Diary of Graebeard I, The Frigid
Slate: We have started. I've met with the architects to devise the best way of bringing warmth to the surface. We've decided on
The Stack; a great stack of alternating screw pumps. There were a few places to choose from for the base of
The Stack, but each had its own problems. Ultimately, we decided on a centralized spot above the topmost magma pool. It'll be a breeze making it past the 3rd cavern, but we'll have to build
The Housing; an enclosure to protect the stack as it rises through the 2nd and 1st caverns.
Also, we need to find some way of manufacturing 108 pumps that can withstand the magma's heat. Vabok suggested we craft corkscrews and pipes from the abundant gold just lying around this frozen hellhole. Well. That would be great if gold wasn't so damn easy to melt. We'll have to figure something else out.
Felsite: Progress. While frantically casting about for some solution to our materials-shortage problem I literally stumbled into the answer. It's hard to see and pure chance that I noticed it, but there are a few scattered piles of sand near our underground farms. I immediately ordered magma glass furnaces set up at the base of our fort to begin crafting glass tubes and corkscrews. I also decided to expand the stairway down to the forges to deal with the resulting increase in traffic. It's been difficult managing these lazy glassmakers. They keep complaining that there is no sand available, even though there are dozens of bags just lying around for them. After slaughtering all the animals I could spare for their leather I think I've given the bums enough bags to stop their whining.
Hematite: Warm, balmy summer. At least, that's all I can think of now that what passes for "summer" in this bitter, desolate void has arrived. Summer should include sweaty mines and lawn games, not hiding from the oppressive cold in ramshackle huts built from ice blocks.
At least
The Stack has begun. We've built the first few pumps, and already the ground feels warmer with the promise of heat. We've also begun building
The Housing to protect
The Stack through the 2nd and 1st caverns. This is a large project requiring quite a bit more planning that I'd originally allowed for. That's OK. We've got the labor to support it.
Malachite: Damn dirty Elves. Normally, I'd flood them in whatever fluid were handy. Now I have to trade with the insufferable bastards for food and cloth for more sand bags. Oh well at least they brought elephants. But wait, two males!!! Argh. That's OK. Hopefully we'll get a female next year. They'll get what's coming once
The Stack is complete.
Galena: Work continues. The enormity of this project is starting to hit home. Progress is much slower than I'd originally hoped both because of the challenge of building
The Housing and because of our architects' inability to build competently. For some reason they keep building pumps in the wrong order, leaving those above unsupported and falling into those being constructed below. I've found that the simpletons can usually handle working on 2-3 at a time, but any more than that and they make a grand mess of the whole thing.
Sigh...Limestone: Treachery! The human caravan finally arrived, but the stupid brutes must have had a group of kobold archers following them to our fortress. We took care of the little bastards, but not without taking a few arrows first. That's OK, none of the injuries seem too bad. With the ambush I've decided to lay a small perimeter of cage traps at the entrance to the fortress. Hopefully that'll keep us appraised of any future incursions ahead of time.
Sandstone: My machine is beautiful, but so, so large. With work on
The Stack progressing nicely we can finally manage to turn our attention to the small problem of powering such a massive contraption. With all this freezing wind you'd think that a few windmills would be able to put out a good amount of power. Well, you'd be wrong. The one we have standing is only giving out 15 spare power. That means we'd need about 72 of these things, not accounting for any couplings. There must be a better way.
Timber: Yes! I've designed what I think will be a great solution to our power needs. My experiments have shown that a waterwheel can turn a water pump that will in return power that wheel while still producing 80 extra energy. Some say this perpetual motion machine is madness, but I'll show them. It'll work.
The Reactor will
have to work.
Moonstone: The space for
The Reactor is designated for carving. It will be beautiful when it is complete.
Unfortunately, the return of winter has brought even more cold, if such a thing is possible. I had thought the cruel wind had already sucked all the phlogiston from our bones, but I was wrong. Now that the walls are secure and
The Stack and
The Reactor are under way I
must create an inside space for dining. While I'm at it, I think I may as well try to make some space for all the workshops haphazardly strewn about the fortress.
Opal:
The Reactor's reservoir is in place. It's beginning to fill with water, but progress is slower than I'd like. I don't know if I'll be able to complete it within my year long rule. Work must continue quickly.
Obsidian: It has been a good year. We have accomplished so much. While there remains much to do, we are well on our way to making this abyss into something resembling tolerable. We eat inside now.
The Stack is 34 stories tall.
The Housing has cleared the 2nd cavern and progress is good on the part that will transverse the 1st cavern.
The Reactor should be up and running within a month.
I end my reign here satisfied. Our hope now lies in uggi's capable hands. Hopefully he can bring my fever dream of a plan to its fruition. May Armok guide us.
Aaaaaaand that's a wrap. Here's the
save. I'll try to get some pics and a map with some POI's up as soon as my connection is reliable again.
Notes for the next overseer:
- F4 zooms to the top of The Stack. If you have any questions on how to keep working on it just let me know. The design is pretty standard, and you should be able to use the more completed floors as an example of how the top should look.
- The Housing is complete only up to the first cavern. I've been building it just like you'd build a tower. Scaffolding first, then corners, then finish the walls, then remove scaffolding/put in floors where appropriate. I'd have completed it during my turn if I hadn't made so many mistakes and been so inefficient at the beginning.
- I haven't tested The Reactor yet, but it's just an iteration of the tried and true dwarven water reactor. The mechanisms above will connect all 8 reactors once they're completed. I've planned a connection to The Stack on that same level that should work once The Stack gets that high. I'd meant to close that area off with doors (in case of flooding) but haven't been able to yet.
- Also, The Reactor reservoir is almost full. There's a manual pump filling it right now. You'll want to keep a close eye on that to make sure it doesn't fill up too much. Zoom with F6. I'd let it all go till it gets to 5-6 deep, then start the reactor.
- Good luck!
Author
Topic: Armordeath - Succession Game (Read 10385 times)