-= Fikuk Urdim =- Turn 5: DiplomacyGreetings, Carnage of Stone! Your efforts here in Fikuk Urdim are legend back at the old mountainhome. Me? Why, I am Alūth Basementconstruct. Surely you've heard of me before? The renowned architect! Planner of the Lastarches Aqueduct! Visionary of the Colossus of Hallwines! Genius behind the Hazysabre Multiforge! ...Nothing? Oh well, that matters not, for I intend to go above and beyond with my next project! Literally. I got word you're building towers, and seeing these marvels inspired me with the urge to pay due contribution. You won't mind if I hang around for a few days, would you? While I survey the available resources and landscape, of course! Do you have cranberry wine?
Oh, this place is a maze! The first decoration I bestow upon ye is more placards to label rooms with. M-hm. Your notion of "learning" where everything is, while temptingly simple, is a burden on the memory and therefore a burden on the soul. Notes, you say? Ah, yes. Too hidden away, too easily overlooked. These big signs will aid weak-minded visitors, and they will thank you in return! And you, too, will be thankful when those poor fools refrain from pulling a dangerous lever.
Those elves that are visiting right now... They are so graceful! And their beasts? Imposing! You were hoping they'd bring giant war animals? Perhaps they would, if we could improve relations... Gasp! That's it! I know the tower design!
(Editors note: The "gasp" was not an interjection, but rather spoken verbatim.)
So, elves like trees, right? We'll give them a mighty mammoth of a tree! Here, among the forest. Oh, ease up, the elves will love it! Bricks? No! We'll construct the tree tower with authentic wood, straight from this mountainside.
This will do nicely. Let's set the foundation! Roots? Why would we need roots? Nobody sees those!
Would you look at that! More labourers for the construction. Splendid! Oh, they worship Amsir? The god of animals originating from the human kingdom... God of hunt, yes yes. Either way, we can grant them a temple right here in the new construction. Yes, while work is on-going. We could give them that spectacular star-ruby altar the elves gifted us. This is perfect!
Dastot Ungņbcerol is having a strange mood? I'd love some artifact pie just about now, haha! Oh, apologies! I forgot that ordinary dwarves consider this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Very well, the swordsdwarf shall have all the finest materials their scintillation of wit desires!
Enaldarłd, The Prim Climate, is a larch scepter. It menaces with spikes. Dimple blue giant cave spider silk adorns it alongside bands of oval amethyst cabochons. It is encrusted with cushion cut pinfire opal.
In the wood are images of the grown apricot buckler Dimpledmurder, and the elf Omo Tirathithy - conqueror of Oakguild - arriving in The Field Of Towers for the first time.
On the giant cave spider silk is an image of the wicked ogre The Burial of Tunnels, only one of his kind. Though not depicted, The Burial had terrorised forest retreats before getting struck down at the hands of a dwarf.
The scepter is prized at around 62 thousand ☼s and on display in the tower of culture.
So you want to get across the cavern lake? A plain bridge would be so distasteful. Dig over these towercaps and let them be your bridge! That will be gorgeous. Indeed indeed, and efficient, you're right. Why do you want to get there? Copper ore... Oh, I've changed plans. We won't use cop- Easy! Calm down. You can use the copper for other things. Certainly, this endeavour will bring plenty of great benefits to the fortress.
Help! I am injured! ...No, I was unaware of Maga Quadtedush's re-emergence. You put it down without casualties? Good, then you can treat my wounds. Look, a most vile splinter! Oh agony! Yes, we need a hospital for this. Tap into that waterline for a closer well, while we're at it. I'm tired of walking to the caverns every time. Why, you misunderstand. This is essential for assuring a swift, safe, and hygienic medical response.
Wait, what did you just say? "Holy cactus"? I will not receive surgery with such bizarre implements! ...That's the title for the new priesthood, I see. Why are all the doctors in this fortress priests, anyways? Oh well.
Hm, leaves are not a particularly good building material. Do you think we could use green blocks instead? Oh, yes, structural integrity, load bearing, yes yes of course. I'll see towards outfitting the foundation with support struts. Yes, the branches, that's what I just said. Don't you worry about the architecture details, that's what architects are for.
By the way, did you meet the new visitor? A charming goblin called Snatcher. She came to cheer up our children, how kind! But there is not a single minor here, so she tells stories at the Gilded Sugar instead.
Elves like archery, so we should use this tower for marksdwarf practise. Combination shooting gallery and raised hide. Truly, my innovative brilliance knows no bound! Well, of course I am well aware this fortress has no marksdwarves yet. That's what the practise area is needed for, you see?
What about this wood? Leftover, I see. Yes, my intelligent design has saved us a lot of resources after all. Several lots of it, even. A prime opportunity to carve out and stock up on goblets, crutches, splints, and so on! And even then we have enough left for... hm... burning, I suppose. It might come in handy for future constructions. Only time can tell.
Oh, how wonderful! Truly magnifique! Lo and behold, dwarves of Fikuk Urdim, for you have assembled your magnus opum. To think you were worried about the branches being "accessories beyond reason". Heh. This tower, Dįkurdim Umel Babin, Treetower the Nurture of Friends, shall certainly lift hearts and spark a firm alliance. Alas, I shant bear witness, for I must take leave soon! The Mountain Halls of Vaultdrum had lost their tavern in a siege. Another situation that calls for the great and renowned Alūth Basementconstruct! Such is the life of noble geniuses. Farewell, my friends- nay, my brethren! May we meet again some fateful day!
DFFD - Download(Edit: using different image source; if you read this, i did a history preservation for YOU!)