“And you really haven't noticed the women flirting with you, or paid any attention to the looks they were giving you,” Tiana said.
Eddie just stood there silently, waiting for a chance to participate in the conversation and be heard.
Tiana blinked several times, wiped away the tears that had been running down her face, then finally focused on Eddie.
“I'm sorry, Eddie. I never would've thought that you really are just what you present to the world, that you don't try to hide anything, or at least not much, and just... do what you do.”
Eddie couldn't quite get what she was trying to say.
Maybe that I don't hide much and I try to say what I mean all the time? No lying, no obfuscation? I don't know, but I'll take it.
“Apology accepted. Now you know that I meant everything I said though, right?”
She nodded.
“Yes, that came through loud and clear, even though it was like experiencing a recent memory for me, but your recent memory, not mine. I compared the two and saw that everywhere I thought you were lying or shading the truth for some reason, you were just telling me how you really felt.”
Her tears sprang up again.
“Thank you. Knowing how you feel about me? How you view me? My god, that shows me just how insecure I was being. I can't guarantee it won't happen again, but if it does? Just remind me of this, okay?”
“Deal,” Eddie said.
Tiana's upper teeth captured her lower lip as she stared at him, nibbling on her own lip.
“It's late enough for bed, sort of,” she said, “so why don't we slide under the covers and I'll show you just how I feel about you, too.”
~ ~ ~
Eddie was a very happy man the next morning, and the day just kept getting better. When he headed out to start working on his projects, he expected to be alone. That wasn't to be though, Tiana joined him as he was leaving to go to work.
“Headed for the temple?” he asked, since she'd been doing that first thing in the morning for most of the last couple of weeks.
“Nope, I figured I'd come with you, if you don't mind.”
His answering grin was more than enough to reassure her that she was welcome.
“Well, my first thing for today is to head down to the tavern. I was working on it yesterday, as were a few of the other carpenters. I promised I'd share the blueprint with any of the other carpenters who were there first thing this morning.”
“A little eager are they?” Tiana asked.
“Well, someone let slip that the beer down there was going to be a lot cheaper than at my inn,” Eddie said, the grin reappearing on his face.
“And just how did you manage that? I don't doubt that you did.”
“Well, Griff and I were talking and I happened to let slip that I knew the drinks at the inn were too expensive for anyone but the adventurers to drink on a regular basis, and that I was going to take care of it. That was a few days back, right before the Orcs, but evidently word traveled fast.”
Tiana laughed and Eddie felt some of the tension that was still with him from their disagreement slip away. If she was willing to laugh like that with him again, then things must be close to right.
When they got in sight of the tavern, Eddie stopped dead. The only part of it that wasn't finished was the roof, and even that was partially done.
“Well, I guess they wanted it even more than I thought they did. I'd better find a tavern keeper right away. Let them be responsible for the barmaids, maybe? I'd ask Liv, but I think she's got her hands full running the inn.”
“Ask Griff? You did have him checking out what people did when he looked for someone with the fishing skill, right? So maybe he can find you a tavern keeper,” Tiana said.
“Well, that'll probably be our next stop because if that crowd of people in front of the tavern all have the carpentry skill then that building will be finished today.”
Tiana just took his arm and smiled as they approached the crowd. Ten minutes later they were walking off with assurances that the tavern would be completed before sundown. Eddie was forced to tell them that he still needed to find someone to run the place, but they expressed a surety that he could do it with no problems.
Griff was speaking with some of the masons when Eddie finally found him.
“Hey, Eddie, sir. I was just trying to get some of these masons to work on the general store instead of the castle. They said you told them the castle took priority?”
“Well, yes I did. That was when we were getting swarmed with Orcs though, we needed those walls finished before the larger groups of them arrived.”
“Well, you want to tell some of them to work on the store instead? I mean, I know I don't have any authority here to get things done, but I have been trying to get the projects you laid out organized and underway,” Griff said.
Eddie kept the smile from spreading across his face. He was going to play with Griff a little and then offer to legitimize what the man had been doing. He approved of the initiative Griff was showing, but he also wanted to make sure it wouldn't go too far. He forced a frown to his face.
“Griff, Griff, Griff...” Eddie said.
With just that little bit, Griff's face took on a nervous look.
“Whoa, wait,” Eddie said. “I approve of what you've been doing, so long as you don't go overboard with it. I know you've been running crews, supervising, and doing some projects on the side. How about we make that official? I'd like to have you coordinating all the building projects I have going on.”
A look of relief flashed across Griff's face, making Eddie feel guilty for yanking his chain even a little bit.
“Yes, Eddie, sir. I'll take that position if you want me to have it.”
“Griff, remember, just Eddie is fine.”
“Well, it was sir, until you became mayor. I'm sure you remember our talk about that.”
Eddie groaned silently.
“Fine. Yes, I want you to have the position. We'll set you up with a small office, or at least some space, on the ground floor of the town hall building. I was looking for you though, do you remember when I had you go through everyone to find someone with the fishing skill?”
Griff nodded.
“Yes, plus your other questions along those lines. Plus your list at the temple.”
“Oh, sorry, I guess I'm pushing a little hard on that?”
“You won't have to any more. I, um, took some more liberties...”
Griff trailed off, the nervous look showing on his face again.
“What did you do this time?”
“Well, I've got some papers at home with a list of people and the professions they claim to have. So, when you need something like a person with the fishing skill you can look through it and find them quickly.”
“Good then, let's go get that list. I need to find a tavern keeper.”
“No you don't, sir.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow.
“I saw how quickly that building was going up last night and checked my list. We've got a tavern keeper, and his wife has the skills of a barmaid. There's probably a few more around also. This guy used to run a tavern until he got burned out. Then he went to Brightport and couldn't find work. I haven't talked to him yet, but he's got the third house south of the crossroads.”
“And that is why I want you coordinating things, we'll put that list of yours to use as we grow. You can have that position as well, finding people to man the buildings and businesses we make.”
Griff gulped.
“Alright, Eddie, sir.”
“But please... At least consider dropping the sir?” Eddie said. “We'll be working closely together and it's only going to get in the way.”
Once again, Eddie watched as the face of an NPC twisted in an odd fashion, as though making a tremendous mental effort. A moment later, Griff's face was back to normal.
“I'll try, Eddie...”
It sounded like he'd bitten the 'sir' off the end, sub-vocalizing i
t after a pause where he tried desperately to not say it.
Maybe it'll get easier with time? Eddie thought. Otherwise I'll have to give in so he doesn't hurt himself.
“Well then, let's go talk to the tavern keeper and see if he's ready to get to work. The building will be complete today and we can throw some cheap furniture together so it can open tomorrow. Chairs, tables, bar stools, and it'll be set to open,” Eddie said.
The three of them headed south to the house Griff had mentioned. When they got there, Eddie let Griff knock since the man was probably more familiar with Griff than he was with Eddie.
A moment later Griff came back to the road where Eddie and Tiana waited.
“Eddie, this is Ollie, he used to tend a tavern. Ollie, this is the mayor, Eddie.”
The man bowed.
“Properly the name is Öl,” he said. “But some people are easier with calling me Ollie for some reason, and it stuck.”
“Well, if Ollie works for you, that's what I'll use.”
Eddie was sure he couldn't pronounce the name the way Ollie had while keeping a straight face. The pronunciation put him in mind of some of the stereotypical jokes about Canadians saying 'eh?'. Now he knew why people would've nicknamed the man Ollie, or at least why players would have.
“Ollie is fine. Griff said you wished to speak with me?”
“Yes, I've got a tavern about finished, beer to sell in it, and no-one to tend the place. Are you interested?”
The man just stared at him and blinked.
“Are you having fun at my expense?” he asked, finally.
“No, why would I be?”
“I don't know you, you don't know me, why would you ask me to run a business for you?”
“Because I need someone to run it and you already have the necessary skills,” Eddie said.
“But what do you get out of it?”
Ah, I get it now. He thinks I want to just hire him on to run the place, not run it for real.
“A share of the profits. Here's what I was considering. Out of the total sales we remove the cost of the beer, then whatever you pay the barmaids. After that, you and I split the remaining total, half to each of us. Oh, and if there are fights, replacement furniture comes out before we split, also if you need to hire anyone else on other than barmaids and general staff, run it by me and if I approve, that'll come out before the split also. Am I missing anything?”
The man was staring again, still blinking at him, but the look on his was utterly different now.
“That's more than I got with my last tavern, the one I supposedly owned. What's the catch?” Ollie asked.
“That catch is that the place is your responsibility. I'm going to be mostly hands off with it. Hell, I was looking forward to running my own inn, and it was great for a while, but I eventually handed that off to someone else to run too. She's pretty happy with the deal she and I made, and I hope you will be also. If you're happy with the deal, then you'll do the job better, now won't you?”
“You aren't like anyone I've done business with before,” Ollie said. “But I'll take your offer, assuming it isn't a joke. When do I start?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Eddie said. “I'll have carpenters there to build chairs, tables, and stools for the tavern. You tell them how many you need and then set it up. I'll have a hogshead of beer there by noon tomorrow, and you can open for the late afternoon if you like.”
“Tomorrow?” Ollie said, startled. “I've got to get barmaids, a bouncer, a cleaning boy, and lots more. Tomorrow? Excuse me sir, I've got things to do, pardon me please.”
Ollie headed back into his house, calling for his wife. Griff turned to Eddie.
“You do seem to have that effect on lots of people, have you noticed?” he asked.
Tiana jumped in before Eddie could answer.
“Eddie never notices things like that, he just makes his offers, means them, and follows through on them.”
“I had noticed that myself,” Griff said.
“Well Griff, let's get you set up with an area in the town hall next, then I'll go get you some masons to start in on the general store. Although I was planning on doing some of the stonework for it myself today, I won't get it finished. Even if Tiana and Jern help me with it, we won't finish today. So tomorrow morning, you'll have masons for it, and maybe I'll help out again then. I've got lots of projects underway and I want to help at least a little with each of them.”
“Alright Eddie... Let's do that.”
Eddie definitely heard the gap in Griff's speech that would've held a 'sir', but it hadn't been there. There was just a tiny awkward pause.
I'll take it, Eddie said. At least I don't get called sir by the adventurers. If I have my way, there'll be at least a few of the NPCs who don't do it also.
He headed back to the town hall and, after gathering a little lumber in a hand cart and bringing it there as well, spent a few minutes making Griff a desk and chair. He had to buy the blueprint for the desk, but compared to the building blueprints it was dirt cheap. He also picked up the blueprint for a standing cabinet with shelves so Griff would have somewhere to store his lists and whatever else he needed.
His next stop, after leaving Griff to get his notes and bring them to his new office, was the control center in the town hall.
Okay, I need to review my current settlement related quests, see if there's anything I'm missing that isn't underway already, he thought.
Help player city, he thought.
Player City:
A player city is a functioning city. It is considered a player city when the player either owns the land it is built on or the player employs at least twenty-five percent of the occupants with no other player employing a higher percentage or owning the majority of the land. The occupants of the city will acknowledge the player as their leader, unless there is another elected leader, and ask him for advice on businesses and building placement.
Taxes may be levied by the player or elected leader at this level, up to 8%, with the potential for a one-time emergency tax of 15%. The occupants of the city may also volunteer assistance to anything being built in the town. Any emergency taxation will cause dissatisfaction among the inhabitants, but the dissatisfaction will fade over a period of two weeks.
A city is a community of two-hundred and fifty to five hundred occupants. A successful city will attract more occupants over time, slowly growing. For a Player Town to progress to a Player City the player in charge of the town must have completed the quest: Developmental Issues III, for the city.
Eddie nodded his head as he scanned the text.
Alright, with my owning the tavern I hope that Ollie and his staff count as my employees. I'm pretty sure that's how it's worked with the inn, so it shouldn't be an issue. Still, I'll need to keep the building crews busy for a while so they still count. Let's check the other one. I'm sure I'll need to complete the entire Developmental Issues quest at some point here.
Help developmental issues, he thought.
Developmental Issues V:
This quest is all about developing: The Meadowlands.
To complete part V of Developmental Issues you must build both of the following buildings plus begin construction of a Stronghold for the area.
General Store
Tavern
Rewards:
+ 25000 Experience
+ 1000 Gold Pieces
Increased reputation and renown with inhabitants of: The Meadowlands
Okay, I've got both those buildings underway, as well as what I hope will qualify as a Stronghold. So, I've just got to keep on with what I've been doing and it ought to be fine. I wonder what the population counter is at?
Eddie checked the control panel and he was happy to note that the two numbers for the population count were within single digits of one another, meaning that almost everyone had a house already. They'd finally almost caught up with the housing problem.
The Health and Productivity readouts were still in the green wh
ile the Happiness one was in the middle of the yellow range.
But I'm betting that getting the tavern open will get the Happiness rating up into the green as well, at least if the carpenters' reactions were any indication.
He turned to Tiana, who'd been examining a new readout that had shown up on the control panel. “Faith” it was called.
“Well, we're up into the proper population range for a City,” he said. “Although we're still far away from the numbers we need for a Capital. Any indication what that Faith readout is for?”
“I think so. It's got a pair of numbers also. I think one is total population and the other is followers of a god, or in this case a goddess. The followers number is more than twenty-five percent of the total population, so I'm guessing you just don't get a Faith ranking until there's a certain percentage of the population that are followers. That's why this readout showed up now. There's also another number at the bottom, here look.
Eddie looked in. The number at the bottom was preceded by an Abbreviation, 'FP'. It also had another number in parentheses after it. So the whole readout read: 'FP: 7 (+2)'.
“FP, faith points? I've seen those in some games,” Eddie said.
“Then the number is how many we have? The number in parentheses is what, gain rate per day or something?” Tiana said.
“That'd be my guess. I've got no clue how to use them though. I imagine you can or you wouldn't get them. Did you check for a help file on them?”
“Yes,” she said. “I got no result on it.”
“Well, we'll keep an ear open. If we can't figure it out, I bet we can ask Freyja herself and get an answer.”
Tiana smiled.
“You're probably right about that, but let's not bother her unless we have to, okay?”
“You got it,” Eddie said.
It was about time for lunch, but Eddie wanted to talk to the masons first, to make sure that they'd have some people down and working on the general store first thing tomorrow. He also still needed to talk to Dominic about getting that hogshead of beer, or maybe more than one if Dom had made more since he told him about the first, over to the tavern.
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