Decided I was going to finally get a scriptorium working. Spent a ton of time struggling with how to make ink, where do I get jugs, where are they stockpiled, making paper, figuring out where to get glue from, where the hell do I get feathers, etc, etc. Totally invested in this, cause I must learn this. This is science.
So focused was I on this goal I forgot I had a warlock spy in my peasantry, he turned and slaughtered a few of my favorite crafters. I also didn't pay attention to the FB in the caverns who flew up my well, slaughtering more of my dwarves before dying. Lastly, I finally got close to making a single book when I noticed my front gate was closed, not remembering why because I had just spent 2 hours trying to make a freaking book in dwarf fortress like some limey elf, I opened it. Then the white tigermen invaders came in.
By the time all was said and done I walled off a portion of my fortress with my stockpiles with 6 dwarves left alive. But we didn't give up. Oh no. We pooled our resources and we made that book...and then I gave up.
But I now know how scriptoriums work.