After leaving the town hall, I went to check how the state of the things outside were. Everything was how I had left it; goblin bodies were still littered out front and dawn was approaching soon. I did see that a man was working on the front gate, while the guard was sticking his hand through the mana-barrier like he'd never seen one in his life. Mentally communicating to Bram I found out that it was very rare for towns this small to have anything close to it. Checks out, I guess, with work to get done I decided to do the dirty work of dragging the goblins bodies outside the wall. Not before shouting after the guard to help me with the process.
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For the first time since coming into this new world, I had got some much-needed rest. I ate the last of the coco might meat and chased it with lots of water, thankful for the new indoor plumbing. I had spent the morning with Bram scouring the town interface trying to figure out a way we could keep upgrading the town with exported goods. The only thing the town seemed to export were eggs, abertrox meat, and a variety of crops. We desperately needed some artisans or smiths to increase our potential here. Weighing our options we decided that we would need a couple of carpenters to make and design goods to sell, since wood in the area was abundant. We also decided to improve on the farming sides of things and ended up purchasing another system upgrade to help in the farms.
Farming Constructs
Farming constructs are Golem-like creatures that run off of ambient mana. They plant, harvest and irrigate crops, upgrades are available to use them with livestock.
Cost: 5,000 system credits per construct.
We bought two of them to free up the farmers so they could focus more on the eventual increase in livestock we were going to get. With all of that done, Bram and I went to the tavern to hold the meeting with the townsfolk to let them know of the unfortunate news of Renna and Coopers passing.
Walking into the tavern this time was a definite improvement from the last time. Everyone was smiling and talking freely happy with the turn of events that they woke up to, I overheard a woman tell her husband "I can't believe she actually did it. I thought she was stuck up just like her parents, but she actually cares about us." she told him elated about the system upgrades to their house no doubt. This was going to be harder than I thought, I contemplated letting Bram take the wheel and handle the public speaking for me, but I eventually mustered up the courage. With a nod towards the barkeep, I spoke
"Excuse me..." mild chattered continued to fill the tavern but the nearest to me looked over their shoulders. "EXCUSE ME, People of Hillgrove!" That did the trick, I moved a little so that everyone could see me. "I am saddened to inform you that last night during the raid that Overseer Renna Venstar was murdered." Murmurs and shifty eyes filled the tavern, but I continued. "I found Cooper with a bloodied sword standing over as I went to go inform her of the raid. In his anger he told me that he was tired of dealing with her and had personally visited the goblins and paid them to cause a distraction so he could end her life. I walked into the mess, and he thought it would be best to end me too. Fortunately, enough he underestimated me and he himself died at my hand." There was an uproar I couldn't tell if they were pissed at me or at Cooper but seeing that I hadn't moved and had more to say they settled back down.
"I wanted to be as transparent as possible; I did accept the role of Lord or overseer of this town and wanted to let you all know that I will be improving the way of life for everyone here. I started last night by spending 30,000 credits to give everyone access to mana generators and plumbing inside their homes. I also just bought two farming constructs to help our farmers so they could better focus on livestock. I did this in hopes that one day we could grow this 'backwater town' as some would call it into a thriving city!" The crowd of people started roaring in agreement. My charisma stat must have put in overtime because even Bram was cheering despite no one hearing him but me, which made me laugh.
A young woman approached introducing herself to me as Maribel. She was hesitant at first but came around and finally let me know what she was after. "I know with the loss of Cooper the town will be at a loss without a merchant. If needed I could fill this role for you."
I raised an eyebrow, studying the young woman before me. Her posture was a little stiff, as if unsure whether she should even be speaking to me, yet her words were clear and confident.
"With Cooper gone, the town will need a merchant to manage our resources through the system," she continued, her gaze flicking nervously between me and the others around the tavern. "I’ve traveled to a few towns before, and while I don’t have much to offer right now, I know how to navigate the system’s trade interface. I could manage the town’s supply chain and help keep our stocks flowing."
I took a moment to process her words, unsure whether she was genuine or simply seeing an opportunity for herself in the wake of the chaos. She was young, but her proposal was practical, and Hillgrove could certainly use someone skilled in managing resources through the system.
"You said you’ve traveled before?" I asked, curiosity piqued. "Where are you from?"
"Just north of here, a small settlement called Larksbury. It’s quieter, but I’ve worked with the system’s trading features before—buying, selling, and managing inventory through the interface. I understand how to optimize the system’s resources to get the best deals for the town, and I could help us keep our town stocked without relying on outside trade."
Her offer was compelling. In a town that was just starting to rebuild and improve, having someone who could manage the system's inventory and trade functions would be a huge asset, especially with the limited resources available.
But there was still something in her tone that made me wary. Was she just ambitious, or did she have an agenda?
"Why Hillgrove?" I asked, cutting to the chase. "After everything that’s happened, why come here?"
She hesitated, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her coat. "I… I want to make a difference. I’m tired of moving from place to place, always feeling like I’m just passing through. I think Hillgrove has potential, and with the right management of the system’s resources, it could thrive. I’ve seen how the system can improve lives, and I want to help make that happen here."
Her sincerity seemed genuine, but I had to wonder if there was more beneath the surface.
I thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Maribel. I’ll give you a chance. If you’re serious about helping, we’ll need you to manage the town’s inventory, optimize our resource flow, and ensure we’re getting the best value from the system’s trade options. But understand this, you’ll be working for the town, not just for yourself."
She visibly relaxed at my words, a smile breaking across her face. "Thank you, Lord Liam. I won’t disappoint you."
That conversation spurred something in me, and I decided right then I would need a town council to help manage what was to come. Passing that information along to Bram he looked at me amongst the chaos and nodded. He would be taking notes on who among the townsfolk were most influential and trustworthy, we would meet back up tonight at the town hall for a debrief.
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I excused myself back to the town hall to dive deep into the system interface again. Something came available to me since unlocking my class and I was interested to see what options I could have.
Class menu:
Class: Spearman
Primary Stats: Constitution, Endurance
Abilities:
Piercing Thrust: A focused attack that deals bonus damage to armored foes.
Sweep Strike: A wide attack to hit multiple enemies.
Brace: Reduces knockback and increases damage against charging enemies.
Subclasses: none (12 available) + (One available per 25 levels gained)
I clicked on the plus sign to see what was available I was not disappointed.
Alchemist
Masters of potions, elixirs, and transmutation, capable of creating substances that heal, harm, or enhance.
Runesmith
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Specialists in the ancient art of inscribing magical runes onto objects, imbuing them with unique properties or spells.
Tinkerer
Engineers of magic and machinery, blending arcane energy with mechanical inventions to create wondrous devices.
Blacksmith
Forgers of exceptional weapons and armor, with the ability to work rare materials into legendary artifacts.
Enchanter
Channelers of magic who bind enchantments to items, granting them enhanced abilities or supernatural traits.
Jewelcrafter
Crafters of ornate jewelry and gemstones, often embedding their creations with protective or offensive magic.
Leatherworker
Experts in transforming hides into lightweight armor and gear, often infused with natural or spiritual energy.
Weaver
Artisans who weave textiles imbued with magic, creating cloaks that conceal, garments that protect, or tapestries that tell the future.
That was a great deal of information to take in, but I kind of felt something tugging towards me since discovering it in the system shop. I decided to listen to my gut and selected alchemist, it would hopefully save me credits in the future, hell depending on what I could find around here maybe I could even earn some. The class also came with a skill I instantly wanted to max out.
Herbalism
Assists the user with the correct way of harvest herbs and other materials for alchemy as well as highlights any useful ingredients in the area (Area is dependent on skill level.)
Skill experience: 0 of 100
I was really debating to find out what would happen to Bram if I got further than 100 yards from him, but I stamped the temptation out knowing that tomorrow we were probably going to see where the passage glyph could take us. That would be after selecting the town council to handle things while we were gone. The longer I thought about the council the more of an urge I had to ask Maribel to be on it. She would be the head of trade, so it wasn't the worst idea. Not wanting to think anymore I dove into the systems menu further until Bram returned later.
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By the time Bram had returned I was doing a deep dive into the system store I only had 1,000 system credits available to me, but a new spear was calling my name.
Blackened Iron Long Spear
(A six-foot-long spear with a blackened iron tip for increased piercing damage)
Rarity: Uncommon
Attack: +12-20
Special: Strength stat increased by 2 while wielding
Cost: 750 credits
Leather Skull Cap
(Provides little protection, possible to stop a glancing blow.)
Rarity: Common
Armor rating: +2
Cost: 100 Credits
I bought it and the leather skull cap leaving me with 150 credits to spare. Then I went into the sell menu and sold off the leather and goblin meat I was holding on to, just netting me a little more than 50 credits. All in all, not a bad trade, I noted while wielding my new spear in hand.
"Okay, Bram, what did you find out? Thanks for doing it, by the way. I figured it would be the fastest way to find some trustworthy people."
Bram grunted, his tone dripping with reluctant amusement. "From what I learned, you want Tabitha, Clint, and Jackson. Tabitha is Gregory's wife—stunning lass, no idea what she’s doing with that lump. But she’s got every farmer's ear, probably because she has the highest level among them. Her father was some bigwig for one of the smaller cities’ livestock trade. Makes her practically royalty around here."
He moved on with a casual wave of his hand. "Then there’s Clint, the handsome grump, or the barkeep, as you’d know him. Solid pick. He knows everyone’s business: their problems, their quirks, and he clocks any new face in town faster than you can say ‘trouble.’ And finally, Jackson, the amazing builder. A man after my own heart. But, between us," he added with a smirk and a wink, "I actually create wonders, unlike him. Still, the people love the guy. He’s got their admiration, which could be useful."
"Great job, Bram. I'm impressed."
I paused, thoughtfully tapping at the imaginary system store screen. "I’d like to add Maribel to the mix. She’s going to handle the town’s trade while we’re gone. Any thoughts?"
In my head, Bram responded, but I instinctively smiled at Maribel in the real world as though she’d spoken. Bram chuckled, probably picking up on the disconnect. "Yeah, solid choice. Trade is important. We might also want to set up an administrator to access the Glyphstone console, though limited access would be best. They’d still be able to handle repairs and slap on minor upgrades if needed."
"Yeah, we are going to need that as well. All right let's go inform them that we plan on meeting in the morning."
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Everyone showed up way earlier than expected. I was still sleeping when someone came pounding on the door. "Shut it off, Bram" I muttered through the pillow I was still drooling on.
"Get up ya fool, todays the day we can finally leave this place and scour this planet."
Annoyed as ever with him, I shot to my feet and answered the door still battling my tiredness I stubbed my toe on the leg of the bed. "Son of a fluffy monkey sucker." I fell to the ground knowing in this sick twisted world the damned thing broke off and blood was rushing out of it. That's of course when that someone barged through the door.
"Is everything alright? I heard you through the door and..." Maribel's concerned voice trailed off as her eyes darted between me, sprawled out on the floor clutching my foot, and the faint smear of blood pooling on the wood.
I groaned, half from the pain, half from the sheer embarrassment of it all. "Yeah, peachy. Just a slight disagreement with the bed. It's winning."
Maribel's lips twitched, clearly fighting back a laugh. "Do you, uh, need help?"
"Only if you can replace a toe," I muttered, dragging myself upright and glaring at Bram, who was absolutely no help, floating in the corner and grinning like he'd just won the lottery.
"Should I get the healer?" Maribel asked, still standing awkwardly at the door.
I waved her off, hobbling over to grab the nearest piece of cloth to wrap my foot. "It's fine. Just... give me a minute. Why are you even here so early? I thought we agreed on meeting later."
"We were supposed to," she said, hands on her hips now, "but everyone showed up early, and I figured you'd want to know before the whole town riots in anticipation. They're all waiting for you at the square."
"Right... The square..." I sighed, shooting a glare at Bram. "Great timing as always."
Bram smirked. "Not my fault you decided to spar with furniture. Go on, hero, your adoring public awaits."
Maribel looked between us, clearly not understanding half the conversation but smart enough not to ask. "Do you want me to stall them?"
"No, I'll be fine," I said, pulling on my boots, though the act sent a fresh wave of pain up my leg. "Just give me five minutes."
"Alright," she said, glancing at my poorly wrapped foot one last time before heading back out.
As the door shut behind her, I turned to Bram. "You could’ve at least warned me."
"Where’s the fun in that?" he replied, looking far too smug for my liking. "Besides, you’re the lord of this place now. If you can’t handle a stubbed toe, what hope do you have out there?"
"Remind me why I haven’t figured out a way to exorcise you yet," I muttered, limping out the door.
"Because deep down, you’d miss me," Bram called after me, his laughter echoing in my head as I made my way to the square to face whatever chaos was waiting.
Half surprised the whole meeting at the town hall was a bash. Tabitha, Clint and Jackson probably told everyone that they were summoned by the lord to be taken into some town council, of course things were never simple. Hobbling down the steps to the first floor and out the door, I found everyone in town was waiting outside the steps. Not really prepared for that, I mentally cursed while clearing my throat and coming up with something on the fly said.
"Good morning, all! I wanted to inform you that Maribel will be stepping up to become an administrator for the town!"
The crowd’s cheers grew loud at the announcement, their faces lighting up with relief and hope. I stood there for a moment, letting their enthusiasm settle before raising my hand to quiet them again. Bram muttered something sarcastic in my head about how I was starting to enjoy the spotlight, but I ignored him.
"Thank you all for gathering here today," I began, trying to project confidence. "This town has been through a lot, but we’re on the path to something greater. To make sure we stay on that path, I’m establishing a town council to help guide Hillgrove in my absence."
I paused, letting the announcement sink in before continuing. "This council will consist of four members, each bringing their own strengths and expertise to ensure our success. First, Maribel will oversee trade and manage the system shop, ensuring the town continues to grow and thrive economically."
Maribel stepped forward briefly, offering a small wave as murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd.
"Next, Jackson," I said, gesturing toward him. "As our sole builder, his skills have earned him immense respect among you all. He’ll make sure our town’s infrastructure remains strong and ready for growth."
Jackson gave a humble nod, his face calm but clearly pleased by the recognition.
"Then there’s Clint," I continued, spotting the barkeep near the edge of the crowd. "He may not be the most respected, but he knows everyone and every rumor in town. That insight will be invaluable for keeping us informed and connected."
A few people chuckled, but Clint took it in stride, tipping his head with a smirk.
"And finally, Tabitha," I said, meeting her gaze. "She’s not only Gregory’s wife but also the one all the farmers turn to for guidance. Her knowledge and influence will ensure that our agricultural efforts remain strong and sustainable."
Tabitha gave a small, graceful nod, her presence as poised as ever.
"As for me," I said, stepping forward, "I’ll be leaving Hillgrove temporarily to handle matters outside the town, challenges that could benefit us all in the future. While I’m gone, trust in this council to lead wisely, and support them as you’ve supported me."
The crowd erupted into applause, their confidence tangible. Maribel stepped forward to address them briefly, her voice calm but determined.
"I’ll make sure Hillgrove continues to grow stronger," she said, her tone steady. "With the council working together, we’ll build a better future for everyone."
The cheers swelled again, and I felt a flicker of pride, though Bram couldn’t resist muttering, "Touching. Let’s just hope they don’t burn the place down while you’re gone."
Ignoring him, I took one last look at the gathered townsfolk, then turned my thoughts to the preparations for the journey ahead. Hillgrove was in their hands now.
Walking back into the town hall, I mentally spoke to Bram "So... I was thinking, I know you need quests to level, but I really have a hankering to kill some greenskins."
Bram turned to me and shouted "YEEEEEAAAAHHHH!!" I've never seen him so Enthusiastic.