5. Trying to desalinate seawater, I flood the fort. Very slowly, mind you, since it's depressurised, but it sets me back so far that...everybody does of thirst.
Water water, everywhere! But not a drop to drink~.
My shortest lived fort wasn't quite the shortest, nor was it the most embarrassing, but it is a case most unusual!
I was trying out for the first time Perfect World, but, I forgot to edit the rather sketchy temperature settings I had for the generation. It generated okay, and I embarked on a road right between two elven cities. I saw the temperature was listed as "Scorching", but I didn't take any notice of it, as I figured I could just dig to the aquifer for water.
I embark. Everything looks normal.
:First Unpause:All the water on the map evaporates instantly. This was the first sign that something was up.. But, I remembered it /WAS/ a hot area, so I figured I'd get down to that water quickly to make sure no one dies of thirst. I pause and designate the first set of digs.
:Second Unpause:Everyone begins walking around, but no one goes to follow orders, I didn't notice this at the time because I was too busy looking around at the dried up lakes. I pause again pretty quickly to look at the landscape and plan my overland constructions in my head.
:Third Unpause:I'm greeted by the message: "Kitten (tame) has died."
I go back over to the Caravan to see that actually everyone is writhing about in pain.
First off, all the pets die, shortly followed by all seven of my dwarves melting away.
Turns out those fishy temperatures had set the area just a few degrees under the temperature of magma. So now I carry the burden of those poor Dwarves' lives... And the knowledge I managed to make grass grow in magma-heat!