Shova, 7th, 10,391
Six stood tall, defiantly calling out a challenge with his stance.
In the corner of his vision were ticking buff icons.
Zephyr’s Embrace
Stone Skin
Vital Surge
Strength of the Oak
Force Shell
His body thrummed with power and he felt the swagger of solid confidence. Even outnumbered as he was, this was fun.
Four fighters came running at him with weapons drawn, one stood back taking careful picked shots with a bow.
Chainsaw in hand, Six launched himself forward swinging his weapon in a vicious arc and slammed it against the enemies’. There was no need to activate the chain and he wanted to keep them alive. Six increased the pressure and bowled into two of the hostiles, spearing them down with a shoulder and keeping them down with swift boots to the chest.
Six bobbed and weaved between the strikes of the other two, taking glancing blows off his armor when appropriate. Arrows flew by, small gusts deviating the projectiles ever so slightly. Zephyr’s Embrace giving Six that little extra edge that pushed him past optimal and into overpowered.
Six spun and ducked before throwing out a swing that cut the air with a low thrum. It caught a man in the chest plate and sent him flying. Metal on metal letting out a screeching clang. Six pulled the strike and of course held the chain, the man lived.
Six feinted a back spin, reversing the chainsaw and arcing it the other way. The armored combatant raised their sword in an attempt to parry the blow but Six didn’t complete the swing, instead using the momentum it generated to throw himself towards the archer.
They let their held shot loose and it flew true at Six who used his Sylpheon Greaves to reposition mid air, air dodging to the side before landing and continuing forward.
He dashed like a madman to the woman who dropped the bow and was in the process of drawing her blade.
Six cross-checked her with the hilt of his saw. His mass and momentum sending her flying with a sharp scream of pain.
Six turned to see a sword descending straight to his head.
Deflect
He activated the maneuver at the sight of the incoming attack, his body cracking into position bringing his weapon up and catching the strike on the flat of his chainsaw bar. Sparks flew as blade met tooth, but it ended with the hostile wide open in the finished position of his arc.
Six threw out a spinning back kick, driving it forward and through, sending the man flying.
The other two threw their weapons to the ground. Six accepted their surrender, no point in beating on newbies with no handicap. They seemed to know that too.
“Good,” Keegan’s approval for all who participated in the spar was clear. He gave little critiques here and there.
“Good showing my lord but your style degenerates when you feel you have an advantage. I will always advocate for a more restrained style. Especially for leaders such as yourself.
A wider stance would have helped you weather the lord's assault, Tylin.
You must be prepared for sudden shifts in combat, Renaeha. The lord took you by surprise.
I know you have the Deflect maneuver too, Adams. You should have used it after the lord used his to put you off balance. He would have been on cooldown and vulnerable.”
It was good training and served to embed him in the community. Six was content to be outside of social structures but knew how to exist in one and his number one rule was attendance.
Showing up and being a regular part of another's daily experience was the easiest, most reliable way to expand your social possibilities. For Six, as the lord, showing his face in as many places while performing to a high degree was the optimal way to increase his fame and clout. He wanted to be well known and well liked during these early stages, it would make the later parts of his vision easier.
The soldiers seemed to respect him, fighting him with all their might. Some like Keegan even bested Six on a strictly martial scale.
Life was good, simple, Six felt confident in his power, even lacking an evolution.
He caught that thought and recognized it for what it was, complacency. The evolved creature was a tier above and that held true for sentients such as himself. There were evolved people out there and it would only take a few to covet Mountain’s End for themselves and there would be very little Six would be able to do. It was something he would have to achieve for himself.
He needed to grow, train, grind. He had to keep progressing.
But there were always other obligations he had to fulfill alongside his growth.
He now had to guide and educate Big Sister. Communicating with her daily and bringing others into the knowledge of her so she could make more… friends. The golem was intelligent and Six was under the assumption that intelligent beings needed socialization, he couldn’t be the exclusive source for that. Thus Big Sister needed some friends.
Until then Six would spend time teaching her what he wanted her to observe. Where he expected her to send her swarm. What to report and what to ignore.
The small crimes of society were inevitable. He wanted her to look for the larger problems that would occur or were brewing.
She was to observe in non residential spaces only, unless granted a warrant by Six. This was something that increased security at the cost of privacy. Six had a goal and that was completing the crime quest… and making things safe.
Utilizing Big Sister, while authoritarian in nature, was an acceptable decision in Six’s eyes as he knew that he could trust himself to not abuse the power that came with such surveillance.
He hoped.
But not everything was so grim and morally weighty.
It was time to fulfill a few promises.
First was a true bakery for Min.
Six used Plant Growth and the Flowering Staff of Profound Verdance to grow cedar saplings around a golem melded foundation of the dark limestone. It was a large foundation and the building footprint maximized the space available.
A quarter of the building had multiple levels of housing, office and commercial space. The rest of the building was divided between a prep space and massive ovens. Within the ovens were fire golems that would burn forever and could have their temperature regulated permanently so the wood could go to other uses or be stockpiled for the winter.
-Industrial Stone Bakery-
Quality: Mundane
Rarity: Unusual
Durability: 1700/1700
Traits:
25% production efficiency increase to all baking related projects, ovens preheat faster and bread bakes more evenly.
When Min hobbled over on his peg leg to inspect his new workspace, Six could see the look of complete surprise over take him. “By Kynairos, Six, about damn time.”
Six gave a sheepish shrug. “Sorry I was busy with other things. Still am to be honest but I felt like I could indulge a bit.”
“I understand, But the ovens, Six. This is too much!”
“Nah.” Six waved the thought away.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“But… How am I supposed to use them all?” Min opened one of the ovens and examined its form and function.
“You don’t have to use them all. One day you might.”
“That's a lot of people, for all those ovens. There are gonna be other bakers, you know?”
“Yes, but I still think we are going to need these ovens and I want you to be our baker. I think we are going to continue to grow and you’ve been with us since the start.”
Min nodded some respect. “I’m not going anywhere Six. This is my home.”
Next to the bakery Six put the kitchens.
Again split with one quarter being set up like a large tavern and the rest being an industrial kitchen. For preservation several root cellars were installed, they would have to do until Six learned how to make an ice golem or perhaps an ice or time rune. Something to prevent decay.
Gatbark was called upon to forge the massive three meter tall steel pots that were the focal point of the kitchens. Such massive vessels would allow Jebbedo to scale his food production far better allowing for thousands of portions of food to be made at once. The pots sat upon stone enclosures that mimicked furnace burners, within were fire golems that provided the fire needed.
-Industrial Soup Kitchen-
Quality: Mundane
Rarity: Unusual
Durability: 1600/1600
Traits:
25% production efficiency increase to all cooking related projects, Knives remain sharper longer and food stays fresher longer.
Jebbedo smirked when Six showed him the massive kitchens he’d made for the halfling.
The halfling walked up and examined one of the new pots. He gave it a slap. “Big pots. Nearly triple my size. What am I supposed to do with these?”
“So you can make bulk batches.”
Jebbedo cocked his head at Six. “That lowers the efficacy of the food, you know?”
“Eh?”
“Yea, the more you multiply the recipe, the bigger the batch, the less it outputs.”
“So it's worthless?”
“No, it’ll still feed a person but if I tried to make a special meal the buff would be diminished. Batches this big would provide no buff at all. I’ve heard of some class perks mitigating the reduction but I don’t have such a thing. ”
“That makes no sense.”
Jebbedo lifted an eyebrow, mystified. “What do you mean? That's exactly how it works. Works the same for baking and alchemy. Any sort of consumable really.”
As nonsensical as that was, It didn’t matter, this world had different rules. “Eh nevermind. It don’t matter, this is to keep people fed.” Six waved it away.
“Anyways Six, this isn’t what I asked for.” Jebbedo sounded miffed.
“No, it's not.” Six admitted. “but it’s some of what you want and some of what we need. Come on, check this out.” Six waved for his halfling friend to follow him.
Six led Jebbedo into the restaurant side of the operation. Where it looked much like a normal tavern.
A bar ran down one side. Magic grown wooden tables and chairs were sprinkled about the dark coloured interior. A massive fireplace was placed on one side next to a simple raised stage. Large shuttered windows could be thrown open to let a draft in.
At this, Jebbedo sighed a contented sigh and smiled. “Nice.”
“My man.” Six fist bumped his little friend. “I know its not exactly what you wanted-”
“It’s fine,” Jebbedo cut in. “Better than fine. You know what I mean.”
“I got ya. Thanks for helping out even if it’s not what you want to do.
“Ha, even if it's not what I want.” Jebbedo looked at him knowingly. “Getting shit done. It's what we do.”
“Hoo yee,” Six agreed.
They stood in silence for a bit, just examining the building and its fixtures. Then Jebbedo spoke. “You’ve been working like a true believer of Kynairos, Six.”
“Lot to get done,” Six said.
“Yeah, but no reason you can’t take a break.”
Six shook his head, no. “But I need to get shit done, Jebbedo. It's what we do.”
“Yea but you also gotta take some time for yourself. Hey, Min, Narhurin, and I play some games every now and then. We’d love to have you out.”
Six smirked wistfully but shook his head once again. He turned to leave. “I’d love that Jebbedo but making this kitchen was kinda my break. There just ain't no time. Maybe later.”
Six could see Jebbedo bite any argument off but it was clear the halfling disagreed.
Six did need a break but there was just no natural break between the things he needed to accomplish. Like choosing the evolution that arose from his latest gains.
Skill increase: Construction - Apprentice - 20
Apprentice Skill Evolution triggered
Workcrew: Gain the ability to create a workcrew, a unified party dedicated to the same project. All Construction related use of mana or stamina is reduced by N*0.5% this buff is applied to all members of the workcrew. Current reduction: 10%
Durable Product: Improves the final overall durability of creations made by the user. Provides an increase of N*1% of durability. Current increase: 20%
Steady Craftsman: Reduces internal resources spent. All Construction related use of mana or stamina is reduced by N*0.99% Current reduction: 19.8%
Beauty of Form: Improved aesthetics of buildings provide a mental soothing effect. Observers of the user’s creations receive a buff that scales in proportion to the building's quality.
General Master: The overall efficacy of the building increases by a N*0.1% current increase: 20%
Franklin was already a fine site super and she was training more in construction so they would not lack for people with the Workcrew evolution.
Durable Product was simple and effective but the construction skill already scaled durability and Six wanted to build more than just defenses.
Steady Craftsman seemed good on first glance but all it truly did was improve his productivity. It allowed him to do more in a shorter time. While that was good, Six didn’t feel the need to rush.
Beauty of Form gave another dimension of scaling to his creations but Six didn’t see the immediate or future need for his population to be constantly mentally soothed. It was just kinda cool.
General Master was the clear but boring choice, providing a simple but direct increase to the specific outputs of the buildings he created. Widely applicable and strong.
Evolution choice imprinted: General Master
Technique choice awarded.
You gained 100 experience points for reaching Apprentice status in Construction.
The technique he chose was called Elemental Infusion.
Technique: Elemental Infusion
Rank: Minor
Cooldown: 10s
Range: Melee
Performance Time: 3s
Duration: Instant
Mana Cost: 40
Effect: The user can imbue materials with elemental magic (fire, water, earth, air) to enhance their properties. For example, infusing stone with water magic might make it resistant to heat, while earth-infused wood could become impervious to rot.
Elemental infusion could be very powerful when applied correctly. It was another way of controlling and altering the expression of his creations and that only made his future creations more powerful.
All in all, a good little bit of growth that would help snowball Mountain’s End future a bit faster.
Anyways, he needed to continue with his current objective of security and safety.
Big sister was slowly learning and growing but Six knew that surveillance wasn't enough. He had a pretty sizable martial force between the convicts, towns forces and imperial soldiers, a force of just under two hundred level three folks on average, a decent army in SIx’s opinion when compared to the koatl, goblins, or even Amog’s band.
Yet when asked Charles admitted they were nothing when compared to the armies of Olisrosa who most likely had an overall force in the mid thousands, with multiple evolved people. In comparison the imperial legions numbered at just under a million at their peak., with multiple twice evolved people.
Six needed just more of everything overall.
Making golems for his most loyal would be an easy way to multiply his force but other than that it would have to grow relatively naturally, with population growth, immigration, and criminal service feeding into it.
Six didn’t know where to hire mercenaries and he would trust them less than his conscripts.
He wanted a section of elite warriors. Thus he would need to create a stream of development that would produce these paragons of force.
It would feed all of Mountain's End best into one stream and they’d see what would come out.
The best talent.
The best mentors.
The best equipment.
The best of the best of the best.
Still their population was still too small to produce many outliers, most of whom he had access to were going to be just slightly above average on the bell curve.
It didn’t matter so much. Resources and levels, training and skills. Those things were what mattered.
They would try their best.
This was something Six should take a personal interest in and he did so late at night.
Enjoying a cup of the local equivalent to hot chocolate and going over the affinity documents of the entire town.
He didn’t need to create something standardized, Charles was doing that.
Six wanted something special.
The affinities before him were people that were already in a combat role or who expressed interest in a combat role. Six was sure there were people with high affinities in combat skills but without the predisposition to battle and combat such the resources spent developing them would be wasted. He wanted people who were willing to walk into danger.
His affinity testers didn’t test for everything as each skill added to the overall testing time. They had to pick which skills to look for but there were alot of combat skills and all the magic skills, so Six had a good idea of what a person could do.
His vision was of armored spellswords, assaulting across a variety of terrain types.
From this he selected his initial draft picks and his farm players.
They varied greatly but all were above 95% in a skill Six valued highly.
Heavy Armor.
That skill would be the unifying factor for the unit he was creating.
They would be the vanguard of the avalanche. A concentration of power that would break through any threat that stood in the way of his people.
But still. That was not enough.
Six knew that although overwhelming martial force was the fundamental basis for peace and prosperity there was yet another form of policy advancement.
Assassination.
It was historically a very powerful tool of political manipulation, and he needed to begin that clandestine arm of his control.
People who could move behind the scenes and manage actors outside his control.
People who would give Six plausible deniability.
Six approached the one most suited to training such a group.
Aclo was shadowing Tavi as usual. When they returned the Tsunken Aelf had taken it upon himself to become Tavi’s protector, and her second in command. The soldiers really cared for that girl.
“Aclo.” Six said, walking up and getting the man’s attention. He smiled and waved at Tavi.
Aclo regarded Six coolly, never having really warmed up to him. “My lord.”
“I have a new assignment for you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.”
They stared at each other for what felt like five minutes before Aclo spoke.
“I am happy with my current assignment.”
“I have need for you elsewhere.”
“I am best suited here.”
“Chain of command has determined otherwise.
Aclo pursed his lips and almost sneered. “I don’t think chain of command has considered all the-”
Tavi cut in. “By Kynairos Aclo. I appreciate all the help you’ve been, but you’re reassigned. I can take care of myself.”
Aclo opened his mouth to argue but a glare from Tavi made him drop it. “Yes… of course. What is my new assignment?”
Six brought them to a more secluded spot in the village and began to lay out his ideas and vision for the kind of clandestine arm he wished to begin to plant.
Six held his hands out, placatingly. “Nothing large of course. Perhaps three to five disciples under you.”
Aclo sniffed. “You think I should teach them the ways of my clan? Teach them our secrets? My secrets?”
“Aclo,” Six began, keeping himself grounded and his voice gentle. “I am not concerned with such things. You are no slave, but you are a soldier. I will order you to do this if I must. Instead, I ask, I beg you. Please, share your secrets with us, share your strength with us. Help us.”
Aclo looked uncomfortable, off balance. Yet he agreed with a resigned sigh. “Fine, I will do as you ask.”
“Thank you. Now, is there anything you need from me?”
Aclo hesitated but nodded. “I would like more meetings within the mask, I would speak with Master Yanzo, and I would like for the mask to be repaired.”
“The meetings can be arranged but fixing it may take some time. We lack the expertise here to properly fix the item itself. We will have to bring a master here or find one out there.”
Aclo was unfazed. “I understand. That is all.”
The two men parted ways and Six took a moment just to breathe.
Only time would tell how these new initiatives would play out but Six wouldn’t stop to see if he was wrong. He knew he would make mistakes. He knew he would have to change things.
All that mattered was that they were moving forward.