I spent less time planning this effort than the previous one. For one, I do have a lot more experience now to rely on. We were barely into the z-level period when I did this before. And the tools to compensate for poor planning are better now, so we'll just dive in. Over the years I've build a lot of fortresses, and participated in a number of competitions as well, so I expect this to not focus exclusively on Moruls task but also on the construction of the fortress itself, and it's a pretty cool location for one, I think. The volcano sits 45z above the river floor. I chose to not include the waterfall on the map because the river is 30 wide and a 45z x 30 waterfall, while epic, would reduce my FPS to intolerable levels. I expect to build much of the fortress in the 45z surface/cliffside space above the river incorporating the volcano. At Lashedwines I chose to drain the magma pipe and build Moruls suite inside of it, and I may do something like that again, or maybe something different. I may choose to cast the fortress out of obsidian, or other pointlessly stupid things. I think we can assume the river will get dammed at some point. The volcano extends from z75 to z148. The river is at z102. The possibilities are endless.





It's a 5x5 embark to give enough space to build and hunt. Hunting was a huge challenge before to allow enough space for sneaking. There's flux, sand, and clay including fire clay on the map. So all of those boxes check. The sand is quite high up so there may be some map collapsing to get it where I want it. The clay I've found is down by the river. There's iron on the map, but it's not visible, and at least 2 candy spires. And obsidian. There should be 3 caverns since I didn't modify any of that kind of stuff. I'll get an upload onto DFMA once I remember how. And Flash still? [smh]





The dwarves are unmodified at embark other than Morul's name, and no embark points were added. We left with a typical embark for me - 1 axe, 1 pick, some booze, a LOT of raw food, a breeding pair of cats and war dogs. I typically get a bare minimum shelter started, then make meals out of the food as it gives a good early trade item. The booze was lost when I used dfhack to teleport the trade items off the ice before it melted on day 2. I could have salvaged the booze, but I figured there should be some penalty to embarking in the middle of a river. I've started with much worse.





Morul really has very little in the way of starting skills. I focused on putting a toehold in social things - student, teacher, wordsmith, critical thinker, poet, musician, dancer. Here's his profile:





Mörul Nicolgomath, "Mörul Afterlegend", Peasant

"I finished up some work. I am very satisfied."

He is annoyed when caught in the rain. He feels satisfied at work. Within the last season, he felt fondness talking with a friend.

He is a worshipper of Onget Goldgorge.

He is a citizen of The Ancient Rim. He is a member of The Prestigious Standards. He arrived at Zatthudasmel on the 15th of Granite in the year 88.

He is twenty years old, born on the 12th of Sandstone in the year 68.

His long sideburns are neatly combed. His medium-length moustache is arranged in double braids. His very long beard is braided. His hair is clean-shaven. He has very low cheekbones, and he has a deeply recessed chin. His raw umber eyes have large irises. His small-lobed ears are somewhat short. His lips are slightly thick. His nose is slightly hooked. His hair is russet. His skin is pale taupe.

He is susceptible to disease and quite clumsy.

Mörul Nicolgomath likes cinnabar, pig iron, blue jade, coral, giant skink bone, the color lime, scepters and ducks for their quacks. When possible, he prefers to consume goat, lettuces and papaya wine. He absolutely detests bark scorpions.

He has an amazing spatial sense and a way with words.

Like others in his culture, he holds craftsdwarfship to be of the highest ideals and celebrates talented artisans and their masterworks, has a great deal of respect for the law, greatly prizes loyalty, values family greatly, sees friendship as one of the finer things in life, believes that honesty is a high ideal, greatly respects artists and their works, really respects those that take the time to master a skill, deeply respects those that work hard at their labors, respects fair-dealing and fair-play, values cooperation, values martial prowess, respects commerce, values knowledge and finds nature somewhat disturbing. He personally sees introspection as important, sees merrymaking as a waste and finds leisure time wasteful. He dreams of crafting a masterwork someday.

He is quick to form negative views about things. He is very humble. He has an active sense of humor. He has a noticeable lack of perseverance. He doesn't seek out excitement. He takes offered help and gifts without feeling particularly grateful. He does not have a great aesthetic sensitivity, and he is conflicted by this as he values artwork and its creation. He is curious and eager to learn. He is not particularly interested in what others think of him. He sticks out his tongue when he's thinking hard. His hands move frantically when he's trying to remember something. He needs alcohol to get through the working day. He likes working outdoors and grumbles only mildly at inclement weather.

Overall, Mörul is somewhat focused with satisfied needs. He is level-headed after spending time with people. He is unfettered after staying occupied. He is not distracted after being unable to acquire something. He is unfocused after being kept from alcohol. He is not distracted after a lack of decent meals. He is not distracted after being unable to fight. He is not distracted after a lack of trouble-making. He is not distracted after being unable to argue. He is not distracted after being unable to be extravagant. He is not distracted after not learning anything. He is not distracted after being unable to help anybody. He is not distracted after a lack of abstract thinking. He is not distracted after being unable to admire art. He is not distracted after being unable to practice a craft. He is not distracted after being away from family. He is level-headed after being with friends. He is not distracted after a lack of introspection. He is not distracted after being unable to practice a martial art. He is unfettered after practicing a skill. He is not distracted after being unable to pray to Onget Goldgorge. A short, sturdy creature fond of drink and industry.





Pretty sure I'm going to have to figure out how to make war ducks. Skilling strategy comes later. Morul needs to run around and just get the basics set up. He'll probably hit legendary miner just out of that effort. Will take a few seasons as none of the other dwarves can do anything but military and haul until Morul hits legendary in a skill. Plenty of time to work out a strategy.





I'll introduce the other dwarves as we go, but their points are all in military/scholar areas. There wasn't much story behind the other occupants of Lashedwines, but I think this situation will be different. I think the other dwarves have a more prominent role to play in helping Morul along. All dwarves have had their age reset to 20, so we should be good for at least a century.