It had been several hours after the battle with the Lizardmen. Cora and I spent those hours fixing the walls as half of the guards kept watch. Once the Settlement leveled up, the walls would get stronger. At that time, with the Mayor badge, the walls could be upgraded to a level two wall. I knew each of the walls had a slot that could hold a rune which could be either defensive or offensive. For every five settlement level, one more slot could go in. But the Runes could not be higher than the level of the wall. So I was hoping to find someone to make them or maybe I could buy them. Calling a break, I had Cora go rest up and ordered half of the guards to get some sleep. Sitting back against the wall, I pulled up some of my previous messages. “Wow not been paying attention to what I’ve been doing.” I thought to myself.

Ding! You have reach LEVEL FOUR!

You have +9 Unused level to skills.

You have +9 Unused Skill Level.

I Dump six points into MIND to increase my MANA. One point into JUDGEMENT to increase my Mental Resistance. One point into DEFTNESS to help on dodging, and One point into FORTITUDE to increase my HEALTH. Now that was done, I went to look over my skill and found some new skills opened up that I could buy. Picking the languages of Goblin and Lizardmen, I put one point in each. I bought the skill Fortification with two points to raise it to level two. It looked like it would open some new building and wall defenses. One point into City Defense Tactics, a point in City Development and City Management. One point into Dwarven Architecture and one point in Roman Architecture.

City Defense Tactics: plus one to all city defense, building, walls, towers, and troops. Divide by Settlement level. Example: plus ten points in city defense skill to a level two Settlement is plus five to defense while a level one settlement would have ten to its defense.

Vocal Language Goblin: Each level in the language add a one percent chance of understanding it. Once level one hundred percent is reached it can no longer increase. Language skill is not affected by the character level.

Vocal Language Lizardmen: Each level in the language add a one percent chance of understanding it. Once level one hundred percent is reached it can no longer increase. Language skill is not affected by the character level.

Fortification adds one percent more HEALTH to all City building, walls, towers and troops. There is a one percent chance every ten levels in Fortification of getting a random culture fortification.

City Development: Reduce the time, and the mana uses on a building by one percent per level divide by settlement level. Example, with six level in City Development and a Settlement level three the, reduce time and mana by two percent. While a Settlement of one would be six percent.

City Management: Reduce cost and chance of getting rare citizens by plus one percent every ten levels in skill. Every Settlement Level there will be one free city official that will be summoned to assist in managing the city. Check Settlement Screen.

“So I am gaining a free citizen for the Settlement!” I said out loud. One of the Dwarven Crossbowmen looked at me. I remembered that there was a couple of dead with no names.

“Hey, you have a name? I asked him.

He paused for a few seconds, then snaps to attention. “Harold Stonethrower, Sir! Crossbowmen of the first Circle,” he said, thumping his chest with his clenched fist over his heart as he stomped his feet.

“At ease, Harold, what you do on your free time?” I inquired.

“Carving, sir. I carve granite stone into sculpture. Not as good as a master like my father.” he said.

“Well, we could use some art around here. Show me some work in a few days, and maybe you can make some extra income on your spare time.” I said to him, “I need to go and get some business done.”

“Good day! Sir.” He saluted again with the fist thumping his chest. Ss I walk away, I muttered, “I need a better salute.”

“Hello Mesa-la, Going to use the Settlement Screen. Is everything okay on the settlement boundary? Can you detect anyone hostile during the raid up to a half mile?” I asked.

“With your badge on we are a level two settlement. That adds a quarter of a mile to our half-mile radius of control around my tree. The area inside of that zone of control has low-level mobs. Unless we are at war or being raided, then the zone opens itself up to higher level mobs. Once the is raid over, it will make the higher level mobs want to leave the area so that it could take a few minutes or a day or two. As for detecting, I can only sense what our scouts and men-at-arms can see,” she said.

Pulling up the Settlement Screen, I saw a flashing light on the Personnel Tab. When I clicked on it, several dozen names on a list appeared, telling me that I had two free choices for working the settlement. Peering through the list, five of them were single, eight of them were Imperium, two were Celtic, and seven had families. There were also three elves, one dwarf, and one gnome. So I took out the five singles, the eight Imperium, and the two Celtic one of which was an elf. It left me two humans; a female with a husband and two children, and a husband with a wife and three children.

They appeared out of the barracks, considering the Town Hall was not done yet.

“Hello, Mr. Mayor.” A man in his mid-twenties, with black hair and long nose, stepped forward. “I'm Thomas Day, and this is my wife Jem, and this is our children; May our daughter, age nine and James our son age six. I speak and write eight languages and have worked as a recorder for a merchant house.”

“Welcome, Mr. Day and what does your wife do?” I look over at the woman. She appears a bit mousy in her appearance, light brown hair, bundled up under a hat, with an abundance of clothing. She was looking around with worry, keeping her children close to her. She stepped to one side behind her husband with her children.

“She cares for the children and the house,” he said.

Until we get you a house, you will be living with another family. But until this raid is over in the morning...” I was interrupted by Jem Day.

“Raid? Are we in danger, are my children safe here? Thomas, you said it would be safe?” She sounded a little hysterical.

“You’re safe here, Mrs. Day You and the other citizens will be below in the S...safe location until the raid end a few hours after daylight.” I waved one of the guards over.

“Take Mr. Day and see if Cora will open the area up where the others are staying.” Bending closer and whispering in the ear of the guard, “Make sure they don't panic around the goblins.”

As they were being escorted away, a couple in their late to early thirty stepped up holding hands. Behind them were three strongly built teenage boys. The man held out his hand.

“Mr. Mayor, I'm Paul Jones, and this is my wife Hanna, our children Jim is eighteen, Jason is sixteen and David is our youngest at fourteen.” The big man’s grip was firm as I took his hand in a clasp.

“Paul!” giving her husband a light slap on his arm, “Show respect! He’s a Mayor you need to bow.” She said, shaking her head.

She gave a curtsy, “Pardon my husband, Mr. Mayor. We were from a rural location to the south until the Imperium seized everything in the town and took all the people away. We escaped with just our clothes on our backs as we fled west ahead of the Imperium. Paul saw a posting in a settlement for a Clerk and other official personnel. I worked at Sam's Crossing as the town clerk over the warehouse for twelve years, and I have a Level Two in accounting and can speak and write six languages. My husband and sons are loggers which is how we were able to get away. I decided to visit them with lunch at the logging site. While there, we saw smoke from the Town and people were being killed while others were being put into slave wagons.”

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“Call me Jack, and no need to bow. Welcome to Safehaven. I'm afraid you and your family will need to stay in the sewer below until the raid is over.”

“Sewer? Did you not tell the other woman there a safe room below ground.” They heard a woman's screeching by the sewer.

“Yeah, knew she was going to panic and I have too much to deal with to hold someone hands to keep them calm. I already lost some men-at-arms today. I do not want to lose any more citizens. I don't have a city hall or a warehouse built yet. You get the first choice, seeing how calm you and your family seem to be. I should have a place for you to live in a few weeks. Lumberjack job is yours if you want it, Mr. Jones.” I said.

“Call me Paul. And I would like to take that job. Do you need help defending this place?” He inquired.

“I want to keep your family safe. I don't have a way to bring you back to life if you or your family get killed. But you can protect those in the sewer if they get past us.” I said. “Head over to that small building. It has stairs leading down that will be seal behind you. Oh, by the way, goblins are living here. They are peaceful, and I will not tolerate anyone hurting them. Mrs. Jones, I will get with you in the next few days. Food is free until the settlement reaches a few more levels. I will discuss your pay with you in a few days.” Nodding my goodbye, I heard the boys whisper among themselves about goblins.

Smiling as I headed toward the barracks, I checked the countdown on my research of a corporal and saw I had two days yet. Checking the Settlement on funds, I found over six hundred gold. I asked myself if I wanted the gold in Imperium, Norse, Celtic, Greece, Egypt, Sylvan or Dwarven. Feeling I was putting off the burden of the raid, I took a deep breath. I clicked on Dwarven, most likely to exchange anywhere at little or no drop in cost. I went to find Damon.

I found Damon playing with some bones and sitting near the Southeast wall. I sat down next to him as he used one bone to flip another.

“You need something, sir?” He glanced my way while he kept playing.

“Can you use that Blood Pit thingy you were doing earlier in the battle to keep the Sea Serpents in the area until morning?” I was hoping for him to say yes.

“Up to just a few hours before dawn. Then I will be running out of mana, and my limit of mana potions will run out. I will not be able to regain any more until I sleep a full eight hours.” he said as he placed the bones back into his bag.

Thinking it over and seeing that it would be four hours that the waters to the south would be open for an attack, I nodded to him. “Okay, keep the sea serpents in the area as long as you can. That will give our people the chance to rest. When you run out, please have someone find me, and you head to the Wizard tower and lock yourself in, please. That’s an order.” Getting up, I patted him on the shoulder, “Thanks for your aid.”

Reputation with Damon the Black +3(5)

Ann was watching the east wall, and Kari was watching the west wall. I decided to check on Hardrock and Joseph on the Ballista. I found two frames of the Ballista ready to go. Joseph seemed to have some help from some off duty men-at-arms that decided to help build them. He was the men back at work when one noticed me.

“These will be done in an hour, where you want them?” Joseph said. “Oh, and we don't have the wood to make any more unless you send someone out to get some.” He stared up at the afternoon sun.

“We’ll worry about that tomorrow. Have one placed at the East Gate and one at the West Gate on the South side of the walls.” I caught the smell of burnt oil from the wind coming from the east. “When you get done setting them up, have Hardrock find me when he has the parts. All of you get some rest when you finish with helping Joseph.” I walked away as they all acknowledge me.

The smell of the burnt boiling lard was starting to get to me. And I found six pots of boiling fat on the east wall, with the guard and Ann covering their nose and mouth with a cloth.

“What in Odin's beard is going on?” I almost gagged from the burnt smell.

Ann piped up. “I remember a story I read long ago about how hot oil was pour on troops that were assaulting a castle. Seeing as the Lizardmen can climb the wall without ladders, I thought about pouring it on them as they try to scale the walls. It takes them about half a minute to get up the wall. And once we pour it on the walls, we won't have to keep so many men on the wall repelling them if they can't climb it.”

“Good job! I wish that the wind was blowing to the east!” I told her. Once Hardrock headed my way, I spent the next hour putting the metal parts into the ballista, only to have to wait another ten minute as Hardrock worked on one of the triggers. I was happy now that we have four ballistae.

Congratulation you have built a Light Catapult Ballista!

Congratulation you have built a Light Catapult Ballista!

Men-at-arms Travis Granite has change class from Men-at-arms First Circle to Artillerist First Circle.

Men-at-arms Hal Frankel has change class from Men-at-arms First Circle to Artillerist First Circle.

All my living men-at-arms were all Artillerist at that moment. A little frustrated, I didn't want to add more troops before the raid ended. And I didn’t want to use up a settlement point for buying troops. Hearing a horn to the west gate, I took off at a run in time to see Kari and some of her people opening the west gates. Through the gate walked ten more people. I came to a stop behind Kari as she hugged a few of the people when all of them quieted down and looked at me. Kari slowly turned and looked at me, giving me a small wave.

“Hi. You’re wondering about all these people. They are from my guild.” Kari said hesitantly, “I should have told you but was not sure everyone would get here in time and I didn’t want to get your hope up.” She winced, one eye scrunched up and waiting for me to yell.

I stood there just staring at her for a full minute before starting to laugh. It was one of those crazy laughs you do when you feel relieved all at once from being so tense so long. I must have started giggling, and every time I looked at Kari, I ended up laughing more. Finally, sitting down after about five minutes with everyone looking at me like I am crazy and a few chuckling to my giggle, I looked straight into Kari's eyes since I was sitting and she was taller than me for once.

“I needed that!” I said as I was getting up."Introduce me to your people.”

A giant of a woman, wearing a bearskin fur as armor and leather boots and bracers standing over twelve feet tall, stepped forward. Her dark brown hair was in a ponytail, “I'm Helga Boarslayer. Slingthrower Seventh Circle.” I spotted a giant size sling and a large bag of round stone about the size of a softball.

“Pleased to meet you, Are you a Half-Jotunn?”

The woman nodded, “Mother was a Hill Jotunn.”

Two lady gnomes step forward, looking like twins. Blond hair, blue eyes with white skin, both had a pigtail and dressed like Valkyries. Crossing both shoulders were bandoliers holding vials. Around their belts were glass and clay orbs, some of them glowing, others not. Both of the gnomes bowed. “Hyi and Byi, at your service, alchemist, and tinker We both are Fifth Circle.” They both said at the same time.

A gray robed man stepped up, about six and a half feet tall, wearing a pointy wizard hat, with a white trim beard and bald head. He had brown eyes that seemed to be laughing. "Merlyn the Grey, Sixth Circle Wizard," he said, bowing to me. "I was able to transport everyone to a Stone Circle three days to the west, close by to that ruined town. It's a nasty place with lots of undead, wrights, and wraiths, lucky we pass by during the day.”

“Any relation to the Merlin of Camelot?” I said grinning shaking his hand.

He laughed as he commented, “I wish.”

Next were Tory and Roy, both wood elves ranger that had long silver hair and gray eyes. Tory was the taller of the two. I found out later they were brothers. David Heath, a human cleric whose god is Hygieia. He was fleeing the Imperium after some players took control of the empire and a civil war erupted. They started killing off NPC if they didn’t side with them. He was murdered a dozen time before deciding to take the safety measure to a random bind point that landed him with Kari’s guild six months ago.

Next to introduce herself was Linda Spearheart, a Spearmaiden. She seems to dress the part as a Valkyrie right down to a giant spear. And the last person was a human, named Lester, a Rogue Seven Circle. All I heard was grumbling from him, and Kari slapping him on the back of his head.

“Welcome, We are in the middle of a raid that will end about three hours after sunrise. Once it over and everyone is safe, we will address living quarters. I have a large guild here and don't know the name of your Guild.” Glancing at Kari, she blushed with embarrassment.

“Dragon's Roarrr!” everyone yelled the guild name together.

Laughing, I raised my hand to hush them. “Get some rest. I will speak to your leader after the Raid about getting you all a permanent resident.”

Summoning my Elemental, I went to patrol on the ground inside the east wall. Hoping It will detect anything we missed, I headed back to the tower. I spent an hour using the scrying spell to the east and south before laying down. Sleep found me quickly.

I awoke to the sound of horns and a whoosh as something slammed into the tower shaking it as I was knocked to the floor.

Raid ends in 3 hours, 23 minutes, 34 seconds.