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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOu4iAuWu0
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgUabmUJkY
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevQJcT1gCB
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw6d5fAIS7
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'I heard about your training today sire. It gave encouragement to the troops.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXfPw4LSjs
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'There's a long way to go.' I glanced at my fleshy arms, so different to my previous body.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgECsWYb4S
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'I also heard that you scorned the ambassador of Southway.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5WIaKGQ9X
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'Oh did you? What did your sources say, exactly?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni3qsjxAn5
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qSqBxINL4
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlxalCkNhu
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGX9qqPuiT
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceWXxvCZ1j
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDHLayJ6Go
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep1heowLAf
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNymKxqx9Y
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'Spoken like the old Carlos,' said Parrin with a smile when we had the room to ourselves.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFAy3gF8z8
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObndyx3JLL
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsXCXV1zmg
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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?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZofYhot5F
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApbgjrxCER
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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zgacl0Oo2
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeV4aGGcOP
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdJwLLgN7I
'How goes your personal progress?' asked Parrin.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FQAao8JuY
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cfSGGeBe0
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Carlena frowned. 'What level Fighter are you?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGZaoCa4yk
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk5S8l6h9c
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All three of them turned pale faces towards me, eyes glistening in the candlelight.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpazfmDM8Bt
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hP5Kd2pfb
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'I believe King Wace is level twelve,' muttered the Chancellor pointedly. 'And Queen Rorgesta of Trolland is eleven at least.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zLCEZ6xBq
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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?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjChoTQWPkO
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dAPO79R4y
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2Z8tVkPSy
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That sounded promising and exactly like the RPGs I was used to.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlEdgQAxzB
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSCBGLGy6m
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'True.' Lord Arval nodded. 'Don't push so hard you damage yourself.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZAgPoi0UT
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoifvZ2947
'We need time. Time to fix the kingdom's economy and time for me to level up.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH2Mvk0xz8
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjjuKkVW5t
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARzhnvvmtQ
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwStm6KqnC6
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGItS6bBLN9
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGvvebpJwl
'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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXd8eS7Zfi
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrFGCniusD
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKlpgshcq2
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Everyone greeted my proposal with approval.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7KGWpP8Al
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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?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHvVOT034x
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'Perhaps,' the Chancellor nodded. 'It would be a mission for Figus.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvScty315nN
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'When he gets back,' I said.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHWrk3AiaX
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'When he gets back,' Parrin repeated.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZto9o4W1IC
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDA7SoyEA7
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'Me?' Parrin looked surprised. 'We have scouts, of course.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eYawLzgjk
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'Yes, but they are all level zero, right? Whereas you are level nine.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe5oEZ7izJ
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6ia1eJjvB
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'Just don't take any risks.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4VVphx2kW
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPD8dwthW0
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'Can the king ask for a massage?' I leaned in towards the General.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVoC4sl67z
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'Of course. I'll send someone.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oCHvSEVAB
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'Good, I'll go on up to my bed.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsr0pSigPA
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZfugBEVhE
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'Massage sire?' he asked gruffly.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG18onB0q69
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'Please.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ1lEmCFIK
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'Saw you walking today sire. You'll want the legs looked at.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeulg2suawZ
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'Left shoulder too, from carrying that sword.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK65p0a0ebG
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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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZLUiDPqsR
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWATheszl4
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvE40BgICu
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKltHCmQUQL
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Greyland380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo6I1ja4RP
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Economy380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IJ3TgFDJB
Currently building:380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Gmv9lVd0M
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Monthly trade income: 0380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybXZ9wp4E0
Monthly tax income: 54 gold380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8y2IdGUqk
Treasury: 2 gold380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1DPVoavGN
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Daily food consumption: 13 units380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GUHP1PFAm
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Grain yield: 0 due in 17 days380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUBWCYYbNR
Vegetable yield: 35 food units due in 20 days380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0giUuO2CEf
Wool yield: 3 bales due in 33 days380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2IaRzwYLG
Meat yield: 5 units daily380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUORXRJkfh
Timber yield: 17 planks daily380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr9lxcyhBW
Iron yield: 2 ingots daily380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTxGC6XGcc
Quarry yield: 6 blocks daily380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjumPNJnPK
Smithy yield: steel pickaxes on hold. Awaiting iron.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuJJ6PG2Vz
Weaving yield: 4 bolts daily380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhJ3KbVfJK
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Research: Shipbuilding One380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NLuWxSaL4
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Resources:380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PC9QczyhO
Wheat: 14 food units380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIF8uNAO1n
Vegetables: 25 food units380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJA0JCGP4Q
Meat: 8 food units380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XSsAp0H29
Wool: 7 bales380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfl4KhTZYHq
Timber: 150 planks380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCNY3YBFqk
Iron: 0 ingots380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrVBUFEHGA
Stone: 39 blocks380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKQzPrz9iA
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICTMb7EHVq
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3fiBQ4zWg
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBXP21kKX4
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKpnGKEsSK
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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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO6R1ZLPNk
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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.
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