ca-book Chapter 54: Bucket
Chapter 54: Bucket
House Claim InterfaceYou have built or found an unoccupied structure in a safe zone. You may, without expense, set this structure as your home. When you occupy your own home in the safe zone, you may keep others from entering, although they may still exit at will.
Anyone can be designated as having any access to the home you choose, including access rights, observation rights, or even the ability to grant the same.
You may also increase the privacy of the home, rendering any windows, gaps, or holes in the structure opaque to observation by any but those approved to enter the home.
“Besides having no monsters, a safe zone is called a safe zone because of this,” Licht said behind Tulland. “The house claim means you’re safe from human danger if you so choose.”
“Privacy is nice, but if it only works while I'm here?” Tulland said. “Someone’s eventually going to check the interior out.”
“Try thinking about advanced options, or something like that.” Licht shook his head at the confused look his statement drew. “Just do it. The Infinite will know what you are talking about.”
Tulland obeyed, bringing up a menu of dozens of ridiculously expensive, nearly useless options that he’d never purchase with his hard-earned experience. Most seemed aimed at crafting classes or warrior classes that got buffs from better rest. It took a minute of thumbing through the options until he finally found the useful thing Licht had set him
“Well, it worked. I almost laughed ten times.”
“Me too.” Licht appeared at the back door. “And word around town is that you are a terror of the very annoying and useless sort. You shouldn’t have to socialize from now on if you don’t want to. Which I’d recommend, frankly. Few people will attack you on sight here, and most disapprove of that kind of thing and will step in. But there’s still danger here.”
Tulland nodded. If nothing else, a climber was worth a great deal of experience to anyone who could take them down. In a world where just a small edge might be key to surviving, that made almost anyone a potential threat.
“What I still don’t get is the royal garden stuff. You said it was important, but I don’t see how.” Tulland patted his bag. “I have all the seeds I’ll ever need right here. It’s not like I was going to be carrying in whole trees. Probably.”
“It’s not seeds I’m worried about.” Licht sighed. “It’s your soil. And Tulland? I’m really, really sorry about what’s coming next.”
—
Further outside of town than Tulland would have thought, he found the trench. It was hard to miss it, since little flies were buzzing around from miles away.
“This is horrifying,” Tulland choked out. “Why is this even here?”
“Because it can’t be in town. The Infinite considers that an attack, for reasons I don’t understand. And because people didn’t want to find a new place to do it, every time. I don’t know. But to the extent there’s fertilized soil around here…”
Tulland felt sick, and almost held his nose against the stench. He would have shot this idea down right away if it wasn’t for his making sure he knew that it was a very, very good idea from an agricultural perspective. Here, it said, were the literal generations’ worth of adventurer-provided nutrients, free for the taking. It wasn’t quite Earth Giant soil, but it was depressingly close to the same quality, and not a resource he could pass up.
“Oh, I get it.” Necia was standing much further back, looking at Tulland with sympathy. “Now everyone will think you are carting this stuff around town because I’m crazy, not because you are. I’m sorry, Tulland. I don’t think I can help you with this one.”
Tulland sighed. “Okay, fine. Licht, take me to somewhere I can sell some sad little fruits. I’m thinking I’ll need to.”
“Sure, but why?”
“You would have to be crazy to think I’m doing this without a bucket. Who has one to sell?”