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[tonnot98]

I AM HERE!

I'll start playing tomorrow! Sorry about the delay. Any suggestions on what I should check out?

[Unraveller]

I'm personally curious about reading more insight into the realm of the elves. We've had very few elven adventurers IIRC. Actually we've had very few goblin characters as well. Though by no means take those as anything more than my musing.

[kesperan]

We haven’t seen much of the elves since their Dark One queen was killed. They have a new Queen and Princess but they are not easy to find. The capital of Glacialtempests is largely empty. The elf population seems to have recovered somewhat since the rampage of the Apocalypse Bear.

They do seem to be at war with the humans of Mong Uthros, their neighbours to the southwest. Moldath encountered and slaughtered an elf war band in 859.

There is a rather interesting elven fort, Splashbeige, with a single elf master who has a huge number of books and artefacts, who has been visited by a number of adventurers in the past.

A few elven leads for you to consider…

[tonnot98]

Two (very minor) things I've noticed with the OP: Artifact 20, Better nature, a cat parchment scroll calls Fidale a he instead of a she. Also the "constructed by" credits on a bunch of the later fortresses are missing.

Anyway..

Before you is a journal bound in grown feather wood and the pages are made from turkey parchment. It belonged to one "Yawo Rainstir."

Spoiler: Open the journal! (click to show/hide)

   
   Our numbers dwindle and the world becomes an increasingly hostile place. Where Orid Xem was once plagued by bitter wars between nations, and between the living and dead, these conflicts are now replaced by inner struggle and instability. The elves of The Squeezing Fords believe themselves isolated, but even now banditry and roving gangs of criminals force us to suffer beneath their cruel grip. It's a great shame that the greatest champions of the elves in recent memory were no elves, but a damned goblin and one of those freakish "Hands of Planegifts." The moment we tried sending off one of our own to seek glory at The Museum of Boltspumpkin, those oafs died before they could even leave our borders!

   My kin think me mad for trying to venture out into the world beyond. But traders tell us horror stories of plagues, necromancy, demons and curses. If we cannot even defend against bloodthirsty bandits in our own lands, how will we fare when the evils of the world finally reach us in our isolation? With our unholy queen slain by another creature of death, nothing further stands in the way of our glory! What will the other nations think of us in our time of need, when we have ignored them in theirs? I will beseech our princess and tell her of my desire to act as her hearthsperson, defeat evil in her name and better our people's status in the eyes of the other disparate and desperate nations.

6th of Limestone

I have started my journey to the east. I cross many empty forest retreats, the handful of elves or mutants impossible to find within the maze of branches by design. Though I know they are there, warily watching my movements, it is no less lonely. Thankfully I had no need to prepare for much beyond walking as the forest's bounty is plentiful, fruits and nuts will sustain my journey.

10th of Limestone

I've found an isolated wooden hut in disrepair overlooking the northern coast. Mangled skeletons and tamed flames dot the outside. Within is a simple casket belonging to some human named "Kajeth Fatecrypts the Unholy Balance of Froth." Inside of a box nearby is a masterfully-made, if damaged wooden spear. It seemed to belong to someone else, as the name "Raki" is engraved in it. I think I'll take it with me and leave the rest of the place undisturbed. It's not like they'll be needing it at any rate. I'll also sleep here for the night, it'll be nice to be outside of the rain for once.

11th of Limestone

I've wandered into a dwarven hillock by the name of GoldenPondered and met a fellow here whose younger brother was drained of blood by some terrifying scorpion monster named "Avolition." The poor lad was only 7 when he was slain, and had been praised by the fortress for creating some wondrous craft named "The Mansion of Covering". I hope to never cross paths with this creature, at least not without a suitable large log to crush it with!

The elves of The Squeezing Ford usually have Burnt Umber skin and Pumpkin or other red/orange hair colors. It's a pretty odd mix, but they seem to be the defacto "dark elves" of this world. I've also been trying to talk to all the dwarves I see to make more historical figures in an attempt to alleviate the problem of fortress dwarves shuffling between new fortresses every five years. Or will this lead to other issues?

There is a rather interesting elven fort, Splashbeige, with a single elf master who has a huge number of books and artefacts, who has been visited by a number of adventurers in the past.

My goblin adventurer originally came from that fort, and was great friends with the woman that lived there! At least until she got thrown into a glowing pit...

[kesperan]

There are a few dwarven hillocks near the northern mountains between the elf and human lands which have only recently sprung up after I built a new fort there.

Northmanor should be close by.

Poor Logem. It was inevitable.

[Lurker Z]

The elves of The Squeezing Ford usually have Burnt Umber skin and Pumpkin or other red/orange hair colors. It's a pretty odd mix, but they seem to be the defacto "dark elves" of this world. I've also been trying to talk to all the dwarves I see to make more historical figures in an attempt to alleviate the problem of fortress dwarves shuffling between new fortresses every five years. Or will this lead to other issues?

Interesting about Ribiromimi physical characteristics, well it explains why half of them or more turned to Ala worship and why their civilization hosted at one time 5000 goblins.

On the other hand, they are originally nature worshipers and they still go around imposing wood quota. Speaking of their isolation, they made their way more than once in Iroram in the center of the world, so they shouldn't be that cut off.

They're the only race of elves in the world. Though I wonder if that would change if one would play an elf outsider...

Regarding historical figures, they get called to the capital all the time (if you're going to Ilrallenod, prepare to trigger another massacre and to have the blighted horde at your heels). The only thing it could alleviate, maybe, is the extra humans over dwarves ratio Adilatír is facing right now.

By the way, your char made a mistake regarding the Elven Dark Queen Vafice, she wasn't blighted, she was a resurrected undead. Not sure who fired first between her and Moldath though, I remember reading the text, but it was pretty vague and to me it boiled down to "Moldath see undead, Moldath attack undead now and ask questions never".

[kesperan]

By the way, your char made a mistake regarding the Elven Dark Queen Vafice, she wasn't blighted, she was a resurrected undead. Not sure who fired first between her and Moldath though, I remember reading the text, but it was pretty vague and to me it boiled down to "Moldath see undead, Moldath attack undead now and ask questions never".

Moldath had become a fervent worshipper of Ala and he thought Vafice and all her necro experiments were an invading army out to destroy Mong Uthros, his new favoured homeland. She was rather suspiciously camped outside Trammeledjudges. This was the town that she had taken charge of after the Ribiromini had taken it from the Scholarly Manors in 345, during the War of Fists. It was during this war that she was slain and then corrupted by Thranan Echohails to be a puppet of Oddom Girdergrove (at least in Moldath's eyes).

In one way he was right to be concerned; the War of Routs begain in 838 under the banner of the new Queen of the Elves, reigniting a battle that was last waged seven hundred years ago. So... Moldath was totally right all along - in 859 he encountered an elven warband of the Moth of Pleating in the Mong Uthros village of Ferriedtwinkling, and slaughtered them all.

[tonnot98]

The journey continues!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

13th of Limestone

Took a refreshing swim in the river as I approach Glacialtempests. The other rivers near my home are way too active to enjoy swimming in them, more than one enterprising elf child has been swept away by the current. Even here my carelessness almost tossed me over the edge of a waterfall!

15th of Limestone

Found a small camp with a crippled administrator and his bodyguard. He claimed to be an ex-husband of the last, late princess. They were being awfully tight-lipped about what kind of tragedy befell their forest retreat, or even where they were fleeing from. Osime succumbed to his wounds not long after our conversation, and his body guard refused to join me on my adventures saying that he still has a duty to fulfill. Ah well, maybe I'll see him again some other time.

I've finally reached Glacialtempests, and I am quite disappointed. The abbott looks like he's been clueless for the last few centuries, the druid is shifty-eyed and smells of goblins, and the princess is quite fat. They're the only three people still in our capital and they are all useless! They prosecute a war against the humans because of their mistreatment of plants and animals, yet they seem like they could hardly handle the affairs of what to eat for dinner. Perhaps I should take matters into my own hands and replace them? I'll have to garner support, but my people are so complacent. Even if the forces of darkness were chopping down their trees they'd sup their sun wine and make sarcastic remarks. Hopefully I can find more like-minded elves.

16th of Limestone

I've come across a forest retreat named Bootteal and what I've found disgusts me. Corpses of elves and trees are littered everywhere. Smashed branches and felled trees bearing axe wounds and elf skeletons imprinted with claw marks. A trio of goblins happen to be travelling by and tell me of the rampage of a creature named "Arcturus," a blackbear man. A soldier under the banner of The Creamy Confederacy, and a one-bear killing machine. How had these rumors not reached me in the western forests? Blood will be repaid with blood, I will find this beast and slay him! His gnarled hide will surely bring legitimacy to my cause! Beyond that, I should take care to preserve the corpse, it'll make a fine feast for my coronation.

Before I came here however, I made two new friends that follow me not for any political reason, but to play music and make merry. I'll find a way to press a sword into their hands...

17th of Limestone

I found a perfect gemstone in one of the Home Trees, though it has a strange aura about it, as if some malevolent force carried it before. Maybe it'll lead me to its past owner? There's no way it could've been made by elven hands at any rate.



20th of Limestone

I told my new companions to wait for me in the forest for a day or two. My wanderlust led me to an island off the northern coast. They were quite surprised to see me return with a trio of cave swallow women wielding fungal spears! While they may never have even heard of politics or kingdoms, these three were looking for a change of scenery, and decided that exploring the surface at my side would give them many stories to tell their tribesmen. I'm just thankful that I have some competent security!

21st of Limestone

I've found the skeleton of another birdman and an elf. Something about it feels important, so I stuff their remains into a sack and carry on. Well, that's what I would've done if their killer hadn't been loitering nearby! I scarcely began moving before I heard freakish howling quickly closing on me from behind. I dropped the corpses and grabbed hold of the sword I had taken from the dead elf, and we held our own against the beast. And of course by "we" I mean the birds and I. The two musicians following me fled for the hills as soon as they heard the howling. I ducked behind the creature as the birds distracted him, and pushed my sword through the back of its neck. It bled out quickly thereafter, but not before breaking the fragile bones of my new companions and killing one and crippling another. I had to leave her behind in the care of elves at another forest retreat. The final one of the trio, I've taken to calling her "Beakie" and she offered to continue following me to help slay more monsters. I truly admire her willpower.


(Pictured: Me standing amongst the broken bodies of this battle.)

22nd of Limestone

I travelled to the Hamlet of Snackbrews, and within it I found a gaunt-looking dwarf wearing a mask of copper. She warned me of some strangeness surrounding the fortress of Northmanor, they've been awfully quiet lately and there's been no news reaching the hillocks. She also mentioned that she and her husband were expelled after he stole a prickleberry. These dwarfs are quite strange with their laws, but I decided to investigate the fortress myself. Perhaps the dwarfs would be open to trade?

23rd of Limestone

A dwarven fortress is truly a sight to behold! Looking past the corpses of trees, I greeted them and they greeted me. I have to maintain a good reputation with these fellows if I want a safe rule after all, and seeing how these people have harnessed the power of magma to fuel their industry, I feel that was a safe call. They seem to have quite a few tamed grizzly bears wandering about as well. I offered to practice my profession and use their cloth supplies to fashion them some new clothes in return for a pair of metal spears and some food and drink. They graciously accepted, and I was quickly put to work making new pairs of socks out of the strange silk of a "phantom spider." I used the opportunity to make a comfortable robe of the stuff for myself as well. While I worked here, the dwarfs mentioned a great library across the sea. I think I could swim the distance, but I'd have to leave my companions behind momentarily again. I'll have to go visit its great stores of knowledge.

All in all, I can't imagine why such a friendly place has such a foreboding name. Maybe it was a joke of sorts? Heck, even the surgeon was discussing with me the finer points of nature.

26th of Limestone

Was it tribal animosity or just bloodlust? Beakie shouted some words in a language I didn't understand before starting a fight with a pack of wolf men. I don't know what got into her, but they were dispatched easily enough with our new weapons. She's been flying about snatching vultures from the sky on our travels as well.

28th of Limestone

It was a wasted journey. The island is far too overgrown to navigate even for an elf. I found a tunnel with a trade depot but it didn't seem to go anywhere. After I gave up and left, I got attacked by a cave critter duo! A giant olm and a giant toad had apparently gotten the taste for blood and sought mine, but a spear to their lungs set them straight. I am at a loss of where to go and what to do. I've heard about banditry over in the village of Pleatedhorse, I should investigate.

3rd of Sandstone

On the way to the hamlet, we were accosted by another one of those Howling Freaks. The creature nearly bit Nemo's arm off before Beakie and I could bring it down! Thankfully, he only needs one arm to play the Ni. Beakie is feeling vengeful, and urges us to hunt down more of the monsters. It'd make a nice story at any rate.

Ancientknowledge is a laggy nightmare. The trees have grown too thick and the lag was unbearable. I spent an hour and a half slowly trudging through and still didn't find the fortress entrance.

[AvolitionBrit]

Interesting story, oh god yeah there are a few items with holyblood kills, there is a severed goblin hand somewhere with a number of kills. I think even my own severed hand had kills to it. Looking forward to the rest of your journey.

[kesperan]

I've finally reached Glacialtempests, and I am quite disappointed. The abbott looks like he's been clueless for the last few centuries, the druid is shifty-eyed and smells of goblins, and the princess is quite fat.

You managed to find the princess and the druid? You've done better than me... I have been looking around for them and could only ever find the abbott. No sign of the new Queen though?

I travelled to the Hamlet of Snackbrews, and within it I found a gaunt-looking dwarf wearing a mask of copper. She warned me of some strangeness surrounding the fortress of Northmanor, they've been awfully quiet lately and there's been no news reaching the hillocks. She also mentioned that she and her husband were expelled after he stole a prickleberry. These dwarfs are quite strange with their laws, but I decided to investigate the fortress myself. Perhaps the dwarfs would be open to trade?

Ha! If these two are the dwarves I think they are, they are necromancer migrants from Ancientlibrary, who I ejected because my fort wasn't ready for any necro-shenanigans. Don't believe that story about the prickleberry!

A dwarven fortress is truly a sight to behold!

Ah, so you visited Northmanor. It's a work in progress. I have started on the obsidian tower for throwing goblins into the lava moat and we have everything we need for a steel industry, but I ran out of time, as usual.

I didn't find Ancientlibrary too bad when I was there last. That damned scorpion has been hoarding books from all over Orid Xem there and necrofying his population. If you are still near that island, you could pop over westwards to Relicward - there is loads of well crafted steel gear there which would fit an elf.

Enjoying the journey so far!

[Unraveller]

Very curious to see whether or not Yawo will indeed manage to return some sense of lost luster to The Squeezing Ford. The time of elves seems as if though it has long passed in Orid Xem

[Lurker Z]

For laggy sites, I suggest using jump when available. It's cut down my lag time by a lot, maybe half a minute per tile.

Loved the journey and the log, looking forward for more.

Very curious to see whether or not Yawo will indeed manage to return some sense of lost luster to The Squeezing Ford. The time of elves seems as if though it has long passed in Orid Xem

They had a revival in the 8th century, where they were the only race to truly mass-reclaim along Adilatir and their people moved from the sites of other races to reclaim their fallen retreats. Arcturus put a dent in their population, certainly, and Avolition if I'm not mistaken wiped out their goblin meat-shields (5000 of them I think?). So maybe it's not "long passed", but certainly they've had it rough for the last half a century. Their biggest problem, I think, is that they don't procreate much, though I had found some elves born (of actual parents rather than the void itself) in the 8th century. All in all it's bad, not that that bad. Hells, we've been propping Adilatir for over a century and a half, each fort probably has over 5 children born in, each fort has been generating at least 20 NPCs on founding and constantly generating NPCs out of the void, and the world still has only 700 total dwarves, as opposite to over 1700 elves. Ribiromimi is a colossal that's really hard to take down.


Since the subject is somewhat related, I was wondering about something: would it be a problem if we used the All Races Playable mod? Would it be world-breaking? I've tried it on a test save and it works pretty well with humans, the only problem I have encountered so far is that there don't appear to be noble positions (the noble screen is simply a blank black page).

Also elves would be really hard to play, they don't have mining (though maybe that could be modded back in?).

[kesperan]

I know Bralbaard isn’t keen on mods in case they affect the stability of the save.

Having said that, didn’t we have an elf fort in the shape of a giant tree in the first Museum? Evertree?

In slightly related news, I’ve found a DFHack script that someone on the forums made which allows you to add or change your adventurers deity. This is useful for role play reasons as the only dwarves we can now generate are outsiders with no cultural history and who cannot worship a deity. It would also allow animal people to have a religion.

I tested it on a test save to successfully make Moldath a devout follower of Ala with no apparent repercussions. Thoughts?

[tonnot98]

That would be pretty good to aid in roleplay, like something happening where someone could even change their religion. I was also planning on using DFhack to allow Yawo to be able to find a mate after retiring. If he retires...

[AvolitionBrit]

Would be nice to give animal men a chance to worship on of the gods of the world.