Theria wakes, her dour faced bodyguard Findel is again waiting to accompany her and has a quick breakfast from the kitchens displayed already. Findel handed over A message from Princess Tystin Ironchest informing both her and the Bespectacled One, the Nightwatch Captain, that work was already underway on the two priority projects. Findel isn’t happy at the best of times, but this morning she is especially unhappy that both of them will have to skip the regular scheduled arms practice. Not to mention having to deal with crowds in public later today; just thinking about that made her shiver, and they'd all have to do their duty and pretend their beloved Duchess has died.

The first meeting is a clandestine one with the Ranger leaders. They have donned their camouflage war paint and committed to the war. This is our first counter strike, declaring a silent war upon our enemies. Depriving our enemies of resources before they reach us and rescuing any people we can who might be added to Big Bear or sent away from danger. They are to announce to those they encounter, whether in the Inns or the wilds, that Big Bear is now a 'City of Refuge' for refugees. After this, the forces of 1,400 Rangers head out, unseen in squads of twenty from the first level of catacombs from under Big Bear Town into the forest, leaving only a Ranger reserve of 100 behind to act as scouts to support the Watch.

Theria ordered the hidden Garrison to move from the third layer to the top layer of the catacombs. Then, they used their civilian clothes as labourers to help build outer moat channels and also assisted the Ironchest Dwarves with their second priority, the new Outer Walls. Also, add a link channel from the moat to the underground reservoir. For the first time, the Bearkin plan to use the gift given to Theria's great grandfather by the Sea Elves Alu'Tel'Quessir, the five Kraken are youthful adolescents. Still, over the years, they have grown larger, the four males were now about the size of a horse and cart, especially the one female Kraken, which is about the size of a house.

While trusted wagon teams go backwards and forward from Hibernation City to Big Bear along the underground Dwarven express route, the plans that prepared for a quick expansion of Big Bear from Market Town to Fortified City have been in place since my Grandfather's time. Mycology units are moved from the first floor of the catacombs and expanded into the third and also into the new fourth layers of the catacombs; this additional food supply would help ensure we are ready to feed predicted refugees.

Next, the first public meeting with the Captian of the Guards. Theria agrees to receive an increase in the number of body guards. Now the personal protection force is assigned is twenty-five veterans. So that ten will be available at peak performance to travel with Theria in public at any time, whether that day or night. With Thomas and the Captains, the security arrangements for the public meeting at noon are agreed upon. The Militia are to be called up for duty at Noon to assist first with the deploying of the Catacombs second floor storage items into the area just outside the current walls of Big Bear for the Dwarven teams to access quicker, then to assist the building works until all the works are complete, they would be paid and fed from out warchest.

Theria then met with the Guild Leaders to let them know what was happening and thank them for their support while all non-essential workers who could would join the militia and were to be conscripted.

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Then it was almost noon, and so Theria and Findel left to attend the public meeting in the Town’s main Square. On the way, Findel quipped to Theria with just one piece of advice; Theria was intrigued and stared at Findel as they walked. Findel said,” Just don’t go getting yourself killed; it’d look bad on me”. This made Theria laugh, and even Findel cracked a smile, and then they were climbing onto the bandstand at the Central Square, ready to address all the gathered Town folk.

Theria called out in a loud voice, announcing the death of the Duchess and declaring a period of public mourning; the crowds were shocked at the news and clearly upset. Theria went on to announce the conscription of the Militia to make the new defences and the plans for war in memory of the Matriach. Including behind the new North gate, with behind it a new Royal Inn named “The Duchess Aurora Adalbern”. This name got the first cheer from the crowd. The Inn would be the Crown Jewel in plans to extend the Town and the first priority of our allies, the Ironchest Dwarves, who were visiting Big Bear in numbers for the first time. The Militia would include additional Pages going into service as messenger runners and to be paid to practice martial skills and receive an education; this was necessary for the long-term plans.

Theria renounced the position of Warband leader “the Claws of the Adalbern” as Theria is sworn in to become the New Duchess, with many cheers from the crowds. Theria Promotes Cousin Ur’sid to the Warband leader “the Claws of the Adalbern”; this is a popular move and is cheered again. Theria climax of her speech was to announce that by extending the town, they would, in effect, be ending Big Bear Town, but it was ok because, from this day onwards, we all would now live in Big Bear City. This got a thunderous cheer of support from residents. After this, the people all went to work, and Theria was whisked away, back to the Keep.

Next, a meeting with the Clerics and Mages with plans to maximise the extension of the Warding rituals and then defensive wards on the moat and walls and both the inner and outer gatehouse of the outer wall and their plan to take on new apprentices were approved.

After nightfall, Theria is awakened to news of an unexpected Royal visit; Findel is most excited. The unlikely figure appears to be a flamboyant man with large twisty horns wearing purple robes sitting in front of the site where the new Inn is planned on a folding wooden chair, blowing smoke rings into the air, although he doesn’t appear to have a pipe. Seven winged green Dragonian sat on two wagons which rested beside him, all filled with barrels. As Theria approaches, she is hailed, “Ahh, good to see you, Duchess Theria Adalbern; I am here at your service. Mr Maurice Runesmith is the name, and I served with your Great Grandfather. I am the Purple Dragon he once saved, and I am in human form as I don’t intend to scare anyone... yet. Although I know the Bearkin don’t scare easily, there is plenty of time for that later. I wish to watch the building of the new Inn as I am excited to be installed as the Inn Keeper of this proposed outer Keep, doubling as an Inn, guard house, and barracks. I also have a few surprises in mind for you, which I trust you'll like in the fullness of time.”

Maurice beamed at the workers as they busied about their work, and he had bought twenty barrels of Dwarven Ale as a present which he had distributed to all the workers. While no Dragon (save Wyverns) had been seen in living memory, and his arrival caused a stir, the Ale smoothed things over, and in short order, all were happy with the new addition to Big Bear's defences. Indeed the Ironchests burst into spontaneous singing while they drank, with the Dragonians and the Dragon all joining in with good spirits and good voices, all working hard through the night, with the Dragon and Dragonians pitching in to help build once his presence no longer unsettled the workers too much.