Luke sighed, his breath fogging in the cool evening air. The village sprawled before him, a haphazard collection of ramshackle huts held together by little more than hope and mud. He ran a hand through his hair—well, what passed for hair on his goblin body—and muttered, "Let's just check out the blueprint shop. Maybe there's something I can actually afford."
He glanced at the huts again, his nose wrinkling at the sight. They were little more than piles of branches lashed together with vines, their roofs sagging under the weight of dried leaves and clay. This won't last through a storm, let alone winter, he thought, his stomach tightening. He tapped the air, summoning the blueprint shop interface. The holographic screen flickered to life, its glow casting faint shadows on the ground.
Primitive Age (Prehistory - c. 3000 BCE)
Lean-to Shelter (15 TP)
Pit House (30 TP)
Basic Fire Starter Kit (24 TP)
Stone Tool Set (Axe, Scraper, Hammer) (45 TP)
Animal Trap Designs (Snare, Deadfall) (36 TP)
Pottery Kiln (60 TP)
Hand Loom (Basic Weaving) (54 TP)
Bone Needle and Awl (30 TP)
Simple Raft (45 TP)
II. Bronze Age (c. 3000 - 1200 BCE)
Bronze Sickle (75 TP)
Bronze Plow (75 TP)
Bronze Sickle and Plow Set (120 TP)
Irrigation Canal System (105 TP)
Animal Pen Designs (60 TP each)
Animal Pen Design Set (Three Designs)(150 TP)
Fruit Tree Terrace (90 TP)
Bronze Sword (90 TP)
Bronze Axe (90 TP)
Bronze Shield (90 TP)
Bronze Weapon Set (Sword, Axe, Shield) (225 TP)
Chariot Design (150 TP)
Basic Fortification (Earthworks & Palisade) (120 TP)
Bronze Furnace (135 TP)
Improved Pottery Wheel (75 TP)
Mudbrick House (105 TP)
Megalithic Structure (Basic Layout) (180 TP)
III. Iron Age (c. 1200 - 500 BCE)
Iron Plow (120 TP)
Well Design (90 TP)
Granary (150 TP)
Iron Sickle (90 TP)
Iron Scythe (90 TP)
Iron Sickle and Scythe Set (150 TP)
Iron Sword (120 TP)
Iron Spear (120 TP)
Iron Shield (120 TP)
Iron Weapon Set (Sword, Spear, Shield) (300 TP)
Ballista (180 TP)
Catapult (180 TP)
Ballista and Catapult Set (300 TP)
Stone Wall Fortification (210 TP)
Iron Forge (165 TP)
Pottery Glazing Kiln (105 TP)
Advanced Loom (120 TP)
Aqueduct System (240 TP)
IV. Early Medieval Age (c. 500 - 1000 CE)
Heavy Plow (150 TP)
Horse Harness (105 TP)
Watermill (210 TP)
Windmill (210 TP)
Watermill and Windmill Set (360 TP)
Manor Farm Layout (180 TP)
Trebuchet (240 TP)
Motte and Bailey Castle (300 TP)
Chainmail (Basic Design) (150 TP)
Romanesque Church (360 TP)
Improved Concrete and Mortar (135 TP)
Advanced Plumbing (180 TP)
Basic Castle Design (270 TP)
Luke's mind raced as he weighed his options. A lean-to shelter is easy to build, but it's cramped. A pit house… now that's more like it. Labor-intensive, sure, but it'll handle the weather better. And it's not cramped. He glanced at the goblins milling about, some gnawing on scraps of meat, others poking at the ground with sticks. They'll need proper housing if we're going to make it through anything harsher than a light drizzle.
His eyes drifted to the bone needle and awl. The females are bored out of their minds. If I can teach them to tailor clothing from the leather and fur we've got, they'll have something to do. Plus, if winter comes, we won't freeze to death. He frowned. Assuming there even is a winter here. Still, better to be prepared.
He scrolled further, pausing at the animal trap designs. Hunting's been hit or miss lately. If we can set up snares, we'll have a steadier food supply. And if I can get them started on agriculture… He shook his head. One thing at a time, Luke. One thing at a time.
With a deep breath, he selected the pit house, bone needle and awl, and the snare trap. The moment he tapped Purchase, a flood of information surged into his mind—detailed diagrams, material lists, step-by-step instructions, even historical notes on how early humans used these technologies. He staggered slightly, gripping his head as the knowledge settled.
[ Tech Points Balance: 269 - 96 = 172 TP ]
Luke slumped against a nearby tree, exhaling heavily. 172 left. A hard-earned tech points, just disappeared like a bubble.. He glanced at the goblins again, their simple faces watching him with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
"Lok okay?" one of them grunted, tilting its head like a confused dog.
"Yeah, yeah," Luke muttered, waving a hand. "Just… thinking."
The goblin nodded slowly, as if it understood, then wandered off to poke at something in the dirt. Luke couldn't help but chuckle. They're like kids. Big, ugly, smelly kids.
He pushed himself off the tree and clapped his hands, drawing the attention of the nearby goblins. "Alright, listen up! We've got work to do. Rok, Zog—gather some branches. Grut, you're with me. We're digging."
The goblins exchanged glances, then nodded. "Lok say dig, we dig," Grut said, his voice rough but earnest.
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the village as the work continued. Luke wiped the sweat from his brow, his hands caked with dirt and clay. The goblins had finally stopped digging, stepping back to admire their handiwork—a circular pit, two feet deep and wide enough to fit a small family. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Luke scanned the area, his eyes landing on four sturdy poles lying nearby. Perfect, he thought, grabbing one and dragging it over to the pit. "Grut, Rok—help me with these," he called, gesturing to the other poles. The goblins lumbered over, their faces scrunched in concentration as they followed his lead.
Together, they inserted the poles into the pit, one at each cardinal direction. Luke lashed the branches together, securing the pillars in place with crude but effective knots. The structure began to take shape, a skeletal frame rising from the earth. The goblins watched intently, their eyes wide with curiosity.
"Lok make… house?" one of them asked, tilting its head.
"Yeah," Luke said, grunting as he tightened a knot. "A better one. You'll see."
He moved on to the roof, lashing more branches from the edges of the pit to the tops of the pillars. The goblins, initially hesitant, began to mimic his actions, their clumsy hands fumbling with the materials. Luke didn't mind; they were learning, and that was what mattered.
Next, he dug a small opening in the side of the pit, creating a pathway that would serve as the door. The goblins paused in their work, their clay-covered hands stilling as they watched him. Even those who had been busy slathering mud onto their own branch-and-mud huts stopped to stare.
"Lok smart," one of them muttered, earning a few nods from the others.
Luke smirked but didn't respond. Instead, he focused on the thatch roof, weaving dried grass and leaves between the branches. The goblins joined in, their earlier hesitation replaced by a strange eagerness. They worked in silence, the only sounds the rustling of branches and the occasional grunt of effort.
By the time the afternoon sun began to dip toward the horizon, the pit house was complete. Luke stepped back, wiping his hands on his tattered pants as he surveyed their work. The structure was crude, but it was sturdy—a far cry from the flimsy huts the goblins had been living in. The thatch roof sloped gently, leaving a small opening for the door, which Luke had fashioned from more branches lashed together. A notification panel appeared.
[ You succesfully built a modified Pit House
Rewards: 50 Tech Points ]
"Alright," he said, gesturing for the goblins to follow him inside. "Let's see how it feels."
The goblins crowded into the pit house, their eyes wide with wonder. The interior was spacious, the earthen walls providing a natural insulation that made the space feel surprisingly cozy. One of the goblins let out a low whistle, while another poked at the walls, as if testing their strength.
"Lok good," Grut said, his voice filled with something akin to admiration. "House… strong. Warm."
Luke nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah. And it didn't cost us much—just some branches, clay, and a lot of sweat."
The goblins chattered among themselves, their excitement palpable. Luke leaned against the wall, watching them with a mix of pride and exhaustion. This is just the beginning, he thought. If we can build this, we can build more. Better. Stronger.
The smell of smoked meat lingered in the air as the goblins lounged around the village, their bellies full and their spirits high. Luke sat cross-legged near the fire, gnawing on a strip of boar meat. His muscles ached from the morning's labor, but the satisfaction of seeing the pit house completed made it worth it. He glanced over at the structure, now standing proudly among the ramshackle huts. Not bad for a day's work, he thought.
His moment of quiet reflection was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps. The chief approached, his massive frame casting a long shadow over the fire. The goblins around Luke immediately straightened, their chatter dying down as their leader surveyed the pit house with a critical eye.
The chief walked around the structure, his clawed fingers brushing against the thatch roof and earthen walls. He grunted, a low, rumbling sound that could have meant anything. Luke held his breath, waiting for the verdict.
Finally, the chief turned to him, his beady eyes narrowing. "Lok build this?" he asked, his voice deep and gravelly.
Luke nodded, swallowing the last bite of meat. "Yeah. It's stronger than the other huts. Better insulation, too. Won't collapse in a storm."
The chief grunted again, this time with what might have been approval. He stepped inside the pit house, ducking his head to fit through the doorway. Luke followed, watching as the chief ran a hand along the walls, testing their sturdiness. After a moment, the chief emerged, a rare smile stretching across his face.
"Good," he said simply. Then, with a wave of his hand, he barked an order to the gathered goblins. "Chief hut next. Make like Lok's. Bigger. Stronger."
The goblins erupted into a flurry of activity, chattering excitedly as they scrambled to obey. Luke couldn't help but smile. Looks like I've got my next project.
He pulled up his system interface, navigating to the blueprint creation and analysis skill. The pit house design appeared before him, and he quickly began modifying it. The chief's hut needs to be larger—much larger. One room to accommodate the whole tribe for meetings, a throne chamber to show off his authority, and a private quarters for him to retreat to.
As he worked, the goblins gathered around him, their eyes wide with curiosity. "Lok make chief hut?" one of them asked, its voice tinged with awe.
"Yeah," Luke said, not looking up from his work. "But it's going to be bigger. Better. And you're all going to help."
The goblins nodded eagerly, their excitement palpable. Luke finalized the design, the system confirming the modifications with a soft chime. He stood, brushing the dirt off his pants, and turned to the chief.
"Alright," he said, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "Here's the plan. We're going to dig a larger pit—twice as wide as the last one. We'll need more poles, more branches, and a lot more clay. Grut, Rok—you're on digging duty. Zog, gather the materials. Everyone else, start preparing the thatch for the roof."
The goblins sprang into action, their earlier lethargy replaced by a newfound energy. Luke watched them for a moment, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. They're not just following orders anymore. They're learning. Adapting.
The chief stood nearby, his arms crossed as he observed the chaos. "Lok good leader," he said, his voice low. "Chief see. Chief trust."
Luke nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thanks. But we're not done yet."
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the village buzzed with activity. The goblins worked tirelessly, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Luke moved among them, offering guidance and encouragement. The chief's hut was taking shape, its massive frame a testament to their collective effort.