@butchock , Lords and Ladies of Bladepoint Keep, have my very first IC omake for your consumption.
Building Bladepoint
'Careful there, careful there, that's an expensive block of marble from Waterdeep you're holding there! Lord Dante won't be pleased if you lugnuts drop and break it!' shouted the wildly gesticulating foreman on the straining and panting group of eager village men carrying a block of marble.
While it would've been amusing scenery when one thinks of construction, it wasn't that much funny when an angry dwarf brandishing his working hammer as he was screaming profanities silenced all protestations. Even the burliest men from the villages were wary of messing with him and kept their distance.
The dwarf was a foreman hired by their lord a week ago from Neverwinter, recommended highly by his contacts he had maintained and sustained throughout his travels when a few brave souls politely asked him.
'So how goes the work Hjulren? Any more complications or costs that should be factored in?' said the smooth, suave baritone voice of Lord Dante Selonia, one of the council that has recently been making weaves in the Sword Coast, taking control with an eclectic group of personages. 'And have the glassmakers agreed on the sum price within?'
The hairy dwarf replied, 'Yes my lord, and though how the nine hells did you convince Alto the Tightfisted to part with his glass at equity I'll never know.'
The diplomat smiled. 'That my friend is a favor owned and a favor repaid from him to me.' Locking his arms on his back, Dante assumes a thoughtful posture which Hjulren copied.
Some moments passed as they saw busy men moving to and fro, the organized chaos contained in this part of the castle as one man's vision of a Reception Hall worthy of the greatest slowly became reality. Men and women at the scaffolds like worker ants, chipping, painting and replacing worn out walls and brickworks.
Torches that might've been centuries old were replaced by the latest and newest ones from by the village store. The tacky and downright rusting candelabrum was gingerly put down and being replaced by c a crystal chandelier expensively imported. The threadbare carpets were replaced by the richest and most elegant furs and rugs from the North. What had been old and musty tapestries the workers replaced with velvets and silks as they precariously hung on to the stout ladders handmade by the village carpenters.
Content with the vista before him, Dante breaks the silence. 'Amazing what these villagers can do Hjulren, their work ethic and enthusiasm must be recommended.'
'Aye manling. When I arrived here the first thought I had in me mind was that this was just a backwater with a lord too big for his britches and needing a healthy dose of thumping.' Dante amusedly looks at him. 'Present company excluded of course. I even thought that the villagers here were yokels and bumpkins that might need a crash course… but by Moradin's beard I have been pleasantly surprised by how quick they had grasped building on such a scale! Though a good and proper dwarven builder would still outdo them.'
Both shared a hearty laugh at the jest. Who could dispute that? The dwarves really made masterwork pieces consistently and were highly desired by most.
'Very well then, I shall leave you to your work. It behooves a man like me to take in your precious time when there are a lot of things to do. I still have to make sure that the stained glass arriving is in pristine condition and that they had done Sword Coast's history justice.'
'Good luck Lord Dante, though if they fuck up the Battlehammer Clan in retelling Icewind Dale there will be blood to pay!'
The dwarf foreman punctuated that statement by giving a meaty
thwack! of his working hammer to his left palm.
Knowing that he was not joking, Dante inwardly prayed that the glassworkers had not done any fuckups. Even then, his mind was already forming plans to move up to the north and possibly Ten Towns and beyond.
I have but scraps and rumours on that area, and everything goes fantastic in every retelling. I have a feeling that I shall pack the best and sturdiest winter clothing in the far future.
Any musings was interrupted by a loud and booming voice.
'Lord Dante! I have to say again, thank you for letting me and my boys shine here! Have to say, I never knew Bladepoint's gonna start prospering and go grand in all counts.'
Coming into Dante's view was what a generous soul would've called swarthy. Brown beard and hair flowing down his face, surprisingly kept tidy, his green eyes over a hawkish nose holding mirth and amusement as his working clothes showed every stain and dust possible in building.
'So Mister Kapartha, how are you and the Builder's League United?' The self-proclaimed leader of the said proclaimed group if possible, widened his smile, showing surprisingly a complete and clean set of teeth to his liege lord.
'Ha! Every one of us is having a grand old time here milord. Imagine that, building the Reception Hall of the castle first thing after taking power…what's not to like?' The air of self-satisfaction could be felt coming off the man. 'But please milord, call me Jan. you have earned the right to call me that by giving me and my people a purpose once more.'
Dante nods in assent. The first moment he called out for workers and volunteers in refurbishing a part of the castle, he was impressed at the speed and alacrity of the men and their leader in responding to him and in getting to work quickly after instructions and plans was shown.
'I had doubts at first Jan, but you and your group have impressed me again and again with your speed and efficiency. I am positive that before autumn, the Hall will be open for business. '
'Yes milord. I feel that change is on the air' Jan assumes a conspirational stance, closing in on his lord. 'Interesting times are coming and my instincts have never been wrong, well, except when I flirted with that elven barmaid.' He shakes his head waving away concerns. 'Another story when we have a proper drinking session; and I want to be at the forefront of building new things. That crazy mechanist had already told me about creating a sawmill powered by steam if you fancy that!'
Tipping an imaginary hat, the swarthy man bid Dante a sincere adieu. 'But I won't take more of your time milord. Good day to you because mine is filled with construction backlogs!' the man left with a booming laugh, feeling invigorated by the building boom he knew would come.
But Dante was deep in thought, his razor-sharp intelligence awhirl with new vectors of thought and probable implications. What if he made the Builder's League United into a formal and permanent part of the castle? Jan Kapartha and his people presented an untapped and useful potential to have around.
It would be better to make the pitch come the next Seasonal Meet between the Councilors. I hope they agree, because some things are best left to delegates like building mundane buildings.
END
