"Hey, Ian! Is that the new building?" - Kingston
Waving his hand as he walked to me was Kingston. Ever since leaving the mountain, he had been a bit under the weather. However, seeing him now with a little more energy meant he sorted things out as he was traveling with the others.
"This is a Krepost. Healing is increased inside, and it has an automatic defense system, plus you get an increase in stats just being near it. You should see the buff on the top right of your vision." - Ian
"Oh, you are right, I didn't see it before. A small house icon with a plus next to it, simple enough, but the buff is very good. Increasing stats by 10% can become very vital in defensive battles." - Kingston
"Right, especially since there might be a new event coming soon." - Ian
"You told us about that, but it's not confirmed yet." - Kingston
"It's not confirmed, but it does make sense. Most players have been building their forces and their village or training themselves to become stronger. So it makes sense to finally put an event where it will test the limits of current players." - Ian
"What's more is the Kings are becoming more active. During the week, Evan told me that more interactions between the players and monsters are part of the King's army. A lot of fighting and a lot of dying. Finally using the group chat, sorry I wasn't active a lot before, was trying to get used to things…" - Kingston
"It's okay, don't worry about it." - Ian
"So, what's the plan?" - Kingston
"Tomorrow morning we head back to HavenFall. At the moment, I am having the goblins collect vines to create a rope so that we can mark the way home. This way we can create a path suitable for foot traffic as well as wagons and caravans, which is the next step in improving our transportation." - Ian
"Making a road from HavenFall to this place?" - Kingston
"Yep. This place is an abundant source of materials as well as food. It also overlooks the grassland and provides a starting point to when we need to go towards the mountain again if we need to go that way." - Ian
"Alright sounds good. Do you mind if I stay here?" - Kingston
"Sure, what's on your mind?" - Ian
"I'm just so weak. There is nothing else to it. My base stats are weak. The only thing that is keeping me going is my Spear of Light and the fact that when Endless Rage activates, I'm insanely strong. However, I don't want to go into that state unless I can control myself. I hate it…" - Kingston
"So, you are going to stay here and keep fighting monsters?" - Ian
"Yeah. Not just me, David, Gibing, and Ken agreed to stay with me in trying to grow stronger. David felt useless when we had to fight the dinosaur, Gibing and Ken couldn't do anything. We just felt so small compared to everything around us. So, we agreed to grow stronger together." - Kingston
"Alright. I'll allow the 4 of you to stay and roam about, however, I want you to go out during the day and come back here at night. Find a route that maximizes monster encounters while ending at the Krepost. Heal during the night and relax before doing the same thing the next day." - Ian
"Alright, I'll also keep you update on the progress here. I'm assuming you want to build some walls or buildings centered around the Krepost." - Kingston
"Yeah, some sort of stables or barn building for the monsters, as well as a wall to help defend against wild monsters that want to attack the Krepost. You will be alerted of any attacks by the defensive system, but always keep a day and night watch. Yor and the shield-bearers will be here doing construction, so you just need to go out and hunt. Any materials, just store it here while I find time to construct a road and then a wagon to bring it back to old man Hus." - Ian
"Got it. Now let's have some food!" - Kingston
Kingston pats my back as he lightly pushes me toward the main group. Dinner is skewered meat and vegetables, and the aroma of the meat as it cooks fills the air. Chatter and laughter fill the air as everyone eats and relaxes in the chill night breeze. Once we finish, the night watch starts and everyone goes to sleep. The night went by fast, and before I knew it, morning had arrived.
"Leader Ian, we have collected vines to the point that everyone needs to carry them." - Gopopo
"Good job Gopopo, were you doing this at night as well?" - Ian
"Alright, bring everyone together. Time to go home." - Ian
"Yes, leader Ian!" - Gopopo
The ones going back to HavenFall were the 6 goblin scouts, the 5 goblin archers, Stellar, Solar, Kaede, Nina, Lynn, Sylvia, Luna, Dawn, Frank, Gyumi, Gopopo, and Gewari. Each of us wore a basket on our backs containing the materials we got from the monsters, as well as a bundle of vines. Instead of scouting out like how we have normally gone about when moving through monster territory, I decided to keep a tight circle.
We make a path by wrapping the vines around the trees as we make our way toward HavenFall, taking into account slopes and terrain features. Since this vine path will eventually become the road between HavenFall and the Krepost I want to make sure that the path is smooth with as few twists and turns as possible.
I also don't want the path to be too sloped, since the caravans that will eventually be traversing the road will contain a lot of material that might weigh it down. Unfortunately, with my requirements, the path ends up taking a curved detour before crossing the river and making a straight line towards HavenFall.
As we draw closer to HavenFall I notice the goblin scouts approaching us. Some goblin scouts were new, while some I have interacted with before. However, after a little more walking, we arrived back at HavenFall.
The first thing I notice was that the walls have been replaced, or should I say improved. Instead of the brown mud-brick wall, it was a mix of wooden pillars and frames, with clay bricks in between. 4 wooden towers loom behind the wall, 2 at the gate and 2 at the sides, each with 3 goblins on the top ready to shoot anyone with their bow and arrows.
There was also a smaller wall about the size of a goblin in front of the moat, with wooden spikes pointed away from HavenFall. Replacing the old wooden boards as a bridge were more stable wooden planks with a wooden handrail on both sides. The gate also was replaced with a wooden door, big enough to fit 3 people side by side, while being tall enough to fit an ogre.
The doors open outwards and a smiling Howard appears with his arms wide open.
"WELCOME HOME!" - Howard
Right behind him Lime, Lucina, Noah, and Gobi ran out as well.
"We are home." - Ian
"Goblins come help out our brethren." - Gobi
"Yes, boss!" - Goblins
Gobi's goblin troops rush out of the gates, taking off our baskets and helping us inside. Once I was inside, was when I saw the improvements that Noah and Howard had made. All the buildings were improved to have wooden frames with brick walls and wooden roofs. Some even had windows carved out of the walls. The Barracks and the Armory had a second section attached to the side of the building.
I could spot 10 wheelbarrows lined up on the side, with some of them filled with dirt and broken clay pots. Not just that, from the gate to the other side of HavenFall where the two statues are placed, is one straight footpath made up of clay bricks. It branches to the left side where the Barracks and the Armory, as well as the right towards the resident houses.
"How does everything look?" - Noah
"We did good, right?" - Howard
"Amazing. You both did incredibly well. I didn't think you could achieve this much renovation in the time we were gone." - Ian
"This is just the start. Let me walk you through the improvements. Howard make sure everyone is rested up while I show Ian what the both of us have done." - Noah
"Of course. Make sure you take him to that place." - Howard
Howard tells everyone else to follow him as he shows the houses where they will stay. Nina and Lynn both look at me in confusion, but I nod and tell them to just enjoy the tour. After knowing that it will be okay, they decide to follow Howard as he tells everyone with a booming voice about the new and improved houses.
"Alright, Ian. Are you ready?" - Noah
"Ready for?" - Ian
"Something that Howard, old man Hus, Gobi and I worked on while you were gone." - Noah
"Alright, but before we go, let me do something first." - Ian
I walk towards the statues and to the left of Ariel I take out the Pillar Monument Token. Making sure that there was enough space between the highlighted area and the statues before I place the token on the ground. Immediately, a golden light surrounds the perimeter, filling the area with a golden gel. Slowly, the golden gel morphs higher and higher until it reached a height of about 10 meters. The golden gel bursts into glitter and golden symbols resonate a golden hue, pulsating upwards to a pointed top.
I place my hand on the monument and a system message pops up.
[ Pillar Monument of the Ancient Gods
A monument once constructed for the gods by the original denizens of this world. It blesses the land in its golden shine. A monument generates culture every day at a constant rate.
Culture +10/day ]
I look at my stats to see a new Culture stat, before turning to Noah, only to see his surprised expression.
Name: Ian
Race: Human
Faith: 4231/10,000 ( Reach 10,000 to pick a Religion )
Happiness: 20 ( Happy ) 885/1000 ( Reach 1000 for a Golden Age )
Culture: 0 / 500 ( Reach 500 to chose the first Social Policy )
Health Points (HP): 50/50
Mana Points (MP): 15/15
Strength: 30
Vitality: 25
Intelligence: 30
Dexterity: 25
Agility: 35
Luck: 31
Skill: Enhanced Agility, Quickstep, Cleave, Charge,Stealth, Eye of the Roc (Passive)
"So, lead the way, Noah." - Ian
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