The chaos of Darkmeadow seems to have subsided. Here's a summary of the events;
Late 39, a great forgotten beast appeared in the underground caverns. I didn't think much of it until it breach the barricades and killed a dwarf. Immediately, the dwarven army under command of Kivish Tosidushrir was sent down to deal with it. The legendary Axedwarf dealt with the beast swiftly, but lost a dear friend in the battle. He didn't think much of it, as he did, after all, have a great dining room. I thought I got off cheap, though, and thought none of it.
Forward a month; I check the sickbay. One of the hammerdwarves that participated in the battle has been infected with advanced rot. Both his feet are rotten, and his body is generally a mess. Before doctors can treat him, he infects a cat who proceeds down the stairs, infecting several dwarves. Within a week, about 10% of the fortress is infected. While the rot is incurable, it's not fatal to adult dwarves so I don't think much of it. Until it strikes another pair of pets, and melancholy strikes. A few months earlier, a Kobold ambush severely injured one of my squads, and their miserable moods spread to the rest of the fortress in a matter of weeks. Knowing that there's no way to stop the infection, I send some of the elites to the noble quarters to guard the King. The noble quarter is sealed off.
Early 40, and chaos ensues. Unhappy due to the disease roaming the ancient halls of Darkmeadow, the population begins to fight. Initially it's just a few struggles, quickly contained by Captain Kivish Tosidushrir. But the fights soon evolve into struggles, and the struggles into battles. Before long, the entire fortress is fighting on two fronts; against the Forgotten Beast rot, and against each other. Meanwhile, in the noble quarters some of the vault-dwarves have begun to be unsatisfied. One of them was infected with rot prior to being sent in, and has infected two others. They're all sealed inside the statue garden. The King spends most of his time in his bedroom, worried about his queen who is caught outside.
It isn't long before the population of the fortress starts to decrease. From 245, to 230. 220. 215. The rot claims even more victims, and the war dogs are infected as well. The meeting hall becomes a bloody melee, with blood spatters all over the walls. Those brought to the infirmary are soon finished off by a mad Fisherdwarf, who in return is slain by Kivish Tosidushrir. The Baron/Captain of the Guard seals himself inside the now abandoned barracks, hoping to wait the spectacle out. His kill list prior to the chaos? Approximately 20. After? Over 33.
Eventually, mid-40, the chaos subsides. The King and two other dwarves are the only survivors of the noble vault. There's three dwarves sitting in the meeting hall, undoubtedly asking themselves what the heck happened to the city. The former Baron and Captain of the Guard, still carrying his bloodstained axe, emerges from the barracks eventually, slaying one of the stragglers in the process. The King has declared himself King, Mayor, Captain of the Guard, Book Keeper, Broker, and Manager. A new age awaits.
Population before chaos: Circa 245.
Population after chaos: 12.
EDIT: I just saw the body of Kivish Tosidushrir Ekastrazot be brought to his tomb. The greatest dwarf to have ever lived in Smata Eno has died. The brings the survivors down to 8.
Dwarf Fortress - The only game where a shortage in booze is a greater threat than a dragon.
I'm totally sigging that ...