A long bath helped, but afterwards, as I made my way down to dinner, every step was a painful one. My muscles were already stiffening. It would be even worse in the morning. Still, I was determined. And that encounter with the ambassador of Southway just made me even more so.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Do4OixGPO
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A long, polished wooden table had been laid out with what looked like a banquet to me, despite my instructions. Silver candelabra held our source of light, light which glittered off a wide array of polished trays and bowls. There were grapes; cherries, apples and peaches stacked high; there were at least four kinds of fish, filleted and laid out with herbs and lemon on trays decorated with fishing net designs; bowls of peas, green beans, tomatoes and carrots were full to the brim, at least four different kinds of bread had been prepared, with slices and rolls displayed on yet more silver trays; while goblets of cut glass sparkled, ready to receive wine from a choice of six decanters.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS88G7wXNmj
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The table was laid for four people but the placings were spaced so far apart that it was like a socially distanced event during the COVID pandemic back home. Much to the consternation of a servant who was standing by the wall and hurriedly came over to help, I started re-arranging the plates and cutlery, bringing all the places up to the top end.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStppZF2xRx
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No sooner than I'd taken my own seat, than Lord Arval, my Paladin General came in with a brisk march. Even for dinner, it seemed, he wore his chainmail and carried his sword. With a gesture that was nearly a smile, he took the seat to my right after I pointed to it.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixEVagDAc2
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'I heard about your training today sire. It gave encouragement to the troops.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGTCvJBPfC
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'There's a long way to go.' I glanced at my fleshy arms, so different to my previous body.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFwyV8drib
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'I also heard that you scorned the ambassador of Southway.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCCzuAXm1r
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'Oh did you? What did your sources say, exactly?'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBl9xILbLm
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'That you were offered wine and women for the rest of your life if you'd do the bidding of their king and you refused, telling him that it was him who would be grovelling in chains before you.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xZgbl03Rx
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'Did I though?' I laughed. 'The story has grown. Good. They have the spirit right at least. That guy was so smug, I wanted to punch him in the face.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRFF93BRWy
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We were interrupted by the arrival of Chancellor Parrin and the sorceress Carlena. Although they were not arm in arm, there was something about them that suggested to me they might be a couple. They were the right ages – she with silver hair and he with the grey and sliver of his beard – and they moved towards me with an ease in each other's company.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJRYjPakbR
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'Another innovation I see,' said the Chancellor with a glance at the place settings and then at the servants. I got the message: careful, go easy on the changes.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8MYj3q4G4
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I repeated my story of meeting the ambassador of Southway, to the approval of Parrin and Carlena but they were surprisingly taciturn. Only when we had eaten did Carlena lean towards me, so that I caught the full intensity of her stunning purple eyes, and whisper, 'send the servants away please, so we can talk properly.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID1kyT6bTB
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I nodded. And after the next time my glass was refilled, I slapped the table with my heavy palm (it was effective for that at least). 'Out! Servants out and don't disturb us until you are called for.' I spoke with unnecessary volume as they jumped to respond.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5UdrC9g5s
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'Spoken like the old Carlos,' said Parrin with a smile when we had the room to ourselves.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3vu4y88Va
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The two of them then began an interrogation that would have never have been allowed by the previous king. What was I researching? What was I building? How would we cope with the loss of our grain-generating lands? What other information was in the menus? On the whole they were cautiously positive about my decisions and plans. At least, they didn't propose I make any changes to it. I was warned that my popularity, already very low, would drop further if we did start trading iron to the necromancer king, but they could see the necessity of this.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8GahBb7wQ
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By the end of their questions, I was totally clear about one thing. Carlena, Parrin and (to a lesser extent) Lord Arval saw me as their instrument. I was accountable to them and had to take their instruction. In business terms, this was a board meeting and I was the CEO, not a king with absolute power. This didn't upset me. I could totally see their point of view: the kingdom was on the ropes and everything they owned, including their lives, was in jeopardy. They couldn't afford any mistakes from me. Also, while I quite enjoyed the authority of being king and the way all the people were quick to obey me, I didn't like the barrier that the role created. At least here, with these three, I could be myself.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVt6WRD2jk
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'I have a question about the menus,' I looked from one to the other. 'How is it there are so few people on them compared to the size of Carrick?'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSLUXcGRXq
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It was Carlena who answered. 'I believe the numbers allowed on the menu are capped in some way by the overall happiness of the realm. Most of our citizens would join the menus if allowed, wanting Miya to triumph and not wishing to be conquered. You should try to facilitate them.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtdW42DvPI
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That made sense and exporing how to raise happiness was yet another goal for me to add to the 'to do' list.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ayQC8Yn2c
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'How goes your personal progress?' asked Parrin.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoaf67z43O
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'I don't know yet.' I patted the rolls of stomach fat that were resting on the table top. 'I've made a start on shedding these. But I haven't seen any change to my character sheet yet.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwqvrxxBNs
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Carlena frowned. 'What level Fighter are you?'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xMhrxxCCa
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'I'm not even a Fighter yet,' I confessed. 'In fact I was thinking my character sheet meant I should be a Sorcerer or Cleric.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV84FsL1Cp
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All three of them turned pale faces towards me, eyes glistening in the candlelight.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4GhME9Ngl
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'Oh no,' said Carlena. 'Not a Sorcerer. You won't have any spells. To obtain spells you have to build a scriptorium of the spell level and then research them, getting a random result It would take you forever. And it's not what we need on the battlefield.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U6IKeQlcE
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'I believe King Wace is level twelve,' muttered the Chancellor pointedly. 'And Queen Rorgesta of Trolland is eleven at least.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvAB464dIX
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I caught the Scout's eyes and said, 'I'll start levelling up soon. But with my current stats, I'd be a hopeless warrior of any sort. I have to find out can I improve my Strength before starting my personal progression as a fighter. Really, I should be a caster: a mage or cleric. And I also need to know how to level. Do I fight monsters? Complete quests?'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4bMt4lnJS
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'I suppose you are right to wait,' Lord Arval spoke after a short interval. 'But every day that you are not progressing is a day more for them to get ahead. You could easily reach level two or even three by performing task quests in the town itself.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTwy09FPRq
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'And we can bring you to areas nearby where there are monsters you can fight and kill for experience,' offered Lord Parrin.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiyOQba2vI
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That sounded promising and exactly like the RPGs I was used to.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4DmO7AOao
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I took a deep breath. 'I will progress soon then. For now though, my body is a mass of aches and pain. I can barely lift this fork with my left hand, my shoulder is so sore. There's nothing more I could have done today to advance this body towards where it should be.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWc1bW3W4M
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'True.' Lord Arval nodded. 'Don't push so hard you damage yourself.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaCe66lKDO
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'We need time. Time to fix the kingdom's economy and time for me to level up.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRmTw3BM99
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'Indeed. And in that light, provoking the king of Southway might not have been wise.' Carlena spoke tentatively, as if exploring the idea.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8li6964Jq3
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'Sean was right to refute him so publicly and so firmly,' Arval came in, 'the message to the soldiers and people was clear. We will endure.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpVNsyMmro
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Chancellor Parrin nodded. 'I think so too. But still, there is a real danger of the two armies continuing their advance together and overcoming our defences.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrfYyJFQaJ
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'Speaking of which, I'd like to see them. We have a fort at the head of the valley that leads here, right? I might be able to upgrade it.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tWdOvZXcR
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'You can't get there, it is thirty miles away and no horse can carry you.' It was Arval who made this depressing, if practical, point.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpEvHZ3LXR
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'I can show you on the map at least,' offering Parrin, 'and you should be able to find a menu for it. It's called Three-Ways Fort.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAerOz1MkOC
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'I'll check later. And if it's all right with you, I'll move any remaining troops from here down to it, including the new archers.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhBhxTmcpJ
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Everyone greeted my proposal with approval.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKeeIbSNrw
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I had been thinking about Carlena's point about unnecessarily provoking King Wace. 'Could we maybe divide them? By talking with Queen Rorg… whatever … the Trolland queen. By suggesting that we might be willing to be a protectorate under her?'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ5wNiMVNM
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'Perhaps,' the Chancellor nodded. 'It would be a mission for Figus.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFQ1hDwvEl
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'When he gets back,' I said.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHbDrEcjJ1
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'When he gets back,' Parrin repeated.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55oa53eJPI
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'In the meantime, I think you need to go down to the lowlands and monitor the enemy's movements, to give us notice if they are advancing.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Th6zLA1Ie
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'Me?' Parrin looked surprised. 'We have scouts, of course.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ4z28v9fm
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'Yes, but they are all level zero, right? Whereas you are level nine.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxBUSQIpId
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'It's been a while since I dusted off my scout skills, but you know what, I'll do it!' Parrin rubbed his beard around his mouth, where a smile was forming. 'I'll set out in the morning.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4WzGB6WNP
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'Just don't take any risks.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaugNUKz1v5
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When our strategizing was at an end, Lord Arval called the servants back in and we resumed a more formal tone, until I was ready for my bed. Well, not quite ready.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcZwNzsBD6
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'Can the king ask for a massage?' I leaned in towards the General.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxxJG1WxAf
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'Of course. I'll send someone.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL3tvaMML2
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'Good, I'll go on up to my bed.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlKNRdtfgm
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It was an effort, I was almost tempted to ask for help and a push, but my groaning legs carried me up two flights of stairs until I collapsed on the bed. Not long after I did so, a heavy knock came on the door and after I called for the person to come in. It was the masseur I was expecting. Well, not quite. A tall, muscular man in a soldier's tunic came in.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakkhl5YJ0A
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'Massage sire?' he asked gruffly.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fg3zfmirG
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'Please.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRYMuSYbix
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'Saw you walking today sire. You'll want the legs looked at.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2urVFviyle
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'Left shoulder too, from carrying that sword.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV0ytyqsAb
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He nodded. 'Too right. You know they make the dummy out of lead, deliberate like? So when you pick up your first real blade, it feels light.'318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGNoNITsT0
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I didn't reply and soon I felt his hands on the backs of my thighs, through my clothes. I wasn't going to remove them, even if that limited his access.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWzglLTR7j
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Before long, I was getting some serious work done, loosening my cramped and tight muscles and while it was borderline painful, it was effective. What with the wine and the exercise, I'd sleep well. There was one thought still nagging me though, arising from the questions that the sorceress and the chancellor had raised with me. Oh yes. The hunting lodge, level 2 had been due for completion earlier this evening.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazKP9s1yKQ
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I paused the massage long enough to call down the town menu, then got back into position while I studied it.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIwwfYguKK
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Greyland318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPpx5wX9EE
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Economy318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcouKCHhysC
Currently building:318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXqKfDGWQr
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Monthly trade income: 0318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ9YAnMJlw
Monthly tax income: 54 gold318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU5BgxkcXk
Treasury: 2 gold318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFaBhmV4tv
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Daily food consumption: 13 units318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2Axmfnskb
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Grain yield: 0 due in 17 days318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakZdsqeCBi
Vegetable yield: 35 food units due in 20 days318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87Dy6TNvA8
Wool yield: 3 bales due in 33 days318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jRinjCDbQ
Meat yield: 5 units daily318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9FNcduE9G
Timber yield: 17 planks daily318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBMZMa0s9l
Iron yield: 2 ingots daily318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1VF19Fu4a
Quarry yield: 6 blocks daily318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO8r3dqn34
Smithy yield: steel pickaxes on hold. Awaiting iron.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW8XuHGHO6
Weaving yield: 4 bolts daily318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCJ2i2aJ41
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Research: Shipbuilding One318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6qR9NTc86
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Resources:318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmA9oCxGj7
Wheat: 14 food units318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZcoICnApb
Vegetables: 25 food units318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69m0x7JwOd
Meat: 8 food units318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88eGsxWOU5
Wool: 7 bales318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIe6P79htv
Timber: 150 planks318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCo3VMHITO
Iron: 0 ingots318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzogA2JKYD
Stone: 39 blocks318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE84lLKv1NW
Cloth: 4 bolts
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The meat yield had gone up by one. I had hoped for two but I couldn't argue with a 25% increase. That still left us losing about 6 food units a day, with reserves of 47. I winced, and not from the pain of the knuckles digging into my shoulder. I had to set a new town building project and the attractive options were hunting lodge level 3 or mine level 3. Both would take two days to upgrade.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iezqt1v3j
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In trying to figure out which of the two would work best for solving the food crisis, I realised that something was wrong. The smithy should have made me eighty-four steel pickaxes. If they significantly improved iron output, I would build the next level of hunting lodge. Yet the smithy was on hold.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBSLC2Trju
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The problem was iron. I had made a mistake. I blushed at the thought of talking about this with the others. If I had waited to create the new archers, I would have had plenty of iron for the pickaxes. Scrolling deeper into the menus, I could see that the Smithy had built a stock of 12 pickaxes before I had assigned the remaining iron to training the archers. Then it had come to a halt.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXVzS7ntNd
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Oh well, I allocated the twelve new pickaxes to the miners and given that at least two iron would come in tomorrow, the Smithy would be able to make 24 steel pickaxes, which would surely improve the daily output of iron? Three days would see me with a mining workforce fully equipped with the new pickaxes. Three days though. When I should have been using those days in building up a surplus ready to trade for food if Figus came back from the Necromancer with a decent deal.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGCfsz7xOz
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This was discouraging, but more positive was the discovery that the hunting lodge level 2 had the capacity for four more workers. That was a must. I assigned the new hunters from the reserves of workers (now only 8 strong) and went for the hunting lodge level 3 as the next build. While iron was vital, food was even more so and there was no guaranteeing that my ambassador would even return, let alone with a trade agreement.
