Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

mavj96's Mirthful/Sinister Embark

1 (7.7%)

Varni's Volcano Embark

2 (15.4%)

Metruption's Embark

4 (30.8%)

Imp's Ocean Side

6 (46.2%)

Total Members Voted: 13

[Imp]

I'm all for the idea; I'd like to be someone unpopular but not useless.

How would you like to be the Cheese Master?

Absolutely!

It's essotears-it, by the way.  And not done b' the beard.  We discussed that, y'see.  In depth.  And tried it at the tables.  It would work with beer, if y'could make cheese frem yer beer, but ya canna, you see?  Milk's stringy stuff, not foamy.  So beards were out.  And our clothes 'arted to wear out, you see?  So we knew.  We needed cloth made frem strings made frem beards.  Goat beards are best.  Goat milk too.  Dwarf beards, an dwarf milk too if I dun't overthink this, is just to strong.  Cause cheese's mellow.  Nothing dwarf about cheese 'cept the eating.

Is that enough of a personality snapshot?  Or shall we have milk and cookies together?

[Varnifane]

Wow. I think you may have too much personality for my limited writing skills. But I will try to do it justice.

Of course that means I am going to have to dwarf myself in my own fort...

So hard to do when anyone can die on any day.

[Imp]

Wow. I think you may have too much personality for my limited writing skills. But I will try to do it justice.

Eep!  Well, have fun with it, in any case.  I've enjoyed reading what you write so far - I suspect that's going to only increase.  And you never, ever have to quote my character.... you can just complain about it 

The 'milk and cookies' version - Sincere, but utterly loony.  Highly likely to make off the wall connections between things and 'believe' its found an answer to an unrelated/barely vaguely similar situation (I was thinking cheesecloth and how cheesecloth both was and wasn't similar to a dwarf's beard when I created my character's opening ramble, and hopefully that only makes sense for most readers after it's said, but then kinda makes sense).

My character's absolutely cooperative and has a great attitude if given direct orders, but follows them to the point of white mutiny without intending it.... that sounds a lot like normal dwarf behavior, but this is personality we're talking about.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A mutiny or protest in which the 'mutineers' follow orders and regulations exactly; no more, no less. It may also include volunteering information only when asked, and interpreting orders as literally as possible ("you just said to turn on the machine, you didn't say anything about starting to work!").

This can be quite effective, since the primary value of a good worker is the ability to adapt to unforeseen conditions, and foresee and react to potential problems before they become serious. It also has the great advantage of not requiring the rebels to break any rules, ideally giving the current authority no reasonable grounds for complaint.

Just told goals and left alone, it works a lot better.  Vaguely similar to Scotty of Star Trek (though not as lovable, smart, and certainly NOT as effective), or any character that you'd compare to him.

[Imp]

From the first chapter
Early afternoon, 1st of Slate

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A hydra approached from the sea.  As the goblin army, still numbering around 70, was on the far side of the fortress from the ocean the two did not encounter each other, and the hydra was safely caged.  The goblin army continues to act very skittish.  Workers are sent in ones and twos to pick plants somewhat close to the army; they get spotted by one or two goblins or their mounts, as well as seeing the enemy themselves.  The dwarves run, usually directly away from the danger they saw and thus back towards the safety of the trapped entrance, and sometimes these unusually cowardly goblins chase.  When they do, if they chase far enough (some few turn back, very cowardly enemies these) they befall the traps, which are reset and the process repeats.

Late afternoon, 3rd of Felsite

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Our leader’s been so absorbed in the careful luring of this strangely reluctant siege that our complaints of the low quality, selection, and quantity of drinks went unnoticed until there were barely a dozen barrels left to drink from.  And our general stockpile filled to capacity, which at least got the leadership’s attention because the filled cage traps were not being hauled off.

There’s now four stills brewing as fast as they can be handled, and the stagnant pools recently melted so if any are desperate enough they won’t have to continue to wait.  More than fifty of the invaders remain free, all gathered near the north eastern corner of our territory and looking as if they might simply leave at any moment.

Mid morning, 11th of Felsite

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Our last attempt to lure the invaders apparently attracted their main leader, for instead of the single or dual sets of riders we had previously drew towards our entrance an entire scattered slew of enemies followed towards our traps.  There was general chaos, but when all was done the siege was mostly broken.  Three individual goblins, each mounted on a highly skittish cave swallow, remain free around us.  A good number of the enemy has fled our territory.  We are still technically besieged, but a good eighty odd of the invaders await our pleasure in the cages.

Refreshment remains an issue, for all that our drink stock steadily increases.  None are in danger of dying, but thirst is something that a great many of us complain about.  And during these long spring months essentially no work was done on our improved defenses, which would have made withstanding and entrapping this siege tremendously easier, if only it had been completed before it had come.

Dusk, 25th of Felsite, 83

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The remaining 3 goblins flew away a few days ago.  As they left a planter went fey and claimed the crafts shop.  We now have two stonecrafters more skilled than I, and this time the artifact is one I can even approve of.  A limestone ring, the Talon of Tribute, featuring a millstone threatening to grind bones cut into the shape of briolette gems.  He says it celebrates our capture of so many goblins and their mounts and trolls; I cannot help but admire any artifact that does not directly or indirectly remind everyone to mock me.  Of course, the worksdwarfship just had to be compared to our other artifacts, so I was laughed at again with everyone so reminded.  Gives me hope though that we may continue to get artifacts like this one, and eventually my shame will be buried under the sameness which is normal life, even here in this ill-founded place.

The only other gossip to write of is that our Mayor formed his fourth grudge during the siege.

Moonset, 19th of Malachite

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A weremouse attacked a flock of sparrow people last night.  It slew two of them in typical gory fashion, then turned into a very bold-seeming dwarf.  He shouted for us to throw him a barrel of ale if we’d enjoyed the show, and we shouted an invite for him to come in and take a drink.  He yanked his beard at us and ran off into the deep grasslands to the west.

We’ve corrected our drink and storage issues and our improved defenses are a bit more than half completed now, though still not ready to function if needed.  Mayhap by this time next year they’ll be finished.  Clothing stocks are perhaps our most important issue these days.

An overview:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Varnifane]

Start at the beginning...

Ambushed

It’s been a hard few months. Not looking for sympathy. Just making an observation.

Our King has mandated that a fortress be built at this particular location. We were old it was due to the metal and mineral wealth. There is no metal or mineral wealth to speak of…except for a store of the legendary stuff. But the montainhome is sitting on plenty of that as it is, and I am falling into the same trap they are which is holding off on using something valuable because it is too valuable to use on just anything. The argument can easily be made that we don’t have anyone worthy enough to shape the metal.

But I know better. I know that if I wait long enough to use it someone will come and take it. And come they have.

We have welcomed emissaries from both Tabeerus and Ngasmanguslu. The former we welcomed with tooth and claw. The second we welcomed with bolt and axe.
We have, I think, caught all of the Kobold thieves. We have an active group of (eight) rangers and they bring back the carcasses of anything that wanders the area we’ve staked out.

Occasionally the rangers run into something they can’t handle and I have to call them back from it. For instance they saw a giant crab corpse a few months ago and were unable to bring it down. Most bolts just bounced off its natural armor and the few that found a crack and got through had little effect. I had to stop them before they littered the ground with all of our ammunition.

The goblins are another matter entirely. The first three ambushes followed the elves in. Thankfully the goblins killed the elves and their mounts well away from the ocean.



The ocean…is…off. Even the brave rangers are put off by it and seldom follow their prey to its shore. They describe a weight in their chest anytime they draw near. I have not told them, but I am beginning the weight they feel is from spirits trying to force their way in. The reason I am glad the elves died far away from the ocean is that when something dies too near the ocean the spirits slip into the void caused by evacuation of the newly dead’s spirit. And the new spirit is a malevolent thing.

We caught some of the first goblins in our cage traps and the goblin archers held back and waited for well-intentioned dwarves to come and reset the cage traps. I tried to stop them.  I even forbade them from bringing back the cages. But they didn’t stop. That is until they saw the goblin bolts coming at them. Luckily none were hit.
Seeing the dwarven haulers running and screaming and hearing the word ‘goblin” one of the rangers picked up his crossbow, loaded up on steel bolts and headed to the entryway.

Bembul Inethamem is the type of ranger that you never go looking for because you won’t find him. You let it be known that you would like to talk, and he just sort of appears. When he wants to. Well, Ranger Inethamem headed down the hallway until he could see the goblins and opened fire.

There were six goblins. There was one ranger. Bembul got off a shot at the same time as one of the goblins. Bembul’s shot was not so good. It hit, but to no great effect. While the goblin shot Bembul in the head. Bembul gave into the pain. Fell to the ground and got caught up in a cage trap saving his life. The goblins were so startled they all took off.




We got him out of the cage and Ranger Inethamem is doing much better. He has a scar and a new nickname to show for his effort. "Bumble" Inethamem is also a little more pliable.



The next rash of ambushes followed the humans in. The humans made it to the gate before getting cut down; which means less hauling for us. I sent out our six squads and we lost two dwarves, one sword dwarf and one miner. I let the dogs out, called the dwarves back inside, and went on lockdown once the goblins were taken care of. What I didn’t notice was that I had left the miner’s corpse out in the dirt. This led to some miserable dwarves and a few tantrums. This is the one time I was happy the militia wasn’t well equipped.

Once things stabilized I sent the dwarves outside to help the human caravan get the last few urists to the trade depot. We waited for the trader to get there but when he never showed we decided we should hold onto his stuff for him. Just until he gets here ofcourse.

[Varnifane]

Start at the beginning...

Beasts

In addition to the goblins and the ocean and the spirits and the undead we seem to be attracting legendary creatures.

The first was Ungngo


The second was Simo


I dropped a cat into the cavern Simo had taken up residence in in the hopes I could discover something about its poisonous vapors.


All I discovered was that Simo is very capable of killing outright and that its poisonous vapors stick to things.


And I still have no idea what it does.

The third was the ettiness Idek Vakistemosh


The most recent was Ozob Zakospurer


Of all of these I have only been able to find historical reference to the ettiness. It seems she has made herself a stink in the goblin’s nostrils and counts 12 goblin organizations as her enemies.


Word has it she has killed some notable goblins, but none so notable that I had heard of them already.

She appeared with a roar and promptly ran into one of our cage traps.


I am still awed by the dwarven engineering that allows one so large to fit inside of a cage so small. Having talked to “Bumble” Inethamem it appears that the inside of the cage may conform to the size of the “guest” while the outside remains the same size. This requires some Science and possibly some ‼Science‼.

In any case I have an ettiness in a cage and I am in a quandary. On one hand she is a beast, no better than a human, and she has trespassed on our land. On the other hand she has dedicated her long life to the causing trouble for the goblins. She showed up after the goblin ambushes so she could very well have been tracking the goblins and that led her here. Quite a quandary indeed.  I suppose don’t have to make the decision just yet. I can always have her killed later, or better yet set her loose on the goblins when they come back. But I certainly cannot un-kill her. Well...that's not entirely true.

In addition to capturing the Idek in a cage trap I have isolated Simo and Ozob in their own oubliettes and covered them with bridges.

Simo
 

Ozob


This will keep them safe while I sort out how theirs lives can be best spent.

The trap is set for Ungngo. I have only to wait.

[Varnifane]

Start at the beginning...

Cheese

Me
Cheese Master Imp

So you’re saying we don’t have any cheese?
Yep
Did you get the barrels I sent you?
Yep
And the buckets of milk?
Yep
And the four assistants?
Yep
And are the workshops built to your specifications?
Nope.
What’s wrong with them?
I mean yep.
Nothing’s wrong with them?
Yep…I mean nope
And you’re saying we don’t have any cheese.
Yep.
Why don’t we have any cheese?
S’not done yet.
When will it be done?
T'summer.
Doesn’t it only take two months to make cheese?
Yep.
Then why won’t we have cheese for another five months?
Cheese won’ be ready 'til then.
Is this special cheese?
Yep.
Special cheese that takes five months to make?
Nope.
Six months?
Nope. Two months.
Will there be any cheese ready in the next couple of months?
Nope.
Am I hearing you right that cheese only takes two months to make and it won’t be ready for another five months?
Yep.
Wait. Have you started making the cheese yet?
Nope.
…
Why not?
T’weather?
The weather?
Yup.
But the workshops and the fields and the stockpiles are al underground.
…
When will the weather be better for cheese making?
T’spring.
The spring?
Prob’ly.
Probably?
Yep.
…
Won’t the milk spoil before then?
Prob'ly.
…
Opens mouth and shuts it
So I can reassign you and your team for the next three months.
Nope.
Why not?
Werkshop needs kep' up.
The workshops you won’t be making cheese in for the next three months?
Yup.
So not making cheese requires the full attention of five dwarves?
Yup.
…

[Imp]

post-Cheese

((I'm not sure if Cheese Master Imp is male or female, young or old, the name and job title of who it was just talking to or much else about it save its nature, and its main job.  Any details wrong should be blamed on the player, not the character, who is surely well versed in these details indeed))

Imp scratched her head as the overseer retreated.  Such a red skinned dwarf. she thought, chuckling a little.  Nice color, seems to suit him.  Why'd he ask so many questions about time?.  Her fingers slipped from the hair on her head to the hair in her cheeks.  Well, keeping waiting then.  Sure hope he gets it in five months, not four or six or more else I'll be out some wagers.  She sniffed as she passed a bucket of milk.  No one makes cheese from bucketed milk, throws off the flavor.

It was break time, and she surely needed a break after that conversation.  She'd been as helpful as she could be -  answered every question he asked, even when that made her guess; what more could anyone do?  It wasn't like he'd asked her to set up a workable system herself...  Her eyes glazed as she raised a keg to her lips, the sweet ale distracting her from the stress of her recent talk with the overseer.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Her system, it'd have the buckets, aye.  Milk in them, yeah.  Their own stockpile, nothing but milk, and barrels or pots ready for that same stockpile too.  Dwarves eager to haul food, and with enough free time to get around to putting that milk in some barrels, that was half the wait, aye.  Then too, those fancy rules about cooking, can't forget those.  Cheese making, so much like cooking; that milk needed to be allowed for cooking, but them cooks, always thieving; always after the milk for their own dishes and the smells of what they made disflavoring the cheese too, ifn a Cheese Master was to attempt to curd any.  And with the best cheese coming from the fullest barrels of milk, well... And him asking her about 'buckets of milk' indeed.  Hrmph.

Another swallow and her eyes cleared.  Enough of such foolish thoughts.  She wasn't in charge here, didn't want to be.  She'd do her job, or wait until she could do it; that should be enough for any dwarf, and it was more than enough for her.

She dropped the empty barrel and turned her head, her gaze lingering on a bucket of milk.  It'd spoil or go into a barrel; more would join it either way, and some day again she'd be making cheese, as rich and deep and perfect as only cheese ever was.  Or else she wouldn't.  Five months could pass like a day, if she was patient enough.  Some day.

[Imp]

From the first chapter

15th of Timber, 83

It’s been a very busy year, though calm until today.

By the time those timid bat riders had fled it was too late in the season for elves to come trade, so we settled down to work on our improved trap design.  Work progressed well through the rest of Spring and all of summer, and well into Fall.  We had a few small interruptions, but the cage traps near our entrance handled all of the various beasts and goblins that ventured to close, and only two kobolds were sighted and escaped.

The humans came to trade as normal in high summer, and the goblins must have been still counting their losses, as we only caught two solitary thieves.  The humans brought lots of wood and leather, some metal, and more than a lot of food, all of which we’d wanted – we’d not had a caravan for 3/4ths of a year by then.

Our improved trap design is essentially done, simply a few more connections to finish.  Our caravan arrived a few days ago, immediately followed by a new goblin siege.  There seems to be only around 80 this year, but quite a few of those have crossbows.

As our design was not quite finished, especially not the final stages of removing our previous traps so our enemies could reach the new traps, we worked until the enemy was at our gate.  Their trolls were the fastest, and the last workers had to flee as the order to close the gate was given.  One troll was fast enough to get inside the gates, but one of the not-yet-removed traps handled it swiftly.

We shall put the finishing touches on now, and then it will get a fine test.

18th of Timber

And the liaison interrupts our work to discuss our becoming a baronry.  Never mind our preparations, never mind the siege right outside; he’s urging us to throw a fortress wide party to celebrate his fine news.  We do have something to celebrate though, despite there being a few remaining quick details; the trap system we’ve worked on for over a year is essentially complete.

Annotated images of this fortress, from top to bottom, all taken from the same angle:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Varnifane]

@Imp

Wow. I actually caught some people milking creatures yesterday and even took a screenshot. I'll use it when the time is right. Also I have stopped purchasing cheese so I can keep track of what's going on. And it does seem that my cheese levels are going up. When I can reliably produce cheese I'll set up a special area for my almost legendary chef.

I like the entrance layout. It's been a long time since I've used cage traps and I need to spend a little more time planning for the sieges I now know are coming. I like to plan for some things and react to others.

I see you have produced 174682 worth of armor and garb. Are you having good luck getting the traders to bring you metal?

[Varnifane]

Start at the beginning...

24th Hematite 83

Snapshot


Things have been quiet for a while. We have continued to have the odd walking or flying corpse but our ranger squad takes care of them with little fuss.

The emissary from the mountainhome came and offered to make us a barony. I could hear in his that he didn’t want to deliver that particular invitation. I think he knows why I was sent out here and…well…that’s a story for another time.  Maybe.

It took him by surprise when I accepted. And I selected one of the children that had come of age at Bendinked. A lovely little girl. She has been a good (inactive) baroness. She recently mandated that we not export menacing spikes. Odd.

Somehow we grown to more than 200 dwarves. Thankfully our squad of miners is digging constantly so we have more than enough space and rock. Our detailing task force has all of the living areas smother. Our lead engravers have engraved the appropriate rooms and we have strategically placed gold statues to keep people’s moods up.

The chef has taken on three sous chefs and is teaching them his ways. Which is great because he makes the most delightful ….

Make that 222 dwarves. Another wave of migrants just arrived. And like every other group no one with useful skills.

Where was I…yes the goat sweetbread roasts. Simply amazing.
…
Yes it’s been quiet. Mostly.

We had some more goblin ambushes. They came right before the elves this time instead of at the same time. One group was flushed out when they opened fire on a crab corpse. And another when they assaulted one of our cats.


I called everyone inside and one of the hunters, wanting to make a name for himself I’m sure went out to meet them on his own.


It didn’t work out well for him.

Another dwarf headed up to the top of the area we’re building topside after he as heard to say, “I’ll be right back. I’ve never seen a goblin before.”  When we found him he looked like an archery target.


He was still alive, but with that many bolts sticking through him it was hard to figure out how to pick him up without cutting yourself. Before we came up with a plan,  all his juices ran out of him.


So we dragged his body to a coffin.

We ended up capturing most of the goblins on our cage traps. A couple weren’t sure whether to stay or go, so we helped them make up their minds.


With a bridge.


Their cages are now positioned so the goblins can be stripped down and dumped into the barracks.


The last item of note is that we had another dwarf get possessed and make an artifact. It was the Cheese Master. She took over a mason’s workshop that had been built to lure in beasts intent on destroying buildings. And I must admit I was ready to close her in there.


But she set straight to work (not what I would call typical…must have been the possessing spirit) and built a throne.


I’m sure I’ll never hear the end of it.

[Imp]

I see you have produced 174682 worth of armor and garb. Are you having good luck getting the traders to bring you metal?

Ahh, not the kind of luck that would equip an army, but I do order every sort of metal bar and ore from the dwarven caravan, and buy all the metal bars and super-rare ores that the humans bring.  And a slowly growing collection of goblinite, of course.  Everything's stockpiled for now.

That value's all in garb, the legendary's clothier's got full clothing sets on repeat.  My dwarves are wearing out clothing faster than it can be made, and clothing had been a tradegood for me until the in-fort demand started to exceeded supply.

[Imp]

From the first chapter

Just past dark, 5th of Granite

Things had been calm since we defeated the goblin siege of last winter.  We spent the rest of winter redesigned the way that enemies must run throught our cage traps and began clearing the undersoil for the vast forests that will one day grow there.  Our clothing situation was still not satisfactory, so we greatly increased our production of cloth and thread.

What we were not doing was keeping close watch.  A flock of albatross corpses flew into our entrance, stalked and caught one of our cats at the edge of the catchtrap.  Our defenses will deal with the albatroi, but that cat had been especially friendly to me and I'd been considering taking her as a pet.

Mid morning, 28th of Granite

A few days ago we were declared a barony.  During the celebration a stoneworker, who had been working beside others to smooth our new baron's new tomb, went fey.  Today he's finished his work, Glumnessflower the Vale of Towns, a native gold crown.  On it designs show the ascension of Cog Handleringed to the position of Queen in year 1.  Extremely nice work, I appraise it as the most valueable artifact we've made here yet, by at least 20%.  Though I do regret he used three of our limited stock of metallic ore for his work.

Because of the fine historical work shown by the piece its maker Thikut Ekastrigoth has been promoted to a position as our sole engraver.  Our newly promoted baron has commanded him to decorate that new tomb and then to redecorate the rest of his rooms.

I still miss that cat I almost had.

[Varnifane]

Completely OOC, as opposed to most of my posts where I flow back and forth between IC and OOC.

244 dwarves and 160+ animals = crappy frame rate.  I went on a mass animal purge and am currently down to 80ish animals ,most of those pets.

It's been awhile since I let my population get that high. I think for the next go at parallell play I may push for specific freedom to set population caps and whatnot.

I think I would also like to run dfcleanmap to see if I can get some of my frames back. It wouldn't afford me any strategic advantage, but there is a lot of goblin blood and thrips person ichor around. My forgotten beasts (2/3) are still safely trapped so I'm not concerned about their vapors/ichor.

I'm almost done with the autumn of 83 and I'll write up some updates tomorrow. Ridiculously tired right now.

[Imp]

I didn't realize any restrictions were set on our pop cap/child cap, thought that was up to each player.  That said I'd not realized that mine was set so very high... Bah.

It's been a few days since anyone but Varnifane and I posted in this thread.... is anyone else still playing?