So I wanted to share with you an experience I had that really speaks of the immense power to create unique stories that the proceedural nature of this game actually has. I'll tell you the dry facts first, and the story that can be constructed from it.
My fortress, Mebast ("Inchsabres") is ruled by Duke Onul Itonottan, who was the leader of the original expedition that founded this fortress almost twenty-five years ago. In addition to being Duke, he's also the record keeper, work manager and trader for the fortress - and he's excellent at all of these jobs, his skill in them truly legendary. Even an injury that robbed him of the use of his legs hasn't stopped him from carrying them out. He has a tragic family life - his wife and four of his eight children are dead. Most of those he also considered good friends are long dead as well - the only remaining friend not buried is another veteran of the original expedition, a carpenter by the name of Sodel Sheshekzuglar. He has passing acquaintance with a large number of the fortress' dwarves, but no other close relationships. He does, however, have one listed grudge - Inod Zasitkalur, the fortress' mayor.
Inod Zasitkalur is a story both frighteningly similar and yet completely different - he arrived with a wave of migrants a few years after the fortress was built. His wife is also dead, but she left him with no less than
eighteen children, seventeen of which survive. He has no skills of any particular practical application and contributes nothing to the prosperity of the fortress, but is a master of social interaction, having
all his social skills at the "High Master" level. He has
many friends, and even more acquaintances throughout the fortress. He holds two grudges - Duke Onul Itonottan and the carpenter Sodel Sheshekzuglar.
Duke Onul Itonottan's production mandates are usually for medical equipment or materials for steel production. Mayor Inod Zasitkalur's production mandates are usually for luxury goods such as clothes or goblets.
That's the simple facts - but what's the story behind them? I think it's fairly obvious - the Duke is a cold, distant man, made bitter and morose by his injuries and the loss of much of his family. He holds his position as duke because it's a noble title and he can't be legally unseated, but he does his best to make himself worthy of it. He works for the good of the fortress, his mandates related to making sure the fortress' industry remains stable and the hospital has enough equipment. He has only one real confidant - his old friend Sodel, who remembers the good old days as clearly as he does. He can see the danger the ambitious but incompetent mayor poses to the fortress, and so can Sodel.
The mayor's a scheming, ambitious, manipulative, power-hungry toad who's got a clever tongue. His massive clan and his circle of friends gives him great power with the common people of Mebast, and they've chosen him mayor every time the issue of candidacy for the position has come up. In his mind he dreams himself the ruler of Mebast and inheritor to all its wealth and power - but the Duke is in his way, and so is his loyalist, Sodel. Perhaps he dreams of the day he can usurp the Duke, but should that day come, there may be a problem. He has no skill or talent outside of his charisma and charm. He's very good at getting people on his side, but he's never commanded them, never
lead them.
And here's where the situation gets even more complicated. I very carefully built my fortress up to be eligable to become the Mountainhome, but when the ruler and his entourage supposedly arrived, there was no king or queen with them - the entire civilization of Bubnuscatten is without ruler or heir. Nonetheless, Mebast is the Mountainhome, so one must presume that Duke Onul is the foremost political power in the entire nation - perhaps even Regent or acting Monarch. This must make Mayor Inod even more desperate to seize power - not only is control of Mebast only a dwarf's heartbeat away, but rulership the whole kingdom has suddenly come within his reach as well.
Author
Topic: The Richness of Stories (Read 19171 times)