Throughout the rest of the day, everyone had things to do. Some were training, others busy building, and some making sure we have enough food and water for the journey. Since we had more time, we prepared extra food and water, all together we have 20 baskets of food and 20 bags of water. Most of the NPCs heading out will be carrying a basket of food and water each with some of the more agile and nimble NPCs being scouts. We also had more arrows that were packed into quivers as well as all the extra weapons, shields and armor placed together. Everything was ready, everyone felt ready and I too felt like it was time to move out of HavenFall for a while and get to know more about this world.
After dinner people started to go back to their houses, resting up for the night. I told everyone that will be participating on our journey to make sure they get proper rest. Stellar had informed me that the cores were ready and old man Hus had fabricated a small pouch that sits on the right side of the waist.
However, during the night I couldn't sleep. Was it the excitement of moving around and discovering the world? Or was it because I was worried about what will happen? Maybe a bit of both….
I know I feel excited, I mean who wouldn't be? I stayed around the vicinity of HavenFall for months making sure things progressed, aiding to the small tasks that need attention, fighting groups that attack us but never have I really traveled far away. It is going to be a long journey taking up weeks of travel time maybe even resulting in a month-round trip. I will be seeing new monsters and either interacting with them or fighting them. Maybe even new biomes and definitely new dangers. Which makes me worried. I can only prepare so much for everyone and I can only see so much happening in front of me. I'm not a fighter so the best I can do is be the strategist or a general, or a commander for our group. I need to lead them on the safest path. I need to-
"Ian? Are you awake?"
Amidst my thoughts, a soft voice is heard outside my house. I get up and walk towards the door to see Kingston, with a worried face.
"What's wrong?" - Ian
"Can we talk? It's about our journey towards the point on the map." - Kingston
"Sure. What do you want to talk about?" - Ian
"Well, it's about me. I know I have gone berserk twice now. Once with you and another with David. I'm worried that I might accidentally kill someone." - Kingston
"Kingston-" - Ian
"I know, I know. You are going to tell me that it is alright and that it won't happen, but I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel something inside of me. Ready to burst out at any point in time. I can feel it." - Kingston
"Kingston. Let me ask you. What are your thoughts on when you go berserk and what are your thoughts on how to deal with you?" - Ian
"My thoughts? It's bad. I can feel that it is bad. I'm hurting people. It happened in the real world as well. I went berserk. I lost control of my anger." - Kingston
"Right but you also told me that things were stressing you out at home. Money problems and the Bones breathing down your neck about information. You told me that the information you are giving them is very vague notes on the center. A forest with dangerous animals and a canyon housing golems. You never mention us and I thank you for that, but if it gets too much you will go berserk again. There are times when you need to look after yourself, calm down, relax and look at the bigger picture." - Ian
'What do you mean?" - Kingston
"So what if they know we are here? If that is what is making you stressed, tell them that a player has settled here. What can they do about it?" - Ian
"But…" - Kingston
"We will deal with it when it comes. Don't worry about it." - Ian
"Then what happens if I go berserk in the middle of the group?" - Kingston
"We will subdue you." - Ian
"What if that is not enough?" - Kingston
"Then…" - Ian
"Kill me." - Kingston
"No, we won't need to." - Ian
"No. kill me. I'm a player. Killing me won't set me back but if the NPCs die because of me. I don't know what I would do. I have been with them for a while now and they are like another family. Hurting David was already too much so just kill me if I become too much to handle." - Kingston
"Kingston, we can subdue you it will be okay." - Ian
"Then, promise me. IF I become too much to handle, kill me." - Kingston
"Kingston we-" - Ian
"Promise me." - Kingston
"But-" - Ian
"IAN! Promise me…You will kill me okay?" - Kingston
"...Okay. I promise." - Ian
"Good." - Kingston
Kingston shows a relieved smile as starts to turn away to walk back to his own abode.
"Wait, Kingston." - Ian
"Yea?" - Kingston
"Promise me, that you will do as much as you can to stay sane. Do your best to never go berserk unless there is no other option." - Ian
"I promise." - Kingston
With a nod, Kingston walks away. I let out a deep sigh. I knew Kingston had thoughts about his berserk state but I never knew how conscious it was to him. I feel like he let out a weak side of himself and he needed someone to throw him a safety net. With me reassuring him that I will handle the matter, it must have taken a load off his chest.
I go back to bed and sleep through the rest of the night, waking up at the crack of dawn. I get out of my house and I can already see the hustling and bustling. Goblins running back and forth between the pile of weapons, armor, shields, food and water bringing in more and more. At the same time, the ones getting ready to go out were slowly putting on their equipment, getting help from other people to put on the armor correctly, or getting help to place the brackets on their backs.
"IAN, come and get ready as well." - Howard
I see Howard helping out, Yor with putting on his armor. He yells me over and I quickly jog towards him.
"Where is my equipment?" - Ian
"Over here." - Noah
I turn to the side and see Noah holding onto my chest plate with the rest of my armor and weapons on the side. I allow him to help me put everything on as we talk about our future thoughts on HavenFall and on the journey.
"Ian, I have a question about how you want to progress on the mining?" - Noah
"Go on." - Ian
"The construction of the road is nearing 75% completion, however, we haven't made any plans for mining just yet. I'm slightly confused with how you want to go about it since you will not be here at the time of operation." - Noah
"Before the road is complete, I want you to ask old man Hus to construct more wheelbarrows. Ask him to use stone for the wheel and for the frame while using wood for the rest. It needs to be light but sturdy since all the weight is going to be from the copper. After that, some of the goblins left behind have experience with mining, ask them for advice and make sure to take them down to the spot. Pushing the wheelbarrow up and out of the cave will require some muscle, so let the strongest people do that. Make sure there are guards at the front of the cave as well as scouts positioned further out in case we have any uninvited guests. How does that sound?" - Ian
"Perfect. I will modify it depending on the situation however, using that as a base will be enough. I will also start on increasing the defenses of HavenFall." - Noah
"What are your plans for that?" - Ian
"Well, the original wall can be improved. I know it is a mud wall with mud bricks, however, I think it can be replaced with a mixture of clay and golem stone. A lot of the stones that were broken into small pieces can be mixed into the clay during the brick-making stage in order to enhance the defense of the wall. I also think behind the wall needs to be more archer towers. At the moment there is only 1, I'm thinking of making 3 more." - Noah
"Sounds good to me. It will also allow us to see further into the distance and maybe even over the canopy of the forest." - Ian
"I also think, I should create a pathway in Havenfall. The main area looks kind of bare and since we have a lot of time, I was thinking of redecorating." - Noah
"You want to make HavenFall look nicer?" - Ian
"Of course." - Noah
"Then go ahead. I will be excited to see the result when I come back." - Ian
"Who should go into the Ikanda after Luke comes out?" - Noah
"He hasn't been gone for too long but I estimate a couple more days before he finishes. I think the next person to go in would be Gobi." - Ian
"Not Howard?" - Noah
"No. I need both you and Howard to look after this place while I am gone. Ask Gobi to find a suitable goblin to take over his role before he goes into the Ikanda, okay?" - Ian
"Understood." - Noah
I finish putting on all the pieces of equipment as well as the basket of food on my back and the water bag strapped to my waist. I fasten the little scutum shield to my arm and held onto my polearm. I walk to the gate and look back behind me. Everyone had just finished getting ready as well and was standing in rows looking at me. Goblins on the left, then demi-humans, then humans and then people closest to me with the wolves laying on their stomachs on the right side. I take a deep breath and lick my lips.
"Everyone. It is time. You have spent the last couple of days preparing for this moment. You knew we were going. You trained and you prepared yourself mentally for what is to come. I will not lie to you. Some of you might perish on this journey. HOWEVER, I will do my best to make sure everyone here makes it home. I want everyone here to come back to our home. Our home, HAVENFALL." - Ian
I raise my polearm up towards the sign above the gate. I start to shout at the top of my lungs so everyone can hear.
"TODAY WE LEAVE HAVENFALL AND ONCE WE GET BACK WE WILL SEE THAT SIGN ONCE AGAIN WELCOMING US BACK. WE WILL VENTURE OUT AND RETURN HOME, TO HAVENFALL!.
The moment I finish my speech an uproar occurs. Yelling from everyone, screaming from the goblins, and cheers from the ones that are staying. It is time to move. I turn my back on everyone and pushed the gates aside, taking the first step towards our new adventure.
Name: Ian
Race: Human
Faith: 3127/10,000 ( Reach 10,000 to pick a Religion )
Happiness: 20 ( Happy ) 475/1000 ( Reach 1000 for a Golden Age )
Health Points (HP): 30/30
Mana Points (MP): 5/5
Strength: 10
Vitality: 15
Intelligence: 10
Dexterity: 5
Agility: 15
Luck: 11
Equipment: Lucky Goblin Totem Necklace, Stone Golem Polearm, 2 x Golem Stone Knife, Stone Chest Plate, Wooden Helmet, Wooden Arm Guards, Wooden Leg Guards, Little Scutum ( Circle ),
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om