The next day, Galen was roused from his sleep by Varokal's gentle prodding. After a breakfast of surprisingly palatable roasted spider legs, a local delicacy Varokal had procured, Galen retreated to the privacy of his tent, eager to check on the progress of his nascent base.
He settled into a cross-legged position, closed his eyes, and the familiar bird's-eye view of his hidden settlement materialized within his mind. A subtle frown creased his brow. It wasn't Cliff overseeing the construction of the Barracks, but one of the newly trained Peasants. The base's population count stood at nine, yet beyond the lone builder, only three figures were diligently logging, and the construction of the Lumber Mill had ground to a halt.
What is going on? Where have the other five Peasants gone? Shifting his mental perspective, he located them in the Town Hall's courtyard, sound asleep, a mixed group including female Peasants.
A sudden realization dawned on Galen. This was not a game; this was reality. His "units" were not tireless, ever-obedient sprites. They were intelligent beings with their own biological needs. Even though the base's core instilled in them an unwavering loyalty to Commander Galen and equipped them with essential skills, they still required rest.
His assumptions were confirmed by a mentally "awakened" Cliff. The units trained by the base were indeed real humans. Beyond their ingrained loyalty, they possessed the skills inherent to their designated roles. Peasants could mine, log, build, and repair, while combat units would possess various military proficiencies. Crucially, they needed sustenance to maintain their physical exertion and rest when fatigued.
According to Cliff, a standard workday was twelve hours. While they could be compelled to work longer under the Commander's orders, their efficiency would diminish significantly if they were overworked.
Similarly, Galen understood that the combat readiness of future military units wouldn't be a static value represented by mere health points. A fatigued army marching at speed would be far less effective in battle than a well-rested force.
The realization that he had trained Peasants at midnight and then mentally commanded them to work through the night struck him with a pang of guilt. He had inadvertently become the exploitative landlord he never intended to be.
His excitement and urgency from the previous night had led to a lapse in communication with Cliff and a careless oversight.
The logic of a game would not apply here. Galen had a growing premonition that the subsequent buildings and units would also deviate significantly from his preconceived notions. This base was not a digital construct; it was a tangible reality.
Observing Cliff and the other sleeping Peasants in the courtyard, an idea sparked in Galen's mind. He immediately directed the Peasant who had just finished training in the Town Hall to select an open area on the south side of the hall and begin construction of a Farm.
This is a farming game now. A slow-burn strategy like Total War, not a rapid-fire RTS, Galen mentally chanted, attempting to recalibrate his expectations.
Feeling the lingering effects of his late-night excursion, Galen decided to remain within the camp for the day. He tasked Omar and Varokal with alternating hunting trips, instructing them to procure Highland Raptors for their valuable leather, eliminate the giant grassland spiders for their silk sacs, and capture the elusive Highland wild horses. Raptor leather and spider silk sacs were valuable commodities in the human world, essentially hard currency.
Highland wild horses were a prized breed unique to the Arathi Highlands, renowned for their strength, stamina, and load-bearing capacity. Along with the Alterac Mountain Horse and the Elwynn Forest Horse, they were considered one of the three superior horse breeds of the region. A well-bred Highland warhorse could fetch a king's ransom. The wild-caught specimens could serve as excellent breeding stock or, with proper training, formidable war mounts.
Galen's initial plan had been to meticulously map the Boulderfist Hall region and gather local specialties for trade. However, the base's automatic scanning function had rendered this task obsolete. The map now unfolded in his mind as he moved, the surrounding environment constantly being detected and recorded, like an ever-expanding cartographic spell.
While the map-making was no longer necessary, Galen knew he couldn't abandon the base just yet. He needed to ensure its infrastructure was stable and that he possessed a reasonable level of self-sufficiency before venturing out again with peace of mind.
Three more days passed. During this time, Galen continued to train Peasants, bringing their total to twenty-eight. He also directed Cliff to lead a team of four Peasants into the eastern mountains to begin mining operations. Finally, the lumber reserves reached the required threshold for the Barracks, and Galen deployed its blueprint next to the Town Hall, also placing the Blacksmith's blueprint nearby.
The base now boasted three operational Farms.
Farm:
Produces an average of six units of food per day
Requires Peasants to reside Current farm crops default to Magic Wheat Farm crops can be changed by Peasants
This was another pleasant surprise. Food security seemed well within reach. Galen had no immediate plans to alter the default Magic Wheat, the staple grain of this world.
Zooming in on the mental image, the Farm was a sturdy, dome-roofed rectangular structure. The interior was functional, divided into living quarters with a fireplace and a simple kitchen, a central wooden dining table, and a sleeping area with six bunk beds. The rear section served as a warehouse, complete with a small stone mill.
Outside, a cultivated field, roughly an acre in size and enclosed by a simple wooden fence, was visibly planted with the shimmering stalks of Magic Wheat.
With each Peasant consuming one unit of food per day, the combined output of the three Farms and the Town Hall created a significant food surplus, ensuring that the burgeoning population would not go hungry.
According to Cliff, the land within each Farm was imbued with a permanent spell, enhancing its fertility and accelerating the growth cycle of the crops, allowing for a harvest of wheat every ten days.
Excellent! Galen thought, a wave of satisfaction washing over him.
Cliff had also informed him that the Farms were versatile. Beyond wheat, they could be used to cultivate other grains and vegetables, raise livestock and poultry, and even grow medicinal herbs, provided the necessary seeds or animals were available.
As Cliff finished his explanation via the remote connection, a whimsical notification seemed to echo in Galen's mind: Ding! Congratulations on obtaining the achievement "I Have a Farm on the Mountainside."With such an awesome farm, I wonder if I can grow Nether Ore? Galen mused wryly.
With twenty-eight Peasants now under his command, Galen directed five of them to expedite the construction of the Barracks. To avoid hitting the population cap prematurely, he also continued to queue the construction of additional Farms.
Finally, as dusk began to paint the sky, the Barracks stood complete. It was an imposing square structure, over a hundred meters in length and width, built from massive timbers and hewn stone, its white walls adorned with vibrant red banners, and four towering watchtowers guarding its corners.
Galen focused his mental energy on the Barracks, connecting to the light sphere nestled within its sturdy walls.
Barracks: Used to train combat units and upgrade combat units.
Trainable:
Human Footman: Heavily armored unit, equipped with a broad-bladed longsword and a heavy shield, can learn defensive skills. Formally trained, can serve as vanguard and defensive unit. Can be promoted.
Strength: Level 2, gain experience by killing enemies to improve.
Training Requirements: 135 units of gold.
Musketeer: Ranged attack unit, equipped with a musket and bayonet, can attack aerial units. Replacing and upgrading weapons can improve the musketeer's combat effectiveness.
Strength: Level 3, gain experience by killing enemies to improve.
Training Requirements: 75 units of gold, 125 units of wood.
Knight: Currently unavailable, requires upgrading the Town Hall.