It is currently the first of February, 2016. 8 o'clock PM, EST. A few minutes ago, an army of undead was announced as coming towards Vesselslid.

Oh. Shit.

Game's been paused since. The amazing people at /r/dwarffortress and the Dwarf Fortress IRC are helping with plans to save the fortress. Before I hit play, let me list out what's been told to me.

1. Lock the doors and barricade them with walls.

2. Get any sort of military out there ASAP. As it stands, that would be 3 miners. They will be our brave heroes.

3. Any cannon fodder necessary while building the wall must be out there as well.

I think i've got this. It'll be close though, with losses certain.

8:15 PM: let's do this.

8:16 PM: SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT. MY CAGE TRAPS ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE STAIRS.

8:19 PM: Squad created with all my 3 miners.

8:19 PM: "<Elvang> You could sacrifice a single dwarf to floor over the stairs, or deconstruct/remove the stairs below (they'll still be visible, causing civilians to run), or you'll have to wall further back in the fortress, waiting for them to amble out after the siege ends."

I think I have to go with the sacrifice. Farewell, brave engraver (most likely).

8:22 PM: "<Zerim> Towers can invade any time". WELL SHIT.

8:27 PM: It's time.

Above is my battle plan. Wall up the farm: It's a goner. Floor up the stairs, it's the only way. My miners and brave floor-maker are doomed. DOOMED.

The yellow box is my kobold detecting dogs. I am so thankful for those poor soldiers, they are sadly fodder. It's the only way.

Circled in red.... the corpse pile. Shit shit shit. These undead have a necromancer, which will revive the poor dead animals. Let's do this.

8:33 PM: The undead. Here they are.

8:35 PM: "<NoXIILarxene> OH MY FUCKING GOD

<NoXIILarxene> I CANT FORBID MY DOOR CAUSE A PUPPY IS IN THE WAY"

See that guy, the red d, surrounded in blue? That puppy MEANS I CANT SHUT THE DOOR. THESE MINERS ARE FUCCCCKEEEDDDDD.

8:38 PM: This speardwarf has no idea when's a good time to visit. RIP.

8:40 PM: The undead army of 5 is just standing there! What??? Wow.

"<Zerim> They can't get to your dwarves, so they don't know what to do"

8:43 PM: Well.... this is anticlimactic. I'm considering just walling my wood or at the least stockpiling it inside and then continuing homestead stuff

8:50 PM: I let my guard down and it cost me.... you see that guy circled in red? Undead. Fucking. Idiot. Me.

8:52 PM: We lost two due to the sudden attack of me letting my guard down. I am an IDIOT.

Rest in peace, Fikod and Minkot.

I'm stopping for the night... this was a tragic but noble loss. Two remain above ground in their sacrifice to protect the other 15 dwarves.