Let's Play (more) Dwarf Fortress: Adamantine... Cyan Candy of the Gods.

[Muspelheim]

http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/title.png

Yes! It's that time again, folks! New and violent tales and legends concerning our favorite drunk stunties! Tales of stone, booze, gold and lethal dwarven stupidity!

What is Dwarf Fortress, you ask? Well, it is an odd little indie game, which combines the appeal of Minecraft and The Sims. You manage a group of dwarves as they struggle to survive and build a magnificent fortress.
It isn't always very easy, however... Dangerous creatures, like goblins, wolves and undead slugmen, are just waiting to sink their teeth into dwarven flesh, to say nothing of the horros that lurk in the dwarven heart itself...

The game's website: http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/features.html

Now, I'm not very good at Dwarf Fortress, myself, so I imagine this Let's Play might turn out... Mercifully brief, if we're particularly unlucky. But we'll give it a shot.

If anyone would like to be officially dwarfed, just post your desired name and prefered occupation, and I'll name a dwarf after you as quickly as I can.

So without further ado, let's strike the earth!

Year One, First Steps

The snow laid thick over the forest, blanketing the trees, paths and the frozen bogs. It was a quiet winter morning when They arrived, aboard a wagon drawn by a worn old horse and a fat, tired old yak. Seven dwarves, surrounded by supplies and equipment. Suddenly, the party stopped, and began unloading their goods in the quiet glade. One in particular, wearing a purple robe, stood still and took in the scenery, comparing it to his map. He nodded, his breath streaming through his well-kept mustache.

Nothing was going to be the same again in that forest. The dwarf had come.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/7752/lemongateexp01.jpg

Journal of Baku Feathercoin, Colonial Magistrate of the Lemongate Party.

So. We're here. Oh, joy, a forest... I should have known something was fishy about this contract. But when the king wants a colony, he gets a colony.

It's all politics. They're just sending me out here in the hopes that I'll die, so the rest of the Feathercoins don't have to split the inheritance. Gods' bells, What an idea! A dwarven settlement in a bloody forest!

But I'll show 'em. I'll turn this death sentence into profit somehow. They can sit around the drafty old cave above the bloody snow limit and squabble over mithril teaspoons while I make it big out here.

With me, I've got six other losers. Two woodcutters, two miners, one poor dirtpacker sod and Rimtar Guzzlegob the brewmaster. Armok knows how he got his arse kicked out here, but at least we won't go sober.

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/180/lg02s.jpg

Well, it's no good to sit around on our hands up here waiting for the wild pandas to finish us off. I'll have them mine us a hole and cut us a clearing.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8045/lg03.jpg

The plan for now is to dig a small corridor I can fill with traps and then a central staircase down into the rock where we can get the actual fortress going. Dirt is for shrooms...

Speaking of shrooms, this will be the shroomroom some day.

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4802/lg04.jpg

Good news at last! The girls found some hematite while digging out the bunk floor. Once you pop hematite into a smelter, it becomes dependable old iron! And there seems to be plenty more of it. Probably enough to make this trip worthwhile in the end.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1613/lg05h.jpg

Gave Guzzlegob the honour of building our first still. I've never seen him work so fast before. Now that we've got some plump helmets into the dirt, it won't be long until we've got delicious wine pouring out of that still... Mmmm...

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/4577/lg06.jpg

Early Summer.

We've finally got some rooms ready. Good. I'm knackered, I've been the fortress mason, the mechanic, the architect... Everything that there's noone else to do. Well, the days of passing out on the refuse heap is over!

I'm also having a shared dormitory built, in case we run out of rooms faster than we can fill 'em in this depressing bog. Very likely... But then again, we've got food, booze and lodgings done. All we need now is good old dwarfpower to put to work.

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9616/lg08v.jpg

Seems I'm still a lucky dwarf. I've seen a few migrants making their way through the forest.

Also (mostly) pictured; forest. Armok's beard, we'll have to do something about that... Logging won't be a problem around here.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3986/lg09.jpg

Two fisherdwarves and a peasant... Hurray. Well, I've sent one of them down into the factory floor, hopefully he'll churn out a few useless stone trinkets and other things we can flog to the traders. The other one's helping me make stone blocks. We've already got the traiding post up, and we're making progress on the tower on top of the fortress entrance.

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6284/lg10.jpg

Late Autumn.

Thank the gods, the traders found their way out here, and they can squeeze their wagons up through the trees as well. Capital! While we don't really need anything of them, I need them to head back to civilization and tell everyone how fantastic it is out here. I need more labourers.

The tower's first floor is done, leaving time for the concrete wall. The idea is to put a drawbridge in, so if we get unwanted company, we can just raise the bridge without sealing ourselves underground. The pond can be a useful watersource if things goes really bad.

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2263/lg11v.jpg

Late Winter.

Well, it's been roundabout one year. We're... Ten dwarves up from seven, and the beer we bought off the caravan is worth more than the guff we sold them. But hopefully, things will improve when we get the word out there. Well, let's see what we've thrown together thus far.

These are the finished ground level buildings. Nothing fancy. The news is a tower and a drawbridge to the south. And a buttload of animals wandering around the courtyard. Kobolds won't have my yak-steak.

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/819/lg12g.jpg

Right, second floor, right beneath the corridor of traps. It will be the barracks for the military, once I've got people to draft.

http://imageshack.us/f/713/lg13.jpg/

Third floor, which contains the farms, the kitchen, still and above all, the food stockpile. Most popular place in the fort, believe me...


http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/4197/lg14.jpg

The workshop and warehouse floor. Hopefully, there will be more in it in the future.

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/3584/lg15.jpg

The meeting hall and offices, with the bedrooms to the east. At least it's rock, which I'll have engraved as soon as one of those pampered vandals get their arse exiled here.

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7128/lg16.jpg

Factory floor, with some craftsdwarfshops and wood furnaces. I've got big plans for this floor.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/7388/lg17.jpg

And finally, the mines. Oh, lovely, lovely iron ore... It's everywhere. I have no clue of how it came to be deposited out here in the bloody woods instead of inside a mountain, but I won't question luck when I see it.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3751/lg18.jpg

That concludes the tour. It's still just a humble beginning, but I've seen worse.

None have died yet, the only injury is the stupid lumberjack getting bitten by a bee and we could probably swim in the extra booze stocks we've got. This is not a bad start, and once we get some more losers here I can put to work, things will really take off.

The king and the court's going to regret sending me out here when they find out what minerals we have here... Maybe if I buy them all and have them haul refuse they'll show me some respect for a change! Baku Feathercoin always comes out on top!

To be Continued

So; we're off to a... Thrilling? No, not really, but we're certainly off to a start, at least! Again, if you'd like to be dwarfed yourself, just post the name and prefered job you'd like. Although I can't guarantee you won't die horribly, of course...

In case you don't speak ASCII or feel a bit lost, here's a sideways paintification of the fortress thus far.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9469/lgpaintmap01.png

Will Baku recieve the dwarfpower he need? Will the fortress death ratio remain as happy and nonexistant as it has been thus far? How will Dwarven nobility, well known for their caring and kindness, react?

Find out next episode! Same dorf-time, same dorf-channel!

 

[Muspelheim]

Well, this update won't be very long, I'm afraid, but in return, it's short and snappy, and we finally get some figures in the main statistic in this game; dead d0rfs. On with it!

Spring of Year Two, Migrants and Murder.

Late winter, journal of Baku Feathercoin, Colonial Magistrate.

While constructing the second floor of the keep, our stoneworker caught one sight for sore eyes, migrants! Armok's chesthair, are we lucky! And they seem a useful load, too. One metalsmith and several craftsdwarves. We even got a doctor in the deal! Although it'll be quite a while until he sees a hospital in here, but, you know, details.

That bumps our numbers up quite a bit, and I've finally got free hands to put to work. We did get a bunch of kids (who brings their spawn out here, anyway? I won't be held responsible if they get eaten by the pandas idling around outside), but they'll hopefully grow up into a workforce as well. I've installed them in the meeting hall, at least until I've got the time to set up some form of daycare for them. Preferably involving wild wolves.

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/1596/unitlist01.png

Early Spring.

Ònul, one of our woodworkers, have gone missing somewhere. That's not very good news, we will probably need more beds than I thought. Stepped over the metalsmith asleep right outside my office this morning.

Although knowing Ònul, I'm quite sure he's just passed out in a shaft somewhere. He's been whining about having to drink the same old wine again and again. Well, what am I supposed to do, then? Pull rum and fine dining out of my arse?


http://imageshack.us/scaled/landing/35/lg21j.jpg

Well, we got some Elven merchants passing by. Thankfully, none of them whined at me about the forest. See? Not even those cannibal elephantofiles likes it.

We also got a visit from a kobold thief. He didn't even make it across the drawbridge until we saw him. He booked it right away, dodging the stones and rat bones we threw at him. He did bother the woodcutters, but buggered of eventually. He'll be back, of course... We'll want some kobold-eating dogs in the future.

I've also made one of the new year migrants the third woodcutter, until Òdil gets back. Wherever the hell he's gone.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5543/lg23x.jpg

Urist gumbled loudly somewhere beneath the stone he was hauling to the mason's workshop. He dropped it with a loud thud on the bench, drawing a deep sigh. That's when he felt the stench.
"Phyy-eeeew, what the fuck is that smell?!", he shouted, going to locate the source. He imagined it was the usual suspect, dead vermin or some idiot not cleaning up his vomit.

He tracked it into the bowyer's workshops. The stench was even greater in there. Once he leaned over the workbench, he saw.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/585/lg25.jpg

Mid-Spring.

Well, that explains that. One of the haulers grabbed me in my sleep and dragged me up to the workshops. Òdil's dead, and has been for a while. Shit... I think I'll genuinly miss him. He was as thick as the ugly, rickety furniture he threw together in the boozehaze, but... I don't know, he just wanted to help out. He was a good old dwarf. And honestly, I'd rather someone less useful die first.

This does raise an uncomfortable question, however. Òdil wasn't nearly old enough to be ripe for Dorfgård. Something must've killed him. The doctor that arrived with the rest of the migrants had a look on the scene, said he seemed to have been dehydrated.
Suppose I can't really question someone educated, but that doesn't seem very likely, we've got more than enough booze and emergency water. Plus, he's been dead for quite a while, his body isn't exactly in mint condition anymore.

The scene of the ("possible", although it sure seems fishy to me) crime is the crossbow workshop, a room noone ever bothers looking in, and he was found behind the workbench. He still had his tools and his clothes, so it wasn't one of those awful sock-killings you hear about in the mountainhome slums.

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/3782/lg20x.jpg

Of course, this warrants an investigation. It's either one of the migrants, or there's something already inside the fortress that can silently kill a full-grown dwarf.

I'm rather worried, now. It might be a vampire amongst us. And what's worse, it's up to me to expose and stop the monster until someone else die. Whatever it is, we can't have it wander around murdering us one by one.

I'll have to be careful, I don't want the fortress to break out in panic. I'll have to look after the others, too. Òdil was part of the First Seven, and... We've gotten closer over the year. They'll probably take this harder than I have.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4980/lg27.jpg

Well, right after I got a wilderness whodunnit on my neck, some more migrants turn up. I won't look a gift yak in the mouth, but this doesn't make it easier to single out a culprit.

I've told everyone that Òdil did die of thrist, following a bee sting in the throat. It's enough to surpress the more open rumours and fear, thankfully. I'll have to watch my back, though. Someone in this fortress is likely a murderer. And I have to find and expose him, before he finds me. Armok help me...

Despite it begun with death, though, spring has been kind so far. I put the migrants to work, and we're finally smelting the iron we've found. I'm concentrating on weapons and armour to equip the guards once I get that project started, but there will be much, much more in the future. We're up to 42 dwarves, got some skilled labour and we've struck a nice deal with the traders.

We've got the ore, we've got the booze, we've got the dwarfpower. Once our murder mystery is solved, it'll be smooth sailing from there, all the way to the mithril plated treasure vault. Whoever you are, we'll find you.

Baku put the quill back into the inkwell, leaning back in his office chair. Outside, it was night. Most of the citizens were asleep in their rooms and barracks. But someone out there was watching him. He quietly decided to bolt the door and sleep in the office tonight, rather than walk down the empty, darkened corridor...

To be continued

Who could be murdering the dwarves? Their livers? Is there a vampire in their midst? And will the surroundings remain as calm and quiet as they've been thus far?

We shall see next time, same Urist-time, same Urist-channel!

 

[Muspelheim]

New update, and with that we finally see some d0rfs in arms, d0rfs going berserk and gobbos on the prowl!

Summer of Year Two, Arms and Armour.

Early Summer.

Still no leads reguarding the strange accident in the crossbow workshop. None at all, and the trail seems to have gone cold. All we can do now is wait... Next time, Mister. Next time.

Although there is something afoot reguarding the animals pastured outside. Some have turned up seriously injured. I've got no idea what that's about, but I'm keeping an eye on them, too.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9241/lg28.jpg

Whatever "false ribs" are... Suppose I'll have to trust the animal-minded on their word.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9226/lg29.jpg

Mid Summer.

Aha! I knew being vigilant reguarding the animals were a good idea! I pastured the least important/mangled animals by the drawbridge, and they spot me an intruder!

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/3824/lg31.jpg

A goblin snatcher shows up, gets spotted by a cat, then the other animals, then some passing dwarf. With the fortress suddenly on alert, he buggers off.

He did murder one of our brave cats, though. Justice will be served, puss, nothing is certain but taxes and gobbos. He'll be back...

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/9059/lg30h.jpg

Ah, piss!

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/3678/lg33.jpg

One of our rangers got struck with divine inspiration, but couldn't find the materials he needed for his masterpiece. Pig tail cloth is good enough for the rest of us, it's good enough for you, twat!

Thankfully, I've seen this too many times before, and I had a few traps slid into the room. His arms and legs are all broken, he's just flailing around trying to bite passers-by in the toes.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/235/lg32.jpg

Then, some architect person I've never noticed got fed up with the panic and mercifully killed him. I have his socks confiscated and his body buried in the mineshafts. Although I really ought to build some better tombs, if this keeps up.

Well, one thing's sure, I've found myself a captain of the guard!

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6280/lg34.jpg

Early Autumn.

Said and done. Finally got a group of six militiamen armed up. Their current quarters will do, for now, but I'm certainly expanding this military, considering we're digging out free weapons around the clock downstairs.

The troops aren't exactly handpicked... I went through the fortress, drafting everyone who seemed less important to our production, but hopefully, they'll train themselves into something useful.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4483/lg35z.jpg

Late Autumn.

Winter sure comes quickly out here. We got the yearly caravan over, but sans carts. We're "inaccessible", all of a sudden. Well, another excuse to trim down the woods a bit.

They sell us some silk, in exchange for some random stone guff fresh hot from the factory floor. They do ask for anvils next year, which I find hilarious, considering they can't operate their bloody carts. Sure! I'll set you up with some anvils! Have fun dragging them home on your backs, idiots!

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6486/lg36.jpg

I've also got some engravers now, and I've put their artistic arses to work on the meeting hall. They're doing a fine job, although the pictures seem to mainly be about me labouring or horrible monsters who used to wander this exact forest. Just in case people don't hate it enough.

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4577/lg38.jpg

Ooh, what've got in our little cagetrap here?

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8517/lg39.jpg

Seems setting up cage traps in skulkfriendly corners outside was a good idea, and we've got ourselves a goblin! Probably the same goblin that killed that poor cat, too.

I'm not sure what to do with it right now, though. I was thinking of dragging it inside and have it as a public spitoon in the main hallway, but I'm worried my lads would balls up the transport. I'll just leave him to deep freeze out there, for the time being.

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/3999/lg40.jpg

Oh, gods, no! Not again!

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4164/lg41.jpg

Phew... This time, he got what he needed in time. Not sure what I'm supposed to do with a bonecarver, but with the sudden goblin snoopings, I'm sure we'll find work for him sooner or later.

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5382/lg42p.jpg

Mid Winter.

Well, the main floor is getting along nicely, with new rooms for most of us, a nicer main corridor, a few new offices and a future prison and sheriff office to the north.

I also had the lads cast a statue out of some of the gold, and it's fitting quite nicely in the dining hall.

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/5229/lg43n.jpg

Our current status is good. We've got plenty of workers, some soldiers to keep them save and everyone so far seems reasonably happy, fed and drunk. Although I'll have to keep an eye on that ranger's next of kin...

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/475/lg44.jpg

We're 53 now, not counting our animals and our new gobbo scarecrow. Far more than I'd imagine would come here. It's... Well, I like working on this kind of scale, but it's a very different kind of responsibility. I'm in charge of these people. Maybe I'll get used to it...

Now that we've got some weapons to show for it, I really feel this enterprise was worth the while. Lemongate's here to stay, people!

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4260/unitlost02.png

To be Continued

Now that the colony of Lemongate have a military up, some nice gold bling around and have started taking names, things are really starting to look up!

What could possibly go wrong now?

There's only one way to find out.

 

[Bernzz]

Shame no one's replied, yet. I love Dwarf Fortress LPs, and it'd be a shame if you quit this because of lack of attention. I shall bookmark this thread and check back for updates regularly, my good sir.

Also, I volunteer for first dwarf. Put me in the military so I can be eviscerated in the first goblin invasion.

EDIT: Please just name my doomed-to-die dwarf Bernzz.

 

[Rainforce]

woah, a DF LP on the escapist O_O
well, that's something new.
keep up the good work I guess, although I wonder if we can get a succession game going....
how many people on the escapist DO know/play DF?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I've always wanted to play DF, but I just cannot get past the UI. I have to enjoy my DF vicariously, through good folks like the OP.

Keep it up OP!

 

[Scorched_Cascade]

Ohh Dwarf Fortress let's play? Consider this thread watched. I've always wanted to play it but the AcsII puts me off. That and last time I tried playing it by the time it had loaded on my old laptop I'd forgotten was I was doing and wandered off. I'll learn it one day, one day!

Like the poster above I enjoy DF through the filter of others and I'm loving this Let's Play so far. The paint diagram at the start was very welcome too, I can see the outline of walls but other than that I'm pretty much blind so the diagram of how it all fit together was nice.

I'm also liking how you're labelling your pictures, some DF-LPs I read say things like "And I built the baracks" and show the unedited pic and being DF illiterate I just have to kind of smile and nod and hope they move on XD

Wishing you good luck with it.

 

[dvd_72]

OOh, Dwarf Fortress! Definitally will be keeping an eye on this. Mind Dwarfing a Dvd_72 (Or just Dvd works too)?

Edit: I should probably have specified something militarily oriented would be prefferable

 

[Veylon]

I'm bookmarking too. This forum is woefully short on DF.

 

[Muspelheim]

Awww, thanks, everyone! :3 I understood some people had checked out the thread, but I was about to ask if there was any interest out there. It's nice knowing for sure.

Now, apparently, there is a succession fortress on the go somewhere, but the thing is, I found out right after I'd already begun posting this, and I don't feel ready to get into a succcession fortress yet. If I balls up my own fortress, it's fine, you know, but I don't want to grind a "public" fortress to a halt, that's the way I feel.

There is some people who do play DF on these forums, but getting a Let's Play together does take a bit of time, which is a bit of a luxury. Hopefully, there will be more dwarfy goodness in the future, too.

I did plan to use a custom tileset to make it easier to tell what's what, but I couldn't get it to work properly, so that's why I've gone all vanilla. Although I'm glad the MS paint diagrams work, and I'll keep those going if things get confusing. Getting an eye for DF takes a while, and it's alot harder when it's still pictures, but I'll keep labeling them.

Thanks for the input, lads! I'll be getting material for the next update tonight, and d0rf you all who want in!

"Our fortunes rises and falls together!", et cetera! Again, thank you for posting, it's a great help getting some input!

 

[Muspelheim]

Oh, did I get material! Things are getting exciting!

Spring of Year Three, War, War Never Changes.

Mid Winter.
Business as usual. I'm thinning out the forest and overseeing the anvil production. It's fairly cold outside, but we're warm and snug inside, since we've got the smelters and furnaces burning day and night.

At least all the little pools and bogs tend to freeze during the winter, and we won't see any mosquitoes for a while, eh?

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4462/lg45.jpg

I've had my office engraved, but I'm not entirely happy with their work...

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/7741/lg46.jpg

And that's almost all there is in here! All sorts of horrible woodland creatures that used to wander this exact same forest staring down on me from the walls.

Well, there is one or two of me.

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/1117/lg47.jpg

...I knew I shouldn't have held that "Design our Crest!" art competition earlier... Well, at least there's no cheese involved.


http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/5138/lg48.jpg

Late Winter.
It's been quiet so far, and we've completed our anvil production alr-

Baku is interrupted mid-writing by a loud, piercing howl. The fortress alarm!

Ah, piss.

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/4429/lg49.jpg

Dwarves are bolting around in random directions across the fortress. Baku runs alongside Dvd_72, one of the militiadwarves, rushing for the arms stockpile, helping her grabbing everything available.
-"What've we got?"
-"Goblin war party, Sir! Twelve!"
-"Right. Eh... Carry on and assemble, tell Commander Iden to engage on sight!"

Dvd_72 nods and runs off towards the barracks.

-"...And someone get on the drawbridge lever!!"

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7650/lg50.jpg

Within minutes, the entire Lemongate militia pours out through the drawbridge, ready to engage the Goblins. The goblin pikemen halts, hesitating for a moment.
Bernzz and Dvd_72 takes point. The dwarves charge, forcing the goblins to countercharge. They clash on the ice.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/7725/lg51k.jpg

The clash is short, but brutal. Dumat the Swordsdwarf is the first to die, as he slips on the ice and giving the goblin the opportunity to skewer him on his pike.
The mêlée on the frozen bog quickly becomes frantic and desperate. Teeth, hands and blood flies wide.
The goblin pike squad breaks and flee, leaving behind four dead comrades, one dead and one dying dwarf. Dvd_72.

Meanwhile, the second squad advances. It consists of six goblins armed with crossbows. Baku has ordered the drawbridge shut. The dwarves, reacting to pressure by wandering off to find some booze, take their time to pull the lever. A nearby child only agrees to pull the lever immediately under the threat of court martial.
Other dwarves, rushing out into the courtyard to help the injured soldiers, are suddenly cut down by crossbow volleys. Three dwarves collapse into the snow, perforated by goblin quarrels, before the drawbridge finally raise. One goblin is caught inside. He is cut down by a trap as he rushes through the tower gate.

With no civilians to pick off, the crossbowmen open fire on the remaining militiamen limping towards them. Dvd_72, already near death by bleedout, is struck down. Another soldier collapse, filled with bolts, until the militia engage the goblins in mêlée. Another wild, flailing battle erupts.

A few surviving goblins exit the frey, bolting for the forests in wild panic. Lemongate is saved, but at a cost.

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2782/lg52.jpg

Three militiamen are dead, including Dvd_72, mother of seven. Her husband and comrade in arms, Bernzz, will live, but he has lost his left hand in the brutal fighting. Commander Inod and a young recruit are carried into the fortress, severely wounded. Three civilian dwarves have also been slain, as well as some of the livestock.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8043/lg53.jpg

Late Winter, two days since the Battle.

We saw them off. But... It could've gone better. It seems we've without a militia again. Two of them lie dying in their rooms, while I'm trying to set an infirmary up in time. We can't clean them or give them water, since our supply is all frozen.
Bernzz is alive and insists on being on standby in the barracks. Alone. The poor dwarf's lost his wife, one of his children and his left hand today. It's unlikely he survives very long, either...

Right now, we're in crisis mode. We've got six dwarves to bury and a slaughter to clean up. We need beds and medical supplies for our injured heroes, finest dining and booze available to avoid the morale getting worse and coffins for the dead. Without a militia, we're also currently in lockdown. That gate isn't opening for anything but traders. Now, reguarding the resta-

A dwarven child's voice can be heard from the memorial hall.

-"Hey, everyone! Drop what you're doin', it's paaaar-taay!!"
-"OI!!"

Baku Feathercoin jumps up from his feet, clutching an oak baton. He throws open the door and rush to poop the party in time.

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/5255/lg55.jpg

Broke up a party some cheeky little mut was trying to start. No parties allowed while we're in crisis mode, and that's the end of it! As a punishment, he's been renamed something more fitting for the time being.

Our numbers have gone down to 47. While I hate to see dwarves under my leadership die, I suppose it could've been far worse.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/6922/lg56.jpg

Early Spring.
Finally, the winter release her chokehold, and we've got water again! And right in time, too. Our two injured heroes haven't died. In fact, they seem reasonably cheerful. They are both crippled, however. We'll need much more medical supplies than we've got presently, but we can nurse them back to health.

Bernzz haven't coped very well with what's happened yet, I'm afraid. With his injuries considered, I've appointed him my sheriff. I'm sure he'll grow into the role, if the Gods let him live. The more luxurious quarters will probably help. And that we've got everyone killed on Gobboday properly buried, at last.

His eldest son stormed into my office, announced his plans to take the name Dvd_72 the Second, and that I drafts him in the militia. At least he's doing something constructive.

For now, all I can do is nurse everyone back to health and get all the weapons and valuable the goblins left inside. We've got those, and I've put all smiths on full war production. Next army I raise will be far stronger than this.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7507/lg59.jpg
Mid Spring.

We've gotten some migrants, which bolsters our numbers back and above pre-gobbo. There's also an Elven caravan approaching.

I've got a daunting to-do list now. Rebuild the army, and make it far stronger, pasturing the injured and useless animals around the fortress to function as early warning and build more traps.
Speaking off, one of the goblin crossbowmen apparently got himself stuck in one of our cage traps, so now we've got two goblin garden decorations. We'll be ready for their mates next time. I'm starting a gobbo collection.


http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/8308/unitlist03.png

To be continued

First goblin encounter survived! And Bernzz and Dvd_72 has been d0rfed, although Dvd_72 got killed about five seconds in... I'm appointing a successor, of course.

So, our dwarves have encountered death. Hopefully, next time I'll put a thicker line of steel and beard between them!

 

[dvd_72]

Well that Didn't take long! At least I died bravely and have someone to carry on my name. Can't wait to see the goblins get what they deserve!

 

[Muspelheim]

Agreed, I did feel a bit bad about getting them killed so quickly. It happened about ten minutes after I got attached to those characters, too. Damn gobbos!

Well, they purchased the rest of the fortress another day, I suppose. Like true Armok-damned dwarves. *Nod*

Rebuilding and Recuperating.

Mid-Summer.

I feel reasonably safe to declare the crisis mode over. The second strike force I was worried would show up at the forest's edge to finish us off never materialized, thankfully.
We've all been hard at work. Pasturing the surviving animals around the fortress as a perimeter and trading every single scrap of cloth the elves showed up with. Hurray for elves! They're not so bad as everyone back home thinks.

We did get a visit by a kobold thief. He ambushed one of our workers outside the gate, and gave him a nasty cut with his dagger. But the worker caved his little rat-face in with a rock in return. Now that we've got a hospital and some basic supplies, I think he'll be fine.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7711/lg60.jpg

Rovod, one of our injured soldiers from Gobboday, passed away earlier today. Such a shame, it seemed he was going to be okay. The commander and Bernzz are now the only survivors out of six. Damn gobbos...
They're both recovering well, though. I'm returning Commander Iden back into active service. The forges have been spitting out weapons and armour all spring, now I just need to find some recruits.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4468/lg61.jpg

One of our haulers found Bernzz's estranged hand, it seems. Covered in both his blood and his wife's. I think I'll have this thing destroyed before Bernzz sees it. He's getting fairly good at hammering with his remaining hand, and I don't want him to go berserk. I'll see if I can construct an Armok's Fist particle smasher somewhere.

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7263/lg62.jpg

The migrants arrive, piling in through the gate, looking nervously at the bird eaten goblin corpses scattered outside. One of them is a courier, carrying a very official letter, marked with the royal seal.

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/1340/letters02.png

Baku quickly tears the letter open. Then, for a moment, he stands petrified, staring at the letter, his pale hands gripping hard into the letter, wrinkling it. Then, he screams. A furious, hurt howling that sends the jars of bioluminescant fungus in the ceiling rattling. He then faints, and is carried off to bed.

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/6864/letters01.png

Late Summer.

Damn it... Damn it! I've been replaced. The fucking royal court has decided that Iden the idiot woodworker they sent over here ages ago to die like the rest of us would do a better job than I, and now he is the fortress mayor. After all I've done! It's just not fair, this was my enterprise! Mine! And some idiot late for the party gets to enjoy the fruits of my work! Typical nobles! Their death sentence starts working in my favour and they can't just deal with it.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1339/lg63.jpg

But I'll show them... I'm still the one with real power around here. And the new mayor is an idiot, if I anaesthetise him with fine living and dining, I doubt he'll be much of a threat to my authority around here.

I also found this defeatist engraving in the new mayor's office. I'm going to have a talk with our resident artist's corps...

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1284/lg64.jpg

It's also about time I give an updated picture of the fortress. These are the mineshafts, as well as our crypts. The idea is to exploit this layer entirely before probing deeper. The last thing I want now is to fight giant cave spiders. But with all the iron we're swimming in... We could really use some faithful old coal.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8053/lg65.jpg

The factory level. Not much have changed here, either, except that we've got more of everything. I think it's time we start exploring new industries.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9405/lg66.jpg

The main floor, with offices and quarters. I'm trying to concentrate luxury and decoration here, since everyone passes through at least some times.

1: Prison
2: Hospital
3: Memorial Hall
4: Lever Room
5: My office
6: Mayor's apartment
7: Mayor's office

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/4672/lg67.jpg

Workshop and storage floor. We're running out of space quickly, so I'll have to have them dig some more warehouses.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4461/lg68.jpg

Kitchens and farms. We've got plenty of booze and food, but everyone is whining about having to eat the same stuff all the time. I agree, I'm also tired of mushroom for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but that's what we've got, so stop moaning. Dwarves elsewhere live entirely of the vermin they catch with their own filthy hands in abandoned shafts, you know.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6476/lg69.jpg

Barracks, archery range and future particle smasher room.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5333/lg70b.jpg

The first barracks, with our new squad inside it. I drafted most of the new arrivals, as well as Dvd_72 the Second, as he wished. Militia commander Iden is the only survivor from the first squad, but she's still at it, hopping along on her crutch and hammering the peasants into ture dwarven warriors! Damn, did that architect lass turn out useful.

http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/7591/lg71.jpg

Fortress Lemongate. Flanked by woods, caged goblins and refuse heaps. I'm also having more cage traps built around corners and nooks. The kids are loving it, they often go topside to prod our goblin guests with sharp sticks. Good news for me, maybe they'll grow up to become decent pikedwarves someday?

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/323/lg72.jpg

Our status. We've got plenty of most things, except clothes and thread. The elves and the goblins renewed our supply, but I'll have to get a textile industry going as soon as possible.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7976/lg73.jpg

Things are certainly in motion. The factory is spewing out weapons and ammo, and we've rebuilt the army. I've been ousted from power, but I and everyone else here knows who's really in charge. Yours truly. If I were the mayor, I'd watch my mouth. He can have the glamour, as long as I get the profits.

Now, I'll just have to get a squad of archers ready, finish building the ramparts and we're set for everything they can throw at us. I'm also making preparations for the infamous colony protocol 77. The Dwarfstorm. In effect, it means that if our final defences are breached, I'll have the equipment to arm every single citizen and throw them into the fray as a last resort.

Don't mess with Lemongate.

To be continued.

Well, with Baku played out of official power, I wouldn't want to be an arriving noble, that's for sure. Will the sock-problem reach a solution? Will Baku snap and have his rival walled inside his flat? Will the goblins come back for more before our heroes have learnt which end of a sword hurts?

Find out next time, same sock-time, same sock-channel!

 

[Pist0l 07]

Ha ha, glad I found this since like BloatedGuppy I find my DF enjoyment has to come vicariously. Great read so far and the mostly decipherable pictures are great as well, hope to see more of it.

 

[Javarock]

Oh yey, a Dwarf Fortress lets play on the escapist! And it's very good in writing quality. Specially like how you're also including papers and documents, with a plot line. If it wouldn't be too much, I'd like to also request a Dwarf, Gurtz an Engraver!

 

[Bernzz]

Well that Didn't take long! At least I died bravely and have someone to carry on my name. Can't wait to see the goblins get what they deserve!

Forever shall you live on in my heart, my darling wife dvd_72.

Honestly, I'm surprised I lived. My history with playing Dwarf Fortress is steeped in utter failure. I'm astonished my dorf didn't go the same way. Although I am missing a hand already.

I look forward to seeing my eventual doom!

 

[Muspelheim]

Hai!

I'll get you an exciting new update shortly! The delay is due to unexpected drunkness, putting me in no state to play dwarf fortress. And dwarf fortress seems to agee.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/1521/lg74.jpg

But don't feel bad, here's a teaser for the exciting happenings of next update!


http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/2148/lg80teaasor.jpg

Will our heroes stay more attached to their limbs this time? Will Dorfgård recieve some new tenants? We shall seeeee...

EDIT: *Points and shouts as screen as DF crashes* "I'm drunk! Ye don't have nae excyuse!!"

 

[Muspelheim]

Second Half of Year Three

It's business as usual. We flog some rock baubles to the human traders, and restocked our cloth supply. We've also got loads of worn clothing in our guffbins by now. I hope someone will buy them. Someone who really value their socks, and don't come whining with me when they get a hole or two.

Partykid has grown old enough to be useful. It's time to change back her name, I think. She's served her sentence. I'll draft her into the archer squad once I get that one going. Some would feel icky about that, but I don't. This is Lemongate, you pitch in or you die.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1788/lg75.jpg

Late Autumn.

I'm also having my engravers smooth up the factories a bit, making people less likely to trip over each other down there.

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4158/lg76.jpg

One of our resident vandals, Gurtz, is getting quite good at it, too.

I've finally got the archer squad ready, and I've refilled the infantry squad with new, brave recruits. New crossbows for everydorfy! Try not to shoot each other.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1552/lg77.jpg

Early Winter.

One of the furnace operators came dashing into my office. One of the armourers have gone bonkers (again) and have claimed a smithy. He's found everything he needs, though. I'd hate losing someone useful again.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4933/lg78.jpg

The alarm sounds again, and the bioluminescant lighting dims slightly. Baku looks up to the ceiling from his desk and sighs.

Oh, Armok's rectum, not again!

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3597/lg79.jpg

"Everyone to battle stations! Get someone on the drawbridge levers! All parties forbidden!!"

Baku is running up and down the fortress, shouting at everything standing still. A child is stationed, at baton point, by the lever and the new archers are scrambling for the least defect crossbows in the armory.

Outside, six hardened goblin warriors are advancing. The dwarven caravan outside are getting nervous, debating whether visiting Lemongate during goblin season was such a hot idea.

The marksdwarves take up position in the gate turret, Partykid is amongst them and safely away from any opportunities to start inconvenient festivities.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9691/lg81a.jpg

The lever operator finally gets the picture and activates the drawbridge. It raises into position, giving Lemongate a few precious moments to prepare. The infantry piles up on the courtyard, Dvd_72 the Second shouting obscenities to the goblins ambling around outside, mocking their caged comrades.

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7027/lg82.jpg

The drawbridge is then lowered. And the battle goes as last time, Despite the fire support, several dwarves are cut down into the snow. The warm blood steams into the air, as teeth and limbs flies wide.

But the dwarves eventually win out. The goblins break off, several of them slashed to death in the short but violent fray.

Lemongate purchases itself another winter with blood, teeth and vomit.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4145/lg84.jpg

Well, I guess we should have expected this. This was pretty much an encore, although they didn't have any fucking crossbowmen this time, thankfully.

I stepped out to see it for myself. Just like last time. Dead gobbos, dwarves and random bodyparts scattered in the snow, with piles of vomit everywhere. The archers didn't hit anything but other dwarves, either, and one of them broke off to bash them with his crossbow butt, with predictable results.

It also took me about five minutes to find Dvd_72 the Second's hand.

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7243/lg83.jpg

Honestly! I don't know how they do it, but that family just can't hold on to their limbs! Leave those idiots in an empty room for an hour or two and they'll probably crawl out without their legs.

The maiming wasn't limited to us, though. I found a head several good meters away from the body. Not bad, I like myself a bit of gobbo golf sometimes.

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3483/lg85.jpg

Gurtz celebrates by engraving a picture I like for a change. This is the things I want to see! The last thing we need are depressing imagery of defeat and horror gaping down at us all day. Like back in the Elephant Age. There's a reason dwarven archaeologists have such a sort life expectancy.

http://imageshack.us/a/img856/9674/lg87.jpg

Mid Winter.

Well, the cost has been tallied. Most of our new infantry squad is dead or dying inside the "hospital". Since all water is frozen, there's not much the doctors can do. There's a bet going on if they'll die from thirst or infection first, apparently.

Dvd_72 the Second isn't pleased about getting his hand chopped off, and is throwing a tantrum. I hope he'll chin up eventually. His (also one-handed) dad is the Hammerer, and I doubt having to crack his own son's skull open is going to improve his mood very much.

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2489/lg88.jpg

Oh, for Armok's sake... Why can't you blockheads engrave anything nice, like Gurtz?! I'm sure a picture of his boss murdering an armless, legless mad dwarf is going to cheer Dvd_72 up when you engrave it in his fucking bedroom. Idiots!

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2455/lg89.jpg

Well... We've survived another gobbo season, at least. And we've got a few more survivors this time. Four dead, three dying in the infirmary, but we've at least got reserves. The marksdwarves are training away in their new archery range, and hopefully, they'll shoot something else than their own feet next time. I just need to refill the squads, maybe get a second one up, and continue coughing up better armour.

Of course, I didn't get a clothing industry up and going this year, either, but they'll just have to wear goblin clothes for a while, instead. When my planters stop being idiots and we've got some pig tails growing, there will be socks for everydorfy.

But first, coffins. You need to get your priorities straight out here...

To be Continued...

Seems that sudden goblin funtime has become an annual event. It's like Dwarven christmas! Well, I did manage to keep poor dvd alive this time, but I don't know for how long, I'm afraid.

If the people currently in the hospital can avoid dying in there until the pond thaws, I'd say we come out on top this time! For how long, though? Tune in next time!

 

[Muspelheim]

First half of Year Four.

Late Winter.

All the dead are in the crypt, all the goblin booty is in our stockpiles and things are looking up. Of course, none of our patients seemed to have survived our dwarven healthcare, but I suppose that's good encouragement to stay unharmed, something the Limbflinging Family could learn...

This is the spear that inspired blacksmith threw together during the battle. It's a shame he didn't get more cheer for it right then, it does look horrorshow, but we were kind of in the middle of something...

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/8315/lg90.jpg

Early Spring.

I convinced the mayor that it was a good idea to start expanding our fortifications a bit. Of course, all preparations were made, and I just needed that fatties' drunk arse stamped on the papers. Nothing too special, we're expanding southward, building a bigger drawbridge and an additional tower. We'll demolish the old structures as we go, and with recyclement, we'll be finished long before next gobbo season.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6256/lg92.jpg

Mid-Spring.

Construction is going very well, but we had a bit of an accident. Some children decided to help out, and removed the rock holding the stone flooring they were standing on up inside the tower. They got a bit banged up, but they'll be fine. Brush 'em off and have them dismantle more old walls.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6425/lg93.jpg

Won't stop me from enjoying a party on my own for once...

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/470/lg94.jpg

I've also dug out a residential block beneath the regular flats. Sure, it's on the factory floor, but the rock between them should muffle the drone. Those engravers are on the job smoothing it out. Damn, they're gotten fast.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1484/lg95.jpg

Early Summer.

This year's been unusually uneventful, but I'm grateful that I get to sit with my feet up and relax. Another letter came in from the ministry, replacing one random berk for a mayor with another. No problems with me, I found it very pleasing to toss the first useless blubberbag out of the mayor's flat, and I've got a feeling I'll get to do that many times in the future.

Our first pig tail finally grows! With it grows my hopes about our textile industries. I stumbe on abandoned clothes in every single room and corridor these days. All we need to do is to weave those pig tails into cloth, get some tailors cracking and the nudie crisis might be averted.

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/5555/lg96.jpg

I'm also going deeper down the mountain, now that I feel a bit safer. I'll make sure the corridor back up into our reasonably safe levels are trapped up and guarded with that dog we bought of the elves earlier.

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4945/lg97.jpg

Mid-Summer.

One of our smiths burst into my office, whining about how one of his masterworks have been destroyed. Apparently, bolts that are fancy enough shouldn't actually be used as crossbow ammunition, they're just ment to lie around and look... Pointy, I guess.

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/6950/lg99.jpg

Speaking of our ammunition stocks, we've got at least about a thousand bolts ready for gobbo season. Imagine how many we'll have when they...

The alarm goes off again, and the Militia Commander hobbles in through the door.

-"Siege! Sir! The goblins are here again!"
-"What?! Now, in summer? And how many are they?"
-"At least about twenty, Sir."

Baku looked undescribably resigned as he followed the soldiers to the battlements to observe the threat. Not even reasonable intervals between the disemboweling attempts would fate allow him...

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1198/lg100.jpg

Well... Goblins. Right around midsummer. I thought we had a deal! And there's loads of 'em! Thankfully, they're just milling around outside right now, killing everyone who was too stupid to get back inside before I had the drawbridge raised. Mostly just random traders and peddlers.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5309/lg101.jpg

There isn't much to do but put my marksdwarves in the tower and get the infantry ready to deal with them once they advance on the gate.

http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/584/lg103.jpg

Late Summer.

Well, the time had to come. The goblins pressed for the gates, while our (thankfully improving) archers weakened them from the tower, and I had to order the drawbridge lowered and the lads stormed out. As usual, it was quite the sight... Dwarves clad in sturdy iron armour, charging at the enemies in defiance, roaring "For Lemongate!!"... Then, the clash. That sound of colliding metal and meat. Aye, you can't argue with their bravery.

But certainly with their results...

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9079/lg105.jpg

We've got a massive smear of blood and guts outside the gate, with dwarven and goblin corpses twined together and pincushioned by our quarrels like some sort of hideous dark elven Avantgarde sculpture. Honestly, only half the lads wobbeled back in. The usual lot, Commander Iden and Dvd_72 being the main, maimed and brained warriors of the bunch. Good to see we've got some competent warriors, at least.

They did send the gobbos running for their mamas, though. I spotted one of them crawling for the forest edge while bolts whisteled past with some pretty nasty wounds.

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/5206/lg106.jpg

Hopefully, it'll report back to its kin with tales of mad, cruel demondwarves who can't even hold on to their own limbs, so just imagine what they'll do with yours!

We didn't actually kill many of them, but they buggered off, and that's what matters.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/6605/lg107.jpg

Late Summer.

Migrants arrive, and are immediately greeted by dried blood and bloating goblin corpses lying around outside the fortress. Since none of them had much to offer me, I've had the whole unskilled lot of them drafted and put into our military. I might as well have left the dwarven corpses topside as well, with the words "This could be YOU!" written with their own gizzards on them.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1936/lg108.jpg

Well... That's one half of the year survived. But now that I know the gobbos don't really care about the whole seasons thing but just shows up whenever they please, I'm not exactly looking forward to the winter... We missed out entirely on one of the year's caravans, thanks to this mess. I hope our kinsmen can get theirs here reasonably unmolested...

But, this summer's been mostly good news. More private rooms, almost enough for everyone, has been completed and we've finally got some Lemongate-made clothes into circulation. With our imported cloth stocks, the small trickle of pig tail will be enough to at least replace most of the tattered socks I'm shovelling into the flog-bins at the depot daily.

With our infantry finally dying slightly less, and with arches that actually does hit something, I feel we'll do well this season. Show us what you got, Armok!

To be Continued...

Bold words... Who's betting that Baku will regret them? And will we have sock-related riots before the new clothes goes into style? Find out next time!