User:Kydo

Current Fortress

Title Page:

When I have something worthwhile hapen, I'll do a drawing for a genuine cover, and give it an appropriate title.

Epigraph:

Will be done in the end, IF it's worthwhile.

Preface:

I have an idea for a DF-inspired work of fiction. DF is un on it's own, but it's when we get to telling stories about what we've seen and done that things really get entertaining. Most of us got pulled in by the stories of Boatmurdered, and that was done in an OLD version of the game!But I believe we can do better. Pretty much all of the DF witing I've read is either D for Dwarf content on the wiki, or written from the perspective of the player, frequently as the "leader" of the fortress. I want to do something different. I want to explore, from a first-person perspective, the lives of the dwarves, in close detail. What's it like for seven-year-old Medtobonul, wandering stone halls and observing statues of his grandparents being eviscerated by demons? I don't want there to be a single narrative, that would just be too isolated, it wouldn't really give the full scope impression of all the life in a given fortress. Rather, there shall be many narratives. Bits and scraps, lik bitof old jounals, engravings on walls... Sort of like ghosts or memories of somthing huge, something grand. Something deeper than just a simple (and violent) game. I want to tell storis about the down time, the (currently) non-existent barroom conversations, the travelling, the politics... Not just the horrible accidents.

Introduction:

This section contains raw data, copied directly from the game. It is the raw information, kept as notes, to be used for the creation of the story. In time, I'll get a drawing for every character in the fortress.

World Size: Large
History: Very Long
Number of Civilizations: Very High
Maximum Number of Sites: Very High
Number of Beasts: Very High
Natural Savagery: Very High
Time Taken: 11:11 AM to 11:34 (23 minutes)
Rejected: 30

The Product:

World: Sil Gomath, "The Plane of Legends"
Year: 1,050
Hist Figs: 206,114
Dead: 196,504
Events: 1,411,175

Local Civs:
Dwarves
Goblins (War)
Humans

Dwarven Civilizations:
The Earthen Floor
The Famous Standard
The Rumored Knife
The Tomes of Air
The Moral Stockade
The Elder Fortress (Parent)
The Considerate Trumpets
The Future Hames
The Radiant Vessel
The Wall of Defending
The Wires of Covering
The Scorching Fence
The Books of Morning
The Tools of Searching

Region: The Willful Hills
Embark Site: 5x5

Temparate Shrubland
Temparature: Warm
Trees: Woodland
Other Vegetation: Moderate
Surroundings: Untamed Wilds

Stream: Balanceslings the Doomed Side

Strata:
Silt
Silt Loam
Sandy Clay
Clay
Rock Salt
Schist
Gabbro
Quartzite

Group: The Arch of Whispering

Fortress: Rodimled, "Wadedracks"

Starting Stocks:
2 dogs
1 war dog
1 hunting dog
2 copper picks
1 copper batle axe
1 iron anvil
20 dwarven beer
20 dwarven wine
20 dwarven ale
5 plump helmet spawn
5 pig tal seeds
5 cave wheat seeds
5 sweet pod seeds
4 rock nuts
5 dimple cup spawn
15 pond grabber meat
15 cave fish
15 plump helmets
5 pig tail fiber thread
5 pig tail fiber cloth
5 pig tail fiber bags
3 pig tal fiber ropes
3 fox leather quivers
3 oaken buckets
3 oaken splints
3 oaken crutches

Name: Amkinastesh, "Gladnesscudgels"
Age: 81
Gender: Male
Religion: Dubious of Usen the Morality of Nourishment
Appearance:
His hair is quite sparse. His very long sideburns are neatly combed. His very long moustache is aranged in double braids. His very long beard is neatly combed. He has very low cheekbones, and he has a deeply recessed round chin. His somewhat tall, small-lobed ears are very flattened. e is average in size. His somewhat short nose is incredibly upturned. His somewhat short head is somewhat narrow. His cinnamon skin is slightly wrinkled. His hair is ecru with a touch of gray. His eyes are ochre.
Personality:
He is slow to anger. He is comfortable in soial situation. He is very friendly. He isn't given to flights of fancy. He does not have a great aesthetic sensitivity. He prefers familiar routines. He is candid and sincere in dealing with others. He lacks confidence. He is very disorganized. He rarely does more work than necessary. He inhales sharply when he is angry. He often snaps his fingers when he's bored.
Strengths:
+ He is almost never sick
+ and very slow to tire.
+ He has very good intuition,
+ a natural inclination toward language,
+ a sum of patience
+ and a good spacial sense.
Weaknesses:
- He is flimsy
- He has a meager ability with social rlationships,
- poor analytical abilities and
- a large deficite of willpower.
Preferences:
Amkinastesh likes Diorite, trifle pewter, fire agate, oak wood, flounder bone, caps, scepters and horses for their strength. When possible, he prefers to consume bat, ray and longland beer. He absolutely detests lizards.
Skills:
! Proficient Miner

-

Name: Ishkilrud, "Barbronze"
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Religion: Dubious of Usen the Morality of Nourishment
Appearance:
His hair is quite sparse. His very long sideburns are neatly combed. His very long moustache is arranged in double braids. His short hair is neatly combed. He is muscular. His somewhat tall ears have great swinging lobes. He has very high cheekbones, and he has a very round chin. His somewhat short nose is incredibly upturned. His somewhat short head is somwhat narrow. His teeth are crowded. He has a low voice. His hair is black. His skin is cinnamon. His eyes are amethyst.
Personality:
Hei very friendly. He is unassertive. He is rarely happy or enthusiastic. He prefers familiar routines. He is candid and sincere in dealings with others. He finds helping others rewarding. He is organized. He strives for excellence. He acts impulsively. He begins to talk much more slowly when he's exasperated. When he's thinking, his body becomes very still.
Strengths:
+ He is strong and
+ slow to tire.
+ He has great creativity
Weaknesses:
- He is flimsy
- he has poor focus,
- an iffy sense for music
- and a meager ability with social relationships
Preferences:
Ishkilrud likes bituminous coal, billon, red tourmaline, bolts, scepters and glasseye for their coloration. When possible, he prfers to consume lungfish, dwarven rum, whip vine flour and sliver barb seeds. He absolutely detests cave spiders.
Skills:
! Prficient Miner

-

Name: Rakustlor, "Tombstools"
Age: 79
Gender: Male
Religion: Casual of Kesh Windyfish the Tundra of Mornings
Appearance:
He is very skinny. His sideburns are clean-shaven. His very long moustache is neatly combed. Hi ver long har is neatly combed. His incredibly close-set eyes are bulging. His somewhat short nose is incredibly upturned. His slightly flattened ears are smewhat tall. He has high cheekbones. His teeth are crowded. His cinnamon skin islightly wrinkled.
Personality:
He hase a calm demeanor. He is quick to anger. He is comfortable in socia situations. He is often cheerful. He has a fertile imagination. He does not have a great aesthetic sensitivity. He is incredibly frank and candid in dealings with others. He doesn't like to compromise with others. He doesn't go out of his way to work more than necessary. He possesses great willpower. He oten bites his nails when he's trying to rememer smething.
Strengths:
+ He is quite quick to heal
+ He has an iron will,
+ great creativity,
+ a sum of patience
+ and a feel for music
Weaknesses:
- He has a meager ability with social relationships
- Poor empathy
- and poor analytical abilities
Preferences:
Rakustlor likes rutile, bismuth, yellow jasper, fungiwood, white-handed gibbon bone, backpaks, cages, scepters, donkeys for their stubbornness and demon rats for their diabolical hunger for the food of others. When possible, he prfers to consume giat cave swallow, cave fis and gutter cruor. He absolutely detests lizards.
Skills:
! Proficient Woodcutter

-

Name: Rithum, "Bellnail"
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Religion: Dubious of Tath
Appearance:
She is incredibly muscular. Her larg-irised wide-set amethyst eyes are bulging. Her somewhat short nose is incredibly upturned. Her hair is clean-shaven. Her omewhat broad ears are flattened. Her skin is cinnamon.
Personality:
She often feels discouraged. She is somewhat reserved. She is candid and sicere in deaings with others. She is modest. She holds her breath whn he's nervous.
Strengths:
+ She is mighty.
Weaknesses:
- She is quite susceptibleto disease.
- She has a shortage of patience.
- and littlelinguistic ability.
Preferences:
Rithum likes ilmenite, iron, red beryl, spore tree wood, the colour pale pink, short swords, floodgates, amulets nd hagfish for their ability to tie themselves into knots. When possible, she prefers to consume banded knifefish, gutter cruor and dwarven wheat flour. She absolutely dtests lizards.
Skills:
! Proficient Mason

-

Name: Melbilthikut, "Tomebooks"
Age: 79
Gender: Male
Religion: Ardent of Rab
Appearance:
He is broad yet weak. His hair is quite sparse. His medium-length sideburns are neatly combed. His medium-length moustache is neatly combed.His long beard is neatly combed. His very long hair is natly combed. His very flattened ears have great swinging lobes. His protruding cobalt eyes are very round. His somewhat short nose is incredibly upturned. His somewhat short head is somwhat narrow. He has very high cheekbones. His eyebrows are quite long. His teeth are crowded. His hair is pale chestnut. His cinnamon skin is slightly wrinkled.
Personality:
He occasionally overindulges. He is confident under pressure. He is unassertive. He likes to try new things. He admires tradition. He is guarded in relationships with others. He doesn't like to compromise with others. He is occasionally given to procrastination. He takes time when making decisions.
Strengths:
+ He has good intuition.
Weaknesses:
- He is quick to tire
- very weak
- poor creativity
- and alarge deficit of willpower.
Preferences:
Belbilthikut likes native platinum, billon, sard, the clour pine green, stars, shields and larg, serrated discs. When possible, he prefers to consume longland beer. He asolutely detests large roaches.
Skills:
! Proficient Planter

-

Name: Thedakmorul, "Clanpage"
Age: 87
Gender: Male
Religion: Dubious of Tath
Appearance:
His sideburns are clean-shaven. His very long mustache is neatly combed. His very long beard is natly combed. His very long hair is arranged in double braids. He has a recessed round chin. He is average in size. Hissomewhat short nos is incredibly upturned. He has a grating, raspy voice. His somewhat broad ears are somewhat tall. His emerald eyes have large irises. His cinnamon skin is wrinkled.
Personality:
He often feels discouraged. He is rarely happy or enthusiastic. He is self-disciplined. He runs his fingers through his hair when he's annoyed.
Strengths:
+ Very rarely sick
+ slow to tire
+ Very good focus
Weaknesses:
- Flimsy
- quite clumsy
Preferences:
Thedakmorul likes slate, bronze, ruby, amber, the colour orange, waves, warhammers, bracelets and magma men for their flowng movement. Whn possible, he prefers to consume white-spotted puffer and fisher berry wine. He absolutely detests worms.
Skills:
! Proficient Brewer

-

Name: Olindeleth, "Tongspolish"
Age: 72
Gender: Female
Religion: Faithful of Etur
Appearance:
She is scrawny. Her hair is quite sparse. Her very long hair is neatly combed. She has high cheekbones, and a recessed chin. Her somewhat shot nose is incredibly upturned. Her ears are somewhat tall. Her somewhat short head is omewht narrow. Her eyebrows are quite long. She has a low voice. Her hair is chestnut. Her skin is cinnamon.
Personality:
Sh rarely feels discouraged. She occasionally overindulges. She is somewhat reserved. She is very energetic and active. Sh isn't given to flights of fancy. She is candid and sincere in dalings with others. She is truly fulfilled by assisting those in need. She doesn't like to compromisewith others. She has a sense of duty. She doesn't go out of her way to do more work than is necessary.
Strengths:
+ She has a good feel for social rltionships
Weaknesses:
- She is clumsy
- flimsy
- weak
- very quick to tire
- shortage of patience
- poor analytical abilities
- poor creativity
Preferences:
Olindeleth likes selenite, lead, tanzanite, amber, the colour cardinal, bolts and red-winged blackbirds for their colouration. When possible, she prefers to consume bloated tubers, prickle berry wine and mog juice. She absolutely detests fire snakes.
Skills:
! Proficiet Carpenter

-

Chapter One: The Old Fotress

The King of the Elder fortress, atop his throne, far below the surface of the mounain, hidden behind a maze of twisting corridors, slumped bac in his seat. A fly, far from it's home, buzzed nearby. In his great halls, a crowd had gathered again. Merchants, soldiers, nobles, laborers, even children. And all were arguing. The king listened numbly, disinterested in this ancient debate.

The tax collector stepped foreward, pleading to his monarch. "Please, your magesty! We must do something! Our people ae on the verge of destruction! This mountain's resources are dwindling, our people are leaving for other cities. Work is going undone! We must find a new homeland! We must find somewhere to rebuild our fomer glory!"

The hammerer, then, stepped foreward, shoving the tax collector to the ground! "My liege! Do not listen to this madness! Our numbers are alreay so low! If we lose any more on such a dangerousand foolish endeavor, we'll surely be no more! We must make our stand here! I say we go for the deeps! demon remains and adamantium will revitalize us! We can rebuild our great Elder Fortress beyond it's former glor--"

The captain of the guard, then, interrupted, "Invade th demons?! Are you utterly MAD?!" He shoved the hammerer, knocing his helmet eschew. "We do not have the forces to fight off infinite waves of demons, forgotten beasts and Armok-knows-what-else! This is simply unfeaible. We shouldabandon this rotting shell of a mountain, gain new wealth elsewhere, regroup, and reclaim her for ourselves once more."

The king leaned to one side, resting his head on his fist. This argument has been going on for the last five hundred years. He's read the transcripts from hisancestors, nd nearly nothing's hanged. The posiions are all the same, only the names have ever changed. They have gone on this long without action on the subject, and he suspected they could go on much longer as well... Still... Something was off this time. things did seem more tense... Perhaps this year was the one to break the draltha's back? He raised his hand, and stood up.

"My loyal followers. I appreciate your concern. But keep in mind the history we have here. We are the oldest dwarven culture with only a single fortress to our name. It has always been our belief that our centralization, our unity, our one-ness is the source of our strength. If we were to turn our backs on our home now, what would that say of our beliefs, our faith? If we were to leave, what would becom of our dear Elder Fortress? And what would become of her people? By principle, we cannot leave! It is true, however, that we are facing many challenges. With the death of our farmers, with only unskilled laborers tilling the fields there is much less food to go around these days. With the craftsdarves leaving for settlemnts with more materials to work with, our exports have dwindled. It is indeed true that we must do something. But I believe we can sustain the loss of a mere seven. The dwarven seven is a well known settlemnt strategy. If seven dwarves, two of each trade type, can step forward, we can begin plans."

Rithim was standing at the back of the crowd. She gazed at the crest of her lord's crown ove the heads of her comrades. She looked to her young apprentice, Tobullibash. "Tob', your skill with the cissel has grown impressively over this last year." Tob' looked up at his master, her dark eyes full of force. "Master... Do you intend.. To send me on this mission the king has proclaimed?" She shook her head and patted the boy on the shoulder, "No, Tob'. I don't." A shock of realization flashed through Tob's mind, as Rithim let go of him and began to push her way through the crowd.

Amkinastesh was standing at the front of the crowd, pick clutched firmly in his hands. Since he was a child, he'd never seen the king tak heed of anyone's proclamations in this debate. He feared his king may indeed be turning upon the mountainhome, the Elder Fortress. And then his friend and co-worker was staning next to him, her fists clenched. Rithim Nudged him with her bulging shoulder, "Amkin'! Our king needs us!" Amkinastesh looked at her, surprised. "Rith? Ar you serious? For all you know, this could be complete suicide! And who are you to start commanding around?" Rithim stepped foreward.

"My king, I accept your call. I am Rithim the mason. My apprentice has reached an approvable level of skill. I swear to you, that he can easily provide in my place. I wish to take part in this mission." Amkin' whispered loudly at her, "What are you doing?! Tob's a novice at best! And what are you going to do without any workers?!" Rith quickly shot over her shoulder, "If you're so concerned, offer your skills, miner. We'll need them." Amkin inhaled deeply, trying to control himself. Rith had never been so forceful with him before! hn he looked up at his king, watching the crowd intently, looking at them with almost pity, perhaps contempt... And then he felt his feet move foreward, ad her heard his voice, sharp and dry, crying out, "Then I shall stand beside her!" The king gave a half smile and nodded. Rakustlor, another friend, then nudged up from behind him, raisng his thin arm, his axe in hand, high, "With stone and chizzel, they shall need wood for warmth! These lands have grow barren.I wuld be of far more use to my friends in this!" Ishkilrud, the miner he'd trained with and befriended, then stepped out from the crowd, off to one side. He rested his hands on his pick as though it were a cane. "These hallowed hals are carved my liege. They have been for many generations before me. There is no need of our profession here any longer. If they are to survive, they need proper homes. That is a challenge no single dwarf could hope to shoulder." Olindeleth, the fortrss carpenter, the made her way to the front, the components of a chai half-assembled in one hand. "My woodcutter is leaving, and long to practice my trade once more. I beg of yu, my lord, allow me this opportunity to serve you, to serve the Elder Fortress more than I ever have before!" Finaly, a new farmer and an apprentice brewer stepped foreward. The brewer, Thedakmorul, spoke up, "The farmlord has commanded us to serve. We shall do so with honor. What are your comands?"

The seven dwarves, standing together before their entire people, looked up at the king. And the king smiled back at them. he sat down upon his throne once more, and stroked his mustache. He beckoned them to come closer, and waved the gawkers away.

"You seven are more important than you know. I know you may fear what I amabout to say, but... You are to settle a new fortress. You must forge new wealth. If we do no do this, our people, our oneness, shall fall for good. I do not know where this road leads... To decentralize like this... It is unprecedented in our history... We have never done this. I do not know what lies before you. But your is the fate of us all."

Epilogue:

This will be done when it's all finished.

Wiki Stuff

Template:L designed to replace the old one. Though it was a masterpiece of wiki-magic, it wasn't particularly in-depth, was a little vague, had a couple of inaccurate points, and kept breaking whenever anything changed. Thus, the logical solution is to replace it with a more comprehensive flowchart in the form of an image. Sadly, it's a little too literal, a little too... Blunt. It comes across as somewhat disorienting and menacing. It's a lot of tiny little things to look at, in order to fully interpret the whole... It reads like a schematic diagram of some ornate machine. If you have any ideas on how to make it appear friendlier, or read easier, please say something! I'd love to discuss it with you!

And a friendlier version for those of you who prefer to not be intimidated by blank white space.