Karl stared at the ceiling, watching bits of roof flake off and flutter downward, and contemplated his Health points. Both of them. The more I get, the more I lose in one go. I'm like a yo-yo, and one of these times the string is going to snap.
But apparently not this time.
Groaning, Karl rolled over, or tried to, as his right side was pinned under the corpse of the giant bird. On his other side, Terry was a mess, obviously awake and cursing, but it looked like she had broken both legs and one arm. “What happened to you?” he groaned. That was clearly the wrong thing to say.
“TWO TONS OF FUCKING IDIOT LANDED ON ME IS WHAT HAPPENED YOU FUCKER! I CAUGHT-- GAAAH! A MOTHERFUCKING PALADIN SO HE WOULDN'T FUCKING DIE! YOU FUCKING IDIOT! YEEEEOOOW! I COULD HAVE LANDED LIKE A MOTHERFUCKING SWAN IN SWAN LAKE BUT SIR SPLATSALOT HAD TO BE A FUCKING HERO AND-- GAAAAAAAH!”
By the fourth casting of healing hands, the volume had dropped low enough to cease stuttering the rise of his own health points.
“I missed you too, Terry,” Karl said fondly.
“I fucking WISH you'd missed me you bastard but you scored a fucking bullseye on my fucking back!”
He cast yet another healing hands and Terry arched in a brief wordless scream while her spine snapped back into proper position.
“Thank you, Terry.” He cast again.
“Terry, you saved my life,” Letisha put in. “Thank you.”
Terry lay there panting, presumably out of breath for cursing, and hopefully out of most of the pain. “Well,” she answered hoarsely, “it was something to do.” Then she raised her eyebrows and turned her head towards the open door to the mill. “Incoming.”
The scouts were first, of course, dropping out of stealth once they saw there were no enemies about. One stepped out and held up a hand to slow the stampede. Terry's parents were near the front of the pack and barreled on in, at which point Karl discovered Terry had gotten her talent for cursing from her mother. It was easier to take with Chenelle casting healing spell after healing spell on both of them, and several people helping to shove the corpse of the Hypnotic Hawk off of him. Eventually Barbara calmed down enough for Karl's eardrums to begin to recover.
Almost everyone else was thrilled to find the mill cleared and Karl returned. They all were demanding to know what had happened to him. “Hold up, hold up, I need to check something. Cross your fingers everyone. System,” he called out loudly, “Create Safe Zone.”
There are insufficient resources to create a Safe Zone in this area.
Resources required:
Wood: 1000/1000
Stone: 1000/1000
Metal: 948/1000
A temporary Safe Zone may be created in this area for a monetary fee of: 10 silver coins. Your temporary Safe Zone will last 24 hours and includes this room. You may add additional rooms and their functions for an additional 1 silver coin per room.
“Okay, we're almost there, people.” A ripple of disappointment ran through the group. “We're only fifty-two units short. But I think I have a solution. It all depends on Jake and our finances. It turns out that it is possible to buy, from the Shop, units of metal to finish filling the requirements. It'll cost multiple gold, but if the auctions did well, we might be able to swing it. Somebody go tell Jake to buy System metal, and to try to get fifty-two units. If we can afford that, we can build the Safe Zone.” Karl had another thought. “And if we're short of funds, anything people have in inventory that they can contribute or sell might make up the difference. If you're donating, give it to Jake because all the money has to be in one place.”
“Everybody give it to me and I'll bring it to Jake,” Jim called out. “That way everybody doesn't have to go back and forth.”
Some people started doing so, then someone protested, “Hey, how do we know we can trust you?” Others hesitated.
Karl sighed. There's always something. “Jim, come here.” He needed something symbolic, so he pulled out his orcish short sword and held it out sideways. Best I can do for now. When Jim stood before him, he said, “Place your hand on the blade.” Jim did so, and the group fell quiet, watching. “Jim, do you swear that you will faithfully deliver the donated funds to Jake without delay?”
“I swear,” Jim answered honestly.
“He's telling the truth,” Karl announced, then put away his sword. “Thank you, Jim.” He beckoned people over to Jim, and things got moving again. Some people were muttering questions about Karl's paladin abilities. Well, he'd figure that out later.
“Thus it is written,” Tabitha murmured.
“OH!” Terry called. “Almost forgot! Hordeslayer Tabitha, we need your help for a minute. There are some things in the second building that have to be cleared out before this will work. Anybody want some experience?”
“What are we fighting?” Alain asked, as a few people exited the mill. Terry spoke to a small group. “AAH! Yeah, kill it with fire!” Alain exclaimed. Terry grinned, saw several people off, and came back inside, clearly not willing to miss anything happening in the mill.
* *
After Jim left, everyone was clamoring to hear his story. “All right, all right,” Karl said, waving his palms downward. “Here's what I know:
“When the hobgoblin lord threw me into the sky, I honestly believed I was done for. I must have risen for five seconds or so, and paladins don't get flying powers. I soared over the area, and I tell you all, it was a truly beautiful sight, inspiring. I wish you all could have seen it.
“Anyway, there I was, sailing over the mill here, almost all the way across the marshes. Now, I'd spent my mana healing myself up to full, so I could enjoy my last moments. I made my peace with God and the System, and I felt positively serene. The System even said something funny, so I was laughing as the ground approached at high speed. But I was still a second away from impact when something knocked me unconscious.
“I was never really conscious after that. I just had a vague sensation of trying to wake up and something pushing me back down into sleep, over and over. But then I heard a fight, and the creature holding my mind down got distracted. So I made myself wake up, broke out of this awful gunk you still see on me, and joined the fight. We managed to drive off the birds following the Hypnotic Hawk, and eventually, Terry and I managed to stab it to death.” Karl looked at Terry meaningfully, and she gave a tiny nod.
“Terry nearly killed herself saving me from the fall, and here we are. And let me say again in front of everyone, thank you, Terry, for saving my life, yet again.” Terry's face then was an amusing combination of pleased smile and angry scowl.
“My best guess is, the Hawk either looked up from its nest here, or was already patrolling around, when I came sailing through as a shiny bauble in the air. A lot of birds like shiny things, and a lot of animals get their hunt and chase instincts triggered by the sight of something fleeing, and hunters prefer solitary prey, and I certainly wasn't part of a whole flock of flying paladins, so I guess I looked very appealing. So ironically, the bird that captured me to feed its young ended up saving my life.”
“Its young?” Doug repeated. Everyone turned to look at the nest in the corner.
“Well fortunately for me, they haven't hatched yet, and apparently a Hypnotic Hawk can save a live snack for later. I saw at least a couple of eggs in there. I'm guessing they're due to hatch soon.”
A few people ran over, and Michael called, “three eggs!” He put his hand against one briefly, then stepped back, summoned his marsh warrior club, and proceeded to smash the egg open. There was some noise, and then another smash.
“WAIT!” Letisha cried out. Michael froze, startled. “Save one for me! Please?” Michael shook his head and raised the club. “PLEASE!” He froze again, looking frustrated.
“Hold off, Michael, let's hear her out,” Karl called. Michael looked at him, bowed his head, nodded, and slowly lowered the club.
“Birds imprint on the first animal they see,” Letisha pointed out. “I want to see if it will imprint on me. If I raise it right, maybe it will be a weapon we can use for good. If it...if it doesn't work...then you can kill it,” she added reluctantly.
Karl sighed, wondering where this might lead. “All right, you can try. But the minute that thing harms any of us, we end it.”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Understood. Thank you, Sir Karl.”
There was a lot of talking, people meeting Letisha, catching up on events. Terry did a good job editing events smoothly, and Letisha followed her lead gratefully. Karl hadn't caught much of it at all himself, just enough to realize that some things might be better off kept quiet for the time being. He could find out the details in private later.
Finally, Jake arrived. He walked into the mill and then slowed, noting the excrement and the smell. “Phew, sure you want to do it here?” he joked. A moment later, he was dumping ingots from his inventory. People made room for the pile as it grew.
Karl kept count, and Jake deposited fifty-three ingots on the floor and then stopped. “You gotta have one extra just because,” he replied when Karl pointed it out. “A joker in the deck.”
“All right, everybody, here we go.” Karl took a breath and mentally crossed his fingers. “System, Create Safe Zone.”
You have sufficient resources to create a basic Safe Zone in this area.
Resources required:
Wood: 1000/1000
Stone: 1000/1000
Metal: 1000/1000
Use Lesser System Token as power source? (Y/N)
Karl looked at the question and frowned. What did I do with that thing again? Oh, right. “Terry?”
“Looking for this, old man?” She held out a small black stone with green veins running through it.
“Thank you, young lady.” He held it and examined it for the first time:
Hobgoblin Monster Core
item grade – uncommon item quality – good
Then he looked back at the question from the interface, which now read:
Designate power source for Safe Zone:
Lesser System Token
Monster Core—uncommon—good
Karl mentally chose the Monster Core.
Due to core usage in creation process, you have two Perks added to your Safe Zone.
1 – General power will be supplied to Safe Zone. This may be used with purchased items or System altered items. Power slots will still be needed for some buildings.
2 - You have your choice of guardians for your Safe Zone. This Perk will require additional resource expenditure. Gargoyle – Stone 100/100 Wooden Golem – Wood 100/100 Metal Golem (insufficient resources – Metal 1/100)
“Well, Sir Karl?” Doug asked, grinning.
“Give me a minute, I'm not great with computers.” A quiet ripple of laughter went through the group. “Looks like using this Core here gives us a couple of bonus perks. Says we'll have power for free.”
“You mean like electricity?” Barbara asked.
Karl shrugged and peered at the message. “Hm, between a wood golem guardian or a gargoyle stone guardian, I'm voting for the stone one. Seems like an easy choice. That's the other perk.” Karl chose it mentally and the interface closed.
Nothing seemed to happen for a moment, and Karl looked around in confusion.
“You didn't break it, did you old man?” Terry asked nervously.
Several people jumped as the floor in front of Karl began to flash with white light, strobing, in a rectangle a bit bigger than a card table. Everybody stepped back without being asked, and as soon as it was clear, a stone table rose up out of the floor. A three dimensional wireframe drawing sprang into existence above it. It looked like the mill, the secondary building, and the surrounding terrain, all hovering over the table/projector.
“YES!” Jake shouted, moving closer. “I read all about this! This is where we get to design the whole thing.” He looked at Karl, who gestured for him to help himself, thinking authorizing thoughts. Letisha hesitantly came over, reluctant to leave the egg in the nest, but was soon reaching into the wire frame as well as Jake, shaping it a mile a minute. They seemed to be cooperating well, firing off rapid questions and instructions. A few other people called out suggestions.
Karl couldn't follow what was going on, but he could see the castle keep taking shape. Chad made some requests about the defenses along Twisty Brook, anticipating fights with the marsh folk. People were getting excited. Karl hungrily ate most of the rations in his pack, and had to ask for water from others nearby.
Finally he started getting impatient and felt others doing the same. He called out a five minute warning, then a two minute warning, and finally gave his best piercing whistle. “Enough! We'll live with the remaining imperfections.” Letisha's hand flicked out and made one more adjustment. “I said pencils down!” Some people laughed. The two enthusiasts stepped back from the table.
Karl tapped the edge of the diagram. “Um, System, we're done with the design.” A notification popped up for him.
This design will use an additional 512 stone and 215 wood beyond base cost. Safe Zone design complete? (y/n)
Karl smiled. If there's one thing New Hampshire has plenty of, it's granite. Karl thought “yes” at it.
Initializing Safe Zone construction. Inform current inhabitants to beware of alterations underway. Alterations starting in: 60 seconds.
“Uh-oh.” Everyone looked at him. “We've got sixty seconds to get out of the way, everybody move!”
“Get up on Post Road!” Jake shouted. “Letisha, come on!”
“I'm staying with the egg!”
“I'm sure it will be fine!”
“Then so will I!”
“Everybody else, out, now!” Karl and Terry ran over to Letisha at the nest.
“I have to try. Please don't try to stop me.”
“I'm not,” Karl said gently. He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. “God and System, please watch over this brave young woman.” He cast Guardian Angel on Letisha.
“Can you...protect the egg, too?”
Karl blinked. What the hell—System, protect this egg, he thought, laying his hand against the shell for a moment. To his surprise, the spell took.
“All right, it only saves each of you from one hit, so don't be careless. Good luck.”
“Thank you, Sir Karl,” Letisha said softly.
“Move old man, I'm faster than you!” Terry glared at him until he started running, and kept pace with him easily. “What am I gonna do with you, huh?”
“Hey, I'm an old man.” They joined the others up on Post Road. Jake was counting down out loud, and looked distressed as he saw that Letisha was not with them.
“Two...one...now,” Jake announced. The ground began to rumble, and then shake just a little.
“Um, Jake, you sure we're far enough away?”
Several people took in sharp breaths. Karl turned to see boulders pull themselves out of the far embankment, float through the air, and take up new positions. Trees began to fall over, split lengthwise, and reshape into boards of lumber. The stones were merging and smoothing into something that looked like a cross between concrete and granite.
The roof floated off of the mill and dismantled itself. The spillway creaked and groaned and gave way, pieces peeling off and losing their dark brown rusted appearance to form ingots of shiny metal that floated over to the main building. A rush of water flowed down into the marsh.
It looked as if a thousand invisible magicians were all working in concert and perfect synchronization. A wooden building that looked like it held apartments assembled itself on the lawn, bits of metal flying in here and there. More of the forest fell, the wood reforming and continuing the construction. The nearest hillside slumped as rock after rock was tugged from the heart of it, and then more collapsed and was smoothed into a new dirt surface.
A couple of people cried out as they suddenly saw Letisha, the egg and the nest floating on a stone platform, drifting off to one side and settling while lumber assembled itself into a small building around them. Karl let out a quiet sigh of relief. Nicely done, System.
People took a few more steps back as the stone walls continued to assemble, coming almost up to Post Road and running along it. A large gate formed in the middle on the north side. A stone keep was assembling itself in the center. Everyone pointed with oohs and aahs as Jake gave running commentary on the parts he understood. Finally, the noise faded away and things stopped moving, except for a gargoyle, which flew to its post over the gate and settled, still as stone should be.
Karl got a notification.
Safe Zone construction complete. Would you like to name your Safe Zone? (y/n)
Karl called out, “It wants me to name it!” There was a pause as people looked at each other, then everyone started shouting out names.
“Sanctuary!” “New Hope.” “Humans Here.” “Camelot!” “Home Base.” “Live Free or Die!” “That's a motto, not a name.”
Tabitha said quietly, “The Clarissa Jones Memorial Safe Zone.” A lot of people fell quiet.
Jake cleared his throat. “She was the bravest, but not the only one to fall on the way here.” Karl thought of the boy's mother, and how badly she had wanted the Safe Zone built around her home. And then he wondered what Letisha would think of the name.
Karl coughed. “I was thinking maybe something for all of us. Something short, because we'll say it a million times. But something that represents each and every one of us.”
“Like Hope, or Freedom, or Endurance,” Chenelle said.
As soon as he heard it, it felt right.
Endurance.
“Endurance,” Karl agreed.
Terry mulled it over. “Kind of stodgy, but sort of dignified I guess.” She shrugged.
“It says we're doing more than just surviving. It's a positive trait. It's even a System attribute,” Doug pointed out. “It says hard times ahead, but it also says to everyone friend or foe--'Bring It'.”
That got people murmuring. Gradually the crowd came around to the suggestion, and Karl said, “Endurance it is.” Karl entered the name and the System acknowledged it.
Endurance Safe Zone was open for business.
Motto: Bring It.