Åblelishlum (Bustnut) at the twilight of her 15th year.
Founded in a rocky desert beside an open magma pipe, Bustnut has struggled against a near-total lack of water, absence of flux, absence of iron, sparsity of trees, and seasonal goblin and elven ambushes. No sieges have come thus far, though all the magma-containing rooms in the entire fortress have been paved with iron flooring by the good grace of narrow iron armor from our green-skinned friends.
Security is a big deal in Bustnut. One of the first structures completed was the airlock-like Trade Depot. The other defensive structures outside the Trade Depot were added later.
With its two drawbridges, this entrance allows me to lock down the fortress while still leaving the depot accessible from the outside. Once merchants unload their goods in the depot, the exterior bridge can be raised and the interior bridge lowered, trapping the merchants safely ;) inside the fortress. These bridges are controlled by levers in the small room to the south, which once served as the stockpile master's office. Excessive traffic required me to move his office into one of the smaller rooms off the hallway to the south.
Specialized stockpiles in the room above the depot store low-quality goods which have been automatically sorted between those intended for export and those to be kept for decoration or use.
The kimberlite levers on either side of the depot control the green glass drawbridges to the east and west of the cage trap gauntlet outside. These bridges can be raised in the event of a siege to protect any dogs tied to the bronze chains outside while I decide what to do.
Due to the mechanics of raising drawbridges, if I operate them while merchants are inside it sometimes causes them to leave immediately. I don't lock down the fort often enough to care these days, however.
In the near future the entire rounded area surrounding the depot will be added to the holdings of the twin barracks to its left and right, ensuring that my military keeps a good eye on merchants.
- Noble Digger
There are 8 comments for this map series, last post 2009-09-11
Bustnut
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Submitted by: Dakira - 2008-10-19 to 115 Late Winter
Very Interesting fortress. I enjoyed reading all the details and it makes we look back on my desert city.
Ah memories of riots.
Also, why do the elves hate you so?
Submitted by: Ambivalence - 2008-10-19 to 115 Late Winter
Nice fortress! You maintain the wasteland splendidly. The vault is cool, and I'm going to steal your trade depot layout.
Submitted by: Noble Digger - 2008-10-19 to 115 Late Winter
Please steal everything you like! I stole a bunch of it myself. Just put your own spin on it, improve on what you see so we all get smarter!
Thanks for the comments.
Submitted by: ^^atte - 2008-10-19 - Removed
Submitted by: C File - 2009-01-09 to 115 Late Winter
I got a kick out of your jewelers' names.
Submitted by: Jebraltix - 2009-01-24 to 115 Late Winter
Looks like you spent more time on those POIs than you did building the fort itself. Favorited.
Submitted by: Riffraff - 2009-07-28 to 115 Late Winter
The text of "The Vault" has the potential to offend; might wanna tone it down a bit :P
Submitted by: Noble Digger - 2009-09-08 to 115 Late Winter
Tis all in jest, I kid because I love. Furthermore, those are the actual names of those two dwarves ;)
Submitted by: ajr_ - 2009-09-11 to 115 Late Winter
A mark of excellence.