Hi all,
Here are some screenshots. There are a few more protuberances than I was aware of but still basically what I described. I'm guessing all the caverns are absorbed by this huge one.
Top level
Level 63
Level 103 - the excavated area is intended to lure in that Forgotten Beast to avoid later unexpected fun surprises
I've decided to move away from the surface; no sign of gobbos, humans, or elves, and I'm becoming self sufficient enough not to really need the trade caravan. I'll probably leave a skeleton crew, including my broker, as well as the manufactured finished goods I already have (absolute gobs of them), in case I have needs in future, but otherwise I plan to move everyone far beneath the surface. Plus, I'll want to open up the drawbridge for migrants anyway (I'm softhearted). There are a few signs of life down there - the occasional giant olm and cave croc, as well as the FB who showed up very early -- but mostly we'll have it to ourselves. In the meantime, I've halted production of most things other than food, booze, and critical metal goods (weapons/armor/ammo, mostly) and moved most people into hauling capacities in preparation for the big plunge. I've established all of my troops into a barracks on level 104, as well, in preparation for the FB.
The tree farm is going fine; I haven't set up enough beds for all yet simply because I'm focusing on shifting the fortress downward, and carrying what supplies we have down to a staging ground. If I could manage to lure that FB out of the water, I'd throw into this plan full force, but he's being all coy -- seeming to make a beeline for my troops or miners, then backing off. If nothing else, I'll build a platform over the water and get my marksmen to start taking potshots at him.
The well does work, by the way. I know I don't 'need' it except for injured dwarves, but for whatever reason, my dwarves are giving someone water -- not a criminal or a patient, either -- and filling their waterskins (I'm not wasting fuel on flasks at this point) so I'm glad I built it.
I'd be happy to post the save if someone can give me some instructions how to do so.
I notice musk oxen and wolves, the two species I've managed to capture a good number of, are not tamable (without a Dungeon Master at least, in the former case). Can you breed wild animals? If not, that's fine, I have about a dozen in cages for an emergency meat supply before I tap into all my breeding domestic animals, and enough hides from trading to not really worry about it. I'm betting I'll find a few things down below.
I've never messed with magma but no time like the present. After the FB goes and I start sketching out the plans for the deep fortress, I'm planning to send some exploratory shafts down to the magma layer. Fuel is becoming a real problem so it's becoming a priority. With my first attempts, I have no doubt I'll have some fun on my hands.