Once we make it to my street I am surprised to see a bunch of kids running around everywhere. Then I remember the discussion we had before I left, I guess we did end up taking over the orphanage. Of course all the kids gather around to get a look at Lizzy, she doesn't seem to mind so I ignore them.

Before heading to the inn I stop off to give the shell to Mitch and discuss the possibility of doing barding if he can figure out how to work with the shell. Then I head across the street to see Walter, I don't want to but I am going to need my armor repaired before I can leave for the temple. Rather than being angry like I expected, he wants to know what did the damage and how much I was hurt.

Walter says "Angry? Why would I be angry? It is armor, it is meant to protect you not be some show piece that sits on display. I am more concerned with why it didn't protect you."

So to show him I take out one of the rex's claws for him to take a look at. After describing the full creature and going over the fight in detail he promises to work on making the chest piece better. Since I am there anyway I unload all of the hides I have including the rex hide.

Since I am unloading anyway I go back over to Mitch's shop and unload all of the bones I collected, except the rex skull. I will give that to him tomorrow after I have met with the guild masters, I want them to see it first. After all I can tell them about it but seeing it with their own eyes will be a completely different experience for them.

As soon as I walk into the inn Sarah comes and hugs me, from her I find out that this is the fifth day since I left. Once she is reassured that I am fine I ask her for paper and something to write with. Then I pen a short note to each of the five guild masters inviting them to dinner.

After sending off the messages with some kids I head upstairs to sit down and relax. Sarah follows wanting to know how things went and since she won't be at the dinner I tell her the short version. Then after she leaves I start drawing a map of what I did actually explore, although it wasn't much.

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Cartography has progressed to level 5!

Cartography

Level 5

Int +5

You can draw basic maps.

Another skill I had forgotten I even had, but thanks to that my map turns out pretty decent. It is at least good enough that Scott will be able to see what he is dealing with. Again it isn't necessary but I believe people react better when they can see things for themselves.

The guild masters arrive well before dinner, because I asked them to, I want the discussion done before the food gets here. This doesn't really concern all of them directly but they will eventually need to know. This way they all get it first hand and none of the details gets skewed with the retelling.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Scott says "So, are they all dead?"

"All the ones I could find, but there are bigger problems than them."

Before they can start pestering me with questions I start telling the story. I tell it in as much detail as I can and even show the map and the rex skull when I reach the right part of the story. I also tell them about the Armatite and how much I was able to mine, I won't withhold information to get them to do what I want.

Pelos says "Surely, that was the only one of those things down there?"

Roddick says "I doubt it. What Ash is describing sounds like a complete ecosystem that has been around for a long time. They are probably few in number but there will be more than one."

Borrik says "I agree with Roddick, no way are we lucky enough that there was only one."

Scott says "But we can't just leave the Armatite?!"

Ambrose says "My adventurers are not qualified to fight that kind of beast!"

Borrik says "I won't be sending any of my boys down there either!"

Roddick says "There is another problem. If Ash is right about his directions and distances then that cavern is under the empire."

Pelos says "Who cares? There is no way they know it is there!"

Ambrose says "Pelos is probably right, but that aside it is still too dangerous."

Scott says "Ash, what do you think? Is it possible to mine down there?"

"Possible yes. Cost effective, no."

Scott says "What do you mean?"

"The cost of mining down there would be too high. Not only in money but in lives."

Ambrose says "You are saying the number of deaths wouldn't be worth the amount of ore we could extract?"

"Correct."

Pelos says "If you were going to mine down there, how would you do it?"

"Well, for one thing you would have to bring in people from the other nations. Sorry Ambrose, Borrik, but your people don't have the experience with beasts that would be needed."

Ambrose says "Huh, I hadn't thought of that."

Borrik says "No offense taken, you are absolutely right."

"You would also need mages and heavy weapons."

Scott says "What kind of heavy weapons?"

"Heavy crossbows at least, but portable ballista would be better."

Pelos says "That would cost a fortune!"

"Even with all that you should still expect a high number of casualties. Hiring priests from the temple would help lessen the deaths."

Ambrose says "What you are talking about would be a major investment by the entire city!"

Roddick says "He is right though, from what he described it would be the best bet. So is the Armatite worth it is the question?"

Scott and Pelos says "Absolutely!"

Borrik says "Pulling in experienced people from the other nations will not be as easy as it sounds. We can't leave our guilds in those areas short handed."

"For that, simply set up an exchange program."

Ambrose says "What do you mean?"

"I mean send an equal number of your people from here to replace them. That way no guild is short handed and your people from here can get some experience with beasts."

Borrik says "I like it! This is sounding more and more doable."

Roddick says "I can do the same with my mages."

Scott says "So we are doing this?"

Pelos says "I think we should. Just one weapon made of Armatite could go for millions."

Ambrose says "Do we even have anyone capable of working with Armatite?"

Pelos says "Well, we don't have a smith with experience working with it, but I do have a couple of master blacksmiths who should be able to do it."

Scott says "We have Ash, he has forged Armatite!"

"I won't be around for any of this. I have a quest for the goddesses that I can't put off any longer."

They all seem disappointed when they hear that, but no one tries to argue with me. Just then Sarah comes in with helpers carrying our dinner and the conversation pauses. Throughout dinner one of them will occasionally put forth an idea about how to improve the plan.

From everything I am hearing it seems like they are set on at least trying to mine the Armatite. For the most part I just answer questions when I can and offer advice on tactics for dealing with beasts. This is not going to happen quickly, just moving people around will take months.