Khenal
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Chapter Three-Hundred Thirty
🕑 Added 2025-02-04 02:14:12 +0000 UTCIt looks like Coda’s planning session with Rezlar went really well. As the surveying efforts under the forest wind down, Coda is more than happy to snatch up the denizens and point them at surveying and preparing the path for the road, as well as getting a better look inside the mountain Rezlar wants to build in. From what I can tell from the initial reports, the mountain itself seems pretty boring, as far as mountains go.
There’s enough soil for trees and bushes and stuff to grow in, but it’s not especially deep. The top third or so is pretty barren, though I can’t tell if it’s because of the thick snowcap, or if the winds at that kind of altitude keeps anything from finding purchase to grow. Either way, nature is pretty stable without anything really exceptional. Deeper into the mountain, it also seems pretty lackluster.
With it so close to what used to be a major trading hub before the disaster with Hullbreak, the mountain was pretty thoroughly prospected for ores and the like. Rezlar says the thing is basically just a solid chunk of granite, and so far, the expeditions are saying the same thing. There’s the usual cracks and such, but the cave systems are pretty cramped and damp. I don’t think there’s much risk of anything nasty hiding in there. Collapses while digging out the hold are a potential problem, but that’s what these deep surveys are for.
To me, it looks like trying to build something in a pile of gravel, but Coda and Rezlar don’t seem too worried. Mountains are usually a lot less solid than people expect, and there are ways to help support everything even without using earth affinity people to help fuse things back into whatever shape is needed for stability. A lot like mountains, big construction projects need to be a lot less solid than most people think, too.
Where a mechanical engineer can either overengineer something to basically never break, or just decide to let something break if the user is determined to use it so wrong, a civil project deals in forces that can’t really be stopped. If that earthquake decides to move these two pieces of land a centimeter apart, good luck trying to stop it. There’s a shocking amount of flex built into even simple civil projects, with even the seams between blocks helping provide the buffer to let things move just a little without compromising the whole structure. It still feels like a house of cards to me, but with how the masons are drooling over even the preliminary designs, I’m going to trust Coda on this one.
Roads are a different matter, and I’m not even going to try to pretend I understand how to keep them from turning into gravel over the course of a year. The slower speed of wagons and horses probably helps, but with the temperature difference over the year, it’s probably still going to need a lot of maintenance. I wish I knew what asphalt was made of so I could try to explain it, but I honestly have no idea. I think tar is a major component, maybe?
It’s probably less of a bother here, though. On Earth, fixing a road takes a crew and a bunch of huge machinery. Here, an earth affinity person just needs to check every so often and patch things up. There’s still going to be a big crew involved with this road, looks like. People grinding, mixing, moving, pouring, smoothing, and that’s just the concrete itself. That doesn’t even count the people clearing the way, smoothing the terrain, putting gravel or something beneath for drainage, and whatever other little details I’m forgetting that all contribute to a true and proper road.
And with Coda’s lead, my denizens contribute as well. It’s interesting to watch through his eyes as he works with Rezlar and his civil planners. The more martial of Fourdock’s people might be spending a lot of their time with me, but a lot of the civilian populace is involved in this project. Between the road and the reinvigorated docks, Rezlar is really stepping up and showing he has the knowhow to not only keep Fourdock running, but to see it grow, too.
I even catch glimpses of Rhonda and Freddie as they help out in their own ways. Rhonda’s herbalism expertise helps the people clearing the way know the difference between things to either use as fuel or mulch, and things that alchemists and other crafters will be interested in. I might have the lion’s share of cool plants in the area, but why waste what they find?
Freddie is helping with processing the concrete, not only with physically helping crush and mix, but also to help encourage people and not let them get too tired. I don’t know if he can do proper healing with laying his hands, but he sure seems like he can help alleviate fatigue. He’s also not a terrible singer, and a few catchy hymns makes the work feel a lot less like drudgery than it could.
While they work on the road, I feel a familiar set of feet cross the threshold to the manor grounds, and I’m glad to see not only Olander, but Tula as well! The crown inspector is wearing his more subdued gear, the stuff he was wearing when still undercover, which makes me suspect this is more of a casual visit than an official one. Still, Teemo makes his way to meet them at the porch.
“Hey you two! The Boss and I were starting to wonder if you didn’t like us anymore!”
Olander laughs at that and shakes his head. “After everything I had to put in the report, I’d be right to! But now it’s finally done, and Tula and I had a chance to relax a bit, I thought it’d be a good idea to come chat. The King has a response.”
Teemo quirks an eyebrow at that. “Is it one we should go somewhere more private to talk about?”
The tall elf shakes his head. “Nothing to be worried about. With Fourdock firmly on the rise, his majesty wants to ensure nothing will hinder that, so he’s going to be moving some of the regional garrison to be stationed here. I need to tell Rezlar, too, but for you, it should mean that quite a few of the kingdom’s finest will be wanting to delve you.”
“The Boss isn’t going to cry about new delvers, so long as they play nice. They don’t get to claim any area just for themselves. Even the Shield’s people in the crypts know they can’t discourage other people from exploring in there,” my Voice points out, which Olander nods along with.
“That shouldn’t be a problem, especially with the vast area of your forest. An individual soldier would be no match for what you’re working on in there, but squads should be able to find victory through their training and teamwork. I don’t expect there’ll be enough of them to even attempt to muscle out the ordinary delvers, and I’d hope there are none foolish enough to consider it. Even without the usual power differential between experienced delvers and normal soldiers, they’d run the risk of upsetting a dungeon.”
Teemo snorts at that. “Well, we can hope. And if there’s a few who don’t get the memo, the denizens will be happy to relieve them of their stuff and dump them at the gate. I’d imagine their superiors would be pretty unhappy with them for losing kingdom property.”
Olander laughs at that and nods. “Indeed! I’ll probably be here for a while longer, too, so if you have any troubles, don’t think twice about asking me about anything. His highness seemed to be looking forward to a good working relationship between you and the kingdom.”
Before Teemo can reply, Tula elbows Olander and gives him a significant look. “Ah, I almost forgot.” He glances around before leaning forward and lowering his voice. “Rezlar will probably know more than I do, but the Earl if’Gofnar is expected to try to pull Fourdock tighter into his grasp. It’s a part of his territory under the crown, but one he’s been happy to let be quiet for some time now. With its burgeoning prosperity, he’s probably going to want to take a more direct hand in its administration at some point.”
Teemo frowns at that for me. “Is he Rezlar’s uncle?”
Tula shakes her head and answers for Olander. “His father.”
Teemo’s frown deepens as I chew on that. It’s not difficult to guess that Rezlar’s distaste for nobility and politics comes from his upbringing, which would certainly involve his father. Even if he was an absentee, an Earl doesn’t let his son get bullied without knowing. “I’ll see what Rezlar wants to do about that, then.”
Olander gives a toothy smile at that. “Do let him know I’ll help as I can. With me being here officially, I’m limited in what I can do, but I’ll still contribute. The Earl if’Gofnar is… not the most favored by the Crown, even with his skill at deflecting potential scandals.”
My Voice gives him an appreciative smile. “The Boss and I appreciate that, and I’m sure Rezlar will, too. Thedeim’s working on figuring out how to politic, so he’ll probably need all the help he can get, especially if this guy is as skilled as you’re implying.”
Olander nods at that and straightens up. “Still, we’re not here just to deliver news.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah!” answers Tula, looking excited. “I heard your antkin are officially dwellers now! I want to see if they’ll teach me how the anti-lifedrinking enchantment works!”
Teemo chuckles at her enthusiasm. “I think they’ll make you join their college if you want a trade secret like that. Still, no harm in asking.”
Olander nods. “That’s what I told her, but it’s still an interesting enclave to visit. I hear they’re hunting in the volcanic region deep below? I want to see if they’d be willing to pay for a few recipes I know for cooking volcanic creatures. The Holds have a volcanic dungeon that’s quite the maze, so I’ve picked up a few recipes that might be useful to the antkin. Good food is a good way to stay motivated on a long delve, you know.”
“Oh yeah? Well, if you know anything especially good, maybe you’ll be able to trade it for some magic theory lessons. You two want a shortcut, or to head down on your own?”
Olander looks to Tula, who shrugs in return. “Well, since Tula doesn’t seem to have an opinion, I’d like to make our own way down. After all the time writing that report, I’m looking forward to stretching my legs and knocking the rust off my glaive.”
“Then you two have fun! If you’re feeling rusty, you’ll probably have just enough time to get back up to speed before the Boss triggers the tree expansion. It’s looking like a week, maybe two, to build up enough mana to expand and upgrade more spawners.”
Olander’s eyes sparkle at that. “I’m looking forward to it! With an expansion like that, he’ll have the eyes of the whole kingdom on him!”
“Yeah, but he’s going to do it anyway,” jokes Teemo. “That’s why he’s dipping his toes into politics now, before he jumps in the deep end with the expansion.”
“Then I wish him luck! Now, if you’ll excuse us, I think Tula and I should grab a quest before we get going.”
“Yep, don’t let me keep you two. Have fun!” He waves before slipping down a shortcut to go chat with some of the antkin about the composite armor. For me, I keep an eye on Olander and Tula, and try to keep from being too intrusive. I wouldn’t want to spoil their date.
Comments
Ben Bass
TYFTC! Awww, that is so cute with Olander and Tula! Things are going to get more interesting with more notice from the nobility, Thediem is going to have to get good at politics, and help Rezlar as much as possible. I really like the idea of the Mountain hold. Now will Thediem be able to expand out there at some point?
Pootis Birb
DATE??? LES GO!!!
Demonlord
Thanks for the nice chapter 😊 these 2 are a cute couple
Ethan Barrow
I can't wait to see that expansion go off!!
Lion3125
So uhm, in terms of temperature with concrete streets... Isn't that kind of a non-issue if you do it right? Now, obviously there'll still be some issues with them creating their own concrete that probably differs from earth concrete in some way and Thedeim not knowing the formulas anyways. But in general, at least here, there's a lot of older concrete highways that are completely fine because they just use 10m/15m/etc. long concrete slabs with enough space in between each pair so they can expand. If the space is big enough that it would be an inconvenience for vehicles or something, fill it with small gravel or sand or something similar, that can move out of the way. Not sure if Thedeim knows that
Tsume Eiranis
Thank you for the chapter And steadily the pieces in play move into position.
ColdBlooded Network
I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED LATE!!!
Speedsaber
I would imagine the crown wouldn't want a new prosperous dungeon and the god of change to turn french on royalty, hopefully we see someone give this uncle some advice before he does something dumb and gets steamrolled.
Stickboy172
Remember Thedium... in politics it's all about greasing the correct wheels to get what you want.... and you have more than enough grease (knowledge, technology and control over pretty much every local dungeons resources). Now you just have to pick the right wheels to, put on the pressure.
William Anderson
OH MY GODS YES!!! TYFTC!!!!
Herakilla
Thanks for the chapter! The stage is nearly set it feels like!
Juno Tubolino
I'm excited for more Olander & Tula, they are very good together, and I'm super hyped for the expansion!
King Jerkera
A wonderful chapter that is without question the beginning of the kickoff into action. It does seem that Thedeim has far more tools than not to be prepared but he is going to face off against royalty here soon. Furthermore I wish Olander and Tula a happy date with hopefully not too many shenanigans in between the encounters and themselves.
chris Bell
Thedeim just has to say he will only work with relzer to secure the status quo he has enough power to demand it
Rick Delallata
Thedeim going to accidentally create a Worldtree?
Durphymcbob
Thanks for the chapter! Ah Yeah Those two are cute together!
