Simon Swerwer - Danger Room
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- "Likot stared at the open gateway, and then the closed gate across the sand. Something green and vicious moved in the dark behind the bars. He was no longer afraid. His time had come, and they are all watching. The Crowskulls had just finished a song upstairs and he could hear the mayor call to the leverboys. Everyone was riled up now..."
This song is part of the first release of the Songs of Saltfork album for use in the Dwarf Fortress utility Soundsense by zwei (and for smooth stone lounge listening). SoS is loosely inspired by a coastal biome. You can find this song, and all my others for FLACking free at / simonswerwer
Drop a donation if the fey mood takes you at www.paypal.com...
(but please, seriously consider donating to Bay 12 Games first. These songs wouldn't exist without Toady and Threetoe providing the inspiration)
Otherwise, thanks for your support and look out for more in the future!
All songs and artwork are CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) so go nuts.
It's criminal this track doesn't seem to appear in Steam release
It does have a continuation in the adventure mode ost called Night Creatures
Its added!!! It just played in my gameplay! :D
@ This is the kinda news I'm *here* for.
@ I just had some soundtrack in fortress mode that felt new (didnt played for like year). This one went so hard that I started searching :D
It was truly awesome to hear the line AKUR AKIR AKAM in the new Adventure Mode OST. Feels like a continuation of the narrative.
This is still the most dwarven song I ever heard. No sad chanting about a lost mountain home. Just chearing, boasting, a story about winning and losing and fighting.
Also about becomming a vampire and killing your friends
instaBlaster.
A very df dwarf song -- how dwarvenly a song is depends on the kind of dwarf you're talking about
Keep in mind that what you see in The Hobbit is a mere fragment of a people who would be otherwise broken if they did not refuse to lie down. It took supernatural forces far beyond the understanding of mortals roughly three thousand years to weaken them to that point. The Dwarves were the only ones not afflicted by any curse or boosted by any unnatural force before the rings of power, and only then did their nobility fail, but the people remained strong and refused to be destroyed.
I know this is a hell of a rant, but I love the way they are portrayed. I love learning about the depictions of Dwarves from many different works, but I appreciate the depth and passion put into Tolkien's Dwarves, even though the classical happy-go-lucky miner pseudo-Viking type Dwarves still have a place in my heart.
@@Zarkarin Where can I read about the story of the dwarves in Tolkien's works?
I don't remember much about them in the Middle Earth books or the Hobbit.
And the Silmarillion I hardly remember reading much about them either. Only that they shouldn't have been in the world and one god added them because he wanted a people of his own and that is why they had to sleep in the stone for a long time.
It's amazing how punchy the phrase "Akur akir akam" sounds, surely it would be a ubiquitous Dwarven proverb, the equivalent of "fortune favors the bold"
Wish i could like this twice.
Yeah, you can imagine a group of dwarves playing cards or something and one puts down a risky play and his buddies all look at each other and go "ooh" at it and he shrugs and says "hey, akur akir akam"
or you could look at the romans with their phrase "Veni, Vidi, Vici"
For anyone else reading this, from the game's language files, this phrase translates literally to "Champion Reward Fortune".
And "mothram akur akam" can be used as the answer to "akur akim akam"; like Russian proverb "ни пуха ни пера" and the answer is "к чёрту!".
This song made me grow a beard, get drunk, and then catch on fire.
...and then stumble into the Drink stockpile, yes?
I am in🍺💪✋
You can skip a step by drinking magma instead
Did you become a battleaxe champion?
This song is ridiculously well-made.
All crafrdwarfship is excellent
"What's your taste in music!?"
Me: "It's complicated...."
This describes me perfectly. One minute it's heavy metal rifts, another this, another something else entirely.
This song not only have a wonderful rythme, but also have an incredible story in there. An hero raise by his normal father however have an abnormal life, being famous and powerful, but step on the fetal battle, eventually gone with all his partner, but the story of hero and fortune will going on forever, to the curse of fortune.
He was slain gloriously in the battle but was resurrected as a vampire, killing his former comrades and drinking their blood.
@@Levyafan ohhhh
Absolutely brilliant... All craftsdwarfship is of the highest quality. You are truly the original bardic dwarf!
Glad you enjoy and thanks for the bump!
This song menaces with spikes of manliness
☼Danger Room☼
Simon Swerwer has created a masterpiece!
This is a kickarse song. All craftsdwarfship is of the highest quality.
Akur Akir Akam!
Really hoping this song is one of the ones adapted into the premium version of DF! Very excited to hear more of your Dwarven songs either way, and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into all the changes to the game
Its not :(
@@thaemarkd1 aw, well theres always mods.
@@thaemarkd1 i would love to know why kitfox didnt include this banger in the new df.
“Drink & Industry” is the the new Lyrical DF song which isn’t too bad but definitely having lyrical classics such as this and Tankard Basher would have been great.
@@Berstiger11 Unsure, but Simon Swerwer was brought in to work on the theme at least. I think that's both recognition for talent and a nice little nod from the devs in appreciation of what Simon has done for the community. A very rare trait in game devs now, which is nice to see again.
Heyo, I'm self taught guitarist for 15 years. I've been a self taught singer for about 10.
I have written a few things myself but never posted it online because I don't really think it's very good.
I've always been worried that other people would think my songs are bad....
I think it's important for me to say that your songs really make me happy and inspired.
I really hope that you check these notifications...
I always felt like writing a cool song was impossible, but when I listen to your stuff, I feel like the only thing that's holding me back is myself.
Sometimes i think about how great artists died in poverty....
I hope you're doing well Simon.
You're far too talented for this world to understand.
Wow, honestly you deserve more likes and encouragement than you got in the end, so let me try to do that instead! Look, everyone's taste of music is different so there will always be people to shit on your work, but it's not about them, but only about you and if you enjoy what you do and like what you created that's all that matters. You don't have to post it online if you don't want that, but you shouldn't be afraid of it because you fear you're "Not good enough". It doesn't matter how good you are. It only matters if you enjoy it and if you are satisfied with it, please keep doing what you do and I hope I could help your insecurities a little with this 5 months late comment :)
@@hn4019 yes it's acoustic. the drum sounds also sound like someone tapping on the body
I really like how you used the actual dwarven language to write the lyrics, even if some words had to be omitted and the structure was basically just English's. Honestly just giving it a proper word order and adding verbs and adjectives would probably turn the dwarfish language into a fully fledged and speakable conlang.
This is one of the best tracks in the unofficial soundtrack and is sorely missing from the premium version of the game. I really hope that this can be worked in there somehow.
The Songs of Saltfork mod adds this album to the soundtrack.
This is amazing.
I'm amazed.
Urist McSafar felt amazement while listening to a fine song.
Urem bisol udos
Nanoth okil othil, gusil samam
Nas-okon arôl deler lam
Akur akir akam! (bis)
Rilem zikel lumash
Belal koman amas arôl-oram
Omer-ar deb or nil datan
Akur akir akam (bis)
Urem bisol udos
Nanoth okil othil, gusil samam
Nas-okon arôl deler lam
Akur akir akam! (bis)
Alnis! Zugob bardum!
Fidgam! Abod sodel libash samam!
Obur råsh nekol atot am!
Akur akir akam (bis)
(Minkot does the dagger dance)
Mondul kisat arban
Råsh ir thunen, egen nalish anan
Eddaz babin nazush eb zin
Mothram akir akam! (bis)
---
Come back Simon, we need you!
You're a gentleman and a scholar.
Legend! And also yeah, even now many years later.
"So what's your favorite kind of music?"
Dwarves.
"Wha-"
_Dwarves._
Congratulations on getting to work on the DF official soundtrack! It's super neat to see you get included in it, you deserve it.
I need to hear more DF Dwarven folk songs like this!
Darn, I'm honestly sad this one didn't make it into the Steam release sound track!
I heard this play before on it tarn added it.
I think its reserved for parties and events.
You may be mistaking it with Drink and Industry, no?
I need more music like this in my life.
This song is stuck in my head for a looong long time. Totally my favorite.
I really want this in the premium version! MORE TAVERN SONGS!
I had no idea this existed. Yet this is the song of my people.
Some of the highest quality music around. What an inspiration you are.
I can't help but start stomping my feet when I hear this firing up ..
This song really gets my knee bouncing
actually sounds like something dwarves would listen to, nice
Certified Rock and Stone moment
I fucking love how you can hear Likot screaming while he charges right before the beginning of the song.
This was my favorite song when it played on SoundSense, it feels good to know I can listen to it at will now. Thanks. :)
I changed policies for my funeral insurance. There was a tab about funeral wishes. I told them that this has to be the song that needs to be played while the wooden ship with my dead body on it is set on fire by a flaming crossbow bolt shot by my brother. I could not think of a better way. -- Råsh ir thunen, egen nalish anan
This is such amazing work. I hope we haven't heard the last from the creator.
I would love more dwarven singing songs. They are great!
Imagine this actually playing in the steam version. Bliss
I DID IT AND ITS AWESOME
Hey guys. Two new ones! Ok, gotta run! Here's the Soundcloud link to the album (the two at the bottom of the playlist): soundcloud.com/simonswerwer/sets/dwarf-fortress-soundtrack-2014
+Simon Swerwer great voicework, great recording, great work
good sir, could you upload the whole albums somewhere like dropbox?
I wrote down translation lyrics from video:
My father was a peaceful man
Never tested his weak, copper courage
But i am urbundened under steel and stone
Champions are rewarded by fortune!
Champions are rewarded by fortune!
Youth was a firece frenzy
My fame spread to the depths of the underworld
Goblins ate my large iron hammer
Champions are rewarded by fortune!
Champions are rewarded by fortune!
My father was a peaceful man
Never tested his weak, copper courage
But i am unbundened under steel and stone
Champions are rewarded by fortune!
Champions are rewarded by fortune!
War! To grand battle!
Assemble! Strike shield and axe for courage!
The hero dies with his skull chopped open!
Champions are rewarded by fortune!
Champions are rewarded by fortune!
My grave is and empty cradle
Death is a new life, given to the night
At midnight my friends are sucked dry of blood
Curse the fortune of champions!
Curse the fortune of champions!
This.
This is the stuff.
Dwarf stuff.
And by the way, funny thing, I just discovered that you faved my dwarfy pic on deviantART some time ago.
So, thanks, I guess. Internet is very small sometimes.
Ah, yeahhhh :) Hey again.
Hai
Just gotten into DF after years of trying. This song was the tipping point for me.
Absolute genius, your voice is fantastic. Thank you!
I'm now hellbent on learning this by heart. It will be done!
How did it go?
I was listening to this while watching my 2 squads of 10 dorfs total fight a bull with wooden swords for 20 minutes
So this isn't Afrikaans or Spanish, or anything else I know. Did you actually source all the lyrics from Toady's dwarf language? If so, that in and of itself is impressive, why isn't the language cited anywhere?
*looks up all the words in DF*... you crazy dwarf... you actually did it... you pulled all the words out of the game. I'm with the guy below, this made me grow a beard, get drunk, and set myself on fire....
If you search through your df files you'll find the language somewhere . Still , this song is impressive.
Yes, quite impressive.
@@infamedepatates2502 me lembrou a lingua do país basco
@@infamedepatates2502 Spanish phonetics are designed based on the original Latin but with inclusions for other language such as Iberic, Gaulish, Basque, Arabic, and Gothic/Germanic, so it's normal that a language based on the Latin alphabet but with more sounds of mostly European origin would be similar.
@@Cruxador Phonetically Spanish is very Basque. Basque has 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and Spanish only has those five, while other Romance languages in the península have more
Finally! Been looking for this song for months. Love it
That's freaking amazing!!! I heard this in soundsense, but thought it's some Norwegian/Finnish/Swedish folk song....
Truly, when my next fort has a bard, his name shall be Simon.
And he shall be the drunkest of all my dwarfes.
This is so good. Unbelievably good.
This song made me to get my sword and axe and go outside.
Beware neighbors! Now you will know why you fear the night.
Every attempt I've seen to "flesh out" the dwarven language has started with the concession that the language is incomplete. It's missing pronouns, adverbs, conjunctions -- lots of basic parts of speech that you'd normally need to build a coherent language. And yet I think this song challenges that assumption. Simon hasn't added anything to the dwarven language; the closest he comes to adding new language is "omer-ar" for "goblins", and that's effectively an epithet using the existing vocabulary. Dwarven has no established grammar, and he makes no attempt to contrive one. Instead we get what is effectively a series of images, composed almost entirely of nouns (even the "verbs" in dwarven are for the most part indistinguishable from their verbal noun counterparts), and the result is… _really_ interesting linguistically. There's almost a "Kuleshov effect" going on where the juxtaposition of two nouns communicates more than the sum of its parts. The first stanza literally translates to: "Father peace man; never test weak, copper courage; unburden under steel stone; champion reward fortune!" And while the shift from talking about his father to talking about himself (between "courage" and "unburden") kind of gets lost, it otherwise speaks pretty well for itself.
this is so fire, love hearing this in DF
Just delicious! Thx for the GREAT background, when i´m bound in my fortress!!
Holy crap! Pardon my French but this is f--king epic!
The sound at the beginning, that can only be an elf. :P
This is the Dwarfiest thing I've ever seen. Good work!
Why hasn't anyone done a music video of this yet? I wanna see people dancing to this.
[Minkot does the dagger dance] :D
superb
I need a 10 hour video of this song, its so good and dwarfy
Not sure if you still check these comments SImon but your songs really bring to life what we love about dwarf fortress, the stories and the tales we see and make while playing this funny game, here's hoping your continued involvement in the DF community and making music for the steam release in adventure mode!! (maybe a re-do of Danger Room?)
Repost if you hate elves
This is fucking awesome. Urist McQuietforte is pleased, and will be dropping off donations when he is next able.
This is a true masterpiece
This is a bop
this is amazing and a true testament to the df community, our lord and saviour toady would be proud. Please send this to him and try implement yourself as a preset god of bards in world gen
grab the lazy newb pack of DF, comes with soundsense, which features all this guy's music.
He's also one of the composers for the Steam Release. Toady knows his work.
I love it! :D
Listening to this at 1.5 speed is pretty sweet, too.
Akur Akim Akam !
AKUR AKIR AKAM
This.
This is the stuff.
/tg/ stuff.
When people think of dwarven music, this is the shit right here
Hnng, I'm gonna have this stuck in my head now. o3o
I would love to see a guitar lesson for this! I'll learn it for my friend who loves this. :D
The laughter at the end makes it feel like the next song is “Feel Good, Inc.”
The literal translation:
Father peace man
Never test weak, copper courage
Un-burden under steel stone
Champion reward fortune!
Champion reward fortune!
Youth fierce frenzy
Fame spread depth under world
Green flesh eat large hammer iron
Champion reward fortune!
Champion reward fortune!
Father peace man
Never test weak, copper courage
Un-burden under steel stone
Champion reward fortune!
Champion reward fortune!
War! Grand fight!
Assemble! Strike shield axe courage!
Hero death skull chop open!
Champion reward fortune!
Champion reward fortune!
(minkot does the dagger dance)
Grave empty cradle
Death new life, gift forever night
Midnight friend blood suck dry
Curse reward fortune!
Curse reward fortune!
Still one of my favorite tracks, Akur Akir Akam!
Yüzyüzüyezken vuruşuruz
DWERDASDOKSDKISADIKPSADIPKS TOQTİR GELDİN DİMİ
kast! bomel! aval saràm geshud shasad!
Listening during 2020 Pandemic
Song that Plays When the Monarch Requests Seven Symbols Not Of This World
Awe China, Just got into DF. Freaking awesome stuff and your music just puts the cherry on top. Is this you singing? It doesn't sound like your Afrikaans stuff. Aaah sheez and your fucking South African this make me so happy. I'm busy doing my M.sc in Nature Conservation at Trinity college in Dublin( ha ha the definition of a proper souty!!!), I started Dwarf fortress to escape the weather here. I don't have a musical bone in body but I can still recognize that these songs are something special. Keep up the good work bru.
Timothy Smith Thanks, Timothy. Yeah, I'm doing the singing. Glad you found DF, man. You're one of the few South Africans playing it, it seems. In regards to my going back to SA, I go when I have a chance, I guess. Dang scientists not inventing teleportation technology!
AKUR AKIR AKAM!
Amazing music man! I'm a South African and I wanna know when exactly we're going to get to see you performing live. I'd definitely pay for a ticket, and after showing this song to a few people, none of whom play Dwarf Fortress, I know other people would too.
Whilst listening to this song, I had to go to the bathroom. Not bothering to pause the song, since the bathroom is adjacent to the room where the computer is located, I rushed to the bathroom. When I turned on the lights to the bathroom, however, I found myself not staring at the shower on the opposite wall, but a gladitorial arena with screaming fans completely packing the dwarven bleachers. I was dressed in full iron armor, and an iron sword with craftsdwarfship of the highest quality.
Across the arena, there was a large ominous barred gate. A small figure pulled a lever nearby, and the portcullis slid open. A green shape the size of a house emerged from the dark. Burning yellow eyes bore into mine. Quick as a flash, it darted towards me, but I expertly sidestepped its charge and stabbed into its side. However, while I did injure the beast, the layer of fat protecting the vital organs was far too thick, and my sword was lost inside. Feeling the sword like a particularly large and painful splinter, the monster roared a roar that shook the arena, standing up on its haunches and attempting to slam down on me. The beast missed, but the force of the air moving out of the way flung me backwards into a wall.
Sensing death almost upon me as the vile creature slowly made its way towards my shaking body, I gained a second wind and jumped to my feet, running at the creature in a burst of courage. I managed to spot the sword, still lodged inside the creature, despite the jostling. I dashed for it and pulled it out with a large heave. The beast lunged for me again, but I rolled out of the way (taking care not to trip and stab myself on the sword) just as the slipstream of the monster blew past me. Bellowing a mighty scream, I flung myself at the monster, finding a hold on the massive green scales. I pulled myself on top of the horror, and slowly climbed my way towards the head. The behemoth writhed and bucked, but I managed to hold on tight, finally reaching my destination.
With a yell loud enough to wake a dwarf that hadn't slept for weeks, I plunged the sword deep into the base of the giant's skull. The monstrosity roared and roared, until it finally bled out, myself still holding onto the scales. I cried from the shock of what I had just been put through, before falling asleep due to my exhaustion despite the roar of the crowd around me, eventually waking up on my bathroom floor.
10/10, would almost crap myself again.
+Ethan Garen I think you had too much to drink.
ThatZommy Too young to drink
Ethan Garen Then someone put something in your food.
ThatZommy I KNEW the waiter at TGI Friday's looked suspicious...
+Ethan Garen Did you at least get a ghost wipe?
All Dwarven songs need to be included in DF Premium!
Hey Simon! I was wondering if you had any tips for writing songs in dwarven? I really want to try writing some and i love what you've done here! Would you just recommend using the Dictionary on the Wiki as a good source for the language?
Hey Bradley. I'd be happy to help. I made a program to help me write the songs called Toadese Language Utility (you can find it on the Bay12 forums under "Utilities and 3rd Party Applications". I haven't uploaded the most up-to-date version that I use yet, but it only has some bug fixes and a more intelligent search function. Let me know if it helps (and if you have any suggestions/requests!).
Also, another thing I noticed. The DF languages don't seem to have diphthongs, so you can probably assume that one vowel = one syllable.
I write them out in English first, then translate. However, you'll notice a lot of filler words are missing. Most notably, "to be", hehe. You might have to be creative with compound words. I personally used omer-ar or "greenflesh" for goblin :D
Simon Swerwer That will be really useful probably! (just need to get it working on my Mac).
Im really interested in the harmonic and melodic designs you use for your songs. Melody wise it sounds like you're using an E Aolian Mode (at least for this piece), what ideas do you use to make it a "dwarven" sound though? The overdubbing and panning you use to separate the voices really broadens the sound along with the reverb, certainly sets the scene of it all and all of that definitely helps with the vocals, but when i hear your music and chords it always makes me think of Dwarves quintessentially. Do you have any tips or tricks with the harmonic composition to make it really resonate through the mountain-homes if you will haha?
Bradley Kagan
Hehe, yeah, at the moment I'd have no idea how to port C# to a Mac.
About the other questions. I'm not sure if it's the E Aolian consistently since I very rarely consider to modes when brainstorming. I can give you some esoteric advice though: I listen to a lot of medieval folk and I firmly believe saturation influences your compositions. This (th-cam.com/video/6GRLRm9oKUM/w-d-xo.html) for example, I have probably listened to over a hundred times by now. Get some Irish drinking songs in there, as well as Scandinavian stuff (yes, the metal as well, why not?). The chord progs can be simple, but I do start there when building the melody. If I have to guess, I'd say that dwarven drinking songs flirt with the minor pentatonic scale. Or at least I play around with it while writing. Might wander off every now and then though.
I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. I usually wait for a fey mood to attempt something anyway. It's not like I have a mountain home of my own, hehe. I also try to imagine the whole scene before the time so as to be inspired by the vibe of the "gig", you know? I think of boomy thumping stompers with beers in their hands and utter, beardy chaos. You're living underground surrounded by drunkards and monsters.
Let me know if you have any other questions. I'd love to hear what you come up with!
@@SimonSwerwer wow, you're a coder as well! Impressive!
AKUR AKIR AKAM!!!
By Armok! This is good
Reposting :
Urem bisol udos
Nanoth okil othil, gusil samam
Nas-okon arôl deler lam
Akur akir akam! (bis)
Rilem zikel lumash
Belal koman amas arôl-oram
Omer-ar deb or nil datan
Akur akir akam (bis)
Urem bisol udos
Nanoth okil othil, gusil samam
Nas-okon arôl deler lam
Akur akir akam! (bis)
Alnis! Zugob bardum!
Fidgam! Abod sodel libash samam!
Obur råsh nekol atot am!
Akur akir akam (bis)
(Minkot does the dagger dance)
Mondul kisat arban
Råsh ir thunen, egen nalish anan
Eddaz babin nazush eb zin
Mothram akir akam! (bis)
The literal translation:
Father peace man
Never test weak, copper courage
Un-burden under steel stone
Champion reward fortune!
Champion reward fortune!
Youth fierce frenzy
Fame spread depth under world
Green flesh eat large hammer iron
Champion reward fortune!
Champion reward fortune!
Father peace man
Never test weak, copper courage
Un-burden under steel stone
Champion reward fortune!
Champion reward fortune!
War! Grand fight!
Assemble! Strike shield axe courage!
Hero death skull chop open!
Champion reward fortune!
Champion reward fortune!
(minkot does the dagger dance)
Grave empty cradle
Death new life, gift forever night
Midnight friend blood suck dry
Curse reward fortune!
Curse reward fortune!
It was inevitable.
I play this to annoy my wife and I love it!
Who else is here from StringStorm’s cover?
I used this video to make / transcript the translation to the video. It's not like it was in his /her description
Funny enough it made me come back to this song after forgetting about it for quite a while. Happy to remember and hear such fine craftdwarfship of the highest quality.
Yep, came to like it, but then seen I've liked it in the past. Shame can't multi-like...
ooh someone covered this?
@@Supertimegamingify yes , it's a metal cover and the person who made this is named stringstorm
Still waiting for more like this
Minkot RoomDangered is a night creature! It is terrifying!
I will figure out Minkot's lore!
It must take a lot of time to translate the lyrics and such. But you put in the hard work, and with hard work comes a good product.
Thanks so much for this comment, and I appreciate the consistent support.
You are COOL!!!
Hello from russian dwarfs, we dig very deep
I mean if you think about it, if someone owns lands in or around a mountain, you get a bunch of (volunteers) people who are 5-4.10ft tall and have them learn this language, you could basically make dwarves into reality. Just would need to do some family history too see if they have any tall relatives incase a child is tall. Oh and they should get into the mining business.
(Ik it probably wouldn’t work out, but let a man dream.)
We must do this. I don’t care what it takes, this must become a reality!
@@rapidrush6033 frrrr
The ancestor gods are pleased
repub if hate elves
Danger rooms should be renamed "coffin maker training rooms."
Who painted the artwork? This is pretty awesome.
That'd be me :) simonswerwer.deviantart.com/
I was going to ask if you have a Deviantart account but you already provided the link :)
Cheers!
@@SimonSwerwer wtf dude! Music code and art!? Save some talent for the rest of us.