With a clear aim in mind, if not a destination, I returned to my Army of the East in Sylvania carting off more gunpowder and ammo supplies, as well as hundreds of revolvers to spread out to the new officers and the spearmen.

Even if they wouldn't have time to reload the 5 shots when attacked by a wall of undead, those 5 shots would grant my soldiers a lot more damage. Plus melee combat did normally allow for a rotation in the first line, when the soldiers got tired, wounded and even too thirsty.

To my surprise, the Gunnery School in Nuln was already experimenting with multi-shot weapons, although they went the route of multi-barrels. They even had a 9 barrel prototype cannon which they tried to make it rotate and fire only the top barrel. It worked just as well as you think it did, which means lots of breaking, failed reloads and barrels falling off.

Thus I took mercy on them and induced them to a gravity fed magazine on top of the gun, which would drop the next shell into the breach. It might even work one day, who knows?

Truly, war is the mother of invention, and this world was always at war. I almost expected nicer weapons, but the technology of the Empire was quite backwards.

Flying over the World's Edge Mountains, I began searching for Dwarven ruins, but there were mostly Goblins, Orcs and Trolls, with the Dwarven cities fortified to hell and keeping their gates closed.

And then I remembered I could also talk with animals, and did just that. A stag here, a wolf there even some mice and rabbits. While they didn't understand exactly what I wanted,

a ruin is a ruin. Even an animal can differentiate it from a place with living people inside.

"Comet lake? Smells like metal." a tiny mouse proposed as I held it in my palm.

I grabbed a nearby snake and offered it as a prize for the tip. The mouse stared at the dead snake for a second, then sighed and took a bite.

I would have given him some silver coins, but they wouldn't have helped him any better. The Skaven wouldn't bother to sell food to a mere mouse.

And thus, I descended into the Black Water lake and started digging. Soon enough, I began finding bits of metal, just like the mouse promised.

Later, I found runic inscriptions of Karak Varn , and I knew I found the right place to loot. Not only steel, but also Gromril, the special magic metal. My bear will be so happy!

Deep underground, in underwater caves I also found several giant foundries, and tons of stainless steel ingots plus hundreds of priceless weapons and armor of Dawi make.

Jackpot!

Even with my speed, it took an entire month to steal away all the metal, and then the furnaces themselves.

Entire wars had been fought over a single Gromril weapon, and I had 42 of them! Plus other things like cups and candlesticks and even arrow heads.

Skaven and Orc raiders arrived soon after to try and steal my loot, often camping at the tunnel entrance, hoping to catch some scraps. They found only a swift death, and their heads spiked near the entrance as a warning. A few thousand dead later, they stopped coming.

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While Anika and my kids played with the priceless Gromril artifacts, I was rebuilding a steel furnace in my new castle in Waldenhof , aided by some Engineers and officers with a Guild background. Like any proper medieval state, the craftsmen were all incorporated into Guilds, which provided them a support network and also a monopoly against competition. Difficult to change, and would simply generate hostility for no reason.

Once my (stolen) furnace was operational and could produce steel in quantity, I would simply sell the right to my steel production to the largest iron smiths in the Empire, and let them deal with the Guild. Exactly like I did with my breech-loading guns.

"What about this first steel furnace, Lord Warden? Will you sell it to the Smiths Guild as well?" a Cannon Captain asked while sketching the design of the furnace for future deals.

"Perhaps. It may remain as an Imperial Arsenal asset. The army will like having their own production capability, since steel is useful for more than guns and armor" I mused in a low voice.

I could see it in his eyes, the man had split loyalties now. Both a Guild member and an Imperial Captain. He hesitated and then sighed. "I suppose a single furnace wouldn't matter too much. Plus, retaking Sylvania is a long task. We will need a lot of steel."

Ah yes. Throw the decision a decade or two away. Maybe things will fix by themselves.

"Anyone here knows a good Dwarf? Someone I could trade with?" I asked out loud, including all the furnace crew and Engineers.

An Engineer with a great beard stepped in front of me. "My Lord, there is little we can trade with Dwarves. They are mostly self-sufficient."

I smiled and nodded in approval. "True. But I do have some things they will want. I just need a good price."

My Engineer sighed as if I was hopeless. "Head to Karaz Ankor , Lord Warden. They have the best Runesmiths, and lots of gold. I just hope you have something they value."

He was not a mouse though, so his advice was worth an entire gold coin.

"Will do. Now finish my furnace while I speak with a Dwarf about a hammer" I added as I flew into my vault to collect a sack full of Gromril minerals, which I had no idea how to smelt or forge.

Soon after, I landed in front of the Dwarf Zhufbar fortress, and knocked politely at their reinforced gate. Only silence. Then I knocked again, even more politely. I could do this all day, but their mountain might crumble before I had enough fun.

A metal face appeared on the door, and eyed me with suspicion. "Human. Wizard. Flying. We don't like your kind here." the sentient metal gate spoke with discernible scorn.

I opened my sack and held a bit of unprocessed Gromril in front of its face. "Gromril. Trade." I answered just as curtly, and held my other hand out to knock again.

"Stop knocking, human. A Runesmith is coming." the gate demanded with an irate voice.

Progress!