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[DS]

On this day, the 14th Hematite, 209, a brutal blow was struck against Weatherwires.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The obliterating power of the magma flows have long been used by the dwarves as a means of ridding the fortress of any excess items. Non-economic stone, in particular, is seen as especially undesirable, and when a new cavern is mined out, the stone is hauled away and thrown into the mouth of the volcano, destroyed utterly by the crushing pressure and heat in the deep. With the deepest mines closed off to the dwarves, and the upper fortress long since abandoned, the only place to dump from is the highest point above the caldera - the ducal suite, now only accessible from the dome.

Knowing full well the danger that would be posed by the two horrific demons that still hover far above Weatherwires, three squads were assigned to defend the passage, so that the dome could be protected in the event of an attack by the pterosaur devils. Each warrior has long since developed legendary skills, so there was no fear that the demons would be able to defeat them in combat. In a way, I was right.

Not long after dumping began, four pterosaur devils erupted from the magma vent and tore through the air towards the duke's quarters. The civilians dropped everything immediately and ran for cover, and as the first demon entered the passage, the champions of Weatherwires rushed forth to the defense of the fortress. Three squads there were - the Lone Lashes (4 lashers), the Silvery Skunks (5 macedwarves), and the Silvery Princesses (3 swordsdwarves). As more demons flew up to perch on the ledge, the dwarves were drawn out of the passage, and it was here that the fiends exacted their price upon the fortress.

Unib Blockadeflame the Elevated Dream (lasher) scrambled away from one of the beasts as it snapped at him, accidentally crawling right over the ledge. Sibrek Paddleshafts the Roof of Trickery (macedwarf), Reg Splashhelm the Worshipful Triangle (macedwarf), and Sodel Inkdipped the Ashamed Image (lasher) were pushed backwards into the open air. As they fell through the familiar upper fortress, seeing the abandoned ruins for the last time, the rest of their squads bravely slew the remaining demons. Dumping of stone continues, and the sacrifice of these four heroes are on the minds of all. They have been claimed by the same obliterating power used so frequently by the dwarves, their bodies and equipment destroyed utterly by the crushing pressure and heat in the deep.

[darkflagrance]

 

Their sacrifice shall be remembered!

[Karakzon]

memorial room for those who fall fighting the deamons?

[DS]

Memorials have been erected in the hall leading to the ducal suite. In a strange juxtaposition of life and death, another Quakedented child has been born, bringing the count to four so far. No other families have begun, so it's entirely possible this may be a sadly isolated incident.

The burning hall has been filled with magma, and ready to be drained. I couldn't find an entire set of wooden furniture, so there are many bone and leather artifacts, which seem to have caught fire just fine.

As well, I've taken steps towards halting both of the apparently unstoppable flows which are sucking my FPS to <10; both the flow of magma out of the magma sea and into hell, as well as the flow of water from the lowest cavern layer into the magma sea. First, by collapsing a solid wall tile into the passage through which the water is draining, that flow will be ceased. Then, a second channel of water must be dug, which will fill the breach in the adamantine tube with an obsidian plug. Finally, this flow will also need to be ceased with another cave-in.

It will be an elaborate, dangerous process which could go wrong at any time. With the infestation of demons in the caverns in and around the operation, the survival of those involved are in no way assured.

[Mapleguy555]

Dwarf bucks if dwarf pregnancy rates skyrocket soon.

Also, when you have selected a new "monarch", have him or her sit on
one of those burning chairs. (Or thrones if you have! c: )

[Xenogenic]

Hmmm.... your plans always involve so much.... potential for disaster 

[DS]

The burning room has claimed its first. I've set my game to pause on the event of a civilian death, and I let it run overnight. I get back to it this morning to find:

Olin Logemtangak, Merchant has bled to death.

...by sleeping on Runtundra, a cat bone bed, which is now perpetually on fire. Curse you, Mapleguy.

The room is being barred by obsidian doors which will be blocked to passage by dwarves until such time as I can figure out a use for this horrific instrument of death.

[Mapleguy555]

Mwahahaha.
But I did tell you to forbid those items. ( d - b - f )

[DS]

Perhaps, in a more prosperous fortress, such a room would see a more appropriate use. As for now, the ill-conceived abomination has been sealed off.

The levers to the operation in the deeps are being linked - once that is done, a volunteer will be needed to channel out a single tile, immediately above the caisson. There are no demons immediately in the area, so the brave individual will hopefully have enough time to retreat to safety, before the passage can be sealed. Hopefully.

Also, the ghost situation is starting to get dangerous. There are now 8 ghosts haunting the fortress, none of which show up on the memorial engraving list at the Craftsdwarf's Workshop. Mercifully, none are murderous or violent, though a few levers have been pulled by one of the poltergeists - that could, possibly, be quite dangerous.

[DS]

The levers have been linked, and the final stage of the project is ready to advance. Since some troublesome ghost keeps pulling the lever that links up to one of the drains in the lower part of the dome, I've opened up a few other hatches so that all but the lowest levels of magma can drain. When this stage is complete, the floor of the cavern will be exposed to air for the first time in decades.

Zon Cloudwheel, merchant by trade, possesses a small skill in mining. As such, he was chosen to be the dwarf who would channel away the last part of the passage. Accepting his fate without grumbling, he travels now into the deeps.

[DS]

Zon Cloudwheel channeled away the floor, and for a brief moment, sneaked a look into the caisson, a literal hellhole choked with blinding steam, and filled with piles of mud and stone. A thin layer of water covered a freshly formed sheet of obsidian on one side of the caisson, while the other was a roiling crescent of bubbling magma. And in the center - a rough-hewn outcrop of greyish ore, glittering in the dim glow of the magma sea. A sudden spark of greed sprang to life within Zon's heart, so strong that he might have dug a passage down to the ore and started mining away at it himself - but the the twisted, dismembered remains of several magma crabs, strewn about the caisson, reminded him that his safety was far from assured. There were demons nearby.

As Zon reluctantly hurried back up the passage to the dome, levers linked to the supports around him were pulled. Amidst a choking miasma of dust and shattered rock, the dwarf ascended the stairs, just barely making it past the cave-ins in time.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The operation was a success, in the sense that the flows were stop. The adamantine vein has been plugged with obsidian:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

However, my FPS has not yet been returned to anything normal. The demons are obviously to blame, though I have other things to worry about before dealing with them becomes a priority.

[DS]

I realized that the plugging of the adamantine spire has effectively sealed off the demonic invaders from hell. Since the breach occured at a relatively high point in the spire, I plan on mining into the lower layers, with no fear of mining too much, so long as I do not breach into the caisson or the magma sea. In effect, instead of mining the spire from the outside in, as dwarves normally do, the dwarves of Weatherwires will be mining the adamantine spire from the inside out.

[DS]

Lacking some mystery material whilst moody, the child, Mebzuth 'Quakedented' Truecaves, went berserk.

The prince, Asmel 'Murdershot' Deathchannels was summoned to deal with the threat. The captian of the guard, Zon 'Gearguild' Ironfirst, happened to be nearby. The two chased the child down, and executed her. The killing was not swift.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The child bled to death. So it goes, in Weatherwires.

[Mapleguy555]

*cough*

[DS]

The magma has receded to the level of the second-to-lowest seal, having been drained unceremoniously into the eastern caverns.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

20 years have passed since the cavern floor was first submerged beneath the magma. For now, it is a charred wasteland, though that will change in time. There are now two great lava lakes, separated by narrow passages choked by apparently heat-resistant giant fungi. To the west, is a lake that is more or less permament - there is no drain, and I intend for that magma to stay where it is. To the east is what was once a natural lake, but was drained and is currently filled with magma. The last stage of the process is to let that magma drain, and then refill the lake bed with water.

As well, excavation of the adamantine continues. Leaving the outcrop exposed to the caisson, the dwarves have gathered almost all of the precious ore that lies below it. In excess of 100 additional units have been gathered, and are being processed into wafers and cloth. I intend to outfit a few key militia members with adamantine cloaks and hoods, in preparation for a glorious battle to rid the fortress of demonic influence and secure the safety of the dwarves of the Merchant of Echoing once and for all.