Homestead Survival

<18 September 2024, MOLBRAK CAVERN, A>
[Theo and Julia]
After leaving the council chambers, Theo and Julia went to the market with Kreldar and Ordus once more while Fred and Joshua made their way back to the inn. After establishing what they were to purchase, Kreldar and Ordus left Theo and Julia at a small cafe on the edge of the market as they began to make offers to various auctioneers. Theo and Julia sat at the table and were soon joined by another person; a thrum of power from an item heralded their arrival.

>Local Message: Universal Translation Active

"Mr. Armstrong is an incredibly talented man. I don't think that he used a single skill and still came up with all that." Ubran said, taking an open seat at the table next to Theo and Julia. "What would it take for ye' to give'im up and let him join the Clan?"

"Ubran Molbrak," Theo said, bowing his head to the dwarf. "A pleasure."

"As to Joshua," Julia said, taking a sip of the tea that the hostess had brought over, "that is up to him; we do not have him bound. And even Ordus is in a position to leave if he wants. We don't like the idea of indentured servitude."

"That is," Ubran paused for a moment, considering, "refreshin'. Too many fall into the allure of power and threaten others as objects to be traded."

"You mean just as you suggested?" Theo asked pointedly.

Ubran let out a chuckle. "Yes, just as I did. Now then, I have questions, but that would not be fair, so for every question I ask that ye' answer, ye' may ask a question, and if it is a reasonable question, I will answer it."

"Very well," Julia said with a smile, pouring a cup of tea, and standing to place it in front of Ubran, "please drink with us then. As to our question, I think that we both want to know how Clan Molbrak came to be here and not as a System-recognized family?"

Theo nodded and Ubran spoke, "A good question, there is a lot to it, but the short answer is that we are a branch of the Molbrak Clan, which is at home on another world. We were all prompted by the system when it began to reshape yer world. If we accepted, we'd be stripped of levels all down to level twenty or less, and stripped of family recognition and benefits, but it would be a chance to establish a branch family on this world, which could put us in a position to claim valuable resources. So now, four hundred of my clan members, myself, and my granddaughter are here stripped of lifetimes of effort and working from the ground up."

Ubran gave them a moment to process, then asked his next question. "Ye' both seem far more comfortable with letting Joshua handle things than I was when I helped found the original Clan Molbrak. What makes ye' so at ease with it?"

"Oh, that's easy," Theo said, "Joshua's daughter is the whole reason that he sought us out; he wants to ensure her safety, and a mutual friend suggested bringing her out to us. So we know that while she is safe with us, Joshua will do all that he can to see us benefit, as it will directly or indirectly benefit his daughter. He is also someone whom we have a vague understanding of, as he was a leader of our nation before the System came, so there is a sense of familiarity."

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Julia nodded, "Why did the System strip you of levels? We have had several guests who are more than level four hundred. Why would it strip you of the power you had earned?"

Ubran gave the two of them an appraising look, casually dropping knowledge that they had had guests of such high level was an interesting move, if it was a move, but Ubran didn't think it was. He had heard of the Marla Hammersring issue that had taken place, resulting in Chairwoman Blackshale stepping down. Ubran shook his head, "The System places certain protections upon newly inducted worlds. I'm sure ye've heard of some of them. But one that is primarily enforced is that for a period of one year after mana stability is achieved, no non-native over the level of twenty may come onto the planet without express invitation of a native, or the System itself. So to bring us all here, we had to agree to have our levels scaled down. I'm level twenty-one right now, having gained a level while helpin' establish this city."

"Now then," Ubran continued, "Let me ask what it is that I really wanted to know. What do ye' want?"

"I'm sorry, I don't understand," Theo said, and Julia looked just as confused.

"People who progress as rapidly as ye' do are not passive." Ubran said, his eyes taking in Theo and Julia with a sharp focus, "More often than not, the foundin' members of a clan or family tend to be more blood thirsty than subsequent generations. I don't want to clash with ye'. I know that we just signed documents stating that we wouldn't clash, but things happen. So I ask again. What do ye' want?"

Julia had a tight smile on her face and leaned back in her chair, deciding to let Theo handle this. Theo took a long breath and let it out slowly. "Ubran, I'm going to call you Ubran. Please call me Theo. Ubran, the only thing that I have wanted since the arrival of the System is to really be left alone and to use the things that have been given to us so that we can establish a nice homestead. But that does not happen. First, we end up in a dungeon, then we fight a horde of some god that had a few too many screws loose, then a big fuck off dragon flies across the sky 'fixing' things. Now we are negotiating with your clan for water rights. None of this was planned."

Theo leaned back, rubbing his temples, suddenly very tired. "When this all started, I was on a camping trip, taking a break from reality before I had to go back to work. Now, somehow, I am on the leading edge of who knows what! You want to know what I want, and I think that I speak for Julia when I say this."

Theo sat up and locked eyes with Ubran, "I want to be left alone, I want to level up, I want to have more friends than enemies, and I want people to quit trying to walk all over Julia and I. Every time we turn around, someone else is trying to take our land. So I'll make you a deal, Ubran, you and yours abide by our agreements and don't pull any underhanded shit, and we will be your best friends, we will stand with you when you need, and help when you ask."

"And if we don't do that?" Ubran asked.

"I don't know." Theo said, "Everyone who has been higher level and power and wanted to trifle with us has failed Ubran. We have been very fortunate to make some very powerful friends. I don't know that they would avenge us, but I can assure you that I will not go quietly into the night. If you come for me and mine, you may kill us, but I will make sure that you pay an untenable price for it."

Theo stared at the Ancient Dwarf for a moment. Ubran couldn't look away; he knew on a logical level that Theo could not actually hurt him. Even at his reduced level, he still had thousands of stats from titles and items. But in that moment, Ubran wondered what levels Theo would sink to if he was pushed. Ubran stood up and stuck out a hand. "Well then, to friends old an' new, may the stones sing of yer glory."

Theo stood up and smiled, taking Ubran's hand, "May the stones sing of yours as well."

>Local Message: Universal Translation Deactivated

Ubran walked away, being joined by his guards, as Ordus and Kreldar returned, asking Theo to join them to collect the things they had purchased.