When we woke, the forest surrounding our shelter was submerged in a sea of gray mist. The snow hadn't fallen yet, but from the branches of the trees to the fences around our field, everything was coated in a thick, freezing layer of dew. When we breathed, white vapor hung in the air. Yet, despite the bone-chilling dampness outside, inside the shelter it felt like a spring morning. The underfloor heating system Koram had built was working flawlessly; the hot water running through the clay pipes filled the stone floor with a sweet, lethargic warmth.
Barun and Koram were outside discussing the width of the trench and the placement of new traps, when an unexpected sound sliced through the silence of the deep woods. The grinding of heavy wagon wheels getting stuck in the mud, the clinking of armor, and the whinnying of exhausted horses.
Eliz instantly grabbed her bow. I readied my axe, while Barun threw that massive, worn steel pickaxe he had brought from the mine over his shoulder, standing before the shelter entrance like a mountain.
From the mist emerged two large wagons pulled by draft horses, accompanied by weary guards. This was a merchant caravan originally bound for the Kingdom of Iron Banner, forced to change its route due to a landslide on the main road. The leader of the caravan, an old merchant wrapped in thick furs, pulled his horse's reins in disbelief at the sight before him in this desolate corner of the forest. His eyes locked onto the dense steam rising from the sauna, then the orderly stone walls, and finally Barun's intimidating figure.
"What is this? An oasis in the heart of the woods, or a bandit camp?" the old merchant called out, pulling his cloak tighter. His voice was tired but cautious.
Koram stepped forward, striking the ground with his staff. "This is a sanctuary for honest travelers about to freeze. If you keep your swords sheathed, we can offer you a hot bowl of stew."
Seeing his guards' hands shaking from the cold, the merchant immediately accepted. We invited them inside. The moment they stepped through the door and felt the heat rising from the stone floor beneath their boots, the absolute shock on their faces was a sight to behold. We served them our heavily-meated rabbit stew, cured with our own salt, in the freshly fired, smooth clay bowls.
"The craftsmanship of this pottery is remarkable," one of the younger merchants said, taking a large gulp of the stew and closing his eyes. "And this floor... I swear I haven't seen a heating system like this even in the most luxurious, expensive inns of Iron Banner. After that damp chill outside, this place is heaven itself."
When they finished eating and had thoroughly warmed their frozen bones, the old merchant stood up. With an expression of deep gratitude, he placed two shining pieces of metal on the table. 2 Pure Silver Coins.
"This money is a small price for such food and unmatched comfort," he said gravely. "If you continue to develop this place, you will become a legendary stop on the cross-kingdom roads. But be careful; in this forest, this much comfort attracts not only friends, but greedy dogs as well."
After the merchants departed into the misty, damp air to continue their journey, Koram picked up the silver coins from the table and flipped them between his fingers. There was a strategic glint in his eyes.
"Iron Banner is too far," he said, dropping the coins into his pouch. "It's impossible for me to go there and return before the winter fully hits; I'd freeze to death on the road. But Aethelgard is close. I know the trail leading there like the back of my hand. We must turn this money into an investment immediately. I will go and buy the things we cannot find in the forest."
Koram's list for Aethelgard was critical enough to determine the fate of our settlement:
Crafting and Sewing Kits: Professional steel needles, high-quality thread, and leather awls to turn our rabbit pelts and deer hides into real, durable winter clothing.Professional Seeds: High-yield wheat and rye seeds to plant in our field alongside the wild seeds we had gathered ourselves from the forest.Steel Saw and Files: Barun's mine-looted pickaxe worked wonders on the earth, but we needed a professional saw to cut timber and planks properly. The files were essential to keep our existing tools sharp.Refined Spices: If we didn't just salt our meat, but added black pepper and rare spices, we could sell it at a premium to future caravans.
Koram threw his thickened, worn cloak over his shoulders, gripped his staff, and disappeared into the mist toward the nearest settlement of Aethelgard, as we waved goodbye from the gate.
A brand new era was beginning for us. We were no longer just a group of fugitives trying to survive; we were a defined settlement with silver in our pockets. But the warning from Koram and the merchant echoed in my mind: The storm wouldn't just be coming from the sky.
ESSENCE HAVEN
ECONOMY: 2 Silver (In Use)
STATUS: Koram en route to AETHELGARD