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[aralkis]

I was creating a new world, and when I looked at legends mode I found a dwarven civilization with only a single habitant. Curious, I took a look at its history and started a fortress. Here is their story, and their struggle to rebuild a once proud civilization:

#===============Prologue===============#

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Moyodefini. The continent of The Land of Lashes lies to the west.

The Ferocious Trumpet was a small and young dwarven kingdom at the southwest footsteps of The Horns of Flight, in The Land of Lashes, the western continent of Moyodefini. Queen Lokum, united our people in defense against the goblins that lived in the swamps south of the mountains. Struck down by a titan few months after her coronation,
it fell to her successor to defend our people.

The Horn and surrounding lands. The great dwarven kingdom of The Mines of Lanterns lie to the north, at the mountains of The Tooth of Tactics. The west cost of The Land of Lashes is almost all inhabited by the goblins of The Obsidian Sin our nemesis, as well as the southwest isthmus. The plains to the east and to the south are uninhabited

Queen Fath is credited for build our new fortress and under her our people prospered.
But it was king Sodel that first fought against the goblins, at 27 SL (since Lokum).
They pillaged our cities and did it again at 52 SL. But when they came again at 65, they came to end us! The cities they didn't captured, they destroyed and the few of our people that survived now live under goblin rule or fled to the kingdoms to the north. The kingdom was conquered at 77 SL, when Tirist, our last king, was struck down defending our last fortress.


But a few survived in the caves beneath a coastal hillock that served as port for our trade routs. We lived hidden and in fear, because the caves were very close to goblin settlements. Rakust, the old sheriff, who was a young swordsman during the war, was always insisting with the council on plans to resettle at the Horn of Flight, but the elders never listened to him.
"Its too dangerous, we would be too vulnerable" they said. The caves were like a maze and the goblins never were capable of catching them there. But they were also depleted of resources, with veins of copper been the only useful thing in that hole.

The Swamp of Toning extends all over the bay. The goblins  holdings lye to the west, along the coast. Some elfs inhabits the south part of the isthmus, to the east the goblin pits. At the north west, The two Halls the goblins captured: Ringed Combined, which they still hold, and Bow Flag, that was reclaimed by The mines of Lanterns. Tributeumbra is very close to the main goblin pits to the south. The cave is at the southwest corner end of the bay

About Fifty years passed and the younger generation, were restless, and wanted to retake the mountains. Four young dwarves, hearing Raskut wanted for a long time to go back to The Horns, went to talk to him. They said Tributeumbra offered no future to them, and that they were getting out of there, with or without the council's blessing. Raskut wanted a proper expedition team, but since those old goats wouldn't change their mind, he decided that was his only opportunity. He convinced, his friend Onul, who was a merchant, to sponsor the expedition to retake the mountain range. "Once a successful outpost has been established, the baron would have no choice but support us. You'll take care of the logistics and contact the resistance at Ringuedcombined, and I will train these 4 aerselings so they learn how to fight properly with a sword."
The four arselings were:

Bembul, sturdy as a pine plank
Tulon, agile as a mountain goat.
Asmel, smart as a puppy, eager to learn new tricks.
Degel, strong as lame horse.
All four of them grew up hearing the war stories of Raskut and were eager to be his apprentices.

When Onul came to meet the kids he was skeptic. "What about equipment, and tools? Those are untamed lands now? Do you expect me to buy you all shiny sets of steel armor? I'm not that rich!".
"You are not rich at all you old weasel!" Raskut pointed out.
"Fear not stingy fellow, I know the right scoundrel to help our situation! You take care of the medical supplies, livestock, food and beverage, and I will worry about the other stuff." said Asmel. He went to Tobul the blacksmith's apprentice, who was tired of making cooper mugs at those "wretched caves that had not a pinch of iron ore!". He dreamed of making legendary, nasty steel swords, but that was not happening at the Tributeumbra caves. So they went to his master's workshop while he was sleeping and "borrowed" some ore and bituminous coal. "if we can find an anvil in the way to the mountain, I will make you enough bronze to make the tools and arms to get us started! And who knows, if we find shallow iron ores I have enough marble to make my first steel swords!"

And so they departed, at the spring 125 SL to found Ulolgeshud, "The Last Fortress"... and strike the earth![/i]

The Horns, the stage of our adventure. To the right, Ulolgeshud, The last Fortress. (I marked it but to see it you got to click in the picture.

#====================Onul's Journal====================#

#===============Chapter One: Setting Camp===============#

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The initial camp.

At summer four peasants heard of our intent to build a new mountain hall for our people and asked to live with us.
We struck hematite! Now Tomul can make the steel weapons Raskut wanted. As soon as they had shield, helmets and swords, Raskut started training his small militia. Meanwhile the new comers established the first farms.

At autumn, 9 more people came, with a child. May "Ulolgeshud" keep her safe. For she is the future of our people. Hearing of our success Tributeumbra sent a caravan of supplies to trade with us. "Tidur" a very gifted bonecraftsman that came with the latest group, made some very exquisite trinkets and Tobul also sold some of his lesser quality steel swords and some pieces of bronze armor. Those would be very appreciated back at home, specially the steel work. In return we got, leather, seeds, ale, rum, beer, and food. We also bought a horse and a llama. Its yarn would be of great value in the future.

Asmel slept past time and made everyone wait him for Sword demonstration. So Raskut sent him to hunt 2 goats that were andering around the camp for a while. He passed all day long running down those goats, but when he was finished came back demanding to be known as Asmel, the goat slayer!

At september 8th We had just started carving the gatehouse of our fortress, and then I heard screamings. Someone sounded the alarm.

We were just beguining the construction of the fortress when, sudenly, someone sounded the alarm

Commander Raskut had trained recruits to an adequate level by now, but this would be their first challenge. "Duthtish the Adventurous Tempest, god of the fortresses and war give us strength!". The militia though wasn't on duty and 2 out of the 5 were sleeping, the others working in the camp. But Raskut always tells his soldiers: "be always alert!". And sure enough, by the time the beast got to the camp, que had his sword and shield in hand and ready for action. He didn't have time to get his bronze mail though. It fell on him to defend the camp, while people evacuated underground.
We were under attack from an werelizard!
Well, a child werelizard... But it would take just one bite for anyone would be cursed forever!
As soon as the creature saw Raskut it came running thirsty for blood, and jumped on top of him, aiming for his neck. But the commander blocked the tackle and slashed the fiend's leg. Blinded by pain, Imi slashed with its claws, but Raskut slashed its left hand off. Raskut knew he had the momentum and stabbed the lizards foot and the beast went down. The old soldier now was in such a battle frenzy that he didn't even wait for it to be roasted and tried to bite its leg off. The werelizard struggled to get away off his grinding, but the commander got tired and just cut its head off!
Victory! The first of many!
And no one was bitten, except for the werelizard itself of course.
Everybody praised Raskut for his bravery and skill!
"Wow, Was it strong?"
"It was more like a Gecko really..." he said awkwardly."Tobul is the one that did a great job. This sword cut right through it".
"Was it fast?"
"How did it tasted like?" I asked.
"Like turkey. Where are those four good-for-nothing?"
Those recruits would not hear the end of it when Raskut find them...

A few days later we heard from travelers that a human village was attacked some years ago by a werelizard with a taste for small children. Since then, such child werelizards were comum in the region. After the incident, the excavations in the mountain were accelerated. Raskut is thinking about taking some of the new comers into the militia, and make a rotation, so that they are not caught unprepared again.

Raskut inspecting one of the future batlements. After the incident, construction was accelarated

#===================================================#

That is it for most of the first year. I will update at the end of each year. I hope Raskut don't get the curse for biting the werelizard. I'm not very good at drawings so I will try post pics using armok vision, sensitone, voxel fortress and so on, Thx Japa, for the wonderful tools!
Maybe I could make voxel models of the first seven, as I plan for them to be the protagonist.
As you may have noticed, they are 5 soldiers, each with a martial and teacher skill, except Asmel, the younger, who is a teacher and a student. Onul is a broker and expedition leader and Tomul is a armor & weapon smith (although a legendary armorsmith arrived with the last wave).
Stay tuned for more!

#==================Chapter 2: Kudustenkos==================#

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Our second year was very laborious. We continued the excavation of the fortress. But as more and more people begin to arrive, I had to bring some considerations to Raskut's plans.
"Capitan, I think we might have a problem."
"What is it, Onul?" He said distracted, studying the plans of complicated traps, secret passages, murder holes. "Yes, yes... I can't wait to give that bloody goblins the surprise they deserve!" He had a disturbing and wolvish look on his face.
"We can't all live inside the fortress."
"Wait, What? What do you mean?"
"Well, a lot of people is starting to come, and to feed everybody we will need to have pasture for cattle, the fishs in the river, the fruits, and bushes in the forest. And also the wood to make charcoal to fuel the furneces to make all your shiny toys. And we don't have all those villages that used to supply such fortresses."
"But we are dwarves! We are supposed to live inside the mountains! Do you propose we live in the surface, like humans? That is just not proper!"
"Yeah but... you see, the great halls all had a very complex sanitation system. That we just can't aford right now. Remember when that long rain fell upon Trubuteumber five years ago and flooded the caves and, floating, came all those stin..."
"All right, all right, you don't need to remind me of that mess!"
"Multiply that mess by all these people that are coming and, see? We can't all live in the fortress."
"What then?"Raskut looked angry and confused. He crossed his arms in resolution "We are not abandoning the construction of the fortress because of peoples' sh..."
"I'm not saying that. We should have a walled village to protect our herd, farmers, woodsman, and have the fortress as a last bastion of ours defenses. It will also serve to store our most precious goods and. It will also serve as an advantage point, overseeing the vale to alert as of danger. And be also be the bastion for our most valueble peole."
"Like who?" He gave me a sarcastic look.
"Not me, you fool. The very best of our artisans. You know. The ones that are going to make us rich?"
"Hum...alright, we will do you way then"

And so constructions of the wall began.

The village has some woods, fields for the animals, the Eshtânzoden (where Tobul and master Udil work) and the Amostzoden, where Onul's live and work, managing the production of goods and keeping account of their supplies

To the left, the Amostzoden; The pound where they cultivate some fishes; The village's well; the market square and the south wall in the background.

garden inside the Amostzoden.

At summer some folks arrived. One of them was Eral, a skilled miner. He heard of the fortress we were building and was eager to help. "I'm hear to work, lord! 100% Lord, I won't let you down!" He said to Raskut.
"All right son, talk to Uzol. He is the head-miner."
And so he did. "Reporting for duty sir!"
"You are the new guy? Alright, I need you to dig the ditch on the entrance" Said Uzol without taking his gaze out of the plans he was reading.
"The ditch sir?" The young miner sound disappointed. He wanted something people would take notice in the future. He looked around and saw someone high up on the fortress. "What about that site, sir?"
"What?" asked Ozul as if he had just waken. He looked where the young dwarf was pointing. "Oh, no, Goden will take care of it" And went back to his blueprints.
"Why, maybe he needs help, sir. Should I ask him"
"Yeah, yeah, sure."
And so he got to work on the fortress' facade.
Until, one day, while Ozul was talking to Raskut about a secret balista he was planing to build they heard a scream "AAAAHGGHGRRRRRR!" *SPLFT*
They ran to help whoever was screaming but when they got out of the fortress, the miner body was a mangled pile of arms and broken lags. They tried to help, but it was too late. He couldn't breath.
"Oh, no! Edem was so full of enthusiasm..."
"I think his name was Eral, lord." Taking his hat in respect.
"Whatever, he is going to be remembered for his dedication. Tell Cog I want a slab made in Erel's memory".
"Eral, lord"
"It was I who let you down, son!"
"Oh indeed, a long way down." said Ozul looking up at an astonished Goden.

Iral was working at the far and top side of the fortress. I mean Eral; The rubble taken out of the fortress been processed into building material.

At autumn more people arrived. I was presenting Ruskat a renowned bonecarver (another one!), that came to live with us. "My lord, I've heard so much about you! I was eager to finally mee..." He didn't even finished his greeting and his face just went blank. And he started to murmur something. "Master Zuglar? Are...are you alright? I can't hear you." Said the capitan. But I knew right away what was happening.
"I heard tales of it, but I've never witnessed it...". Ruskat looked at me confused. "Heard of what?".
"He entered in the craftsman trance! He has been toutched by the gods!" Zuglar was looking around, as if searching for something. I got closer to him, to hear what he was saying, but suddenly he started to scream "Stone!...I MUST HAVE STONE BLOCKS! And bones, I NEED BONES TOO!" Ruskat wasn't someone to get impressed easily, but even him was afraid of the gods. But Stukus had used all the bones we had. "Hurry Bembel, go tell Melbil to prepare our finest animal for sacrifice! The Buffalo, tell him to prepare the Buffalo!". "Right away, lord" And he dashed away.
"Come, master" And Ruskat took him to the chip of the stone of the first strike we took to the earth at Ulolgeshud. "Here". The captain handed Zuglar the stone.
"Siltstone! Yes, yes...this is from an old rock! Yes, that will do, but I need bones! GIVE SOME BONES!" His sanity seemed to be ozzing away quickly. It was a matter of time before he went mad.
Melbil brought the animal, a magnificent one. Zuglar slowly came towards the beast, looking deep into its eyes. It was very still. They got face to face, and then Zuglar put his hand on its head and the beast fell down as if sleeping. Every body now came to see what was happening. Zuglar quietly extended his arm to Mebil and he passed the ceremonial bismuth bronze axe. With a short prayer to Datan, Zuglar slayed the beast. "Take me to a workshop." And while master Zuglar worked we feasted in honor of the gods.
He worked for days, until, finally he came out in front of the whole village to present his work.
"Lord Ruskat, you have been a beacon of hope the past year, the defender of our people! So I made you the instrument with which you will protect all of our people from our enemies! Behold: Kudustenkos!" He announced, while pulling the wool cloth that was covering his masterpiece.
And it was magnificent. All craftsdwarfship was of the highest quality. It menaced with a carved buffalo with a terrifying look, and bone spikes. It was circled with stilstone runes spelling its name."

Ruskat looked at it, speechless. He could scarcely believe what was in front of his eyes. Everyone was silent.
"... Wow... I mean... master Zuglar..." Raskut finally managed to mumble. "It is an amazing...buckler?!"
"Isn't it? I made it so you can carry it everywhere and be always ready to protect our people, whenever needed! It is very comfortable too! Look how light it is! You can carry it everywhere" The artisan brought the bone buckler, radiantly proud of his work.
"That is very thoughtful, master..." he said while he inspected it in a closer look. "Yes, it is very light...But couldn't it be... I don't know... a little bigger." It was the size of a plate.
"Oh, no, no! See, a man of your skill don't want those cumbersome shields! Besides, the gods themselves will protect you"
The gods, though, didn't seem to mind the bruises Degel was giving him in their sparring sessions.
"Well, thank you, master Zuglar, I will put it to good use." Said the captain, barely managing a smile.
"Oh, by the way, what does Kudustenkos mean?"
"It means 'Princetakes'!"
"Princetakes? Kind of an odd name, hum?... But at least has Prince in it. A prince's shield then!"
"Buckler!"
"Oh, yeah...buckler..."

And that is the story of the creation of Kudustenkos, Ulolgeshud's first artifact. May the gods guard us. With their buckler!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

#===================================================#

I thought it would be a good Idea to keep track of the status screen. So here it is the first one.

Disclaimer: Sorry for any mistakes, english is not my first language.

[Imic]

Ooooh. PTW

[TheImmortalRyukan]

Queen Fath? PTW!

[☼Another☼]

Very interesting. Posting to watch.

[Glass]

This right here looks like it has potential for much awesome and !!fun!!. Please, do continue.

[aralkis]

Thx for the compliments. 

Chapter 2 is up. I couldn't think of a better way to publish the chapter then using the spoiler button. I don't want all the journal to load in a single block of text. But I can't control the size of the font, so if you find too small, just zoom in. I saw some people separating a story in different topics and then making another topic to summarize everything, but I think in this case it was overkill. So there it is.

Tell me if you have any suggestion or anything you want to know or see from the fortress. I will include some update about the world around soon. I can say that there is no liaison appointed, so Onul will not be happy to the news of him not becoming the official mayor anytime soon.

Enjoy.

[Glass]

Alright, a couple of things. First off, yay, artifact! 

Second, from what I've seen previously, updates are typically added in additional posts, not edited in to the original post. While I'm not saying that what you're doing is wrong, I am saying that it's not what i think most of us are used to.

Third, may I suggest you get some rangers? Having elevated defensive positions - like walls - is a tactic most effectively employed with soldiers who can attack your enemies from that height while being safe from the attacks aimed at them.

Fourth, may I please be dwarfed as your first ranger? 

[Fleeting Frames]

- Mm. Melee-only military doesn't work so great for hunting scared creatures - they'll catch them eventually, but would do it sooner with crossbow and pick/axe. This works great, till their skulls are punched in by hoofed creatures due not bringing a shield.

- Werelizards who hunt children? What joy! Bring all your children outside!

(okay, not so good with dead civ. But was that contruction accident intentional ?)

- Heh. You know, depending on high your sky goes, past certain wall size it is cheaper to build walls (fortifications/floodgates at top level) right up to the top of the sky than covering it up.

- Ugh, yeah. Dummy prices. Even in the most metal-scarce situations, I'd probably prefer to outfit half the guys with shields than double the guys with bucklers.

Only time I've heard of anyone using them has been for increasing armor user gains while not entirely forgoing shield user from spar and demonstration.

- As for the above...Rangers are pretty terrible in comparison with melee troops, but it costs one little to make few dwarfs hunters to later graduate to keawatch/werebeast watch/counter-flame FB. But it seems you already have a melee squad with barracks to spar in?

[Glass]

Rangers are pretty terrible in comparison with melee troops

When I say ranger, I essentially mean "anyone with some kind of ability to attack people outside of melee range".
I'm not exceptionally clear on the intricacies of the specific, Dwarven definitions.

[Fleeting Frames]

I personally used vastly stricter "anyone who engages in combat through ranged weapons". Dwarven definition of that tends to simplify to "crossbowdwarves", due bolts being only ammo dwarves can produce.

Excluding potential citizen FBs, demons or web-spitting animalmen, fort mode doesn't have any breath weapons on your citizens - I consider things like FB/Magma crab turrets and various mechanical devices to be traps, which I exclude from ranged.

[Glass]

traps

Ah, yes, those. We should be using those.

Maybe just sprinkle a few hundred of them over a little everywhere.

[aralkis]

Fourth, may I please be dwarfed as your first ranger? 

Consider yourself dwarfed. Should I use Glass as nickname? I could use glass cannon too! Equipped with a silver crossbow and silver bolts and leather armor! Just kidding. You are probably going to be Kadol Avuzkom, who besides been the new militia commander is also a carpenter during his free time. I will post his skills and thoughts later on. Raskut was just about to draft you to form a small bow squad, since you are the only one who knows from which side the bolt leaves the bow.

For future reference, for those who want to be dwarfed, leave:
a) nickname you want for your dwarf (remember  the length limit. I guess its 16 chars);
b) if you want a craftsman, ranged, melee or noble. I will try to comply the best I can. In the worst case I will choose a dwarf randomly.

I will continue with this method of publication for one more chapter or two. If things continue to go well, I will think about making the updates in separate topics.

[Fleeting Frames]

Hm. I wonder if a hunter would pick the hunt over workshop jobs, if they have ammo available. Something to watch out for. If they have make their own ammo, not so much a problem.

[Glass]

Nickname should probably be Jack Frost, because why not.

EDIT: Just for future reference, most names that I give will likely be from this list:

Aaron Blaez
Seth Richards
Eriel Flight
Erin Quill
Sadie Hertz
Quinn Learner
Jack Frost
Jack[son] Spades
Glass
Green Glass
Glass Green