Hi. I've been lurking these forums a while. I started playing Dwarf Fortress a few weeks back and have had no end of fun with it. This is the story of my first (real) fort. I had a couple before it but I had chosen horrible sites and barely kept them past striking the earth.
I don't have any screen shots to go with it because I never though of typing up the story of the fort. The date probably aren't accurate either but meh. I thought the event were somewhat interesting so I thought I would share them.
The journal of Em Urarsux, dwarven overseer of The Warm Flags and the fortress Ripesteel.
1st of granite 201:
We set out from Puresteel just over 3 months ago and I can see the site at the bottom of the next ridge. I figured I should put to paper the records that unfold for one to cover my beard and secondly to keep an accurate account of history.
We, The Warm Flags, were contracted by The Clouting Hammer to settle this area as a mining operation. Prospector found it rich in iron. Our objective is to make a liveable outpost within a year so when The Clouting Hammer sends more dwarfs to help turn this site into a full blown mining operation we can start production as soon as possible.
The group currently consists of myself, Em Urarsux, and 7 others. Firstly a miner named Stukos Bibanmorul who had a hand in building Forgelava, the largest metalworking operation west of the Wonderous Ashen Lands. Second is a lovely lady dwarf named Mestthos Kosothsazir, our wood cutter. Third is Zan Monomnitem an older dwarf, a mason by profession. Then there's Catten Atuldumat, a friend who Mestthos, who will be handling our wood working needs. After that there's Bomrek Nakuthnish, a truly mediocre farmer who is only here because she is the niece of some house noble or another. There is also Rovod Mebzuthshorast, our brewer who used to own a tavern in the human city of Treesburn until it was raided by elves. Finally we have a young miner named Dastot Sefoldeduk.
There's a lot of work to do. We will most likely have to sleep under the open sky for a night or two until we get a good cave hollowed out. I can see that being a problem as none of us even like being outside except for Mestthos, the weird girl that she is. But we shall have to endure. It's going to be a hard year, a lot of work to be done and we can't afford to start slacking off.
I can see the site now, we will arrive soon. I should start surveying the area and decide what our first tasks should be.
5th of Granite 201:
Much has happened since my last entry. As soon as the cart stopped I set Stukos and Dastot to work find a suitable place to start the tunnel into the mountain. I gave Mestthos the task of clearing the trees from the base of the mountain near our cart. I told Zan, Catten and Bomrek to start clearing an area where we can unload the left over provisions from the cart and also a place to store some of the timber Mestthos makes by hacking down the trees. Ravad busied himself by gathering some of the edible plants near the wagon to use for future brewing and also help supplement our already dwindling stock of food.
The first day was long but once Stukos and Dastot started digging they found that we are entering the mountain on a good layer of soil that could be used as a farm once we got a larger area hollowed out. That night everyone slept under the stars only because they were exhausted from the days work.
The second day I ordered the miners to clear out a small, temporary bedding area. I also ordered Catten to set up a masons shop in one of the already hollowed out caverns to make a set of beds for the group. They turned out to be of low quality due to their hasty construction and the small hollow was cramped with all 8 of us in there but it was much better than sleeping under an open sky.
Since then more of the mountain was cleared out. We have several farming plots up and running. Bomrek muddled about for half a day before she figured out how to treat the soil properly and get any seeds planted. An area was also dug out to store the food supply and some of the wood supply as well. We were still sleeping in the cramped little cavern but comfortable sleeping areas are somewhat low on the priority list right now.
At the end of the third day I told the two miners to sink a shaft to add another level to this complex. For one to give us an area to place some other shops such as a masons shop with out taking up valuable farming area and secondly to see what stone we have to work with.
We didn't strike any of the iron ores but we did strike kimberlite! This might turn from a normal iron operation into a Diamond Fortress. But I get ahead of myself. We have only cleared out a small amount of the second floor of this soon-to-be outpost. More time will tell.
25th of Granite 201:
The outpost is coming along nicely. We have a masons workshop up and running which is producing doors, tables and thrones as I write. We have a carpenters shop up and its giving up barrels, bins and beds. We also have a still up and running which is a huge relief to all of as as we were starting to run low on booze. Usen forbid we run out of booze. Also Rovod started up a small kitchen to prepare so tolerable meals out of the elf-food we have to eat now that our normal stocks have ran out.
On the 14th day I had the miners hollow out individual sleeping quarters as the other dwarfs were starting to complain about being so close to the other while they slept. The beds were moved the day after the chambers were ready.
On day 20 we struck some crystal opal which is always good. I had them moved into a chamber on the second level of the fort and had a door put in and locked. We had caught glimpses of goblins and kobolds around and the last thing we need was a goblin thief springing up and snatching our more valuable possessions. As it stands the gems we find will be our only hope of eating over the winter assuming the promised caravan arrived with trade goods during the fall.
The 3 cats we brought seemed to be doing their job. As we hollow out more and more it seems that all the vermin in the forest find this place to be nice to live in. At least they are earning their keep.
12th of Slate 201:
A terrible tragedy has befallen Ripesteel. Bomrek, the farmer, while outside doing who knows what was caught by a cougar. The beast took a large chunk out of her left arm before she could start running towards the fort. She made it to the entrance before tripping and being set upon by the animal again. He took her left hand clean off and did a number on her right leg before it was attacked by the rest of us. We brought it down quickly with pick and ax but sadly Bomrek did not survive. I commissioned Zan to build a coffin for the poor girl and has a small area dug out for it. It was sealed with a door once her remains were put to rest. I know these may seem like selfish thoughts considering what was lost but I can only think about what a displeased house noble can do to a small mining operation such as ours.
Nothing else worth penning at this point. Excavation is going as planned only much slower because Dastot has taken over Bomrek's farming duties. We have yet to strike the iron ore which is the reason we are here.
May Kil rest Bomek's soul.
27th of Slate 201:
Things have gone well since Bomrek's passing. It took a few days but everyone seemed to make peace with it. Excavation has slowed but we struck several types of opals which are now resting securely in our improvised vault.
I've ordered the production of a small amount of rock and wood crafts if only to keep people busy. The only people doing any substantial amount of work other than that are Stukos and Rovod. Spar rooms are hollowed out for when the new dwarfs get here. There is also a barracks to accommodate the future military force. Nothing much we can do now but wait.
3rd of Hematite:
Spring has ended with out incident other than the cougar attack. We have added a new level to the outpost for further excavation and for future tombs. We have still yet to strike any iron ore but we do have a nice stock of uncut gems now. Hopefully The Clouting Hammer will see fit to send a dwarf with an eye for cutting gems before autumn when the caravan gets here. Uncut gems aren't favored as much as their shiny, cut kin.
Our food and drink stockpile as swelled on anticipation of the new arrivals. I had a secondary chamber hollowed out to handle the overflow. Luckily we have yet to strike any ground water. Dealing with aquifers is always a nightmare when it comes to mining areas out.
Lately the spirits of the group has been down. They feel everything is getting repetitive. The same old elf-food and the same old booze distilled from the elf-food. The same old jobs uncovering the some old rocks and gems and making the same old items. I am starting to feel disheartened to. But I know this will all change when the migrants get here and our skills-base expands.
20th of Hematite 201:
We had an exciting, albeit troubling, even happen yesterday. A goblin thief was caught trying to pilfer from out food stocks. Stukos saw him while he was on break and going to get something to eat. The little cretin tried to run once he was caught but Stukos gave him a good pick-to-the-leg for his troubles. He managed to get as far as the entrance before passing out from the pain. When Mestthos approached him to finish him off with her ax the filth woke up and manged to crawl a few paces before collapsing again. The girl put it out of its misery with a few ax strikes to the head and body.
This event, even though hit ended well enough, has served to make me realize our security is to lax. The thief was able to sneak right inside and get to our food stocks before being caught. I ordered the current entrance walled off and a new entrance dug out. I also ordered a chasm dug out a couple dozen paces into the new entrance and a bridge constructed over it to allow passage to our dwarfs. As soon as we get a mechanic here I am going to have him construct a mechanism to retract the bridge in case of emergencies. This will not be complete for at least a few days though. Let us hope nothing else deems our little outpost worth of attention until we are better prepared.
Galena 28th 201:
So ends a mostly uneventful summer. Our stockpile of uncut gems has grown quite considerable. But yet we still have yet to see even a scrap of iron ore. All of the workers are growing quite proficient at their jobs. Especially Stukos who seems to be able to mine out a new tunnel in less time than it takes me to decide where the next one is going to go.
The caravan should arrive in the next couple months. Let us hope it does arrive and that is brings with it plenty of food and booze. Perhaps some weapons and armor as well for us to defend our fort with.
4th of Sandstone 201:
The dwarven caravan arrived as promised. Good thing to. We could use a variety of food and drink to keep the dwarfs sane. After speaking with the liaison so the caravan we traded about three-quarters of our stock of uncut gems and all of our crafted goods for barrels of booze, food as well as some iron weapons and armor. We also restocked our supply of seeds and spores. The trader seemed pleased with the transaction. I bet they though they got the better of the deal. They most likely did if we were in a city with currency. But here supplies speak louder than any currency could in a city.
The meeting with the liaison went well to. We requested more booze and food next year and they told us they would be willing to pay well for rings, totems and cages. Seems random but I guess no one can really understand the ebbs and flows of people with money to spend.
10th of Timber 201:
The batch of migrant dwarf that was promised arrived. Though I can hardly say I am impressed. 5 in all. Aban Whipperbreached is a mechanic, at least he is useful to our cause. Finally we can get that retracting bridge fixed up and perhaps a few trappers. Mafol Mengazin, a trapper by trade, I am thinking about drafting her into our little military as a marksdwarf. Ineth Bomreskurith is a simple peasant, another choice for our protection force. Zulgar Fasheral yet another soon-to-be-drafted peasant. Finally Sibrek Katlmigrur, another peasant who I think will be suited to taking care of some of the hauling and cleaning jobs to free up some of the other to do their trades.
12th of Timber 201:
I drafted the 3 that I spoke of into our newly formed military and set them to training right away. Mafol I made a marksdwarf along with Ineth. I outfitted them with leather armor and the iron crossbows and bolts I procured from the caravan. Zulgar I made a dwarven wrestler due to his outstanding strength and toughness. A path parallel to the main entrance hall has been dug and cleared and I set Aban to work trapping it. When a group of goblins come running in and the bridge is retracted hopefully they will be stupid enough to throw themselves headlong down the hallway right over the traps. The lever to retract the bridge has been placed in the barracks on the second level.
1st of Opal 201:
Everything has been going well. I think this outpost won't be striking iron anytime soon but that not a bother since a steady supply of gems have been flowing into the storage room. Our food stocks are well along with the booze stocks.
The new army has been coming along nicely with everyone training on almost a daily basis. They should do well in moping up what ever makes it past the traps.
12th of Obsidian 201:
We are undone! As I write this Zulgar is attempting to bash down my door in a murderous rampage. The only two dwarfs alive in the fort now are him and I. It happened so suddenly. Mestthos was out downing some more trees to bring our wood stockpile back up when a band of goblin ambushers popped out of nowhere. They had down Mestthos in seconds chopping her arms off before gashing her belly open. Then they ran for the fort. I ordered the bridge level pulled but the bridge didn't retract! I don't know if the mechanisms failed or if it was never rigged up right in the first place but the goblins charged right over it unopposed. The next to fall was Dastot who was tending the farms when the vile fiends cut him down. By this time I ordered the military unit to duty and told them to hold the goblins off at the stairway down to the second level. While trying to flee Rovod took an arrow to the back of the head and collapsed to be finished off by crude goblin blade. Mafol was there by this point and took the goblin archer in the chest with a bolt sending it to the ground. But she wasn't able to kill the others in time and was killed as well. When I was heading down the stairs Ineth was climbing them. By the sounds I don't think she lasted very long. I was running down the hallway when Zulgar strode past me to meet the goblins. Expecting to hear a dwarf cry out in pain I was shocked to her the squeak of a goblin dieing. I turned to see Zulgar drop the broken body of a goblin sword wielder to he ground. Soon after a goblin with a dagger charged Zulgar. Zulgar simply seized the goblins arm and broke it with a twist. He then followed up with a bone crushing punch to the face. He dealt with the remaining 2 goblins in seconds.
After the battle he strode down the hall towards the group of gathered survivors. His walk was slow and his head was hanging low. A cheer went up and they began chanting Zulgar's name. But I saw something in his eyes snap. Stepping forward and grabbed both of Stuko's arms and broken them with a sickening snap. When Stukos fell to the ground Zulgar ended him with a stamp to the chest. Sibrek tried to subdue Zulgar but received a vicious backhand for trying. At this point I turned and ran. I heard dwarfs dieing behind me as Zulgar slaughtered them all. I retreated to my office. I heard him coming down the hall as I closed and locked my door.
I don't know was set him off. I can only assume it was seeing his friends die. Hopefully he comes to his senses before he batters down my door.
By Samam how could this happ-
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Topic: Ripesteel (Read 1510 times)