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[Daniel Charms]

I'm secretly hoping that the next cryptogram will remain unsolved as well, as I really like the "bad things" you've cooked up (or was this just the beginning?).

[Heavy Flak]

From the files of Aryn Estetar
1st of Granite, 1063

I was given a real kick to the crotch last month as that idiot Likot charged blindly out to meet an entire host of shambling, undead goblins.  I hope she suffered as they tore that stupid cripple to pieces, because now, NOW, I am suffering!

Yes, having her as Mayor wasn't the greatest thing in the world, but she was both strong and scary, and the others were kept in check as she stalked past their workshops or prowled the courtyards.  After she drove her daughter to suicide I was often convinced she'd as easily put a bolt through me as she would listen... but she got results.  

With the position open, every damn Dwarf in the fortress is vying for the position, strutting around, giving little pep talks at the statue gardens, or the union hall, or Dodik-Come-Lately's.  All but Rice, at least.  He learned his lesson about politics, and he and Lucy have been staying FAR away from any political rallies - despite his stone workers constantly pushing for him as The Fair And Just Leader.  I need to handle disaster recovery, and... Oh lord, my head is throbbing.

Blueprints: The current lay of the fortress

EDIT: What the hell?  Making a tour of the grounds, I saw this.  That damned rice, it doesn't even go with the fortress flow.  I'm having it ripped up post haste.  Artistic idiot...

[Jools]

Great stuff as always - and a great way of encoding a message into the fortress itself...

[Jools]

A scribbled diary entry, torn from the book it was originally kept in

I was taking a break from my labours and getting some fresh air outside when it happened. Perhaps it was the scorching sun on my brow, or dehydration, or an aftereffect from an off batch of ale, but I was strolling along the southern wall when suddenly a wave of dizziness hit me. Before I knew it, I was falling towards a messy patch of stonework, random stones of various types plonked in any old how - very messy, not like our usual work. Only as I fell, it seemed that time slowed... the pattern beneath in the stones seemed to make sense, as if I could read it... it formed itself into words that wreathed around me and burned themselves into my mind, before the words became flames, grower ever brighter and hotter... until suddenly I woke, as someone chucked a bucket of water over me, and they dragged me into the shade.

I am fortunately uninjured from the fall, but I am greatly troubled by this vision. What could it mean? What horrors await us? Or am I worrying about nothing, and just need to spend more time underground like a sensible dwarf?

If this is a message, who to tell? The fortress is mayorless, after that old nutcase got killed by the goblins, and I'm not strongly affiliated with any of the various factions vying for control.

Should I tell Aryn? He's too caught up in his own schemes to pay any attention, unless whatever comes might slow down his work schedule. Someone in the military? These days, all most of them care about is that Dodik-Come-Lately's stays open. Stravitch? He'd just grunt and fondle his beloved mace. Perhaps Bertrand - he always seems to have an answer for any question, but he's occupied by some secret project at the moment, and probably has his mind on higher things.

No, I need advice from someone not caught up in the petty politics of this place. This is a clear warning about a threat to the survival of all of us. I shall go to the Temple and pray for guidance. Perhaps Kuli will also be there to offer some advice on the vision I had.

beware bigger foes come

OOC: Given I'm a latecomer, I don't technically have a dwarf in the fortress to have written this message - is there an unclaimed Zefonist sitting around? If not, I'm sure we can work it into some existing Zefonist's life...

[ June 08, 2008: Message edited by: Jools ]

[Sparrow]

Throw me in as a Marksdwarf, please.

[Metalax]

Heh, nice work with the zombie goblins. Now why am I getting flashbacks of DOOM from the last few posts?  :p Hmmm... Bertrand is suspiciously close to Bertruger.

Although it is a little late, the dialogue between Kuli and Vash back when Erith wrote the last message had interesting shades of Jedi and apprentice.

Merkils training with Major ---- DayCovering is excellent, I look forward to seeing their actions when the excrement impacts the rotary atmospheric manipulation device.

Oh and what are all the items lining the council hall? Are they the various not in use artifacts that have been created?

[Heavy Flak]

Jools: Good show!  I've wanted for a while to try integrating the ciphers into the story in more ways than just slapping text into a post, and I'm happy this worked out so well.  

I'd be happy to pick a Zefonist out of the group.  Any preference on his profession?  Also, don't forget - you've got a request, feel free to use it as you see fit.

Kuli: The zombie cat (and the zombie goblins) were whipped up with Dwarf Companion.  There are some ... inherent issues with both, and actually getting them to work, and attack, and not die, and not kill each other, and not be too weak, and not run away, took much more time than the actual fights.  Also, it was all trial and error.

Sparrow: I'll put you in the queue!  We're still without migrants, and if another thread is to be believed the death of higher nobility scares them away for a "very long" period of time.  I'll get you added, but it may take a little while.

Metalax: The items in the council hall are all garbage that Akroma has decided to throw around.  He has a room (a full furnished room, damn it!) but instead of working he's constantly running around, hauling idols and money and throwing them all over the area.  

Actually, I like the idea that it's all artifacts and items of importance.  So if anyone asks again, that's what I'll respond with  

[Kuli]

I was kind of hoping for a POI of Kuli in his cell, but seeing as he's the only one in jail right now he was easy enough to find.

Zombie goblins!  And I kind of liked Mayor Likot, so I'm rather sad.  I guess I had better work harder next time there's a tough cryptogram.

[ June 08, 2008: Message edited by: Kuli ]

[Heavy Flak]

quote:Originally posted by Kuli:
<STRONG>I was kind of hoping for a POI of Kuli in his cell, but seeing as he's the only one in jail right now he was easy enough to find.

Zombie goblins!  And I kind of liked Mayor Likot, so I'm rather sad.  I guess I had better work harder next time there's a tough cryptogram.

[ June 08, 2008: Message edited by: Kuli ]</STRONG>

I went back and put one in, along with a little OOC blurb.  I did all the POI's as I was putting up the crypto so I forgot about some.  I might go through and add a couple interesting engravings, too, if there are any.

[ricemastah]

Haha I didn't even get time to look at it before the solution was posted, I've been at work all day

[Electrum]

...Yes, it took me till now to figure out that was the cryptogram. So much for staying up, hm?  Jeez... Still nothing. And Jools posted a weird little story whitout having a dwarf? What's that all about? Oh well... I'll just go to bed, I guess.

At least it was won by someone who shares my first name!   And at least the Zefonists are morally clean people.

Dreadful ending for a dreadful person, though. Major Likot... Unlike Kuli, I didn't particularly like her, but Smithglowing's end was just brutal. At first, I thought Johnny was going to end up buying the farm, he'd already been marked by some bad luck...  :eek:

The Akroma, Lead Interior Decorator bit made me laugh, though. One of the most interesting things about the fortress is that it looks very designed, in an austere way... My own fortresses are usually a mess of little hallways and small rooms. But why do you have all those underground trade depots?

[Kuli]

Those aren't trade depots.  Those are shops you can build after you activate the Dwarven Economy.  Whoever owns the shop will cram a bunch of random stuff in there, then other dwarves can purchase the items.

And thanks for the "Kuli in the clink" POI, Heavy Flak.  Interesting bit of OOC info there.  Probably Stravitch is the only one who can administer beatings since he was the arresting officer.  Or maybe he just has it out for Kuli.

[ June 09, 2008: Message edited by: Kuli ]

[Electrum]

Oh, sorry. I've never gotten to that point, in my defense - I have a lot of problems with corrupted saves, and I get tired of having to play the same season over and over...

Also, Stravitch has it in for everybody.

[Heavy Flak]

Those shops seemed like a good idea at the start, but I think they've given Akroma license to play decorator as all he does is skulk around, waiting for me to stop paying attention then grab a bunch of crap and throw it into the union hall.

I've been thinking of just locking the door and using the tweak util to make the squares those items are sitting on as hot as the sun. It may cause unhappy thoughts, but what's one more pissed off Dwarf?  Maybe if it works well, I'll do it with some of the random armor and socks.  I can't see how that could possibly end badly!

[Stravitch]

I don't have it out for everyone.  I just want to make sure everyone is ready at a moments notice to take a beating... >.>  <.<  Yeah, that's the ticket.