Homestead Survival

<18 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+>
[Theo and Julia]
The next morning, Theo and Julia still felt refreshed and tossed themselves into their work. By lunch, another six of the massive wards had been completed, and Theo had finished replanting his bushes. He and Julia chatted as they ate.

"So since I am done with the planting, I should probably start moving our stuff from the cabin and maybe even pull it down," Theo said.

"Oh, that's kind of sad," Julia said. "I know this is selfish, but I kinda liked the cabin, and it felt like you built it for me."

Theo smiled at her as she blushed, "Well, why don't I leave it then? I can fix it later. And we can make it nice for you."

"No. You are going to build this house that we talked about, right?" Julia said teasingly. "That will more than make up for it."

Theo chuckled, "Oh, so every time I mess up, I just have to build you a new house?"

They both laughed. Julia looked serious for a moment. "Theo, I want you to know something. Even though I like you and we are working together well, I still want to get to know you better, especially if we are going to be together for a much longer time. I think that we both deserve that chance."

Theo nodded, "I agree, you are great, and I really do care for you. But you are right. We really have not had a chance to get to know each other past the few things we shared when this all started."

"I will say that I think we have learned a lot about each other through the things that we have been doing together, but I also want to hear what your dreams are, how you want to incorporate me into those dreams, and how you will support my dreams," Julia said, taking his hand after he ate the last bit of his food.

Theo smiled and squeezed her hand. "We will figure something out. Sooner rather than later, hopefully."

Julia nodded, leaning over to give him a peck on the cheek. "Now the important questions, what to do and what to ask."

"Ah, yes, the most important. Let's start with asking." Theo said, looking at the Ring of Eternal Mourning. "What do you want to ask it, Julia?"

Julia thought for a moment. "Do you think that Theo and I would form a cohesive Family, and would it be a family that lasts?"

>Private Message: Query - "Do you think that Theo and I would form a cohesive Family, and would it be a family that lasts?"
>Private Message: Processing...
>Private Message: Successful Roll
>Private Message: The System estimates that Users Theo Sorrenson and Julia Brahmin have a 72% compatibility rating after less than one month, placing them into the 5th percentile of most compatible couples based on time.

"Seventy-two percent, huh," Theo said. "But that puts us in the fifth percentile. Interesting."

Julia looked surprised. "I really did not expect it to get an answer like that. But it is good to know that even the System thinks we are doing well together."

Theo nodded, "Now, then, what to do?"

Ordus chose that moment to rise from the earth. "Julia, Theo, I think that you should come and inspect the tunnel; the dwarves have completed digging it."

Theo and Julia smiled and followed Ordus to where the Dwarves had dug a ramp down roughly thirty-five feet to a tunnel that ran roughly northeast of the Thronehold for a hundred or so feet.

In the tunnel, the dwarves were all waiting around an oddly perfectly circular well of water that looked far deeper than it had any right to be, as it slowly overflowed with water. Harbek stood with his back pressed against the wall. Theo noticed that the dwarves looked somewhat spooked. Harbek nodded to the water and said one word. "DAUN'WOGMÛRN."

Ordus's eyes widened a little bit at that. "He said Deepwell. That is fortuitous or dangerous, depending on how you look at it."

"What is a Deepwell?" Julia stepped forward and leaned over the stone edge of the water pool, which looked like a tiny mesa rising from the floor. All of the dwarves reached out a hand and took a collective breath as she did; one even exclaimed.

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"DÛRK!" One of the dwarves cried out. Julia stepped back.

"What is it?" Julia said, puzzled, 'The water looks clean and clear.'

"A Deepwell is something that appears naturally in mana density zones of A- or higher. They are naturally occurring portals to a place only called the Depths. There are legends of monsters of absolutely massive sizes being seen through Deepwells. The dwarves, in particular, have a fear of them because more than one dwarves clan has met its end to a Deepwell that they accidentally dug into the bottom side of it and flooded their entire tunnel and cave system." Ordus said, "The only nice thing is that they do provide virtually limitless clean drinking water."

Theo nodded, thinking about how he could secure this, images of merfolk climbing out and attacking them at night now that the caves were not isolated from the surface. He didn't know if this was a valid fear, but he had it nonetheless. "Julia, why don't you lay some Ward runes around this, and then we can sleep a little easier. Now, I would love to know where this water is going."

Ordus asked the Dwarves, "GORIM SORRENSON ZEK'AH WOG'NOR VRAG'AH?"

The dwarves grew excited at this and began to lead them deep into the cave system. One of them spoke excitedly, and Ordus translated as they moved. "He says that they found this tunnel system spiderwebs through the top of the Overlook and has several openings into the side of the Mesa. But this is what they are most excited about."

Around a corner, a circular room was approximately twenty feet tall and sixty feet in diameter. In the center, there was a hole nearly twenty feet across that the water disappeared into. The Dwarf continued, and Ordus translated. "He says that a skill he has called Cave Calling lets him estimate depths up to an accuracy of plus or minus fifty feet."

The Dwarf leaned forward, and power gathered. The Dwarf drew a breath and let out a single word. "DÛM!"

The sound reverberated down the hole, and they could hear it moving away. A moment later, they felt a wash of power come back up the hole. "DAUN ZULGRIM KHÛM."

"Roughly nineteen hundred feet deep," Ordus says.

"That might put it at the base of the whole mesa," Theo said thoughtfully.

"So why are they so excited by this?" Julia asked.

"Well," Ordus said, relaying the question. "It seems that if there is a way to get clean water from the Deepwell to the base of the Mesa, where the Dwarves might be able to use it. They would be deeply appreciative and would probably be willing to establish a more permanent friendship or alliance with you."

"That is good, but we need to prepare for the arrival of Primordial Flight and the people that we will be hosting," Theo said, turning to leave. Julia, Ordus, and the Dwarves followed him out.

When they returned to the Thronehold, Theo, Julia, and Ordus set to work, trying to plan out some kind of shelter for themselves and the people they would be hosting. The dwarves came three times and requested that Julia lay the final piece of the Ward rune.

At dinner, Theo, Julia, and Ordus sat chatting as the sun set. Harbek approached them and offered each of them a piece of crystal. They each took it and received the same private message.

> Private Message: User Harbek Runevein has loaned you a piece of his own personal fortune. In exchange, you have been granted the Dwarven language for the duration of the loan by the Polyglot Skill.

"There we go, found I, now discuss this with you I can," Harbek said with a smile. "Wanted the older Dwarves did, me to make you an offer."

"What offer?" Theo asked, wondering how he couldn't tell that he was speaking another language.

"Have you many people coming here, correct? Will provide we enough food for fifty people for three cycles. In exchange, promise you must to meet with one of our leaders after leave the ones who will come." Harbek said.

Julia did some quick math. "So you are offering us more than a thousand meals to promise to meet with your leaders? What for?"

"Yes. Have we a lot of food and water, but not have we water that is readily available for drinking. Would be willing you, to meet with our leader after Primordial Flight, appreciated it would be immensely." Harbek bowed deeply. "Please."

Theo moved to pull Harbek upright. But Ordus stopped him, speaking before Theo or Julia could say anything. "Lord Sorrenson and Lady Brahmin will accept this offer. What is needed to make it happen?"

Harbek looked excited. "Is needed nothing. Will have we the food here within four days. Thank you give I!"

Harbek held out his hands, and they all three returned the crystals to him to be greeted by another message as the Dwarf rushed off.

> Private Message: User Harbek Runevein has completed the loan. In exchange, you have given up the Dwarven language granted by the Polyglot Skill.

"Ordus," Theo said, and before he could finish his thought, Ordus had dropped to one knee with his head down.

"I apologize, Lord Sorrenson. I just..." Ordus sounded somewhat panicked.

Theo held up his hands, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I was just going to say, good job."

"I... What?" Ordus asked, looking up.

Theo smiled at Ordus, "You did well. You have been doing well this whole time."

"Oh. Thank you, Theo." Ordus stood up. "I thought you were mad at me for overstepping."

"No, why would I be?" Theo said, genuinely confused. "You need to remember that Julia and I are not anyone who is used to having a majordomo or a servant of any kind. If we wanted something done, we went out and got it done ourselves. So please feel free to step in. And don't worry, if I think you have crossed the line, I will let you know, but you should do what you think is best."

Julia nodded, "I agree, it solved one of our problems. You did nothing wrong. Good job!"

Ordus smiled. "Very well. I will sleep near the dwarves again; thank you both, and good night."

"Night, Ordus!" Julia said.

"Night, man." Theo smiled, and Ordus sank into the earth.