I Used Wood and Shell to Conquer Goblins in Dwarf Fortress

Mining is literally the first thing you do in most playthroughs. It's the basis for the most important economies and how you design almost all of your fort. Can you even survive without it? What about going out and winning wars while armed only in what you find without the most fundamental part of Dwarf-hood? Will they regain their honor by slaying two goblin empires or will they fall like the homeland wanted all along?