RE: (TFT) Another Dwarven mine --> Forge of Fury.

[Mark Tapley <mtapley@swri.edu>]

All,
	Still thinking about this dwarven-stronghold design problem. 
Here's my thoughts so far:

Stronghold is in high mountains.

Above the top of the stronghold is a glacier.
Stronghold levels parallel the face of the mountain, sloping down to 
maintain a constant depth measure perpendicular to the face of the 
mountain. They generally angle away from the glacier, so that only 
the upper end of each level is under the glacier.

Forges, cook-fires, etc. have long chimneys that lead up to an exit 
chamber under the glacier. Somebody has the job of keeping the 
passageway from that chamber on out to the surface (through or beside 
the glacier) clear in the winter. Shouldn't be too tough because of 
the hot air rushing through, except when an avalanche plugs it or the 
glacier moves and blocks it.

The hot air melts glacier ice, which is collected in a catch-basin in 
the chimney exit chamber, and flows down into the "plumbing" system 
of the stronghold. Faucets, toilets, etc. are probably constant-flow, 
to avoid having to worry about catch-basin capacity, overflowing and 
flooding the chimney, etc. The water probably tastes slightly smoky, 
but I suspect dwarves would actually like this.

Each level has light shafts going out to the mountain face. Light is 
caught by lenses or translucent glass panels mounted there which 
direct some light down into the shaft no matter what angle the sun is 
at. In addition, there are also probably "direct" light shafts which 
are just straight openings that allow intense beams of sunlight in at 
certain hours on certain days for ceremonial purposes (cf. Balin's 
tomb in FOTR movie).

Stronghold needs a constant supply of wood or fuel of some sort. Wood 
is most likely, since mountains tall enough to be glaciated are not 
so likely to resting on coal deposits. (Any geologists in the house? 
I'm guessing here.....)

Stronghold needs a constant supply of food, so probably has to have 
mine shafts leading down/out to precious metal deposits to trade for 
food. Else, could do manufacturing work in exchange for for food. 
("You see a short, scruffy-looking character, with a sign that says 
'will work metal for food'...") Maybe could grow mushrooms? Maybe 
could have olive trees or vineyards on the lower slopes of the 
mountain? But remember, glaciated mountains means harsh winters, will 
limit the possible choice of crops. Can dwarves herd mountain-goats?

Mine shafts, off the main stronghold, would be like the mine shafts 
we have. Unimproved, no running water, no toilet facilities. Dusty 
(rock dust from the mining operations) and dirty, unlike the main 
halls and rooms which would be polished and worn smooth and kept 
clean. Much more poorly lit. Completely different from the tunnels 
and rooms of the stronghold itself - it's just a shorter commute to 
work for dwarven miners than for human.

Stronghold needs an outlet for the waste-water stream. Ideally, this 
will end up at the top of the forest (wood supply) or 
olive/grape/whatever fields, because it'll contain a lot of dwarf 
crap^M^M^M^M useful organic matter. This might end up being a point 
of contention between the dwarves and whomever (elves?) lives 
downstream, if the outlet goes straight into an otherwise fresh 
mountain stream.

Thoughts and comments welcome as always. The glacier water source 
worries me a bit, for example. Will the updraft from the fires keep 
its heat long enough to melt enough water? What about the final 
exhaust - is this glacier always topped by a small smoke/steam plume? 
That'd be an interesting visual accent to the stronghold, and visible 
from farther away than anything else.

What about setting it up? Could carry in water while mining first 
level and establishing plumbing/fireplace flues. Then tunnel out 
under the glacier, carve up through ice to the surface, then light 
some fires and hope the thing drafts. Maybe have to simultaneously 
light fires all along the chimney flue to start it drafting and warm 
up the flue walls at first?

What about if the stronghold is abandoned, or wiped out by goblins? 
Can the system be re-started if it's re-captured? The plumbing would 
be full of ice at the glacier end, though the interior of the 
mountain may well stay above freezing. Re-starters would have to be 
careful to avoid flooding the chimneys, or would have to have a water 
by-pass to drain the flooding until the plumbing warmed up.
								- Mark
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