Homestead Survival

<14 August 2024, ????, ????>
[The Unwanted God]
"What do you mean?" Durn the Unwanted raged, on the other end of the communication crystal the Storm Giant flinched.

"I mean," Angram said, trying to pick his words carefully, "that according to the reports of the scouts who watched the Challenge, something interfered and took one of the Spirits. Then the humans were able to beat the remaining four by isolating them and not letting them join."

"And you didn't think to step in and kill them while they were distracted with the Spirits!" Durn spluttered as he raged.

"My lord, it was a System sanctioned Challenge. There was nothing I or anyone present could do." Angram said, at a loss for what he should have done.

Rather than reply, Durn let out a shriek of frustration and terminated the communication skill. "Why is it so hard to stomp out a pest!"

After several moments of throwing a fit, Durn reopened the communication line. Angram looked as if he had been waiting. "Yes, my lord?"

"You finish this, you finish this fast, or I will." Durn said, "I want them under constant siege, no more slow, methodical waiting them out. You purge them from that place. Do I make myself clear?"

Angram nodded. "Yes, my lord."

Durn terminated the skill again, feeling better. "Soon, I shall have a hold on a new world, and I shall reap all that that entails."

<14 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER , A+>

[Theo and Julia]
"Alright," Julia said from where she and Theo had been filling in one of the gaps that Theo had left in the bricks. What was left was a gap at the front and a gap at the back. "I think it is time for you to sleep. Go get Ordus up, and then you can take a nap."

Theo nodded, tired from the events of the day. "Only a few hours until sunrise. You get me up in case anything happens."

"Of course," Julia said with a smile as Theo disappeared inside. Moments later, Ordus appeared. "Hello, Ordus."

"Good morning, Julia," Ordus said with a slight bow. Then he saw the gaps that had been filled and nodded. "I shall begin reinforcing these sections immediately."

Julia stopped him and fetched a meal from the chest. "Please eat first."

Ordus nodded, consuming the food quickly, and then started working, using his Earthen Will skill to have the dirt grow up through the gaps in the bricks.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

<14 August 2024, ???? , S->
[Aflara Karzun]
After a short meeting with the Dwarven Space Keeper, Aflara had waited for the long activation of a portal skill that opened a direct connection to her next stop. Aflara now forged onwards through the forest of a world that exuded primal fear, energies, and power.

Several times, a creature had dropped off the upper branches expecting an easy kill of the slight woman, only for them to be slain and roasted by her Draconic Breath. This time was no different. Aflara heard the whistle of fur through the air as a creature dropped the couple of hundred feet from the canopy of the trees.

Aflara felt a hand latch onto her neck, and in a moment, she had used her considerable strength to brace and stop the fall of the creature as a rock stops the fall of a lemming. She had inhaled and was about to exhale flames that could melt lesser metals when a voice called out.

"Now that is not particularly nice, Aflara." Eg'Valla Dreamscaper said in Dracish as she stepped out of the shade of one of the massive trees.

"Lady Dreamscaper," Aflara smiled at the woman and bowed her head, "one moment, I will deal with this, and then we can talk."

"That is my grandson. I would rather you not incinerate him." Eg'Valla chuckled, "I am sure that he has suffered enough already."

Aflara looked at the furred beast she held aloft and realized it was most certainly an Ogolmari. She set the young man on his feet. She knew that Lady Dreamscaper was small for an Ogolmari at roughly five and a half feet tall, but this young man had to be nearly nine feet tall. She spoke in the grunting language of the Ogolmari. "Apologies."

The young Ogolmari let out a long, ragged breath. "Grandmother told me to surprise you, but I did not expect you to use your head as a battering ram. I will take her requests with a hint of suspicion from now on. Well fought, Dragon."

The young man leapt to the nearest tree and rapidly climbed out of sight. Aflara looked at Eg'Valla, "Did you want him dead?"

"I wanted him humbled. His size has gone to his head, and being so close to death at the hands of someone who is not me but also close to my size," Eg'Valla smiled wickedly, "it will serve him well in life. Now, young Dragon, though I do love our talks, what can I help you with?"

"My grandfather sent me with a message for you." Aflara said, "A system error occurred, and it has decided on the corrective action of primordial flight."

"Ah..." Eg'Valla said, "Tell me everything, Aflara, then I shall do what I can to send you on your way."

Aflara and Lady Eg'Valla Dreamscaper walked through the forest as Aflara explained everything her grandfather had asked her to.

<14 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER , A+>
[Julia and Ordus]
Theo was still sleeping when the sun crested over the horizon. Ordus had managed to reinforce all of the remaining bricks. Julia had been tending to the two berry bushes that Theo had planted in the corners of the walls. She used a little of her water to moisten the dirt around them.

She looked up and noticed a thump, followed by another, and then another, and then a deep horn sounded, long and loud. From all around them, Goblins, Orcs, Elementals, and Ents emerged from the trees. The massive Storm Giant also appeared. Slowly, the ring of enemies closed in on them.

"Ordus," Julia said quietly.

"Yes, Julia?" Ordus asked, his tone betraying the concerns that he held.

"Go wake Theo. It's time for some leveling."

Ordus chuckled and walked into the Cabin. Julia hoped that she would feel better with Theo awake, but she knew that no matter what she may say to Theo or Ordus. She was scared.

"I hope this goes well." Julia thought, "I really do."