Ebonheim took a long look around the feast hall, her gaze roaming over the gathered elders. It seemed everyone had heeded her urgent call.

Heavy wooden tables, usually laden with food and merriment, were pushed aside to make room for everyone to gather. The glow from the hanging lanterns danced off the worn wooden panels of the room, casting long shadows that lent a certain solemnity to the atmosphere.

Engin, the self-proclaimed village head, was discussing logistics, his stern green eyes examining the parchment before him. His wrinkled face creased further in concentration, and he stroked his short, trimmed beard idly as he studied the sheet.

"The first priority," Engin said as he gestured to the paper in front of him. "Is food and shelter. We must ensure that our stocks can feed the additional mouths. The harvest is sufficient for the villagers, and we've been blessed with abundance for the past few years, but to sustain nearly quadruple the usual amount of mouths is a challenge to plan for."

"I can't fathom spending a month or two traveling in such a massive caravan," Sven exclaimed with a heavy frown. "They must have had their own supplies, surely? I doubt they could rely on foraging in the wild as they traveled with that many people. No, they must have rations, yes?"

"Aye," Bjorn interjected. "I highly doubt that Roderick would lead a caravan this huge without ample supplies. But we shouldn't dismiss the possibility that his stocks may have dwindled significantly. It'd be a lot for us to accommodate on our own, regardless. We should plan accordingly, and assume that we must provide a substantial portion of their provisions ourselves."

"Hmmm..." Th'maine stroked his long white beard, deep in thought. "We do have the excess reserves in the granary and storehouse, but even those aren't limitless."

"Don't forget that we've brought our own livestock and equipment with us when we settled in this place," Gunnar pointed out with a hint of pride. "We can spare more to hunt the woods and raise them to supplement the food. We'll need to invest in making sure they have plenty to eat in addition to the grain stores, of course."

Engin nodded and made a mark on the paper. "All right, let's consider the worst-case scenario where the caravan arrives with no supplies on hand. Can we feed the people for a month or two, assuming we allocate the surplus in the granary and storehouses, and expand farming efforts to grow crops and raise livestock?"

"Five thousand additional mouths? With everyone pitching in, we'd be able to manage a month's worth of rations. Two would be a stretch, but not impossible, especially if we lean heavily on foraging to help fill the gaps," Ionus confirmed, scratching the back of his head. "But we'd be living on a strict diet of breads, soups, stews, and thin gruel. People would get bored quickly with such a repetitive meal schedule."

"We could encourage everyone to start fishing in the river," Lira suggested. "It's plentiful, and we can afford to share, provided the lake's wildlife can replenish itself."

Thorsten slammed his flagon of mead on the table with a loud thud and huffed. "You're focusing too much on the food situation. We must discuss security. No matter how much Roderick might vouch for his caravan, there's a potential risk among them that we cannot ignore."

"Naturally, but I think the matter of sustenance comes first and foremost," Engin countered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Any dangers presented by this group can be handled in due time. Besides, I'd prefer not to antagonize visitors by being inhospitable when we can offer them hospitality instead."

Thorsten snorted and took another swig of his drink. "Hmph. Just because we have a friendly relationship with Roderick doesn't mean we should let down our guard. We don't even know these strangers. I'm not comfortable with their arrival, not to mention their size."

"It's true, we don't know them," Hilda agreed, tapping her cane lightly against the floor. "But I do trust the man who leads the caravan. He has a good head on his shoulders, and he has proven himself to be trustworthy and honorable. If he vouches for their character, I believe he speaks truthfully."

Thorsten let out a low growl but relented, folding his arms across his barrel chest. "Very well. But I will assign more guards to patrol the village. At the very least, let them be on alert as we establish relations. There's safety in preparedness, and we need to make sure that everyone remains safe."

"Agreed," Engin announced, lifting his chin and surveying the hall. "Now, on the subject of lodgings, where can we fit five thousand people in?"

Bjorn rubbed his temples and let out a sigh. "When we settled here, we never had that many people to account for. It wasn't too difficult to set up for everyone with the supplies we brought with us, and we've built a bit over the past several years. Roderick knows that, and I'm sure he'll have a good solution when he gets here."

"But where should they settle? Where do we fit them?" Ionus pressed as he paced across the floor. "We've not put much thought into the layout of the village so that we'd have the proper accommodations for a large influx of settlers. I suppose the flat lands by the riverside could suffice, and there are plenty of clearings dotting the forest. None of those areas are currently in use, but that would mean everyone would be even more spread out."

Engin rapped his fingers against the table. "That's not a bad thing, necessarily. The more distance there is between houses, the more room there is for growth in the future. We don't need to follow the same rigid urban planning that the cities do, and it's not like anyone will complain about a bit of extra space."

Lira coughed politely before speaking. "Be that as it may, this will put a strain on the village infrastructure. There are not enough wells to supply drinking water for a sudden increase in the number of dwellings, for starters. The existing wells are scattered around the village at present, but with an increased demand, they will become overwhelmed."

"Ah, aye," Thorsten added, stroking his beard as he weighed in. "And the latrines will become congested very quickly. We must build more if we are to keep everything running smoothly."

"Ah...the latrines," Bogdan murmured, shaking his head. "Right, I can handle that. I'm somewhat familiar with the process, so I can supervise the construction, though I can't say I'll enjoy the smell."

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"Thank you, Bogdan," Engin remarked with a grateful smile. "Excellent. Now, what else is there to address? The food, the water, the waste, the housing. What else are we missing?"

The rest of the elders all murmured and voiced their concerns about the issue, debating the merits and pitfalls of the suggested plans. The meeting went on, and the issues were discussed in exhaustive detail. Once the initial shock of the situation had passed, the village council fell into their rhythm and got to work.

Ebonheim remained quiet the whole time. While she had been observing the discussions with interest, she stayed silent because she didn't have any input to offer. Her expertise was limited, and she didn't know what her role in all this would be.

Eventually, the meeting wound down. Engin wrapped up the gathering by announcing the tentative measures that would be taken to prepare for the impending arrivals, and the rest of the attendees dispersed.

Ebonheim lingered behind, watching as Engin and Th'maine conversed quietly by the corner of the hall. When they finished their talk, she walked towards Engin and waited patiently.

After Th'maine exited, Engin caught her approach, and his tired expression lightened. "Ah, Ebonheim. Is there anything on your mind?"

She cleared her throat and tilted her head. "Are there any preparations I can help with?"

"Most certainly," Engin replied without hesitation. "Roderick had managed to gather that many people to uproot themselves from their homes, leaving behind everything they know, and embark on a dangerous journey to reach our village following the belief of a promising future for them."

He continued while pacing to and fro. "Commonfolk would not take a leap of faith like this easily unless they were like us, who'd had enough of the intolerance and persecution we've received from the gods that claim to protect us. Roderick would have told them tales of your benevolence and our prosperity, no doubt, but this is the biggest risk many of these folks have ever taken. It would be an incredible show of trust for them to arrive here with nothing but the clothes on their back."

Engin paused and fixed his gaze on her, his expression serious. "Your role is the most important one. As a symbol of the village, you represent what people believe we embody: A refuge for all. These travelers will need to meet you first, to confirm with their own eyes and heart that you, an actual god, walk among us, not as someone detached from the daily affairs of mortals, but as an equal. Then, they would feel confident enough to settle here and build their lives in this village. Only then, could they begin to prosper with the rest of us. You understand, do you not, Ebonheim?"

She smiled at him. Engin's conviction and vision for their community had never faltered. The fire in his eyes and the certainty of his tone conveyed the depth of his resolve to see his vision through, no matter how daunting the task. He was instrumental to her existence, the one who'd conceived the idea of her, which the villagers had collectively cultivated, allowing her to manifest. In that regard, he was a father to her.

"I do, Engin. I'll come up with a way to make a good first impression."

"Yes, I hope you do. I don't want a repeat of what you did to Doyle and your subsequent capture by Thorsten when you first showed yourself to us." He arched his brow in a lighthearted manner, teasing her about the embarrassing incident.

Ebonheim blushed and sheepishly scratched her cheek. "I did what I did in the heat of the moment. I was nervous. But...I think I've grown a bit since then."

"Yes, you have," he admitted. "And so has this village. Do what you will. We are all but servants to your will, and I am confident you will not lead us astray."

She lowered her head, staring at her feet. "I know."

"There's no need to be humble about it, Ebonheim," Engin assured her. "It's your choice what you want to do. Don't let anything hold you back, and don't hesitate to tell me if you need help with something. Alright?"

She nodded.

Engin smiled. "Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must make my rounds. We have a busy time ahead of us, and there's much to be done. Farewell."

Engin strode towards the exit. Ebonheim watched his retreating figure, a slight smile on her face. When he was gone, she headed back to her cabin, deep in thought.

She had to plan. She had to prepare. She had to impress five thousand people, after all.

But what to do? How could she greet them? Should she be intimidating, commanding, regal, majestic? Or should she be gracious, benevolent, humble, and approachable?

Her mind whirled with ideas. Perhaps she should go all out and create a grand spectacle, displaying her divine power and awe-inspiring might. That would leave a lasting impression.

On the other hand, if she did that, she might scare off the more timid and cautious ones. They had their faith in Roderick, but they weren't ready to commit to living here entirely until they had the chance to verify his claims, to test the veracity and legitimacy of her existence with their own eyes.

Perhaps she should wear armor, to show her commitment to protecting them. Maybe she should hold a spear or a sword, to demonstrate her martial prowess and her dedication to keeping the peace. Or maybe, she could come across as more humble and down-to-earth. Wear simple, everyday clothing. Be friendly, approachable, welcoming.

As she deliberated the best course of action, she arrived at her cabin and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She flopped onto the bed, sighing deeply as she stared at the ceiling.

Her gaze landed on the beam of the roof, where a small crack in the wood had formed. She hadn't noticed that before.

She groaned and rolled onto her side. A new problem had presented itself. Was it worth spending her precious Quintessence to find and purchase a divine ability to repair the damage?

Yes.

It was.

It wouldn't be just her roof that she could fix, either. She could repair other things, too, if she wanted to. Other buildings. Other structures.

Wasn't that an excellent way to make a first impression? Showing her desire to help, to care for the welfare and safety of her new people?

Of course, it was.

A simple gesture, yet profound.

Engin and the others were troubled by mundane problems, but they were problems she could solve with ease. She was a god, after all. They were so used to being independent, relying on their own hard work and effort, that they rarely asked her for divine intervention. They had little cause for her to expend her Quintessence—the last time was when she was tasked to build that road to the western entrance of the valley.

Maybe they forgot how useful she was in this respect.

Why couldn't she, instead, spend her Quintessence on using her abilities for more practical things, to ease the burden on the village's resources and bolster its productivity?

Either way, she needed to come across as more active, more proactive, and more hands-on with her dealings. She was a god, for crying out loud. She represented the hopes and dreams of the villagers and their future generations. Her daily shrine duties, the small tasks, and errands she performed, while appreciated, couldn't compare to the opportunities for grand gestures that awaited her.

So, with that in mind, she had a new objective: Create a grand spectacle that would dazzle and amaze her soon-to-be-people, convince them to join her village, and to treat her as a patron deity, not as a distant figurehead or an absentee landlord.

To do that, she needed a plan. Something flashy. Something dramatic. Something awe-inspiring.

Something magnificent.