Homesteading in a fantasy world

POV adventurers

We were finally back at the headquarters, and I could finally enjoy some watered-down beer. What I didn’t enjoy was how many people were around here. It makes my skin crawl. In the few months, we were on the road, the population has tripled as refugees are coming from all corners.

I can understand why with raiders and the dead roaming the land, why wouldn’t you want to come to civilization, but I don’t have to like it.

We just finished giving all that we collected and the reports we had to the quartermaster. She had to stay behind to get our new assignment and now we’re both silently sitting in a crowded bar contemplating on why we got another shit post.

“So, we only have a week's break and we have to do the same thing all over again. Don’t they have anyone else for the shit post?”

“No Richard, apparently, they do not.”

Man, she’s even more cagey now. Couldn’t we have gotten a good posting somewhere nice, so she’s more relaxed and I had the chance to actually break that iron shell around her?

When we were kids, she used to be so outgoing and fun, but when she went to the magic school, and I joined the adventurers, we grew apart.

Now fate brought us back together, but she doesn’t see anything that doesn’t fit her worldview anymore and why does she have to be so goddamn proper all the time now?

I tried some more small talk with her and even got a few answers that weren't just one word. An improvement after the new assignment was given.

The next day, I was back down in the command room of the bar where I got an even more watered-down beer. I mean, I don’t know if they can even call it beer anymore.

She came down just before they stopped serving breakfast. At least today she seemed to be in an improved mood.

I was waiting for her to finish eating so I could bring up what we would do during the week, but three guild officers in official guild uniforms walked toward our table. I didn’t even get a chance to warn Meredith before they made it here.

“Meredith and Richard, please follow us for additional questioning about your last assignment. Do not cause any trouble.”

Well shit, that sounded official. I know better than to question them at this time, so I got up. Meredith however, could not keep her mouth shut and asked for an explanation.

“What is the meaning of this? We already gave our report, and I didn’t leave anything out.”

Don’t talk back like that and yes, she’s now in cuffs. God damnit and now they’re putting cuffs on to me. Oh, I hate the feeling of the cuffs. The slowing of energy flow is uncomfortable at best.

Luckily, it didn’t look like we were in too much trouble because as we got into the Guildhall, the cuffs were removed and we were escorted to a nice-looking interrogation room, where three people were waiting for us.

I believe one of them was a master of maps, but I didn’t recognize the other two as I looked at them. I gave a questioning look at Meredith but got a shrug in return.

So, we were both in the same boat with absolutely no clue what was happening. She tried the same question again and luckily this time the big burly man answered.

“You are here because we found a discrepancy in your report that the master of maps found and you are here for further questioning in regards to this matter.”

Before we could question any further, the master of maps started to speak.

“You were ordered to report if any territory popped up when the Kingdom fell, yet we can see from this map of the GreenWave Village and the surrounding areas that owned land was already claimed at the edge of this map.”

“This information is missing from your report. In the report, you got the map after the Kingdom had already fallen and from the map's energy signature this owned land basically popped up right after the Kingdom fell.”

The burly man continued after this.

“So, you are here because we would like an answer to why this was not reported and to get any additional information that you might have.”

He showed us the map and yes, there seemed to be an actually owned land already at the edge of the village area.

“Oh, I know what happened. I handed the map to Meredith, and she put it into the bag just before the notification so we wouldn't have seen it pop up.”

“Yes, I believe Richard is correct. We probably only missed it by a minute at most, a truly unlucky set of events. Why would we even hide this? It doesn't make any sense.”

The burly man spoke up again before anything else could be said.

“Sandra, are they speaking the truth?”

The third person, a petite-looking girl that looked to be concentrating, spoke up.

“Yes, I do not sense any falsehoods with any statements they currently made.”

I could see the burly man relax and let out a loud and heavy sigh.

“Good, good, why did we have to question you like this? It’s because you wouldn’t believe how many adventurers have abandoned their duties and went off to start their own seats of power.”

“But it looks like you guys are not cut from that cloth. I am glad to hear this, but this doesn't change the fact that we need to know more about this place and how it was possible to claim land so quickly after the fall of a Kingdom.”

I tried to think of all that I saw there, but everything looked like everywhere else, but I guess the dungeon might’ve been a bit more active, meaning there was more activity near it.

“Honestly only thing I can think is that the dungeon was a bit more active than the rest of them around a similar population size. Meaning there was some more activity around its location, but it truly was so slight that I could only notice it now looking back.”

There was another silence as the burly man waited for Meredith to speak, but like I said, there truly wasn’t anything noticeable around there. After a bit, the burly man spoke again.

“Well, that’s a bit disappointing. The map master said this territory has not expanded, but it hasn’t shrunk as well, so it might be some different kind of ownership that we are not used to.”

“But this is all then, and I apologize for the way you were brought here and to your mission, we will also add that you investigate this area when you reach it on your mission route.”

We were left there with an open door and another silence fell between us. I was actually starting to get used to that, but now I was a bit more excited about our upcoming assignment because there was at least some excitement in the middle of it.

POV rich dirt

Before I got up, I looked at all the notifications I got.

Level up homesteader

homesteader now level 2

strength +4

dexterity +4

vitality +4

endurance +2

empathy +2

intelligence +2

Level up true archer

true archer now level 2

strength +5

dexterity +5

vitality +3

perception +4

Level up heroic soldier

heroic soldier now level 2

strength +5

dexterity +3

vitality +4

constitution +4

presence +2

ability is upgraded to piercing cut level 17

ability is upgraded to silent arrow level 4

ability is upgraded to energy sight level 2

ability is upgraded to sharp blade level 5

ability is upgraded to heavy blow level 3

ability is upgraded to tactical advantage level 2

skill is upgraded to energy manipulation level 2

skill is upgraded to basic sword level 7

skill is upgraded to basic mental fortitude level 7

skill is upgraded to basic stealth level 9

skill is upgraded to basic camouflage level 5

skill is upgraded to basic battle presence level 2

That was a lot of upgrades, but it was now time to get up and start dealing with the bodies. It was another mess and as I looked towards my farm and how far it was; I started to just walk towards it.

If that blabbermouth was not making stuff up, then that truly was the boss. Then this finished my current engagement if this was the last organized group around here. Are so many dead? Did they kill off survivors in the village and the farms surrounding it? There should be more survivors.

I will need to push my sauna building back a bit and go and investigate what is happening, because if there truly wasn’t anyone around, then it would be truly sad. Because I feel that I need some better human contact, especially ones that don’t try to kill me or come to take things that don’t belong to them.

I got Frances out and hooked him up to the wheeled cart and started guiding him towards the bodies and the waiting loot. Francis wasn’t used to the smell of blood, so I had to calm him down a bit, but I’m guessing his improved intelligence helped him understand things faster.

I got quite a good haul this time, three vials of healing potion, and some survival gear. The archer even had a pouch of gold coins which if they were not valuable for buying things, then perhaps for making things.

Five pairs of boots and three pairs of gloves. The clothing I left on them because I was not that desperate. 3 one-handed swords and shields. A bad bow. At least there seemed to be good arrows.

One short sword and 3 daggers. A broken two-handed axe. It would be easy to fix, just needed a new handle, and the biggest item the chainmail.

I loaded the loot and the bodies onto the cart, making two different piles for the loot and bodies. Then we started to head back. When we made it back, the first thing I did was prepare the bodies and the pyre. I wish I had some strong spirits to send them off, but I currently didn’t have any.

It took quite a while to burn away bodies and the heat had to be strong, but a bit of tar helped make that happen. If I want to go and check out what’s happening in the surrounding region, I will need to get my bow-making and stealth to tier up just in case I get abilities that can help me survive better.

The rest of the day, I took it easy and spent it mostly with the puppies that were now starting to explore their environment. There is no way wolf puppies should look so cute, but somehow they managed to pull it off and before I knew it was time for dinner and bed.

As I was eating breakfast, I was wondering what kind of bow I will make. If I was heading towards the village and the surrounding farms then there wouldn’t be many trees but mostly open space and for that, the longbow would be better, so I guess it’s time to make another one.

Thanks to my previous knowledge of the short bow, my knowledge of using my traits and abilities helped to make this one better, and I was able to make the strongest bow I’ve ever made and shooting it would be more of a challenge.

But it wasn't overwhelmingly difficult, and I could keep going for a while shooting this one. I’m pretty sure that my strength has surpassed my ability to make bows that will match it. They are still too easy to pull, and I might need to start thinking up ways to improve bows for this fantasy world.

This thought brought me no end of joy thinking about all the things I can experiment with and with all the abilities at my deposal there are so many different things I can try. I put the finishing touches and carved in my maker's mark as I was greeted with notifications.

Skill increases basic bow making level 10 is upgraded to bow making level 1

Choose one of the following abilities

sharp knife

material sight

bow reinforcement

Sharp knife is out. I have a better version of it but the other two options were on the table. This choice is hard. What is bow reinforcement? Is it something that will make the bow stronger long-term or an active boost?

It took a bit of thinking, but I believe it's similar to the ability that the bandit boss used on his axe to make it a lot more resilient against my strike. If that is the case, I will pass and wait for a better version that is not specific to only bows.

You have gained a new ability material sight level 1