“That should work” Salina said.
“Oh good, sorry about that.” I smiled good-naturedly at the group and looked at Der’il’min “Do you mind if we shorten your name to Der’il?” He shook his head vigorously and inside I sighed. “How about you Sig’man’sel?”
“You can use my first name, Sig, that is acceptable. I fear there is a slight little cultural clash here, let me explain.” She said as she stepped forward slightly into the main circle of elves. Lisander, who was standing opposite Salina in the circle rolled her eyes slightly.
“The first and second portions of an elf name, without the house name at the end, is reserved for more intimate partners.” She explained blushing slightly. I looked around the group and a few of the elves had a slight redness to their cheeks as well.
“The full name is for formal occasions or new introductions. First names are for work-a-day activities, though in all elf cultures one should always introduce themselves fully first. Hence the confusion at the beginning of this meeting.”
“Okay, lesson learned. Thank you.” I gestured back to the map on the table trying not to think about the implications of calling Der by the name I had suggested. “The answer to your question Sig is that we can’t rely on humans having that kind of magic or the kind of power to do it on the scale I’m thinking this settlement is going to need.”
Another elf that I had not met yet, one from Salina’s retinue spoke up then. “I’m still very uncomfortable with the idea of so many humans living so close to our borders. Even if they are in the provinces. I mean, it's right on the border, literally less than half a days walk from one of the smaller Lo’sarian settlements.”
Salina turned to the stately looking elf man who had spoken “Do not allow your prejudices to blind you to the plight of people in need kinsmen. These refugees will be in desperate need of succor when they arrive, and I for one…”
I saw where the conversation was going and I decided to head it off before it got too far off-topic. I raised my voice to cut everyone off “I understand, this is going to be, for a time, much larger than even Cutters Hollow.” Several members of the group, particularly among the high elves, murmured worriedly amongst themselves.
“But do not despair, this is and has only ever been seen as a temporary settlement. It may take a couple of years, three at the most but this” I gestured to the hills, and flat valleys between them “this shelter from the brutal winters here in the north, will eventually disappear from your borders, and when it does it will be gone nearly as swiftly as when it arose.”
“But how can you know that?” One asked. “Humans come, and in our experience, unless they are burned out, they breed like rabbits.” A few voices around the young elf lord who had spoke chided him quietly for his temerity. Another said “where will they go? These, Pervolin refugees?”
“That is a good question.” I pulled out the larger map that Tol’geth had given me. I looked at it for a moment and remembered what I had chosen, and why. Before speaking I pointed at the portion of the map that was nearly empty save for only a few large features. Things like The Krag, a handful of mountain outcroppings along the great river, and a giant empty swaths of land both east and west of the river with the simple labeling of Horse Clans. The farthest known human settlement on the map was named Hunters Hollow on the north side of a tiny lake named Silver Lake not far from where we were. “North. They will go north.”
“But that is unknown land. Few have ventured there and even fewer have returned.” Terr’a’min stated.
“True, for the most part, but that's what partially makes it an adventure.” I smiled. “Look, the people here will need help. I know this, there’s a reason I was asked to do this. My, clan? Yeah, clan, experienced much of what these people are going through in our past. We were driven from home after home, and had to experience a brutal winter in a place like this.”
I gestured to the landscape around us. “It's why I’m looking for gravel and seeking to ensure proper drainage and sewage. Otherwise disease, injury, and illness will run ramped, those killed hundreds of people that winter all those years ago, and I don’t want these people to experience that.” The elves all around me nodded.
“I know one place where such, gravel, as you call it, exists. At the base of the mountains behind lake town at the Dow’del ruin. The place is filled with such tiny stones, it makes finding your footing difficult.” I looked at who spoke and found that it was the ranger from when we first crossed the river from Cutters Hollow.
“Li’anin, yes?” She nodded. “Thank you, I will go and survey it soon as I can. As for housing options, we don’t have much time before the first caravans arrive I believe.” I looked at Ailsa, who nodded as she floated about the working group.
“I can confirm that.” Telli’meir said, gesturing towards the water basin. I raised my eyebrows at her confused. “I have scryed the roads from the twins, the first caravan is crossing by the Great Marsh now, between the river on the east side and the cutters forest. They will be here in days, if not sooner.”
“How many?” I asked
“I don’t know but there are at least ten covered wagons, pulled by oxen or horses, and a handful of carts being pulled by hand by the younger and fitter of the group.”
“Well, we better get working then. I was thinking we could…” I laid out my vision for the first set of buildings, large longhouses with space for ten families of five each. No doors or full ceiling-high walls internally, but curtains for doors, and wooden barriers for walls and privacy. Large double doors at each end, and windows that would provide both light and ventilation, as well as a central fire pit of stones, that would each be enchanted with a simple air spell by our elvish friends, to coax the smoke out a shaft at the very top of the buildings. I even had several crude drawings that I showed everyone on my now visible journal screen.
The elves liked the design, Tol’geth did too to my surprise. “It is like the halls of my fathers in Barisel.” He explained, “Save, the fire pits are made of stone that reaches to the ceiling, and the walls inside are finished with brick and mortar.”
My first plan was a block of ten of these buildings, each with two large cooking pits outside, and a large public toilet, one half for men the other for women, and a large bath for every block. It was in-elegant but would serve the purpose as needed.
When the subject of payment and cost was brought up, I sighed. “I don’t have much.” I motioned for Ailsa to bring out my bag. Once it appeared, I rifled through it for what I was looking for. Eventually I produced two sacks of coin. “Some of this is gold, most is silver. Maybe a total of fifteen pieces of gold, nearly a hundred of silver. The denominations are slightly larger than those used by the Torish by about a fourth so if you melt them it should help you fetch a better value. It's what I brought with me from my home. This I hope, will be enough to cover the costs of the first block of ten. In the meantime, I have to rely on your charity, and the promise of future payment.”
Terr’a’min nodded “This was understood when the council voted, it was the second greatest point of contention in our discussions. But we have made our decision and will stick by it. What of the cost master builder?” He asked looking towards a large heavily built elf I recognized only from the party the other day.
“Well, I have not built these structures before, but they do not seem overly complicated. Each one will fell perhaps, half of a grand tree, and each will cost us perhaps a gold piece in metalwork. The real cost is the labor of it. If I have to pay a crew of workers, each would easily cost nearly an additional gold by the end of it. If I hire cheaper labor from Cutters Hollow and Lake Town, I could perhaps cut that in half. But regardless that is still the largest hurdle we must overcome.”
“You can take any liberties with the design you think prudent to cut costs, as long as it still fits the amount needed comfortably, and meets the needs I have mentioned.” The builder elf nodded.
“I can already see a few
things we can do to improve the efficiency of the space internally while cutting costs.”
“Good. You know your craft, I won’t get in your way.”
“How many do you think will be needed before winter fully sets in?” Terr’a’min asked me. I shrugged in response.
“I honestly have no idea. I will be journeying south soon after the ground is broken here, to help Tol’geth with his searching. That will give me a better understanding of the scale of what we are looking for. For now, try to build a new block for every caravan of this first one's size or larger.”
“You will be leaving?” Lisander asked. “We thought that you would be staying to help oversee the construction of the settlement.”
I looked at the master builder and asked: “With these ideas, and the knowledge of how I envision this being laid out, do you need me to oversee the work?”
“Nope, you would only get underfoot young wizard, no offense.” I smiled and waved it off.
“When can construction begin?” I asked the craftsmen.
“Now, I’ve already got elves bringing in Cutters, and felling some of the more sickly or elder trees that will probably not survive the winter anyway. As for when we finish the first building? Well, perhaps by the end of the day on the first building is the plan. We should have two or three buildings from the first block done by tomorrow afternoon if everything goes well. The roads will be the most tricky part, I’ve never done anything like them before.”
“Wow, you all work fast. Don’t worry, I'm sure we can find humans among the refugees who have at least done some work on roads before. If not, well we will muddle through won't we.”
“Many have come as volunteers, even if they are somewhat untrained in building construction they have strong backs that can be put to work. Everything else required for these simple structures can be easily taught. The hardest part is going to be the foundations. The earth is cold and hard, and will only get colder until it is frozen. We will need to use magic to break the soil, which requires skilled earth mages. We have a few who have volunteered but they will be sorely worked as we go.”
“Give them my personal thanks.” The master-builder nodded and we discussed a few more details. He asked me about how humans typically did sewer systems, how we handled roadside irrigation and trash removal. I explained what I could, but honestly most of it I was unfamiliar with in a semi-medieval setting. I encouraged him to be creative with it, but to try and use as little magic as possible. Where magic was used, to keep the enchantments simple and easily re-imbued with mana. By noon we had a decent looking plan, and the ground on the first building was broken as we talked.
When the sun was high, the earth and air warm, we broke for lunch, I discovered that I had earned 3 skill points in Survey, and 1 skill point in Analyze, the skill not the ability, though I was still kind of fuzzy on how the two interacted.
Tol’geth, Ailsa, Lisander and I ate fruit and jerky links that Tol’geth produced from a large sack he carried through the portal that morning. As we ate we talked about a number of things, and though both Lisander and Ailsa both attempted to explain the difference between the Analyze skill and the ability, and how the two fed off one another, at the end of that conversation I was still highly confused.
After lunch was over, the majority of the group ended up going back to Lo’sar with Salina. I ended up staying to help with the work, what little I could do I would do. It was also far safer to practice my magic, and learn new spells, particularly fire spells, here then it was back in the heart of the deep forest. Besides, I wanted to be here when the first caravan arrived so I could actually meet the people I was sent here to help.
Tol’geth, Ailsa, Li’anin the ranger, and a hand full of others including the master-builder whose name I learned was In’arian, all stayed to help in some way. Li’anin patrolled with her entire squad of rangers who had followed her here, including Ste’rill, the elf who had bad-mouthed Tol’geth when we first met. He wasn’t such a bad guy, we had interacted a few times since then, mainly at the party. He had been a member of the drum circle who had helped me with the song.
When asked why she patrolled the empty lands that surrounded us, she only said: “Salina isn’t the only one with spatial magics.” She then continued about her work, going out in intervals that seemed almost random, and at times that must have been rather inconvenient to her and her squads sleeping schedules.
In’arian the builder and professed architect, built as quickly as he could. One building after another sprouted like wheat, and by the end of the second day we had nearly three buildings finished. We were well ahead of schedule.
Tol’geth and Ailsa both helped me work with In’arian, and with their contributions, we sped the building process. When the work was finished each day, or when we were starting to get in the way of the more skilled work, my friends helped me train my magical skills, and while my mana bar was refilling, the sword. I had little skill with the thing, but the training allowed me to grow my skills 3 points in swordsmanship, 3 skill points in light magic, and 2 in force magic. I didn’t use much fire magic, though I did try out several fire spells that worked well. But once I had them, I left them to focus on my other forms of magic.
When I began casting fire spells like mad into the moving water of the river, Ailsa stopped me worried. “Hey meathead, you need to be careful!”
“Why?” I asked as the fire from my last fire jet spell fizzled off my hands.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to go over this with you. And to be honest, I didn't think I would need to for a while longer, it usually doesn’t become a problem until someone begins getting into their journeyman ranks.”
“What is the problem?” I asked getting exasperated. I felt like I needed to keep blasting something. Like I wanted to keep using the magic, and I realized then that something was a little off. So, I started listening closely.
“Well, magic has multiple kinds of costs and effects. Just as your will needs to be synced with the type of mental state required to cast magic, so too can the magic effect your mental state to bring it more in line with the type of magic your using and the intent that you're using that magic for.” Ailsa explained as she danced above the water, her spear stabbing into the rippling current.
“Like a river can eventually break a dam? Or…”
“No meathead, like a self-reinforcing prophecy about you thinking about a prophecy, so you think about the prophecy. You thinking about the prophecy makes it true, so you keep thinking about whether or not its true or not because of the esoteric nature of it, and you fight with yourself as to the entire practice of prophecy and whether or not it's valid in the first place, and so you keep thinking about it, and it gains more power, and the more power the prophecy has, the more you think about it and…”
“Wow!” I said raising my hands and voice in surrender. “Okay! I think I understand. My emotions allow me to tap into the magic, and the magic sends some kind of feedback into my emotions, making me more of that type of emotion or mindset or whatever, and bringing me more in sync with the magic. That about right?”
“Yeah, basically.” She said as she spun just above the water like a ballerina, sending a spray of fresh, swiftly moving droplets over the water where they splashed back down in a nearly perfect circle radiating out from where she was hovering. “What that means is, that the more fire magic spells you cast, the more your Emotional Stability characteristic is important. And the same goes for other types of magic, but those aren’t really important right now.”
“Okay, emotional stability is important. Can I get back to practice now?” I asked. She turned and glared at me as she hovered over the river.
“No, you should go meditate or do something else useful for a while. We don’t want you going all Pyris on us and burning down those fancy new houses we just built. Besides, you should take a look at your mana pool and figure out the math there. That was something you said you wanted to do this morning.”
“True, alright I’ll take a break.” I left and found a good spot atop a small hill to take a look and do some character exploring. After looking into the mystery of the mana pool for a while, I had discovered that a person's maximum mana was derived from their average magic skill score of the types of magic that they knew. It was why shorter-lived races like humans and goblins usually specialized in the magic type that was easiest for them to sync with, while longer-lived races like fairies and elves, often had more broad educations and would end up mastering all forms of magic some time near the end of their lives.
Ailsa explained the concept when asked about it. “What you’ve figured out so far isn’t wrong, each person has one, or perhaps two or three elements that they synchronize with much easier. Some say this is an innate thing, others that it's based on the experience, emotions, or even philosophy of the magic-user.”
“Whatever the case may be, it's usually best for a magic user, any magic-user, to focus on one or two types of magic. Becoming proficient in those that they are naturally, or that they eventually become more synergistic with. That is why your gift from Ethria is so powerful. It somehow allows your mind to be flexible enough to understand and sync easily with all kinds of magic.”
She went on to explain that If a human tried to learn every type of magic, and only was able to get a couple of skill points in each magic skill, their mana pool would be drastically smaller then if they had never learned that magic, to begin with. Depending on how bad the disparity was between the new magic skill level, and the originally mastered magic was the cut could be huge, something that could cripple or even stall a casters growth in their chosen expertise.
She also explained that not all was lost in such a case, as a person could allow their skill in a certain magic to atrophied over time, and if it ever dropped below 1 point it disappeared from their skill list, though they would lose access to all of the spells they had learned that contained that type of magic.
It seemed Ethria wanted a check on magic users growing too powerful, and learning all of its secrets easily. And so, it had devised a way to accomplish exactly that.
Ethria- the Pioneer Page 34