Conquering new earth a l.., p.19
Conquering New Earth: A LitRPG Progression Fantasy, page 19
“Yes and no. The way advanced magic works is you hit milestones in one, not both. So, if you picked agency, then picked necromancer, you don’t get to become all-powerful in both. You abandon leveling one for the other. However, you have hit level twenty-five in summoner level, as well, and that means you’ve unlocked another slot for an active summons,” Kendra informed me.
“Poor Kibbie.”
“Fret not. When she returns, she’ll be a queen-sized flameweaver. Add a few more levels and she’ll come with a friend, assuming you can afford the upgrade,” Kendra said in a positive tone.
“Excuse me?” I asked in confusion. “Afford the upgrade?”
The screen flashed, clearing the submenu I had navigated before she arrived. A new menu appeared.
Outpost
Settlement
Village
Fort
Town
Castle
City
Bastion
“Oh, are these Lanti levels Lanti can achieve?” I asked.
The screen flared green. A second later, it changed again.
Basic
Rare
Epic
Mythic
Legendary
Divine
I furled my brows at this one. “Okay, I get it, but I don’t. Why show me these screens?”
“When an outpost reaches a halfway point to settlement, silver unlocks. Lanti will be at the halfway point by the time you leave this room. There’s a reason for this. To finish the transition from outpost to settlement, you need the silver pail upgrade for the well. To attain that, you need ten thousand silver coins.”
“Oh, slam!” I blurted. Kendra groaned, and I giggled. “What? I figured it out. I think. The silver is gained by adventuring. To prevent too much silver and for it to have no value, you create a sink for the coins by making everything cost silver to upgrade. I assume, based on your earlier comment, for Kibbie to upgrade to two flameweavers, she needs silver?”
“Yes. Absolutely. After today, silver will start to spawn for you and your neighboring outposts, and Lanti will become the regional capital. Note, not the cluster capital. There’s another outpost ahead of yours in this section of the world. However, all your neighbors within five days will receive a notice that Lanti has unlocked silver for the Lanti Region. Trading can now begin in earnest,” Kendra’s voice was positive about the change.
I allowed her word to process before replying. “How does this apply to gear?”
“Kibbie and Scarlett are yours to upgrade. They only need their summoner and silver. For your rapier to have extra sharpness at the rare level, you need to go to a smithy with the rare smithing skill unlocked. The grind has arrived. You’ve probably already noticed the decreased gains in leveling, and now you need to earn silver on top of everything else,” Kendra said, showing me the rapier at a rare level.
I’d need ten thousand silver and six rare parts to go with the weapon. If upgraded, it’d become sharp enough to cut through bone and most leather armor. I grinned, not letting the grind factor get me down. It became more than clear that I’d be fighting a lot while on New Earth.
“Excellent. Okay, you're a carrot instead of a stick at this point. You want us to turn killing into what? Something mundane?” I asked.
“More or less. The rare items for crafting, building, leveling, and such will start to be needed in a few months. You can get them now, in preparation. Those who do will be in a better position than those who wait. Soon, you’ll need metal for door hinges because magic won’t make them for you. You’ll need a sawmill to actually cut planks, because the loot boxes will reward raw logs instead of refined puzzle planks, as we like to call them. Work. It all takes work. It’s still better to open a loot box and earn a log than it is to drag one in,” Kendra said.
I danced my fingers over the desk. “I think I understand. You want us fully employed and busy. That keeps us motivated for the next upgrade that’s just within reach. Meanwhile, as we get homes and basic necessities met, we begin to produce the next generation.”
“That is already happening. So, yes, your assessment is correct. Expect the next few years to bring change, but not substantial change. Turning Lanti into a bastion is estimated to take a thousand years with everything going perfectly, so temper expectations and realize that front-loading only goes so far.”
There wasn’t much to say in reply at this point. Kendra laid out most of this in a way that was easy to understand. Lanti would continue to grow as the regional powerhouse. We’d work to make a better home while adventuring to make that happen. Along the way, we’d need silver and….
“So, Malcolm and his kit, the minx. Will they need silver to level up?”
“Eventually. Malcolm will reach level twenty-five on farming and be given the opportunity to bless his harvest to increase the bounty. To unlock that spell, he’ll need silver. Same with you and your engineering. If you keep building roads and constructing structures, you will reach twenty-five in engineering and unlock a catapult. This will require silver, and the machining will require metal. If you want to out-range your enemies, put in the effort,” Kendra said.
“And the mine that we can conquer. If I defeat it, will we be able to unlock a smithy early?” I asked.
“You can earn rewards for certain achievements and outstanding performances, which you have for defeating Tetra Ogreking. The mine is a fantastic resource, and I highly recommend you tackle any adventure offered. However, your days of special treatment from us are at an end after today. I can give you a hint: Everyone will need metal; but there are only so many mines in this region,” Kendra said in a way that reminded me of how humans talked to well-behaved dogs.
“Okay, and this reward for killing Tetra?” I asked, already concluding we’d need to conquer and control the mine.
You have defeated Tetra Ogreking in a manner which the SaLeen have deemed worthy of a reward. This will consume your Epic Loot Box. You may pick one of three options.
Lanti Outpost adds a bakery. This structure includes a grinding station, cleaning station, prepping station, and an oven big enough to facilitate feeding a thousand.
Lanti Outpost adds a river bathhouse. This structure includes twenty toilet stations, ten shower stations, three stone bathing pools above fire pits for heating, and a washing station for clothing as well as gear.
Lanti Outpost adds a barracks. This structure includes sleeping stations for fifty, an archery range, a sparring pit, a meeting room, and a weapons storage room.
“Oh, sweet momma,” I muttered. “I take it none of these buildings are meant for an outpost?”
Kendra replied, “Correct. You are getting one of these options well in advance of other nearby cities.”
“Oh, come on! How can I be in charge of decisions like this?”
“You are the General,” Kendra replied in a dumbfounded way.
“That was a rhetorical question.” I held up a finger. “No need to sass me. I select the bathhouse.”
“By Odin’s sweaty balls, you gotta be kidding me,” Kendra blurted.
I raised an eyebrow. “Study our mythology much?”
“Yes! Of course, we live for the written word. I bet everything you’d pick the blighted barracks. The odds had you selecting the barracks at over eighty percent!” Kendra fumed.
I grew a bit concerned at this point. Her legitimate anger caused her to hyperventilate through the speaker. A soft laughter tried to ease the pain.
“Kendra, accept my apology. I do want to go with the bathhouse, and I understand this has upset you,” I said.
Kendra didn’t answer.
“Hello.”
Nothing.
“You okay?”
Neil cleared his throat. “You wonderful hairless ape. Oh, by the great Creator I could bless you with a mechanical foot of wonder if only the brutes in charge would let me. I called it! I knew it all along. Now please, for all the shocked viewers who are paying out my rather sizable wager, why not the barracks?”
This let me know the SaLeen gambled. If there was gambling, there were always odd and options to win favor. In a way, I should have seen this coming.
“Uh, I’ll start with the bakery. I saw it on the building list for the outpost. Sure, the variation was different, and there weren't all the cool side options, but that tossed it out the window. We’re eating just fine without a bakery, and one will be completed soon,” I said.
Neil groaned. “Yes, yes. You sound like a stalling product placement for the instant bakery you don’t want. Why not the barracks!” His rushed tone told it all.
I clued in that I really was being watched by a bunch of cyborg whales. “The barracks is great, and we need housing as well as training areas. We need a meeting room and a place to quickly store our items for war. Everything about the barracks tells me it will instantly help Outpost Lanti become stronger right away.”
I paused, sucking in a breath for effect. “This isn’t about building a better army today, it's about a better army tomorrow. The bathhouse is probably a village-level, if not fort-level upgrade. Once it’s added to our outpost, it’ll instantly draw in the other outposts. I wouldn’t be shocked if, by this time next month, we’re at twice our population, with extra traders coming just to pay silver to use our bathhouse. I can drill those new recruits in open fields, set up archery targets, and have them sleep where they can fit. Even if it’s the mud, they won’t care because there’s a fresh shower and shitter here.”
“So, what you're saying is what I wrote earlier: It’s about a morale boost and recruitment.”
“Huh? Where did you write that?” I asked.
“On the betting bulletin is the best way to translate it.”
Neil is full of helpful tidbits today.
“In that case, Neil was precisely correct, and not because I’m trying to bribe him. He clearly stated he has rules and limits he can’t supersede because he is the thinking class of your society,” I said, wondering how this would go over.
“Fair, a fair assessment from a mundane subspecies. I’ll allow it. Revel in your victory and your bathhouse. Expect Kendra to be upset; so, here are your next summon options,” Neil said, dropping six scrolls out of the display. The rolled pieces of parchment scattered on the desk in a messy heap. “Upgrade your attributes, then select your reward. Goodbye for now.”
His voice faded, and the screen changed.
You have eight attribute points to assign.
I thought over my options on the return trip, already having an idea of what I’d pick. My body was in great shape from the recent point additions. With my new foot, I could do so much more but still be limited from a missing left limb. I relied on my summons, and up to that point, Kibbie hadn’t overused my mana pool, but she had come close both times.
Laura of Lanti.
Level: 25
Mana: 310
Mana Regeneration: 10 per hour
Class: Summoner
Class Level: 25
Summon Allowance: 3
Summoners Assigned: Scarlett (Battle Mount), Kibbles (Offensive), Unassigned
Skill: Engineer
Skill Level: 6
Strength: 17
Agility: 13
Endurance: 10
Dexterity: 17
Luck: 6
Cultivation: 15
Intelligence: 48
Three points into Intelligence and five into Cultivation. I rotated back and forth on this decision far more than I should have. Kibbie, while great, came with an issue. If I summoned her, she consumed fifty mana. That used to take five hours to recharge. She lasted a full ten hours, so if I wanted to be at max mana when we fought, we twiddled our thumbs for five hours, and her active time became cut in half.
When I added in the eighty-five mana Scarlett consumed to summon, I’d never have a full mana pool for any fight, ever, if I used them both. That could be changed by adding more to my cultivation stat. This didn’t fully fix the problem, but a fifty-percent boost to my mana regeneration was huge.
I added three points into intelligence and figured I’d try to focus on my magical stats going forward now that I felt useful as a warrior. I wasn’t sure what the others would think about it, but I was happy with my decisions.
With one last thing to do, I scooped up the six scrolls, tucked them in my satchel, and hurried out of the station to make my decision while soaking in a warm bath.
I SELECT YOU!
Lanti Station - Day 15 Post-Calamity
“This is amazing!” Tiffany said, tilting her head back.
The steamy water of the bath wafted into the enclosed space. Wooden walls dripped droplets, and I gulped down water to stay hydrated. Lana, Tiffany, and I soaked in the warm waters with flower petals sprinkled into the small pool. To say the upgrade was a shock would be an understatement. The two-hundred-plus people, most of them drenched in sweat from the return trip from the battle, rushed to see the new bathhouse over the river.
I waltzed by them all like I owned the place and promptly flipped the sign to room two as occupied. A few minutes later, the cool water began to heat as a fire mage warmed the stones under the slate bottom of the spa. Others asked for invites, but the tub wasn’t really big enough to fit more people.
“Laura?” Malcolm asked from the other side of the door.
I peeled my eyes open with a disgruntled sigh. “Yes?”
“Is this permanent?”
“Indeed,” I replied.
“It's a fort-level upgrade! How’d you swing it, and what’s the cost?”
“Letting me be the General was how we earned it, and the cost was the epic loot box. They did mention to not expect this kinda thing again,” I said, and he grunted in reply. “And Malcolm, you’re welcome.”
His shuffling feet cast shadows into the candle-lit room. “Anything else I need to know? This is kinda a big deal.”
“Silver is unlocked, but I’m sure you know that by now. We need that, Malcolm. Top priority is to earn silver and sell it immediately for items. I’m talking about the rare items that individuals have no use for. Someone else will need to manage acquisitions, though. I’m leaving in the morning and can handle building my own team,” I said, waiting for his response.
“Okay. I think I know who to assign. Kirk was a pawnshop owner, and his team leader, Ariana, was a tax accountant. Anyway, I’m not alone; Brianna was wondering if she could wash your clothes as thanks,” Malcolm said.
Lana raised herself out of the water, scooped our clothes up until she could barely hold them all, and headed to the nearby door. She tapped the door with her heel. Lana didn’t mind being nude with us, but as the door opened, she hid behind the frame. Feminine hands reached in to secure our nasty gear, and the door shut a moment later.
“Hand me the satchel while you’re up?” I asked nicely.
Malcolm cleared his throat and said, “Laura, thank you. Again.”
“Thanks for taking the shitty job of being the mayor. Now, if you’ll excuse us,” I said, giving him the cue.
He understood, telling people to hurry their showers because the line was long. Lana set my satchel down beside me before sliding back into the warm water with a groan. I smiled, slowly opening the clasps to my carrier.
“This is going to be the best recruitment tool in existence,” Tiffany said.
“Seeing as how there are more women to men, yeah, for sure. Plus, I won’t have to see some guy pooping in the trees where he shouldn’t be,” Lana said.
“Wait, what?” I replied.
“The old holes were far away, and you still had to squat. Now we have the toilets for pooping, and the long showers for the men to…” Lana teased with a giggle. “Hey, hey. I got a mom joke. What's the difference between snow and me?”
Tiffany snorted, instantly recognizing the joke. I did not, so I asked, “What?”
“The snow is getting plowed,” Lana said with bouncing eyebrows.
I groaned with a headshake.
“Wait, I got another. This one took me four hours to come up with while we journeyed back from the orc fight. Ready?” Lana asked, and we smirked with nods. “Why do older women own a lot of dogs?”
I tilted my head in confusion. “Uh, how is this a mom joke?”
“Don’t ruin it. Why do older women own a lot of dogs?” Tiffany asked again.
Lana’s barely contained laughter calmed so she could deliver the punch line. “Because they have many paws.”
I giggled with a head shake at the play on words. We sat there laughing it up for a good few minutes before we all sighed to clear the conversation.
“Speaking of which, how’s your love life going?” Tiffany asked.
Lana shushed her. She glanced at the door and shrugged. “I’m keeping myself guarded. It’s only been fifteen days, and I figure Laura is right, rushing into things may do more harm than good.”
“There are going to be trade runs soon. Hopefully, I can get to learn about the other outposts and the people inside them,” I said with a grin.
“It seems like the SaLeen told you something special. Do share,” Tiffany requested.
“Yes, do share,” Lana teased with batting eyelashes.
“You’re just happy we shifted the conversation.” Lana smirked at my comment. “I don’t think everyone is using survivalist loot piling. I checked the regional market; there’s everything for sale. As in, I can venture four days away and buy a dog summons for twenty rabbits. Notice how they’re asking for rabbits. That’s because it’s someone fending for themselves, not a community.”
“Yeah, I noticed the planks for sale in small numbers, and it made sense to me as well,” Tiffany said. “A shame, really, but I bet planks are worth a lot, the longer we go. I personally like our style, but trading opens options.”
Lana shimmied to become extra comfortable. “Count me in on a road trip for trading. I need to pick up new spells, and it seems Malcolm is assigning ours out as soon as they come in on a fair basis. Plus, taxing is bound to come. Best to increase silver now.”
