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[neblime]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I'm glad I have good combat skills and war animals assigned to me, in this kind of fort it increases the chance of survival quite a bit...

[Demonic Spoon]

EoyaBosan, is Demonic Spoon the Hivelord still alive? I'm curious about how he's doing.

[Foxite]

Hi,

I've recently been dealing with some family stuff, and school hasn't really been cooperating with my life either. I'm not sure if I'll be able to play my turn. You can remove me from the list now, sorry.

[Chaoseed]

Hi,

I've recently been dealing with some family stuff, and school hasn't really been cooperating with my life either. I'm not sure if I'll be able to play my turn. You can remove me from the list now, sorry.

That's fine. I've taken you off the list. Good luck taking care of stuff, and feel free to sign up again sometime in the future!

[EoyaBosan]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Good news, the mystery of Inod the stonecrafter's disapperance has been solved! Well, maybe.



From the evidence, it seems he was in the middle of dumping a stray rutherer child cartilage when he was attacked by a tantrumming dwarf and fell down the dumping shaft. He plummeted a whole 150 z-levels, struck the surface of the magma sea so hard he exploded, and melted away leaving no trace. He died like a true dwarf: in the most gruesome, hilarious and pointless way possible.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Hooray!



Oh no!

I went ahead and bought all the metal bars and booze they had to offer, paying for it with about a hundred miscellaneous worn out pieces of clothing. I'm surprised they even accepted that as payment; I thought the humans used "coins" and fancy things like that for their "economy".



What are you so happy about? They don't even fit you!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Despite the fortress being (more or less) corpse free for a month or two now, some dwarves still haven't recovered.



You know there's something wrong with a dwarf when she's too depressed even to drink.

Well, this can't stand! As overseer of the fortress, I hereby declare war on unhappiness. Our campaign shall be twofold: firstly, a statue in every bedroom!



I'm sure every citizen will be ecstatic to own their very own lifelike little piece of dwarven history...



...or piercing social commentary...



...or motivational artwork...



I-I'm so sorry Togal, the fortress was like this when I got here, I swear Where was I? Ah yes, the other half of the plan! Well, there are currently two public dining rooms in Surprisepalace, and neither is what one would describe as "legendary"...





(Don't worry, all the animals there are caged)

When done, the larger one shall be transformed into a spectacular dining room/sculpture garden showcasing every artifact in the fortress (and also a centralised location for all the important levers). I went hunting for artifacts, and they showed up in the strangest of places...

Prowledlesson the magnetite mechanism was being used for a throwaway lever in an empty mineshaft; Sliphollow the Coincidence of Submerging the iron anvil was tucked away inside an ordinary magma forge; Rootedmint the Dark Stoker the gold battleaxe was just lying in a food stockpile; but, strangest of all, The Glimmer of Wishing the yellow zircon hatch cover was hidden in a tiny room at the very bottom of the fortress. Not even constructed, just lying on the floor. I gathered them all and ordered them built in the dining room.

If all goes to plan, I shall never again see a flashing red arrow over a dwarf's head! And if it still doesn't work, I guess we'll just throw the unhappy dwarves down the dumping shaft and watch them explode into magma.

It is with great regret that I have to inform you that Surprisepalace has crumbled to its end. We put up a brave fight, but there are some things even a legendary macedwarf has no hope of defeating. Should you wish to see what ended our fair fortress, look below - but I warn you, it's not for the faint of heart...

(It's not really spoilers, you can look at it!)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

On a more serious note, does anyone know what to do about this? I tried reloading an earlier save, but it just happens again.

Eoya, you're not supposed to read spoilered stuff. But anyway, your posts are great! You even seem to be making the fortress better.

It was quoting me, so I figured it wouldn't be anything too spoilerific. I haven't read anything else spoilered, I promise!

EoyaBosan, is Demonic Spoon the Hivelord still alive? I'm curious about how he's doing.

DemonicSpoon is still alive...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

...and is doing everything in his power to bring the fortress down from the inside with his little hives of misery and pain.



This is only a small proportion of the announcements. Whenever I see these I like to imagine DemonicSpoon, wearing his ceremonial Hivelord mitre and gown, pointing dramatically at a passing dwarf. The dwarf's eyes widen in terror. "N-no! Please, not the bees! Anything but the bees!" he screams, trying to scramble away - but the swarm knows no mercy. The Hivelord laughs maniacally as the dwarf curls up in the foetal position, stung into submission from all sides. No wonder so many dwarves are "under a great deal of stress".

[Chaoseed]

Hmmmm.

"However, never alter or delete the folder with the name of the game you're playing while saving from the game, or while that game is running! This can cause fatal flaws many dwarf-seasons later, and is one known cause of the "Nemesis Unit Load Failed" crash error."

...

"The saved game folder will usually have these contents:
...
A series of files named unit-#.dat. Replacing these has been known to cause the infamous Nemesis Unit Load Failed error. Resolving the aforementioned error, however, involves copying these over from a previous backup of the save. Depending on the size of the world, there could easily be thousands of these files, making it infeasible to send the saved game folder without compressing it all in one file first."

From the DF Wiki

Should we try fixing the save? Or...hm...alternately we could start Surprisepalace II?

[UnicodingUnicorn]

I have no idea, sign me up for either anyway!

[than402]

Or we could pick the last uncorrupted save. It's a shame, though, I liked EoyaBosan's turn, would be a shame for it to go to waste.

[Demonic Spoon]

The save seems to have been riddled with technical problems since early on. Honestly I'd recommend starting afresh. Suprisepalaces had a good run.

EoyaBosan, is Demonic Spoon the Hivelord still alive? I'm curious about how he's doing.

DemonicSpoon is still alive...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

...and is doing everything in his power to bring the fortress down from the inside with his little hives of misery and pain.



This is only a small proportion of the announcements. Whenever I see these I like to imagine DemonicSpoon, wearing his ceremonial Hivelord mitre and gown, pointing dramatically at a passing dwarf. The dwarf's eyes widen in terror. "N-no! Please, not the bees! Anything but the bees!" he screams, trying to scramble away - but the swarm knows no mercy. The Hivelord laughs maniacally as the dwarf curls up in the foetal position, stung into submission from all sides. No wonder so many dwarves are "under a great deal of stress".

Hahaha! I love it. Yeah, the hives was my best idea yet. Also, your description reminded me of something...

Dr. Bees!

[EoyaBosan]

I would tentatively say I have "fixed" the issue, in a way. It seems the problem was that one of the migrants of the next migrant wave was a historical figure whose data had been corrupted, so I just lowered the population cap to cancel the migrant wave - which is... less than ideal, but at least means I can finish my turn. It's basically one of those no migrant fortresses, but even more extreme: if you let even a single migrant in the entire universe ends.

I also tried replacing the unit files with ones from the earliest save (after Chaoseed's turn), but it didn't work. The save must've been corrupted more or less from the beginning.

Here's what I'd propose: start Surprisepalace II now in another thread. Meanwhile, I'll quietly run this fortress into the ground, leaving a few "surprises" for anyone who wants to explore it in adventurer mode. Alternatively, if anyone's willing to continue as a no migrant fortress, you'd be welcome to take a turn after me.

Also, Demonic Spoon, if you play with fire...

[than402]

I suggest going the "no migrant" way. The insanity must continue!

[EoyaBosan]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

All seems to be well in Surprisepalace. The dwarves are alcoholic, the borogroves are as mimsy as can be, and there are flocks of giant bird monsters scavenging trinkets from the dead invaders outside.



More importantly, the beautiful new dining room is coming along very nicely. The new chairs and tables are in place, plus some tastefully arranged statues, and almost all the artifacts. All that's left is some levers and engraving. Oh, but I simply couldn't wait for it to be done before celebrating!



The unhappy dwarves seem to appreciate it as well, I'm glad to see.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Well, if this ends in another ornament for the dining room then I suppose it's okay.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Not again! I forgot to clear the way after last time! Oh, I am such a-- wait, human outpost liason?!



Err... well, this is somewhat unusual, but I suppose we can--



Is it? Is it really? Humans pretending to be dwarves, that's just how the world's always been, huh? Actually, I can't remember more than a few months in the past; perhaps this really is perfectly normal outside our fortress.

Anyway, on to the yearly trade agreement. I know a thing or two about dwarven business and diplomacy, you know! The trick is not to look too keen on what you're after; otherwise they jack up the price to something completely unreasonable. You have to hide what you really want in the middle of a bunch of seemingly unrelated things. Allow me to demonstrate:



Yes, we have a, um, serious shortage of mittens. All the little dwarves' hands are going cold. It's dreadful.



And it's absolutely vital that you bring us some polar bear brains (properly prepared, mind, not just raw). We've got a few migrants from a fortress near the glaciers and they're homesick for their traditional dishes.



Oh, and we need some sweet pod seeds as well. (This is actually a double bluff: we really don't have any sweet pod seeds!)



And... well, I suppose if you happen to bring any steel or gold ingots or anything like that, we might buy a few. Maybe. Just so long as you remember the polar bear brains.

Phew! I don't think he suspects a thing. Now for the export agreement...



Oh man, this guy is clearly a professional. I have no clue what the Mountainhomes want at all. I mean, I'm pretty sure he's just bluffing about the anvils, but...



You win this round, Zuntīr. Mind you don't hit your head on the doorframe on your way out.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Meanwhile, at the very bottom of the fortress, three of the least skilled military dwarves stand around in a large open room, wondering why they've been summoned here.



Little do they know, they are about to be ambushed by a pack of vicious, bloodthirsty crundles!



Muhahaha! Yes! Now, fight for your lives - and my amusement!



Yes! Good!



No! What are you doing? Come on, he looks nothing like a crundle! Or was that cryptic comment supposed to mean you're taking the crundles' side in this battle?

The gruesome aftermath:



One speardwarf got four kills, the other eight. The hammerdwarf, despite being the most experienced, got none.

And while they were busy with that...

I suggest going the "no migrant" way. The insanity must continue!

Bear in mind, that might not be the only corrupted historical figure; the game could just as easily end later due to a caravan or siege involving the wrong individual.

[EoyaBosan]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A new artifact! Oh, it's simply exquisite! Here, take a look.



I mean, just look at the subtle interplay between material and subject matter - using ginkgo wood to express a saguaro? Genius! And the sheen of the steel beautifully expresses Flickeredsparks the dragon's majesty. I'm having it hauled up to the dining room right away.

However, as any dwarf knows, with great craftsdwarfship comes great big angry stomping creatures intent upon smashing your work to pieces.



I hurriedly ordered the military to attention, but it proved unnecessary.



Which is lucky, because our legendary macedwarf Neblime was asleep at the time. We shall have to pit our new acquisition against the Surprisepalace military in a proper cage fight some time. Not now, though, because due to a minor engineering mishap the crundle arena is currently slowly flooding with magma. Oh well, these things happen, don't they?

That reminds me, the crundle fight was such fun! Almost as much fun as hunting down artifacts for the legendary dining room. Now, if only there were some way of combining hunting things down with endangering the lives of the military for my own amusement...

Hmm...

Ooh, I know! Let's go forgotten beast hunting!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Here we have Asngek Beachsubmurge, an enormous pink hairy earthworm with deadly blood. She's been wandering the first cavern murdering innocent cave wildlife since before I got here, and I think it's time somebody put her in her place.

Once the cavern is breached, the true extent of Asngek's brutality is revealed.



A very fitting scene for a dramatic showdown, isn't it!

True to her name, the beast lurks submurged in a large subteranean lake. I send out our macedwarves to explore the cave further, knowing that neither of them will be bothered by all the corpses. The beast moves quickly, however, and nearly catches us off guard! It charges towards the main group nearest the breach - two hammerdwarves and two swordsdwarves, including Dukegod and her artifact sword. They are joined in battle, with Neblime still a good distance away! Can they hold off Asngek alone?



Yes, they can! The hammers appear relatively ineffective, but the swords gouge horrible wounds, spilling bouts of Asngek's poisonous ichor. It is difficult to do any more damage, however, for lack of separate body parts to sever - the creature consists only of a long, sinuous body and a shell.

Finally, Neblime appears and, with one swing of her mace, slays the foul worm.



She raises the weapon - still dripping with ichor - above her head and names it "Minedtwists the Balanced Shade"!



This calls for a celebration!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Our next quarry will require a little more tact.



Mut Licesucks, a towering eyeless mite with a taupe exoskeleton, sits perched atop a bloodthorn tree in the third cavern. I am told this creature breathes fire, making it a fearsome foe indeed. I have heard tell of forgotten beasts like this setting the entire cavern ablaze during battle, and no matter how skilled a warrior you may be, you cannot evade the entire battleground being on fire.

My cunning plan is to dig a tunnel into the stone right behind Mut, lure him into a stone room where there is nothing flammable, and hit him with sharp or blunt metal things (as appropriate) until he stops moving. What could possibly go wrong?



Run, little dwarf!



I thoughtfully put a door behind the breach to make sure Mut didn't just sit in his tree and throw fireballs from afar. That would be cheating, after all. I figured Mut would be able to quite easily break down the door, but... apparently not. He just sits there staring at it. In the end, I order it torn down from the inside, hoping that whoever does so can get away in time.



The door falls away before a torrent of flame! Our brave soldiers leap into the gap, ready for the most intense battle of their lives, which might last f--



What do you mean it's already over?! No! Go back and fight it again, that wasn't good enough!

Honestly.

Unless somebody says otherwise, I'm assuming we will be continuing the fortress succession as planned. I suppose at least that way the helpful little notes I've been leaving around the place won't go to waste...



Tune in tomorrow for the thrilling conclusion! Surprises guaranteed!

[Demonic Spoon]

I remember reading somewhere that Building destroyers won't destroy stuff directly adjacent to them or something, which was probably the cause of the door problem.

[EoyaBosan]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Apparently one of the dwarves has become a hikikomori. I hope th-- Oh dear Armok, what the hell is that?!



It's... the ghost of that stonecrafter! His body is mangled and rent into countless pieces, the flesh still melting from his bones, and he's... he's...



...Gelded? Never mind, I don't want to know. Please, let's just put his soul to rest.



Now, a welcome distraction: our little social recluse has made a fancy trinket!



The name translates to "Negatemortals the Chances of Charm"



Well, I must say, I am not impressed. It is wholly derivative of Mostwithered the raw adamantine door - note even the imitation image of Flickeredsparks the dragon - but, in the artist's naļveté the crucial symbollism and depth of meaning have been lost. No amount of encircling bands or menacing spikes can make up for a lack of vision. Just stick it in the dining room with the rest of them.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Now, we have just two loose ends to tie up.



I mean, one loose end to tie up.



I swear, you military dwarves have no sense of drama! You're supposed to make more of a show of it. That was no fun at all.



Ooh, another murder mystery! No sign of a corpse, nor any reports of his fighting. The last mention of him is an announcement to say he was throwing a tantrum... and then I found that one bridge dangling over magma has been deconstructed... But surely he couldn't've been so stupid as to...

Well, if he really did destroy a bridge under himself when it was the only thing keeping him from falling into the magma sea, then, frankly, I think he had it coming.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As my benevolent rule draws to a close, let's see how Surprisepalace is doing.



The fortress's wealth has more than tripled (from 1,250,000☼), mostly due to adamantine and artifacts. We have enough food and drink to last several years, including about 600 units of forgotten beast meat. Four dwarves have been lost: two to goblins, two to tantrums. Four notable creatures have been slain: a werelizard, two forgotten beasts and a giantess. The military now contains six dwarves legendary in at least one combat related skill.

Not too bad, I'd say.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Hello everyone! It's me, your overseer, EoyaBosan.



Now, I'm aware that some of you may have some questions.



Such as "Why am I, along with the entire population of the fortress, currently stranded on a large platform dangling precariously over the magma sea?".

Well, I'm glad you asked! It's all to do with the dining room, you see. You remember? This dining room.



I really put a lot of effort into it, you know! Tasteful arrangement of that many statues isn't easy. And, at first, I was glad to share this beautiful piece of craftsdwarfship with the rest of you. But then you took it for granted. I saw you leaving worn out clothes lying around, letting farm animals traipse all over, putting your feet on the tables and... Oh, it was simply infuriating!

So I hope you understand why I have to kill you all. It's nothing personal. Well, actually, I suppose it is.

Anyway, goodbye everyone!



Hahaha!



AHAHAHAHAHA!



AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

And with that unexpected turn of events, the time has come to hand over the fortress. The save can be found here.

Some advice for the next overseer(s):

• Before doing anything, go to your Dwarf Fortress folder -> data -> init -> d_init.txt and set POPULATION_CAP to something less than the current fortress population. STRICT_POPULATION_CAP doesn't matter. If you don't, there's a good chance the game will crash at the spring migrant wave.
• If the game crashes anyway, try retiring and unretiring.
• If that still doesn't work, try regenerating the world with the same seed and copying over the (hopefully uncorrupted) unit files to replace the corrupted ones.
• There's a whole bunch of notes about the fortress. White on blue were made by someone else; yellow on red were made by me. I hope they're at least somewhat useful.
• Military equipment more or less works as it is, but might well break if you add anyone new to existing squads. I'd recommend starting a new squad instead.
• Far be it from me to tell you what to do, but you might, hypothetically, want to cancel pulling the lever on the right and pull the one on the left instead...
• On a related note, I sure hope you have PAUSE_ON_LOAD set to YES.
• Have fun, and don't let the werecreatures bite!
• Seriously, don't.