>>6092139Note, I believe the coal mine is in the wrong place.
With Vitruvia surrounded on all sides, the frantic expansions of the Homunculi cease. A sense of normalcy overcomes them, with common industries springing up across the nation. Woodsmen, farmers, soapmakers and more slowly but surely assemble together a society in the image of their departed masters, learning from their books, records and unpublished memoirs how a society should be run.
A sort of hierarchy assembles itself, swiftly transforming into a makeshift government. Before their vanishing, the Old Masters favoured some of their creations with enhanced responsibilities, generous affections and artificially enforced loyalties.
Some of these Homunculi were technically given ranks in the organisational structure of the Order (though never any higher than Novitiate), and thus by technicality are now the highest ranking individuals in Vitruvia.
Once enough or a paper trail could be assembled to prove these rumours, and the homunculi in question persuaded to wield their newfound authority, the real work of governance could begin, a central council in Hohenholm now able to properly survey, administrate and steward its vast land holdings.
Action 1: Construct reagent farm on the marked box next to the river.
The Crucibles that give life to Vitruvia cannot create matter from nothing. An exhaustive number of steps, refinements, ingredients, rituals, distillations and draughts are required to produce the essences that fuel the operations of these arcane machines, and all these steps demand raw resources.
A large section of trees is felled and designated for the cultivation of our life giving reagents. Sections are designated for the production of otherwise-rare rainforest herbs, pastures for the harvesting of meat, nervous material and fur, as well as horn and ivory. Areas are established near the river to grow massive amounts of grain and cereals, the harvesting of resin and honey and orchards to grow all manner of important berry.
Action 2: Prospect again on the red X
The coal that was found already warms our homes and comforts us. We have solid stone hearths made of quarried rock and masons to assemble them, and can now construct the foundations of real homesteads even in the chilly southern peaks or the frozen north. We need more resources, however.
Our supply of metal however is questionable. For sure, there is much around, but overwhelmingly it has been used to make odd machines, alchemical devices and secure vaults rather than practical tools for running a civilisation. The thought of melting these relics of the Masters down is too horrific to bear.
Alas, no. If we need metal, we shall simply have to find it. It lurks somewhere in these hills, or perhaps guarded by jealous Rocs deeper in.
