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[Itnetlolor]

ARMOK'S BLADE!!!

Nazushilbash Anrizsombith Nòm

Bloodaxe the Sky-Executioner of God

(Community Fortress Edition)

Finally got me Commmunity Page established. Forgive me if I run this a tad clunky, seeing as this is my first Community Fortress I've run. I figure, unlike the previous project, I would let others in on the experience of building a more glorious ship, so post what role you'd like and all that other stuff.

I have a prologue setup below if you want an intro to this act of the Xah Xurko Sky-Pirate Saga. The Bloodfist was the previous act. Updates, unlike last project, will not be seasonal, but instead, annual or bi-annual. Save up on resources (saves) and time per-update. Plus, I feel with my improved skills in DF, I think some updates will be less detailed than others anyway.

Here's A working model I can use for construction, and review as I build and improve upon it's design as I see fit.

Spoiler: Here are the Paint.Net blueprints as animating GIFs. Hopefully the color-coding context is clear enough. (click to show/hide)

 
Cumulative (including below levels)                                   Individual (One layer at a time)

NOTE:
Forgot to add doors (Lime green) to Deck 3's maintainence access.
Might as well add maintainence access doors in the residential deck as well.

If you want to tell your own story, or try to build this monster as well, here's the pre-embark save of the world I'm working with, since my worldgen how-to may be a bit tough to work with:
Xah Zurko, Clean/Fresh Worldgen

Links:
Predecessor Bloodfist
Project Discussion Page

Project/Community Links:
Prologue
Year-1 (Settling Down)
   Y1-A == Chapter 1: Let's Hit the Ground So Hard This Time, it Shatters
   Y1-B
Year-2 (Establishing Fort and Dry-Dock)
Year-3 (Commence Production)
Year-4
Year-5
Year-6


Heads-Up:
The first year or two will be spent on resource gathering and material processing as well as fortress establishment, seeing as I didn't do so (and/or properly) the first time around with Bloodfist's project site. As ‼fun‼ as that was, it was frustrating to the point of me nearly rage-quitting (actually, I did for a good month or few), and I don't want that to happen for a community fort. So I'm taking the time to actually establish a functional fort before I commence the actual project. In the meantime, the resource collecting and processing should speed up production of the ship and dry-dock itself. Plus, it should cut away any unnecessary filler with story-telling.

EDIT:
For anyone curious, this megaproject is currently under suspension. Real Life decided to be a dick, and give me little to no free time for the better part of the year, so as much as I would love to continue this, I'm stuck doing other things (mostly work, which I am intent on changing jobs from. It paid decently, but I want to enjoy my job. Job satisfaction>Income; just like my dwarves in both projects. Better to enjoy making even a pittance, instead of regretting the fortunes you make (Time-sink jobs, or jobs that go against your ways; winning the lottery, or doing something stupid for a million bucks at the expense of something valuable (ability to reproduce, self-respect, respect of peers, etc.; the list goes on)).).

Nonetheless, I DO want to return to working on this on a regular basis, but as of lately, I feel the universe has conspired against me finishing this, so until I can move on, this will have to wait. Thanks for the interest nonetheless.

[Itnetlolor]

Current Overseer/Foreman:
Remaining Survivors of the Bloodfist megaproject.
"Balthier" has decided to redeem himself since the prior failure. Took much convincing; but with an eye in the sky and prior data input from previous records, he wasn't too hard to track down.

====Currently Hiring====

Current Bay-12 Construction Team: Pending Arrival/Alive/Arrived/Injured/Endangered/Deceased
Yuli Vlasi

Current Losses (By Dwarf #): (Score to beat: 350)
0

Previous Overseers/Foremen and Team:
No notable losses

Potentials:
Survivors of the Bloodfist Project:
"Balthier" --Claimed, He wanted to redeem himself for his initial failure. Wasn't easy to find, but after seeing the completed Bloodfist, and hearing about what has happened in the capitol, he decided to do what he could to lend a hand.
"Mustadio" - May be a tad off-kilter since he did mine out the remaining redstone (cinnabar; a good source of mercury, BTW) for the Bloodfist before abandoning project a decade ago. But he's still alive, and might still know a thing or two about ship building.
Unclaimed from previously:
"Selphie"
"Highwind"
"Belthasar"

Airship construction progress:
No Notable Progress on Ship
No Drydock Built
Materials are being processed (Stone)
Materials are being processed (Wood)
Construction Site found

Fortress Progress:
Warehouses and Farms Built
Magma Forges carved out
Security Perimeter WIP
No proper housing or dining built
No safe water source found/made

[Itnetlolor]

Has it really been 10 years since we completed and ran off with the Bloodfist? I had this sudden urge to look back on the events of the past as I look at a scale model of our old ship we salvaged from the old work site. The model had got me thinking about our exploits since we reclaimed what was rightfully ours, headed off, and started our own settlement, with me beginning the new nobility, in honor of the Lucid in the Sky of Diamonds. We were ordered to finish what Cid has started which was a flagship of our dwarven empire, labeled the ARMOK'S GAUNTLET or Nazushdur Anrizgeshud Nòm aka Bloodfist the Sky-Fortress of God. It was to be a symbol of ultimate power, not only telling the world that dwarves had conquered the ground, but the sky as well. Well, the path was extremely rough for our civlization's kingdom, to the point that doubt was cast amongst the many residents of the kingdom. Too many lives were lost to a poor leadership that continued to plunge many poor souls towards a deathtrap in effort to complete his monument.

All things considered, our king did not deserve the ship, with all the lives that have been lost, sending them to such a deathtrap of a place, in order to set sail a monument. I've seen sea-faring ships more glorious than this; although, I'll admit, having a ship that can sail the skies is still nice. But the point is still the same, lives were wasted for a "monument" no bigger than a mere frigate; and it's rather under-armed for such a vehicle. I want something that can pulverize towers as we crash into them; armed with more teeth than a dragon; more cargo capacity than the gut of that sloth of our king, and who can forget, more power?

In honor of you, Cid, and the rest of those whose lives have been sacrificed for this ship, I'll top off with a better design, and a greater purpose (Aside from cramming it full of as many refugees we can nab from our homeland that can fit in the ship without overloading the engines). The Bloodfist has been refitted from a small frigate into a long-range scout craft. Thanks to it's capacity and capabilities, and a bit of retro-fitting, we can achieve in a day, what would normally take others weeks to travel. First thing we did when I did that while it was docked in the royal  aerodrome was to set sail, far, far away from our homeland, and the site from which this accursed ship was born in.

Now that we have found a suitable land to produce something that can out-rank this little ship, we're collecting materials and otherwise, as well as producing ourselves a well-packed wagon to deploy out of the Bloodfist for the volunteers and refugees that are willing to get things started for the rest of our teams we're willing to deploy from afar.

The site is adequately far enough away from our new home, where we still continue to traffic more citizens from our homeland that are feeling opressed by our king, since we took on a new career of sky-piracy. Of course, since 10 years has passed since we last been citizens of our homeland, chances are that another "Bloodfist" may have been produced. If that is the case, we really need to get this new ship built and deployed. I don't think our scout can take on the opposition if it finds us (We made a containment expansion pod that linked to where the ballistae once were). Fortunately, I have been developing ways to refine our process, and maybe even as a side-project, develop and deploy some mass-producable gunships (Armok's Fingers or Bolts, if you will). We need as much of an upperhand as we can get, and chances are, our past king is paying out the mouth for anyone and anything to hunt us down. I fear he's befriended goblins to serve as mercenaries to hunt us down. We can't let that stand. Fortunately, the Outlands of Xah Zurko are rather expanse, and they'll have a hard time finding our new home, as well as the project site.

After much scouting the Outlands, we have come up with this that we can work with:

Spoiler: The Chenjesu Computers' reports after our patrols over the Outlands of Xah Zurko have found ideal ground for the Bloodaxe to be produced (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: And it even provided us with a better render of what we saw out the window as we passed by: (click to show/hide)

It didn't take us long to scout the location out. We just had to travel a considerable distance to get out of range of the old kingdom this ship was originally built for. We did a broad-range scan of the Outlands, and the computers worked overtime, but have done a glorious job mapping things out for us. The Outlands are huge, and our world is suspiciously volcanic. However, the upgrade project (now Project: Flagship) sort-of demands a much greater use of a volcano to suit our processing needs.

Spoiler: On that note: We also did a surface prospecting using the Chenjesu's Prospect algorithm. (click to show/hide)

I dare say, this looks promising. I hope things look even better underground. Unfortunately, the gemstone processors can only handle so much before burning out. Note to self, the Bloodaxe will need a far better computer.

Here's what was generated for us to patrol with. (Caution, Big image. Red box is the general area the work site is.)

I think it's time I wrap things up here, and start breifing our specialist team before we touch ground... what little there is we can land on. I suspect we'll have to hover a bit and let the wagon out the side alongside the cliff edge here. If anything, at least there's more wood to work with, and a far less hostile landscape here than we used to work with. Considering my new plans for our counter-attack ARMOK'S BLADE or Nazushilbash Anrizsombith Nòm aka Bloodaxe the Sky-Executioner of God, they, along with the help we'll be deploying every once in awhile when we're in the region, will need every advantage they can get. Naturally, since we don't want to expose our work site from our frequent visits, we'll have to park at least a good region's distance away from the work site when we deploy our volunteer parties; call them "migrants" if you will; seeing as they're refugees from the old kingdom, they might as well be, especially if they make the site a new home for themselves like we did with the previous hell-hole.

--Ex-Chief (Pyro)Technician and Present-Day Pirate-Queen, Weaponsmith, Captain Kel "Lucca" Stigazkadol


Here's the Worldgen info as well. After the near-600th-odd reject, it'll prompt you whether or not you want to continue anyway, due to volcanism issues. Just accept it (ignore warning, even if it gives legends only results), and accept the site that comes along with it by the next dozen resets. It should eventually look like mine.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Code: [Select]

[WORLD_GEN]
    [TITLE:LARGE VOLCANIC]
    [CUSTOM_NAME:Xah Zurko]
    [DIM:257:257]
    [EMBARK_POINTS:1324]
    [END_YEAR:224]
    [BEAST_END_YEAR:200:80]
    [REVEAL_ALL_HISTORY:1]
    [CULL_HISTORICAL_FIGURES:1]
    [ELEVATION:1:400:800:800]
    [RAINFALL:0:100:400:400]
    [TEMPERATURE:25:75:400:400]
    [DRAINAGE:0:100:400:400]
    [VOLCANISM:50:100:400:400]
    [SAVAGERY:0:100:400:400]
    [ELEVATION_FREQUENCY:1:1:1:1:1:1]
    [RAIN_FREQUENCY:1:1:1:1:1:1]
    [DRAINAGE_FREQUENCY:1:1:1:1:1:1]
    [TEMPERATURE_FREQUENCY:1:1:1:1:1:1]
    [SAVAGERY_FREQUENCY:1:1:1:1:1:1]
    [VOLCANISM_FREQUENCY:1:5:10:20:30:40]
    [MINERAL_SCARCITY:2500]
    [MEGABEAST_CAP:75]
    [SEMIMEGABEAST_CAP:150]
    [TITAN_NUMBER:33]
    [TITAN_ATTACK_TRIGGER:80:0:100000]
    [DEMON_NUMBER:52]
    [NIGHT_TROLL_NUMBER:26]
    [BOGEYMAN_NUMBER:26]
    [VAMPIRE_NUMBER:26]
    [WEREBEAST_NUMBER:26]
    [SECRET_NUMBER:52]
    [REGIONAL_INTERACTION_NUMBER:52]
    [DISTURBANCE_INTERACTION_NUMBER:52]
    [EVIL_CLOUD_NUMBER:26]
    [EVIL_RAIN_NUMBER:26]
    [GOOD_SQ_COUNTS:100:1000:2000]
    [EVIL_SQ_COUNTS:100:1000:2000]
    [PEAK_NUMBER_MIN:50]
    [PARTIAL_OCEAN_EDGE_MIN:2]
    [COMPLETE_OCEAN_EDGE_MIN:0]
    [VOLCANO_MIN:100]
    [REGION_COUNTS:SWAMP:1032:7:6]
    [REGION_COUNTS:DESERT:1032:7:6]
    [REGION_COUNTS:FOREST:4128:13:12]
    [REGION_COUNTS:MOUNTAINS:8256:9:9]
    [REGION_COUNTS:OCEAN:8256:7:6]
    [REGION_COUNTS:GLACIER:0:0:0]
    [REGION_COUNTS:TUNDRA:0:0:0]
    [REGION_COUNTS:GRASSLAND:8256:13:12]
    [REGION_COUNTS:HILLS:8256:13:12]
    [EROSION_CYCLE_COUNT:250]
    [RIVER_MINS:400:400]
    [PERIODICALLY_ERODE_EXTREMES:1]
    [OROGRAPHIC_PRECIPITATION:1]
    [SUBREGION_MAX:2750]
    [CAVERN_LAYER_COUNT:3]
    [CAVERN_LAYER_OPENNESS_MIN:25]
    [CAVERN_LAYER_OPENNESS_MAX:75]
    [CAVERN_LAYER_PASSAGE_DENSITY_MIN:25]
    [CAVERN_LAYER_PASSAGE_DENSITY_MAX:75]
    [CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MIN:10]
    [CAVERN_LAYER_WATER_MAX:100]
    [HAVE_BOTTOM_LAYER_1:1]
    [HAVE_BOTTOM_LAYER_2:1]
    [LEVELS_ABOVE_GROUND:40]
    [LEVELS_ABOVE_LAYER_1:5]
    [LEVELS_ABOVE_LAYER_2:1]
    [LEVELS_ABOVE_LAYER_3:1]
    [LEVELS_ABOVE_LAYER_4:1]
    [LEVELS_ABOVE_LAYER_5:2]
    [LEVELS_AT_BOTTOM:1]
    [CAVE_MIN_SIZE:5]
    [CAVE_MAX_SIZE:25]
    [MOUNTAIN_CAVE_MIN:100]
    [NON_MOUNTAIN_CAVE_MIN:200]
    [ALL_CAVES_VISIBLE:0]
    [SHOW_EMBARK_TUNNEL:2]
    [TOTAL_CIV_NUMBER:40]
    [TOTAL_CIV_POPULATION:15000]
    [SITE_CAP:1500]
    [PLAYABLE_CIVILIZATION_REQUIRED:1]
    [ELEVATION_RANGES:8256:16512:8256]
    [RAIN_RANGES:8256:16512:8256]
    [DRAINAGE_RANGES:8256:16512:8256]
    [SAVAGERY_RANGES:8256:16512:8256]
    [VOLCANISM_RANGES:8256:16512:8256]

I kept the name of the world (And ended the worldgen year 9 years after the events of Bloodfist so that the embark begins at the 10-year marker) in order to keep the world and story canon. We may need to head off to a new worldgen (if it can't be imported into the next version) for the next edition, if/when that happens. I kinda like how the world just decided to expand past the smaller nation that was previously existent. If possible, I hope I can go One Piece with this, with the expanding of the world.

EDIT:
If you want to serve as other ex-crew members of the previous project starting off their own ship in other parts of the land, feel free to scout out other locations and set yourself up some ships for adventures of their own.

Seeing as my Worldgen instructions may be a little rough around the edges, here's the pre-embark save for anyone to mess around with:
New Xah Zurko World

[Itnetlolor]

So, now the project page is setup, and any takers; anyone wanna be hired for helping build this? Anyone want to be part of the embark team?

I referenced the previous project site, and realized just how much smaller this new site I selected was by comparison. I compensated by expanding the area by 2x2 region tiles, but still covering the same general area.

Spoiler: Just a slight adjustment to plans (click to show/hide)

I realized the area I chose may have been a tad small when I looked back on the last project. Plus, more room in all directions wouldn't hurt.

Seeing as I still couldn't come up with a good naming theme, it seems I recall there being 2 prior survivors of the last project that might be willing to volunteer again; with much motivation to get back to work with Lucca's help with the final product in hand, along with much safer work conditions to use. Other project leaders may also have been gathered for assistance in the future.

EDIT:

Spoiler: And here's our starting Loadout. (click to show/hide)

Oddly enough, my test embark allowed Bauxite (Fixed it; but still not supplying myself with it; but I have a source of another red stuff again, at least). This time, not so much. It may have something to do with my starting civ; but I'm good with this, because if I read correctly, obsidian is magma-proof, so Bauxite is not necessary to have on hand, provided I make obsidian mechanisms and floodgates to control my magma-based production centers. Fortunately, we have more than enough naturally-occurring obsidian on-embark to be able to supply ourselves aplenty with that glorious magma-proof pretty black material.

The supplies given (Based on the 1st Mayday (mainly dwarf) setup) should provide us with all the necessary equipment and replenishable supplies we need to get a rapid establishment phase to setup (should go far quicker than my 1st-year test run), along with a decent enough set of capable dwarves for the setting up phase. We should be able to get an adequate supply of capable migrants in due time, especially with this skilled workforce and a good supply as provided by Lucca. War dogs for initial defense (wildlife and kobolds), cats of opposing genders to have an ample supply of vermin hunters, and turkeys for egg production (seeing as they're the most optimal producers).

Our starting Civilization is the aptly named Chamber of Swallows. Rather appropriate title as to name one of the most common downfalls of many a dwarf in the Bloodfist work site. They live in a nearby enough region that has plentiful supplies of bauxite we can ask for.

[Itnetlolor]

Okay, Bi-Annual update is somewhat ready. So far it's played. I just need to upload the initial DFMA and the current, as well as refine my notes into story format.

[Itnetlolor]

Got story, but I'm having some trouble with the maps. I'll upload them later. Fortunately, this story bit addresses that already. Didn't think it would be consistent with what's actually going on right now.

Chapter 1: Let's Hit the Ground So Hard This Time, it Shatters

Spoiler: Y1-S1 (click to show/hide)

Hello Lucca.

Thanks for finishing that nightmare of a ship. Glad to see it in deserving hands again. Excuse what may have looked like cowardice in my records, but just to let you know, I was among the last remaining team members left on the site that was still alive and sane, and I just couldn't risk living there anymore. The wildlife was a roll of the dice to avoid, but by a freak miracle, I survived the onslaught.

Ever since you found me with that ship, I had to wonder how you managed to do it, and how our king reacted to it's completion; but when I heard that you decided to run off with it, I was intrigued. Fearing that my supposed "treason" may turn heads over at the kingdom, I knew I had to be further than our king's reaches, despite living a fair distance away from our haunted site up towards the peaks northward making myself an outcast for my betrayal. Amazingly, somehow, you found me from the last method I expected that our king lacked. A hawk's eyes. You found my hovel in a hole from an angle that could easily spot it, but not the ground below.

Your new land was comfortable, peaceful, and a far cry from the frigid lands I had to hide in, and the hellhole we worked in, not to mention that barren fortress of a mountain our king is too stubborn to do something about. I also appreciate that it's a significant distance in the Outlands, beyond the reaches of our old king. After hearing your proposal a couple years ago about bailing out our friends and family and expanding our new lands, I felt it adequate to at least make up for our losses there, but my pride still had been gravely hurt, and the despair was what almost did me in before you sought me out and revived me.


All that behind me now, I hope this info-glyph works as our Chenjesu system has calculated, and will relay everything I put into it as I see it and as I say it. It's unusual. This system of info-relay feels similar to what we did for our king, except, minus the papyrus and ink. Having tried out the Bloodfist's system, I hope everything I send to you makes sense. Consider me the prototype. The maps I send should be better-detailed than that rough map it generated of the Outlands. I did an immediate scan and sent it immediately just after you briefed us and deployed us onto the site. The calibration ought to be clear from that distance. Sorry if the ship caused any unusual interference with the map generated, but that oddity aside, it should be showing a good idea of the layout we have to work with.

It truly has generous provisions; far better than what the Bloodfist's site was like. Thank you for taking the time to scout out a decent and far more practical site for us to work with. It's warm, just like the Bloodfist's, but hopefully, not as arid. It got miserable there. Fortunately, there's a river nearby we can work with, which is far safer looking than the last one's. It was dangerous even to fetch some water there without attracting the attention of those damn giant birds and Antmen, and the occasional batman. I said it before, and I'll say it again, our king chose one hell of a hostile location; a hellhole, to say the least. Didn't help that we were severely un- and under-prepared for what laid before us there.


Ah, yes. Our work. Dare I say, to coordinate efforts in a new land is quite a satisfying scratch to my creative itch, not to mention, working on my better planning skills to make up for that poor effort put into the last place.

Anyway, using our prospect and geology programs, I put in quite a bit of foresight into our new sight, and decided upon a far better practice. Instead of making proper housing for our site first and foremost, I figure a more practical approach may work far better. I decided on a warehouse-focused build. We'll live inside the warehouse district until everything is absolutely setup; then we'll worry about a proper residential district. Of course, having realized an obsidian motherlode, I figured that the massive chunk of it here would do wonders for housing, along with the proximity of the volcano, we can exploit it with more forethought into it than the last one. I designated a means of application of it that'll keep our furnaces burning, safely, might I add, and still be rerouted to other locations without putting a drain on the main furnaces. Naturally, it'll take some time to make them final, but they'll work once we need them, you have my word on that.

Our fortress design is built in a way that infiltration will be limited exclusively to accessing the trade depot first. At least, that's how it will be for now. At least we dug until we reached some stone, and made it fancy for any newcomers as a front gate. For now, we should be unnoticable until you get past the depot, and even so, it's just like my little home, for now. Anyone looking for us will be hard pressed to find us right now; however, our safety, if last time wasn't a harsh enough lesson to learn, has to be paramount, lest we repeat history, and lose another, what was it again? more than 350 citizens? Anyhow, I've been thinking about those plans and will get to those later on in my report.

I've been thinking about what we were missing that I am amazed nobody thought of doing with the last place all those years ago: Wheelbarrows. Why in Armok's name did we not ever use wheelbarrows? No matter, what's passed is past now. As we have made basic housing in our warehouses, we established a farm not far away as well. Again, this is a land of much bounty, great for much growth, and vast enough to house an ample workforce. Naturally, instead of dedicating our wood resources to making a wood supply for the airship as our king would have suggested, I instead ordered our woodsman to craft us bins and barrels to his heart's content. Who knows how many of them we'll need in the future? Better safe than sorry. Especially if we build our new airship out of a sturdier supply of wooden planks, rather than bound logs. Far easier to carry and build with, despite taking a few more moments to process, but while we lack a drydock, or a proper zone to work with yet, we have plenty of time to supply ourselves. I want to take this time we have here to enjoy the scenery before we clear-cut it all. The nearby valley would work brilliantly as a land to establish a new type of drydock, as well as a fertile valley to harvest our supply.

Oh right, Where security is concerned, along with convenience, the path to the furnaces are made as direct as possible to ensure the quickest means to process and supply our minerals and glass/clay industries. All that's left there is the ore to process; glass and clay are not a worry whatsoever. I'll make sure we have more than enough bags to work with for the glass industry, and seeing as those were holding us back so long ago with the completion of the Bloodfist, I'll get to work on the windows and New Chmmr parts you've been working on over the past decade; you say the Chmmr is a hybrid design of crystal and obsidian mechanisms able to regulate all the operations on this new design, and then some? I'll have to say, I don't understand a damn bit of what you're getting at with all this (maybe you've been standing on that fist for too long), but whatever; I'll try to make as much sense of this design as I can before I install it, but alas the fortress comes first. I have a plan that ought to secure our post for years to pass. As calm as the lands seem, your fears of our king sending goblin recruits our way to sniff us out is a rational worry. Damn greenskins have been making a mess of our lands for too long. I decided to cordon off our work site the best way I can think of for now, but our build and mining teams are not too thrilled about it. I want them to head to the river southward, and make a moat that reaches from the spring towards the peaks to the south, we'll then lock out a pathway and make modifications to it as I see fit to ensure a security checkpoint for the future, and then some for some fun with any other uninvited guests; let's say an enema via polearm is the last thing anybody would want after crashing down the height of a building, provided they survive the fall (not the fall that kills you). After the southern valley is secured, we'll span the westward ridge, and secure that; following that, we'll cut across the volcano's northern summit. All that should remain is the eastern valley, and making a moat of that as well. By then, our land shall be claimed, albeit with the sacrifice of invisibility being our defense, but once the skeleton of the new ship and it's dry-dock gets deployed anyway, then visibility becomes a moot point anyway, so why not? Let's beat them to it.

This ends my log for the Spring season of 225.
        --This is Re-instated Overseer Balthier, Signing out.

Spoiler: Y1-S2 (click to show/hide)

It is Summer now, and we have established more warehousing. With that, and all the space we now have, I have ordered specialization of the warehouses to their specified tasks. With the forges carved out, we're cleaning them out before we pump the magma through them. We can start a few basic magma industries, but we'll need some ores, ingots and etc. and preferably at least one anvil at our disposal to get things rolling.

I see you found an adequate landing zone for a paltry amount of three (3) volunteers. But at this stage, we're not noticed by anything that can spot us from down below, unless they're looking for us from the neighboring volcano not far from us, but that's a far stretch, as long as we have all this foliage around, they won't spot a damn thing. But may I advise you that we just got started working on the carving of the moats, and redirect your deployment further south. Also, if any locals or hired goblins are smart enough, they might wonder why the Bloodfist is flying to this particular volcano so many times, and send a scouting party or few. At least I should have a good surprise waiting for them, otherwise, they'll probably be too dumb, or have a case of hydrophobia to navigate a mini river. Hell, I think they have a case of agoraphobia as well, if I remember correctly, and won't climb up or down a tiny cliff edge. However, I fear they might wise up sooner or later. I give them maybe another decade or so. Speaking of which, what was with that plan again about setting up fleet of smaller ships? I do hope you're kidding about that. That's alot more work for us. Nonetheless, we got the southern valley locked down... somewhat.

Last season's report aside, there wasn't all that much else to report for this season. I suppose future reports would look just as shallow. How does this sound, since it was so much unnecessary paperwork the last time, I don't feel like burning out these crystals with so much to process, so I'm just going to keep these reports as short as possible to save on their power. Speaking of which, my last crystal was running hot with the map data from the initial scan of the land and fortress, so i don't have that data sent yet. I'm using the auxiliary one for this scan with what room remains of this crystal. Provided I can figure out how to send this data. You'll have to give me a week to figure this out, now that I have the time to focus on it while I do some resource bookkeeping before the caravan eventually arrives (this also gets me out of the mining work I volunteered for; don't worry, my partner will do fine on his own out there. We're safe.).

This ends my log for the Summer season of 225.
          --This is Re-instated Overseer Balthier, Signing out.

UPDATE:

Spoiler: Message relay to Pirate-Queen Lucca (click to show/hide)

Balthier here,

I finally got that blasted info-crystal to broadcast the intialized scan I mentioned earlier. I'll need to send the updated map a moment later.

Let's hope the images shows up well on the Chenjesu's screen.

Your Good Friend,
--Balthier

UPDATE UPDATE:

Spoiler: Another message relayed to Pirate-Queen Lucca (click to show/hide)

Finally managed to flush the data out of the info-crysts you lent me. Everything should be clear now for me to report our progress for the next seasons. Pardon my delay, but I needed to figure out how to get these new devices to work properly. I think that settles it now.

After recalling the info I sent previously, this should come out great.

Your good friend,
--Balthier

[Loud Whispers]

Isn't making your Trade Depot your front entrance a tad bit risky?

[Itnetlolor]

Isn't making your Trade Depot your front entrance a tad bit risky?

Not usually, especially considering that I'm forcing a longer trek to my base overall right now, so i won't have to worry about amping up my security at the door. Plus, I prefer to keep everything as straightforward as possible. You'll get a better idea of what I'm getting at once you see the uploaded DFMA map.

[Loud Whispers]

Ah. It just takes one injured merchant to spook the pack and they set off though. Or Kobolds. Always Kobolds.

[Yuli Vlasi]

That's some amazing storytlling here, have some compliments! I'd also like to join you in your plan to construct... that. The blueprints look promising, may I ask what programm you used to render the site in your second post?

[Itnetlolor]

That's some amazing storytlling here, have some compliments! I'd also like to join you in your plan to construct... that. The blueprints look promising, may I ask what programm you used to render the site in your second post?

Thanks. I'll see who will be suitable from the next wave of migrants (Any roles in particular you want? Fortress care, or building team? and so on... Sign up at the Trade Depot on Deck-2, otherwise your job will be decided for you.). As of now, we're at 11 dorfs. The migrant input will be relatively low, I suspect until I gain a much higher value, import/export-wise, along with fort fanciness value. Until I complete my security cordon, I'm keeping the fort rather cheap and necessity-oriented trade-wise, and the migrants few, until lockdown is complete. I worked with my other fort (managed to completely cordon off a 5x5 embark no problem like that within less than a year so I can safely build big projects).

Blueprints were crafted in Paint.Net (and composed for animation in Photoshop), and the work site was just a luck of the draw with worldgen and my extremely limited understanding/knowledge of altering them, along with using Japa's Isoworld program to render the embark zones. How I got the other renders, I read the instructions and hit [SPACE] to toggle between tilesets/viewing modes, relevant to the data input to the program (bioome detail, basic, and elevation/relative cliff heights). Credits to Japa for making such a useful program for embarks, and continuing to work on it even more.

Wait until you see the initial DFMA upload of the site, then you'll wonder how I managed to that. Upload will be a bit later (gonna enjoy the weather while it's still nice out).

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Hint: A lot of work. Full-stop.

EDIT:
First map (Initial "Before" Map) is uploaded.

EDIT EDIT:
Second map (Y1-A) is uploaded.

Stay tuned next week for the next update.

[Yuli Vlasi]

I'd prefer being part of the building crew and if possible with some military skills so my dwarf can defend Armok's Blade if needed. Choose any dwarf you find fitting and nickname him or her 'Vander'.

[Itnetlolor]

Got more done with the fort.

Spoiler: Y1-S3 (click to show/hide)

Hello again Lucca.

I'm appreciating the lower frequency of update reports. Albeit, it's still the same amount of work to report overall, but I at least have more time to parse the data before sending it your way. Anywho, here's my semi-annual report for the other half of the year:

The Perimeter Security Project is going along well, and we've been steadily making progress from time to time, jumping between adding more to the perimeter and adding to the fortress interior. On that note, we've continued progress on the Magma Junction, plotting it's future composition as we hook up the mechanisms to a series of levers above the gates. We're having trouble coming up with an idea of how to properly install future purposes, especially after we fill in the forges. Only other idea that comes to mind is to make a drain that can also be cooled, in turn becoming a de-facto obsidian factory. At least we'll be able to produce ourselves product without compromising any structure to our fort (personally, I like the arrangement, and only want to reserve actual obsidian space for housing and dining; our workers deserve at least a quality room to dine in and live in for the hell that will come later). While on the topic of magma forges, we got our sand and clay collectors arranged; now we need some poor saps to do the tedium of collecting. ...And speak of the devil, I just got word 5 new saps just arrived. One of them decided to greet me personally. Goes by the name of "Yuli Vlasi", a bee keeper. Says that their study of the bees as they farm the honey has inspired them to go into building. Who knows? Could be useful. I signed them up for shipwright and honeycrafting.

...Well. Remember when I said how we needed a way to control our magma flow for when we expand/extend from the junction? Well, as it turns out, there's a water-pillar that flows up to near the planned residential zone. According to the crystal's rudimentry scan, it's a rather thin, yet tall, aquifer column. I sent an order to make a watering hole of it, and work on plans for an obsidian farm/magma drain from it. It seems we landed smack-dab in the middle of convenience. Good call, again, on the location. Place is an Eden for what we need done. Word from someone over the relay while your ship was passing near, provided I dig deep, and snatch myself a sample of deep-earth fungii, and water it well (we now have an ample source), we don't need to risk life and limb for all the deep-earth woods. Must've been something in passing with our old king, or one of their pals. That could have helped with the Bloodfist.

Not surprisingly, your caravan has arrived on cue, and I confirmed the rumors and reports on all that advice I reported earlier with them. In exchange for a good share of basic obsidian weapons and mugs, and a few spiked wooden balls, we got ourselves the necessary anvils and supplies we needed to begin our smithing industry, as well as our clothing and leather industries; with some basic supplies for our military (which we have yet to arrange) and more than a generous supply of food and booze for the next batch of workers (more farmers please; we barely got by with all the help we already had). I personally looked at the weapons, and I had to hold back on the quality goods to buy. I'm sure the few varied bronze goods I got should be plenty, in case we need to crush some skulls; and for further help I got some ammo for our hunters and any crossbowdwarves that would be at our disposal. Of course, nobody else outside of the hunter, can shoot worth their booze. Fortunately, we have plenty in regards to wood and bone we can spare to make training ammo (we barely scraped the surface of this mountain). We'll get some good shooters eventually. Speaking of which, we better start hunting for some reasonable ores, lest we have to start selling parts of the ship before they're even crafted.

By now, the Southern Valley and the Checkpoint Corner should be secured, and the Western Ridge should be started. Should hopefully be at least halfway done by the end of this report. Word gets out of the profitability of our place too soon, and we'll repeat history in no time. At least on the flip-side, you'll have more people willing to volunteer by the next pass. We're almost done with the junction. The delay was mostly caused by salvaging some gems embedded in the walls, and picking up the leftover obsidian stones.

That's all for this season.


This ends my log for the Spring season of 225.
--This is Overseer Balthier, Signing out.

Spoiler: Y1-S4 (click to show/hide)

Here's my Winter Report:
I've discussed things with the Liason you've convinced to work with us. I hope they appreciate the import/export agreement we setup. I've arranged to seal off the South-West corner after the wagons depart, and give them a heads-up that security will become rather tight next time they visit.

Reports confirm the the South Valley is secured enough that only a coward would route-around it, to the nearest junction being the security corner. The West Ridge is being overseen personally to ensure it's all secured properly. Looks like it's going smoothly enough. I have set some plans up to cut across the Eastern Valley and the Northern Ridge. I don't think we'll be able to get to that until next year, however. My personal assessment, we'll be done by the end of Spring, End of Summer at worst. In the likely event we get more migrants (and our Depot finally emptied of it's goods), we'll be dedicating our time to separate projects, starting with the security Corner. I have established a plan to assign a run-around for invaders and a decoy depot, just in case our own depot is locked out due to paranoia. In case unfortunate soul survives the onslaught of devices I have planned for them, the end of the line is a pit that is as deep as our fort and Bloodaxe Project is up high. They're already broken enough by then... let's see if they shatter.

Our obsidian farm is planned out, and looks like it'll work. Another rumor I heard was that if you can collect water from an aquifer, you can drain into it as well. Well, it looks like we have a recycling center and an easy-to-use pump and drain system, just in case. Foul-ups should be minimized with this system established. And speaking of foul, it seems sparing all those turkey eggs have granted us with a potentially profitable opportunity. It'll still be a good couple years, but at least we're bound to get a decent amount of poultry in our system; not to mention, our bone industry will be quite well-stocked. Wishbones for everyone! We've got poultry in motion.

While on the subject of animals, we forgot to uncage the creatures that needed to be pastured. No worries, only one was starving, and is getting it's stomach filled as I speak. Our progress has slowed down massively, since we're, still at this very moment, emptying out the Trade Depot at the front door. Hopefully we'll have plenty more volunteers to make up for this. At least by the next caravan, we should have that sucker empty. As we work on the scaffolding we're going to work on our housing projects. We have plenty of materials to work on a basic framework for the scaffolding as well as the dry-dock. Couldn't hurt to produce a few more out of the by-products.

Hmm... The air is feeling rather moist again. I feel the wet season has returned. If this improves the rate of input for our wood industry, then that's good news for us.


This ends my log for the Summer season of 225.
--This is Overseer Balthier, Signing out.

P.S.- Here's this half of our first year's map: Y1-S4-B (226-0)

[Loud Whispers]

Dry dock? What are you going to fill it with? Air?

So... It's a vacuum dock?!

[Itnetlolor]

Dry dock? What are you going to fill it with? Air?

So... It's a vacuum dock?!

The Dry-Dock is more of a mooring station that can also setup as a repair/reloading station.

More familiarly, dry-docks, where seafaring vessels are concerned, are more for construction and maintainence of ships. In the case of airships, they don't flood with water before departure. It's more a removal of all the docking cables and cranes that keep the ships in place. Alternatively, if dropping from a literal sky-fortress or a floating island, it's more like a literal drop of the ship. Naturally, all the passengers on board will have to buckle up first.

Spoiler: Here's good example I found of a skycity with some dry-docks on it (click to show/hide)