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[Salmeuk]

this is place to post my storyjournals as I attempt to recreate a shinto style shrine in Dwarf Fortress, inspired by my recent trip to the Izumo shrine near Matsue.

===

day 1 vod here

goal: shrine to a god

important concepts:
 the god is attracted to and may live within the shrine
 the shrine is a place for people to visit with the god
 a certain object may attract the god, such as a large tree or rock formation, or the god may choose to reside in a constructed altar
 otherwise it is an exercise in reproduction of aesthetics since a lot of the above cannot be simulated in DF
 
 A group of dwarves embarks for a forested valley north of Takenhowls, the elven settlement. The valley is known as 'The Prairie of Grooves' and is surrounded by 'The Jungle of Dunes.'
 The land is untamed wilds and all civilizations have access.
 
 The group Nņmčrith, 'The Godly Labor', is led by Mūthkat Eshtānkobel, 'Smithsummits'
 -- a dwarf who greatly values decorum, dignity and proper behavior and does not care about fairness.
 The group symbol is known as 'The Windy Whispers', an image of a circle and a cloud. The circle is devouring the cloud.
 
 Joining Mūthkat are
 
  Ral Isakbomrek, 'Spatterwhip'
  Ducim Kadolmūthkat, 'Hatchetmansion'
  Kadol ļngizgim, 'Ceilingtwists'
  Urist Oslannebél,
'Windadmired'
  Goden Nåzodeduk,
'Dreamymanors'
  and
  Catten Medtobiseth,
'Blockadequests'

 Unfortunately, most of the supplies were lost en route to the shrine's location. Only a single barrel of 60 plump helmets remained, along with some basic tools, the pack animals, and three cats.
 
 The place would be later become known as Okun Kudar, 'The Shrine of Immortals'.
 
 ========================
 
 On the 15th of Granite, 83, the seven dwarves arrived at Okun Kudar, 'The Shrine of Immortals'.
 
 A giant snapping turtle was spotted in the northern stream.
 
 The dwarves picked this spot since they had seen a gigantic tree halfway up the southern hillside. A towering highwood, as wide as three horses in a line, and taller than the rest of the forest. This highwood would be preserved..
 
 The shrine complex would be located further down the hillside on a particularly flat piece of land that stretched out towards the stream. There, the forest was thin. A large oak tree stood out from the rest and would become the focal point from which the shrine is constructed.

 The local forests provided the following lumbers:
 
 Oak
 Highwood
 Alder
 Birch
 Willow
 Maple
 
 The following fruit trees were also present:
 
 Apricot
 Pecan
 Cherry
 Peach
 Almond
 Persimmon
 
 A small downward staircase was created, intended as a temporary home and food cellar for the dwarves. Limestone and rock salt were discovered underneath the soil.
 
 A swarm of giant flies was spotted above the forest canopy.
 
 Mūthkat has become greatly annoyed by the rain and demanded the construction of a small hut to protect the staircase. The dwarves conferred, and oak will be the majority construction material, as long as supply allows.
 
 Early in Summer, the cherry tree blossoms fell to the forest floor.
 
 Later on that season, eight dwarves arrived.
 
 A carpenter and a large number of weaponsmiths including Ber Grizzlesyrup the legendary, and Sarvesh Stakescar and her child Inod.
 
 A series of limestone statues of triumphant foxes were constructed to adorn the rooftops.
 Rock salt roof tiles were also installed.
 
 In Late Summer, an administrative building was commissioned by Mūthkat. A shale pathway was laid in front of the two structures.
 
 Further statues, this time of contemplative wolves, were ordered from the masonry.
 
 Traders from the mountainhome arrived, however, the dwarves had not yet constructed any trade goods or even a depot.
 
 That autumn, the wildlife struck back. Giant agitated chipmunks descended upon the woodcutter Solon, ripping off his hand and drowning him in the stream.
 Luckily, the traders had brought competent mercenaries, and they fought valiantly against the wild animals.
 However, the chipmunks were hyper-agile and very comfortable in the dense forests. They also attacked and killed Iton the weaponsmith and Doren the glassmaker.
 
 Kunil the pump operator fell down the open well shaft as it was under construction, and died.
 
 Early in winter, a cavern was discovered.
 
 Giant insects attacked us again - mantises and cockroaches.
 A regular militia would be needed.
 

[brewer bob]

Nice concept!

I've always liked building outdoor shrines in DF, so it's nice to see others doing the same.

the pump operator fell down the open well shaft as it was under construction, and died.

Ah, some things in DF never change.

[Salmeuk]

 =================
 ===== Day 2 =====
 =================
 
 In late winter of 83, the miners were digging through a vain of limonite when they encountered a demon hiding in the stone.
 This monster took the form of a giant humanoid coati with grey hair and poisonous gas.
 Ducim fought back, striking the demon in the skull , but the creature was too strong and killed Ducim with a powerful kick to the head.
 THe creature was now loose in the caverns.. a foolhardy order to the militia resulted in three more deaths as they arrived without equipment.
 Unfortunately both picks are now locked in the caverns with that awful creature.
 
 ,.;:} A New Year {:;.,
 
 Spring of year 84 has arrived, and with it, an agitated giant chipmunk.
 Muthkat has been punching said chipmunk in the head for the last five days. Will no one help??
 
 The elves arrived. A rather embarassing moment for us as we are in the middle of murdering this awful chipmunk beast. No dwarf is capable of finishing the fluffy creature as it's fat is too thick.
 Finally, ten days later, the beast is dead. .
 
 This is a poor start to the year for the dwarves of Okun Kudar.
 
 Urist fell down the well. That makes two dwarves - guardrails are needed.
 
 Those elves brought unicorns, very fancy creatures indeed. A bit pretentious to use them as pack animals I must admit.
 
 The dwarves curse the name, "Sootyspiders the Ignoble," for it was this demon that killed five members of the party. It was this demon who erupted from it's age-old place of hiding, a cyst in the earth, to bring ruin and pain to our settlement.
 "Sootyspiders" continues to roam the caverns, unashamed, gassy and missing it's right hand.
 
 In late spring, an agitated boar moved into our temple. The visiting fighters cared not at all about these violent creatures, and similarly, the boars seems at peace with the others.
 
 "Only one good year," thought Muthkat the expedition leader, "One good year before it all collapsed before me."
 Oddly enough, the most persistent memory for Muthkat was having a nice bath. So in the end it wasn't all bad hmmm?
 
 With as much death and ruin as had occurred, it was decided to move on. The forest could have this one.


====

more shrine attempts to come

[Salmeuk]

the goal :  build a shrine akin to the Izumo shrine near Matsue

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

 ==============

 In a place known as 'The Lucky Land,' north of a forest called 'The Special Forest,'
 the seven dwarves embarked.
 
 It would be called Okunubbul, 'Shrinevault.'
 
 The group was known as Egarlogem, 'The Old Paint.'
 
The image 'The Safe Forest' was of dwarves, a mountain and a cedar tree. The dwarves are admiring the cedar.
 
 The dwarves brought only 2 axes, 2 picks, and 3 cats.
 
 =================
 ===== Day 1  =======
 =================
 
 It was early summer (2nd Hematite of 84) when the party arrived.
 
 Priority, as always, was temporary housing and a food source.
 
 The first week was spent chopping down nearby trees and gathering all kinds of nearby plants.
 
 A large, wide bridge of oak was constructed over the slow moving stream.
 The stream was cool and shady under the thick canopy of willows and oaks.
 
 The first brew was of a handful of rat weeds, pressed and fermented into passable drink.
 
 A month passed as the dwarves dug through the aquifer. Wooden planks were installed to block the slow trickle of water as they descended towards the cavern layers.
 
 Bauxite and bit coal were struck, as well as clusters of gems such as picture jasper and green tourmaline.
 
 A triple layer of magnetite was found, underneath an aquiferous patch of sandstone.
 
 At some point, Thikut got into a fight with a badger. She came out unscathed.
 
 In a surprising find, the staircase managed to worm its way past the first cavern entirely, and so when the dwarves went to excavate some microcline they happened upon a gigantic open space.
 The cavern lake was large and the far water faded into darkness.
 
 In Autumn, a lone troglodyte crept into our staircase.
 
 Everyone became overly excited as the wild fruit trees dropped their cherries, pears, bayberries to the forest floor, and much time was wasted collecting fruit.   
 What are we to do with all these pears. . .?
 
 At the last minute, Bim Bronzewonders carved up 24 oaken shields to trade with.
 However, we just missed the trading window.
 
 Winter's project: a stockade wall surrounding the planned footprint of the shrine. The walls were built to avoid certain ponds and water features.
 
 Spring arrived, of year 85. Progress so far had been slow. Most of winter was wasted as someone managed to dig out the staircase .. the dwarves eventually found a second path downward and the two halves of the fortress were reconnected.
 
 The elves arrived but we had nothing to trade.
 
 In the middle of spring, a second aboveground building was planned. A sort of community hall and place for administration.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

 A mysterious pit was discovered in the southeast quadrant of the embark. For now, let it be mysterious.. cavern walls are being constructed.
 
 The human caravan arrived in early summer. We traded those soggy oaken shields for two anvils and some wolf organs. The pond turtles proved too expensive for us to purchase.
 
 Large ballista were used to cut down the submerged cavern trees, allowing us to expand wooden platforms over the lake's water.
 
 =================
 ===== Day 2  =======
 =================
 
 In late summer, Olon the mechanic gave birth to Rimtar Ringcrux, a baby boy who was born with a fully braided beard. Morul the Glassmaker is the father. His thoughts?
 "Try to focus on the practical side of the matter."
 
 Wild Emus roam the inner walls of the shrine grounds.. for now.
 
 The traders arrived, yet we had little to trade (again!). A jeweler's shop was hastily constructed.
 
 A series of limestone statues of laughing Emus were commissioned for the rooftops.
 
 A tall gate made of bauxite was installed at the front entrance.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

 With the small statues installed, the administration building appears to be guarded by a flock of menacing flightless birds. The dwarves have taken to calling this place 'The House of Emu.'
 
 It was early in autumn when the dwarves cleared forest near the stream, in order to cultivate fields of wild tubers and berries.
 

Spoiler (click to show/hide)