The Bust of Nuts (Dwarf Fortress)

Thriggle's Log, 25th Sandstone, 150:

Show Content

Spoiler I want to have the dining room improved with some engravings, but I know that none of my citizens are particularly skilled at engraving just yet. To give them some practice, and get some practice myself, I decided to have my bedroom engraved.



Looks pretty good, if I say so myself.

Let's see what the others have engraved…



Oh.

I guess there are images of roaches carved into my bedroom floor for eternity now.

Wait a second, what are these?



MOON SNAILS?!



MOON SNAILS!!!

1st Timber, 150:

Show Content

SpoilerGIANT CAPUCHIN ATTACK!

Ten monstrous primates have stampeded out of the jungle and thrashed their way directly into our logging operation. These giant capuchins immediately attacked two woodcutters in an excessively violent fashion.



As the capuchins ripped off Fikod's foot, I hesitated. Was it already too late for the woodcutter? Should I hole up all remaining dwarves in the fortress and wait for the monsters to pass?

In the end I decided that I could not abandon Fikod, no matter that she engraved roaches on my floor. I assembled the militia as quickly as I could.



Unfortunately, it seems the troops in their zeal did not take the time to arm themselves...

Or if they remembered to grab a crossbow, they failed to grab ammunition.



I called the militia back to safety, but it was too late for most of them.

In the end, the giant capuchins had killed Sazir the Marksdwarf, Kogan the Speardwarf, and Sibrek the (moon slug-loving) Axedwarf, and Fikod the woodcutter was unconscious on the ground with a missing foot. To make matters worse, the most lethal of the giant capuchins decided to hang around immediately outside the door of the fortress, toying with the discarded clothing of her victims. She was so terrifying that the dwarves named her Timnargongith.

Show Content

Spoiler

14th Timber, 150:

Show Content

SpoilerTimnargongith has wandered away, and we've taken the opportunity to collect our dead and our wounded. I've begun carving fortifications into the walls around our entrance so that we can fire our crossbows from safety if such an attack should occur again.



As we were bringing poor Fikod inside for medical care, a dwarven caravan arrived. I only hope that when they report back to the mountainhomes they don't mention all the corpses.

To make matters even worse, before the merchants had even arrived, we spotted a kobold thief attempting to infiltrate the outpost.



We chased the thief away before the merchants could notice it.

7th Moonstone, 150:

Show Content

SpoilerWinter has fallen, and the merchants are still getting set up at the depot.

To care for Fikod's wounds, I chose a fishery worker named Fath to become our full time medical dwarf. While he's performed admirably by bringing Fikod inside to bed, evaluating her condition, and cleaning her wounds, he doesn't appear to be doing a good job bringing her food and water.

In fact, as soon as Fikod had regained consciousness, she crawled out of the barracks, past the bemused merchants, and to a stagnant pond for a drink.



What a gal!

I also tunneled out a room to serve as a hospital in the south east, although Fikod seems to be a difficult patient.

16th Moonstone, 150:

Show Content

SpoilerAs the cooler winter breeze began to blow, I finally met with the merchants, but they were less than impressed with the few measly bonecrafts I had to offer. They left with most of their goods in tow.



I've begun excavating a crypt along the eastern face for our three fallen warriors.

Fikod, despite missing a foot, is up out of bed and actually helping to haul things around the fortress. Although it takes her quite a bit longer to get things done (since she's crawling on the floor) I have to admire her spirit and resolve. She does seem to be a little down in the dumps about losing her foot, having her husband get killed by giant capuchins, and then having a miscarriage while recovering from the attack. I've made a note that I should do something nice for her.

I've started probing downward in the western wing of the fortress, hoping to construct a well.

The merchants depart, leaving me a grocery list of the items they would like next year.



Oh yes, yarn bracelets. We dwarves are truly known for our love of yarn bracelets.

1st Opal, 150:

Show Content

SpoilerThe crypt is complete, and the freshwater well is almost finished.



Regrettably, the well is located in one of the unfortunate sandy areas of the mountain, which means we won't be able to embellish it with engravings to make it look more attractive. Maybe it'd be worth constructing another well closer to the hospital.

Fikod is back to work, crawling around outdoors and chopping down trees. I am sure she is as much an inspiration to the others as she is to me. I've never before seen anyone cut down a tree while prone.

I put a silver statue in her room as a reward for all her hard work and dedication.



Construction of the defensive moat has begun. The land that it encircles has begun to look rather miserable and sandy due to the water buffalo's over-foraging. In the interest of keeping the territory looking nice, I've ordered the water buffalo to be butchered. It ought to taste better than all that giant louse meat we've been living on anyway.

1st Granite, 151:

Show Content

SpoilerAnd now that the long cold (actually pretty warm and humid) winter has ended, my assignment from the mountainhomes is complete. The outpost has been successfully established, with only uh, relatively minor issues encountered… three deaths notwithstanding. A messenger has informed me that a new administrator is due to arrive shortly, and will assume my tasks. I shall be retiring to the role of broker unless the new administrator deems that my time would be better spent elsewhere. Perhaps in my free hours I'll take up engraving...



I regret not having the time to complete all of the construction that I started; especially in the southern wing, where unfurnished bedchambers lie cluttered with dust and stone debris.

The murderholes that I started to add to the eastern wall after the giant capuchin attack have not been completed in their entirety, although hopefully the new moat will keep the jungle at bay.

I've made plans for a bridge along the northern edge of the moat, such as would allow the trade caravans to enter. It has not been constructed yet, so our dwarves are coming and going via the sandy ramp on the eastern edge. I'll have to remind my successor to remove the ramp as soon as the bridge is constructed.

I conclude this log with a survey of the area at the time of our arrival:

Show Content

Spoiler

And a final glimpse of the land as I pass its fate into the next ruler's hands:

Show Content

Spoiler

Stand strong, Bust of Nuts!