Spearcavern 5: Twinkling Treasures

[@Adam.godson]

He's the giant rat that makes all of the rules

[@dinitroacetylen]

A rat who came into the fortress looking for food judges in favour of the fortress' cook. What a lovely coincidence!

[@maxwellsimon4538]

>wanders in for food >captured and trained >eats delicious food >selected to judge opal contest >picks the cooks opal >refuses to elaborate >dies

[@許琳邦]

Bro，that gaint rat picking the jem is so hilarious

[@lolthien]

"Try to not keep you here too long... and why the hell did all our sheep spontaneously bleed?!?!?" Now THAT is quality content lolol

[@toryumau6798]

… Only in Dwarf Fortress can such a sentence ever make sense. >)X^D

[@ahhhhhhhh1647]

The donkey going insane and laughing at the top of a tree was so random lol

[@toryumau6798]

… Gotta love these moments of DF system jank turning into comedy gold. >)X^D

[@ChronoTriggerHappy]

simply the majestic call of the tree donkey, dont mind him

[@tacitidesong]

Rofa seems more like a guardian spirit than a beast to be slain at this point. It's a hunter itself, after all.

[@toryumau6798]

… Giving off massive Princess Mononoké forest guardian vibe. >):^D

[@lucaruxyz1075]

Agreed, make a shrine dedicated to the beast and hope it will just pay no mind to the dwarves.

[@JohnDrummondVA]

PS, I want a Krugg shirt that says "Toil today leads to legends tomorrow." Words to live by! Krugg wil be a DF legend forever.

[@dhbcodes]

I wish playing the game was half as fun for me as watching your stories

[@frog_man_ree]

Try doing a challenge run, maybe no immigrants, maybe constant war, it's up to you

[@satch5471]

Same, i just get burned out on making rooms for nobles and assigning and keeping track of dwarves with the awful sorting system

[@HelciusCabral]

When I'm fed up with organizing stuff I just go ape shit on the military and go on search and destroy mode

[@Atulack]

I really like watching Krugg but for me playing the game is even more fun! Everybody’s different, but for me it’s so important to have someone I can tell the stories of my fort. I seek interesting details and events so I can show or describe them to my friends. Without that part I can’t really play make believe and I don’t connect with dwarves in the same way. If I didn’t have invested friends I think I would create a fortress journal with screenshots and logbook. ofc the best advice is to learn that losing is fun. Striving for perfection can get boring, the greatest stories come from chaos and tragedy :)

[@johanneswerner1140]

There used to be succession forts, passing on saves from player to player. I was involved in some that got some attention. It was !fun!

[@ZinTyPhoon]

I cannot get over the fact your drew the giant rat as a capybara! Seriously, this made my day~

[@ultrajn]

Funny that Vesi is water in finnish. It was quite fitting name for forgotten beast

[@SlitheryDeeChannel]

The whip probably communicated its name to the dwarf that first held it telepathically. Poor artifact was trapped there for a millennia! The Japanese believe that even common household items can earn a spirit if they serve their masters for at least 100 years. They call it tsukumogami. That poor whip was probably catatonic by the time our brave dwarves rescued it!

[@sasha1mama]

Fortubately those beliefs are entirely fictitious. 'Haunted sandal' indeed.

[@kismethappel7811]

@@sasha1mama Yes, fictional; much like the poisonous horse-demon the whip was stuck in the gem cluster with, in this _video game._

[@fffantotal]

Since the whip's a divine object, maybe the creator god just whispered its name into one of the dwarfes' ears - and it happened to be a human god.

[@splotchdog1480]

You're probably not far from the truth there, since I expect the game generates the artifacts based on existing gods in the world. I wonder which human god is associated with 'twinkling metal'

[@toryumau6798]

@@splotchdog1480. … “Hegot, the god of DRIP.” >)X^D

[@LeafseasonMagbag]

@@splotchdog1480 "Twinkling" metals are created by gods with a Sphere of the Stars. Should be simple enough to find a human god with a Stars Sphere? Maybe?

[@abycarroll275]

From what I remember about whips in DF, they are incredibly powerful if made out of a heavy metal like silver. They are a bludgeoning weapon, and the damage is based on the weight of the material and the surface area of the striking surface. Whips have the smallest surface area of any bludgeon weapon, so silver whips generate incredible damage against armored opponents like bronze colossi

[@geoshark12]

They completely bypass armor due to a coding accident

[@BardMichaelKelly]

From what I've read, because adamantine is so light, blunt weapons made out of it (like whips or hammers) are like hitting your enemies with a whiffleball bat. So while a silver whip would be ludicrously strong, this artifact is a disappointing waste of adamantine.

[@atlander4204]

@@BardMichaelKelly But it’s not adamantine, it’s Divine Metal…still light, but not as light as adamantine.

[@caesarsalad77]

Not gonna lie, when the Forgotten Beast showed up, I was immediately very nervous...then I saw it was made of water and knew it'd go down quick...and then I saw the deadly dust and was terrified for all the dwarves. Talk about a stroke of luck. Maybe Rofa's watching over them.

[@HelciusCabral]

Yes same!! Talk about a roller coaster of emotions, I love DF for this reason.

[@alexistoran2181]

Oh dear, same. I've only played a couple of forts but I have had the experience of a whole squad rotting to death on their way out of a successful fight. Just thankful the queen was late to that party...

[@bbgun061]

Maybe the dwarves got "injured" because they fell down while dizzy? However it happened, Kruggsmash was incredibly lucky.

[@aaronshapiro2542]

Deadly dust is the worst because it persists as a coating on items and surfaces. I lost an entire fort to one puff of dust that caused a sudden hemorrhage disorder. every dwarf that that fought it died within a day, then every dwarf that touched them or walked through that corridor or tried to clean up a corpse died. went through 70 dwarves in about a week of game time.

[@millennialboomer6780]

I love the design of the Drunians. Like a hermit ape

[@beanofknowledge2125]

Really liked your explanation for the invisible Item! Also the intro made it kind off look like they found YOU inside of the Pillar, which was funny

[@toryumau6798]

… Ah, so that’s where he ended up after the third Splatterface incident, eh? >)X^D

[@MrMaradok]

Wouldn’t that be an interesting twist, finding a colonist instead one of those gem pillars!

[@TheDewbolt]

I got so scared when the dwarves were coated with extract. Had whole forts die in a matter of minutes in such a way and I don*t want to see the spearcavern gang end like this. Loved the dnd artwork

[@juliuscomnenus4415]

Hurray, more Spearcaverns! And yes, you did a really good job of weaving in the whip story. Given that it's a remnant of the forging of the world, it could even be that the whip itself spoke its name when they found it... weapons of the gods are WEIRD, right?

[@toryumau6798]

… Woah, that’s an awesome idea. Perhaps its ethereal appearance hints at its spiritual nature? >):^?

[@wep_vs]

Having a rat to pick the winner gem? Absolutely brilliant

[@waywardstranger1355]

You know Krugg, looking back at some of your old videos and the thoughts you expressed at the time, I'm glad that (it seems anyway) you're a lot happier these days and have found a rhythm that's not going to burn you out. Your content has always been fantastic imo, but I think that when you're really having fun it definitely comes across in the video. Hope it keeps up, and can't wait to see more of Spearcavern's story!

[@ohaenens]

Loved the Drunian art. The faces really got me.

[@RedAsTheFire]

Man, that bit with the forgotten beast was the embodiment of that emotional whiplash. When it showed up, I was pretty much thinking: Forgotten Beast: Panik It's made of water: Kalm "Beware it's deadly dust!": Panik

[@LanthusV]

Only a minute or so in and your masterwork skill for turning game weirdness into gripping fantasy narrative is showing. Love it

[@PNyka628]

loved this new episode, so much fun stuff; the fantasy monomolecular whip, the animals, the competition, the interactions of the dwarves, the forgotten beast, all just lovely

[@jingbot1071]

I think that forgotten beast made of water wasn't just some ancient entity. That was the curse that was set upon you for stealing a lash not made for mortal hands. The gift was not meant for dwarvenkind. The dust was merely the beginning. The curse is not over...

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

Looking at worms, beings without spines, does shed light on the value of spines.

[@junkjack1015]

Glistening swamp, tinkling whip, shining armor. There's a poem for you right there

[@SirWarkwark]

Letting us get to know only seven Dwarfs makes the emotinal impact so much more hard hitting! I actually teared up over Tiny and Boggy's marriage, and then instantly feel dread, and fear for the group suddenly surprise attacked by a beast with deadly dust! Holy pick! The punch I will feel in my gut if any of them gets hurt or worse!

[@tomcrazyOMG5]

I appreciate the mild absurdity that is making its way into your storytelling, Krugg. The 5 minutes of investment into a giant, pooping rat who dies right after being named is a real highlight for the series.

[@Kite403]

I can't think of a better time for a forgotten beast to come traipsing into the fortress lol. Good work Pop! It's kind of crazy how passive Rofa is being to the dwarves. Maybe it's a peaceful forgotten beast? Also that whip is going to be amazing I bet!

[@toryumau6798]

… Here’s to hope Boggy can make a name for himself with it, eh? >):^D

[@Robert-vk7je]

Your depiction of the drunian child made me laugh so hard. Thank you so much for your work, Krugg! xD

[@zedbee2736]

Having Boggy's hypothetical daughter with the same hairstyle as his beard style was an inspired choice

[@byronrasmussen3928]

Pop: "I'm bored and lonely and I hate hard work, I wish there was..." *interrupted by Forgotten Beast* *anime style HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT ME instakill* Pop: "...as I was saying,"

[@toryumau6798]

Tinny: [ *Nervous sweating intensifies* ] >)’:^/

[@zaubergurke5468]

Some of the best and most heartfelt content on youtube. You opened my eyes to the beauty of dwarf fortress

[@ilari90]

That engraving of the insane donkey, priceless.

[@toryumau6798]

… “What. Are you doing. In my tree?!” >)X^D

[@valvadis2360]

Deadly dust always give me anxiety for the poor dwarfs.

[@Shield_OW]

the sheer whiplash i got from mourning opal to spontaneously exploding sheep got me good lmao

[@aHedgerowFrog]

omg the rat judge holding the opal is so cute

[@madhijz-spacewhale240]

17:30 is peak dwarf fortress you'll be invested in a story that has played out in your fort and that brings to right next to something completely different and bizarre that has just been going on easily just as interesting but just unnoticed until then.

[@tando6266]

I think of the hidden stuff like lost silmarils in Tolkien's world. There were things lost in ages past that are getting rediscovered as we dig.

[@albinoitj]

Around 15:00 the soundtrack sometimes has a DING... Same as my phone message. I looked at my phone several times :)

[@OswaldOrtensia4ever]

My beloved rat Bea died recently in my arms, so I felt for Opal

[@Kkey884]

Thank you so much for doing screenshots updating what their skills are as the game goes on! It’s so appreciated to see their stats grow!

[@lyvras]

So I dont know what to write. But I just want to comment to give this vid more reach because you deserve more views. All craftsmanship is of the highest quality

[@LeafseasonMagbag]

I didn’t mean to write this long a comment but I did accidentally. So here’s a (brief) lesson in Dwarf Fortress physics. And jank. All weapons in Dwarf Fortress function by having a mass and accelerating that mass in an attack. Strength and weapon-skill add to this acceleration blah blah blah so you build up velocity in an attack. Different weapons also add a modifier to this velocity: naturally it is slower to swing a Warhammer than a knife. They convert the speed into force on the target over their Contact Area. The size of the blade or point, naturally. The larger the Contact Area the larger the wound but also the larger the space the force is applied over, which is important for the size of the wound as well as armor and material resistance. Larger weapons make larger injuries but smaller and faster ones cause deeper wounds and are more likely to penetrate armor (or particularly resistant flesh). The problem is that whips have the lowest Contact Area and highest Velocity modifier in the game. All the mass and velocity of the weapon concentrates into a relatively tiny space and this is sorta comparable to a gunshot, assuming the whip was made of the right material. Some other quirky stuff happens because whips Blunt weapons and so we throw out most of the other material properties of the weapon’s material (like Shear values) and only have to look at its Density. The denser the material a blunt weapon is made of, the more efficiently it turns force into damaged bodyparts. Silver Whips were called “Lightsabers” in the community because they can punch through just about anything and instantly pulp almost any body-part they are aimed at. A good silver whip in the hands of a skilled Lasher could probably cause a steel armored Giant's spine to explode with a hit to the chest. One thing to balance this is that whips take substantially longer to attack compared to most weapons. Divine metal is quite light as they go, but overall has very good material properties as a weapon. I would suggest trying it out. Might still be really good. (Also, a "twinkling metal" artifacts are created by gods with a Sphere/Domain of the Stars. Maybe check for a human god with a Sphere of Stars? That'll be your artifact creator.)

[@infinitevoid2964]

Always exciting to see krugg show up in my notifications!

[@tombofthememelich2192]

I am loving this series! The peek at individual dwarfs, the relationships, the characters (titan included), the fighting. It is all great stuff! My only fear is that, with your current defensive strategy, the life span of the fortress is defined by how long it takes a forgotten beast with webs to show up. It might be good to plan ahead for that occurrence.

[@tangodroid]

Love how the fort is evolving

[@alexistoran2181]

Nice to see the Crab getting his bin fix! I like how you interpreted the whip. Here's hoping none of the dwarves cut themselves trying to handle that razor wire. From what I've heard, there is/was a bug with whips' tiny surface area giving them way too much cutting strength and making armour near useless against them, but I don't know whether that's still a thing or not.

[@artificercreator]

Dwarf fortress can craft very intriguing stories, Thanks for the series.

[@BoroMonokli]

22:26 "Sounds a bit like" a monster coming into the wrong neighborhood

[@IsaacOtto]

That mid-life-crisis Sonic costume, wow. It perfectly encapsulates... something. I'll let you know when I figure out what that is.

[@DarthMetool]

17:39 The exasperated look of annoyance on that animal! Magnifique! 22:25 Okay. Not gonna lie. My jaw dropped at this moment.

[@e.o752]

Omg was anyone else giggling the whole time the rat judging was going on? That was amazing

[@Cowssandra]

I watch your videos every night to fall asleep, it's like having a parent read you a story.

[@Blackmagegalayis]

The drunians have this weirdly endearing quality; they're honestly kinda ugly, but it's of the kind that can be viewed as cute, too. This is especially true for the babies; it's like looking at an ugly kitten!

[@toryumau6798]

… There’s a word for it, I believe. “Fuggly” >):^]

[@TS-kt3nf]

This was so funny! I love everything about this episode! Thank you Kruggsmash for all the laughter and happiness

[@Tailstraw_xD]

I agree :3

[@BoxyTheGodsy]

Awwww, rat as a judge was awesome. :3

[@victorchat3031]

Really like the smaller team format, makes it feel much more personnal than a whole dwarf fortress, and every accident really matters

[@suzienewby7055]

I love this so much!!! Best episode! The drawing of the animals were awesome. The gem cutting contest, so cool, the pacing this episode was spot on, and drawing the whip semi invisible? Amazing.

[@johnniewoodard648]

"..you gotta really squint to see how cute they are..." The story of My life....I have a face made for radio, a voice made for print, and a brain not made for creative writing.

[@JohnDrummondVA]

CHOSEN BY RAT! I am laughing so hard at this ep

[@RisaxTheImp]

Having been directed to stories about Boatmurdered and what have you around the time I started Dwarf Fortress' Steam release I had really hoped we'd get more stories like it when the game came out. Sadly, I haven't found a lot of new stories or videos. So I was very glad to stumble upon your channel! I binged all the videos set in Athira Etha and I gotta say, you've done an excellent job with providing art and sound and the editing is always great, as is your narration. I subscribed and look forward to more Spearcavern and whatever comes next. Might even check some of your Classic DF fortress to keep me entertained as well. What I watched so far has certainly gotten me into Dwarf Fortress again. Keep up the good work!

[@Terr590]

Great job using Opal to pick the gem, really creative! Shame that Opal couldn't spend more time with us.

[@Galgamos]

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. :)

[@Lexyvil]

As much fun as DF is to play, it's crazy how much more fun it is to experience what others are experiencing. I want to keep playing DF, I really do, but I'm addicted to these and other player's playthroughs.

[@gedhawk4871]

As ever, absolutely magnificent. You're such a legend, Krugg! :D

[@jeandemezerville1469]

I really like the seven dwarves dynamic where I know and care for all the characters. The dust was really scary.

[@robilotte11]

you have gotten so good at storytelling with the game, the pacing, the editing, the drawings, everything is peak quality, thank you, as always

[@runswithbears3517]

Man, that intro is as amazing as the content itself. Your intros are some of the few I never skip!

[@zachb982]

Finally subscribed, really thinking of picking up the game again. Great content!

[@ErnestAutist]

I love the design and the idea of Drunians, I haven't heard or seen anything of them myself playing DF yet.

[@GoodCharless]

Hurray for a new Krugg video !!

[@garfunkel6975]

Using a giant rat to judge a gem cutting competition? Amazing, I say, simply amazing!

[@BenLeinweber]

Every one of your series has such a different vibe! You are just such an amazing story teller!

[@gravybillable]

Amazing. You are really great at this.

[@bigborger]

finally watching this series. This might be my new favorite intro, unseating monsterkiller's intro!

[@kban6748]

Krugg, just wanna say, love all the effort and care you put into these. Even with graphics now in DF, you keep coming up with such imaginitive art and ways to bring these stories to life. Now for the waiting ritual! Its like a good book im forced to put down lol.

[@IvanDogovich]

Anyday a Kruggsmash video drops is a good day! Cheers, Ivan ;D

[@ZesTofthelemon]

I imagine Citystandard the Trade of Ropes to have a rope that is visible, but only because of the twinkling metal it's made of - so it effectively looks like it's held together by Ring Power a la Knuckles' Chaotix.

[@kingcos19]

I love your stuff, but 12:45 is by far the funniest 💕😂😂

[@zglinaPL]

Great video! I hope we will see more of the depths&caverns in next episodes ;)

[@yobgodababua1862]

Love. It. Excellent art and storytelling

[@matthewmeyer1470]

Such a good video! Amazing drawings and storytelling

[@matthewsanchez7953]

Hope you use some of that native gold to make a giant rat statue! The little rat jumped up onto the pedestal after all!

[@dallinhunter7385]

I wonder if the dizziness caused by the dust made them trip and get minor injuries or something.

[@nils-peterwihlney8732]

Loved the episode. Felt sad when the rat died but it felt nice to think of it as it having died in peace after a life of turmoil and struggles in the dark caverns. Do you think there is a chance you will make a lore page about Northbridge or any of your other fortresses? I'd like to have a bit more lore on Northbridge and any of the other fortresses. Mostly Northbridge since I am having difficulties figuring out the guilds, their symbols, and the various dwarf families in the fortress.

[@Diarmuhnd]

*I scream, you scream, we all scream for KRUGGSMASH!* 😁

[@warzagg5022]

Oh man, I'm getting attached to some of these dwarves now. They all have such unique and wonderful personalities, at least as you portray them Krugg. I hope they all make it to the end of the series alive!

[@JMD501]

Just had a cool idea for a fort that has a strict caste system. It could give you a lot of opportunities for story telling. Peasant uprisings, corrupt ruling class, maybe there is a rift in the fort and you have 2 rival clans in separate forts right next to each other. It could be really cool and different.

[@erridian6838]

Man, I'm loving all of the creature art in this one XD I love that big fluffy rat boi and the Drunians. Excellent work as always you wonderful bearded bastard (And Mrs. K does amazing with coloring as always :D) XD I loved the opal contest....Also...NOOOOOO T.T I Opal!!!!

[@marcel_kogs]

I really like your video style, I just discovered it yesterday randomly and I can't get enough. Keep up the good work my bearded bastard 😅

[@yvindblff5628]

I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished temple to Idrath, in all its engraved glory. The dwarves may be satisfied with shoddy furniture, but Idrath deserves better, for all Idrath has done for the dwarves.

[@toryumau6798]

… A shrine to Rofa, just outside of its hunting grounds both to mark its domain for dwarves to stay out of and show respect for the gentle giant would be in order as well, eh? >):^]

[@hippieyoda1993]

Somewhat sacrilegious but part of me wants you to keep the rat and demon skeleton around on the chance that one of the dwarves uses it in a weird mood 😅

[@BradPrichard]

The volume difference between the opening song and the video was pretty extreme on this one. No big deal, but very noticeable.

[@Takoala]

Geez, first Opal dies, then it frickin rains blood?? Talk about bad omen, hope everything goes well in the fortress.

[@Nate-ys9pq]

Hey man, been loving your stuff for years. I pray for more attention to come to your art

[@kfogo7459]

this was an especially cool & funny episode! i lost it when the gems were judged and all haha what an awesome idea! :D

[@DuxAKADuke]

This channel is a gem, I'm so glad I found it :D

[@MisterJasro]

"Three Cheers for Boggy Ratchosen. Hiep Hiep Hoerai"

[@toryumau6798]

… Gotta be frank, that’s a catchy title. All hail the Ratchosen! >)X^D