Dwarf Fortress: Flying Elephant

The dwarves were busy at work with many projects nearing completion. The barracks of the Order-Trumpets and Oiled-Lamps were mostly furnished and up and in operation. The floor located just outside the Order-Trumpet's barracks was still in need of construction and was an embarrassment to the fortress. However, in the meantime the exposed dirt doubled as an indoor garden within which trees that have never seen the light of day have managed to grow.

LEFT: The barracks of the Order-Trumpets. RIGHT: The archery range and barracks of the Oiled-Lamps.

A small jail was constructed and a handful of dwarves were immediately imprisoned to justify the expensive project. The seven jail cells each consist of an iron restraint, bed, table, and chair. A committee will meet this week to determine if a small collection of terrifying statues should be constructed and placed in the cells to demotivate prisoners. Additionally, a small guard consisting of four dwarves was created to serve as the thought-police and bouncers of the fortress.

Meanwhile, work continues on mining out the gold buried deep underground. The flooded caverns the gold lies within are difficult to navigate and require the dwarves to build walkways between sections of rock. The gold is the fortress' sole source of income and provides the materials required for our nobles statues, tables, and the like. The dwarves plan to smelt Tomeglow golden coins in the coming months.

There was a report of a terrifying forgotten beast spotted in the caverns a few weeks ago. The creature was described as a large, elephant-like menace with wings and full of necrosis. The dwarf responsible for tracking the creature became quickly became distracted and forgot about the dangerous creature. We're currently uncertain about the beast's whereabouts and pray that it won't slip into the fortress and murder everyone inside violently. We're trying to stay optimistic about things!

Ending Year: 260

Dwarf Fortress: The Fortress Rises

The dwarves had weathered the hard years. Melbilrab, Tomeglow, fortress of the brave and mighty had risen from the corpses of goblins and trolls alike. The invaders still have not ceased their efforts, but their attacks became routine and negligible. Their corpses now provide us a steady source of bones, copper, and iron after the rot is melted away.

The dwarves thickened the walls and constructed fortifications to service archers. The main upper building was now two floors high and completely enclosed. The building now housed the barracks of the Order-Trumpets, our bravest soldiers, and the Oiled-Lamps, our cowardly archers. A sign of our hubris, a trading post made entirely of gold, was constructed above oak wood near the fortress gate.

The wooden grass enclosure was improved to accommodate all manner of egg-laying creatures. A cow and bull were introduced to each other and provided with romantic music but have yet to produce any calves after a number of years. Our handlers suspect the gazes from the dozens of nosey fowl and the nearby sounds of hundreds of goblins dieing regularly may be off-putting.

We finished our above-ground farms and tunneled a few underground farms adjacent to the existing. We began growing all manner of berries and roots. Our cloth production was kick-started with one of the underground farms growing pig-tails in the warmer months. I'm informed they're a fibre and not the by-product of some mad experiment with pigs and their tails.

We finally carved out a pair of proper burial chambers. The dwarves unearthed all of their dead and moved them down hall in a very messy process requiring a handful of buckets and an animal handler to keep the dogs away. A special tomb was constructed for Etur Emalkogen, our duchess, and Kol Usendodok, the dwarven hero of legend. The duchess' tomb was filled golden objects and the coffin itself was an artifact constructed by an inspired stonemason and covered with spikes. The dwarves were surprised to hear the coffin wasn't engraved with pictures of bins and quivers, of which the duchess has been mandating endless amounts of be constructed.

Ending Year: 260

Dwarf Fortress: A New Entrance

We were attacked multiple times during the construction. The first time we were still using the old entrance and we were extremely reliant on cage traps and soldiers to defend ourselves. The goblins slaughtered our brave soldiers, the hero Kol Usendodok included, and a giant worm managed to slip through our defenses and into the fortress! The worm slew dozens of dwarves and dogs before the beast was felled. It was grim times for the dwarves of Melbilrab.

The goblins attack during the construction of our new entrance.

The second time we were attacked we had some of the spike traps constructed. We lured a handful of goblins inside, their commander included, and repeatedly raised and lowered the spikes against the trapped goblins. The great trolls fell just as easily as the goblins. When a cold spike of goblin copper, smelted from fallen goblin armaments into a new, equally sinister purpose, pierced the heart of the goblin commander, the goblins scattered like the cowardly vermin they were. This day was ours! We had won for Kol; we had won for Melbilrab!

We begin smoothing, engraving, and furnishing rooms.

In the meantime and peacetime, we were visited by our dwarven liaison and granted a barony, which our mayor Etur Emalkogan graciously accepted on her own behalf. Work began on improving the living conditions of the baron and the eldest of the dwarves. We began a project to smooth the common rooms and engrave noble rooms. Lastly, we constructed a tomb for Etur and crafted half a dozen silver statues to place in tombs and noble rooms.

Ending Year: 256

Dwarf Fortress: Goblins, Trolls, Crocodiles. Oh my!

Kol Usendodok Akilrosat, Helpclasp the Point Chapel, Fisherdwarf, Macelord, Trollslayer, Minotaurslayer, is a dwarven hero. She stands as the last remaining survivor of the original Order-Trumpets. While many had known Kol for her strange fascination with howls of blind cave ogres, she is now legend to the dwarves of Melbilrab for her unparallelled combat prowess and role in the goblin siege of 254.

The goblins heard of our captures and came seeking revenge. They brought with them creatures equally foul as themselves and no less miserable. Without warning, the fields of Melbilrab were overwhelmed with countless goblins, crocodiles, giant cave worms, snaky sea creatures, and trolls. They stormed the gates of the fortress from multiple approaches. The dwarves were ordered inside the fortress. The Order-Trumpets prepared for the onslaught in their barracks.

Top-Left: Cave worms, crocodiles, sea creatures, and flightless birds approach. Top-Right: A collection of bloodthirsty trolls and goblins. Bottom-Left: The Order-Trumpets wait for attackers to become captures. Bottom-Right: Slaying trolls and cave worms.

The goblins ordered the savage beasts to attack first. They and their riders were caught easily within our traps. The Order-Trumpets were ordered to counter assault the goblins before the trolls could arrive. The soldiers charged bravely onto the battle field and fought until they were but four in number. The trolls and cave worms had arrived and demolished our trading post and outer door. They made their way into the Order-Trumpet's barracks and were threatening to destroy the drawbridge that separated them from the dwarves that were tucked away inside the fortress. The Order-Trumpets retreated from the battlefield to engage the trolls. Kol Usendodok killed three of the four trolls aggressors and two voracious cave worms. The outer draw bridge was raised, the inner was lowered, and the surviving Order-Trumpets were taken to the hospital. Kol sustained no injuries save for a broken noise which she refuses to acknowledge as an injury. A true dwarven hero!

We waited out the remainder of the siege and attempted to replenish our military's numbers. Our mayor, who was an active member of the Order-Trumpets, and another soldier died in a hospital bed that they were mistakenly placed into together. They were unable to receive any food or water as our medical dwarves could not determine which of the two dwarves was requesting nourishment. I'm told our chief medical dwarf is investigating the matter.

Left: Kol Usendodok smashes a giant cave worm into hundreds of pieces. Top-Right: Kol slaying a minotaur. Bottom-Right: Our growing prison.

We gathered the bodies of our fallen kinsdwarves. We discovered that all of our thirty cage traps captured one creature or another. We stripped the goblins of all their metal and melted down everything that wasn't iron to create shackles for the creatures. The animals were brought to our above-ground complex and the goblins to our growing prison. We had the new recruits fight the captured goblin's animals to gain some combat experience. However, in one such exercise, Kol rushed ahead of the other recruits and caused a giant caveworm to explode into hundreds of pieces with a single swing of her mace.

Current state of the above ground complex. Corpse pile in the top-left, farms in the bottom-right, future animal training grounds in the bottom-left.

It seemed unlikely that we would be able to continue fighting the goblins in a directly confrontational manner. We had exhausted our supply of non-cowardly dwarves and our population was falling. The dwarves agreed it would be imperative to build an elaborate killing machine that we could lure the goblins into. We would use the remaining copper from the goblin corpses to build spike traps. We would test the goblins' mettle.. against their metal!

Current state of our main level.

Current state of our workshop and storage level.

Ending Year: 255

Dwarf Fortress: Prisoners of War

Our first order of business was to escort our goblin prisoner to a proper prison area. The dwarves carved out a holding room and stocked it with nothing but chains fastened to the floor. Our chief medical dwarf informed me that vile creatures such as goblins require no nourishment and would require no additional facilities. Such prisoners were damned to an eternity of imprisonment; or, at the very least until we decide to make them fight in glorious gladiatorial combat. While we were moving the prisoner she attempted to escape from the fortress. A small brawl broke out and the goblin managed to make a run for the exit. Luckily, the path was laden with more cage traps. We recaptured the goblin and moved her to the prison. Over the next few seasons me manage to capture another goblin, a minotaur (who killed two dwarves before being captured), and a rowdy duck.

Top: Summoning the Order-Trumpets to move the goblin prisoner. Bottom: Our collection of prisoners chained to the floor.

Meanwhile, the goblins again tried to attack the mountainhome caravan! This time we were armed to the teeth with iron and brass and brought the fight to them. We triumphed easily without suffering any casualties.

Left: Our mountainhome brothers' caravan under attack! Right: The Order-Trumpets dispatching switch justice.

We expanded our above ground complex to facilitate a safe way for the dwarves to dump all their dead camels who couldn't acclimatize to underground life. The dwarves dug out a lowered section and irrigated the area with water. We went to work planting a variety of berries and roots which could only be grown in the awful sunlight. Lastly, we constructed a number of noble rooms and, like any successful organization, began to balloon our administration at the expense of the fortress' overall well being and happiness of its members.

Left: The above ground complex completely walled. Our new farms are sunken in the bottom corner. Top-Right: Showcasing our new berry farms. Bottom-Right: Construction of noble rooms.

Ending Year: 254

Dwarf Fortress: Goblin Attacks!

We were besieged! The pesky goblin child-snatchers had made their way back to their breeding hole and mustered enough forces to attack our fortress! We ordered all dwarves inside the fortress and the Order-Trumpets armed themselves and waited bravely for the onslaught to arrive. Each and every dwarf was prepared to give his life slaying fourfold as many goblins. However, the goblins refused to make an assault and our dwarves wouldn't leave the fortress undefended.

We were at a standstill. The dwarves hastily constructed a plethora of cage traps at the entrance of the fortress. Still, the goblins refused to attack. Little did they know that they'd never starve dwarves out from their own fortress! With our traps constructed, the dwarves attempted to lure the goblins forward by sending a brave dwarf to taunt them forward. The poor lad was foolhardy and refused to turn back towards the fortress after gaining the goblins attention. He charged alone into twenty goblins and died a brave dwarf. The seasons passed and the goblins still refused to attack. They eventually dispersed and we collected the body of our departed brother.

Left: The foolhardy dwarf attacks twenty goblins. Top-Right: The goblins group outside the fortress. Bottom-Left: Our cage traps prepared at the entrance.

When we finally emerged from the fortress we discovered the caravan from the mountainhomes was destroyed and the dwarves driving it slaughtered. We attempted to collect their corpses but were ambushed by more vile goblins! Do they have no shame? Can a dwarf not bury his fallen kinsdwarves? The Order-Trumpets were enraged and summoned to the fields. They charged steadfast into the hellspawn creatures and gutted them with intense hatred. The goblins fled and we counted the pieces of three miserable goblins and one brave dwarf. We collected his corpse and ordered the construction of memorials in honour of those who had fallen in the goblin assault.

Top-Left: The destroyed caravan. Top-Right: The goblin ambushers. Bottom-Left:Battle! Bottom-Right: The battlefield after the goblins were dispatched.

We requisitioned the goods on board the destroyed dwarven caravan and stocked our fortress full of new goodies. The dwarves gathered the iron helmets and breastplates of the goblin invaders, boiled the flesh from it, and upgraded their own armours. The Order-Trumpets were now mostly equipped in full iron armour. A staunch improvement from flimsy copper.

Top: Outside complex construction. Bottom-Left: A captured goblin chained to the floor. Bottom-Right: A dwarf completes his masterful construction.

We went to work improving our facilities. The dwarves were growing tired of eating only Plump Helmets and Plump Helmet ale. We began construction on a walled upper complex which would support above ground farms irrigated by the brook during the warmer months. We would connect the complex to our fortress with an underground tunnel.

We had two fortunate events happen to us. Firstly, we manage to cage a goblin thief attempting to snatch our children. He was stripped of any valuables and chained to the floor in a newly created chamber. The dwarves have yet to decide his fate, but many dwarves plan revenge for their fallen comrades. Lastly, one of our farmers managed to escape from his temporary insanity! In a moment of clarity, he crafted a legendary ring and returned to his otherwise normal existence.

Dwarf Fortress: The Barracks of the Order-Trumpets

Expanded rooms in the south.

We were required to expand our fortress again after multiple waves of migrants wanting to join our dwarven paradise. The dwarves also needed to slay and bury their fisherdwarf kin after a series of the poor, unfortunate souls went insane. Perhaps there's something hiding in the brook? A cemetery was carved out near the entrance and a handful of dwarves, who's corpses were lying about, were buried there.

Completed hospital (left), well room (middle), pump room (upper right), and cloth storage (lower right).

The goblin thieves were attempting to enter our fortress more and more frequently. The dwarves requisitioned the old farmland near the entrance of the fortress and converted the area into a barracks and training ground. The Barricaded Order-Trumpets were created, staffed with five of our bravest dwarves, and stationed in the barracks. While unable to catch and slay any goblin intruders (due to short dwarven legs), the Order-Trumpets successfully chased away a couple of goblin would-be thieves and celebrated with a round of beer. We later managed to trade our dwarven liaison for some weapons and scraps of armour.

The Barracks of the Order-Trumpets (upper left).

We completed the construction of our hospital and wells. This allowed us to finally provide healthcare to the dwarf who was stuck in a hospital bed for over year due smashed third finger on his left hand. The injury was a result of restraining a possessed fisherdwarf before being served swift justice at the hands of our militia. His injuries were grave, but our team of qualified professionals managed to patch him back together. He's now a living legend in these dwarven halls.

Showcasing the new workshops (south).

Ending Date: Granite 253

Dwarf Fortress: Reservoir and Werebuffalo Child

Winter was on it's way and the caravan from the mountainhomes would be arriving in a matter of months. We had nothing but rocks to trade. The dwarves constructed a jeweler's workshop and began to cut the rough gems we had found digging out the fortress. Our goal to was trade gems for metal. Shiny pebbles for hammers and axes.

The main floor of the fortress. A hospital, well area, and pump control room have been added in the east.

We doubled our bedrooms and carved out a lower floor for the kitchen and proper workshops. Another priority was moving farming and water deep underground. This involved flooding a room with water and placing wells on the floor above. We carved out a reservoir which would be refilled by the brook during the warmer months. The dwarves would have to cross their fingers and hope that the water supply would last through the winter. This safe source of water could be used by the dwarves when the beer taps run dry and would be positioned near a future hospital. A series of floodgates were added to prevent the entire fortress from being flooded in the event of an emergency.

The lower floor of the fortress. A kitchen area, underground farm, and reservoir have been constructed. The checkerboard pattern at the reservoir's source reduces the water pressure and prevents our entire fortress from being flooded.

The caravan from Obururdim arrived as expected. The mountainhome dwarves had carried little metal with them. We assumed they were robbed while delivering the metal. We managed to negotiate for an anvil and a couple of metallic weapons. We requested for next year from our liason that they bring more metal than any would-be criminals could carry away with them.

It wasn't all good news. We spotted a kobold trying to sneak into the fortress, but he was chased away by a handful of rowdy dwarves. We later found a kobold corpse outside the fortress. I'm told it's only a coincidence. Still, it would be best if the kobold didn't inform his other vermin friends of our fortress' location. We also had a plesent visit from Zuglar Morullotol, the child werebuffalo, and we learned why we fear the night. Our fear was short-lived, however, as the unspeakable monster transformed back into a harmless child before he could massacre our entire near defenseless fortress. Glory to us!

Shortly after the dwarves locked themselves in the fortress, an elven caravan arrived outside. In true elven fashion, they brought with them hardly anything of value. We traded the elves gems for cloth and berries. They brought no metal. Is it any surprise?

Dwarf Fortress: The Journey to Melbilrab

The Journey to Melbilrab

The World of Exsmoxslozgo

"The Future Universe"

The World of Exsmoxslozgo

We embarked on The Swamp of Walks, north of The Biles of Sludge, towards Melbilrab, the site of our future dwarven fortress. The area was cold, untamed, and far from any proper civilizations. Arriving at the site of the fortress, the dwarves spotted exposed marble on surface and discovered much of the water was frozen. The western portion of the embark site was completely covered with snow. The marble would make for magnificent statues of dwarven heroes, but the snow would likely remain entirely useless.

The embark site.

Since we expected our source of water to be unreliable, the dwarves carved their way into the hillside and built temporary farms of plump helmets. The farms would suffice for the short term and would provide the fortress with our necessary dwarven beer. We dug down into the mountain and began to carve out our great hall. The dwarves constructed a number of workshops inside the open space and began to stockpile our resources nearby.

The entrance to our fortress.

A number of migrants arrive while we were in the process of establishing ourselves. Our population doubled in only a matter of months. We had no rooms for the dwarven migrants, so handful of communal beds were placed in our great hall for our sleepy dwarven friends. Nonetheless, we put these migrants to work right away. They assisted in hauling our resources underground and then came inside to avoid the awful sunlight and cold temperatures of the overworld.

The Great Hall

Autumn arrived and the dwarves put a door on the front of the fortress to keep the draft out. The ravenous wolverine men were also a minor concern and would now have to at least knock before entering. A temporary trading depot was hastily constructed outside the fortress to accept the caravans of our friends from the mountainhomes. We were without metal ore or an anvil and trading for such resources would be a top priority. A dwarf with no metal between him and his goblin invaders is a dead one.