest of my life.


OOC:Ok, so I have no idea what just happened. I was just walking towards the lair when I suddenly noticed that message about a Black Fiend launching fireballs and then I saw him. Most probably a bug of some sort, or just a huge piece of luck. It's probably a bug though. No fortresses nearby, so it can't be that either. This calls for an investigation in Legends Mode. Oh, and in other news I have also become a near-invincible thrall/husk (not sure which, though I've picked a husk for the narrative). If anyone wants to investigate the matter further/become invincible, this is the exact location where everything happened:

Part 6:The Journey Back

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6th of Felsite
On my way back to Dinnerwandered, I visited Healedhailed and Graspingflew, two bandit camps in the Systematic desert. In both cases, I was given a heart-warming greeting by several human bandits. I repaid the favour accordingly. 

7th of Felsite
I finally reached Dinnerwandered, under the cover of night, so as not to alarm the locals. Everyone I met so far seems to want to kill me, which is understandable, considering my current form. Nevertheless, the guards were asleep, so I had no problem accessing the museum.

As I stepped into the museum for the second time, I realised that I had not yet obtained anything great enough to submit. As I looked through the exhibits and read their stories, a sudden idea came to me.
No one had descended into the caverns yet.  Looking through my maps, I noticed a nearby cave called Charmedechoes. Tomorrow, I shall descend to the caverns, in search of glory.

Bonus:In my attempt to get out of town without fast travelling (as I am now an enemy of all living creatures, including humans), I found myself getting chased by a stray cat. Luckily, a friendly human thresher mummy helped me get rid of it.