The Greystone Chronicles Book Two: The Dire Lands

by Dave Willmarth

See Defense for details

  Ancillary Structures: 4

  Production rate: 20%

  See Ancillary Structures for details

  Production will increase with population and use of ancillary structures

  Four levels in a day. Not too shabby. Almost back to where it was before Fitz trashed the place. One of them came from the addition of the wizard’s tower, and the smithy extension, and probably the chapel consecrations, combined. He noted there were two more ancillary structures listed. That would be the tower and smithy. And obviously, the number of citizens jumped way up, accounting for two levels recovered for population. The repair of the walls brought the defense percentage up. And production rate was up.

  “Jeeves, please show me production details,” he said.

  Production Rate: 20%

  Mine: 380 units (gems)

  Carpentry: 25 units

  Smithy: 50 units

  Food: 45 units (hunting)

  So, they’d gotten credit for the gems he had Lugs carry out of the mine, but not for the gems or the ore still inside. That made sense. Brick had said the smithy was producing as fast as possible. Apparently, they’d managed fifty weapons or tools today. Carpenters had been working on tables, chairs, and doors. And the food must be the meat brought in by the hunters. As for the resource increase, they had brought a lot of supplies with them. Apparently a thousand units’ worth.

  “Jeeves,” he asked. “When we assumed ownership of the keep, the status showed 14,000 units of resources. What were those?”

  “When you made the Keep your property, or more specifically a Greystone Guild property, a guild vault was established, and the 14,000 items of value you found in the lich’s chamber became keep resources. All items were placed in the vault,” Jeeves replied.

  The lich’s treasure! He’d forgotten to send somebody down for it. But the number didn’t seem right. “Jeeves, why is the value of the items in the vault so low?”

  “The resource unit count does not reflect value, master. It simply states the number of individual items. There were 12,640 coins of differing metals, 1,170 gems of different sizes and elements, and 190 miscellaneous items including weapons, armor pieces, cutlery…”

  “I get the idea, Jeeves. Thank you.” Alexander cut him off. “Tell me, Jeeves. Have your additional levels granted any new abilities, or options?”

  “Yes, master. I have some upgrades available now. You may choose between one of three.” The display changed to a list of three keep upgrades.

  Improved Interface

  Interface ‘Jeeves’ will become more intuitive in interaction with ownership entities, and will be able to perform certain tasks autonomously.

  Extended Area

  The area of influence of Dire Keep would be extended one half mile in every direction.

  Self-Repair

  Interface ‘Jeeves’ will be able to effect repairs to the keep automatically. Repairs require correlating resource units of sufficient quantity to replace lost or damaged elements.

  Alexander opened officer’s chat. Then he invited Silverbeard, Lola, and Kai. When all had accepted, he said “Quick meeting, folks. I’m looking for a vote here. The keep leveled up four times today. We have our choice of an upgrade. There are three options. Better interface with Jeeves, a ½ mile radial extension of our lands, or the ability for the keep to repair automatically. What do you think?”

  There was silence for a while. “The repairs would come in handy. If the keep can do them faster than the masons and you and Fitz.” Max replied.

  “Repairs require resources to match the element being repaired.” Silverbeard said. “So, to repair the stone o’ the keep, ye would need a stockpile o’ stone blocks. To repair doors, ye would need lumber.”

  Kai added, “Extending your lands would just leave you with more to defend. I see no logical reason to do so at this time.”

  “What’s the benefit of the improved interface?” Sasha asked. “Other than making Jeeves more like Alfred?”

  “It says he’ll be able to complete certain tasks autonomously, and will become more intuitive.” Alexander responded.

  Silverbeard had input on this, as well. “Do not underestimate the value of an efficient interface. It can be a powerful and useful tool. Ye can set it to monitor crops and adjust irrigation. Or set up a calendar of events, with reminders. Or it can monitor resources, and notify ye if production has changed, or a specific resource is running low.”

  “Silverbeard, you weren’t kidding when you said you know everything about everything!” Alexander chuckled.

  “I think the immediate need be repairs.” Brick said.

  “Me too.” Lainey voted. “We can always upgrade the interface after the next level up. Or two, or whatever.”

  “I agree.” Kai interjected. “Alexander, you and Fitz can raise stone quickly. The masons can convert that into blocks that will work as resource units. The keep could begin repairing itself quickly.”

  “Sounds like the majority are for repairs. Any arguments?” Alexander asked.

  Hearing none, he said, “Repairs it is. Thank you all. And, uhh… Lola? Where am I sleeping tonight?”

  “We have restored the baron’s chambers to a usable condition for you.” Lola responded.

  “Like, the master suite? I don’t need all that space. Why not give it to Sasha or Lainey? Or Kai? He IS a prince, after all.”

  “I was told-” Lola began, before Lainey cut her off.

  “We told Lola to give it to you.”

  “Yeah.” Sasha giggled. “You know, in case you and Jules end up sharing…” Alexander rolled his eyes.

  “Ahem, yes.” Silverbeard interrupted the awkward silence. “The baron’s chambers include a valet’s chamber which would be quite comfortable for Prince Edward, in his capacity as your squire. And would allow you to keep a close eye on him.”

  “Also, it has a huge bed! Just in case.” Lainey chuckled.

  “Okay, fine. Thank you all very much. If any of you see Edward, please tell him to meet me in the main hall. Have a good night.” He abruptly cut off the chat meeting before Sasha could start chanting her favorite rhyme again.

  “Jeeves, please activate the self-repair upgrade. And, can you show me a map of the keep?” he asked.

  “Of course, master. And I have marked the location of the baron’s suite.” The display changed to a three-dimensional rendering of the keep, including the walls, towers (though there was no information on the interior of the wizard’s tower), and the main building from the top floor down to the 5th dungeon level. The baron’s suite was on the third floor, above the main hall.

  His little project was going rather well. For its first day. And best of all, they’d not been attacked. He considered that the biggest success of the day. A long day. He was ready to sleep.

  Teleporting himself back to the designated zone by the portal, he walked into the main building and headed toward the great hall. He found Edward waiting for him. “You’re bunking with me, squire. Sort of. Let’s go,” he said.

  The prince followed him up the main stair to the third floor, and then down a long hallway that ended in an oversized, arched ironwood door. This had to be the place. The man sure thought a lot of himself.

  Passing through the heavy door, they found themselves in a spacious sitting room. There were two sofas and several chairs arranged around a fireplace. Two doors led from the either side of the room, and the back wall was a pair of large windows looking out over the courtyard below.

  The door to the right opened onto a medium sized bedroom, furnished with a wardrobe, a small desk, and a storage chest set at the foot of the bed. It had its own en-suite bathroom.

  “This must be yours.” Alexander looked to Edward.

  The prince nodded. “This will do nicely. I expected to be living in a tent.”

  “Alright, squire.” Alexander grinned at him. “Get yourself settled. Wake me at sunrise if I’m not already up.”

  He
left the room, closing the door behind him. Crossing the sitting room, he opened the last remaining door to find that it led to a study. The room was maybe twenty feet square, with perfectly preserved shelves lining all the walls except the one with a window. And there was a gap in the shelves on either side of a small fireplace. The shelves were empty of books. Alexander assumed Fitz had confiscated them. A large desk made of a wood that looked like mahogany sat in front of the window.

  Opposite the doorway he stood in, there was another door. This one led to a large bedroom with a bed big enough to sleep five. There was another fireplace, and a single wide glass door that led out to a small balcony. Yet another door led to a palatial bath with separate shower and tub, a small sitting area with a tall mirror, and a closed off area for the toilet. The entire room was white marble. There was a walk-in closet as well. Alexander would have to remember to ask Fitz to look for any secret doors. He’d bet money the baron would have built himself a discrete way into and out of his quarters.

  He closed and locked the closet door, then the glass door. Doing the same with the door that led to the study, he leaned his sword and staff against it. If somehow a rogue working for the Dark One managed to sneak this far, they would fall over when the door opened, and alert him. Removing his boots, he crawled onto the ridiculous bed, and closed his eyes.

  Chapter Eleven Just Another Brick in The Wall

  Alexander awoke before dawn, and retrieved his weapons from the door. Waiting for Edward to appear, he sat at the desk in the study. He pulled a sheet of paper out of a drawer, and grabbing a pen, began to make a list.

  When was the last time I actually wrote something on paper? I can’t even remember.

  He listed the projects that came to mind in order of priority. First and foremost was repairs to the keep. He would need to pull some stone for the masons to cut into blocks. Then he’d focus on the new wall. He wanted to start raising sections as soon as possible. Fitz should have the guild mages there today to help.

  Next on the list was water. They needed to make sure there was an adequate, clean, and sustainable supply. He made a small note to the side to ask Beatrix about this. And about an irrigation system.

  He’d get the farmers started on plowing the fields. With a warning that they’d need to be ready to retreat in a rapid manner if enemies appeared. The same with whatever crew was going out to cut lumber. He’d already made arrangement for the hunters to watch over them, but he wanted to be as safe as possible.

  He needed to speak with Kai about exploring that lower level of the mine. In case there was still a momma (daddy?) worm down there. He hoped Kai could Vulcan mind-thingy the worm, so they wouldn’t have to fight it. He’d have Grimble use one of those special mining picks to start harvesting the mithril as soon as they cleared that lower level. Not that the dwarf needed reminding. He was itching to get back in there.

  He also needed to speak with Fitz about upgrading his magic. He’d reached level 40, and should have access to more spells. And he wanted to improve his wizard’s fire spell to level 2, if there was such a thing. He’d remind the others to get some training as well. He wasn’t sure where everyone was, level-wise. He and Sasha had gotten a level from the mine. He knew Max and Lainey had been out killing beasts, and probably got a few levels. They’d all likely left Brick a bit behind. He’d spent nearly the whole day at the smithy.

  If he had time, he wanted to practice his enchanting. Which reminded him. He owed Father Ignatius a pendant like Silverbeard’s. And Father Alric should probably have one too. He pulled out two pieces of obsidian, and shaped them into discs, infusing them with the healing light magic, and then the Undying spell. He didn’t get a skill level for these, presumably because he was just repeating work he’d done before.

  Edward appeared just as the sky was beginning to lighten. The two of them headed downstairs to see about breakfast. Edward seemed quite popular with the ladies of the kitchen as they passed through. He got smiles and winks from nearly all of them, and a pastry from Edna. When Alexander stood there looking expectantly at her, she just said, “Shoo! You’ll ruin your breakfast!” Edward grinned at him as they walked out. “I can’t help it if I’m lovable. And you did tell me to make friends,” he said.

  Dishing up plates of eggs, sausage, and biscuits, the two men sat at a table with several of the dwarven guards. The dwarves were preparing to take a shift on the wall. He informed them that several crews, including himself and the mages, would be working outside the wall all day. And asked them to keep a sharp eye on the tree line. He also told them that any stealthed minions of the Dark One would be exposed the moment they set foot inside the arc of light posts. So, if anyone suddenly appeared, looking surprised and stunned, shoot first and ask questions later.

  Finished with breakfast, they headed out the gate. As they walked, Alexander asked Edward if he had a bow. And the ability to shoot it. Edward affirmed both, and produced his bow.

  “Good. You’re going to cover us today. There will be hunters in the woods near the tree line, watching for enemies. But if they get through, I want you shooting from the back, not up close, swinging your sword.”

  Stepping just to the right of the gate a few paces outside the wall, Alexander used his earth mover skill to raise several rows of stone. He made each one sixty feet long, by two feet wide, and four feet high.

  Realizing he’d forgotten to tell the masons what he was doing, he sent Edward back inside. “Find a mason, or Silverbeard, or Lola. Tell them the masons should come out here and cut this stone immediately. The keep will be able to absorb the blocks, and use them to repair itself.”

  The boy trotted back inside, and Alexander pulled a few more rows while he waited.

  Returning with a couple of the masons, Edward reported that he’d bumped into Fitz on his way to get breakfast. The wizard had grunted something about going to get help at the guild afterward. Knowing the wizard, breakfast could take an hour.

  Heading back inside, he located Silverbeard in the great hall. “Good morning, Master Silverbeard,” he greeted the ancient dwarf. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Like I were only 300 years old!” Silverbeard grinned at him.

  Laughing, Alexander asked the chamberlain to send out the farmers and lumber crews when they were ready. He also asked him to send Beatrix outside when she emerged from her room. Alexander’s UI showed she was offline. But to citizens, she was merely sleeping.

  “Also, I should probably have that conversation with Lola about being treasurer. Maybe this evening? Actually, maybe that should be a group discussion.” He was speaking mainly to himself, but Silverbeard nodded in agreement.

  “Just out of curiosity, Master Silverbeard, do you know anything about our water supply here?”

  “There be two rainwater cisterns built into the walls o’ the keep that will need to be drained and cleaned. There be an underground stream that was redirected under the keep by its original builders. This supplies fresh water through the plumbing system. The water appears to be clean, but we should confirm that,” the dwarf replied.

  “Thank you. I’ll ask Beatrix to see to both. Is there anything you need from me?” Alexander asked.

  “It would be helpful to work on housing, as soon as ye can,” Silverbeard replied. “Current structures be sufficient to hold one hundred, but we have closer to one hundred fifty here.”

  “Right after we finish the new wall,” Alexander promised. The mine would have to wait.

  Venturing back outside, Alexander found Fitz and the guild mages walking toward the gate. “Good morning, gentlemen! Thank you, for coming to assist us today!” he called out. The two mages were clearly no more morning people than Fitz himself. All he got in return was some grumbling.

  “The plan for today is to raise a wall, two hundred yards out from the existing wall. The wall itself will be ten feet high, and ten feet deep so that we can run weapons and troops along the top without tripping over each other. There will be a moat outsid
e, forty feet deep, so pull the stone from in front of the wall. Make no mistake. There will be war here. This isn’t a ‘what if?’ situation. We’ll need crenellations along the front, stairs on the back side every five hundred feet, and a covered area at each stair where soldiers can take cover from the elements or falling magic. Also, enchantments to repel magical attacks. I’ll handle the gatehouse, tower, and the supports for the drawbridge. I’ve placed an arc of light posts from ridge to ridge. Just follow that line. I’d like the walls to be placed right inside the edge of the consecrated ground. This will prevent stealthers from sneaking over and sabotaging the gate.”

  The mages nodded, and split up. With four of them, the construction should go quickly. The whole wall would be just under a mile long in an arc. That was a long wall to defend. But Alexander was expecting the most dangerous attacks to come in a concentrated area of players. So, they could likewise concentrate their defenses. And, if necessary, they could fall back to the original wall, which was a much more compact and easily defended structure. In truth, this outer wall was mainly meant to give his farmers and shepherds time to retreat, and to protect the crops and livestock.