"I'm a simple man with simple desires." Ben paused to see if anyone laughed outright at him but saw only curiosity. Disappointed, he continued on. "I'd like to have a small mansion with a hidden laboratory, sothing that reminds of Franklin House. With a wine cellar, of course. Sneaking in and raiding Billy's booze is fun, but I'd like a larger collection and so of the bottles he buys are below even my standards. And I want enough ti off for travel and exploration. I have a fast horse, but I'd like to add a sleek ship to my transport option. A bonus if she sails the clouds and can go to other realms. And clothes. I want a closet full of fine clothes for when I enter society at the capital."
Ozzy snorted loudly. "Is that a not-too-subtle hint about my ship-in-a-box? Been damn little ti for side projects, and I want to make sure Billy and AC can't get their hooks into her. But I agree. I'd love a fast little smokejamr to make travel and exploration easy. But, about enough ti off to explore? Why waste vacation ti when we can get paid to do it? We need to make Billy assign us those tasks."
Suzette thought for a mont, her eyes gaining a slight glow in their depths as she reached out to sothing inside of her. "I give Captain Ozzy leave to build his ship in my realm and grant him a trade agreent with Silverthorn Vale. You may select land to build a shipyard big enough to construct a Smokejamr of your design." Her voice held a note of authority as she said it. Then she slumped and reached for her drink. "Such an odd feeling, and strangely tiring."
Ozzy nodded slowly as a blue system box appeared in front of him. "I accept."
Ben drank down his beer and smiled widely. "A secret pirate cove in another dinsion? An excellent start. Might even be a nice place for a not-so-secret laboratory near the shipyard. If the place is already a ss, you won't be upset if I blow sothing up. A few craters in the landscape will add so character. So magic in this world is ssy. I want to explore more of the runic magic I've dabbled with and the magi-tech stuff, mixing science and magic. I've got an option to steer my legend that way."
The tavern keeper brought another jug of beer and refilled the pitcher to much thanks. Rolly took his mug, adding in a deadpan voice, "I'm sure you'll find a nice poisoned lake full of rippy fish to serve as a harbor."
Ben looked at Suzette, hoping that Rolly was joking. She shrugged and said, "Sorry, my kingdom is a fixer-upper, and the available water has so problems. But the rent is cheap. And I hear from Ozzy that Squirmie loves the taste of the rippy fish."
The ntion of Squirmie brought her to the other's attention. She was sitting on Rolly's shoulder, very quiet. Ozzy quirked an eyebrow at Rolly, and he carefully patted her head. "She went to sleep as soon as we arrived. I think it's part of the privacy magic. I'll fill her in when we leave; there aren't secrets between us anymore. She's fully on team Sedgewick. We're working to shake things up a bit in Tartarus and make so changes in her family, but that's a long-term goal. We'll need to hit Tier Five before I drag you into those plans. Our current goals are helping the rest of you, grinding levels, and eating well. I'm steering my Mom and I had a very encouraging talk. She's a little grumpy, but I'm winning her over."
"When you say Mom...?" Ben had hesitated even to ask. Sotis, you didn't want to know with Rolly.
"Squirmie's Mom, the Hive Queen. She's not bad for an Ancient-Apocryphal-Harbinger-of-Doom-for-everything-that-lives. She's old and stuck in a rut, but I'm winning her over. We had a good talk while Squirmie caught up on things with her sister. Good tis. But I'm jealous of Suzy getting a look at the Desolation. I want to visit and see that huge snake and all the other neat critters there."
She shuddered a little bit, thinking of the snake she'd seen. "I'll tell Hers you want to visit, but good luck getting him to go back. He seed spooked."
"Aweso, thanks. And when Ben and Ozzy finish their ship, maybe we can fly over for a visit."
"Nope."
"Negative on that. Allergic to giant snakes.
Rolly grinned. "I'll remind you about it later."
Ozzy changed the subject. "Ben and Rolly know their goals. What about you, Suzy? And how are you steering your legend?"
She sipped her beer, wishing she could brew sothing this tasty. "I've thought about it. Thought about a lot of things, actually, while that bitch had trapped. If we're here for a long ti, I want to start being more proactive and build for the future. We've gotten so good breaks and taken advantage of them. We're partially in control of things and working with Billy and Layla, but they're managent, and we're labor. Push cos to shove; Billy might toss us under the bus. Or Vern takes over, or so other asshole from AC replaces Billy. We could lose a lot of what we've worked hard to get. Any agreent we have isn't written down and only with Billy. I want more, so let's play harder and sneakier."
She looked at the three of them. "I want Sedgewick. Not as a job. Not as a position like Mayor, subject to Billy's whim. I want us to own it. The workers built it with love and sweat. I want us to own it and make it a place where anyone who wants to go past their five years can stay and live a good life. Billy can have Gadobhra. That's where his focus is and where he thinks the big bucks are and promotions inside of AC. We'll have an opportunity at so point to get Sedgewick, and I want to be ready for it."
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Ben laughed. "Oh, you know I'm in. I love a good sche, and I've never stolen a village."
Rolly gave a thumbs up. "We're in."
Ozzy was stroking his chin and thinking. "Sounds fun, and I like the idea If Billy has a weakness, it's money. He stays in control as long as he stays ahead of Vern and other corporations, but in the end, it's all about money. Ga money and real-world money. I've got so ideas on how we can get both. Between the Gnomish Bank and our new trust funds, we can hide wealth where AC can't get it. And I know what my Legend will be: I'm going to make the sausage. It has the least downside and will bring in the gold. Along with a lot of bruises, my advisor gave so strangely insightful advice. We each need to have a firm grasp of who we are, and where we're going so our Legends work for us Ben, you ntioned doing rune magic or sothing? Will that help with getting Billy his teleport stone?"
"Yes, I think it's Mad Science and dangerous magic for . The mage's guild has a monopoly on teleportation. That gives them too much power over economics. If you're going to create a sausage empire, we need to break their stranglehold. And hell, my family is known for causing trouble. I have to live up to my heritage."
"I'll be doing simple Shepherd stuff and leave all the trouble to Ben."
The Courier looked at him. "That statent worries more than you will ever know." Rolly smiled innocently.
Ozzy looked at Suzette, "You're turn, or are you going to make us guess?"
She shook her head. "Nope. Cards are on the table this ti; no one is listening in but us. I had secrets I needed to keep before, so I wouldn't lose new abilities. I've slowly picked up so stealth skills and I know where the Thieves Guild is in Gadobhra now to maybe pick up more. But for my Legend, I need the freedom that I get from having three shadows. It gives a chance to gain more control over Sedgewick and not let AC or anyone else get their hooks into my little Fae realm."
Rolly leaned forward. "Good, that's settled. What about adventuring? We need to keep clearing the stockyards, but neither that nor the Beast Woods is going to be efficient for that. The nagerie is getting cleaned out by the Fae regularly, and there will be adventuring guilds coming to Gadobhra. I wouldn't mind sneaking in on a week there isn't competition, but we shouldn't ss with Billy's cash-cow. Where are we going to grind so levels? Ghoul slaying?"
Ozzy blew out a smoke ring. It floated quickly up to the rafters and dodged around the carved wooden supports. "I say we hit the Pit of the Butcher and hit it hard. Do it every chance we get. Right now, the few groups that went in are scared of it. But I think so of our specialized butchering skills will help out, and in a straight-up fight, our extra stats give a big edge. The players have a ton of options, special moves, and fancy spells. But the Pit is a brutal fight where our extra health, stamina, and mana could be more useful. Plus, we may be able to get so inside information from my assistant Butcher. I'll continue to take on the tank role."
Suzette thought for a mont. "More mana and I have access to more spells now."
"Extra damage for and Squirmie. And don't neglect those spiffy levels in Pack Hunting from the Hunter's Shrine. If we're going into the Pit, then getting an extra 60 damage a hit on elites will help take them down faster. If you have points in the Hunter's Guild, use those first, the Enhancent points. The group is nicely balanced now. Ozzy tanks, and we'll slice and dice. Our healing is slower than Ben's, so Squirmie and I will go DPS, we'll back Ben up on healing."
Ben was surprised, then scowled. "Wait! How did I get stuck as the healer? Suzy has potions and a healing spell and you can heal wounds."
Rolly spread his hands. "Sorry, Ben. But none of us can call down a huge fire strike that's also a band-aid. We have a mage, a tank, and two DPS; that ans you're the healer."
"Alright, but only in the dungeon! I have a reputation to uphold as a dashing pirate and troublemaker. I don't want to give Diego more ideas about pushing into Paladin."
The discussion continued, but eventually, they were ready to leave. They waved to their host and Suzette went to thank him personally. "I know you won't take a coin, but I want to thank you for letting us visit. Just the feel of the place inspires . I want to make my little tavern better."
He nodded. "n and won have t to drink and talk since the dawn of ti, and there will always be taverns. I look forward to visiting yours soday. But so advice, if you will accept it?"
"Yes, of course."
"Do not neglect your brewing. You have the spark for it. The Bludgeon beer is an atrocity that needs to be purged from every tavern, but your brews enhanced with alchemy are interesting. Continue on the path. Nothing bad ever ca from brewing good beer. And I have a gift, if you will accept it. These are from my garden and fields."
He passed over two small sacks, one of barley and one of hops seed. "I travel and collect recipes. When you have sothing new, I will let my sons care for my tavern and drink a mug at yours."
The four travelers left by the door, shutting it behind them. Ahead of them was a path that led to ho.
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