CHAPTER 17:
MINGLING, BREEDING & FEASTINGSo, as you all already know from my last chapter and Redlaw's latest chapter, after a long journey, we've met.
But this was only the first step of a healthy hermit trading partnership - or whatever we call it
- now that with my charterstone visited and a gate built on her place, she can come anytime.
Since that first visited, she came a handful more times. We traded some items, some gifts... Got fancy new clothing for my farmer, got a lot of higher quality clay for her...
It has been very nice and productive, not to mention it's someone to chat to when hermiting is too hermity.
So, one day she asked me about pigs. She wanted to raise some but didn't want to tame them. I don't raise pigs myself but found her a seller - and acted as the middle man - getting the pigs to my place, her payment to the seller and finally delivering her the pigs when she came for them.
Because of that, she offered me a couple of cows. That's excellent!
She brought me an adult cow and a little bull. I didn't have any room prepared for them yet so I temporarily kept them in one of the stables. That's very nice, I was planning on getting cows soon, since I already had all the cow cheese infrastructure ready... But I didn't want cows in the Retreat, I don't think they look nice on the "Mountain atmosphere" like sheep do. But I guess I'd have to figure out a way...
Anyway it's nice to have another friend around! I'm very thankful for the cows!
Talking about breeding, by the way...
White Dash, my little mare, finally grew up. Which means that... it is time for her mother to go.
I really like horses, I have a special relationship with them - even in games - and I like to think of how big of a deal horses are for people that live from them and from their work, like I do in Haven.
So I came up with a little ritual for when it's time to slaughter a horse, I don't simply slaughter them inside an ugly pen...
I take them for a ride, a ride through the mountains; their last ride...
I push them to the limit of their stamina, racing fast across the snow. It was a beautiful day when I took Ballerina for her ride.
She was a great mare, a gift from the Ghost, and will be missed...
Come, Ballerina.
Here is nice. You tired, huh? Feeling the breeze after the sprint?
No, no... Don't look me with this face.
There, there...It was a beautiful ride.
Now her spirit shall gallop free for all eternity;
And her hide, meat and bones shall serve me well.
It was a beautiful, singular moment.
Until I came back home and found that White Dash has been... busy.
Aw, come on girl!
Your mother's body is warm still!
Oh, well... What can I say? It's cold up here...
Anyway, after a few days the bull finally grew up as well.
I've found a place for them, inside one of the houses... It's cozy and warm and they will be happy there!
Having cows has proved itself a very nice and useful thing. Not only because of the cheese they'll provide (and eventually meat and leather) but also because I can finally use a pack rack!
I've crafted one for the bull and I must say it has been really helpful for a lot of things... Collecting the stockpiles from mining is one of them, but also bringing produce and lumber from the farm!
I might've been producing too much lumber, by the way. It's good because I'm finally crafting and building higher quality wooden stuff and furniture... But it's becoming a bit chaotic to find room for all the logs I'm still not using.
Well, they'll be used soon - I hope. But the quality grind must go on, so new trees are planted as soon as the old ones are cut down.
I must say I'm enjoying tending to my little tree grove. It's annoying that they stunt so often - even with all the relevant skills - but oh well.
Oh, by the way, the farming is going really nice. With my wheat fields ready I can finally start my Weißbier production. I love it!
And the beer production is very important. If I truly wish to hold a feast near the end of the year, beer production must be kept going at all times.
And if I do not host a feast, well... I can always drink it myself.
But yes, beyond all that... The greatest thing about animal breeding is the production of the almighty cheese.
With my first Sheep Milk barrel finally full since I came back, it was time to set up a Sheep Cheesery. I could've used all the racks and stuff I had in my former cheesery - there wasn't sheep cheese when I left - but I'll leave it prepared for the upcoming cow milk.
So to make it different - and smaller - I used Maple wood and one of the empty buildings.
I've also finished building the cheese racks for the cow cheesery, the ones I didn't build before... And since there will be plenty of cheese in the future, I decided to destroy the old Wine Presses and build new, fancier ones.
Finally, I've also decided to upgrade my brick builds. I can't afford to make higher quality bricks for now - but I can always build some... So I traded a couple of silver bars from the heart of the mountain for a few stacks of high quality bricks with the King.
It was a nice trade and my new ores and findings from Level 5 will really appreciate the upgraded smelters.
Besides, it's always fun to break things!
The trade got me enough bricks for the finery forges, steel crucibles and ovens as well. I had a little and funny surprise with the ovens, though...
The moment I finished destroying one of them, something weird was revealed behind them. Something that I didn't notice until now:
A completely full food trough. What the...?
Then I realized that this was probably the Ghost's doing. Since she left Nimbus loose, it would make sense to spread some food troughs around for him to be able to feed anywhere. Hah.
That was very well hidden, Ghost. Well played. Well played.
Finally, since I've got a lot of corks and will start producing more wine, I decided it was time to make a lot of bottles.
I might have... exaggerated a bit with the amount of sand, though.
Anyway...
Enough of work and breeding... It is time for feasting!
The day of the big event finally arrived.
So, let's leave the mountain and head into the heart of the Ivory Kingdom...
I've arrived to the beautiful town of Belle Dame right after the sun set.
The Bonfire was lit already and I was called inside the Great Hall!
When I got inside, I greeted everyone that was present already and was also greeted by the nicest preparations. Lit torches, gold plates, beautiful bouquets... Everything was great and amazing.
Most of the kingdom's subjects were there already and the Lady of Belle Dame herself led me to my place. I was honored to have been placed next to her!
The feast was amazing.
We ate and drank and had merry conversations. We might or might not have burped as well, but I'll not specify.
It was absolutely insane, the quality and variety of the food, the amount... Every bite was a new attribute point for me, with all the huge bonuses from all the fancy symbelware, the silk stuff, the bonfire and charisma bonuses from everyone... I've gained hundreds of attribute points - literally - and they have been a huge help so far.
It was great!
Every time we ran out of food, we'd go to the other floor where cupboards were filled with stuff for us to delight ourselves.
There I was, wondering what to eat next, when I saw the Sheriff King himself browsing the cupboards...
"Where are the honey buns?" I hear him...
...
I'M SORRY, MY KING, I ATE ALL THE HONEY BUNS.
They were very tasty...
The Lady of Belle Dame is an awesome host & a great cook!
Anyway... We were eating so much that eventually I decided to roast some raw mammoth meat that was available and kindly offered by the Lady.
But then I heard music nearby.
I've looked around and saw the King practicing with a fiddle near the Bonfire.
I joined him and started rocking my unique dance moves.
I call it the Crazy Mountain Bear Style.
It was very good, so we decided to take the show inside...
And so the rest of the night went on, with great music, great people, great food and all... within a great hall.
Hah!
Ok, sorry, that was horrible.
But it was a night to remember!
Back home, I've started to make plans for my own feast...
Hopefully, it will be as fun as this one!
This is probably the last chapter before Christmas, so...
Happy Christmas, everyone!