Policy of Madness
policyofmadness.bsky.social
Policy of Madness
@policyofmadness.bsky.social
I have three cats (Izzie, Boo and Pepper) and I stream Dwarf Fortress and Baldur's Gate on Twitch at www.twitch.tv/policyofmadness
Aww, sweet baby! Here is my wonky-eyed cat.
April 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
But now little Kogsak is cut to shreds by the cat zombie's claws, and we have yet to construct a hospital ...

#dwarffortress

#FortressFriday
January 24, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Kogsak is the daughter of our expedition leader, Sakzul Orbhail, and her husband, Avuz Columnflag. The cat zombie mauled the child, under Avuz stepped in to defend his daughter with his woodcutting axe and decapitated the zombie, laying it to rest.

#dwarffortress
January 24, 2025 at 10:59 PM
We had the drawbridge lowered to allow human traders in and out, and the cat slipped outside and into a cloud of vile ash. The fresh corpse of the cat returned to our home, and attacked everything it saw. The war dogs rushed in, but then a child, Kogsak Copperhours rushed in as well.

#dwarffortress
January 24, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The most important fortress amenity, however, is the great drawbridge at the entrance that protects us from the vile ash. Keeping it closed when we are not expecting traders is an important part of life in Bulwarkrough. But then, in the late summer of our third year, a cat escaped.

#dwarffortress
January 24, 2025 at 10:53 PM
With great caution, we began to grow underground crops and process them for food, booze and clothing. We built forges and smelters. There is both sand and fire clay near the volcano, so we built a glass furnace. Risking the vile ash, we carved out a farm for surface crops.

#dwarffortress
January 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
The fortress mothers began to give birth, a reminder that life goes on even in this dangerous place. We slaughtered our water buffalo, determining that grazing beasts are too significant a danger, and when meat began to run low, also three of the war dogs. The cats hunt demon rats.

#dwarffortress
January 24, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Dodging vile ash clouds, we set up a rudimentary home, with beds in a dormitory, a trade depot, and a still. We tapped the volcano for magma to power our forges and furnaces, and cautiously collected water from the river to irrigate an underground farm.

#dwarffortress
January 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Therefore, we started a new fortress, Bulwarkrough, in a haunted swamp. The environment is inviting and beautiful - until the vile ash sweeps through. It changes every living thing it touches into a vile ash zombie. We quickly dug into the hillside and learned to watch the weather.

#dwarffortress
January 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Today, only two sites remain to the Sensitive Waxes: Coalfin and Fangweaver.

To replace our erstwhile trading partners, we have contacted another elven civ, the Nuts of Stabbing. Hopefully they will prove more tractable over time. Time will tell.

#dwarffortress
January 10, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Two war elephants died in the next ambush six months later, but not in vain, as they gave fair warning of the incoming elves, who were all put down by our in-house squads. Meanwhile, we relentlessly pillaged the forest retreats, and took over site after site.

#dwarffortress
January 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Unfortunately, the elves did eventually retaliate. While our squads are strong, they caught the Walled Gloves on their way out to raid and ambushed the rear guard. Adil and Solon were slain before the in-house squads could come to their rescue. Thereafter, we posted war elephants near the border.
January 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Fortunately, we noticed their hostility before they ambushed us, and decided to ambush them first. We put together a fourth militia squad, a speardwarf squad called the Helmed Dents, and began to pillage the elven forest retreats. Elves and animals alike were slaughtered.

#dwarffortress
January 10, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Now the second cavern has been retaken, sealed off from the world, and lies open before us. It is ... a mess, to say the least. The carnage is real. But we must clean it up, lest the horrors of war grind down our citizens' minds.

#dwarffortress
January 4, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Zuglar was also lost in the cavern, but not to bat people. Armed with her trusty axe, she was assigned to cut some trees and a forgotten beast sprang upon her. She tried to run and tried to fight. The beast was slain, but not before it slew Zuglar. She was also carried to the catacombs with honor.
January 4, 2025 at 12:52 AM
The Geared Stokers, a lasher squad; the Walled Gloves, armed with imported flails; and the Deer of Barricading, our hammerdwarf squad; all fought bravely and we won the day. But not at some cost: We lost Etur and Goden to the bat people, both of the Walled Gloves. Both we laid to rest with honors.
January 4, 2025 at 12:49 AM
With three squads remaining (the Cobalt Gangs remained in Spidergoads), we cautiously re-opened the cavern and marched in to re-take it. Over three hundred bat people and their mounts, giant olms, giant toads, and giant cave swallows, resisted us. There in the dark depths, we fought them.
January 4, 2025 at 12:47 AM
With the goblins vanquished and their sieges stopped, we turned our eyes downward once more. The second cavern was the site of unceasing skirmishes between bat people, cavern wildlife, and forgotten beasts. The carnage had reached an intolerable height. We had to do something about it.
January 4, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Only four goblins remain of the Evil of Gifting, four snatchers who were captured in Relicbreach. One of them, Snodub Manymenaces, assumed the title of master. Snodub, caged, now adorns our tavern, taunted by the victorious dwarves of the Vigorous Standard.

#dwarffortress
January 4, 2025 at 12:43 AM
All told, only one dwarf died in the destruction of the Evil of Gifting: Inod Brassenjoyed, a hammerdwarf in the Deer of Barracading. Killed by Tedaz Mischiefsounded in the pits of Horrorrhyme, she was instantly avenged by her squadmate Tekkud Chaosclasped. Rest in peace, Inod.
January 4, 2025 at 12:40 AM