Didn't think I'd get the chance to post at all today/tonight, but here's something! Late, but still.
>>5467677>>5467697>>5468173>>5468097>>5467998>>5467975>>5467878>>5467776>>5468405>Expand the castle! In these times and this strange new land, since castles are the only "safe" places for humans, the structures themselves have grown to monumental sizes that dwarf even the pyramids of old. Bexley is no exception, and in time may just become one massive populated citadel.If you need to accommodate for more people, ideally a recovering populace, then you'll need shelter for them. Not so much from nature, but it is the threat of the enemy that people need to be protected from. Resources and territory and such, are valuable and nice to have, but at the end of the day having people and more of them is the greatest strength and importance of all. If they cannot life safe and productive lives then how can the populace be expected to increase?
By this reasoning then, you seek to provide the safest possible shelter for your people, and what could be safer than the fortification? This... castle of theirs?
<span class="mu-s">"We have few people for the task your grace, and the supplies will require as much effort if not more. But our castle is a superb foundation here, and in time we can make it all the greater, as you envision it."</span>
Henri can naturally oversee the project, when he isn't busy overseeing the moat construction outside the old town walls. He is honest with you about his expectations, and this is no easy task you seek. A large and consistent workforce, huge amounts of resources and materials, and most of all time. None of these things does Bexley have, though you know that you could provide for some of it at least. In time when the lake is teeming with life, less and less people will have to be devoted to fishing and gathering from it, and with your control of the rivers you can dredge and expose significant resources. The last matter, time, well you are immortal so what does that concern you?
Perhaps the most important factor is that that through all of this, at least the work won't be set back or invalidated, by the biggest threat of the enemy. Any other effort to expand could always be undone (and the devoted people killed) by attacks, but until the day comes when the elves could take the castle, no work done of it can be destroyed or sabotaged. The slower process, but one that never takes steps backwards. Perhaps the more difficult process too, but you aren't afraid of the challenge.
