As the sun cast a warm golden glow over the landscape, Thaddeus found solace in his woodshop. The rich tapestry of autumn leaves painted the surroundings in vivid reds and oranges, creating a breathtaking backdrop for the scene. Through the open windows of the woodshop, the gentle breeze carried with it the earthy scent of fallen leaves, mingling with the comforting aroma of sawdust.
From his vantage point overlooking the workspace, Thaddeus felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. His settlements were expanding, his relationship with Sabrina was in a good place, and his boredom was replaced with constant crafting.
He enjoyed observing his apprentices engrossed in their tasks. The rhythmic sounds of hammers striking wood, the measured sawing, and the occasional laughter filled the air, creating a harmonious symphony of craftsmanship.
The civil war and capital politics were not far from his mind. He could now spend the rest of his time, the way he originally planned, a slow, peaceful, life in the prairie. He enjoyed waking up next to Sabrina, eating meals together, and their conversations. He also enjoyed checking in with his villagers, the mayor, and the Town Council. But what he enjoyed most, were the times in between, where he sat on a sturdy wooden stool, his roughened hands gently cradling a piece of polished oak.
Crafting was relaxing, meditative even. It brought him peace of mind, and a sense of pride seeing the finished piece. Everything was going so well; Thaddeus was sure life couldn't get any better.
But his thoughts were interrupted by Captain Joseph who swung open the workshop door starting the concentrating apprentices.
"Baron von Brown, the Town Council requests your presence. High ranking Travelers have arrived requesting to speak with you, and they are quite strong, sir," Captain Joseph said looking quite nervous.
'Strong?' Thaddeus thought to himself what that meant. 'Captain Joseph was Level 70, Andrea was Level 104, and Sergeant Ulysses was Level 112, I wonder what level they are?'
Thaddeus followed behind Captain Joseph, 10 city guards, and shortly after Sergeant Ulysses and his 10 palace knights joined. Turning around, Thaddeus was impressed by the sight of guards and knights following behind him.
As he walked the townsfolk made two columns along the cobblestone street to let him pass. Walking passed them, the townsfolk bowed or curtsied respectfully.
When he reached the main gate, he saw 24 Mythical Guild members, one of whom was the fierce-looking Freya waiting for him.
"Good, see you again Freya, we met at the auction, I am Thaddeus lord of this settlement, what can I do for you?" Thaddeus asked quizzically.
"We're here to investigate dragon. You need to point us in the direction or give us a guide," Freya demanded.
"I thought you led the main raid party; I did not expect someone as prominent as you to come?" Thaddeus in surprise.
"You intend to question me?" Freya asked sternly, staring angrily at him while holding a gigantic fireball. The fireball was easily large enough to destroy half of Old Town.
"I apologize," Thaddues said waving his hands in surrender.
He finally understood, what people meant when they said Freya was psychotic. It didn't take much to anger her. And angering her meant angering a Level 86 pyromancer and her 23 guild members. And that was only their levels, who knew what secret artifacts they made have with them? No wonder, Captain Joseph said they were strong.
"A lowly contractor should not question a Vice Guild Master!" shouted another guild member angrily.
"Again, I apologize. Can I offer you a meal?" Thaddeus offered his hands still up in surrender.
"If we wanted a meal, we just raid your village?" the guild member laughed.
"Enough, Thor!" Freya shouted. "Just give us mana stones as an apology and guide and we'll be on our way!"
'Fucking robbery,' Thaddeus thought, handing over 24 mana stones.
"Is Hunter here?" Thaddues called out.
"I'm here Baron Brown," the shadowy man called out.
"Take them to the dragon mountains," Thaddeus ordered, before whispering, "Take them out the South Gate by the Adventurer Guild."
"Yes, sire," Hunter said.
"Before we go, Odin is a man who keeps his promises. We also brought some NPCs to make the warp gate to Pine Grove. Just tell them where you want the gate and they'll do the rest," Freya advised after storing the mana stones.
"Please give Odin my gratitude," Thaddeus agreed as he thought about the time Odin gave him 200 sick residents as part of their contract agreement.
Hearing him praise Odin, Freya smiled for the first time. However, her smile only lasted a minute, before she and her party left with Hunter.
"Whew," Captain Joseph let out. He had been holding his breath nearly the entire time. Something about the women in black scared him.
But he wasn't the other only. Others feared Freya and her party as well. The entire party's level was in the 80s, and their leader was unpredictable. If they had gotten into a fight, there was no doubt in anyone's mind who would have one. Mythical Guild was the number one guild for a reason. Their members routinely ranked atop the leaderboards.
With them gone, Thaddeus turned his attention to the NPCs who looked equally as relieved to see the investigation party leave.
Turning his attention to the NPCs, Thaddeus offered a reassuring smile, a silent acknowledgment of their resilience, and said, "Why don't we chat over a meal."
In the tavern, Phoebe served Thaddeus and the gathered NPCs an early lunch. The hearty stew, freshly baked bread, and cold beer created a comforting backdrop for their discussions. As they settled around a large table, Thaddeus noticed the relief in the NPCs' expressions, a shared sense of tranquility now that the formidable guild members had departed. Their gratitude was evident in their gazes as they regarded him with a mixture of respect and appreciation.
"Thank you, Baron Brown, for your grace. I am Lawrence, the lead Jump Gate Engineer," one of the NPCs began, breaking the silence. "The journey with those Travelers was... intense. They cared neither for law nor decency. Every day with them was maddening, we felt hostage."
Thaddeus nodded, a reassuring smile on his lips. "I promise you; you're safe here. While you work on the jump gate, we'll shelter you. We have plenty of housing, and I know Phoebe and Phillip will be happy to feed you."
"Baron Brown, we are thankful for your warm hospitality and the temporary housing. We will surely spread the news of your benevolence," Lawrence said thankfully as the other NPCS nodded in agreement.
As the pleasantries continued, Thaddeus's gaze wandered toward the tavern's entrance. Sabrina stood there, with a worried smile. Thaddeus smiled back, wanting to let her know everything was fine now.
"Excuse me for a moment," Thaddeus said to the NPCs, rising from his seat. He crossed the room to Sabrina, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange that spoke volumes. She stepped forward, and they shared a tender embrace.
"I saw the Mythical Guild leave," Sabrina said softly, her voice a soothing melody. "Are you alright?"
Thaddeus nodded, his hand finding hers. "Yeah, I'm fine. It was... an interesting encounter, to say the least."
Sabrina smiled; her eyes filled with understanding. "I wasn't worried, I just wanted to check in on you."
Hand in hand, they returned to the table, rejoining the NPCs who greeted Sabrina warmly.
"So, Pine Grove will soon be connected to Woodhaerst via a jump gate. Shorting the distance between us to day journey. This will be a huge step forward for Woodhaerst and Ironwood," Thaddeus began, breaking the bread and taking a small bite. "I'm interested in your expertise on where best to place the gate."
The NPCs exchanged glances, and then one, a seasoned engineer named Gareth, spoke up, "Your land, Baron Brown, is rich and expansive. We believe placing it on the adjacent hill is the most convenient and for better security. The gate will be far, but not too far, anyone exiting or entering the gate will be spotted by your guards."
Murmurs of agreement filled the room. It was a logical decision, beneficial both for commerce and for maintaining a capable militia.
"Fine, we've agreed," Thaddeus concluded, raising his glass of dwarven beer for a toast. "To the ties that bind us."
Glasses clinked in agreement, echoing warmly through the tavern.
As dawn broke the next day, Thaddeus found himself standing at the hill, a half mile from his walled city, where the jump gate would be erected. Lawrence, Gareth, and the other engineers arrived with covered wagons behind them.
From yesterday's conversation, Thaddeus knew those wagons carried polished basalt blocks, gleaming dark and almost reflective in the morning light. Stacks of netherite ingots lay alongside, their metallic surface capturing hues of purples and blues, contrasting starkly with the basalt. Both stone and ore were found deep inside dormant volcanos and immune to magma. While basalt was known for being durable and compatible with nephrite, a magical ore known for its ability to store mana.
Lawrence pulled out a blueprint, laying it across a makeshift table, Thaddeus loaned. "As you can see, Baron Brown, this is the standard warp portal designed. While we may colloquially call it a jump gate, it really should be called a warp portal."
"It'll be both sturdy and resistant to any magical interference, only needing upkeep every 100 years," added Gareth.
"I trust your judgment entirely," replied Thaddeus.
The engineers got to work, laying down the basalt blocks with precision to form the semi-circle frame of the gate. Every piece fits perfectly, like an elaborate jigsaw puzzle. Once the base was complete, netherite was carefully integrated into the structure, filling the inside of the semi-circle. The black basalt outline and purple netherite center gave the arched an otherworldly look.
"Now for the magic," Lawrence announced, taking a deep breath as he reached into a small chest, pulling out radiant mana stones.
Holding the mana stone up, Gareth chanted incantations. As he spoke, intricate runes formed in the air, glowing softly before embedding themselves into the basalt and netherite structure. He placed the mana stone in a specially crafted hollow at the center of the arch, where the basalt and netherite met. As he did, the entire structure seemed to hum softly, as if awakening from a long slumber.
"Finally, a protective incantation," Lawrence said, his eyes focused intently on the shimmering mana stone. More runes appeared, this time swirling around the stone, each merging into it as Lawrence recited the final words of the spell.
The moment the last rune melded into the mana stone, a pulse of energy burst forth, causing the ground to tremor ever so slightly. The air around the gate seemed to warp for a moment, before stabilizing. A translucent veil appeared, filling the arch, signaling that the warp portal was now active.
"There you have it, Baron Brown," Lawrence said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "The warp portal to Pine Grove is operational. It's been set to only allow those you designate, and it has layers of security spells to prevent unauthorized use."
Thaddeus nodded, unable to hide the awe on his face. "Thank you, Lawrence, Gareth, and everyone involved. This will be invaluable for Woodhaerst and Ironwood."
Gareth chuckled. "We're glad to be of service, Baron. It was an honor crafting something of such importance for your lands."
Thaddeus turned to look back towards Woodhaerst, picturing the future, and the possibilities this new portal would bring. He saw trade flourishing, families reuniting, and his own dreams materializing in new, previously unimaginable ways.
"Come," he said, gesturing for the engineers to follow him. "Let's head back. I believe a celebratory feast is in order."
As they walked back to Woodhaerst, the jump gate started to light up, and a man walked out.
Looking around, the man noticed Thaddeus and the NPC engineers. He walked up to them and asked, "Are y'all heading to Woodhaerst too, mind if I tag alone," in a deep southern drawl.