Varietree (Patreon)

Year 128

A year of relative peace, though publicly, we are still at war. It’s kind of like the whole South-North Korea situation. No one wants to back off and sue for peace, and yet the temples need time to rebuild their military force.

Nearby, none of the neighbouring ports wanted to host the crusading armies, lest a similar incident unfolded. Fear crept into the hearts of many kingdoms, that suddenly a giant tree appeared in the middle of a faraway city, and overwhelmed a tide of beetles and spiders. 

The Giant Attendant Trees, they towered in the six cities, as symbols of the Crusade’s foolishness. The Giant Attendant Trees were so large that they could be seen from the boats and ships far from shore. 

But our own informants indicated that the temples are mustering another force. 

Why?

In the meantime, the victory has made the Freshlands Federal Authority extremely busy, they spent a lot of time reallocating people and implementing a tonne of new rules. A lot of the prisoners of war were made to do hard labor, or farm work, but some were released to those kingdoms that surrendered. 

A long set of agreements and treaties, to 'secure' the shifting  allegiances of the kingdoms and nations sandwiched between the Freshlands and the Six Ports. I did not care very much for the regular prisoners, so I was happy to let them go. These were mostly low ranking soldiers mostly under level 30, their threat level was not that significant anyway. 

The loyalties of many conscripted soldiers are suspect anyway. Most of them just obey their Kings and Rulers, and may not truly believe in the cause. 

“A heretic god? What does it have to do with me?” It’s a common expression amongst the soldiers. “I’m here because the King sent me.” 

Quite a fair bit don’t even know what they are fighting, they only know they have been instructed to invade the Freshlands. 

I suppose it’s rather difficult to ensure the correct messages are transmitted to the 500,000 to 1,000,000 soldiers caught in the conflict. Especially in a world where messages frequently still travel by mouth. [Messages] and magical spells remain a luxury of the elite class.

“What does it feel like, you know... to cause the death of so many.” Strangely, it was a prayer from a random citizen of the Freshlands. He made the prayer some time after the armies surrendered. “Do gods treat us mortals as just play things?”

I think so. The gods certainly do. And I see why. If the gods can disassociate the person from the body, that means to them, each living person is nothing more than a gamer holding an avatar, and when they die, it’s just game over for that avatar. It’s like humans with our games. Many certainly think it is weird to care when our avatars die. Most just sigh, and just start a new game, with a new avatar. 

But for those living in the moment, they don’t know that, and even if they know, they don’t feel that connection to those future new lives. Each ‘life’ and ‘death’ is not connected to the next reincarnation. 

Maybe... Maybe I’m also starting to think that way. I should not. It’s a flaw. 

-

The war council met daily. There were always new things to discuss. Kingdom A switched sides. Kingdom B switched sides. Kingdom C demands for so-and-so. Kingdom D goes this and that. After a while, it’s like little notifications in my in-game menu that I’ve gradually gotten better at ignoring. 

Especially if it doesn’t require my action. It’s like some corporate paper pushers who receive hundreds to thousands of emails a day, mostly cc-ed. That corporate drone would click on the email, read the first few sentences, notices that he didn’t need to do anything, and click delete, or archive.

“Trevor, can you notify me if any of these daily meetings have something material?”

“Certainly, master.” Trevor answered. “You may want to direct your focus on the beetle and spider research. We are making progress, but we do require your decision on the numerical allocation of beetle-types.”

“Horns. Update.” I mentally called out. 

“MASTER!” Horns shouted with gusto. I wonder how he does it. “We have successfully unlocked Bomber-Beetles. We can further advance this into Explosive Beetles, and also upgrade it’s range and damage. Each will require 1 to 2 years, and additional resources.”

Trevor interrupted. “Which will not be a problem. We have secured means of collecting the necessary resources from our vassals. We can afford to undertake all of the research. It’s a matter of allocation that required Master’s attention.”

“Yes yes. Trevor’s right, Master. But I must talk about beetles. We also have made progress on Flying Beetles and also improved our existing beetles’ jumping strength. Our assassin beetles are able to leap twice as far, and our tunneler beetles can last twice as long!”

Well, that’s great. Reality is, all these upgrades do add to utility, even if it’s combat strength is mostly unchanged. 

“Wait. Why do I need to decide on allocation?”

“The process of transforming a beetle from one variant to another is a long process, and the subsidiary trees need about two to three months to shift from one form to another.” 

“Ah. 90% regular beetles. I have no intention of alerting our opponents to our unique beetle variants. For the remaining 10%, can I ask for them to be split equally to all different types?”

Horns intervened. “Master... we also have Hybrid Beetles! Based on your advances in demonic-hybrid botany, we are also able to see some potential in demonic corruption-tolerant beetles. Do you want us to research those, even if they are ineffective against humans?”

“Uh. Why not, but no allocation of beetles to them?”

Jasmine also commented. “Master, there may be significant value in small beetles that can operate as stealth units.”

“That’s what assassins are for?”

“Assassin beetles are still quite large, at the moment.” 

“Master, Jasmine is right! We must have all kinds of beetles!” Horns nodded. “Can we undertake all of them?”

I felt like I was dealing with children. “Alright. Trevor, do we have resources for all the research? And sufficient artificial minds to work on each and every one of these research without interfering with our operations?”

“Yes, master. If you may create a few more...”

“Alright.” 

Power is really not the problem now. All in, I can power a good 120 artificial minds. The entire Freshlands, a massive, massive space is home to around 2 billion normal trees, and 10-12 billion shrubs. The conversion of empty land into large forests has been rapid, spurred on by Trevor and the other artificial mind’s dedicated and constant expansion of forests.

They were persistent and relentless, and the forests grow so quickly that the Freshlands is a woodworking mecca. Housing was commonly made of wood, because of it’s abundance in the Freshlands, and there were a lot of vegetarians. The Freshlands as a whole, had a lot of food supply, particularly grain and fruits, and many of the city states export their food as one of their key sources of income. 

That meant there was always a natural place for the Six Ports in the Freshlands, and many merchant lords quickly jumped on the opportunity. Skip intermediaries and additional middleman taxes! They lobbied for a flat-Freshlands tax instead, since the goods would be exported out of Freshland-owned ports. 

Kavio, in one of his many briefings, spoke of the intense resistance and trade disruptions as a result of this war. 

“We still have trade, but the temples have implemented multiple blockages at sea. They have sanctioned privateer groups to sack ships affiliated or carrying goods from the Freshlands.”

I’m a tree. How am I supposed to attack ships out at sea anyway? My beetles too have an operating range, limited by my trees. I cannot send them far out to sea, nor are they suited for it. The ocean is really a massive wall for me, unless I’m able to research sea-going plants. Lilies would probably do well at sea, at least, better than me. They’re a lake-bound existence, surely the open sea wouldn’t be that much of a stretch?

“We’d have to have our own navy.” Which I agreed wholeheartedly. “We’ll have to start from scratch, since as a landlocked realm, we’ve never had to have a proper navy beyond our river-boats.”

A navy. 

But how do I fix our economy that’s disrupted. High-level individuals would usually not have problems...

Wait.

I can create upgraded classes. I can create upgraded trade classes. I totally could create upgraded trade and crafting classes and supercharge the economy. If so, I should totally start doing it. 

“Kavio. What class are you?”

“Me?” Kavio the centaur shifted uncomfortably. “I’m a... [Manager] and a [Trader]. With some classes in [Diplomat] and [Councillor]. It’s... an odd mix.”

“I see. Total levels?”

“Around 60, but it’s rather spread out, so I’m honestly quite weak.” Kavio said. 

Jasmine whispered into my mind. “I believe he also has classes in [Smuggler]. He’s been observed smuggling certain mind-altering substances for nobles. In fact, master Jura also helps to procure the calming teas and psychotic leaves for Kavio.” 

“When did that happen?”

“In the past few years. The substances help to calm the minds, apparently very popular with the leadership of the FFA. They say it helps deal with their anxieties and stress from interacting with you, master.”

I paused. I caused my supposed leaders to have mental breakdowns and anxiety? Oh wait. That was my intention. I wanted them to be afraid of me, right? This is the natural consequence of that. Inevitably, some will turn to drugs for assistance. 

I felt conflicted. It was right for them to be afraid of me, for them to be druggies, that certainly was not the outcome I intended.

I checked my massively growing pile of skill seeds and class seeds. My [soul collectors] constantly bring these back to me, on top of the other class seeds I received when my [Aeonic Priests] perform funeral rites for the dead. I have all those class seeds. Even [smuggler]. I could make upgraded versions of them.

A simple formula I discovered, really, is to just mash 20 to 30 of the same class together, and it becomes an upgraded version. Sometimes 20, sometimes 30. Some needed 40. Classes that had to do with ruling over others, or were faith-related were a bit more tricky. They sometimes worked, sometimes, they didn’t. I haven’t quite figured it out why, or what. Perhaps there is an underlying mechanic to their upgrades. 

“Is there something, Aeon?” Kavio asked. He looked really nervous.

“How is the economy of the Freshlands?”

Kavio paused, and he looked extremely puzzled. Was jumping from classes to the economy too big a mental leap to make? He stood. “If you desire a more complete and precise report, Aeon, I would need to gather some of the merchant lords and administrators. But largely, trade with the regional kingdoms is holding up. We have a healthy supply of food, though we are still working on distribution and allocating. The Valtrian Order is committed to distributing food and aid to the poor and those affected. Financially, the Order and the FFA has committed huge amounts of money to rebuild the lands destroyed in the last two years of war.”

Jasmine, my sky-eye and spymaster intervened. “Master, should you ever desire a report on transaction numbers, you may actually ask us. We monitor the region and we have in depth insights into the number of wagons moving from place to place, the population size and the general health. There is no need to speak to the centaur.”

I nodded but rebuffed her. “I appreciate your statistical input, Jasmine, but I believe when it comes to qualitative measures of trade, I must consult Kavio and the citizens.”

Indeed, Jasmine’s data is like a satellite system that tracks trade movements, but in terms of value and quality, that’s a more subjective measure. Jasmine’s ability to provide insight in whether a corn tastes well, or where the market trends are, is quite limited. Even if she and the artificial minds have a wealth of data.

“I have heard of the FFA’s plans to rebuild and integrate the defected nations. But tell me, from your view, how does it go?”

Kavio paused. “It’s... complicated. We honestly don’t know how much we can trust these defected nations, so even if we have contracts and all, enforcement of those contracts is suspect. The alternative is maintaining military presence so they don’t try anything funny, but that is treated as a sign that we do not trust them. So, that sows future discontent and unhappiness.”

Ah. I see. How do we peacefully and successfully integrate an enemy nation? One that fought wars against us? How can a population that lost their loved ones against me, choose to even side with me. 

“Time, trade and communication.” Jura’s recommendation, using his perspective as a [Warlord]. I think it’s a [Diplomat] aspect that’s merged into it. “Time, really. Time will heal the wound, and we would  have to encourage a constant flow of people to and fro those countries.”

Kavio agreed, of course. “I agree, those are commonly understood principles for long term integration, but we still have to deal with the short term bumps. It remains that each kingdom has a cultural difference, and they want to maintain their pride. They have defected, but they do not want to be seen as subservient, even if they are, in substance, forced to be. It’s a difficult balancing act.”

I had to pause to unpack that. Essentially, for the Six Ports, the FFA formally annexed those ports as new territories of the FFA. But, for the kingdoms and nations in between, that formerly sided with the Temples, they ‘surrendered’ or ‘switched’ sides. So, their status is a lot more ambiguous as, although they are on ‘our side’, they are not my ‘servants’. As such, they have every right to resist my attempts to ‘integrate’ them into the wider Freshlands community, as they feel as that’s me attempting to encroach on their sovereignty.

 It’s like some countries trying to force it’s allies to learn it’s language. Sure, they are ‘allies’, but don’t shove your culture down my throat. Even if these allies were formerly affiliated with my enemies.  

We’re talking about kingdoms. Nations. I could crush them. I could, if I need to. But it has not reached that point. In the jungle, a species would have to find a niche to survive, and an ecosystem needs each other. I would like to build an ecosystem where these nations can exist, in a framework. 

Many resist the FFA’s framework. One where I sit at the stop as the spiritual overlord of all the ‘vassal’ states. A few, agreed. Mostly those nearer and weaker, they were willing to accept me, a strange, magical being, a monster, as their supreme overlord. Most want their own dignity. Might, makes right. The world has no overarching enforcer of laws, as much as the Gods pretends that they are. 

Some of them still believe in their own strength. I ended the briefing, and with Jasmine, surveyed my lands. 

The quality of the FFA’s soldiers’ equipment is average. Not better than those of my opponents. I had thought I’ve made arrangements for their equipment to be upgraded? And from my surveys, it seemed that, yes, there were higher quality items in the mix, but ultimately, there was a volume issue. 

“I wasn’t aware we did not have skilled [blacksmiths].” I asked Kavio. 

“We do. But the quantity of high quality goods our masters can make is limited. Certainly not enough to arm 300,000 soldiers. And the quality of our metals have been inconsistent. But they are trying.”  

Why was I not made aware of this issue? There was an awkward silence. 

“It’s an ongoing process of renewing our force’s equipment. And there’s also the issue of channeling the higher quality output to the Valthorns, who consume these higher quality equipment at a higher rate.” 

But I’ve already given them my wooden-made weapons... I spent a little more time observing my Valthorns and noticed that they treat my wooden-made weapons with unnecessary respect, using them only on missions that I’ve personally ordered. On their general duties they’ve used regular steel weapons. Even though I told them to treat them as expendable, they certainly still used them very, very sparingly. 

“They mostly use them only against demons, due to their anti-demonic effects. Against regular monsters they would equip regular weapons.” My spymaster updated.

Again... had I been so focused on the big picture stuff that I did not notice how things decayed? I think there’s an expectation gap, in that when I give a command, I expect it to be carried out consistently and constantly. But what I’m observing is that for the citizens of the Freshlands, they would forget the orders and commands I gave a few years ago, or there’s a change of guard and the commands previously set out were not properly passed down.

It’s not a surprise that the enthusiasm and obedience to orders and commands decayed. It would be strange if employees remembered everything their bosses said since many years ago. So for the general populace, this ‘bureaucratic drift’ should have been expected. I recalled my own experiences working in that indie company, it was common to forget discussions and decisions that were made as we were busy with our own parts, especially if they seemed inconsequential at that time. 

“We never forget, master.” Trevor said. Indeed, my artificial minds resemble AI more than actual people, and as such they remember my orders even from long ago. Things like overlays, constant expansion of forests. All made possible because my artificial minds almost never stop once an order is given. 

But people do. It is perhaps also why they are able to change. Because when one is not shackled by their past decisions. I looked at the Freshlands as a whole, and wondered, do they need more change, or more order and tradition? 

-

I checked my classes. I have [pirate] classes, probably from some of them who died. [Captain] and [Sailor] classes too. I could make upgraded versions of these classes, if I wanted to start a navy. 

But... how do I control them?

Once they are on ships, out on the open waters, I can't monitor them at all. My trees do not have vision in the ocean. What if those with upgraded classes defect, with my ability to supervise so lacking?

"Trust, Aeon. Unfortunately that is the best we have."

I sighed. I have gotten quite used to being able to monitor those who serve me, at least directly or indirectly via my Artificial minds. Now this requires me to let go, I feel a little strange. Trust. That’s an extremely heavy word. 

It’s especially if the class I’m creating is a [pirate]. [Pirates]... do they have strong respect for authority?

“Pretty sure they do have some respect for authority, especially if they have good captains.”

I merged the Pirate and Captain classes together and noticed that 5 of each, combined, turned into a [Pirate Captain] class. I could create a pirate captain, but would they be loyal? They wouldn’t. The best I could do is to somehow align our interests. But sponsoring piracy against the temples is also not something the neighbours will desire.

Though I once vowed to avoid the game of politics, the fact that I have power and territory, and neighbours, make me a player in this game. Politics is unavoidable. I cannot avoid people forever, unless I do not care of the decisions other nations make and their consequences on me. 

Where should I go with this?

I wanted a cultural victory. Which sectors need it the most? [Blacksmiths], and [Navy]? [Smugglers] to break the temple-navies’ blockade? [Master Farmers]? The Freshlands need to be strengthened and reinforced such that the overall quality of life and the quality of goods are higher than the rest. Better [adventurers], less monsters. 

What’s the best way for me to ‘distribute’ these upgraded classes among the population, such that they aid the Freshlands? 

“Based on our surveillance of the population?”

“Master, perhaps the Titans would be useful.” I nodded. I wanted to know how my people tick. I may not predict what decisions they make once they are in the open waters, or outside my domain, but the best I can do is screen them, vet them and interview them properly. 

I took one of the Titan Souls, and nodded. Commencing fusion of [Grand Mind Tree] and the [Titan Frame]. Upgrading and unlocking of [Tree-Over-Mind] will take a few months.