User:KingAuggie

The Tales of Ushilsebshos, "Icemire"

This is the tale of my recent Dwarven Fortress, if you have comments, or you like it, post on my discussion page! I shall edit it regularly, for now.

This is from the diaries of Zefon Muthkatbik, Expedition Leader of the Deepvale Group

Winter Year 1

When we emerged from the howling blizzard, I admit I had second doubts about our chosen location. The mountain was steep, and all was blanketed in snow. Still, we had not travelled through the harsh winter to turn back now, so we stopped the wagon almost at the top of the mountain. I sent a scout to look around and we found a large lake on the summit and a smaller lake eastward. We were hungry, so I ordered my miners to dig a room near the smaller lake and then to break the wall. The water flooded in and the farmers planted seeds. Experienced as I am, I know that a dwarven fortress runs on food and ale, and with the native plants snowed under, I required dwarven plants to grow, and grow quickly.

Next came the stockpiles, for what little wood my cutters could chop and a stone pile. The miners tunnelled into the mountain, to keep the dwarves warm in this inhospitable climate. To my delight, we found coal and an onyx cluster.
My scouts find a river, frozen for now, but useful. Near it, my miners spot a patch of platinum -- we hurry to excavated it; it may be useful for trade in Autumn. Just when all seems to be moving well, I find that we failed to pack a crossbow! We cannot hunt, and with limited supplies of wood on this mountainside, I order my dwarves to dig a stockpile for what little food we have. Then they dig a room for the kitchen and butcher's shop. Following that, I begin to construct a forging area, where we discover more coal.

Success! The forges are built, as is a craft workshop. My dwarves start producing coal, metal, bolts and a crossbow.
End Winter, Year1

Summer Year 1

The season has turned and the fortress is slowly turning around. By using only one log, we are now producing much coal, facilitating production of metal goods. I stagger the work orders as such: smelt/make coke/smelt/make coke. That way, we have a consistant supply of fuel.
We build doors from stone to secure the entrances to our stockpiles and to the fort itself. The wagon is dismantled. We receive welcome rain, and begin crafting chairs for my sore-legged dwarves. I find myself pitching in often, as we simply do not have enough dwarves for all the jobs that need doing. Our prayers are answered! Migrants from the homelands come to stay with us. We craft a meeting hall for the dwarves to congregate. .
End Summer, Year 1

Autumn Year 1

As the tree leaves turn yellow, we make a structure to pump water from the lake fifteen levels above, down to our own floor for a well. I am unsure of the construction, but the other dwarves feel it safe. Our stocks of food and drink are depleted now, and when monkeys steal our goods, something in me snaps and I dash outside, smashing apart monkeys without care. To get food, we slaughter a male donkey and that provides us with much food. As autumn closes, the well nears completion and traders arrive. Regretfully, we have but gems to trade with, so I take the role as broker and carry us into our second winter. End Autumn Year 1

Winter Year 2

The merchants leave us with all our gems and I regretfully put away the few seeds we bargained for. The well is taking far too long for my liking and I have doubts about it working. It is essentially one big staircase from the lake 7 stories above us. The water will go down into a large resevoir, which we are smoothing to prevent mud from forming. The floor above has a single hole for the well itself and a long passage back to our main chambers. Two stone doors guard the entrance in case of flooding.
The liason left today, after we made arrangments. I asked for food, he asked for crutches, hammers and other items. A sudden thought struck me. The water could very well freeze over, and we may be without drink for the next few days. Hurriedly we plants our seeds -- hoping to make ale, with the few barrels we have.
I regret our choice of locations now. As I feared, the lake froze over -- we were too slow with the well.

With nothing left to do, we smooth and engrave our home to perfection during the cold winter. As the wind howls through the fort, I remember tales of caverns full of gold guarded by forgotten beasts. I order my men to make iron armour and weapons -- come the summer, we shall turn our backs to the sun and dig with a fury unmatched. We shall not be abandonded by the gods! Damn the nay-sayers! We shall dig deep! Deep! Let us find metals of great lustre and magma so hot in will fuel smelters of unrivaled quality!
For Icemire!
A shock ran through the fort today as Libash, a tanner, died of thirst. We made a casket and buried him. Bembul and Rimtar followed. Why do the gods hate us?? Four more of our dwarves died today, also of thirst. My throat is parched as I give a drink to a friend. The cruel ice stares at us. Sarvesh died today, just as the ice melted. I fear it is not enough now. It is too late. End Winter Year 2

Spring Year 2

Spring came today, but it could do nothing to cheer up my dwarves. All were thirsty, the well had not worked and was muddy, and because we had drained the lake, we could not drink. The stream below is still an option, yet I feel travelling up and down the mountain will kill us all anyway. I count the time by minutes, and days now, until this fortress dies.