The council assembles
The Lords Hall smelled of fresh timber, fire, and coffee — the scent of something new finally becoming real.
It was the first time the council had officially convened in the hall meant for them. No more crowded benches or makeshift side rooms. The large chamber at the heart of the hall had been cleared and outfitted with a long, hand-finished table. It was still rough, but for now, it was perfect. Each chair was crafted by someone from Landing, and the care showed.
At the head of the table sat Harold, a newly made mug — fired from local clay — steaming before him. The morning sun spilled through high, narrow windows, casting golden lines across the table.
Around him sat the council.
Each had an aide or two behind them now — another quiet sign that they were no longer just surviving. They were governing.
Harold didn't speak at first. He let the silence stretch for a few seconds, letting the weight of the moment settle in the wood and stone.
Then he leaned forward, voice steady.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen." He took a sip of his coffee and smiled.
"Let's get to it."
His eyes passed over each of them in turn.
"While we were gone, this place kept moving. I want to know exactly what got done, what still needs doing, and where we stand."
He looked to the left side of the table.
"Beth. Start us off."
Beth - City Planning
Beth stood smoothly, slate in hand. Her aide passed her a second one from behind her shoulder. She gave a short nod before speaking.
"Since you departed, we expanded the cultivated field plots by roughly four times. The tatanka helped — cleared stumps, churned the soil. That'll give us enough food output to support the new arrivals without straining the original stockpiles."
She tapped her slate.
"Major layout updates: the residential footprint has expanded westward. Still primarily shelters, but space has been cleared and roads staked out. We've begun marking ground for a dedicated trade row and cistern. There have also been a couple of quests generated for adventurers to escort a surveyor toward the mountains — early aqueduct planning."
She paused, looking toward Harold.
"You said before to plan for the eventual city, not the town we are now. I've completed a preliminary plan with my section for you to review and approve before we start implementing anything long-term. That said, some infrastructure is always necessary, so we've already started on the aqueduct and sewer system."
"One more thing — the fence around the tatanka pasture. We rebuilt it. Larger, fully reinforced. No more rope-and-hope construction. It'll hold."
Then she took her seat.
Harold didn't speak while she spoke, just took notes in his notebook, eyes down, writing fast and steady.
Josh - Construction
Josh followed without prompting, his calloused hands gripping a well-worn slate.
"Both of the new long halls are done. We took lessons from the earlier builds and improved the second iteration — better framing, better fireproofing, proper drainage. Since we planned these into becoming the administrative heart of the future town, we framed them for modular internal walls."
"We also built two more long halls. A small percentage of people are still sleeping outside, but it's because they want to — not because they have to."
"We expanded the forge to double its size for the additional capacity we needed. Built a kiln for pottery. Started planning a bathhouse fed by the creek. We should break ground on the sawmill today, and the mill next week. I've had one of the surveyors start studying the creek to see if it can be shaped into a canal like you mentioned. Still waiting on that."
"Various minor quality-of-life projects were done at work sites. Thanks to Lira, we're finally getting enough material to sustain construction. We're almost ready to begin building the more permanent stone buildings you wanted — just waiting on your approval and for the stockpiles to grow."
He flipped his slate.
"There's a new structure near the supply yard — warehouse foundations. Still early stages, but we've got the stone cleared and corner posts in. Should be usable in two weeks."
Josh scratched his neck.
"You mentioned building a more formal industrial area, but I don't think we have the people or supplies to really sustain something like that yet. Maybe in a month."
Harold nodded his thanks and motioned for the next.
Caldwell - Resource Management
Caldwell adjusted his glasses and stood. His slates were covered in tight handwriting and neat color-coded blocks.
"Food's stable. Between the fields, the river, and hunting, we're breaking even. A little surplus — mostly root vegetables and smoked fish. Foraging's also picking up with summer approaching."
"Wood is solid. We're starting to hit our stride there, now that we've got proper saws and tools. The tatanka made hauling possible, but feed's a problem with how many we have. That's part of why we expanded the fields. Still, with their manure, we've fertilized the new plots."
"We're light on metals and specialty goods — rope, pitch, nails, oil — but production's improving and we've begun to stockpile."
He reached back, and his aide handed him a small leather bag. He passed several around the table.
"I now have adequate quantities of coin minted for the Landing. Silver and gold only — no bronze yet, since Lira hasn't found a source. In place of bronze, I've created stamped chits. They've already become a kind of soft currency. People are using them to trade and barter. There's a growing market that sets up every other day in the center."
"While you were gone, I proposed a policy to the council — and we voted to allow non-essential personnel a day off on Sundays. So far, it's led to increased productivity and morale."
"We're still lacking in a few areas, but I believe those gaps will close once the first crops come in and things consolidate."
"Overall, we've transitioned from emergency resource management to basic logistics. But we'll hit a bottleneck soon if we don't expand storage and get a hauling network in place. We'll need to expand our footprint by three times. Beth has already factored that into her plan."
Harold looked up. "Thank you, Caldwell. I'm glad I reached out to you on Earth. I couldn't have done this without you."
Josh snorted. Beth smacked him upside the head. The room chuckled, the formality briefly cracking.
Lira - Mining
Lira stood. She was the only one without an aide.
"With more people and the tatanka hauling loads, we've expanded the mine about two times. Having real tools was a game-changer. There's a solid iron vein — good quality, enough for a year of constant mining."
"We've also expanded the area for stone extraction. That stone vein will last for years — but I don't think we want to stay here forever. We should start surveying the mountains to the north."
She shrugged.
"We're pulling good material now, but it won't last forever. We need to expand."
Harold looked up. "Thank you, Lira. We wouldn't have made the progress we have without that iron."
Hale - Army
Hale stood next, posture rigid. Garrick was behind him, and another man — someone Harold didn't recognize. Likely a recruit from the portal.
"Current headcount: 310 total soldiers. 142 veterans. All new arrivals have been sorted into centuries. I've selected centurions, but left promotion for your approval."
"Training began while we were gone, but without senior guidance it was slow. I estimate a month to bring the new recruits up to standard."
"We're still using basic armor — the same they arrive with. Each legionary in the Prime Century is armed with spear and sword. The other centuries only have swords. No ranged weapons beyond crude javelins — and those aren't effective without real heads."
"We need to develop our own ranged doctrine. Dedicated scout units, given time to earn perks."
"The elite Knight program is underway. I've defined standards for mana strength and quality. Two soldiers meet the standard so far — I've left them in their units to help train others."
"We've begun 10 km patrols. Two watchtowers are under construction to guard the approaches."
Most of this Harold already knew — the report was more for the rest of the council.
"Thank you, Hale. You've proven my confidence many times over."
Adventurers - Mark & Evan
Mark gave a half-smile, then stood.
"Adventurer count: 109. The respawned came back — minus one perk each. Most are taking things more seriously now."
"We've started a structured mission board. Margaret's team posts quests based on town needs — hunting, gathering, scouting."
Evan added, "Small teams are mapping local mana zones. There's a pattern to spawns, but we're also seeing a drop in monster activity. Could be seasonal, or tied to the relic. But I suspect it is because we are taming this area."
Mark nodded. "People are jealous of the perks the campaign group earned. Most understand the risk-reward equation. They want access to the dungeon. Some teams want to explore the other dungeon site."
Harold's expression turned thoughtful, his pen still scratching.
"Thank you. Margaret?"
Margaret - Administration
Margaret stood, all business.
"We've formalized the work rotation system. Color-coded tokens, assigned crews, supervisors, and shift schedules. We're tracking labor output and resource flow."
She flipped her slate.
"Population: 2,267 — including portal recruits and respawned adventurers. Housing is at 92% capacity."
"I've expanded my department fourfold. It's now training future administrators for our future villages. I've also contacted a former judge who's begun drafting laws. I'll have them to you for approval by week's end."
She paused.
"My lord — we need to decide what kind of government this is. You're the Lord of your territory, yes. But are you a king? Do we delegate power? The Americans among us are struggling with that. The others — especially those from outside the U.S. — are more accepting. There have been some complaints… but nothing major yet."
"Crime's low. Two thefts. One serious assault — a fight between two lumberworkers. One slept with the other's wife. They're separated now, but we had to use a healing potion to fix the worst of it."
"One last item — a priest's been asking about religion. He wants to build a church. I've denied him for now. He's begun gathering a small following for Sunday services. Not many, but growing. Most people are too busy surviving to care."
Harold's quill finally stilled. He set his notebook down with care and looked up.
"Thank you, Margaret. You brought up several things I was already planning to address."
His gaze swept the room — across the council that had kept the Landing running in his absence.
"I know these last seven weeks have been busy. And I have each of you — and the people working under you — to thank for the progress we've made."
"The home we're building here, the future we're shaping… it's because of your effort. But—" he gave a small nod, "—I'm afraid it's about to get even busier."
He let that sink in for a moment.
"I believe we're very close to qualifying for the next upgrade — to move from village to town. The only things holding us back are the number of buildings and our food reserves. I can't see the exact thresholds, it's more of a feeling. But we're close. Close enough to begin planning ahead."
He reached for his coffee, took a sip, then set it down again with a quiet clink.
"So, I'm going to begin formalizing our structure. Sections. Section heads. You'll each get specific feedback and updated priorities for your areas. We're not operating as a loose group anymore — we're a functioning government."
Around the table, some council members shifted, a few looked nervous. But most were already reaching for slates. Aides at the back exchanged glances, readying their own styluses and parchment.
Harold continued.
"First — and to address Margaret's earlier point — let me be absolutely clear: this is a dictatorship."
He let the statement hang in the air for just a beat longer than comfortable.
"The buck stops with me. I am the Lord. It's my responsibility to ensure what needs to happen does happen — and to answer for what doesn't. But that doesn't mean I do everything alone."
"I will be delegating authority across specific sections. You've already been doing the work — now you'll do it with formalized titles and expectations. And let me be clear: the oaths you've sworn to me — and mine to you — will keep this structure honest. There will be no abuse of power. Not from above, and not from below."
His voice steadied, but didn't rise.
"We are here to serve ourselves, and by that I mean the people of the Landing. Our job is to protect them, support them, and give them the foundation for lives that are productive — and more importantly — fulfilling. What fulfillment looks like is up to them. Our job is to give them the chance to figure that out."
He paused, eyes level.
"If someone harms a citizen of the Landing — if they strike them down without cause, without due process — the response will be swift and violent. Let the world know: the people of Landing are off limits."
He let that settle for a moment before shifting tone.
"However."
His voice sharpened, not unkind, but firm.
"I will not abide unproductive citizens. No one coasts. No one sits idle and leeches off the work of others."
"People will have to earn their citizenship. All citizens will be required to take an oath to me — just as I will swear one in return to them. We will serve each other. That bond of service will be what lifts us — and eventually, all of humanity — out of the dirt."
He let the fire behind those words cool a little before continuing.
"Our second priority is humanity."
"There are a lot of humans out there — scattered, struggling, starving. If we have the ability to help, we will. But never at our own expense. Our first duty is to the people already under our roof."
"If private citizens want to make efforts to help others — I encourage it. But the government's duty is clear: care for the governed first."
His hand rested flat on the table now. Steady.
"There will be fights in our future. Real ones. With real stakes. When they come, I'll need every one of you focused — pulling in the same direction. No distractions. No split priorities. We move forward together."
Harold paused, letting his words settle over the council like morning mist.
Around the room, there was only the sound of styluses scratching and the slow, deliberate breathing of people understanding just how much weight had shifted into the room.
Harold watched them, eyes steady. Judging their reactions. Measuring the shape of his council — and the future they'd be called to build.
The room had fallen silent again.
Harold let it sit for a breath, then two, watching the light shift across the table as the sun climbed higher. The smell of coffee, woodsmoke, and parchment hung between them. His fingers rested on his closed notebook. When he spoke, his voice was calm — but clear.
"We're not a camp anymore."
He let that sink in.
"We're not a scavenger crew. Not a desperate band trying to survive one more night. We are building a state. And it's time we started acting like one."
He looked around the table.
"I said earlier this was a dictatorship. That's still true. The buck stops with me. But I'm not a god. I can't be everywhere at once. And even if I could, we're growing too fast for me to do this alone."
His eyes swept the room again.
"So from this day forward, we're moving to a formal structure. Clear sections. Clear responsibility. No more overlapping roles, no more patchwork band-aids."
He raised one finger.
"Josh — you're officially Head of Infrastructure & Development. You'll be responsible for what gets built and how fast. You'll oversee construction, industrial facilities, sanitation, and maintenance. You'll have your own sections and foremen under you. I don't care who you pick — just make sure they know what they're doing. If your section heads dont perform they will be replaced."
Josh sat up straighter, already scribbling something down.
Harold looked to Beth.
"Beth — you're Head of Urban Planning & Expansion. You'll decide where we build, and why. Zoning, layout, expansion corridors, long-term growth. You're thinking in years, not days. Survey teams will report to you. You'll coordinate directly with Josh to make sure we aren't building ourselves into a corner."
Beth gave a small nod. She already looked like she had a dozen new map sketches to draw.
"Caldwell — you're Head of Logistics & Economy. Everything that flows through the Landing goes through your office. That includes food, tools, coin, building materials, and hauling schedules. You'll coordinate with Josh on warehouse planning and with Lira on transport. I'm sure you will build different sections under that umbrella. I'll want to approve those before you start appointing people."
Caldwell looked like he'd been expecting it. His aide just adjusted her glasses and started flipping slates.
"Lira — you're Head of Resource Extraction. That means mining, quarrying, and prospecting. You're also going to oversee hauling for anything pulled out of the ground until Caldwell's people are ready to take that off your plate. This will not include the farms."
Lira didn't nod — just gave a short grunt of acknowledgment and scratched her jaw.
"Hale — you remain Head of Military & Defense. You've already got Garrick and your lieutenants. I want scout formations up and running. I want the Knight program formalized. And I want a doctrine we can scale with. We're going to have hundreds more coming through those portals eventually. You're the wall between this place and what's out there."
Hale didn't respond with words. He just gave a single sharp nod.
Harold turned next to the adventurers.
"Mark, Evan — you're Co-Heads of Adventurer Affairs. You'll handle the quest board, dungeon access, scouting assignments, perk tracking, and bestiary work. I want a real picture of the monster ecology within a week. You'll also be responsible for helping adventurers build themselves in a way that serves the Landing and their egos."
Mark raised an eyebrow at that, but nodded slowly. Evan just looked eager.
"Margaret — you're Head of Civil Administration. Everything from records to justice to internal security is under you now. You've already started training future bureaucrats — good. You'll need more. That judge you mentioned? Bring him in. We need a legal framework. I expect your first draft by week's end. That umbrella is broad I want you to propose a more elaborate structure and bring it to me by the end of the week. I believe that structure needs to be split a little more. That is a lot on your plate."
Margaret looked satisfied. Her aide already had the ledger open.
"You'll also be handling cultural and religious affairs. Light touch, for now. But keep an eye on it. If it starts causing division, we'll deal with it."
He leaned back slightly, then glanced at all the aides in the room.
"Each of you — I don't care if you're new or not — you're now part of a real government. If you don't think you can handle it, now's the time to say something. Otherwise, your job is to learn fast and back up the person you serve."
Harold looked back to the council as a whole.
"We're close to qualifying as a town. When that happens, everything gets bigger. Recruitment portals. Storage. Capacity. Influence."
"And once that happens — we'll found new villages. From those villages, we'll grow a chain of influence that spreads through this region like vines on stone. If we do this right, we'll be the foundation that the rest of humanity builds on."
He leaned forward again, voice lower.
"But it has to start here. With this room and this table. With every one of you taking your section and owning it."
A pause.
"Any questions?"
No one spoke up.
"Ok good, we will do this again at the end of the week, I will approve or disapprove of each of your plans and we will go over the priorities. I need a little time to think about this."