Everyone does stupid things when drunk. Unfortunately there’s a barkeep who’s turned all mine into stores. – Varya’Qa

For the next few days recovery was slow and Hank, who hadn’t regularly slept in a bed, loved it. Though perhaps a little less attention from Elise and something to do other than read might have been welcome.

Hank red large sections of the book given to him by the Duke. It was very dry, quite boring and consisted chiefly of a series of maxims or observations with the odd poem thrown in for good measure. To a certain extent it seemed like a very poorly edited diary. Things such as;

‘Knowledge is the what, to the understandings how.’

‘Study to show yourself approved.’

‘Knowledge is power.’

or even

‘The nature of things is the understanding of things.’

Most of it sounded like gibberish. However as Hank progressed through the book, he started to notice there were gems every now. Things that had unforeseen side effects.

This had happened twice in an afternoon. The first time Hank was reading.

‘Teamwork is a critical part of all aspects of modern life. It allows us to band together to accomplish goals we alone would struggle to accomplish. Everyone should know this…’

What everyone should know was largely irrelevant to Hank because as he read past this he received a notification.

Log (Knowledge)

You have gained knowledge related to Teamwork this knowledge is very limited at this stage

It was quite strange has Hank had worked in teams before particularly whilst playing sport. Though it hadn’t happened like the formal team offer he had received from Duke Roger earlier in the week. However, he barely had time to dwell on that thought when he received another notification.

Log (Skills and Techniques)

Teamwork has advanced to level 1, no bonuses at this time, 10 XP awarded

Teamwork is a conditional skill so it will only have an effect when you are in a team

Hank had come across this connection before but it piqued his curiosity. Why had he been unable to join teams before? He had to conclude that he hadn’t known that there was a formal team to join. It had certainly been a surprise to get the team invite earlier. It had been a bigger surprise that he had not been able to join. So why did reading a book make a difference?

He hadn’t tried before but he knew that he could select the word knowledge from the first notification so he decided he really ought to understand what was going on. He received a new notification.

Hint : Knowledge

Knowledge is a fundamental part of your skills. After all if you don’t know something how can you act on it. Knowledge is crucial to all skills. Most skills require an accumulation of knowledge. Some is pass fail. Others are by degrees. What is certain is that without knowledge you cannot act and the more knowledge you have the better your actions will be. Better being a relative term.

Hank paused to think about it. If he understood what was being said correctly if you didn’t understand what fire was you couldn’t make one. But other knowledge like avoiding the use of wet wood or what things made the best kindling improved your ability to light a fire with ease. It made sense.

Getting hold of more books progressed from the useful diversion to survival requirement. Hank reasoned that if he bought books on how to do certain things in a village perhaps by the time he got there, he would know enough to have a level or two in some aspects of village life.

“Is knowledge enough?” He thought to himself. “I guess not. To be good at something you have to understand it. Not just on the surface but the nature of how it works.” He had spoken out loud but did not expect another notification.

Understanding

Name :

Nature of things

Description :

Gaining this understanding doesn’t change anything directly but rather is an acknowledgement that you have come to understand things better. The result of your understanding can be wide and extensive but it is entirely dependent on you. Knowledge is power but application is key.

At this time there may be some advancement beyond one level. After all you may understand a little more than nothing.

Level :

1

Rewards :

10 XP

Hank decided right there that the vague idea he had about buying books would need to become an actual plan. Books, he thought, translated into knowledge. And knowledge seemed to be the basis for skills, understanding and general advancement. As he was thinking this all through, he received a third notification.

Congratulations! You have received your first wisdom point the notification said. “Wisdom point” Hank muttered to himself.

Wisdom Point

Name :

The nature of books

Description :

Books give you knowledge.

Knowledge leads to skills and understanding

So collect books and gain skills and understanding

Alternative Description :

No knowledge is worthless

Reward :

Wisdom is its own reward, so you shouldn’t expect any but…

100 XP

Some other stuff you may never understand.

“What other stuff?” Hank asked out loud.

Silence

“What’s a wisdom point good for?” Hank asked the air hoping the AI would respond. The silence continued. “This game is so frustrating sometimes.” He grouched.

“Anyhow enough introspection, lets get some more knowledge”. However, the revelations seemed to dry up at that point. So Hank decided it was time to visit the taproom. Today, his first real day out of bed, he was looking forward to stretching his legs and getting a real drink.

In a few days he thought that he would be well enough to travel, as long as it wasn’t too energetic. His town quest was playing on his mind. It would require money. Something he didn’t have without a beneficial occupation. It was time to move on he decided. Mentally Hank started a checklist of things to do before leaving. He would need a new walking stick after that business at the gatehouse. Tomorrow he would look for that. Books, obviously. Crops. What would his village eat? Work? People went where there were jobs. What would they do n his village? He progressed through the list as he slowly descended the stairs to the inn’s reception.

He was brought out of his thoughts by Rupert.

“A short gentleman came in this afternoon might interest you. He was complaining that he and some friends have lost employment and that they need to leave the kingdom due to trouble with the law. Naturally I mentioned that you were looking to found a village. He said he would be interested in talking to you. He’s in the taproom now.”

The massive man pointed at a door with a small collection of Fujikan letters. Hank assumed in meant bar but who knew. Rupert continued speaking. “The little lad has the worst common ever but I'm sure Bartholomew can translate for you. He’s on shift and has the ken of the lad’s speech. Just be careful with Bartholomew, he likes betting on drinking games. Don’t try drinking him under the table, you can’t. He has a head for alcohol and enjoys loves inventing cocktails.”

Hank wasn’t sure what to make of all that so he settled for a nice safe, “Thanks.”

Hank pushed in through the door a looked around. A number of comfortable booths stretched down one side of the room. An island bar ran down the middle of the remaining space, stretching out to cover the entire back of the room. A number of barrels sat perched on their sides behind it. The floors, bar, booths and bottom half off the walls were polished wood. The upper half of the walls were covered in the whitewash seen in the rest of the building. The roof was held up with oak beams that had aged almost to black which stood out in contrast to the rough-cut new looking planks that served as the floor for the rooms above.

Hank headed over to the bar looking for Bartholomew. As he got closer, he noticed that there was a man with very broad shoulders seated on the far side of the bar. Hank would have spoken but a lanky individual, almost gaunt, approached and asked if he could get Hank a drink.

Hank ignored the question. “The boss said there was someone who wanted to meet me.”

“Ah yes. This here lad is of the Yochi mountain country and goes by the name of Gruffly.” Bartholomew indicated the broad-shouldered gentleman. “He and his folk are looking for employment.” He tuned to the other gentleman. “Gruffly, this is Hank who seems to have a darker reputation than is warranted and hails from the northern border regions.”

At this Gruffly hopped off the stool and completely disappeared behind the bar except for a black topknot that bobbed behind the bar, indicating that he was coming round to Hank. On reappearing he was one of the strangest people Hank had ever met. He was about 4 foot tall and about 1.5 feet across the shoulders.

On the off chance that the recent changes to his inspection ability had changed its performance, Hank tried inspecting the short man before him.

Inspect Character Result

Name :

Gruffly

Gender :

Male

Genotype :

Human

Level :

Unknown

Reputation :

Unknown

Alignment :

Unknown

As always there was next to nothing of use. Inspection was still a somewhat useless skill in Hank’s opinion. It only told him what he already knew. He would think about it later. Time to get back to the here and now.

“Hi, I’m Hank and Rupert tells me you want to get out of the kingdom and into the… wilder places.” The tone indicated that he was looking for clarification.

“Aye. ‘E say ye be o’ the nor’. Ar’e ye like one o’ ‘em fairies tha’ prance ‘round th’ trays.”

“Huh?” Hank had no idea what the reply meant.

The barman had to translate. “Yes. But he wants to know if you are like one of the people that live in the forests.”

Hank thought to himself that the translation might be more polite than the initial comment.

“Nope I’m not from that far north. Grew up on the banks of one of the Tillerman tributaries. Perhaps you can explain why you want to move out of the kingdom. Then we can work out if there is something of mutual benefit.” Hank was keen for settlers but not if they were a lawless bunch.

“Tis thuz, ya see. Me lads and me waz like gainfully ‘mployed o’er bi ol’ man Schuleman stripper abouts Small Londinium. Twer rare spart doun de tinner. ‘Till e ups ’n’ croaks ’n’ wee Schuleman presides ’n’ counts ‘em shekels agin’ size. Th’ lads i’ rare dander ’n’ we goes shout ’n’ sit agin’ th’ wee schwanse. Till ‘e goes th’ squeal ’n’ the bell boy’s ’n’ us are at it with the tinny tappers and their whammers. Twas a rare tussle but nort ‘ave noggins like uns wee people so we fair trolloped th’ weaklins. Being overcomers, Lud peewee i a dander hiself ’n’ th’ lads gain naught for ‘mployment ’n’ so nay downsie ta pick at. So Bartholomew ‘ere chins tha’ youse ’n th’ spy for new ‘uts’of I th’ stone and thatch type. So I says, lads I be for m’ own downsie ’n’ the longshanks, bein’ you, like as knows a likely spat. Bein’ i’ th’ way o’ learning ’n’ all i ‘ou is.

The short man looked at him with a face of expectation leaving Hank completely at a loss as to what had been said.

The vacant expression on Hanks face as he turned towards Bartholomew was enough for the barkeep to say. “That’s as broad as the wee people get in the twang but I understand their speech.“

“He and his comrades worked for the Schuleman family at the strip mine in Small Londinium. They enjoyed the work there mining for tin. Then the owner died and his son…” at this the barman looked at the stocky fellow who had related the story.

“Ai, th’ kliner.”

“… his son decides to change the pay for short people. At which him and his friends organised a sit in at the mine to protest. So the new owner who Gruffly contends is endowed with small manhood,…”

“Ai, th’ kliner feigling” the short man interrupted again

“My mistake. The coward with small manhood called in the marshals. Who tried to beat him and his friends with their batons but he and his friends used their mining hammers and soundly defeated the marshals. This turned out to be a false victory as the ‘lord of smallness’ fired his whole crew and kicked them out of the mine.”

“Thus ‘ave I ‘ttested.”

“So having spoken to me, and finding out that you are looking to build your own village, he told his friends that he wanted to start his own mine and that he knew someone who could probably lead him to a good spot for a mine. Given that you’ve… ah… walked a lot and probably know stuff.

“Ai, Ai. So th’ lads ’n’ me was in th’ thought fer sum’at wi’ a wee bit more o’ th’ shine tha’ th’ tin”

“But they are hoping you can find something more impressive than tin.”

“Well I’ve never looked for a mine before so I am not sure where to take you.

“Tha’ makes no n’ver mind. So long as ye be fa’ sum’her tha’s oot o’ th’ reach o’ them bell boy’s ’n’ they friends th’ ‘ollecters. Th’ lads ’n’ m’ ken th’ look o’ th’ right stuff. Just t’ say mountain be th’ best t’ look ‘ut rock’s th’ stuff t’ find. Less ‘eres sum’at o’ a wash, cos tha’ shows th’ shine ‘bove.

The barkeep seemed to have accepted his lot as translator as well as drinks provider. “It doesn’t matter as he and the boys can find it as long as you take him near rocky terrain. Preferably mountains. Rivers are a good place to start as they can tell you that there may be something upstream. O and make sure you keep him and the boys away from the marshals and the tax collectors.”

“Why away from them?”

“P’raps best not t’ say. I’ th’ clarity, some o’ me lads be immer sick o’ th’ smarts. Still ‘taint’ nort o’ th’ sort tha’ th’ bell boy’s keen i’ th’ tussle an’ th’ s’rondin’ grabbers ‘ave murdrus ‘ntent fur m’ lads immer.

He’s reluctant to say. But for clarity’s sake some of his friends are still suffering from the fight. Which is nothing compared to some of the marshals. And all in all any branch of the law has it in for them still.

“Ok so why is helping you start a mine going to help me?”

“Ai ye daft?”

“Are you crazy?”

“Uns wee people, ther’ be nort vie uns. We vork ’s nort others. Uns dounsie al’ ays po’duce above.”

“There is no one like the little people. They work harder than others and their mines always produce more than expected.”

“And?”

“Tappers such as mesel’ can nay operate o' th' onse. Oursel' be needing 'sistance 'n' thems make oursel' welcome.

“They can't work alone he needs assistance and companionship.”

“I am not a dating agency.” Hank was a little surprised and disturbed by the request.

"Ya daft fella. I nah need ne longshanks spying fur me cuddly. Mastens onsel' 'ave a few sprats 'n' a wee fairer. Me thou' be tha' we be spyin' fur home 's well. I me cosprat 'as nay 'unger for the downsie, looking fur th' hot 'n' th' ring o' th' shaping arts. E 's well spyin' fur a rock 'n' thatch.

“You’re an idiot. He is quite happy looking for his own companionship besides most of the 'lads' have wives and kids and are looking to settle down with a house of their own. In addition his sibling, no idea if he is referring to a brother or a sister, is a smith of some description and wants to settle down as well.”

“Smith o' sum' description, say ye. E be a smith o' th' second order.”

“Which is what. Apprentice.” The barkeep had moved beyond straight interpretation.

"Now ‘ear mihk. Ye 'now sum'at concerning schwein slop ya feed oursel' 'n' th' yellow swill u offer longshanks 'ere but ye 'now nah 'cerning the cruft o' th' bright o' weapon 'n' tool. Me'll 'ave ye ken th' second order be better tha' th’ mastens adepts o ye stretchies.

“Oy oy. I don't care if your brother farts gold and hammers jewels I'll not have you talking about Alice's cooking as if it was for the pigs. And as for the beer it’s a special brew that the local brewmaster and I created. It wins awards.”

“Awards be i'. Th' judge be a 'orses keister.” There was contempt in the voice.

“Now just you look here. I will have you know….” Bartholomew’s face had gone red.

Recognising that the conversation was getting out of hand Hank realised he needed to interrupt.

“Come come, gentlemen.” looking at the short gentleman. “I am sure your smithing relative is first rate.” Then turning to the barkeep “And I’m sure that your beer wins all sorts of awards.”

“But I really would like to get back to the question at hand, your desire to leave this kingdom and start a new settlement. How many people are interested in coming?”

The smaller gentleman was still a bit worked up but turned to Hank. “Oursel’ nay all need t’ go stumpin’ throw th’ trays. Mesel’ em cosprat ’n’ mensch an’ thry o’ far o’ me lads t’ spy th’ dounsie. Mar an’ uns trap o’er onsel’.”

Bartholomew was regaining his temper as well. “Him, his sister and her man and three or four of the lads should be enough to find a good mine. Otherwise they will trip over themselves.”

“Yes, yes but how many people want to move to the new village?”

“O ‘ave I attested a shaper ’n’ ‘prents, th’ tappers, t’wer pebble mensch….”

“All ready mentioned a smith and apprentices, the miners and some masons…”

“… tray puller ’n’ shaper, th’ fairer ’n’ sprats…”

“Forester who also seems to double as a carpenter. The wives and kids.”

“…. ’n’ mie cosprat wi’ ‘er brotherhood.”

“Say, when you mentioned your relative and a brotherhood, you’re not talking about The Brotherhood are you?” Bartholomew was interested.

Gruffly just nodded.

Bartholomew turned to Hank. “If the Hammer Brethren are interested in joining your village you will be the envy of many.” He paused “That calls for a round of the drinks. Say you lot wouldn't know anything about a man’s drink called a Matryoshka.”

Hank and Gruffly looked at each other. It sounded like a dare any man would recognise.

“No, what’s that?” Hank nervously asked as he remembered Rupert’s warning.

“Glad you asked. If you are both still standing after 3 each I’ll pay, unless you break the glassware. I had to get it made specially. Anyway, it’s, a half shot glass of high proof cherry schnapps inside a double shot glass of rye spirits inside a small glass of high proof potato spirits inside a stein of wheat beer.”

Hank looked at Gruffly, “So what about 50 people?”

“Nay, m’ cosprat ‘as a duce score o’ brethren ‘ere . Un’ a fist o’ scores o’ uns.”

“Hey, hey, are you lot drinking? Here’s the first round.” The barkeep was much more interested in drinking than the ongoing discussion. But he did decide to translate the last answer. “About 40 of his sisters company and five score of the others. Theoretically that’s 100 but in the west country often that means between 80 and 100. I would think the total is about 130 odd people Anyway drink up.”

About one and a half Matryoshka later Hank thought he better get Gruffly’s signature on an agreement soon. He wasn’t certain that any of them were going to make it to the end of all three Matryoshka, they had a kick like an enraged mule. Still, a bet was a bet, so he was certainly going to try.