Topic: The Story of Atölasob (A Community Fort with an Export Challenge) (Read 59705 times)

Fleeting Frames · « **Reply #270 on:** December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am »

⁓ Ah, right, forgot about that rule. Makes sense, I suppose.

To be fair, I usually forget the existence of jewelers too, till a mood needs one.

And oh, now that's unusual application of them. I sometimes like to blow on gemstone mugs (available through trade or embark points), but this way you could have clay goblets (rather than earthenware goblets) perchance. Though checking the wiki, the craft%/large gem% tables had only glass and gems used.

Now, Whether it is actually efficient way to produce crafts, eheh...Well, 13,44% of a craft. Multiplied by 5 for skill bonus speed, it's still below 100% I guess.

Do you keep the old quota sheets, btw?

⁓ A miner is a terrible option for making babies.

At least some are doing that, though :p

⁓ Huh. Were the visitor zones always open to everyone? I'd take not, but I've had a big trade with elves cause an influx of performance troupes too (tested with trading 1 or 2 years after embark on same embark, same troupes both times some time after elves. Still, too small a sample size to call it.)

Sounds like you need too put a low visitor cap. And...did you put it to zero, or just make the zones citizen only again?

As for the books themselves. Hm. Don't some of them go under tools?

⁓ Aquifer cutoffs are weird, but I've never seen a stone aquifer not go to the lowest stone aquifer layer.

I see you've divested some iron with diagonal digging. Can smooth diagonally as well as check safety with downstairs.

⁓ Little dead c...apuchins. Oh Imic.

⁓ There's a typo: The Pillars of Ink are probably not Marskwarves.

And for the post right above, I believe it was Scorchgravel. Though can always make a new embark, if it is a heartfelt desire.

Dame de la Licorne · « **Reply #271 on:** December 25, 2016, 09:41:40 am »

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am

I sometimes like to blow on gemstone mugs (available through trade or embark points), but this way you could have clay goblets (rather than earthenware goblets) perchance.

I explored that as an option to fulfill the "rock mugs" quota, but apparently you can't make goblets using gem cutting.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am

Now, Whether it is actually efficient way to produce crafts, eheh...Well, 13,44% of a craft.

No, it's not efficient.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am

Do you keep the old quota sheets, btw?

Not the spreadsheets themselves (I re-use and update the same one each year), but I keep all of the screencaps I post.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am

⁓ Huh. Were the visitor zones always open to everyone?

No. I had them restricted to citizens only, until the story justified people coming to visit. I figured a defeated werecreature fit the bill. Though I didn't open them up until late spring (to give the elves time to "spread the word").

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am

Sounds like you need too put a low visitor cap.

It's at 10, right now.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am

As for the books themselves. Hm. Don't some of them go under tools?

Quires are found under tools, bound books are found under codices.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am

⁓ Aquifer cutoffs are weird, but I've never seen a stone aquifer not go to the lowest stone aquifer layer.

I see you've divested some iron with diagonal digging. Can smooth diagonally as well as check safety with downstairs.

I forgot about that... ^^;; I'll deal with it later.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 08:23:38 am

⁓ There's a typo: The Pillars of Ink are probably not Marskwarves.

According to the game, they are. Unless you're being tongue-in-cheek?

- Dame de la Licorne

Fleeting Frames · « **Reply #272 on:** December 25, 2016, 09:46:10 am »

⁓̛ Ah.

Ok, I guess gemstone mugs are only trade (& embark), then.

⁓̛ Will you be trading copies away, then?

⁓̛ Marskwarves != Marksdwarfs or even Marksdwarves. (I think Toady uses dwarfs because easier grammar).

Dame de la Licorne · « **Reply #273 on:** December 25, 2016, 10:03:06 am »

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 09:46:10 am

⁓̛ Will you be trading copies away, then?

Not unless I have to. That quire the guest scholar was writing in, walked off with him.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 09:46:10 am

⁓̛ Marskwarves != Marksdwarfs or even Marksdwarves. (I think Toady uses dwarfs because easier grammar).

Oh. Oops.

Fixed for future posts.

- Dame de la Licorne

Fleeting Frames · « **Reply #274 on:** December 25, 2016, 11:58:45 am »

Heh. I remember dumping the same native gold bound codex from leaving scholars like a dozen times before shaking my head and giving up.

(Though I suppose I could have made a second library without storage at the time, then made the first citizen only, and move/dump all written things from first to second...Not sure if dwarves and visitors would still carry them back to read in the public library, though.)

Dame de la Licorne · « **Reply #275 on:** December 25, 2016, 12:32:18 pm »

Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.

02 Limestone 83

Dog meat, turkey eggs, or bayberries. What does a dwarf have to do to get a decent meal around here?

04 Limestone 83

And I’ve been hearing others complain about the lack of decent meals. Just because we live in a hole in the ground doesn’t mean we can’t have good food.

I’ve asked Ral to do some experimenting over in the kitchen. How different can cooking food be from brewing it, after all?

Maybe she can find a way to make those yam plants halfway edible, given that any beer she tries to make from them tastes absolutely horrible. We certainly have plenty of them.

13 Limestone 83

A speardwarf? What, does he expect to find another werecreature here? Does he think one of us got bitten?

I’ll have Imic’s squad keep an eye on him.

15 Limestone 83

And judgement day has arrived, once again.

I’ve ordered the quota moved. And, while it’s too early to really tell, I think we have everything! At least, Akrul isn’t yelling at us while she tallies up each item delivered.

And, with some of our recent visitors gone, our import numbers have lowered again.

But if more visitors keep arriving, it’s going to keep driving the import numbers higher. So to compensate, we need to operate with a working import cap of…I have a headache.

I need a drink.

17 Limestone 83

I took a short break from quota hauling to listen to the speardwarf’s tales of his many adventures in the wilderness. Wow, he’s been to so many places and done so many things, it’s unbelievable!

Still, it was a nice way to pass the time.

But that quota isn’t going to move itself.
______________________________________________________________________________

21 Limestone 83

Yes, yes. Coming.

The Earth of Staves. They control Theaterknowledge. I remember Mestthos, though I never actually interacted with her. Wait a minute, isn’t she… “Oh, no!”

OOC: Names that are crossed out are dead, and Mestthos Lividsilver (Azzinral) is at the top left. Bolded names are currently in Atolasob. This isn’t a complete genealogical tree for her, since I’m only including locally-known dwarves (otherwise it gets very unwieldy very quickly). The colors follow the male lines of descent, because our civ started with a king (so I made us patriarchal).

Echoworked sat back, giving Lotu a minute to work through the immediate consequences.

A third of Finderboards is going to be grieving at the news that Mestthos has died. Does Ral have enough beer on hand to deal with it? OOC: 14 out of our 50 dwarves are descended from her.

With a quick excuse, Lotu raced over to the brewery for a quick consultation.

“Yeah.” Ral said slowly, studying all of the kegs. “Yeah, we should have enough.”

Lotu walked sedately back to his meeting, having swiped a mug of good old dwarven ale on his way. Nodding to Echoworked, he sat back down.

“STEEL!” Lotu barely waited for Echoworked to finish speaking before jumping in. “We need steel! Anything! Just as long as it’s made of steel.”

After a moment of debate, he added, “And some flux stone wouldn’t come amiss, either.”

Echoworked nodded in understanding. “I did notice that corpse on the way in. I’ll need to congratulate your soldiers before I leave.”

“Just make sure you give Imic a wide berth. He’s still upset at having to fight in leather armor.”

“Uh-huh.” Echoworked looked back at his notes. “Swordgangs is holding steady at 55 dwarves, and here is Bomrek’s list for the year.”

Lotu nodded, scribbling madly. So we need to make…

Oh dear Urdim. 110 backpacks? And another 220 pieces of leather? Not even Akrul can manage this. We are soooo going to fail…

______________________________________________________________________________

Excerpt from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.

27 Limestone 83

I’ve just come from a meeting with Akrul. The crazy dwarf seems to think this impossible quota is perfectly attainable!

She’s already sent out work orders to Mebzuth and the woodcrafters to focus on toys. And Rith is focusing on making bolts, which I’m sure is going to make the Pillars of Ink very happy. Olon has already started making backpacks. I guess he’s happy to be distracted from his grief over his great-grandmother.

Sodel is another story. He’s been huddled in the brewery, nursing mug of beer after cup of wine with chasers of ale and frequent shots of whiskey. And the occasional palate cleansing cider.

And I’m going to have to go pull him out of there and get him over to the clothier’s to start making some more gloves. Then again, the drunker the dwarf, the better their work.

I think I’ll let him drink for another week or so.
______________________________________________________________________________

06 Sandstone 83

Up on the ramparts, Besmar watched as another troupe of the ever-present capuchins approached. Suddenly, they panicked and started racing north along the palisade.

Huh? Did they smell the rotting corpses? Or can capuchins see through walls now?

Expecting them to keep running north, Besmar’s mouth dropped open in shock as the troupe swerved around the edge of the wall and raced south across the drawbridge.

Wha—? “Alert! Alert! Enemies past the drawbridge! Alert!”

But the caravan guards were already moving. With swift, brutal efficiency, they decimated the capuchin charge. Sky, arriving to find most of the work already done, took off after the fleeing pair of remaining monkeys, with the caravan guards in hot pursuit.

Besmar watched in bemusement as the guards soon gave up the chase, returning at a much more moderate pace.

Sky, on the other hand, proceeded to chase the two capuchins all over the western half of the map. Managing to grab one by the tail, he wrestled it into a chokehold and finally managed to choke it death.

How could the dude forget his axe at a time like this? Besmar was perplexed.

By the time Sky managed to catch up with, and kill, the last capuchin, he was clearly in no state to answer anything. Swaying in visible exhaustion, he made his way slowly back toward the village.

Lotu, carrying a bin full of quota crafts, froze in shock at the entrance to the depot.

“What? What are you doing?”

Dastot barely looked up from his frantic tightening of straps. “It’s too dangerous here! We’re leaving! Now!”

“B-bu-but! The quota! What about the quota?”

“Don’t care. Not waitin’. We’re goin’!”

And without giving Lotu time to respond, Dastot leaped to the front of his wagon, and urged the pair of aurochsen forward. The rest of the caravan quickly followed suit, rushing to meet the returning caravan guards. Those dwarves didn’t ask questions, but formed up in short order and escorted the traders away.

Lotu stood staring after them. Thoughts raced through his head, but none of them slowed enough for him to grab on to it. Finally, one managed to stick around.

Either we’re doomed, or that caravan is doomed.

His head dropped forward, and caught sight of the mess the traders had left behind. In their hurry to escape the capuchin attack, they had clearly cut all of the weight they could.

What a mess. Then again, He perked up a bit. We don’t have to make as many toys or shields this year. That thought cheered him up considerably. Assuming Dodok is smart enough to blame Dastot for this little fiasco. His heart fell to the bottom of his boots. And that's not very likely, is it.
______________________________________________________________________________

Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.

09 Sandstone 83

With all of the extra, mostly useless, quota goods lying around, we need another general stockpile. I think I can dig one out pretty quickly while Airith is designing and building pumps.

16 Sandstone 83

And we’ll go ahead and floor it so that we don’t get things full of sand.

It’s a good thing Another has been training by making blocks out of the otherwise useless stone coming out of the aquifer.

17 Sandstone 83

Here to compose a mockery of such cowardly dwarves, are you? Grrrr.

04 Timber 83

And that new stockpile is now ready for use.

We need some more bins and barrels…
______________________________________________________________________________

17 Timber 83

Working on the last level of retaining walls, Lotu was startled to hear a rather timid voice.

“Lotu, sir? May I have a word?”

Lotu shrugged, and slogged his way up the wet ramp. “Come up to my office.” What does she want?

Someone is actually choosing to stay? Especially after seeing the hole in the ground? And witnessing the constant, backbreaking, thankless work it takes to keep a narcissist happy?

Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face, because Udil explained, “My poetry will lift the hearts of those here, which will make living in such a joyless place more bearable and their burdens will be lighter. I wish to bring some joy into your lives.”

Joy? Akrul would have something to say about that. Aloud, “Sure. You’re welcome to stay!” We can always use another pair of hands to help move the quota around.

______________________________________________________________________________

Excerpt from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.

28 Timber 83

The caravan will have arrived at Swordgangs by now, and Dodok will soon learn of the Capuchin Fiasco. That’s what we’ve been calling it. Our production numbers are, mostly, on track.

But we will definitely fail the leather unless something changes drastically. How many of those animals in the pasture can we slaughter?

Late Autumn 83

Meng watched as a very small caravan passed through the last tunnel gates into the depot. Only two wagons? How could they have fit the entire quota into two wagons?

Heavy footsteps echoed behind him, and he turned to watch Bomrek approach. “It’s kinda small, ain’t it?”

“It certainly seems to be.”

“An’, th’wagons’re mos’ly emp’y!” Fuming, Bomrek charged over to Dastot. His resulting tirade could probably be heard in Finderboards.

“ ‘N I’m gonna make sure His Majesty ‘ears ‘bou’ this! Runnin’ f’om cat-sized monkeys!”

Early Winter 83

King Dodok read Bomrek’s letter in increasingly visible agitation. “Fetch him!”

One of his aides, braver than the rest, ventured, “Fetch who, Your Majesty?”

“The Captain of the Guard, of course!”

That dwarf arrived quickly, as he always did. “I want him hammered!”

“Who, Your Majesty?” The Captain asked calmly.

“Him!” King Dodok jabbed at the letter, then grabbed it up, scanning for the name he wanted. “This Dastot, the so-called trader. Dastot the Coward, rather. Hammer him!”

The Captain nodded. “I will see to it at once, Your Majesty. How many times?”

The king thought for a minute. “Twenty-one. Once for each dwarf that left Finderboards with him, and without the quota.”

Saluting, the Captain turned sharply on his heels and marched out of the room to dispense justice. Behind him, the king snapped his fingers at his aides. “Fetch me a scribe. I need to write a letter.”

The next morning Dastot’s bloody, mutilated body was delivered to his family for funeral rites. Justice had been served.

Current character list:

Spoiler: On 1st month break: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: On 2nd month break: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: On 3rd month break: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: The Pale Roads (Axedwarves) (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: The Pillars of Ink (Marksdwarves) (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Scholars (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Newcomers (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Petitioners (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Children: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: NPCs: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Current List of Deities (click to show/hide)

Edit: Always the typos... $:-\$

☼Another☼ · « **Reply #276 on:** December 25, 2016, 12:56:30 pm »

Journal of Another:

Horrible News! Messthos Azzinral, my grandmother is dead! I cannot give into sadness.

The traders have left without taking our quota, something about monkeys. As though they suffer as much as we do to fulfill our quotas? Used to their luxurious mountainhomes, and afraid of a single corpse.

Fleeting Frames · « **Reply #277 on:** December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm »

^◙ Well, lack of decent meals is about preferences, really. Lot can be provided by embark, especially on booze...But I wonder, would import cap enble one to import one of every kind of meat from caravan?

Speaking of the import cap, an axedwarf with steel axe arriving is going to bite into it.

^◙ Hm, a granddaughter inheriting noble position from her grandmother in a patriachal kingdom >:3

So, did the ones in Atolasob get a thought about having their relative die?

^◙ Tanned hides and backbags?

...Welp. You could hunt all year, I suppose. And caverns are almost there. And if you dice animals into itty bitty pieces..

No. I fear that will be not enough. Almost every day needs a piece of leather, and for third of them the leather has to be processed.

I can see but a single possible path to success:

Awaken the clown car. Get something like 20-100 clowns (maybe it will vary with different pokes? Never had a savescum to test that).

Then, some of them will be fleshy. Now, if you rip them into pieces instead of using obsidianizing or caveins, the fleshy ones could be butchered into several pieces of leather.

Maybe explode the fragile ones with wooden minecart percussion, then have webbers web bait - and serrated disk traps to slice apart the non-webber fleshy demons - then finish off the rest with heavy minecart percussion/furniture bait(s), then reseal the spire with previous bridge and move in with nearby butcheries and tanners with all of the population having one or another...

Hm. Not sure that would work. Not sure how long bodies last, but iirc tanned hide rots in two weeks, so assuming 16 dwarves tan a hide every two days (not sure how long this job takes, but might be longer with dabbling dwarves) this would mean mere 112 hides.

^◙ Oh my.

Oh right.

The elves also had someone bolting.

I should have foreseen this. Did the earlier "quota is filled" distract me? ^^;;

Nevertheless....That's the worst failure yet.

^◙ I am slightly amused at the sand-bearing hallways, and floored over general stockpile with the floors not visible due stockpile ^^;,

Wait, is the other one also floored over? If so, I never realized.

^◙ So. Did you actually ensure Dastot the trader died, by dropping rocks on them or something?

Well, having one of your numbers die due visit to Atolasob would definitely make one consider it a dangerous place.

Imic · « **Reply #278 on:** December 25, 2016, 02:32:05 pm »

Oh well, since the traders forgot to bring their supplies, I suppose that gives you a head start.
I do still read this, by the way. I haven't missed a single update. I love it.

Dame de la Licorne · « **Reply #279 on:** December 25, 2016, 02:37:23 pm »

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm

^◙ Well, lack of decent meals is about preferences, really. Lot can be provided by embark, especially on booze...But I wonder, would import cap enble one to import one of every kind of meat from caravan?

Probably, if we didn't have to worry about visitors bringing random junk.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm

Speaking of the import cap, an axedwarf with steel axe arriving is going to bite into it.

Don't give me Lotu nightmares...

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm

^◙ Hm, a granddaughter inheriting noble position from her grandmother in a patriachal kingdom >:3

I'm only doing the patriarchal bit when tracking family lines (when tracking children's bloodlines), not for anything else.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm

So, did the ones in Atolasob get a thought about having their relative die?

Oddly enough, no, other than the almost ubiquitous "feels sad at being separated from a loved one". I'm guessing it's because once a dwarf gets to the player-run location, anyone else not also on the local map is abstracted out with respect to those thoughts. I suppose it makes sense, you wouldn't want the majority of a small fort to suddenly go crazy with grief if a particularly prolific relative happens to croak half a world away. Then again, the closest blood ties to Mestthos are her six local grandchildren. As far as I can tell, there isn't anyone local closer than that. So maybe they just weren't very close to her?

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm

clowns

Ah...there's still a level of aquifer in the way...and then we have to find the clown car... Nope, not gonna happen.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm

I should have foreseen this. Did the earlier "quota is filled" distract me? ^^;;

Nevertheless....That's the worst failure yet.

The traders didn't bolt until after the capuchins ran amok. Before that, I could have traded (I was in the trade interface to check some numbers right before, the merchants had all unloaded and were ready to barter). They ran for it after the guards got into it with some very. Small. Monkeys.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm

^◙ I am slightly amused at the sand-bearing hallways, and floored over general stockpile with the floors not visible due stockpile ^^;,

Wait, is the other one also floored over? If so, I never realized.

Yes, it is. I don't know if you realize, but sand gets into everything (personal experience from too many "holiday" beach trips, emphasis on sandy beaches). So as a result of such traumatic experiences, I play DF with that expectation.

Quote from: Fleeting Frames on December 25, 2016, 01:03:27 pm

^◙ So. Did you actually ensure Dastot the trader died, by dropping rocks on them or something?

According to Legends mode, he died of old age. But since that's just boring, I just decided to make it more story appropriate, since someone needed to be blamed for the Capuchin Fiasco. But Lotu isn't going to get off scot-free either.

Quote from: Imic on December 25, 2016, 02:32:05 pm

Oh well, since the traders forgot to bring their supplies, I suppose that gives you a head start.

Which might actually have been even more appreciated if they'd bothered to leave any of their supplies behind.

- Dame de la Licorne

Fleeting Frames · « **Reply #280 on:** December 25, 2016, 03:00:18 pm »

All: Ah well.

PS: I live five minute walk from beach

I typically imagine the floors to be more like compressed sand or sandpaper (never mind that there is sandstone already), as it holds up even when tiles under it are dug away. Granted, that doesn't work with "gather sand" tasks...

Still, seeing them as loose sand is an interesting idea. And I do so like the white and pure soap castles, as far as structural issues go.

Gwolfski · « **Reply #281 on:** December 25, 2016, 04:03:11 pm »

The visiting Urist wrote a book. Did they take it with them? If not, can I see its description?

Dame de la Licorne · « **Reply #282 on:** December 25, 2016, 04:06:15 pm »

Quote from: Gwolfski on December 25, 2016, 04:03:11 pm

Did they take it with them?

Unfortunately, yes. And before I could see it. However, this particular scholar kept "pondering the wheel and axle", so it probably had something to do with that.

Someone also stole the book you (Dr. Urist) wrote early on. No scribes to make copies... $:-\$

- Dame de la Licorne

Gwolfski · « **Reply #283 on:** December 25, 2016, 04:09:15 pm »

Quote from: Dame de la Licorne on December 25, 2016, 04:06:15 pm

Quote from: Gwolfski on December 25, 2016, 04:03:11 pm
Did they take it with them?

Unfortunately, yes. And before I could see it. However, this particular scholar kept "pondering the wheel and axle", so it probably had something to do with that.

Someone also stole the book you (Dr. Urist) wrote early on. No scribes to make copies... $:-\$

- Dame de la Licorne

well, let me think up a story....

Dame de la Licorne · « **Reply #284 on:** December 25, 2016, 07:32:31 pm »

Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.

05 Moonstone 83

On careful consideration of our animals, and after consulting with Erib, I’ve designated the twenty biggest puppies, two of the giant porcupines, the oldest giant dingo and the oldest giant badger for slaughter. Twenty-four new pieces of leather should make a dent in the backpacks, at any rate.

06 Moonstone 83

There was the most unusual sight in the common area today.

I’d heard of such creatures, but thought they were merely children’s tales. I’d always wondered how they were supposed to carry their weapons, or anything else for that matter. Now I know. It He carried a spear in ~~its~~ his beak.

I don’t want to know how well he wields it.

09 Moonstone 83

Six more puppies have grown large enough to justify slaughtering. NCommander is grumbling at the waste, but almost everyone in the village recognizes that we must make the quota this time.

Assuming Dodok doesn’t decide to punish us for the Capuchin Fiasco.

18 Moonstone 83

Wool production has started. Can I justify importing other kinds of animals?

25 Moonstone 83

We haven’t seen hide nor hair of a kobold in over a year. I wonder what they’re up to…

06 Opal 83

We have a breeding pair of dingoes?

Unfortunately, it’s much too small to help with leather quota.

09 Opal 83

Imic is ecstatic. He recently improved his axe skill, and now thinks that maybe, just maybe, he is worthy of the title of “Axe Lord”.

12 Opal 83

Ral has figured out how to some halfway decent yam roasts. Now, if she could only do the same with persimmons...

20 Opal 83

Airith says that Another has made enough blocks that he can now be considered a fully capable mason.

01 Obsidian 83

Doesn’t he have responsibilities in whatever town he comes from?

But I can use this. With any luck, I can get him to convince his traders to bring leather in the summer?

He says he's from the Realm of Allegiance. That's the wrong civ. Shucks.

05 Obsidian 83

A human…wants to live here? Oh, and this is that lord consort that arrived less than a week ago…

Well, I decided that if he’s crazy enough to want to live with a bunch of crazy dwarves in a glorified hole in the ground, I guess we’re crazy enough to take him.

Before I granted his wish for residency, I did tell him he would be treated just like any other dwarf who lives here. The idea didn’t faze him. Does he have any idea that the conditions here aren’t normal?

11 Obsidian 83

Between that human and Udil, there are some pretty entertaining stories floating around these days. Maybe Udil had a point about the benefits of a dedicated entertainer.
______________________________________________________________________________

13 Obsidian 83

The hammerdwarf crossed the dwarbridge and hailed the nearest citizen. “Tell Lotu I want to talk to him. Where’s his office?”

Ral pointed northeast, and called over Spriggans, who was passing with a load of wood for her furnace. “I can’t leave my pot roast. Can you tell Lotu that fella wants t’see him?”

Spriggans hefted the wood filling her beefy arms. “Sure. I’ll just put this down first.”

By the time Lotu finally reached his office in the dining area, the hammerdwarf was pacing irritably. “What took so long?”

Lotu eyed the stranger. “Dealing with a water problem. What do you want?”

The hammerdwarf reached into his tunic and withdrew a missive. “I’m to wait for your reply.”

This is an exceptionally-crafted sheet of pig tail fiber. It is decorated with spikes of elk bird bone, giraffe leather, and hanging rings of orthoclase. It is embossed with a masterfully-crafted image of a dwarf and dwarves in wax. The dwarves are raising the dwarf. The image relates to the ascension of Dodok Charmedmirrors to the position of King of the Figure of Diving in the year 1. This image is the personal seal of the king.

Lotu inhaled sharply, then nodded. Sliding his thumbnail beneath the seal, he carefully opened the letter.

Attention: Lotu Sizzlediron

The events of this past fall WILL NOT be permitted to stand. It is Finderboards’ duty and responsibility to ensure safe passage for any and all traders or other travelers within view of your walls against ANY enemy, no matter how innocuous. You are hereby ordered to raise and equip a military capable of providing adequate protection to all future caravans.

However, in view of the cowardly creature who was in charge at the time, failure to deliver the quota has been placed at his feet, and he has been punished accordingly with twenty-one hammerstrokes. Be advised that, should there be another equally spectacular failure, the person or persons responsible will receive a similar punishment.

Signed: His Majesty by the Grace of Armok, King Dodok Charmedmirrors, Cheesemaker

This is supposed to scare me? And where does he expect me to get the steel to equip them with?

Pulling a clean sheet of paper from the small pile now sitting on a corner of the dining table, he penned a respectful acknowledgement.

Hesitating a moment, he decided against putting in a request for military volunteers. Having royal guardsmen descend on the fort was the last thing anyone in Finderboards would want. Signing it quickly, he handed it to the hammerdwarf with a shrug.

“There ya go.”

The hammerdwarf took it and nodded once, sharply. “Goodbye.” He turned and strode quickly up the nearest ramp.

Not staying long enough to sip a brew? What, is he afraid we’ll rub off on him and he’ll have to stay here?

Shaking his head, Lotu headed back to the galling aquifer. We have seven militia in training, but that’s not going to be enough. And they need decent armor…so I need to add steel and an armorer to the to-do list. At least there's no reason to hide any military capability any more.

He smiled grimly at the thought.

And Dodok seems to be handling this more or less reasonably, so far.
______________________________________________________________________________

Excerpts from the journal of Lotu Sizzlediron, expedition leader.

18 Obsidian 83

I've decided to assign all of the civilians to new militia squads. They'll train for a month every year, and will help the soldiers guard the caravans on their way in and out. Getting good-quality armor is still problematic, but at least we still have enough leather armor lying around to meet our needs for another year or so.

26 Obsidian 83

Finally! The last retaining wall is finished!

Now I just have to dig out the remaining bots of aquifer wall, pump out all that water, and then I can start digging into the granite below. The end is so close, I can almost taste it!

28 Obsidian 83

The winter’s quota numbers are more or less what I expected.

Akrul was insisting that we need to slaughter all of our animals to get the necessary leather. I refused, because of the 132 untrained animals we have, over 50 are either too small to give any leather, or are owned by someone. Less than a hundred animals wouldn’t fulfill the quota, and would destroy our leather and wool industries. Not to mention, I happen to like that little otter.

I don’t think I convinced her.

OOC: This was a very quiet winter, which means there were extra hands to work on building and deconstructing various walls for the aquifer. This coming week I'm going to be dealing with a lot of kids, and I don't know how much playing/writing time I'll have as a result. I might not post another update until after the New Year, depending on kid stuff, but I will get back to it then, if not before.

Current character list:

Spoiler: On 1st month break: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: On 2nd month break: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: On 3rd month break: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: The Pale Roads (Axedwarves) (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: The Pillars of Ink (Marksdwarves) (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Scholars (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Newcomers (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Petitioners (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Children: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: NPCs: (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Current List of Deities (click to show/hide)

News:

Poll

Ignore this, since I can't seem to re-open it.

Author Topic: The Story of Atölasob (A Community Fort with an Export Challenge) (Read 59705 times)

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