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[addictgamer]

Chapter I
Dawn


In the year of 223, the insightful trades sent a group of 20 dwarfs into the windy realm on the Sensual Continents to start up a fortress. The name of the fortress was Mothdastkikrost Idek Giken, of which we have no translation into our human language.

1^st Granite. Early spring
“Alright, I want you guys so cut down all the trees on this plain up here.  I want you miners to start picking your way into the mountain. I want you farmers to gather plants. Now get to it.”

Minkot Duradkivish, Farmer and expedition leader was busy bossing the dwarves around to start up the mighty fortress.
As the dwarfs started bustling about doing their duties, Minkot hiked down the calm flowing brook and came across a chasm.

From the journal of MinkotFarmer
It seems that the hills we have embarked into have some surprises of their own. This chasm is overcrowded with all types of dangerous beasts, I should get some booze before they kill me...


20^th Granite.  Early spring.

From the journal of Minkot
This is the only place that I can reveal my thoughts, for I fear that the woodcutters are plotting against me for reasons I know not of. Anyway, the miners dug a small section of the main corridor into the mountain. I had them turn off to the north to get to soil. There I will build farms. We have around 40 – 60 plump helmet spawns to start us off. There is enough booze to allow every person three drinks. I had the woodcutters deforest some more area too. Hehehe, I just hate trees. The 3 masons have started working on an outdoor enclosure for some farm plots. My metalsmithes have no jobs to do…I have started asking Allas for magma...

28^th Granite. Early spring

From the journal of Minkot:
The masons finished the enclosure, the miners dug out the farming cavern, the farmers built farms, and the woodcutters deforested more woodland. I hope that Allas will provide us with magma, either pool or volcano or pipe or filling up the 2 channels where I plan on making our first smelters. It turns out that the woodcutters weren’t plotting against me, but they had spotted a colony of ant-men parading around the chasm, the north side which is visible from here.

“In my opinion, Minkot should draft those worthless metal smiths and command them to attack the ever nearing ant-men”
“You can say that again.”
Two stout dwarfs were chopping down trees under the demon sun's rays occasionally pausing to look into the distance at the beckoning chasm.
“You know, all Minkot does other thank get drunk is keep babbling to some Allas about magma.”
“Ya, he should draft those blacksmiths though. If he did, and they defeated the ant-men, we could have them help us overthrow minkot.”
“I like that. But who would be expedition leader? You or me?”
“I will, it was my idea.”
“Ok, can I have the rest of the power?”
“Yes…”

---------

Well, here starts my attempt at writing a story of a game in df. I hope you all enjoy it.
Updates occur when? Who knows when, although I'll try to keep them frequent.
If I want a dwarf, what do I do? Just post, give some details on what you'd like.
If the dwarf with your profession isn't here, I'll just change one of the other dwarfs to do it.
Any screenshots or movies? Probably will post screenshots occasionally. Movies: I don't know.

Remember, i have 20 dwarfs, feel free to request one.

[addictgamer]

4^th Slate. Mid Spring

“Look at all these rocks we have found.”
“Yes, really nice.”
“We should continue digging downward to see if we can find more ores.”
“Good idea, now you two get back to work.”
 “Yes sir.”
Three miners were gathered around digging and chatting when suddenly the floor collapsed to reveal an aquifer.
“Damn, I didn’t know aquifers could be located in sandstone.”
“What do we do know?”
“I guess we should tell Minkot.”

“Minkot is crazy.”
“Ya, telling us to build a magma forge and smelter over two empty channels.”
“And her excuse was Allas.”
“Some diety”
“Ya, god of nothing”
As soon as the blacksmiths said this, the nothing in the channels transformed into 'hot' lava.
“So you guys doubted me and my god eh?”

From the journal of Minkot:
The miners have found an aquifer… It seems to be huge, and it disables us from getting into the core of the mountain. Has Allas cursed us for my asking of magma of him? Then why did he even give the magma in the first place? The blacksmiths doubted me when I told them to build the magma stuff. Why? Are they conspiring along with the masons? Oh I do hope I get to live to drink sunshine berry booze.

20^th Slate. Mid Spring

“Another magma smelter and forge? Is she out of her mind? Once is an improbability, but twice is an impossibility”
“Um, yes, but, you see...”
“Two more channels filled with magma? No.”
“Oh, um, yes actually…”
“...”

“Alright Masons, what is our first topic?”
“Well, Minkot has ordered us to expand the enclosure.“
“Hmm…Ok, anything else?”
“The woodcutters are plotting to kill Minkot, I overheard them.”
“Aha, just as I had suspected. What do you propose Datan?”
“I say we build a trap against the woodcutters.”
“Good idea.”

From the journal of Minkot:
Uh oh, I think the masons are also planning my death. They are always grabbing the materials from the far side of the fortress to build my sandstone enclosures, giving them enough time to plan out an end-of-the-world device. Anyway, Allas has given me two more magma channels, this time in the safety of the fortress walls. The miners are just digging out rooms for storage. The woodcutters are hauling food all over the place…

1^st Felsite. Late Spring

“This stone is very soft and easy to dig through”
“Yes…”
As the two dwarfs struck their picks into the limonite vein, water gushed out of the wall.
“An aquifier!!!!!!”

Minkot walked in right at that moment.
“What the heck do you think you guys are doing? Don’t you know there’s an aquifer here? Dig a channel to the brook already.”
All the miners rushed in and began to dig a channel than ran down all the way to the brook.

27^th Felsite. Late Spring

From the journal of Minkot:
Our fortress is still flooding from that darn aquifier. Is there no way to plug it up?

Humph, don’t you see the mess it’s making? Wait a minute! I have it, this is the miner’ first attempt to kill me. Only it has the potential of destroying the whole fort. I shall ask Allas what to do.

------
I forgot to mention, I am playing with the mike mayday graphic set.

[addictgamer]

Finally, a *small* update is here.

28th Hematite. Early summer

From the journal of Minkot:
I have successfully stopped the expansion of water into the fortress. The miners dug more channels and the masons built some walls around the flooded area. The miners also dug channels around the fort entrance as part of my first defense. Two kobold thiefs have already tried breaking into here.

That is not good at all...

--------

I need to know what you think of the writing style iIm using, should I change it?

[Moose Fisher]

I like it so far, I can see you're holding back names to avoid random name changes.

I'll take one of the miners.  Name him (or her) Moose.

[addictgamer]

15th Malachite. Mid Summer

“The humans have this crazy idea that our world is not alone. In fact, they claim that two more worlds exist. One is a world much like ours, only much bigger. The other is a world that is populated only by humans. No dwarves, elves, or goblins. Some of the human historians go as far as to claim that they have descended from a small group of those humans that have somehow entered this world.”

The dwarves of the fort were all gathered by a fire outside the fort listening intently to the old metal crafter Zas Stakudathel.

“They say that those humans have something that’s like magic, but it is called electricity. Their wagons also drive themselves. As in they don't use horses, oxen, or donkeys. Their everyday engineering is far greater than our greatest megaprojects.”

“No way!”

“It’s all lies!”

“Perhaps, but they do have one thing that could possibly prove this. In their capital, there exists the ruins of an ancient machine as old as the world itself.”

“How can we be sure that it even exists?”

“I have gone and seen it. They keep it a big secret though, and I am fortunate to still be alive today.”

“This has got me thinking…What if we could engineer a machine to try to reach the other world they claim exists. What do you know of this Zas?”

“I have an old friend that is an engineer, he has created many complex machines and structures. Perhaps you can get him to come here and help make such a machine.”

“Ok, then I shall ride out at dawn to fetch him. Where is he?”

“He has a tendency to wander the Artificial Dunes. Last I know of, he was working on a great pyramid overlooking the sea.”

“Alright, I must rest for tomorrow.”

“Oh, I didn’t quite catch your name.”

“The name is Olon Erithmegid; talented grower, proficient brewer, and herbalist.

At that, the dwarves kicked out the fire and left to drink booze and snore away.

From the journal of Minkot:
The masons are busy working on a wall that is to surround the fort. Just last night, I called a community campfire. The dwarf’s morale was raised and they are all happy. Something must have happened though. Today, Olon, one of our farmers, set forth on some crazy journey to find who knows who. Might this be a plot from the farmers? What do they plan on doing? Why am I stuck in this pit of traitors?

[addictgamer]

I like it so far, I can see you're holding back names to avoid random name changes.

I'll take one of the miners.  Name him (or her) Moose.

Ok, here he is.

The image is big...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

He is an expert miner.

[addictgamer]

1st Limestone. Early Autumn

From the journal of Minkot:

Uh oh, one of the farmers has withdrawn from society. He’s just standing out in the courtyard doing nothing. I wonder what workshop he requires.

In other news, I have the miners searching for a spot without an aquifer.

Just as I set those words down on the paper, the miners struck gypsum under the hall.

The traders also should be arriving very soon, but we have nothing to trade with them.

The masons are working on some bridges, and I need to get someone to make mechanisms for the bridge.

My farmers have generated 200 plants so far, but no booze. They keep dumping the plants into barrels.

I nearly forgot to mention this: One of the miners have changed his name to 'Moose'. Modern culture; I'll never understand it.

[addictgamer]

10th Limestone. Early Autumn.

“We’re going to have to postpone that trap, the fortress is not stable enough.”

“Yes, unfortunately, you’re right. The woodcutters will have to die some other time.”

“Ok, moving right along. Who here wants to work on mechanisms for the bridges?”

“I guess I can try to make some”

“Ok, good. Anybody have some ideas on how to further improve the fort’s defenses?”

“We can build a long corridor filled with cages of dangerous animals. Also, build marksdwarf towers every now and then along the corridor. Make a lot of bridges in the corridor too.”

“Excellent. I’ll run the ideas by Minkot”



From the journal of Minkot:

The miners have dug a small corridor of stone that isn’t damp, this is very good.
I hope that they can dig under the aquifer so that we may reach the mountains core. Once that is finished, they will have to dig out the bedrooms.

The masons have come up with an excellent defense for our fortress, which I immediately approved. We still do not have enough mechanisms for the current bridges though…

The farmer is still standing in the courtyard with his strange mood. It's already too late to save him.

Why don’t we have anything for the traders?
 I ordered some one to make some stuff, but no one is.
Are they too busy scheming?

Excuse me, I got to yell at those idlers a bit.




“What are you guys doing? You should be building that bridge, now stop idling.”

“Well, you see, dwarven logic tells us to do the unimportant tasks first. So, you won’t be getting your bridge anytime soon."

“Speak to me like that and I’ll have you whipped.”

“Oh ya? With what?”

“Alright, alright. No more booze for any of you. I’m dumping it in the river till you guys follow my orders.”

[addictgamer]

13th Limestone. Early Autumn

From the mountain homes of Luknish, a dwarven caravan set out to do itstrading.

“This fort we’re heading to, do you think its got plenty of gems?”

“I bet she does, no successful forts don’t have no gems.”

“Maybe they struck adamite and survived…Oh boy, then we’ll be rich”

“Don’t be getting your hopes up; no new forts survive adamite when they’re young.”

“I guess you’re right”

“Aren’t I always?”

The wagons continue to trudge through the towering forests to reach its destination. Then, after several months on the road, they reach the river that the fortress was founded on.

“Now all we have to do is head upriver, right?”

“Hold on, I don’t like the feel o this place.”

“What’s wrong?”

“May it be? I smell goblins.”

From the rim of a cliff overlooking them , a trumpet sounded as a goblin ambush jumped down its steep walls.

“It’s an ambush, Curses”

The guards of the caravan jumped up, axes ready and crossbows loaded.

“No one attacks a caravan from the insightful trades and survives.”

“Then we shall be the first goblins to accomplish this feat!”

The goblins burst out laughing as they charge at the wagons. The crossbow dwarves began to fire.

“We load them donkeys and flee.”

“What about the wagons?”

“You seek a wagon when the life of us is at stake?”

The two merchant dwarfs then grabed the important goods and load up the donkeys.

Meanwhile, goblins and dwarven guards alike were falling around them.

“Give us your wagon and we will kill you quickly. Disobey and you will die a slow painful death.”

“We fight to the death!”

By now, the two merchants had loaded the donkeys and ran out of there. A few of the guards noticed this and decided to accompany to fight to their deaths on a better day.


By late evening, the merchants and their guards arrived upon a brook leading off the river.

“The fort is on this brook, right?”

“Aye”

The merchants turned off the river and headed up the brook.


Just as the Sun broke the horizon, a carpenter saw donkeys approaching from the north.

“Traders… Traders!!!!!!!”

“What’s all this racket?”

“Minkot, traders are approaching on donkeys!”

“Wait, not with wagons?”

“No.”

“I wonder why…”

“Um, excuse me, I couldn’t help overhearing. We don’t have a trade depot yet.”

‘WHAT!?!? I ordered it built an age ago!”

“Well, you see…dwarven logic…”

“Don’t give me no dwarven logic.”

[Moose Fisher]

Next thing you know they'll think rock hauling is more important than building construction.

[addictgamer]

25th Sandstone. Mid-Autumn

“The trade depot is right up there.” A dwarf was leading the two merchants and their guards up the brook to their destination.

“This sure looks like a rich area.”

“Ya wouldn’t be having any big gems piled up in the caves over yonder.”

“No, I’m afraid we don’t have any valuable gems.”

“Tis a shame.”

“Well, do you have any finely crafted furniture?”

“We don’t even have beds to sleep in.”

“I sense something has gone awry in thy fort.”

“Yes, one of the miners dug into an aquifer.”

“How in the worlds can that be happening!?”

“As a wise man once said, ‘No fail is as epic as dwarf-kind’.”

“Minkot! Minkot! The traders have arrived and are unloading their goods.”

“Why am I stuck with you useless booze-vacuums?”



“Scuse me, where may the goodies be hidin?”

“…”

“Have I upsetted ya missy? “

“We have no goods, we don’t even have any booze.” The merchants gasp just at the mention of no booze.

“Our donkeys are loaded with dwarven explosives, just bring the goods.”

Minkot looks around for a dwarf to yell at, but none are in sight. She just shakes her head and goes back to farming”

From the journal of Minkot:
These dwarves don’t do anything. Now the merchants are here and we don’t have stuff to trade. What a loss, we may have bought tons of the good stuff.

The miners still haven’t been able to get under that aquifer. It seems to be larger than we originally thought.



“Oh no Minkot, bad news!”

“Now what?”

“That one farmer that got in a mood had gone dwarfish (insane) and the dogs jumped at him. Now everybody is upset and throwing tantrums…”

“Those fools deserve worse than melancholy.”

------

The population of the fort has dropped to 19 *audience bursts into applause*

In other news, Moose is now an expert miner (along with every other miner we have).
He also just happens to be leading the dwarven struggle to get under the aquifer.

[addictgamer]

1st Moonstone. Early Winter.

Dwarfs were slowly walking around the fort just barely completing their tasks. The slowest of these dwarfs was Minkot.

She yelled at every dwarf that she passed, and could be heard muttering about whiskey.

Out of all of this commotion though, a dwarf comes walking at normal speed up to Minkot.

“I WANT THOSE BUCKETS NOW! STOP, WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU”RE RUNNIGN TO SO FAST?”

“The miners found a gap in the aquifier!”

“It’s no use trying to cheer me up, you’ll just get less booze.”

“No, I’m serious!”

Some dwarfs had started gathering round. Shouts of ‘Praise the miners!’ could be heard from the crowd.

“WHAT ARE YOU ALL STANDING AROUND FOR? GET BACK TO WORK!”

The dwarfs slowly disperse, each grumbling under their breath.

“As for you, GET BACK TO THE DIGGING!”

The dwarf mumbled “I always knew the long-beards were grumps without their aplosives.”


“Monkit! A miner has gone berserk!”

“Oh no…Draft some woodcutters and send them to find him.”


Rimtar Zikelcerol, Miner Has been struck down

“Darn, our population has dropped to 18.”

“Minkot! A miner is throwing a tantrum!”

“Sheesh, what’s up with you guys today?”

“Minkot! That miner is throwing another tantrum!”

“I’m not even gonna say anything this time.”

Suddenly, In big bold letters, the words “Winter is upon you” are inscribed into history.

“Oh, and Minkot. A farmer is throwing a tantrum.”

[addictgamer]

4th Moonstone. Early Winter

“Minkot! Two miners are throwing tr…”

Minkot, farmer is throwing a tantrum.


5th Moonstone. Early Winter

“Ok miners, we are all very unhappy. The fort is falling apart, Minkot has been throwing continues tantrums on and off the whole day. We need help.” The dwarves that ere gathered around all nodded their heads.

“So, what do you say we do?”

“I don’t know.” Someone in the crowd mutters something.

“Actually, I was hoping one of you had an idea.”

“We could kill Minkot and one of us could become the expedition leader.”

“Yes…But then all the rest of the profesion clans would become suspicious and strike at us.”

A dwarf in the crowd cries out, “Bah, we are the largest group here. 5 members. We are mined with picks! We can kill all the rest in a simple dug-out trap.” Everyone nods in agreement.

“Ah, but the metalsmiths are already producing war hammers. One of them alone could take us all on. Two of them could kill all the woodcutters.”

The dwarfs all sit down in a circle and stare at each other for hours. Minkot then comes tantruming in and starts yelling at them. The miners disperse like booze in a barrel.

9th Moonstone. Early Winter.

Aban Etostkel, Woodcutter has died from thirst.

“Woodcutters, attention!” The woodcutters drop their wood and salute.

“At ease. Have you seen the devastation?”




"This fort is going to collapse, we're all going to die!"

------

My first tantrum spiral to happen so early on...
Oh, something happened a second before I was about to post this (right now), so the next update will be the beginning of chapter 2!

[addictgamer]

Chapter 2, Mid-day




That is what ended the begging.
The fort is in chaos, the population has fallen to 16 out of the original 20.
Minkot never lived to get killed by her plotters.

So, what is to become of this fort? Will the miners rise up to control it?
Will the masons plug the entrance and leave everyone outside to be killed by goblin sieges?
Or perhaps the woodcutters will burn down the forest so that the elves may come and end this terrible joke called life.

Haha, I just had the last laugh.

First in order, the dwarfs will be forced to fill out the leading positions, starting with the broker.

“So, who wants to be the broker?”

“I love to trade, let me in.”

“Ast Zatamzuglar, Metal smith is now hamlet broker.”

“Ast, as your first act as broker, what do you do?”

Ast Zatamzuglar, Metal smith is now throwing a tantrum.

“Ok…Who wants to be book-keeper?”

A dwarf steps forward and whispers into the speakers ear.

“Uh huh. On behalf of the miners clan, Ducim Mengmasos is now book-keeper. And what is your first act as book-keeper?”

“As my first act as book-keeper, I must make careful stock of the booze; its quantity and quality. I must also check each and every barrel if it is poisoned.” By now, the metalsmith was smacking his lips together.

A short yet stout dwarf stands forward, “I nominate myself, Sakzul Kilrudmeng, Mason, as Hamlet Manager. A dwarf next to him opened his mouth to object, but Sakzul stamped on his foot before he could.

As soon as the meeting is called off, the new book-keeper walks over to a bridge and destroys it.
The dwarfs stare on then slowly walk back and start throwing tantrums again.

13th Moonstone. Early Winter

Many travelers by now are saying that this fort will not live through this winter. Just this morning, another miner went dwarvish. Fortunately, a group of dogs were nearby. 4 or so dogs died though before the miner was struck down.

With the population at 15, there is no end in sight to this tantrum spiral.
The only good news is the miners have gotten around the aquifer. It turned out that it just covered the north-western area of the mountain. But, allas, what does this help a dying fort?



What? The population has dropped to 14? How can this be?
The question is how could the mason go insane, berserk, enter a martial stance, and get struck down all in the same frame.


17th Moonstone. Early Winter.


“Alright, if you guys are wondering why we are all gathered here, it’s to show who won the race to become the new expedition leader. Edem Ecemiton, from the miner clan!” And the audience clap their hands as Edem walks up to the forts entrance.

“As my first act as expedition leader, I…” She suddenly cuts herself off, yells “hey you”,  and jumps at someone standing in the crowd. The 3 recruits present pull the two dwarfs apart.

“That be enough of yer fightin. This shall be a day of celebration and drinkin too much of the dwarf power.”

“Fine then, as my second act. I shall choose the new manager.” She pauses for effect, and then goes on.

“The wise-dwarf Zas Stakudathel, Metal Crafter!”

“I will do my best. But, form my numerous experience, this fort has entered the terrifying trantum spiral of doom.“ He turns to face the crowd. “Leave while you still can.”
Everyone halfheartedly gets back to their duties, dwelling on the words of the ancient dwarf.

19th Moonstone. Early Winter

It all continues…

“I want us to dig through another level so that we can build the bedrooms.”

“Aye Edem.”

Edem likes her new job as leader of the expedition, and she enjoys the respect she gets.
As fine as that is though, Zas is right, doom has already knocked down the door.

“You know,I always feel as if I’m being watched. Did you hear of anyone plotting against me?”

“Not a whisper, which is a good sign?”

“It better be.”

A taller-than-usual dwarf strolls down the stairs. “Hey Edem, I think you should know the population is at 14. And we, the miners, still retain the greatest power. Our new allies, the metal smiths, have some very important roles in our survival though…”

“Good, all the woodcutters have been drafted…So there clan has been abolished. The greatest opposition has been destroyed!”

“I would like to suggest you name a sheriff.”

Edem closes her eyes for a few moments. “Ineth Rovodzat, Rectruit.”


Meanwhile, out in the courtyard. Zas was walking to place an item in a bag, but he went insane before he could make it. With a shout, he throws the item down and jumps onto the nearest dwarf. The sheriff strolls by, picks him up by the collar of his shirt, and slices his throat.

The dwarves gather round. Edem steps forward and speaks. “Here lies Zas, was the wisest dwarf in the world. If he couldn’t make it, surely we won’t.”
You know that sinking sensation you get sometimes? Well, that’s what they all get as they realize this: They’ll never drink another barrel of wine. The migrants will come across an empty fort that has long been abandoned…

2nd Opal. Mid-Winter

It just keeps getting worse and worse for the dwarfs. Today, the population dropped down to 11 after a miner went berserk and nearly killed the sheriff.
The only good thing a berserk does is to kill a kitten. And this miner has done himself that favor.

As for the rest of the dwarfs, the expedition leader is on the verge of going berserk!
They can’t afford to let that happen.
If only the bedroom level was finished.
I only need a few bed,s and they would house each and every dwarf in his/her own room.

But that is not to be, and the brewers don’t want to make any booze. They just keep throwing stuff in barrels.
The carpenters/woodcutters are the military, so no new barrels are getting built.

Yes, it is indeed a sad life. But will that change?


“Edem, just calm down a bit. All we need to do is discipline the farmers so that they will make some rum. I know you like the sound of that.” She turns and looks at the dwarf for a bit, still breathing hard from her tantrum.

“Well…the miners are digging out the bedrooms…”

“Yes, and they’re nearly done. Come and see.” They turn into the main hall from the farms and walk down it. Taking a right, the stairs are visible at the end of the hall.

“Waaaay over there?”

“Ya, not to far away is it?”
“Uh…”

“ It’s the only place the miners could get through the aquifer.”

“Whataver.” Edem starts her slow, unsteady walk as she stares at the first real stone she’s seen since embark.

After about 10 minutes, they emerge into another hall.

“Here it is. All dwarfs just step off into their separate rooms.” Edem just nods and walks away.

The dwarf says to her turned back, “Well, that was cheerful.”


4th Opal. Mid-Winter.

“Edem, it’s been just two days from the last casualty and a mason has just gone insane a few moments ago.”

“Well, that brings the population count to 10.”

“Yes, so it does. 4 dogs were right there in the workshop with him, so no other casualties.”

“Too bad.”
-------

An interesting detail for you moose, your dwarf is the only sane one.

Everyone knows what dwarven logic is, right?

[Moose Fisher]

"My name is Moose.  I dig holes.  It's all I really have to comfort me.  The others worry in their plots and lack of luxuries, but all I worry about is what lies behind the next patch of rock and dirt."