Chapter 45: Speed build – Part 2

‘gazes out the window’ “Sigh,” Building really ruins your sleep schedule. Forcing myself to build at night, solely for the wow factor; Was a poor decision in hindsight. For a short time, I just watch the clock tick by. I don’t recall if I even set an alarm. If I did I turned it off in my sleep.

Turning over to my back, I take a breath; getting up from the bed. Rubbing my eyes, hoping the tiredness would leave. I suppose a warm shower would help… I don’t have a shower. I am fixing that right in this instance. With a rush of energy pulsing through my body, I head to work.

I found a boiler, which required a bunch of iron. It's heated through a fire underneath which is a shame, but it's good enough. As it was crafted I was impressed by the simplicity of it. Water goes in one way, runs through pipes leading towards the bottom. They pass through a metal shell that is heated from a fire under it. That water moves through an exit valve on the other side.

I create an infinite water source under my castle, to which I use a fluid transfer pipe from extra utilities. Uses the same pipes, so I have all the stuff to use them. Piping that water into the boiler, I create a fire using netherack so it's permanent.

Finding a shower unit in NEI; “it truly has everything” I set up a shower room, marble walls, and a drain at the bottom. I add some towels and other basic items. Mentally noting to buy soap and shampoo from town. The unit requires a source of hot and cold water. Which is easy since I just connect it directly to the same source of water. Which without the boiler is cold.

Inspecting how it works, the boiling water flows through, with a trickle of cold for safety. As you turn the dial it increases the opening for cold and decreases it for hot. The second dial for intensity opens both valves equally for power, or lack thereof.

Taking off my clothes, which boils down to being Armor by this point. I do love feeling safe. Shivering from the anxiety of not being protected rather than the cold. Finding it funny I quickly jump into the shower. “Ouch, son of ‘fumbles to turn the dial towards the cold.’ Now it’s cold.” ‘shivers’ should have controlled the temperature before jumping in; Rookie error.

Having enjoyed a long shower, I brace myself. Taking a step outside, I am immediately assaulted by the cold. ‘Shivering’ I hate this part. With haste, I attempt to dry myself in record time. Slipping into my Armor I head to my kitchen.

Realising I neglected breakfast during this escapade. My stomach definitely felt fit to inform me. Preparing a bowl of porridge from some special oats I found. Made with milk, mixed with a variety of fruit, and dusted lightly with sugar – perfection. It's not as good as back home I digress. But having porridge at all is a luxury.

Having enjoyed my meal, I head outside my home. With a goal in mind, I spend around an hour gathering as much clay as I possibly could. Realizing after the hour was up, I didn’t have anywhere near enough; I continued.

Wiping the sweat from my brow, or at least attempting to. Forgot I had a helmet on. I gathered several stacks of clay blocks. This is for both deco craft and clay soldiers. The former for now, the latter for later.

I also collect a ton of sand and dirt, which is also for deco craft. The 3 colored clays required each need 1 dirt 1 sand and the respective dye.

Heading home, I create a decobench; a simple wooden structure. Adding a large amount of colored clay and 2 stacks of clay blocks. Watching them disappear into a large funnel shape on the side – mesmerizing. Shaking myself out of my stupor, I get to work.

Sitting upon the decobench, I find both an interface and a manual option. This is good, it means if I can't find what I want I can manually craft it. I create several bottles, ducks, fishing rods. Lots of small items corresponding to different events. I prepare all the props for many familiar carnival games like ring toss, fishing pole, baseball toss; and a multitude of others.

Having prepared all my items, I head to carnival island. I start setting up stalls. With a collection of different sized balls for different games; suppose carnivals really like ball games. For a moment I realized I didn’t have any prized lines up. But then I also realized that’s not my responsibility; the mayor can do that. Chuckling to myself, after this the mayor is going to have a lot of paperwork and responsibility to give out.

Looking over at the now impressively packed carnival games stalls, I realize I should have made the island bigger. Whatever it works. I left a few stalls empty for food, drinks, and anyone with creative ideas to add to the pile.

Now, what would I like to work on? Without including the extensions which will be done at a later date I have the play area and the arena. I will definitely struggle with the play area, I am not good with kids and toys designed for them… arena it is.

Heading over, I quickly replace the floor with a wall, wooden pathways making moving around not a complete nightmare. I create hopping squares of slime blocks, fall traps lined with wool, and a wooden plank to stand on. I fashioned a soft woolen staff for knocking people off, a safe polearm. Connected to the slime jumping area, I create platforms of varying height to jump from and to play around with. I placed as much wool and slime as I could so it's unlikely to hurt you. It won't be foolproof but it's close enough. Again I prepare a larger fence to make extra certain no one flys off the island; that would be bad.

After having made a soft play area, I begin making a smaller hard area. With sand for the ground, I create wooden tools for light sparing. Training dummies to play with and bows to shoot. Also, a few sparing circles are drawn with ritual chalk; gotta make it fancy after all. Fitting this all in within the tight space meant it was not as good as a dedicated place could be. But I can always expand upon it. Reminding myself I am doing a job and am not required to go above and beyond said job.

Biting the bullet I move onto the play area. Okay, brainstorm; swing, slide, play bars, football area… scratch the last one, not enough room. I have something, first I create 2 swings of varying sizes; one scary large the other more approachable. I create a climbing frame from wood with a variety of steps, ladders, and hops. This leads onto the play bars, which I made with a bit of iron. Monkey bars connect the climbing frame and the play bars. The play bars are oddly placed squares of the bars creating odd shapes to run and parkour around.

Connected to the player area I attach a small slide, a tunnel based one. Aside from that, I make a much larger slide that towers over the play area, steep steps leading to it. It circles around the entire play area at large speeds before landing into a sandpit.

Taking a step back I take a breath, that was a hell of a job. Having to be considerate of children, the heights of children, and safety; was hard. It's done though so I am happy.

Choosing to take a step back, wanting to do something I am extremely interested in, I start working on the first extension – the clay soldiers area. For now, I will just create the environment. I create 4 small artificial hills evenly spaced apart, a small castle stands on top of them. A large open space is around each castle, I surrounded the area with 3 biomes, a small forest, a small body of water, and a small desert. These surround the central plains area that has 4 castles.

What I intend for this area is a fun strategy game. 4 players get given a set amount of soldiers and points. Using the points they can buy certain items to empower the soldiers. They need to think about how they should use the limited supply of points. A very advanced strategy game. I need to gather a large supply of every item they will be allowed to buy with the internal currency. This whole thing will need to be supervised and moderated to prevent thievery and damage. Overall I am very much looking forward to this.

Having completed what I set out for the island I head to the side of the island adjacent to the town. I start by preparing a small wood platform before creating a set of stairs that lead down to the ground. The stairs are 5 wide, they have tall walls and occasional breaks so someone won't just fall down 60 odd blocks to the floor. I create this all the way to the floor, minus a few blocks. It's not open until the mayor sorts his stuff out. I decorate the stairs with additional wooden blocks, adding canopies over each break, adding seats making them rest areas.

I understand complete these stairs are a nightmare for normal people but I hope it's worth it. I fly over to the gate. Taking a brisk stroll towards the governmental building. A lot of people are staring at me and pointing. Clearly, my fame has risen with the newest structure. Eventually, someone comes up to me, they stop me before speaking.

With a light, slightly feminine voice; the man speaks. “What's that?” pointing at the island.

Smiling light under my helmet. “A flying island, I thought that was obvious.” Pausing to watch his confused face before continuing. “Joking, it’s an attraction, a place full of activities to have fun. Hopefully, it will be open soon.”

Walking off, without looking back. I continue on my journey. No one else stops to ask me any questions. Coming upon the governmental building, the same pleasant face I have grown used to seeing greats me. He says simply “Mayor” with an equally short reply “Yeah.”

He goes through the halls, quickly returning “10 minutes.”

In a polite tone “Thank you.”

He looks at me before speaking, “So, is that you who built that island?”

I reply shortly “Yeah.” I am waiting for the next few words I know are coming.

He looks around nervously for a moment. “I got to ask, what is it, how did you even?” he looks bewildered.

Speaking words I had prepared, I thought about it a lot. “I made a trade with the mayor, it was included in the trade. So I built it to improve your town.”

A couple of emotions bloom on his face, but he simply replies “Okay, good luck.”

“Thank you.”

Waiting for a couple more minutes the clerk, who apparently has impeccable time management says I can go to the mayor's office now. ‘knock, knock’ “Come in” ‘walking into the half library, I sit in front of the desk. He no longer has such a deep scowl etched on his face. I guess he thinks better of me than a troublemaker now. He motions his hand, clearly wishing me to speak.

Taking a deep breath, “It's not finished… but it's sufficiently built to start allowing people to visit. It’s the perfect time for you to arrange staff, rewards for some events and choose if you will include a fee to enter. Also, I need people to test what is built for fine-tuning of the actual events and double-checking safety”.

I swear I spotted dollar signs in his eyes. “I will sort it, what's left to complete?”

“I plan to finish a strategy game on one of the adjacent islands. I also need to create a small rollercoaster circling the island. I am also considering including a maze and depending on popularity certain events with increased size all within the island. Although I don’t know if the original deal warrants such perfectionism.”

He looks at me, likely judging me. “Fair, I am sure we can sort out a deal for additional improvements. We can talk about it in time.” He stops for a moment, contemplation passing his eyes. “Thank you, you did more than what I offered should have bought.”

“No problem,” I say as I walk out, leaving him to the mountain of work I have left behind. I am not doing everything for him.

I should get some rest, I will finish the roller coaster and clay soldiers project tomorrow.