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Finally! Congratulations Bad Munki! We dead dwarfs must stick together! What? Sly who? Oh. Oh well.
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Jan 17, 2013 11:16
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Sky Shadowing posted:I'm sorry, what was that? It's almost like I could hear the voice of a dwarven child through two stone walls and a sea of magma. Bad Munki, did you hear that? Oh, of course you didn't, your ears burnt off. Along with the rest of you. We're off to a great start already. 
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Jan 17, 2013 20:06
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Ugh, I've sat down for two hours navigating Bronzestabbed. Apparently my memory wasn't as good as it was, but I think I've pieced the fortress together and now know exactly where things are. I hope to have the first actual gameplay update up early tomorrow.  I sit atop my wagon as we turn on the road. Clutched in my hand is very important letter: To the Esteemed Dwarf Sky Shadowing, In regards to our previous correspondence, as to your selection and subsequent replacement as to the Position of Overseer of Bronzestabbed, it has been Determined by Selection Procedures that you are the Best Candidate for the Position after all. Should an acceptance letter reach The Queen within timely fashion, you will assume the duties of Overseership on the 1st of Limestone of the year 244, and shall rule until the End of Galena 245. Hoping your reply is timely this time, and in the Name of the Queen of the Rare Ships, Her Majesty Sankis, Leperfish. I'd had an acceptance letter prepared ever since my assistant had botched the last offer, and this time I ensured it was sent, paying for the fastest delivery to Bronzestabbed. I'd bought a wagon and some pack mules, hired a guard, loaded all my earthly goods, and set off at once. "We're very close to Bronzestabbed, sir!" shouted my caravan guard. He pointed off in the distance at a group of mountain peaks. "Hopefully we'll have a warm reception!" I shouted back. Just then a horrific green cloud drifted across the road in front of us. Our pack mules, screaming in terror, tore themselves from the wagon. One ran back along the road. The other ran to the left, but the cloud, swirling and twisting, enveloped it. I hopped down from the wagon, taking out a steel short sword and standing with my guard. A scream from the pits of Hell itself came from the cloud, and out galloped the mule. It had been twisted and changed, and it charged at me and my guard with obviously malicious intent. It was only my guard shoving me to the side of the road that saved me as it swiped a hoof. My sword went clattering along the road. "Stay down, sir!" shouted my guard as the mule came after me. It reared into the air, viciously bringing the hooves down on top of me. One struck my head, causing me to lose consciousness briefly. I came to to see the mule laying dead- ACTUALLY dead, not undead- with my guard next to it, bloodied and battered. He coughed briefly, then grinned as best he could. "Wish I could see Bronzestabbed, sir," he coughed out. He reached a shaking arm out to me, but before I could grab it the life went out of his eyes and his hand fell limply to the ground. I heard heavy footsteps and hooves approaching, and the last thing I remember before I fell back into unconsciousness was tall figures surrounding me, murmuring in strange accents.
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Jan 17, 2013 22:29
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Hey that means I am not quite dead yet from being left alone in a "hospital" with nothing to drink. Do I get to die again in this horrible undwarfish manner. I should hope not.
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Jan 17, 2013 23:47
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Die Zombie Die posted:Hey that means I am not quite dead yet from being left alone in a "hospital" with nothing to drink. Do I get to die again in this horrible undwarfish manner. I should hope not. Assuming Shy Shadowing doesn't immediately start a massive project that sucks up all dwarf activity (taking care of the wounded seems to be a weirdly low priority) you might be okay. I think I set almost all dwarfs to have the task "Care for Wounded" at some point in my turn. Excepting a few dwarves.
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Jan 17, 2013 23:52
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LeJackal posted:Assuming Shy Shadowing doesn't immediately start a massive project that sucks up all dwarf activity (taking care of the wounded seems to be a weirdly low priority) you might be okay. I think I set almost all dwarfs to have the task "Care for Wounded" at some point in my turn. Excepting a few dwarves. The population is large enough now that there is no reason we can't have a couple dedicated nurses. Dwarfs with no useful skills but who enjoy helping others make great nurses. Disable everything but feeding the wounded and cleaning. They will spend most of their time idle, but it makes it much less likely that anyone will die of neglect in hospital or jail.
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Jan 18, 2013 14:05
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Angela Christine posted:The population is large enough now that there is no reason we can't have a couple dedicated nurses. Dwarfs with no useful skills but who enjoy helping others make great nurses. Disable everything but feeding the wounded and cleaning. They will spend most of their time idle, but it makes it much less likely that anyone will die of neglect in hospital or jail. And you'll want that job off for everyone else, otherwise a fisherdwarf or somesuch might queue up feeding a sick person, but never actually get to doing it, while your nurses "see" that the dwarf is going to be taken care of and just stand around doing nothing.
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Jan 18, 2013 14:12
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Angela Christine posted:The population is large enough now that there is no reason we can't have a couple dedicated nurses. Dwarfs with no useful skills but who enjoy helping others make great nurses. Disable everything but feeding the wounded and cleaning. They will spend most of their time idle, but it makes it much less likely that anyone will die of neglect in hospital or jail. my dad posted:And you'll want that job off for everyone else, otherwise a fisherdwarf or somesuch might queue up feeding a sick person, but never actually get to doing it, while your nurses "see" that the dwarf is going to be taken care of and just stand around doing nothing. Well there was my problem right there. I swear, sometimes I am the worst at this game.
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Jan 18, 2013 14:25
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LeJackal posted:Well there was my problem right there. I swear, sometimes I am the worst at this game. Perhaps. It is the game. That is flawed. 
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Jan 18, 2013 16:16
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1 Limestone, 244 I awoke to the sounds of a horn sounding and the tramping of heavy boots. Voices I heard passing by whatever room I was in mentioned something along the lines of a 'change in the guard'.  I grabbed my ringing skull and felt a heavy amount of wrappings around it. I stood on two shaking legs and opened the door to the room. Outside was a large room with numerous other doors. There were a few traction benches.  In the center of the room was an engraved slab. Hoping to get some clue where I was, I read it.  "Hello?" I called. Almost immediately a side door opened and in walked a young dwarf with clean shaven sideburns, a double braided beard and moustache. He walked over to me and surveyed me with his cobalt eyes. "How are you feeling, Overseer?" asked the dwarf. "Terribly sober," I replied as he pulled on my eyelid. "I'm sorry, how do you know I'm the Overseer?" "You are Sky Shadowing, the new Overseer, correct? Forgive me, I'm Markus_cz, Chief Medical Dwarf of the Fortress of Bronzestabbed." "So this is Bronzestabbed? The last thing I remember is we were in a wagon... then we were attacked... the color green stands out. I'm sorry, I can't quite remember everything." "Yes, a human caravan found you laying on the road, another dwarf dead by you." He pulled his hands back. "Your eyes tell me two things- one, we need to get you a drink immediately, and two, you took a nasty hit on the head. Things may be a little confusing for a few weeks." Another door opened, and in walked a middle-aged dwarf, with flecks of grey in his sandy-taupe hair. He walked over, carrying a tablet and chisel expectantly. "Good, you're awake. I'm Leperfish. I was hoping you'd be awake by now. Are you alright?." "I'm fine," I said. "A little confused, and in need of a stiff drink, but I'll live. Won't I?" I turned to Markus_cz. "You will make a full recovery, but he's in no condition to be interviewed right now. It may take a few weeks before he's ready. He took a pretty nasty hit to the head." "That's fine," said Leperfish. "In the meantime, come with me, the Queen wants to see you." Leperfish and I left the hospital and proceeded to the west, entering a second large chamber. To the south I could hear the chattering of many voices, and could see a long table with many chairs.  We climbed several flights of stairs, the stone around us turning to dirt. Once we reached the top level, to the north I could see the outside through a gatehouse. Strong stone walls surrounded a small courtyard filled with windmills.  "The queen lives outside the fortress?" I asked Leperfish. "No, she lives above," he replied. We headed south, up another staircase, to the base of a tower. After climbing several more flights, we emerged - me panting with the effort- into a spacious residence filled with towers. Numerous windows gave stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Through one window I could see a tower for marksdwarves over one of the entrances to the fortress.  From the left, walking down the hallway was an old dwarf woman with straight white hair. "Her Majesty, Sankis, Queen of the Rare Ships," said Leperfish. I bowed low. "Stand, Overseer," said the Queen. "I had heard you were found wounded. I was merely making sure we wouldn't have to replace you- again." "I am fine, Majesty," I said. "A little muddled, but according to Markus_cz, I'll make a full recovery." "That is well. Good Leperfish here will show you around the fortress. He will also explain why we are here, and what is expected of you as Overseer." I bowed once more as we took our leave of the Queen. *** We spent several hours wandering the fortress, Leperfish pointing out much to me while explaining the purpose of Bronzestabbed. The original settlers had been dispatched by the Queen to build a fortress and prepare an army, because The Rare Ships were in danger of losing our very self. Goblins were threatening to overrun our kingdom. Not through war, but through our own foolishness. We'd taken numerous slaves over the last 244 years, and the children of those slaves were starting to outnumber us. The fortress of 'Ripewhips' came up several times, which sounded familiar, but my brain couldn't hold on to the details. On the way down we stopped by a massive soil room. Growing in there were numerous fungal plants of the kind all dwarves are familiar with, tower-caps, black-caps, tunnel tubes. During a siege, it would serve us well- we would not need to venture out on the dangerous surface for wood.  We went back out of the fortress through the gates by the Queen's Tower, where a horrible stench entered my nostrils and nearly forced me to vomit (though that may have more been the sobriety). To the right as we walked across the drawbridge was a massive pile of bones and decaying flesh. I indicated to Leperfish that maybe it could be moved. He said that this entrance was more unused, and besides, we couldn't move it outside the walls because of something called the murk.  We headed west overland to a second entrance, above which hovered the tower I'd seen from the Queen's residence. Leperfish called this entrance the Typhus Memorial Depot, and indicated the tower was the barracks of the Gnu Order. Through the tunnel, murder holes above me, I could see a large depot, presently filled with humans. I paused a moment to thank them for taking me to Bronzestabbed when I was unconscious, but time was demanding, and the sooner we got done the sooner I could get a nice stiff drink.  We headed back through the fortress and headed back down towards the dining halls. West of the Hosptial where I woke up was a massive dormitory wing. There were numerous unclaimed beds, but it seemed the previous overseers had done an excellent job of ensuring that the entire population had their own private rooms.  We went down one more level and emerged in the workshops, dwarves hard at work all around us. To the left was a near endless stockpile filled with- stuff. Everything you could possible imagine. I wondered how anyone could find anything through the mess. Was I supposed to fix this?  We headed down several more flights of stairs, around a circular ramp on minecart tracks, finally emerging in a scalding hot room filled with forges. Bubbling below the forges was the gloriously red liquid- magma. I inquired as to the source of the magma and Leperfish led me to a long hallway with large green glass windows, overlooking a vast sea of magma.  After that, my legs were shaking, so we ascended back to the fortress proper. Leperfish went off to the stockpiles to fetch me a drink, but I went too far beyond the door to the hospital and came out in a large area, reverently quiet. I wandered south and discovered that these were where Bronzestabbed's dead was interred.  I returned to the hospital and collapsed in my bed, after chugging the Dwarven Wine Leperfish brought me. 2nd Limestone, 244 I was awakened this morning by loud cries from a room near me. I looked out of my room and inquired to the source of the noise with Markus_cz. He informed me that Slick Slinky, the former High Muck of Ugathville (wherever that was), was in a room. None of the doctors could tend him, as he was unable to move of his own accord out of his bed, but insisted he did not need rest and merely grumbled about thirst, hunger, and drowsiness. I asked why no doctors merely forced him to suffer treatment and he said it was not proper to force treatment upon an unwilling dwarf. (Seriously, he was in a bed, but he never entered the 'Rest' state that I think is necessary for a doctor to diagnose him. It wasn't a terrible injury, just a foot, easily solved with a crutch, but he couldn't move without being diagnosed and he couldn't be diagnosed. He's the red square in the hospital picture above, he's just flipping between Thirsty, Hungry, and Drowsy so rapidly I can't get a picture of his sprite itself.) I inquired as to the nearest well, and he said that it was a distance away. I wondered why there was no well closer to the hospital, so as my first official act as Overseer, I ordered the construction of one between the Hospital and the Catacombs.  When the miners came to discuss where the well would get water from, I was stumped, until one of them suggested a large cistern a few levels above. One of the miners, LLSix, suggested that the problem of pressure could be avoided by forcing the water to flow through small cracks between pillars. I commended LLSix for his good spatial sense.   8 Limestone I finally feel drunk enough to start exploring the fortress personally. As I leave the hospital, Geekake the animal trainer informs me that a Bugbat in the cages near the gates has gone wild.  I ask where the Kennels are so I can order this fixed, but Geekkake says she is not sure at the moment. I wonder what she means by that, but I'm sure I'll come across them in my wanderings. I decide to wander the catacombs, but I notice that several of the coffins are unfulled, but also aren't marked to be filled. I immediately change the markings to indicate that they are open for use by common Dwarves. 10 Limestone One of the newly opened coffins is designated to Doctor Appel, a name that makes several dwarves shudder. When I inquire as to why, I am informed simply that he 'got murked'. A number of dwarves run by, all carrying various body parts of the dead dwarf, all looking terrified, as if dead doctor might come back to life and start attacking them. There is visible relief when the body parts are laid out in the coffin with no incidents.  I make a note to find out what 'getting murked' means in my meeting with the queen in two days. 12 Limestone I am summoned to the Royal Tower for a meeting with Queen Sankis. She informs me that in order to secure the safety of Bronzestabbed, she mandates the production of three ballista bolts.  I, well informed about her fascination with ballista bolts by Leperfish, hold my tongue that I discovered a stockpile of them during my wanderings. I am about to take my leave when bells ring down at the gatehouse below. The queen appears unconcerned, but I ask what that the alarm is. She responds simply "murk". I move to one of her windows and look across the river.  A vivid flash of memory, of a mule charging me down after entering such a cloud, returns to me. I reel and collapse upon the floor. When I come to, I'm back in my hospital room, a diagnoser named ProfessorGroove leaning over me. He prescribes a stiff drink. When I ask what happened to the murk cloud, he says that it, as usual, drifted away harmlessly. I now know why the dwarves were so terrified of Doctor Appel's remains. 16th Limestone The Mayor, Ikubi Akius, informs me that the REAL measure of wealth of a fortress is in figurines, and she would like two produced as quickly as possible. 19th Limestone I am informed by the broker Brannock that the human merchants from Saqurpesor are leaving. As I'm wandering looking out of the gatehouse, I see a bitch heaving and giving birth. Almost as if it was a sign, a runner comes up to me and informs me that T-man the Engraver has given birth to a healthy baby girl while laboring in the workshops. I congratulate the father Lippo the Fishery Worker when I see him later that day, and he informs me that the daughter has been named Clamps McGraw.   21st Limestone Geekkake hands me a note as I breakfast in the dining hall.  I resolve to double my searches for the Kennels. I also pause to place an order for the mechanical tools for the Lower Well, so that in the event the water does flow upwards we can seal it off and prevent catastrophe. 22nd Limestone All of the coffins that had been previously unmarked have been filled. I order more coffins to be placed in the catacombs.  23rd Limestone While searching for the kennels, I wander to a previously unknown part of the fortress.  I ask one of the local dwarves, miner ZeeToo, what this area of the fortress is. He informs me that it is called Ugathville, and that it used to serve as the home for all the Worshippers of Ugath in Bronzestabbed. While touring, I look in several of the rooms and notice that clothing is thrown all over the floor, much of it in various states of wear. I wonder what the Ugathites who still call it home do in there, since the upper dormitories have nothing similar.  On the way back up to the fortress proper, Markus_cz, on his way to his home in Ugathville, informed me that Slick Slinky had passed away as was inevitable.  He was interred in the catacombs. (I tried everything- deconstructing the bed, temporarily appointing a new Chief Medical Dwarf, nothing worked) 26th Limestone While surveying the farms, Geekkake informs me that a Giant Cave Spider has gone wild. Setting aside the fact that we had a captive Giant Cave Spider, I immediately double back to my office and pore through a listing of every single construction still standing. Finding no Kennels, I immediately return to the farms and find Geekkake is still there, planting seeds. "These animals are getting out of control. How do you not know where the kennels are?" I ask of her. "Oh, I think up by the Queen's Statue Garden," she replied. Dumbfounded, both at the idea that she actually remembered this time, but more at the idea someone constructed kennels in the Queen's Statue Garden, I immediately set out for the tower and climb. Up there, I look, and I spy no kennels. Close to swearing with rage at Geekkake, I ask one of the dwarves nearby about her statement. She pointed at a dwarf nearby admiring the statues. Fuming with rage, I walked over to him. "And who are you?" I asked. He looked surprised to see me angry standing over him. "I'm Kennel, sir."  My rage did not diminish at the answer. "Look, you're an animal caretaker. Do you know where the kennels- as in, the place animals are trained, NOT YOU- are?" He looked surprised. "We don't have any." I was flabbergasted. "Then how were these animals trained in the first place?" He merely shrugged. Suppressing the urge to scream every profanity I know at him, I forced my face into a grim smile. "Well, Kennel, I am order you to construct some in a room near the animal cages, so that we can curb all our animals going wild. Understand?" He nodded. He was not the one who set to work, but at this point, I don't care.  It's far enough away from the inhabited areas that when these idiots screw up, the animals won't endanger the civilian population. It's also close enough to the gates that maybe the animals will then run outside and never bother us again. 28th Limestone Several days ago I'd ordered a lever placed across the hall from the new entrance to the Lower Wells. Today, while exiting the hospital, I saw The Archivist carrying the lever. She entered the hospital through the northern entrance, exited through the eastern entrance, walked north along the hallway, turned west, and re-entered the hospital. She did this several times. I know the fortress layout is complicated, but she was WITHIN SIGHT of it. Finally, she realized her numerous errors and installed the lever properly. While I was watching the depressing spectacle, one of the smiths, Samuel L. Jackson, informs me that while working in the magma forges, he and several others have reportedly seen the ghost of Benagain, threatening to murder them. She informed me that one of the previous overseers commissioned a memorial slab for the departed dwarf, but never got around to installing it.  My own tour of the magma forges, I saw no ghost. Even though I don't buy it, I ordered the memorial slab to be placed down by the forges. Seeing it should convince the superstitious smiths that no such shades are trying to murder them. (I used the Zoom To function to try and find the ghost, but it led me to an empty square, and the moment I moved the cursor away from that square, I couldn't find the ghost again.  )As I was surveying the courtyard, listening to the dwarves, thinking of Bronzestabbed's purpose, it seemed to me that only a few here- myself, Leperfish, Queen Sankis, and maybe a handful of others remembered exactly why we were here. The best thing I could do would be to remind them. (First Update done! Please give me feedback, let me know what you want to see more of. I missed a few screenshot things, I tried to make up for them in text, but I also didn't think Sankis ordering ballista bolts for the hundredth time, or legendary dwarves creating masterpieces were particularly noteworthy.) Sky Shadowing fucked around with this message at 04:44 on Jan 19, 2013 |
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Jan 18, 2013 17:23
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Feedback: You're doing the update in just the style I would have chosen myself, I like the way you integrate the actual mechanics in with the story, and I like the cropped screenshots, they are giving my a better idea of the fortress than we had previously. I didn't remember the glass wall over the magma sea. That was cool. Keep up the good work. And get about 150 more dwarves to migrate so that I can finally be a part of the story!
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Jan 18, 2013 17:46
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Sky Shadowing posted:Please give me feedback, let me know what you want to see more of... I'd appreciate more references to how Bad Munki is not the current overseer. Maybe devote a couple updates to that.
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Jan 18, 2013 17:51
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You're doing good. I especially liked the little recap of what the fortress looks like.
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Jan 18, 2013 17:58
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Sky Shadowing posted:(First Update done! Please give me feedback, let me know what you want to see more of. I missed a few screenshot things, I tried to make up for them in text, but I also didn't think Sankis ordering ballista bolts for the hundredth time, or legendary dwarves creating masterpieces were particularly noteworthy.) drat fine update you've got there. I like the narrative style so far and am enjoying this. Just try to keep up the pace better than I did.
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Jan 18, 2013 18:25
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TildeATH posted:I'd appreciate more references to how Bad Munki is not the current overseer. Maybe devote a couple updates to that. Yes. This too. And, although the overseer has no way of knowing about this yet, I'm interested in the fate of the two lost boys. I hope that if they are dead their ghosts haunt LJ forever!
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Jan 18, 2013 19:09
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Knockknees posted:Yes. This too. And, although the overseer has no way of knowing about this yet, I'm interested in the fate of the two lost boys. I hope that if they are dead their ghosts haunt LJ forever! Ironically, I might have sealed them up with enough food/booze that they reach adulthood and are able to pull the levers inside, freeing themselves before they starve.
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Jan 18, 2013 19:43
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Haha, the "Kennel" joke got me good. Very funny 
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Jan 18, 2013 20:00
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Just a couple of notes: -All of the screenshots are narrow enough that it's not really necessary to use the timg tag on them. It's up to you if you want to do that to conserve vertical space, of course. -There's only 28 days in a dwarven month -Nobody knows how Benagain died or where his body is. He was reported missing during LeJackal's turn, I think, and that's all we know. Just a point of interest, not saying you necessarily need to do anything about that. -I don't think kennels are needed for wild animal training. You can mark animals for training in the animals menu off the z menu. But perhaps Sky Shadowing the Dwarf doesn't know that. All in all a nice start, clean, good narration, good overview of the major features of the fortress. Good job!
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Jan 18, 2013 20:19
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Yeah, if it's obvious I've never really bothered that much with animal training. I figured it out, but obviously Sky the Dwarf never did either, so it works out. I'll make a note of it.
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Jan 18, 2013 20:25
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Leperflesh posted:-All of the screenshots are narrow enough that it's not really necessary to use the timg tag on them. It's up to you if you want to do that to conserve vertical space, of course. I'd just like to note that I appreciate this by the way. I don't know how much or little of a pain it is to do it like that but I really like being able to read the descriptions easily without scrolling back and forth when I expand the image.
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Jan 18, 2013 22:09
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Oh, it's not a pain at all, it would in fact annoy me if they were table breaking. No tables shall be broken, unless you have a terribly small monitor, in which case that's your problem and don't complain to me! 
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Jan 18, 2013 22:30
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Sky Shadowing posted:
Sometimes it's just better to be dumb 
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Jan 19, 2013 02:20
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Sky Shadowing posted:Another dwarf opened, and in walked a middle-aged dwarf, Fiends! 
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Jan 19, 2013 03:22
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1st Sandstone "Does this have to be now?" I asked Leperfish. "It needs to be as quickly as possible. You're healed, according to Markus_cz, so it's time." "Fine, let's get this over with." The founder raised his tablet and chisel expectantly. I sighed and began speaking.   "If that's enough, then let's get to it." Leperfish and I walked through the door into a room where a number of dwarves were assembled. The room had used to be the Queen's throne room, but she'd since relocated to her tower. Here, we could at least have comfort and privacy. I took a position at the front of the group, sitting in the throne that had once been the Queen's. "I have called a meeting of the leadership of Bronzestabbed to discuss our mission. "Let us begin. Sitting in order from left to right: Leperfish, representing the Queen and himself as the Founder Ikubi Akius, the Mayor Gnu Sherrif in Town, the Captain of the Guard JimmyTheD, former Overseer Rawkking, militia captain, former Overseer Yeol, former Overseer Jazzimus, former Overseer LeJackal, former Overseer Not present but requested is TildeATH, former Overseer, whom nobody seems to remember seeing in a while." I set my tablet down. "First, thank you for coming. Last month, upon my recovery in the hospital, I took a tour of the fortress. I saw many wonderful things, monuments to dwarven glory, grand palaces. Our stocks overflow with food and booze, and compared to some of the fortresses I saw on my way here, even the poorest dwarf lives well. That is all wonderful. But in a way it is a failure." Several of the Overseers figeted in their seats. I continued. "While I was touring the fortress, I was informed by Leperfish that the fortress was founded by order of Queen Sankis to bring war to those who threaten the Rare Ship. Goblins, and those worse, who feast on darkness and interfere with death. "On my way here, I had an encounter with the murk. It was only through the sacrifice of my guard that I was able to live. "I've reviewed the logs of several past overseers. It is clear that this is a prosperous, stable fortress. It is also clear to me that it has forgotten its mission. Too many past overseers have been more concerned with what's happened inside of the fortress rather than what's happening outside of it. "I have reviewed the Histories of Leperfish. He said that Bronzestabbed was to be a soldier to defend The Rare Ships. If Bronzestabbed is a soldier, then the military is our arms and legs, that allow us to strike where we will. The people are our heart, that give us the ability to keep on going." I held out my arms, indicating those assembled. "We, my good dwarves, are the mind, and for too long we have been focused on internal matters. The soldier has faltered, desiring food, water, and rest, and it has left the fortress threatened. "I do not foresee that we will have the power to fulfill the mission of Bronzestabbed during my year. But what I can do is build a mighty monument, which will remind us all of what we were created to do, and what we are supposed to be. "My goal for the year will be to get the fortress back in one mind towards our goals, and I believe I will be able to accomplish that. "You are dismissed, gentlemen." They stand to leave. "I also assume the Queen is no longer using these chambers?" "No," responded Leperfish. "Then they are now mine."  2nd Sandstone I left my newly acquired chambers and was accosted by Geekkake. "Why did you build kennels?" she asked. "So you can train the animals that are going wild," I responded. "We don't need kennels for those! We have everything we need right now! Kennels are for smaller animals."  "Ah," I responded, embarassed. "Forgive me. I don't know much about animal training. Clearly I was wrong. I apologize. In the mean time, would you please start training some of these animals before they kill us all?" She nodded, and walked off. I let out a sigh of relief. I made my way up to the surface, surveying to see where the monument would fit. There were no places within the walls. Sighing, I called to the masons and miners, and dictated where they would build a new outer wall.  3rd Sandstone The miners informed me that while digging the moat for the new outer walls they struck a passageway that had been in disuse. I cursed myself for the foolishness of not checking for such, and told them to wall it back up. It was too late now to go back.  4th Sandstone Shouts from the inner courtyard sounded as I was surveying the construction. Hardboiled gave birth to a healthy baby boy. I went to congragulate her and father Diploid, and she said his name would be Van Kraken.  5th Sandstone While in the forges I note that the slab for Benagain has been placed according to my orders. The other smiths are much more at ease.  9th Sandstone Some workers on the outer wall let out shouts of greeting as a group of Dwarves approach. The lack of wagons can mean only one thing- migrants.  Leperfish and I line them up at the entrance to Typhus Memorial Depot by family unit and take a basic roll call. Clocks, Engineer, with husband Mortizzle, Architect Ceebees, Trapper, with husband PotatoManJack, Siege Operator rizzen, Weaponsmith, with child Kenning AfroSquirrel, Gem Cutter, with husband Arglebargle IV Esq., Stonecrafter, and child Hoomani Pokey, Potter and wife Frankosity, Siege Operator I order Leperfish to interview them. He agrees and says the report will be submitted later. 11th Sandstone Today in the concert hall, where I was planning with several of my fellow smiths in what I thought would be a quiet place, I heard MadWack telling a fond story about his shield. I am midly confused, as he bears an adamantine short sword that is of far greater value than his bronze shield, but I suppose, never having been a military man, I just don't understand.  13th Sandstone While I was laboring in the forges to clear my head, melting various objects that had been marked as such, I wandered off and peered through the majestic windows. In the caverns beyond, I spied a door. I stopped one of the masons, Maelin, who was hauling goods up to the surface for the Monument and the new walls. When I inquired as to the door, he informed me it had been constructed during the term of LeJackal, and that not much was known about it beyond that there was a vault beyond.   I resolved to question LeJackal about it. 16th Sandstone Construction on the new outer wall goes well. The masons would be making better progress were it not for the many animals constantly getting in the way.   18th Sandstone Today I reviewed the list of applicants as to who had sought the Overseership alongside me. I came across one odd name. I called to Jazzimus who was laboring nearby. "Jazzimus," I asked. "I can see that Bad Munki has applied to the overseership every time a new one has been searched for. "Yes," agreed Jazzimus. "Bad Munki is dead."  "Yes," agreed Jazzimus again. "How can a dead dwarf apply for the overseership consistently?" "I do not know." "I will find the answer. Those who are dead should stay dead." 22nd Sandstone The grievous error that resulted in a horribly insecure fortress is finally fixed. We are now just as secure as we were before.  23rd Sandstone I am informed by the mechanics that the Lower Well Emergency Shutdown lever is in place and ready. I order Green Intern to strike the earth so that the water may flow to the lower levels of the fortress.   While on my way back up, I spy Queen Sankis walking through the hallways. I quickly run left to avoid being caught in a conversation, as I am in desperate need of a drink. I do wonder what would bring the Queen down in the soil areas of the fortress, before I remember that she is a worshiper of Ugath.  25th Sandstone The new gatehouse bridge is finally designed. Now all I need is one of my skilled masons to build it.  Another cloud of fiendish murk appears to the north. Unlike previous ones which drift in from other areas of our territory, this one sprung up within sight.  The cloud quickly boils, but drifts northwards. A cry of alarm is sounded from a few other workers as a barn owl enters the murk. Upon its reappearance, it is obviously changed.  I immediately send a runner to Gnu Sheriff In Town, ordering Gnu Order to the surface to protect the workers should the owl get closer. 27th Sandstone The barn owl remains north of the river, and Gnu Order is grumbling that this is a waste of their time. I agree. Waiting for the owl to come to us could have them here for months. I order them north to kill it before it threatens us.  They immediately set out north. I climb the Queen's Tower to get a better vantage point for the encounter to come. 
Sky Shadowing fucked around with this message at 18:27 on Jan 19, 2013 |
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Jan 19, 2013 18:24
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On my way up to the Queen's tower, I ran into Leperfish, who had finished interviewing the new migrants and compiled a report. Clocks the Engineer  (not shown: Dabbling Consoler)  Her husband, Mortizzle the Architect   Ceebees the Trapper  (not shown: Adept Consoler, Adept Pacifier)  Her husband, PotatoManJack the Siege Operator  (not shown: Adept Intimidator, Dabbling Conversationalist, Adept Comedian, Great Consoler, Adept Pacifier)  rizzen the Weaponsmith   Her child, Kenning  AfroSquirrel the Gem Cutter   Her husband, Arglebargle IV Esq. the Stonecrafter   Their child, Hoomani  Pokey the Potter, brother of current resident PublicOpinion, nephew of current resident Shorter Than Some.   His wife, Frankosity the Siege Operator  
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Jan 19, 2013 20:01
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Yay, I'm a dorf! Let's see what I'm like... ... I really hope that my dwarf manages to find a career in politics. The military life looks like it just might be a short one for her...
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Jan 19, 2013 21:00
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Hooray I'll be safely making figurines far away from goblins and lava monsters!
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Jan 20, 2013 06:24
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I wouldn't be so sure about that Arglebrgle. Some of the craftdwarf shops are on the same level as the magma forges. I can only imagine what our
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Jan 20, 2013 08:35
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What's that? Arglebargle and AfroSquirrel volunteering for militia duty? Well, there's no reason whatsoever we can't fill your requests...
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Jan 20, 2013 19:04
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Sky Shadowing posted:What's that? Arglebargle and AfroSquirrel volunteering for militia duty? Well, there's no reason whatsoever we can't fill your requests... Finally, a real overseer. I was getting sick of these milquetoasts.
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Jan 20, 2013 19:07
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TildeATH posted:Finally, a real overseer. I was getting sick of these milquetoasts. Yes. Also I volunteer for a suicide mission! Those jerks in the fort can brew their own drat drinks, or just drink water for all I care.
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Jan 21, 2013 00:28
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John Dough posted:Those jerks in the fort can...just drink water for all I care. Treasonous!
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Jan 21, 2013 00:36
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Sky Shadowing posted:What's that? Arglebargle and AfroSquirrel volunteering for militia duty? Well, there's no reason whatsoever we can't fill your requests... Nonono, that was a volunteering for medical duty. Dwarf-me will avoid death by old age through afflicting herself with as many syndromes as possible!
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Jan 21, 2013 01:06
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Arglebargle III posted:Hooray I'll be safely making figurines far away from goblins and lava monsters! The next day, you hear a whisper from the shadows... "Keep it down, please...we don't need the attention." As you turn around, something drops to the ground with a brief wham. It is a ridiculously large the best kind of large stone beer mug. The stein appears to have been made hastily, with few flourishes - but not inexpertly. It's covered in a scribbling of maps of parts of Bronzestabbed. Some areas of each map look darker from having been scribbled more earnestly. Carved into the bottom of each map is one of two things: a smiling dwarf, or a dwarf with very large second best kind eyes and an open presumably screaming mouth.
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Jan 21, 2013 02:21
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1st Timber SynthOrange is the first of the marksdwarves to arrive on the scene. He spies the owl floating lazily, raises his crossbow, and shoots from long range. He misses, but he does succeed in gaining the owl's attention, and letting out a screech like a demon, it turns and soars towards him. Calmly, he takes two more shots, shooting both the abomination's legs off. code:Still remaining calm, SynthOrange takes careful aim. code:With both of their quivers depleted, the two marksdwarves begin to retreat, and Daeran arrives on the scene. Only bearing dog bone bolts, he still succeeds in guaranteeing victory in this fight.  code: Pathetically squirming on the ground, it desperately worms its way closer and closer to Daeran- or at least attempts to, for each shot of his is true and sends the beast flying back even further.  Finally, Daeran has used up what is left of his ammo, and decides to bludgeon it with his crossbow.  code:I make a mental note- bolts are useful to ground the creature, but with no internal organs to damage, they don't do enough damage, and blunt weapons are not satisfactory. I watch as Zebrin is the first to reach the owl and casually strikes the squirming mass a few times with his axe, ending the conflict.   Daeran is one of the first to return, and I stop him and proclaim him an Elite Marksdwarf, for calmness under pressure. Several of his squadmates, notably SynthOrange give me odd looks, but I don't care. 6th Timber With the... threat (I hesitate to use that work, pathetic as it was at the end) ended, I see that the bridge has been constructed. I stop mechanic MedievalMedic and order him to link the bridge up to the lever that was placed in the Gate Control area.  11th Timber I spy Vim Fuego working in an upper worskshop, laboring over rocks. I approach him and watch as he pulls glistening blue strands from the otherwise valueless rocks. It has long been a dream of mine to work The Metal. It was a large part of why I applied to be Overseer in the first place.  Would it be selfish to do so, when Oski is clearly a better smith? I decide no. I inform the other smiths that the northernmost one is my personal forge, and resolve to shape adamantine at it.  While I head down to the forges, I walk over the mined-out section of the pillar. I quickly inquire with the miner The GoBotSodomizer as to the make up of the pillar.  Though I know we need more metal, I shall only mine in areas I am certain will not harbor terrible horrors within. 13th Timber I receive a message as I prepare my magma forge from above. Apparently, Furnace Operator brute was heading up to assist on construction on The Monument when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, screamed something in an unknown tongue, and sprinted along the hallway.  All Dwarves know the signs of A Mood when the comes. Hopefully brute will find the resources he needs, for we all also know what happens when inspiration fails. 14th Timber I am surprised when I hear brute has merely claimed a Mason's Workshop. I had hoped his inspiration would be a metal artifact, which may have been far more useful. I am about to head down, Adamantine in my hands, when SilentW runs up to me crying. Apparently, she went to check on ZeeToo and found him dead. Markus_cz, who lives nearby, informed me it was dehydration.  I am beginning to question the competency of the medical staff. Or at least, their competency towards those NOT currently in power. 17th Timber As I labor in the forges, I hear tehsid fondly telling Atmpl of his son StrangeAeon taking his first steps.  My forge is ready, and I work The Metal into the shape of an axe. It feels more as if the adamantine is directing me as to the shape it wants to take. It is of masterful quality, and easily the finest things wrought by my hands.  Reverent with respect, I gently lay my axe down as I hear bells ringing above. On the way up, broker Brannock greets me, and informs me that a caravan from the Mountainhomes draws close.  19th Timber I am confused. I was under the impression the human merchants left a month ago, yet they are only now departing. Hopefully they will not interfere with our kinsmen.  Workers on The Monument shout cries of alarm, and immediately a bell begins ringing.  "GOBLINS!" is the cry.  It would appear my masterpiece will taste goblin blood sooner than expected. Sky Shadowing fucked around with this message at 17:28 on Jan 21, 2013 |
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Jan 21, 2013 17:25
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Is a Goblin Elite Bowman Fiendish Murk Zombie more deadly than a Goblin Master Lasher Fiendish Murk Zombie? Let's find out, in: Bronzestabbed: The Final Battle* * may not actually be final battle
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Jan 22, 2013 03:35
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Daeran, much like Mr Vile, tends to assume his true power only when he sees that there are foes that need killing. I mention this because both were elite during my time as overseer, and probably were elite before that.
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Jan 22, 2013 04:32
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"Look, he was clearly using the crossbow as a bludgeon. A BLUDGEON. Then he gets an award for exceptional marksdwarfship?!"
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Jan 22, 2013 04:43
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The Scraped Onslaught To say Bronzestabbed is a sprawling mess of a fortress in which it is easy to get lost and die of dehydration is an understatement so great it's practically an affront to the gods. However, the sprawling mess of tunnels can only be accessed (from the surface) at two points- Typhus Memorial Depot and the southern gates. Either can be closed at will, and with Gnu Order patrolling the walls, no enemy can dare get close enough to possibly do any damage to our civilization. Except the goblins, either through great cunning or great luck, chose what was the perfect moment to strike. A group of human merchants were only just departing as our dwarven brethren from The Rare Ships were arriving to trade. To attack us at this point was when we were most vulnerable. Either we watch our trade partners and kin get butchered like animals... or we take the fight outside the fortress. This fortress was created to take war to goblins. If we must only take it as far as within sight of our gates, all the better.  A squad of goblin spearmen approached from the west.  More from due east, accompanied by a band of ogres.  And a final squad, further north than the second, but still east of the fortress. I order all squads to assemble at the front gates. The human merchants are leaving, heading east, towards the greater part of the goblin forces.  Even though I am largely undertaking this mission to aid them, I will not order our forces forward until they are assembled. Otherwise the goblins could pick them off one by one. A squad of goblins intercepts the Human caravan guards, and battle is joined. First blood goes to the humans.  Unfortunately, our soldiers do not think the same way, and Magrov is the first soldier to charge in.  Unfortunately, even though our forces are slowly surging out of the fortress and joining the melee, my fear comes to pass.  No sooner does Magrov fall than Hardboiled also falls.  Our forces are scattered, but the first of Bronzestabbed's truly best soldiers sprints into the fray. Mr. Vile uses his adamantine shortsword with all the precision the fortress' doctors apparently lack.  His enemies are many, however, and his armor is not perfect. Two lucky strikes get through his defenses, one of them on his sword hand, and his adamantine short sword falls to the ground.   As tehsid and Fatfingers move in to help, they roll over the corpse of Hardboiled to find that as the goblins killed her, they viciously cut apart poor Van Kraken, her newborn child.  The two dwarves charge into battle, which has swiftly turned in our favor. Mr. Vile survives largely thanks to the superior quality of his armor, taking no injuries as the goblins swarm him.  tehsid:  Fatfingers:  Unfortunately, Mr. Vile lets out a shout from the south, hearing heavy footsteps approaching.  The ogres have arrived. I order the entirety of our force to the south to save Mr Vile's life. He is fortunate his armor is adamantine. As they charge, I hear a shout that Rothon's corpse has been located. When he fell into the lake near the entrance is unknown, and I only hope he died in honorable battle rather than drowned.  Mr. Vile is desperately fighting the ogres off by striking them with shield and foot. It is a valiant stand, and I pray he can survive until reinforcements arrive. Fortunately, a human named Istrul Ziltakadest moves south to aid Mr. Vile, rending him assistance.  They sprint south around the lake.  They arrive in time.  The last ogre, its body broken, is desperately trying to crawl south, away from the battle, to safety.  Istrul Ziltakadest stumps up to it, putting the beast out of its misery.  Bronzestabbed is Victorious. Casualties: Hardboiled, Rothon, Van Kraken, Magrov.
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Jan 22, 2013 04:55
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| # ? Apr 27, 2024 22:31 |
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 Journal of "GrabbinPeels" Dolilnil, 244 The face of the burned man lingers in my dreams and urges me to enter the same name into the overseer drawing as I always have. I do not know why this Munki was "bad", or how a dead man could be overseer, but it seems the gods share my confusion as his name refuses to be drawn time and time again. I fear for us should this come to pass. I do not remember who the overseer is, except that it is not Bad Munki. I pray it never is.
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Jan 22, 2013 05:56
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