After nearly 6 years, Halldistance had it's first caravan and migrant wave. Only 4 migrants, and my outer works had ended up blocking access to the Depot for the wagons (note to self, 5 tile wide roads only, and make sure to smooth over any boulders), but still. This netted the fort it's first Barony, helped rebuild the dwindling military slightly, and gave me a prohibition to exporting crowns. For the first time in 8 years, the population has broken 100. About time for a dragon or other critter to approach and cull the population. It'll have to be a dragon, other megabeasts have fallen like flies to the hardened core of the Halldistance military.
*EDIT* I was right. A flying Hill Titan with a poisonous bite walked up just as I posted that. He engaged one of the new recruits on the incomplete roof of the keep, was taken off the edge, fell 4 levels down, and was killed. The recruit walked away with a cut hand.
Most incoming dwarves have been traumatized as they come in on the eastern slopes. Right above the killing fields where about 2 dozen sieges died, and it still soaked with blood and vomit. They pass by the eastern cave where I toss the corpses to rot.
I also got my first elven diplomat in the spring of the 12th year. He was less than thrilled that I'd turned an idyllic forest into a massive pond, and continually clearcut the remaining trees except those growing on top of the failed tree farm's roof. I had collapsed a section down to the lower levels, but instead of trees growing down there, they grow on top of the floor built over the hole.
*EDIT 2* 12 Years in...
I channeled out most of the northern half of the map, turning it into a massive lake. So far, it's claimed two werebeasts who drowned when they turned back while underwater, several elves during a siege, and 5 dwarves during a skirmish with a bronze colossus. I actually gained FPS after doing this, but it took 7 years and countless steps.
I did leave a tree farm, since the one I collapsed earlier has not had anything growing in it. That now serves as a statue garden, and the entrance to the Duchess' manor. Roads circle the northern edges of the map, as well as cross in front of the fortress' north wall. Above this level is fairly empty, mostly mines, and some more terraforming to fit 5-wide roads still being built. There's also the massive corpse stockpiles to the south, along with the fortress production center. A smallish tavern (with an inn below it) and the main barracks rests above ground. Of the 122 dwarves and others residing there, 86 are full time military, 24 are civilians who serve only 1 month a year in a reserve squad, 8 are entertainers, and 4 are children. I have enough masterwork iron and steel to outfit the entire population.
Kitchens, farms, and assorted industries. With a small inn dug into a side passage.
The crypts. Most are full. A number of the original 186 dwarves that died during the fort's first existence were ignored; no one would bury them. That's why there are so many slabs.
Residential section, with a hospital, library, Duchess' manor, shrines for each of the 7 dieties plus an extra for anyone, and what will eventually be a Royal manor and throne room. I have direct housing for 226 population, each with table, chair, cabinet, and chest. The most useless dwarf has decent quarters.