During the next two hours, I had drafted the outside view of what I thought a sliding t-square mechanism should look like as well as sketching what I pictured the internal mechanism to be in an exploded view. On completion, Interface popped up a report:
Achievement: Visualization, E
It was a good stopping point, and I called Perx over to take a look. It was approaching lunchtime, and he was the only other one in the guildhouse besides me. He took a good look at both drawings and asked me if this was all they would need to make one.
“Minor gods, no, Perx! I don’t really know the mechanics, just the functionality. What I have drawn is how such a device might work. It will take real craftsmen to figure out an operational tool. Does what you see make sense as something that you might build?”
“The outside is quite straightforward, and I could build that. Your drawing of the internal mechanics is clever, but I could not craft it even if you were sure of the design. Mista Smithson is a tinker; I suggest you show these drawings to him.”
“That is an excellent idea. He would probably be in his family’s shop now, right?” Merx didn’t know but said that was a logical assumption. “Okay, I’ll take these two drawings over there and find out.” He acknowledged my plan.
I rolled up the two drawings and headed to the flower-tinker shop. Nearing our old fort, I noticed people with a wagon, moving furniture into it.
That is probably Niscus’ parents.
Likely.
I went over and introduced myself. They were indeed Merz and Belenay Sholut. We lost no time in establishing a first-name basis. I saw that Merz was a Metalsmith and Groundsmen, and worked as a groundsman. Belenay was a Clothsmith and Carpetmaker, currently classified as a ‘purveyor’. She said she planned to open a shop here, and had already sold a few rugs from stock they brought with them from the city of Cycles.
“Do you know if one of the rugs was bought by the Skolturi Wraiths? There was a new and very attractive one in their apartment. It had a pleasant glow when I got here.”
“Yes, that was mine. Are you the boy who is only here once every seven days? Niscus mentioned something about a teenage Hybrid that would not be here very often. And that Orian gentlemen said the rug would welcome you every time you arrived. If that is you, of course.”
“Yes, I am he, an unborn awakened with a very long life, but I only exist in the world one day in seven.” Merz said that is one of the most unusual things he had ever heard, and his wife agreed. I didn’t have anything to add, so I asked him, “It looks like you are already employed as a groundsman. Would that be for the new campus?”
“That is correct, although to date I have only been given an overview of what they want. They gave me a few days to get my family settled before I start doing any real work. With Niscus having moved to campus right away, it is just Belenay and I who need settling. Today our new home should be furnished. They said not to work tomorrow and Tenthday, so Firstday will be my first full day of employment. I’m going to spend a lot of time looking around campus this weekend, though to get an idea of what the campus can be. Being a metalsmith, one of my favorite features in a project like this is fountains. A beautiful campus should have at least two, in my opinion. We will need a source of water to handle evaporation.”
Wait, what? …
I told him, “Passing Stream runs behind Cottages. It is probably a little over a mile from campus.”
“That is great then. It is close enough to pipe water from.”
Pipe … water?!
I get to say it. “Plumbing, check.”
“Dude! We don’t know for sure what he can do, but it sure sounds that way!!”
“Hey, I want to talk to you about that, but first I would like to help you move the furniture into your house, and then I have to go talk to a tinker. But I have a big idea that concerns water and pipes.” He looked at me a little strange, but accepted my statement without comment.
I sat my rolled drawings down on the wagon, and spent the next 20 minutes helping them move furniture into the house. I was surprised it took that long, but they hadn’t been quite sure where they wanted everything until it was moved inside the house. So some of that was re-moving.
Achievement: Common Labor, E
“This is going to be a good day.”
Yes.
I let them know I would like to talk to them in the evening. They expected to be either at home or at Karzin’s Inn. “I’ll find you unless something else comes up.” Then I grabbed my drawings and ran to the Smithson’s shop.
Fortunately, Mista was there and not involved with a customer. Kella was serving two women, however. He had a few minutes to speak with me. He already understood drafting tables and t-squares, so I was able to show him my drawings with minimal prologue. “The exploded drawing of the mechanism is sort of a guess. I know what it is supposed to do, with the cables and pulleys and tension and the brake. I think you will need at least one spring too, but I am not sure. Is it clear to you what this drawing is trying to illustrate? All I could draw was my general idea on how I thought it must work, but I agree with Perx Prost that it will take a tinker to actually build a working prototype.”
He asked me, “Forrest, are you hiring me to build this? Your concept is easy to understand, but it will take time and effort to get it to actually function as you hope.”
“Honestly, I had not thought that far. I have some gold, but maybe you will want part ownership of the mechanism instead, or at least as partial payment? Those of us responsible for making these could maybe sell them.” He asked if Perx were one of those people. I told him I did not know, but he seemed to understand it, and we probably could use a carpenter’s talents in making these.”
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“You know I could take the idea and build it myself.”
“Yes,” I told him, “but I don’t think you will.”
“You are correct. Before we make plans on having a commercial product, give me some time to tinker a functional mechanism. It’s Eighthday so you’ll be here next on Fifthday, right?”
Cool, it is convenient when people know how my life works.
“That’s right. When we meet, I’ll plan on having several gold with me to help pay for materials.”
“That sounds fair, Forrest. I’ll work with Perx in the meantime. If all goes well, we might have a prototype attached to one of the drafting tables at the guildhouse.”
I told him that would be great, but if it couldn’t be ready by then, a later day would be okay. Then I told him I needed to meet Kossa and the gang at Karzin’s Inn, and to hold onto the drawings. We said bye and I left, waving farewell to Kella.
----------------------------------------
By the time I got there the whole gang was seated. Well, Odd was standing at the two joined tables; he has told us that he can stand for days on end. Jarine had not joined us for lunch, and the party had been disbanded. They had saved me a seat. I told Kossa I had visited her family’s shop concerning a potential job for her Dad. Several of my friends expressed curiosity at what that was, but I told them maybe I could show them next Tuesday.
Onre was smiling like the Cheshire Cat. Just a few minutes prior, at 10:07, his leveling brake released, and he was now Level 3. They had been discussing his build before I got there. At 3 he could not choose a skill, but he had not yet assigned his free points. I asked him about his charisma, because frankly he was looking better than I remembered at Level 0.
“With these earrings, it is 9 now. Both my classes grant me 1 point of charisma each level, so those 2 points give me twice as much effective charisma as your half point each level. Level 1 made it 4, but added, effectively 1, and I put my 2 free points into it also. So it was 6 before anyone even saw me. I saw myself though, and the view wasn’t great. Rhonda saw me as well. She had me sit down and pierced my ears for these studs. Thanks by the way for loaning them to me.” I told him he was welcome.
“By the time anyone else saw me, charisma was essentially 7. I reached Level 2 that same day, which brought me to 8, even without any more free points. I put one each into strength and vitality. Strength lags everything else, and like you, I want to build up my vitality to support HPR Boost and Share Health. I’m thinking of making the same assignment now that I’m Level 3.”
I asked him if he wanted to talk to Interface. Onre replied that that input from the gang would be sufficient.
Tell him I agree.
“Interface agrees with you. We’re smart enough for this one.”
They brought our drinks out, which was water for everyone. That was fine with me.
“Good two. It you keep.” || Your Level 2 plan was good. Keep it.
“I am inclined to agree with you, Sun. It is also relevant, though, that dexterity appears to be important for my Ki Prestidigitator skills. So I will at least occasionally add a free point to it.”
Arrjee seconded Sun’s suggestion, saying that it was probably more important to establish a solid vitality base first. Perhaps he could sacrifice strength once in a while to boost his dexterity.
“Okay, I’m not going to worry about this during lunch. I’m going with strength and vitality now. At Level 4 I may do something different.” We all said that was fine. Two seconds later he said it was done.
That was when they brought out our food. Zedla Karzin said it was roasted rabbit and a roots mash. She explained what went into the mash, and it apparently was something like potato, carrot, and rutabaga. The mash was served on a bed of boiled cabbage. Whatever it was, I liked it and the rabbit too.
When we were done, Odd paid, saying we could thank rock-loving zebors. We got up and made a pit stop. I had not realized that one of the round uni-species outhouses had been built in town. Since we were expecting three more Trichyans this first school year, that made sense to me. After taking care of business, we headed for apprenticeship behind the school.
As we walked there, I asked Interface if I had other skills close to ranking.
Yes. I would suggest focusing on Basic Martial Arts and Bless Blood during apprenticeship. You may also be able to rank Wrestling this afternoon. All three are nearing Rank D. Later this evening, if you train with Abbie for a couple hours, you should also be able to bring HPR Boost to D.
“You are being awfully specific today. Thank you.”
I know you are anxious to reach Level 6. These things will come very close to getting you there.
“Very close?”
Keep analyzing, keep Boost Armor up, and when it starts getting dark, reactivate Dark Sight. You won’t rank any of those today, but you will be earning XP by way of rank points. I also credited you with 50 XP for leadership in assisting Ronkel’s Interface achieve sapience.
“But I didn’t do anything.”
Neither did I, but she thinks we did. Let us say it was our example. I can cancel those 50 XP if you want.
“No, I’ll keep them. Thank you.”
Apprenticeship went pretty much as planned. Lenyet was surprised that I chose not to begin learning to use a bow today, nor practice with a bo. I explained that I was hoping to rank three skills this afternoon to D, Basic Martial Arts, Bless Blood, and Wrestling. With some additional training this evening, I could likely reach Level 6. He understood and accepted today’s goals.
Surprisingly he made Norrus my sparring partner. The eleven-year old furball had learned Basic Martial Arts and ranked it to E, the same as me. I had a lot more body weight than he did, as well as higher attributes, but damn if that pup wasn’t as flexible and quick as hell. Sparring with him gave me insight into what Lenyet experiences when he is the one to spar with me. I know I could easily overpower Norrus, but I also want him to learn as much as he can. It turns out holding back is a useful capability in its own right. He got tired twice so we would both meditate for a few minutes. Too bad a Level 0 cannot rank their stamina regen past E.
I would often give both him and myself a pulse of Bless Blood to help me rank that also. Usually me, because I didn’t want to embarrass him. While we were sparring, Lenyet would give us advice, sometimes with a physical demonstration. He also taught us a new stance, Respectful Badger. It is used mainly during sparring, or low-stakes fighting with a foe you know has high honor. Both parties avoid attacking vital areas, instead focusing more on power and finesse, sometimes in what might be deemed a playful manner. It was perfect for what we were doing; Norrus had the finesse and I had the power.
After about an hour, Interface reported that Basic Martial Arts had reached D. I announced it, and Norrus removed his loincloth and sandals. I asked him, “What are you doing, young wolf?”
“You told Lenyet you also wanted to rank Wrestling today. You aren’t going to do that dressed, are you?”
What could I say? “I guess not.” While removing my belt, loincloth, and sandals, I told him, “Let’s do it until you need to take a break. We don’t need to have formal rounds. After that, though, I would like to wrestle with someone older so I can really use my strength. You understand, right?”
“Yeah, Forrest, it’s cool. I'm really glad I get to spar with you today.” Lenyet had gotten a mat for us while we were talking.
I can’t say we were really wrestling. It was more like roughhousing with a younger brother. I asked Interface, and he said I was getting rank points because taking time to teach someone else was an important part of training. Intent mattered. In fact I had earned hundreds of RP in First Aid this morning and over a hundred XP. Each student had contributed toward what I earned, even Dorra, Harron, and ‘Jarine’.
“That is going to help me rank a lot of things then.”
Yes.
I just wish I wasn’t getting poked by an occasional thrust to my stomach. Enough Bless Blood for him.
“I’m sorry, Forrest. It’s just that I sometimes … think about you. Then sometimes, like now, it just does what it wants.”
TMI. And not Cincinatti TMI, either. This was rock-solid Heere TMI.
Yes.
“It’s no problem, Norrus. It’s just something that happens to guys. And I’m sure giving you Bless Blood every once in a while contributed.”