Livia brought Sten and Oscar to the lumbermill in order to speak with the [Arborist] they hoped to recruit for cultivating their own kauri seed.

She was a young woman, only a couple of years older than them, who was already above level 10 and worked at the largest industry in Salcret, in terms of employment.

If there was one other reason their town was all the way out here, more than a week from any other human settlement even at the speed of high level folk, it was the quality of timber to be found.

The orchard’s hill had more concentrated energies, but it was the land all over this area that grew trees a couple tiers above what could be found around Dormata.

It made for a thriving forestry industry and a busy population of [Arborists].

None were so well-traveled as Brunner, nor as high level. That was their challenge, convincing a young [Arborist] to leave a teacher like Brunner.

The lumber trade was in fact more important than ever with the decline in quality apple drink they had suffered with the passing of Bertrud. There was no replacing a [Druid] of that quality; not one of the founders.

Even with the decline in energies the System provided to you, that could start to happen if you were above a certain age and had stopped leveling; you still had your Spells, you just needed to borrow a little more from the surroundings. Pay some extra out of pocket, which did not always feel fair, but hey. You were using magic.

It was hard to complain.

Bertrud had indeed been a pillar of the community, and not least their economy, despite her state of constant inebriation. But damn it if I’m not gonna try my hand at some old fashioned talent poaching, I won’t level without a challenge anyway.

The work at the mill was tough, even with Skills. They had managed to find their target right as she left the mess hall, not without some planning. People were always easier to convince on a full stomach. Heh. That’s right. I can be sneaky.

Livia stayed focused, but her target was not the most rapt audience she’d ever cornered. She finally just summarized. “So, in short, maybe you would be losing Brunner and have to leave your home. But instead you will get the chance to work with Roldy, on a new Kauri seed potentially, imagine the levels?” The woman, who went by Billie, appeared unfazed so far, with her ax resting on her shoulder and sweat gleaming off her collarbones.

Oscar stopped being distracted and piped up. “Roldy is my brother Harold, from the Hare’s Retreat, you know?”

Luckily that sparked recognition. “Oh yeah, Harold, how’s he doing?” Oscar realized he risked getting sidetracked. “He’s good, we were the first to join the [Guild], with Kalle from the orchard too; so if you were to move with us to the other side of Dormata we’d be working together, on building something from the very scratchings,”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

She nodded at this and seemed to consider.

Her next look of dismay could have been indicating any number of things. Having to leave Brunner, or her family. Having to travel so far and to a possible shithole.

Livia decided to change her tact. “We won’t be building more than a day or two out from Dormata you know. So, you’d have plenty of access to the capital. They have a great deal of Class schools there, attracting the talent from all around, every handsome face in the…” Livia’s Skill suddenly shouted at her. “... world, and every beauty too,”

Billie perked up at this. If they lack ambition you go for the groin, yes!

“You know what, I’ll think about it. I’ll have to talk to Brunner and see what he thinks about your chances, but I’ll let you guys know before spring is here.”

They really could not have asked for more than that, not without blowing their wad at the first prospect.

Livia and Oscar both bowed out gracefully, Sten had mostly been there in case she wanted to ask a new member anything but it hadn’t come up so he had been left leaning against the wall in a static exercise he enjoyed. He got up slowly, half his blood in his legs, and followed them out.

A shout. “Oh hey it’s Sten, what are you doing around here, you gonna work?” It was Sten’s older sister. The one Sten had predicted was pregnant back in the day, in fact.

He shut his eyes for a long second before turning around to respond. “Hi Lovi. Just an errand, I’m training these guys now,” He indicated the [Guild].

Lovi was not actually an [Arborist], her [Pugilist] Class had just given her so many physical Skills over the years that she had no problem keeping up with the grunt work at the mill.

Unfortunately Billie was still there too, and decided to sound off: “They’re just recruiting for a [Guild] moving to Dormata this spring,”

Lovi turned her head with a glare at this. “Oh, you going with them, Sten? I have not heard word of this.”

Meaning father has not heard word. “No, I am not. As I said; just training them. Ensuring they arrive safely. I will see you at home,”

They were all walking off before she had a chance to respond; Livia and Oscar had been moving along already as soon as they realized who was talking to him.

Luckily Sten had not spoken in the meeting, so Billie could not tell his sister much about him specifically.

Still, it did not bode well.