Chapter 28: Flowers

Chapter 28: Flowers

It was strange returning to the Marsh Wolf Tavern after spending so many nights eating dinner in the lab. The crowds inside were more boisterous than Theo had ever seen them. They raised toasts to everyone involved and sucked down the slop that Xam served. The alchemist had to agree that the soup was better today, but his good spirits were likely the cause. He sat with Tresk, Luras, Aarok, and Perg near the window.

Theo sat with his friends, taking in the sights and sounds of an over-excited group of townspeople. He was too tired to join with them, his stamina bar almost depleted, and just sat. Broken Tusk had walls now. Thick walls that would give a small army a hard time, with ever-strengthening adventurers standing ready behind. The fortune that they poured into the project was only possible because of the adventurers themselves.

Interesting time to live in the southlands, Aarok said, smiling. Whats next for our people, alchemist?

Youre as much a leader as I am, Theo said, shrugging. I want you to decide the fate of the adventurers. I dont know a thing about adventuring or monsters.

I think Perg is onto something, Luras said, his regular somber self. We need to replace these crummy wood buildings with strong core buildings.

Perg flushed, busying herself with her soup.

Even Mianas place, the mayors house, isnt a core building, Tresk scoffed. Imagine coming here and seeing all the rotting wood. Its an awful sight, if youre used to the grandeur of the capital.

That will be expensive, Perg said, not looking up for her soup. Fenian gave me a deal on the seed core. 80 silver.

An amount youll make back in a week with Theos help, Tresk said.

Yeah. Hes a bit too sweet, that Elf, Perg said, staring off into the middle-distance.

Theo held out a calming hand. The Marshling was too excitable at the best of times, and doubly so when she was tired. Well work on production buildings first. Then, we can replace all the rickety houses. But thats a long-term plan.

Whats happening in the short-term? Aarok asked, tilting his head.

Theo had been thinking about his finances. The job for Fenian would earn him three gold coins, minimum. If he shifted into high gear, he could have the special stat potions ready for him as well. Those stat potions would earn him [Monster Cores], and lots of them. He was considering a plan that would see less profit in the short-term, but more expansion of the town and an export. The alchemist summoned his administration map of the town and traced his eyes along the northern section near the farms. The town ended where the farms did, leaving the stretch of rocky lowlands unincorporated.

An option popped up when he focused on the parcel to the north, which included most of the hills.

[Broken Tusk] can be expanded to the Northern Parcel for one gold. Funds will be removed directly from your inventory, or nearest dimensional container in your possession.

You do not possess the required funds.

The plan was simple. Hed expand the town north, establish a quarry and a stonecutter with seed cores. Theo would hire the laborers, especially the one with a [Stonecutter Core], to work the quarry and hew the stone. It was an expensive operation that might cost him all his gold coins, but it would be worth it. He was tired of using [Cleansing Scrub] every time he entered a building after trudging through the muck of the roads. The idea was to get his stonecutter good enough to export blocks, inviting bulk traders to come and whisk the heavy goods away.

Im going to fund a stonecutter, Theo said. Ill purchase the land to the north, and seed a few core buildings.

Wow. Thats bold, Tresk said.

Expanding Broken Tusk? Luras said, laughing. By the gods. This place has been the same old core town since my grandfather was here.

Theo has a habit of transforming everything he touches, Perg said. The guy just cant sit still.

Tresk giggled, finishing her soup with a loud burp.

How are the adventurers liking their wage for patrol duty? Theo asked, nodding at Aarok.

Theyre fighting for the spots, Aarok said, grunting. Five copper a day How did you manage that?

Theo averted his gaze for a moment, rolling the situation over in his head. It was incredibly easy to convince Lauris for the funds. He expected to fight for a single copper a day, but the woman offered five without hesitation. While he knew little about how kingdoms operated, the alchemist knew that when war was on the horizon, fists got tight. Qavell was swimming in coin, or he was missing something.

Keen negotiation skills, Theo said. If the system had charisma, Id be sitting at 50 points.

The group laughed, shaking their heads in disbelief.

I cant agree less, Luras said.

They stayed for some time, chatting about nonsense until dusk threatened outside. Theo was ready for bed hours ago, the excitement of the past few days getting to him. Perg pulled him aside as he went to leave, informing him that her laborers stored the days worth of reagents at her place. With the towns upgrade, he completely forgot about them and promised to pay them tomorrow and give them instructions. She agreed to send them by in the morning for instructions.

Tresk and Theo found their way back to the shop, locking it up before retreating upstairs. They both fell asleep as night settled in outside, trying and failing to keep their eyes open for even a moment longer.

Breakfast the next morning was a pleasant reprieve. Despite Theos high spirits at dinner last night, he understood with hindsight that it was awful soup. Tresk had plans to delve back into the dungeon today, driven by her desire to get more gear. The adventurers didnt need instruction anymore and would be fine to run off on their own.

Slurping the last of his tea, Theo went downstairs to wait for Pergs laborers. As he sat in the shop, twiddling his thumbs, he couldnt help but think he was stealing them from her. The only comfort he took was that she was an assertive person, and would complain if he overstepped his bounds. The laborers showed up and he invited them into the lab to deposit what theyd collected yesterday. They brought approximately 200 of each reagent, which was more than he needed for this current run.

[Alchemy Ingredient]

Common

Rose enchanted with elemental fire. Grows near sources of flame, or fire-creating material.

Properties:

[Increase Strength] ???? ????

[Flame Rose Where did you find this? Theo asked. It says it needs to be near a source of fire.

Theres a peat bog in the swamp. With the wolves under control, its pretty easy to get to now, Ziz said, grinning. Did we do good, boss?

Beyond good. This is an absurd amount of material, Theo said. He went to tell them how much money it was worth, but stopped himself. He didnt know if flaunting his potential wealth would anger people, and he wouldnt test it. Stop by the shop tomorrow morning, I need to decide if I have a new task for you.

Well, Ziz said, shuffling his feet. Miss GrottPerg Grotttold us to poke you in the butt about the tannery materials.

Right, Theo said, nodding. He accessed his memory, instantly remembering the requirements for his potions. He had plenty of [Ogre Cypress Bark] for the [Stripping Solution], but needed a lot of [Marsh Tubers] and [Swamplight Spider Silk] for the [Alchemic Tannin]. Do you remember the tubers and the spider silk?

I do, Ziz said, nodding.

Ill need as much of that as you can get tomorrow. And youre on Pergs dime for that job, Theo said, withdrawing 25 copper coins from his inventory and handing them over.

Sounds like youre trying to steal us away, Ziz said, grinning.

I am, Theo said. I doubt Perg really needs you guys anymoreno offense meant.

Nah, its true. She takes pity on us because were just laborers, Ziz said, shrugging. You replaced our jobs with alchemy. Not that I blame you.

Well, theres a few things alchemy cant solve, Theo said, chuckling. Were going to go ahead with the quarry when Fenian comes to collect his potions. You do know how to quarry and shape stone, right?

Ziz shrugged, his companions joining with him. Well enough. Give us a few weeks and well be very good at it.

Good enough for me, Theo said. Ill employ you full time when that happens. It might be at a lower rate, or a higher rate. I wont know until we get rolling.

Well, Id like to negotiate my part in that, Ziz said. Seeing as Im somehow the leader of this group of idiots.

One laborer voiced his objections to being called idiot, his complaints silenced with a stare from Ziz. Anything in mind?

Ownership of the quarry and the stonecutters shop, Ziz said.

Theo wouldnt give up full ownership of his investments so easily. Hed be lucky if the seeds for the two core buildings cost anything less than a gold coin. The alchemist had a mind for charity with the people of Broken Tusk, but this was asking too much. He pushed his anger at the outrageous request down, his mind snapping back to his negotiating tactic. Aim high, and settle for the middle-ground.

You get the land on a lease, paid for with your work, Theo said. You start at zero percent, and work your way up to full ownership.

Zizs eyes brightened, and Theo knew that the man was aiming for far less. Theyre going to be core buildings, arent they?

A grin spread across Theos face. With any luck.

Ziz reached his hand out, shaking Theos with a broad smile on his face. We live and die by our success. I like it.

Ill figure out a way to make the arrangement official, Theo said.

The laborers departed in better spirits than they arrived. Theo inspected the storage crate again. The reagents they brought him were worth a gold coin, according to Fenians deal. A half days work for years worth of wages, by Broken Tusk standards. The entire situation seemed too absurd for him to understand. Tresk arrived shortly after they departed with Aarok and Luras close behind.

Aarok has invited us over for dinner, Tresk said, pressing her forehead against Theos. I accepted for you.

Well, I took a [Lesser Stamina Potion] earlier. Drop your motes off in the lab before we goand use a [Cleansing Scrub]. You smell like the swamp, Theo said.

Tresk giggled, running upstairs to deposit her haul before returning.

Lets go!