every dwarf who dies on the mountain is replaced with an additional immigrant after the year is done.
In the improbable case in which all mountain dwarves die, it's up to the peasants to establish a new order.
The correct way (100% according to the metagame) would be, however, to have 7+(years played) new dwarves ascending to the mountain, filling up all the vacant slots.
i could imagine a whole different scenario taking place though. All Nobles dying will most likely set the tone for the endgame, and the new order established that way would mark the end of the Story (giving room for sequels with a different ruleset maybe?)
I'd want some more informations for us peasants.
Generally, in succession games, the power of people who don't take a turn as overseer is fairly limited and not exactly fully in your own hands, given the chaotic demeanor of dwarves in general.
Yesaja, however, might very well create an artifact and some point, join one of the Dojos, kill some fearful creature or be a hero protecting the people from a siege - which would, ultimately, give him a place on the mountain eventually.
She could also die a horrible death after one and a half years and that's it.
Roleplaying in succession games mostly serves to give the story additional flavor and liveliness, and to aid overseers in playing out exactly that (as you will see with for example Doc Timeless and Skulls when i post chapter 3). that way, you can take influence in the big things withut getting to actually play the fort for a year.
EDIT:
ALSO, neblime and Tacomagic, could you get in contact about whom of you takes year 2? Taco mentioned something about fixing the burrows and job cancellation issues, which are really, really annoying and need much gamey and unfun micromanagement at the moment because i fail at DF.
so please let us know whether you can fix those horrible issues yourself, or you don't mind them, or would like taco to handlle the issue first and play his year, or whatever compromise there is.