Limitless Lands: Book 1

by Dean Henegar

  “I can build the town hall with only lumber. Upgrading to stone buildings adds buffs and other options later but getting up and running is the key. Once the town hall is built, you will likely see an option to auto build a garrison since you’re assigned to the town. If not, then building the garrison will be the second order of business for the town.” The mayor smiled a bit and shook my hand.

  “I’m glad to meet you, Lieutenant Raytak, and I look forward to exchanging our stories soon, but for now let’s get to work,” the mayor enthusiastically said while helping to direct the caravan to where he wanted them to stop tonight. I got to work organizing the layout of the tents for the civilians and the men didn’t seem to care that they would be sleeping in the open after seeing the sorry state of the townspeople. The addition of tents to sleep in, and a hot meal in their belly, raised the spirits of everyone after a hard journey.

  Soon after setting things up, Daegan approached me. “Well, Raytak, it looks like this is where we part ways. My job is done and I’m heading back to the transition point to make another run to Amerville. I’m sorry I can’t stay and help, but I’m not trained to care for refugees. I will be glad to give anyone who needs it a free ride to the transition point and I will leave what food I can spare as well. Should you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to send word. Any of the caravans can carry a message to me if you find the need.” Daegan slapped me on the back and slipped a small flask to me on the fly. I took a swig and the hard liquor felt like a stream of acid was burning me all the way down…it was wonderful.

  “Whew, what is that stuff, fermented Mukok dung?” I joked, handing the flask back to Daegan. “If you wouldn’t mind, I was going to send a replacement squad to the transition point and I would appreciate it if you could give them a ride. I know you’re short of guards until you get back to civilization.” I figured I needed to send a fresh and full-strength squad to guard the transition and the other understrength squad could march back in a day or two. I would write them orders to patrol the road and look for any signs of Bloody Blade activity while also checking the status of the farms on the road to find how much food was there for the taking.

  “That would be appreciated, Lieutenant Raytak. You take care.” Daegan waved as he made his way back to his wagon to turn in for the night.

  As I made my way back to oversee the defenses being built at the road, I received a welcome notification.

  Congratulations! You have completed the quest: Securing Hayden’s Knoll part 2.

  Reward: 1000 xp

  5 gold

  New quest available:

  Securing Hayden’s Knoll part 3: You have found the town of Hayden’s Knoll to be destroyed and a new town is to be built. Complete a new garrison building in the town to assist in its defense.

  Reward: Experience and assignment of a squad of advanced troops.

  Excellent, only one more piece to this questline and then I finally get to see what the heck my advanced soldiers would be. I scrolled to the second notification.

  You have taken command of the garrison of Hayden’s Knoll. New unit size. (currently 58/100), 0 advanced soldiers (0/10), 1 elite soldier (1/1).

  Getting the garrison completed took an even higher priority now. We were nearly at half our total strength but once we had full replacements the forces available would be considerable. I made a mental note to have Sergeant Brooks restructure squads again. It looked like I would need to send two squads with Daegan in the morning, since they were so understrength. Looking across the camp, I could see Brooks was already getting our eleven newest soldiers equipped and fed. Nothing beats a good NCO.

  Chapter 28

  The night, fortunately passed quietly and most of the civilians slept well in the tents after having a full belly for the first time in days. Mayor Delling surprised me when, just before dawn, he already had several groups of civilians organized. One group was going with Sergeant Brooks and three squads of soldiers to harvest the nearest farm. A second group was going to be sent with the logging teams to help them. I assigned two squads to help defend the loggers. A final group was organized that was staying behind. They were going to where the mayor had decided the townhall would be built and were helping clear the land. I would stay behind with the last three squads to protect the town and to oversee the hasty defenses being built.

  Sheer cliffs prevented any attack from the east or north of the town. The south was protected by being up against the mountains that formed the zone barrier. The only accessible side for attackers was to the west where the road climbed up onto the plateau. Much of the west side was also too steep to be accessible so we only had to worry about the road itself and the ground about one hundred yards to either side. I had the men dig a trench just where the road reached the summit of the plateau and pile up the dirt behind it to create a defensive berm to protect the defenders. I had the area always manned by a squad and we pre-positioned many of our spare javelins there as well. I would have more elaborate defenses created once we had more materials, manpower, and time. While we were digging the defenses, I heard a familiar voice and spotted the three halflings approaching. They had finally logged back in.

  “Howdy, old soldier man! What the heck happened to the town? I thought we’d have a nice inn to rest in, not live like some refugees! Did you know there are two GOBLINS in town as well? Crunchy almost ate them before a soldier told us they were friendly,” Yendys began.

  “Cool it, Yendys. That crazy merchant guy told you what happened. We were all heading out to find some quests, Mr. Raytak. Have you found any quests in town yet? Sorry we couldn’t complete the other one you had given us earlier. We had to log out and we all had too much homework and weren’t allowed to play,” Quimby said.

  “I just might know of where you can find one quest. Just give me a second.” I fumbled with the interface until I was able to create a quest for them.

  You are offering the quest: Meat for the masses. Find enough meat to feed the population for at least 2 days.

  Rewards: (choose level of reward)

  Stingy, 50 copper per person

  Average: 25 silver per person

  Good: 1 gold per person

  Exceptional: 2 gold per person

  I chose the good option. I wanted to be generous, but gold was hard to come by so far in this game. I also saw the option for an additional reward. I allocated the bracer with +1 agility if they could come through and help the town feed itself.

  Reward: 1 gold per participant, reputation gains with Hayden’s Knoll.

  Bonus quest: Train at least one hunter from within the town population.

  Reward: Simple leather bracer of agility (+1 defense, +1 agility)

  “There you go! There’s not much food since the folks were driven from town and we could really use your hunting skills to help feed everyone. If you guys find a townsperson who might be able to learn hunting, bring them with you. That way you can help us become self-sufficient,” I offered to the trio.

  “Cool! This is just up our alley. Hey Drake, want to see who gets the most kills to decide who keeps the bracer?” Quimby asked.

  “Sure, but don’t you think you should find one of these yokels that can handle a bow for us to train before you start with the contests,” Drake replied.

  “Hurry up…lets get the quest completed. I want to check out that weirdo trader Phineas, Phlegmious, T-Moreious, or whatever his name is once we get our rewards. My gear needs some serious upgrades…and I want to buy a super cute collar for Crunchy!” Yendys said as the trio walked toward the remaining townsfolk to find someone they could train to hunt…I almost pitied whoever had to put up with them all day.

  Wanting to delay digging more dirt, I made my way over to Phineas T. Moore to check on how he was coming along. He had set up his cart just on the edge of the tents and was sitting on a small stool drumming his fingers on top of a box of necklaces that said they were “guaranteed to prevent petrification from a basilisk, or your money back!”
/>   He looked up at me with a defeated expression as I approached. “Ah, the illustrious Lieutenant Raytak. Defender of the weak and preventer of profits…why have you led me to such a desolate locale. You know what the problem is with refugees and displaced persons such as we see here?” Phineas gestured to the townsfolk. “The problem is they need everything. Understand that customers needing everything is usually a windfall for a great merchant like myself. Oh, these people need everything all right, but they have nothing to pay for it with. All day I’ve heard sob stories. “Mr. Moore, my husband was killed, I need to feed my children. Can’t you just give me one ration bar for free?” For FREE they said, like I have nothing to do but become destitute myself to support their runny nosed children. To make matters worse, I had planned to escape this town with Daegan’s caravan this morning, but my useless goblins forgot to wake me up in time. Now I find myself stuck here without hope of any real custom, being harangued and harassed by those looking for handouts until the next caravan arrives to bring me back to some semblance of civilization.” Phineas’ whining was doing nothing to improve my opinion of him, but he did say something interesting…didn’t he mention a ration bar? Did his shop stock foodstuffs?

  “I can’t help you with the townsfolk, that would be the mayor’s problem,” I said trying to pass the buck. “But didn’t you mention something about rations? Do you have any food for sale? I can pay if the price is right?” I asked.

  Phineas perked up as he began to smell a sale. “Why, my good man, of course I have the standard array of non-perishable, yet fantastically delicious rations. I sourced them from the very supplier to the mercenary armies of the Great Caliph of Imix,” Phineas rattled off while searching his wagon for the right crate. “Ah! Here they are,” Phineas said as he pulled a large wooden crate from the back of his cart. The box was painted a sandy beige and had white letters printed on it.

  Rations, temperate climate: Quantity 15. Best used by ….

  The expiration date was suspiciously scratched off. Phineas saw me notice and quickly removed the lid to reveal 15 brick sized objects wrapped in wax paper. “Please take one to try as a free sample for the low, low price of only ten silver,” Phineas said while motioning to the box with his hands. The smell coming from the box was a bit strange, but not too bad. I mean, after all, it’s not every day you get offered a free sample of such great food for only ten silver. I reached in to select one of the small bricks of food and unwrapped it. The ration was a pale grey color and had darker and lighter flakes of…something running here and there in it. I took a bite of the hard brick of food while giving Phineas ten silver. The brick tasted “off” and my stomach began to rumble. Fearing I was poisoned or diseased, of course through no fault of Phineas, I opened my status log to find I hadn’t been poisoned, but I had been taken advantage of.

  You have failed in your opposed negotiation check. You will pay 50-100% more for goods sold by Phineas T. Moore. You have failed your saving throw; Phineas T. Moore has placed you under the enchantment “customer born every minute.”

  What the, why that!! I focused on “customer born every minute” to get more detail.

  Customer born every minute: Enchantment. A great merchant once said there is a customer born every minute and a rube soon after. When under the effects of this spell the victim will be more susceptible to suggestion and have complete trust in the enchanter.

  You have made your save vs. Customer born every minute and are no longer enchanted.

  I dropped the stale, disgusting ration brick and looked at Phineas with a death glare, my hand moving slowly toward my sword.

  “My good man, why do you look distraught? You loved the ration! I know you did! Didn’t you want to buy the whole case for the discounted price of fifteen silver per ration?” Phineas waved his hand apparently trying to reinforce the enchant.

  Your Manaless trait has allowed you to resist a spell.

  “Try to enchant me, will you? Take my money as well. Take money that could be used to feed the starving people of this village? How many have you bilked this way, Phineas? Unfortunately for you, this town is under martial law due to the attack…that means I get to decide what to do with a scam artist like yourself.” I slowly drew my sword, angry but not really planning to do him any harm, just to scare him a bit.

  “My good man! Please let me explain! There’s no need to resort to violence…here take the remainder of the rations at no charge to show my gratitude and generosity!” Phineas pleaded.

  “So, you want to make this go away by giving me rotten rations? How about this Phineas…do you have any foodstuffs that aren’t expired, dangerous, or harmful in any way? If so, you should start producing them. Let me warn you that any more shenanigans could be very harmful to your health.” I fingered the edge of my blade as I glared at him.

  “No, no, I would never dream of giving you inferior products…here let me get the fresh ones out.” Phineas began to root through the cart. “All of them, Phineas!” I added, not wanting him to hold back if there were some more foodstuffs he thought to keep from us. I fully intended to take all the extra food he had, but I would pay him a fair price for it, a very low fair price. Phineas stacked first one crate of rations with an expiration date that showed they were good for several more years. Then he unexpectedly stacked another, and another, and more until over 30 cases of rations were stacked before me…way more than should have fit in the cart. Phineas then began to pull other foods out, large cured hams and sausages, bags of dried fruits, and a dozen bags of rice.

  “How in the world did you fit all that in your cart?” I asked.

  “Well, my good man, I was not always of such humble means,” Phineas said as he sat on one of the ration crates while wiping sweat from his brow. “Once I enjoyed the favor of the Great Caliph Ichman himself. Ichman held me in great esteem and would frequent my many shops to look for exotic goods that I had acquired from throughout the lands. I had dozens of trading ships, scores of merchant caravans, and outlets in all the great cities. What I didn’t have was fulfillment. I was fabulously wealthy, more so than most kings, but I had none to share it with. Don’t get me wrong, there are always those who will profess their love for someone they know is wealthy, but I craved something more. I craved someone to share my life with, someone who would love me, and not just my wealth. I met this person one day many years ago in the Grand Bazaar of the capital. I would often travel the shops in disguise, looking like a simple commoner to see how my businesses were managed while nobody was watching. One day during my journey, I met a lovely young lady who caught my gaze and smiled…smiled at me, an obvious commoner, not smiling for the wealthy Phineas T. Moore. She was named Nhala and claimed to be a local merchant’s daughter. We would spend the afternoons together talking and drinking honey tea in a café while watching the people go about their business in the bazaar. One day, after many we had spent together, just as we were leaving the café I leaned in to kiss her gently. Just a small peck, and as innocent as any could hope for. That small kiss lingered on my lips for just a moment, and I shall remember it always. I shall remember it as the one perfect moment in my life where I was completely and totally content, and as the moment that caused my fall from such lofty heights, only to barely escape with my life to find myself here.” Phineas indicated with disgust our current surroundings.

  “You see, it turns out that young lady whom I had fallen for, and whom I believed had fallen for me, was none other than the favored daughter of the Great Caliph himself. She would entertain herself by sneaking out into the bazaar on her own and uncovered, reveling in freedom that she could never know in the palace. You may not know this, but the daughter of a Caliph must not show her face in public until the day of her wedding. That one, simple, innocent, and wonderful kiss was my doom, for Nhala was not alone on her adventures. The Caliph knew his daughter loved to go out to the bazaar and indulged her by letting her think she had escaped. His favored daughter, unfortunately, was not alone and alway
s had several royal guards in disguise following her at a safe distance. They saw the kiss and immediately arrested me for daring to touch the princess.

  I was thrown into prison and it took all my wealth, every one of my connections, to not meet the headsman’s axe that day. I was smuggled out of the city and placed on a ship to these far away lands. Of all my wealth I had only a few coins remaining…but this I had, this one item nobody thought was worth taking. This simple cart is enchanted. It connects still to hidden warehouses I have across the lands. Places where I keep my items hidden from theft. I can reach in and pull out whatever is needed, providing of course I have the item in stock somewhere. I can also place items in it and store them elsewhere. So, there you have it, all the foodstuffs in my warehouse, as well as my sad story at no extra charge.” Phineas sat there a moment, contemplating. “You know the strangest thing about it all?” Phineas leaned forward staring me in the eye. “Despite all that has happened, all that I have lost, I would suffer it again if it meant I could kiss Nhala just once more.” Phineas wiped a tear from his eye, steeled himself, and returned from his memories.

  “I do promise to never attempt to enchant you, or one of your soldiers ever again. Others are fair game. I believe a fair price for all this food would be…about three gold, but due to the trouble I have caused… you can take it for free as long as you never mention that I have done this.” Phineas grinned and was back to his old self. “I have a reputation to uphold after all!”

  I sheathed my sword, mumbled thanks, and ordered several soldiers to carry the food to where the mayor was storing it, never expecting the greedy scam artist had such a tragic past.

  As I walked back to the slowly developing defenses, one of our wagons approached, it was the logging team coming in to drop off a load of lumber. The town had only four wagons remaining after the attack and Delling had assigned three to food gathering, our limited stores being the more urgent threat. The sole wagon assigned for lumber was overflowing with cut logs. They dropped off the load near the construction site for the town hall and headed back out to gather more. I hailed Barnaby as the wagon slowly approached the road.