“Good wolf.” I patted Tempest’s neck then dismounted and surveyed the nearly completed weapon workshop. It was shaped like a triangle with well-rounded edges. Large wooden beams served as the frame, and the area between them was filled with bricks. The building had an incomplete cobbled floor and two worktables stood inside next to a small, indoor forge. Goblin builders were running around, hammering and stacking stones to build the walls.
Zuban was standing next to a goblin builder, patiently instructing him while gesturing at various places in the wall. He spotted me as I neared and stepped away from the builder. “Dread Totem.” He bowed his head slightly.
“Zuban, we’re running out of time. How long to complete the workshop?”
He looked back at the structure, his eyes darting over all the incomplete parts. “About midday,” he answered finally. “I’ve already plotted the land for the adjacent armor workshop, so I plan to continue working on it after finishing here. The required building materials are already in place.”
I shook my head. “We’re out of time. We need all the high-priority buildings now. Get the workers out of the building.”
Zuban understood my meaning immediately and with a few short, sharp orders, had everyone out of the way.
I opened the Settlement Interface, selected the nearly completed building and clicked on the ‘rush’ option.
Rush Weapon Workshop for 62 EP?
I approved the cost.
With a flare of magic, the few incomplete parts shimmered, transforming into full physical matter.
New Building added to your settlement: Weapon Workshop
Next, I selected ‘Armor Workshop’ and clicked on the ‘rush’ option for it as well.
Rush Armor Workshop for 360 EP?
I winced at the cost, but I had over 4,000 EP to spare, so I approved it.
Stacks of stone and wood shimmered and disappeared in the now familiar sight of a magically constructed building.
New Building added to your settlement: Armor Workshop
Like the weapon workshop, it too was triangular with circular edges, like a slice of pie. The buildings were fitted against each other, forming part of a circle. Future workshops that would be added to them would end up forming a full circle with each building a petal in the flower.
It was an efficient design. I approved.
“Alright.” I rubbed my hands together. “We’re good to go. Zuban, can you please inform our two craftsmen that their new workplace is finished? I want them to start arming our troops with quality gear.”
“Yes, Dread Totem, I shall fetch them immediately. However, now that both buildings are completed, what should be our next project?”
I thought about it for a moment. “The research center, I guess. The researchers are still working on the barracks’ warfare center blueprints, right?”
The hobgoblin nodded.
“Then that will be the project after the research center.”
“Yes, Dread Totem. We will need ten glass and ten silver for the research center.”
“Right, I’ll take care of that now.”
I opened the Marketplace Interface, and as before, traded 50 lumber for ten units of glass. However, silver presented more of a challenge. It took 35 lumber to trade for a single unit of silver. I had just enough lumber for four units. I considered what to do and briefly contemplated using other resources, but that would rapidly exhaust my other stocks; a ridiculous amount of 300 rabbit pelts were required for a single talent of silver.
“Zuban, the required resources will wait for you at the Export Office. It might take a few days to bring in the entire load of silver, but I trust you can begin work without having the full supply straight away, right?”
My foreman nodded. “That is correct. As long as we have the entire amount by the time we are ready to finish.”
“Good, at the rate we’re producing lumber, we’ll have enough to buy the rest in two days.”
“That is reasonable, Dread Totem.”
“If you need me, I’ll be at my house.” I jumped onto Tempest’s back and rode him to my home.
As we neared, I heard sounds of knocking. When we passed the wall and came to the front of the building, I saw who was knocking on my door.
The Mob Squad had returned.
25 – Technological Advancements
I felt more than I heard Tempest growling as he spotted the players standing at my door.
“You’re back,” I said casually, dismounting the demon wolf.
“Hey there, pal,” said Misa, the part elf-woman and apparently the group’s spokesperson. “Yeah, we just returned.”
I ignored her and analyzed each of the players. To my dismay, I learned they all possessed the Stealth skill, so any one of them could be the killer.
Apart from that, they all had a standard array of common skills. But two were of special note: Misa had a Prime-badged skill called ‘Chainmaster,’ and Raystia had the laughably titled ‘Florist’ skill.
“Anyway,” Misa continued, “it was a close call We had to constantly fight, run, and hide, but we’ve completed your quest.” She gestured grandly, pointing at the totem piece they’d brought back.
Granted Quest Completed: Retrieve Totem Piece
The Mob Squad members awarded: 1000 XP, 100 reputation with GreenPiece Clan, 100 gold
Misa Gavriilu awarded: Horned Helm (magical)
Raystia awarded: 20 X Arrows (magic)
Riley Stonefist awarded: Reinforced Boots (magical)
Fox awarded: High Steel Axe (normal)
“Thank you,” I said dryly. “Now that the rewards are taken care of, we can proceed with the punishment.”
“What?” Misa frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“One of you,” I gave them each a stern look, “has murdered two of my goblins.”
They exchanged glances, looking even more bewildered.
“Ahem, excuse me, Mr. Dread Totem sir,” Raystia, the catgirl, said. “There must be a mistake. We were away for a couple of days. We just got back, so it couldn’t be one of us.”
“Actually,” I countered, “the murder happened just before you conveniently left the valley.”
“But … but ahem … we wouldn’t do such a thing!” she said unconvincingly, giving the bugbear, Fox, a guilt-filled glance.
I raised a hand. “Spare me your bullshit, I already know which one of you did it.” My gaze lingered on the bugbear. He stared back at me, and I turned my eyes to the dwarf. “You.”
“Wha-what?” he stuttered. “Me? Why would I kill your goblins? That’s bullshit, man.”
Goddamn dwarves! A surge of goblin racial hatred rose in me, but I forced it down. Instead, I concentrated, trying to access his underlying thoughts using Sense Emotion, but the ability failed to work properly. Apparently, it didn’t function well on players. All I got back was a general sense of uncertainty.
“Don’t bother to deny it. Tempest here,” I pointed at my mount who was now growling menacingly at the players, “smells their blood on you.”
The other three turned to stare at Riley with startled expressions.
“Heh, you could have told me you were looking for more sacrifices,” Fox said. “At least I would have figured out how to hide the evidence better. Sloppy work, Riley. Sloppy work.”
“It wasn’t me!” the dwarf protested, taking a step back from his friends.
Raystia looked at him thoughtfully. “Well … you did say you needed to take care of something before we left,” she said apologetically.
“I meant I had to log out for a bathroom break, not murder some goblins!” Riley exclaimed. “Don’t you know me by now?”
“And you did kinda enjoy sacrificing those stone creatures back at the tunnel,” Misa pointed out.
“That … that just gave me some nice bonuses! Come on, guys, back me up here.”
“So maybe he did or didn’t kill a few goblins, but that doesn’t matter. I’m guessing he’s already
guilty in your eyes, right?” Misa said lightly. “So what’s the penalty, Mr. Boss Man? Jail time? A fine?”
I narrowed my eyes. She was taking this too casually. It was a grave matter, the murder of two of my …
Damn, he’s right. I rubbed my forehead tiredly. Players engaged in casual NPC killing all the time. It was no big deal, especially if no one saw them do the actual deed.
“Since you’re in a party, I’m considering you all equally responsible for the crime,” I told them. “That said, you will reimburse the clan for the resource loss the deaths incurred: 60 units of food and ten tree logs.”
Misa shrugged. “Sounds reasonable. So by the going rate of food, I’d say we owe you about 15 gold – 20 to include the wood. Come on, guys, cough up five gold each.”
Grim-faced, the players drew out some coins. I could almost hear what they were thinking; they’d just completed a two-day quest, finally got their hands on some gold, and now I was playing the bad guy, forcing them to part with their hard-earned loot.
The initial anger I felt disappeared, replaced by fatigue. “Forget about the money and the resources.” I looked at the dwarf. “What you did set me back a bit, but I guess it’s not a big deal in the end. So why not just admit it?”
“I’m telling you it wasn’t me!” he insisted.
“Fine. Since you won’t take responsibility, I hold your entire party in debt to me.”
“What do you mean?” Raystia asked hesitantly. “We already offered to pay.”
“Since you proved so capable at your previous quest, I thought I’d grant you a new one.”
Misa grinned. “If the rewards are similar to the last one, we can definitely discuss it.”
“What do you want?” Fox grunted.
“There’s a shrine or an altar to the southeast, about a day or two’s travel,” I explained. Using the two places of worship I had already sanctified as reference points, I could approximate the last shrine’s location.
“I want you to escort one of my goblin adepts there. The area is most likely under the control of some hostile monster. Clear out a safe path to the shrine, and help the adept consecrate it to Nihilator. Once that’s done, you’ll leave the adept there to maintain the shrine.”
Outsource the quest [Dark Missionary] to The Mob Squad? Yes/No
I confirmed and doubled the rewards from the totem quest.
“What sort of hostile monsters can we expect?” Fox grumbled.
I shrugged. “No idea. I’ve already cleared two shrines. One was in the middle of a hobgoblin camp, the one you just came from. The other was deep inside an Ogre lair. Just be ready for anything. I see you’ve gained some levels, so this one shouldn’t be a problem for you,” I said with a straight face.
Each of them was level 12, and surprisingly, the shy one, Raystia, was level 15. If they encountered half the resistance I’d faced at the Ogre fort, they’d all be wiped out.
At worst case, if they all die, I still get valuable intel, I thought smugly. If the team failed the quest, I could always resurrect the adept and take him there myself, with some foreknowledge this time. It was a win-win situation.
“Find the place, clear it out, leave the goblin there. Got it,” Misa said cheerfully. “Then we’re good, right?”
“Not exactly.” I gave her a steady look. “Do you know how to sanctify the shrine?”
“Pour some holy water on it?”
“Offer a sacrifice,” Riley said. “Nihilator loves those. I guess we can capture another mob as the offering.”
“No.” I looked pointedly at the dwarf. “It needs a worthy sacrifice. Anything lower than an NPC boss will be rejected.”
“Be goddamn near impossible to hold down a boss over a shrine,” Fox said.
“You’re right. You will need another worthy sacrifice.” I kept looking at the dwarf. “A traveler soul, freely offered, should do the trick.”
Riley gaped. “You gotta be shittin’ me.”
I held his gaze steadily.
“Oh for crying out loud, I didn’t kill your stupid goblins!” he threw his arms up in anger.
“Let’s say I believe you,” I countered. “As a dark priest, offering your life freely to Nihilator is a powerful tribute. You should know that by now. Consider this a leap of faith. Who knows? You might actually benefit from it in the end.”
A thoughtful expression came over his face as he contemplated my words. “Fine!” he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll be the freaking sacrifice, but there’s no way I’m plunging the dagger into my own heart. It might be just a game, but I draw the line at that.”
“You won’t have to. The adept can do the deed.”
Misa gave a short laugh, her eyes glistening. “Well, I’ll be. This game keeps getting darker and darker, doesn’t it? I love it!”
Fox rolled his eyes. “Once you finish picturing yourself as the monster queen of terror, we should go check out the marketplace. We got loot to sell and new equipment to buy.”
“Right you are, Foxy,” Misa said lightly and winked at me. “Come on guys, let us head out.”
The four headed for the marketplace, leaving the totem piece behind.
This had turned out better than I expected. With some quick thinking, I’d managed to get the now fairly accomplished players to do Nihilator’s quest for me. I chuckled as I recalled the game naming the quest as ‘outsourced.’
I turned my attention to my new toy. “Now let’s see what we have here.”
I rolled my eyes and analyzed the totem.
Totem Pole Piece: Hobgoblin
Description: This piece of totem pole represents a conquered camp of hobgoblins. It can be added to the main totem pole of another clan, granting it a hobgoblin-related feature.
Type: Settlement totem
Effect I: +10 clan morale
Effect II: Training combat skills is 50% quicker
That was fortuitous. Coupled with the new barracks, this totem was just what I needed to whip my soldiers into shape.
I spotted Rhyno and waved him over. He approached with heavy steps and scowled at me. “Boss-man.”
“Rhyno, put this totem piece on top of the other one,” I instructed and stepped back.
The Ogre grunted, then lifted the 50-kilo piece with one hand without any discernible effort and placed it on top of the Ogre totem piece already on the roof of my house. The two fit together perfectly and made an impressive, savage-looking, totem pole. I could already feel the settlement’s information streams updating, accounting for the increased stats. A fortuitous find indeed.
I entered my house and found seven weapons waiting for me on the table; four swords, two battleaxes, and a dagger. I had asked Kaedric to bring me all of the clan’s decent weapons, and this is all I got. It was barely enough for what I had in mind, but it would have to do.
I sat down and inspected each weapon. They could hold only three runes apiece, which was still better than crude items.
I picked up the first weapon, opened the design mode, and started working.
***
Weapon schema discovered: RaTog [Sonic Damage]
Runecraft skill level increased to 30.
I rubbed my tired eyes. I had enchanted for hours, meticulously working to make each enchantment perfect. The new schema was fairly simple. I started by placing the ‘Ra’ rune of sound on each weapon’s base, then drew the connecter rune through all the durability points to the blade, where I placed the binding rune.
As a result, each weapon now added 20 percent sonic damage to the attack and gained the ‘resonate’ trait, which improved its ability to penetrate magical shields. This unexpected feature was the result of channeling the sound rune through the durability points instead of the strengthening rune like I had done in the past.
The door opened and Tika came in. Once again, I had lost sense of time and had worked until late.
Tika didn’t seem to mind though. “You are easy game to catch lately,” she pouted. “Where’s the fun in that? Ah, if all my prey were as easy, I could have kept the whole clan fed on my own.”
I laid the finished weapons on the table, but I kept the enchanted dagger. “I didn’t notice the time,” I apologized. “Go to bed; there is something I must take care of first. I will try to finish quickly.”
She put down her equipment and came to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Where are we going?” she asked.
I hadn’t planned on her tagging along. What I had to do next was not the most romantic setting. “I, uh … think it’s better if I went alone.”
She raised an eyebrow. ”We almost never have time for ourselves, except just before or after going to sleep. This is an opportunity for us to spend some time together.”
I searched her face. She held my gaze steadily. “Alright, let’s go.”
She followed me out the door. “Where are we going?”
“The Breeder’s Den first,” I said, opening the interface. “Then to the temple.”
The Breeder’s Den Interface showed it was loaded with 546 units of simple food. I queued in an Infernal Ogre and five hobgoblin soldiers.
I arrived with Tika at the front of the building just as it started to spew out the new troops. We waited until the last hob emerged from the building. Twelve eyes stared directly at me, waiting for their orders.
“Follow me,” I said and led everyone toward the Dark Temple.
***
I wiped my bloody sacrificial dagger and looked with dismay at the remains of the hobgoblin soldier splattered over the shrine. After a moment, the pieces turned black and liquified, transforming into a void crystal. The second one I had obtained that night.
“Oh, yessss … your offering pleases the master.” Kuzai was watching the ritual with eyes full of zeal.
Satisfying the demented dwarf didn’t make me feel any better about the sacrifices. On my beckoning, the unthinking soldiers approached the shrine one by one, like sheep to the slaughter, which I guess was exactly what they were.
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