BoG Chapter 167 Rough Draft (Patreon)

Hatchet in hand, Suzette headed to the chicken coop and its over-abundance of roosters. Lots of hens meant lots of egss, but extra roosters just meant trouble. As she started to enter the fenced in area next to the coop, she saw a small sign on the gate post. It looked like it had been scratched into a small bit of scrap wood.

Beeware of Chik-kunz

"Oh, no. We are not starting down that path." The small sign was promptly cut in two by her hatchet, and she entered the yard and began hunting down roosters. The first one stood his ground with a determined look in his eye, wings spread and standing on one leg. She grabbed it by the neck, endured it's scratching, and cut off its head on the wooden chopping block in the middle of the yard. Letting the body run around headless, she scanned the rest of the flock. "Who's next?"

That was enough to break the spirit of the revolution. The old rooster leaped to the fence, and then to the safety of the top of the coop. When a younger rooster followed, the wiley old survivor kicked him off to land at Suzette's feet. Two down. The hens were only too happy to have a good rooster-slaughter underway. They formed a posse that pecked and harassed the two hiding in the coup until they ran out to their doom. They led Suzette on a good chase, but eventually both were captured and beheaded. With a bloody axe in one hand and the necks of four headless roosters in the other she turned to find Titania, Johannes, Tommaso, and Volminous watching her. Titania was leading them in some mild applause. "It's so good to see that I'm not the only one running around killing things with a bloody axe. If that battle is over, can we talk a bit of business with you?"

Suzette looked at her apron and dress covered in blood and chicken feathers. Someday she was going to find a way to learn that cantrip of Ozzy's. "Sure, let me toss these in the kitchen and I'll be right with you."

Runt was doing dishes for Betty. Suzette set the roosters on one of the wooden tables. "Can you let Betty know I'll be back to cook these up in a bit? Thanks." She took a moment to wash up and get a new apron before stepping out the back door to talk to Johannes and his faculty.

"Ok, what can I do for you all? Is this tavern-keeper stuff or mayor stuff?"

Johannes spoke for the group. "I think both? We wish to discuss the use of rooms upon your third floor, and possibly an arrangement. May we show you what we require?"

Suzettef followed them up to the third floor with its odd assortment of rooms. Johannes gestured to the door of what was now called the laboratory. "This discussion started as we were all agreeing on how usefull our mutual lab assistant was. Young Zephyr has been quite helpful. She was obviously well trained by her father and I think all of us have made use of her help in the lab on one day or another. We all felt that she would be an excellent student when we re-open our college."

"Unfortunately, that seems like it may be delayed. While we will begin construction of the upper stories soon, we had counted on access to the things stored in the lower levels when the college was shut down. It seems that many of the lab experiements got loose, and have been breeding and reproducing. It's going to take quite a bit of work to clear out the catacombs. Re-opening seemed out of the question until a recent event."

Suzette looked at the group of nervous academics. "And which recent event are we referring to?"

"He means the big melt down over at the Butcher's hellpit of doom." Titania rolled her eyes, which looked horrible as they didn't rolll at the same speed.

Johannes continued. "Yes, that event. Our college conducted a lovely experiment and received recognition for it! It was an eye-opener for us all. We don't need a huge building to get started. Everything we need is right here!"

Suzette eyed the laboratory. "You want to put your college in the lab? Isn't that a bit small?"

Volminous chuckled. "I should say so! I can barely fit in the door. No, we need a bit more than that. Had you considered the use of these other two rooms? You have a lovely library that lacks books and a bit of comfy furniture. Next to it is a perfect room for academic discussion and teaching. The three rooms together, along with the occaisional use of the large meeting room give us all we need for our college to officially re-open."

Tommaso and Tommaso nodded their heads and spoke in unison. "We will simply consider the entire area as an experimental laboratory, and conduct more practical experiments as we did with the Thermal Enhancement Experiment."

Suzette could see that all of them were excited. But she had a question for them.

"That all sounds good, in theory, but you're all experienced enough to understand the difference between theory and reality. I have a business to run. Several in fact. What is the benefit to me or the town in allowing this? I know full well it will come with some downsides."

Johannes looked at the others. "Yes...we do...I mean, we try not to, but it's unavoidable if...certain things do go wrong now and then. We can promise to clean up?"

Suzette crossed her arms and stared at him. "I need a bit more than that."

Volminous laughed. "Of course you do. Don't we all want more? We are happy to offer more! If we can't be enough benefit to you that it compensates you for the use of your rooms, then what kind of alchemists are we? So ask yourself this question: How can this collection of learned academics be of use to you?"

Suzette thought that over. "First off: Free tutoring in alchemy and other skills you know, for the few of us in town that can benefit from you. Zephyr for sure, and I need to learn more potion making. Ben has some odd skills he dabbles in, and there may be others."

Titania immediately said. "Done. Can't have a college without students. What else?

"Second: You help out in emergencies, no questions asked. Too much happens in this town and we may need help."

The Tommasso twins nodded immediately and answered. "But of course! Think what we can learn by helping? Chaos is the best time for experimenting."

Suzette nodded. This was going well. "And thirdly, I want you to supply me with 1000 basic mana and health potions each month, to sell to adventurers. That's what helps with the bottom line and pays the bills."

Johannes considered that. "Hmm, can we vary it up a bit? Strength potions? Poison resist tonics? Web-in-a-bottle? There are a lot of fun potions we could experiment with, and that would keep the chore from being tedious."

Suzette liked that idea. A good variety would sell better. "I'm fine with that. Everyone likes to have fun with experimental potions now and then."

Titania looked at all of them. "So, we are all fine with this? We have a deal? I want no whining later when you have to crank out a hundred potions to make quota." All of the others nodded their heads in agreement and Titania turned back to Suzette. "Looks like we have a deal. We'll start filling up the library and get to work on that first order of potions."

The Mayor of Sedgewick, and Suzette the Lonely Tavern Keeper have agreed to host The College of Practical Alchemy and Experimental Magics.

The college has the use of the 3rd floor of the Sedgewick Tavern in exchange for:
-Tutoring of local alchemists, necromancers, herbologists, mycologists, and other poorly defined 'ologists.
-Help in emergencies, especially those where impromptu experimentation may be carried out.
-1000 assorted potions a month. Bottles to be supplied by the town. Recycle where you can!

Johannes and the others shook hands with Suzette. She had the fingers of her other hand crossed behind her for luck. She was pretty certain she was going to need some.

Suzette was hurrying downstairs when she heard the deep voice of Roderick Kallvek. Forwarned, she slowed her steps and came into the taverns common room at a walk with a smile on her face.

"Ah, and here she is! My good friend Suzette. Please! Come let me introduce you to my family. We decided that a small vacation away from the capitol was needed! This is my wife, Melissa and our children: Misha, Sasha, Sora, and little Thaddeus. My mother Aurelia came along, as did my father, Emilio."

Suzette took in the extended family as got names and relations. Roderick's father seemed to be an older, greyer and louder version of his son. Both his mother and wife were cordial, but she noted from their body language that they didn't defer to their husbands. Conversation brought that out as well. The children were inquisitive but polite, quivering like arrows about to be released. They had arrived the night before, just after the chaos of the Star Spawn had died down, and taken rooms at the Inn.

"Roderick mentioned his father went by another name. Does this mean you are on vacation, or simply keeping a low profile?"

Emilio laughed. "It is hard for someone my size to go un-noticed. But yes, this is a little vacation with my grandchildren. Who knows though? There is always something interesting to see. Maybe we can do some business before I leave."

That was good enough for Suzette, for now.

She kneeled down to look the children in the eye. "We have rules here. Breaking them might get you eaten by something."
Rule 1: Don't go in basements. Basements might have a dungeon with things that try to kill you.
Rule 2: Don't go near the big smoking building. It ties people up in chains and throws them into the fires.
Rule 3: If someone is scaring you, or hurting you, scream loud and we'll come beat it up.

The children pondered that, with the older ones repeating the rules for Thad. Getting eaten was bad.

Their mother agreed. "Those are good rules. This isn't the city. Scout the area, learn the territory, meet the people, but don't explore the dungeons."

Warnings and introductions done, Roderick started into business. "I have all of the goods you requested. We wished to return swiftly and were delighted to find that our travel fees were already covered. The local Legion commander must hold you in high esteem."

This caused Suzette to laugh. "Oh, he certainly was happy when the Baron's workers filled up his teleport pad with mana. They have more than they can use now and are sending excess back to Wolfsburg. Mana seems to be a commodity like everything else, and we have filled his coffers full. I'm happy that it smooths your road a bit."

The Great Kallvek nodded and let his son talk. He was enjoying not being the point man, and able to simply observe and poke his nose into things. This little town was well built. The walls of the tavern were made of thick stone which supported the extra stories of the building. If what Roderick said was true, it also contained not one, but two dungeons in the basement! Such a little money maker. The dungeons explained the dozen or so magical items hanging on the wall behind the bar with price tags upon them. He laughed to himself. A tavern with magic swords for sale? Unheard of!

His son was correct. This was an opportunity to set down roots before anyone else. The other merchants came to sell their whiskey and snails, happy to take away some coin, while ignoring the true wealth that would soon be centered in this little town. Some places you could make money buying. Some places you made money selling. Here? Both were possible. Dungeons brought adventurers and produced wealth. His family could sell things to them, and buy their loot. Sell foodstuffs to the town, and buy their finished goods. And that was just Sedgewick. The great city was close enough that this was just the door step. How much business could he do in a city of that size?

His musings came to an end as son spoke to him. "The mayor has a building to show us. Let us go take a little walk, see the town, and decide if it will fit our needs."

Suzette took them to the village square, and then to a small shop at the corner. It was narrow and two stories tall. A small yard separated it from a larger 'L' shaped building that enclosed the yard on two sides, the two buildings forming a square. "Would this do? You mentioned the need for a modest building. Somewhere to store a few things, and maybe do some buying and selling?"

Roderick looked to his wife, who shook her head no. "Ah, I think that my plans may call for something a bit more than this fine little building. Although, it is nicely positioned on the square. I think though it could make a very good place for Myrna. She wishes to have a permanent place to cook." Looking around for the kobold, he didn't see her.

Aurelia and Melissa were discussing the larger building. It was as tall as the tavern, with three stories topped by a steep roof of slate. Four chimneys were jutted upwards from the roofline. Balconies were visible in three places, with great doublewide doors opening onto them. The windows on the bottom floor were tall and narrow, but on the third floor they were wide with many planes of glass.

"This is an interesting building. Why is it empty?" Melissa was peering in through the windows. The bottom floor was very open with a large kitchen in back, and then a huge area flanked on both sides by large hearths. Wide oak planking formed the floors.

Suzette gestured at the building. "That is one we have set aside for future use. Maybe a storehouse of sorts, or workshop. Who knows? It's one of the extra buildings we gained when the town was rebuilt. Feel free to take a look, but I'm sure it's too large for the little shop Roderick said he was looking for."

Melissa and Aurelia entered the building, followed by the children who immediately set out to explore. Suzette followed behind them, pointing out the wide stairs that led down to a huge basement area, and the large kitchen. The children explored the entire house, (except the basement that was surely filled with monsters). Roderick watched their progress as they emerged from one balcony after another, and even on the roof, where they had found a small widow's walk.

Emilo took out his pipe and lit it, then gestured to the rest of the town. "I am going to look around. Your mother will spend at least an hour looking at the building that Suzette wants to sell us and that your wife wants to buy. You cannot hurry them."

It was not a large town, but it was interesting. Everywhere he went, people were busy. Very, very busy. The smithy was still a beehive of activity, even as he saw stone masons tearing down two of the walls and rebuilding them. Work did not stop just because the building needed an upgrade. He wandered into the large fortress at the end of town after politely asking to look around. Two mean were taking their lunch and waved him on it. He saw two men working a loom and producing rough cloth, woodworkers making furniture, horses being shoed, and all manner of small crafts being worked on. The upper stories seemed to be individual rooms. The Baron seemed to take very good care of his indentured workers.

Several little shops were lining the courtyard. An alchemist was doing a brisk business selling potions, and there was a line at the butcher shop. That confused him until he got closer and could smell the bacon. Each player was emerging from the shop with a small package of it. A sign in the window proclaimed a special on smoked jerky. Silver and gold coins were being exchanged for smoked meats in preparation for a large raid on the local dungeon.

Smoke and fire errupted into the air, along with the un-mistakable sound of an excited kobold. He followed the noise behind the main buildings to find Myrna standing on top of a barrel, watching a large man breathe fire. This had to be the Butcher. He was as large as Roderick had described him with finely sculpted muscles and dark skin. He took a large drink from a bottle, and then carefully blew a huge smoke ring into the air. Concentrating hard he did another, and then lost control, belching out a huge gout of fire into the air.

Myrna clapped excitedly. The little fire shaman was a true pyromaniac with a deep love of open flames. She was shouting at the Butcher. "Again! Do it again, Fatfingers. More fire!"

An older man sitting in a rocking chair yelled back. "He's not supposed to be making fire you silly lizard. He's controlling the fire and making smoke. Do it again boy. I want to see at least three rings this time. If the fire in your belly gets too hot, let a little smoke trickle out your ears to reduce the pressure. The Butcher looked from one to the other and mumbled something, before taking another drink of something very flammable and started breathing out smoke again.

Myrna saw Emiolo watching and hopped down. "Fatfingers is getting better. Fire inside is getting hotter. Needs to be hot, to match his pit. Lovely, lovely pit. I could stare into it for days." She shook herself. "But then nothing would get cooked."

She grabbed Emilio by the arm. "Come. You will buy Myrna a place for her grill. I am moving here. Fatfingers will be ready soon, and I need to be near this fire."

Suzette and Melissa were haggling when they got back. Aurelia walked over to talk to Roderick. "You wife found a house. It is ideal for you. Plenty of room to live on the top floor. Storage in the basement, two floors for business. The small building will become a place for Myrana to set up shop. The price is reasonable, barely a quarter of what we would pay in Wolfsburg."

Roderick nodded. "So she is buying it?" His mother laughed. "She already has, they are just working out the final price."
As they watched, Suzette and Melissa shook hands and then hugged. The children, who had been watching closely, raced back into the building to haggle over who got which room.

Suzette turned to Roderick. "I'm happy you are moving here. We have a lot to talk about. We have a late meeting tonite to discuss town planning. Would you like to come? Late dinner included."

The Great Kallvek inclined his head and smiled. "But of course, all four of us will come. It is very nice to be included in your plans. We will offer our advice and partake of your meal."

"Great, and now I should get back to the kitchen, I have...." She was interupted by the sound of hooves. Ben came racing up on Mudhead, paused just long enough to grab Suzette before taking off again.

"Sorry folks, a bit of an emergency. Cham is about to be sacraficed by a grove of angry apple dryads. To calm things down I need Suzette to come sign a Treety with them." And with that, the two rode off in the direction of the forest.

Roderick watched them go. "I told you it was an exciting place."

The Great Kallvek looked thoughtful, and then made up his mind. "I think so too. Come, we can leave the women to plan their conquest of your new home. But I think I want some place quieter for when your mother and I visit. The Innkeeper seems like the sort who wouldn't mind a silent partner. Let's go buy an inn."