Layla and Ben were deep in conversation as they came walking into town. Technically Layla, Ben, and Billy. But the latter was sound asleep and snoring loudly. They continued into town, Layla looking continuously surprises as she saw all of the new-but-old construction.

At Ben's urging they went to the tavern. Suzette was polishing glassware. Rolly was scooping peanuts out of a large barrel and placing large dishes of the salted nuts on the tables. There were a few people sitting around, notably Aliester and his family, and Makken, the dwarven Peppermancer.

Layla made a request of Suzette. "Our little Baron has crashed. Ben says it's exhaustion from dealing with too much weird shit. Any place I can stash him for a night’s rest?"

Suzette grabbed a key for the second-floor rooms. "Sure. There's a lot more room now. I've got half a dozen rooms on the second floor now that should be good. Let's go see what they look like." The key was to the first room on the right. The sturdy oak door had hammered iron hinges and a sturdy lock. Both women were surprised by the inside. It was fully furnished with a double bed, a small hearth where a pot of coals could be set, washing stand and wardrobe. A small desk and chair sat by the window, another padded chair by the hearth. Billy was quickly tucked into bed. Suzette handed Layla the key.

"Wow. You weren't kidding, he's really out." Suzette put her hand on his forehead. "No fever, but that level of exhaustion doesn't happen overnight."

Layla took the chair by the desk. "It does when you spend the night either huddled in fear as the city morphs around you, or gleefully dancing in the thunderstorm on top of a statues head and talking to your imaginary friend. I eventually passed out. He woke me up in the morning, and was way to cheerful doing it. I almost killed him for that."

Suzette could see Layla was fading. "I'll be back in five minutes with food and tea. Then you lock the door from inside and get some sleep yourself."

Layla looked over at the other, more comfortable chair. "Thanks. Tell Ben to work on what we talked about ...and just this once...I'll back him up on most decisions. I can't believe he called in for another hundred workers. That's going to alert Vern and the board that he's up to all kinds of stuff. And now we need to feed them and find work. "

Suzette hurried down, grabbed the pot from the stove, tossed in a few crushed leaves, some for taste, some for various effects, and handed it to Ozzy. "Follow me upstairs after I grab sandwiches or whatever Betty had ready. Then we need to get some folks together to help Ben with some planning."

=*=

'Some Folks' ended up being any of the contract workers who wanted to attend, along with Aliester, his wife, Adrianna, and his daughter, Zephyr. Makken was also there. The beer in the tavern was good, and he wanted to start figuring out this not-really-a-clan of humans. Their connections and alliances could be tough to figure out.

Ozzy whispered to Suzette. "Is she out?"

Suzette smirked, "Instantly, I had to tuck her into bed. She's exhausted too. The light sedative in the tea did wonders. No chance of her over hearing. They have the key and the door is locked. No one should disturb them."

After problems got tossed out, plans got made, and things they couldn't fix got moved to the side Jorges and Ben each spoke to the group. Jorges had helped Ben come up with a complete list of the jobs they would need to create a working, independent village. The little farming community that Sedgewick used to be couldn't handle an influx of adventures looking for goods and services on their way to Gadobhra. And they expected ACME to send more and more workers their way.

Ben brought up the need for an expanded stable, livery station, and the need for some stable hands. He also suggested a second person at the mill to handle the increase in work as they added a lot of fields to feed the workers. An odd request was a candle maker to make use of the huge amount of tallow that Ozzy generated from the sedge beasts. Aliester had confirmed that if the sedge tallow was mixed with powdered cedar and holly wood, it made a candle with at worst neutral scent. Sedge tallow alone was good for candles that drove people out-doors, cleared the building of rats, and even made the roaches think twice about moving back in.

Jorges brought up the need for more builders. A lot more builders. "Billy is going to want to do a ton of work on that garbage heap of a city. It will be fun, but I need a bigger crew. I also need an apprentice blacksmith, and an armorer. Adventurers will need repairs done. Why turn down the money?"

That turned the discussion down a different avenue for a bit. Whose money indeed? They had all made some coin killing the little elementals while crafting, and some actual monsters. Some people a lot more than others, as Stan, the Miller pointed out.

"If you want more cash Stan, take a group into the Bunny Barrow, it's level one and we should make use of it." Stan complained a lot, and Ben had gotten tired of the man long ago.

Ben continued. "I think what we need to take advantage of is our ability to work long hours. Turn that to our advantage. The first half of the day goes to ACME, and we all need to find ways to make money during the second half. Go hunt monsters, try to learn a new skill, provide a service to adventurers."

Jon and Cham quietly whispered to themselves, then announced. "We're building a bar for adventurers!" Seeing Suzettes scowl, they clarified. "A cheap bar, you know, real seedy? Cheap beer and strong drink for strong men! Fights guaranteed every night. We'll buy beer from the tavern. But we need someone to figure out making strong alcohol, and how to build furniture, we'll be going through a lot of both."

Suzette smiled at the two. "That's actually a great idea! I would love to have the rowdy bunch go somewhere else."

Ozzy looked over at Makken who nodded slightly. "I know someone who can brew your whiskey. I'm warning you though, it's a bit rough going down. Don't give it to non-adventurers unless they are as tough as Themis."

Discussion went on for a bit more with money making ideas thrown out, and ideas on how to hide money making methods from ACME. If Billy found out they were making a good amount of money, he'd simply have a worker assigned to do it or open up a competing shop.

As the meeting broke up, Rolly started poking Ozzy. "So? did he get back to you?"

"He did. Here's the best guess at each of the items. Do this tonight or tomorrow?"

"Tonight is good, like, right now." Rolly loved new loot.

Ben said, "Feel free, but I've got to ride to Rowan and back with this order for some tools and a lot of food stuffs. I hope Billy has good credit."

Rally’s face fell. "Awe...I can't become the Lord of Ducks with you gone. I change my vote. Let’s wait until tomorrow.

Ozzy shrugged, and Suzette laughed. "Ok, it's one 'can't make it', one 'I won't play if Ben doesn't play', and two 'whatever is fine.' Sounds like trying to get our old boardgame group together. But tomorrow night it's on. Split loot, discuss builds, spend points."

"Should be a fairly quiet day, hopeful." Ozzy snuffed out the lights and went to the re-built stock yards and talk to Joe. They needed to get back to work.

=*=

Ben raced down the road on Mudhead, the horse excited to be out for a run. Now that he had the riding skill, the trip to the keep and back went much quicker. He planned to ride straight to keep and then do his errands on the way back. He had to slow as he saw a heavily laden wagon heading towards him. The driver had a lantern hanging from a pole next to his seat or Ben never would have seen them in time.

The first thing he noticed was the horse. It was large, bigger than a Percheron, but so old and decrepit that he was surprised it could pull the wagon. Its coat was pie-bald white and grey. Its unshod hooves were large and in need of some trimming and care. Ribs showed through its sides and no one had groomed it in ages.

As bad as the horse was, the wagon was worse. It had started life as at least two other wagons that had been put together to make an extra-long bed. More planks were hammered onto it to make the sides higher and re-enforced its frame. The top of a small carriage was nailed to the front of the bed to provide a small interior. The wood was splintered and grey, and if it had ever been painted, all color had long ago been leeched from it.

The driver was a giant of a man, but gaunt and sallow. Huge-knuckled hands held the reigns lightly. Like the horse, he had missed quite a few meals. Filled out, he would have rivaled Ozzy in size, but instead he looked like a size 6 man stretched onto a size 8 frame.

How the horse drew the heavy load was a mystery to Ben. Behind the carriage were piles of crates and goods. All were tied down tightly and covered with skins and old tarps. Bags, small chests, and barrels hung from the sides. Four oxen would have found it a heavy load. When he saw Ben coming the driver stopped the wagon and the horse began to graze, taking large bites of grass and sod, getting as much mud with each bit as it did grass.

A strong gravelly voice called out to Ben. "Well met, young man. And if my eyes don't deceive me, I sit in the presence of one of the Empire's Couriers. I feel much better seeing you, I must say. I have heard tails of bandits, goblin hordes and strange things happening in this area."

Ben tipped his hat. "Courier Benjamin, at your service. The road is clear to Sedgewick, you are almost there and should have no problems."

"Ah, where are my manners. Good to meet you, Benjamin. I am a humble alchemist by the name of Johannes Wamberg, forced by unexpected circumstances to be on the road tonight. Permit me to ask a small question, if you don't mind. Have any others of my profession come through at all lately?"

"Well, no. It's been quite strange and dangerously lately with the town having to endure both a corporate war and a dungeon invasion. But quieting down now. We have an alchemist in Sedgewick, and entire family of them. I hate to tell you, but there might be no work for another."

Johannes nodded twice at the information. "But in Sedgewick, you say. I'm not interested in Sedgewick, as much as I have good memories of the quaint little backwater. I'm heading to Gadobhra, and I thank you for the information that I am the first. Good evening young man, I must be on my way. If you see anyone else on the road, please engage them in conversation for a few hours. I'll happily re-imburse you for your time." A snap of the whip, the old horse broke into run, the loaded wagon dangerously unbalanced and threatening to lose its load at any moment.

Ben scratched his head and kept moving.