There are three more widows in my fortress this season.
A friendly caravan (from one of the modded civilizations) arrived. Just as they were entering the map, they stumbled across a thief. One of the merchants made a half-hearted attempt to fight it, but one of the draft animals pulling a wagon decided it wasn't taking any of this nonsense, tearing off a foot and kicking the poor thief around before stomping its head in:
GET OUT OF MY GARBAGE, BEAR
It is now known as Bamothawasa, "Granitespewed".
Not long after, a baby-snatcher got a lucky shot and slew Trim Snacksavior (w5e miscellaneous support) with a magically-manifested spike of ice. The first and only shot broke his neck; he somehow moved towards the temporary corpse stockpile and suffocated shortly thereafter. He leaves behind Rose Wanegerbil (w5e crafter) and nine children, of whom five are living in my fortress and one has been marked for great things.
My quick-reaction forces arrived (but not soon enough to make up for the killer's head-start) and stumbled over a squad of lashers lead by an archer. I committed additional troops and brought up fortress security to hold in reserve. We had heavy casualties, including two deaths. Dress Wheelscales, one of my better marksponies, was shot during the firefight, and while he was down his head was caved in with a steel scourge. He leaves behind Lion Sweepsparkle (w12u engineer) and 16 children, including three who were born at or came to the fortress. Candy Yellgully, another of my top archers and cornerstone of the cheese industry, engaged a lasher and had his skull smashed in for his trouble. He leaves behind Basin Incenseink, my broker / grand master weaponsmith / adequate cheesemaker, and seven children, four at the fortress.
While the battle was close at times, the reinforcements turned the tide and the intruders were slain or put to flight.
While i was cleaning up, several more baby-snatchers appeared, and one mauled a crafter and injured a soldier. Hawk Bunchbraided the Coal of Monks (the sub-overmare, ~= mayor), whom I suspect to be a vampire, and Gleam Joybeloved, w5b BEASTMASTER (a title earned for slaying Witchsecret the forgotten beast, beware its deadly blood!) handily dealt with most of them. Another soldier attempted to help, but her artifact bone weapon was once again unable to penetrate even the enemy's socks.
Dinner Winghoof w7u soldier's artifact pair of bone claws proves
cool but inefficient (TVTropes link)
My medical team has been doing an adequate job with this surge of new of patients, but four soldiers are still in the hospital. The worst-hurt by far, Bulb Lanternbride the Lean Volcano is currently scheduled for six surgeries to repair various compound fractures. One of her old wounds has become infected, but I'm not worried yet.
None of the others appear to require significant work; indeed, Glen Warmflicker (w12b soldier/engraver) seems to have healed completely while waiting for diagnosis, and while my notes say that Butter Sideblossom (w11p soldier) broke all the limbs on her right side, at the moment only her right hind leg and right wing are broken. Although she has only one kill to her name, Butter S. distinguished herself in the battle by helping rush the markspony, drawing fire away from the other troops.
Meanwhile, pointless artifacts have been put into display cases and I bought a breeding pair of wolves, although I'm not sure what I'll do with them, since I already have better warbeasts. I'm still holding out for a mate for my lonely male giant cave spider (modded so that they can reproduce), but if nobody brings one by the time I seal the fortress up, that'll be that. Temporary butchers' shops are working through the glut of dead intruders, and my haulers are busy recovering the ponyite.
The administrative offices, jail and security control room overlooking the atrium. Slabs and statues commemorating notable warriors are installed in the security office and military training barracks. Each office boasts at least one piece of furniture made from the bones of our enemies, but only the ruler's office has an artifact on display.
I've noticed that a small donation of used clothing will be enough to make me the mountainhome. If my civ's caravan can get through, I may just do this before closing the hatches.