The next day, Thaddeus was ordered to return to the Hall of Justice. When he arrived, he saw his imprisoned uncle looking worse for wear.
The magistrate's office was filled with an air of tension as Thaddeus and his uncle, Earl Warrington, took their seats across from each other. The room was sparsely furnished, illuminated by the soft glow of oil lamps. In the center of the room, the magistrate's desk stood as a barrier between the two opposing parties.
The Earl groaned hearing the edict but knew he had no choice but to comply. This was his only option, so he didn’t end up destitute.
Justice Cereno was a man of considerable power. Mainly, because he was well known as Odin’s pawn throughout the capital. His stern gaze seemed to penetrate the very souls of those before him.
"Let us begin," he said, his voice resonating in the room. "I trust both parties are clear on the purpose of this mediation. This dispute has caused enough turmoil. It ends today."
Thaddeus's eyes were fixed on his uncle, whose gaunt face showed signs of his recent imprisonment. The uncle's eyes, however, were alive with greed and malice.
"Fine I’ll agree to mediation," Thaddeus said, his voice steady. "But only if my uncle agrees to leave me and what’s mine alone forever."
The uncle sneered but nodded. "Agreed. Now, what about Brownwood Town and the country house? They should be mine by rights."
"I'll give you the deed to Brownwood Town and the manor," Thaddeus replied, "But that's all."
"All the money in the bank account as well," the uncle demanded, his voice dripping with avarice.
"No," Thaddeus responded firmly. "That money belongs to me. I have plans for that money. I’ll pay that harpy of a widow a small stipend as well."
“We need money to pay the servants. How are we expected to live without servants?”
“Instead of spending money on assassins, you should have saved that money to pay for your servants!”
Back and forth they went, neither willing to give ground, the tension in the room rising with each exchange. Justice Cereno's patience began to wear thin as he listened to the increasingly heated arguments.
"Enough!" Justice Cereno finally thundered, silencing both. "This bickering solves nothing. Maxwell Brown, you will accept the deed to Brownwood Town and the manor. The dowager will also receive a monthly stipend of 50 gold. That amount is enough to hire a chef and maidservant for the dowager. Maxwell Brown will also receive a one-time payment of 50 gold for traveling expenses. That is my final judgment."
Thaddeus's uncle scowled but knew better than to defy the magistrate. "Fine," he spat, clearly unhappy but resigned.
The documents were brought forth, and both parties signed the agreements, their signatures sealing the end of a long and bitter feud.
With a smile, Thaddeus left the magistrate's office and hopped inside an awaiting carriage. He smiled thinking of his uncle’s misery. Thaddeus wished he could see his uncle's expression when he realized the marketplace, livestock, vineyards, and winery were gone.
On the ride to Owen and Lillian’s manor, Thaddeus looked at his stats. In the fight, against the assassin, what saved him were his combat skills. He spent most of his skill points leveling up his crafting skills. This time, however, he decided to put two points into one-handed axe, and one point into bash, cleave, and fast slash.
Name: Thaddeus Brown
SKILL NAME
SKILL LEVEL
Race: Human/Bearkin
Load Bearing (Racial)
Class: Artisan
Nature Affinity (Racial)
50 (+60%)
Sub Class: Druidcraft
Oversized Weapons (Racial)
Titles: Pioneer/ Baron
Earth Magic
53
Level: 58 (33,551/38,546)
Two-Handed Axe
15
HP: 4,752/4,752
Lumberjack
81
MP: 608/608
Analyze
76
STR: 74
Surveyor
52
AGI: 68
Field Dress
14
VIT: 66
Woodworking
81
INT: 32
Cooking
16
WILL: 19
Leatherworking
72
CON: 72
Tailoring
60
Charm: 9
Forging
74
Free Attribute Points: 5
Smelting
66
Free Skill Points: 5
Toolsmith
75
Fame: 30
Architecture
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15
Wagoner
6
One Handed Axe
56
Cleave
45
SPELLS:
Bash
44
Rock Wall
Fast Slash
35
Erosion
Growl
17
Arrowhead
Druid Grove
6
Rock Dome
Polymorph
0
When he arrived, he saw the departing six-carriage caravan was already parked out front. Taking up five carriages was the house staff from the burnt Brown manor. Behind the last carriage, was a wagon filled with rations and supplies. Protecting the caravan, was an ashamed Sergeant Ulysses and his soldiers on horseback.
Last night the assassin snuck into the house, evading the soldiers on guard duty. The soldiers were unaware Thaddeus was in trouble until the commotion. By the time Sergeant Ulysses was altered, the house was already ablaze. Even though the assassin was an expert, Sergeant Ulysses felt great shame. Despite Thaddeus saying it was unnecessary, he swore to increase his soldiers’ training.
While the soldiers looked weary from training, the servants' looked relieved. In the morning, Thaddeus offered to negate the house staff’s contracts. With the manor burned down, there was no use for them in Redwood, and he was sure, they would prefer living in the capital to his frontier village.
But to his surprise, the servants agreed to come with him to Woodhaerst. The butler and headmistress were adamant they served the noble Brown family. Since the emperor removed his uncle and installed him as the head of the Brown Family, the servants swore fealty to him.
After saying their goodbyes Thaddeus and Sabrina were set to leave. Tapping the carriage top, the driver cracked the reins, and the horses trotted through the capital streets.
“Finally, we’re heading home,” Thaddeus exhaled.
“I can’t wait to see Woodhaerst for the first time,” sighed Sabrina, relaxing her head on his shoulder.
The carriage ambled on the cobblestone road toward the large capital walls Large wooded gates and a raised portcullis let Thaddeus know he was finally out of Redwood. The hustling and bustling of the capital, the backward dealings, and the double-entendre way of speaking were too fast-paced for him. No, things in Woodhaerst were much more his pace. People talked honestly and straightforwardly.
Upon leaving the capital's grand gates, the carriage driver pulled the wagon to a halt.
“Thaddeus, what’s going on?” Thaddeus asked Sergeant Ulysses from his window.
“Sir, a man claiming these peasants belong to you?” Sergeant Ulysses answered.
Thaddeus and Sabrina stepped out of the carriage to find two hundred sickly and gaunt people. Their flesh was stretched so much that their skeleton was visible. Their malnourished bodies were fragile.
“These people are fit to travel?” Thaddeus complained.
“You asked the mayor for 200 people, you did not specify their fitness,” the clerk replied.
“Is this how Odin does business?”
“Sir, Odin has fulfilled your contract…to the letter. Next time be more specific in your contract. Now take this trash they smell,” the clerk said covering his nose. He handed Thaddeus the slave contracts and scampered away.
“Thaddeus, we need to feed these people! They could die at any moment,” Sabrina exclaimed
“Sergeant, send some men to buy a large wagon to transport these people. Have the rest feed them. As soon as they are fed and aboard, well set out again to Pinewood. We’ll stop at the Church of Light in Pinewood and get these people treated,” Thaddeus ordered.
“Very well, sir!” Sergeant Ulysses saluted.
An hour later, the caravan set out again. Once they were through the jump gate to Pinewood, Thaddeus relaxed.
Two days later, the caravan pulled into Pinewood. The travel was tedious. Only, made worse by the dying sickly settlers. The food and wagon ride helped many to recuperate, but others were too ill even with the accommodations.
The town's Church of Light stood tall and welcoming, its steeple pointing to the heavens. Thaddeus directed the caravan towards it, knowing that the priests charged healing fees. Unless they knew a healer, basic healing spells cost five silvers. Advanced healing spells started at ten gold and went up from there.
Sabrina knew healing over 170 NPCs would be costly. She had already treated the sickest children with her healing potions. But she only had 10 healing positions in her item box. Moreover, she knew it would be more expensive to purchase alchemical healing potions than healing spells. She hated Odin, for being so wicked.
In Heaven’s Gate players could be grouped into two categories. Those that treated the NPC like real people, living in their own reality. And others treated NPCs like AI constructs whose own purpose was to serve players. The second group believed the virtual world belonged to players, not the NPCs.
When the caravan parked, the doors of the church swung open as the priests rushed out to assist. Their faces were kind, their hands gentle as they helped the weak settlers out of the wagons, and into the church. Thaddeus was met by the head priest, an elderly man with a presence.
“Ah, Thera’s pupil. It’s nice to meet you. It appears you need assistance. I am happy to help a fellow member in the order. I’ll give you a discount, let’s say 3 gold, 52 silvers,” the elderly man smiled.
As high as the price was, Thaddeus knew two silvers per person, was a fair price. He handed the priest the money.
"You've brought them just in time," the priest said, his eyes assessing the settlers. "We'll do all we can to heal them. You can pick them up tomorrow.”
"Thank you" Thaddeus replied.
The priest nodded and turned to his acolytes, directing them with calm authority. They returned to the church and closed the door behind them.
That night, Thaddeus, Sabrina, the house staff, and soldiers rested at a large inn, that catered to the wealthy. After a filling dinner, Thaddeus and Sabrina trolled around town, while their staff went to restock ration.
They visited the alchemy shop where Sabrina used to work. Her replacement, a new player, was already hard at work apprenticing and tending to the shop. Afterward, they visited Owen’s old shop which had been sold and was under new management. The sign now read Gnometheran Adventure Shop. At the counter, a small gnome sat behind the register.
When they returned to their room, Thaddeus looked at Sabrina, her face lit by the soft glow of the fireplace. It reminded him of the night they spent lovingly entwined on the rug. But the exhaustion from the travel outweighed his passions and he quickly fell asleep.
The next morning refreshed and ready, the caravan set off to the Church of Light. To their delight, Thaddeus and Sabrina saw the gaunt NPCs looked healthier. With everyone on board, the road home to Woodhaerst beckoned. Top of Form
Five days later, Thaddeus saw his walled town. The gates of Woodhaerst creaked open, and the sight that awaited Thaddeus and Sabrina was one of genuine warmth.
Villagers lined the main road, their faces glowing with respect and joy. Members of the Town Council, dressed in their finest garments, stood at the forefront, bowing, or curtsying as Thaddeus and Sabrina rode passed.
The driver pulled the carriage to a halt. When Thaddeus and Sabrina stepped out, the villagers roared and cheered.
Little children, their eyes wide with excitement, broke from the crowd and ran up to Sabrina. They giggled as they handed her a simple yet beautiful flower, their faces flushed with delight.
Sabrina's eyes sparkled as she accepted the gift, her heart touched by the innocence and love in the gesture. She looked around at Thaddeus's settlement, marveling at the well-built homes, fort, village green, bustling village streets, and friendly people.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Sabrina as Brand, Arthur, Priestess Thera, and Jameson stepped forward to greet her.
“Lady Sabrina, we the town council of Woodhaerst are at your disposal. We hope will someday depend on us like Baron Brown,” Brand said bowing low.
“This is truly impressive, thank you for such a warm welcome," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "I look forward to our close relationship.”
“Guys, your back!” Sebus said running up and giving them hugs.
“Dustin, it’s good to see you again,” Sabrina whispered.
“You too, Heather,” Sebus whispered back.
“How were things while I was away?” Thaddeus asked Brand.
“Everything was fine. When the villagers had time, they pitched in to help Quinn, Flynn, and Brynn with the construction. We also had new settlers join the village,” Brand replied.
“And the farms? Are they completed?” he asked Arthur.
“Several are finished sowing and planting. Some of the new arrivals were farmers. I gave them a plot. Their tilling the land now, making it suitable for crops. And before you go asking, the livestock is fine too. We probably got half now as many goats as people,” Arthur chuckled to himself.
“Good, it seems everything’s in order,” Thaddeus congratulated.
From the park, Thaddeus walked east to where East District was under construction. He saw Quinn, Flynn, and Brynn’s builders were nearly a third way finished with the East District. Seeing the East District’s development made Thaddeus proud.
As they made their way to the town, the settlers from Redwood, eyes widened at the sight of their new home. Many of them had only known hardship and pain, and the promise of a fresh start in Woodhaerst filled them with hope.
Sabrina’s eyes too widened, Woodhaerst was similar in size to Pine Grove and Pinewood. The only thing missing was the NPC's townsfolk. But she loved the small-town feel of the Central Plaza. She enjoyed seeing Cassian’s general store, Travis’ trading post, Lidia’s bakery, Brand’s butchery, bank, town hall, weaver shop, church, tailors, apiary, and bathhouse. She admired the sawmill, gristmill, blacksmith, tannery, and woodshop. What she like most, was the friendly villagers.
Wherever she went the villagers would curtsy or bow, always addressing her as Lady von Brown or Baroness Brown. Compared to Redwood where she was irrelevant and unknown, here villagers waited on her every word. It was too much pressure; she was an introvert. She enjoyed the solace of her lab, not the spotlight. She finally, understood Thaddeus' annoyance.
Seeing her tire of the attention, Priestess Thera asked the villagers to get her leave and prepare the welcome party tonight.
“The construction is progressing well. Now all that’s left is to raise and wall off the Honey Barrow District,” Thaddeus advised.
“I took care of that. The rest of the village was helping with construction, I just did my part,” Priestess Thera replied. “How can the Baron live outside the village in the woods? Just consider it a gift.”
Thaddeus, Sabrina, Sebus, house staff, and the Village Council walked across the bridge from the Central Plaza. Thaddeus saw the small mesa. In the background, he saw the wall. Priestess Thera had saved him a month of construction.
“You don’t need to thank me, just build your manor,” she hurriedly.
Taking out the building scroll, he bought from Huey earlier. He placed the manor, just east of the bridge. They watched as the building phased into existence. The manor was large, but slightly smaller than the Brown Manor in the capital. However, the bedroom, dining room, library, and drawing rooms were the same. Thankfully, the manor came fully furnished. Unlike the gaudy furniture in the Brown Manor, furniture was more rustic.
“We’ll leave you two alone. We’ll see you tonight at the celebration,” Brand said bowing.
Thaddeus and Sabrina watched the Sebus and the Village Council leave, as the house staff filed into the manor and get to work dusting and organizing.
"You've built something truly remarkable here," Sabrina said, her voice soft. "I can see why you love it so much."
Thaddeus put his arm around her, feeling a deep connection to both the village and the woman by his side, and said, “Welcome home.”
That night, the village celebrated. The village square was filled with music, dancing, and feasting. Sabrina found herself drawn into the festivities; her heart warmed by the community's kindness. She laughed as she danced with Thaddeus. The villagers smiled seeing their lord and lady. Beer was passed by the barrels as the villages celebrated the return of their lord Baron.