An incrediably epic fail.
Finally found a nice site, with multiple necro towers, not much wood, no flux (unfortunately) and, for some reason, PLATINUM, MAGNETITE, HAEMATITE, AND TETRAHEDRITE ON THE SURFACE.
And absolutely, so far, no fuel.
Anyway, devised an ingenious (by my standards) method of taking out the inevitable zombie sieges and necro ambushes. Near the end of the first year, just before the caravan, I caught (cage trap) a human necromancer.
I set up a training room for my small military (three marksdwarves) that involved them bludgeoning hair and dead birds and stuff to death.
I put in a dead falcon, some horse hair, and my soldiers, locking the door behind them.
Immediately, I pulled da lever.
.
.
.
.
And my militia commander fell asleep.
before I could pull the lever again, (to block the necro's Los) the bird bit him in the throat.
And shaked.
And shaked.
And shaked.
The lever was pulled, but the damage was done.
Before they could finish the undead off, one of the marksdwarves got his toe broken and passed out from the pain.
The other was strangled to death by his reanimated friend.
They all ganged up on the unconscious third soldier.
I lost my expedition leader, who was the only qualified trader, and the leatherworker who made their armour.
My armorer, who came with pretty awesome skills,
A cheesemaker, the armorer's wife,
And all their equipment: three crossbows (two wood, one steel), almost full leather armour, and a couple of metal boots from the caravan.
Oops.