The coming week Livia spent honing her pitch, using Oscar primarily to work out her ideas.
The other two were surprisingly uninterested. The fact they had both stalled in leveling likely had something to do with the fact–since it was clearly bothering the two–but it was well known how the latter levels before a new capstone usually required some form of real combat if your Class was inclined that way.
The levels before that were a lot easier.
Livia was already level 4, and all it had taken was her failed recruiting attempts with [Pitch Perfect] and her copious note taking which she then only had to put on top of her office cabinet for the [Advanced Bookkeeping] Skill to take over and organize and rewrite everything in her personal cypher.
This morning Livia was heading into Salcret, but she spotted Roldy and Kalle both working on their Skills separately in the garden.
[There are still a ton of holes in their actual combat ability. They really need to stop obsessing over levels and simply hone their combat instincts.]
Livia eventually ended up telling them both as much eventually, in rather harsh words, but it probably took her a day longer than it would have if Mr Beard hadn't spoken up about it quite so many times.
That made her realize she needed to get over it. The stupid voice was here to stay, and it wasn't like what it was actually saying was stupid; just a bit misguided at times.
Oscar was already there when she arrived at the [Guild] house, busy learning the cipher to a degree where he could read her notes fluently.
Livia just went ahead and picked up the thread where they had left off yesterday: "What we need is synergy, Classes that go well together and have room to grow together,"
Livia was stalking back and forth behind her desk where she kept the cabinet, in front of Oscar who was listening intently. "And Classes that can provide for a whole guild, like Lena's,"
Livia was still obsessing over the idea of being able to pop up anywhere and pitch a giant beautiful tent to start making sales, or even recruiting.
Having meetings and the like in the wild, completely civilized in the summer heat. She couldn't wait for Lena to get the last few levels she needed for her third capstone, although they would have to make sure they steered her Class correctly first, in case she was granted a Class upgrade. If it did not occur at level 30 it was bound to happen at the next capstone.
Of course, if she came with them to Dormata but decided there was no proper place for her at the [Guild]; they could just buy the tents from her.
But the plan for now was to at least get her a hospitality Skill or two that would be a sign she could get a new direction by level 40.
If their plans of having her working at a busy [Guild] came to fruition it would certainly be possible within a few short years.
Oscar was nodding, this wasn't the first time he heard all this, but Livia liked to work ideas over, over and over–it was how she kept her mind busy.
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"Obviously we can't expect to find all the Classes we will need here in Salcret, but we can get enough for a start and to know what direction we want to be heading,”
She finally sat down and seemed to feel satisfied with the easy trail of her thoughts. “It will make it ten times harder to find high tier recruits if we still remain unsure what Classes to look for at that point,"
"So where are we ultimately headed then, do you want to set up shop right in Dormata?" This they hadn't talked about.
[You never went to get that new map, you know.] Oh shit. Livia was reminded of the message about a package that she had neglected to go get earlier.
‘It is finished.’
"Sorry, I’m gonna explain, but I just remembered something–I'll be right back," Livia headed through the door and out into the snow, not even putting on her furred cloak.
Oscar was left alone again.
This could take a while. It was easy to get held up by something unexpected in Salcret, usually a nosy or bored neighbor.
Their small [Guild] house was located right near the town square after all, but Oscar waited patiently–and Livia returned within the hour.
"Sorry, sorry; I met Redd who was talking about the spring trip and wondering if we might be riding horses, you know, because of the leg."
She was carrying a large scroll it looked like, despite smaller papers being so plentiful. When she unrolled a map on her desk it made more sense.
Livia had actually paid 30 silver to the highest level [Painter] in town, who was twiddling his thumbs a lot of the time during this time of year, because of the wet.
But what Livia hired him for was to spend some time going around the most well-traveled people in Salcret and getting them to help him make a proper map of the Human heartlands, with neighboring settlements marked and different kinds of wilderness given distinct coloration.
It was the kind nobody else felt was needed, since you could just jot down a stick-figure type map specific to your needs and be done with it–ask for further directions on arrival, no need to complicate things.
But what Livia was looking for on the map was something special.
They spent hours poring over its depiction of the total holdings remaining to humanity; searching to find what Livia wanted, and they all needed; which was connections.
Mr Beard was whispering in her ear all the while, reminding her of knowledge from the book, and things to keep in mind for the future.
She finally found it.
"Here, right fucking here is where we'll find our home. Where we shall build our [Guild]!"
She had suddenly stabbed her finger down on the map.
Oscar was looking at her in trepidation. "Why to the north of Dormata, why parked right next to the Cloven realms?"