<01 September 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+> [Theo and Julia] Theo, Julia, Joshua, Sarah, Velna, Renno, Fred, Ordus, and Kreldar all sat around a fire munching on a dwarf made meal. As they finished up, Theo stood up. "Well, it is a little strange having more people here, but I am glad to have you all here, though I don't know one of you."

The unknown man, who was very fit-looking and seemed to focus on everything all at once, stood and extended a hand, "Fred Ursiyn, former head of security for Mr. Armstrong. I am a level four Danger Interdictor, and I look forward to working with you."

Theo shook his hand. "I am Theo Sorrin, this is Julia Sorrin, Go'Van' Ordus, and Kreldar Underbrace of clan Molbrak. I look forward to having you around."

Fred sat back down. "Now then, Kreldar, and the other dwarves are working on getting the basement finalized, and then we can move in there while the house is built, but I wanted to ask, do you all want to live at the house, or would you rather have your own structures?"

They were all silent until Velna spoke up, "I think that for now we would like to stick together, but eventually I think that I would like my own space."

Julia nodded, and Theo continued speaking. "That's fair, so how about we expect you to help us with our work, and then when the time comes, we will help you with constructing your space. Is that all good for everyone?"

They all nodded. Theo continued. "Fair, so for now, it's not going to be very interesting work, lots of manual labor, and then eventually, here soon we will have to go and meet with the leaders of clan Molbrak."

"I just want to point out," Kreldar said, "that ye're 'ppreciated for that. Also, just wanted to let ye' know that the others are slated to leave today."

"Oh, I didn't know it had been seven cycles." Julia said, "We will have to thank them. Kreldar, how much money is a month's worth of food in the clan?"

Kreldar thought for a moment, "Roughly sixty-three silver will buy bread, eggs, and ale for a dwarf for a Forgeweek."

Julia nodded and walked off towards the basement. Theo turned back to Kreldar. "And will you be able to continue the labors on your own, with our help, of course?"

"Of course, though I would expect offers to come an' work here if I were ye'" Kreldar said, "I know that young Harbek expects to try'n be back within the Forgeweek."

Theo nodded, "Why don't you go tell him to hold off, we can talk when we come to negotiate about the Deepwell."

Kreldar grunted in approval and wandered off. Theo looked at the rest of the group, "Sorry about that, they were helping us at the request of one of their leaders, I guess maybe their gods? I am not sure their exact relationship, but the time they agreed to is up."

Julia came back and stood next to Theo as he finished up their plans. "We can figure out a schedule and who will be doing what tomorrow. For now, let's all just take it easy. If you want to go take a bath, please go to the plinth with the Core on it and place your hand on the Core. Hestia will be able to take you to the Deep Mirror Retreat. Alright then, I will see you in the morning."

Theo and Julia walked away. Julia revealed that she had given each of the six remaining dwarves a gold coin in thanks for their efforts. They watched as the six young men marched off later that evening, then everyone went to bed.

<02 September 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+> The next morning, Theo and Julia were eating breakfast when Theo suddenly had an idea. "We could just ask general questions."

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"What?" Julia asked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I was thinking of what we should try and ask the ring, but how do you get a good question when it will give you access to someone who may or may not be useful?" Theo said. "The fact that it says we have to query the ring still tells me that there is some pertinence to whatever you ask. So my thought was originally to ask incredibly hyper-focused questions, but now I am wondering if asking incredibly general questions would be better."

"Okay, I get what you are saying with the querying of the ring, but explain your logic when it comes to asking general versus specific questions," Julia said.

"Okay, so if we ask a super specific question, the starting baseline of those who the ring might be able to speak to us is smaller. If we get a general question, I think that there is a higher chance of getting someone willing to give us answers." Theo said, and then shrugged, "I don't know, saying it out loud makes it sound really stupid, but I guess that in my mind someone who has a hyper-specialized field of study might be more guarded than someone who has a lot of knowledge about a lot of things."

"That's not a terrible thought path." Julia said, "But it doesn't really matter, we have time, so why don't we try it both ways. Did you have something that you wanted to ask?"

"I am wondering how we should go about continuing to prep for our futures." Theo said, "The idea of planning for retirement and then death at like seventy-five was daunting enough to me. But now there does not seem to be an upper limit to how long you can live. So I wonder if we are doing the right things, planning the right things, working and focusing on the right things, or if there are other plans we should be making."

"Alright, let's come up with a question and then give the new ring a try," Julia said, and they spent the next fifteen minutes discussing the question.

Finally, Theo stood and looked at the ring, "I want to know the best way that a newly inducted member of the System, and head of a Family, can best prepare for an extended life?"

They waited, and suddenly a blue circle grew on the ground in front of them. It blossomed into an incredibly complex rune circle. The runes were each comprised of smaller runes, which were each comprised of smaller runes. They were almost fractal from what Theo could see. Then the space inside the circle became a pitch black liquid.

From the liquid rose an outline, then the fluid drained down to the pool from which the entity had risen.

**>Local Message: Soul ID#77Fz9P has agreed to speak to you for seventeen minutes. Time starts now.

The dark fluid started draining away, and they were left looking at what Theo could only describe as the upper portion of a Naga woman. The snake-like lower portion started at her waist and disappeared into the dark water. She looked mildly interested in what was happening.

"I am Nerysith." The Naga woman said, "ssspeak your quesstionsss."

Julia smiled and stepped forward. They had agreed that she would do the asking as she had the higher charisma. "Hello Nerysith, my name is Julia. Are you aware of the topic that we called you here for?"

"I am," Nerysith said.

"Very well, we would love to hear your general thoughts on the topic, and then we will ask several more questions if that is acceptable," Julia said.

"Do me a boon and I will anssswer all your questionsss." Nerysith said, at the inquisitive look from Julia, Nerysith continued speaking, "My daughter isss Nerysistia of Syssarbia. Agree that you will try and get her a messsage for me, and I will anssswer all your questionsss."

Julia quickly took down her message and some notes on who they were going to try to get a message to, then Nerysith nodded. "Asssk."

Julia spent the next fifteen minutes asking questions that Nerysith answered quickly and succinctly. When they were nearing the end. Nerysith nodded, "I feel the well drawing me back. Sssoon I shall leave this plane oncsse more. Thank you both. And thank you for passsing the messsage. Goodbye."

She dissolved into dark liquid, and then the liquid vanished as the blue runes faded from reality. Julia and Theo then spent the next hour discussing what they had learned and essentially settled on three things.

First, they needed to get their home completed as quickly as possible. Next, they needed to establish themselves as a power outside of their direct influence, and without the help of any more powerful beings. And finally, they needed to come up with a way to ensure cash flow other than System caches and loot. Other than those three, they were pleased to hear that someone else thought they were doing well.

They finished this conversation as Joshua, Sarah, Velna, Renno, and Fred walked up, taking a meal, and they all began to discuss work. They finished eating and stood up.

"Alright, then, Fred, Renno, you are both with me, and Sarah and Velna, you are going to go with Julia. We can all meet back here in a few hours for lunch and adjust what we are going to do for the rest of the day."

With that, they set off to do a day's work.

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